Congratulations Wedding Card

Hello, Friends!

First, let me apologize because this is not the best picture ever to grace my blog.  It may be comparable to some of the very first pictures I ever put on here, but I'd like to think I've come a long way since then!  Unfortunately, I could not get a good picture with the embossing powder if I just took it straight on.  Finally, I held the card with one hand and tilted it while I took the picture with the other hand.  This was the best I could do.  However, it was a really pretty card, so I wanted to share it with you. 

I made it last October for one of my relatives who had gotten married.  My Mom needed a card to send but was sick, so I said I'd make one so she didn't have to go out and get one.  It IS what I do, after all.  :)   I loosely based it off of a card I made that has been the most popular card on my blog, ever.  It ends up as one of the three most popular posts frequently, even though I made it back in 2011.

Here is that card and you can see the details for it here. 

You can see the cards are similar in that each of them are primarily white.  For the wedding card, I added embossing powder for my flower centers and for the word, "congratulations."  I learned about the color, Liquid Platinum, from watching a video on another person's blog and I love it!  I truly wish it would have shown up in the picture as well as it looked in person.  It made the word "congratulations" look very classy on this wedding card.  To break up the majority of white on both cards, I used an embossing folder to add texture and a second layer.  For the wedding card, I made two smaller flowers and put them at the top of the card instead of one larger one at the bottom.  To get the flower centers, I stamped my Versamark Ink Pad directly onto the white card stock and embossed it with embossing powder.  Then, I cut the flower centers out of that embossed card stock.  This was much easier than cutting out the centers and then putting the Versamark ink on them, the embossing powder and then trying to hold and melt the powder, which I tried first!  Instead of two lines of dry embossed card stock like on the first card, I put my sentiment.  While the cards are different and I knew I wanted to make them different, I used what worked on the first card to help me plan the second. 

If you're struggling to find a card design that works or you just want some fast ideas, go back and look at other cards you've made or older cards on a blog you like.  It may give you a base for a brand new card without having to completely start from scratch! 

This is another post I wrote before surgery.  Hopefully, I'm still recovering and will be back to stamping soon!  Until then, you'll have to make some cards in my place!

Happy Stamping! 

I used the following products to make this card:

Curly Cute Stamp Set by Stampin' Up

Versamark Ink by Tsukineko

Solar White 110 lb Card Stock by Neenah

Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder by Ranger

Gerbera Daisy and Pierced Fishtail Flag STAX by My Favorite Things

Wire Fence Embossing Folder by Darice



You Have My Heart Gerbera Daisy Valentine

Hello, Friends!

Valentine's Day is just a few days away, so I made this sweet little card featuring the same flower dies that I used last night.  I absolutely love these Gerbera Daisy Die-namics from My Favorite Things.  They can be used in bright colors like yesterday's card or a little bit softer colors like today's and they look great either way.  I have even used them on an all white card for a wedding that I just haven't posted on my blog yet.  The best part about these dies is that they were free with a $60 purchase from My Favorite Things several months ago!  These flowers are very similar to an old Big Shot Sizzix die from years ago which is no longer available.  I still have that die which I always liked but it is in storage.  I was thrilled when MFT had these available and I was able to get them for free!  The only thing better than great products are great products for free!  These dies are also the thin wafer dies which take up much less room than the original Sizzix dies. 

I made this Valentine's card for my Grandma.  I thought she would want to sit it out in her room for a little while, so I didn't specifically stamp "Happy Valentine's Day" on it, but just made it a general, "You have my heart" card.  The flowers can remind her spring is coming, too, since it's so cold here right now!  I am hoping to hand deliver her card this week.  I haven't gotten to visit her since her birthday in September.  She isn't very far away, but the roads here are so bumpy that I can't stand to ride in the car.  One of the things I'm most looking forward to after recovering from back surgery will be getting to visit family, especially my 89 year old Grandma!

 

Along with using lots of their products for this card, I also used this week's sketch challenge at My Favorite Things to make my card.  Instead of using half a circle on the side, I used a heart instead.  This seemed to make more sense with my words.  I was tempted to reverse the sketch and put the heart on the left side, but I was glad I went ahead and followed the plan of the sketch.  Because I used the large flowers, there wasn't enough room for all of the words, "You have my heart."  So, I just stamped the three little hearts in place of the circles and let them fill in the rest of my sentiment. 

There are a lot of color challenges this week that are suitable for Valentine's Day cards.  I chose this one from Clean and Simple Colours and Sketches because of the softer nature of the colors.  I like these pinks better for my Grandma than a bright red and hot pink combination.

I am also entering my card in the Friday Mashup Challenge.  My card fits the challenge to create a project with a "love" theme.  It's not a mashup though, because I didn't use the color red in my card along with a "love" theme.

If you haven't made your Valentines cards yet, don't wait too much longer!  Whether it's your Sweetie or your Grandma, it's a great opportunity to remind the people in your life how much you love them!

Happy Stamping!

I used the following products to make my card:

You Have My Heart Stamp Set by My Favorite Things

Memento Rich Cocoa Ink by Tsukineko

Strawberry Slush Classic Ink by Stampin' Up

Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Strawberry Slush and Sahara Sand Card Stock by Stampin' Up

Gerbera Daisy, Pierced Hearts, Blueprints 1 and You Have My Heart Die-namics by My Favorite Things

Femme Frames Creative Cuts by Mama Elephant



Gerbera Daisy Birthday Card

Hello, Friends!

 

Ahhh.  This card is so much more "me" than the "love" shaker card I shared with you yesterday.  I actually was able to make two cards today and they both felt like they were much more in my groove.  They both just came together so easily.  It could be that I tried to force the "love" card together when my back was killing me.  I don't think I've ever tried to make four different cards and not been able to get one of them to work!  It could be that the sequins became a nightmare.  It could be that it just wasn't what I had in mind originally, so I wasn't as happy with the end result, even when the sequins did behave.  I don't know, but there is definitely a sweet spot to making cards and this card feels like my sweet spot.  Just a short while ago, this card didn't feel so comfortable because it is similar to a CAS, clean and simple card.  There is a lot of white space.  There aren't layers on top of layers of card stock and patterned paper.  (I don't think the flowers count because the way you make them is putting different layers on top of each other.  You'll read more about that in a bit.)  I like that this card is now in my "style" so I'm glad I made it a goal to stretch myself creatively this year.  It just feels good to put a card on my blog that I'm happy with and feel comfortable sharing!

 

  

 

The colors came from a ColourQ Challenge.  As soon as I saw them, I loved them!  I love the bright, cheery feel- part of my sweet spot.  :)  They are great for Valentine cards this week, but my card is actually going to be a birthday card for a very sweet lady from church.  She has gone out of her way to be supportive and encouraging to me on Facebook, sent me a card in the mail, and always checks up on me by talking to my family, since I can't go to church myself.   She's one of those people that when she tells you she prays for you every day, you know she really remembers and prays for you every day!  As wonderful as she has been to me, I knew I had to make sure I did something to show her how special she is to me.  Hopefully getting an unexpected cheery card in the mail will brighten her day like she brightens mine.

 

Freshly Made Sketches provided the sketch my card is based on.  The sketch would make a perfect Valentine if you chose to follow it right like it is.  Since I needed a birthday card, I changed the large heart to a flower and the small heart into three butterflies.  One butterfly just looked too lonely up there in the corner by herself.  Things usually look better to the eye when they are grouped in odd numbers, so that sweet butterfly got two friends and they were all set.  I punched the butterflies out of regular flat card stock and then ran them through an embossing folder to give them some texture and life of their own.  Then, I only adhered one wing down so it gave the appearance that they could fly right off the card if they desired.  Of course, they don't want to leave that pretty card, so I think I'm safe. :) 

 

Earlier I said this card is similar to CAS.  Freshly Made Sketches blog likes the white space and clean lines of a Clean and Simple card.  However, unlike a typical CAS card, they also like lots of detail and embellishments as long as it doesn't interfere with the clean look of the card.  This allowed the detail of the layers of flower petals, the embossed butterflies and the little bakers twine bow to fit into their style because neither compromised the clean lines and white space.  I think it's fun to learn all of the different styles and how different blogs interpret what is acceptable.  I'm kind of a geek that way!

 

I believe this card fits the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog theme All Things Bright and Beautiful, so I am entering it in their challenge as well. 

 

Once again, this card doesn't have any stamping, that you can see, at least.  I will stamp "Happy Birthday" on the inside, but it is primarily made of die cuts and punches.  This wasn't something I intended to do, it just worked out that way.  Tomorrow's card features these same die cut flowers, which I love, in a totally different way and there is stamping, so be sure to come back and check it out.

 

Happy Stamping!

 

 

I used the following products to make this card:

 

Gerbera Daisies Die-namics by My Favorite Things

Bitty Butterfly Punch by Stampin' Up

Whisper White, Pretty In Pink, Melon Mambo, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie Card Stock

Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper by Stampin' Up

Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder by Sizzix sold by Stampin' Up

Pink and White Bakery Twine by Hampton Art