Biggest Wish Boy's Birthday Card

When I was flipping through the new annual catalogue as soon as I saw the Biggest Wish and Peekaboo Farm stamp sets I knew I had to have them. This was the very first card I made using these fun bold stamp sets.

Supplies

1 - 8 1/2"x 11" sheet of cardstock

1 - 5 1/4"x 4" piece of Basic White cardstock

Biggest Wish stamp set

Peekaboo Farm stamp set

Pale Papaya ink

Tempting Turquoise ink

Memento Black ink

Instructions

Take the 8 1/2"x11" sheet of cardstock cut it down to 8 1/2"x5 1/2" and score that at 4 1/4" on the long side.

I then took the piece of Basic White cardstock and with the Biggest Wish stamp set I began stamping. I used the block letter birthday stamp first and I stamped it in Pale Papaya in the bottom right hand corner. I had wanted to use a bright blue so I dug out Tempting Turquoise (which has long been retired) to stamp the happy portion of my sentiment. I then took out Peekaboo Farm and stamped the horse in Memento Black. I then adhered the piece of Basic White cardstock to the front of the card base.

I chose the horse because I wanted it to be more for a little boy and thought the horse was most suitable. But this card is so simple and easy and you could change out the colors and animals to make it suitable for anyone.

I am so excited to play with these stamp sets!

Happy Paper Crafting!  

*Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*

A Slice of Life Baby Card

 A couple of weekends ago I shared a card I made with the To A Wild Rose stamp set. When I had finished the set of cards I had a few pieces of cardstock and DSP leftover so I challenged myself to use these scraps to make another card. You can see the original card here. I had recently been gifted some stamp sets and I drew inspiration from this sentiment.

Supplies

1 - 8 1/2"x 11" sheet of Basic White cardstock

1 - 3 3/4"x 3 3/4" piece of DSP

1 - 1 1/4"x 4 1/4" piece of Yellow cardstock

1 - 2 1/4"x 3 1/4" piece of Basic White cardstock

Scrap Basic White cardstock

A Slice of Life stamp set

Layering Love stamp set

Ornate Border dies

Memento Black ink

Daffodil Delight ink

Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine

 

Instructions

Take the 8 1/2"x11" sheet of Basic White cardstock and cut it down to 4 1/4"x11" and score it at 5 1/2" along the long side.

I chose my sentiment from the Layering Love stamp set and with Memento Black ink stamped it on the 2 1/4"x 3 1/4" piece of cardstock. I then took my scrap piece of Basic White and with the sleeper image from the A Slice of Life stamp set I stamped the image in Daffodil Delight ink. I then fussy cut the image. I wanted to keep the hanger but you could easily cut it out.

I then took the Yellow strip of cardstock and with one of the Ornate Border dies I ran it through my die machine.

I then took the square of DSP and only putting adhesive along one edge I centered it on the Yellow cardstock I die cut. I then finished putting adhesive on the back of both pieces. I then center it on the front of the card.

I then adhered the sentiment to the front of the card. I centered it on the DSP aligning it to the right side. I then used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the sleeper image to the front of the card.

 

Step It Up

A fun way to step up this card would be to stamp the sleeper in Memento Black and then color in the image with either Stampin' Write markers of Stampin' Blends.

I centered the sentiment on the piece of cardstock but you could easily stamp it closer to the top of the cardstock and use a border die to cut the bottom of the sentiment piece.

Some Baker's Twine would also look very cute wrapped around the piece of DSP.

Now both of the stamps set I used on this card are retired but there are so many awesome stamp sets geared towards doing baby cards in the new catalogue. If you want to recreate this card I highly recommend getting the All for Baby stamp set and if you aren't into fussy cutting then you can get the bundle!

Happy Paper Crafting! 

*Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*

Stamping Basics - Pt. 2

Last week I started a series on stamping basics and I talked about how to cut your cardstock for card bases but I wanted to back up and talk about the different types of cardstock. Unfortunately they are not all made equally.

Before becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I really struggled with the price of cardstock. So I would always skip over the cardstock section of the catalogue and run out to Michaels and get my pack of 50 sheets for $7. But after I bought my first pack of Stampin' Up! cardstock I realized I had been missing out the whole entire time.

The first thing I want to talk about is cardstock weights. On a pack of paper it may bove a pound weight on it which just refers to the weight of 500 sheets of paper measuring 20 inches by 26 inches. Now cardstock ranges in weights from 60 to 110 pounds.

Your standard printer paper is only about 20 pounds. The cardstock you get from Michaels is in the 60 pound range which is catagorized as a light weight cardstock but, you may be able to find heavier cardstock in the 12"x12" paper packs. Basic Stampin' Up! cardstock falls in the 70-80 pound range meaning that it is a medium weight cardstock, and the packs of Basic White and Very Vanilla Thick cardstock falls in the 90 pound or more range and is a heavy weight cardstock.

The higher the weight the thicker and more durable the cardstock. For cardmaking a medium weight cardstock is very practical. If you are like me and like to score your cardstock before folding a medium weight cardstock will not crack along the score line. If you like to do layer or embellishment heavy cards the cardstock will hold up better to the weight.

This is not necessary but when your looking at cardstock I recommend getting supplies that coordinate. Something I always found frustrating before I started using Stampin' Up! was how I would get home from the craft store and start to craft only to discover that my cardstock and pattern paper didn't actually match. Stampin' Up! ensures all of their products coordinate making it easier for you to create. There are lots of companies who offer this but you often have to make a trip to the smaller local scrapbook stores to get those products or you can shop online directly from those companies.

Sometimes you can cut corners on your craft supplies but I have found that cardstock is not one of those places. Take it from someone who cheeped out on her cardstock for a couple of years and is now regretting that decision. 

Happy Paper Crafting! 

 *Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*

To A Wild Rose Thank You Card

This week I challenged myself to use the new In Color Evening Evergreen. It is such a beautiful dark green and will be perfect for Christmas cards. In the mean time though I was trying to think how I could use it for an everyday card. I used the To A Wild Rose stamp set and unfortunately it is a retired set now but I wasn't done playing with it and this is what I came up with.

Supplies

1 - 8 1/2" x11" sheet of Evening Evergreen cardstock

1 - 5 1/4" x4" piece of Basic White cardstock

Scrap Basic White cardstock

To A Wild Rose stamp set (retired)

Hand-Penned Petals stamp set

Evening Evergreen ink

Memento Black ink

Crumb Cake Blends

Soft Succulent Blends

Forever Greenery Gold Trim (retired) 

Instructions

Take the 8 1/2"x11" sheet of Evening Evergreen cardstock cut it down to 8 1/2"x5 1/2" and score that at 4 1/4" on the long side.

I took the piece of Basic White cardstock and I wanted to stamp the sentiment three times along the right side of the layer. So I used the thanks stamp from the Hand-Penned Petals stamps set and I used Evening Evergreen to stamp the sentiment. I just stamped this by hand but if you are worried about everything being lined up you could use the Stamparatus and the hinge step technique.

I then took my scrap piece of Basic White and I stamped the outline for the rose and leaves in memento black. I then took my Crumb Cake blends and started coloring the flower. I started with the dark blend and just drew along some of the lines where I wanted dark spots or shadows and then I just finished coloring it in with the light blend, make sure you blend out any harsh lines you might have from the dark blend. I did the same thing for the leaves and then I just fussy cut these images out.

The leaf image has three leaves on the stem and I actually cut the leaf on the left side off the stem so I could have a larger cluster.

I then took my gold trim and wrapped it around the Basic White layer two times. I then adhered the layer to the front of the card. I then used Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the rose to the card. I placed it over top of where the trim criss crossed on the front. Make sure when you place the dimensionals on the back of the rose you put them far enough in that you slip the leaves underneath the rose. I just adhered the leave flat to the front of the card.

You could easily use the large floral cluster from the Hand-Penned Petals stamp set instead. This is a new stamp set in the annual catalogue that has a coordinating suite. I encourage you to take a peek at the Hand-Penned Suite, I have totally fallen in love with the stamp set but you can take a look at all the matching products.

Happy Paper Crafting!  

*Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*

Stamping Basics - Pt. 1

Today I want to start a series about stamping basics and the very first topic I want to touch on is how to cut your cardstock for card bases. 

So whether you buy Stampin' Up cardstock or another brand for your card bases you will want to start with an 8.5" x11" sheet of cardstock. One sheet of cardstock yields two card bases so after you cut your paper you can put one away as a spare.

You can cut your cardstock in half at either 5.5" or 4.25". Whatever size you cut your cardstock at you will score at the other measurement. So for example if I wanted a long skinny card that folded at the top I would cut my paper in half at 4.25" on the 8.5" side of the paper. I would then pull out my score board and score it at 5.5" to make it easier to fold, this is optional you don't have to score your paper. If you wanted a that folds on the left side you would cut your paper at 5.5" on the 11" side of the cardstock and score it at 4.25".

Some people when they make card bases will actually score the sheet of cardstock before they cut it. I honestly think this is a brilliant idea but I never remember to do that.

I hope this helps you to start making cards to send to those you love!

Happy Paper Crafting!  

*Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*

To A Wild Rose Hello Card

For today's card I went digging through my pattern paper pads from my pre-Stampin' Up! days. So the DSP I used is not Stampin' Up unfortunately, but I loved how this card turned out and I still wanted to show case this design.

Supplies

1 - 8 1/2"x 11"sheet of White cardstock

1 - 3 3/4"x 3 3/4" piece of DSP

1 - 3 3/4"x 1 1/2" piece of DSP

1 - 3"x 2 3/4" piece of White cardstock

1 - 4 1/4"x 1 1/4" piece of Yellow cardstock

To A Wild Rose stamp set

Ornate Border Dies

Memento Black ink

Crumb Cake Blends

Corner Rounder Punch

Stamparatus

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

 

Instructions

Take the 8 1/2"x11" sheet of White cardstock and cut it down to 4 1/4"x11" and score it at 5 1/2" along the long side.

I started by rounding the top two corners of the 3"x 2 3/4" piece of White cardstock. I used the Stamparatus to stamp the rose and sentiment from the To A Wild Rose stamp set. I like using the Stamparatus because if I am not happy with the stamped image I can re-ink and stamp again without having to line up the images. I then took out my Crumb Cake blends, I started with the dark blend and just briefly drew lines along some of the lines of the stamped image. Just make sure where ever you place the dark blend lines they are places where there might be natural shadows. I then took the light blend and colored in the image making sure to blend out the dark lines so they weren't harsh lines.

I then adhered that piece to the 3 3/4" square piece of DSP. I lined it up along the bottom edge of the DSP leaving about an 1/8" from the right side. I then adhered that piece to the front of the card centering on the front of the card but lining it up to the top of the card.

I then took the 4 1/4"x 1 1/2" piece of yellow cardstock and using one of the border dies from the Ornate Border Dies set I lined up the die to the edge of the cardstock and I used washi tape to hold the die in place. I then ran it through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine. I then adhered that piece to the front of the card making sure that none of the card base could be seen though the holes in the middle of the edge.

I then took the last piece of DSP and rounded the bottom corners. I then adhered that piece over top of the yellow cardstock with the edge making sure I lined it up with the other piece of DSP as best as I could.

Step It Up

If you don't have a border die you could use a border punch or change it out all together for a piece of ribbon.

I chose to stamp the flower but you could always use a die cut or fussy cut flowers from coordinating DSP.

 

Let me know in the comments below what you think of the card!

Happy Paper Crafting! 

 *Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*

Hand-Penned Petals Thank You Card

Today I wanted to feature a stamp set from the new catalogue. I have showcased this bundle on my blog before, I find it to be a very easy stamp set to work with and I have loved all the matching dies.

Supplies

1 - 8 1/2"x 11" sheet of Pale Papaya cardstock

1 - 5 1/4"x 4" piece of Fine Art Floral DSP

1 - 3 1/2" x 1 1/4"piece of Basic White cardstock

Scrap Pale Papaya cardstock

Scrap Polished Pink cardstock

Scrap Soft Succulent cardstock

Soft Succulent ink

Hand-Penned Petals Bundle

 

Instructions

Take the 8 1/2"x11" sheet of Pale Papaya cardstock and cut it down to 4 1/4"x11" and score it at 5 1/2" along the long side. I adhered the DSP to the front of the card.

I then took the 'thanks' stamp from the Hand-Penned Petals stamp set and stamped it in Soft Succulent ink on the strip of Basic White cardstock. I adhered the cardstock strip to the front of the card keeping it in the bottom third of the card.

I then ran the scrap pieces of cardstock through my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine using the floral and leaf dies from the Hand-Penned Petals bundle. 

I laid the flowers out the way I wanted and when I was happy with the placement I adhered them down.

You can now purchase the Hand-Penned Petals bundle and I encourage you to take a peek at it. I have enjoyed this bundle so much. Remember if you buy the bundle then you are able to save 10% which I think is extra motive to buy the bundle.

Let me know what you think of this bundle.

Happy Paper Crafting!  

*Contact me directly to place an order or search for Blaze Tully under 'Find a Demonstrator' to shop under me on the Stampin' Up Website.*