Create with Connie and Mary--White, White and all White!

This week our challenge was to design a project featuring WHITE. I was actually excited about this as I knew I wanted to create a scrapbook page and Stampin’ Up! actually has quite a bit of white products to work with!

I created my page on a base of 12x12 Basic White (naturally, hence our challenge!) and I created a photo mat to highlight a picture of my work bestie (@citrusandcedar). The picture is layered on Basic White and the Pearlescent Specialty Paper, which is still white, just a different tone of white! I love the subtle contrast.

I wanted to create some texture on the base of the page, especially because we are working with one color. I used one of our retired masks (I keep them all together so I wasn’t sure if it was retired or not until I wrote this) with our White Embossing Paste to add some texture and interest to the base.

I had a ton of daisy’s already punched out from a previous project so I decided to feature these on my page. Both the punch and stamp set, Daisy Lane, are being offered in our new upcoming catalogue. So that is an extra bonus! I placed some of the daisies off the edges of the page and then trimmed the excess away. I like the look this creates.

I like to create a couple of focal points around my photos on my scrapbook pages too. I decided to keep it simple by using only the Daisy Lane stamp set and stamped the sentiments in Basic Grey.

The sentiment “The Best Moments” is also layered on Shimmery White. You can see how it has a different tone as well, even though its white.

I added white pearls all over the page too as some accents.

At the top right corner of the photo, Friend is punched out with the Label Me Fancy tag and has Crinkled Seam Binding and Basic White Thread behind it as an accent.

Around the photo I tied some of the Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon and Basic White Thread as another fun accent.

I really love the crispness of this page and how nice and elegant it looks in tones of white. I can’t wait to see what the other ladies have created this week. You can go BACK to see what Melissa has designed and NEXT to see what Connie has created!

Ice Cream Corner--Kit to Go!

Over this past year I have started to offer a monthly kit to go that includes a PDF of full color instructions. This is a great option for people who have a few base supplies at home and want to make some awesome card projects! I offer 2-3 options each month, typically a stamp only, bundle or the kit pieces!

This month I have decided to start sharing my Class to Go Kits to a broader audience! So if you live anywhere in Canada I can ship you any of the 3 options (for an extra shipping charge)! I would love to grow this monthly Class to Go Kit experience :)

Ice Cream Corner Class to Go Kit

Option 1: Includes the Sweet Ice Cream stamp set and Ice Cream Sprinkles, supplies to make 6 cards. 2 of each card shown below for $35.

Option 2: Includes the Sweet Ice Cream BUNDLE, Ice Cream Sprinkles, supplies to make 6 cards AND supplies to make the Melt My Heart treat box (BEST VALUE) for $60.That is $10 for 6 cards and a box, amazing deal!

Option 3: Card and Box supplies only! Get all the supplies to make the 6 cards and the box, PDF included, for $25.

Please let me know what option suits your best by April 19th so I can order and plan accordingly! Please send me a message or leave a comment :)

Good Card Design

Recently I introduced my team to the concept of #goodcarddesign. I want to teach them to start designing and creating their own cards. Designing your own cards develops creative confidence and helps you start to develop your own stampin’ style. The social media world is full of inspiration (Hello Artisan Design Team) but there is nothing like the feeling of creating a card you love to share with others!

So what makes up a GOOD CARD DESIGN?

I think there are several factors, the most being that the design must be repeatable—meaning you can make this card with any color card stock, Designer Series Paper, embellishment and punches/dies. It is also important to consider what you are using on your card. If you use Designer Series Paper and embellishments then your own customers are more likely to order and use them too.

A #goodcarddesign also only uses one or two stamp sets. This makes the design easy to replicate as it doesn’t need a variety of stamp sets. We all create those cards sometimes too (that use 12 different stamp sets) but in our virtual teaching world, minimizing the stamp set requirements goes a long way in developing #goodcarddesign!

I started by giving my team a picture of these card pieces. Similar to a Mystery Card concept, which is also fun and something we have done a few times this past Covid year.

I also shared my finished project so they had an idea of where I was going with my design.

I love so many things about this #goodcarddesign! I created this card with a Blushing Bride base and first layer. I stamped the starfish on the layering piece in the coordinating ink color.

Background stamping is also a criteria of #goodcarddesign. Afterall, we sell STAMPS, and we want to use them in a variety of ways on our projects. Background stamping is one of the easiest, especially using the tone on tone method.

I then added 3 strips of Sand & Sea Designer Series paper that is cut 3/4 x 3. Imagine how many cards you could make from one sheet of 12x12? The strips are also slightly offset. I find this style is also great for beginner stampers because they don’t need to worry about lining this up perfectly. Let’s take away that stampin’ stress!

I layered my sentiment on a circle and scallop circle from the Layering Circles Dies. In between the layers I added Braided Linen Trim (that I pulled apart at the edges as if felt like something nautical) and a retired ribbon.

I also added some Opal Rounds too! If you don’t show people how amazing they look, how are they going to know they need them?

And finally I flicked my Blushing Bride marker across the front of the card. This is a simple favorite technique of mine that just adds a little something!

How can you resist this adorable Weiner Dog? I absolutely LOVE the Hot Dog stamp set!

This adorable Hot Dog stamp set was perfect to illustrate how this #goodcarddesign can work with a completely different stamp set.

I swapped out the Sand & Sea DSP for the Fine Art Floral DSP and the base of my card is Soft Seafoam. You can see how I replicated the background stamping by using the little heart from the Hot Dog stamp set and added in some Basic Sequins.

I stamped out the weiner dog in Momento Ink and colored him with a light Cinnamon Cider wash with my Water Painter. I added in ‘Hi’ in the word bubble from the same stamp set. The little tiny bowtie is from the Birthday Chick Dies.

So that is #goodcarddesign sample number two…let me share another with you so you can see how fantastic this method works!

This is my third example of how #goodcarddesign works! You can see how different this card looks, but it has all of the same elements!

I started with a base of Smoky Slate and stamped some cute hearts from the Hearts & Kisses stamp set in the coordinating ink color. The DSP strips are from the True Love paper (I love a good black and white paper). This time I punched a 1 1/2 circle from Flirty Flamingo and layered a tag from the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch. I cut my 1 inch Basic Black strip to 2 1/2 long to end up with my final length.

Between the two tag layers I added some retired ribbon (I think it was from the Geared Up Garage collection) as I figure I need to quit ribbon hoarding! And its fun to think I used a masculine ribbon with some girly pink lips!

The lips are stamped in Flirty Flamingo ink and punched from the Hearts & Kisses bundle and the ‘Thank You’ sentiment is from another retired set, Take Out Treats.

All three of these cards are different and can appeal to a simple to avid stamper and are perfect example of how a #goodcarddesign can help you achieve three completely different cards!

I am excited to continue to educate my team on #goodcarddesign and plan to share future good card design concepts with them! I hope you are inspired to create something too!

Create with Connie and Mary--Spring Flowers!

Well this week we are focusing our design efforts on Spring Flowers! There is still snow on the ground where I live so I don’t think I will be seeing any actual flowers for a while, nonetheless I was still excited to create a scrapbook page of a photo I did take last spring!

I wanted to use a bundle that I knew was carrying forward into our new catalogue being released in May. This is a set I was happy to see return as I have not had as much time to play with it as I was hoping, so I am glad I will have another catalogue run to be creative with it!

There are a couple things on this page that are retiring…have you seen the list? Can you spot them?

The base of my page is classic Basic White. Because this was a spring layout, I wanted a crisp background to start with. I began by blending some Balmy Blue into the background and I stamped the large from image from the Blossoms in Bloom stamp set in the same ink color. This created a bit of tone on tone imagery.

What I love about this die set is you get TWO large dies that match the stamped image. I used the more solid one up top, cutting it from Basic White card stock. The second more delicate one is die cut from Balmy Blue card stock. When you lay both of these over top of the stamped image you just get a peek a boo look at the stamping and blending beneath. LOVE!!

The small stamped flowers are hand cut as there is not a die that just cuts the perimeter out in the Many Layered Blossoms Dies. I used Bumblebee, Highland Heather (on Purple Posy card stock) and Petal Pink as to me these feel like spring colors. I love the soft pastel tones of this season.

I added small die cut flowers in Basic White to contribute to the crisp feel of this page.

I created two focal points on this page, the top right corner where I added in Happy (which is hand trimmed from the entire phrase of Happy Birthday). I used Flirty Flamingo ink on Petal Pink card stock so the sentiment would be a little more vibrant.

Opal rounds were the perfect embellishment for this page as they add texture without being distracting.

The Pinewood Planks 3D folder also add alot of natural texture to the photo mat.

This bottom second focal point highlights one of my favorite ribbons, the Bumblebee Gingham ribbon! I have gone through several rolls of this ribbon!

I thought the sentiment “I like you a lot” was perfect for this page and I am happy that this whole design used a single bundle! This is not something that I can say happens for me very often.

I love how this page turned out, especially because I was able to piece it together in less than 30 minutes! By focusing on a single stamp set or bundle it can make your designs come together a lot faster than trying to mix and match and incorporate other stamps . This bundle is definitely a winner for me!

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the team has designed with the theme SPRING FLOWERS! There are so many great stamp sets to choose from that the possibilities are endless. You can go BACK to see Melissa’s project or you can go NEXT to see what Connie has created this week for us. Either way, visit the whole hop and please feel free to leave me a comment. I really enjoy reading them.

Hey Chick!

Hello friends! This month the Artisan Design Team is sharing projects that feature the Hey Chick and Hey Birthday Chick bundles, the Sand & Sea suite and the Cactus Medley with the Succulent bundle! My assignment was to create some fun projects featuring the CHICKENS! Such a fun and cute couple of sets to work with!

As soon as I saw the big chubby chicken and the little chicks I knew I wanted to showcase them with a Diorama Card! This is such a unique card style to showcase a ‘scene’ and its a throwback to those fun shoebox diorama projects I loved make as a kid for a school project.

To recreate these projects you will need some Stampin’ Blends to add a hint of color to your chickens. The secret weapon and fun tip with this project is to take the wood stump die and the fence die and add extra details and dimensions to them by pressing them into the Cinnamon Cider ink pad prior to running them through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. The ink on the die will press into the card stock and transfer, giving the recessed area some ink detail!

I also used the Wired Up background stamp set with my projects. I inked it up, keeping it right in the stamp case, with Grey Granite and then lightly touched my surfaces to the stamp. By not fully pressing it I was able to just add the chicken wire detail in a few places. Its a faint but awesome detail.

I think the bright colors of Poppy Parade, Coastal Cabana, and Daffodil Delight really added to the whimsical feel of these projects. I was really happy with how cheery and fun the finished projects turned out!

The Daffodil Delight card is a traditional card fold. I added die cut chicken wire poking out from each side of the main panel for a fun detail. The sentiment in Coastal Cabana at the top of the card is the sign trimmed to look like a board instead of a sign post. I always look for ways to change how a die works and this was easy! I added a light coloring detail to the chicken on this card with Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight and Mango Melody Stampin’ Blends.

To create the Diorama card you will need a large die to cut the window in the front. I used the largest circle die from the Circles Dies in the Annual Catalogue (a crafters must have set!).

The base of the Diorama card is 6 3/4 x 4 1/2. You want to score this at 3/4, 1 1/2, 5 1/4 and 6. You want to peek and valley fold these score lines to create the raised up front area.

The Basic White background piece is lightly stamped with the Chicken Wire background stamp and measures 4 1/4 x 4 1/2. You can attach this and then piece in the chubby bowtie chicken and fence. I found this was easier as I knew exactly where to place it instead of adding it to the Basic White first.

I then added a Coastal Cabana back piece to the card which measures the same as the Basic White, 4 1/4 x 4 1/2. This also gives the card a bit of weight and makes it easier to stand up.

The little chick on the left hand side is attached with a Glue Dot on his one leg. This gives him the illusion of popping out. The two streamers are cut in Pumpkin Pie and Mango Melody card stock and are attached to the inside of the window. This also contributes to the diorama style and feel.

I finally I just love the belly band on the Mini Paper Pumpkin box. I just love these boxes. They are the perfect size for giving Gift Cards and little treats and fit our Basic White Notecards perfectly!

I created the Poppy Parade belly band to be 2 inches wide and stamped ‘Hey Chick’ in the coordinating ink randomly along the band. I used the chicken wire die again, this time in Coastal Cabana cards stock to add a bit of detail. The chicken with the balloon is colored with Stampin’ Blends and I couldn’t resist giving him a little bowtie! I love that the Birthday Chick dies have a die that cuts Happy Birthday! It was a fantastic addition to this project with the little cupcake trimmed from the Hey Chick stamp set.

If any of these projects have inspired you and you live in Canada, please consider shopping with me. I would love to get to know you and help in your creative stamping journey! I teach a lot of classes and facilitate a number of monthly groups!