His and Hers card

I have been very bad about updating this blog for the past several months.  I have been creating cards, of course, but I have been lazy about sharing my work on my blog.  I hope to do a better job in the future!

In a recent group swap the challenge was to create two cards utilizing the same layout  - one that would be appropriate for a man and one that would be appropriate for a woman.  These are the two cards I submitted for the "His and Hers Swap":

 
For the "His" card I used shades of brown, beige and cream cardstock.  The mat was Stampin'Up! espresso brown cardstock and the top layer Stampin'Up! crumb cake cardstock.  I embossed the top layer with a polka dot embossing folder.  For the small panel on the front I used the same brown and crumb cake card stock and stamped the sentiment and the goose with Stampin'Up! Wetlands stamp set.

I chose a more pastel color pallette for the "Hers" card - Stampin'Up! Whisper white cardstock and Pink Pirouette cardstock.  The embossing folder for the top layer was an Anna Griffin design that enhanced the flower theme.  The small panel was stamped with a flower stamp from Stampin'Up! Helping Me Grow stamp set.

This was a fun project to show how versatile a basic card layout can be for a variety of occasions or recipients.  Just alter the color pallette, stamp set and sentiment to suit the purpose!

One layout - three different cards

Often, when I need to make several cards, I will develop one basic card layout and use it in multiple ways to create cards with unique messages and feelings. This is one layout that I like to use because it leaves lots of room for creativity and embellishments.

The sketch above shows the general layout and measurements.  Start with a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" cardstock base.  Then, cut two mats - one a solid color sized 4" x 5 1/4" and one from patterned paper 3 3/4" x 5".  The focal point of the card consists of a mat 2 3/4" x 3 1/2" cut from the same color as the solid mat of the card and a smaller piece 2 1/2" x 3 1/4" cut from the same cardstock as the card base.

 Using this basic layout I created the birthday card to the left. I wanted the card to be a bit dramatic, so I used white cardstock for the base, black for the mat and a black and white geometric patterned paper for the front. I added a sentiment in the center of the focal piece and a flower embellishment at the top left.  I stamped some flowers at the bottom right using Stampin'Up! ® Petite Petals stamp set  (Item# 133155) with the  Watermelon Wonder (Item# 138323) ink pad.  I splattered some of the Watermelon Wonder ink on the card with the sentiment to add some color.

 For the second birthday card I wanted a more delicate and feminine design so I chose a flowered patterned paper from a retired Stampin'Up! paper stack, added a band of paper from scraps from the dark green mat cardstock around the middle.  I stamped a birthday sentiment in the upper right corner of the card focal point and stamped a flower from Stampin'Up! Nature's Perfection stamp set, added some color to the flowers and embellished with a few pearls to highlight the design.

For the third card I needed a Halloween theme.  I enlarged the focal point panels to accommodate the stamp set.  I sponged the stamped panel with some black ink along the edges to create a little more contrast against the orange mat. The bat theme is continued in the patterned paper that I used for the card front.  I also added a small embellishment " October 31" in the center of the card




Visit my  online store at JeanStampingTreasures.stampinup.net to purchase any of the Stampin' Up! products mentioned above or to find a huge variety of stamps, punches, papers and ink to use in creating your own treasures

New creations

 I have not posted here in a while, but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy creating new cards, swapping with friends in my card groups and trying out some new techniques.

 I made this birthday card for a swap for one of the groups I belong to. The theme for the swap was simply "Purple and Yellow" so I had a lot of freedom to create any style card I wanted as long as it was predominantly purple and yellow.  I had just received the most recent issue of Cardmaker Magazine and saw this layout for a card that I adapted to the swap theme.  I used a yellow base A2 card with a lavender background paper.  I created the bottom folded portion from SU Bohemian DSP (this design is a double sided paper that shows through on the folded section), added a birthday sentiment from SU's Petite Pairs stamp set, a  yellow ribbon and bow and a lavender, purple and yellow flower embellishment secured with a brad.

The card to the right was also created with Stampin'Up! Bohemian DSP on Lost Lagoon cardstock.  The flower embellishments were cut from the Bohemian DSP with the Petite Petals stamp.

The sentiment is from the June Paper Pumpkin kit.  I 'really love getting the Paper Pumpkin kit each month.  It's always a surprise to see the great stamps, ink, cards and embellishments that are included each month.  The kit contains everything you need to make several cards and the items can be used in a multitude of ways in other projects.  Paper Pumpkin is even a better deal right now until September 10th.  First time Paper Pumpkin subscribers can get 50% off the first two months!  Click here to go to my Stampin'Up! page  click Specials and sign up for Paper Pumpkin using the promo code "HALFOFF'.

I really enjoyed making the card above with the Rectiform Technique I found on a Splitcoaststampers (www.splitcoasstampers.com/resources/tutorials/rectiform-grid_technique)  The stamps used were Stampin'Up! Papillon Potpourri and World of Dreams stamp sets on natural cardstock with the Blackberry Bliss Classic Ink Pad.

To purchase any of the items I used in creating these cards please visit JeanStampingTreasures.stampinup.net.

Using Negative Space with Stampin'Up!®

 Recently, in one of my swap groups, the assignment was to create a card utilizing mostly orange and white.  This is not a particularly common color combination for greeting cards and I found myself at a loss to find a suitable designer paper to use on the card.  But, I saw this as an opportunity to utilize the technique of negative space and silhouette designed stamps to highlight the cutout flowers.

 The first step is to cut two pieces of card stock to size.  The Tangelo Twist card stock will form the base of the card and it should measure 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  Score the card in the middle of the 8 1/2" side at 4 1/4 inches and fold to make a card base measuring 5 1/2" wide by 4 1/4" high.

Next cut the Whisper White card stock 5 1/4" x 8 1/4".  Score in the center of the 8 1/4" side at 4 1/8".  This will form the inside of the card.

Using the Fun Flower punch, punch out a flower in the upper left hand corner of the front of the Tangelo Twist card base.  Punch out a second flower in the lower right corner of the Tangelo Twist card base.  Don't discard the flower cutouts!  Save them to use in another project.

Insert the Whisper White card stock inside the Tangelo Twist base to form a liner.  The white card stock will show through the areas punched out with the flower punch.  Adhere the front of the Whisper White card stock to the front inside of the Tangelo Twist base so that the two card layers are not able to easily separate when stamping.

I decided to use two of the silhouette designed stamps from the World of Dreams stamp set.  I selected the leaves at the upper right corner of the picture of the stamp set and the reedy plants pictured on the lower left corner of the stamp set.

Using the Tip Top Taupe Classic Stamp Pad, I stamped the leaves on the upper left corner of the card front being careful to have part of the stamp on the Tangelo Twist card stock and part on the Whisper White card stock that shows through the punched out flower.  Employing the same method, I stamped the reedy plant through the punched out flower on the bottom right of the card front.

Again using the Tip Top Taupe Classic Stamp Pad I stamped  the "You've Got This" stamp from the You've Got This Stamp Set on the bottom left corner of the card front. To finish the card off I used a piece of orange ribbon available at any craft store and adhered it to the top of the card with a simple knot in the right hand upper corner.

This card would be a perfect card to send to someone as a Congratulations card or a card of encouragement.


The materials I used in this project are:

1. Whisper White card stock - Item #100730 - $8.50 for 40 sheets
2. Tangelo Twist card stock - Item #133677 - $7.00 for 20 sheets
3. Tip Top Taupe Classic Stamp Pad - Item #138325 - $6.50
4. Fun Flower Punch - Item #133785 - $18.00
5. World of Dreams Stamp Set - Item #134186 (clear mount) - $20.00
6. You've Got This Stamp Set - Item #139575 (clear mount) - $28.00
7. Adhesive - Snail Item #104332

All are available in the brand new Stampin'Up!® 2015-2016 catalog.  You can purchase these and many more great products at my Online Store Jean Stamping Treasures.

Some of my favorite cards .....

 I thought it might be fun this week to share some of the cards that I have made recently that I really liked.  As with all paper crafters, not all of my "creations" are a success, but here are a few of my favorites:

 The card to the left is a friendship card that I made for a swap group.  I really liked the yellow and black color theme.  To make the punched frame I used a Martha Stewart punch then embossed the yellow paper. The music background came from a paper stack that I had laying around in my craft room.  The butterfly embellishment came from Martha Stewart also.

I used a Martha Stewart butterfly in the birthday card to the right also.  (I must like butterflies :-)).  The center label was cut from a Cricut Mini die cutting machine cartridge.  I really liked how the green colors in the papers blended together.

 The Thank You card to the left was created with a "crinkled ink" technique that I discovered through a YouTube video.  It is really simple to do using crinkled up plastic wrap dipped in an ink pad and dabbed on the paper.  I used two different ink colors in this one both by Stampin' Up.  Lost Lagoon (item#133644) and Pistachio Pudding (item#131177). The "Thank You" stamp is from Stampin'Up Painted Petals stamp set (item# 137146)

 The card to the right is called a "Twisted Double Easel" card that I learned about through one of my swap groups. The two flowered sections fold down so the card will fit in a business size envelope.  This was my first attempt at this technique.  Next time I try this I think I will add more bling and embellishments to the stand up portions of the card.

 The card to the left is one of my all time favorites.  I uses a very versatile Stampin' Up stamp set "Sheltering Tree" (item #137163). The border on the left is an Anna Griffen die that was embossed after it was cut.


Wishing everyone a Happy Memorial Day!

To get my creative juices flowing again, I plan to curl up with my brand new Stampin Up catalog that arrived the other day and begin placing my next order!





Please stop by to visit my Stampin'Up online store by clicking HERE.  It's open 24/7!

Flower Card

This weekend I made a flower birthday card for a swap group that I belong to.  I really liked the way it turned out and wanted to share the instructions with you.

1,  Cut one 8 1/2"  x 11" sheet of Whisper White card stock to 4/1/4" by 11".  Score along the 11" side at 5 1/2" to form the card base.

2.  Cut one sheet of Lost Lagoon cardstock to 5 1/4" x 4".

3.  Cut one sheet of the Lost Lagoon and light green flowered cardstock from the All Abloom cardstack to 5" x 3 3/4".

4.  Cut one sheet of Lost Lagoon cardstock  to 5" x 1".  Using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, emboss the 1" wide cardstock in your Cuttlebug or Big Shot machine.

5.  From the remaining section of the Lost Lagoon cardstock punch out one flower with the Fun Flower punch.

6.  From the remaining section of the Whisper White cardstock cut one flower with the Fun Flower punch.

7.  Stamp "Happy Birthday Wishes" from the Petite Pairs stamp set on the large white flower using the  Lost Lagoon ink pad.

8.  Stamp 5 small flowers on the Whisper White cardstock scraps using a variety of designs from the Petite Petals stamp set.  Align the Petite Petals punch over each of the stamped flowers and cut out the flowers.

9.  Cut a piece of white ribbon 6" long.

10.  To assemble the card:  adhere the printed cardstock from #3 above to the Lost Lagoon cardstock  leaving an 1/8" border all around.  Adhere the white ribbon down the middle of the embossed strip folding the ends of the ribbon over to the back of the strip.  Then adhere the strip to the card front about 1/2" inside the left side of the card front.

11.  Adhere the cut out flowers evenly spaced down the center of the white ribbon on the embossed strip and decorate with a pearl in the center of each flower.

12.  Adhere the white large flower to the large Lost Lagoon flower so that the petals are staggered.  Using two dimensionals attach the flower to the top right corner of the card.

13.  Finally, attach the entire card front to the card base leaving a 1/8" border all around.

Materials:  (Stampin' Up item number in parentheses)

Whisper White cardstock (#100730)
Lost Lagoon cardstock (#133679)
All Abloom paper stack (#133703)
Lost Lagoon stamp pad (#133644)
Petite Pairs stamp set (#122497)
Fun Flower Punch (#133785)
Petite Petals Punch (#133322)
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder (#117335)
Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247)
Adhesives:  Glue dots  (#103683
                    Dimensionals (#104430)
                    Snail adhesive (#107332)

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Welcome

Welcome to my very first blog post!

      Just a bit about me.... 

I live in Clayton, New Jersey with my husband, Jack, and my 13 year old long-haired dachshund, Mercedes. We adopted Mercedes and her "brother" Hans a few years ago from a Dachshund Rescue, both were considered "senior" doxies. Hans and Mercedes soon became a very important part of our lives!  Unfortunately, we lost Hans last year to liver disease, but Mercedes is still going strong barking her head off at pretty much anything that moves.

I retired from my work as a Finance Director for a non-profit organization 2 years ago and I am thoroughly enjoying my retirement! Now that I have more free time, I am able to pursue more creative interests.  I enjoy collecting and trading postcards, photography, reading (especially mysteries and thrillers) and most importantly, creating greeting cards.  Recently, I became an Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator.

In future posts I plan to share my card creations with you and the terrific products that Stampin' Up has to offer. We will also explore some stamping and card making techniques and ideas to inspire you to create your own original cards.