SIP#20 & PP#268 Combo Challenge - It's a Girl!

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for the sketch challenge at The Paper Players and the color challenge at Stamp Ink Paper.

Some dear friends were just blessed with a new granddaughter - she's the first baby girl in 7 generations! I think she deserves a beautiful card, don't you? Here's what I came up with:

The card was created on a base of Whisper White Thick Cardstock - I'm so glad we have this now! No more floppy white cards! The three pink panels are from the "vintage" Nursery Nest DSP. I wish we still had something with these "perfect for baby card" colors. The image and sentiment are from the retired Baby Prints stamp set and stamped in Blushing Bride. The "feet" are grounded with a circle of Early Espresso. Some touches of gold were added in the heart, the button and the sequins.

Welcome to the world, Scarlett Ann!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Fab Friday 75 - Color Challenge

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for the color challenge at Fab Friday.

I don't usually send Halloween cards, but this one might just have to go in the mail to someone...

I started with a base of Very Vanilla cardstock, then added a layer of Bermuda Bay and a layer from the Happy Haunting DSP in the current Holiday Catalog. The jack-o'lanterns are from the "vintage" Fall Fest stamp set and were cut out with the matching Fun Fall Framelits. They were stamped in Tangelo Twist onto Tangelo Twist cardstock, with Basic Black faces. The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped in Basic Black on Very Vanilla, with additional banners of Tangelo Twist and Bermuda Bay. I used the small Banner Punch to notch the ends of the banners before adding the Bermuda Bay taffeta ribbon bow.

That's all for today. I hope you like this card!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

TGIFC#26 - Thankful Challenge

Hello and welcome back! Today's project started out as a going-away thank you gift for a special person, so it turned out to be perfect for the TGIFC Challenge this week!

Here's the first photo of my project, with more to follow, along with explanations and instructions:

Our church's pastor of care ministries is moving to North Carolina, and today is her last day with us. She has gotten me through some rough times over the past several years, and I cherish her friendship. I am very thankful that she has been in my life, so a simple going-away card was not going to cut it! So I turned the card into a mini album!

I got the idea from Pinterest (don't we all?!), from Sarah Willis. You can find her tutorial here. I wanted something a bit smaller, so I made mine using 4 note card envelopes. My inspiration for this album was the Banner Blessings photopolymer stamp set, but I wanted to expand on that. I stamped each of the images from Banner Blessings onto Whisper White cardstock and fussy-cut them out. They were layered onto various shapes and then attached to cards made from the old Sale-a-Bration Irresistably Yours DSP which were sponged with matching inks. Tabs made from matching ribbons were stapled to the cards, which were then backed with matching solid cardstock. Each one was tucked into one of the envelopes, and those were also embellished. Here is what the rest of the album looks like:

All of the sentiments on the envelope pages were stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black embossing powder. The sentiments on the front and inside back covers were embossed with white embossing powder, as were the vellum flowers on the front cover.

So here are the numbers for my version of the envelope mini album: The base was cut 5-3/8" x 7-7/8" and scored on the long side at 3-5/16" and 3-15/16". The layers on the envelopes are: color cardstock 3" x 5", white cardstock 2-3/4" x 4-3/4", DSP 2-5/8" x 4-5/8". For the front and inside back cover, the white cardstock layer is 3-1/4" x 5-1/4" and the smaller layer is 3-1/8" x 5-1/8". The insert cards are 3" x 4-7/8". 

The following products used are all retired Stampin' Up!: Pretty in Pink cardstock; Crushed Curry and Pear Pizzazz chevron ribbon; Melon Mambo and Marina Mist organza ribbon; Melon Mambo and Marina Mist dotted ribbon; Daffodil Delight stitched grosgrain ribbon; Irresistibly Yours, Polka Dot Parade, Sunshine & Sprinkles, and Nursery Nest DSP; old-style Brights Designer Buttons; Rhinestone Brads; Large Pearl Jewels; Hearts Framelits; and the Petal Potpourri stamp set. All current products will appear below.

I hope Patsy likes this album. I'm sure going to miss her!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Musical Birthday Card

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is a birthday card I made for a very special person - our church choir director. Her birthday was on Thursday and we had a little celebration after rehearsal. Naturally, I volunteered to provide a card for everyone to sign. Here's what I made:

Her favorite colors are pink and black, and I wanted the card to have a vintage feel, so some of the products I used were "vintage" Stampin' Up! It's a bit bigger than a standard card - 5 inches by 7 inches - to allow everyone to have room to write a message. The base is Very Vanilla, with Basic Black and Blushing Bride layers. The music notes in the background are from an old Stampin' Wheel and the sentiment is from Endless Birthday Wishes. The little music note paper clip came from my stash, as did all of the ribbon (Very Vanilla seam binding, Blushing Bride chevron, and Basic Black taffeta). You can see my ribbon stash here.

A few months ago, I unmounted all of my wheel stamps and mounted them onto cling foam. They are much easier to use and take up a lot less space in my craft room!

The card was a hit with the choir members and with the director. Happy birthday, Jen!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Can You Case It #91 - Color Challenge

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for the color challenge at Can You Case It.

And here's my entry:

My son is headed to a wedding this weekend and this card is for the newlyweds. I was inspired by their wedding invitation, which you can see part of in this picture:

With the shades of green in the invitation, it was perfect for this challenge. I built my card on a Wild Wasabi cardstock base. The main layer is Watercolor Paper stamped with the "vintage" Distressed Dots background stamp. I inked the stamp with Wild Wasabi and then randomly sponged on some Garden Green and Island Indigo. I stamped it onto the paper, then spritzed it with water to soften the background. The hearts from the Watercolor Words stamp set were stamped in Island Indigo onto Watercolor Paper and spritzed, then fussy cut. The Wild Wasabi ribbon was wrapped around the layer and tied in a knot and the hearts were attached with dimensionals. The "love" was cut from Island Indigo cardstock using the Expressions thinlits and attached with the mini stapler. A few sequins were added for a bit of bling.

I wish I were going to this wedding - I have a feeling it will be unique!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

SIP Challenge 18

Hello and welcome back! It's been over a week since I posted, but I had a bit of a blitz before that. I think I must have worn myself out! Anyhoo, I'm back today with a card for the sketch challenge at Stamp Ink Paper.

So here's today's card:

This is a pretty simple card with minimal stamping, but lots of layers. The card base is Whisper White Thick Cardstock, layered with Pool Party and embossed Bermuda Bay. I added a circle of Cherry on Top DSP layered with Crushed Curry, then stamped the sentiment on Whisper White and layered that with Watermelon Wonder. The sentiment is stapled onto the card, and voila! Done!

I've made a couple of these for upcoming birthdays, so they'll be going into the mail tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

TGIFC#23 and CCMC#375 - Thanks Much!

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is inspired by the color challenge at TGIF Challenges and the sketch challenge at Create with Connie and Mary. 

Here's today's card:

This card was created on a Very Vanilla base. I added a layer that was embossed with the Honeycomb embossing folder, then wrapped with Old Olive Bakers Twine. The three hexagons were stamped in three different colors, then attached to the card front with dimensionals, as was the circle punched sentiment. Quick and easy!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PCCCS#164 and CC&S#144 - Another Wedding Card

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is inspired by the sketch challenge at the Paper Craft Crew and the color challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches. My son is headed off to a wedding in Tennessee at the end of the month, so this card will be going to the bride & groom.

So, without further ado, here is the card:

As with the last wedding card I made (you can see it here), this is a square card. The base is Night of Navy, with a layer of gold striped Fancy Foil Vellum. I added glue dots under the stripes in the corners to hold the vellum to the base. The banner is cut from Soft Sky cardstock. The navy motif is from the Everything Eleanor stamp set and was fussy cut. A Gold Glimmer Paper scallop circle was added to the end. The hearts were punched out of Gold Foil Paper and the sentiment on the banner is from the Big News stamp set.

I hope the newlyweds like this card, and I hope you do too!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA#270 - Color Challenge

Hello and welcome back! I had a pretty busy weekend, but it's time to get back to creating! Today's card is for the color challenge at Pals Paper Arts. I've always liked Sahara Sand as a neutral card base and Blackberry Bliss is a lovely shade of purple, but Always Artichoke is a color I rarely use. Not sure why; it's just not a go-to color for me.

So here is today's card:

As I mentioned, I used Sahara Sand as a base, and stamped the small flowers from the Heartfelt Sympathy stamp set with Sahara Sand as well to create a background. The sentiment is stamped in Always Artichoke onto a Tea Lace Doily, which was mounted onto a circle of Always Artichoke cardstock before attaching to the card front with dimensionals. It's hard to see that Artichoke circle, but it's there. That doily needed a little bit of support!  A strip of Blackberry Bliss cardstock is tied with a piece of "vintage" Always Artichoke seam binding.

I like the clean and simple look of this card, and will probably make a few for my stash. Unfortunately, I'm afraid I'll be needing them before too long. :( 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Challenge Combo - Again!

Hello and welcome back! I have another challenge combo today - a card inspired by the color challenge at Fab Friday, the sketch challenge at The Paper Players, and the card maker's choice challenge at Stamp Ink Paper. It's always fun to try and mashup the challenges!

So here is today's card:

I created this card on a Very Vanilla base, stamping the acorns in Soft Suede to create a background. The Soft Suede DSP is from the collection from a couple of years ago, and the Rich Razzleberry button also came from my retired stash. I added piercing on the Rich Razzleberry strips for a little bit of texture. All in all, a pretty simple card. I didn't even use any die cuts or punches!

I hope you like today's challenge combo card!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog