Ginkgo Sympathy

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

A close friend's father passed away last week and I'm sending this card to her mom. I've known them for over 40 years and for a while, her parents were like a second family to me.

I fell in love with this gingko set when I first saw the preview of the mini catalog. Gingkos are one of my favorite trees. The shape of the leaves is so unique. The inspiration for this design came from the mini catalog. There is a gift package sample that I tweaked a bit to come up with this.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp set - Gingko Branch, Flourishing Phrases (inside sentiment)

Paper - Very Vanilla and Mossy Meadow Cardstock; Hydrangea Hill DSP; Distressed Gold Specialty Paper

Ink - Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Mango Melody

Accessories - Old Olive Twill Ribbon

Tools - Big Shot, Gingko Branch Dies, Scalloped Contour Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

CAS Spring Birthday

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

This card is for the challenges at CAS Colours & Sketches, Freshly Made Sketches, and The Paper Players.

Those colors from the color challenge were perfect for the CAS spring challenge, and it was easy to incorporate flowers into the sketch. I punched two of the daisies from each color and stacked them, then layered them onto Basic White circles that were embossed and brushed with the matching color. I used Opal Rounds for the flower centers and stamped a simple "happy birthday" at the bottom of the card. Simple and easy!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi 

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp set - Happiness Abounds

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic White, Daffodil Delight, Highland Heather, and Parakeet Party Cardstock; Simply Marbelous DSP

Ink - Parakeet Party, Daffodil Delight, Highland Heather

Accessories - Opal Rounds

Tools - Big Shot, Hive 3D Embossing Folder, Medium Daisy Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, Blending Brushes, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Awesome Waves Birthday

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

This design is pretty close to the sketch, so I'm entering it at Hand Stamped Sentiments. 

I needed a birthday card for my half-sister who loves the beach and thought this set would be perfect! I've had it for awhile now but had never inked it up. I had the design in mind when I started putting it together but didn't think it through all the way, so I had to change it up a bit. Originally, I was going to leave the wave die cuts free-floating, but I added the DSP to the card front before I die cut the window so I couldn't put the wave in between the layers. I also felt like they needed a bit of structure, so I added a window sheet inside the card to hold the wave, then created a frame with some Basic White cardstock to cover the inside. Some of the glue is visible on the back of the window sheet, but it's not too obtrusive.

I hate to waste scraps of the fancy papers, so I decided to add a couple of clouds and use the foil for the accents.

I just love the colors in this foil paper and the DSP!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp set - Waves of Inspiration

Paper - Basic White and Pacific Point Cardstock; Waves of the Ocean DSP; Blue Foils Specialty Paper; Window Sheets

Ink - Pacific Point

Tools - Big Shot, Waves Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Glue Dots, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Adhesive Sheets

Woven Rainbow Birthday

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

I was able to combine three challenges to create this card: the "use your scraps" challenge at SUO Challenges, the rainbow challenge at Shopping Our Stash, and the "spring cleaning stash" challenge at As You See It.

My cards often have several layers and when I cut those layers, I end up with lots of skinny strips. I used to throw them into the recycling bin, but about a year ago, I decided to start saving them. I didn't have a plan, but thought I might find a way to use them at some point. The challenges this week were the perfect excuse!

I took strips in as many rainbow colors as could find and wove them into a square. I die cut a large circle out of a layer of Basic White and adhered the woven piece onto the back, trimming off the overhanging bits. I added the Basic Black frame by using the same die and the next larger one from the old Circles Collection dies and added that to the front layer. This whole layer is popped up on the card base. I stamped the greeting and used one of the banners from Stylish Shapes to cut it out, then layered it onto a strip of Gorgeous Grape cardstock before popping it up on the front. Every card needs a bit of bling, so I added a few Gold Glitter Enamel Dots.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!0:

Stamp set - Occasionally Funny

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic White, Basic Black, and Gorgeous Grape cardstock; Assorted colored strips - all Stampin' Up colors

Ink - Gorgeous Grape

Accessories - Gold Glitter Enamel Dots

Tools - Big Shot, Circles Collection Framelits, Stylish Shapes Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy Birthday Queen Bee

Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

This card is for the challenge at Cupcake Inspirations.

This is the second card I've made with this stamp set. It is surprisingly versatile! It also gave me a chance to use some of the new online exclusive products from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp set - Queen Bee

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Balmy Blue, Basic White, and Daffodil Delight Cardstock; Vellum Cardstock; Regency Park DSP

Ink - Night of Navy, Daffodil Delight; Stampin' Blends: Balmy Blue Light, Daffodil Delight Dark, Granny Apple Green Light

Accessories - Gold & Silver 1/8" Trim Combo Pack, Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots

Tools - Big Shot, Queen Bee Dies, Elegant Borders Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Glue Dots, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Garden Lane Anniversary

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

The design was inspired by the challenges at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, Double Trouble Challenges, and Tic Tac Toe Challenges (middle row - die cut, green, layers). I forgot about the plaid for the "Thing 3 twist" at Double Trouble, but that pattern down in the lower right corner looks a bit plaid-ish!

I used 3 different sheets of the "vintage" Garden Lane DSP and cut the "almost" squares, using both sides of the paper. I added them to a layer of Mossy Meadow, then die cut a scalloped rectangle to layer the stamped piece onto. The sentiment was stamped onto a bit of Soft Sea Foam and flagged at the ends to make the banner. A few of my favorite Iridescent Rhinestones for bling, and we're done!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Color & Contour, Ringed With Nature

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic White, Mossy Meadow, and Soft Sea Foam Cardstock; Garden Lane DSP

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Mango Melody, Mossy Meadow

Accessories - Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels

Tools - Big Shot, Scalloped Contours Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Cherry Blossoms Anniversary

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

This card was inspired by the recipe challenge at As You See It and the challenge at Shopping Our Stash.

I have friends who live near Washington, DC with an anniversary coming up. A card with cherry blossoms is perfect, and fits this challenge, too!

I pulled out some "vintage" Primrose Petals Core'dinations cardstock, ran it through my Big Shot with the Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder, then rubbed it with a sanding block to expose the color inside. The cherry blossoms are colored with Pink Pirouette and Old Olive Stampin' Blends and I added a Primrose Petals bow and some Heart Pearls to embellish the card.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Forever Blossoms, Milestone Moments

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Blushing Bride and Basic White Cardstock; Primrose Petals Core'dinations cardstock

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Primrose Petals; Stampin' Blends: Pink Pirouette Dark and Light, Old Olive Dark and Light

Accessories - Primrose Petals Satin Stitched Ribbon, Heart Pearls

Tools - Big Shot, Cherry Blossoms Dies, Stitched Nested Labels Dies, Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder, Sanding Block, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Pop-Up Butterfly Just For You

 Hello and welcome back! Here's today's card:

This card is for the fun fold challenge at Double Trouble (I also included flowers in the DSP) and the tic-tac-toe challenge at Retro Rubber (diagonal - die cut, layers, your choice). 

I found a tutorial from Dawn Griffith to make this fun pop-up design. This butterfly stamp set is more than 5 years old, so it definitely qualifies for "retro" status!

The butterfly is stamped in Gorgeous Grape and Highland Heather, with a Memento Tuxedo Black body and antennae. And of course, I had to add those blingy Iridescent Rhinestones. I hardly ever make a card without them!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Watercolor Wings, Happiness Abounds

Paper - Basic White and Gorgeous Grape Cardstock; Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather

Accessories - Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels

Tools - Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Dies, Layering Ovals Dies, Butterflies Thinlits Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals