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

Cards of the Day - Prized Peony

Hello and welcome back! My cards today are all made with the Prized Peony stamp set and are CASEd from samples in the 2020-2021 Annual Catalog. As a demonstrator, I have access to a document that has "recipes" for all of the samples in the catalog. However, it doesn't go into a lot of detail about how certain looks are accomplished. So I have to guess. Sometimes I guess right and sometimes not.

This first card is an example of "not." The texture stamp was used on the background on the sample, but the recipe indicated that there was heat embossing used. I tried that but I wasn't happy with my placement of the stamping. I also thought that the embossing was a bit harsh, so I went back and filled in with the same stamp in Whisper White Craft Ink. It's a little better but I'm still not totally happy with it. Oh, well, live and learn.

Card #1

 This second card is better. There weren't any unusual techniques, just a dry embossed piece and a heat embossed sentiment. A bit of coloring with Stampin' Blends and it's complete. 

Card #2

 Here's an example of "close enough." On the sample it looked like the dry embossed layer was inked over with white ink. Unfortunately, I was a little heavy-handed with the ink pad and added a few streaks where there shouldn't be any. The embossing is so fine on this folder that it would be difficult to get it just perfect.

Card #3

I think this is the one I'm happiest with. It was a little more challenging and I seemed to be pretty successful. The background has some sponging and some stamped texture images. The frame was added on top and then the colored flowers and leaves were popped up on top.

Card #4

I don't think any of these cards would qualify as "Pinterest fails." The beauty of handmade is that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. Getting over my perfectionism has been a challenge, but I'm working on it. A couple of years ago I probably wouldn't have posted these cards. 

Well, that's it for today. Tomorrow I'll be showing you the results of my "One Sheet Wonder" adventure!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi



Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Card #1
Stamp set - Prized Peony
Paper - Basic Gray and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink - Basic Gray, Petal Pink, Old Olive, Versamark, Whisper White Craft
Accessories - Square Vellum Doilies, Elegant Faceted Dots, White Embossing Powder
Tools - Big Shot, Heat Tool, Water Painters, Peony Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Card #2
Stamp set - Prized Peony
Paper - Basic Gray, Gray Granite, and Whisper White Cardstock; Peony Garden DSP
Ink/Coloring Tools - Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Blends: Old Olive Dark and Light, Petal Pink Dark and Light, Daffodil Delight Dark
Accessories - Elegant Faceted Gems
Tools - Big Shot, Peony Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Dainty Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Card #3
Stamp sets - Prized Peony, Flourishing Phrases
Paper - Basic Black, Whisper White, and Petal Pink Cardstock; Peony Garden DSP
Ink - Versamark, Basic Gray, Whisper White Craft
Accessories - Square Vellum Doilies, Elegant Faceted Dots, White Embossing Powder
Tools - Big Shot, Heat Tool, Peony Dies, Stitched Nested Labels Dies, Dainty Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Card #4
Stamp set - Prized Peony
Paper - Whisper White Cardstock, Whisper White Thick Cardstock
Ink/Coloring Tools - Balmy Blue, Basic Gray, Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Blends: Rococo Rose Dark and Light, Granny Apple Green Dark and Light, So Saffron Dark
Accessories - Elegant Faceted Dots
Tools - Big Shot, Peony Dies, Stitched Rectangle Dies, Sponge Daubers, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

AYSI 157 & TGIFC 123 - A Sympathy Card

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for the sketch challenge at As You See It and the color challenge at TGIFC.

And here is today's card.

For this card, I went with a clean and simple look. I first tried stamping the background flourish with Peekaboo Peach but it was a bit too garish, and when I tried stamping off, it was too faint. I think the Soft Sky looks much better. I used the Peekaboo Peach for the die cut flower, layering two of them together. Once again, I pulled out my Stitched Shapes Framelits. They sure get a lot of use!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi



Supplies used:

Stamp set - Flourishing Phrases
Paper - Whisper White Thick Cardstock; Soft Sky, Early Espresso, Peekaboo Peach, and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink - Early Espresso, Soft Sky
Accessories - Basic Pearl Jewels
Tools - Big Shot, Stitched Shapes Framelits, Flourish Thinlits, SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Fine-Tip Glue Pen, Stamp-a-ma-Jig

Catching up on cards!

Hello and welcome back! Today's post is not for a blog challenge, but a personal one. I started off the year pretty motivated to continue sending birthday and anniversary cards, and was successful in January, mailing 20 cards. Unfortunately, I fell off the wagon in February and March, and went totally dark in April and most of May. So, I'm recommitting myself to get back into the swing. I mailed 9 cards today to finish off May and start June, and I'm planning to send cards to everyone I've missed since the beginning of the year. They won't be birthday or anniversary cards, just a note to remind them that I'm thinking of them.

The cards I mailed today were not original creations, but designs I CASEd from Pinterest. 

My son and daughter-in-law have their first wedding anniversary coming up, so I found this design on Pinterest and tweaked it just a bit. I have so much of this Summer Smooches DSP in my stash, I could make thousands of these cards! 

This card is for several of my friends and family who have wedding anniversaries coming up. I found this design here. 

I also created a stash of birthday cards which should get me at least halfway through June. Several versions of this card are on Pinterest, but I got my inspiration from Erica Cerwin's blog.

I also pulled a get well card from my Paper Pumpkin stash to send to a friend who recently had hip replacement surgery.

I love sending "happy mail" and hope that this burst of energy is enough to inspire me to keep going for the rest of the year. And to everyone who waited for the card that never came the last few months, they're on their way - eventually!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!
--Cindi


Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):
Card #1 --Stamp set - Milestone Moments
Paper - Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, and Real Red Cardstock, Summer Smooches DSP (retired)
Ink - Real Red, Daffodil Delight
Accessories - Real Red and Daffodil Delight 1/2" cotton ribbon (retired), Pearl Basic Jewels
Tools - Big Shot, Lots of Labels Framelits, Perfect Polka Dots TIEF (retired), SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots


Card #2 --Stamp set - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Flourishing Phrases (inside card)
Paper - Watermelon Wonder, Whisper White, and Flirty Flamingo Cardstock, Affectionately Yours Specialty DSP
Ink - Dapper Denim
Accessories - Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Bakers Twine (retired)
Tools - Big Shot, Stylish Stems Framelits, Petal Burst TIEF, Modern Label punch (retired), Tombow Multi Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals


Card #3 --Stamp set - Birthday Blast
Paper - Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Flirty Flamingo, and Sweet Sugarplum Cardstock, 2016-2018 In Color DSP Stack, Brights DSP Stack
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Tempting Turquoise, Flirty Flamingo, Sweet Sugarplum
Accessories - Whisper White Bakers Twine, Silver Sequin Trim
Tools - Banner Triple Punch, Handheld Stapler and Mini Staples (retired), SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals 

Playing Along with Freshly Made Sketches #250

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for this week's challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. 

And here is my card:

I needed an anniversary card and a wedding card this week, so I planned on using the same card for both. This is what I originally created:

Which is close to the sketch, but not exactly. :)

Both cards use the Flourish Thinlits, the retired Gold Foil Vellum paper, and a little bit of Clear Wink of Stella on a Very Vanilla card base. The sentiments have been stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with gold embossing powder. The Wink of Stella and embossing didn't show up very well in the photos, but it's there!

I'll be putting these cards in the mail today, and I hope they are appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi



Supplies used:

Very Vanilla card stock
Gold Foil Vellum paper
Gold Foil paper
Versamark ink
Flourish Thinlits
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder
Pearls Basic Jewels
Clear Wink of Stella
Mini Glue Dots

It's Wedding Season!

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is not for a challenge - it's one I made for my husband's cousin who got married yesterday! This was the third wedding we've been to this summer!

I took my cue from the colors used at the bridal shower last month. I've used wedding invitations for inspiration in the past, but the invitation for this wedding was - what can I say? - unique! The bride and groom are into online gaming, so the invite looked like an old style Nintendo game cartridge. There was no way I was coming up with something like that!

Funny thing is, the flourish from the thinlits used on the card kind of resembles the centerpieces that were on the tables at the reception. Who knew? :)

Congratulations and best wishes for a happy life, Ben and Dri!

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi



Supplies used:

Stamp set: Flourishing Phrases
Cardstock: Cucumber Crush, Elegant Eggplant, Shimmery White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Cucumber Crush dotted lace trim (retired)
Tools: Flourish Thinlits, Tags & Labels Framelits, Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Precision Base Plate, Die Brush, Stampin' Dimensionals 

PPA#308 & CAS#181 - Combo Sketch and Colour Challenge

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for two challenges - the sketch challenge at Pals Paper Arts and the colour challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.

And here is the card:

The sketch was the easy part, but combining these colors was a little bit of a challenge for me. I used Whisper White Thick Cardstock for the base and added a layer of Elegant Eggplant DSP from my stash of retired paper. The next layer is Irresistibly Floral Specialty DSP that has been sponged with Soft Suede ink. I wrapped it with retired Cucumber Crush Dotted Lace Trim and added the Whisper White oval and leaf and flower cut with the Flourish Thinlits.

Notice there is no sentiment on the front of the card. I was not sure what I was going to use it for, but it will be going in the mail tomorrow as a belated anniversary card for a high school friend. The sentiment has been stamped inside. 

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day! 

--Cindi


Supplies used:
Flourishing Phrases stamp set - 141534
Whisper White Thick Cardstock - 140272
Regals DSP - retired patterns
Irresisibly Floral Specialty DSP - 141644
Whisper White Cardstock - 100730
Cucumber Crush Cardstock - 138335
Elegant Eggplant Cardstock - 105126
Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad - 126969
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad - 126978
Cucumber Crush Dotted Lace Trim - retired
Pearl Basic Jewels - 119247
Flourish Thinlits - 141478
Big Shot - 143263
Precision Base Plate - 139684
Die Brush - 140603
Sponge Daubers - 133773
Stampin' Dimensionals - 104430
Multipurpose Liquid Glue - 110755