Dots & Stripes Slimline Birthday

 Hello and welcome back! Here's card number three for today (I've been busy!):

This design was inspired by the challenges at CAS Colours & Sketches, Color Throwdown, and Inkspirational.

This card went together very quickly. I cut a full-sized slimline base (7" x 8-1/2", scored at 3-1/2"), added a panel of Certainly Celery, then layered on a piece of Basic White that was die-cut with the Dots & Spots Die and a piece of vintage Subtles pattern DSP in So Saffron. The sentiment was stamped in Tahitian Tide and banner-cut before adding to the card front with dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp set - Slim Sayings

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic White and Certainly Celery Cardstock; Subtles Patterns DSP

Ink - Tahitian Tide

Tools - Big Shot, Dots & Spots Die, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

New Year's Birthdays

 Hello and Happy New Year! Well, it's only January 3rd and I'm already behind on my birthday cards! This does not bode well for the rest of the year. I've got to get my act together!

No challenges here, I just needed to get myself started, so I created these cards out of the leftovers from a card I made back in October.

Since the card bases were already made up, I only needed to add the sentiment, ribbon, and embellishments to finish them off. I'll toss them in the mail today so they won't be too late!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Slim Sayings, Something Fancy (inside sentiment)

Paper - Basic Black, Basic White, Mango Melody, Parakeet Party, Starry Sky Cardstock

Ink - Starry Sky

Accessories - Parakeet Party Metallic Ribbon, Starry Sky Metallic Ribbon, Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Matte Black Dots

Tools - Big Shot, Slimline Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Celebrate With Tea

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

This design was inspired by the challenges at Just Add Ink, TGIFC, and Tic Tac Toe Challenges.

I found the JAI color combination to be a bit unusual, but decided to run with it anyway! I converted the TGIFC sketch into a mini slimline to meet the Tic Tac Toe challenge, along with creating a card for a celebration and including an envelope (right-hand column)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Cup of Tea, Hey Birthday Chick

Paper - Basic Gray, Basic White, and Bermuda Bay Cardstock; Heart & Home DSP, Brights and Neutrals DSP (retired patterns)

Ink - Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Sweet Sorbet; Stampin' Blends: Sweet Sorbet Light

Accessories - Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Basic Gray Baker's Twine

Tools - Big Shot, Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder, Teacup Dies, Stitched Rectangles Dies, Envelope Punch Board, 1/16" Handheld Punch, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

You Are The Best!

 Hello and welcome back! The choir director at my church is celebrating a special birthday this week and I was asked to make a card for the group to sign. Here's the card:

I used the color challenge at As You See It for inspiration.

I wanted to make a slimline card because it has a bit more space for folks to sign it, so I pulled out my Slimline Dies. I originally thought about just using blending brushes to create the colored background behind the black chevrons, but then decided to cut that piece out of all of the colors and piece the brighter colors back in. The good news is, I now have enough parts to make 3 more cards, just with different combinations!

The chevrons alone were a little boring, so out came the Pierced Blooms Dies! I really like this color combo!

I had originally created a bow for the card front but couldn't really find a place where it fit, so since this card will be hand delivered, I figured, why not put it on the envelope? :)

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - In Bloom, Alphabest

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic Black, Mango Melody, Parakeet Party, Starry Sky Cardstock

Ink - Starry Sky, Parakeet Party, Mango Melody

Accessories - Iridescent Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Parakeet Party and Starry Sky Metallic Woven Ribbon

Tools - Big Shot, Slimline Dies, Pierced Blooms Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Another Special Anniversary!

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for another couple at my church celebrating their 55th (Emerald) anniversary!

I used the sketch at CAS Colours & Sketches for inspiration and am also entering this card in this week's Double Trouble Challenge. 

Since I wanted to use hearts for the anniversary card, the only way I could fit them all on the front was to create a slimline card. I love using the green foil for the emerald anniversary!

 Any SU! oldtimers recognize those hearts? They were created with a Sizzix Embosslit! Now you know I never get rid of anything in my stash!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Always in My Heart, Milestone Moments (inside sentiment)

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock, Green Foil Sheet

Ink - Emerald Envy, Smoky Slate

Accessories - Basic Pearls Jewels

Tools - Big Shot, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Floral Heart Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Slimline Happy Birthday

Hello and welcome back! Today's card uses some leftovers from the slimline card I made a few days ago.

For the previous card I die cut two slimline backgrounds, one from Pale Papaya and another from Calypso Coral. I inlaid some pieces of the opposite color so I had all of the leftover available for another card. I've used the same color combination as the other card too, just with different stamps.

 I added a few of the Garden Gems for some extra bling. This design was inspired by the challenge at Paper Craft Crew this week. The sketch is a standard card, so I just stretched it for the slimline. The design also works for this week's Tic Tac Toe Challenge. I've used the bottom row - circle, sparkle, free.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Slim Sayings, Encircled in Friendship, Happy & Heartfelt (inside sentiment)

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic White, Just Jade, Calypso Coral, and Pale Papaya cardstocks

Ink - Just Jade, Calypso Coral

Accessories - Garden Gems

Tools - Big Shot, Slim Card Dies, Layering Circles Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Slimline Healing Hugs

Hello and welcome back! I got my first big order from the new mini and SAB catalogs yesterday so I decided to use the Slim Card Dies to make a card for someone in my church choir who recently had surgery.

I used the die to cut the front panel from both Calypso Coral and Pale Papaya, then inlaid some of the pieces. Eventually, I'll make another card from what is left over using the Pale Papaya base. I think this will take some experimenting to feel comfortable with. Once the inner pieces are out, the remaining border piece is very floppy and hard to work with. I thought about using an adhesive sheet but decided against it. Maybe next time...

 I tied some Just Jade gingham ribbon around the card front before adding the sentiment but thought it still needed something more. Iridescent Rhinestones to the rescue! The largest ones fit perfectly.

The color combination for this card came from the challenge at The Paper Players and I'm also entering it in the Designer's Choice challenge at SUO Challenges.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - So Sentimental, Dandelion Wishes (inside sentiment)

Paper - Basic White Thick Cardstock; Basic White, Calypso Coral, Pale Papaya, and Just Jade Cardstock

Ink - Just Jade

Accessories - Flowers For Every Season Ribbon Combo, Iridescent Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Tools - Big Shot, Stitched So Sweetly Dies, Slim Card Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

Card of the Day - Con-Grad-ulations!

Hello and welcome back! Today's card is to celebrate a cousin who just earned her SECOND Master's degree!

Her school's colors are maroon and gold, and she earned her degree in education, which in the world of academic regalia, is a light blue hood.

I've used this "congratulations" stamp set before but this time it really gave me some trouble. I started out by heat embossing the outline, then doing the first set of letters with full strength Merry Merlot. I used my Stamparatus to help line everything up but the stickiness of the stamp pulled my paper ever so slightly out of whack. So I tried again. The second time was better, but when I went to stamp the second set of letters (Merry Merlot stamped off once), I had forgotten to move the stamp on the plate from the first attempt. After I cleaned it with my shammy it was still wet so some of the wet ink transferred to the cardstock before I stamped it. It's most noticeable on the "g" and the second "n" but not enough for a third try. It just looks "artistic" now!

The blue ribbon was created with the Blue Ribbon stamp set, along with a retired die and punch. 

This slimline card was inspired by the challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Amazing Congratulations, Blue Ribbon, Here's A Card

Paper - Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock; Very Vanilla and Merry Merlot Cardstock; Gold Foil Paper

Ink - Versamark, Merry Merlot, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories - Gold Embossing Powder

Tools - Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Layering Circles Dies, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Classic Label Punch, Heat Tool, Stamparatus, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals

Card of the Day - Wood Anniversary

 Hello and welcome back! Yesterday I showed you a card for a 19th (jade) anniversary; today I have a card for a 5th (wood) anniversary. 

I haven't made too many slimline cards but there was a slimline challenge this week, so I decided to go for it! While a standard slimline card measures 3-1/2" x 8-1/2", mine is a bit larger (4" x 9") so I could fit the large die-cut on the front. I thought I might have to make envelopes for these cards, so I was excited to find some ivory-colored #10 envelopes in my office. They are a perfect fit for this card!

In the summer five years ago we attended several weddings, so all of those couples are celebrating their wood anniversaries this year. For this card I used the Natural Touch Specialty Paper that was offered as part of the Butterfly Brilliance suite in April. It's hard to see in the photos, but the paper is textured like woodgrain.

I originally planned to cut the floral bouquet from Very Vanilla and either sponge it or watercolor it, but then decided to make it easy on myself and cut it from Artistry Blooms DSP instead. I used the vanilla die cuts for the banners, then added a few Pastel Pearls for some bling.

This design was inspired by the challenge at Just Add Ink.

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stamping!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp sets - Hand-Drawn Blooms, Milestone Moments (inside sentiment)

Paper - Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock; Very Vanilla and Granny Apple Green cardstock; Artistry Blooms DSP; Natural Touch Specialty Paper

Ink - Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green (inside card), Highland Heather (on envelope)

Accessories - Pastel Pearls 

Tools - Big Shot, Banner Blooms Dies, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Card of the Day - Silver & Black Birthday

 Hello and welcome back! Today's card is for a friend's birthday next week.

Mary has silver hair and almost always wears black and white, so when I saw this color challenge, I knew it was perfect for her Christmas Eve Eve birthday!

This Silver Foil Vellum has been in my stash for years and I hadn't even opened it yet! It's the perfect background for the ornate die cuts. I can't believe how shiny that silver foil is - it's like a mirror!

Because I created a mini slimline card, I had to make a custom envelope. I found this old Neutrals patterned paper that has a silver sheen to it and it was striped on one side, so it matches the card! Since I'd already decided that this card would be hand-delivered, I figured I might as well go all out and use the really big clear epoxy droplets. I'd never be able to put those through the mail!

This card was inspired by the color challenge at The Paper Players and the sketch challenge at TGIF Challenges.

 I hope Mary likes this card - I think it's classy, just like her! :)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great day!

--Cindi

Supplies used (all Stampin' Up!):

Stamp set - Perennial Birthday

Paper - Whisper White Thick Cardstock, Basic Black Cardstock, Silver Foil Paper, Silver Foil Vellum, Neutrals Patterns DSP

Ink - Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black (inside sentiment), Smoky Slate (envelope)

Accessories - Frosted & Clear Epoxy Droplets, Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Silver Embossing Powder

Tools - Big Shot, Ornate Layers Dies, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Envelope Punch Board, Heat Tool