SSINKspiration Fun with Patterns: Merry Patterns

Good morning and Happy Friday!  As much as you may not want to admit it, the holidays will be here before we know it so in order to help enjoy the holiday season and not have so much stress it helps to get a head start on some of those holiday projects, including greeting cards.  As you may have guessed Christmas is the number #1 holiday for sending cards and love to give a handcrafted card to let friends and family know that we're thinking of them.  To help with your holiday crafting Stampin' Up! has released an exclusive Hostess set, Merry Patterns, during September and October that is FREE and you can earn with a qualifying party or order (whoo hoo for FREE stamps!!).  Today the SSINKspiration designers are sharing project ideas using this exclusive stamp set.  This is a great set and it's a two-step stamp which makes it super easy to fill in the images with the coordinating stamp in case you don't feel like coloring them in.

I started with Cherry Cobbler cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock that I embossed with the Big Shot and Softly Falling Embossing Folder (I turned the embossing folder sideways so I got the heavy stamping all along the side of the cardstock that's visible with this card).  next I added a piece of Be Merry Designer Series Paper (remember it's party of the Buy 3 Get 1 Free DSP promotion this month) and then tucked a strip of Gold Glimmer paper behind the DSP.

For the main stamped image I stamped the candle outline in Basic Black ink on Whisper White cardstock and filled the image in my stamping with Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, and Garden green and then cut it out with the Big Shot and Stitched Shapes Framelits.  Basic Black cardstock and the Layering Circles Framelits were used to the cut the scalloped circle mat.

For the greeting I heat embossed it by stamping with Versamark ink on Basic Black cardstock and then used Gold Emboss Powder and the Heat Tool to set it.  To finish the greeting I ran it through the Big Shot twice with the Stiched Shapes Framelits (square this time) to get the stitching on the top and bottom and then used Paper Snips to cut the side tails before attaching the greeting to the cardfront with dimensionals.  The final touch, a bow tied out of Garden Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon.

This stamp set has some great on trend images as well as some classic greetings that are fun to use and create really beautiful cards in no time!  I'm going to enjoy using this stamp set in other projects I have planned this holiday season and I'm sure you will to.  Make sure to don't miss out on this FREE stamp set offer before it's over at the end of the month!

Below are easy ordering links for the product's used on today's card:

Product List

Merry Patterns Photopolymer Stamp Set [144973]	Big Shot [143263]	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705]
Heat Tool [129053]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]	Garden Green 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon [144181]	Gold Glimmer Paper [133719]
Be Merry Designer Series Paper [144111]	Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [119685]	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [120953]	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045]
Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]

Have a wonderful weekend!

Diana

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration Card Sketch SSINKCS30: Bravo

Good morning!  It was a good weekend and when we weren't busy with Aidan's birthday party I was able to break away for a little stamping and had a very fun stamp class this afternoon!  Since it's the second Monday of the month it's time for the monthly card sketch challenge over on the SSINKspiration blog.  I know I've said it before but I really enjoy these challenges as a great way to change things up and provide some inspiration for cards I'm making.  I had a coworker leave recently for a new opportunity and while it's sad for us I was so happy for this opportunity for him and his family and wanted to give him something special.

I started with Lost Lagoon cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece Crumb Cake cardstock that I embossed with the Big Shot and Brickwall Embossing Folder and then sponged the cardstock with Crumb Cake ink to highlight the embossing.

Next I took a piece of designer series paper from the Going Places DSP stack and matted it with Lost Lagoon cardstock.  As you know, I like my bling so I added a gold star to the center by using some Gold Glimmer Paper, Big Shot, and Star Collection Framelits.

The greeting is from the Bravo stamp set and was stamped with Basic Black ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I used Paper Snips to trim the ends and my bone folder to curl the paper and then glue dots were used to attach the greeting so it holds it's curl and looks like a flag waving.

I had a lot of fun using different textures and elements to really amp up the WOW factor with this card while it was still pretty easy to make and I know my friend really appreciated it.  The other design team members are sharing some fun cards as inspiration for this card sketch so go check them out and then we would love for you to play along and share your project!

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today's card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Enjoy!

Diana

Can You Case it? Design Team - Sketch Challenge CYCI #61

Good morning!  It’s time to try out after our soggy Saturday and enjoy a much nicer Sunday (most of you know I enjoying running races and I had been regretting not signing up for a race that was yesterday but with the race I felt much better about not going, I really don’t like my feet being wet when I run, plus I would have missed Aidan’s basketball game which wouldn’t have been good.  Anyway, it’s time for a little creative inspiration and this weeks Can You Case It? Sketch challenge.  Again we were given complete freedom to make anything we wanted, with any products we want but we had to make the card in 10 minutes or less.  Thankfully I had the Lotus Blossom stamp set sitting on my desk recently and with the two-step stamping it makes beautiful cards a breeze. 

I started with Lost Lagoon for the cardbase and sponged random polka dots on the background using the Dots and Strips Mask and a sponge dauber.  Next I added a strip of DSP from the Typeset Speciality Designer Series Paper .  For the stamped image I took a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and started by stamping darkest to lightest which each of the flower and stem images using Lost Lagoon (full strength), Lost Lagoon (stamped off), and Pool Party inks for the flower and Mossy Meadow and Pear Pizzaz for the flower stems.  Next I added another piece of DSP from the Typeset Speciality Designer Series Paper package and tied a piece of Lost Lagoon Stitched Satin Ribbon around the layer before adhering it to the cardfront.

For the greeting, I used the same stamp set and stamped the greeting in Lost Lagoon ink and punched it out with a 1” Circle Punch and cut a mat for the greeting with the Big Shot and the Window Frames Framelits, and then attached it to the card with dimensionals.

This card turned out so soft and pretty you could really use it for any occasion (in fact I made a second one using a birthday greeting and different punches).  Remember, this is a Sale-a-bration stamp set and can earn if for FREE, but only through the end of the month so don’t miss out.  The other design team members shared wonderful cards as well so please go check them out and then play along with the sketch; I would love to see what you come up with. 

 

 

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today’s card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

Take care!

Diana