A Baseball kinda Birthday

Today was an OMG I forgot to make a birthday card day. As I'm wrapping the present I realize I had no birthday card. How does that happen? I should have tons of cards available! So, I kicked it into high gear and whipped this little one out. I think the stitches totally make it come together. 

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink ~ Basic Black, Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky

Stamp Sets ~ Great Sport (retired), Gorgeous Grunge, Memorable Moments, Perfect Pennants

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Chevron punch, Adhesive, Dimensionals

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ Friday Favorites!

Today is Friday Favorites at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration! Once again, I've chosen {Hardwood} as my favorite. This card actually encases a lot of favorites for me. I really really love {By the Tide}. It makes for an easy masculine card. Something that is sometimes difficult to created. Another favorite is Tempting Turquoise. It is such a FABULOUS color! It was so much fun to put all of these "favs" together!

What is a great card without a great envelope? With the help of the Envelope Punch Board, I created this matching envelope. A big white envelope just seems boring to me, so I decorated it to match. Perfect!

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Whisper White, Island Indigo

Ink ~ Smoky Slate, Tempting Turquoise, Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight, Pistachio Pudding, Cajun Craze, Calypso Coral

Stamp Sets ~ By the Tide, Hardwood, Something to Say, Gorgeous Grunge

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Word Window Punch, Sponges, Dimensionals, All Purpose Liquid Adhesive, Glue Dots

Embellishments ~ Hemp Twine (non SU) 

Around the World ~ Stampin' Up! Sketch Challenge #AW17

I have been stuck on this impressionistic technique for some time now. I really need to jump onto something new, but I just LOVE this effect. I also really enjoy the {Happy Watercolor} stamp set. The flower is so much fun to color and give dimension to. 

This sketch came from Around the World Stampin' Up Challenge. I strayed from the sketch a little. I decided to go with a vertical version. That's me... the rule breaker!

The Sketch:

Here's my take!

*The background was created using Stampin' Up! Markers.

Supplies:

Cardstock ~ Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink ~ Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Marina Mist, Tempting Turquoise, Garden Green, Old Olive, Night of Navy, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Black StazOn

Stamp Set ~ Happy Watercolor

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, SU Markers, Blender Pen, Sponges, Dimensionals, All Purpose Liquid Adhesive, Glue Dots, Crystal Effects

A Ship in the Night ~ An Impressionistic Approach

Father's Day is quickly approaching. I know, you're thinking... no, it's next month. Well, I said that too, then I looked at the calendar and my busy schedule and decided I'd better get started or I'd never get them done I need THREE! One for my dad, one for my father-in-law, and one for the most wonderful Daddy of all...my hubby.

Masculine cards are one of my favorite things to make. Mostly because there isn't a lot of options out there to work with. I love pushing myself (a little).

This card was so much fun to create. It was actually pretty simple and quick to put together. Really, it was! Obviously I wanted to do a nautical theme. I'm addicted to them. I'm not really a fan of DSP, only because everyone has access to it. I wanted something very unique that you can't find anywhere. So, I decided to go with a Van Gogh theme. I think it worked out perfectly.

Sponges and markers were used to color the background.

I added a three dimensional look by cutting out the sails (from a second stamped image) and lifting them with dimensionals.

                            

I've recently started matching the envelopes to my cards. It's a simple way to add that unique, one-of-a-kind touch. I love it!

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Whisper White, Basic Black, Island Indigo, Baked Brown Sugar

Ink ~ So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Island Indigo, Soft Suede, Basic Black, Black StazOn

Stamp Sets ~ The Open Sea, Hardwood, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, SU Markers, Sponges, Blender Pen, Water, Word Window Punch, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Liquid Glue, Anywhere Glue Stick, Paper Piercing Tool

Embellishments ~ Vintage, Hemp Twine (not SU)

Ahoy ~ A Birthday on the Horizon!

I really love making nautical cards, but I've been stuck in a rut lately and have been using the same things over and over. This time, I decided to do a kid theme. My son has a birthday party to go to in a few days and I thought this would make the perfect card for a wild boy party!

The pirates were so much fun to create. I hope you love this card as much as I do!

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Night of Navy, Baked Brown Sugar, Whisper White, Basic Black

DSP ~ Fresh Prints (now retired)

Ink ~ Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Night of navy, Tangerine Tango, Crisp Cantaloupe, Basic Black, Craft White

Stamp Sets ~ Gorgeous Grunge, Banner Blast, Hello Sailor, Happy Watercolor

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Cupcake Builder Punch, Banner Punch, Corner Punch, Blender Pen, Sponges, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Sticky Strip, Anywhere Glue Stick, White Gel Pen

Embellishments ~ Vintage Brads, Toothpicks, Googly Eyes, Blue Satin Ribbon (not SU), Burlap ribbon (not SU)

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

Soldiers gave their lives - Enormous price for freedom - Gray clouds in morning

Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of summer with a long weekend of barbecues, fun and friends but we should all take a few moments to remember the real meaning of Memorial Day. I am truly blessed to call this country mine. All because of them. To all the men and women that have fought bravely for our country. Thank you, and God Bless!

Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration we are celebrating Memorial Day by sharing our own creations. Make sure to stop by to check out some wonderful work!

I am a total fan of the {Hardwood} stamp. I think it will be one of my all-time favorites. I am also a fan of the chevron stripe. I've been wanting to decorate a wall in my living room with barn wood in this design. Since that project requires the help of one busy hubby, I decided to make my own on paper. I am in love with the way this turned out. I hope you like it too!

Supplies

Cardstock ~ Real Red, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede

Ink ~ Real Red, Night of Navy, Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso

Stamp Sets ~ Hardwood, Chalk Talk, Everything Eleanor

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Ruler, Sponges, Dimensionals, Anywhere Glue Sticks, Glue Dots, Liquid Glue

Embellishments ~ Denim Ribbon, Basic Metal Buttons, String

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ Teacher Appreciation

I can't believe that this school year is almost over. Where has the time gone? My little ones are growing up way too fast! This fall I will have a Kindergartner and a 3rd Grader. What? 

As this year comes to an end, we wanted to celebrate our wonderful teachers. What comes to my mind when I think Teacher? Apples. I didn't want to wrap up just any apple, so I wrapped up a caramel apple. Perfect! Stampin' Up! What else do I think of? Chalkboards! So, I combined the two. This was a simple, quick project that I think their teachers will love.

Stop by Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration to check out some other wonderful Teacher Appreciation gifts!

*Chalkboard Technique

Using a sponge and Stampin' Up! Craft White ink, very lightly sponge the background in swirling motions till you're desired look is achieved. So simple!

Supplies

Cardstock ~ Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink ~ Craft White, White StazOn, Black StazOn, Cherry Cobbler

Stamp Sets ~ Chalk Talk

Tools ~ Chalk Talk Framelits, Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Sponges, Gusseted Cellophane Bag

Embellishments ~ Cherry Cobbler Chevron Ribbon, Doilies 

May Paper Crafters Sampler Issue Release!

 

Paper Crafters Sampler

We've put together a fun, yet challenging Sampler for May. This month offers three times more flair than the previous issues! Each project simply had to contain "3" of something. Stop by and pick up your May issue today to see what else is in store. There are a LOT of amazing projects with tutorials!

Sneak Peek

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ May Card Sketch

Happy Monday! Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration we're playing around with the May card sketch! Coming up with a layout is always difficult for me. I get stuck in a rut and never can seem to think outside the box. I really enjoy these challenges because they SHOVE me out of my comfort zone!

Since I am in {love} with the "Hardwood" stamp I decided to use it as the background for this card. I wanted this to look like a hole in the fence. The flower had to POP out of the page and I think I achieved what I had pictured in my head!

Crisp Cantaloupe is quickly becoming one of my go-to colors. I especially love it when it is paired with Crumb Cake. It works perfectly with my vintage style!

*This flower is 3 layers thick to give it a LOT of dimension. 

Supplies

Cardstock ~ Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla

Ink ~ Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight

Stamp Sets ~ Hardwood, Happy Watercolor, Perfect Pennants, Truly Grateful, Gorgeous Grunge

Tools ~ Paper trimmer, paper snips, big shot, circle framelits, dimensionals, adhesive, glue dots, sponge daubers, blender pen, bone folder

Embellishments ~ Gold Sequin Trim, Crisp Cantaloupe Twine

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ May Color Challenge

Woo Hoo it's Color Challenge time at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration! Today's challenge is FABULOUS. I absolutely love this combination. Midnight Muse and Summer Starfruit are magnificent together, then you add Crumb Cake to the mix and it's to die for!

I personally feel that this combination is perfect for a masculine card. Something that I don't have a lot of. I went with a generic greeting. One that could be used for several different occasions. I'm still quite addicted to arrows, so naturally they had to be included.

Curious about the Dots? I just drew them with a Midnight Muse marker, then applied a spot of Crystal Effects over the top. 

Supplies

Cardstock ~ Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Very Vanilla

Ink ~ Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit

Stamp Sets ~ Hello Lovely, Gorgeous Grunge, Off the Grid, Peachy Keen

Tools ~ Dimensionals, Anywhere Glue, Glue Dots, Decorative Label punch

Embellishments ~ Summer Starfruit twine (Sale-a-Bration catalog), Crystal Effects