Father's Day {Paper Pumpkin} Delivery Stepped up for a Birthday Card!

Today’s project comes to us courtesy of the May delivery of my Paper Pumpkin subscription.  This fun kit came with supplies to make four full-sized cards and two smaller notecards (envelopes included for all!).  The stamps include a “Happy birthday” sentiment as well as “Happy Father’s Day.”  There are also smaller stamps with “Bro,” “Dad,” and “Son.”

Here’s a {stepped up} version of the cards, made with the materials from the kit as well as “happy” from the newest photopolymer set, Endless Birthday Wishes.  I also used my 1 3/4-inch Circle Punch upon which to base the sentiment stamping (sponged with Wild Wasabi ink to make it stand out).  The Soft Suede Baker’s Twine came in the kit, but I added a scrap of Linen Thread (it actually came from my April Mother’s Day Paper Pumpkin delivery).

Paper Pumpkin kits provide a quick and successful creative escape and then once the projects are complete, you’ve got yourself a fun little set of versatile stamps!  I have really enjoyed both creating the projects as directed as well as altering and {stepping up} the project to my own design.

Need another reason to try Paper Pumpkin?  You can prepay for Paper Pumpkin subscriptions and if your entire pre-shipping/tax order totals $150+, you can also earn Hostess Benefits (these prepaid subscriptions can be combined with merchandise orders)!

Artist's Flair:

• I sponged Wild Wasabi Classic Ink on the 1 3/4-inch Circle piece to make it stand out against the larger Very Vanilla flagged piece.

• My Paper Snips came in handy when it came to making the flagged ends on the Wild Wasabi "Happy" piece.

• Tiny knots at the ends of the Linen Thread and Soft Suede Baker's Twine tidy up the ends of the bows.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Hey, Man (May, 2014 Paper Pumpkin), Endless Birthday Wishes (137553)

Papers:  Contents from Hey, Man kit, Very Vanilla (101650) and Wild Wasabi Card Stock (108641)

Inks:  Wild Wasabi (126959) and Marina Mist Classic Ink (a Stampin' Spot is included in the May kit) (full-sized pad = 126962)

Accessories & Tools:  1 3/4-inch Punch (119850), Linen Thread (104199), Paper Snips (103579) and Stampin' Sponges (101650)

Starburst and a Sale-A-Bration Sunshine for a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

I made this card for the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #211.  I love those sketches and sometimes my schedule is just right to allow me to participate and enter.  

I've been looking forward to making a sun shape with my Starburst Sayings (OC, page 34, W133182, C133185) and Framelits (#132967) and my Banner Punch (SAB, page 13, #133519). The Banner Punch is a 2014 Sale-A-Bration freebie that I earned with a $50 merchandise purchase.  

Studio Suggestions:

• I used my Color Coach (AC, page 139, #130118, with 2012-14 In Color Cards #130120) for guidance in my color scheme;  Real Red, Summer Starfruit and Marina Mist are crisp and clean together. 

• I love the Candy Dots (AC, page 143, #130931), too, which I placed on the right. Glue Dots (AC, page 174, #103683) are hidden beneath, adhering the Vellum card stock down (AC, page 156, #101856).  I used a Stampin' Dimensional (AC, page 175, #104430) on the left, hidden beneath the smaller Marina Mist starburst.

Sale-a-Bration runs through March 31.  Click {HERE} to check out the fun freebies!

{Weekly} Deal Me In!

Another Tuesday = Another week's worth of Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!  Check it out below and click {HERE} to shop!

Borders Scoring Plate Simply Scored, #126192, regularly $14.95, on sale this week for $11.21

Envelope Framelits Dies, #132172, regularly $26.95, on sale this week for $20.21

Finishing Touches Edgelit dies, #127010, regularly $9.95, on sale this week for $7.46.

Frosty Day II Digital Download (MDS) #128875, regularly $9.95, on sale this week for $5.97!

Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (TIEF), #123134, regularly $7.95, on sale this week for $5.96

Marina Mist Chevron Ribbon, #130016, regularly $8.95, on sale this week for $6.71.

Soft Sky Classic Ink Pad, #131181, regularly $5.95, on sale this week for $4.46 .

Enjoy the bargains!

Father's Day Card: {Forever Young}

There's something very poetic about this stamp set's name and Father's Day...  I love the tree and thought it made a nice focal point for this masculine card.  

I entered this card in the 365 Cards Heavy Metal Challenge last week and also in the CardPatterns Sketch 169 challenge for this week.  The antique brad at the top adds heavy metal, but with a touch of panache.

The sentiment is crafted from a Decorative Label punch (which I had fun trimming) and the stamped image from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out with the Word Window punch.

The card stock colors are courtesy of my Color Coach:  Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue.  I wanted to use the Marina Mist striped Designer Series Paper (from the Subtles Patterns Stack), and that drove the rest of the color choices. 

The Crumb Cake piece with the tree stamped upon it was fed through my Big Shot with the Labels Collection Framelit and the Crumb Cake piece beneath it was sueded.

The flagged end of the Marina Mist Designer Series Paper was achieved using my 1-1/4" Square punch.

Happy Father's Day to the men in my life!  We love you!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Forever Young (W122570, C122572), Teeny Tiny Wishes (W115370, C127802)

Paper:  Cajun Craze (119684), Crumb Cake (120953), Marina Mist (119682) and Bashful Blue (105120) Card Stocks and Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Stack (117152)

Inks:  Cajun Craze  Classic (126965)

Accessories:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Decorative Label Punch (120907), Word Window Punch (119857), 1-1/4 inch Square Punch (119865), Antique Brads (117273), Linen Thread (104199), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Stampin' Up!'s Grunge Rock in Blue

Today's project was a card I created for the 365 Cards challenge last week called "The 3 Bs."  We were to include three things in our card:  blue, black and a button.  I chose a card base of Marina Mist.  The stamp set, Grunge Rock, retires at the end of May, so I thought I'd highlight it.  

I've said it before and I'll say it again; I love using this set for more than just the tweens/teens in my life.  I've used this set for men's cards and I've really enjoyed the way they've turned out (sans crown, though).  

The center tag was made with the Decorative Label punch, inked with the edges of my Marina Mist Classic ink pad.  The button was adhered after I'd threaded a sliver of Basic Black Card stock through two of its holes.  It's hard to see in the photo, but the holes in the button line up with circles decorating the middle of the crown; I loved being able to utilize those!

The "Happy Birthday!" sentiment was stamped on a rectangular piece of Whisper White and I used the corner of one of my square punches to make the pennant flag.  I then ran it along the edge of my Basic Black Classic ink pad.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Grunge Rock (W117080, C120555)

Papers:  Marina Mist (119682), Basic Black (121045) and Whisper White (100730) card stocks

Inks:  Marina Mist (119668) and Basic Black (101179) Classics

Accessories:  Decorative Label Punch (120907), 2-1/2" Circle Punch (120906), Paper Piercing Tool (116631) and Mat Pack (105826), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430) 

Don't forget!  If you're interested in receiving the Stampin' Up! 2012-2013 Annual Catalog for free, you have until May 31 to do so.  Click here for more details...

Stampin' Up! Supplies Basket for Preschool Donation

Tonight's the Spring Sing at my child's preschool and for the silent auction that accompanies this performance, I prepared a basket of card-making supplies.  I've cut, punched, stamped and prepared items that one could use to create a dozen cards.  I've also used My Digital Studio to create some sketches of ideas for possible layouts.

Here's a variety of punched shapes to use as embellishments.  I've also stamped a few sentiments and punched them out...

Finally, here are three "spools" of ribbon, wrapped and ready for use as well as the card bases, envelopes and pieces of cut Designer Series Paper from the Subtles Patterns Stack.

Since I used the Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack, I wanted to use colors that one could find in those papers.  I've included Marina Mist, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, and Pretty in Pink.  For added interest, I've included Early Espresso (it's not visible -- I ran pieces of that through my Big Shot, using the Vintage Wallpaper and Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folders).

I hope someone has a lot of fun with this!

Stay tuned -- last weekend was my son's First Communion and I've got the invitation and Thank You notes to share with you... 

Stampin' Up! Nature Walk for Easter...

Easter is upon us!  Here's an Easter Card I made for the "Super Sketchy Sunday" challenge at 365 Cards.I am so inspired by the sketches there!

I love the earthy feel of the eggs from the Nature Walk set...

I used my Scallop Edge Border punch to create the border along the Marina Mist and that always produces a slim scrap.  You can see I added it behind the Round Tab punch with "Happy Easter."

The Scallop Trim Border punch adds further interest...

I've been busy enjoying my kids' Spring Break and sewing the girls' Easter dresses.  I'll be posting the rest of the week's projects soon!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Nature Walk (W121925, C121997), Teeny TIny Wishes (W115370)

Papers:  Crumb Cake (120953), Marina Mist (119682), Bashful Blue (105120) and Very Vanilla (101650) card stocks

Inks:  Marina Mist (119668), Bashful Blue (105209), and Crumb Cake (121030) Classics

Accessories:  Round Tab (119864), Scallop Trim Border (118402), Scallop Edge Border (119882) and Scallop Circle (119854) punches, and Paper Snips (103579)

Double, Double Toil and Trouble...

...Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. (MacBeth, Act 4, Scene 1)

Happy October!  I am thrilled to have a new look for Studio Sara.  I've recently purchased some fun downloads for My Digital Studio (Wicked Fun Kit, for one).  I love the witch's hat and her funny stockings and boots!  The background papers are spook-tacular, too!

I'm working on my non-digital Halloween projects this week, so I'm showcasing my Button Buddies vase card right now. This new set incorporates uses for all sorts of sizes and shapes of buttons (or its images are cute by themselves!).  I used my Circles 2 Bigz die for the Big Shot and punched circles out on every other scallop. 

I also used Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine to finish it off.  A thin border of Early Espresso using my Scallop Trim Border Punch makes for quiet texture when layered over the Early Espresso card body.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps:  Button Buddies

Papers:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White card stocks

Inks:  Marina Mist, Certainly Celery and Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories:  Big Shot (ask me about how to get one FREE), Circle #2 Bigz die, Handheld Circle and Scallop Trim Edge Punches, Bitty Buttons, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Paper Snips, Stampin' Dimensionals

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 3

What drew me first to this set was the snowflakes... I love the detail!

This quick and simple card allowed me to haul out some punches, use my Big Shot and use up some scraps. First, let's talk punches. I see five punches that were used; the Scallop Edge Border, 1-3/4" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Boho Blossoms, and Scallop Oval Punches.

For my color palette, I consulted my Color Coach and used Marina Mist, Old Olive, Real Red and Bashful Blue.

I also used the Top Note Bigz Die and the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder for the Bashful Blue piece at the top. Finally, a knot tied in Marina Mist grosgrain (adhered with a Mini Glue Dot) finishes it off!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled !

Inks: Real Red and Old Olive Classics

Papers: Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Old Olive, and Whisper White card stocks

Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Marina Mist grosgrain, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Border, 1-3/4" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, Boho Blossoms, and Scallop Oval Punches

Thanks for your visit! Hope your day's a great one!

{Stamp Set Spotlight} Snow Swirled: Day 2

Welcome, Studio Guests, to Day 2 of the Snow Swirled {Stamp Set Spotlight}! If you missed Day 1, please click here.
For this simple card, I inked my tree image in Marina Mist and stamped it on a square piece of Whisper White card stock. Next, I cut the piece into even fourths and adhered it to Cajun Craze. This technique gives the image the illusion of being seen through window panes, but you can also cut an image or scene into vertical thirds or into uneven horizontal pieces. It's one of those quick and simple (and inexpensive) ways to add pizzazz to your project!

Finally, I added a Glimmer Brad to give it an extra sparkle. Using my Paper-Piercing Tool (a very handy tool for only $3.50) and Mat Pack, I created the pierced edges on the corners. Again, a bit of pop for not a lot of money!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Snow Swirled

Papers: Crumb Cake, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Marina Mist and Cajun Craze

Accessories: Glimmer Brads (Subtles), Modern Label Punch, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Paper trimmer, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for dropping by! I look forward to your next visit!