Eucalyptus and Cotton Bouquet Card

Today, I'm playing along with the Simon Says Stamps' Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes. I felt like coloring something happier, like a floral arrangement, so I colored this lovely image by Graciellie Design.

The main image (eucalyptus and cotton) is from the Simply Blessed Digital Stamp Set by Graciellie Design. Since these are digital stamps, I took a sentiment from another Graciellie set (Your Kindness) and added it next to the vase

This is a 5" x 7" card, and fairly straightforward and simple. I printed the flowers on Copic XPress-It Cardstock and colored everything with Copics. Since I'd already added the sentiment before printing, I just finished it with a few Clear Swarovski crystals for sparkle.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Simply Blessed digital stamp set (Graciellie Design)
• Grace Upon Grace (Graciellie Design)

Other supplies:

• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Copic XPress-It Blending Card
• Copic markers (various)
• Clear Swarovski crystals

I hope you have a lovely day!

Healing Hugs Card

I've struggled to make cards lately, as all of the occasions for them seem to be sad. I was able to finish two of these, each for one aunt in the hospital. I am also playing along with Simon Says Stamps' Monday Challenge: Add Some Texture (using pop dots and adding crystals) and Wednesday Challenge: Favorite Technique (Copic coloring).

On the day my uncle went into hospice, his wife (my aunt) fell and shattered several ribs. Around that time, my other aunt was dropped by the nursing home staff, and she broke her leg. I made one of these cards for each of them, hopefully to send a little sunshine and healing thoughts.

This card measures 5" x 6.5". The adorable little girl with her bear is the Wryn - Loving Teddy Bears digital stamp (Tiddlyinks). I printed her on Copic XPress-It Blending Card, then colored her with Copics. After I finished coloring, I fussy cut her and added foam dots to the back of her, so she'd be popped up on the card.

I stamped the sentiment ("Hug It Out" by My Favorite Things) and popped it up with foam dots. The patterned papers are by My Favorite Things (Party Plaid paper pad) and Stampin' Up (wood texture, retired).

Inside the card, I stamped another MFT sentiment ("Friends Like Us" stamp set) and hugging bunnies ("Peach and Piper" by Picket Fence Studios). I quickly colored the bunnies with Copics, then used another MFT plaid from the paper pad for the inside layering background. This is the inside of the card:

I added a few Aquamarine Swarovski crystals to the card front for a little more texture and bling.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Wryn - Loving Teddy Bears digital stamp (Tiddlyinks)
• Hug It Out stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Friends Like Us stamp set (My Favorite Things)
• Peach and Piper stamp set (Picket Fence Studios)
  

Other supplies:

• Copic XPress-It Blending Card
• Copics (various)
• Party Plaid paper pad (My Favorite Things)
• White and blue cardstock (any brand)
  
• Ranger Glossy Accents
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Foam dots
• Aquamarine Swarovski flat-backed crystals (3MM, 4MM, 5MM)
  

I hope you're having a lovely day!

Floral Sympathy Cards

I've made many sympathy cards before, but this is the first time I've made them for the passing of someone close to me (vs. sympathy for a friend who lost a loved one). My uncle passed away a week ago. I had the hardest time starting the card, as well as figuring out how everything should go together.

This card measures 4.25" x 5.5". I used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink to stamp the flower (Dotted Blooms by Altenew) and sentiment (Deepest Sympathy by My Favorite Things). I quickly colored the flowers with Copics, using purple and yellow color schemes. 

I die-cut the butterfly (Layered Butterfly by Technique Tuesday) out of glittered cardstock and vellum (for the back layer). I glued the layers together and attached it to the card front with Ranger Multi-Medium Matte.

For the inside, I stamped the sentiment (Floral Sympathy by My Sentiments Exactly) and flower (Rose Garden by My Favorite Things) and colored the flower to match the card front. After I glued all of the layers together, I added a few Swarovski crystals (Jonquil and Clear).

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Dotted Blooms stamp set (Altenew)
• Deepest Sympathy stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  
• Layered Butterfly die set (Technique Tuesday) 
• Floral Sympathy stamp set (My Sentiments Exactly)
• Rose Garden stamp set (My Favorite Things)
  

Other supplies:

• Copic markers (various)
  
• Tuxedo Black Ink (Memento)
  
• White cardstock (Stampin' Up) 
• Yellow and periwinkle cardstock (Recollections)
• Ranger Multi-Medium Matte
• Glittered cardstock (teal and silver)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Vellum cardstock (Recollections)
• Swarovski crystals: Jonquil and Clear/Crystal (3mm, 4mm, 5mm)
  

I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy!

Bookmarks and a Pretty Bag

When I was bundling up everything for my colleagues (for our team building event), I decided to make one more little gift. We often receive physical (not digital) books to read for work, so I made each lady a bookmark. I created them in three colors: pink, purple, and blue.

The colors are actually more vibrant in person, but they didn't photograph well. I cut 2" x 6" strips of Neenah Desert Storm and used the Stampin' Up Fancy Tag Topper Punch. Next, I stamped the "Behind Every Successful Woman" (Riley & Co.) sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Finally, I stamped the "Sweet Cluster" stamp (Altenew) on the top and bottom of the bookmarks. I colored the flowers with Copics, added matching, patterned paper to the back (to make them sturdy, not shown), and added a white tassel. 

I needed to put everything into bags for each lady, so I can drop them on doorsteps tomorrow. I wanted to make the bags as pretty as possible, so I grabbed Kraft gift bags (10" tall) and stenciled them with the Peony Bouquet Stencil (Simon Says Stamp). I used Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry Distress Oxide Inks. To add a little more interest, I used a white gel pen to color in the dots in the center of each flower.

I'm so excited to do these project with my colleagues!!

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Fancy Tag Topper Punch (Stampin' Up)
• "Behind Every Successful Woman" cling stamp (Riley & Co.)
• "Sweet Cluster" mini stamp set (Altenew)
• Peony Bouquet Stencil (Simon Says Stamp)
  

Other supplies:

• Neenah Desert Storm paper
  
• Copic markers (various)
  
• Double-sided tape / tape runner
  
• White tassels
• White Sakura Gelly Roll Pen
• Distress Oxides: Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry
• Kraft gift bags (10.5" x 8" x 4.25")
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
  

I hope you're having a fabulous day!

Valentine Card Kits

Last year, my boss asked me to create a team building event for our department retreat. I created cardmaking kits, and brought a huge box of embellishments, and everyone made two finished cards. Everyone loved the projects, and several people said it was the best part of the retreat! I'm also playing along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Layer It Up.

This year, my boss asked me to plan the event again, so I'm sticking to what I know. We're going to meet via Zoom (due to COVID), so I'm creating kits for each person. Everyone will make a "designer handbag" gift bag, a slimline card, themed for a Valentine or birthday, AND an A2-sized Valentine card. Last year, the team building element that was most successful was the time we spent playing with embellishments, creating our own designs, and then sharing our creations. I decided to replicate that as much as possible, even though we won't be in the same building.

Everyone will have all of the elements (plus a few more) and can either copy one of these designs or mix-and-match to create their own. 

Every participant (and yes, they're all women) will receive one of the kits below, and the kit includes all of the flowers, black and white die-cut hearts, three different papers, other embellishments, pearls, and foam squares (to pop something up).

This is what the kits look like. Each kit also includes a bottle of Ranger Multi-Medium Matte and a tape runner (not shown).

There are three backing papers they can use: a white-and-champagne shimmery checkered pattern, a black-and-white checkered pattern (not shown), or a blue plaid. I cut shimmery white and shiny black Hearts Entwined (My Favorite Things) for each kit. There are a ton of embellishments included from the Simple Stories: Simple Vintage My Valentine - Bits and Pieces ephemera pack. I was luck enough to pick up half a dozen of those packs for $1 each last year, so I had enough to fill all of the kits with identical pieces.

Here's an angled view of the cards, as the white-and-champagne shimmery checkered pattern doesn't photograph well from above:

I'm so excited to do this project with my colleagues!!

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Hearts Entwined Die-Namics (My Favorite Things)
  

Other supplies:

• Simple Stories: Simple Vintage My Valentine - Bits and Pieces (ephemera pack)
• Patterned cardstock (various)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Ranger Multi-Medium Matte 
• Tape Runner
  
• Foam squares 
• White pearls (flat back)
  

Have a happy heart-filled day!

Slimline Floral Valentine or Birthday Card

Last year, my boss asked me to create a team building event for our department retreat. I created cardmaking kits, and brought a huge box of embellishments, and everyone made two finished cards. Everyone loved the projects, and several people said it was the best part of the retreat! I'm also playing along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Layer It Up.

This year, my boss asked me to plan the event again, so I'm sticking to what I know. We're going to meet via Zoom (due to COVID), so I'm creating kits for each person. Everyone will make a "designer handbag" gift bag and a slimline card, themed for a Valentine or birthday. I've been working on the card kits for a week and a half, and they're finally done!

Every participant (and yes, they're all women) will receive one of the kits below, and the kit includes all of the elements needed to make one of these cards. She can choose which one to make, or mix and match elements, as the plaid layers (red or white) are separate, both die-cut and glittered sentiments are included, etc.

This is what the kits look like. Each kit also includes a bottle of Ranger Multi-Medium Matte and a tape runner (not shown).

These kits/cards were a LOT of work. It took me three days just to color the flowers (with Copics) and fussy cut them! I cut card bases, black cardstock panels, two plaid layers (red and white) for each person, red and white layers for INSIDE the cards, and then the sentiments (love you and happy birthday for each person). For the red "love you" sentiment, I also covered it with Sparkle n' Sprinkle Fire Engine Red Glitter, which took me another day. The Happy Birthday sentiment is die-cut from Silver Mirri Paper, which is beautifully sparkly (but a pain in the tuchus to carefully remove all of those fine, curly letters). Each kit also includes a small bag of the red flat-back pearls for embellishment.

Here's a close-up of the "love you" card:

It's hard to tell in the photo, but the sentiments are SO SPARKLY! I'm so excited to do this project with my colleagues!!

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Tall Flowers stamp set (Pink & Main)
• Plaid Slimline Die (Pink & Main)
• Lots of Love die (My Favorite Things)
• All About You die (My Favorite Things)
• Hand-Lettered Happy Birthday die (My Favorite Things)
• Fancy Slimline Scalloped dies (Kat Scrappiness) - NOT SHOWN, used for the inside layers
  

Other supplies:

• Black, white, and Poppy Parade cardstock (Stampin' Up)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Ranger Multi-Medium Matte 
• Tape Runner
  
• Silver Mirri Paper
• Sparkle n' Sprinkle Fire Engine Red Glitter
• Zig Glue Pen
• Copic markers (various)
• Red pearls (flat back)
  

Have a fabulous day!

Designer Handbag Gift Bags

Last year, my boss asked me to create a team building event for our department retreat. I created cardmaking kits, and brought a huge box of embellishments, and everyone made two finished cards. Everyone loved the projects, and several people said it was the best part of the retreat! I'm also playing along with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Use a New Product. (I just got the handbag die set and had never used any of these papers before, either.)

This year, my boss asked me to plan the event again, so I'm sticking to what I know. We're going to meet via Zoom (due to COVID), so I'm creating kits for each person. Everyone will make 2 cards (one regular and one slimline) and one "designer handbag" gift bag. I've been working on the gift bag kits for a week, and they're finally done!

Isn't this bag so stinking cute?!? I made it using the Concord & 9th Weekender Handbag Die Set and used My Favorite Things papers (Roses All Over Pastel Paper Pack). 

This is what the kits look like:

The handbags are partially assembled, with double-sided tape on the pieces that need to be attached. Each person will curl and attach the straps, finish the bag 3D construction, and add the cute little bag charms. I'm also including a bag of candy (GOOD candy!) they can use to fill the bag and give it to someone they love.

If you'd like to know how the bags were constructed, I recommend viewing the video on Concord & 9th's product page.

List of all stamps/dies/stencils used on this card:

• Weekender Handbag Die Set (Concord & 9th)
  

Other supplies:

• Black cardstock (Stampin' Up)
  
• Roses All Over Pastel Paper Pack (My Favorite Things)
  
• Double-sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Ranger Multi-Medium Matte 
• Paper Rose Silver Cardstock
  

Have a wonderful day!