Planning Ahead!

Hi friends!  

I have to smile and say that I'm thankful that my Stamp Simply design team commitment keeps me ahead of the calendar when it comes to card-making!  Having a deadline helps me to stay organized, and the DT deadlines mean that I'm at least a little ahead of whatever holiday is upcoming!  Otherwise I'd probably be stamping right at the last minute.  (Now, if I can just get better about mailing them further ahead of time!)  

And so, today I'm sharing a Mother's Day card with you!  This will be for my dear Mother-in-law.  (Both of my parents are gone, but we are blessed to still have both of Patrick's parents).  ❤️   

I have previously shared my fondness of irises because of a neighbor and friend of my mother's whose name was Iris, so I was really happy when Stamp Simply added an iris stamp bundle to their floral designs.  When preparing today's card I searched online for a photo of an iris and found this beautiful example of a pale pink iris with a purple throat to use as inspiration.   I love traditional colors but sometimes something a little unexpected can be lots of fun!  Pastel pinks and periwinkle blues seemed so appropriate for a Mother's Day card.  The colors are reflected in the coloring, the card stock, ribbon and rhinestones.

Inside there is more of that pretty pink gingham designer paper and another sentiment from our Iris bundle.  I kept the inside very clean and simple with plenty of room to write.    

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Happy Day Iris Bundle
• Echo Park My Favorite Spring 6x6
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Farmhouse Pierced Nested Hearts
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals LG
• Seam Binding Sampler - Spring Pastels - 30 yards (pink)
• Seam Binding Sampler - Blues Purples - 30 yards (periwinkle blue)
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Rhinestones - Light Pink
• Zig Wink of Stella Brush - Clear Glitter Marker
• Copic markers

John 1:1

Hi everyone!  This week's Stamp Simply project is another clean and simple card with a classic masculine feel using one of my very favorite verses, although I admit that I say that about a lot of verses!  There are way too many amazing verses to choose just one favorite!  

This scripture and the earthy colors of this paper made me think of the story of Genesis and the Garden, so the branch from another Stamp Simply set seemed to be a fitting addition.  

Of course, Easter was the entire reason for His coming, and so it was appropriate to include the Cross and crown on the inside.

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - God's Word (sentiments)
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - God Will Take Care of You Bundle (branch)
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Salvation (crown of thorns)
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Easter is for Jesus (cross)
• Craft Consortium Patina 6x6
• Luxury Pearlescent Metallic 105# Cardstock - Copper 15 ct
• Spellbinders Standard Squares SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Squares LG
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper
• Copic markers

Visit the Stamp Simply blog for more info on current sales and promotions, and for more ideas for how to use these beautiful stamps.

Now and Forevermore

Hi friends!  

Have you ever come across a stamp set that gives you "warm fuzzies" from the first moment you laid eyes upon it?  I am absolutely in LOVE with Stamp Simply's new set, A Man of Knowledge.  While this set definitely gives off a masculine vibe as does my card for today, it certainly is not limited to cards for men only.  

It was my mom who was the bibliophile of our household who passed that love down to me.  For as long as I can remember there was always a pile of books on a footstool beside her favorite chair. She worked for many years in the public library of my tiny Louisiana home town.  

I went on search for an old scrap of map paper from a pad in my stash that came to mind when I first saw this verse.  It looks great with this earthy plaid and gives everything that Old World look and feel.  It reminds me of that musty dusty paper and ink smell of old books and aged cloth and leather and the sound of crinkling pages turning.  I remember the drawer of our coffee table was always stuffed with atlases and maps and tour guides.  

These books were colored with Copic markers and accented with a gold gel pen.  Having a matching die makes this so easy!  We have a stack of old books...classics!...that belonged to Patrick's uncle from when he was boy.  They look very much like these!  

Of course, with the idea of coming and going, there must be keys! I love these skeleton keys dies and used various distress inks and oxides to give them a rustic metal look to go along with the rest of the card.

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - A Man of Knowledge Bundle
• Memory Box Woodsy Plaid 6x6
• Seam Binding Sampler - Patina - 30 yards
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• very old scrap of map paper from stash
• Copic markers
• distress inks
• gold gel pen

John 3:16

Hello all!  I'm back this week sharing another project using some of the stamps from our new release.  Today's project is a relatively simple, straightforward masculine card with this well known verse as its primary focal point, its theme supported by one of the smaller images of the set.

The verse inside is from another new set which works perfectly alongside the other.  One of the things I love about these is that they are so versatile and work so well for a card for either a masculine or feminine believer and for a variety of occasions.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Salvation
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - The Good News
• Memory Box Woodsy Plaid 6x6
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals LG
• Seam Binding Sampler - Patina - 30 yards

Be sure to visit Stamp Simply to see the entire collection from this release and take a peek at the Stamp Simply blog to browse our design team creations using them.  

New Stamps: Happy Day Iris

We have a wonderful new release happening now at Stamp Simply! Just look at all these beautiful new stamp sets!  My card for today features Happy Day Iris and its matching die.   

There are lots of wonderful verses and sentiments, coordinating dies, and of course, beautiful images among these sets.  You're going to love them!

You might think that I simply colored these lovely flowers to match that colorful designer paper, but in fact, I looked up some images of irises online and used one as a guide!  

Here's the inside, with more Springy plaid and a simple sentiment.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Happy Day Iris Bundle
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals LG
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Squares SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Squares LG
• Seam Binding Sampler - Blues Purples - 30 yards
• May Arts Burlap String - 400 Yard Spool - Sage
• May Arts Burlap String - 400 Yard Spool - Lavender
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Rhinestones - Lilac
• Echo Park My Favorite Easter 6x6
• Zig Wink of Stella Brush - Clear Glitter Marker
• Copic markers