Sing to Him a New Song

It is rare that I make a card that doesn't use designer paper because I love it so much, but this is one of those days!  Today's Stamp Simply card is made with only one stamp set along with several colors of ink and Copic markers.  The branch was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.  Then I used a transparent soft blue ink and a scalloped circle to mask and sponge in the sky background.     

I used Spellbinders' rectangle dies to cut a window through the top layer and green mat to allow the layer below to peek through.  It's white card stock with the same sponged sky applied over the music staff and sentiment.  I also gave the paper an edge of color with a red Copic marker, since I did not want to add a fifth layer which would have made the card even heavier.  That pop of matching red really grounds the rest of the red scattered throughout the design.

Here's the inside, just a pretty sentiment, and a small colored twig to carry the theme from the front to the inside.  (I might have opted to add the same sponged sky to the inside had my sponge not started to disintegrate!  I need to order more).  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - God Will Take Care of You Bundle
• Spellbinders' rectangles
• May Arts 5/8" Twill - 30 Yard Spool - Sage
• burlap string
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Rhinestones - Black
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper
• Copic markers
• button from stash

The Light Shines...He is the Light

Hello everyone!  This week's Stamp Simply project is a card made with Summery cool blues from Craft Consortium's Ink Drops Ocean designer paper, paired with one of Stamp Simply's Lighthouse stamp sets.  This one is of the lighthouse at Keweenaw Peninsula waterway's south entrance which has several lovely scripture sentiments to go along with the beautiful images.

I used pale blue-green, warm and cool grey Copic markers to color the lighthouse, keeping the tones very muted to harmonize with the background colors.  Only one tiny splash of brick red at the top, just as the actual lighthouse.  The bow is a layering of sheer gold and silver ribbons, frayed white tulle, and silver cording.

The lighthouse and sentiment were both stamped in grey ink so that the card is almost monochromatic.  There are splashes of copper and silver to help integrate the grey of the lighthouse with the Kraft and blue/turquoise colors of the designer paper.

The inside has another slice of the same paper, with sloshes and splashes of those gold and copper hues to keep the watercolory ocean theme going throughout.

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - He is the Light Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Ocean 6x6
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Rectangles SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Rectangles LG
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Gray Flannel
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Silvery Shimmer
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper
• May Arts 1" Sheer - 100 Yard Spool - Dark Gold
• May Arts 1" Sheer - 100 Yard Spool - Silver
• May Arts Metallic String - 300 Yard Spool - Silver
• white tulle

Remember, there's also still the Flower of the Week Sale (Tulips and Roses through Friday) so be sure to visit the store's blog for more ideas!  There'll be a new Flower of the Week beginning Saturday morning.

Come Before Him with Thanksgiving

Hello all!

Ha, no suprise here that in the throes of the dog days of Summer, I'm already looking forward to cooler weather!  Here in Florida we obviously have still got a long way to go!   

Our son was home for a visit last weekend.  It was a quick one and we barely got a glimpse of him, but it sure was nice!  I have a feeling that the next time we get to see him for any real length of time, it will be Thanksgiving.

Today's card is a relatively clean and simple card using one stamp set (I think if I could only choose one stamp set for Fall, this one would be it) and some beautiful Welcome Autumn designer paper. It's several layers but everything is on foam dots so it is squishable for mailing with no bows or bumpy jewels that would get crunched in the postal machines.  

Here's the inside.  If I'd been planning ahead I would have centered that sentiment, but my cards are rather spontaneous and usually evolve rather than result from an up-front hard-set plan, so there you go! 

Be sure to visit the Stamp Simply blog to see what is happening there!  We've got a Flower-of-the-Week thing going on now in addition to other seasonal sales, so you don't wanna miss them!

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Give Thanks Bundle
• Carta Bella Welcome Autumn 6x6
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Ovals LG
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa
• Copic markers

Christmas in July!

Hi everyone!  I missed you last week!  I was not intending to take a week off but, after taking a vacation to see my husband's family, I brought a "bug" home with me.  I have been sick for over a week!  It is not Covid (two negative tests) and it is not Strep.  I don't know exactly what it is but I would not wish it on anyone! I've been coughing my head off!  It's so exhausting but, enough about that!

I am a "keep Christmas in your heart all year" kind of person and have a small pencil fir tree that we keep up year round that has lots of hand-made (by Mom and me) ornaments on it, so when Stamp Simply has a Christmas in July sale, that is right up my alley!

Today's card started with a small square of embossed paper from Kaisercraft's Under the Gum Tree paper pad.  I stamped the sentiment (first with stamped off Memento Rich Cocoa and then topped with Delicata Celestial Copper ink) and then added a fussy-cut farmhouse ornament accented with die-cut greenery and a canvas ribbon.  

The ornament was stamped with distress oxide inks in various shades of pink/red/brick topped with an edging of that beautiful sparkly copper.

For the background layer inside and out, I used a baby wipe with the mesh layering stencil to swipe a translucent layer of shimmer. The sentiment inside was stamped using the same layering method as was the one on the card front.

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Farmhouse Christmas
• Kaisercraft Under the Gum Leaves - 6.5x6.5
• Luxury Pearlescent Metallic 105# Cardstock - Assortment 24 Ct
• Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Mesh
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper (for over-stamping sentiments)
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa (for off-/under-stamping sentiments)
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Two Sprigs or Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Floral Cluster and Sprigs
• May Arts 3/4" Ivory Canvas - 30 Yard Spool - Plain

Poppies Sympathy

Today's project is a simple sympathy card.  I find sympathy cards so emotionally challenging even when they're made in advance to have on hand when the need arises.  It's even more difficult when they're made for a particular loss with a certain person in mind. That's why simple often seems to work so well.  

Today's card is made with bold colors against a muted background. The poppies were colored with Copic markers and accented with a sparkly gel pen.  

The inside has a "my refuge" passage from one of our mini background sets, along with a prayer sentiment from our Faith set. I'm certainly praying for the family for whom this card is intended.

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Pretty Poppies Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Scripty Background Minis Set 1
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Faith
• Craft Consortium Brick Textures 6x6
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Rich Cocoa
• Copic markers
• Glitter gel pen
• tea dye distress ink

My Flag, My Country, USA!

 

Y'all know by now that I am a patriotic American and that I enjoy stamping and sharing patriotic cards!  ❤️ 🇺🇸  Just couldn't resist one more as the 4th of July holiday approaches.  

This card uses a couple of our Stamp Simply patriotic sets and the coordinating dies along with one of my all-time favorite and most-oft-reached-for dies, Fishtail Banners.  You can also see the words of the Pledge of Allegiance peeking from underneath the flag...that is from one of our new background minis stamp sets.  

I stamped the USA on a scrap of paper before die cutting the star, then scored from point to the "v" between points to give it some dimension.  A little Copic marker out-lining along the edges and some accents with a glittery gel-pen add details.  

Here's the inside.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Old Glory Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - The Red, White & Blue
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Patriotic Sentiments
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Scripty Background Minis Set 2
• Echo Park Let Freedom Ring 6x6
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Farmhouse Pierced Nested Hearts
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• sheer glitter ribbon
• Copic markers
• glitter gel pen
• red and blue distress oxide ink

I hope you have a very happy, safe weekend whether you're one of my celebrating American friends or someone who loves card-making from another part of this wonderful world!  

Adding to the Stash!

Hi everyone!  Happy Thursday!

Sometimes I make birthday cards that are specifically for a certain person but it's always good to just stamp a few extras to have on hand.  

The colors of this Craft Consortium paper Ink Drops Candy paper inspired today's iris card, colored with Copic markers in soft traditional colors.  (This is a fun set to color whether you choose traditional or take inspiration from one of the less common varietals).  There is just a hint of diluted copper ink (added with a small paint brush) to add a little sparkle to the blossoms.  

I love using metallic inks with this paper...here I tore a corner from the paper allowing the mat and stamped sentiment to peek through from underneath the torn edge.  The edge of the mat is also trimmed with a slosh of diluted copper ink. 

I used two colors of ribbon, some white tulle, and a tiny paper blossom to bring colors from that beautiful background into the foreground as well.

Here's the inside.  I used white here just to show the difference. (Some people have a hard time reading things that are written on something other than traditional white background with black ink, so I suppose that is something to consider, especially if you have a lot to say!)  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Happy Day Iris Bundle
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Candy 6x6
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper
• Seam Binding Sampler - Blues Purples - 30 yards
• Kaisercraft Mini Paper Blooms - Grape
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Rhinestones - Lilac
• Copic markers

God Bless the USA!

Hi y'all! 

Patrick and I went to see Top Gun Maverick this week and wow!  It made me feel so patriotic and proud to be American!  What a great movie!  The first one was made back in 1986 when Patrick and I were still fairly newlywed, living and working in Hawaii.  It was like an extended honeymoon in a tropical island paradise!  Remembering those days always makes me feel all romantic, nostalgic, and happy.  

Of course, as a military family, patriotic holidays are a big deal for us and we've celebrated lots of Independence Days since those beginning years in Makakilo.  Our 4th of July celebrations usually involve a cookout followed by fun and fireworks with our neighbors.  The guys always laugh at me because sparklers and snakes are much more my speed than fire crackers and rockets!

I have always loved Independence Day, even as a child.  My birthday is close to the 4th, so usually there was always a party and a trip to see the community fireworks display which I thought was just for me!  Later it only seemed fitting that as a 1976 graduate of Westlake High School I served on the Bicentennial Commission for Calcasieu parish.  (What a privilege, and wow, that was a really long time ago!) 

So today's Stamp Simply project is one that exemplifies memories of all those things...the parchment reminiscent of the Declaration of Independence, the busy party and fireworks atmosphere of my birthday interwoven with the birthday of our nation, along with a patriotic prayer.

It's busy, but there's a lot of fun stuff going on here!  The card front has a layer of traditional patriotic stars paper.  Then there's a mat of distressed and crinkled Kraft paper.  The background of the focal image layer is stamped in copper with patriotic words (unity, respect, loyalty, devotion, strength, bravery, etc) with the traditional flag nestled among them.  The flag was stamped with Memento ink and colored with Copic markers.  The edges are distressed and distress inked.  There's also splattering of red, blue and shimmery copper inks, and then finally a sprinkling of die-cut gold mirror stars.  

The inside is similarly made, with a strip of fireworks paper from the same paper pad.  It's busy and sparkly and fun, just like the 4th always is!

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - The Red, White & Blue
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Patriotic Sentiments
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Patriotic Stars & Stripes (Old Glory)
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• Echo Park Let Freedom Ring 6x6
• Bazzill Mirror Cardstock - 8.5 x 11 - Gold - 6 ct
• Delicata Non-Tarnishing Ink Pad - Celestial Copper
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• tea dye distress ink
• splatters of diluted copper, red and blue ink and white acrylic paint

My Refuge and My Fortress

Masculine cards are often quite challenging but often (at least for my guys!) less is more, and that is especially so when the card needs to be sent via the postal service.  This card with its beautiful Ocean background paper, an embossed sentiment, and Copic colored focal image (all from Stamp Simply) on dimensional foam adhesive should go through those postal machines without mishap. If this were to be hand delivered instead, it would have been fun to add a big nautical knot for an accent!  

With watery backgrounds like this I will often use splashes of diluted white paint to integrate the foreground image with the background, tapping a loaded brush over my finger (like striking two wooden drumsticks together) to create the splatters.  The amount of water you use in relation to the amount of paint will determine their size.  I should have tested on a scrap before splashing this time!  I was a bit disappointed that these splats ended up so big and round and opaque, a sure sign that my paint was a bit too diluted.  I blotted some of them with a paper towel but because they're water-based on top of Memento ink, I didn't want to fiddle with them too much!  So let my experience be a lesson for you to test on a scrap first!

The font of this sentiment from A Godly Man coordinates perfectly with those from our Lighthouse series.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Lighthouse Full Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - A Godly Man (inside sentiment)
• Craft Consortium Ink Drops Ocean 6x6
• VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Tuxedo Black
• white detail embossing powder
• Copic markers
• white paint for splatters

Kinder-Grad Congrats!

Hi friends!  I'm here with this week's Stamp Simply project.  I suppose I have been feeling nostalgic since Matthew graduated from FSU a month or so ago! I was remembering his kindergarten graduation (still have his little white gown), and even the big red brick building where I went to school way back when.  (Did y'all have a red...or a yellow...brick building? We had both that were built in different eras!) Anyway, all that is what inspired this CAS little kinder-grad card.  

I used the long skinny banner die from our fishtail banners to cut the pencil from scraps of paper adding accents with a score tool and old zig-zag edge scrapbook scissors.  The cap stamp, one of the tiny stamps in our Stick People set, has its own tassel but I thought it would be fun (especially since FSU colors matched these papers!) to make one from floss.  Couldn't find my box of floss so I ended up using burgundy and gold regular ole sewing threads.  

I kept the inside super simple too.  I designed this card so that even the earliest of readers would be able to read and understand it, but that their parents would have warm-fuzzies remembering their own school days too!  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Stick Family Complete Bundle Quad
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Farmhouse Signage
• Craft Consortium Bick Textures 6x6
• zig zag edge scissors
• Copic markers