Paper Pumpkin Alternatives

Hello!

Have you seen the February Paper Pumpkin Kit? The thing I love about Paper Pumpkin Kits is I don't have to do any thinking. I can just sit down and create. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to plan out my projects, but sometimes I enjoy having someone come up with the ideas for me. Paper Pumpkin does just that for me once a month. I'm not always a fan of the kits but I don't let that bother me because I know there are always alternatives I can create with the supplies in the kits.

I do love the uniqueness of the February kit though. Here it is in action:

Aren't they such pretty cards?!

I decided to take the included stamp set and make a couple of cards on my own because I just love the succulent in the teacup.

 This first one is bright and colorful. I first stamped the teacup image all over the Thick Whisper White card base (#140272) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink (#132708). Then I stamped the image again on a scrap piece of Thick Whisper White and colored it with my Blends. The colors I used were Light Petal Pink (#146866), Light and Dark Calypso Coral (#144045), Light and Dark Soft Suede (#147273), Light Smoky Slate (#145054), Light Daffodil Delight (#144586), Light and Dark Granny Apple Green (#147274), and Light Old Olive (#144574). Then I fussy cut it using my Paper Snips (#103579). I punched a 2" piece of Bermuda Bay card stock (#131197) with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch (#133324). After I stamped the diamond pattern on it with one of the kit stamps in Bermuda Bay ink (#147096), I ran it through my Big Shot (#143263) using the Subtle Dynamic Texture Impression Embossing Folder (#143706). I adhered the tag to my card base with Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430). I attached a length of Pineapple Punch Grosgrain ribbon (#146953) to the back of my teacup and adhered it to the card with more Dimensionals. I white heat embossed (#109132) (#129053), the sentiment on Basic Black card stock (#121045), cut the finished sentiment and cut around the script writing, again using my Paper Snips.

With my second card, I tried a fun technique. I've seen other card makers use colored pencils on kraft card stock and have wanted to try it for the longest time. It didn't turn out too bad for a first try, if I say so myself!

I white heat embossed (#109132) the image and the sentiments first on Crumb Cake card stock (#120953).  Then I took my watercolor pencils (#141709) and started coloring and shading. One thing I did was to lay down a layer of white pencil to the After the coloring was done, I took that diamond pattern again and heat embossed it on the front of the teacup. Make sure you always add color under your image so that it's grounded and not "floating" on your project. Lastly I added 3 little wood hearts from the Frames Elements (#146906). I used Fine Tip Glue (#138309) to keep them nice and secure. I attached that whole panel to my card base using Dimensionals.

If you would like to try Paper Pumpkin yourself, this is a fabulous time to do it! If you subscribe BEFORE March 10th, you'll get the special edition Paper Pumpkin Birthday Box which will include a bonus stamp set! Just click HERE to sign up. You are never locked in once you subscribe. You can suspend or cancel at any time. But I think once you start, you'll love looking forward to your easy craft session in a box each month. :)

Thank you for visiting me today! You can get any Stampin' Up! supplies you need HERE.

Rebecca :)

Glam Birthday Card

Hello!

My card today is clean but glitzy. Is that even possible? Judge for yourself!

I've been itching to see the Country Floral Embossing Folder (#149698) in action and I was not disappointed in the least! It is SO gorgeous! The Country Floral Embossing Folder is FREE during Sale A Bration with a $50 order.

I embossed my Thick Whisper White (#140272) card with that amazing textured embossing folder. Then I took my Vegas Gold Shimmer Paint (I'm so sorry but this is no longer available. You could substitute the Champaign Mist Shimmer Paint (#147044) to get a similar effect) and flicked the front of the card. I love that stuff. And it looks like I've applied flecks of gold leafing to the front of my card.

Then I die cut a stitched circle (#145372) from Vellum card stock (#101856) and adhered it to the card base with a little Tombow Mono Liquid Glue (#110755), being careful to only apply it where I knew my sentiment cluster would cover it.

Next I die cut the flower from the Sunshine Wishes Thinlets (#141489) in Petal Pink card stock (#146985). I added shading to it by sponging some Grapefruit Grove ink (#147142) with a sponge dauber (#133773) . I started pretty dark towards the bottom but then got lighter as I went up.

I took a piece of Grapefruit Grove Grosgrain ribbon (#146954) and Gold Mini Sequin Trim (#144128) and tied them together with a piece of Whisper White Baker's Twine (#124262). I attached that to the flower with Mini Glue Dots (#103683).

Then I took a thin piece of the Botanical Butterfly DSP (#149622) - remember this is also a FREE item during Sale A Bration with a $50 order - and adhered it under the ribbon cluster with the same Tombow glue. After I white heat embossed (#109132) the sentiment from the Free Cake stamp set (#146440) onto Basic Black card stock (#121045), I die cut it with a die from the Bunch of Banners framelits (#141488) and adhered it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

Lastly, because enough was surely NOT enough, I adhered three Faceted Dots (#146910) in the color of Grapefruit Grove.

Thanks for visiting me today! I hope this card inspired you to pull out your crafting supplies and create! Visit my shop HERE to get your own fun Stampin' Up! supplies! 

Rebecca :)

Faux Shaker Card

Hello!

I am LOVING today's card. Sometimes, I get an idea in my head and it doesn't really turn out as well as I thought it would but not today! This card turned out even better than I pictured and I'm realizing this is totally my style. Neutrals with pops of color.

The polka dot paper is from the Botanical Butterfly DSP (#149622) you can get FREE with a qualifying order during Sale-A-Bration. Sale-A-Bration ends March 31st so don't wait! 

I had an image in my mind of "floating banners" to make a kind of faux shaker card. I used the Stitched Rectangles Framelits (#148551) to make a white frame. Then I cut out a bunch of banners using the Playful Pennants Framelits (#146352) in Lovely Lipstick (#146970), Petal Pink (#146985), Lemon Lime Twist (#144245), Call Me Clover (#146969), and Coastal Cabana (#131297) card stocks. After I adhered them onto the back of the frame, I added a piece of Vellum Card Stock (#101856) to the back. The faux shaker card is adhered to the card front using Foam Adhesive Strips (#141825) so you get the feel of a shaker card but you don't have anything loose inside.

Then I took a sentiment from Picture Perfect Birthday (#145519) and white heat embossed (#109132) it onto Basic Black card stock (#121045).

And what's a party without confetti? So I added 3 sequins from the Iridescent Sequins Assortment (#144212). Just a bit of sparkle and fun in coordinating colors.

I hope this card makes you as happy as it makes me! 

Thanks for visiting! You can get all of the supplies to make this card HERE.

Rebecca :)

Happiness Blooms!

Hello!

I've been trying to spend A LOT of time in my craft room the last few weeks. When I let several days go by without doing at least a little creating, I start to lose my mojo. So even if I have to CASE a card (remember what I told you about CASE-ing? It's copying someone else's card but making a few tweaks to make it your own), at least I'm creating and it keeps ideas flowing.

Hence today's card:

I CASEd this card from an amazing demonstrator named Kylie Bertucci. If you haven't heard of her, where have you been?! :D

I used the Happiness Blooms Designer Series Paper (#148795) as my background. I mounted that piece onto a panel of Thick Whisper White card stock (#140272) and then attached that to a Night of Navy (#100867) card base using Snail adhesive (#104332).

Then I white heat embossed (#109132) a sentiment from the Love What You Do stamp set (#148042) on Night of Navy card stock and then punched it out with the Everyday Label punch (#144668). 

Behind the label I attached Call Me Clover (#146969) leaves (#144667) that I ran through the Subtle Embossing Folder (#143706). In addition I added Gold Metallic Thread (#138401) to add to the nice cluster feel.

I would have never thought to put these colors together. That's what so great about our DSP! I always feel inspired!

Thanks for visiting me today! You can buy any of these supplies at my shop HERE.

Rebecca :)

Butterflies and Shaker Cards

Hello!

This post is going up a little later than normal today but at least it's still Tuesday! :D

For this card I combined 3 different stamp sets. I used Wood Words (#143928) for the floral images on the card base, Butterfly Gala (#148580) for the butterfly images, and Flowering Desert (#148700) for the sentiment.

I used a Sponge Dauber (#133773) to add color using  Melon Mambo (#147051), Grapefruit Grove (#147142), and Lemon Lime Twist (#147145). 

To make the shaker window I die cut a frame using the Stitched Rectangles Framelits (#148551) and glued a piece of Window Sheet (#142314) to the back. Then I popped it up using the Foam Adhesive Strips (#141825). For the shaker pieces I used the Irridescent Sequin Assortment (#144212) and black heat embossed (#146956) one of the wood butterflies you can get for free during Sale A Bration with a qualifying order. I love the unexpected element that little black butterfly brings.

Here's a little close-up (disclaimer - I'm not good at photographing window sheets LOL):

This was a fun card for me to make and not one I normally attempt. I think I've made 3 shaker cards in my life ha ha ha!

I hope I've inspired you to try something out of your comfort zone. You might be surprised how well it turns out!

Thanks for visiting today! 

To shop for any of these products visit rebeccascreativelife.stampinup.net.

Rebecca :)

Flowering Desert

Hello!

I'm going clean, fresh but with just a little grunge on this card today. I pulled out the Flowering Desert stamp set (#148700) again.

I die cut 3 small rectangles from the Stitched Rectangle Framelits (#148551) to use as mini palettes for my succulents. The colors I used on the cacti are Mint Macaron (#147106), Gray Granite (#147118), Mossy Meadow (#147111), Shaded Spruce (#147088), Pear Pizzaz (#147104), and Melon Mambo (#147051). I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black (#132708).

Then I took another piece of Thick Whisper White card stock (#140272), and ran it through my Corrugated Dynamic Embossing Folder (#148026) and did a little marker spritzing with my Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (#100082). I used Tombow Mono glue (#110755) to adhere all of that to my card base. I love the pops of color agains the white! In my close-up, you can see I used one of the small cactus stamps and turn it into two rocks under the first plant.

Have you purchased the Flowering Desert stamp set yet? You totally should! You can buy it and many more supplies HERE.

Thanks for visiting today!

Rebecca :)

CASE-ing the Catalog

Hello!

Today I decided to CASE a card from the Annual Catalog. In case you don't know what CASE-ing is, it stands for Copy and Share Everything (or other people say it means Copy and Selectively Edit). Either way, I'm using this card as my inspiration. 

Those Concept Artists are so talented, aren't they?? The only thing I had in this layout was the wood circle frame. This is my CASE of that card.

I took a piece of the Butterfly Gala DSP and used my blends to color it. The shading that's printed on the DSP really makes you look like an artist even if you aren't! I traced around each butterfly with Smoky Slate blends to make them pop off the paper a little more. I think it turned out gorgeous if I do say so myself! Since I didn't have the leaf trim, I used Lemon Lime Twist Ombre ribbon. 

So I CASED the card in both ways. I copied the layout but I edited it with supplies I had on hand. CASE-ing is a really great way to branch out in your card making. Try it!

Thanks for visiting me today!

Rebecca :)

Incredibly Simple Stamping

Hello!

Back again today and yay it's Friday! I'm not tired of the week but I always look forward to Fridays because it's the start of me getting to spend two straight days with Superman. I kinda like hanging out with that guy.

Stampin' Up! has started a campaign that they call #simplestamping. It's to help everyone remember that you don't need a mountain of supplies to create great cards. I was creating samples for Stamp Club this week and decided to create a simple stamped card.

I used the Incredible Like You stamp set (#148708). All I did was take a 4 1/4"x4 14" Very Vanilla card (#101650), stamp the line image twice in Calypso Coral (#147101) (stamping off once both times), stamp the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black ink (#132708), then tie a piece of Calypso Ombre ribbon (#144235) around and boom! Finished card in less than 4 minutes!

Making elaborate cards is fun but it doesn't require lots of time or supplies to be satisfying and beautiful!

Thanks for visit me today. Go ahead and make a #simplestamping card today. See how you like it!

Rebecca :)