DogGone Delightful Stampin'

Wednesday Spotlight - All About Autumn Masculine Anniversary Card

Hello Fellow Stampers ~

I'm slipping in really quick, before we are off for a few lovely days to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary.  I am so excited to be getting away, relaxing, and spending time with my Honey without any distractions.  We're returning to Ojo Caliente in New Mexico.  We loved the Hot Spring Spa Resort at Ojo Caliente so much last year, that we just had to go back.  It wouldn't surprise me if this becomes an annual foray for us.

 

Every year I try to design a special card for my Husband for our anniversary.  This year I used products from the new All About Autumn Suite to create what I think is a wonderful "masculine" design.

 

There are some really wonderful designs in the All About Autumn Specialty Designer Series Paper that are books, or shelves showcasing antique or vintaged books.  I just love the possibilities these designs provide to create masculine-oriented cards.

This card is created on a Blackberry Bliss card base, and I layered an Early Espresso layer that was embossed with the new Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder, that I angled in the background for an offset look.  The book design paper that I chose is the closer up view of the old books, and I trimmed the paper so that it would have more of the burgundies and purple colors visible.

 

What I love about the layering for this card is the little bit of fraying to the ends of the ribbon, making it feel a little bit like a bookmark.

Then I created and die cut several different leaves to layer over the ribbon.

And finished off with this lovely sentiment from the Happy Labels stamp set, which was stamped in Versamark on Early Espresso cardstock, embossed with Copper Emboss Powder, and fussy cut.

 

I did not add any other embellishment to this card.  I'm letting the beautiful foiled paper for the leaves, the Copper embossing for the sentiment, and the lovely designer paper carry the day here.  I feel a masculine card is better off with "less" if you know what I mean 😉😉

 

I layered the remaining strip from my trimmed designer paper panel to the inside of the card, and stamped out the finishing sentiment, leaving myself room to leave a little message.

 

 

Sometimes designing a masculine card can be difficult.  I think Stampin' Up! has provided us a lot of options in the new Holiday Mini catalog to help us along with that effort.  I'll be showcasing more masculine card ideas later this Fall.

See you all next week!!!

I Love to hear from you.  Leave your questions or comments below!!

Hugs, . . .

CASE-Out Thursdays - Abundant Beauty Sunflowers

Hello Fellow Stampers ~

I wanted to get this post up this morning, but Typepad (my blog host), conveniently was offline.  Don't you just love technology??  😁😁  My whole day has been like this, both the work computer and the home computer!!!!

Finally we're back "online" and I'm excited to bring you the next installment of my Fall lineup of cards and designs with products that I just love!!

Thursdays, historically, have been a showcase of a "CASE'd" [Copy and Share Everything] design.  Of course, for me, that means taking elements I like, and making the design my own.  Today is no different.  Today's inspiration came from one of our SU! Artisan Design Team members; for the life of me I cannot remember who it was and lost the card link, but I'll thank her here for her beautiful inspiration.

 

The new Abundant Beauty Decorative Masks are some of the best masks I think Stampin' Up! has put out in the past couple of years.  The minute I saw these, I knew I had to have them!!

I'm so excited to finally ink up the Blending Brushes and have some play time.

I'm sure you've been seeing a lot of samples out on the internet showcasing these new masks; this set is actually "fussy cut" to get just the display I wanted.

 

After playing with several different card base colors, I finally settled on Copper Clay for a deeper more vibrant tone in the background.  I carried that same color throughout my blending tones as well.

There is a "hidden" layer of Crushed Curry peeking out from behind the embossed, die cut and blended background layer of Very Vanilla.  I had a lot of fun creating texture and dimension with this layer.  The edge is cut with a die from the Gorgeously Made die set (love this torn spiral paper look); then the piece was embossed with the new Distressed Tiles 3D Emboss folder.  I realized yesterday that this folder is quickly becoming my new "go to" folder - just absolutely am in love with it!!

I finished off this panel by blending Copper Clay and Wild Wheat inks from left to right, creating an ombre look as it fades to the right-hand side.

 

Next comes the fun with the masks in the Abundant Beauty Decorative Mask set.  These are "layering" masks, with each piece work in conjunction with the others.  I started with the sunflowers themselves, working Copper Clay and Wild Wheat colors across the petals.  Then I laid on the centers using Pecan Pie for my blending color.  These flowers are "fussy cut"; and then I blended Old Olive for the leaves on a separate piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, and fussy cut those as well.  And if you look carefully, you can see the sparkles of a little Wink of Stella on the flower petals.

There's a fun leaf spray cut with the Gorgeously Made dies and a piece of More Dazzle Specialty Paper.  And then I started playing with the new Natural Ribbon in the Copper & Natural Ribbon Combo Pack.  Oh this is going to be fun folks!!  A simple pull of a thread, and you can get as much or as little of a "frayed" look to the ribbon.  It's soft, pretty and easy to work with.  I'm going to be having a lot of fun with this one!!   (Unfortunately, this ribbon combo pack is backordered right now -- but we'll all look forward to it getting back in stock!!)

These elements are layered onto the card front, with the flowers and leaves popped with dimensionals; and everything finished off with the Neutrals Adhesive-Backed Sequins. 

I left a sentiment off of this card.  I didn't want to detract from the beautiful scene; and sometimes a "blank" card is useful.  A simple note, or adding a sentiment to the inside later depending on what you want to use it for makes this card extremely versatile.

I love the inspiration of CASEing.  It makes creativity so much fun!!  I encourage you to take other's inspiration, change things around, add, subtract, play and be creative; make the design your own!

I Love to hear from you.  Leave your questions or comments below!!

Hugs, . . .

 

 

Wednesday Spotlight - A New Catalog and Autumn Fun!!

Hello Fellow Stampers ~

Whew!  Well, it's been a whirlwind of a Summer.  And we definitely took a break from the blog.  But Labor Day has passed us, and now it is time to get back to the Studio, and lots of Fall crafting.  Before we know it, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas will be upon us ~~  and we have a Brand New Catalog to help get us there!!!

 

The Magic Starts Now!!!

And the magic in this one is pretty "magical."  I Love Love Love this new Holiday Mini Catalog!!  And I know you are going to also!!

Note on Ordering and Backordered items ~~

 If something is sold out, I highly recommend ordering everything else in a collection or suite while it’s in stock!   The following items are "Backordered" -- and I have listed what can still be ordered along side ~~

• Oh Holy Night Suite – STARS AT NIGHT HYBRID EMBOSSING FOLDER, Item 162006 is on Backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of October 2.  ADHESIVE-BACKED STAR TRINKETS, Item 162010 is on Backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of September 25.  SHINING BRIGHTLY 12" x 12" SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER, Item 162378 is on Backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of September 11.
  • AVAILABLE NOW:
    • Night Devine Bundle – 161997 – $48.50
    • Night of Navy & Gold 1/2″ Glittered Ribbon – 162011 – $9.00
    • O Holy Night 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper – 161986 – $12.50
• All About Autumn Suite – ALL ABOUT AUTUMN 6" x 6" SPECIALTY DESIGNER SERIES PAPER, Item 162178 is on backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of September 11.  COPPER & NATURAL RIBBON COMBO PACK, Item 162192 is on backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of October 23.
  • AVAILABLE NOW:
    • Autumn Leaves Bundle – 162186 – $55.75
    • Adhesive-Backed Speckled Dots – 162191 – $8.00
    • Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder – 162189 – $9.50
    • Oxidized Copper 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper – 162190 – $8.00
• Them Bones Suite – BAG OF BONES DIES, Item 162218 is on Backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of September 11.  GLOW-IN-THE-DARK 6" X 6" SPECIALTY PAPER, Item 162221 is on Backorder and estimated to be back in stock the week of October 2.
  • AVAILABLE NOW:
    • Glow-In-the-Dark Bats & Ghosts – 162220 – $8.00
    • Them Bones 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper – 162215 – $12.50

I will keep you apprised as we learn of changes in the new inventory supplies.  Thanks for being patient everyone!!  I think things are more popular than Stampin' Up! planned for!

 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ~~  ALL ABOUT AUTUMN SUITE!

We're kicking off my favorite season and time of year and our return to the blog with the All About Autumn Suite.  This gorgeous suite of products is a "Must Have" in my inventory.

Today's card showcases the gorgeous Oxidized Copper Specialty Paper, the Autumn Leaves Bundle (stamp set & dies), as well as the new Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder and the Copper Ribbon from the combo pack (currently on backorder).

 

This card is designed on a Very Vanilla Thick cardstock base, cut 11" x 4-1/4", scored at 5-1/2". 

I then used the fabulous Decked Rectangles Dies to cut my layers of Copper Clay, Pretty Peacock and the Oxidized Copper Specialty foiled paper in the Pretty Peacock colorway.

The top layer is Very Vanilla embossed with the new Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder.  I LOVE this new folder -- it has a true "Tim Holtz" feel to the design with very distinct "distressed" areas that actually show when embossed.  Fabulous!!!

 

I finished off the focal point by cutting one of the large die cut leaves from the same specialty foiled paper, and then the leaf veins (which are a separate die - how cool is that!!!), out of Copper Clay.  These are glued on the leaf and then the leaf is popped with dimensionals in the center, a Copper Bow adhered with glue dots, and the sweet sentiment stamped using Pretty Peacock classic ink, and "fussy cut" for a perfect effect to the front of the card.

It's all finished off with the new Adhesive-Backed Speckled Dots from this new suite collection.

 

The inside of the card is finished off with the matching colorway in the layers -- and a strip of the pretty foiled paper at the bottom.

 

 

Let me know if you need a new catalog -- just email me at [email protected]; and be sure to take note of the new Product Shares offering for this catalog cycle.  We will work the best we can around the Backorders, so be patient!!  😉😉

I Love to hear from you.  Leave your questions or comments below!!

Hugs, . . .

12 Weeks of Christmas ~ Peaceful Cabin Backwards Overlay Accordion Fold

Hello Fellow Stampers ~

Wow!  We just finished 3 days of OnStage @ Home for Demonstrators (OnStage is the official term for our Convention) - this is our second year being virtual due to the pandemic!!  It's sad not to get to see fellow Demonstrators face-to-face; and yet this was as much fun as ever!!  I ALWAYS walk away from OnStage re-energized, inspired, and ready to rock-n-roll with you!!

I will tell you that I have seen the new 2022 January - June Mini Catalog (AND Sale-a-Bration) -- Oh My!!  You are absolutely going to LOVE everything!!  I know I do; I'm in so much trouble!!  LOL

 

But for now . . .  LOL

I promised you we'd get caught back up with our 12 Weeks of Christmas, and so here we are!
This week, for our Virtual Coffee & a Card class, I led the crafters through a convention Accordion Fold card, which turned out sooooo pretty!

Today, I want to share with you what I'm calling the "backwards overlay" Accordion Fold - which I've done with the Peaceful Cabin Bundle, once again coordinated with the Designer Series Papers, in soft gray tones.  I adore how this turned out.  Let's take a closer look!!

 

Design Colorology . . . 

 

Basic White

Basic Gray

Silver Foil

Smoky Slate

 

 

Let's first walk through measurements for this card - they're a little bit different than the conventional Accordion Fold - and then I'll walk you through the design

Card base - 5-1/2" x 11" - score on the 11" side @ 1-3/4", 5-1/2", and 9-3/4"

Fold on your score lines so that the "accordion-style flaps" overlap "backwards" on the card front.

You can see in the picture above in the folded state, that the two flaps fold backwards one on top of the other, over the main front card panel.

Watch your score line bumps - you can flip the card base over and back, so that you can get your bumps scored properly to fold to the "inside" when you are scoring.

Now let's take a look at the card when it's open!

I have a surprise for you on this one . . .  I decorated BOTH sides of this Fun-Fold - not something we always do.  You're gonna love it!

This is what I consider to be the "front" of this card.

You can see when it's open that I used one of the beautiful pine tree/snow scenery images from the Peaceful Place Designer Series Paper, trimmed just so it would fit the way I wanted - that's a different version of "fussy cutting" (LOL), a term we use in quilting when we cut so we get a specific part of the fabric we want to showcase.  This piece of DSP is framed in Silver Foil; whereas everything else is framed in Basic Gray cardstock.

The opposite panel is a stamped panel.

Here I stamped the cabin image in Basic Gray; and the sentiment.

Then I added the "falling snowflakes" image using Smoky Slate stamped off.

It's a soft gentle scene and perfect for the message that the sentiment gives.

The opposite side of this Fun-Fold card looks like this.

One the right-hand main panel, is another piece of designer series paper - carefully "fussy cut" to again get just the part I wanted to showcase.

Then the left panel is the stamped panel this time.

This panel is stamped with the trio of trees from the stamp set, also in Basic Gray.

Then I snagged this sentiment from the Christmas to Remember stamp set; and finished by stamping the falling snowflakes images again in Smoky Slate.

I wanted to leave enough room at the top for a handwritten message if so desired.

 

You want to finish by creating a Belly Band for your card which will keep it secured when it's not open.

Cut your main card stock 1-1/4" x 11"; and then the DSP overlay 1" x 11" to create your belly band for this card.

I center and adhere the DSP to the cardstock; wrap it around the card, then loosen it slightly before adhering the belly band together on the back side to make sure it will slide easily on and off the finished card.  I then wrap a piece of ribbon around the belly band and tie and adhere securely in place.

And then I have some fun decorating it.  I cut 3 of the trees from the Cabin Dies out of Silver Foil; and then layered them behind and on top of a Wonderful Snowflake which is popped with a dimensional, and finished off with a large Basic Rhinestone Jewel.

And then you can see how I finished off the card with scattered Basic Rhinestone Jewels to add some glimmer.

The Jewels on the different panels "fool the eye" and are perfect when you open up the card in its entirety!

 

This is a VERY special card that you could create for that special someone!  It would even make a great "gift" this year - instead of buying something from the store!!

 

All of these products can be purchased in my Online Store -- be sure to snag the Peaceful Place Suite if you haven't yet (don't panic if the "suite bundle" is on Backorder; only the sequins are out of stock right now; you can still order the stamp/die bundle, paper, ribbon and embossing folder separately!!). 

Or stock up on those papers (DSP, Foil, White Velvet), embossing folder, or ribbon, if you're running low!!

 

I Love to hear from you.  Leave your questions or comments below!!

Hugs, . . .

 

Not in the Blog Hop - Christmas Season to Remember Gift Card Holder Square Card

Good Morning Fellow Stampers ~~

Time to play today -- it's Pals Blog Hop Day; and we're "Not In the Pals Blog Hop" - LOL  Doing our own thing, and bucking the establishment, that's what I call it!!  LOL

Nevertheless, today's Blog Hop theme was Home for the Holidays, and you'll find, I'm sure, lots of wonderful holiday designs and ideas if you pop over and follow today's Blog Hop.  I'd start with Mary Fish if you want to check out what the rest of the Pals are doing.

In the meantime, I'm bringing you my fun project today to help you prepare for the upcoming Holiday Season.  Lately, for some reason, I've been enamored with gift card holder-style cards.  I've been doing them a lot for our virtual Coffee & a Card classes.  They can be a lot of fun!  And I think they have an incredibly useful purpose in creating a lovely way to present a gift card to the recipient.

 

This "fun-fold" card is an irregular size - so you would have to create a special envelope for it.  The finished size of this card is 6" x 5-1/2".

But it is perfect for presenting that gift card ~~  I really love how this turned out.

I picked up on this idea from a French demonstrator (thru Pinterest); but that provides some difficulties in that everything is in a foreign language (I don't speak French - LOL), and measurements are European and in metrics.  What is a standard size card for Europe, is NOT the case for the US.

So I had to sit down and basically start from scratch.  There was a fair amount of "testing" before I got to where I wanted to be for this card today.

Here are the final measurements for your use in creating this card design:

Main card base - 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; score on the long side @ 2-1/2"
Smaller card base - 8-1/2" x 4-1/4"; score on the long side @ 4-1/4"
Mat cardstock sizes/measurements (this card uses Real Red):  
5-7/8" x 5-3/8" panel
2-1/8" x 5-3/8" strip (inside flap for gift card pocket)
2-3/8" x 5-3/8" (front of gift card flap)
4-1/8" x 4-1/8" x 3 - inset smaller card base (front, and inside both panels)

Designer Series Paper sizes/measurements (we are using the smaller scattered holly images from the Painted Christmas DSP for this project):
5-3/4" x 5-1/4" panel

2" x 5 3/4" strip (overlay for inside flap of gift card pocket)
2-1/4" x 5-3/4" (front of gift card flap)
4" x 4" x 2 (for front of smaller card base, and inside) - flip to a different design for the inside - see below)

 

Now let me walk you through this card a little more . . .

I cut the back main card base from Thick Basic Cardstock, 8-1/2" x 5-1/2".  I scored at 2-1/2" on the long edge to create the "flap" that will eventually hold the gift card.

Then I cut what is the actual "card" itself (the one where you are going to write your Christmas message to the recipient), at 8-1/2" x 4-1/4", and then scored at 4-1/4" on the long edge.  This creates the "card" that will be glued to the "background" and overlap the flap to give that cool "fun-fold" look.

Each panel then has a piece of cardstock mat (this one in Real Red) - see measurements above; and an overlay of DSP.  I really love this smaller scattered holly berries and pine branch images from the Painted Christmas DSP collection.

Hint:  Try this paper on Soft Succulent cardstock (and with the Soft Succulent Open Weave ribbon) to change up the colorway and have a totally different feel and look to the combination.

Then I played with the Christmas Season bundle to create the focal point -- so much fun!

This is partially a 2-step stamp set (for example the pine cones are done in two steps); and partially one of our wonderful Dist-INK-tive stamp sets - giving your that varied texture in the stamping that creates realism!!  I LOVE it!!

I stamped 2 pine cones, with Crumb Cake ink for the main cone, and Soft Suede on one and Cinnamon Cider on the other for the 2nd "step" of detail stamping.

Pine boughs are done in Evening Evergreen; and the berries in Real Red.

The Basic White background and all the pieces are cut using the Seasonal Labels Dies set.  Fan-TAB-ulous!!

If you haven't gotten this set yet . . .  It is a MUST HAVE!!

The sentiment is from the coordinating stamp set - Christmas to Remember - and I love when they do these "block-style" sentiments.  They are so easy to stamp and fussy cut!

The entire finished panel is popped on the front of the "small" card base.  And I finished it all off with some lovely red Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Here is a look at the card when it is opened up.

Here you can see that I flipped the Designer Paper, and used the design on the back side for the inside of the smaller card base.  I love how this looks! 

And here's a closer look at the smaller flap itself on the main card base where the gift card goes.

You can see that I used the curved end of the Label Me Lovely Punch to create a notch for each "in and out" of the gift card. 

One other note - I wrapped this panel right at the score line with a piece of Real Red 3/8" Sheer Ribbon, tied in a bow on the front before gluing down this "pocket".  I wanted the edge of the ribbon to get tucked nicely underneath that pocket and not cause any issues for the in and out of the gift card.

 

So there you have it!!  A fun card to hold those gift cards this season!  Hope you enjoy!!

We'll be back soon with more fun!  Stay tuned!

 

I Love to hear from you.  Leave your questions or comments below!!

Hugs, . . .