DogGone Delightful Stampin'

Mix-It Up Mondays . . . Southern Serenade Sympathy

Hello Fellow Stampers ~

 

Happy Monday!  I'm finding it so hard to believe that it is August!  Everywhere I look around me, I'm realizing that there are hints that Summer is starting to wind down, and I'm freaking out just a little bit!!  LOL

 

In 3 short weeks, my mother and I will heading off for a long-planned week together in Vail, Colorado.  I just cannot believe it!!  We got together this past Saturday afternoon to start working our plans, and sorting items that we needed as we plan to spend a good part of our week together on the Heirloom Album we've been working our way through for the past several years.  We want to make some serious headway during this time together and try to get through the very "early" photos we've been struggling with which cover her parent's siblings and the extended family, and go as far back as the great-great grandparents who migrated to America in the 1880's.  So wish us luck!!  LOL  We also want to enjoy the hot tub / pool and other amenities, and take some day site-seeing trips in the area.  It is truly beautiful around the Vail and Beaver Creek areas and beyond.

 

But before I can get serious about menu planning, packing, making lists, etc., . . .  I have a BIG stamp-a-stack gathering coming up this next weekend!  Our first ever "All Occasions" stamp-a-stack.  This was a customer requested class, and I'm very happy to oblige, and am really quite excited about this idea.  I think some of the most difficult cards to design are for sympathy, get well soon/thinking of you; and then we'll cover baby, and anniversary/wedding, and thank you's as well.  It's some of the most requested cards I get as I think everyone needs these in their stash to reach for on short notice.

 

I'm going to share some of our fun with all of you who cannot be here to join us; and maybe you can take some inspiration to create your own "stash" at home along with us this week!!  We're kicking things off this week with a Sympathy card design - some inspiration I took from Pinterest; but am changing things up quite a bit as I have an image in my mind of how I wanted this card to look and feel.

 

 

I think Sympathy cards can be as difficult to design as masculine cards.  Maybe it's the subject matter, I'm not sure.  I feel like you want a Sympathy card to be appropriate; yet sometimes I wonder, can a Sympathy card be "pretty"??  Especially if the gender of the deceased is male.  I originally thought I'd create this card using the Rooted In Nature set, which really has some beautiful images - both with the stamp set, as well as the coordinated designer series paper - that would be perfect for a Sympathy card.  In the end, I changed my mind and went with the "newer" Southern Serenade stamp set - introduced to us during the 2018 Spring Occasions catalog release, and carried forward to our Annual Catalog.  The direction I chose for today's design I think could be created in almost any colorway, and is clean and simple enough to make quickly and easily, and still have impact on the recipient.  I also think it works for a female or a male.

 

 

Design Colorology

Whisper White

Gray Granite

Blueberry Bushel

 

 I'm sticking to a simple 3-color colorway today.  Sometimes keeping your color choices simple is easier on the design.  I also chose Gray Granite over a Black because it is "softer" (less harsh), and has a gentler impact on the overall design.  Black is great for "popping" color or making a statement.  We don't want that on a Sympathy card.

 

 

 

This card is cut from our "thick" Whisper White cardstock, 4-1/4" x 11", scored at 5-1/2".  I then chose a narrow matting scheme to draw the eye up and down, rather than side-to-side.

The matting measurements from cardbase to top layer are as follows:

Layer 1:  3-1/2" x 5-1/2" (Gray Granite)

Layer 2:  3-1/4" x 5-1/2" (Blueberry Bushel)

Layer 3:  2-1/2" x 5-1/2" (Gray Granite)

Layer 4:  2-3/8" x 5-1/2" (Blueberry Bushel)

Layer 5:  2-1/4" x 5-1/2" (Whisper White

 

 

 

The "lace" image in the Southern Serenade stamp is stamped in Gray Granite (stamp off once first) for the background; and then the floral image stamped over it in Blueberry Bushel.

Once I layered the top 3 layers, I wrapped them with BlueBerry Bushel 1/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, and aligned it so it would tie a bow right at the base of the flower stem.

 

 

The "sympathy" sentiment for this card was sourced from the Flourishing Phrases stamp set - and fits PERFECTLY in the Pretty Label Punch.  I punched a Gray Granite piece to offset this before popping it with dimensionals on the front of the card.

 And of course (LOL), I finished everything off with some pretty seed pearls.

 

 

The majority of your time on this card is spent on cutting your cardstock pieces.  The rest of it is quick and easy, which is perfect when you want to make 5 or 10 to have on hand.  Try them in other colorways!!  This design is perfect for a number of occasions as well!!

 

Have a wonderful rest of your day everyone!!      

 

Until Next Time . . . Puppy Hugs!

 

 

 

Stylish Sympathy ~

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers :-)

Well, it is just so hard to believe that Sale-A-Bration is over for 2017.  And I'm just not quite ready to give up all our beautiful stamp sets and fun products from SAB.  How about you?  So I have a special design for you today, using the Delicate Details stamp set to help set off one of our beautiful Spring Occasions sets.  Let's go play :-)

 

 

Crumb Cake

Copper Foil

Very Vanilla

 

 I have selected a soothing neutral palate for today's card design.  I thought this would be a lovely combination for a "sympathy" card.  I think creating sympathy cards is always a little difficult.  And I sometimes wonder what really is the right look, color combo, feel to a sympathy card.  I don't like "drab," but is it appropriate to use bright cheerful colors?  There has to be a balance somewhere I think.

 

 

This card base is cut from Crumb Cake cardstock, turned with the fold to the top.  I used a Copper Foil mat behind the Very Vanilla background.  I lined up two of the pieces from the Delicate Details stamp set and stamped them in Versamark and then embossed with Copper embossing powder.  Then I laid a piece of ivory ribbon (just a 1/8" satin ribbon I have in my regular craft stash), between the two images, before adhering the piece to the Copper foil.   Technique Tip:  Copper foil is "slippery" on the back and doesn't like regular SNAIL adhesive; use your Fast Fuse adhesive to adhere to the card front.

 

For today's design I used a set I haven't really used much yet; the Special Reason stamp set and coordinating dies, Stylish Stems framelits.  This set is really sweet and fun.  I used Sahara Sand ink and cardstock for these flowers, and more Copper foil for my leaves.

 

I used Fine-Tip glue to lay down all the detailed pieces; and dimensionals for the littler flower :)

I also used a Tip Top Taupe stampin' write marker to just put a little color in the center of the background flower.

 

 

The sentiment is from the Better Together stamp set, and is also embossed with Copper embossing powder.  It's really a nice "gentle" card with a touch of elegance with all the copper :-)

 

Stampin' Up! has a nice tutorial video on how to use the Stylish Stems framelits.  Check it out :-)

 

 

Now it's on to some fun . . . 

 

 

Now, if you've been following me these past weeks, you know I've been doing a special Blog Candy giveaway each week since St. Patty's Day.  Today I want to celebrate Sale-A-Bration and what a wonderful time we had this year with this special giveaway.  Some of my most favorite products from Sale-A-Bration.  If you missed out, or just want to snag a couple extra sets, now is your chance.  Comment on this post and share with us what you like best about Sale-A-Bration - is it the free stuff?  do you like the extra host rewards on your big orders?  maybe it's the extra's offered to sign up and join SU!  I'd love to hear what you like; or maybe even what you don't like.  I learned something new the other week, when one of my faithful followers shared they don't like when SU! adds new stuff later in the game.  So tell me what you think.  And this weekend I'll select a random winner to win this goodie pack!!  :-)  Yes, that is a pack of the much coveted glimmer paper peaking there ;-)

 

If you won last week's designer paper giveaway, those packages are heading out into the mail as we speak!!  So keep an eye on your mailbox if you were a winner :-)

 

Have a great "hump day" everyone! 

 

Until Next Time . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Elegant Sympathy ~

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers :-)

TGIF!!  And it's a cool rainy one for me; with snow looming on the horizon!  I think the seasons got themselves all mixed up around here this year -- LOL  :-)  I'm thinking about just settling into my Studio for the weekend, and seeing if I can get caught up on some sewing projects that have been calling my name . . . we'll see what happens!

 

It's time for the Mojo Monday [MOJO490] challenge for this week, and I'm finally just about caught back up with my schedule; so this week's Mojo post is only a little bit off-schedule ;-)  So glad you're all being so patient with me.  Today's card design took some work until it came to fruition.  I was NOT happy at all with the way it was going, and ended up changing direction totally for my focal point.  But, whew!  It all worked out in the end.  Hope you'll enjoy this special card today!

 

 

 

Whisper White

Peekaboo Peach

Copper Foil

Today's card design is a Sympathy themed card, with a little bit different color scheme than you might think of for a Sympathy card.  I think a Sympathy card does not need to be drab and dreary.  So the colors I chose today are clean and fresh, and a little bit "lighter" in feel.  

 

 

Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:

 

• Layerothology.  This card is cut from Thick Whisper White cardstock, 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", scored at 4-1/4".  It's turned on the horizontal with the fold to the top. The background layering is Copper Foil with an overlay of Whisper White cardstock embossed with the Elegant Dots textured impressions embossing folder.  The mid-layer is Copper Foil overlaid with a piece of designer series paper from the Falling In Love collection.

 

 

• Gift of Love.  This gladiola is from the Gift of Love hostess set in the Annual Catalog.  With the retiring list looming, I'm turning my attention to all the wonderful products in our Annual, and we certainly have some wonderful hostess sets available.  This set is a 3-step set, so I stamped the gladiola image in Peekaboo Peach, and then the third overlay is in Daffodil Delight (the greenery is in Wild Wasabi).  I ended up fussy cutting this pretty stem and popping it against a Layering Oval background of Whisper White and Copper Foil.  All the layers on this card are popped up with dimensionals.  Yes, you are seeing the shimmer of Clear Wink of Stella on the flower ;-)

 

 

 

• Flourishing Phrases.  The simple sentiment comes from the Flourishing Phrases stamp set and tucks perfectly after being cut with this unusual and very neat "label" option that you can find in the Stylish Stems Framelits collection (in our Spring Occasions).  Check it out!  You'll really love this shape.  Notice that the mid-layer is wrapped with 3/8" metallic ribbon that is one of our Sale-A-Bration gifts.  You can still qualify for and earn this beautiful ribbon!!

 

 

• Turn to the Inside.  Just a quick peak at the inside of this card, done up in Peekaboo Peach, and just a whisper of the flower on the front.  Now this card is ready for your message or an additional stamped sentiment of your choice.

 

 

I think this pic catches the shimmer pretty nicely on that flower -

Don't forget your pearls :-)

 

 

We're down to the final hours of Sale-A-Bration my friends!  So hard to believe, but time flies when you're having fun!  Get those last hours in before midnight tonight (mountain time).  There are still plenty of Free Sale-A-Bration gifts to take advantage of.   As always, I'm only an email away if you need anything, or have any questions.

Ready to place an order?  Click HERE to shop in my online Stampin' Up! store 24/7!

 

 

Until Next Time . . .

 

 

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You're In My Thoughts for Mojo Monday!

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers ~

TGIF!!  And it is an off-Friday for me; and winter has returned to the front-range of Colorado.  So much so that we had a "flash freeze" and a blizzard start right at rush hour last night -- and what is normally a 10 minute commute for me between work and home turned into an hour and 20 minutes!!  It was unreal!  So this morning Sadie Ann and I are snug as bugs at home and I'm finally working on today's blog post and projects in the Studio; drinking coffee, watching The Mary Tyler Moore show -- LOL   It's all good!

 

 

It's time to play with the Mojo Monday [MOJO485] challenge this week.  We have a cute little sketch today that I think can be used in so many ways, and sparks creativity.  I had some fun with this -- and our fabulous Avant Garden Sale-A-Bration stamp set.  Yes, there is some fussy cutting involved ;-)  LOL

 

 

Basic Black

Blushing Bride

Very Vanilla

 

 I picked a sweet and classic color combination for this week's design.  I was inspired by another photo for this combo . . .

 

Don't you just adore these shoes???  I LOVE shoes -- and these are beyond fabulous!

Want to know who they belong to??

Why our fearless leader - Mary Fish - who has spent this week in Salt Lake being pampered by the SU! Team celebrating her $1,000,000 sales milestone!

We're all so excited :-)

Great inspiration - don't you think??

 

 

Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:

• Layerothology.  This card base is cut from Basic Black cardstock, 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored at 4-1/4" - a top fold horizontal card.  The background layering of this card is created with Blushing Bride, Basic Black, and a piece of Playful Palette DSP, which has a 1" Blushing Bride edge/border attached to it.  I carefully picked this piece because I love the Very Vanilla dots in it, and I thought it was the perfect subtle background to my focal point!
  

 

• Avant Garden Meets Thoughtful Branches.   Remember that wonderful beautiful stamp set from last Fall ??  Thoughtful Branches had the perfect sweet sentiment combination for this card design.  I cut a 2" x 4" Very Vanilla strip, angled my sentiment and kept it "soft" with Blushing Bride ink, and punched the piece using the Banner Triple Punch.   I purposely didn't push the strip all the way into the punch because I didn't want to shorten it too much; and you get a little different effect to your tips if you back it off a little -- note the squared blunt ends :-)  Experimenting with your tools can be fun!!  Those Avant Garden blooms are stamped in Blushing Bride ink, lightly watercolored in the center using an AquaPainter and some Flirty Flamingo ink; and then the stamen are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  The little leaves are stamped in Tip Top Taupe for a soft color blend.  They are all attached with glue dots - my favorite "go-to" adhesive!!

 

Do you just love that Blushing Bride Solid Baker's Twine wrap and bow?

I love our Baker's Twine assortment -- check it out!!

 

• Turn to the Inside.   The inside of this card finishes out the start of the sentiment on the front - "You're In My Thoughts" - . . . "And Always In My Heart".  It's a sweet card for a friend, or works well for a sympathy card -- one of those cards we don't like to make, but is necessary!  The echoed stamping of the flower and leaves coordinates the front to the inside.  And I love the Tip Top Taupe -- isn't not as harsh as a gray or black; but blends well with the black cardstock and keeps things feeling "warm" in the color family.

You'll find all of the products to make this card in our Annual Catalog, or HERE in my online store.  You can also click on any of the product images at the bottom of this post to purchase that item or read more about it in my online store.  Note:  The Thoughtful Branches bundle is no longer available -- so I hope you snapped up during the special promotion last year!  And the Avant Garden stamp set is a Sale-A-Bration incentive free product (Item # 143272) that you are eligible for with a minimum $50 product order.  Don't miss out on this beautiful photopolymer stamp set!  You love it!

 

Ready to place an order?  Click HERE to shop in my online Stampin' Up! store 24/7!

 

 

Until Next Time . . .

 

 

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In My Thoughts . . . for Mojo Monday!

 

Good Morning Fellow Stampers -

TGIF!!  Another week behind us; and today is a working Friday for me; so it will be this afternoon until I can come home, plop on the couch and put my feet up!!  That will feel really good.  I've been fighting a painful tooth for the past several weeks, and I'm holding out for an appointment with a specialist this coming Tuesday.  In the meantime, it wears you out pretty good to be fighting that consistent aching pain.  Grrrrrrrrrrr.

 

It's time for the Mojo Monday [MOJO447] challenge design.  I decided to really play with this weeks sketch design "outside of the box" so to speak.  All the elements are there, but represented in some very different forms.  Let's take a peak ;-)

 

 

 

 

Whisper White

Watermelon Wonder

Blushing Bride

Mossy Meadow

 

 

I have a "sneak peak" in today's color combination; since it's so brand new, it hasn't even been released yet, I'm not able to include it in the line-up.  Can you tell what it is???  ;-)

 

Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:

• Layerothology.  This card base is cut from the thick Whisper White cardstock, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4". 

  Technique Tip: Did you know that there is a right and wrong side to your scored card base?  The “bump” formed by the scoring tool goes toward the inside of your card.  You’ll notice when you fold inward so the score bump is inside that you get a perfect professional-looking fold and card every single time!

• Lovely In Lace.  The background layer on this card is Watermelon Wonder embossed with the Lovely Lace textured impressions embossing folder.  I then emulated the "circle" areas on the sketch with another "sneak peak" product -- the new Sweet & Sassy Framelits.  Oh, you are going to love these.  We'll take a closer look at these next week -- so hold on!!! ;-)

 

• Bouquets, Ribbons, & Roses.  I pulled out that Birthday Bouquet DSP again -- LOL  Not sure what I'm going to do when that retires shortly.  Guess I'd better start scoping out all the new patterns.  With a help from Mossy Meadow for some nice accents, including ink, I brought in a nice sentiment from the Rose Wonder stamp set, cut with the Rose Garden Thinlits, and popped over some Watermelon Wonder 1" Stitched Satin Ribbon.  I hoping this will be a  nice sympathy card for a dear friend whose mother passed away recently.  I didn't want anything to drab; and yet I wanted some elegance.  What do you think?

 

Well, it's off to a busy day.  What kind of plans does everyone have for the weekend ahead?  I hope to finish up some closet clean out I started this past week, drop some items off at the consignment shop, and do a little gardening.  Crossing my fingers for a productive weekend!!  :-)

 

Talk to you all soon!!!

 

 

Until Next Time . . .