HB2U

This week is my final week of birthday card blogging. I had a busy week leading up to this weekend, so I had to plan ahead. Well that plan was thrown out the window when my Concord & 9th order came a few days earlier then expected. From the initial video, I was intrigued but the concept if the turnabout stamps. I like all of them, but found the versatility of the triangle turnabout stamp to really fit my fancy. 

There is a little bit of a learning curve to using this, and I feel that using the jig alone with this stamp was most helpful after drawing a slightly crooked line (with a sharpie!) on the back of my acrylic stamp. This may not be the case with the other turnabout stamps, but there are triangle points that line up with the jig that make it easy to line up and get started. This stamp is perfect with a MISTI stamp tool, however I own the Hampton Arts Stamp Perfect. My device worked great, however I cannot speak for the other turnabout stamps in the Concord & 9th line. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:

Triangle Turnabout (Concord & 9th)

Paper:

Dapper Denim (SU)

Soft Sky (SU)

Whisper White (SU)

Marina Mist (SU)

Daffodil Delight (SU)

Ink:

Soft Sky (SU) 

Marina Mist (SU)

Dapper Denim (SU)

Daffodil Delight (SU)

Versamark 

Accessories:

Marvy Heat Tool

Clear Embossing Powder

Cricut Expression (for cutting of number and lettters) 

Happy Birthday Daisy

I just finished week three of my birthday card challenge. This week I decided to create a card with another one of my favorite flowers. This card was partly inspired by Whitney Magnuson from Unity Stamp Company. The daisy stamp used is one of their new kits this month, one look and I knew I had to have it. 

The cards I make are almost exclusively A2 in size. This goes to show how large the daisy stamp is. I chose to add some gray watercoloring to give the flower some depth. I am still learning how to use watercolors effectively, and was happy with the simple touches I added here. I fussy cut the flower and turned the edges to have it lift off the front of the card. I finished the card with a die cut ‘happy’ and a heat embossed ‘birthday wishes’ from Papertrey Ink. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:

A Daisy & A Lady (Unity Stamp Company )

Ways to Say: Birthday (PTI)

Paper:

Real Red (SU)

Whisper White (SU)

Basic Black (SU)

Stampin Up DSP Brights Pack (SU Retired)

Ink:

Stazon

Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories:

Sixxiz Big Shot

Ways to Say: Birthday Die (PTI)

Clear Embossing Powder (Recollections)

Coloré Watercolor Pencils (Amazon)

Water Brush

Sunflower for your birthday

I have devoted this month to building up my stockpile of birthday cards. This week I decided to create a card with one of my favorite flowers. I have made several cards in the past using smaller scallops to make sunflowers, but this time I needed to utilize my Cricut to make one in the size I chose for this card. 

The scallop circle in this rich yellow color with the dark brown layer (and a little imagination) created this beautiful sunflower. The large flower is the major focus of this card, but can easily fit multiple occasions. This was a quick and simple card to create and will be perfect for late summer or fall deliveries... especially birthdays. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:

And Many More (SU Retired)

Woodgrain (SU Retired)

Paper:

Sahara Sand (SU)

Garden Green (SU)

Crushed Curry (SU)

Soft Suede (SU)

Early Espresso Core'dinations (SU Retired)

Ink:

Crushed Curry (SU) 

Crumb Cake(SU)

Accessories:

Sixxiz Big Shot

Beautiful Branches Thinlits (SU Retired)

Decorative Dots embossing folder (SU Retired)

D'vine Swirl embossing folder (Cricut)

Washi Tape punch (SU Retired)

Word Window punch (SU Retired)

Cricut Expression (for cutting of scallop circles) 

June is for birthdays

Birthdays always sneak up in me. I have decided to spend most of this month to get caught up on birthday cards. My favorite birthday DSP is Cherry on Top. I think that this paper is fun and covers all ages with birthdays. I think neutral birthday cards are great to have on hand when time escapes me and I need to send a card with just a few days to spare. 

I like the versatility of this stamp set. You can switch things up and make a different look. Switch the candles to a horizontal position and layer upwards to make a cake. Quick tip: if you decide to use the layers as candles, it is easier to start with with the center candle and work your way out. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:

Build a Birthday (SU Retired)

Paper:

Cucumber Crush (SU Retired)

Watermelon Wonder(SU Retired)

Whisper White (SU)

Bermuda Bay (SU)

Cherry on Top DSP (SU Retired)

Ink:

Crushed Curry (SU) 

Bermuda Bay (SU)

Cucumber Crush (SU Retired)

Watermelon Wonder (SU Retired)

Accessories:

Sixxiz Big Shot

Circle Framelits (SU Retired)

Triple Banner Punch (SU)

Banner Butterfly

I have always enjoyed the fauna side of nature. Watching butterflies, hummingbirds, or even the first fawn sighting of the year. Something about that always reminds me of my childhood, visiting my great grandparents who lived in the country where life just seemed simpler. 

I have always loved this butterfly stamp. The color combinations to be used are endless. I honestly have a Pinterest board dedicated to color combinations and many of these butterfly images are saved to it. It's not that I can't come up with these color choices on my own... but sometimes I like to see the finished product first before I start. The following color combination jumped right out at me... especially when I thought of the intended recipient. 

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:

Watercolor Wings (SU)

Banner Style (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:

Island Indigo (SU)

Whisper White (SU)

Bermuda Bay (SU)

Ink:

Memento Tuxedo Black

Island Indigo (SU) 

Bermuda Bay (SU)

Pool Party (SU)

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot 

Banner Style Dies (PTI)

Framed Tulips TIEF (SU Retired)

Dimensionals (SU)

...there is you

I have a full set of distress oxide inks, and I have been waiting for the right stamp to use them. After seeing so many designs online, I realize there simply isn't a wrong stamp to use them with. I just needed to dive in and experiment.

What was originally planned to be a card with a white embossed image, quickly changed after I finished sponging the background and realized I created a landscape scene. I had what looked to be grass and sky, and I quickly knew which stamp I wanted to use. Ironically, this wasn't one I had planned on buying. I liked the image and how it was used without being colored in. I am still learning how to use my alcohol markers and watercolor pencils... so I am shying away from the "color me in" stamps.

I kept the backing from the stamp to use as a mask when I spritzed water onto the card. My first attempt at this design left some larger water droplets either on the girl or between the girl and the background image. Some of these distressed watermarks looked a little peculiar due to their random placement. The second attempt had a more pleasant result.

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:
...there is you (Unity)

Paper:
Basic Black (SU)
Whisper White (SU)
Vintage Jadeite (Papertrey Ink)

Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Cracked Pistachio
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Broken China

Accessories:
Marvy Heat Gun
Clear Embossing Powder
Blending Foam (Ranger)
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer

Congrats, Grad

I will admit that I totally CASE'd this card from Pinterest. As we are nearing graduation season, I needed cards for that occasion. I own absolutely NO graduation stamps. While I have several congratulations stamps, I own nothing that is specific for a graduating student.

When it comes to making cards for this occasion, I usually make a small handful of designs and use the appropriate school colors... utilizing stars, the words congratulations, or even a punch art mortarboard with diploma, but this specific design struck me as a 'must do'. I saw this as being very modern looking and attractive to both the giver and the receiver.

The number framelits has proven to be a very useful tool in my craft closet. From birthday to anniversary, and now graduation cards, this set has proven its versatility. I'm looking forward to the many other ways that I can use these dies in other creations.

Here are the supplies I used:

Stamps:
Bravo (SU Retired)

Paper:
Real Red (SU)
Basic Black (SU)
Whisper White (SU)
Glimmer Red (SU)
Glimmer Silver (SU)

Ink:
Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:
Sizzix Big Shot
Swirly Scribbles Thinlits (SU)
Large Number Framelits (SU)