Paper Conversation

BASIC WHITE 8-1/2" X 11" THICK CARDSTOCK
$8.25

CORNER BOUQUET CLING STAMP SET
$0.00

Sale-A-Bration -- Corner Bouquet & Heal Your Heart

01/27/2021

Hi There!

One of the cards I seem to need most, after birthday cards, is Sympathy cards. I'm sure it has something to do with my advancing age, but it's a sad statement nonetheless.

When I saw the Sale-A-Bration Brochure, one of the first ideas that occurred to me when I saw the Corner Bouquet stamp set was a Sympathy card. Then I saw the Heal Your Heart stamp set and realized that these two stamp sets were made for each other. I think that when you are creating a card for a solemn occasion you need to keep the design simple so that the message stands out with sincerity. One of the easiest ways to keep a card design simple is to use a monochromatic color palette. For this card I chose the calm and cool teals of Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, and Pool Party.

This card begins with a Basic White panel. The larger corner bouquet image was stamped at the lower left corner using Staz-On Jet Black ink. I chose this ink because I wanted a strong, dense black to create the silhouette. The "Wishing I could heal your heart" greeting, from the Heal Your Heart stamp set, was stamped near the upper right corner -- also using Staz-On Jet Black ink.

Blending Brushes were used to create the ombre effect on the panel: Bermuda Bay ink at the bottom, Coastal Cabana in the middle, and Pool Party at the top. When using Blending Brushes, you can use one brush for each color OR you can use one brush for all the colors if you begin with the lightest color, then the medium color, and then the darkest color last. You can make the colors as light or deep as you choose by continuing to add color. The best way to apply the color is in a circular motion to minimize the "pounce" marks and to more evenly blend the colors as they change from one to the other.

The stamped panel was matted with a slightly larger piece of Basic Black cardstock. A piece of Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle ribbon was wrapped around the panels about 1" from the bottom edge of the panels and tied into a bow near the left side of the panel.

A panel of Pool Party cardstock was embossed using the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder, matted with a slightly larger piece of Basic Black cardstock, and then adhered at the center of the Bermuda Bay card front. The stamped/matted panel was adhered to the Pool Party panel using Stampin' Dimensionals.

The small corner bouquet was stamped at the lower left corner of a Basic White panel using Staz-On Jet Black ink. The "sorry for your loss" sentiment was stamped near the upper center of the panel, also using Staz-On Jet Black ink. The ombre effect was created again for the lower 2/3 of the panel using Blending Brushes and the colors of Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, and Pool Party. The panel was adhered at the center of the inside sentiment area of the card base.

The small corner bouquet was stamped at the lower left front corner of the Medium Basic White Envelope using Staz-On Jet Black ink.

I really like how this card turned out and appreciated how quick it was to make. This would certainly be a good design for making a stack of cards with a variety of greetings and sentiments.

Card Measurements

Basic Black: 3-3/8" x 4-3/8", 4-1/8" x 5-3/8"; Basic White: 3-1/4" x 4-1/4", 4" x 5-1/4"; Bermuda Bay: 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2" along the 11" length; Pool Party: 4" x 5-1/4"; Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle ribbon: 12"

Supplies I used to make this card

Stamps: Corner Bouquet, Heal Your Heart; Inks: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Staz-On Jet Black; Cardstock: Basic Black, Basic White, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party; Embellishments: Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle; Tools: Blending Brushes, Subtle 3D Embossing Folder, Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine; Other: Medium Basic White Envelope

HEAL YOUR HEART CLING STAMP SET (ENGLISH)
$0.00

WHISPER WHITE 5/8" (1.6 CM) POLKA DOT TULLE RIBBON
$7.50

SUBTLE 3D EMBOSSING FOLDER
$10.00

BERMUDA BAY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

COASTAL CABANA CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

POOL PARTY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

JET BLACK STAZON PAD
$10.00

BASIC BLACK 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

BERMUDA BAY 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

POOL PARTY 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

BLENDING BRUSHES
$12.00

BERRY BLESSINGS BUNDLE (ENGLISH)
$0.00

Berry Blessings - Wishing You The Berry Best

01/25/2021

Hello!

Since I had the Berry Blessings stamp set and coordinating Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper Sale-A-Bration bundle on my work table, I thought I'd do something with some blueberries.

This card begins with a panel of Basic White cardstock. The blueberry leaf stem outline image was randomly stamped over the panel using Garden Green ink. The leaf stem shadowing image was stamped over the outline image using Garden Green ink stamped off before stamping over the outline image. The blueberry outline image was stamped over the leaf stem images using Night of Navy ink. The blueberry shadowing image was stamped over the blueberry outline image using Pacific Point ink. The panel was adhered at the center of a slightly larger panel of Night of Navy cardstock and then adhered at the center of the Pacific Point card front.

A strip of Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper was matted with a slightly larger piece of Night of Navy cardstock. (Note that the right and left ends of the Designer Series Paper are flush with the ends of the cardstock.) A piece of Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding ribbon was wrapped around the paper/mat strip and tied in a knot on the left side of the strip. The ends of the knot were trimmed close to the knot and a Mini Glue Dot placed under the knot. A triple-looped bow was created with the ribbon and adhered over the knot using Mini Glue Dots. The paper/cardstock strip was adhered across the cardfront with the bottom edge of the strip 1" above the bottom edge of the stamped panel.

The "Wishing you the berry best" sentiment was stamped on a narrow strip of Basic White cardstock using Night of Navy ink. The left end of the strip was punched with the rounded end shape of the Treasured Tags Pick A Punch. The left end of a slightly wider strip of Night of Navy cardstock was also punched with the rounded end shape of the punch. The sentiment was matted with the cardstock and the right ends cut flush. The sentiment was adhered at the right end (centered vertically) of the strip.

Three small Night of Navy rhinestones from the Holiday Rhinestones Basic Jewels were adhered to the card front.

The leaf stem outline image was stamped at the upper left corner of a panel of Basic White cardstock using Garden Green ink. The leaf stem shadowing image was stamped over the outline image using Garden Green ink stamped off before stamping over the outline image. The blueberries outline image was stamped over the leaf stem image using Night of Navy ink. The blueberry shadowing image was stamped over the blueberry outline image using Pacific Point ink. The "Happy Birthday you sweet thing" sentiment, from the Sweet Strawberry stamp set (Mr. Brown finally arrived!), was stamped at the center of the panel using Night of Navy ink. The panel was adhered at the center of the inside sentiment area of the card base.

The envelope flap of a Medium Basic White envelope was randomly stamped with the blueberries and leaf stem using the same process as used for the card front and inside sentiment area of the card. Tip: Place a scrap piece of paper between the envelope flap and the envelope to keep the stamping confined to the envelope flap.

I'm really enjoying the Berry Blessings stamp set and Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper bundle. You can earn this bundle for FREE with a $100 USD merchandise order during Sale-A-Bration. I hope you decide to take advantage of this great offer.

Card Measurements

Basic White: 3-7/8" x 5-1/8", 3/4" x 3-1/8", 4" x 5-1/4"; Night of Navy: 4" x 5-1/4", 7/8" x 3-1/4", 1-1/8" x 5-1/8"; Pacific Point: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4" along the 8-1/2" length; Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding ribbon: 12"

Supplies I used to make this card

Stamps: Berry Blessings, Sweet Strawberry; Inks: Garden Green, Night of Navy, Pacific Point; Cardstock: Basic White, Night of Navy, Pacific Point; Designer Series Paper: Berry Delightful; Embellishments: Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding ribbon, Holiday Rhinestone Basic Jewels; Tools: Treasured Tags Pick A Punch; Adhesives: Stampin' Seal, Mini Glue Dots; Other: Medium Basic White Envelope

SWEET STRAWBERRY PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
$18.00

SWEET STRAWBERRY BUNDLE (ENGLISH)
$32.25

TREASURED TAGS PICK A PUNCH
$23.00

WHISPER WHITE 1/4" (6.4 MM) CRINKLED SEAM BINDING RIBBON
$7.50

HOLIDAY RHINESTONE BASIC JEWELS
$6.00

GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

PACIFIC POINT CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

NIGHT OF NAVY 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

PACIFIC POINT 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

GLUE DOTS
$5.25

BERRY BLESSINGS BUNDLE (ENGLISH)
$0.00

Sale-A-Bration -- Berry Blessings

01/22/2021

Hello and Happy Friday!

I just LOVE Sale-A-Bration and all the fun ideas that come from the great product offerings available for FREE with a $50 or $100 merchandise purchase (USD). Today's post features the Berry Blessings stamp set with coordinating Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper. This product bundle is FREE with a merchandise purchase of $100 USD.

I've been seeing lots of great ideas for this stamp set and Designer Series Paper. Some by themselves and others with the coordinating Sweet Strawberry Bundle from the January - June Mini Catalog. Since I haven't received the Sweet Strawberry Bundle yet from Mr. Brown, I'm just focusing on the items you can receive for FREE from the Sale-A-Bration brochure.

One of my Mom's favorite fruits was blackberries. She would make the yummiest cobblers and pies in the Summertime. My sisters and brothers and I would tease each other over our stained tongues after dessert.

One of the easiest ways to showcase beautiful paper is to let the paper "do the talking." For this card, I featured both sides of the blackberry patterned paper. The patterned side is shown at the top of the card and the coordinating background is shown at the bottom of the card. I took a 3-7/8" x 5-1/8" piece of paper and cut the paper horizontally at 1-1/2" from the bottom edge along the 3-7/8" width. The two pieces were adhered to a panel of Granny Apple Green cardstock leaving a 1/16" border between the outside edges of the Designer Series Paper and the edges of the cardstock. A piece of Fine Art ribbon was adhered to a narrow strip of Blackberry Bliss cardstock and then adhered over the "seam" where the two pieces of Designer Series Paper meet. The ends of the ribbon were folded and adhered to the back of the Granny Apple Green cardstock. The panel was then adhered at the center of the Blackberry Bliss card front.

A square of Basic White cardstock was embossed with the square shaped die from the Stitched With Whimsy dies. The greeting, "You always have a way of making my day," was stamped near the lower left corner of the embossed square using Garden Green ink. A slightly larger square of Blackberry Bliss cardstock was used to mat the Basic White square. The square was adhered near the lower right side of the card front using Stampin' Dimensionals.

The blackberries decorating the greeting square were made by stamping the blackberry outline stamp three times on Basic White cardstock using Blackberry Bliss ink. The blackberries were "colored" with the coordinating shading stamp using Blackberry Bliss ink stamped off before stamping over the outline images. The images were fussy cut with Paper Snips. The stems for the blackberries were stamped on Basic White cardstock using Granny Apple Green ink, cut out with Paper Snips, and adhered at the top of the blackberries with a rolled up Mini Glue Dot. Two of the blackberries were adhered directly to the greeting square: one along the middle of the right side, and one along the middle of the top edge. The third blackberry was adhered between the first two blackberries using a Stampin' Dimensional. The leaves image was stamped on Basic White cardstock using Garden Green ink. The leaves were "colored" with the coordinating shading stamp using Granny Apple Green ink. The leaves image was fussy cut using Paper Snips and adhered at the upper right corner of the greeting square with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The card front was finished with five (5) small Gold Glitter enamel dots scattered over the card front.

The blackberry stems were stamped twice near the upper left corner of a panel of Basic White cardstock and once on a piece of Basic White cardstock. A thin strip of Granny Apple Green cardstock was adhered behind the bottom edge of narrow strip of the blackberry background print so that 1/16" is visible below the paper. The strip was adhered along the top edge of the Basic White cardstock panel. The blackberry outline image was stamped immediately below the bottom edge of the two stems and on a piece of Basic White cardstock. The blackberries were "colored" with the shading stamp using Blackberry Bliss ink stamped off before stamping over the outline image for all three blackberries. The blackberry and stem stamped on Basic White cardstock were fussy cut with Paper Snips, the stem adhered at the top of the blackberry with a rolled up Mini Glue Dot, and adhered with the other blackberries on the Basic White panel. The leaves image was stamped on a piece of Basic White cardstock using Garden Green ink. The leaves were "colored" with the shading image using Granny Apple Green ink stamped off before stamping over the outline image. The leaves were fussy cut using Paper Snips and adhered to the paper strip over the blackberry stems.

The "Thank You" sentiment was stamped at the lower right corner of the Basic White panel using Garden Green ink. The panel was adhered at the center of the inside sentiment are of the card base.

A piece of the blackberry print paper was adhered to the envelope flap. Tip: Adhere the paper to the envelope flap and then use Paper Snips to cut the paper along the edge of the envelope flap.

I ended up making a few of these cards because they turned out so darn cute. I can't wait to send them out!

Card Measurements

Blackberry Bliss: 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" scored at 4-1/4" along the 8-1/2" length, 2-3/4" x 2-3/4", 9/16" x 5-1/4"; Granny Apple Green: 4" x 5-1/4", 3/8" x 5-1/4"; Basic White: 2-5/8" x 2-5/8", 2" x 5-1/2", 4" x 5-1/4"; Berry Delightful Designer Series Paper: 3-7/8" x 5-1/8", 3/4" x 5-1/4", 2-1/4" x 6"; Fine Art ribbon: 6"

Supplies I used to make this card

Stamps: Berry Blessings, Happy Thoughts; Inks: Blackberry Bliss, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green; Cardstock: Blackberry Bliss, Granny Apple Green, Basic White; Designer Series Paper: Berry Delightful; Embellishments: Fine Art ribbon, Gold Glitter enamel dots; Tools: Stitched With Whimsy, Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine; Adhesives: Stampin' Seal, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots; Other: Medium Basic White Envelope

HAPPY THOUGHTS CLING STAMP SET
$21.00

GOLD GLITTER ENAMEL DOTS
$8.00

3/8" (1 CM) FINE ART RIBBON
$7.50

BLACKBERRY BLISS CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

GARDEN GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

GRANNY APPLE GREEN CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

BLACKBERRY BLISS 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

GRANNY APPLE GREEN 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

STITCHED WITH WHIMSY DIES
$29.00

STAMPIN’ DIMENSIONALS
$4.00

GLUE DOTS
$5.25

ART GALLERY PHOTOPOLYMER STAMP SET
$22.00

Art Gallery -- I'm Thinking of You

01/20/2021

Hi There!

Happy Wednesday! Getting back to blogging is really wonderful. I'm so excited to be sharing ideas again with you.

When I began designing a project for the Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop for the Art Gallery stamp set, the first card I made was this one. I was having so much fun with the color combinations for the large flower that I couldn't stop. In fact, one of the flowers became the focal point for the blog hop card.

This card begins with a piece of Fine Art Floral Designer Series Paper. I have to say that the background side of the Designer Series Paper is just as gorgeous as the floral front sides of the paper. There are some amazing textures and patterns to choose from on the backgrounds. The Designer Series Paper was adhered at the center of a Night of Navy panel. Then a panel of Golden Garden Specialty Acetate was adhered over the Designer Series Paper. The trick with adhering the acetate is to make sure that the adhesive is placed under areas where elements are added to the top of the acetate. Tip: There's a protective layer of film on the silver side of the acetate. Just use your fingernail or Take Your Pick tool to pick up the film at the corner and peel it away.

To create the bouquet:

Stamp the leaf image three times using Old Olive ink on Basic White cardstock and die cut them with the coordinating Floral Gallery dies. Cut the leaves off the stem of one of the leaf images -- you'll be using all three pieces when you create the bouquet
Stamp the small flower image three times on Basic White cardstock using Bumblebee, Terracotta Tile, and Poppy Parade ink and die cut them with the coordinating Floral Gallery die
Stamp the large flower solid image two times on Basic White cardstock using Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron ink. Then stamp the detailed large flower image with Terracotta Tile on the Pumpkin Pie flower and Bumblebee on the So Saffron flower. Die cut the flowers with the coordinating Floral Gallery die

Now it's time to create the bouquet. Adhere the complete leaf stems just below center of the acetate so that the bottoms of the stems cross. Then add the single stem (with no leaves) across the crossed stems pointing toward the upper left corner of the card front using rolled up Mini Glue Dots. Adhere the Pumpkin Pie/Terracotta Tile flower near the upper left corner, the So Saffron/Bumblebee flower near the upper right corner using Stampin' Dimensionals, and then add the Poppy Parade, Bumblebee, and Terracotta Tile flowers using Stampin' Dimensionals. Adhere one of the two loose leaves under the left side of the Pumpkin Pie/Terracotta Tile flower and the second leaf under the right side of the So Saffron/Bumblebee flower. Create a bunny bow with the Fine Art ribbon and adhere where the stems cross below the flowers using Mini Glue Dots.

The "I'm thinking of you" greeting was stamped on Pool Party cardstock using Night of Navy ink and die cut with the long postage stamp rectangle in the Floral Gallery dies. The sentiment was matted with a slightly larger piece of Night of Navy cardstock and adhered flush with the Night of Navy edge of the card front with the top edge of the greeting just covering the bottom of the flower stems.

The leaf image was stamped at the lower left corner of a panel of Basic White cardstock using Old Olive cardstock. The large flower was stamped above the top of the stem using So Saffron and Bumblebee inks. The sentiment comes from the Happy Thoughts stamp set (I just LOVE this stamp set!) and was stamped just above and to the right of the flower. The panel was adhered, centered, at the inside sentiment area of the card base.

The leaf image was stamped at the upper right corner of the envelope flap using Old Olive ink. The large flower was stamped at the top of the leaf stem using So Saffron and Bumblebee inks. I really liked how the flower looked on the envelope flap, so I repeated this for the envelope for the card I designed for the Stamp Review Crew blog hop -- just in the opposite corner.

There's nothing like a floral bouquet to let someone know that they are important to you and that you care about them. I think this card certainly does the trick!

Card Measurements

Basic White: 5 @ 2-1/2" x 3", 3 @ 1-1/2" x 2", 4" x 5-1/4"; Night of Navy: 9/16" x 2-13/16", 4" x 5-1/4"; Pool Party: 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 5-1/2" along the 11" length, 1" x 3"; Fine Art Floral Designer Series Paper: 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"; Golden Garden Specialty Acetate: 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"; Fine Art ribbon: 8"

Supplies I used to make this card

Stamps: Art Gallery, Happy Thoughts; Inks: Bumblebee, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Terracotta Tile; Cardstock: Basic White, Night of Navy, Pool Party; Designer Series Paper: Fine Art Floral, Golden Garden Specialty Acetate; Embellishments: Fine Art ribbon; Tools: Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine; Adhesives: Stampin' Seal, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots; Other: Medium Basic White Envelope

FLORAL GALLERY DIES
$34.00

ART GALLERY BUNDLE
$50.25

HAPPY THOUGHTS CLING STAMP SET
$21.00

FINE ART FLORAL 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 CM) DESIGNER SERIES PAPER
$11.50

GOLDEN GARDEN DESIGNER SPECIALTY ACETATE
$9.00

3/8" (1 CM) FINE ART RIBBON
$7.50

BUMBLEBEE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

NIGHT OF NAVY CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

OLD OLIVE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

POPPY PARADE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

PUMPKIN PIE CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

SO SAFFRON CLASSIC STAMPIN' PAD
$7.50

TERRACOTTA TILE CLASSIC STAMPIN’ PAD
$7.50

NIGHT OF NAVY 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

POOL PARTY 8-1/2" X 11" CARDSTOCK
$8.75

STAMPIN’ DIMENSIONALS
$4.00

GLUE DOTS
$5.25