Monogrammed Cards and Gift Box

Monogrammed cards are a quick and easy but personalized gift. This set of monogrammed cards and gift box were given as a hostess gift last week at a workshop. I enjoyed meeting Erin and her family and friends. We had a good time chatting and crafting.

Here is a view of the card (OK- a similar card, I forgot to take a picture of the original card out of the box):

Here are the cards in the box:

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• The gift box is made from a single sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock. I modified the directions on Martha Stewart's Seasons of Crafting blog.
• The circular image from the Artistic Etchings stamp set makes a good background for the monogram when stamped in Marina Mist.
• Use the same ribbon on the cards and the gift box to coordinate the items.

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Supplies:

• Stamp Sets - Artistic Etchings (W 118517, C 120573), Lovely Letters Alphabet (W 115030)
• Ink - Marina Mist (119668), Early Expresso (119670)
• Card Stock - Early Expresso (119686), Crumb Cake (120953), Very Vanilla (101650), Marina Mist (119682)
• Tools - 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch (119850), 2-3/8 Inch Scallop Circle Punch (118874)
•  Accessories - Early Expresso 1-1/4 Inch Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (119961)

Keep on stamping!

Sue

Nautical Expedition and the Open Sea

Today's card uses a great new stamp set from the Summer Mini - The Open Sea. I love when a stamp set comes out that is so suitable for masculine cards. The images in the set are beautifully intricate. This card could be suitable for Father's Day or for a man's birthday.

The layout is based on the Card Patterns Sketch 113. I am way too late to enter the challenge but this idea has been percolating in my mind for a while. When I saw the half circle at the top of the sketch, I immediately thought of the ship's wheel idea I had seen on several cards online.

Question of the Day:
Do you find it difficult (like I do) to make cards for men? What are your favorite stamp sets for masculine cards? Leave your answer in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• Use your Circle Scissors Plus to cut the circle for the ship's wheel. Then cut the circle in half and use the Word Window punch to create the "handles."
• Make your own background paper by stamping images randomly on card stock. Then emboss, sponge the edges, and spritz with the Color Spritzer tool.
• Use Paper Snips to trim the focal images.
• Finish it off with Bakers twine and Antique Brads.

Click here to order Stampin' Up! day or night!



Supplies:

• Stamp Set - The Open Sea (W 123030, C 123032)
• Ink - Early Expresso (119670), Not Quite Navy (103008), Soft Suede marker (120973)
• Card Stock - Crumb Cake (120953), Early Expresso (119686), Very Vanilla (101650), Cherry Cobbler (119685)
• Designer Series Paper - Nautical Expedition (122343)
• Tools - Circle Scissors Plus (112530), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Word Window punch (119857), Paper Snips (103579)
•  Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine (123125), Antique Brads (117273 ), Early Expresso 1-1/4 Inch Striped Grosgrain Ribbon  (119961)

Keep on stamping!

Sue

Hello Blossoms and FTL139

Today's card uses this week's sketch from the Clean and Simple blog. The sketch was perfect for the Hello Blossoms a la carte stamp. This stamp combines an image and the sentiment in one.

In retrospect, I think I should have used Regal Rose cardstock in place of the yellow layer to add another touch of that color to the card. What do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• Use Stampin Write Markers to ink up the different colors on the stamp. Then "huff" on the stamp to re-moisten the ink before stamping.
• You can also use markers to ink only part of a stamp. I wanted my tag to say "friend" rather than "friends" so I used an Early Expresso marker to ink only the first 6 letters.

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Supplies:

• Stamp Sets - Hello Blossoms (W 123102), Tiny Tags (W 118091, C 118592)
• Ink - Early Expresso marker (119680), Old Olive marker (100079), Regal Rose marker (105108)
• Card Stock - Old Olive (100702), Whisper White(100730), Early Expresso (119686), Daffodil Delight (119683)
• Designer Series Paper - Greenhouse Gala (117167)
• Tools - Jewelry Tag Punch (117190)
• Accessories - Old Olive 3/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon (109067), White Bakers Twine (124262)

Keep on stamping!

Sue

Land of the Free - Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 116

Today, I played along with the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 116. The sketch seemed like a good fit for a few cards to support our military overseas. Several cards like this one will soon be on their way to Operation Write Home. As you are crafting, please consider making an extra card or two (or more) to support this great cause!

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• Use Paper Snips to snip out the anchor from The Open Sea stamp set. The really sharp points on these scissors help you with intricate images like this one.
• Add some texture by running a card stock panel through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.
• The new Bakers Twine is a great embellishment bargain at only $2.95 for 25 yards.

Click here to order Stampin' Up! day or night!



Supplies:

• Stamp Sets - Land of the Free (W 123100), The Open Sea (W 123030, C 123032)
• Ink - Cherry Cobbler (119669), Not Quite Navy (103008)
• Card Stock - Cherry Cobbler (119685), Whisper White (100730)
• Designer Series Paper - Nautical Expedition (122343)
• Tools - Paper Snips (103579), Crop-A-Dile (108362), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die (119976)
•  Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine (123125)

Keep on stamping!

Sue

Bold Blossom and Triple Layer Punch

Stampin' Up's new triple layer punches are the bomb! It really is like getting 3 punches in one. A switch on the punch changes it from one configuration to another. I played around with the new Blossom Bouquet punch and the Bold Blossom stamp set yesterday and came up with this card.  Both of the flower layers on today's card came from the same punch. The red layer is larger and creates a perfect mat for the smaller layer which also has cut-outs on the petals. The third layer (not shown here) is the same size as the smaller layer but with no cut-out areas. I hope you enjoy the bright, happy colors. They make me happy just looking at them.

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• Choose your color scheme based on a sheet of Designer Series Paper. I would have never thought to put these colors together but they work perfectly with the DSP.
• Wrap the bakers twine around the card several times and secure with a small piece of sticky tape for extra holding power.
• Play with the 3 layers of the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch until you get the look you like.
• Use your paper snips to trim around the butterfly and pop it up with a dimensional.
• Finish off with the perfect little bit of bling - pearls!

Click here to order Stampin' Up! day or night!



Supplies:

• Stamp Set - Bold Blossom (W 123232, C 122232)
• Ink - Pear Pizzazz (119784), Real Red (103133)
• Card Stock - Pumpkin Pie (105117), Real Red (102482), Whisper White (100730), Pear Pizzazz (119795)
• Designer Series Paper - Greenhouse Gala (117167)
• Tools - Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (122464), Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402), 2 X 1-3/8 Inch Oval Punch (119859)
• Accessories - Basic Pearls (119247), White Baker's Twine (124262)

Keep on stamping!

Sue

Lovely Elizabeth Thank You

My customer thank you card for April was this lovely one using the Elizabeth single stamp. I love the detailed image that lends itself to as simple or as ornate a card as you care to make.

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• Add subtle texture by using Stampin' Up! textured card stock for the card base.
• Layer on additional texture with a strip made with the Finial Press embossing folder.
• Add a touch of bling with Basic Pearls on either side of the sentiment.
• To get a straight sentiment, try stamping the sentiment and punch out using the Word Window punch.

Click here to order Stampin' Up! day or night!



Supplies

• Stamp Sets - Elizabeth (W 117120), Fabulous Phrases (W 117002, C 120501)
• Ink - Early Expresso (119670)
• Card Stock - Marina Mist (119682),  Early Expresso (119686),  Textured Crumb Cake (119929),  Very Vanilla (101650)
• Tools - Word Window punch (119857), Scallop Trim Border punch (118402), Scallop Oval punch (119856), Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (115963)
•  Accessories - Basic Pearls (119247)

Keep on stamping!

Sue



National Scrapbooking Month

Now through the end of May, Stampin' Up! is offering 30% off certain stamp sets and digital products in celebration of National Scrapbooking Month. One of the sets on sale is Party Hearty. This is a terrific, versatile set for all kinds of celebrations, especially birthdays. It can be used for men, women, or children; cards or scrapbooks. Click here to see the list of products on sale.

Stamping Vogue Tips:

• Punch out circles and adhere them under a border strip to add a curvy edge.
• Imagine different ways to use stamp images. For example, cut apart the birthday hats and turn them upside down to make a quick and easy pennant. Stamp the same hats in green to make cute Christmas trees. Stamp the hats several times in a row to make a border for a scrapbook page.
• Use the Stampin' Up! color coach (121620) to discover great color combinations for your intended recipient. These primary colors would work well for kids of all ages but imagine Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz, and Peach Parfait for a special little girl or Sahara Sand, Pacific Point, and Cajun Craze for a great masculine card.

Click here to order Stampin' Up! day or night!



Supplies:

• Stamp Sets - Party Hearty (W 111532)
• Ink - Cherry Cobbler (119669), Daffodil Delight (119667)
• Cardstock - Cherry Cobbler (119685), Daffodil Delight (119683), Early Expresso (119686), Whisper White (100730)
• Designer Series Paper - Greenhouse Gala (117167)
• Tools - 1-3/4 Inch Scallop Circle punch (119854), 3/4 Inch Circle punch (119873), 1 inch Circle punch (119868)
•  Accessories - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon (120992)

Keep on stamping!

Sue