Another Simple Tag

One last tag for ya... This one is super simple.  I think I was getting ready to go and realized I did not have a tag for my gift.  Five minutes later and I had cranked this out.  Simple, yet pretty and personal. 

~Supplies~

Stamps: Hanging Out (Taylored Expressions); Tiny Treats: Halloween (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Versamark; Studio G silver

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White (Stampin’ Up!); Lemon Tart (PTI)

Dies: Scallop Circle (Spellbinders); Mat Stack 4 (PTI)

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder; Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery markers (SU); Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon (SU); 1 ¾ inch circle punch (SU); Crop a dile

More Matching Tags

I was really thrilled with my tag-matching-wrapping-paper success, so I continued with that theme.  Here are two presents for my in-laws last year.

  

I just chose some colors out of the wrapping paper and used those to make a simple, graphic tag.

  

 Here is the gift for my father-in-law.

 Same tag, just different color scheme to match the gift bag.

How crazy is it that my mother-in-law and father-in-law share the same birthday, just one year apart?  :)

~Supplies~

Stamps: Birthday Basics, Fillable Frames #9, and Tiny Treats: Halloween (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Black (Versafine)

Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie (SU)

Dies: Scallop Circle (Spellbinders); Mat Stack 4 (PTI)

Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder; hemp twine; 1 ¾ inch circle punch (SU); corner rounder punch (EK Success)

Hello Kitty Birthday Tag

The birthday girl was having a Hello Kitty birthday party, and I just *happened* to notice that the wrapping paper I used on her gift matched the colors of the Hello Kitty invitation quite nicely.  So....

Don't you just love coincidences?  It truly does look like I coordinated it on purpose!   I just cut out the kitty and balloons from the front of her invitation, and stuck it onto a die cut with a little stamping.  Voila, instant matching tag! 

And if you thought it couldn't get any cuter....think again! 

Gah!  Four year old handwriting!  Too much, too much!  :)

~Supplies~

Stamps: Communique Sentiments and Fillable Frames #9 (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Melon Mambo (Stampin’ Up!)

Paper: Stampers Select White (PTI); Hello Kitty birthday invitation

Dies: Mega Mat Stack 1

Happy Birthday Owl Tag

If you have read my blog at all, you know that I love to use tags instead of birthday cards on my presents.  I love the smaller canvas, playing around with matching the colors of the gift wrap/bag, and how fast they are to complete when in a time crunch.  :)  Plus they feel so *useful*. 

Here is the back, ready to write on.

Owls are still pretty trendy right now, so this tag fits right in!

~Supplies~

Stamps: Family Phrases (Stampin’ Up!); unknown SU owl; Fillable Frames #9 (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Black (Versafine)

Paper: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, and Kraft (SU)

Dies: Tag Sale #4 (PTI)

Accessories: Circle punch (Marvy); Scallop circle punch (SU); Word bubble punch (EK Success); 1 3/4 inch circle punch (SU); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Provocraft); Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, and Crumb Cake markers (SU)

Wild About Baby Cards

 Here are some adorable animal baby cards, both pink and blue versions.

These cards were pretty much a CASE of another card I saw, but of course now I do not have the link to the original.  If you were the original designer, let me know!  :)  

 Here is some detail.  Cutting out little elements and adding dimensionals underneath really provided that extra *oomph*.  :)  

 

~Supplies~

Stamps: Wild About You (Stampin’ Up!); some unknown SU leaf

Ink: Pretty in Pink; So Saffron; Pumpkin Pie; Old Olive; Bashful Blue; Certainly Celery (SU)

Paper: Whisper White; Pretty in Pink; So Saffron; Bashful Blue; Certainly Celery; some random Pretty in Pink (and Bashful Blue) DSP (SU)

Accessories: Basic Black marker (SU); Scallop border punch (SU); 1 ¼ inch square punch (SU); dimensionals (SU); white ribbon from stash

Simplicity Style

One of my favorite "clean and simple" stamping blogs is Simplicity by LateBlossom.  Susan does great work with minimal layers, lots of white space, and design principles.  This card was inspired by her work.

This is also a good masculine card - no ribbon, bling, or frills.  :)

~Supplies~

Stamps: Round & Round (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Black (Versafine)

Paper: Stampers Select White (PTI) Just Chillin’ Boy (Making Memories)

Accessories: corner rounder punch (EK Success)

 

Digging through the archives...

This past year I was President of my local moms' club, so that took up a lot of my free time while stamping took a backseat.  Now that (1) my presidential stint is over at the end of June, (2) my kids are getting a little older and can entertain themselves a little better (my oldest will be a kindergartener! sniff!), and (3) my card stash is looking dangerously low, I am looking forward to more cardmaking (and blogging!) 

I was digging through my archives of card photos and found some great ones that I never got around to posting.  Here is my sister-in-law's bridal shower invite (those black lines are personal info that I redacted).

Had to make like 30 of these suckers, so they had to be easy to make assembly-line style, plus flat enough to mail.  I was really pleased with these!  Her entire shower was black and white damask themed, which I thought was super classy. 

~Supplies~
Stamps: Studio G
Ink: Black (Versamark)
Paper: Whisper White and Basic Black (Stampin' Up!); black and white damask (Target)
Accessories: Scallop border punch (SU); Dazzling Diamonds glitter (SU); Black grosgrain ribbon (SU)

I'm Back! With a Tag!

Yes, it's been awhile. Sometimes life gets in the way of blogging (and crafting). But that's okay - because it's a good life. :)



We recently attended the birthday party for one of my daughter's friends who was turning four. I quickly cranked out this little tag for her gift and was quite proud of it.



Here it is with the bag - you can see I designed it to match.



~Supplies~
Stamps: On Your Birthday, I {Heart} Hearts (Stampin' Up!); Tiny Treats: Valentine's, Wonderful Words Additions (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pretty in Pink (SU)
Paper: Pink Pirouette, and Regal Rose (SU)
Dies: Wonderful Words, Tag Sale #1, and Heart Prints (PTI)
Accessories: random rhinestone from my stash, Pure Poppy felt (PTI), twine (PTI)

Ten Minute Scrap Pile

I love Jessica Witty's "Ten Minute Scrap Pile" cards. The idea is to just sit down at your desk and make a quick card with whatever's on your table. And since I tend to do my card making in 10 or 15 minute increments (thanks to my young daughters), AND since I *ahem* find it very hard to throw anything away, I very often have a table full of scraps just begging to be used.


These butterflies are scraps leftover from the butterfly prints I made for my daughter's room. The Fine Linen layer is left over from my die cut-fest at Deb's house a couple months ago. Just a couple extra touches and it was done! Woo hoo!



~Supplies~
Stamps: Ribbon Tails, Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark; Berry Sorbet (PTI)
Paper: Fine Linen, Hibiscus Burst Bitty Dot Basics (PTI); Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Bella Bleu DSP (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Berry Sorbet satin ribbon (PTI); clear embossing powder (SU); Swiss Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Signature Series: Butterfly die (PTI); Edgers #1 die (PTI); dimensionals (SU)

Masculine card series

I'm still on my masculine card kick. I've had several masculine-themed supplies out on my desk for a few weeks, and every time I sit down to make a card, I just use these same items. Easy way to build up a nice stash! And let me tell ya, this is the first time I've actually had a stash of masculine cards! Usually I have to make them as I need them.


My key to masculine cards - clean, graphic, and little-to-no embellishments. PUT DOWN THE RIBBON, ladies!!! I know it's hard, but I promise they'll look better. :)


My masculine color scheme is brown, blue, green, and white. I threw in some nice textures as well. I kept it clean and graphic by using a large stamped sentiment as the focal point - no stamped images. I LOVE this look.


I also LOVE Mat Stack 1, in case you couldn't tell. :) It is seriously my most-used die by far.


~Supplies~
Stamps: Big Birthday Wishes, Mat Stack 1 Collection (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Rustic White (PTI); Not Quite Navy, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Kraft, Yoyo Yellow, Rockabilly DSP (SU)
Accessories: Mat Stack 1 and Double Ended Banner dies (PTI); Large Star punch (SU); Woodgrain Impression plate (PTI); Square Lattice embossing folder (SU); brown baker's twine (Martha Stewart); dimensionals (SU)

Look out, Pottery Barn Kids!

My older daughter just graduated to a "grown up" bed! We took her to Pottery Barn Kids, where she picked out a light pink bedspread with butterflies on it. It also included light green to match the color of her walls, as well as some light blue, yellow, and a darker pink.


There wasn't any wall art that totally matched the bedspread she picked. There were a few butterfly pieces, but they were really expensive, plus they didn't really match anyway. I thought, "Surely I can make something to match, with all the butterfly crafty stuff I own!"


Sure enough, I was able to come up with some butterfly wall art to match her PBK bedspread, and I am totally thrilled with the result. I bought the white frames at Michael's on sale for about $7.50 each, and that was the only expense! Much better than $49 each like at PBK, huh? :)


Here are close ups of two of them. Each one is just a teeny bit different!



~Supplies~
Signature Series: Butterfly die from Papertrey Ink
Cardstock and Bitty Dots patterned paper from Papertrey Ink - Spring Rain, Lemon Tart, Hibiscus Burst
Cardstock from Stampin' Up! - Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Spring Fling DSP

First Copics!

Another thing I got to try out at Deb's PTI stamping get together was Copic markers. Cheryl so kindly gave me a little lesson. It was fun, but I would have to practice a lot to work the magic that I see from so many talented crafters out there!


Even though the Copic coloring of the flower is just alright, I still wanted to share this card because I LOVE the ruffle ribbon!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Mums (Papertrey Ink); Frame It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Black Onyx (Versafine)
Paper: Stamper's Select White (PTI); Black, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Copics; Red Ruffle ribbon (My Favorite Things)

Birthday Tag - Girl

Here's more for my birthday tag series, this time a girl version.

~Supplies~
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Birthday; Fillable Frames #9 (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Melon Mambo (Stampin' Up!)
Paper: Whisper White, Pixie Pink; Melon Mambo (SU); Simply Chartreuse (PTI)
Accessories: Melon Mambo and Old Olive Markers (SU); T1 (Copic); Tag Sale #4 die (PTI); Scallop Circle and Circle Punches (SU); Double Ended banner die (PTI)

Bring on Spring!

One of my goals this year is to get one of my cards published in a magazine. This card was my first submission. But alas, it didn't get picked up. Maybe next time!!! :)

Daffodils are my favorite flower. We always had a bunch in our yard growing up, and I loved that they were one of the first flowers to peek out of the ground after the winter. So sunny and pretty!

But, I really don't like coloring in large images on cards. I'm not that good at it, and I don't have all the tools. So, I went for paper piecing on this one. It turned out fun, no? I also added an oh-so-trendy cake doily. I love how springy it looks!

~Supplies~
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Daffodil, and Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Spring Moss, Lemon Tart, Dark Chocolate, and Happy Spots Patterned Paper (PTI)
Ink: Black Onyx (Versamark); Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Corner rounder punch (EK Success); Doily (Wilton)

Birthday Tags - Boy

I've been concentrating lately on two things - gift tags and masculine/boy items. This fits both! These tags are just two of a whole series I made for birthday boy gifts. They are all made with similar stamps and color scheme. It makes it easy to make a whole bunch, since the supplies are already out and you're already in the groove. And you know my theory about using gift tags for kid presents - they don't even look at the card, so why bother? Plus, a tag is easier to attach to a bag and won't get lost in the gift pile like a card could. Sometimes I even have my daughter color in the image on the tag for her friends, which is cute.


As promised, here is the other reason I bought the "Eat Chocolate" stamp set. See that green outline frame that fits so beautifully in the white punched label? Well, I took the chocolate stamp that included this great border and CUT it! Yep, I cut my rubber stamp! I cut out the chocolate sentiment/image that I didn't really like, and was left with this pretty border for my punched labels. Love it!!!



~Supplies~
Stamps: Eat Chocolate (Stampin' Up!); Tiny Treats: Birthday (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Whisper White, Yoyo Yellow, Kraft (SU); Simply Chartreuse (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine); Old Olive (SU)
Markers: Old Olive, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Yoyo Yellow (SU); T1 (Copic)
Accessories: Tag Sale #1 and #3 dies (PTI); Star Punch (SU); Decorative Label Punch (SU)