Butterfly Thank You Card

Good morning!! Today I'm in a great mood, despite the weather and despite having to go to the dentist today... I'm planning some shopping this afternoon- all by myself- which almost never happens! Hee!

Today I'm sharing a card I made using Embellish Magazine's latest challenge:



I sat with these colors on my desk for soooo long! I just couldn't decide what to do. Finally, I grabbed an old favorite that hasn't gotten to play in a while, my Simple Friendship set, and finally, the idea came! Here is what I made:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set, Thank You Kindly set
Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Gray Classic inks
Paper: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Whisper White cardstock; Going Gray textured cardstock; Walk in the Park DSP(retired)
Accessories: Top Note Die, Melon Mambo polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, White Signo Gel pen, paper piercer, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Fire Circle Rhinestone brads

Have you ever tried to pop the rhinestones out of the Fire and Ice brads? It's a toughie but I did it for my butterfly's wings. I also loaded her up with lots of Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I also flipped the ribbon so that the polka-dots wouldn't be seen- an easy trick for a totally different look!

I am so glad that people post challenges like this that make me use products I haven't in a while... it is like a little breath of fresh crafty air! I think tonight I'll pull all my stamps out and grab another I haven't used in awhile for my next card!

Hope you all have a great Thursday! It's almost Friday!! Yeah!! Thanks for stopping by today, too!

-tessa

Who wants to see new goodies!!

My trusty UPS driver dropped off my sneak peek goodies early this afternoon!! I quickly thumbed through the new catty (love sooo much out of it!) and got to work playing with a new stamp set and the new papers I ordered!! Here is what I made:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Wings of Friendship (new Hostess L2 set)
Ink: Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie classic inks
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry cardstock
Accessories: Melon Mambo 1/2 inch polka-dot grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Paper Piercer, Dimensionals

The hostess sets this year are right up my alley! It was so hard to choose one in each level to purchase... I'm excited to try more with this little guy!

Here is the next card I made:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set, Warm Words set
Ink: Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Barely Banana, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip classic inks
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White cardstock; Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Paper Piercer, White Signo Gel pen

This is one of those cards that just the middle part opens- so the white part with ruffles and butterflies... I love the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP! The colors are bright and pretty and I have a feeling, I'll be using it a lot!!

OK! There is a little sneak peek of the new goodies!

-tessa

A Citrus Challenge...

So, last week the Moxie Fab World blog posted a challenge to use this picture from Pottery Barn as inspiration to make a card:



I decided to participate and here is what I came up with:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Upsy Daisy set; Simple Friendship set
Ink: Barely Banana, So Saffron, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, Certainly Celery, Old Olive classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Kraft, Whisper White cardstock; Glossy White cardstock, Bella Rose DSP
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Scallop Edge punch, So Saffron wide grosgrain ribbon, Clear embossing powder, Stamping Sponges, Dimensionals

Well, after I was all done yesterday, I took some pictures of the card and none of them turned out... I had to wait for this morning to retake them and what do you know, I missed the deadline for the contest! Oh well!

For the background layer, I stamped the flowers onto glossy cardstock using Versamark. Then I heat embossed them using clear embossing powder. next, I started with my yellows and sponged the ink onto the glossy cardstock. I worked my way down into the greens, covering the entire stamped image. The ink doesn't stick to the embossing powder and really lets the silhouettes stand out! Next, I ruffled my Kiwi Kiss DSP and stuck it to the scalloped edge piece. I stuck this to the background piece and added the ribbon then I stuck it all to a Kraft card base. After I thought I was done, I decided to add a butterfly to the corner. Really, it was because I made a stupid mistake of putting my thumb in green ink and leaving a print on the yellow part of the piece! Hee! Gotta cover those mistakes!

Anyways, I am so in the mood to craft today! I am expecting UPS any minute with my new Stampin' Up! goodies!! I can't wait to see the new incolors in real life!! I have a feeling I'll have a lot to share if I find time to play!!

Thanks for popping by today!

-tessa

Mother's Day Gift Sets...

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I am working on a few gifts for the mothers that I love! I decided to make them all a set of monogram cards in a matching box like I created last week. I am sharing one today for my step-mom Renee, or Nay-Nay as my girls call her! Here is the set:



Her card:


The Box:


The Card Set:


Goodies:
All products are by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Together Forever set, Simple Friendship set, Upsy Daisy set, Lovely Letters alphabet
Ink: Choclate Chip, Baja Breeze, and Soft Sky classic inks; Chocolate Chip craft ink
Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip cardstock; Glossy White cardstock; Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals, Whisper White jumbo grommets

I wanted to keep the design simple since Mother's Day is fast approaching! I used the striped wipe technique to make the Upsy Daisy card. I thought I'd try stamping over it with craft ink and I like how it dried matte. It looks kind of neat against the glossy background!

Well, hope your day is going well! We are heading to Ikea for some much needed toy storage! Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

A Red Butterfly...

I'm so excited to participate in Kristina Werner's 50th Color Inspiration Challenge! These challenges really get me out of a funk when I'm in one and help me to learn to use my products in different ways! Thanks Kristina for posting such great inspirations!

Here is her challenge for us:



And here is what I made:




Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set, Baroque Motifs set, Polkadot Background
Ink: Summer Sun, Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise Classic inks; Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red cardstock; Bella Rose DSP
Accessories: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Scallop Edge punch, Piercing tool and guide, White embossing powder, 1 3/4" Circle punch

When I think of this set, I don't think of these colors and I think that's why I chose to use it! Well, that and it was already on my desk... Hee! First, I stamped the background of the cardbase with polkadots in Real Red. I love the look of color on color... it's subtle but gives some texture at the same time! Next I stamped and embossed the swirls stamp from Baroque Motifs on a strip of Summer Sun cardstock. I matted it with Tempting Turquoise, tearing it on the bottom edge. I added another torn edge of the Chocolate Chip polkadot DSP and also a crumpled strip of white with the bottom edge scalloped. I tied my ribbon around it and stuck it in the middle of my card base. I added the friend next. Then I started working on the focal point. I wasn't sure what color I wanted the butterfly to be so I cut out one of each color and accidentally doubled them up and liked the way it looked! I stuck them together using a dimensional and added glitter to his wings. I made a little distressed square for him to live on and added it to my cardbase.

See! With out Kristina's color inspiration, I'd probobly never see a pretty red butterfly! I love it! If you have time, I hope you can participate, too!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Butterfly Gift Set

On Friday of last week my husband came home from work all excited because he got me some work! He signed me up to make a card set for the administrative assistants he adores so much. There are two ladies he wanted to make gift sets for and he told them I'd have 10 cards for each of them! And, they had to be done by today! That's 20 cards in 3 days! And, not just any 3 days... Zoey's birthday was Friday and I had a big class planned on Saturday and had planned on doing my prepwork in the morning. So, really it left me with part of Sunday and Monday to work... I had to come up with something quick! Luckily, in my class, we were making sets of 8 cards so I was able to cut two extra kits and put them together in one evening. Here they are:



Next, I made a cute little box to put them in:



To make this, I measured the envelopes and added a quarter inch on each side. Then I added another inch and a quarter to each side and cut it out. I scored an inch and a quarter in on each side and tabbed the sides so I could fold in into a box. Really, the measuring turned out to be the hardest thing!

I've been trying to get caught up with some projects I needed to finish and should be back to posting regularly soon!

Thanks for stopping by!

-tessa

More Samples from Collector's Club!

As promised, here are the last two samples from my Collector's Club: Simple Friendship Edition class! I'm really excited about them!

Here they are:





Here is one last picture of the whole bunch, so you don't have to go looking for them all!



If you'd like to see the close ups of the other three projects, here are the links to the older posts:

1st Sample
2nd and 3rd Samples


Here are the class details:

Date: April 25th, 2009
Time: 5:00pm
Place: Kristen's House in Lorton, VA
Cost: $35.00

So, for $35.00, you get to come and stamp for a few hours, leave with 10 completed projects (2 each of 5 designs), learn some new techniques, chat with friends, AND take the stamp set home with you!!

Just email, call, or leave a comment with your contact info me if you're interested in joining us! I'll need an RSVP and payment by April 15, 2009 so I can order all of the supplies.

Collector's Club: Simple Friendship Edition

Every few months I have a Collector's Club Class locally. We always have so much fun! This time around, I chose the Simple Friendship set to base all my cards on. I posted one card last week but have 4 more that we'll be doing in the class. Today I'll be sharing 2 projects!

Here they are:




Here are the class details:

Date: April 25th, 2009
Time: 5:00pm
Place: Kristen's House in Lorton, VA
Cost: $35.00

So, for $35.00, you get to come and stamp for a few hours, leave with 10 completed projects (2 each of 5 designs), learn some new techniques, chat with friends, AND take the stamp set home with you!!

Just email , call, or leave a comment with your contact info me if you're interested in joining us! I'll need an RSVP and payment by April 15, 2009 so I can order all of the supplies.

Hope all of you out in blogland have a good night!

-tessa

A Pair of Butterflies Card

Today I'm sharing the first of Five cards I'll be teaching in an upcoming class. I will be featuring the Simple Friendship set by Stampin' Up! Here it is:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, and Basic Black Classic inks
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose cardstock
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, Sponge Daubers, Scallop Edge punch, Dimensionals

I love using the color kissing technique on this butterfly stamp! It looks so pretty with just a touch of another color on it's wings! I kept everything else pretty simple so that these friendly little butterflies would stand out.

I've got plans to make a few cards today so hopefully I'll have lots to share this week!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Springtime Cards

I love the color scheme of the Chloe's Closet line by Making Memories! Pretty oranges, yellows, greens and blues... so springlike! Here are a couple cards I made yesterday with it:




Goodies:

Stamps: Simple Friendship set by Stampin' Up!
Ink: So Saffron Classic ink by Stampin' Up!; Tangerine Chalk Ink by Colorbox
Paper: Very Vanilla card stock by Stampin' Up!; Textured card stock by Bazzill; Chloe's Closet patterned paper by Making Memories
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch by Fiskars; White Brads by American Crafts; White Signo Gel Pen; Stickles and Perfect Pearls by Ranger; Piercing tool, So Saffron wide grosgrain ribbon, Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, peircing tool. Dimesionals by Stampin' Up!

Does anyone else think it's weird that Making Memories is only selling this line at Michaels? I think there are a few lines like that at Target, too. I wish we could get it at the LSS by the sheet! I'd buy even more! Hee! And, I could use it for classes, too!

Hope you have a great day! The girls and I are baking Chocolate Chip cookies and hopefully playing outside a little. I am hoping it doesn't rain on us too much today!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa

Friendly Flowers

Today I have two more cards to share featuring the Simple Friendship set by Stampin' Up! I've been playing with it recently because I have a class coming up using it! I want to show everyone some fun, different ways to use this set! So here is what I made last night:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set
Ink: Versamark; Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron Classic inks
Paper: Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Whisper White card stock; Delicate Dots DSP
Accessories: White embossing powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals

I embossed the flowers and then cut them out by hand... not sure if a class full of ladies is going to want to do this! I'll probably come up with something a little simpler...

Here is the next card I made:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set
Ink: Versamark, Close to Cocoa Classic ink
Paper: Whisper White, Regal Rose card stock; Candy Lane DSP
Accessories: Kraft tafetta ribbon; White embossing powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals

I heat embossed two flowers and cut them out. I cut 1/2 the petals off of the second flower and popped it up on top of the first, creating a 3-D flower. This card is 3.5" Square. The size really lets the stamped images stand out!

Anyways, hope you are having a great day!

-tessa

Beautiful Blue Butterfly

I've been a card making fool today so I thought I'd pop on and share another that I made. Here it is:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set
Ink: Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, chocolate Chip classic inks
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Kraft card stock; Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Scallop Edge punch, Top Note die, Piercing tool, Dimensionals, Sponges

My friend Ashley let me borrow her Top Note die for the Sizzix on Saturday and I love it! It may just end up on my next order! I don't have the Sizzix Big Shot yet and have been holding out for it because I already have a Cricut machine. The dies for the Big Shot just keep getting better though! I think I'll be spending some money soon! Hee!

I did a little distressing with sponges around the edges of my papers. I also added a little glitz with the Dazzling Diamonds on the little butterfly's wings. I am loving how it turned out!

Hope you are having a great day!

-tessa

Spring is in the air!

I am in the mood for spring! The sun has been shining here where I live so I've had the windows open letting the breeze blow in! Last night when I was stamping, I guess I was thinking spring, too. Here is what I created:



Goodies:
All products by Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Simple Friendship set; Hope Happens set; Polka Dot background
Ink: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa classic inks
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Baja Breeze card stock; Delicate Dots DSP
Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, So Saffron wide grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, Corner Rounder punch, Sponge Daubers

I added some Dazzling Diamonds to this little butterfly's wings. I love the sparkle it gives in the light! The colors are so spring-like and fresh... I added a little texture by tearing some of the edges, crumpling some of the pieces, and inking around the edges of the sentiment and background pieces. I also got out my sanding block and used it on the green DSP piece.

Hope the weather is nice where you are! I'll be spending the afternoon outside with my girls if I can help it! Hee!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-tessa