Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Occasions Mini Share: Pretty Pink Build a Blossom

Hi Everyone,
Today's Creative Card Share features the amazing stamp set, Build a Blossom, from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I love the variety of petals and using the two step stamping method you can create beautiful flowers of all shapes and sizes.
Plus, to make our life easier, Stampin' Up! has provided us with an incredible punch, Blossom Petals Punch, so that we can stamp and punch to make quick and easy cards and projects that look like they took forever to create. You can find both the stamp set and coordinating punch on page 12 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.
To create this card I used Whisper White cardstock for my card base and I used my Big Shot and the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (page 28 Occasions Mini Catalog) to create a pretty border for my card design.
The petals of the flower were created by stamping the large petal images onto a 2 1/2" strip of Whisper White cardstock using Regal Rose Classic ink. I stamped the solid petal image first by inking the stamp and then stamping the image once on a scrap sheet of paper and then stamping the image onto my Whisper White cardstock. Next I inked the large petal detail stamp using the same color ink, but I stamped it directly onto the solid stamped image to provide a darker tone to the petal.  I created 6 petals using this technique and then I punched them out using my Blossom Petals Punch.
The center of the flower was created using the large center image stamped with More Mustard Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. I then punched it out using the 1" Circle punch.
To assemble the flower, I punched out a 1 1/4" circle of scrap cardstock and attached the petals to it with snail adhesive, overlapping the petals slightly to create a balanced flower. Next I added the center of the flower using a Stampin' Dimensional.
To attach the flower to the card, I added a Stampin' Dimensional to the back of the scrap circle (used to attach the petals to). I put a Stampin' Dimensional on every 2nd petal so that three petals are raised to create dimension and carefully placed it on the card front and pressed down to adhere the flower.
For a little sparkle, I used my Two Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds on the outer edges of each petal and the center of the flower.  I stamped the sentiment from the Messages for Mom stamp set in Regal Rose Classic ink.
I love that you can create this gorgeous card with a minimum of supplies. Change the ink color or use a different petal size for a completely different look. Just think of all the fun you can have.
I hope you have enjoyed today's Creative Card Share and hopefully I have helped inspire you to create a pretty Spring card that is quick and simple to create. Please contact me if you have any questions or you would like to place an order. Plus, you can place your order 24/7 by visiting my Online Store. Remember, the Occasions Mini Catalog ends April 30th, so place your order soon before they disappear.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up only unless otherwise noted):
Stamp Sets: Build a Blossom, Messages for Mom
Cardstock: Whisper White, scrap cardstock
Ink: Regal Rose, More Mustard Classic inks
Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Blossom Petals Extra Large Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Two Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Occasions Mini Share: Easter Blooms

Happy Sunday Everyone,
Today's Creative Card Share features another beautiful stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog. This pretty Easter Card features the stamp set, Easter Blooms, along with the Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper also in the Occasions Mini Catalog.
The card base is created from Sahara Sand cardstock and I used the 3/16" Corner Small Punch to round the bottom corners. 
Next, stamped the images using Versamark ink and then used Clear Embossing Powder. I used my Heat Gun to heat emboss the images for a wonderful tone on tone look with a soft shine.
The strip of Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper has been layered onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock that I embossed using my Big Shot and the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.
This simple card design is easy to duplicate if you need to make multiple cards for your family and friends this Easter. The Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper has 12 different patterns to provide you with a wonderful variety (each pack contains 2 each of 6 double sided designs).
I hope you have enjoyed today's Creative Card share and hope that it inspires you to start creating your Easter cards and projects.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted):
Stamp Set: Easter Blossoms (available only until April 30th in the Occasions Mini)
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla
Paper: Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (Occasions Mini page 15)
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, 3/16" Corner Small punch, Snail Adhesive

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Occasions Mini Card Share: Plane & Simple

Hello Everyone,

With April being the final month for the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog, I have decided to showcase some of the amazing products from this fabulous mini catalog.
Today's Creative Card Share uses a great masculine stamp set, Plane & Simple, which can be found on page 40 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I love the combination of Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Sahara Sand and Whisper White cardstock and it works well with this stamp set. The vintage plane image was stamped three times with Early Espresso Classic ink and I sponged the edges of both the Whisper White and Sahara Sand cardstock with Chocolate Chip Classic ink for a distressed look.
The borders on the Cherry Cobbler card base were stamped with Early Espresso Classic ink and the Basic Black cardstock has been embossed using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder using the Big Shot for some extra texture. I added some Platinum Shimmer Paint to the embossed areas with a sponge dauber for a metallic look.
The ribbon border was created with Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim and I stamped the happy birthday sentiment (from the Plane & Simple stamp set) with Early Espresso Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock and then punched it out using the Word Window Punch. I then framed it using the Modern Label Extra Large Punch from Basic Black cardstock.  Next I used the Designer Label Large punch to punch out the shape from the Sahara Sand cardstock and sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip Classic ink to distress it. I added two silver brads and attached the framed sentiment using Snail adhesive and then attached it to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.
This card design would be great for a male birthday or for Father's Day (there is a happy father's day stamp included in this stamp set) and works for all ages. In addition, I love that I was able to create this card with just one stamp set.
Masculine cards tend to be a challenge to create, so I hope today's Creative Card Share helps to inspire you the next time you need a card for the special male in your life.
Remember that the Occasions Mini ends April 30th.  You can contact me to place your order or visit my Online Store to place your order 24/7.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamp Set: Plane & Sample
Plane & Simple - Set Quantity: 7
Wood-Mount 121903  Price: $21.95

Clear-Mount  121964  Price: $16.95

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip Classic inks
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Platinum Shimmer Paint, Silver Brads, Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Extra Large Punch, Designer Label Large Punch, Sponge Daubers, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Autism Awareness Day

Happy Saturday Everyone,
Well, it is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Northglenn, Colorado and perfect baseball weather. Which is just as well because baseball season has just started and this year they opened at home. I'm not much of a baseball fan but I do enjoy all the excitement involved with Opening Day at Coors Field and with Colorado's fickle weather, it is nice when it chooses to cooperate and provide wonderful weather to enjoy it.
As I was checking my email this morning, I noticed an email from a fellow demonstrator by the name of Wendy Hawkinson. She was getting the word out that today is Autism Awareness Day and April is Autism Awareness Month. The theme is "Lighting it up Blue for Autism Awareness' and she asked us all if we could add a little blue to our cards today to show support for the many families who are effected by Autism.
So, when I chose today's card share, I picked a card that not only displays the color blue proudly, but it also is a perfect card for a child.
This cute punchy cupcake card is so bright and cheerful, just perfect for a child's birthday card. The colors I chose for this card are Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock and the cherr was created from the wonderful Red Glimmer Paper in the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I used one of my favorite punches, the Build a Cupcake punch, and I added the sprinkles to the frosting using the Create a Cupcake stamp set that coordinates perfectly with this punch. I used Sahara Sand Classic ink to stamp the sprinkles.
The cupcake has been layered onto circles punched using the 1 1/4" Circle punch from Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point and Night of Navy cardstock. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to raise the cupcake up for a bit of extra dimension.
The card base is created from Tempting Turquoise cardstock and the Whisper White layer has been embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with my Big Shot. The "ribbon" has been created using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch with Pacific Point cardstock.
The sentiment is also from the Create a Cupcake stamp set and I stamped it with Pacific Point Classic ink onto Whisper White cardstock and punched it out using the Word Window punch. I then layered this onto Pumpkin Pie cardstock punched using the Modern Label Extra Large punch. To finish it off I punched an oval from Pacific Point cardstock using the 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large punch to help the sentiment stand out better.
This is a very versatile card design and just by changing the colors used you can create a card that is unique as the person who receives it.
Now April is the final month for the Occasions Mini catalog, so now is the perfect time to place your order before they disappear.
I hope today's card share inspires you to create a special project for a special person in your life and to say a prayer for the families who face the challenges of Autism in their lives. Hug your loved ones a little tighter and a little longer as they are truly life's most precious gifts.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted):
Stamp Set: Create a Cupcake
Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Paper: Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Pacific Point, Sahara Sand Classic Inks
Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Build a Cupcake Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Extra Large Punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive