Creative Card Share: Outlined Love Easel Card

Hi Everyone,

Today, as promised, I am sharing with you an Easel Card I created for Valentine's Day using the Sale-a-bration stamp set, Outlined Occasions as well as the stamp set Greeting Card Kids.  The sweet little girl is just perfect for water coloring using a blender pen Stampin' Up!'s Classic ink pads (I also colored the Love from Outlined Occasions using this technique).
The frame for the little girl was created using the new Sizzix Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die available in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Isn't this a beautiful die cut? I just love the detail and it turns an ordinary piece of cardstock into a delicate work of art.  For this card, I used Cherry Cobbler cardstock to showcase the stamped image and the Pretty in Pink cardstock matted behind the image.

The background of the card was created using the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock.  To add a vintage feel to the card, I lightly sponged Frost White Shimmer paint onto the embossed areas of the cardstock using a sponge dauber.  It added a subtle shimmer to the cardstock that helped to enhance the Cherry Cobbler Doily frame. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to attach the Doily diecut to the Pretty in Pink cardstock.

To create the base of the card, I once again used a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock. I stamped the Love image on Very Vanilla cardstock using Stazon Black ink and water colored the image. I then punched out the image using the Extra Large Oval punch and matted it with a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock punched using the Decorative Label punch.  I attached it to the card base using Stampin' Dimensionals to allow it to act as a rest for the card front so that it stands up. The hearts located on either side were created using the Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die (found on p35 of the Occasions Mini Catalog) and embellished with the medium rhinestones from the Basic Rhinestones pack.

The wonderful thing about this card is that it lays flat and is easy to mail in a regular envelope. 

This card went together so simply using my Sizzix Bigshot to do the hard work for me, diecutting the Doily and embossing the cardstock.  I just love the way this card came together and I think it has a Wow factor to it, don't you?

I hope today's Creative Card Share has helped to inspire you to create your own Easel card for someone special.  With Easter just around the corner, not to mention Mother's Day, wouldn't this be the perfect type of card to send to a friend or family member?

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

P.S.  To see another example of an Easel Card I created, this time for Mother's Day, visit here .

Valentine's Day is a Celebration of Love

Hi Everyone,

With the new Occasions Mini Catalog starting today, I just wanted to share a quick creative project idea to inspire you ready for Valentine's Day. It's hard to believe that it is only a few weeks away, so there is no time like the present to start creating cards and gifts for the loved ones in your life.

Today's Creative Card Share is a project featured on my Stampin' Up! website Project Gallery here.  This beautiful card features the new stamp set, P.S. I Love You, which can be found on page 8 of the new Occasions Mini Catalog (available in both Wood & Clear Mount).

I love the embossed resist technique used to create the heart image and the heart circle stamp makes a wonderful background on the card base. This card also features several new products including the Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz (page 9) and the Calypso Coral Baker's Twine (page 35).

In case you are not familiar with Calypso Coral, it is one of the new In Colors for 2011-2013 and you can find the beautiful ruffled Calypso Coral ribbon in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog, as well as the other wonderful In Color products.

This card design is simple but has a definite Wow factor to it. It would also make a great birthday, anniversary or thinking of you card.  You could create a gorgeous card set featuring this layout and vary the colors for each card for a beautiful gift idea.

I hope you have enjoyed this Creative Card Share I hope it helps inspire you to create a special card for someone special in your life.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

P.S. I Love You Set Quantity: 15

Clear-Mount Stamp Set  125462 Price: $27.95

Wood-Mount Stamp Set 125460 Price: $34.95

Coordinates with the Full Heart, Modern Label, 1" Circle, and 1-3/8" Circle Punches.

Celebrate the New Year with the New 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog

Happy New Year Everyone,

I can't believe it is 2012 already.  The last few months have gone by so fast and so much has happened that I have been neglecting my blog.  Now that the holidays are over and hopefully things are starting to settle down, I will be hopefully posting more often.

Today is a very exciting day because I can finally show you the new amazing 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog from Stampin' Up!  There are so many fantastic new products in this catalog that I know you will just love and it will help you start your new projects for 2012.

Stampin' Up! has once again outdone themselves with fabulous new rubber stamp sets, embellishments, Designer Series Paper packs and so much more. Plus, they have released incredible new Sizzix products that will take your crafting projects to new levels. The New Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die is so beautiful and delicate and you will love the sample projects featured in the mini catalog. In addition, Stampin' Up! has two Framelits Dies collections (Hearts & Labels) as well as the Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies and coordinating Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders that are simply amazing. There are even stamp sets that work perfectly with each of these new products!

To view these exciting new products and so much more in the new2012 Occasions Mini Catalog, just click here to download your free digital copy. You can also download the free supplies list for the Occasions Mini catalog here. The Supplies list will provide you with the supplies used to create each of the beautiful projects in this wonderful new mini catalog.

So go ahead and download your digital copy of the new 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog and make your plans to transition from the Holidays to the New Year. 

Don't forget, Sale-a-bration 2012 starts January 24th and you will have the opportunity to earn fabulous free exclusive Stampin' Up! products when you order at least $50 in Stampin' Up! merchandise. Better yet, host a party/workshop and earn fantastic free Sale-a-bration products in addition to the amazing Hostess Benefits available. Contact me today to learn more.

I am looking forward to sharing new ideas and projects with you in the upcoming weeks to help inspire you with your own creative projects.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

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

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

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

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

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

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.

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

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

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

Creative Card Share: Thank You from the Heart

Hi Everyone,

Well, it has been a busy day today so I didn't get a chance to post this card share earlier.  This simple card, once again shows that you can create a beautiful card with the simplest of supplies. I CASEd this card from Andrea Walford on her website, http://www.andreawalford.com/ and with just a few simple changes, came up with my own twist.
The 1" squares of Pretty in Pink Designer Series paper (from the Subtles Collection) provide a sweet background for the glittery red hearts that were punched from the Red Glimmer Paper that can be found in the Occasions Mini catalog, using the Small Heart punch. I popped them up on Stampin' Dimensionals for added dimension.

The cardbase was created from Pretty in Pink cardstock and the Whisper White layer is a perfect background for this design. The bottom corners were rounded with the 3/16" Corner punch and the sentiment, from the stamp set Just Believe, was stamped in Real Red Classic ink. The two small hearts were punched using the small heart from the Two Step Owl punch, one from the Pretty in Pink Designer Series paper and the other from the Red Glimmer paper.I added 3 score lines to the Whisper White cardstock to draw attention to the details on the card.

I hope today's simple card share will inspire you to create a simple and beautiful card for someone special today.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Needed (Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamp set: Just Believe

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Papers: Red Glimmer Paper, Pretty in Pink Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Small Heart Punch, Two Step Owl Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

Sale-A-bration Card Share:Pretty Pink Punch Bunch Owl

Hi Everyone,
Today I want to share with you a card I created for my Open House last weekend. Let me just say that I fell in love with this cute owl stamp in the new Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Punch Bunch which coordinates perfectly with Stampin' Up's Extra Large Two-Step Owl Punch (found on page 201 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog).
My inspiration for this card came from an amazing Stampin' Up demonstrator by the name of Mary Fish. She created this cute card on her blog here including a wonderful video tutorial showing how to create the circle rings behind the owl.

I used Melon Mambo Classic ink to stamp the owl and the Happy Birthday Scalloped Square on Whisper White cardstock. The Happy Birthday stamp is also from the Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration stamp set and coordinates with the Scallop Square Punch (item #119884). This wonderful Sale-A-Bration stamp set contains 5 great stamps and each coordinates with a Stampin' Up punch to make creating cards and projects quick and easy.

The large circle was created from Pretty in Pink cardstock using the 1 3/4" Circle Punch (item #119850) and the 2 1/2" Circle punch (item #120906). I embossed the circle ring using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item #117335) using the Big Shot and embellished it with Dazzling Diamonds using the Two Way Glue Pen. 

The small circle was punched from Melon Mambo cardstock using the 1 3/8" Circle punch (item #119877) and embossed with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item #115963). The small flower embellishment was punched from Pretty in Pink cardstock using the small flower punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack (set of 3 punches item #118309) and I added a small rhinestone from the Basic Rhinestones jewel pack (item #119246). I attached the flower to the embossed circle using a mini glue dot.

The card base was created using Naturals White cardstock and I embossed the card front with the new Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item #121809) found in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

I popped the Owl and the Happy Birthday up on Dimensionals to add a little extra dimension to the card and I just love how this card came together. You can create this card with your choice of colors and embellishments to suit the person you are giving it to.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Sale-A-Bration card share and I hope it has helped to inspire you to create your own Sale-A-Bration project.

Remember, with just a $50 order of Stampin' Up products (not including S&H and Taxes) you can choose your own Sale-A-Bration product for free.

Contact me today to place your order or visit my Online Store to shop 24/7.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stamping,

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

New 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog Now Available

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all well and that the weather is warmer where you are. It is freezing here in Denver and the snow has made the roads icy and not fun to drive on. When the weather is like this, I prefer to be toasty warm inside and it is the perfect opportunity to play with my new products from the new 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog from Stampin' Up!
There are so many fantastic new products it is hard to know where to start. My favorites so far are the brand new Blossoms Petal XL Punch and the coordinating Build a Blossom stamp set (both on page 12 of the Occasions Mini catalog), followed closely by the Build a Cupcake XL Punch and coordinating stamp set, Create a Cupcake (both can be found on page 22 of the Ocasions Mini catalog).
I am the first to admit, I don't have time to cut out individual pieces to create projects, which makes both of these new punches a welcome addition to my stamping studio. Not only can you punch out your stamped images with these punches, but you can also just use the punches by themselves to create cute cupcakes and beautiful flowers to embellish your cards, scrapbook pages and crafting projects.
With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you will be inspired by the amazing new stamp sets, designer series paper and embellishments to help you create beautiful projects to share with loved ones. The Love Impressions Rub-ons are a great way to create quick and easy cards and projects and the new Red Glimmer paper is to die for.
Spring will seem even closer with the beautiful designer series papers and once again, Stampin' Up is offering gorgeous Designer Fabrics that coordinate with the Springtime Vintage and Sweet Stitches Designer Series papers.
There really is something for everyone in this amazing new mini catalog. Download your own free digital copy of the 2011 Occasions Mini catalog here or click on the icon located on my sidebar.
You can contact me to place your order or visit my Online Store here to place your order 24/7.
Until Next Time.
Warm Stampin' Thoughts,
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

The Birds are Back!

Hello Everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter with family and friends. I am sorry I have been AWOL the past few days but I what I thought was just allergies has turned into a nasty cough and my voice has practically disappeared. Let me tell you, it has made life challenging with my 4 kids, lol.
Today I thought I would share with you a card that I created with Stampin' Up's new Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch and the stamp set, Vintage Vogue, both from the Occasions Mini Catalog. Did you know that April is the last month to order from the Occasions Mini? Time really has flown by (sorry, bad pun) and I can't believe that we will soon have to say goodbye to all the wonderful products available in this catalog.

This card is a great reminder that Spring has returned with the two cute little birds perched on the card so cheerfully. I chose to use Melon Mambo cardstock for the card base and stamped the large flower from the Vintage Vogue stamp set all over the card front with Melon Mambo Classic ink for a tone on tone pattern.

The birds were created using Pretty in Pink cardstock for the body of one and Barely Banana cardstock for the body of the second bird. The wings I punched from Whisper White cardstock and then stamped them using the vine stamp (from the Vintage Vogue stamp set) using Sage Shadow Classic ink on one wing to coordinate with the Barely Banana bird and Real Red Classic ink on the other to coordinate with the Pretty in Pink bird. Both of the branches were punched from Soft Suede cardstock.

I took a strip of Whisper White cardstock and stamped it with the vine stamp and Sage Shadow to create an all  over pattern. I then punched one edge with the Scallop Trim Border punch (sorry, now that Sale-a-bration is over this punch is no longer available). I matted the Whisper White strip onto a piece of Barely Banana cardstock.

Last piece of the puzzle, I stamped the F friends stamp (also from Vintage Vogue stamp set) with Sage Shadow onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock and matted it onto a piece of Sage Shadow cardstock.

Now, the fun part - assembling the card. The important thing with this card is to work out your placement before you apply the adhesive. This way you can plan out your layout the way you want it.

The first layer to adhere to your card is the Whisper White-Sage Shadow stamped cardstock that we matted with the Barely Banana cardstock. I positioned it so that it was approx 2/3 of the way down the card and adhered it with Snail Adhesive.

Next I positioned the F friend stamped cardstock piece so that it overlaps the top part of the Melon Mambo card front and the Barely Banana/Whisper White patterned piece. Apply Snail adhesive around the edge of the piece but when you place it on your card, don't apply pressure to the left edge (this is so that you can slide your branches underneath).

Take the two Soft Suede branches, apply Snail adhesive carefully to them and gently slide the end of each branch under the Friend piece to hide it. Gently rub the branches to adhere them to the card and then gently rub the edge of the Friend piece to adhere that to the card.

To assemble your birds, use Snail adhesive to glue the wing to the corresponding body and then using the Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker draw a dot for the eye on each bird. Then using the Dusty Durango Stampin' Write Marker I colored the triangle for the beak.

Finally, I adhered both birds to the card using Snail adhesive to complete the card.

This card is a great combination of stamping and using punches to create a great card for a friend. You could also add a sentiment to personalize it for a birthday, thank you, thinking of you or get well card.

Hope you have enjoyed today's card share. Don't forget, April is the month to take advantage of the great Stampin' Up products from the Occasions Mini before they disappear (last day to order is April 30th).

Please Contact Me to place your order or visit my Online Store by visiting my Stampin' Up website and clicking Shop Now in the top right corner.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Set:  Vintage Vogue - Clear Mount Stamp 118598  Price: $17.95

                                                    Wood Mount Stamp 117690 Price: $23.95 

Set Quantity: 8

Cardstock: Whisper White, Barely Banana, Melon Mambo, Soft Suede, Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink

Inks: Melon Mambo, Sage Shadow, Real Red

Accessories: Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch (currently not available), Soft Suede and Dusty Durango Stampin' Write Markers (from set of 6 In Color Stampin' Write Markers), Snail Adhesive

Tuesday Share: A Note of Thanks

Hello Everyone,
Today I thought I would share with you a project that I came up with by accident. I was playing around with my Big Shot and the Box #2 die one afternoon and started thinking that it would make a great Note Card Holder. My husband when he saw it, thought it would be a great Business Card Holder (but that's a story for another day).
So, I decided to create some Thank You notes that are quick and easy to create while still providing variety (if you are like me and don't like to make a lot of things exactly the same). The Thank You cards are inspired by Dawn Griffith, a wonderful, creative demonstrator.
You can customize your Thank You notes by varying the colors used as well as the stamps to create your design.

I chose my colors from the Soft Subtles color family from Stampin' Up and used the large flower from the Vintage Vogue stamp set (from the Occasions Mini catalog) to create the background on the note card and I created the border by using the Scallop Trim Border Punch (Free Sale-a-bration Product with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up products) on a scrap of cardstock to make a stencil.  The sentiment is from my faithful favorite stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes. I used Whisper White cardstock for the base for a crisp, clean look and I chose Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana Classic inks to create the card variations.
For the Note Card Holder I chose Barely Banana cardstock and cut out the box shape with my Big Shot and the Box #2 die. I then decorated one side of the cardstock with the Sweet Swirls wheel and Melon Mambo Classic ink for the inside of the box and on the other side I used the vine stamp from Vintage Vogue stamp set with Barely Banana for a tone on tone pattern for the outside of the box.

I put the box together using Sticky Strip adhesive to give the Note Card Holder extra strength and stability. I decorated the front of the box by stamping the fabulous friend stamp from the Oval All stamp set in Barely Banana Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. I then punched it out using the Large Oval punch and then matted it onto a piece of Barely Banana cardstock punched with the Scallop Oval punch. Using Stampin' Dimensionals, I attached it to the front of the box.
Now wouldn't this look cute sitting on your desk,  full of note cards just ready for when you need them? It would be a great gift idea too (I am thinking it would be a great Teacher Gift for the end of the school year).
Hope you enjoyed today's project share and hope it inspires you to get crafty in your craft room.
Until Next Time.
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up!):
Stamp Sets: Vintage Vogue, Teeny, Tiny Wishes, Oval All, Sweet Swirls wheel
Cardstock: Whisper White, Barely Banana
Inks: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Box #2 Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration Free Product with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up Merchandise - ends March 31st), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Sponge Daubers, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

Easter Blessings

Hello Everyone,
It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Colorado and the flowers are bravely starting to poke their heads above the earth's surface in search of the sun.
Today's card is a reminder that Easter is only a few weeks away and now is a good time to get started on your Easter cards for friends and family. I chose the stamp set, Abundant Hope, which can be found in Stampin' Up's Occasions Mini catalog (p24). I love the elegance of this stamp set and while it is technically meant for Easter, I think it would also be perfect all year round for birthdays, Anniversary, Thinking of You, Get Well and Sympathy cards. The flower image can be colored using a wide range of techniques including watercoloring with watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, chalk pastels, and inks. It would also make a lovely tone on tone image.

For my card, I decided that I wanted my flowers to be the main focus of my card design. I wanted the colors to capture your attention, so I chose to color the image with my Stampin' Write Markers.

Using Stazon Jet Black ink, I stamped the floral image onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. Next, I colored the image using Old Olive for the stems and leaves, Crushed Curry for the flowers and added detail with the fine tip of the Dusty Durango marker.
I then matted the image onto a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock. My card base I created from Very Vanilla cardstock and I added a piece of Dusty Durango cardstock that I had embossed with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder using my Big Shot.
I wrapped a piece of Very Vanilla Satin ribbon (also available from the Occasions Mini Catalog) around the middle of the Dusty Durango cardstock and adhered the ends to the back and adhered the Dusty Durango cardstock to the Very Vanilla card base.
For the sentiment, I once again chose Jet Black Stazon ink and stamped it on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock. I then punched it out using the Modern Label punch and matted with an oval cut from Crushed Curry cardstock using the Large Oval punch before attaching it to the card.
Simple, but classically elegant and perfect for the occasion. You could use this card design to create a set of Thank You cards for someone as a lovely gift. Change the colors of the cardstock and flowers for a new look for a different occasion. There are so many possibilities that would make this a wonderful stamp set to add to your collection.
I hope you enjoyed today's card. Please contact me if you have any questions or you would like to place an order.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts
P.S. This was the final card from Saturday's card class. Stay tuned for new card shares.

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Set:  Abundant Hope - Clear Mount Stamp   118547  Price: $13.95
                                                      Wood Mount Stamp  117054 Price: $17.95

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango

Ink: Jet Black Stazon ink

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder, Stampin' Write Markers Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango (from the In Colors set of 6 Markers) & Old Olive, Modern Label punch, Large Oval punch, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Snail adhesive.

Spring Fever Card Class

Happy Monday Everyone,
I hope you all had a great weekend. The weather here in Northglenn was beautiful and very Spring like, which has me in the mood to make cards with pretty pastels and Spring themes.
Today's card share is another card from my Creative Card Class - Spring Fever that I am holding this Saturday, March 13th, in my home studio. Just click Events details about this class.

This butterfly card just makes you think of warm Spring days when the flowers are just starting to bloom and the butterflies return to our gardens.

I hope you will join me this Saturday for a fun and relaxing class making 5 pretty Spring cards that will be perfect for any occasion.

Contact me today to save your spot.

Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Set: Well Scripted (p19 Occasions Mini Catalog)
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Sizzix SU Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration Free Product with purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products), Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, sponge daubers, dimensionals, snail adhesive.

Card Share: Things I Love

 Happy Tuesday Everyone,

I am back with a Card Share for you today, using one of the stamp sets you can earn for free during Sale-a-bration. The stamp set, Things I Love (which can be found on p54 of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog) is one of 77 sets listed on p11 of the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog (the inside back cover) and is fast becoming a new favorite with me and my two daughters. How can you not love a stamp set that features chocolate!

I decided to use Stampin' Up's In Colors to give my card a little kick, so to speak. I used Soft Suede for the card base and embossed it with my Sizzix Finial Press embossing folder using my Big Shot. 
I then added a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock to the lower section of my card, after I stamped the background using the Sweet Swirls wheel with Melon Mambo Classic ink.  Before adhering the Melon Mambo cardstock to the base card, I wrapped a piece of the Soft Suede Polka Dot 1/2" Grosgrain ribbon across the top edge of the cardstock, so that it will give the card a seamless look. Then with a shorter piece of the Soft Suede ribbon, I tied a knot to give the appearance of a bow. I adhered the Melon Mambo cardstock with snail adhesive to the Soft Suede card base.
Next I stamped one of each of the images from the Things I Love stamp set ( shopping bag - Bermuda Bay, Chocolate - Soft Suede, Heart - Melon Mambo, and new shoes in Rich Razzleberry, all In Color Classic inks) on Whisper White cardstock.
Using the 1" Circle punch, I then punched out each of the images and matted them on 1 1/4" Circles punched from Bermuda Bay cardstock.  I arranged them on the upper half of the Soft Suede card base using Mini Glue Dots.
The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the stamp set, Well Scripted (available in traditional Wood Mount or the new Clear Mount option), which can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog. I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock using Soft Suede Classic ink and then punched it out using the Wide Oval punch. To add a little fun to the card, I embellished the sentiment with a cute little brad from the Chocolate Chip Sending Love Epoxy Brads (also in the Occasions Mini Catalog p13). The little flower on the brad fit perfectly with the theme of the card without overpowering the sentiment. I adhered the wide oval to the Melon Mambo cardstock with dimensionals to finish off the card.

Here is a close up view of the sweet, little flower brad I used for embellishment. This brad set contains two different designs and you get 8 of each design (a total of 16 brads) for just $3.25 and is a wonderful and very affordable addition to your paper crafting supplies. They would make a great addition to your cards, scrapbook pages and many other papercrafting projects.
My biggest challenge is that both of my daughters have fallen in love with this card and want it for their next birthday.

I guess there is only one way to solve this problem. I will just have to make another one, lol. 

I hope you have enjoyed this card share today as much as I had creating it. It really is a fun card and would be perfect not only as a birthday card, but also a Thinking of You or Friend card.

Until Next Time.

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up): 

Stamp Sets: Things I Love 115229  Price: $15.95  Set Quantity: 6

* Free Sale-a-bration Reward with Purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products (excluding S&H and Taxes) Use Item #120208.

Well Scripted Wood Mount 117072 $19.95   Set of 6

                          Clear Mount 118601 $14.95
Sweet Swirls Wheel 115523 $6.50

Cardstock: In Colors - Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay; Whisper White

Inks: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede

Accessories:Big Shot, Sizzix Finial Press embossing folder, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Soft Suede Polka Dot 1/2" ribbon, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Sending Love Epoxy Brads, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive.

Clean & Simple With Circle Circus

Hello Again,
I decided to get in an extra post today to share with you all a simple card I created recently for a class. If I had to describe my style of cardmaking at the moment, I think I would have to say I tend towards clean and simple cards. With a busy family life, I don't get a lot of time to spend making cards, so when I do get the chance I like to create cards that are relatively quick to make but still have a little wow factor when you look at them.
Today's card is another one of those cards that would work for many different occasions as well as being suitable for a masculine or feminine card. I was inspired by a SU demonstrator, Janice Webb, who creates amazing cards. You can see the cards she created here. The stamp set I chose is Stampin' Up's Circle Circus. I love the geometric designs in this set as well as the variety of sizes of the circles.

Now I don't know about you but I am always needing birthday cards at the last minute and usually get caught having to throw one together at a moments notice because I don't have any on hand. So this year I am trying to do better and put together a supply of cards for birthdays and other everyday occasions to help take the pressure off.

For this birthday card I chose from Stampin' Up's In Colors to create this design. The cardstock I chose for the card base is Bermuda Bay and I layered a piece of Soft Suede to provide a contrasting matte for my Whisper White Cardstock.

The design is stamped in Bermuda Bay Classic ink using two of the circle stamps from the Circle Circus stamp set. I chose a large and a small circle of contrasting designs for my design but you could choose which ever stamps appeal to you. To add a little pop to my card I stamped the large circle stamp in Crushed Curry on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock and then punched out he center design with a 1 3/8" Circle punch. I then adhered them to the center of two of the large Bermuda Bay circles with snail adhesive, the circle on the outer edge I trimmed flush with the edge of the Whisper White cardstock.

Finally I stamped my sentiment in Soft Suede using the Well Scripted stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Isn't this a beautiful stamp set? I see so many wonderful possibilities for card designs using this set in the future. Stay tuned for future posts.

So there you have it. A very simple card that is quick to put together but has a little wow to make it special. I can see this card design working well with other color combinations depending on the occasion and the person you wish to give it to.

Hope you have a great day. Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up Products):

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus 115778  Price: $28.95 Set Quantity: 10

                    Well Scripted  Clear Mount 118601 Price: $14.95

                                            Wood Mount 117072  Price: $19.95  Set Quantity: 6

 

Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry
Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Snail adhesive

Thinking Spring to chase away the Winter Chills

Happy Friday everyone,
Well, it is cold and snowing here in Northglenn, Colorado and I am chilled to the bone. So I decided today I would share something that is definitely Spring themed to try and chase away the Winter blues.
I recently participated in a swap with a Valentine's theme with the Luv21stroke decorative painting yahoo group.  I wanted my card to reflect how I can use my paper crafting to emulate a form of decorative painting. 

I love watercoloring with my Stampin' Up Classic ink pads and my blender pen. It is so relaxing and I love the way the colors look on the Very Vanilla Cardstock. The filgree heart is from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set and I matted it on a Pretty in Pink heart diecut with the new embosslit Scalloped Heart of Hearts which is exclusive to Stampin' Up. I once again used the bouquet of flowers from the Happy Moments Sale-a-bration Stamp set, coloring them with Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana and Lavender Lace Stampin' Up Classic Inks. The sentiment is from the stamp set Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Pretty in Pink classic ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and punched out with the Large Oval punch. To make it pop, I matted it on Pretty in Pink cardstock punched out with the Scalloped Oval punch to match the heart.

In addition to the card, I added two little gifts for my partner.  When I think of Spring, I think of flowers and butterflies in pretty Spring colors. So with that in mind, I started creating.

One of my most favorite tools in my craft room is my Stampin' Up Sizzix Big Shot. It sits on my counter top ready to be used at a moments notice. I use it all the time and so do my children. It really is the work horse of my craft area.

So, using my Big Shot I went to work creating my partner's special gifts. Both were cut from the Two Tags Sizzix  Bigz die (Stampin' Up exclusive) and I embellished them with the embossed Butterflies from the Sizzix Beautiful Wings Embosslit (it can be found in the new Occasions Catalog) and the Cherry Blossom Embosslit (both SU exclusives).

The tag also uses the Swirls & Scribbles sizzlet to provide the vines. After all, the butterflies need somewhere to rest and the flower needed some greenery to help make it pop.

The ribbon is a piece I found in my ribbon jar and I loved the shimmer it added to the tag. Now I love bling, so I added a faux clear, crystal gemstone with an adhesive back for the center of the flower.

With the bookmark I decided to combine my Big Shot with a little stamping and some punches for good measure.

The vine is stamped with Certainly Celery Classick ink on Whisper White cardstock. This stamp is from the new Vintage Vogue stamp set and provides a nice contrast o the butterflies. I punched the circle with the 1 1/4" circle punch and then matted it  with a 1 3/8" pink circle. Then using purple cardstock punched using the Scalloped Circle punch, I matted the pink circle and applied it to the scallop end of the bookmark.

The butterflies were attached with a small amount of adhesive applied to the stamped circle. By applying the adhesive to the center on the back of each butterfly it allows the wings to be gently folded up to add dimension to the bookmark.  

To finish it all off I stamped the sentiment from the Whimsical Words Sale-a-bration stamp set with Lavender Lace Classic ink. I used two of the remaining butterflies to embellish the bottom part of the bookmark.

So I hope you enjoyed my little piece of Spring time and I hope it inspires you to get creative on this cold, Winter day.
Remember to take advantage of Sale-a-bration and earn a free Sale-a-bration product with every $50 purchase of Stampin' Up merchandise (excludes shipping & handling and taxes). Download your free digital copies of the Stampin' Up catalogs from my side bar here on my blog.

Contact me today to place your order or visit my Stampin' Up website and click Shop Now in the top right corner. Hope you have a great weekend.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts 

Products Used (Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Sets:

Happy Moments, Teeny Tiny Wishes, I (heart) Hearts, Vintage Vogue, Whimsical Words

Cardstock:

Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, misc. scraps

Inks: Stazon Jet Black, Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink Classic inks

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot, Two Tags Bigz die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit, Swirls Scribbles sizzlit, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scalloped Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, snail adhesive, misc. ribbon.