BIG BOLD BUTTERFLY

©Stampin' UP!

With your Big Shot and the Butterfly framelits, this card is a snap.  Die cut the butterfly out of your favorite Designer Series Paper; adhere to Basic Black card stock. (I recommend Two-Way Glue for this job.) Using Whisper White craft ink, stamp the greeting from Sassy  Salutations and sponge around the outer edge of the card. Done.

Just how easy is that! 
What other color combinations would you use?

RED, WHITE and BLUE thank you

Images ©Stampin' Up!

Friends invited us to their 4th of July celebration cookout, complete with kids and fireworks.  We had a blast!  To thank them I create this card.  She loved the clean and simple style; I loved how easy it was to
make.

card stock:  Pacific Point,  Real Red, Whisper White
tools:  Stars Framelits, Greetings Thinlits, Big Shot, Medium Star punch, Itty Bitty 
           Accents Punch Pack
bling:  Silver Glimmer Paper

Trish's hint:  Make the big star really pop out by mounting it with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Quick & Easy Just Because

Inspired by a card shared by Jessica Taylor, I whipped up this card in record time.  The hardest thing to decide was what Designer Series Paper to use.  I selected from my bulging box of retired papers and card stock. Any pretty combination that you have on hand will do. 

Card base is Whisper White Thick card stock, new this catalog.  (I love the weight and feel of this CS -- and it is now my go-to choice for white card bases.) Decorative Dots TIEF and my Big Shot give the Pistacchio Pudding CS texture.  Sentiment is from A Dozen Thoughts, stamped in Garden Green Ink.

Stamp with Trish © Stampin Up!

cutting dimensions:
Whisper White Thick CS:  5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
Color CS:  2" x 5 1/4
Patterned Paper:  3/4" x 5 1/4"

Easy as can be, yes?

Stamp happy!

Something "Old", Something "New"

One of the things I love about being a demonstrator is that I have the opportunity to try out new products and share what I discover with others.  One of the things I love about being a stamper is the freedom to mix and match both products in the current catalog and those that have retired.
Today's card is a mix and match, done in a flash.

© Stampin' UP!

Current:  Butterfly thinlits, Bitty Butterfly punch, Whisper White card stock, Sahara Sand ink pad, Sheltering Tree stamp set ( the "background" stamp here is actually the leaf canopy of the set -- I love being able to use stamps in unexpected ways!)

The Champagne Glimmer Paper, Four You stamp set, Coastal Cabana card stock and designer paper are no longer available.  But there are lots of other colors, papers, and stamps available to swap out and make your own stunning card.

What's in your stash?

CARD on the QUICK

There times we want to fashion a highly artistic card; at others, a CAS (clean-and-simple) card is what we need.  But we still want it to look like a lot of love went into it, right? This card fills that need.  A simple layout, good use of space and pops of color, with just a touch of bling combine to make just the right impact. An added plus is the versatility of the design:  change out the colors and sentiment and you can have a slue of cards ready on the quick.

©Stampin' UP!

This A2card is single layer Whisper White card stock.
Swish stamp from Everything Eleanor set.
Flower stamp is from Something to Say set.
Sentiment is from Petite Pairs set.
Inks:  Cucumber Crush, Night of Navy, Versamark
CS:  Whisper White, Night of Navy, Strawberry Slush, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry
Punches:  Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Itty Bitty Accents punch pack
Bling:  Jewels Basic Rhinestones

To see these and other Stampin' UP! products, be sure to visit my website.

OH, HELLO

Saturday is a perfect time to spend a little time in the craft room.  But who wants to spend the whole day indoors when the weather is beautiful.  The solution is a quick and easy card, perhaps like this one:

To make this card, you will need:  Oh, Hello stamp set; Soft Suede and Whisper White card stock; Smoky Slate, Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler ink pads; Daffodil Delight and Gumball Green markers; Simply Scored and Simply Scored Borders Plate; Ovals framelits and Big Shot; Linen Thread; Sponge Dauber; Two-Way Glue; Stampin' Dimensionals
Hints: 
*Dry emboss the zigzags using the Simply Scored and Borders Plate;  rub white ink over the embossed area using the sponge dauber.

*Stamp in this order:  chevron oval, then greeting; then flower inked using markers.  Then cut out oval using the framelit.

* When using markers on the stamp itself, remoisten before stamping onto card stock by breathing (huffing) onto the stamp.

Here's what I did with the inside using some Retro Fresh This and That washi tape:

Greeting is from the Sassy Salutations set.

That's it for today.  Have a great weekend!  See you next time,
Trish

HELLO THERE

Happy Saturday!  Hope your day has been filled with sunshine.

At our house, we have begun our annual spring decluttering.  Today's room was the laundry.  It's a good-sized, unfinished room with some great open storage shelves, but all that spaciousness can quickly become the "temporary" home for way too much stuff.  Things donated to the Goodwill are already out the door; another box for donations to our church, and some things reserved for our garage sale in June.  It's a start and I will be so glad when it is all done.

Now for today's card:  another clean and simple, easy-peasy but -oh-so-nice little card, suitable for all kinds of occasions.

Once again, used Note Cards & Envelopes.  In addition:  Happy Day and Hello, Lovely stamp sets;
 Midnight Muse, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Coastal Cabana, Soft Sky, Raspberry Ripple, and Summer Starfruit.  Mix and match colors and patterns to your heart's content to create a wide variety of cards that reflect your personality.

Tomorrow is Sunday, our day of rest.  We will be worshipping the Lord Jesus with our church family.  Wishing you and yours a joyful weekend.

Stamping with love,
Trish

Storybook Friends notecard

It has been a long and challenging few months that kept me from posting any of my cards.  But I am feeling better and am getting a better handle on my new computer.  Though I still am not skilled with the photo taking and editing, I want to get back to sharing with you some of the joy of stamping on a regular basis.

During my absence from blogging, I have really taken a liking to simple, quick and easy cards.  Stampin' Up! Note Cards  & Envelopes (131527) are ideal for this technique.   Such as in this card for today:

I love this little dog from the Storybook Friends set.  Stamped in black, and color-highlighted with ink color of your choosing and blender pens, you can whip out a whole set to have on hand for all sorts of occasions in a short amount of time.

Note Cards come 20 to a package, with 20 envelopes to boot.  Though somewhat smaller than an A2 card, they do not require additional postage, and are a real bargain at only  $5.95 a package.  I highly recommend them!

Thanks for spending part of your day with me.
Happy stampin'!

Trish

MAGNIFICENT MAPLE

Such a great single stamp -- very versatile.  Used here to create a Quick-and-Easy card using a variety of inks.  Stunning!  love it!  Let me know if you do too.

Products used:
Magnificent Maple, Four You stamps sets; Naturals White card stock; Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry classic stampin' pads

Happy autumn!
Trish

HAVE YOU WASHI'D TODAY?

Washi Tape -- what a fun product to work with.  It's colorful, cuttable, tear-able, repositionable, portable, inexpensive. And Washi Tapes from Stampin' Up! come in their exclusive colors and coordinate beautifully with other products of the same color line. What's not to love!

Sparkling effects are easy to achieve with our no-mess Dazzling Details glitter-glue.

Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Basic Gray.  A yummy color combo even the guys will gobble up.

Images from the "Best of Birthdays" set were stamped, then colored in using Stampin' Write markers.

What will you Washi?

Happy stampin'
Trish

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - clean & simple

 

Sometimes we just need a fast card.  This design fills the bill.

stamps:  The Open Sea, Bring On the Cake

ink: More Mustard*, Not Quite Navy*

card stock:  More Mustartd*, Bashful Blue*, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie 

tools:  Decorative Label punch

*retiring list products

Happy Monday, Happy Stampin'

Trish

BRIGHT RETRO BIRTHDAY

Birthday cards are always in demand, and I am always happy to find one that is quick and easy, colorful, and suitable for all ages and both genders. 

I am really blessed to have so many stamps in my collection to choose from, both current and retired. Usually I post from my current sets, but today's is a throw back to a set I really enjoy using. 

A few years back, Stampin' Up! brought out the Little Layers stamp set of spring and outline images of a kite, fish, flower and ladybud along with 4 background stamps.  In the Little Layers II set were holiday images of pumpkin, acorn, snowflake and ornament and 4 more background stamps.  To round out the collection, they also made available a hostess set, Little Layers Plus, which included a mortar board, heart, gift package, flower, pacifier and the cupcake used above, plus 2 more backgrounds.  Wow!  with a collection like that and an easy layout like the one shown here, you could make cards for every just about every occasion all year long.  If you have a copy of the 2004-2005 Idea Book & Catalog, you can see all 3 sets, then be on the look out for them at thrift shops, garage sales, etc.
 

Thanks for stopping by.

May all your days be bright and cheery.
Trish

FOR MY FRIEND

Hi Stampers!
What a treat it can be and a lift to the spirits to receive and unexpected card in the mail -- especially from a friend.

Today's post is the 1st of 3 cards made at this month's stamping club (we call it "Cheaper than Therapy" and it is!)

I love cards that use materials I have readily available, require a minimum of tools and go together quickly and easily.  This one fits the bill.  (note:  The colors in the card are much prettier and truer my photo shows. For example, the little vase is stamped in Crumb Cake and matches the card base, which is plain not mottled. )

Images ©Stampin' Up! 1990-2012

Simple stamping, cuts and punches and this card goes together in a snap.

To make one, you will need:
STAMP SETS:  Bright Blossoms, Friendly Phrases
PAPER: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede Whisper White card stock; Polka Dot Parade designer series paper
INKS:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
PUNCHES:  1-3/4" Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Punch Pack
ETC:  Rhinestones, Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

And it's ready for your personal message inside.

More from Club in my next post.  Until then,

Hapy Stampin'!
Trish

ALL PRESENT!

Hi Stampers,
Today's share is the final card from November's Cheaper than Therapy club meeting.  Like the others this week, it's another quick and easy card.  While the example below uses the retired designer series paper Well Worn, it can easily be changed up using scraps in colors that work well together. 

Images © Stampin' Up! 1990-2012

Tips to make it easy:
1.  Stamp the greeting in Early Espreeso ink on the Very Vanilla card front.
2.  Using SNAIL, adhere card front, Not Quite Navy mat and River Rock card base together.
3.  To make the ribbon lie down smoothly, tuck one end under the center of the largest piece of DSP and secure with a mini glue dot; then adhere the 3 pieces of DSP to the Whisper White largest to smallest as shown.  Secure free end of ribbon to top piece of DSP with a mini glue dot.  Use another glue dot to attach bow.
4.  Attach button with glue dot with a mini glue dot.

Wouldn't this be a great card design for a Christmas card, or for a baby shower, or a wedding or.....?

Until the next time,
Happy Stampin'!
Trish

Hi Stampers,

Email and social networking sites are wonderful in many ways; they provide quick and direct contact with people, usually inexpensively.  I love the fact that I can share my cards etc and never have to leave my craft room.  However, they do come with a price.

Recently USPS announced the need to reduce the number of hours of operation for many of their post offices (particularly in rural areas).  This is in large part due to the reduce volume of stamped mail being sent through the system.  Reduced hours means reduced income and benefits - pretty tough in an economy that is still struggling. 

While an email/FB greeting is nice and shows someone was thinking of you, there is nothing that beats a personal note or card received the old-fashioned way.  And something handmade makes it that much more special. It doesn't even have to be a holiday or birthday to let someone know you care.  And at only $.45 a card, our postal rates remain the absolute cheapest in the world!


Here's my share for today:

This fun card was created by my friend and downline Ashley. It's quick and easy, and totally stylish!


To make one like it, you will need:
stamp set:  Artistic Etchings, Loving Thoughts
card stock:  Whisper White, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit
ink:  Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit.

The 1-1/4"" white squares are matted on colored 1-1/2" squares.

See QUICK and EASY!

So now, let's get stamping and crafting and getting something into the mail  today.  It certainly brighten some one's life, and may even save a job or two.

Until the next time, keep on stampin'
Trish

QUICK & EASY

Hey there, Stampers!

Quick & Easy can mean lovely, as today's card demonstrates.  I spotted it at Convention and just had to share.  A little bit of stamping, punching and adhering, and  your beautiful card is ready to pop into the mail.
Simply changing out colors and sentiments and this becomes a multi-pupose card design.  Love it!

needed for this card:
Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Wishes, and Creative Elements stamp sets
Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White card stock
Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive classic ink pads
Word Window, Modern Label, Scallop Edge Border punches, Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack
SNAIL adhesive, stampin' dimensionals, Basic Pearls

Until the next time,  Keep On Stampin'!