Berry Blessings Thank You Card

 I adore the free Salebration Berry Delightful Designer Series paper!  My card this week highlights my favourite page from the paper pack, some soft and dreamy strawberries on the vine:

That paper is so beautiful I didn't have to add much to make it my focal point!  I matted a 2.75" x 4" rectangle of patterned paper on a slightly larger Real Red base.  I added a few banners in coordinating paper and cardstock to finish the piece.

I embossed a 4" x 4.25" white panel with the Ornate Floral 3D embossing folder--this is my go-to these days, it's got SO MUCH dimension and texture.

I added a strip of coordinating DSP matted on Garden Green across the top of the white panel, and added my DSP rectangle on top with dimensionals.

Finally, I die cut a stitched label from the Stitched So Sweetly Dies after stamping my sentiment in Real Red ink.  

I kept the inside of my card simple, with a strip of coordinating DSP and a Thank You sentiment, again in Real Red ink.

This card was quick to come together and highlights my favourites from the suite.  I'll be sharing more projects all week, and you will definitely see some more of that beautiful paper!

Thank you for stopping by, 

Barb

The Approaching Perfection stamp set contains amazing funny sentiments about getting old--because let's be honest, the higher your age, the more you need a good laugh on your birthday!  And the best part is it's free through Salebration!!

My project today uses a mix of products to end up at this vibrant, fun card.  

I started with a Night of Navy card base, and added a layer of Whisper White that I embossed with the Brick & Mortar 3D Textured Embossing Folder.  

I added two strips of patterned paper from the Playing with Patterns DSP:  one horizontally, one vertically.  I also die cut a stitched circle from a third piece from the DSP stack.

I used the rainbow DSP as a jumping off point for my colour palette, adding balloons in Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, and Night of Navy.  The balloons are from the So Much Happy stamp set, and I used the coordinating dies to cut out the balloons, ties and bows, which I popped up for added dimension on my card.

I used a strip die from the Many Medallions set to cut a fancy border in Crushed Curry, for some added interest.  And I added rhinestones to the centre of each medallion for some shine.

Finally, I stamped the tongue-in-cheek sentiment onto white cardstock and die cut it with another stitched circle.

For the inside of my card I used one more piece of the Playing with Patterns DSP to anchor my panel, and added few more balloons and a sentiment.

All this week I'll be sharing more projects using the Approaching Perfection set and Playing with Patterns DSP, so be sure to check those out on Instagram and Facebook.

Have a great week!

Barb

Final Freebie Celebrate You Card

That's right, Sale-A-Bration officially ends on March 31, so there are just days left to earn some great free products that coordinate with items from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalgue (those are still available until the end of May). 

Without a doubt my most-used Sale-A-Bration item has been the Celebrate You die set.  It comes with three versatile word dies--Celebrate, Amazing, and You--in three fantastic fonts, allowing you to mix and match to your hearts content!  Mostly I have been using the "celebrate" die, so this week I wanted to show you something "amazing," pun intended ;).

Yes, I know, another rainbow card!  I can't stop myself!  Perhaps I'm dreaming of some spring rain
and sun after a gloomy white winter?

I started with a Thick Whisper White card base and added an embossed mat using the newly released Basket Weave Dynamic folder.  This was just released as a Sale-A-Bration freebie in February, and will be carrying on in the new annual catalogue as well.  The Dynamic embossing folders are quite thick compared to regular embossing folders, and leave a very deep impression.  I gently spritzed my white cardstock with plain water before running it through my Big Shot, so that the paper really took the impression cleanly, and to reduce the risk of tearing.

I cut a stitched circle out of watercolour paper and coloured my rainbow with an aqua painter and a bunch of bright ink colours (Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, and Sweet Sugarplum), allowing the colours to blend organically where they met.  This is such a fun way to play with colour!

Once my rainbow was dry I spritzed the entire circle with water droplets (I find the farther I am from the surface, the finer the mist that hits the paper), and used a paper towel to quickly absorb the water, removing a bit of the colour and giving the piece that rain splattered look.

I cut my sentiment, "amazing", from more thick whisper white cardstock, just to give it more strength since I knew it was going to be wider than my circle base.  I adhered it to the circle using my fine tip glue pen, which was a pain-free way to glue something so intricate.  Love it!

I mounted the circle to the front of my card with a couple of dimensionals, because I can't make a card with them. :)

This card came together so quickly and easily I just had to make another!  This one uses some retired Stampin' Up! products (the Heart thinlits, "Joy" die, and the embossing folder), but once it popped into my head I had to get it out!

I added a little bit of white shading around the edge of my heart with Whisper White craft die and a sponge dauber, just to soften the edges. 

Don't miss out on your last chance to get your hands on these amazing Sale-A-Bration items before they are gone forever!  Also, the 2016-2018 In Colours (Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy, Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach and Sweet Sugarplum) are set to retire on May 31.  The retiring colours and their coordinating products SELL OUT FAST!  So don't delay!  (Flirty Flamingo is one of my personal faves)

I'm looking forward to a few big events over the next couple of weeks--Easter this weekend, and OnStage next weekend  (that's where I get a sneak peek at the new annual catalogue coming out in June!!).

What are you looking forward to this week?

Have a good one,
Barb

Product List

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

Celebrate You Thinlit Dies

[146840]

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

Basket Weave Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[146841]

Aqua Painters

[103954]

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[126949]

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[126945]

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

[126944]

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[144086]

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

[131171]

Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad

[141395]

2016-2018 In Color Classic Stampin' Pads

[141818]

Hearts Collection Framelits Die

[125599]

Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies

[135851]

Falling Petals Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[142761]

Fine-Tip Glue Pen

[138309]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Free Blooming Basket Card & Stamping Symphony Blog Hop

Good Morning, and happy March Break!  It's been a busy one at my house, and I am late for my blog hop!!!  Sorry about that!

This month's theme was embossing, and I am thrilled with how my final card turned out.

I used my Simply Scored scoreboard to score a diamond pattern on a piece of 5.25" x 4" Whisper White cardstock.  I placed a pretty pearl at the intersection of each line to highlight the pattern.

My central image is from the new Sale-A-Bration stamp set Blossoming Basket--it is so pretty an only available until the end of the month, so get yours before it is gone!  I stamped the basket on a piece of vellum in Versamark ink and silver embossing powder.  I then used my Stampin' Write markers to colour in the flowers and leaves, which left a pretty, soft look to the image.

Here's a closer look:

I fussy cut around the image and adhered to my card front with lightly applied Tombow adhesive.  It just melts into the background and you really have to look to see that it isn't stamped directly onto the card.

I stamped my sentiment (from the same stamp set) on a piece of Thick Whisper White cardstock in Basic Black, and handcut the ends into flags.  I adhered it to the front of my image with some dimensionals (of course!).

I once again left the inside of my card sentiment-free, but that doesn't mean leaving it undecorated! :)  I repeatedly stamped a small portion of the basket image on a strip of watercolour paper with Versamark, carrying it across the full 5.5" width of my card, and then added more silver embossing powder and heat set.  I then used my ink pads and aquapainter to colour in the image, and adhered it to the bottom of the inside of the card base.

I love the washed out look of the watercolour combined with the shimmer of silver embossing, it turned out just as I had hoped!

I hope you are spending some of your March break crafting too!  And keeping a better eye on the clock than I am!  :)

Please keep hopping to see what my teammates created this month!

A La Cards (Leena)

LollyandSand (Sandy)

JustBStamping (Barb--you're here!)

Stampingjen.BlogSpot.com (Jennifer)

Hofkissed (Stephanie)

If you are interested in earning this stamp set for Free, please message me and I can give you all the details.

Have a great day,
Barb

Free Celebrate You Die Card

One thing that we can all count on:  at some point, you'll need a birthday card.  The card I crafted this week is super simple, perfect for a guy or a gal, young or old, and uses a free die and a free stamp set!  Can't get much better than that, can you?  :)

Aren't those balloons fun?!  They are from the Party Panda stamp set.  I stamped just the balloon image multiple times in Memento black ink, coloured with my Stampin' Blend markers, and then fussy cut around them.  I applied them to a Whisper White inner panel with dimensionals, so they look like they are going to float right off the card!  I also used dimensionals to attach that panel to my  Thick Whisper White card base, because a girl can never use enough dimension!

Here's a closer look at my colouring.  I circled the Colour Lifter slightly off-centre of each balloon to mimic a light reflection---so cool!

Did you spot my oops?  I forgot my rainbow order!  How sad :(  A rainbow just isn't a rainbow unless it is in order.  Back to kindergarten I go!  Hopefully I will have distracted from my error with that beautiful, glitter "celebrate."  It's cut from Glimmer Paper with the "Celebrate You" die set I got for free through Sale-A-Bration.  I can't even tell you how often I have used it!

I added a small Basic Black banner with a white-embossed sentiment, and anchored it with a small star from the Bright Enamel Shapes pack.

A final look at all that dimension:

I once again left the inside of my card blank, so that it can be customized for any celebration down the road.

Please visit my store if you would like to purchase any of the items I used today (just click on the shopping cart icon on the right).

I'd love to hear your comments below!

Have a great week,
Barb



Product List

Party Pandas Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[147221]

Celebrate You Thinlit Dies

[146840]

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121045]

Brights Enamel Shapes

[141680]

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109132]

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

Silver Glimmer Paper

[135314]

Stampin' Blends Markers Collection

[147475]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]