Easter Swing Card

We had so many positive comments with the swing cards we created for Thanksgiving and Christmas, that I felt it was time to “swing” again.  Like the Easter Vase card, an Easter Message only appears on the inside panel, so this card can easily be used for any occasion.  There is some history behind this card.  It started with a fluttery flower made from many pieces of punched card stock that had been run thru a crimper 20 times each in order to break down the fibers.  The card stock was then split in half with the inner side giving a suede-like finish.  These multiple layers were then gathered into a single flower with a brad.  The finished flower was pretty – but way too complicated for a two-hour stamp camp.  So, this is what I switched to…

The “Five-Way Flower” stamp gives the effect I was looking for and is much easier than the multi-layer suede-like flower I had been making previously.  In addition, it is only $9.95 in the main SU catalogue.  Cantaloupe Crisp cs was used for the card and the Perfect Polka Dot embossing Folder provides texture for the left front panel.  My favorite Watercolor Wonder DSP softens the card and is highlighted with Candy Dots.  I stamped the flower four time – first in Daffodil Delight, second in Crisp Cantaloupe, third in So Saffron, and finally in Crisp Cantaloupe.  I punched out each flower using the 2 3/8”, 1 ¾”, 1 ¼”, and 7/8” Scallop Circle Punches.  The layers are adhered with Stampin Dimensionals to provide depth, and anchored with a retired So Saffron floral brad.  There are lots of different brads and buttons that can be used for the flower center.  Because I like pink, I also completed a sample that uses Pink Pirouette in the flower , a pink rhinestone, and Pink Pirouette on the inner part of the card. 

This image shows a close-up of the completed Five-Way Flower. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This image shows the inside of the swing card.  I stamped Easter Eggs from a retired set and adhered them to the back of the swing circle.  I completed another sample with a stamped bunny and basket with small Easter eggs on the back of the swing circle.  More butterflies appear using the Papillion Potpourri Stamp Set and the Elegant and Bitty Butterfly Punches.  I carried the color theme thru with strips of Watercolor Wonder DSP on the middle and right hand inner panels.  Finally, a single candy dot highlights the message panel.  Die cutting the card with the extra message panel is a bit tricky, and I will be happy to show you how it is done.  The Circle Card Thinlits Die is not shown in a current catalogue, but is available for $32.95. 

This is the final card we will create at the April Stamp Camp.  As a reminder, dates/times are:  Thursday, April 3rd from 2 – 9 PM; Friday, April 4th from 2 – 9 PM; Saturday, April 5th from 9 AM to 4 PM. If these dates/times don’t work for you this month, let me know and I should be able to accommodate an alternate date/time.  If you can let me know ahead of time if and when you will be coming, it is helpful, but not a requirement.  I always have extra packets ready.  I will also have Tombo Mono Adhesive refills out for sale at $2.00 per refill/$12.00 per box of 6 refills.

Mark your calendar now for the May Stamp Camp – May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.  Deb and I are still in the planning stages for May, so if there is something you would like to see us do, please let me know.

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Easter Vase

It’s time for more tulips – well, a single tulip in this case.  This card was created by Debbi.

This elegant Calypso Coral card features a single vased tulip from the Vivid Vases stamp.  The Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder gives the Very Vanilla cs a nice background texture.  The pre-cut Paper Doily Sizzlits Die provides great detail and is well defined with the Sweet Sorbet DSP backing.  Actually, I had pre-cut the Very anilla doilies several years ago when I ended up in the hospital for one of my knee surgeries and had to cancel a Stamp Camp.  Debbi used a Calypso Coral Starburst Framelits circle to highlight the tulip vase which is stamped and colored with markers.  The Elegant and Bitty Butterfly punches are used with Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe cs to form a double butterfly with pearls.  We use these two butterfly punches on so many of our spring and summer cards. 

My hubby just reminded me to mention that I have replenished my Tombo Mono Adhesive refill supply.  I was forced to find a new supplier, but am able to hold the price of $2.00 per refill or $12.00 per box of 6.

You have now seen all cards except one – the Easter Swing card.  This final card will be posted later today, so check back this evening!

Hope you can make it to our April Stamp Camp on April 3, 4, and 5.  Give me a call or send me an E-mail if you have any questions.

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Springtime Song

I absolutely love this vintage printed image from The Graphics Fairy.  I subscribe to her blog and receive some very interesting vintage images that are free for use.  In Springtime Song, the picture is matted first in Whisper White, then in Pink Pirouette and finally in my favorite retired color – Baja Breeze.  I’m so glad I still have a few sheets left.  Note the use of the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder which really highlights the birds.  A permanent pink marker is used to color a few rhinestones which are embedded in the center of the flowers.  The “Easter Greetings” message is definitely vintage.

 

One of our stampers mentioned using a small envelope on or in one of her cards.  This jogged my memory – we have not used a small envelope in ages!  So, I pulled out the Bigz Scallop Envelope Die and some Core’dinations cs and created an envelope to use inside the Springtime Song card.  I “aged” the envelope with the Stampin’ Sanding Block on the textured surfaces and added a small white card sponged and stamped to match my Pacific Point cs.  The Core’dinations cs for the April Stamp Camp also includes Strawberry Slush and Daffodil Delight choices.  I finished the card with a punched Petite Petals flower.  I placed the flower on my piercing pad and pressed down firmly.  Presto – my flower petals curved upward leaving a perfect base for another pink rhinestone.  I generally don’t place rhinestones inside a card, but there are several thicknesses of cs on the card front, so I feel confident the rhinestones won’t poke thru.

Don’t forget – April Stamp Camp is right around the corner.  The cost is $12.00 for the 4 projects and includes all materials, supplies, and tools.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Easter Tulips

Although Easter is late this year, the date is fast approaching.  If we are lucky, we may not have any snow to commemorate our Lord.  Debbi and I have created four Easter cards for our April Stamp Camp (April 3, 4, 5).  However, all could be used for other occasions.  Today, we are going to view the Easter Tulips card

“Blessed Easter” is the stamp set featured on this card.  The color scheme is Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight .  The tulips are water-colored with blender pens and an assortment of inks.  The Fancy Fan Embossing Folder provides texture to the top part of the card, and the beautiful Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper adds softness to the card.  I absolutely love the Watercolor Wonder DSP.  Deb added a bit of Tangerine Tango ribbon, and a double butterfly using the Elegant and Bitty Butterfly Punches.  We split the message from the main stamp so we could use the tulips for other occasions.   Deb stamped the message on Daffodil Delight, cut it out with the Circle Framelits, and then sponged the circle heavily in Tangerine Tango. 

This beautiful card will be one of the four we will be completing at our April Stamp Camp.  Dates/times are:  Thursday, April 3rd from 2 – 9 PM; Friday, April 4th from 2 – 9 PM; and Saturday, April 5th from 9 AM – 4 PM.  If you need another date/time, please let me know, and I should be able to accommodate your request.

On a personal note, many of you are aware of weight loss surgery I had in October 2013.  I am proud to report that I have lost over 90 pounds, and am fast approaching 100 pounds.  Still have more to lose, but I am feeling a sense of accomplishment!

Remember that Sale-A-Bration ends March 31st.  Let me know if you want to take advantage of this annual sale. 

Give me a call or drop an E-mail if you have any questions about the April Stamp Camp.  Cost is $12 and everything you need is provided.  Check back tomorrow for the next Easter card post.    Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Flowers Your Way!

The final card for our March Stamp Camp lets you choose your own flowers:  shamrocks or garden flowers.  The cards follow the same style, but you add your own stems and any number of flowers. 

Pinch Proof is a great card for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  This card uses the retired Pinch Proof stamp set and features shamrock flowers made from small Gumball Green punched hearts!  Aren’t they cute?  We start by drawing stems that will end in one of two vases.  Then we adhere the small punched hearts – I used 15 for this card.  Finally, we run the Whisper White cs thru the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  This gives the flowers a pressed look.  The vases are then added with Stampin’ Dimensionals along with a bit of yellow ribbon and a So Saffron Butterfly with a tiny pearl.  Rhinestones are added for a bit of glitz, and the Pinch Proof message appears as a flower.

But perhaps you need a card for another occasion – birthday, get well, thinking of you, etc.  This For You card follows the same style as Pinch Proof but we add Petite Petal flowers.  There are 6 different flowers you can stamp and all are the same size.  The Petite Petals punch quickly punches your flowers which you adhere along your stems.  After embossing your card stock with the Square Lattice folder, you add your vases, ribbon, and butterfly.  Instead of the Pinch Proof “flower”, you will make a For You “flower” stamped in Crushed Curry.  Although I used Melon Mambo and Elegant Eggplant flowers here, you can use any color ink and add as many flowers as you wish. 

The vases and butterflies have been punched.  Quite a few small hearts have also been punched as well as some flowers.  However, you can stamp and punch your own if  you wish.  This is YOUR card! 

Dates and times for our March Stamp Camp are:  Thursday, March 13 from 2 – 9 PM; Friday, March 14 from 2 – 9 PM; and Saturday March 15 from 9 AM to 4 PM.  Cost is $12 and includes all materials and supplies.  I hope you can come and enjoy these spring creations.  Before long, flowers will be poking their little heads thru our soon-to-thaw soil.  Spring cannot come too soon for me!  I have had it with winter – especially after experiencing the warm weather and sunny days on our cruise! 

Our stamp camps are back on schedule – the first consecutive Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of each  month.  April Stamp Camp will be the 3rd, 4th and 5th of April so we will have plenty of time.  Give me a call or E-mail if you have any questions.

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Reposting – Springtime Hello featuring Venetian Romance DSP

Our third card for the March Stamp Camp features DSP as well as a different style.

The stamp set used in this colorful card is Springtime Hello ($10.95 for clear in the current Celebrate the Everyday brochure).  The new Scalloped Tag Topper was used to form the ends and allow us to tie the card together.  Although directions for the Tag Topper state to use card stock 2” wide, you can actually use card stock that is much wider by slipping the paper down into the punch.  Venetian Romance DSP adds the feel of marbling – or being in outer space – and is the highlight of the card.  Island Indigo adds a touch of contrast .  There are two types of ribbon that can be used and Stickles can be added to the stamped images if desired.

Upon opening the card, there is plenty of space to add the message of  your choice. 

This card uses 8 1/2 X 5 1/2” Crisp Cantaloupe card stock, but the score line is not the standard 4 1/4”.

One more card left for March Stamp Camp.  Check back tomorrow view the post and decide which version you will create.  Hope to see you for March Stamp Camp on March 13th, 14th or 15th!

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com

Springtime Cards Featuring Designer Series Paper…

I mentioned in my last E-mail that 3 of our 4 cards for our March Stamp Camp will feature Stampin’ Up Designer Series Paper – better known by the acronym DSP.  I love using DSP.  Why?  It adds dimension, beauty, and is a time saver.  Let’s take a look at 2 of our cards for March Stamp Camp

Happy Watercolor is our first card.  This “springy” card features Watercolor Wonder DSP and the Happy Watercolor stamp set.  The colors carried throughout the card are Smoky Slate, Island Indigo and Gumball Green.  Note the lace doily peeking out, the candy dots, use of the border punch, black rhinestones, the punched butterfly, the Bakers Twine, and the embossed edge of the Smoky Slate card.  Lots of embellishments are used to provide texture and interest. 

 

 

One comment I hear frequently about DSP is “What can I do with all the little leftover pieces.”  The inside of Happy Watercolor shows one way to use your scraps.  Here, we have carried the border punch and DSP used on the card front to the inside of the card.  We punched a small piece of DSP for the bottom of the card and used the leftover strip on the top of the card.  The inside also features  my new Word Bubbles Framelits.  The little mouse is saying “you make me HAPPY” which is one of the messages featured in the Happy Watercolor stamp set. 

 

Sweet Sorbet is our second card and features the Sweet Sorbet DSP which is FREE with a $50 purchase during the Sale-a-Bration (SAB) promotion period.  What a great way to earn this beautiful DSP.  Debbi designed this card using the colors found in the Sweet Sorbet DSP – Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe,  Pistachio Pudding. and Basic Black.  Deb used the new Decorative Dots Embossing Folder which is also FREE with a $50 purchase during the current SAB promotion.  Pool Party Seam Binding ribbon, pearls, a butterfly, and a small banner carry thru this springtime theme. 

Isn’t it amazing what you can create with a small piece of beautiful DSP and a few embellishments?  You will have a chance to create these 2 cards plus 2 more during our March Stamp Camp.  The dates and times for this stamp camp are as follows:  Thursday, March 13th from 2 PM to 9 PM; Friday, March 14th from 2 PM to 9 PM; and Saturday, March 15th from 9 AM to 4 PM.  The cost for our 4 cards is $12 which includes all material and supplies as well as soda and water to quench your thirst. 

Don’t forget about Sale-a-Bration (SAB) which continues thru March 31st.  With each $50 product purchase, you can choose a free item from the Sale-a-Bration brochure .  There are several nice stamp sets, the beautiful DSP shown above, the Decorative Dots Embossing Folder, and several nice kits.  See the SAB brochure at http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/catalogs/NA/20131119_SAB_EN/20131119_SAB_en_US.pdf

I look forward to seeing you this coming week.  Give me a call or send me an E-mail if you have any questions.

Blessings, Rosemary – 630/759-3089 – paperrose01@aol.com