Embrace Realistic Flowers

There are loads of floral products out there for crafters. I figured I'd just focus on one genre this week- realistic flowers. My card features Flower Soft. It's a fine, soft, colourful product that you can apply directly to your project like glitter or flocking. You can also build your own flowers using wire and glue. I'm sure there are more possibilities, those are the two main uses I've seen so far. Supplies: Stamps: Large Silhouette Flowers- Lupines, Bird Words, Harlequin BG Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Ripe Avocado, Perfect Plum Paper: Raspberry, Avocado, Perfect Plum, White Accessories, etc.: Flower Soft (Heather), White Satin

Embrace Dies

Keeping it simple for the holidays means using details to add interest, like dies, patterned paper and simple embellishments like a button. Supplies: stamps - Christmas Magic (Little Yellow Bicycle) paper - artichoke, shimmery white, Wassail (Basic Grey) ink - riding hood red, artichoke acc - Wassail buttons, rhred gg, nesties label die

Embrace Dies

For this card I used my Cuttlebug, a Cuttlebug snowflake die and my nestabilities. After cutting the snowflake out I put it into the accompanying embossing folder and ran it through the Cuttlebug again. Then I smooshed (very technical term!!) it onto the glue pad and then added sparkley diamond glitter. With this glue pad you don't even need to use a heat gun for the glitter to stick! I used my Nestabilities to cut out the mats and ran the bottom mat through the swiss dots embossing folder. I used my Scor-pal to score a pattern on the top mat. I finished the card off with an adhesive pearl and the sentiment. Supplies: Stamps - Printworks; Ink - Memento; Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select; Misc - Cuttlebug, Snowflake die, Snowflake embossing folder, Scor-pal, self adhesive pearl, glitter, The Essential Glue Pad.

Embrace Dies

I remember when I first started this hobby, I would see dies and die-cutting machines and think they were kind of cheesy. The styles of shapes and images available were less than trendy. Things have certainly changed! Dies are now one of my basic tools! I don't go for long periods of time without using Spellbinders nestabilities on my cards. I have also been collecting a few alphabets- Quickutz has a lot of really fun fonts. This card features both companies. I managed to find the elusive Labels One set in stock, so I picked that up. I also saw this adorable set. I loved the font and the little bonuses the set came with! I decided to make a card with both of my recent acquisitions. I used 3 different sized labels, then cut out a few trees and this cute sentiment. I pieced together a small scene, then added a bit of bling, and that was that. This is certainly a fun change from a square card! There was no stamping, but I had still had fun! Supplies: Dies: Labels One, Jolly Paper: White, Olive, Red, Chocolate, Kraft Accessories, etc.: gelly gems, pop dots

Embrace Scallops

I used the SCS sketch for today for this card's layout. I love scallops and this layout was perfect to feature them. I used two sizes of Cuttlebug die to make the scalloped squares. The striped band of paper came with scallops on the edge from the patterned paper pack I had. Supplies: Stamps - PaperTrey Believe; Ink - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves; Paper - PaperTrey Vintage Creme, Making Memories FaLaLa paper pack; Misc - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Cuttlebug Scalloped Square Die, Dimensionals

Embrace Scallops!

I love anything to do with scallops. It's great that they are so trendy right now (and that doesn't seem to be changing!). There's just something very classic about adding a scalloped edge. It works well with squares or circles or simply an edge of something.

For my card today, I started with a navy card base. I ran that through the cuttlebug with a long scalloped rectangle nestability (one could easily use scalloped scissors or a punch to get the exact effect). Next, I stamped some acetate with snowflakes. I attached that inside the card, then added some ribbon, silver cord, and a snowflake shrink charm. Pretty quick! There's no sentiment just yet, I figured a nice saying stamped in white or silver would look nice peeking through the snowflakes.

Supplies:

Stamps: Rustic Snowflakes (PTI)

Ink: Stazon White

Paper: Night of Navy, Acetate

Accessories, etc.: organdy ribbon, silver cord, polyshrink, scalloped die

Embrace Patterned Papers

When I was going back through the older posts, I kind of couldn't believe that I hadn't focused on pattern paper. I was sure I had (maybe I did but missed it...) Anyway, if it is a repeat, it's because it's that much of a staple in CAS stamping! Patterned paper can stand alone with a bit of ribbon and a sentiment (as Monday's card showcased), it can also be added as a form of an embellishment. Sometimes it simply gives you a starting point. A certain combination of patterns, images, or colours can be just the right source of inspiration to get that creative mind going! That's actually what happened with this card. I LOVE the Haiku paper (so much so that it may very well be a pack that I purchase again, which is quite the rarity for me!). I love the repeated patterns and the fresh combination of colours. I grabbed a piece of paper, and used the colours as my starting point- Tangerine and Saffron. Throw in a bit of white and you've got a sharp colour combination! To really make the silhouettes pop I embossed them with white and added a white rub-on sentiment. The card base is made from textured white cardstock.

Supplies:

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Haiku, Tangerine, Saffron, White

Accessories, etc.: white EP, ribbon

This is the last one!

When I used this design most recently, I made 4 different versions. I promise, this is the last one. It's funny, even though they are all the same design, they all have very different looks. That's actually what this post is about- focus on the flowers! By changing the type of flower and the colours you use you can really alter the look of any card! Here I went with an almost Spring theme, since I chose light pink, purple, and olive. The great thing about flowers is how easy it is to achieve different looks. You could make clusters, watercolour the images, do some masking. I suppose you can do these things with any images really, but I find flowers are always so inspiring! There's SO many options out there it's crazy. It's also one of those themes where you can already own several flower sets, but a new one will catch your eye, because just like flowers, floral stamp sets off something new and unique with each design!

Embrace...Dots!

Here is another very quick, simple card focusing on dots and circles. No stamping on this one and it would have been under 10 minutes to make if it didn't take me so long to get that bow right! I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the three circles and then used the Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and papers from DCWV Fall mat stack for the butterflies. I used the colors for yesterday's SCS color challenge: Chocolate Chip, Tango Tangerine (Pumpkin Pie) and Kiwi Kiss (Old Olive). In real life, the card stock is Old Olive but the photo makes it look totally different. Supplies: Paper - DCWV Fall Mat Stack; Misc - MM Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, MS Butterfly punch, Glud Dots

Embrace... Dots

Well last week was stripes, so it seemed appropriate to focus on dots this week. In case you haven't already noticed, I have been loving my new set of Polka Dot Basics. This is one of those sets I kept putting off getting since it didn't seem as "fun" as some other releases. It's such a staple, it's so nice to have access to such a wide variety of dot backgrounds! I started with a very basic white ink on a kraft background and went from there. I brought in a few flowers from Garden of Life, and I made a whole bunch of cards. They all have the same layout, but by changing the size of the dot background, the flower stamp, and the colours, they all look very different!

Supplies: Stamps: Garden of Life, Polka Dot Basics, Birthday Basics (PTI), Petals and Stems (Verve) Ink: Pure Poppy, Bamboo Leaves, White, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Chocolate Paper: Kraft, White, Chocolate, Olive Ribbon: Red dashed, Brown dashed, Accessories: Red Brads

Embrace....Stripes!

This was a fun and easy card to make. I love this paper from DCWV Nana's Nursey. There are such cute and coordinating papers in this 6x6 pack. I used a striped paper for the bottom and cut a strip of another paper to put across the top. I made the tag with my Just Rite Stamper Harmony Classic II Special Occasions set and the Small Letters set and cut it and the scalloped mat out with my nestabilities. Supplies: Stamps - Just Rite Stamps; Ink - SU! Sage Shadow; Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select, DCWV; Misc - Nestabilities, Dimensionals

Embrace...

Stripes!

I love adding bits of patterned paper to my cards. One type of pattern that I cannot get enough of, especially for clean and simple cards, is striped paper! I just love all the options and colours available for striped paper. It's great for this style because it's so linear. The lines of colour really sharpen up your project! There are many ways to bring stripes into your project: use lines of solid paper, use ribbon with no knots, use striped images, stamp a lined pattern, use patterned paper, and more!

For my card today, I went with some non-traditional Christmas colours- Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush. I used the striped theme on the snowman itself, as well as for the patterned paper.

Supplies:

Stamps: Made of Snow (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Berry Sorbet

Paper: Pink Patterns, Sweet Blush, White

Accessories, etc.: Copic Markers, Berry Sorbet Satin ribbon, pop dots

Embrace Silhouettes

Silhouette images lend themselves to quick and easy cards whether they are one layer or multi layered cards. I started out with a single layer card using an Inkadinkado set using Memento Rich Cocoa ink on vanilla creme card stock. It took well under 10 minutes and I liked it so much I thought I'd make another using SU! Not Quite Navy on the vanilla creme card stock. I ended up making two more, one in burgundy and one in Old Olive and now have a nice set of note cards! Supplies: Stamps- Inkadinkado; Ink - SU! Not Quite Navy, Memento Rich Cocoa, Paper - PaperTrey Vanilla Creme I wanted to show you a quick, layered silhouette card too. I started with the Basic Grey Ambrosia paper (had a scrap on my desk) and stamped the cattails from Verve Stamps in

Memento Rich Cocoa. I used my white gel pen to highlight the cattails. I stamped the Thank You sentiment from the Inkadinkado set I already had out and added the dragonfly and round gold brads. I then matted the main image panel on PaperTrey Chocolate Brown card stock and that onto the Creme colored paper from the Basic Grey Ambrosia paper pack.

Product Focus:

Silhouettes!

It seems silhouette style images are everywhere lately. I find they really work well with the clean and simple style. Many companies out there have put their own twist on this idea. My card today features gel-a-tins Wild Things, but it was vaguely inspired by Stampin' Up!'s Upsy Daisy image.

Supplies:

Stamps: Wild Things (gel-a-tins) Garden of Life (PTI)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: White, Textured Brown, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories, etc.: dotted ribbon, pop dots

Embrace...

Metal rimmed tags! These small embellishments are great for adding that touch of metal to any creation. The great thing about this embellishment is that it's also easy enough to "go faux". You can emboss a thin silver circle, or use metallic paper and circle punches to get the same concept. If you are stuck for inspiration, a great blog to check out is Jennifer McGuire's. She uses these tags so magnificently, I'm sure it's what inspired me to feature these small items in the first place! Here's an older card that I did for a June challenge. I really like the touch of silver on the red and white card. It just serves as a nice way to separate the larger star from the rest. Supplies: Stamps by Verve, Paper by World Win and Stampin' Up!, Ink by Stampin' Up! Metal Tags from Dunwoody Booth

Embrace Embossing Powders

Embossing powders are one of those supplies that we all seem to have. Once you got serious about this hobby, you likely picked up a heat gun and some powders. It also seems to be one of those supplies that you either LOVE or HATE. I know some people don't categorize embossing as a simple thing, but once you get the hang of it, it's really easy to use. So easy, that sometimes you use it on everything... A couple tips:

• Find a decent metal tray with an edge to do your embossing in. I have the base of the 48 Pack of Prismacolors . It came in a metal box, and it's great for embossing in. I have found that if I heat emboss something in a metal container, there is less paper warping, since both the front and back gets heated pretty evenly.
• If you do emboss in a metal container, be careful. It's easy to burn yourself, as well as your embossing powder.
• Static reducers are good, I have held off on getting one at this point. (It's just not one of those "fun" supplies to buy, however cheap they may be). If you plan on doing any embossing as part of a mass production line, look into getting an embossing buddy. I've also heard that dryer sheets work, but I've never tried them.
• As convenient as the Powder Pals are, I find that a scrap piece of paper works out best. I have a LOT of colours of embossing powder, and there is nothing as annoying as finding bits of colour in your white powder after you've melted it. The Powder Pals always seem to retain little flecks of powder here and there. Scrap paper is scrap, you can take a new sheet with every new colour.

Here is my card. I need a wedding card this month, and thought a copper theme would be pretty. Think of how extremely dull this card would be if that swirl motif were not embossed!

Supplies: Stamps: All Year Cheer, Baroque Motifs Ink: Versamark Paper: Copper, Shimmery White Accessories, etc.: Copper EP, white organdy ribbon, pop dots

Embrace Bling!

I use these Amuse Twinklers Micro and Mini dots a lot. They really step a CAS card up a notch. Supplies: Stamps - Verve, PTI; Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select; Ink - Palette Noir; Misc - SU! Markers, Score-Pal, Cuttlebug Border Embossing Folder, Amuse Twinklers Micro dots.

Embrace Bling Stickers

I embraced bling today with these glittery stickers by K & Co. They are much more glittery and the letters much more subdued in color in real life. Thickers letters by American Crafts, ribbon by Papertrey Ink.

Embrace that bling!

Here are few ultra simple but lovely holiday cards. The product focus today is bling. We already focused on glitter, so it's now time for some of those other dazzling embellishments. I am featuring some twinkling gem stickers on these two cards. I love how small they are, they add just the perfect about of sparkle to the cards. It's also nice how they are stickers, no annoying glue dots or tape to apply! Several companies out there make self-adhesive gems. I used Martha Stewart gems that I found at Walmart. Supplies: Stamps: Retro Flakes, Oh Christmas Tree (gel-a-tins) Paper and Ink: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky by Stampin' Up! Clear Gem Stickers by Martha Stewart

Embrace Alphabet Stickers

I stamped the owl and colored her in with copics. I blinged up her hat and glasses with stickles, too! I created the sentiment with alphabet stickers and added a few large brads at the top.

Supplies:

stamps - QT Hootie (PCS)

paper - eggplant, lavender, kraft, ww

ink - memento tuxedo, copics

acc - alphabet stickers (SEI), lavender brads (Darice), stickles, oval nesties, dimensionals