Con-grad-ulation!

     Hello! This spring I'm in need of several graduation cards, one for a co-worker who just earned her M.Ed and the other for a cousin who is graduating from UNH. 
     I was inspired by Natasha and Leigha's "You're a Star" card over at their blog (here).  To make it more of my own I changed the colors of the stars and used a stamp from the SAB set, Sprinkled Expressions.  This card was quick and simple enough to make in large quantities (birthday, thank you, party invites).

Stamps: Sprinkled Expressions (SAB, retired)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizazz, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Dots embossing folder, Stars #2 die, 1 3/8 circle punch, Soft Suede taffeta ribbon, button, bakers twine, dimensionals

Heart Trio

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #16 (here).  Have I mentioned how much I {love} that site?!

     I purchased both the small heart and postage stamp punches months ago but haven't touched them since Mr. Brown delivered them (gasp!).  So I thought I'd dust them off and put them to good use...  This is a quick and simple card to make, it took me less than 10 minutes total! 

Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Rose Red, Regal Rose
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, small heart & postage stamp punches, grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

Giving Thanks

     Hello!  Today's card is my attempt to get Thanksgiving cards in the mail this year.  Last year I ended up going to the local Hallmark store and purchasing cards to send to family and friends (gasp!).  I thought if I start making them now, I should be able to get the dozen or so I need made by November 1st.  I hope.
   To create the non-embossed section on the Pumpkin Pie piece I used the Double Emboss technique.  To see a printable tutorial or watch a video tutorial by Beate click (here).  This technique embosses part of your card stock while leaving a section smooth to stamp on.

Stamps: Falling Leaves
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Whisper White

Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, dimensionals

Another CAS Baby Card

     Hello!  This should be my final baby card for a while (I hope!).  Looking for a cute but quick card to help inspire me I searched "CAS baby" at over at SplitCoast and bon2stamp's card was one of the many that popped up!
    To make this card more of my own (and to make it fitting for a boy!), I changed the color and added a jumbo circle brad rather than a flower.

Stamps: Occasional Quotes (hostess)
Paper: Marina Mist, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark

Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, jumbo circle brad (retired), heat tool, clear embossing powder 

SC294, Take Three: Blue Birthday

     Hello!  Today's card was inspired by SC294 - again!  I was asked to make a fun birthday card by a parent of one of my students and I was honored!  I immediately thought of polka dots and balloons and headed straight towards the Bitty Birthday stamp set.

    The balloons on the card were stamped on Bashful Blue DSP (retired), cut out and placed on dimensionals.  I drew the string for the balloons with a black Stampin' Write marker.

Stamps: Bitty Birthday
Ink: StazOn Black, black Stampin' Write marker
Paper: Bashful Blue card stock and retired DSP, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, brads, 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' dimensionals

A Purple Card and Brads to Match!

Hello!  Today's card is inspired by Beth Ann Wilson's card.  While I absolutely love the colors she chose, I decided to tone it down a bit and went with Perfect Plum.  While Stampin' Up! does offer a wide variety of colored brads I currently do not have any in my collection.  Bummer.  But... the good news is you can "dye" brads to match any color cardstock and it's super easy!

     Simply cover the brad in your choice of craft ink (in my case I used Elegant Eggplant), coat with clear embossing powder and heat until melted (for small brads this is 8-10 seconds).  I've found that you may need to rough up the brad a bit with a sanding block if the ink isn't sticking too well.  Make sure you let the brad cool for at least a minute before you try to use it - it will be hot!   I'll be honest and say that once you've "dyed" your brad you shouldn't handle it too much - the color will eventually come off. 

Stamps: Great Friend
Paper: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Ink: Elegant Eggplant (classic and craft), VersaMark
Tools & Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, clear embossing powder, heat tool, dimesionals