A Touch From the Heart

For the Newlyweds

Last night, I held a new class called "It's All About Accessorizing".  We all know that in fashion, it's the accessories that complete an outfit.  Well, the same goes for papercrafting.  I know you all have seen the Occasions Mini Catalog........so you know that the newest line of accessories are wonderful.  They also tend to get overlooked because you may not know how to use them.

Well, that's what last night's class was all about.  We played with windowpanes (you saw that card on Thursday's post), seam binding, pompom trim and the Vintage Flower Adornments.  

When I sent my class invitation out to my clients, I got a request for a wedding card.  Well, their wish is my command!  This is what I came up with......

I call the style of this card.....simple elegance.  It's not too poofy foofoo for the groom to go "ugh", but it's classy enough for the bride to say "oh yeah".

It uses one of my favorite a la carte stamps......it's called Elizabeth.  Did you pick this up as one of your Sale-a-bration freebies?  A lot of my clients did....and I am so glad.....because I plan on showing lots of ways to use it!

On today's card, my base card is Baja Breeze cardstock.  It measures 4 1/4" x 11".

Layer #2 is Early Espresso cardstock.....it measures 4" x 5 1/4".

Layer #4 is Shimmery White.....perfect for a wedding card......it measures 3 7/8" x 5 1/8".  I inked up Elizabeth with Early Espresso ink and stamped it about 1/2 way up on the right hand side.  

For the sentiment, I used my Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  Honestly, this stamp set never leaves my stamping desk.  I use it THAT much!  I inked up the sentiment with Early Espresso ink and stamped it onto Baja Breeze cardstock.  I punched it with the Large Oval punch and sponged the edges with Baja Breeze ink.  Add a dimensional to the back and place it on top of the focal image.

Okay, we're almost done!  For some more elegance, I added a 5 1/8" x 3/4" strip of this gorgeous patterned paper (from Springtime Vintage) along the bottom edge of the Shimmery White layer.  Add a length of Baja Breeze Seam Binding to cover the seam.  

Now it's time for the embellishments.....you know, the items that take your breath away.  On this card it's the Vintage Flower adornment (it sticks perfectly with a mini glue dot) and some Basic Pearls (use the piercing guide from the Mat Pack for perfect placement).

That's all there is folks.  A beautiful wedding card......simply elegant style!

I am happy to report that the girls last night LOVED this card!  It warms my heart to make them happy!

Here's the card recipe if you would like to see all the ingredients in one place.

Remember, the "ingredients" can be purchased from my online store if you would like to make this card at home.  

Card Recipe

stamps:  Elizabeth, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper:  Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Shimmery White, Springtime Vintage dsp
ink:  Early Espresso, Baja Breeze
accessories:  Vintage Flower Adornments, Seam Binding, Basic Pearls, Large Oval punch, Mat Pack, 

 

Stamping 411 Sketch (sort of)

Over the past two weeks, I've been watching as much of the Winter Olympics as I can.  So, my taking the liberty of tweaking this week's sketch challenge has been totally inspired by the freestyle events I've been watching on TV.

The general design is there......I just expanded the center panel so my card would be balanced.  It's that big 'ol flowers fault......it wouldn't be happy sitting on a smaller piece of cardstock.  Yup, that's my story, and I'm sticking with it.........

This card is for my co-worker who just got engaged.  She is so giddy with excitement...it's so much fun to watch!!!

The base card is my all time favorite color:  Chocolate Chip.

The next layer is Whisper White that has been run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder.

The sparkly patterned paper strip measures 1 1/4" x 5 1/4".   It's from the Sending Love DSP pack in the Occasions Mini catalog.

All the drama on this card comes from this amazing flower.  These flowers have been popping up all over the stamping blogs, and I've been itchin' to make one.  I followed the tutorial on Corie's blog.   Thanks Corie!!! 

I made mine with Vellum Cardstock.  I love the results but it's not so easy to keep the center as tight as ones made with patterned paper (plus the petals can snap off if you play with it too much....so just be careful if you choose to play with the vellum).

The Mellow Moss leaves come from my Little Leaves Sizzlit.  I added some linework with a Versamarker.  It add some nice depth to the die cuts.

The little butterfly was made with the Beautiful Wings embosslit and Barely Banana cardstock. 

After the entire card was assembled, I spritzed it with my homemade Frost White Shimmer Mist (fill a travel size spritzer bottle 2/3 full of rubbing alcohol....add about a tsp of Frost White Shimmer Paint.....shake well before spritzing onto your projects).

Well, even though I was a rebel this week, I love my card.  I think Margi and Ryan will love it as well!!!!

Are you ready to take the challenge (and possibly be a bit rebellious)?  If you choose to make a project using this sketch, be sure to link it to the Stamping 411 blog using the Mr. Linky widget at the bottom.

We love to see what you make!!!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!!!

Card Recipe

paper:  Chocolate Chip, Mellow Moss, Barely Banana, Vellum Cardstock, Sending Love DSP
accessories:  Scallop Circle punch, brad, Beautiful Wings embosslit, Little Leaves sizzlit, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Perfect Polka Dots Impressions Folder

Stamping 411: Saturday Sketch

 
The Olympics are officially kicking my butt!!!!  I am staying up WAY too late because I need to watch as much as I can!!!!  It's so exhilirating to watch the athletes compete.  It's also exhausting because my boss doesn't consider "the Olympic viewing hangover" a valid excuse for coming in late to work.  So, when my alarm goes off in the morning, I swear that I am not going to stay up that late again that night.  But, I do!!!!  It's just a vicious cycle!!!

The "Olympic Viewing Hangover" has also affected the stamping mojo.  Gasp!  Of course, Selene gives us a doozy of a sketch this week too!  Oh boy!!!!

So, here's what I came up with.........be nice.......I tried my best!

One of my co-workers and her boyfriend got engaged on Wednesday.  We were jumping up and down when she showed me her ring (it's stunning) that morning.  Of course, we've been talking wedding plans, dresses, name changes, etc......  Needless to say, I've got weddings on the brain.  So, a wedding card seemed appropriate for this week!!!

Let's start talking about the card.....

The base card is Apricot Appeal.

My focal image is stamped on Whisper White cardstock.  I used the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  I stamped the rose with Regal Rose ink.  I then burnished the color onto the inside of the rose using Pretty in Pink ink and a sponge dauber.  I then masked off the rose (I stamped the rose image onto a piece of printer paper and cut it out.  Adhere this onto the rose on my focal image using Dotto) prior to stamping the other flowers.  The other flowers are stamped with Pumpkin Pie ink and burnished with Apricot Appeal ink.

I grabbed my Color Spritzer Tool and my Basic Black marker and added some spatter to the focal image.

I sponged the edges with Regal Rose ink and distressed the edges lightly with my Cutter Tool.

Now, onto the ribbon......which is the challenging part of the sketch.

I punched holes in the focal image using my Crop-o-dile.  I threaded some Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon through the holes and taped to the back of the cardstock.  I added a white half pearl between each of the "stitches".

The focal image is matted on a 1/8" larger piece of Basic Black cardstock.

The sentiment (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) is stamped on a 3/4" x 2" strip of Pretty in Pink cardstock using Basic Black ink.   I used my Photo Corner Punch to create the banner edge.  I also distressed the edges before adding to my card.

The finishing touch is a small Filigree brad with a small white halfback pearl adhered to the center.

Whew!  This one was a toughie!!!  I hope you like it......if you do, please leave a comment.  I could really use the love this week.  LOL!!!!

Now, it's your turn!!!  If you choose to take the challenge, be sure to link your project to the Stamping 411 blog using the Mr. Linky widget.

I do my best to leave a comment on all linked projects.......it's so important for me to show you the love too!!!!

Until next time.....Happy Stamping everyone!!

Card Recipe

stamps:  Fifth Avenue Floral, Teeny Tiny Wishes
paper:  Apricot Appeal, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
ink:  Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Apricot Appeal, Basic Black
accessories:  Filigree Brads, Pretties Kit, Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon, Photo Corner Punch, Basic Black Marker, Color Spritzer Tool