Owl of gratitude

This is the first card in a whole series that feature the Bigz scallop square clear die. I rarely make square cards but have borrowed this die from my upline and have been making a number of square cards. I've learned that to make a 5x5" card, you have to use 12x12" paper. This may sound like basic logic to most of you but no, to me this was an interesting aspect of square cards, as I rarely find a use for my 12x12" paper and have always just cut it down to make regular or long/skinny cards. In an effort to use up some of my 12x12" paper you're going to see a number of scallop square cards.

This first one is my favorite! I have a certain special love for birds in general, so any stamp set that features a bird is usually my weakness. 

I cased this card off another demonstrator, Mary Brown, who had used a bird from the Aviary set.

 And here's mine. I think the little owl also plays the part rather nicely! Mary Brown's is a gorgeous card, and I love trying to make similar cards using the supplies I have and see what I come up with. But I'm sold on that postage stamp punch and it's on my wish list.

stamps: Forest friends, Fabulous phrases

cardstock: Sahara sand, Real rust, Soft suede, Whisper white

ink: Soft suede, cajun craze

extras: metallic eyelets in copper and antique brass, soft suede polka dot ribbon

tools: Bigz scallop square clear die, 1-3/8" square punch, 1-1/4" square punch, polka dot embossing folder, word window punch, crop-a-dile, dimensionals, big shot machine

I thought I'd show you a picture of the Bigz scallop square clear die because in the catalogue it shows only an outline of the cut-out and I myself didn't understand the "clear" part of the die as I'd never seen one.

So, you can place it on your picture and choose where you will position the die. I'm sure Fergie appreciates being on my blog, but whatever, she was on the cover of the Avon catalog and was the closest thing I could find to a picture to illustrate my point. I'll have to show you my lovely Avon watch next time. :D

Happy stamping!

Razzleberry Lemonade Smile

I have a few cute cards that I made to show you.

These are some really quick and easy cards intended to give their recipients a quick smile.

Stamps: Trendy Trees,  Fabulous Phrases
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Lovely Lilac (retired), Crushed Curry (retired), Almost Amethyst (retired) cardstock, Razzleberry Lemonade dsp (retired)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Almost Amethyst, Basic Black
Tools: Scallop border punch, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1/16" punch, word window punch, clear block, dimensionals, snail
Extras: Pumpkin pie grosgrain ribbon, perfect plum brad, more mustard brad



I bought the Razzleberry Lemonade DSP from the Stampin Up! clearance rack. I'm so happy I was able to "knab" some, as some items go really fast. I never got around to getting this paper last year when it was available, and so I was elated when I saw it on the clearance rack! 

I managed to find a picture of the paper included in the package so you can revel at how gorgeous it is too! Imagine... living in a room papered with Razzleberry Lemonade (there would be some kind of great music playing in the background)....ahhhhh, well okay it would be dizzying but how beautiful!!!



I think my favorite piece is the top middle one with the razzleberry background and the crushed curry flowers over it. It's going to hurt me to cut that paper, so I haven't gone there yet. I'm so glad to see that razzleberry is now one of the core colours. Since it's part of the brights collection that means razzleberry accesories are available, such as:

- razzleberry buttons
- razzleberry colored brads
- razzleberry glimmer brads
- razzleberry flower brads
- razzleberry 1/4" grograin ribbon
- one of the colors in the patterned DSP stack

Okay, I've shown you enough prettiness for one day. But wasn't it uplifting? Gorgeous patterns and mixes of colour, it's like they activate the right chemicals in my brain. LOVE IT! 

I'm back!

You'll have to forgive my extended absence, I have been dealing with some health issues of my own and some changes within my family. It has come time for my mother move in with my sister, as she is the one with the most space to accommodate, and this has turned into a monumental task for us both. It's something we are more than happy to do, as we want nothing but the best for mom, but it means I've been a little busy and neglected my blog. My apologies...

Anyways, let's keep the mood light and happy by looking at some pretty cards. shall we?

I tried making some simple cards, that were quick and easy, but still turned out very lovely. 

stamps: retired 2010-2011 L2 hostess set: Fast and Fabulous and retired SAB 2010 set: Whimsical Words

paper: marina mist, white naturals cardstock

ink: marina mist and basic grey

extras: 1/8" taffeta ribbon in marina mist

I love what the white naturals does for this card. It softens it and adds something extra to the negative space. A few other version that I tried were...

I'm sorry the images are a little blurry, but you get the idea. I made some boxed cards sets of the middle version above. Clean and simple (one layer) cards are the best for boxed sets to give a quick but thoughtful little gift. On this version I used my paper piercer and the mat pack to create the line of holes on the card.

I have one last version to show you...

What do you think?
On this version I stamped the flower on the marina mist cardstock in basic grey also, but I used a white colored wooden pencil to color in the leaves and do some highlighting with around the sentiment. Then I added some crystal effects to the flower and also to the word "thought" in the sentiment. Lastly I added some white baker's twine around the fold of the card and finished it with a simple bow.

I had great fun coming up with all these different variations on the same theme. As you can see, I'm not one of those demonstrators that can part with her retired sets quite as quickly as most. I never quite feel I've done all I wanted to do with them, which is why I'm posting them now even though these sets are no longer available. However, if you searched them out on the internet by name you would find many a demonstrator who is selling off her retired items and could purchase retired sets that way.

Or, you could always use some retired sets of your own and do your own unique take from the pictures I have posted here. Enjoy a day of stampin' happiness soon!