Masked Love

Yesterday I showed you how I used the tag from the Artisan Embellishment Kit.  On today's card I used that same tag as a mask.  I simply layered the tag onto a piece of cardstock and then sprayed smooch spritz all over it.  When I lifted up the tag I had this lovely "white" tag left behind. 

From there I added the EnFrancais background stamp and layered my Crumb Cake strip.

The Love sentiment comes from You Are Loved stamp set.  I gold embossed it, then used my oval punch to punch out the sentiment and the Decorative Label punch to punch out the background.   In the picture below you can see I have ribbon running between the two layers and the oval is popped up using dimensionals.

This would make a nice Anniversary card, or give it to anyone you love.  It's going in my stash, and the next wedding, bridal shower, or anniversary party we go to I will have a card already made.  Or, I can just save it for my honey and give it to him.  It's not too girly to give to the man I love.

 

Last night I filmed a video showing you how to make this card front.  It's not complicated, but there are several steps.  It's funny to me how a fairly "Clean and Simple" card can be "not so simple" to make.  (especially when you decide to start filming at 11pm at night.)

***Note: If you are reading this in an email you may need to go to my blog to view the video above.  Just click on the title of this post, "Masked Love", and you should be taken straight to this post on my blog.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: EnFrancais, You Are Loved
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Ink: Crumb Cake, Gold Smooch Spritz, Versamark
Misc.: Artisan Embellishment Kit, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon,  Gold Embossing Powder, Oval Punch, Decorative Label Punch


Artisan Embellishment Kit



You Are Loved




EnFrancais



For the Newlyweds

Spring is coming and so are Spring Weddings, Easter and Mother's Day. This card could be used for any one of those things by changing the sentiment. 

The tag has been spritzed, smooched, layered and popped up using thin strips of dimensionals.  If you look closely at the big heart you can see how thin I had to cut it to fit behind the heart frame.

There is so much going on with the collage card. I think I put just about every embellishment I could on that little tag. :)

As you can see in the close-up photo the sentiment says "For the Newlyweds", but you could easily change it to fit your needs. 

Come back tomorrow to see another way I used this tag.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North


Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Tiny Tags
Ink: Smooch Spritz (Gold and Log Cabin), Crumb Cake, Early Espress
Paper: Crumb Cake, More Amore DSP
Misc.:  Artisan Embellishment Kit, Basic Pearls, Hearts A Flutter Framelits, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder




Artisan Embellishment Kit



Teeny Tiny Wishes





Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder



Eat A Cupcake

Sometimes we just need to Keep Calm and Eat A Cupcake.  :)  This is the card I sent to my dad while he waits for test results.  It's never easy to wait for the doctor's call, but as long as you're waiting why not eat a cupcake?  :)

As you can see I played with a new (to me) punch, the cupcake builder.  I don't own the stamps that go along with this cute punch, so I used paper.  The cupcake liner is Daffodil Delight Designer Series Paper from the Brights Patterns Stack.  The frosting top is Chocolate Chip cardstock that I ran through the dots embossing folder. 

While I had the Big Shot out I embossed the oval from the Set of Designer Frames, then I stamped my sentiment.  The card is an unusual shape, but it will fit in a standard letter envelope. It's 6x6" folded in half to make a 3x6" card.

Can you see the little cupcake I stamped inside?  I colored the stamp with my markers.  My ribbon is wrapped around the bottom of the card.  I cut a little slit in the fold of the card so I could thread the Taffeta ribbon through the slit.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North




Set of Designer Frames Embossing Folders



Carry On Stamp Set
Hostess



Cupcake Punch



Brights DSP Patterns Stack



Happy Hello Box w/Gift Cards

Don't you just love being able to use something in an unexpected way?  The Happy Hello Box is fairly easy to make It takes a notecard that comes in the Happy Hello SAB kit and turns it into an adorable box.

Isn't it cute?  The box is made using only the items in the Happy Hello Simply Sent Kit.  The best part is that because the kit is a Sale-A-Bration item you can choose it for FREE if you order $50 or more.  :)

To show you how to make this box I filmed a video. 

**Note**  If you are viewing this post in your email you may need to go to my blog to watch the video.  Simply click on the blog post title "Happy Hello Box..." and it should take you to this post. 

As you saw in the video I also made some notecards to go in the box.  The notecards are made using the Patterned Occasions stamp set and several punches.  Patterned Occasions is another SAB offering.  Did you know you can choose 1 item for every $50 you spend?  I love SAB! 

If you watched the video then you know I went a little overboard playing with punches on these cards. My advice, is to pick 2 or 3 and just use those, but it sure was fun playing with all of them. 

Be sure to check out my blog next week and see how I turned this box into a little purse.  Super cute!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North
http://204.228.150.61/SAB2013/


Happy Hello Simply Sent Kit
SAB Item




Patterned Occasions
SAB





Vine Street Embossing Folder
SAB

 

Want to see all the SAB offerings?  Click on the link or on the photo below to see the PDF.  Clicky

 



Miracles Happen

Yesterday I took a break from "chores" and had some fun in my craft room.  :)  I  needed a masculine card and wanted to participate in a challenge or two.  Here's what I came up with.

The sketch from Mojo Monday  was my jumping off point.  I thought it would look great with the bicycle from Feeling Sentimental (SAB). 

Next was the color choice.  Color challenges are often difficult for me to do.  When I saw this week's colors at the ColourQ I was pretty sure they would work for my masculine card, so I decided to give them a try.  They fit well together, and as I was working on it, I almost made a Christmas card too.  Perhaps I will try that another day.  This would make such a nice vintage feeling Christmas card.

Since the card is going to my uncle I wanted to use the sentiment "Miracles Happen" from the Bloomin' Marvelous (SAB) stamp set.  I stamped it before embossing with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  If I had to do it over again I would stamp in Black Staz-On or perhaps Early Espresso Embossing powder instead of Always Artichoke.  The sentiment gets a little bit lost. 

The "ribbon" I used is so fun to play with on masculine cards.  I've even used it in my scrapbooks.  It was pretty easy to fray the edges.  It's adhered to my cardstock with Sticky Strip.

My main image is matted with Always Artichoke cardstock that I cut out using a die I got for Christmas (non-SU) and then popped up using dimensionals.  I like the way the bicycle piece isn't embossed, while the other 2 circles are.  The cherry cobbler strip under the Natural ribbon is distressed using the new distressing tool.  Everything got a little sponging with Crumb Cake and/or Always Artichocke.

It sure was fun getting to spend a little time in my craft room.  Hopefully I will get some more time in there this weekend.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  Sale-A-Bration (SAB) is going on right now!  For  every $50 you spend in my Stampin' UP! store you can choose 1 FREE SAB item!!!!  It's the best time of year to go shopping with SU.  Plus you can still get hostess benefits if your order reaches $150 or more. 





Feeling Sentimental



Miracles Happen




Natural Trim Ribbon



Square Lattice Embossing Folder



2 1/2" Circle Punch



Warmest Wishes

If you read my blog post yesterday you heard my little pity party.  I even mentioned that I needed a sympathy card.  My friend, Louise, must have known I would need some cheering up, because in the mail was this lovely card she made for me.   It was like finding a hug! 

 

Last week she came over and I gave her a one on one card class.  She went home with a few supplies and came up with this beautiful card!  Isn't it pretty?  She even used my favorite design from the Tea For Two DSP.  She's such a sweetie!  

To be honest, when she left I was afraid that I had overwhelmed her with all the options and techniques, but I shouldn't have worried.  Louise, is a wonderful paper crafter and was able to absorb my crazy lesson.  She even used my marker coloring tip on the pretty roses she added to my card and envelope.  LOVE IT!

Great work, Louise!  You're a natural and your card came at the perfect time.  Now, if my receipts would just show up so I can finish doing our taxes.  Oh well, we have until April 15th, right?

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  I'll show you the cards she made last week at a future date.  She was working on some gifts and I didn't want to spoil the surprise.



Tea For Two DSP



Decorative Label Punch



Circle Punch



Tax Woes

I think I need a sympathy card.  I've been working on our taxes.  Owning a small business is nice until you need to add up all those receipts and invoices and figure out where to input them on Turbo Tax.   Ay yi yi!  After working on taxes for 2 days I could sure use some paper therapy though.  It's been 5 days since I was able to make a card/layout.  I'm going through withdrawals.  LOL  Just kidding.  (sort-of) 



Feeling Sentimental

Tomorrow I might just take a break and play with some paper.  Taxes aren't due until April 15th, so I have time.  In the meantime, I didn't want to let another day go by without posting on my blog, so here's a new card for you.  This card was finished a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to get all my Valentine's cards posted, so I haven't shared it yet.

When I first saw this, Feeling Sentimental set in the SAB catalog I wasn't sure what to do with it, so I didn't get it.  A customer asked me about it, so I decided to get it with my second SAB order.  I'm so glad I did!  In using it I realized that you don't need to "do" much with it.  The stamps shine on their own.

 

If you don't like coloring in images, then this set would be perfect for you!  I stamped on Sahara Sand cardstock with Basic Gray ink, then layered with Basic Gray cardstock.  The textured paper you see in the background has been retired.  (sadly... I really like textured paper.)



Basic Gray/Black Two Toned Ribbon


The cute bow was made with our new ribbon.  It's a very nice ribbon to work with and it comes in pink as well.  :) 

It may not have been on my first pre-order, but I'm so glad I added this stamp on my second SAB order.  It's great for almost any age and works well for masculine, as well as feminine cards. 

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Scallop Square Duo



Scallop Oval



Extra Large Oval