You + I + Thank You

The chalkboard technique is so trendy right now.  You can find it anywhere.  I like the look of it and wanted to try it out with some of my new (and old) stamps.

My first thought was to make a card for Operation Write Home.  I think the sentiment above is perfect for OWH, but I'm not sure the button is flat enough. Perhaps I will remove it and put a candy dot or red heart in its place.

What I really need right now for myself is Thank You cards, so I tweaked the center a bit and came up with the card above.   Don't you love a design that will work with almost any sentiment?

To decorate the inside I took the sliver of paper I had cut off from the Hardwood stamped layer on the front of the card and I adhered it to the inside.   I like to have my insides flow with my outsides.

PP177

As I said, this technique is very trendy right now.  :)  It's even the current challenge at The Paper Players.   If you want to see how other people are using this trend, click on the image above and it should take you to their challenge.

If you are wondering "how" to do your own "chalkboard" it couldn't be easier.   Start with a piece of black cardstock, cut it into the shape/size you want it.  Add "chalk" and "chalk dust" with one of the following:
Embossing Powder bag rubbed over the paper
White Craft Ink
White Staz-On Ink
White Embossing Powder
Chalk
White Pencil

See what I mean?  It's all up to you!   For my card I stamped the image from Great Sport in White Craft Ink, then added a layer of white embossing powder over it and heat set it.   Then I took a sponge, dipped it in my craft ink pad and gently rubbed it onto my cardstock to make it look like a used chalkboard.   This was cut out using the Labels Framelits and layered onto a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock that had been stamped with my new Hardwood stamp in White Craft Ink.  It kind-of reminded me of a wood framed chalkboard.  :)

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

SU Supplies Used:
Stamps: Great Sport, Hardwood, Perfect Pennants, A Round Array
Ink: White Craft Ink, Real Red, Basic Black
Cardstcock: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Whisper White
Misc: Silver Baker's Twine, Labels Framelits, Various Punches, Brights Buttons (Retired)

Hardwood

Perfect Pennants

Labels Framelits

Silver Baker's Twine

Elegant Birthday

So many special people celebrate their birthday in September, but the most special of all has to be my mom.  <3  Her birthday is later this week, but I am mailing this card to her today in hopes that she gets it before her birthday this weekend. 

This card didn't start out to be my mom's birthday card.  Actually I planned on making her card using the new label card framelit, but this card turned out so pretty that I wanted my mom to be the one to receive it. 

This card started with the Lacy Brocade embossing on Raspberry Ripple cardstock.  From there I just basically cleaned up my craft table.  I had some doilies, papers and a ribbon flower.  It all came together to make this eclectic focal point.   The real challenge came when I decided to play around with the decorative stitches on my sewing machine.  I broke 2 needles making this card. 

Honestly, that is the second reason I am sending this to my mom.  I put so much time and energy into it that I wanted it to go to someone who would cherish it.  Not that she has to keep the card forever, I never expect that from my cards, but that she will enjoy it and appreciate it for longer that 2 minutes.  :)  Mom's are great that way.  They love what we create simply because we made it.  <3

On the inside you can see the detail on the Apothecary Accents framelit label that I added.  It's from the stamp set Forever With You.  The greeting came from Blooming With Kindness.

Happy Birthday MOM!  I hope my card makes you feel as loved and appreciated as you are.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  When I made this card last week I had no idea that the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder had been discontinued.  Good thing it is on the Clearance Rack right now.  :)  Get it while supplies last.

Card Recipe:
Stamps: A Round Array, Blooming With Kindness, Forever With You
Ink: Basic Grey, Raspberry Ripple
Paper: Birthday Basics DSP, Eastern Elegance DSP, Raspberry Ripple, Smoky Slate, Whisper White
Misc.: Tea Lace Doily, Ribbon Flower (retired), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (retired), Apothecary Accents Framelits, Punches, Basic Rhinestones




Lacy Brocade EF
Clearance-WSL



A Round Array



Forever With You



Sunshine On A Cloudy Day

We have dark grey cloudy skies with showers again today.  I'm probably the only person in the state that isn't complaining about it though because it has knocked down my allergies, and it it's helping me heal.  :)   Besides, I looked at the forecast and it's supposed to be sunny and 80's starting tomorrow.  Could get up in the 90's by the 4th of July.   That's hot for our area.  :)

To bring a little sunshine to those of you who want it I have another card created for this week's Summer Challenge at StampNation.   I believe the challenge was to create a card that makes you think of a sunny day. 

With the card open you can see how the embossed sun is layered on the inside and the flip flops are attatched on the top.  The flip flops are from a local stamping store that is going out of business.  :(  So sad that Cindy is retiring.  (Cindy's Simple Stuff)  She has a great little store and so many creative ideas.   She said she will be doing small events at her home though, so hopefully I will get to stamp with her again.  Cindy was the first person I met when my husband took the job here in Washington.  Her shop was just around the corner from the hotel his company put us in.  I took it as a SIGN that we had heard from God correctly that this little town was where we were supposed to move to.   :)

Her Tuesday Dollar Demos are what finally taught me how to make cards and gave me courage to keep trying and learning.  From there I started watching YouTube and learning more, and taking classes at her shop and learning more and signing up for online clubs and learning more and eventually led me to being a demonstrator with SU so I could buy everything at a discount.  I told my husband that I put her out of business by shopping from home on my Stampin' UP! site and forgetting to go in to her store.  Just kidding.  Her business has been thriving, she is just ready to get her life back after all these years invested in her business.

The sun rays were made with Washi Tape from the new SU Gingham Garden Washi Tape.  When that was done my sun looked pretty empty.  I had made my sun really big, not knowing the sandals were really small.  Soooooooooo, I pulled out the A Round Array stamp set and some punches and added a sentiment.  Then I took some basic rhinestones and scattered them all over the card.   What you can't see is the shimmer mist I sprayed on the embossed sun piece.  It adds a nice sparkle.

When I placed my new catalog order I forgot to include the new Circle Framelits.  Drat.  I cut my big circles using my old Creative Memories CCS, and I didn't have the right size to create the size of sun I wanted.  They were either too small or too big.  It still works, but when I get the new circles from SU I might try this again and get it to a better scale, and it will stand up better on it's own.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



Gingham Garden Washi Tape



A Round Array



Gingham Garden



Circles Collection Framelits