Sending Good Thoughts + Spotlight Stamping

A couple of weeks ago I received this sweet card on the left from my friend, Kristie, for my birthday.  Immediately I knew I had to CASE it.

Her family recently moved to a new a state, so I thought it would be fun to use the arrow punch and turn it upside down to look like a house.

It is such a simple technique with a great impact.  Thank you, Kristie!  I cherish you even more than your card.  <3


Stamps: Perfect Pennants (Stampin' UP!)
Ink: Bermuda Bay (SU), Black (Staz-On)
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White (SU)
Accessories: Banner Framelits, What's Up Punch (SU); Twine (Doodlebug)

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

Stitched Heart

My favorite shape has to be a heart.  Now that my boys are grown I don't need very many Valentine's projects, but I still love using hearts.  My solution is to add them to a thank you note. :)  (or birthday or get well or any other card I can)

This card was inspired by two challenges.  The current Dazzling Divas challenge is to use stitching on your card.   I did that with "faux" stitching on a stamp from Wplus9.   Isn't it darling?

DD#6

The little heart next to my sentiment is cut from my AALD Metal sheet.   I think the other side is purple or pink, but once again I colored the silver side red with my Copics.  I seriously need to order those metal sheets in more colors, but the Copic markers do work ok in a pinch.

My second inspiration came from Seize the Sketch.   Even though the challenge is closed I wanted to give credit where credit is due.   It's almost like the sketch was made for this stamp.

STS#10

The inside was stamped as well.  I've been asked to show my insides more, so here it is.  :)

I would still like to make a card using my sewing machine for this challenge.   If I get it done before the challenge at Dazzling Divas ends I will share it with you.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

P.S.  Even though most of these stamp sets aren't new they are all new to me.   

Stamps: Banner Love (Wplus9), Perfect Pennants, Express Yourself (Hostess), Best of Greetings (Inside)

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red, R59 & R29 (Copic)

Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, DSP(retired), Whisper White

Misc: Add A Little Dazzle Metal Sheets, Burlap Ribbon