You Are Amazing!

Everyone should hear these words at some point.  Yesterday one of my friends said this to me on Facebook and it warmed my heart.  It truly did.  :)   Today's challenge at StampNation is to create a children's birthday card.  What better time to tell a child they are amazing than on their birthday?  Especially if mom or dad makes them read their cards out loud.

My main image was colored using Raspberry Ripple and Bermuda Bay Markers.  I like coloring my stamps with markers to get more than one color on them, especially when the stamps are big like this one is. 

For some reason I felt like using a staple on this card.  When using staples in cards and scrapbooking was popular a few years ago I often found ways to include them in my projects, but my little stapler has been sitting lonely in my crop bag for some time now.  I decided to pull in out and I love what it added to this card.  Sometimes it's the little details that make the card.

Making birthday cards for kids is fun.  Take the challenge and make a card for someone young or young at heart.  I would love to see what you make for this challenge.

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Blue Ribbon, You're Amazing
Paper: Birthday Basics DSP, Raspberry Ripple CS, Very Vanilla CS
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Raspberry Ripple
Misc.: Bermuda Bay Taffeta Ribbon, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Circle Punch



Birthday Basics



Blue Ribbon



You're Amazing



Birthday Girl

Making cards for young kids is so much fun.  Bright colors and fun images are great for these types of cards.

For my card today I pulled out some retired paper, fun buttons from the local craft store, a new punch and my Apothecary Accents framelits.  Whose the kid now?  Yes, I had fun playing!  I feel like a kid playing with her favorite toys every time I go in my hobby room.  :)

For the main image I used markers to color the stamp.  It's a great way to add multiple colors to your stamped image.  To get the Tempting Turquoise pieces I punched out the new Artisan Label punch and cut it in half, then adhered each half to the top and bottom of my label.   I think it adds a great punch of color.  (no pun intended)

 Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: You're Amazing,
Paper: Ice Cream Parlor (Retired-on Clearance WSL!), Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
Misc: Artisan Label Punch, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Buttons (Craft Store), Baker's Twine



Ice Cream Parlor Kit
WSL




Artisan Label Punch



More Monday

Here are a couple more of the cards I made at a recent stamp camp.  It was fun playing with some stuff I don't own...yet.  ;)

This stamp set is for the Ronald McDonald Charity house.  A portion ($3) from each stamp sold sold goes directly to this wonderful organization.   The stamp set was so fun to work with.  I really need to bump this one up on my wish list before it's gone.

I even stamped the inside of the card and the envelope because I thought those flowers were so cute. 

I have everything I need to recreate this card at home.   Wouldn't it make a great birthday card for a guy of any age?  

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Sale-A-Bration ends in 4 DAYS!!!!  Make sure you place your order before it's over.   Once those items are gone you might not ever see them again. 



Moving Forward
 



You're Amazing



Happy Birthday Hot Air Balloon ~ TSOT#73

Two posts in one day!  Oh my!  Well, when the cards are this easy to make then I suppose it's alright.  :)  Plus, I wanted to get in on the Try Stampin' On Tuesday challenge before it ends tonight.  I really do like their challenges, and try to do every one of them, even if I don't get to them by their deadline.   That's the beauty of sketches, they don't really have a time limit, but the challenges do, so let's get to my picture.  

Can you see that reflection outside the window?  It's SUN!  Yes, we actually have sunshine and warm weather here in SW Washington.   :)  We've actually gotten up into the low 80's for the past 3 days.  That has to be a record.  lol.   Thankfully it cools down into the 50's at night.  Now that is what I call the perfect summer weather.

The stamped images are popped up using dimensionals. 




Try Stampin' On Tuesday #73

As you can see the sketch uses a bow, I used a knot instead because I wanted to be able to give this card to a boy or girl, and the bow looked too feminine.  I also added a strip behind the circles because they got lost in the background paper.

That's the other beauty of sketches.  You can take the basic elements and then tweak them to make them your own.  :)

One last picture, because I want to show you what was going on in the next window.

I think he wanted to see what I was taking a picture of outside.  :)  

Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Blue Ribbon, You're Amazing
Paper: World Spectacular DSP, Island Indigo, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler




World Spectacular DSP



Blue Ribbon

You're Amazing

Birthday Winner ~ Video

You may remember this card from earlier in the week.  Today's video will show you how I decorated the inside.

When kids reach a certain age, it starts making more sense to give them money than toys/games.  Especially when they aren't sure what they already have.   It's always GREAT to receive money, but I wanted to give it in a fun way.  I think I found my new favorite way to give $$$ in a card!

***Note*** If you are viewing this post in an email, you may need to go to my blog to see the video.

One thing I would change if I were to do this again, is I would try using Dimensionals instead of Sticky Strip, so that there would be more room for the money to slide in and out. 

You could play around with different punches and see what works best with the style of your card.  I think the Decorative Label Punch would be fabulous!

One last tip for today, include a BIG Candy Bar, pack of gum or box of candy when you give money or gift cards.  It's fun to give and it feels like you get something tangible.  

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



You're Amazing

Ticket Duo Punch

World Spectacular DSP



Scallop Circle Punch

Circle Punch

Birthday Boy ~ Retro Sketches #17

You can never have too many birthday cards in your stockpile.  I made this card yesterday so that I would have a card on hand for the next birthday party my sons would be invited too.  2 hours later my son was invited to a birthday party.  :)  

Retro Sketchs #17

Each week I enjoy making a card using Retro Sketches, but I often don't make it in top to link it up.  This week, I did!  :) 

The main image is stamped using Black Staz-On onto watercolor paper.  Then I used an aquapainter and markers to "paint" the elephant. 

Instead of punching out a circle, I used a button.  Since my son will be handing it to his friend at the party, I figured the bulkiness wouldn't matter.

**** UPDATE: I have a video in THIS POST of what I did on the inside.  FUN fun!!! ***
Creative Blessings,
Heather North

Stamps: You're Amazing
Paper: World Spectacular DSP, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight
Misc.: Corner Rounder, Cherry Cobbler Button, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

You're Amazing

World Spectacular DSP

Baker's Twine

Designer Buttons, Regals

You're Amazing... Dad

I'm blessed to be married to a wonderful man who happens to be the father of my children.  :)  He's not only a wonderful husband, but he is also an amazing dad.  I wanted his Father's Day card to reflect that.  Here is what I came up with.



Yes, I have (finally) been having fun with my box of goodies that arrived last week.   It was fun to choose my FREE stamp sets and paper packs.  :)

 I've been looking at my favorite blog sites whenever I get a free moment, and so far I haven't seen many Masculine Father's Day type card to draw inspiration from. :(  It's a shame because I think the sets I just got are perfect for anyone, but especially the guys.  I finally decided that I would just open up my new box and start playing.  :)  Turns out it was EASY to create MASCULINE cards with my new stuff!!!

The baker's twine adds a nice touch without being super feminine.  The button brad is retired, but I thought it would be perfect on my card.  (If you want a similar look and don't have the brads you can punch out your DSP with a 1/2" circle punch and cover with Crystal Effects.  When it dries it will be shiny and glossy.) 

As you can see I also had fun with the new Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies.  I embossed my main image with Black Embossing Powder onto both Whisper White and Island Indigo paper.  I couldn't decide which one I wanted so I went with both.  I cut off the ends of the Island Indigo piece so that it would fit better on my card.  Then I layered those pieces onto Basic Black cardstock, punched the corners with the ticket corner punch (retired) and wrapped some Bakers Twine around it.

So far this card could go to any Amazing person in your life.  The inside is where my kids will write their message to their dear dad.

One last look at today's card.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Creative Blessings,
Heather North



You're Amazing Stamp Set



World Spectacular DSP

Apothecary Accents Framelits

Baker's Twine

Other Products Used: (mostly for inside of card)
Stamps: You Are Loved, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: 2011-2013 DSP Patterns Stack
Misc.: Versamark, Black Embossing Powder, Dimensionals, Basic Black & Whisper White Cardstock, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Decorative Label Punch, XL Oval Punch