Teacher Gifts - French Foliage

I experimented with stamping on these tumbled tiles for coasters. I found I could use classic ink, coat with clear embossing powder and baked at 250 degree until the powder had set (about 20 minutes). They turned out great and hold up well...definitely expands the color options for stamping on these.

I made a set of four coasters and four note cards as a set to go along with a gift card for teachers gifts this Christmas. The note cards were stamped at the top using a mask to keep a clean line.

Stamps: French Foliage
Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake
Paper:  Old Olive, Whisper White

Thankful card and tag

Stamps: French Foliage
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Two Scoops

This was born from the simple fact that I had access to a friend's Pennant Punch (for the triangle) and wanted to try this out. The ice cream scoops are the cupcake topper from the Cupcake Builder punch. The cherry's also from the same punch.

The polka dots are the Distressed Dot background stamp inked in Versamark and then heat embossed with white powder.

Paper: Night of Navy, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Pennant punch, Cupcake Builder punch,

Thankful Leaves

 I have several fall wedding anniversaries to send cards for which was the inspiration for this one using the French Foliage stamp set.

I also created this "Thanks" tag to use when passing out the orders for the elementary school's fall fundraiser. On the back I itemized what each person ordered and had Reagan sign her name as a thank you for their support.

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Soft Suede
Stamps: French Foliage

A vintage "Thank You'

 This card was created as a group "Thank You" to our General Manager who was moving to a new department. I needed something large enough for 15 people to sign, professional but still artistic. This is an 8 1/2 by 11 sheet folded in half. The challenge was figuring out how to fill this larger space without being cluttered.

 I opted to use layers, texture and embellishments for interest. The medallion stamp is heat embossed, then I ran the newsprint through the big shot for extra embossing. I used a piece of a sponge to pick up traces of Soft Suede ink then blotted it on the newsprint to create a vintage look.

 I realized after I added the ribbon, button and bow that no one could sign the card on the other side of it so I added this "Thanks" heat embossed and attached with black brads to the opposite side.

I had this extra, black button and I really like how it turned out, tied to the ribbon with the hemp string. I also cut away bits of the sides of the striped ribbon and roughed it up some to created a distressed look. This was a fun card to put together and I love the way it turned out.

Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, First Edition Newsprint
Ink: Versamark (for embossing), Soft Suede (for aging)
Stamp: Large Medallion,  
Accessories: Black and White embossing powder, ribbon, hemp, glue dots, black brads

A basic birthday

These Happy Birthday cards were crafted during a recent stamp club get-together. I walked in having no idea what to make and borrowed a friend's pennant punch to play around this was the result.

 I was able to cut and punch out a dozen in two hours and then worked on assembling over a evening of catching up on 'Modern Family' :) I like having some simple, gender neutral birthday cards ready to in my stash.

Paper: Night of Navy, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Twine, Pennant Punch, Dimensionals

All Buttoned Up

I made several of this style to have on hand for a few occasions I had coming up. I love all the "stuff" on it adding dimension and color. The buttons have white thread tied through but are adhered with glue dots. The ribbon is attached with a mini paper clip.

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive
Accessories: Old Olive striped ribbon, Buttons - Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Old Olive

Little Monster's Birthday

This 3x3 card was created as a tag for a 3-year-old's birthday gift. I've seen this idea for making a little monster out of the Owl punch in a few places and had been wanting to play around with it. I also happened to have the googley eyes in my girls' art supplies that I think make this really fun for the kids.

His hands are the Owl's feet that have been trimmed off. I stamped the balloon and then used paper snips to cut it out. It's popped up on dimensionals so the string fits nicely under it.

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Old Olive, Peach Parfait designer series
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive marker
Tools: Owl Punch, paper snips,
Accessories: dimensionals, white baker's twine, google eye

{Friend to Friend}

I started this card originally to hold a Starbucks gift card as a thank you for a friend.  I wanted to try out a water coloring technique using a blender pen on this image. It was fun to do and I love the way it turned out so I made several more!

I stamped the image using Early Espresso and used the blender pen to "water color" the image. The heart was colored in using markers for a more intense color. It's also been cut out and popped up on a dimensional.

This was also my first attempt at "ruffling" the Marina Mist paper scallop. Lesson learned, I'll need to make that piece a bit taller so the ruffle shows up better. In person it adds some texture that's not captured well in the photo.

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Marina Mist
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, A Slice of Life
Ink: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Tools: Scallop punch, paper snips
Accessories: dimensionals, White ribbon, Early Espresso ribbon, basic staple

Thank U

This was a clean and simple thank you note I made for Reagan's birthday. She's not into anything too girly and the theme was sports, quite a challenge. I don't have any sports-themed stamps so I used the background stamp to be playful and tried to use the colors to be child-like but not girly.

I like the effect that rounded corner punch has on this. I just punched out 5 squares and used the rounded corner to give it a little something more.

And a dimensional for the center piece.

Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Crumb Cake
Stamps: Sprinkles, Cute by the Inch
Tools: Rounded corner punch, Square punch, dimensional

Father's Day card texture

These Father's Day cards came together pretty quickly. I made some with capital letters and others with lower case so that when I ran the alphabet die cutter through there wouldn't be any wasted letters.

I used a texture plate to make the diamond pattern on the Basic Grey paper then I attached a piece of clear plastic sheeting over top, attaching it with the silver brads. Our office was clearing out old supplies and I took home a couple boxes of overhead projector sheets. I've been looking for a way to use them and these turned out better than the picture shows.

I got lucky that "grandpa" fit just perfectly.

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Grey, Night of Navy
Accessories: Silver brads, Transparency sheets, texturizing plates, alphabet die cuts

Fourth of July Treats

I had to share these impressive treats my friend and coworker, Kim made for the Fourth of July. The "pops" are Oreo truffles dipped in white chocolate and rolled in sparkly sprinkles. They were delicious. I saw she had posted the tag on Pinterest but pairing it with the coordinating ribbon and colored sprinkles was so sharp. I'll definitely be giving this a try for classroom treats or party favors.

Ms Kuhr's Thank You

I love the way this card turned out and it was a last minute creation for Reagan's Kindergarten teacher and teaching assistant.

Months ago I planned to give them each a Thirty-One tote bag so that's been ordered and wrapped for weeks. Of course I waited until the night before the last day to make the card to go along with their gifts! I found some inspiration on Pinterest and came up with this design.

I got this stamp set with the intention of teacher gifts thinking I have many years of these ahead of me for each of the girls. It has already served me well.

The apple stamp is colored in with markers and punched out then framed with the scalloped squares. I set these up on dimensionals to make them stand out against the patterned back ground.

"A Special Something for a Special Someone" was heat embossed.

Paper: Real Red, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White, DSP Pear Pizazz polka dots
Stamps: Tart and Tangy
Punches: Square, Square Scallop
Accessories: Dimensionals, heat embossing, Certainly Celery and Real Red ribbon

Pink and Grey Elephant

 

Another baby shower card. I cut the base using the scalloped square die. The Basic Grey square is textured using the textured plates. The eyes on the elephants are pearls and the heart the momma is holding was cut out and popped up with dimensionals. 

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Grey and Whisper White

An apple for teacher

For teacher appreciation week at the daycare I had 6 gifts I needed to put together in a short amount of time. I was able to create these cute cards in one evening and tucked a Chick-fil-a gift card inside as their "thank you" gift. The sentiment is heat embossed in white. the old olive band was dry embossed with polka dots and the apple medallion was popped up with dimensionals.

Paper: Crumb Cake, Old Olive and Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Crumb Cake and Old Olive

Baby shower sleeper

I love this little sleeper stamp it's so sweet and fun to color in for a custom look. I made this for my mom to give as a card with her baby shower gift. The sleeper is stamped in Perfect Plumb and colored in with Pretty in Pink and Rose Red markers.

Paper: Perfect Plumb, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Any occassion butterfly

This was a card for my cousin's baby shower. I crumpled and smoothed the First Edition paper for some texture and the butterfly is attached using a dimensional so the wings could be curled up. Inside I created a pocket to hold a gift card for her.

 

Paper: First Edition DSP, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Owl note cards

My owl kick continues...it's also a display of how versatile the same color combination can be. I made two dozen of this style as thank you notes for my cousin's upcoming baby shower, they're an add on to her main gift.

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake
Punches: Build an Owl, Blossom Bouquet Triple Punch
Big Shot: Top Note die

"Owl" be thinking of you

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink DSP
Punch: Build an Owl

A Teacher's Thank You

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Punch: Build an Owl

Treetop Friends Nursery

Inspired by this Treetops Friends nursery set I made this ABC's wall art for my cousin due with her first baby this fall.

Here are some of the details. I was able to find online photos of the suggested decals and art to coordinate with the set and use it for accents inspiration (the mushrooms, apple/orange and bird)

I also tried a more whimsical lettering...not sure yet if that transposes well or if it just looks like I put the letters down crooked :) I also experimented with some patterned paper and texturized some of the letters.

Overall I'm really pleased with how this turned out.
Stamps: Funky Four, Punch Bunch, Tart and Tangy, Cheep Talk

Happy Birthday Owl

This is a birthday card for a friend and my owl punch's first "outing." I wasn't a big fan of the owls when they first start making appearances but it's definitely grown on me.

Paper: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Pretty in Pink designer paper, Crumb Cake
Punches: Build an Owl, Blossom Bouquet Triple Punch (hand cut balloon)
Stamp Sets: Party this Way