Two for One

Today’s post doesn’t contain new cards I’ve made but it does show two of my favorite cards from last year.  They both use the Autumn Harvest stamp set that I still adore.  I’m going to let you look at them before I keep ‘chatting’ about them.

So did you see some similarities?  The obvious one is the stamp set used is the same.  But take another look at the layout.  The layout of the two pumpkins, the leaf, and the gourd are all exactly the same.  The layers are the same: (a) the middle layer has a 1/8" thickness around the main image, (b) the bottom layer has a 1/4" thickness and (c) there is what I term a ‘grounding piece’ on both cards with a simple strip of chocolate chip cs.  They both use sentiments, one off to the corner and the other off to the side.  And they both have something stamped on the background card base.  The main difference is the one embellishment.  The Halloween card has the jack-o-lantern face and the Thanksgiving card has the paper piercing.  And I bet if one was to send both of these cards to a loved one, chances are he/she would be impressed by both and not even realize you’d sent them almost the same card!

The point is, don’t feel like you have to constantly reinvent the wheel.  Take a layout you love and use it and use it and use it and use it!   It doesn’t have to be so similarly matched like these two cards happen to be.  You can choose totally different stamp sets, colors, and embellishments and stick with the same layout over and over again and people will love and appreciate that you’ve taken the time to make them a one of a kind card!

So go grab a card you really like and see if you can’t create another, similar, yet different one and let me know how it goes!!  Feel free to e-mail me pictures and I’ll post them here on my blog!  Happy Stamping everyone.

Combining Old & New

I have this card up on my display board in my Stampin’ Suite and several of my wonderful customers have asked me for the information on this card.  This card is one I made for a swap at my team meeting so I don’t have a write up on it but I’ll do my best to describe it!

The Old:
Stamp Set: Garden Whimsy
Card Stock: Basic Black, Whisper White, NOTE CARD is the base (item # 107311 – It’s a 5" x 3.5" note card)
Ink Pad: Basic Black
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, 1-1/4" circle punch, slit punch to create scallop although now I’d use the new Scallop Edge Punch!, dimensionals

The New:
Card Stock: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP
Ink Pad: Riding Hood Red

I stamped the ladybug in black and punch out with the 1-1/4" circle punch.  Then I stamped the ladybug in Riding Hood Red on scrap white and cut out just the wings and adhered them on.   The Pink Pirouette layer is 1-1/4" x 4-3/4".  The DSP is 1-3/4" x 4-3/4".  The Basic Black layer is 3-3/8" x 4-7/8".  The scallop circle layer is popped up on a dimensional.  And probably the rest you can figure out!  HAPPY STAMPING!  Hope you like it.

Inspired by Nature, again…

So, here’s yet another card using the Inspired by Nature stamp set.  I just love this set!  And I got a few new fun things yesterday so I had to play with those too!  Remember that Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon I loved so much on Dawn’s Upsy Daisy card?  Got it.  And I also got the new large oval punch.  I think this is such a great all occasion card and these daisies were inspired by my neighbor’s daisies – hers really are pink!

This is actually one of the cards members of my Marker club will be making tonight.  Supplies used are:
Stamp Set: Inspired by Nature
Card Stock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Inks: Pads: Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, and Always Artichoke marker
Tools: large oval punch, scallop edge punch, stampin’ sponge, sponge dauber, blender pen, dimensionals
Accessory: Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon

Sept. Scrapbook Club Sneak Peek

Scrapbook Club meeting got postponed one week but I thought I’d share one page of four that they’ll be doing next week.  It uses the Wow Flowers stamp set and the colors are Tempting Turquoise, Rose Red, Regal Rose, and a bit of Old Olive.  The designer paper is a retired one and club members will have the choice to choose a NEW pattern they’d like for their pages.

And since I have an unbelievably cranky one year old right now I guess I’ll attach the picture and move on.

Enjoy!

Name that Stamp Set

Well, this is definitely one of my favorite all time stamp sets.  I haven’t used it in quite a while because it’s retired and I don’t often use retired stuff for classes but I have my all day scrapbooking event at the end of the month and it just seemed PERFECT for this particular layout.  Unfortunately I’m not going to show you the whole layout because, well, people are paying for the layouts at the class.  But, I thought it presented an opportunity to play a fun little game and give away more fun cards!  So, post a comment here on my blog under this post with the name of the stamp set you think it is (remember, it’s retired) by 5 pm on 9/11 and I’ll put the correct answers on random.org to generate a winner.  The winner will receive 4 hand stamped cards all created with retired sets!  Have fun and get playing!

Oh, but I will tell you the colors on here, Riding Hood Red and Bashful Blue cardstock and the new Washington Apple designer series paper.

Winner!

Okay, well all of you are correct!  It is Shapes & Shadows – an oldie but goodie for sure.  And the winner, as generated by random.org:

So, Sarah, be on the lookout in your mailbox for those cards!!  Congrats and thank you for playing ladies!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

1	

Timestamp: 2008-09-12 17:04:38 UTC