Monday, July 29, 2013

Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge 164 - Creative Inspiration With a Friend

Pin It Now! I was honored to make this week's challenge with my best crafty friend JoAnn. Although we live 537 miles apart from each other most of the time now, when I come back to visit - I come prepared!!!  She's never done a card challenge before, but after explaining what it's all about, we got to work!  Here's the photo inspiration:
Such a cute photo, right?  Wow!  For my card, I used the stack of books, and the black shoes as inspiration, as well as the strawberry colored skirt hem for the bottom of the black banner.
Jo liked the striped feel of the books, and turned that shape on its side.  She chose Baked Brown Sugar as her card base to match the suitcase she's sitting on, and the crochet trim matches the gravel below.  I love her card, and I love how differently two people can create from an identical start!

It's so relaxing to spend quiet time with someone who shares the same zeal for papercrafting as I do.  I've been blessed lately to meet some new people back home that I'm creating with. But Jo is the friend who always knew when I was crafting because she could see my light on across the yard :) Tonight is just like old times.
What inspiration will you find in this week's photo challenge?  Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments. Play along and check out the other designers' projects!  
SUPPLY LIST:
STAMPS:  Happy Day, Six Sided Sampler
INK:  Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, White Embossing
PAPER:  Time For Tea, In-color Designer Series Stack, Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black
EMBELLISHMENTS: Strawberry Slush Stretch Ruffle Trim, Crochet Trim, Basic Rhinestones, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, In-Color Boutique Details

Monday, July 22, 2013

Sweet Birthday Flip Flop Cards - Ustamp With Dawn & Friends!

Pin It Now! Here’s a fun “Cool Move” suite that I created for the latest Ustamp With Dawn & Friends event, Cards With Cool Moves 2013.

This set features the Flip Flop, or "Flip It" fold.  I created a tutorial showcasing two different ways to make the flip flop - one traditional squares, and an extra fancy one with Framelits.  Fresh new In-Colors - Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana and Baked Brown Sugar - make these as fresh as cool summer popsicles!

My tutorial provides step by step directions for each card, including measurements, tips and tricks, and full color photos all along the way.  You can find my project, along with over 40 more fabulous sets, each showcasing a different moving card, by clicking here:

Membership is a one time fee of $24.95 and gives you all-access to the .PDF tutorials, chats, prizes, and photo galleries. Lots of crafty fun!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Vintage Inspired Wiper Card - HSS164 Sketch

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This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments, we have a sketch to play with.  With trendy hexagon shapes along one side, I couldn’t wait to get started!  

I pulled out lots of new supplies that I haven’t had the chance to use yet…it’s been a busy couple of weeks!  Paper, stamps, my hex punch, and new embellishments, including Chevron Ribbon and the dainty Very Vintage buttons.  With all these supplies in a pile, I knew I would need A LOT of real estate on this card. So I made a “wiper card”. Front, back, sides, and even the inside are decorated with bright colors and patterns.

The patterned paper came from two stacks, the Etcetera and Afternoon Picnic DSPs. Hex shapes were hand cut from a sheet of Afternoon Picnic, and the cute vintage ad on the front was cut from Etcetera.  They both feature Pear Pizzazz, so they blend well!

The front panel uses our sketch at HSS…I turned it on its side.

The “wiper” appears when the card is pulled open from the right and left ends, and “hello, sweet friend” appears.  I love cards with surprises, and I can’t wait to give this one away!

I thought it needed a little space for writing, so the back side is stamped with the new Post Card stamp.

So there you have it, patterns and pop ups all ‘round. Come on over to the Hand Stamped Sentiments blog & see what all the other ladies have created with this fresh sketch!

The Wiper Card was a technique recently posted at the Ustamp With Dawn & Friends Cards With Cool Moves event, and it was so easy to create with the tutorial that Melissa Stout put together.  You can check it out here if you’re
interested.




SUPPLIES:
STAMPS:  Six Sided Sampler, Post Card
INK:  Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black, Baked Brown Sugar (for distressing edges)
PAPER:  Afternoon Picnic, Etcetera, Pear Pizzazz, Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry
EMBELLISHMENTS:  ¾” Chevron Ribbon in Pear Pizzazz, Very Vintage Designer Buttons, Hexagon Punch, Basic Rhinestone, Pear Pizzazz Baker’s Twine

Have a blessed and creative day!  ~ Erika

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Lovely Romance Triple Easel Cards - Ustamp With Dawn & Friends!

Pin It Now! Here’s a fun “Cool Move” suite that I created for the latest Ustamp With Dawn & Friends event, Cards With Cool Moves 2013.

This set features the Triple Easel fold.  These differ from traditional triple easels, though…one is made with varying styles of Framelits (using Chalk Talk Framelits dies).  The other is a staggered rectangular triple easel - each easel is a different size, made to fit the embellishments on each one perfectly!

My tutorial provides step by step directions for each card, including measurements, tips and tricks, and full color photos all along the way.  You can find my project, along with over 40 more fabulous sets, each showcasing a different moving card, by clicking here:

Membership to the site gives you all-access to the .PDF tutorials, chats, prizes, and photo galleries.  Lots of crafty fun!







Monday, July 1, 2013

HSS163 - Pop Up Card With Brand Spankin New Colors!

Pin It Now! Hand Stamped Sentiments has a beautiful color combo to play with this week!  A palette of sherbet inspired colors.  I used a tutorial for a fun pop up card by Ilina Crouse that was created for UStamp With Dawn and Friends Cards With Cool Moves 2013. I love cards that have a surprise factor, so I couldn't wait to try this one!

From the outside, just a pretty cardfront...
 Then when opened...

 Reveals a sweet little box of flowers!  Awwww.
The colors worked perfectly for this card, and for once I was not particularly "challenged" by this challenge!  I plan to use this card template for lots of different themes.  Ilina used "Crazy Love" from the new catalog, and I can see Christmas, Halloween, etc. for inside the box.  So cute!  I will be designing a couple of tutorials for this event as well, so stay tuned ;)

Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and join in the challenge! You have two weeks to play around with the color combo, and I'd love to see what you come up with.

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS:  Kind & Cozy, Gingham Wheel
INK:  Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding, Daffodil Delight
PAPER:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, In-Color 2013-2015 DSP Stack, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
EMBELLISHMENTS:  In-Color Boutique Details, Crisp Cantaloupe Stretch Ruffle Trim, Daffodil Delight Grosgrain Stitched Ribbon, Basic Pearls
PUNCHES:  Itty Bitty Punches (flower), Scallop Trim Border Punch
Got Fancy Folds? Join the exclusive event for access to
over 40 full color tutorials, all featuring cards with moving
and grooving parts!  $24.95 membership. 


Baby's First Birthday - Lollipop Card {How To}

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Just a little quickie today, a card made to celebrate the first birthday of a sweet little daughter of a friend. My childhood friend came to visit this week, and we sat to make this together. My favorite time with friends is either in the kitchen or the craft room :)
HOW TO DO IT!  The lolly is super easy to make.  Punch coordinating circles with a circle punch, mine is a 1-1/4".  Layer them, overlapping slightly, onto a scrap circle of paper.  It helps to mark your middle point first, so all the circles are perfectly placed.  When you come around far enough that you meet the first circles, begin tucking the new circles behind them.  I tacked them in place lightly with Snail, and then glued them down tight with Tombo Multi glue when I was happy with the placement.  Add your details, and a lolly stick - HINT - I get my lollies from the bank, and cut off the sticks!  LOL
The center medallion is made by scoring a 3/4" x 10" strip of DSP in 1/8" increments. 
Most of the supplies used to make this card are retired stash - the Subtles DSP Paper Stack, Sweet Cakes and Patterned Party Stamp sets, and Pretty in Pink CS.  I made a few extra to customize for special occasions, like I did with this one.  The inside was typed up with a matching font from the front...
Have a blessed and creative day!  ~ Erika