Vintage Valentine | Bits & Bops

Hi friends!

As promised this will be my last Valentine's Day card for 2019.   Ooh that was difficult to say!  But if I'm going to get these cards out in time, I have to bring this theme to a close (she smiles).

I think we are all feeling the deep freeze to some degree (no pun intended) and it's no exception here in Charleston.  So on Sunday afternoon I decided to get cozy and craft!   I love, love, love 50's vintage Valentine's Day cards, do you?   And when I find vintage looking designer paper that I can cut apart - I do!   I also keep little file boxes of left over die cuts, ephemera, and little bits and bops!  It's so much fun to open these boxes of treasures and search around for something that strikes my fancy - do you do that?

Piling up affection for you, Valentine!

The boxes hold die cut frames, ovals, circles, rectangles, stripes, you name it...   I had enough goodies in the Valentine box I was able to create a card without a lot of fuss - something that sounded good on Sunday afternoon.   My focal point is a little girl building a sand castle on the beach - very vintage 50's looking.  I found a frame cut from designer paper with the words Love written across it - check!  I did cut the base frame from the Penny Black Stamps, Lovely Border #51-484 die in red card stock.  I also used Shades #51-055 to die cut a tag that I placed behind the frame.  All were placed on the Lovely Border frame.   I few sparkly hearts cut using, Rose for You, from Simon Says Stamp and I was done!   Did you notice the pretty "Love" postage stamp?  It's a nice finish if you have stamps to coordinate with your cards.  It's all in the presentation!

Are you piling up affection for anyone this Valentine's Day?

Try this easy peasy way of creating your next card!

Thank you as always for your sweet visits.

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Valentine's Day |LOVE U | Die Cutting

Hi friends!

I'm sharing another card today using those sweet blooms, Desert Bouquet, Mini Modern Blooms, K-01 Beautiful Blooms (I'm sorry I think these sets may have been discontinued), from MFTstamps.   Any small flower sets you may have will work.  I also used one of my favorite heart dies, Sketched Hearts, from Simon Says Stamp.  This is such a great die because it really is a three for one die.  Two hearts attached, plus a small heart all in one!  I cut the die twice, once from Raspberry Fizz card stock, and once from mirrored gold card stock to compliment the die cut letters, LOVE U from Papertrey Ink Block Alphabet Upper Die collection

My background panel dry embossed from Papertrey Ink Damask Designs Impression Plate provides texture, while the circle, cut from a basic nested circle die provides dimension and a place for your flower spray to sit.  The sweet sketched heart die sits perfectly at the bottom of the circle.

I have several more Valentine's Day cards for you next week.  I think that will be the last of them for this year.  Time to get them in the mail.  I hope you've enjoyed our time together.  And I'll see you back next time.   A special thank you to Michelle Leone from Papertrey Ink and all the inspiration she provided with her adorable card, Fiesta, Like There's No Manana!

Simon Says Stamp | Wednesday Challenge | Have a Heart

Hello again!

Playing along with Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Have a Heart.   Create a love themed card using MFTs stamps and/or dies that are being featured this week.   This is a fun challenge because I can use a number of stamps and dies if I choose.  And, I'm in luck because I do have some MFTstamps   So today I featuring a card with Heart!

Building dimension without bulk begins with dry embossing on white card stock using an embossing folder with plenty of hearts (winking).  A pretty heart cut in the center using Concord & 9th Layers of Love die   Next, I have backed the white panel with a soft blush card stock and stamped that beautiful scripted sentiment, I Love Us, from Penny Black Stamps, Forever & Always #30-401

I used several floral sets from MFtstamps but I'm afraid they are retired now.   But you can use any small floral sets you have to create these little bouquets.   I backed them with dimensional adhesives and popped them up on each side of the heart.  The addition of tiny flat jewels in some of the flower center, and black flat enamel dots provides additional dimension, color, and plenty of style while still keeping a nice clean look.

I'll have another card using these sweet flower bouquets created with MFTs petite blooms soon.

Until next time

Come. Sit. Stay awhile...

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Papertrey Ink | Make it Monday #348 Lottsa Letters

Hi everyone!

Grey skies and rain can really bring out the flowers and color in our craft rooms as we dream of springtime.  With the cold weather bearing down that's exactly what I've been doing!   Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday #348 Lottsa Letters has inspired me to play along with their challenge

I have to admit that I was smitten with Michelle Leone's card, Fiesta, Like There's No Manana!   The vibrant color just jumped off the page!   You know that old song, "I'm a little bit country, you're a little bit rock n' roll?"   Well... I think my color palette is a little bit spring, and a little bit Easter (laughing).  I cut my letters from Papertrey Ink Card Stock with Block Alphabet Upper and placed them in a whimsical way across my panel cut with Mix & Mat: Scalloped Die

And don't you love it when a plan comes together?   Don't Forget to Write is a favorite and a Market Kit that I use sparingly because I don't want to use it all up.  I remembered the florals - perfect! 

If grey skies are in your forecast pull out your florals and die cut letters -- blue skies will be in your future before you know it!

Until next time

Come. Sit. Stay awhile, I think we're going to be friends!

Sincerely,

Susie ~

Background Techniques

Hello friends!

Happy New Year!  I have taken a little break to catch my breath after the holidays, but I'm back and looking forward to sharing several cards with you today.

We are all inspired by our favorite card designers aren't we?   We look, study, practice, and fall in love with the different styles and techniques.   Today I'd like to share a card and technique that inspired me.   If you have been following me on my blog or on Instagram, Facebook, or Flickr, you know that I created a card not long ago using the smallest stamps in the beautiful set from Penny Black Stamps, Space Reserved #30-353 here.    The card was created by using the smaller stamps in the set as a background for the focal image.

Today, I'd like to share another card using Penny Black stamps and dies to create a custom background with text and images.   I was inspired by Laurie Schmidlin's card here.   I've been following Laurie for as long as I have been stamping and always learn something new.

I'm still in Valentine mode and love this holiday more than most I think (she smiles).  So I have taken Laurie's lead but with a twist in theme.

Products used: 80-011; 30-269; 30-216; 30-162; 51-440; 51-458

I've used text and images to create my custom background by stamping in a light ink the word, Love, from the stamp set, So Very Much #30-269 across my card panel which was cut using the die set, Elegant Stitching #51-440   Next, I stamped the little bouquet from Special Day #30-216  and the smallest rose from Eloquence #30-162 each time with a little darker ink.  This begins to build up the dimension without distracting from the focal image.

My focal point is the lovely Paper Scroll #51-458 cut twice; once from cards stock and the second time from vellum.  The sentiment is stamped and embossed using the set, So Very Much #30-269    It's always helpful when a designer shares her tips, so I'd like to share one of mine.  Don't over look your stamp sets AND your designer papers for items you may not have i.e., I didn't have any small blooms or bouquets other than what I had stamped in my background panel.  So I reached for my Penny Black designer paper pads and looked for small floral arrangements.   Beau Jardins #80-011 had just what I was looking for and in the color palette I needed.  I did a little fussy cutting as-well-as cutting a butterfly from the Paper Scroll die set #51-458 in gold mirrored paper.   All three elements balance and give the all important triad when designing.    The background panel is edged with a gold leafed pen (my favorite) that gives such an elegant touch.    A soft sentimental way to say, I Love you so very much!


And speaking of sentimental!  The first card I created when I began stamping was with a Penny Black wood mounted stamp called, Reach for the Stars #4078K  boy was I nervous!  It was a first all the way around - a card and a first blog post!   I have cherished this stamp from the moment I found it at a garage sale, and recently purchased a new wood mounted sentiment stamp, For the Stars #4075F to go along with my image.   So I think it fitting to close with this sweet little ballerina who is getting some assistance from her woodland friends.   What are you hopes and dreams for 2019?   Just remember to give thanks in between -  because it's never to late to reach for the stars!

Come. Sit. Stay awhile.  I think we're going to be friends!