Simple & Quick Card

From Adriel:

Picture this: You need a card... like NOW! What do you do?

• You cut a piece of Night of Navy CS to 5-1/2"W x 8-1/2"L and score lengthwise @ 4-1/4" and fold in half. You're halfway there... okay, bad pun... sorry! =)
• You round the corners of your card base.
• You run a piece of 5-1/4" x 4" Sahara Sand CS through your Big Shot machine with the lattice embossing folder. You round the corners of this piece.
• You adhere this to the front of your card.
• You find a scrap of texture brown CS... maybe it's Soft Suede? You're not sure what color it is or if it is even Stampin' Up! CS... it doesn't matter... you've got enough to send through the Big Shot machine with the Little Leaves die.
• You find a scrap of Whisper White CS and stamp "a little something" from the Matchbox Messages stamp set in Night of Navy ink, which you then punch out with (I think) a 1-3/8" circle punch.
• You adhere the "mystery brown" Little Leaves die cut to the front of the card.
• You attach your punched circle sentiment using a dimensional to the front of the card.
• Of course, you don't want this looking like you whipped it up in like 5 minutes or something, so you add a couple of brads.

Your card now looks something like this!

And that took, what, 5 minutes? Okay, 6 minutes with the brads.
It is completely possible to make a decent looking card in under 10 minutes!
I've gotta admit that the Big Shot makes this possible, for me anyway.
The texture just adds that "umph" that would be missing if it wasn't there.

(This story is based on actual events. Names have been omitted to protect identity... who am I kidding?)

Hope your week is getting off to a great start! Thanks for visiting! =)

Masking with Die Cuts

From Adriel:

I designed the cards for this month's card classes with a focus on masking, particularly using die-cuts. Many of us have at least one of the popular die-cutting machines. We personally own the Sizzix Big Shot and enjoy using the special dies that are available exclusively through Stampin' Up!. The fact is, none of the die-cutting machines are cheap and finding new ways to use them is a great way to get more bang for your buck! So I wanted to focus on using die-cuts in our masked cards class to give you more options for using your die-cutting machine. Each card employs a different technique on applying the ink to get that masked image, so we're also showing how to get different looks when masking with your die-cuts. A description of each card is below!

Elegant Top Note Card

This card uses the popular Top Note die as a mask. Stamping using the beautiful Fifth Avenue Floral set, along with sponging creates a beautiful frame around the die-cut. A large trimmed flower, a simple stamped sentiment and a lovely cluster of pearls adds just the right amount of extra to the card without taking away from the masking.

Delightful Floral Card

This card combines the combination of brand new colors from Stampin' Up! along with a special floral background using a die cut flower and sponging. The two-tone sponging adds depth to the flowers and the background created is beautiful in itself. A simple stamped and punched sentiment along with some elegant satin ribbon gives the finish that complements the beautiful masking. I was inspired by Dawn's video tutorial for this masking technique.

Butterly Flourish Card

Butterflies are very popular in crafts lately and they get incorporated into this lovely card. Butterfly die-cuts create a mask over the cardstock, which gets a spray of shimmer mist, creating a sparkly background to the sweet butterflies. Stamped images from Vintage Vogue complete the elegant look of this card.

You can purchase the directions for all 3 cards for $5 using the button below. A PDF will be sent to you within 48 hours of purchase.

You can purchase a kit for this class for $12 (which includes S&H) using the button below. Kit will include the pre-cut/scored/punched card stock, die-cut masks, ribbon, and pearls for 3 cards, 1 of each of the designs. You will need your own adhesive, stamps, ink, and shimmer mist. (Because of the angel policy for Stampin' Up!, we cannot pre-stamp for kits we sell.) Kits will be mailed in 1-2 days of purchase and should be received within 1 week. Kits are available only while supplies last.

Let us know what you think about this month's cards and the kit! We'd love your feedback! =)

Summer Watermelon Card

From Adriel:

Okay, I'm sure my mom has shown this card to you all already, but just in case she didn't, or just in case you missed it, here's is a super cute handmade summer watermelon card that my mom created that is just so cute! I love it!

Pssst... I just added it to our shop, so if you want it, come and get it by clicking HERE. =)

My Friday feels like a Saturday today. My husband took the day off of work, the kids got their school for the week done yesterday and I took a nap this morning. We all need a day like that, right? =)

Hope you're having a great day! Friday is one of my favorite days, whether my husband has the day off or not, because the next day starts the weekend. So happy Friday to all of you! =)

Two Happy Stampers' Weekend Find

Happy weekend to all of you!

I've spent part of my Saturday looking at fun ideas on the internet. I wanted to share this cute video I watched for a gift card holder using the scallop envelope die for the Big Shot. We've got one of these!! Yay! Can't wait to try this idea... feeling like creating today, and of course it would be the day that I'm not at my mom's (where all of the stamping stuff is). Oh well... sometimes that's how it goes. Anyway, enjoy the video and have a great rest of the weekend! =)

Patterned Pines Gift Card Holder-video

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Elegant Favor Box

From Adriel:

I usually can move my pictures around, but Blogger has been acting up on me lately, namely with pictures, and the picture is stuck at the top of this post. (I don't know why I feel the need to explain the placement of the photo, but I just do). I made this box using my Matchbox die for the Big Shot. I also used a stamp from the Matchbox Messages set. My daughter, Kayla, likes to make these little boxes. She's becoming quite the stamper and paper crafter!

Speaking of my daughter, she was fine the day after her day of being sick with the flu. We prayed for her and I really believe the Lord touched her body and helped her get well quickly. She was pretty sick on Saturday, with vomiting a few times in the early AM and not eating very much for the entire day and just sitting with the fever & chills and a stomach ache. She was not herself at all, as she is very energetic and perky and cheerful most of the time. Sunday she was hungry and was back to herself. I was surprised at such a quick recovery. I thanked the Lord with her Sunday evening. =) I know that God's answer is sometimes "no" and we don't always understand and He is still worthy of our praise and worship. But sometimes His answer is "yes" and I just wanted to give God the credit and glory He deserves. God is a good God, no matter what His answer is. =)

Fun with Embossing

From Adriel:

I saw a card on SplitCoast a couple of weeks ago and loved it! Click HERE to see the card I CASEd.


As you can see, I pretty much copied it almost exactly!! I loved it, like I said! HA! =D
I'm still getting used to my Big Shot and when I did this, I didn't get a very good impression with the embossing plates. I have since learned that if you put a couple more layers in the sandwich, the impression is much better, and I have tried it and it does work! =)

After looking at my first card, I decided it would make more sense to have a butterfly on flowers, so I used my Birds & Blooms Sizzlet dies to make flowers and then embossed them.



I made the butterfly by folding card stock in half and cutting out the shape and unfolding it and then applying pastels onto it. I adhered it to the card with a glue dot. =)

Anway, enjoyed myself! =D

Simple Thank You Card (using my Big Shot)

From Adriel:


Even though I'm out of town until Friday, I thought I would schedule a couple of posts this week so that the responsibility of the blog doesn't fall on my mom. She is taking care of my kids this week, along with getting ready to go on a trip of her own next week, so she doesn't need anything extra to worry about!


I thought I would share a simple thank you card I made recently using my Big Shot. Actually, almost everything on this card is made using the Big Shot (except for the small flower in the middle of the larger and the stamped sentiment).



I needed some thank you cards for my recent birthday, so I made a couple of these up. Very simple, and although it took me longer than it should have (because I was debating and planning and creating as I went along), this would be a pretty fast card to make. =)


I used:


Fundamental Phrases set (this really is fundamental and comes in handy so often!)

Sahara Sand CS
Baja Breeze CS
Ruby Red CS
So Saffron CS (or Barely Banana... can't remember which)
Whisper White CS

Ruby Red Stampin' Write marker (my ink pad was dry)

Sizzix Big Shot
Matchbox die
Daisies Flower #2 die
Scallop Circle #2 die
Backgrounds 1 Texturz plates


What is funny is a day or two after I made this, Kristina Werner posted her color inspiration challenge. All the colors I used here were used except for the Ruby Red! =)

Have a wonderful day!!