Stamp with Annette

A Manly Birthday Card

Will was invited to a birthday party recently, and I needed a card quickly. Since he has gotten older, cards for his friends have become more of a challenge for me. The Big Shot helps tremendously, since I can add texture so easily.

Here is my supply list:

Stamps: Bring on the Cake

Card Stock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso Classic

Big Shot: Stripes and Square Lattice Embossing folders

Accessories: Simply Scored Tool, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, Word Window Punch

I didn't take a picture of the inside, but this is actually a gift card holder. That's where the Word Window Punch comes in. Hmmm, sounds like another tutorial is in order. I'll see what I can do.

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

Punch Art Swap

For our group swap last month, we did punch art. It was a busy month for everyone, so I only have three to share with you.

My downline Jessica did this cute Santa pin. She used the Wide Oval, Small Oval, Full Heart, Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1/4" Circle, 1/2" Circle, and Word Window punches.

My sideline Karen did this fun Sesame Street card with the following punches: 1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle, Scallop Circle, Petite Pennant Builder, 1/16" handheld, and corner rounder.

This was my card. I used the Cupcake Builder and Petite Pennants Builder punches for the ice cream cone, and the Modern Label punch for the greeting.

Have a super weekend, everyone! Happy stamping!

Annette

Owl Punch Graduation Card

This was our second card for stamp club this month:

 

I cased this card from Dawn Olchefkse (along with the one I showed you on Monday). I love how just adding a thin strip of card stock behind the owl's eyes makes it look like he's wearing glasses. Not everyone wanted two graduation cards, so this one was easily turned into a birthday card by simply changing the greeting.

This is such a fun way to create a pocket inside your card. The Basic Black is a 4X12 strip, scored at 4" from each end and then diagonally between the score lines. The two brads you see on the inside of the card hold the pocket together.

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

Same Fold, Totally Different Look...

When I was deciding to do the graduation card I showed you yesterday, I realized it was the same pattern that my friend Jessica had used to make a baby card a couple of months ago.

Jessica actually added one more fold than the graduation cap card, but it is the same concept. I love how just changing the colors and papers makes the card look totally different! Jessica used several items from the Occasions Mini Catalog on this card (which are no longer available), but any stamps and papers will work. Love this fun fold!

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

Fun Graduation Card

We did this card at my stamp club this month. It is such a fun fold!

I found the directions for this card on Dawn Olchefske's blog. The Simply Scored Tool and the Diagonal Plate made this card very easy to do. I used different stamp sets on my version. The ballons are from Beary Best Friends (retiring!), The owl is from Fox and Friends (retiring!), and the greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes. The tassel is made with our grosgrain ribbon. How fun is that?!

Have a great Monday! Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

April Stamp Club Project

I am loving the Mixed Bunch stamp set and the coordinating punch! They are in the Occasions Mini Catalog, and though I hope they will be in the new catalog, I don't know for sure. I would hate for you to miss out, so you should order yours today! :-) We used them to make this fun flower pot card:

Cajun Craze card stock made a great terracotta pot. My flowers are Elegant Eggplant, Daffodil Delight, and Perfect Plum, stamped with the Mixed Bunch set and punched out with the Blossom Punch.

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

Occasions Mini Cards

It seems like the Occasions Mini Catalog just arrived, and yet it will be gone in just a couple of weeks! Today I'm sharing two swap cards featuring sets from the mini. This one was stamped by my friend Karen:

The first picture shows the front; the second picture shows the inside. I don't know why the lighting looks so different; I took the pictures at the same time! But the first one shows the true colors. Karen used the Tea Shoppe set from the Occasions Mini.

My downline Barb made this fun card with the You're My Type set. I love the black, red and gray combination.

The Occasions Mini Catalog will be going away in just a couple of weeks! Click here to place your order today, so you don't miss out!

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

Easy, Peasy

I have two super simple, yet beautiful cards for you today. The first is a birthday card that I made:

I stamped with the Circle Circus stamp set in Early Espresso Classic ink on Crumb Cake card stock and then layered on Early Espresso Card Stock. The greeting is from the Bring on the Cake stamp set.

This next card is an invitation to an anniversary party:

The lighting is horrible in this picture, but I used Basic Gray and vellum card stocks. I printed the wording out on my computer and ran the vellum through the Big Shot with the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder. I used two glue dots, hidden behind the embossed flowers, to hold the vellum to the Basic Gray card stock. Here is another view:

The colors actually look better in this picture. Things always look better in person! This turned out to be a simply elegant invitation - just what I was going for.

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

Featuring DSP

Last month our group swap featured Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper. We were to use our favorite paper on our cards. Here are a couple of the swap cards that I got:

This wonderful baby card was done by my friend Jessica. It features the Nursery Nest papers and the Packed for Baby stamp.

This bright, sunshiney card by my friend Karen features the Summer Smooches paper (a special this month that will be in the new catalog!) and the Mixed Bunch stamp set and coordinating punch.

This was my card:

I used the Mocha Morning Specialty papers and the Kindness Matters stamp set.

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette

A Guy Card

Do you struggle with cards for guys? I do. Always have. Maybe always will. When I think of guy cards, these are some of the things that come to mind:

• neutral or bold colors
• stripes (not circles or dots)
• crisp, square corners (not rounded corners)
• metal (brads, clips, eyelets, etc.)
• no ribbon or fibers (twine would be the exception)

Some of these things I heard from a male demonstrator one year at convention; some are just my own ideas of what a guy card should be.

I needed a guy card last week (like, yesterday!), so I grabbed my go-to stamp set for masculine projects: Lovely as a Tree.

You might notice: stripes, brads, neutral colors, no ribbon. It says masculine to me. Of course, it could be for a girl, too, as it is quite lovely. :-)

Stamps: Lovely As a Tree
Card Stock: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, brads-neutrals, Stampin' Dimensionals

Happy stamping, everyone!

Annette