Simple Sympathy

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #ThoughtfulThursday  We always need them, but we never want to have to use them--sympathy cards. Over the weekend, I put together a simple sympathy card for today's post and then I found that one of the stalwart members of my congregation passed away after a bout with cancer. It wasn't unexpected, but it's sad for those of us left behind--though we know he will rise again when the Lord returns.

If you need a sympathy card, may I suggest the "Painted Glass" stamp set? You can make a variety of cards with the stamps in the set, but it's my go-to for sympathy cards.

I started by stamping the medallion image in Crumb Cake Ink all over a 3-3/4" by 5" Crumb Cake Card Stock panel. I adhered this to a 4" by 5-1/4" Mossy Meadow Card Stock mat--after I'd cut a scalloped circle from it. I wrapped a length of the linen ribbon from the Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack around these pieces before adhering them to a Crumb Cake Card Stock card base.

Next, I stamped the sentiment from the "Painted Glass" stamp set in Mossy Meadow Ink onto Very Vanilla Card Stock and cut it out with a circle Stitched Shapes Die. I cut a scalloped circle from Crumb Cake Card Stock using one of the Layering Circles Dies and I cut a larger scalloped circle from the Mossy Meadow layer using a larger Layering Circles Die.

I adhered three Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the Mossy Meadow circle and slipped it under the ribbon, adhering it to the card. I adhered the Crumb Cake circle on top and then used Stampin' Dimensiuonals to adhere the sentiment piece.

I finished the card by tying a doubled bow of Mossy Meadow Linen Thread from the Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack around the linen ribbon. I though the card needed just a little more embellishing, so I stamped the leaves from the "Rooted in Nature" stamp set in Crumb Cake Ink onto Vellum Card Stock and cut it out with the matching Nature's Roots Die. I used a Glue Dot to adhere this to the card.

tams# 36498

Product List

Painted Glass Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147461] $18.00	Rooted In Nature Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146482] $42.00	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $7.50	Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad [147111] $7.50
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [120953] $8.75	Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [133676] $8.75	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101650] $9.75	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101856] $10.00
Stitched Shapes Dies [145372] $30.00	Layering Circles Dies [141705] $35.00	Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack [149485] $9.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00
Mini Glue Dots [103683] $5.25

Christmas Cuteness

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #ChristmasInAugust   Oh my goodness! I have the cutest card to show you today! I used the "Merry Moose" stamp set and matching Moose Punch from the upcoming Holiday Catalog. You only have to wait a few more days until the Holiday Catalog goes live to customers on September 1st. And you're gonna want this bundle! Look at this cuteness!

I started by punching the moose out of a sheet of Wrapped in Plaid 6" by 6" Specialty Designer Series Paper. I used mini Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere him to a Whisper White Card Stock Element that I cut with one of the Stitched Nested Labels Dies. I stamped a sentiment from the "Merry Moose" set in Cherry Cobbler Ink at the bottom of the label.

Next, I embossed a 4" by 5-1/4" Shaded Spruce Card Stock panel with the Subtle Embossing Folder. I cut a 1-3/4" by 3-7/8" strip of the same Wrapped in Plaid DSP that I used for the moose and adhered it to a 2" by 4" Cherry Cobbler Card Stock strip. I wrapped a length of the gorgeous Shaded Spruce and Gold Striped Ribbon around this piece and adhered it directly to the embossed Shaded Spruce panel. Then I adhered everything to to a Thick Whisper White Card Stock card base, cut lengthwise.

Finally, I adhered the label to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals and added three gold Metallic Pearls.

This card came together quickly and the end result makes me super happy. I love, love, LOVE this card, don't you?!

 

tams# 36477

Product List

Merry Moose Bundle [153015] $31.50	Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad [147083] $7.50	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $8.25	Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146981] $8.75
Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119685] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Wrapped In Plaid 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [149596] $14.50	Stitched Nested Labels Dies [149638] $35.00
Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143706] $10.00	Shaded Spruce/Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Striped Ribbon [149597] $7.00	Metallic Pearls [146282] $7.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108] $4.00

Pretty in Ombre

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #ProtipTuesday   Did you know that you can use your acrylic blocks for more than just mounting stamps? Did you know that you can also stamp with them? You can! And for today's Protip Tuesday, I'll show you how!

I used the long, thin clear block "I" for this technique, but you can use any block and any colors of ink. I used Petal Pink, Blushing Bride, and Flirty Flamingo Inks for a pink ombre effect. Protip: Work from lightest to darkest inks so that you don't muddy your ink pads. I applied the lightest color ink pad (Petal Pink) right onto the clear block. I applied the next lightest color ink pad (Blushing Bride) to the middle of the block, overlapping the first color slightly. Then, I applied the darkest color ink pad (Flirty Flamingo) to the end of the block, overlapping the middle color slightly. Here's how the block looks with the inks applied.

Next, I spritzed some water onto the block so the colors started to run into each other and I stamped the block directly onto a 3-3/4" by 5" piece of Watercolor Paper. I spritzed the Watercolor Paper with water and let the colors run into each other some more. When I liked what I saw, I set the ink with my Heat Tool...because I'm too impatient to wait for ink to dry naturally!

Once the ink was dry, I put the Watercolor Paper into my Stamparatus and stamped the large flower from the "Good Morning Magnolia" stamp set in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I used the Stamparatus because I knew the nubbly Watercolor Paper wouldn't "take" the ink completely the first time. I was able to just ink up the spots on the stamp that hadn't given me a good image the first (and second) time until I got a nice, bold image. I stamped the sentiment from the same set in the corner of the Watercolor Panel in Tuxedo Black, too.

I adhered the Watercolor panel to a 4" by 5-1/4" Basic Black Card Stock mat and then onto a Blushing Bride Card Stock card base. And that's it! 

I'll share another Protip using the acrylic blocks next week--they're quite versatile!!

tams# 36424

Product List

Good Morning Magnolia Cling Stamp Set [149298] $36.00	Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $7.50	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [147100] $7.50	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad [147052] $7.50
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $6.00	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131198] $8.75	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045] $8.75	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612] $9.00
Clear Block I [118488] $12.00	Stampin' Spritzer [126185] $3.00	Stamparatus [146276] $49.00	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] $30.00

Simply Sweet Birthday

#stampinup   #faithfulinkspirations   #ManicMonday   #simplestamping   Every month, Stampin' Up challenges demonstrators to design cards for the beginning stamper. Those of us who have been stamping for a while are what we call "avid stampers" and that means we pull out all the stops and use all.the.stampin.things.  It's hard for us to step back and create a simply stamped card. It's honestly a challenge. 

Today, in honor of Manic Monday, I'm challenging myself to create a birthday card with the August parameters of just stamps, ink, and paper. I think a two-step stamp set like "Vibrant Vases" works well for this challenge. And I chose a fun color combination!

I started by stamping the scalloped shelf from the "Vibrant Vases" stamp set in Gray Granite Ink onto a 3-3/4" by 5" Whisper White Card Stock panel. Next, I lined up the vase outline stamps on the shelf on the card stock and picked them up with a long acrylic block. I inked them with Gray Granite and stamped all three at once on the shelf. I did the same think with the fill-in design stamps: I lined them up in the outlines of the vases and then picked them up with the long acrylic block. I inked these in So Saffron and stamped all three at once. I stamped the sentiment at the bottom of the panel in Gray Granite Ink, too.

Next, I added the flower stems in Gray Granite Ink. I wiped off the ink from the ends of the stems so they wouldn't stamp into the So Saffron. I then added the So Saffron filler flowers. Are these stamped perfectly? Nope. And that's fine and dandy. I like the off-set stamped images.

I adhered the stamped panel to a 4" by 5-1/4" Gray Granite Card Stock mat and then onto a So Saffron Card Stock card base.

Simple and elegant--a perfect card to make in a hurry on  Manic Monday, or any time you need a quick card.

tams# 36423

Product List

Vibrant Vases Photopolymer Stamp Set [148656] $17.00	Gray Granite Classic Stampin' Pad [147118] $7.50	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [147109] $7.50	So Saffron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [105118] $8.75
Gray Granite 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146983] $8.75	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] $9.75	Stampin' Pierce Mat [126199] $5.00