Quick Card - Truly Rest

Today I wanted to share with you a very quick set of cards I made, using images and stamps from Unity Stamp CompanyFor this card, I used the Truly Rest image and sentiment.

To make this card, I cut strips of blue cardstock into 12 x 3 inch strips. I then stamped 3 images onto each strip, using VersaMark and heat embossed the entire strip using Nuvo Embossing Powder in Classic Gold. I like to assembly line out my cards when possible and this was a great way to do so. I was able to stamp, then sprinkle, then heat emboss 3 images at a time this way.

I then trimmed my images into 2.75 x 2.75 inch squares and inked the edges in both a light and dark blue, smudging the corners for an additional distressed look. I then trimmed a piece of patterned paper into 3 x 3 inch squares, and a piece of green solid card stock into a 3.25 x 3.25 inch square, then matted my image.

I then selected two different patterns of washi tape, one in a blue and green chevron and one in blue polka dots. I placed one piece of the wider chevron washi tape at the top of a yellow 3.75 x 5 inch piece of card stock, and two strips of the thinner polka dot washi below it, leaving very little space in between.
Using blue dye ink, I stamped the sentiment onto my yellow card stock. I then placed my matted image at an angle atop my washi tape. I glued that piece onto a 5.25 x 4 inch piece of patterned paper and adhered it to my 5.5 x 4.25 inch craft card base. I placed 3 dots of Nuvo Crystal Drops in Midnight Blue.

If you haven't checked out the Nuvo line, you can shop at So Suzy Stamps for a wide variety of embossing powders, Glitter Drops, and Crystal Drops.

I kept the inside of my card simple. I matted a piece of white cardstock measuring 3.75 x 5 inches onto a piece of solid green card stock measuring 5.25 x 4 inches.

Using a bit of an assembly line, I was able to make 9 cards (2 sets for my Etsy shop at 1 for charity) within about 90 mins. I did let the Crystal Drops dry over night before packaging them.

These cards remind me of the hope Spring brings and I feel both serenity and cheer when I look at them! Let me know what they make you feel!

So Suzy Stamps Guest Designer - Wedding Season

Hey Everyone! This is my last submission as Guest Designer. I appreciate all of the kind comments and encouragement from all of you and hope you found some inspiration in the cards I’ve shared.

To wrap up, I thought we could start thinking about wedding season, which will be in full swing before we know it. I’ll be featuring three cards I made using the Bride and Groom image paired with the Just Married arrow stamp.

For each of my cards, I used Versa-Fine black ink. I find it to be the boldest and crispest statement that provides excellent coverage without bleeding, no matter what paper stock I use. Even with the Versa-Fine, I still used my MISTI and stamped each image multiple times to ensure bold coverage. I then positioned the sentiment stamp above the image and stamped it in the same.

Each was adorned with Faber Castell Texture Gems but you could use Liquid Pearls or the new Nuvo Crystal Drops which would be stunning.

Here’s my first card.

I colored the brides dress in gold Wink of Stella. Look at that shine.

I then decorated the swirls with dots of Texture Gems. The image was mounted onto gold glitter card stock and onto a white card base. I added a few drops of the Texture Gems to the tails of the sentiment.

For my second card, I followed the same process, this time covering my card base in vellum featuring gold hearts. I layered an ivory and gold ribbon over the vellum and adhered a lovely gem I had in my embelly stash. I used fewer Texture Gems on the swirls, and adorned the ends of my sentiment as I did on the first card.

For my last card, I switched up my gold Texture Gems for white. 

The consistency was a bit different and a bit thicker. 

At first I was worried about seeing a bit of a dollop or point to my dots, but they dried

giving that nice rounded dot.

I covered my card base in pink glitter paper and gold mirror paper. 

I colored the bride’s bouquet in both dark and light pink Wink of Stella 

and my sentiment in gold and pink Wink of Stella.

I then wrapped a gold striped ribbon across the bottom for some added bling.

This stamp provides many opportunities to customize your card to suit the wedding colors 

of the couple you will present it to. 

Play around and have some fun!

So Suzy Stamps Guest Designer - Elegance

Hello Everyone! While you’re reading this, I’m freezing my tush off in Minnesota! I hope you’re all keeping warm!

This week I’ll be sharing three cards I made using the dress form stamps as well as some glitter embossing powder, PearlEx, and lotsa bling! I hope you like them!

For my first card, I used the Dress Form Set. I stamped it in light grey, twice across the card front, trimming the edges so I wouldn’t have a half dress form hanging off the edge of my card. I then stamped the Elegance sentiment in black Versa-fine ink. I adhered a strip of grey and white polka dot ribbon around my white card front. I mounted my card front onto grey card textured card stock, then onto a black and white damask print patterned paper and onto a white card base. I tied a bow with another piece of the polka dot ribbon and adhered it to the front, then attached three rows of pearls. Quick and simple with a lot of elegance, just like the stamp says!

For my next card, I used each of the dress form stamps and aligned them using my MISTI then individually stamped them in a rainbow of colors using Distress Ink.

I then used Versa-Mark to stamp the BE sentiment and heat embossed it using glitter embossing powder. I used the stitched rectangles die to give some texture to my boarder then inked the edges. I mounted it on purple shimmering card stock then inked those edges as well. Then I mounted it to a white card base. Just look at the shine!

For my final card of the week, I broke out my PearlEx. These are the same as Perfect Pearls, but come in a larger variety of colors for a cheaper price. For this card, I used Dress Form 2 – Simple Swirl and the Confidence is Sexy sentiment stamp.

I ran a piece of black card stock through my embossing machine, again using the stitched rectangle die cut. I stamped my image and sentiment in Versa-Mark and layered on various colors of PearlEx using a standard paint brush. I then misted a little water over the surface to set to PearlEx. I mounted the card front onto my purple shimmery card stock then onto a white card base. I adhered a few gems to help fill the space above the sentiment. I always struggle with my bling placement, but try to stick to the rule of using an odd number based on a blog post I read forever ago about how the brain reacts to odd or even numbers of things. What is your rule for bling? Share it in the comments!

So Suzy Stamps Guest Designer - A card for all Seasons

Hello Everyone! I hope you had a fabulous week!

Things were very busy around here! I got a last minute invitation to attend an Anime/Martial Arts exhibition and although I didn’t feel that my cards were a good fit for the venue, sales greatly exceeded my expectation. Not only did I sell out of an entire line of cards that I wasn’t even advertising, but I picked up a custom order as well. You never know when you’ll be in the right place at the right time to make that sale! Plus it’s always good to get out of our comfort zones from time to time!

Let’s get to this week’s cards! I’ll be featuring a bunch of different stamps I used to make Spring, Summer and Fall themed cards and hope you like what you see!

For my first card, I cut three strips of white paper measuring 4 x 1.5 inches. I then used the Bride and Groom stamp set on the corner of my strips and stamped just the swirl from the bride’s dress in Dusty Concord, Cracked Pistachio, and Mermaid Lagoon Distress inks. I stamped Butterfly 3 in the same colors and ran them through my Scan N Cut.

I then mounted my strips onto a piece of dark pink card stock and stamped the Small Merci in Picked Raspberry Distress Ink and adhered the piece to my white card base.

I used a few pop dots to give my butterflies flight. I adorned them with a single white pearl from Hero Arts and added a row of pearls to underline my sentiment. I love the Spring Feeling this card gives!

My next card for the week has a Summertime feel. I again cut three strips of paper but this time I used the Wedding Dress stamp to create my swirls. I stamped them in Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, and Chipped Sapphire. I then stamped the Daisy Doodle in the same colors and blinged them with some clear rhinestones. I used the Bonjour stamp for my sentiment in Chipped Sapphire.

I adhered the three strips, light to dark, on a piece of patterned paper, then mounted them to a solid blue piece of card stock and onto my card base. Leaving a small boarder around each. I used pop dots to adhere my flowers and voilà!

   

For my last card of the week, I bring you a Fall inspired card. Fall feels like a lifetime away, but the colors are lovely and the options in Suzy’s shop for Autumn theme stamps are as abundant as the leaves on the trees!

For this card, I stamped my three white card strips in Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, and Festive Berries Distress Ink using the Blowing Leaves stamp. I stamped the Line Leaf 1 images in the same colors and used my Scan N Cut to cut them out. I then stamped the Autumn sentiment in Festive Berries.

I adhered my card strips to a green embossed leafy patterned paper and onto a white card base. Leaves were popped up with foam dots.

I’d love to see your take on this layout using your So Suzy Stamps and the new line of Ink Bites!

So Suzy Stamps Guest Designer - Tulip Love

I had the pleasure of being a Guest Designer over at the So Suzy Stamps blog. Here's one of the designs I shared.

Suzy has an amazing range of stamps in her shop that work so well for romantic themed cards. My favorite are the Paris themed stamps. The sentiments are beautifully scripted and replace apostrophes with hearts, and who doesn’t love hearts!

For each of the cards I’ll show you today, I used the Tulip Stem stamp.

The first card features the Mon Amour stamp. I love this stamp with the O replaced with a heart. The size is great and the script is beautiful!

To make this card, I simply cut a piece of white card stock, inked the stem up in both Shabby Shutters and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink and the flower and sentiment in Victorian Velvet. I used 100 lb card stock which did tend to bleed a little with the distress inks but I think it lends itself to a softer, more romantic sort of stenciled or airbrushed look. I then matted my white card stock on two shades of pink and adhered it to a white card base.

For my next card, I paired the Tulip Stem with the J’Adore sentiment. I stamped my stem in Mowed Lawn and the bottom half of my flower in Festive Berries Distress Ink and the top in Worn Lipstick. It gave it a nice Ombre effect. I then stamped the sentiment in Festive Berries.

I mounted my image on a distressed red card stock, then onto another deeper red card stock, and further distressed the edges using a sanding block. I then mounted it onto a white card base, keeping a 1/8 inch boarder.

What’s a So Suzy card without some snark? For my last card, I again used the Tulip stamp and this time paired it with the Common Sense stamp from the Snarky section of the shop.

I again stamped my stem in Shabby Shutters Distress Ink and used both Seedless Preserves and Milled Lavender. I then stamped the sentiment in Seedless Preserves and mounted it to dark purple card stock onto a lavender base card.

If you haven’t picked up the Tulip Stem stamp be sure to do it right away! It’s so beautiful and makes a lovely focal point for cards of any occasion. I hope you enjoyed the clean and simple cards this week and I’ll see you again next week featuring another set of cards! 

You can pick these up at Suzy's shop in Bloomfield NM or check my Etsy shop for a similar design.