Sunburst Sayings for Graduation

May is here and so is GRADUATION.  I have some great ideas for you to say congratulations to friends and family in a very sparkly way!

I told you these cards sparkled!  There's lots of bling going on here to celebrate the big day!

The first card is the one I shared the other day that I made for my Dad's birthday.  I patterned the others after this one, just changed up the sentiments.



On this one I used a retired set from last year, Hooray it's Your Day.  This particular sentiment really fit the bill for what I needed.



The final card has another retired sentiment.  I used Perfect Pairings, it has a great bold "Congrats" in the set that says it all!



All three cards have the same design, just different sayings.  This is an easy template for any type of event you need.  Just change up the greeting and add as much bling as you like!

Speaking of bling, I've been working on my card set for the May Mini Session from Create with Connie and Mary.



I am using NEW products and can't wait to share all the cards with you!  Stay tuned for a sneak peek for this month's session, it's on it's way!  We are using all NEW PRODUCTS from the upcoming catalog.  Trust me, you are going to LOVE everything about this new catalog, I have a wish list a mile long!!  So, go check out all the details about the MAY MINI SESSION at Create with Connie and Mary, I hope you'll join us!

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Botanical Blooms

Do you over think things??  And stress yourself out??  Sometimes I am guilty of that very thing when it comes to making cards.  That's one of the reasons I am so in love with the whole CLEAN AND SIMPLE card design.  Simple can be beautiful!

The first time I sat down with the BOTANICAL BLOOMS stamp set and coordinating BOTANICAL BUILDER FRAMELITS, my mind was BLANK with a capital B.  I had seen so many great ideas already that I didn't know where to go with it!  THEN I took a breath and said "keep it simple!"

Today I have a great example of simple cards made with this gorgeous bundle.  I hope it inspires you!



Just because it's a floral set doesn't mean it is completely a "girly" stamp set.  The leaves are so beautiful and can easily take center stage!



All the cards are monochromatic with Mossy Meadow ink for the sentiment and the background.  The gorgeous giant leaf on this card both makes a statement and blends in.



Once you have a design you like, USE IT!  Change things up a little but use the same basic design that works for you.  For these 3x3 cards, I simple changed the sentiments using PERFECT PAIRINGS and flipped the design elements to the other side.  A couple of simple changes, yet it gives you a new look!



SO.  Are you ready to give this stamp set a new look??  It's a very versatile set when you look at it in a new light!  Give the masculine side a try like I did!!  In fact, for the MARCH MINI SESSION from Create with Connie and Mary, I did a card set with the BOTANICAL BLOOMS Bundle that I think you'll really enjoy!  I made some beautiful girly cards and threw in a masculine one as a twist.  I also added a BONUS CARD IDEA by showing you how to change the masculine card into a feminine one with just a few additions.  ARE YOU READY TO JOIN THE FUN??  Head over to CREATE WITH CONNIE AND MARY for all the details, I hope you'll join us!



To buy the BOTANICAL BLOOMS BUNDLE and give these fun 3x3 cards a try, click on the picture below to visit my stamping store!

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Masculine Botanical Blooms

Let's take a break from Birthday Blooms today and look at a masculine version of BOTANICAL BLOOMS that I made.



Using just the leaves from the set gives a distinct masculine feel when combined with the right paper and sentiment.



I went with a sentiment from PERFECT PAIRINGS in the Sale-a-bration Catalog in Early Espresso. I paired it with neutral colors and paper from the GOING PLACES designer paper stack.  I also added in a little paper piercing since that was part of the challenge for this card for the March CREATIVE CREW on Splitcoaststampers.



For the March Mini Session from Create with Connie and Mary I also gave an idea for making a masculine card.  I made a card set with BOTANICAL BLOOMS that I think you'll really enjoy!  To find out more about subscribing to the MARCH MINI SESSION, just visit Create with Connie and Mary!

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Bring on the Bling!

Welcome to another Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop!  This week we are all about the BLING!



Honestly, I wasn't sure where to start!!  So, I sat down and do what I normally do when ideas are slim, I look through my designer paper and what I have on my desk.  This time around, the COTTAGE GREETINGS CARD KIT  stood out to me since it has sequins and silver in it.



This is an idea that struck me as I looked at the paper.  Do heat embossing directly on the paper with a big, bold sentiment.  And what could be better for big and bold than BOTANICALS FOR YOU.



Since the card has silver all over it, the sentiment needed to stand out.  So, in comes black embossing powder and a ginormous greeting.  I also thought doing a juxtaposition would be cool so that's how the black paper with silver embossing came about.



And of course since we are all about bling, I had to add lots of SEQUINS!  And with this card being from the COTTAGE GREETINGS CARD KIT, I needed the envelope that was included as this is a square card.  The silver liner was the final addition of bling.  And here's a little tip~~ cut down the liner since you can't see the bottom!  I cut off three inches from the bottom and tucked it away for another day!

Now for the good stuff...the supply list so you can make your own card!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Botanicals for You

INKS:  Versamark

PAPER:  Cottage Greetings Card Kit, Basic Black

ACCESSORIES:  Black embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat tool, metallic sequins, sequins from Cottage Greetings Card Kit, Tombow multipurpose adhesive, SNAIL, paper snips,

The February Mini Session from Create with Connie and Mary is live!  Have you subscribed yet??  We have five AWESOME tutorials for you featuring sets from the Occasions Catalog.



Sets featured in February are:

• What I Love


• Easter Lamb


• Balloon Celebrations


• Party Wishes


• Playful Pals

If you haven't subscribed yet, be sure to check out the details at Create with Connie and Mary.  Did you purchase the 2-month VALENTINE BONUS SPECIAL in January??  If you did, the password was included in your Welcome Letter.

Now it’s time to check out what the rest of the Design Team has for us today, I know it will all be amazing!  Click Previous to visit the very talented Mary Brown and Next to see the very talented Debbie Henderson.



Thanks for hopping with us, we love inspiring you!  Happy Stamping!





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Valentines

Welcome to the CREATION STATION BLOG HOP!  This month we are all about VALENTINES!! The big day is less than two weeks away so you've come to the right place.  The blog hop is full of fabulous ideas so make sure you visit all of them!!

I was so excited to order new supplies that I didn't think about Valentine's Day being around the corner....so no Valentine sets (sad face).  BUT WAIT!  I know there are others out there that did the same, so I am giving you a couple of Valentines using everyday stamps.



This first card was so much fun to make!  If you look closely at the background, you can see the bokeh effect which is a favorite technique of mine.  It gives such a lovely soft look that's perfect for a sky scene.



A couple of vellum clouds added in give more interest without overtaking the plane.  And of course since it's a Valentine, I had to add some hearts!  This just goes to show you how versatile SKY IS THE LIMIT really is!  The variety of greetings really makes this one a gem and must have!!



Now, how about one that's clean and simple??  I used a Sale-a-bration set that is another must have...HELLO.



How is that for simple!  I love the giant HELLO in this set, it's just so darn useful!  I was able to add in another stamp set and create a beautiful Valentine.



The swirly "love" from HELLO LIFE fit just right below "hello".  It turned out just as I pictured it!  A few RED GLIMMER hearts and voila' a Valentine!



I hope I inspired you to use your everyday stamps for Valentines today!  Now it’s time to move on and see more favorites from the very talented ladies in this group.  Up next is Julie and I can’t wait to see what’s she’s made!  Be sure to hop all the way around, I know you’ll want to see all of the fabulous ideas!

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Hello Lavender

Welcome to another Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop!  This week we are celebrating Sale-a-bration with TAGS!



We could choose anything from the Sale-a-bration catalog to make the tag with, so I went to my favorite set HELLO.



Did you notice that I actually featured TWO Sale-a-bration sets on this tag??  Yep, I added in the gorgeous FLOWERING FIELDS set as well!  I am a HUGE fan of lavender, so that's the first thing that popped out when I saw this set.  And how nice is a big hello and lavender??  Very for me!!



As I designed this tag, I encountered the dilemma of the "hello" being so ginormous.  How in the world do you fit a greeting like that on a 2" wide tag??  Well, you get inventive and add a ginormous Wisteria Wonder banner to hold that greeting!  And to make it stand out even more, I heat embossed it in white and added bling.

Then, I needed a great way to use this beautiful tag.  I don't have any lavender right now to give away, so I thought a card would be a great way to share it.



Soft Sky with a Basic Black card base really make the softer colors POP!  And I couldn't give just a plain Soft Sky.  Embossed butterflies give a lovely background and match beautifully with the flowers!

OK, let's get to the nitty gritty.....the Supply List!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Hello, Flowering Fields

INKS:  Archival Black, VersaMark

PAPER:  Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky, Basic Black

ACCESSORIES:  Scalloped Tag Topper Punch, Banner Triple Punch, Fluttering Embossing Folder, 5/8" Organza Ribbon, Wisteria Wonder Marker (to color the ribbon as well as the flowers), Handheld Stapler, Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Metallic Sequin Assortment, dimensionals, SNAIL, fine tip glue pen, paper snips, paper trimmer

Now it’s time to check out what the rest of the Design Team has for us today, I know it will all be amazing!  Click Previous to visit the very talented Mary Brown and Next to see the very talented Debbie Henderson.



Thanks for hopping with us, we love inspiring you!  Happy Stamping!



 

Flowering Fields

Welcome to another Create with Connie and Mary Saturday Blog Hop!  This week we are all about VELLUM.



Vellum is a very versatile material to work with.  I use it for shakers, stamping and embellishment.  For today's card, I used it to stamp a field of flowers.

I love the soft background the vellum gives to the flowers.

The main reasons I wanted to stamp the flowers on vellum was the ability to color them beautifully with markers.  The surface lets the marker glide and add bright color without streaking.  Just make sure you let your initial outline stamping dry before adding color, then allow that to dry as well!  Trust me, your finger prints will be all over this if you don't!!

Now let's get to the good stuff, the supply list!

SUPPLIES:

STAMPS: Flowering Field, Cottage Greetings

INKS:  Archival Black

MARKERS: Garden Green, Daffodil Delight

PAPER:  Whisper White, Cucumber Crush, Botanical Gardens DSP, Vellum

ACCESSORIES:  Octagon Punch (banner end), Cherry on Top Designer Washi Tape, Handheld Stapler, SNAIL, paper snips, paper trimmer

 

Now it’s time to check out what the rest of the Design Team has for us today, I know it will all be amazing!  Click Previous to visit the very talented Mary Brown and Next to see the very talented Debbie Henderson.



Thanks for hopping with us, we love inspiring you!  Happy Stamping!