THE ROAD AHEAD

My last Covered in Sunshine card for this week uses the same sentiment as my Simply Monday card.  I thought it was appropriate to start and end the week with a sentiment that draws our attention to the road ahead.

Spring is a favorite time of year for me as it feels full of hope and renewal.  And when we have hope, we tend to think about what the future may hold for our "ROAD AHEAD".

If you are wondering which "designer series paper (DSP)" I used behind the wildflower die cuts, I didn't use DSP.  I made the design using my favorite technique, Shaving Cream!  The shaving cream technique always makes unique and pretty backgrounds.  And the fun part is that no two ever look the same.

If you are unfamiliar with the Shaving Cream Technique, here is a video I made several months ago that shows you how to do it.  It is so much fun!

The sentiment is heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder and to make some of the words in the sentiment stand out, I also heat embossed those on three of the colors that were in the Shaving Cream background.  I then snipped them out with my Paper Snips and adhered them to the sentiment with dimensionals.

My "Wildflowers" were die cut with two of the dies from Harvest Dies.  Again, colors from the Shaving Cream Background were used.

The pattern on the Basic White card front was made with the Stitched Greenery Die.  I feel like this is a bit of a "sleeper" die -- at least it was for me.  I've had it for several months, but never got around to using it until recently.  I love the subtle look it adds to a card.  My mom would have said, "It just does something to it"!  I agree with her.  It's subtle, but it does add just a little something to jazz the card up a bit.

When I make a Technique Sheet of any kind, I usually try to make it larger than the finished size I want.  That way I have leftover "scraps" to decorate the inside of my card and sometimes even enough to decorate the envelope.  

If you would like to make this card, please download the free tutorial at this link.  It provides cutting dimensions and step-by-step instructions.  But if you have any questions, please just ask!  I'm here to help you with all your crafting needs.

A list of the Stampin' Up! Products that were used in this card are listed below.  If you decide to purchase any of the products, don't forget to use the April Host Code.  You will be entered into a drawing to receive a small gift from me!

Product List

Covered In Sunshine Cling Stamp Set (English) [160726]	Stitched Greenery Die [155451]	Harvest Dies [156504]	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197]
Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146987]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146986]	Mango Melody 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146989]
Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101910]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131156]	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [147164]
Mango Melody Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [147162]	Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [147163]	3/8" (1 Cm) Gorgeous Grape Sheer Ribbon [154572]	Basics Embossing Powders [155554]
Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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DAINTY FLOWERS WITH BASIC BORDERS

For my Friday card, I have combined the Dainty flowers with the Basic Border Dies.

This particular border makes a zig-zag border that reminds me a bit of Rick-Rack.  

I first covered by Thick Basic White card base with one of the subtle background designs from the Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper collection.  This one is Blushing Bride, and I think it makes a quick and easy way to make a pretty feminine card.

The greenery was made with one die cut vine which I cut in half to make the leaves.  Two stems for two of the flowers were also die cut with the stem dies from Dainty Delight Dies.

The underlayment for the flower on the right was die cut from Basic White and then colored with Pear Pizzaz and Blushing Bride using my blending brush.  The three flowers were also cut from Basic White and colored with both Blushing Bride and Polished pink using my blending brush.  I left some white on each flower which seemed to add a softness to the flowers.

A Polished Pink Bow and some Polished Pink Opal Rounds added a bit more femininity to the card front.

The front sentiment, also from the Dainty Delight stamp set, was die cut with a perfectly sized die from Harvest Dies.

For the inside of the card, I used another floral stamp from Dainty Delight.  The sentiments are from Happy Labels and Celebrating You.  The Blushing Bride mat adds the finishing touch.

If you would like a tutorial for today's card, you can download a free copy at this link.

All products used for today's card are listed below.

Product List

Dainty Delight Bundle (English) [160675]	Celebrating You Cling Stamp Set (English) [158028]	Happy Labels Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [160856]	Harvest Dies [156504]
Basic Borders Dies [155558]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131198]
Pear Pizzazz 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131201]	Dainty Flowers 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [160834]	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad [147100]	Polished Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [155712]
Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad [149165]	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [147104]	Polished Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [155520]	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154885]
Polished Pink 3/8" (1 Cm) Open Weave Ribbon [155714]	2021 2023 In Color Opal Rounds [159185]	Small Blending Brushes [160518]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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CHRISTMAS IN JULY WITH RINGED WITH NATURE

It's July and that means it is time for me to get busy making Christmas cards.  If I don't start now, I'll be scrambling to get them done at the last minute, and I've learned the hard way that that is not fun!  So, you will start seeing more Christmas Cards from me on a regular basis for the next few months.  

I like to try to challenge myself once and a while to use a "non-Christmas" set to make a Christmas card.  But I didn't have to do that today because the Ringed with Nature Bundle includes a couple of stamps that are Christmas stamps.

Today's card uses the small Poinsettia included in this stamp set.  I combined it with another of the designs from the Rings of Love Designer Series Paper that is a Sale-A-Bration item that can be selected for free with a $50 order.

This basic card layout (or variations of it) with two rectangles and a circle is a layout that I use frequently.  Today the circle was made with the largest tree ring die cut created with the Tree Rings Hybrid Embossing folder.  The Tree Ring made a great foundation to lay my three poinsettias on.  

The Mint Macaron leaves and twigs tucked behind the poinsettias were also die cut with dies included in the Hybrid Embossing Folder.  This set includes a total of sixteen dies, -- six of which work inside the embossing folder!  If you have never tried a Hybrid Embossing folder this may be one to consider.  For more details on what is included in the Ringed with Nature Bundle, click on the link in the Product list below and you will be able to see all the items that are included.

For the inside of the card, I double matted the Basic White panel with a Poppy Parade and Mint Macaron cardstock.

The Poinsettia was stamped in the lower corner and then masked.  With the mask in place, I stamped a few leaves with Mint Macaron.  The sentiment from Inspired Thoughts was stamped with Mint Macaron.  If you don't have the Inspired Thought set, check it out in the product list below.  It is a versatile set and has sentiments for many occasions, including Christmas.

If you have never used a mask, here are a couple of helpful hints:

1. Use masking paper, Post-it notes, or lightweight paper (like copy paper) to make your mask. The latter will require a temporary adhesive.

2. The image that you want to be in front is the image you mask. 

3. After you stamp the image on the paper, fussy cut it along the edge of the image (or even slightly inside).  This ensures there is not a white gap between the "front" and "rear" images. 

I hope you find these hints helpful.  If you have any questions, please ask.  I'm here to help!

If you would like a tutorial for today's card, please use this link to download a free copy.

All products used on today's card are shown in the Product List below.

 

Product List

Ringed With Nature Bundle (English) [159889]	Inspired Thoughts Cling Stamp Set [155536]	Harvest Dies [156504]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Poppy Parade 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [119793]
Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337]	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [115318]	Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [120953]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Rings Of Love 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [159939]
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [147106]	Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Pad [147050]	Timber 3 D Embossing Folder [156406]	Wintry 3 D Embossing Folders [155433]	Fine Sparkle Adhesive Backed Gems [159967]
Paper Snips [103579]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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