SENDING A SNAPDRAGON HELLO

The Sending Smiles stamp set has one flower stamp in it that reminds me of Snapdragon flowers-- at least I think that is what those tall skinny flowers are called.

I decided to team up the Snapdragons with the Fancy Flora Designer Series Paper (DSP).

Besides my friendly Color Coach, I find using designer series paper for my color inspiration an excellent way to figure out color combinations.  This Fancy Flora DSP has interesting patterns that look like brushstrokes made with very thick paint, and it is abundant with color choices.  The design I chose for the background includes Balmy Blue, Gray Graphite, Night of Navy, Orchid Oasis, Calypso Coral, Petal Pink, and additional shades of those colors.  

I chose Basic Gray for my card base and added a layer of Night of Navy behind the designer series paper.  Before adhering the DSP, I ran it through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine with the Stitched Greenery Die.

Initially I started my stamping by stamping the single stem/leaves stamp several times across the bottom of the Basic White cardstock, but then when I went to add the flowers on top of each stem, I learned my spacing did not work well -- at all!  So, I scrapped that piece and started again by stamping the flowers first.  This worked much better!  It was easier to determine the best spacing and height variation for the flowers when I stamped them first.  It was then simple to add the stem/leaf below each flower.  To complete the bottom edge, I filled in with a few more leaves using the leaf-only stamp from the set.

The die cut Night of Navy Sending script and a sentiment below it were added to the card front.  Several Brushed Brass butterflies fliting around the Snapdragons completed the card front.

A single strip of the same Fancy Flora designer series paper added a bit of color to finish the inside of the card base.

If you would like a tutorial with all cutting dimensions and step-by-step directions, you can download a copy by using this link.

A list of the products used on today's card is shown below.  Click on any image to learn more about that product.

Product List

Sending Smiles Bundle (English) [158707]	Stitched Greenery Die [155451]	Basic Gray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121044]	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Fancy Flora 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [160413]	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [147104]	Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108]
Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101]	Orchid Oasis Classic Stampin' Pad [159214]	Brushed Brass Butterflies [158136]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

Add All to Cart

SENDING BIRTHDAY WISHES

I have a beautiful card to share with you today.

The background for this card was made using the Faux Porcelain Technique that my friend and Connect to Create collaborator, Kathi, shared with us recently.

I had never done this technique before, and I love it.  Kathi showed us cards made with Photo Paper and Pearlescent Specialty Paper.  I decided to use the Pearlescent Specialty Paper for my card, but now I can't wait to try the technique with Photo Paper, too.

If you missed the Faux Porcelain Connect to Create video, you can watch it here.

To make my Faux Porcelain background I used Polished Pink ink.  Because Polished Pink is a very bright color, I was a little concerned that the color may be too intense, but it turned out to be a very pale pink, and I love it!

Because the C Specialty Paper is an off-white color, I chose to use Very Vanilla cardstock for my card base and the flowers.  Polished Pink is one of the 21 - 23 In-Colors, so it will only be around through April.  I love how each of the In-Color families are designed to coordinate with each color.  That made it easy to choose which green to use for my leaves and my mat.  The 21 - 23 family of colors includes two wonderful greens, Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen.  I chose to use the "softer" Soft Succulent green to provide a contrast to the more intense Polished Pink color.

What do you think?  Isn't this a beautiful card?  I can't wait to send it to someone special!

For the inside of the card, I stamped a single flower stem and used a Birthday Greeting from Sunny Sentiments.

If you would like a tutorial with step-by-step directions, you can download a copy at this link.

Don't forget to watch the Connect to Create video to learn how to do the Faux Porcelain technique.  You'll be surprised how easy it is!

For more information on the products I used, you can click on any of the images in the following Product List.

Product List

Sending Smiles Bundle (English) [158707]	Sunny Sentiments Cling Stamp Set (English) [155034]	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [144237]	Soft Succulent 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [155776]
Pearlescent Specialty Paper [154291]	Polished Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [155712]	Soft Succulent Classic Stampin' Pad [155778]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114]
Pretty Flowers Embossing Folder [155428]	Polished Pink 3/8" (1 Cm) Open Weave Ribbon [155714]	2021–2023 In Color Jewels [155571]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

Add All to Cart

Today Stampin' Up has released several new products that are available for purchase.   These products are exclusively available on-line.  Visit my Stampin' Up! store to view all the new products.

I have a flyer that includes just a portion of the new products that are being introduced, and if you would like to view this flyer, you can access it at this link.

On the flyer is a QR code that you can use to see all the new ON-LINE EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS that are introduced today.

SENDING THANKS

Today's Sending Smiles card has a very different look than yesterday's card.  While yesterday's card was elegant and created with warm tones, today's card is all about bright colors with lots of white space.

While some stampers have a definite style and if you see one of their cards you can probably recognize that they made it.

I am not one of those stampers.  For a long time, I felt like I needed to "create my style", but it just wasn't working for me.  I like to make cards that are wildly different from one another.  One of my stamping friends told me recently that she had figured out my "style"--Eclectic and Fun.  Well, I definitely like to have fun and if loving to have a lot of variety in my cards is "eclectic", that's OK with me!

The graphic background on today's card was created with a die from Artisan Additions Dies.  It is basically just slots die cut in the Basic White cardstock so that the Night of Navy can show through the slots.

Since one of my latest favorite color combinations is Night of Navy and Parakeet Party, I decided that would make a nice color combination for my "Sending" script.  Besides, I already had that die cut laying in my "leftovers stash".  

Are you a stamper that has a "pile" of leftovers that you started but then didn't like for the project you were making at the time?  I have many of those that I tossed in my "stash".  If I'm honest, most never get used, but today I found one that worked.  I'm just happy I found it BEFORE I made another!

My color coach told me that Pool Party coordinated with Night of Navy and Parakeet Party, so I decided to follow his advice and make Pool Party flowers.  Yellow centers for those flowers were my first "go-to" thought, but I felt like I needed a stronger color to offset the bright Parakeet Party and Night of Navy, so I consulted with my color coach again, and he suggested Calypso Coral.  Voila!  I was happy.  And even better, I found Calypso Coral Gems in my Iridescent Pastel Gems.  

On Thank You cards I like to leave plenty of room on the inside of the card to write a note.

So, I just stamped a flower in the corner, matted the Basic White with Night of Navy, and called it done!  You can see a little peek of the envelope which I also decorated with another stamped flower.

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

A list of the products I used on today's card is shown below.

REMINDER!  Tomorrow is the last day of Sale-a-Bration!  If you haven't yet taken advantage of this once-a-year promotion, time is running out!  The joining special is one of the best ever, and who doesn't love to get FREE STUFF!  Visit my Demonstrator Business Website to shop or join the fun!  I'd love to have you as part of my Fairless Flair Team.  We believe in Friendship, Fun and Creativity!

Product List

Sending Smiles Bundle (English) [158707]	Artisan Additions Dies [159172]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867]
Parakeet Party 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159259]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Parakeet Party Classic Stampin' Pad [159208]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]
Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [147107]	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101]	Iridescent Pastel Gems [160429]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

Add All to Cart