Best Wishes

It's been a crazy few days, but I'm back with a simple card that would be appropriate for a wedding or an anniversary, or anyone you wanted to send an elegant "Best Wishes" to.  I have to say, I had a difficult time trying to get a good photo of this card, maybe because it's mostly white, or maybe because I'm still a budding photographer.  I finally ended up with this one, and although it doesn't show the card at it's best, this gives you the layout, with details below.  :) 

The base card is a piece of white cardstock measuring 5-1/2" x 11", and folds to a 5-1/2" square.  The white layer measures 5" x 5".  I scored five lines in the center of the top layer to give it a little texture.  I cut two of the Graceful Silhouette die, one in green and the other in white, then cut the flower tops from the white one and adhered them with mounting tape to the tops of the green flower.  I also used a bird from the set called Resting Birds and perched it with mounting tape over the phrase.  I used a new product that I now cannot live without called "Wink of Stella" glitter brushes, made by Zig.  (Ultimate Hobbies carries them!) They come in an array of colors, as well as gold, silver and clear, and it was the clear brush that I used to cover the white flower tops and the bird.  It brings a beautifully subtle sparkle that this picture can only hint at ... you really have to see it in person to get the full effect.  Once I had the layer assembled, I put mounting tape on the back, and adhered that to the base card. It really is a quick and easy card to make.

In the next few days I will be posting the three cards we will be making in the class at Ultimate Hobbies tomorrow and Thursday evenings, both of which are full, I'm happy to say.  We've added a third class scheduled for Thursday, August 29th, so if you're interested in joining us, please stop in at the store to register and secure your spot.  Ultimate Hobbies is also participating in "Shop Hop", a three-week event that will be going on through August 11th.  Click HERE for more information.  It's a great time to see what's new in the papercrafting world! 

A Very Happy Hello to You!

My first post on the Poppystamps blog is showing today!  So excited!  I am posting the same card here on my blog as well.

This card features three of my all time favorite Poppystamps dies: Nesting Bird, Vintage Bird Cage and Ivy Tendrils.  For the flowers I used the Floral Delights die from Memory Box.  I just love all the tiny flowers and stars you get with just one swoop!  I embossed the smaller piece of card stock and mounted it on background paper from the Memory Box Brioche paper collection.  And of course once the arrangement was set, always a little bling! Hope you enjoy!

A Simple Thanks

I thought it was time to post a Thank You card, and this is the one I've chosen for today.  I love all the Memory Box border dies, and this card features one of my favorites.  And then there are the Memory Box flower dies, so delicate and beautiful.

Here I used the Benjamin Border, Geneva Vine and A Little Thanks dies.  I embossed the background and adhered it to a slightly larger piece of black cardstock, then mounted them on the card base. I cut a 1/4" strip of the same black cardstock and wove it in and out of the center openings of the die cut.  This made it very easy to adhere pieces of mounting tape to the back of the strip without having to glue down the delicate border, and it also created dimension.  I cut two of the Geneva Vines, one in green and one in peach.  I snipped just the flowers from the peach die cut and glued them over the corresponding flower on the green, then shaded the bottoms of each flower with a darker orange ink. I placed small pieces of mounting tape to the backs of the flowers, and then threaded the stem through the border openings, which anchored the vine and eliminated having to glue that down.  The rest of the die cut is adhered to the card by the mounting tape under each flower.  I added glitter to the flower bottoms, and topped off the card with the sweet "thanks".

Before I sign off, have you had a chance yet to stop by the Poppystamps blog?  If not, just click on the Poppystamps badge in the sidebar on the right and you'll zip straight to it.  There'll be a new post every day, and sometimes twice a day.  I'm excited to share that my first post is scheduled for Friday, July 26th and I hope you'll come visit!  I'll be posting that same card here as well.    

It's a Guy Thing

First, some exciting news!  I am now a member of the Poppystamps Design Team in the wonderful company of some of the most talented designers around.  Poppystamps is a division of Memory Box, Inc., the best in the industry when it comes to the 100% steel craft dies we all love so much.  We will be posting regularly on the Poppystamps blog , as well as Facebook, Pinterest and Flicker! We hope you'll enjoy what you see and be inspired each time you visit.  If you click on my Design Team page, you'll see the list of new design team members with links to their individual blogs. Be sure to check them out!

Okay, now for another card.   I don't know about you, but I always feel challenged when it comes to creating a male-oriented card.  There seems to be a fine line between macho and a little too pretty.  Anyway, I was asked to include such a card in one of my recent classes, and this is what I came up with.  I realize it's a bit more than simple, but the good news is when I gave it a "guy test run", I received some positive feedback, so that was encouraging! 

I used the Vintage Bicycle, Vintage Clock dies, and the matching Vintage Clock stamp from Memory Box, along with the Antique Lamp Post and small Curious Cat dies from Poppystamps.  I used a circle punch for the clock center, a script stamp from Penny Black for the background, and distressed all the edges, then embellished with copper brads to finish it off.  Go ahead, give it a try!! 

Welcome little one!

Who ever heard of a cat pushing a dog in a baby buggy?  Here is a fun card to celebrate the arrival of a newborn baby or to welcome a new pet.

On the card base, I stamped Memory Box stamps, Birch Branch Print and Leaf Canopy in light blue and green inks.  I cut apart the Grand Oak Tree and positioned the two pieces behind the cut out circle, trimmed the edges, then added mounting tape to the back of the piece and adhered it to the stamped card base.  I used the Memory Box Chesapeake Scrollwork, Baby Carriage and Dancing Butterflies dies, as well as the Poppystamps Pouncing Cat and Frenchy dies to create the scene.  Those butterflies are the greatest, you can add them to almost any card for a finishing touch!   The little puppy is sure enjoying this one!  Until next time ...

Welcome to my Blog!!

Sherry here, and welcome to my first blog post!!  This is the beginning of what I believe will be a truly exciting adventure.  I love to create cards and my hope is to inspire and spread joy to everyone who visits.  As you can see, my blog site is still under construction, but I was so anxious to get to my first post, I just couldn't wait until it was finished.  So you will see it evolve over the next little while.

I'm absolutely addicted to Memory Box and Poppystamps dies and stamps!  Here is one of the cards I created for a recent class I taught at Ultimate Hobbies here in Orange, CA. 

This card features all Memory Box products, including the Luminous Poppies stamp, the Delicate Fern, Flutter Vine, Fancy Blossoms and Pepita Border dies, as well as Squash Dotted Paper.  I cut apart the Luminous Poppies cling stamp as I only wanted to use a portion for this card.  (Not to worry, it can easily be rejoined with the other portion to show the complete image!)  I used Dried Marigold Distress Ink directly to the flowers, shadowed them using an eye shadow applicator dipped lightly in Rusty Hinge Distress Ink, and a green marker for the stems.  And of course I always have to add a little bling!  Hope you like this one! 

By the way, if you are local or plan to be in the Orange, CA, area, be sure to stop by Ultimate Hobbies,1536 East Katella Avenue, Orange, CA 92867, to see not only the greatest selection of Memory Box and Poppystamps dies and stamps ever, but all the latest goodies in the world of papercrafting!  

I'll be back soon with another card to share!