Category Archives: Cards

Mixed Bunch Flower Birthday Card

Mixed Bunch Flower Birthday Card

There are many places to get inspiration for our stamping, and for Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators, one of them is our Stampin’ Up! publication called Stampin’ Success. This card I made is pretty much like one in my magazine. I changed the center of the flower because I didn’t have the same stamp set they used, and I used a different color of Baker’s Twine to wrap around the card layer.

The base of the card is made with one of our new In Colors, Coastal Cabana, and the front layer is Whisper White. The sizes are different than our usual cards. The card base starts at 6 1/2″ x 6 1/4″ and folded in half to become 6 1/4″ long by 3 1/4″ wide. (If you want to make it a little easier for yourself without remembering all those numbers, cut a 6″ x 6″ square of card stock for the card base and fold in half!) Before adhering the Whisper White layer, I adhered three separate strings of Baker’s Twine (I used retired Pool Party) to the card stock on the back to save those extra inches I would have used wrapping around.  You can do it either way.  Then I just tied the bow to the center string.

The flowers are stamped with the Mixed Bunch stamp set and Coastal Cabana ink and punched out with the Blossom Punch.  I punched out two flowers so I could layer them and slightly curled the top flower with my Bone Folder to give it some dimension. For the flower center, I stamped the “For You” image from A Round Array twice–once in Coastal Cabana and once in Crisp Cantaloupe.  I used the 1/2″ Circle Punch to punch out the words in Crisp Cantaloupe and used the new 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch to punch out the whole image in Coastal Cabana. Then I just layered the words on top of the scallop with a tiny Stampin’ Dimensional (part of one). You can layer whichever parts you want with dimensionals or just adhere them together in a flat fashion. The scallop is layered on top of a 1″ Delightful Daffodil circle. I made two little strips of Crisp Cantaloupe card stock and cut the ends like flags and stuck them underneath the flower for a little contrast.  The greeting is from Bring On the Cake but of course, you could use any number of greetings.  For the center of the flower you could place a button or other embellishment instead of the words.

This is a good basic card that you can modify for any number of occasions!

Here are some other ideas you could do:

  • Use ribbon instead of the Baker’s Twine.
  • Turn the card sideways, putting the flower on one side and stamp a greeting on the other side.
  • Stamp a flower or other image and wrap the Baker’s Twine or ribbon around the base of the layer.

If you need any stamping supplies to make cards like this one, please shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store here.

Dress Up Birthday Card

Dress Up Birthday Card

Now that my daughter has received her birthday card, I can post it here.  The paper is retired now, but most things are current for you to make your own card like this. The Dress Up Framelits are so fun to use! Just cut out a dress in whatever paper you like, maybe cut two and then have a different top and bottom to your dress, or even a jacket! Almost like playing with paper dolls!

Use the Oval Collection Framelits to die cut a background.  I used the birthday stamp from Petite Pairs for the greeting.  This stamp set is on sale now in the Grab Your Greetings offer for 25% off.  Be sure to check it out because it is a good sentiment stamp set to own.  The other two choices are good ones, also.

The Real Red border at the top and bottom of the retired designer paper is punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.  What I love about this punch is you can show just the tiny scallops on the edge or you can show the dotted part, so versatile!

If you would like to own the Dress Up Framelits and make oh so many cute projects with them, please visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store here to place your order.

Gingham Garden All-Occasion Card

Out of the selection of designer series paper I was allowed to purchase during my demonstrator preorder from the new Stampin’ Up! Catalog, the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper was my favorite! I’m so glad to be finished with the retirement lists and just start working on new stuff! Plus I have a new camera for taking pictures of my cards and projects for my blog so I am having to learn how to use it and get the photos off!  Always a learning curve!

Here is my new card made with Melon Mambo card stock and two patterns from Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper.

Gingham Garden All-Occasions Card

I did a lot of fun things on this card!  The button (Very Vintage Buttons) in the middle of the flower started out plain.  Since I already had some Melon Mambo Embossing Powder, I decided to try embossing the button!  I put some Glue Dots on the back of the button so I could hold it from the back with my long tweezers.  You could use anything you had.  I dipped it onto a Versamark Ink Pad and then embossed with the embossing powder and Heat Tool!  I like the way it turned out!The very center didn’t pick up any Versamark but that is covered with the Baker’s Twine bow.

Embossing Button

Melon Mambo Embossed Button

Melon Mambo Embossed Button

To make the flower (since I couldn’t find my Paper Daisies!), I punched three Whisper White flowers with the Blossom Punch and snipped the petals with my Paper Snips. The layers are glued together and the flower adhere with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  There is half of a Tea Lace Paper Doily stuck in behind the flower.

The greeting is stamped on Whisper White and also on Melon Mambo card stock and punched out with the new Artisan Punch. Then I used my Paper Snips again to cut out just the greeting portion and adhered that to the Melon Mambo piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

If you need any of these or other stamping supplies,please shop at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store HERE.

New Stampin’ Up! Catalog Day is Here!

The NEW STAMPIN’ UP! ANNUAL CATALOG BEGINS TODAY AT NOON MT!!

Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog 2013-14

View the Catalog online (Flash)

View the Catalog PDF

View the Stampin’ Supplies

This is the day we’ve all been looking forward to!  Stampin’ Up! will be transitioning the website over to the new catalog until noon MT today You can also order any retiring items, as well as from the Spring Catalog, while supplies last!  People are calling it the “trifecta of ordering” because you can order from all three catalogs at once…the old, the new, and the Spring Catalog!  Have patience because there will be a LOT of people ordering and sometimes there are glitches when everything is new!

Stampin’ Up! New Catalog goes live at:

  • 11:00 am Pacific Time
  • Noon Mountain Time (Stampin’ Up! Home Office Time)
  • 1:00 pm Central Time
  • 2:00 pm Eastern TIme

I always like the see the time written in my own time zone so I don’t have to keep figuring it out!

And that’s not all!!!!

Grab-Your-Greetings sale

Three greeting stamp sets are on sale for 25% off starting today and going through June 30!  We always need another greeting set!  This is an easy add-on to your order!

Grab Your Greetings Chart

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The Bracket Stamp personalized name stamp with 5 lines (item 131138) will not be available in time for the May 31 catalog launch, but we anticipate that it will be available soon. However, the other versions of Bracket Stamp, with 1-4 lines, will be available to order once the catalog is live.

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Remember……Ordering begins today at Noon MT (Stampin’ Up! Time!)

Current Catalog          NEW CATALOG           Spring Catalog

The Spring Catalog will END tonight at 11:50 pm MT!!!!!!!!!!!

Just go to my Online Store after Noon MT today and you can start placing your order!  If you have any questions, please contact me at Karen@KarenStamps.com or call at 713-981-7662.

If you plan to shop for your Stampin’ Up! supplies with me and want a brand new catalog to hold in your hands (even though it is online!) please email me or call with your contact information and phone number.

Close to the End for the Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog

Sunshine & Sprinkles Rainy Day Card

I’m really sad to see the end of the Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog, even with the excitement of the upcoming new catalog! You have today and tomorrow, May 31st, to order from the Spring Catalog.

This card I pretty much CASED (copied) right from the sample in the Spring Catalog.  I think all the rain and storms around the country inspired me to do a cloud and umbrella card.  The card base is Pacific Point with a layer of Vellum Card Stock which is scored just around the edges at about 1/4″. I used the Labels Collection Framelits to cut the shape out of Whisper White and embossed it with the Cloudy Day Embossing Folder. The umbrella and greeting is stamped with the Rain or Shine stamp set.  The little strip of striped paper is from Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper.  I love that colorful stripe!

Shop Stampin’ Up! Online all day today until midnight Mountain Time tonight!

At midnight Mountain Time tonight Stampin’ Up! will shut down ordering until Noon tomorrow May 31 Mountain Time when the NEW STAMPIN’ UP! CATALOG will go live!!!

When you have your order ready, just go to my Online Store HERE or contact me with your order and I’ll be happy to put it in for you!

Going to Miss the Two Tags Die

One of the many Stampin’ Up! products that I will miss when it retires next week is the Two Tags Die. You can make cards, tags, even little bags and boxes for treats and little gifts. Today I have used my Two Tags Die for two projects as well as two retiring stamp sets, retiring designer paper, and retiring colors, Regal Rose and Baja Breeze.

Two Tags Die BirthdayThere are actually two tag shapes on the Two Tags Die.  This one pictured above had a score line so can be folded in half and tucked under the little slit, which the die also makes.  I cut out the Twitterpated Designer Paper at the same time as the card stock so it fit perfectly. I stamped the cupcake image from the retiring Easy Events stamp set (a great set for all-occasions, especially for the beginning stamper!) and colored it in with Stampin’ Write Markers. For a little pizzazz I had to add some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to the frosting with my 2-Way Glue Pen. And for a little trim above and below the stamped image, I used the versatile Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch with only the scallop edge showing. The little flower on the edge is made with the Boho Blossoms Punch.

Two Tags Die Word Play Card
This card I made using the discontinued Regal Rose card stock (admittedly not one of my favorite colors in all these years, but it’s okay) and embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots Folder. The Two Tags Die is stamped with a greeting from the Word Play stamp set (another stamp set I hate to see retire) and decorated with a couple of Subtles Collection Designer Buttons tied with
White Baker’s Twine.  I made a similar card back in this post.

The Two Tags Die is a fun and handy die to own if you also own the Big Shot.  If it is still available, I would add it to your list of must-haves before the retirement period is over.

Remember, the new Stampin’ Up! catalog goes live at Noon Mountain Time on Friday, May 31.  Ordering will be down that morning and the night before so they can make the change to the new catalog.  You will still be able to order from the old catalog until June 3.  The Spring Catalog ends May 31.

Place your order today before time runs out at my Online Store or email me with your order at Karen@KarenStamps.com if you prefer.

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Another Birthday Purse Card

Pink Purse Card

I think these purse-shaped cards make great birthday cards for young girls! They could also be more than a birthday card.  Instead of just putting a greeting on the inside, make a pocket of some sort and turn it into a gift-card holder.  It is graduation time and I read that cash is the most welcome gift!  Make a pocket inside the card and insert cash or a gift card or check.  My grandmother used to always say you can’t give someone a purse without putting a penny in it!  Must be bad luck or something! Even though I made these purse cards for birthdays, think of all the other fun occasions you could make them for and the ways you could change them out!  Make it super-fancy with some Glimmer Paper or a sparkly closure or flower on the front! Make party invitations out of this idea!  It’s one of those projects that once you make one, you want to make more!

You can barely see the fuzzy thing underneath the closure.  That’s a piece of velcro which will hold the card closed.

Shop for Stampin’ Up! supplies at my Online Store!  Be sure to check the Clearance Rack, too!

Pink Purse Card Inside

Make a Purse Card

Red Purse Card

When I needed to make birthday cards for my twin nieces I found this idea of making purse cards for them. My cards just fold completely flat, but you could make yours more 3-D. I used a piece of designer series paper for the purse shape so that there would be a nice design on the inside when it was opened.  You could just as easily use card stock.  The Top Note Die folded in half is used for the top closure of the purse.  What would we do without the Top Note Die?! I’m glad it is not retiring next week!

  • Cut out the Top Note Die with the Big Shot. Score and fold in half lengthwise.
  • Cut a piece of designer series paper (DSP) 6″ x 6″. Score at 3″ and fold in half. Be mindful of which way the pattern is going and which side you want on the outside.
  • Now you will need to trim the sides of the purse from the bottom to the top edge on a diagonal. To do this, measure in on the top open edges about 5/8″ from each side. Use your paper trimmer to cut from that point on each side to the bottom edge of the folded side. You know, make it look like a purse shape!
  • Adhere the Top Note Die to the back of the “purse”. Make some sort of decoration for the front closure.  Adhere to front of Top Note Die on the front of the purse. Use a small piece of velcro in order to hold the purse closed.
  • Depending on your DSP design, you’ll probably need to stamp the greeting on a plain piece of card stock and adhere to inside of purse card.
  • If you want, you could make some ribbon handles for the top of the purse.

Here is the inside of the card.

Purse card Inside

To order any card-making supplies, just visit my Stampin’ Up! Online Store here. Remember, some stamps and accessories are only available for about one more week!

Using the Stampin’ Up! Owl Punch for a Baby Card

Owl Punch Baby Boy Card

The Stampin’ Up! Owl Builder Punch can be used for way more than owls! If you need to make a baby card, just get out your Owl Punch and get to work.

On this card, I made cute little baby clothes hanging on the clothesline with the Owl Punch. Use the piece that would be the front part of the owl. Then make a little triangle snip in the bottom with your Paper Snips to make the piece look like legs. Add some thin strips of card stock for the outfit straps (or pieces of ribbon) and secure with Mini Brads. Thread some Linen Thread through the outfits to “hang” on the clothesline. Adhere the outfit to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For the background, I used the Cloudy Day Embossing Folder and Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine to make it look like the sky.  The greeting is from Sweet Essentials stamp set.

If you don’t already own the Stampin’ Up! Owl Punch, you’ll want to add it to your order! You can order online at any time at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store here.  Big discounts on some retiring products right now!

Word Play Graduation Card

Word Play Graduation Card

If you are looking for an easy graduation card to make in just a few minutes, here’s one! You can design it using the school colors if you like or any colors you know the recipient will like. I started with a card base of Midnight Muse and stamped the greeting from Word Play in Midnight Muse ink on the Whisper White card layer. You could use any appropriate greeting you had on a design like this. I adhered two strips of 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon to the Whisper White, adhering the ends under the Whisper White and tied the knots with separate pieces of ribbon. Since the colors of my high school were blue and gold, I chose these two colors of ribbon for my sample…Island Indigo and Summer Starfruit!

I love the stamp set Word Play with so many great sayings in it….but it is retiring in a couple weeks, so don’t miss out!

Check the selection of retiring stamps and accessories here in my Online Store and place your order today!

Making a Star Jasmine Card

Jasmine Card

We have some beautiful star jasmine blooming in our front yard.  I only wish the blog had "smell-o-vision" so you could smell the beautiful fragrance from these flowers!  I wish it bloomed all year!  Sometimes we smell it the most heavily in the back of the driveway.  What a treat!

This card demonstrates how you can get inspiration from lots of places…even some flowers blooming in the yard.  The Garden Green card base is 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" and the Whisper White layer 3" x 3". I punched the flowers with the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack.  To give them a little dimension, I placed them on the Stampin' Pierce Mat and poked them in the center with my Bone Folder! The stems and leaves are punched from the Bird Builder Punch. I just put a dab of glue on the back of each flower and placed them on the stems and dotted a little Daffodil Delight marker in the center of each flower.  The greeting is from the stamp set "A Little Greeting" in the Spring Catalog.

And here is a photo of our blooming jasmine!  There used to be a pine tree in the center of it years ago. It's just gorgeous and the fragrance is wonderful!

Star Jasmine

Star Jasmine and Bee
If you want to play a little "I Spy" can you find the bumble bee and two other orange-ish insects in the photo??

Shop now at my Stampin' Up! Online Store for any of your stamping supplies!

When Is Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day is Sunday!

Pleasant Poppies Mother's Day Card

When is Mother's Day? Yes, Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 12th!

Here are some quotes about mothers that perhaps you can use in your cards or projects for your mother.

 A mother’s heart is a patchwork of love. – Anonymous

A man’s work is from sun to sun, but a mother’s work is never done. – Anonymous

A mom’s hug lasts long after she lets go. – Anonymous 

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.- By Tenneva Jordan 

A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. – By Emily Dickinson

A mother understands what a child does not say. – Jewish proverb

All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother. – By Abraham Lincoln

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. – By Jewish Proverb

Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world. – By Kate Douglas Wiggin

Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. Anonymous

The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. – By Theodore Hesburgh

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I hope you enjoyed these sayings about mothers and that they help you with your Mother's Day card or Mother's Day gift or project.

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My Mother's Day card is stamped with Pleasant Poppies (a large background stamp) in Stazon Black Ink. The flowers and stems are colored in with Calypso Coral and Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Markers using an Aqua Painter and just the markers themselves. As a final touch I spritzed the card with Gold Glow Smooch Spritz.  I think you can see it in the photo.

 

Design Your Designer Paper

Designing Designer Paper

Stampin' Up! Demonstrators receive a magazine from Stampin' Up! every other month packed with stamping and papercrafting ideas and Stampin' Up! news and offers. We all can't WAIT to receive our Stampin' Success Magazine when it comes out! In paging through some recent issues, I found this idea that jumped out at me…design your own designer paper!  On the left you see a sheet of the Patio Party Designer Series Paper…and on the right you see the same paper with the polka dots stamped with a small heart from the stamp set Itty Bitty Bits. Just a fun and different kind of idea and easy to do!

You can purchase the Patio Party Designer Series Paper while supplies last at a discount in the Retirement Sale at my Stampin' Up! Online Store.  As I've said before, it's a paper I didn't use very much but have grown to love!

Look through the designer paper you have and see what unusual ways you can use it! Then use it on a card or project!

An Easy Butterfly Card

An Easy Butterfly Card

If you’re looking for an easy but elegant card to make, perhaps a card for Mother’s Day, this is a good one. I used Regal Rose card stock, which is being discontinued with the Stampin’ Up! Color Refresh. It’s a pretty color, but I didn’t really use it a lot. I embossed just a strip of Whisper White with the Stripes Embossing Folder, wrapped a bit of 1/4″ Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon around it, and glued it down to the Whisper White layer. The butterflies were made with the Elegant Butterfly Punch, one butterfly punched out of Regal Rose card stock and one out of Vellum Card Stock which was them embossed with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder and decorated with the few Basic Pearls.

I love cards like this that you can use for many occasions.This could be for Mother’s Day, a birthday, a wedding, a “thinking of you”, even graduation.

Don’t forget about the stamps and accessories that are retiring the end of this month from Stampin’ Up! Check the retiring stamp list here and the retiring accessories list here.  

You can also see all the retiring products HERE in my Stampin’ Up! Online Store! Some are even discounted!

Get them while they are still available!

Brides & Babies–Best of 25 Years!

Best of 25 Years_May Brides and Babies

Click to Enlarge

In continuing to celebrate their 25th anniversary, Stampin' Up! has released this new collection of stamps for May 2013! One stamp in the set is a new image and the rest are favorites from the last 25 years! Although a new set is being released each month, they will all be available until March 31, 2014.

This is the season for brides and babies, so if you need to be making cards for new babies or weddings, you might want to invest in this set!

Just shop at my Online Store and check out this stamp set!

Best of Brides & Babies   #133482   Clear-mount