Category Archives: Cards

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



 

 

Spring Sampler Flower Card

Spring Sampler Flower Card

It's funny how I don't always end up making what I thought I was going to make!  Since I had fun with the Spring Sampler stamp set in yesterday's post, I decided to make another card with it.  I was going to select an image for a baby card and just stamp it in one color on the Whisper White layer, maybe put a ribbon or strip of designer paper down the side.  Simple, simple.

I got out the Bashful Blue pack of paper and in there was a piece already cut but the front was narrower than the back. Either I cut it wrong the first time or I didn't end up using it. Since I had already pulled out the Sunshine & Sprinkles Designer Series Paper to possibly use, I decided to adhere a strip of it to the inside edge which would make it show on the front.  I love the colors in the striped pattern of the paper!! That changed the theme of the card from baby to flowers, choosing colors that coordinated with the paper….Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Marina Mist.  On the Color Coach Marina Mist is the "Dynamic Duo" match with Bashful Blue, if you were doing a monochromatic color scheme.

And since I didn't stamp a couple of the flowers perfectly and since "there are no mistakes in stamping" I decided to stamp some extra flowers, cut them out, and pop them up with Stampin' Dimensionals over the "boo-boo" flowers.  No one would know I didn't plan it this way!

Although it is pretty cool outside today, the sun is out and the weather is gorgeous!  So I think this flowery, spring card is just perfect!

Spring Sampler Flower Card Front

Scallop Square Spring Sampler Card

Spring Sampler Scallop Card
One of the many things that is on the Stampin' Up! Retirement List is the Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die, so when I found one already die-cut in my stash, I decided to make a spring card with it!  I attached a 4" x 8" card base (folded in half) to the back of the scallop square. The scallop square is Melon Mambo with a Daffodil Delight layer. The Spring Sampler Stamp Set seemed like the perfect set to use for this card. So many cute little images to choose from!
Since it is snowing in some parts of the country, raining and flooding in others, and here we have a cold front on its way to drop the temperature from near 80 this morning down to 44 by tomorrow morning, I thought a card that reminds us of spring was a good idea! Although I will be miserable in the cold the next two days, I'm hoping it will cool down the upcoming summer!!  Any cooler weather we can get here in Houston, especially from this month on, I am all in favor of it!
A card like this with nine little stamped squares is a little tedious to make, but once I colored on the stamps with markers and stamped on Whisper White card stock, it was easy to punch them out with the 1" Square Punch and then the layers with the Postage Stamp Punch.

You'll find the Spring Sampler Stamp Set in the Spring Catalog…and by the way, that catalog is only good until May 31st so don't forget to order what you want out of it this month!
If you have nasty weather where you live, why not make a card to cheer yourself up!

Make an Easy Card with the Print Poetry Paper Stack

Print Poetry Easy Card

Today I found the Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack on my desk underneath a bunch of stamping stuff, so I thought why not use this somehow? I realized I hadn't used it much, but gee, the paper inside is beautiful! This green print on the bottom of my card is from the other side of the top design!  So easy to coordinate!

If you want to make an easy card, this layout is the simplest ever! The card base is made with a  5.5" x 4.25" piece of Very Vanilla card stock folded in half. Next I cut two pieces of the Print Poetry paper and adhered together.  At that point, I should have wrapped a strip of the ribbon around just the designer paper….but I forgot and glued it down to the card base! Since there are no mistakes in stamping(!), I just wrapped the 3/8" Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon around the front of the card and attached a separate bow.

For a little greeting, I stamped the word "friends" from the stamp set Sweet Essentials and layered it on the Ticket Duo Punch #126883.  You could use any greeting and any coordinating punch and you have an easy to make card for any occasion!

For these great Stampin' Up! products, visit my Online Store here!

Stay Tuned!!  RETIRED LISTS coming this Wednesday,

April 24!

If you are new, what does that mean?  Each year around this time, Stampin' Up! retires stamp sets and accessories in order to make room for NEW products in the NEW catalog coming out soon! It's an exciting time and a time to stay in touch with me so you can purchase any retiring products you really want but haven't gotten yet. This won't be the time to procrastinate! In fact, I would suggest not waiting for the list, but getting the products you really want NOW before there is a run on them.  No one can predict what will be retired and what won't…or what will sell fast and what won't.  Just fair warning!  

If you have any questions, please email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com…..and make sure you are on my Mailing List here!

Using Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape

My camera is broken at the moment so I thought I would just post some ideas I have seen or had for using the great new Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape. You can order this tape as a separate item #131269 from my Stampin' Up! store….but the better idea would be to purchase the entire Epic Day This and That Bundle before the end of April so you can get a 15% discount on the whole package.

Of course the obvious use for Washi Tape is to adhere, decoratively, your photos and memorabilia to your album or journal or whatever. But you can also use the tape itself as a decorative item. Here are a few ideas:

  • Wrap washi tape around a tea light base (use a battery-operated one).
  • Decorate plastic cups, straws, plasticware for a party with washi tape.
  • Wrap washi tape around a gift box or gift bag as decorative borders.
  • Use washi tape on a card or scrapbook page just placing it as lines of tape on the project, as borders or stripes or small banners.
  • Wrap washi tape around a glass jar as a decoration or even as a identifier of the contents.
  • Before making a rosette, place a long strip of washi tape on the strip of paper and you'll have a design on your rosette after you fold it!
  • Tape pieces of washi tape in long or short strips down or across a notebook cover to add color and design.
  • Adhere washi tape around a glass votive holder to decorate your candle.
  • Adhere washi tape on clip clothespins to decorate.  Add a magnet to the back.
  • Decorate a plain file folder with washi tape.

So there you have a FEW ideas to get started!

Get your Stampin' Up! Washi Tape here at my Online Store!

 

New Dolled Up Birthday Kit from Stampin’ Up!

Dolled Up Birthday Kit

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2013

If you like kits, I'm sure you will love this brand new Dolled Up Birthday Kit Stampin' Up! just released today! It was designed by another demonstrator and then Stampin' Up! made it into a kit! You know anything with the Vanilla Flower Trim is going to be gorgeous!

The Dolled-Up Birthday kit includes the following:

  • Dolled-Up Birthday Clear-Mount Stamp (1)
  • 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Crumb Cake Cardstock (6 pieces)
  • 2" x 4-1/4" Very Vanilla Cardstock (6 pieces)
  • Very Vanilla Medium Envelopes (6)
  • Tea Lace Paper Doilies (6)
  • Dress Up die-cuts (6)
  • Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Spot (1)
  • Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim (6 pieces)
  • Sponge Dauber (1)

Get everything you need to make six cards for only $15.95 (item 133913)!*

*Adhesive not included.

To assemble one card, follow these simple instructions:
1. Place the stamp rubber side up and ink with the Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Spot.
2. Stamp “Happy Birthday” at the bottom of the card front.
3. Ink the Sponge Dauber with Soft Suede ink and gently antique the doily and the edges of the dress form.
4. Adhere the pieces to the card front in this order:
1. Doily
2. Very Vanilla Cardstock
3. Dress form
4. Flower

I think this one is a winner if you like kits and a "girlie" one at that! And nothing says you can't change it up a bit to follow your own creativity!

Find the Dolled Up Birthday Kit in my Stampin' Up! Online Store.

 


De-Stress on Tax Day—Make a Pop-Up Posies Card!

Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit Pieces

Today is Tax Day, so if you have paid your taxes, maybe it is time to de-stress by making a card! Or in my case, maybe I will make another card to de-stress from having my post I just wrote disappear! Anyway….the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit can make it easy for you! You get all the materials pictured above in your kit PLUS a "Just for You" stamp. Add some card stock and put something together and you will have a beautiful card!

After I took the photo above, my camera decided to act up….maybe it's going to be "one of those days"!! Here is a photo of the card I made, although it's not very good. Maybe I just need new batteries.

Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit Card

To get this Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit in your hands, just go to my Stampin' Up! Online Store and order! It is #131395 and you might like some Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Summer Starfruit card stock to coordinate with your flowers and kit!  You can find the Pop-Up Posies Designer Kit in the Stampin' Up! Spring Catalog!

All Dressed Up Belated Birthday Card

All Dressed Up Belated Birthday Card

Do you have trouble getting birthday cards sent out on time? I can know a birthday is coming up for weeks and then still not get the card mailed on time or in enoughtime! That's why I like the greeting in the stamp set All Dressed Up. That's not exactly what it says, but I used parts of it to make the greeting I wanted. The stamp set All Dressed Up is really fun to play with, especially to use the Dress Up Framelits Dies with it and save yourself all that cutting time.  There are lots of ways to play with these dresses,whether you are using the stamped dress or making your own with the Dress Up Framelits DIes.

To make the necklace, I just used a piece of Baker's Twine and a Rhinestone Jewel.

For any stamping supplies you may need, please visit my Stampin' Up! Online Store!

Scallop Envelope Baby Gift Card

Scallop Envelope Baby Gift Card

This is the little card I made with the Scallop Envelope Die to go with my baby shower gift in this post. I didn’t photograph the back of it, unfortunately, but the scalloped flap of the envelope in folded in and the bottom up and the side flap in to form the pocket. The other side flap is left open, as you can see.

Scallop Envelope Baby Gift Card Opened

The little window is punched with the cute Petite Curly Label Punch. The little greeting is stamped with the Ciao, Baby! stamp in the Stampin’ Up! Spring Catalog. The pink ribbon is Melon Mambo 3/8″ Striped Organdy Ribbon. The blue is the 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon in Marina Mist.

Shelli Gardner, Founder and CEO of Stampin’ Up!, made this project on a local TV show! You can buy this Scallop Envelope Die at my Stampin’ Up! Online Store!  It’s one of those cute and useful ones!

 

Baby Shower Gifts Handmade!

Baby Tin

A few weeks ago I needed a baby shower gift and kind of reverted back to something that was popular to do when I first started stamping. It was popular way back when (and still a good idea!) to buy a new paint can, decorate it and attach a certain poem someone made up. The idea was the new parents would be busy with the new baby and might not have time to write everything down they wanted to record in the baby book, so perhaps they would jot a quick note and throw it in this can and enter it in the baby book later.

Instead of a paint can, I used a white tin I had in my stash. It's decorated with Twitterpated Designer Series Paper and also a strip of Patio Party Designer Series Paper. It's easy enough to wrap two sheets of paper around the bottom of the tin (start at the back first). I like to use Stampin' Up! Anywhere Glue Sticks for a project like this, but you could also use the Multipurpose Glue or some like Sticky Strip tape. Rather than work around the handle at the top, I chose to just make some flowers with punched and distressed scallop punches and Glimmer Brads.

I also covered a little notebook with some Patio Party Designer Paper and inserted some matching paper into an RSVP pen to decorate it.

Baby Memo Book and Pen

And a few baby thank you cards for the new mom to use (using a retired baby stamp set, but one of my favorites!)

Baby Thank You Notes

And here's everything on the inside of the tin. You can read the poem I attached to the inside of the tin. Just click on the photo to enlarge. I used the Labels Collection Framelits Dies.

Baby Tin Poem in Lid

I also made a card with a picture of the "real" gift that the expectant mom would receive but I will post that another day!

Don't forget, today is the last day for FREE SHIPPING from Stampin' Up!  That doesn't come around everyday, so if you need some stamping supplies, please browse through your catalogs and online and see what you need!  We all know we "need" more!!

Order TODAY at my Online Store for FREE SHIPPING!  TODAY ONLY!!  LAST DAY!

 

Cross-Stitch & Papercrafting: Sweet Threads Simply Sent Card

Sweet Threads Simply Sent Card

If you like making cards and papercrafting, and you also like cross-stitching, then this cute Sweet Threads Simply Sent Kit from Stampin' Up! is for you!  My friend Sally was visiting recently and ordered this kit when she was here.  The kit makes 8 printed cards, each of 2 colors. The needle holes are prepierced and the kit comes with embroidery floss and needles. It was a really pleasant surprise to receive this card in the mail from her the other day! She had also ordered the Scallop Trim Border Punch after playing with mine here and you can see her punching on this card!  The greeting is from the Friendly Phrases stamp set.

Sweet Threads Simply Sent
Sweet Threads Simply Sent Card Cross-Stitch Close-up

Sally said there was plenty of thread for the designs and that even though she pulled her stitches tight, she didn't break any of the pierced holes! So she thought it was fun to make!

If you want to add something extra to your card-making, please try this kit!  You can also purchase the Essentials stamp set with the words "Thank You" and "Happy Birthday" to go with it….better yet, purchase the Sweet Threads Bundle (the stamp set and the kit) for a 15% savings!

Order it this weekend when Stampin' Up! is offering FREE SHIPPING April 6-8, 2013! Everything is available for FREE SHIPPING so take advantage of this great deal!!  Just click that link to go directly to my Stampin' Up! Online Store!

Free Shipping at Stampin’ Up! April 6-8, 2013

Stampin' Up! Retiring Colors 2013

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2013

Click picture to enlarge

Stampin' Up! announced a "Color Refresh" the other day, and I made this display above in My Digital Studio of all the retiring colors! As you can see, the discontinued Stampin' Up! colors are:

  • Regal Rose
  • Pretty in Pink
  • Bashful Blue
  • Certainly Celery
  • Baja Breeze
  • Riding Hood Red
  • Bravo Burgundy
  • Not Quite Navy
  • More Mustard
  • River Rock

Stampin' Up! is also having FREE SHIPPING starting NOW and going until Monday night at 11:50 MT.  I'm guessing that a lot of people will be wanting to stock up on these retiring colors….but not just the card stock and ink…..think about refills for each one, ribbon, buttons, markers, designer paper…whatever has these colors in it!

Of course the FREE SHIPPING is on EVERYTHING Stampin' Up! sells….so take advantage of it! It's rare that Stampin' Up! offers free shipping!  Check the annual catalog, the Spring catalog, all the specials….the clear stamps, the Dude You're Welcome Kit, the new preview stamp set A Round Array, the new Petite Curly Label Punch,…especially the new This and That line in the bundle at a 15% discount!

Also, remember Watercolor Crayons are being discontinued, due to problems with the supplier, so the Neutrals, Subtles, and Regals are available while supplies last! Watercolor Pencils are no longer available either.

Once you are ready to order, go to my Online Store here!  Sign in or Create an Account. You can see all the New Arrivals, Specials, Clearance Rack…all on the left sidebar.

If you prefer, you can email your order to me although you will have to give me your payment information.  Email me at Karen@KarenStamps.com.

"Like Me" on Facebook or check back here on my blog and I'll try to keep you up-to-date if anything sells out or if there is any new information!

Let me know if you have any problems or questions!  The retiring colors are only available while supplies last!

Check my blog post here for more information, if you want.

Just be sure to go directly to my Online Store here…don't start at Stampinup.com…especially if you have a large order so you get the best prices, etc.

Have fun shopping!!