Category: Two for Tuesday

Very Versailles CASE

Posted on by dayinker

I got my hands on the new 2020 Stampin’ Up! catalog and I’m in love with it. There are so many beautiful new products. But today, I’m showcasing one of the lovely stamp sets that debuted in 2019 and is carrying over to 2020. So if you didn’t purchase the Very Versailles stamp set already, good news you have time. And let me tell you, I think this set is such a great value. Three lovely sentiments, script background, a leafy vine, a graphic banner, and an ornate frame. The creative possibilities are endless. I decided the best way to explore this set was to CASE (copy and share everything) the projects featured in the catalogs.

2019 CASE

Inspiration for the card came from the 2019 catalog. It’s very similar, but I switched up the colors. I started with a Gray Granite base that I ran through my Big Shot with the Subtle 3-D embossing folder. Nothing is better for a card then starting with great texture.

Next I added a layer of So Saffron card stock. That creamy yellow color just pops against the warm gray. That piece was cut to 3-3/4″x5″ so that I would have a nice big edge around it. After that, I cut a piece of Whisper White 3-1/2″x4-3/4″. I used Gray Granite, So Saffron, and Soft Sea Foam inks to create this flowing background of images.

The next layers are all about the sentiment and embellishment. I added a 3/4″ strip of Soft Sea Foam. Above that I added a banner of Gray Granite stamped in the same ink with the script background. It’s the same width as the Soft Sea Foam strip and is popped up on Dimensionals. Before I added the Whisper White background to the So Saffron layer, I used basic white baker’s twine leftover from a Paper Pumpkin kit to add a wrap and a bow.

Then, I stamped the frame in Gray Granite and fussy cut it out. It’s on the card with Dimensionals too. The sentiment is stamped in Gray Granite as well. It’s die cut with the smallest Layering Oval. For the final touch, I added two silver metallic pearls. I think this card would work with almost any color combination. Give it a try.

2020 Case

For this card, I deviated a bit more from the project in the new catalog. Not only did I modify the colors and the embellishments, but I also changed the size from a notecard to a full-sized card.

I used a base of Very Vanilla and layered on a piece of Crumb Cake that had been stamped in the matching ink with the frame stamp. I love the details on that stamp. Next, I stamped the leaf spray and the graphic banner in Old Olive on a piece of Very Vanilla. I used second generation on the graphic banner to soften the impact, but it adds a nice detail. I die cut that with the second largest Stitched Nested Labels die.

To add more texture, I used Linen Thread to wrap around the die cut and added a bow. This piece is popped up on the card using Dimensionals. Next, I stamped the frame stamp in Terracotta Tile on Terracotta Tile card stock. I punched that out with a 1-1/2″ circle punch. The sentiment is stamped in Crumb Cake on a 3/4″ strip of Very Vanilla. For a final touch, I added three Terracotta Tile faceted gems to fill some of the blank space that resulted from my changing the card size.

The images in the catalog are a great jumping off place to let your creativity fly. My Paper Pumpkin customers will have their catalogs soon. If you need one, contact me.

Strong & Beautiful – Two for Tuesday

Posted on by dayinker

The Strong & Beautiful stamp set was a must buy for me. I am so blessed to be surrounded by strong, beautiful women. The set has a dozen sentiments that are perfect for sending cards to my amazing friends and family. I’m using two of those sentiments as the focal points for my cards featuring the Pretty Peacock In-Color paired with So Saffron.

Diamonds

The diamond card starts with a base of So Saffron cardstock. On top of that, I layered a piece of the In Color DSP on another piece of So Saffron. The new patterns for this year are wonderful and you get 40 – 6×6″ sheets in a pack. A wonderful value. Below that, I added some of my hand colored DIY DSP. I used a stamp from the Hugs from Shelli (see last Tuesday’s post for details). I used the new Stampin Blends, So Saffron and Pretty Peacock for my coloring. With both pieces of DSP on the So Saffron 4-1/8x 5-3/8″ cardstock, I was able to easily wrap the Pretty Peacock velvet ribbon. This was a remainder from a Paper Pumpkin kit. If you don’ have it there is an Old Olive/Pretty Peacock ribbon in the catalog that would be a beautiful substitute. The entire assembly is mounted to the base with Dimensionals.

Next, I stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I considered using Pretty Peacock, but I liked the addition of the black ink for this card. The sentiment and the So Saffron shape beneath it were cut out using the Nested Label dies. I have a feeling these are going to be very useful in my craft room. A lot like my Ovals and other Stitched Shapes. I mounted that assembly to the card with Dimensionals and added a couple of rhinestones. Simple and elegant.

Pearls

The next card is almost a duplicate of the first card. The card has a horizontal orientation and I used a different pattern from the In-Color DSP. I accented the card with some of the last of my Artisan pearls from last year’s catalog. But as I’ve shared before, don’t forget you can customize the Basic Pearls with the Stampin’ Blends.

As you can see, I reuse and use up all of the items from my Paper Pumpkin kits. They are a great way to supplement your craft room stash or get it started. Don’t miss out. Sign up with me.

Rococo Roses

Posted on by dayinker

Rococo Rose is a beautiful dusty mauve color that goes beautifully with almost every other color in the Stampin’ Up! palette. Not only did SU put it out in ink and paper, but there are a set of Stampin’ Blends in the new Annual Catalog. Working with Blends is a little intimidating at first. I know I wondered “what if I do it wrong.” Well, I can tell you, there is no wrong. Just add layers and blend. That’s what I did to make my own “DSP”.

Making My Own DSP

I started with a blank 8.5 x 11″ piece of Whisper White. Then I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink to stamp a flower image all over it. I moved the stamp in every direction and had it fall off the edge of the paper, I filled it in completely. The stamp I used was from the Hugs from Shelli Paper Pumpkin, but use what you have or try the new Free as a Bird set. It has very similar flower images.

Next, I cut the paper into four pieces, each one 5.5 x 4.25″. Then I started coloring. The first piece I did with Rococo Rose and Mint Macaron Blends. This gave me a beautiful piece of designer paper to work with. I easily made two cards with it.

Two Cards – First Card – A Note of Friendship

I used Rococo Rose paper as my card bases. Then I trimmed my custom paper. I cut the long side first so that I could use the strip to decorate the inside of my card. Coloring was hard work and I didn’t want to waste a quarter-inch.

Using the Free as a Bird Bundle that comes with the stamp set and the nested dies in the 2019 Annual Catalog, I stamped the birds on a branch on Whisper White using Memento ink and colored in with Balmy Blue, Soft Suede, Mint Macaron, and Rococo Rose Blends. When I cut out the image with the Nested die I realized it was going to cover up a lot of my hard work. So, I cut out the next smallest size of the Nested dies right out of the middle of the paper. Card number two just became a thing.

I layered the colored paper onto the card base with snail. The birds were added with Dimensionals. The sentiment is from the same set. Then I added a few pink gems left over from last years catalog. Don’t forget you can also use Blends to color your rhinestones and make your own matching embellishments.

Second Card – Happy Birthday

For the next card, I embossed a 5.25 x 4″ piece of Whisper White with the Lace embossing folder. I layered that onto the Rococo Rose base. I added a Whisper White twine bow and adhered the duo with Dimensionals.

Next, I added a banner and sentiment, stamped in Rococo Rose, from the Sentimental Rose Paper Pumpkin. I felt like it still needed something and I could have used the same Paper Pumpkin stamp and leaves, but I didn’t feel like fussy cutting, so I got out my Painted Seasons stamps and matching dies to add a Rococo Rose flower and Mint Macaron leaves.

Simple, gorgeous and I got to play with the new In-Color in all its varieties. Also, I have three more stamped panels of flowers. Expect to see more cards from this experimental effort. I hope you’re playing with your craft stash and making beautiful cards to share with your loved ones.