Anniversaries Are Just Birdy!

Three blog posts in 3 days!  Look at me, I'm a bloggin' beast!  Glad I finally got on board (sorry took me so long Mel).

These cards were such a delight to make.  I have several close friends whose 4th wedding anniversaries are fast-approaching so I made a few versions of the same card.  The Two-Step Bird punch made it just so simple!  In an effort to use up some of my old/retired paper, I used this color scheme.  But, feel free to play off of these colors with new ink & paper.

TIP: Don't have Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (because it's retired)???  No worries!  If you're lucky, like I am, your fabulous demonstrator will give you some of her old catalogs and you can cut the DSP right out of there!  Or you can just use the catalog you have since you're only ripping out 7 pages.  Each of the section title pages in the 2009-2010 catalog (Holidays, Occasions, Growing Up, etc.) starts with a new DSP.  I simply ripped out these pages and filed them in my DSP organizer.  (You can also get paper from each of these sets: Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin', Kaleidoscope DSP, Tall Tales DSP, Hostess Bundle Lovely Flowers DSP, Autumn Traditions DSP, & The Write Stuff DSP).  Each sheet can decorate up to 3 full card fronts.  Voila, FREE DSP!  :o)

Happy Stamping!
~Kiran

Stamp Sets: Whimsical Words (SAB '10), Congratulations (SAB '09)
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion (retired)
Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade, Sahara Sand, Summer Sun (retired), Pink Passion (retired)
Extras: Two-Step Bird punch, Full Heart Punch, Designer Label Punch, Stamp-a-majig

Even Trendier Trees!

Update!  After posting one of my favorite cards, with all retired colors and papers, I decided it was time for trendy trees to move forward and embrace Stampin' Up!'s new color palate.  So here is an all-current version of last Wednesday's card.

The cardstock are all new in-color shades: Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait, and Pear Pizzazz.  I broke out an all-new level 3 hostess set, Playful Pieces, to create the pattern on the layer of Peach Parfait.  TIP: If you haven't had time or money to buy the fabulous new designer series paper, this is an excellent way to create your own!

My trusty Stamp-a-majig came to my aid, lining up the leaves with tree trunks.  Vintage Vogue contributed the perfect sentiment.  Two final touches came from the Ticket Corner Punch and two lines of paper piercing, perfectly aligned thanks to the Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Playful Pieces, Vintage Vogue
Ink: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green
Paper: Concord Crush, Popply Parade, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Extras: Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Ticket Corner Punch

Paisley Bride

I have been in love with this stamp set since the moment I laid eyes on it...and that was a while ago.  The thing is, once I received it (as a birthday gift; thanks Jennifer!) it took me forever to finally use it.  With a much needed & not-so-gentle budge by Mel, I sat down with the For The Bride set, my Big Shot, my heat embosser and got crackin'.  Good thing I also had some weddings coming up.  These cards not only look nice but they feel nice too!  Here's what I came up with.  Enjoy!

Happy Stamping!

~Kiran

Stamps: For The Bride, Pendant Park

Ink: Basic Black, VersaMark

Paper: Going Grey, Cameo Coral (retired), Whisper White, Brilliant Blue (retired), Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black

Extras: white embossing powder, corner rounder punch, heat tool, Big Shot, Elegant Wallpaper embossing folder

Our new look...

I'm sure you've noticed.  What do you think?!?  Melanie & I will be changing the look regularly to keep things fresh (and seasonally appropriate)!  And the best part: it was all so fun, so easy and so quick with My Digital Studio!  I'd be happy to show you how.

Happy Stamping,
~Kiran

My Digital Studio: Summertime Splendor DSP

Go Ahead, Challenge Me

As you may recall, I started the year with some blogging goals, and one of those was to play in online challenges.  Well, now that it's August, I'm finally getting around to that--it's about time!  Today's card is for the challenge over at Pals Paper Arts, to make a masculine KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetie) card.  Since I'm keeping it simple, I hopped on over to Clean & Simple Stamping for a nice layout, and found it in this week's offering, FTL102.  I follow both of these blogs and their challenges regularly, but this is the first time I've been able to create a suitable card in the week it's due.  What do you think?

In keeping both with the KISS challenge and with the clean and simple layout, this is a one-layer card that was quick and easy to put together, and hopefully is a gender neutral way to express my thanks.  I went with the brown and blue combination (in Early Espresso and Marina Mist) both because I love these new colors, and because I think this combo is appropriate for anyone.  In fact, it's one of the main color schemes in my apartment, so clearly I'm a fan.

I did use the Stamp-a-majig in my attempt to keep everything balanced, but even with help that can be hard.  My advice?  Just keep trying!  It really is true that practice makes perfect.  The finishing touch on this card is that line of paper piercing to tie together the circles and the sentiment that otherwise was floating at the bottom.

What do you think?  Is this challenge worthy?

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus, Thank You Kindly

Ink: Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White

Extras: Stamp-a-majig, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Trendy Trees Flashback

Every once in a while, there's a card that you love too much to let it go.  Here's mine!  Almost everything  I used here is retired, but Trendy Trees is still available for you to buy and love.  After this stroll down memory lane, I'm sure I'll have to make an updated version of this card!

To get the two-tone look my trees have, you'll want to use the rock-n-roll technique.  Ink your stamp in your lighter color first, then roll the edges in the darker color you want to use.  Remember!  You always want to go lighter to darker ink, so that you don't "contaminate" your ink pads.

I also used my trusty Stamp-a-majig to line those leaves up perfectly with the tree trunks, as well as to make sure that my sentiment was straight and centered.  The final touches on this card came from the Ticket Corner punch (another favorite) and from using my Paper Piercer with the Mat Pack--that's how I got the straight lines of holes on the edges of the DSP.

I hope you've enjoyed this blast from the past, and that it inspires some future creativity.
Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Sweet Little Sentiments (retired)
Ink: Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Yoyo Yellow (retired), Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Green Galore (retired), Glorious Green (retired)
Paper: Textured Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Washington Apple DSP (retired), Green Galore (retired), Whisper White
Extras: Ticket Corner Punch, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Stamp-a-majig

Decor Elements to Go!

Ah, decor elements--we love them.  Between the two of us, Kiran and I have gotten quite a few...both for ourselves and as housewarming gifts for friends.  They're perfect!  We love the designs, the colors, and most of all that they are NOT permanent.  They stick to the walls, but are easy to remove and won't hurt paint, wallpaper, or any other thing.  But what if you don't want to leave your awesome decor element behind when you move?  Well, Kiran has the answer, and detailed how-tos, for you below...  

Use a frame!  I got this one at a local craft store for less than $20.  I'd call that a steal, given how big the large "eat" is.  The next step is to assemble all your pieces, and make sure that the frame really is the right size for your project.

As you might have guessed from that last comment, this decor element was a little bigger than the frame. But it's not a problem!  Stampin' Up! has gridlines on the back of the decor element sheets (how handy), so I could confidently trim in a straight line.

I took the frame apart from the back and simply turned the paper (with the fake photos ) over and added a layer of white cardstock to make sure the images would not be seen.  If you have a roll of paper wide and long enough to cover the frame size, feel free to use it.  You can use different color paper to create a unique and bold look and match just about any room!   Once I flipped the paper over, I put the frame back together again and turned it over.

TIP: make sure you have the frame right side up (check the hooks in the back to make sure it hangs right side up).  If you happen to realize the frame is upside down after you have finished the project, no worries - you can take the frame apart again and just flip the glass but this can be painstaking.

Once the backing is peeled & you're ready to lay the sheet on your surface for transfer, move slowly & cautiously making sure you're not getting lint/hair/debris on the sticky sheet because it might end up on your finished product.  TWO TIPS: Clean the surface first!  I'll be honest, having an extra person to help is really helpful and I'd recommend it. 

Start from a corner and flatten slowly with the decor elements tool moving from edge to edge diagonally with light pressure.  This will eliminate air bubbles/pockets.  TIP: If you do get air pockets, you might be able to use a fine straight pin/needle to poke a hole in the bubble and release the air.  I have a few tiny air bubbles in the handle of the fork but can you tell?  Didn't think so.  When the frame is hung, all you'll hear are the "oooh"s and "aaah"s of your guests.

See our other decor element projects here, and check out the current offerings in the Definitely Decorative catalog to the right.

Cheers!
~Kiran & Melanie