Stampin' Up! - Horse Frontier...

The request was for a male birthday card and what is more masculine than a cowboy?  I CASE'd this card from one on SplitCoastStampers - with a few twists of my own.  The sentiment on the inside comes from a retired stamp set but it is one that I just love and fits so well with the horse theme.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:
Stamps:       Horse Frontier & Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired)
Inks:           Bashful Blue, Old Olive & Black StazOn
Paper:        Bashful Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other:        Antique Brads, circle punches & Festive Paper
                    Piercing Pack

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s You're Amazing....

 Here's a card we made using the You're Amazing stamp set and the Affection Collection stamp set.  We received these two stamp sets last July at convention and I just had not pulled them out so I thought I better use them just in case they retire in six months!  This card was inspired by a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers.

Here's the inside of the card.  The birthday phrase is from the retired set "Happiest Birthday Wishes" - I loved that set and still use it.  You could use Bring On The Cake which has a bunch of great birthday phrases.

Here's what you will need to duplicate this card:

Stamps:      You're Amazing, Affection Collection and Happiest Birthday Wishes
Inks:           Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise, Primrose Petals, Early Espresso, & Summer Starfruit
Paper:        Gumball Green, Whisper White & Tempting Turquoise
Other:        Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

By the Seashore....

Here's a card from a recent workshop.  Did you catch the Monet Technique that was a recent Technique Tuesday?  If so, you will recognize it here.  If not, click on Techniques above and learn this cool technique!

 Here's what you need for this card:

• Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Whisper White and Glossy White cardstock
• Night of Navy and Marina Mist classic inks
• Subtles Pattern Pack paper
• Marina Mist, Baja Breeze and Night of Navy Watercolor Crayons
• Postage punch
• By the Seashore (current) and Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired) stamps sets
• Crystal Effects

NOTE:  Glossy White paper was used with the technique on the piece that has the sentiment.  The technique was also used on a piece of Whisper White for the seashells.  After completing the technique, the seashells were stamped and cut out.  Finally they were covered with Crystal Effects.

Here's the inside of the card.

Forever Stampin',

    Cathy Williams

Stampin' Up!'s Up, Up & Away....

Today's card uses the Up, Up & Away stamp set.  We made this card at a workshop in mid-July.  The colors in this picture are a bit off from the actual colors of Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party.  So cute!

Stampin' Up!'s The Open Sea Stamp Set

This is a card from a workshop last weekend which uses the Herringbone technique which I showed you last week.  It uses the Nautical DSP which is now retired but I just love it and it works so well with the stamp set, The Open Sea which is still available.

Here's what you will need to make this card:

• The Open Sea Stamp Set
• Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
• Classic Inks:  Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler & Soft Suede for aging
• Houndstooth Embossing Folder, Sanding Block, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine & Gold Brads

 Here's the inside of the card.  Most of the images were stamped after stamping off once - except for the compass rose.  The sentiment comes from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set.  I love this stamp for masculine cards!  I am going to really miss it when it retires at the end of May.  If you want to get this stamp set, contact me about scheduling a workshop since it is a hostess set and cannot be purchased.

Up, Up & Away Stampin' Up! Way...

Today's card is another from a December workshop but is a birthday card for anyone.



The card was made using the Up Up and Away and Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp sets. The card is a Top Pocket card which I will show you in an upcoming Technique Tuesday. Here's what you will need to make this card as shown: Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz & Wisteria Wonder Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Melon Mambo, & Pear Pizzazz Stripes Embossing Folder Fancy Fan Letterpress Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon Pear Pizzazz Marker Punches: 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8 circle", 2 3/8" scallop circle Circles #2 Big Shot Die

Brayer Class - Stampin' Up!'s Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder

This has to be one of my favorite embossing folders.  While the image is relatively simple, it is quite stunning and I am finding lots of ways to use it.  For this card, I showed everyone how to brayer the embossing folder directly with your ink and then place your cardstock inside and run through the Big Shot.  I am not sure how to describe which side of the embossing folder that you need to ink except to say it would be the "valley" side.  The "mountain" side would be the raised image side and the "valley" side is the one that drops down in the shape of the image.  Clear as mud?
One other hint on this card is to place a VERY small piece of double sidede temporary tape to the back side of the cardstock and place the cardstock on the "mountain" side of the embossing folder and then close the embossing folder.  This way you do not risk it moving around as you close the folder and cause the ink to smear.
I finished off the card with the Happy Birthday stamp from the Happiest Birthday Wishes hostess stamp set in Melon Mambo and Old Olive.

Stampin' Up!'s Happiest Birthday Wishes...

Today's card is a great birthday card for all ages and both genders.  I used the Block Shadow Stamping technique which I showed you last week on this card to give the background some depth.  I wasn't sure if I wanted the sentiment on an oval or the decorative label so I made up both and then decided I liked the look of the oval on top of the decorative label.  Here's what I used to make this card:

• Poppy Parade cardstock for card, label layers and present
• So Saffron cardstock for matting
• Baja Breeze cardstock for present and labels
• Peach Parfait for present
• Just Eat Cake DSP
• Stamp Set:  Happiest Birthday Wishes
• Punches:  Decorative Label, Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer, Extra-Large Oval
• So Saffron 1/8" Taffeta ribbon
• Rhinestones

Technique Tuesday - Telescoping Circles Card

It is Tuesday and that means a new technique for you.  Today I am going to show you how to make a Telescoping Circles Card.  They are quite easy but require a bunch of Big Shot dies or a circle cutter.

 Here's what you need:

• Whisper White cardstock & two coordinating colors of cardstock (I used Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive)
• Stamp set of your choice (I used Stampin' Up!'s Patterned Party & Happiest Birthday Wishes)
• Markers or inks in coordinating colors (I used Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight - not pictured is Basic Black)
• Dies - 3" circle, 3 1/2" Circle and Large Scallop Circle
• 2 1/2" Circle Punch
• Coordinating brads
• Ribbon - not pictured.  I used Tempting Turquoise
• Paper Piercer and mat (not shown)

 Cut your circles as follows:

• Cut ONE Large Scallop Circle out of coordinating color cardstock;
• Cut TWO 3 1/2" circles from Whisper White cardstock;
• Cut ONE 3" circle from second coordinating color cardstock;
• Punch ONE 2 1/2" circle from Whisper White cardstock.

 Stamp on the Whisper White circles as desired.

 Attach 2 1/2" Whisper White circle to 3" colored cardstock.

 Attach one of the 3 1/2" Whisper White circles to the large scallop circle.

 Take the second Whisper White 3 1/2" circle and place it UPSIDE DOWN over the other Whisper White 3 1/2" circle.  Pierce a hole at the top and attach brad.

 Spin top circle around so it sits above the scallop circle.  Place 3" colored circle UPSIDE DOWN in center of middle circle.  Pierce a hole at the top and attach with a brad.

 Spin top circle around and pierce a hole at the top.  Cut a small piece of ribbon and fold in half.  Attach ribbon to circle with brad.

 Here's my card when it is all folded up.  Looks pretty cute just like this, doesn't it?

Now see how cute it is when it is opened up!  Who wouldn't love receiving a card like this one!