Card: Thoughts and Prayers

Hello and Welcome! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday!  

I am sharing a card today that was inspired by this week's sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches.  In addition to the sketch inspiration, I wanted to focus on a few sample sympathy, thank you and just because cards over the next few weeks.  I am working to start my own Card Ministry with my church and it is something that I have been thinking about for quite sometime.  I have been looking for ways to get more involved with my congregation/community and I thought why not share my love of cards.  I think I have a nice little plan for my next steps and I hope you'll come along this journey with me.  

So here is today's card...

The Mint Macaron cardstock helped to create a peaceful background to the beautiful DSP.  A touch of vellum helped to frame the sentiment as well as bring out the sprig punches.  The more I work with vellum the more I love it.  I think it brings that soft touch and can really complete a card.  More vellum!!!

The card actually opens down the middle and it is my first time created a card like this.  I wanted to do something a little more unique today and I love the way it turned out.  

Card Details

Paper: Mint Macaron, Basic Black, Whisper White, Share What You Love DSP, Vellum

Ink: Tuxedo Black

Stamp Set: Wishing You Well, August 2018 Paper Pumpkin (inside sentiment)

Accessories: Circle Punch, Sprig Punch, Alpine Sports Thinlits

Embellishments: Rich Razzleberry Velvet Ribbon

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges: 

Tuesday Morning Sketches #496

Simon Says Wednesday: Anything Goes

Keep Austin Crafty!

Card: Workin' with Stampin' Blends

Hello and Welcome! 

I am very excited to share today's card because I was finally able to play with a pair of Stampin' Blends...and I am hooked! Of course I am! If you've used them before, then you probably know that they are extremely fun and easy to work with and you get a wonderful "blend" of colors that can really add a little something extra to your card.  Plus, I found it extremely therapeutic to sit in my craft area and color this beautiful butterfly paper.  Some quiet crafting time sure does set the mind at ease.  

And here is today's card...

I wanted to keep the focus of today's card on the paper because who doesn't love those butterflies!?  I have been holding on to this particular page because I couldn't decide whether to color the butterflies or just showcase them on a black and white card.  Then the Stampin' Blends arrived and I had my answer! 

This is the second card that I have made that features the fun cut-out design on the front of the card.  You can see the previous card at my post here.  The previous card also features the "Work of Art" stamp set with a black and white card base.  

Today I got into my scrap pile as well and I love when I get to bring old pieces back to life.  The vellum leaves and pink twine are left over from the August 2018 Paper Pumpkin kit.  I don't know how many times my "box o' scraps" has come to the rescue!

Card Details

Card Size:  4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Powder Pink

Stamp Set: Work of Art

Stampin' Blends: Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green

Tools: Rectangle Stitched Die Framelits, Circle Punch

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges: 

SUOC 219: Coloring

#SUOC219

TGIF Challenge #204 Product Spotlight - Stampin' Blends

Keep Austin Crafty!

Card: Dots for Days

Hello and Welcome! 

A happy Tuesday to all! Today's card features the beautiful Botanical Butterfly DSP from Stampin' Up! I choose to use the dotted side of the paper to create a fun and stylish card in pinks and blacks.  

And here is today's card: 

This card is just fun to me and brings a smile to my face.  The pop of pink against the black and white is perfect and I have to say one of my favorite color combinations.  So much so that I chose it as my wedding colors going on nine years ago...still just simple and classic.  

The stamp set Work of Art is an oldie, but a goodie.  The pink dots are inked with Sweet Sugarplum once and then stamped on the paper three times before going back for more ink.  It gives a nice contrast of color between dark and light.

Card Details

Card Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Botanical Butterfly DSP

Ink: Sweet Sugarplum, Tuxedo Black

Stamp Set: Work of Art

Accessories: Rectangle Stitched Die Framelits, Sprig Punch, ribbon of your choice for extra flair 

Today's layout was inspired by the following challenge: 

Festive Friday FF #0030

First time playing along with this challenge! 

Keep Austin Crafty!

Card: Wishing You Well

Hello and Welcome! 

A happy Saturday to everyone! I hope everyone's weekend is off to a good start.  Hopefully, you are getting some time to craft and/or find inspiration for future crafting projects.  

I designed a card today that I have fallen in love with and I plan to use this design and/or color scheme in future projects for sure.  The stamp set featured is the "Wishing You Well" set and the colors used today are Crumb Cake, Powder Pink and Fresh Fig.  I think the colors could go either way as either spring or fall, so take your pick! 

And here is today's card...

Card Details

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Crumb Cake, Powder Pink, Fresh Fig

Stamp Set: Wishing You Well, sentiment of your choice

Accessories: Rectangle Stitched Framelits, silver button, linen twine, mini dimensionals, snail adhesive

Here is a close up of the detail on the lovely, embellished sentiment.  If you haven't tried adding a vellum background to your cards, I highly recommend it! I think that added layer just makes the sentiment pop out and gives it a nice, soft touch.   

I'll be entering this card into the following challenge: 

Simon Says Stamp Monday: Tiny Things

Love those tiny flowers in the background!

I would love to hear your comments on today's project! Don't forget to leave them below! 

Keep Austin Crafty!

Card: Giving a card for a guy a try!

Hello and Welcome! 

I am here today to share one of my first takes on making a "masculine" card.  I will be the first to agree with anyone who says that making a card for a guy is not the easiest task.  I don't know if I really succeeded, but I at least stuck to some neutrals so hopefully I get some brownie points for that.  I knew I needed to stick to a pretty basic color scheme, but I did reach out to a challenge or two for some sketch inspiration. 

And here is today's card...

Card Details

Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 

Paper: Whisper White, Share What You Love DSP

Ink: Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake

Stamps: Work of Art, Sunshine Sayings, Make a Difference

Accessories:  Pinewood Planks Embossing Folder, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, Sprig Punch, Linen Twine

I'll leave you with a quick close up of the outside sentiment as well as a quick pick of the inside sentiment.  The Work of Art stamp set is so versatile and I love the detailed, paintbrush look that you get from the stamps.  I think I will need to pull this set out more often! 

This card was inspired by the following challenge: 

Freshly Made Sketches #380

I think I forgot that the wood planks needed to be cut into squares...loose interpretation from this girl this week :/

Keep Austin Crafty!

What's New with Stampin' Up!

Hello and Welcome!

Today I wanted to share a quick update on what's new with Stampin' Up! this month! I am happy to share that this month's Paper Pumpkin is going...DISTINKTIVE! What does that mean you ask? Well, here are just a few tidbits...

Distinktive stamps give you photo-realistic images with just one stamp.

Distinktive stamps are available in red-rubber and photopolymer.  April's Paper Pumpkin kit includes photopolymer. 

These stamps are only available with Stampin' Up!

With Paper Pumpkin, you get a cute package filled with fun papercrafting goodies...right to your door!!!! What could be better?!  The kit includes everything you need to make 9 cards (3 of each design) and this month's kit features the following coordinating colors: Basic Black, Calypso Coral, Gray Granite, Mint Macron and So Saffron.  

But hurry! You must have an active subscription by April 10 at 11pm (MT) to receive April's kit.

Simply click on the link below to sign-up! 

As always, feel free to email me if you have any questions! 

Keep Austin Crafty!

Card: Luck of the Irish!

Hello and Welcome!

It is St. Patrick’s Day weekend and I hope everyone is feeling the “Luck of the Irish”! We love to wear our green and have a little fun celebrating the day! So I decided to make my daughter’s card for her little goodie basket this year and I wanted to share the finished product with you today!

And here is today’s card...

I love all the shamrocks and the sentiment! My little one even picked out the paper and I love when she gives her input on my cards! I hope she loves it! 

Step-by-step instructions

1.  Start with a your choice of green colored card stock cut to 4" x 4 1/2" as the card base.  

2.  Using the smallest heart shape stamp from the "A Big Thank You" stamp set, create a mini shamrock scene on the card base using Garden Green Ink.  

3.  Trim a piece of vellum to 3 3/4" x 4 1/4" and adhere to the card base using snail adhesive. 

4.  Crop a piece of Whisper White card stock using the Rectangle Stitched Die Framelits.  

5.  Using the Stamparatus and the "Make a Difference" stamp set, stamp the sentiment "Luck of the Irish" in Garden Green ink.  

6.  Crop a piece of the green card stock and a fun piece of decorative card stock stock using a basic circle die cut.  

7.  On the cropped green piece, stamp the heart shape from the "Work of Art" stamp set in Garden Green ink into a shamrock shape.  

I will leave you with a close up of the sentiment.  It is sweet and simple.  I love the "Make a Difference" set because if you are willing to take the time to measure everything out then you will always have the perfect sentiment.  

This card was inspired not just by the holiday, but by the challenges below...

Freshly Made Sketches #379

The Card Concept #110

Keep Austin Crafty!

Spotlight Saturday: Botanical Butterfly DSP

Hello and Welcome!

I hope everyone's weekend is off to a great start! We had some beautiful weather here in Austin today and we were so excited to be able to go out and enjoy it.  We hit up the neighborhood block party and enjoyed some delicious BBQ followed by yummy ice cream...a good time was had by all!

It was nice to be back in town as the little one and I escaped the last of the winter weather (hopefully) with a trip up to the grandparents house! A few days with Grandma and Grandpa can always make things better when it's 20 degrees outside...no we do not do well in the cold!

Anyways, I'm back to blogging and card making after a brief "vaca" and excited to share another completed gift set.  I loved the Botanical Butterfly DSP "Thanks" card that I posted a few days ago, so I decided to make a few more to really highlight that beautiful paper. 

So here are today's cards...

Isn't that paper just beautiful!? You can check out the dimensions and card details at the original post.  

Simon Says Monday Challenge: Whatever the Weather 

Don't these cards say "SPRING IS HERE!" 

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And don't forget the wonderful deals for Sale-A-Bration are still going on until March 31st! 

Check out the brochures below!

And don't hesitate to email me with questions or help ordering! 

    

Keep Austin Crafty!