Card: Sending a Smile!

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to today's post! I managed to find a little extra time in my she shed over the last few days (not sure how!) and I wanted to share today's creation.  It was off to the challenge boards for this girl just to get my creativity started.  I used a sketch challenge as a jumping off point for today's card. 

And here is today's card...

The Designer Series Paper is from the Share What You Love retired suite.  I still have a bit of a stash left, so I put it to good use with this card.  I love the vellum underneath the DSP and I feel like it really adds that extra touch to have two layers on top of the cardstock base.  I also wanted to keep it from feeling to "green", so I think the vellum really softens it up.

I practiced with my heat tool and embossing powder and I am proud to say that it only took me three times to create today's sentiment! I'm getting better! As I was searching for some tips and tricks for the embossing technique, I did come across the "embossing buddy", which I may have to look into for the future.  Anyone recommend this?? Any good tips that you can pass on for making sure your embossing powder does not stick to other areas of your paper?? I love the look of embossing, but I always make sure to give myself extra time and supplies (haha!) when using this technique on my cards!

Card Details
Paper: Old Olive, Share What You Love DSP, Vellum, Basic Black
Stamp: Daisy Lane, Delightful Day, A Big Thank You, Beautiful Promenade
Ink: Versamark, Tuxedo Black
Tools: Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder, Beautiful Layer die set
Accessories: Linen Twine

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges:

FabFriday171: Sketch Challenge

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Are you ready for the holidays?! The Holiday Catalog is live...

Keep Austin Crafty!

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Did you like today's post?!  If so, don't forget to...

• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
• Check at the ATXPaperHouse Card of the Month Club!
• Follow me on Pinterest.
• Check out my Etsy Shop.  

Mini Pizza Box: Celebration!

Hello and Welcome!

A happy Thursday to everyone out there! It has been a busy week for our family as we gear up for summer and look forward to some end of school year celebrations.  My daughter's school celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week and I hope that all of the teachers out there know how much they are appreciated.  I for one am always thankful for the hard work and dedication that our school's teachers show every day. 

Just as a little extra thank you, I made a quick celebration box filled with yummy chocolates and wanted to share the finished product with you today.  I purchased the mini pizza box as a part of my Stampin' Up! starter kit and I have been wondering how to use them.  Well let me tell you...a box full of chocolates seemed like the perfect opportunity!

And here is today's project...

What a way to say thank you! I love how these turned out! I used a few retiring products so be sure to head over and check out what's retiring here before the new catalog goes live in June! The paper is so fun and the metallic sequins just bring out some extra flair! In the photos below you can see the inside decoration as well as well as the decor around the whole box.  Chocolate time! 

Box Details

Size: Stampin' Up Mini Pizza Box 3 1/2" x 3 1/2"

Paper: Share What You Love DSP, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Sweet Sugarplum

Stamp Set: Flowering Desert, A Big Thank You

Tools: Rectangle Stitched Die Cuts, 2" Circle Punch

Accessories: Metallic Sequins, Rich Razzleberry velvet ribbon

Another Thank You to all those wonderful teachers out there! This week we CELEBRATE YOU and all that you do for our kiddos! 

Today's project was inspired by the following challenge: 

SUOC 222: Celebrations

Keep Austin Crafty!

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Did you like today's post?!  If so, don't forget to...

• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
• Check at the ATXPaperHouse Card of the Month Club!
• Follow me on Pinterest.
• Check out my Etsy Shop. 

Card: You are the Best!

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to today's post.  So if you read last week's posts, you know how much I love Fresh Fig.  Well, here we go again with Fresh Fig...it's just too good! Today I paired it with the lovely Very Vanilla cardstock and I think I love it even more...is that possible?!

I also tried a new technique called "Paper Piecing" (thank you Paper Players for the challenge).  I'm not sure I picked the best stamp set to work with on this technique, but the technique is definitely one I will try again.  It was fun to use the Designer Series Paper in this way and give the card a little extra texture.  

And here is today's card...

The Fresh Fig against the Very Vanilla really makes the color pop! Add a little velvet ribbon and you have a lovely combination of colors.  So let's get to the details...

The paper piecing technique is used on the side flowers.  I went back and forth on what part of the centerpiece to "pop" with dimensionals and I decided on the sentiment portion itself.  I started by stamping the large flowers (Sunshine Sayings stamp set) on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  I then stamped the same flower image on a piece of Share What You Love DSP.  I fussy cut the stamped DSP image and adhered to the Very Vanilla image using the Fine Tip Glue Pen.  I fussy cut the Very Vanilla image and adhered to the card base using the Fine Tip Glue Pen.  I then stamped additional flower images from the A Big Thank You stamp set to the card base for added detail.  The sentiment and border is stamped in Fresh Fig (obviously!) and adhered to the card base using dimensionals.  

I pulled out my Envelope Punch Board and handmade the matching envelope and included the Share What You Love as the envelope liner.  Finishes the card nicely! 

Card Details

Card Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Paper: Very Vanilla, Share What You Love DSP

Ink: Fresh Fig

Stamp Set: A Big Thank You, Sunshine Sayings

Tools: Rectangle Stitched Die Cuts

Accessories: Fresh Fig velvet ribbon, Share What You Love adhesive pearls

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges: 

Tuesday Morning Sketches

The Paper Players

Keep Austin Crafty!

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Did you like today's post?!  If so, don't forget to...

• Leave a comment below! I love to hear your thoughts on the day's project!
• Check at the ATXPaperHouse Card of the Month Club!
• Follow me on Pinterest.
• Check out my Etsy Shop.  NEW cards added this week! 

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Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack REFRESH! Don't forget to check out the Clearance Rack for the latest deals and steals! These products sell out quickly and are only available while supplies last! Search for Angela Slutz, Texas and click "SHOP NOW"! Happy Shopping!

Card: Well Said Thank You

Hello and Welcome! 

Welcome to today's post! Only one more day till the weekend! I hope everyone is getting ready for a restful Easter weekend.  Well, "restful" may be a generous term when you have a 4 year old, but we are definitely looking forward to our Easter egg hunts and a trip to see the Easter Bunny! Of course, Sunday will be filled with church followed by Easter brunch with the family, so it is sure to be a good day.  

Before the weekend kicks off, I wanted to share today's card.  I have to say I am a bit sad to say goodbye to the Fresh Fig and Powder Pink In Colors.  I know some exciting new colors are coming down the line (and boy do I love new things), but they have been some of my favorite colors so I shed just a little tear.  So in honor of these retiring In Colors, I decided to feature the Fresh Fig card stock in today's card.  

And here is today's card...

The card base, die cut sentiment and sprig stamps all feature the Fresh Fig In Color.  It was a coordinating color to the Share What You Love DSP, so it was the perfect base to highlight the framed DSP.  

I am loving the Well Said bundle and cannot say how much use I have gotten out of these sentiments.  I think they are the perfect combination of simple yet sophisticated.  The cute, little butterfly is also cut from that set, so it even offers more than just sentiments.  

A simple button and linen twine from the corner of the frame finish off the sprig punch accents.  

Card Details

Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Paper: Fresh Fig, Whisper White, Share What You Love DSP, Old Olive

Ink: Fresh Fig

Tools: Well Said Cling Bundle

Accessories: Silver button, linen twine

Today's card was inspired by the following challenge: 

Fab Friday 161

Keep Austin Crafty!

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: 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!

Card: Can't get enough of those Butterflies

Hello and Welcome!

Today's card was inspired by a few of this week's challenges.  It has been a cold and dreary day here in Austin, so it was the perfect day to snuggle up in my "she shed" and make some cards.  Even my little one is feeling the cold because as I write this she is quietly sitting beside me making her own card.  It's a good day for crafting!

I had to stick with the Botanical Butterfly DSP as a the centerpiece of this card.  The paper is just beautiful and I love using it as the focal point. 

And here is today's card...

Step-by-step instructions

1.)  Start with a piece of Grapefruit Grove cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" as the card base. 

2.)  Trim a piece of Botanical Butterfly DSP to 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere to the card base using snail adhesive. 

3.)  Stamp the sentiment and design from "A Big Thank You" stamp set in Tuxedo Black ink on Whisper White card stock. 

4.)  Crop the sentiment, a piece of Grapefruit Grove card stock and a piece of Basic Black card stock using the Rectangle Stitched Framelits.  Adhere the Grapefruit Grove card stock with snail adhesive.  Add a piece of linen thread underneath the Basic Black card stock before adhering with mini Stampin' Dimensionals.  Adhere the sentiment crop using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Today's card was inspired by the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #377

Sunday Stamps SSC#199

Keep Austin Crafty!

Case it UP Tuesday: Share What You Love DSP

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to CASE it UP Tuesday! Ever see a beautiful card on Pinterest or in a catalog and think "I wish I could make that?!"?  Well, I'm here to tell you that you can! Even the best creative card maker could use a little inspiration sometime, so I have started this bi-weekly post dedicated to CASEing (Copy and Share Everything)!  You can learn to make a card exactly as you see it, use only certain elements (i.e. embellishments and ribbon) or take the layout as a starting point.  What's important is that you take time to create and make something beautiful!  

The inspiration for today's card came from the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog (pg. 176).  I purchased the Share What You Love DSP as part of my new demonstrator goodies and I love it.  The paper is gorgeous and the coordinating pieces really help to pull everything together.

And here is today's card...

Step-by-step instructions

1.)  Start with a piece of Grapefruit Grove card stock cut to 3 1/2" x 7".  Score at 3 1/2" for a square card base. 
2.)  Emboss with the Lovely Floral Embossing Folder. 
3.)  Attach a piece of Share What You Love DSP cut to 3" x 0.5" across the bottom of the card base.  I choose to cut the edges of that DSP into a "banner" but you could leave it a basic rectangle shape. 
4.)  I manually cut a few of the flowers from the Share What You Love DSP and added them behind the sentiment. 

The technique of "fussy cutting" is new to me and what a great concept it is (thanks Mom!)!!  As someone still building their stock of die cuts and stamps, being able to manually cut the designs straight from the DSP is wonderful.  You can still get that die cut look, your paper colors are perfectly matched and you can use all that beautiful paper.
5.)  Stamp the sentiment in Tuxedo Black ink and crop in the die cut of your choice. 
6.)  Add a bit of linen twine to create a finished look. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Don't forget about all the great deals going on during Stampin' Up!'s Sale-A-Bration event!

Keep Austin Crafty!

CASE it UP Tuesday: Flowers for a Friend

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to the first edition of CASE it UP Tuesday! Ever see a beautiful card on Pinterest or in a catalog and think "I wish I could make that?!"?  Well, I'm here to tell you that you can! Even the best creative card maker could use a little inspiration sometime, so I have started this weekly post dedicated to CASEing (Copy and Share Everything)!  You can learn to make a card exactly as you see it, use only certain elements (i.e. embellishments and ribbon) or take the layout as a starting point.  What's important is that you take time to create and make something beautiful!  

Today I have to give credit to the wonderful Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty.  I have taken her "Let's Giggle with Happiness Blooms" post and applied the A Big Thank You stamp set and Share What You Love DSP.  

Here is today's card...

Step-by-step instructions

1.)  Start with a piece of Old Olive card stock cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" as the card base. 

2.)  Adhere a piece of Whisper White card stock cut to 4" x 5 1/4" to the card base with Snail Adhesive. 

3.)  Adhere three strips of Share What You Love DSP (1" x 4") to a piece of Old Olive card stock cut to 3 1/2" x 4 1/4" with Snail Adhesive. 

4.)  Stamp the sentiment from A Big Thank You stamp set in Fresh Fig ink on Whisper White card stock. 

5.)  Use the Big Shot and 2nd smallest rectangle (Old Olive) and smallest rectangle (Whisper White sentiment) dies from Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies. Adhere together with Snail Adhesive. Adhere to the card with mini Stampin' Dimensionals. 

6.)  I added some additional embellishments with a twist of copper twine underneath the sentiment section and a few bronze colored sequence.  

Thanks for stopping by today for this quick and easy CASE card!

Keep Austin Crafty! 

Beautiful DSP - Gift Set #2

Hello and Welcome!

As promised, I am back today to share the second gift set project that I completed using my new Stampin' Up! goodies.  You can check out my first gift set post here.

Here is the lovely finished product...

Again, hopefully this picture shows up well on everyone's end.  I tried to get it as large as I could so you could see the detail on each of these cards.  You can see the original card in the back, left corner.  I started off making the first two cards with the velvet ribbon and then decided to change it up by adding a pearl adhesive to the last two cards.  It's always fun to make each card stand out in different ways!  Each card also features a different stamp on the "window-like" layer.  I'm a big fan of stamping the paper to create an original background!    

For step-by-step instructions on how to construct these cards, you can see the original post here! 

Paper: Share What You Love DSP, Share What You Love coordinating cardstock

Ink: Fresh Fig, Crumb Cake or Tuxedo Black

Stamp Set: A Big Thank You

Embellisments: Fresh Fig velvet ribbon, Share What You Love self-adhesive pearls

Keep Austin Crafty!   

Beautiful DSP - Gift Set #1

Hello and Welcome!

I hope all my readers had a wonderful weekend! I am back today to share a gift set project that I worked on and completed this last week.  Last Tuesday, I posted a project using the new goodies from my Stampin' Up starter kit (you can check that post out here).  I was so happy with how they turned out that I decided to make a coordinating gift set.

Here is the lovely finished product...

Ok hopefully this picture shows up well on everyone's end.  I tried to get it as large as I could so you could see the detail on each of these cards.  I love how they turned out! You can see the original card in the back, left corner.  The design was so simple and easy to re-create that these cards came together pretty quickly once I got on a roll.  The colors are so rich and vibrant!

For step-by-step instructions on how to construct these cards, you can see the original post here! 

Paper: Share What You Love DSP, Share What You Love coordinating cardstock

Ink: Fresh Fig, Crumb Cake or Tuxedo Black

Stamp Set: A Big Thank You

Check back Thursday for gift set #2!

Keep Austin Crafty!   

Beautiful DSP!

Hello and Welcome!

I hope all my readers are having a wonderful week.  I hoped to get this post up yesterday, but life gets in the way sometimes and that's just how it goes! My lovely little is off at school today, so I have my craft space to myself and I am so excited to share today's projects.  I treated myself to some new Stampin' Up goodies and I couldn't wait to use them!  Ok, ok...I actually signed up to become a Stampin' Up demonstrator and these goodies were part of my starter kit!!!  I am so excited for this next step in my card making journey and I hope that I can be an inspiration to those in my immediate area and beyond.  Be on the lookout as I update my blog to reflect this new adventure and get things started!

I decided to get right to work sharing these new projects using the "Share What You Love" DSP and the Rectangle Stitched Dies.  I was so excited to see the challenge over at TGIF Challenges because their focus this week is to feature a DSP! What luck!

Here are today's cards... 

Thank You Card #1

Thank You Card #2

As you can see, both cards feature the gorgeous DSP "Share What You Love" as well as the coordinating cardstock Rich Razzleberry.  The Rich Razzleberry cut out also features the Rectangle Stitched die cuts which after only two cards are soon to become a favorite of mine! See below for the card deets and some additional photos! 

Step-by-step instructions

1.) Start with a piece of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Rich Razzleberry cardstock.  Don't want scraps?! Go ahead and make two cards like I did above and change up the design. 

2.) Cut a piece of "Share What You Love" DSP to 4" x 5 1/4" for the background layer. 

3.) Send a piece of Rich Razzleberry through the Big Shot using the Rectangle Stitched die cuts to create a detailed stitch around the outside as well as a window like cut out in the middle.  

             

4.) Add a die cut flower with leaves in Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive or create a popped sentiment above some velvet ribbon.

5.) All stamps are from the "A Big Thank You" set and are stamped in either Fresh Fig or Crumb Cake.  

A beautiful card that lets the paper do all the work for you! 

These cards were inspired by the following challenges: 

TGIF Challenge #196

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

P.S....Don't forget to check out my finished "she shed" here! It was a wonderfully fun home project and I hope it helps you to create an inviting and inspiring craft space.  

Keep Austin Crafty!