Three Sunflower Easel Center Step Cards

Boy, do I have a jam packed post for you today!

Way back in 2013, I made this lovely Center Step Fold Sunflower card. I'm sharing it again today as I've walked down my blog's memory lane this week. I've always loved sunflowers. I grow them each summer in my garden too!

But don't stop reading after this first photo and caption, I have two new cards to share below too! 

You don't want to miss them!

Using the center step cutting design, turns the Sunflower stamp from ok to WOW! I used Crushed Curry and Early Espresso ink, on Very Vanilla cardstock. The base is Baked Brown Sugar cardstock. Accents are the Itty Bitty Butterfly punch with Rhinestones and the Chalk Talk stamp set "For You" on Very Vanilla (hand cut out) mounted on Early Espresso punched with the 1-3/8" circle punch finished off with 1/8" Early Espresso taffeta ribbon taped to the back for "tails."

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If you have time, enjoy watching and reading about how I made the 4 color sunflower focal point on these next two card designs by clicking on the links.

May 2020 You Tube Video

May 2020 Sunflower Card Recipe

You know how sometimes you have leftover pieces to the cards you design and you think "I'll use this someday, so I better save it." Well, I'm so glad I did save those extra parts that I made with the Celebrate Sunflowers stamp and dies from last year! 

Today I present you with two updated Sunflower Center Step cards in the Pop Art style I used last year.

CARD ONE:

This is a vertical version of the Center Step Fold with my already assembled sunflower focal point. It is a Bumblebee cardstock base with the Misty Moonlight Designer Series Paper (DSP).

You'll need to cut the Misty Moonlight DSP as follows:

Center piece - 2-1/8" x 5-3/8"

Side pieces - cut two - 7/8" x 4-3/8"

Front small pieces - cut two - 7/8" square

The greeting is also from the current stamp set stamped on Basic White with Memento Black ink. 

The Basic White  greeting was cut down to fit the space 15/16" x 1-9/16".  

Add the enamel dot embellishments.

Basic White inner layer of 4" x 4-1/4" also attached .

I had a spare Misty Moonlight sunflower that I glued to the envelope front and trimmed off the excess. 

I hope the post office won't mind I did that!

I did raise the focal point panel up with dimensionals to give some more depth.

CARD TWO:

Luckily the card fit inside a 5-3/4" square envelope I had in my collection!

This is a horizontal version of the Center Step Fold with my already assembled sunflower focal point on point this time. It is a Bumblebee cardstock base with Bumblebee Designer Series Paper (DSP).

You'll need to cut the Bumblebee DSP as follows:

Center piece - 4-1/8" x 3-3/8"

Side pieces - cut two - 7/8" x 3-1/8"

Front small pieces - cut two - 7/8" square

The greeting is from Dragonfly Garden stamp set stamped on Basic White with Memento Black ink. 

The Basic White  greeting was punched out with a 1" circle punch. A Basic Black 1-1/4" circle punch was adhered to the white circle and attached to card front with mini dimensionals.

Add the enamel dot embellishments.

Basic White inner layer of 3-1/8" x 5-1/4" also attached .

I had a spare Magenta Madness sunflower that I glued to the envelope front and 

trimmed off the excess. 

Products Used in the two new card designs and most available at my online store (link below):

Celebrate Sunflowers Stamp Set and Sunflower Dies

2020-2022 In Color 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments

Retired 2020-2022 In Color Enamel Dots

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Cardstocks: Bumblebee, Magenta Madness, Misty Moonlight, 

Just Jade, Cinnamon Cider, Basic Black, and Basic White

I hope you enjoyed the walk back through my blog this week and are inspired to see how previous card designs of yours can be fashioned into new more modern and up-to-date card designs. 

Let me know in the comments what you think of my updated designs and which you prefer - vertical or horizontal style.

Have fun!

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts  

Overlapping Colors Wedding Card Revisited

Going back to 2015 on this blog, I came across this card and I still really love it. The soft colors of Blushing Bride and Smoky Slate are just so beautiful together. The hint is to stamp Blushing Bride first, then stamp Smoky Slate on top. That creates beautiful overlapping colors.

Photopolymer stamps were still pretty new back in 2015, The text I copied from the old blog post below shows just how far we've come with photopolymer stamps. Like now we know to be very careful when mounting solid stamps to the clear blocks, so no bubbles are created between the stamp and block. 

We also know to hold the inked stamp in place and let the ink absorb into the cardstock. 

But the best thing that has been invented since then is the Stamparatus! That precision stamping platform lets you stamp the stamp image over and over until you get it the way you wanted.

Celebrate Today stamp set (retired)

Former Blog Post from 2015

Amy Kunkle designed this lovely card and even provided a stamping video to teach how to get really clean and solid stamped images with the photopolymer balloon stamps that come in the Celebrate Today set with coordinating Framelits. Her word balloon was attached to the lower right corner but I had a little "boo-boo" so my balloon had to go in the upper left area. The card is super simple once you get the inking technique down. Colors are Blushing Bride and Smoky Slate on Whisper White. I used a non - SU baker's twine in gray and white and tied it around the balloon then added two dots of liquid tombow glue to barely hold the string in place.

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So what do you think about this overlapping technique? You could still do it with any stamped shape image and two coordinating ink colors. I suppose you could even go for a multicolored effect with many inks.  Give them both a try with any shape stamp you have in your stash.

Happy Creating!

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts  

Revisiting Large Stamp Suitcase Gift

In scrolling back through my blog this week, I stopped on this little tool suitcase, that is perfect to take to card classes to hold your scissors, take a pick tool, adhesives, etc.

Using a large clear stamp case, dear husband drilled the holes for the drawer pull handle to be attached via screw from the inside. I added a piece of retired Designer Series Paper with a little accent here and there to make it cute.

Then I had lots of fun making a Shrinky Dink Initial Tag using the retired Large Letter Stamps, Stazon Ink and my Heat Tool. I punched out the oval shape with one of my retired oval punches, then I punched with a 1/4" hole punch for there the beaded chain would do through after it was shrunk down. Stamped the letter I wanted and turned the heat tool on to watch the plastic shrink down. When it is done I pressed it flat with a clear stamp block until it cooled. Finish up with coloring the edge with a black sharpie, add the chain and a cute accent bow.

If you have a large stamp case in your collection, give this idea a try! Or maybe you can find some through Ebay or Etsy possibly. When you take it places, people will oooohh and aaaahhh!

Have a wonderful day!

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts  

Revisiting Some Easy Punch Art Ideas

 As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I'm taking a ten-year walk through my blog and sharing some of my posts that I think still have merit and could be made today.

Punch Art still continues to be a popular trend.  I'm revisiting three of my cards that would still be so easy to make today.

Darling Rabbit Head:

Upside down Heart Punch

Two Oval Punches for Ears

Small circle punch for nose

Hand drawn eyes and whiskers 

Sponge dauber the cheeks and ear color

Any scrap of fabric or piece of ribbon would make a cute accent.

 

Darling Daisy Flower:

Circle Punch for Flower center

Oval Punch for Petals

If you would like to see the original post of the above two cards

CLICK HERE

 

Baby Bib with a Tuxedo Touch:

This design isn't quite using all punches but it is still an easy baby card to create.

Oval Framelits

Piercing tool

Striped embossing folder,

Pennant and Circle Punches to create the bow tie.

Here's some links to previous posts that include some more bib ideas like this one.

Boy Bib Idea

Girl Bib Idea

Boy Tuxedo Bib

I can imagine these designs with today's Designer Series Papers and coordinating Cardstock and they still will be wonderful to make and send!

Do you think these ideas are still relevant? I'd love to know in the comments.

Have fun trying these "timeless" ideas! 

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts  

Revisiting Framed Home Sign

You know how some people love to do scrapbooking, so they can go back and look at their photos again? I think of my blog in that way, but a digital version. Since today is the Observed Holiday for 4th of July, I went back and looked at the early days of this blog. After 10 years of blogging, one would hope that my card designs have improved and so has what I share with all of you.

As I looked back through the months and years,  I came across this from three years ago. It is a 5"x7" framed home decor piece where the "O" can be changed out each month with a new magnetic creation  that symbolizes that month.

You know what is so cool? I'm still using this in my home and I haven't missed a month since I made it. I just love it. It sits on a small bench near my front door, so anyone who visits can see this cute piece.

Yes, I know I made more than 12 magnets. Once you start making them, it's hard to stop. I just wanted to give myself some variety and flexibility depending on my mood.

Please revisit the previous post at the link below and you could make one for yourself!  It's a fun way to be really creative, get out lots of your stamp sets, use up some scraps of cardstock and make a BIG fun mess!

Previous Post on this topic

If you haven't seen this idea before, let me know if you would make one in the comments below.

Have a wonderful day!

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts  

Celebrate Independence Day Improv Card

For some reason I rarely make 4th of July cards so I thought I'd see what I could come up with recently using products I had in my stamp room.

I'm not sure I love my creation, but it was practice in coming up with something from nothing. I do feel it shows America's 245th Birthday with lots of stars which is a symbol of our country. It also has red, white, and blue in there, so that's not too bad, right?

The current products used were the Creating with Friends stamp set, Night of Navy cardstock and ink, Daffodil Delight cardstock, Basic White cardstock, Real Red ink.

Retired products were the Sunburst Die, Star Dies, Brightly Gleaming Designer Series Paper, Red Glimmer Paper, White Glimmer Paper, Night of Navy Foil.

Share in the comments what you think of my Improv Card.

Have a Happy 4th of July and enjoy your day!

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts  

Pick Six Wonder Cards

You might be wondering what a "Pick Six Wonder" Card is....

It is very similar to a One Sheet Wonder, where you cut up a 12" x 12" piece of Designer Series Paper (DSP) and make anywhere from 9-14 cards with it depending on the cutting layout.

This "Pick Six" idea came from Shannon West at the Stampin' Up! home office and was shared with all the Stampin' Up! demonstrators world wide. I thought it was pretty cool, so decided to share it will all my blog visitors.

You'll start out with 6 pieces of 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper from a coordinating pack of DSP. The neat part is you can cut those 6x6 from a 12x12 pack or just use a 6x6 stack and go from there.  The PDF is attached at the end of this post that you can download and make the 14 cards for yourself.

I used the 12 x 12 Pattern Party DSP from the Host section in the back of 2021 Annual Catalog and cut the pieces I wanted. 

The stamp set and punch I used is retired from 2018, but came from the Darling Label Punch Box.  

Card 1:

Card 2:

 

Card 3:

Card 3A (6 little strips) and Card 4:

The one thing I didn't follow directions on were the hearts. Because I was dealing with a black and white design on the reverse of my DSP, I decided to use a variety of heart punches I have in my stash so I could highlight the black and white side of the DSP a bit.

The additional stamp set I used was Biggest Wish with is current in the 2021 Annual Catalog.

The color cardstock I used for the card bases were Pool Party, Flirty Flamingo, Poppy Parade, Crushed Curry, Granny Apply Green, Blushing Bride, and Misty Moonlight, plus the Basic Black and Basic White for the tags. The 3/8" black ribbon is retired and from my stash. Memento Tuxedo Black Ink was used too.

Pick Six Wonder PDF

I hope you'll give this "wonder"ful idea a try!  Have a lovely day!

  

#stampinwitheva #stampinupproducts