It's a Boy!

Recently, I was commissioned to create a bunch of baby cards for a customer. They were a gift to a mom-to-be who was having a boy. I enjoyed working on them, here's one of the designs I created.

I started with a neutral layer and randomly stamped a background using two of my favourite collage stamps - Gorgeous Grunge & Timeless Textures. The "baby" lettering was easily created with the Layered Letters Alphabet. The photopolymer stamp sets are perfect because you can see exactly where you're stamping!

The stars are from a retired set, but the images are perfect. A current substitute could be the Be the Stars set - it has both images and sentiments.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

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Minecraft Reveal

The other day I posted the "how to" on making this Minecraft card that was inspired by Stamping T and today I'm posting the final card. I really love the way it turned out!

I wrote in my last post that I wasn't quite sure how I was going to finish the card off... well, I decided to keep the remainder of the grid exposed at the bottom and stamp the sentiment in StazOn (the stamp set is long retired). I then mounted my grid piece on some Basic Black and then on a Tempting Turquoise card base. I wrapped some Basic Black Baker's Twine around to finish off the look.

I kept the inside super simple, just adding a few tiny 1/4" squares for some interest and texture.

Here's a closer look at some of the details. Like I said in the last post, I really love how it turned out and the effect created with the squares, but I don't think I'll make another with such tiny ones again. ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Minecraft Custom Request

I wrote a post last week about a custom request and here's another one that challenged me! I was asked to create a Minecraft card for a customer and I really had no clue as to what this was, but that wasn't going to stop me from creating something. I turned to Pinterest, of course and was inspired by Stamping T in Australia. Here is a step-by-step on how I put this (tedious) card together.

I started out by raiding my scrap bin and pulling out different shades of green, plus black and then cut them into 1/4" strips and then 1/4" squares. My Stampin' Trimmer was my best friend for this project!

I happened to have some sticky note pages that looked like grid paper, so I trimmed that down so it would fit on my card front (4" x 5-1/4"). You could use any grid paper, but I found it convenient that my page stayed in place as I was gluing all the little pieces on.

Next I marked out where I wanted certain things to go. I knew I wanted the image to be square, but wasn't entirely sure what I was going to put at the bottom yet.

This AMAZING Fine Tip Glue Pen (in the Holiday Catalogue) made this project more manageable.

After gluing down the black areas, I just randomly started gluing the remaining green squares. I started with just one shade of green and then moved on to the next.

I really loved seeing all the different shades together and I might do another project like it, but with bigger squares! ;) This was VERY time consuming...

Towards the end, I wasn't as concerned about having the same shades close together. It still looked good. I think from start to finish, this card took me around 2-1/2 hours! It's really crazy when you think about it, but it was worth it when my customer was thrilled with the result. I think they also thought I was a little crazy!

Come back tomorrow to see the final result!

Until then, stay crafty!
Steph

Final Notice

I love when customers contact me to create custom work. I get to think outside the box and create something that I normally would not create. Recently, I was asked to create this custom card and I LOVE how it turned out!

The customer wanted a card for a friend that she works with at a collection agency. I had full creative control, but she was very specific on the sentiment.

The first thing that came to mind was something with numbers and then terms like "overdue" and "final notice". The Typeset Specialty DSP had some perfect papers just for this project! I also used the Little Numbers Thinlits - they're the perfect size for card fronts.

I went with a black and red theme to symbolize the positive and negative balances of monetary transactions and the Alphabet Rotary Stamp was my best friend on this project! Not only does the font look like that of a typewriter, but it also allowed me to stamp the text requested by the customer.

On the inside, I used more Typeset DSP and text. If you have a custom request, I'd love to do it for you. I've had some interesting requests over the years and there is nothing that I haven't been able to tackle yet! I'm up for the challenge...

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Custom Birthday Card

I'm writing today to help you get through "hump day". My day started out fantastically with the delivery of some holiday pre-order products from Stampin' Up! - the box both arrived a day early AND in the morning (usually my orders arrive in the evenings). Sweet!

Anyway, here's a custom card I created for a customer. She wanted fun and girly and I had to incorporate "30" and the colour coral. So basically I had fully creative design control and I loved it!

I used a retired set, but I couldn't resist the martini glass with the candle in it. So fun, right?! I embossed it in silver and then coloured it with Stampin' Write Markers. The patterned DSP is from the Cherry on Top paper stack. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this paper!!

I created lots of interest on the card by punching out an opening with the Note Tag Punch and then popping up my punched out martini image (punched with the Decorative Label Punch) and layering it with some Silver Foil. The sentiment is punched using the 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch and I free-handed the banners for "happy" and "birthday".

The "30th" was cut from Silver Glimmer Paper using the Little Numbers Thinlits. I also added some interest with some White Perfect Accents, new in this year's catalogue.

On the inside, I added a few more stamped martini glasses with lots of room for a personalized message.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Dora Punch Art

Happy Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend. Yesterday I got to hang out with some friends and celebrate the birthday of one of my children's friends. She really loves Dora, so naturally, I had to create a custom piece for her!

When I sat down to create this card, I had to turn to Pinterest for inspiration. I was instantly drawn to Christi's card and started my punching. I changed things up slightly from the punches she used as follows: shoes & shoulders: Heart to Heart (retired); hands & socks: Boho Blossom (retired); legs & arms: Word Window; hair: XL Oval; face: Ornament (retired) and eyes & mouth: Owl Builder 

The trick with punch art is that you sponge all the edges to give dimension to the pieces. The colours you choose to do this depend on your paper colours. You always want to go a shade or so darker than the paper.

For added dimension, I popped up Dora's head and didn't glue her fingers down.

This is what the card looked like on the gift. I didn't use an envelope because I wanted the card to be seen!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Surfboard Custom Card

Happy Friday! Today I'm showing you a card I created looooong ago. It was a custom request for a customer. The recipient loved to surf - here's what I came up with:

I decided to create a step card because I wanted lots of layers and interest. I used some swirly die cuts as 'waves', stamped some shells and cut a surfboard freehand. Of course I added some embossing before piecing it all together.

With a step card, there's really not a lot of room to write (hey, some people may even appreciate that!), but I added a piece to the back panel for a few birthday wishes.

Here's a better view of the dimension you get when you create such a fancy fold. The best part though is that it will still fit in a standard envelope! Here's a Pinterest search with pictures of all the different types of cards you can create with this type of fold. Give it a try... it's simpler than it looks!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's Twins!

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Mine was quite busy finishing up some customer orders and attending a business event. I left the event feeling inspired and excited to continue to grow my business!

One of the orders I'm sending out this week contains a custom card I was asked to create for a set of twins (gender not known) with a special message inside. Take a look:

I pulled out the Something for Baby stamp set for the adorable images and stamped a onesie in Pistachio Pudding and the other in So Saffron. They were cut out using the Baby's First Framelits and then glued on top of the hanger images that I stamped in Smokey Slate.

The banner along the top was easily created with some scraps of DSP and the Banner Punch. The sentiment is from a retired set and was also punched with the same punch, but elongated.

The tiny bow is from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies that I'm happy to have picked up when they were on the Weekly Deals a few weeks ago. If you don't know what those deals are, they run Tuesday to Monday every week and you can get product at 25% off retail! Definitely something to keep in mind to help with your crafting addiction hobby. ;)

On the inside, a custom sentiment created with the awesome Alphabet Rotary Stamp. You can create any text you want with that awesome tool!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For the Boys

I was recently asked to create 25 birthday cards for a customer. I love using the note cards and envelopes because they are just the perfect size and my customers love the simpler designs and lower cost I can provide for large orders.

Today I'm going to show you the designs I created for the boys. Come back Monday to see the uber cute ones I designed for the girls! ;)

Here's a look at the three different designs:

I haven't had a chance yet to purchase any new "kid" stamp sets from the new catty (there are some AWESOME ones in there!), but I love to keep my favourites around, even when retired, because I'm asked to create cards for kids often.

Here's a look at the first design. It's actually the first time I inked up this set (from the recent Occasions Catalogue) and sad it didn't carry over. I just love them!

This set is an oldie but a goodie! Having a little boy myself who LOVES "mighty machines", this one will stay in my stash for years to come.

Aside from the sentiment and punch on this last one, the items can still be found in the Annual Catalogue. The background was easily and quickly created using the stars masks. I just sponged using Cucumber Crush & Hello Honey inks and then stamped the lego image from the Boys Will Be Boys stamp set in the same colours.

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to check back on Monday for the girly designs. ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph