Simply Said--#tgifc352

Sometimes, a very simple card can make a big impact on its recipient.  My inspiration for this card is my husband Herb, who will be its recipient on our 47th wedding anniversary February 1.  When he looks at my cards, he says, "and there are those little 'dot thingies' you have to put on your cards."  So for him, I made a simple card that says all that needs to be said: 

Products Used:

Basic White note card

Soft Succulent ink

Poppy Parade card stock

Forever Blossoms stamp set (#151457

Floral Heart dies (#154306)

This card will be submitted for this week's TGIF Challenges inspiration challenge.  See more love cards over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell

A Valentine Treat Box--#tgifc302

This week's color challenge over at TGIF Challenges is Real Red, Petal Pink and Smoky Slate.  I used these colors to create a Valentine using the Love You Always Treat Boxes (#154285):

The first step was to cover three sides of the sliding cover with pieces of Real Red card stock.  The top was cut at 4" x 2-5/8" and the two sides at 4" x 1-3/8".  The two ends of the box were each covered with Real Red card stock cut at 1-3/8" x 2-5/8".

The top piece was layered with a piece of Smoky Slate card stock die cut on top and bottom with the heart edge die from the Floral Heart Dies. (#154306).  The hearts, flowers and leaves were die cut out of Smoky Slate, Real Red and Petal Pink card stock using the same die set.  These were arranged over the piece of Petal Pink Organdy Striped ribbon (#149441) tied around the length of the box and into a bow.

The greeting is from the Meant to Be stamp set (#148626).  It was stamped three times in Smoky Slate using the Stamparatus (#146276).

This was a fun Valentine color combo.  See more over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Hope you have a great rest of your week.  I'm spending the rest of mine straightening up my stamping room after the tornado that is my 23-month-old grandson came to visit.  Let's just say he loves all of the colors and "treasures" he finds in here.  This visit he was a bit taller than last time and has learned to open drawers and doors . . . and sneak inside when temptation strikes and Grandma isn't watching.

--Sara Nell

Mad for Plaid Valentine--#tgifc301

It's designer take over week at TGIF Challenges.  Design Team member Stesha Bloodhart (a fabulous stamper, btw) has given us a theme:  "Mad for Plaid".  I pulled out the three plaid patterns in the Sale-a-Bration designer series paper, Berry Delightful (it is FREE with a minimum $100 purchase, as part of the Berry Blessings Bundle,#157613). I couldn't decide which plaid I liked best, so I used all three:

 

The three plaid hearts were die cut using the Stitched Be Mine dies (151814).  The hearts were layered on a piece of Whisper White card stock that was embossed with the new Painted Texture 3D embossing folder (#154317).  This piece was layered over a piece of Pacific Point card stock and a Poppy Parade card base.

The greeting is from the Always in My Heart stamp set (#154337).  It was stamped in Pacific Point on Whisper White card stock and die cut using the banner die from the Floral Heart dies (#156194).  Some Pearl Basic Jewels (#144219) colored with the Poppy Parade dark Stampin' Blends (#154958) complete the card. 

Check out all of the other plaid-themed entries over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a wonderful weekend.  Go Chiefs!

--Sara Nell

Black & White Studies in Texture -- #tgifc297

The TGIF Challenges color challenge this week is Black and White.  My cards today were inspired by an old episode of Trading Spaces.  I haven't watched Trading Spaces in years, so why it popped into my head I have no idea.  I remember the episode so well--one designer did a room all in white and the other designer did one all in black. So I challenged myself to do the same with my projects using lots of texture to create the layers.  One exception--the greeting on each card is in the opposite color to stand out.  How did I do?

Once I had my two card bases cut, I die cut the first layers using the largest Stitched Rectangles die (#151820).  I created texture on each of these layers using Embossing Paste (white, #141979) and one of the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks (#150697)--the polka dots on black and the stylized leaves on white.  The embossing paste for the black card was tinted black using the Tuxedo Black Memento ink refill (#133456).  The Palette Knives (#142808) were used to mix and spread the embossing paste.  While the embossing paste dried, I started on the layers for each card.

On the black card I layered die cuts from the Poppy Moments dies (#151594).  The solid poppies were embossed with the Subtle 3D embossing folder.  The greeting is from the Peaceful Moments stamp set (#151595).  It was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss Powder (#109132) and the Heat tool (#129053).  I used the smallest Stitched Rectangle die to die cut the greeting, running it through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (#149653) twice to shorten the rectangle.  

The white baker's twine from the Snail Mail Twine combo pack (#154566) was colored black using the Basic Black dark Stampin' Blends (#154843, combo pack).  It was wrapped around the card layer three times and tied in a bow prior to adding the die cuts.  All card stock on the card is Basic Black (#121045).

On the white card, the Detailed Hearts die (#151440) was used to create another layer over the embossing paste.  Over this layer two hearts die cut using the Stitched Be Mine dies (#151814).  The solid heart was embossed with the Old World Paper 3D embossing folder (#153200) and popped up over the scalloped edge heart with Stampin' Dimensionals.  

The greeting is from the new Always in My Heart stamp set (#154337).  It was stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed with Black Stampin' Emboss Powder (now retired).  It was die cut out using the banner die in the coordinating Floral Heart dies (#154306).  

I tied a bow of Polka Dot Tulle ribbon (#146912) diagonally around the card between the two large heart die cuts.  

The card stock used on this card is Whisper White Thick and Whisper White.  These two products and all Whisper White products have been discontinued.  These two  have been replaced by Basic White thick (#159229) and Basic White (#159276). 

Like the Trading Spaces rooms, I believe I like the all black best. It was unexpected, but the textures just give the black a richness that you don't see as much in the all white. This was certainly a challenge for me, but also a lot of fun.

See more black and white projects (most are going to be black and white on one card) over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell