tea-drinking stamper

Although it may be difficult to tell, I took the idea for this card from one of the samples in the annual catalog, page 48. But I added circles as well as fussy-cutting the leaves, although one of my class attendees hates fussy cutting. I actually find it quite relaxing. I used the largest stamp, the scene, as a background stamp, stamping Old Olive on Old Olive, for subtlety. I then used three different size circles from the Stitched Shapes dies, cutting one from watercolor paper, one from Terracotta Tile card stock and one from Vellum card stock. I used inks and Aqua Painters to color the squirrel on his rock. Products Used:  Peaceful Place cling stamp set (6), 151339, $22.00 Old Olive 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 100702, $8.75 Terracotta Tile 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 150884, $8.75 5" x 7" Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper (10), 149612, $9.00           [I actually used some older watercolor paper, but the above is what we now sell] Vellum 8-1/

I had not intended to make this card, which sounds funny, I know. However, a couple friends and I had used the "made with love" stamp on the backs of our cards. When they saw the whole set, they questioned how I would use it. So I randomly stamped some of the images on an extra pre-cut piece of card stock to demonstrate what a collage would be. After they left, I decided I didn't want to waste it and proceeded to design a card with it. I wasn't even taking care when I originally stamped the images! I used Stampin' Blends to color the images, matted the finished piece on Calylpso Coral card stock, wrapped with some old twine and adhered that to an Old Olive card base. Finally I added the words and some old dots. I then sent it to another stamping friend. I really like the way it turned out, but I am not sure what colors I used. I think the pot is Cajun Craze and the rest of the colors are Smoky Slate, Old Olive and Calypso Coral.  I think the yellow you see is

This stamp set is so versatile. From birthdays to anniversaries, from congratulations to friendship, from thinking of you to sympathy. You may have to search out other stamp sets for the greetings but the flowers are so gorgeous. I've posted cards with the roses before, both formal and more casual. Now I'm sharing what I consider happy cards to share happiness or to encourage the discouraged. Colors and greetings make it what you want it to be. The first card is primarily Balmy Blue while the second is Flirty Flamingo. The gingham designer series paper was from the Occasions Catalog, now expired, but the small paper packs that come in every color family also include gingham. The stripes are from last year's Brights color family paper pack.

Sometimes I need some rather small gift boxes and I designed this one to hold a hand knit dish cloth for my secret sister and then we made it at one of my stamp classes. Consequently, I have several more. I used Mossy Meadow for the box itself, which is a variation of the old 2-4-6-8 box. I started with an 8-1/2" x 10-1/4" piece of card stock and scored it down the longer side at 2", 4", 6" and 8"; hence the name. I then turned it and scored in 2" from each end. Where the half inch strip was once the piece glued inside the box, I chose to use it as the insert flap, gluing the ends instead. I added designer paper to the top and sides and ends of the box. For the flower, I used the dies from the Magnolia Memory set, cutting two of the large triple petal pieces and two of the mid-sized and then one of the smaller. I sponged some petal pink in the centers (hard to see in this photo) and curled the petals with my bone folder. I then began assemb

As you can tell, the possibilities with the Magnolia Lane Suite are endless--and I've barely touched the possibilities in these posts! Its versatility is one of the reasons I love it so much. You might see the influence of one of the card samples on page 36 of the annual catalog. Yet its varied design results in a totally different mood. I guess I'm at the age where I also need a lot of sympathy cards.  Once again I took the greeting from the Path of Petals stamp set. The card itself is Mossy Meadow, which means I had to add a liner to the inside. The Stampin' Blends added color to the magnolia bud and leaves, which was mounted with Stampin' Dimensionals with a bow of Whisper White Baker's Twine. Products Used:  Path of Petals photopolymer stamp set (9), 149383, $22.00 Good Morning Magnolia cling stamp set (10), 149298, $36.00 Magnolia Lane 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (12), 149484, $11.50 Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24),

When I stamped the large magnolia flower in black for the card in my previous post, I decided it looked stunning in black and white, so I set about using it in a sympathy card. I had some old black and white designer series paper that I added to the front of my Basic Black card before placing the flower on the front. The greeting is from the Path of Petals stamp set and is cut out with the Stitched Rectangles set of dies. As usual, I popped up the flower with Stampin' Dimensionals.    Products Used: Path of Petals photopolymer stamp set (9), 149383, $22.00 Good Morning Magnolia cling stamp set (10), 149298, $36.00 Basic Black 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 121045, $8.75 Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 1007370, $9.75 Tuxedo Black Memento Pad, 132708, $6.00 Magnolia Memory Dies (16), 149578, $35.00 Stitched Rectangle Dies (13), 148551, $35.00 Stampin' Dimensionals (300), 104430, $4.00

I just love this suite! I keep coming up with ideas to use this gorgeous flower. I wasn't sure at first if I thought the large flower with its leaves would mix well with the designer paper, but when I laid them together, I knew the mix was not at all too busy.  In fact, it was perfect! I stamped the flower on Whisper White card stock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and then colored it with Stampin' Blends. I checked the designer paper for where to add the Petal Pink. It is so rich. I'm always in need of birthday cards, so I grabbed the Beautiful Bouquet stamp set for this greeting. After coloring the flower and leaves, I cut it out with the coordinating die and mounted it on my card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I remember when I first started stamping I couldn't understand why you would use the dimensionals but now I couldn't get along without them. I love the effect of the dimension they add to my cards. And I think ours are the best because so many oth

The paper that comes in the Magnolia Lane Suite is incredibly gorgeous! I fell in love with this design and had to use it on my card. The first card is a revised version of one we made at my July class last summer.  The second card was my original version. My goal in creating this card was to use some of the dies from the suite along with the gorgeous designer series paper. I used a sponge dauber on the flower that was cut with the dies. I thought the stamped design below the flower made it look like it was cupped in the greenery. Products Used:  Good Morning Magnolia cling stamp set (10), 149298, $36.00 Magnolia Memory dies (16), 149578, $35.00 Magnolia Lane 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (12), 149484, $11.50 Petal Pink 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 146985, $8.75 Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" card stock (40), 100730, $9.75 Mossy Meadow -1/2" x 11" card stock (24), 133676, $8.75 Mossy Meadow Classic Stampin' Pad, 147111, $7.50

I can't believe I have neglected this blog for so long. Now I have so many cards to post that I am not sure I will ever get to share them all. I have to admit that I have fallen in love with so many of the stamp sets in the annual catalog and then came the holiday catalog. There is no reason why I should order so many sets and yet I just can't resist them! The Magnolia Lane Suite was one of the first that popped out at me when the new catalog came out, but it took a while before I ordered it. So here is one of the first cards I made with this set: I love the regal look of this card! Merry Merlot is a color I wasn't sure I would ever use, but once I began using it, I find myself using it more than I ever thought I would. The flower is heat embossed in gold while the Merry Merlot piece behind it is dry embossed with the Magnolia 3D embossing folder. Some gold foil added to the elegance.  I have learned that I can save paper if I cut pieces from one layer before inco