MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!

...

When I saw this paper in the full 12" x 12" sheet from "Forever Greenery", I wasn't sure if I liked it.  However, when a piece or two were cut from the sheet, I really came to like it.  You can make a card and just let the dsp say it all.....well, except for adding a sentiment.  Having a wider white area around the matted piece really sets off the whole thing.

WOW!  I accomplished my mission of using retired designer series papers on my blog the entire month of March!  Sure wish it had made a dent in the supply, but at least it was a start.  When thinking about making all of these cards with retired papers, I decided that if I'm not careful, my "NEW" papers that I have will be retired before I know it.  In that case, I'll just be able to use anything.  

Thank you for stopping by today!

 

SWEET AS A PEACH DSP

This is a CASE of THIS CARD that I saw on Pinterest by Jenna Bohanon.  I loved the colors and the cute little cluster of peaches.  I hadn't used this set for a long time and forgot that there is a die that cuts those tiny little flowers.  They were a bit of a challenge to add to the card with glue but I managed  The bigger flowers would probably have worked with a glue dot and I suppose I could have rolled a small glue dot to fit for the tiny flowers..........didn't think of that in time.

If you happen to still have the stamps, dies and some of this paper, there are a lot of great ideas on Pinterest.

Anyway, I do love this card.  I also like that using the same stamp and die for the leaves on another card, you can add flowers instead of the peaches.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

BERRY DELIGHTFUL - In Red

While searching Pinterest, I saw a card like this made by "Gathering Inspiration".  

My card is virtually like hers except she had her card open from the opposite side. I tried to link to a copy of the card I CASED but was unable to find it a second time.

Thank you for coming by today!

BERRY DELIGHTFUL DSP

When in doubt, the "book binder" style of card is a "go to" way to use some dsp.  With Spring slowing showing up, my mind starts thinking of fresh fruit so I grabbed this paper and stamp set.  I combined the dsp with the "Berry Blessings" stamp set that was a free item in a previous Sale-A-Bration.  Before adding glue to the binder section of the card, I tied a piece of Blackberry Bliss ribbon around and just tied a knot instead of a bow.  The rest is pretty self explanatory.

Thank you so much for coming by today!

 

ANOTHER POCKET CARD

After making the card that I posted a couple of days ago, I grabbed a piece of discontinued dsp from the Fine Art Gallery dsp and made a second card.  This is a great card to use up a 12" x 5 1/4" piece of dsp!

When I wanted to make the diagonal cut I made a couple light pencil marks to show where I wanted to line up the paper in the trimmer.  It was easier this time to make those marks on the back side.  By doing that, however, the angles came out to be in the opposite direction from the first one I made.  I actually like this one better.....partly because of the colors but the angle seemed to be more "natural".

 Thank you for coming by today!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER

I chose to make a card with a serene scene.  He and his wife now reside in Arizona several months during the winter and early spring.  He is semi-retired and needs to be able to "Relax and Enjoy" the day.  He loves to golf and loves exploring the area around where they live.

This doesn't really depict the scenery around his home in Arizona, but it certainly looks like a calming place to me.  Before mailing, I added my message to that large panel on the right.

Thanks for coming by today!

PAINTED BLOOMS DSP

Some time ago, I ran across a video by Dena Rekow (The Creativity Cave).  When I discovered that she is from Iowa like I am, I began watching a lot of her videos. She has some really fun ideas.  

This card was made after watching one of Dena's videos.  She put out a challenge for everyone watching to make one too.  The base is a 4 1/4" x 5" piece of card stock.  This card does not stand up on it's own.  The dsp is a 12" x 5 1/4" piece that is scored at 4" and 8".  A diagonal cut is made across two of the panels and then folded back and forth.  

Dena's card was made like this forming two pockets with decorated pieces to insert in each pocket.  I did see some who took the challenge and only made the front pocket and let the card then open.  (Later I may made another and will post so you can see how that looks.)

If you are interested in the full directions for making a similar card, you can see Dena's video HERE.  Her videos usually include three different cards to make.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

ARTISTICALLY INKED DSP

This is a CASE of a card I saw HERE.  I didn't have that burlap ribbon they used.  I stamped the stem with leaves with Old Olive ink on Old Olive card stock and die cut the piece.  The dsp was cut from a full sheet of the design so I have more to use and need a few more ideas for it.

Thank you for coming by today!

FLOWERING FIELDS DSP

A couple of weeks ago I took part in one of Sharon Armstrong's "Mystery Monday Stamping".  On Sunday the day before the challenge she had emailed all of the supplies needed plus the measurements.  On Monday night we were given one clue at a time as to how the card was to be assembled.

Her initial instructions said the "designer series paper your card will be landscape".  Naturally I assumed the designer series paper was to be cut the way I did on the first card.  There was a miscommunication, I think in the directions because as the clues progressed it was obvious that my paper was not cut the way it was intended.  I'm not crazy about my first attempt. 

Once I saw Sharon's card at the end of the live video, I immediately cut more of the same pieces in the direction that was intended.  Yes, the card is now horizontal but the dsp since it had a designated direction should have been cut vertically.  I like this layout and will likely make more Easter cards using it.  

I think in the future when I do one of these MMS challenges, I will choose non directional dsp.  That will hopefully eliminate misunderstanding directions.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

JUST A NOTE

It isn't necessary to have an elaborate layout with lots of different folds etc.  These two cards are a way to feature a piece of dsp.  For the first one I added a 4" x 5 1/4" white layer that had been embossed with the Subtle 3D Embossing Folder.  I love how it gives such a simple background for the matted dsp.

For this one I simply matted a horizontal piece of the dsp that was left over from another project and added it to a white card base.  I stamped the sentiment and then decided that there was still something missing.  I had a mini dragonfly stamp that I think was included as a free gift from something I ordered a long time ago.  I don't think I had ever used it.  I stamped it three times and then considered the card to be finished.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

FLOWERS FOR EVERY SEASON

I CASED this card from one I saw on Pinterest made by Lesley's Stampin Ground.  I was having a hard time using this dsp pattern.  While it is very pretty, it is just a really lot of yellow.  When I saw Lesley's card, I knew that was a great way to use it.  The layout is the same but I used a different die for the opening, sentiment, flower and greenery to accomplish the same look.  You can see the card I copied HERE on Pinterest.

Yesterday two friends came and we made cards from the kits that I had made up.  This is one of the 15 cards we made.  The others will show up on later blog posts because I have everything scheduled for the end of the month.  All of the cards also used retired dsp!

Thank you for coming by today!

FLOWERS FOR EVERY SEASON DSP

For these two cards, I simply used leftover pieces from previous projects.  The tulips are such a great reminder that Spring is just around the corner and soon we will be able to see some flowers blooming.

 

3 MORE BIRD BALLAD

I was able to use up all of the rest of this pattern.  I had searched Pinterest for ideas using this design but decided to just cut up the remaining portions into 3 3/4" x 5" pieces  Very simple cards but at least I have no more of it.  There are 3 more similar cards that I won't bother posting.  

Starting tomorrow there will be new cards made with old papers.....but no more of these birds.  It has felt good to be using up some of these old designs. I store my 12 x 12 designer papers in the drawers of rolling carts.  Inside I put a sheet of paper on top listing the packages that are in there for ease in finding a particular design.  Through this effort to use up papers, I have managed to cross of 3 from the lists.  That is some progress.  I just wish it had made more of a dent in my stash!  Thank you for coming by today!

WHOLE LOT OF LOVELY DSP

Before the "Sweet as a Peach" dsp was released, there had been 2 sheets with a peach design in the "Whole Lot of Lovely" pack.  I hadn't purchased the entire package but bought a "paper share" from Ann Schach.  I still have some of those papers....hoarding a couple of the designs!

I put these two cards very quickly and then made up a couple of card kits for my friends and I to put together with a different layout.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

I don't usually make cards for St. Patrick's Day.  When I visited with the Activity Director at the place where my mother lived for 9 years, she asked if I ever did those for Ridgeview.  I don't think I ever did, but since my sister is married to an Irishman, I decided to make one for them plus 29 more for the Seniors who live at Ridgeview.  A couple of weeks ago I had nothing pushing me, so I made all of them March 3 with ample time to get them delivered.

The challenge was that I no longer had any appropriate stamps or sentiments!  When I was on Pinterest, I saw who someone took an SU flower punch with 5 petals and turned it into a Shamrock.  Most pictures of Shamrocks have just 3 but I did see one that had 4.  Mine didn't turn out looking like a 4-Leaf Clover by doing it with that punch.  One problem solved.  

I had no holiday dsp to use but fortunately found just exactly the amount of dsp I needed for the card I made.  I used 1 1/2" x 5 1/2" strips from papers with several designs that were in the 6" x 6" packages of designer series papers.  (And this met my personal March challenge of using retired dsp!)

After cutting all of the square mats for the Shamrocks, I had 1" strips that I used under a sentiment that I did on the computer and printed out.  So here are the big reveals..............

If you celebrate St. Patrick's Day even if you aren't Irish, have fun!

BIRD BALLAD DSP

When the collection of the stamps and dsp was released, I thought I needed it because we love feeding the birds at our house.   I did love the stamps and I loved some of the sheets of dsp..........this was my least favorite and hardest to use up.  For each of these I used pieces that were 3 3/4" x 5"......two vertically and one horizontally.  Then I simply used the stamps with this beautiful font to add sentiments across the matted dsp pieces.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

SPLIT CARD TEXTURE WITH SAND & SEA

I had hesitated to get the Split Card Texture dies but I really love the look when placed over various pieces of designer papers.  This is the last of the cards I will be posting for now using this paper.  I do still have more but not sure what I'm going to do with it.  Thank you for coming by today!

 

SAND & SEA DSP

These three cards are using more of that same pattern from the Sand & Seas dsp pack.  You might have guessed that it was my favorite.  Two more of these cards were among the ones chosen for my sister's birthday.  I was so happy when she told me that she could use every one of the cards I gave her.  (Funny thing is that she is the one to "blame" for my getting addicted to making cards.  She used to make some but now quilts instead.)

Thank you for coming by today!

 

STAMPIN' UP! - Sand and Sea dsp

The first card was made using the "book binder" layout.  The paper is such a pretty color of pink and I debated about putting a sentiment on the front but left it blank.  What do you think?

The card base is Balmy Blue.  I added a 2" piece of the Sand and Sea dsp to the left side of the card front.  I embossed a 2" piece of white card stock with the coordinating embossing folder and added it to the right hand portion of the card front.  The blue seashell was fussy cut fro another sheet of the dsp.

Very much like the card above.  Since I had embossed a 4" x 5 1/4" piece with the embossing folder and cut it in half, I just used the second piece here.  I used three fussy cut shells on this card.  

 

My sister lives in Florida close to the gulf so I sent some of these cards with others to her for her birthday.  Thank you for coming by today!

 

MARCH 11 AND MARCH 12 POSTS

Well, I did it again!  I had cards in a folder earmarked for yesterday but forgot to get them scheduled for my blog.  So today you will get 4 cards.

The first two are from one sheet of 6 x 6 New Horizon dsp that is now retired.  My cards that are being shared are actually all CASED from a video I saw on YouTube.  If you go back to my March 5 post, you will find a link to the video I followed.

For this one I didn't use a full mat but just emphasized two of the corners.

The next two cards were cut a little shorter but each 3 inches wide.  

I love the script on this sentiment.

And here are three more of those cute little pebbles.  Thank you for checking out all of these cards made from the New Horizon dsp!  You may be tired to seeing them so tomorrow I'll be sharing something different but still using retired dsp.  I'm on a mission!

 

TWO 3 X 5 1/2 PCS OF NEW HORIZON

 

I could have made some mini slim line cards with these two 3 x 5 1/2 pieces but elected to just use them on a standard A2 card.  The first piece seems to have a natural area to use as a horizon.  The video I had watched added some grass along that area.  Then some birds and a sentiment was added.  The New Horizon collection also has some little enamel pebbles which add a fun element to the card.

Now for this card, I flipped the piece and used the blue area at the bottom because it looked more like water.  Once again there is a natural line for a horizon so I stamped the trees and stamped the birds two times.  

All of the cards this month using papers from this collection are CASED from the video that I referred to in an earlier post.  She did such a great job of creating scenes that there wasn't much I could do to improve what was right there in front of me.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

NEW HORIZONS - 4 CARDS

The first two cards are what I intended to have on my blog yesterday but I slipped up.  These two cards were made from one 6 x 6 sheet and were cut horizontally.  

I simply added some birds and stamped some grass along the bottom of the dsp.  All I had to do then was mat it and add it to the white card base.

This half of the sheet had an area that made me think of a puddle of water so I pulled out one of my deer die.  The die is from a Penny Black collection.

This card and the last one are also cut from one 6 x 6 sheet.  This one measures 3 3/4 x 5 so there was a little waste off the length but not much.  Once again this piece had an area that made me think of water so I die cut the same deer but flipped it for the opposite direction.  The trees and birds were stamped.  I love the "sky" area of this piece.

The final card was the piece off of the side after cutting the 3 3/4" wide for the card above and a small piece cut away from the bottom.  I just stamped the birds and trees.  It didn't need anything else.  The scene was so calming that I thought the sentiment I chose was a perfect fit.

Thank you for coming by today!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SISTER!

I joined a group on Facebook that makes cards using quilt patterns.  I'd never heard of a "Temperature Quilt" made with fabric let alone a "Temperature Quilt CARD"!  There is a "thermometer" which breaks down the colors to use for specific brackets of temperatures.  Then you cut the pieces from a piece of colored card stock which matches that temperature for Days 1-9.  After the pieces were finished but before adding it to the card base, I ran it through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder to give it a more "quilted" look.   The sentiment was added to the card base with dimensionals to provide a "stopper" for the easel card.

I may give this card idea another try as temperatures are changing a little more toward Spring.  However, I saw one of the crafters mount her square onto a card base using the "book binder" layout.  I like that one much better.

This card was actually made in February, but I think it still fits into the March challenge of using retired papers.

My sister quilts so I thought it would be fun to send her a second card I made which has a Happy Birthday sentiment instead of "Thinking of You".

If you'd like more information how to do this, email me and I will be happy to share what I have.  Now back to "New Horizon" dsp through Sunday.

 

MODIFIED SLIM LINE CARDS

I'm not sure if there are "standard" measurements for slim line cards, but I know these are shorter than one I made several months ago.  I think the measurements for the card bases on these are 7" x 6 1/2", scored at 3 1/2".  These two cards were made from one sheet of the 6 x 6 dsp by cutting it down the middle from top to bottom.  (Later you will see two cards made from a sheet cutting from side to side.)  

This is the card made from the right side of the paper.

And here you can see the two cards side-by-side and how the pattern continues from one card to the second.  I don't know about you, but I love the scenes you can create with this beautiful paper!  I will probably make envelopes for these two cards.  To put them in a standard #10 envelope just wouldn't look as nice.

Thank you for coming by today!