Here’s my latest card.  I had a blast playing with the Awash with Flowers stamp set.  This is such a beautiful, versatile stamp set.  This is actually one of the stamp sets that will be in the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog which will debut on July 1st.  However, you can order it now during the special promotion which you can check out here.  The card I made is actually for the Mother/Grandmother’s Day card swap here at CARDScraps.

I love the mix of colors I used on this one.  So bright and cheery!  I used the Rock-n-Roll technique on the larger flowers’ fill stamps.  On the pink one, I started out with Pretty in Pink ink and then rocked on some Melon Mambo.  On the purple flowers, I only used Rich Razzleberry but I inked up the entire fill stamp, stamped off onto scrap paper and then rocked on the same color ink to make the edges darker.  You can click on the images to zoom in and get a better look.

I made some faux buttons with the 3/4″ Circle Punch by punching out 4 layers of Kraft card stock and then also a piece of designer paper and glued them all together.  Then I put a nice thick layer of Crystal Effects on the top and set it aside to dry.  Once dry, I used my Paper Piercing tool to poke two holes in it and tied some string through it.  It’s a great way to make coordinating buttons when you don’t have any to match.

Here you can see a glimpse of the inside of the card.  I did a few more flowers around the Mother’s Day sentiment from the All Holidays stamp set.  Layered it onto a piece of Pretty in Pink card stock and adhered it to the center of the inside.  A lot of times, I forget to do anything to the inside of the card – or rather, I’m just so excited to get the outside of the card finished, I stop…lol.  Most of the time, I have to go back and add my siggie stamp to the back because I forget that too – sheesh!  Below is a close-up shot of the inside.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask! 

Happy Stamping

Lianne Carper
CS partner and DTM for Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

• Stamps:  Awash with Flowers (CM# 120549) and All Holidays (#114916)
• Paper:  Kraft, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron and Whisper White card stock, Razzleberry Lemonade designer paper
• Ink:  Jet Black Stazon, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss
• Other:  Stampin’ Write Markers, Crimper, 3/4″ Circle Punch, Scallop Trim Border and Corner Punches, Corner Rounder Punch, 1-1/4″ Square Punch, Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Glue Stick, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate, Paper Piercing Tool, White Floss (DMC) 

As usual, I got my Mojo a little late this week.  I’ve actually been looking at the current MOJO Monday sketch all week long and trying to figure out what I want to do with it.  I struggled with the sketch but kept going back and looking at it just waiting for something to pop into my head. 

The LNS Stampers Yahoo Group is also having a challenge this week where you show creative ways to use ribbon.  I saw a couple of cards created this week (one by Heather Van Duker and one by Lynn Pratt) with these cute little butterflies made out of ribbon so I had to try my hand at one.  Plus, for the first time, I made the pleated ribbon.  Well, the first time in real life anyway.  I created some digitally back when I designed digital scrapbook kits.

Anyway – on to today’s card.  I’m not going to go into the details of how to make this one as I think it would be hard to explain how to do some of it – like the pleated ribbon.  Maybe one day I’ll take some photos and create a tutorial on just that.

This card will be used in the Friend/Friendship card swap going on here at CARDScraps.  You have plenty of time to sign up for this one as signups don’t close until the 25th of this month.  If that one doesn’t strike your fancy, we have other swaps going on all the time – be sure to check them out.

Here’s a close-up of the little ribbon butterfly.  These were really simple.  Just tied a piece of twine or floss around a section of ribbon with the knot at one edge.  The twine ends become the antennae so trim them to an appropriate length.  Then cut the ribbon ends on a diagonal and your done!  I actually stitched them to my card front at the same time I was making them.  I just feel like they’re more secure when they’re stitched on rather than just glued on.  You can get a pretty good glimpse of the pleated ribbon as well from this angle.

I hope you like my cards.  If you have any questions, just let me know.

Happy Stamping

Lianne Carper
CS partner and DTM for Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Supplies:  (All Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted)

Stamps:  All Holidays (#114916)
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White card stock, Razzleberry Lemondade designer series paper
Ink:  Melon Mambo
Other:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Silver Brads, Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Circle Scissors Plus, Circle Die (Spellbinders), Stampin’ Write Markers, Glue Stick, Sponges, Dimensionals, Sewing Machine & Thread (non-SU)

Well, over the last couple of days, I’ve had a chance to play with the new Stampin’ Up!T In ColorsT and I can honestly say that I LOVE the Melon Mambo.  It’s such a beautiful vibrant pink and I’m a pink kinda gal.  The Crushed Curry is not one of my favorites but as long as you use it as an accent or tone it down somehow (look at the cover of the new catalog), it’s perfect.

I was blog hopping last night and came across an adorable card by Laura Fredrickson.  I loved the simplicity of it and knew it would be perfect for the Round and Round in Circles card swap here at CS.  So, this morning, I came up with the card shown here.  Mine is much busier than Laura’s card but that’s because I used a much more lively striped print DSP and instead of solid circles, I used the new Circle Circus stamp set and then punched them out.

I’m very pleased with the way it turned out and I really don’t think the photos do it justice at all.  It’s hard to tell from the photos but the white on the left side of the card is embossed with little polka dots.  You can see them the best in the bottom picture.  I hope whoever gets this card in the card swap enjoys it.  By the way – it’s not too late for you to join in on the card swap either.  The signups for this one don’t end until August 10th!  Plenty of time!

I tried something a little different with my butterfly this time.  I wanted to make sure the wings stood up even after it was sent through the mail without having to go to the added expense of sending it in a padded envelope. I stamped 2 butterflies on Whisper White card stock and then a 3rd one on Melon Mambo card stock.  After cutting each one out, I used my Bone Folder to “trace” the outside of the butterfly’s body on each of the 2 stamped on white.  This way I can glue the bodies together and then stack the butterflies and the wings will bend up nicely.  After I glued the finished butterfly to the card, I punched out four 1/4″ circles (standard hole punch).  I folded each one in half and then applied 2-way glue to it and slipped one in between each set of wings right up next to the body with crease facing the body.  Just the added thickness of the paper is going to keep the wings sticking up for a little while anyway. 

Anyway, I hope you can use that little trick at some point in your future card making.

Thanks for looking!

Lianne Carper
CS partner and DTM for Brenda Cook
Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator

Supplies:
(all Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted)

Stamps:  Circle Circus, Great Friend, Priceless
Paper:  Whisper White CS, Melon Mambo CS, Rich Razzleberry CS, Pumpkin Pie CS, Crushed Curry CS, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry
Other:  Grosgrain Ribbon, Various Circle Punches, Glue Stick, Snail Adhesive, 2-Way Glue Pen, Texture Plate (by Fiskars)