Stampin' Saturday: Free As A Bird

 Good day and welcome to my humble blog. I'm an Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up! and I'm here to offer you inspiration and encourage you to get into your craft space to get creative. Saturdays are made for stampin'. Don't you agree?? Most people have that day off, so why not take a little time for yourself and get creative.

Here is today's card:

 I'm surprised that the Free As A Bird stamp set didn't get much love from me. They are beautiful images, perfect to colour (and I love colouring) and the sentiments use a nice font with a great message. Well it got some lovin' this week. I created a class of six cards that I'll post for sale when I'm done with all the details. So this is a sneak peek of sorts.

Here's a  close up for a more detailed view:

 

 Just about everything on this card is using retired products. I vowed to destash and use up my craft supplies that have been collecting dust. Only things current are the Basic White card stock, Linen Thread, Memento ink, couple Stampin' Blends and the Stampin' Dimesionals.

 

I had to zoom in and show off my bow. Many people have issues tying a nice bow, I am not one of them. At my classes, there's at least one person that wants me to tie their bow. They just can't get it to sit nicely on their card.

**Tip: if you remember, add a strip of Adhesive Sheet (152334) before dies cutting "friend". It makes adhering to your project quicker and easier. You could always use the Fine Tip Glue Pen (138309) or Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755) if you forget or don't have any.**

Supplies used:

• Free As A Bird stamp set
• Soft Sky card stock
• Soft Suede card stock
• Basic White card stock (159276)
  
• Bird Ballad DSP
• Merriest Trees dies (tag die cut)
• Well Written Framelits- dies (friend die cut)
• Memento ink pad (132708)
• Stampin' Blend Daffodil Delight (154883), Pumpkin Pie (154897)
• Linen Thread (104199)
• Stampin' Dimensional (104430)
  

I'm all about decorating the inside of the card and the envelope. I keep it simple and let the spotlight shine on the front of the card. Here I used the Bird Ballad DSP. It's a good way to use it up!

 That's all for today! I hope you liked my creation and it inspires you to get into your craft space today. If you do CASE this card or find inspiration to create something, please share with Diane's Craft Space on Facebook, we love seeing what you are up to.

Friday Inspiration: Playing In The Rain

 Good day and welcome to my humble blog. I'm an Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up! and I'm here to offer you inspiration and encourage you to get into your craft space to get creative. Every Friday in my Facebook group, Diane's Craft Space, I post an inspirational card. I try to keep it simple so even a beginner can CASE it (Copy And Share Everything).

Here is this week's card using all current product except the Stitched Circle die but you can use Stylish Shape Dies (159183) or the 2 3/8" Circle Punch (161354).

I created two versions of this card. The one above is using all current products and horizontal. The other below (scroll down a bit) uses almost all retired products and created vertically but same sketch layout.

I used the following products:

• Playing In The Rain stamp set (160542)
• Playing In The Rain dies (160550)
• Most Adored DSP (162976)
• Fresh As A Daisy DSP (161289)
• Copper Clay card stock (161721)
• Copper Clay ink pad (161647)
• Memento ink pad (132708)
• Stampin' Blends: Light Cherry Cobbler (154880), Dark Daffodil (154883), D&L Crumb Cake (154882), D&L Old Olive (154892), D&L Soft Sea Foam (154902)
• Stitched Circle (retired) but can use 2 3/8" Circle Punch (161354) or Stylish Shapes dies (159183)
• Opaque Faceted Gems (162979)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

And then the decorated envelope and inside of the card. Keeping it simple with DSP and Mr Turtle.
 

Now here is the version of the same layout turned vertically using mostly retired products:

After seeing Helen's card this week on the Krafty Chicks Challenge blog, I had to dust off my pandas. This stamp set is the retired Party Pandas, it was a FREE SAB set a few years back and I just couldn't part with it. 

I finished the inside the same as the previous card. I'm really that simple!

 

 So tell me, which version do you prefer?? Are you Team Turtle or Team Panda??

 

That's all for today! I hope you liked my creation and it inspires you to get into your craft space today. If you do CASE this card or find inspiration to create something, please share with Diane's Craft Space on Facebook, we love seeing what you are up to.

Dear Doily For Friday Inspiration

 Good day and welcome to my humble blog. I'm an Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up! and I'm here to offer you inspiration and encourage you to get into your craft space to get creative. Every Friday in my FaceBook group, Diane's Craft Space, I post an inspirational card. I try to keep it simple so even a beginner can CASE (Copy And Share Everything) it.

Here is this week's card:

 I started off by finding a sketch that I wanted to use; easiest way to find your mojo and get your creative juice flowing. I chose (and I often do) Freshly Made Sketches #618. The Design Team offers you even more inspiration, so go have a look.

Freshly Made Sketches #618

 

My word of the year is DECLUTTER, or destash. I'm looking to simplify my life and that includes destashing my craft space. Most of my makes will now use mostly retired products. If I can't sell it, I might as well use it. 

Can you guess all the retired products used?? With the exception of the Thick Basic White card stock for the base (item 159229), the Gorgeous Grape ink pad (item 147099), the Dark Highland Heather Stampin' Blends (item 154887), and the Iridescent Pearl Basic Jewels* (item 158987), everything else on this card is retired.

* TIP: If you look closely, you'll notice the pearls are purple, not at all the same as in the catalogue. Here's my trick to a different coloured pearl, or rhinestone, or gem, or sequin, or ribbon, or twine: colour THEM with the Stampin's Blends colour of your choosing. Tada!

Here's the list of retired items used: Dear Doily stamp set, Doily Builder thinlits, Layering Circle dies, Dandy Designs DSP.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I do not leave the card inside or envelope bare. I like a little something, something simple as the start of the show is the card front. Here I used the DSP again (cuz I have lots of it, it's a 48 sheet package that I've barely made a dent into) and a doily image with sentiment for the inside. The doily on the inside of the card was stamped off three times (that's usually enough) but it's still too dark. I recommend you stamp off  as many times as you need on scratch paper first and see which "shade" is the beast for you.

 That's all for today! I hope you liked my creation and it inspires you to get into your craft space today. If you do CASE this card or find inspiration to create something, please share with Diane's Craft Space on FaceBook, we love seeing what you are up to.