Sunset Swan Anniversary

I made this anniversary card for my Brother in Law and Sister in Law.  When I made it I liked it but... and I think that is the problem.  It is the scene I wanted, just a lake and a sunset, but ....  I think it is missing something.  Initially, I attempted a no line watercolor with it and clear embossed the swans and even with the intensity of the colors in the back ground they were just lost in the scene so I over stamped with gray which created an interesting shadow effect with the clear embossing as a highlight.  I like this but I wish it was better and the only way to get better is to keep trying.

What it took - 
Card size - 8 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in;
Cardstock - Watercolor paper, Recollections 110 lb white, 65 lb blue;
Stamp - Stampendous Swan Pair;
Ink - Versamark, Memento gray;
Color - Koi Watercolor

Swing card Anniversary

I found this card nearly impossible to photograph - I hope it comes across as pretty on screen as I thought it was in real life.  It is a diecut swing card but I modified it from the Splitcoaststamper tutorial as I didn't need to extend the die cut into the back of the card to get the swing.  I notice that the example in the tutorial is very 3D, well that just isn't going to happen in my international postage, card making world. HA!HA!

With lots of trepidation and too much worrying about getting it right the first thing I did was glue my patterned paper to my cardstock using YES! paste.  Oh my that stuff is gorgeous and I am glad I picked it up on clearance at Michaels.  It was my first time using it and I used the video instructions from Lindsay, the Frugalcrafter and it was sooooooo easy peasy.  It is going to be my go to way of adhering large sheets of paper to cardstock from now on.

I proceeded to die cut the card and the paper to cover the card and the cardstock to cover the paper that covers the card and... well you get the idea.

The inside panel is a happy accident.  I was going to go ahead with a really soft tone of pink and when I stamped it I thought, "Hmmm I'm having trouble actually seeing it!" so I ghosted it with gold metallic ink stamped over the top and I think it really looks special.  I will be honest, although this is an anniversary card it was LATE LATE LATE - so I just went with thinking of you.  You know, who doesn't like to be thought about?!

The front panel was stamped with Kitchen Sink Stamps 3 step stamps.  I kept is soft by stamping the same color with each step.  I LOVE that panel and look.

I decided I wanted to emboss vellum for the salutation (is there a better word? that seems so formal), so I die cut the vellum to fit over the center of the stamped panel and then stamped and heat embossed.

Once that was done some strategic glue placement and some pearls to accent it all.

With some left over patterned paper I decorated the envelope to match.

Ingredients
Card size - 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
Cardstock - Recollections: 65lbs; Vellum; Basic Gray: Sugared paper stack;
Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps: 3 step Hearts and Roses, Whole Family; Hero Arts: CL342
Ink - Memento: Angel Pink, New Sprout; Versamark
Color - Gold pen
Accessories - Pearls, Zing!: White Embossing powder;
Tools - Spellbinders: Grand Dies; Scor Pal; Yes! paste

Using a prize for a Happy Anniversary!

A little while ago I entered a challenge on CASology for "word" and won on Week 20 for "word".  The prize was a wonderful set of stamps from A-muse.  I always think that the best compliment is to use a gift/prize and that was the inspiration for this ombre card for my Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law's anniversary.  I think the effect is more subtle in person especially on that second heart!  

The first thing I did was to punch the border.  After that I stamped the hearts and followed that with the sentiment.  To tie it all together I added ribbon under the punched border.  What you can't see is that I used the softest pink to continue the heart theme on the inside of the card and the envelope.

Thought I would share this last picture so you could see the difference between showing this card upright and laying down so that the ribbon would show.

Ingredients
Card size - 8.5 inches x 5.5 inches
Cardstock - Neenah Classic Crest Smooth Solar White;
Stamps - Amuse Studio: hearts a'plenty (couldn't find online so may be retired); Kitchen Sink Stamps: 3 Step Roses & Hearts;
Ink - Memento: Angel Pink, RoseBud, Rhubard Stalk;
Accessories - EK Success (don't have exact name); American Craft Ribbon;

We're birds of a feather...

I made this card for my darling and long suffering husband.  He loves birds.  I decided I wanted to be very clean and simple and focused.  And yeah, that is ribbon on a guy card - that is how I roll (so 2008! Bwahaha)... ok I think I need less caffeine when I blog because it is getting a bit random in here... so I will just list the supplies as I think it is pretty self explanatory and yeah he liked his card *wink*

And yeah, I have the Memento markers and used them on the image and sentiment and the pad to stamp the texture on the row and the heart to ensure it "matched" the rest of the card.

Ingredients
Card size 8.5 x 5.5 inches
Cardstock - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Smooth, Recollections Red;
Stamps - Gina K Designs: Heartily Yours, You Say Goodbye, and I Say Ello;
Ink - Memento: Tuxedo Black; Lady Bug Red; Cottage Ivy; Angel Pink; Dandelion;
Accessories - Spellbinders: Hearts Nestabilities; Brads; Dimensional tape; Ribbon;

S.W.A.K.

 

Saw the prompt and just had to do this card!

 

 

Hot, sexy, glittering, RED lips.  Is there anything else to say (except that I don't know why my card is photographing warped! YIKES!)

 

I had an online conversation about "missing you" cards and the poster said they should be muted and I had disagreed.  Now, this for me would make a great missing you card in the right situation and it is bold and in your face, nothing muted or subtle about it.

 

Ingredients

Card size - 4.25 x 5.5 in

Cardstock - Recollections: Kraft;

Stamps - High Hopes Stamps: Kissy Lips;

Ink - Versamark

Accessories - Zing: Red glitter embossing powder; Dimensionals.

Silver Anniversary Card

I made this card for my BIL & SIL Silver Wedding anniversary in June! What a great occasion. 

I was out shopping for supplies to make the gift (next blog post) and I came across these HUGE Stampendous flowers at Joann's and they were 50% off.  Result! Yeah, I know I may have sourced them elsewhere on the internet yada yada yada.  Still I stocked up on many things I had been having difficulty finding (Versamark refill I love you!).

I printed my base card.  If I had been thinking straight, yeah, that's a rare commodity for me,  then I would have played with font sizes within the printed greeting.  I'm happy with it but I think it would have been more WOW if I had made the "Happy 25th Wedding Anniversary" larger and maybe even making the "25th" a different size as well.  Oh well, have to chalk it up to experience. 

Lots of stamping and masking on this one!

At first I was going to shade the flowers with tones of pinks, blush, soft peaches, but when I saw the white with the sparkly silver embossing I just couldn't.  I really liked the simplicity of it.  So then it evolved to Plan B - simplicity needs texture and layers for me to make it more super special. I think it works.  I don't think the photography shows how vibrant the silver is on this card against the crisp white.

Ingredients
Card Size - 8.5 in x 5.5 in
Card Stock - Neenah Classic Crest
Stamps - Stampendous Jumbo Rose
Ink - Versamark
Miscellaneous - Printer; Zing! Silver Glitter Embossing Powder, Foam Dimensionals

Birds of a feather

Quite simply this is the anniversary card I made for my husband this year.  He is always saying ti amo.  I bought the Stampendous set ages ago and so happy I remembered to use it!  The image is High Hopes Rubber Stamps.

Ingredients

Card Size - 8.5 in x 5.5 in

Card Stock - Neenah Classic Crest, The Paper Company

Stamps - High Hopes Stamps, Stampendous

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Color - Copics

Miscellaneous - White Embossing Powder