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;

A truly Golden Anniversary

I raided my stash and embellished it to make this card.  I will be honest with you I really wanted to make a different card by downloading a die and making multiple roses etc.... and I think my subconscious was secretly saying "Girl! You have got to be kidding!" so this is what my "oh I don't really have time to do all that so what am I going to do with what I already have because it would be really silly to go shopping when I could supply one" brain told me to do. 

I will be honest, I'm not certain that the gold glitter embossing on the thick metallic gold paper really worked or added that much compared to how much time it took to run the static pad over it, stamp the image with Versamark and add the embossing powder and heat so I wouldn't mess up the image when I did the next one.

So as I shopped my stash I'm a bit sketchy as to from where some things actually came.  The flowers and thick gold paper date back to my stash collecting when we lived in England! Wowzer! And back home they went to the happy couple, my husband's Auntie and Uncle.  And I just adore the punched border.  I will be honest with you it reminds me of the Double Wedding Ring quilt my parents used to have on their bed when I was growing up that my grandmother had made.  I didn't really set out to use pearls on a golden anniversary card but all my other bling didn't look right.

I really like this last shot of the card for showing the dimension and the reflection of the embossing.

I hope they thought it was a special as they are.

And yeah, I am still squeeing for joy at my successful heat embossing on vellum attempt! Bet you can see my happy dance if you look real close! 

Thanks for looking.  Now to get back to my table and get some more cards done!

Ingredients
Cardstock - Neenah Classic Crest Smooth Solar White, Gold unknown, Gold Iridescent Vellum: The Paper Source;
Stamps - Kitchen Sink Stamps:3-step Hearts and Roses (Happy Anniversary); Recollections: Big One Double ; Clear Dollar Stamps June Flower of the Month;
Ink - Versamark;
Accessories - Embossing Power: Zing White, Zing Gold Glitter ; Paper Roses: Unknown; Pearls: The Paper Source ; Martha Stewart Border & Corner Punch: Modern Garland; Dimensional tape; Nestabilities: Hearts, Scalloped Hearts;