Getting a start on Valentine's Cards

I just love the new Valentine's Defined stamp set in the Occasions Mini!
I started fairly simple with the 'heart' flowers and heart banner, and can't wait to create something fun and new with the flamingo and tree images: 

These cards were quick and easy!  I used a fiskars product that allows you to punch in the center of a card - very cool!  Look for more Valentine posts in the new future.  Enjoy!

From the new catalog.... so fun!

Aren't new toys FUN!?  New colors, stamps, punches and always lots of fresh ideas await you in the new Stampin' Up! catalog!  Remember that many of the new stamps and colors are available for My Digital Studio as well!  Want more information on digital crafts?  Email me!

Below is a rather quick card I made for one of my clients.  Hydrangeas grew in my backyard when I was a child and they bring back many fond memories of good times in that backyard!  My mother showed me how to add colored water to the base of the bush to change the color of the hydrangea, so in her honor, I went with a red hydrangea, just like we used to 'make at home!'  Details are below.  Enjoy, create, and have a fabulous 4th of July weekend!

and for the inside:

Almost all NEW products were used for this card:  My base card is Early Espresso cardstock, layered with Pear Pizzaz that has been dry embossed with the new Vintage Wallpaper folder.  The Cherry Cobbler strip was border punched with the scallop punch.  Early Espresso was used for the main image mat.  Watercolor paper makes the main image mat because it works so well with the blender pens.  I used Cherry Cobbler to stamp the flower and was careful to load ink on only the flower portion of the stamp.  The stem was colored with my Pear Pizzaz marker.  I used a blender pen and just a little extra ink to color the image for more depth.  Cajun Craze marker was used to color the centers of the flowers.  I used my Cherry Cobbler marker to color only two images of the line design and stamp them in opposite corners.  The sentiment and hydrangea are from the new "Because I Care" set.  The sentiment was heat embossed with versamark and clear powder.  The inside used Very Vanilla mats, and the same components as the outside of the card.  I just might make a few more of these! 

For You - originally

June has grown wings and flown by!  So much happening in my world this month - it's left me little time to create.  I did sneek some time in to purchase some new sizzix dies and wanted to share this creation with you.  As some of you may know, I'm more of a 'case and renovate' girl, but I'm proud to say this one is an original and I'm pleased with the results.  Hope you like it!

I used Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White cardstock, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Craft White and Cherry Cobbler ink.  Elements of Style, Vintage Vogue and Artist Etchings were my stamps of choice.  I used a distressing tool for the edges of the cherry cobbler matt after running in through an embossing folder.  I then crumpled the matt, smoothed it, and adhered it to the base card.  The big note die was used on Crumb Cake CS, stamped along the edge with a Vintage Vogue stamp, then dusted the edges with Craft white topped off lightly with Early Espresso.  I used another sizzix die to cut the WW and then edged it with Crumb Cake and Early Espresso before using versamark, clear embossing powder and Cherry Cobbler ink for the main image from Artist Etchings.  It was then mounted with dimensionals.  I stamped the round image and punched it out with the 1 3/4 punch, then used a stencil I had for the 2 inch circle matt.  I distress the 2 inch circle a bit, too.  The 'for you' image from Elements of Style was embossed on WW, then punched with the small oval punch and mounted with dimensionals.  The brads are miscellaneous one I had that just so happened to match my ink - yay for miscellaneous brads!  Can't wait to get the 'real deal' from the new catalog!  The ribbon is white organza that was wrapped around the corner and adhered to the inside of the card.  I created more dry-embossed panels for the inside of the card that covered the brad backs and the ends of the ribbon.  Voila!  I had a great time and can't wait to give this to someone for any occasion.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.  I hope it inspires you to create your own original or a case of this one!