simple card sets

The last day of the Clean and Simple card class was card sets.  I only had time to make a prototype.  I think this would be a easy one to reproduce for a set and just about any sentiment would work on it.  This was super fast for me especially since I just happened to have some cut butterflies from a previous project on my desk.  This may actually be the fastest card I've ever made.

Black Color Pop!

I learned this techinique in the CAS card class. Basically it's colored pencils on white ink and it really makes the color pop off the dark card stock.
I used my really old Prismacolor pencils that I've had since I was in school for Architecture (a long time ago) and they still work great! I first stamped my images with Stampin' Up! Whisper White craft ink which is a pigment ink and then heat set it. Coloring in on top wasn't as tedious as I thought it would be and I found that if you rotate the pencil as you color you won't have to sharpen the point as often (drafting tip from the old days of doing Architecture drawings by hand - dating myself again!)
Anyway, here's my version of Jennifer McGuire's card...

supplies:
card stock: SU Naturals White, Basic Black, So Saffron
stamps: SU Raining Flowers, Hero Arts All Occassion
Ink: SU Craft whisper white
Pencils: Prismacolor
Button: SU Rich Razzleberry
Other: DMC Floss

Mirror Image Stamping

Today in the CAS class the theme was More Simple Techniques.  One of the techniques taught was Mirror Image Stamping.  I made a mini version of the class card because my only directional stamp that I own is really small.  I pulled out some oldies but goodies for this card (bird stamp and embossing folder).  I love learning a new technique!

Here's my first attempt at Mirror Image Stamping...

switching gears today

Today's theme for the CAS class is PlainlyWhite.  So I decided to go out of my comfort zone,  retro modern, and came up with this one.

Simple Embellishments

For today's CAS card class the theme was Simple Embellishments.  I used two simple butterflies for mine - a punched one and a die cut one layered together.

supplies used:
stamps - Stampin' Up!,  En Francais, Thank You Kindly
card stock - Stampin' Up!, Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Pool Party
ink - Stampin' Up!, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
patterned paper - SU Designer Series Paper Patterns, So Saffron
twine - SU Baker's Twine, Pool Party, Linen Thread
pen - Uniball Signo, White

Technique made Simple - Framelits Hearts

Here's a card I made for the Technique made Simple theme of the CAS card class.  I chose to do the masking technique.

I used the new Stampin' Up! Framelit dies and cut a heart out of a piece of copy paper.  Then I inked up the dots stamp in different color inks and stamped it.  I stamped the sentiment and then used dazzling details to glitter up the dots.  Super simple.

Using a single stamp to make a background paper

The theme for the Clean and Simple class today was to use a stamp in an alternate way, however yesterday's theme of Inspiration snuck back into my card making today. One of the great things about my job as an Architect is that I have a library full of fun stuff - carpet, fabric, paint, wall covering, tiles, etc. The upholstery fabric is especially inspiring to me. I often order sample of fabric I like just because I like it and I keep it on my desk. Sometimes it sparks a color scheme for a client and many times it inspires a card! Today I was looking for a stamp and came across a fabric I took home thinking I would cut out the flowers for a card or scrapbook page and then totally forgot about it. I decided to use it today because it reminded me a little bit of one of the cards that was shown in the clean and simple cards. So I lifted that layout, but used this fabric for my inspiration. This is the fabric...

and this is the card I came up with...

Supplies - all Stampin' Up!
stamp - Growing Green, Thank You Kindly
Card Stock - Chocolate Chip
Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon
Versamark Ink
White embossing powder
dimensionals
Uniball Signo white pen

Inspired by - another take on the pillow

I made a similar card to this about a year or so ago, but I simplified the design a bit for this one.

Inspired by and simplify

Today's theme for Clean and Simple cards is to find something that inspires you and simplify. It could be a previous card you've made, someone else made or just something else all together. I went to my pinterst "home" pinboard and found this pillow I pinned. I like this pillow because of it's colors and also that it's an organic pattern, but the colors are not typical of organic prints.
Here's my first card....{sorry about the bad cell phone shots}

Single layer cards with Hello Doily and Delicate Doilies

Just a quick one layer card I made in the Clean and Simple card class.

supplies - Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Hello Doily, Delicate Doilies, Delightful Dozen
Whisper White Card stock

Clean and Simple Cards

As a change from teaching card making classes I decided to take a class.  It's called Clean and Simple Cards.   Today was the first day and it was really fun.  I was able to run home on my lunch break from work and make the first one of three for today.  The rest I made this evening.   It's set up where you use whatever supplies you have on hand so I'm using lots of my new Stampin' Up! Occassion mini catalog stuff!  This class is taught by three super talented card makers, Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire and Julie Ebersole.    I'm enjoying this class because it's really in sync with my style.  Here's a couple of the cards I made today in this class.

Stampin' Up! Occassion Mini 2012 - sneak peaks

I'm am loving the upcoming Occasions mini which starts January 4th.   Here are a few sneak peaks fo the products coming out.
{sorry for the bad cell phone photos}


 This card features the new Sizzlits Doily die and the new "Attic Boutique" Designer Series Paper.

The next card I made a Stampin' Up! team meeting.  We used the new edgelits dies and coordinating embossing folders - love those!  We also used the new Mixed Bunch stamp set and coordinating Blossom punch.  This gorgeous Designer Series Paper called Everyday Enchantment and matching brads come from the upcoming Sale-A-Bration catalog (starts January 24th).  You can earn them free with a qualifying purchase - can't beat that!

I'm loving the new nested label Sizzlits that I used in the next card.  The coordinating stamp set, Apothocary Art is amazing, too.  

So just a few sneak peaks...more to follow!

There are tons of great clearance items, up to 80% off in the clearance sectionPublish Post on my site and the holiday mini catalog (link on sidebar) is still good through January 3rd!