Seeing Red, White and Blue

I was in a quandry when faced with the Our Creative Corner challenge this week. It sounded easy enough…just use red, white and blue in a card! It didn’t even have to be patriotic. But for a person who typically does not design cards in this color palette, trust me…it was a challenge. Thankfully, Mary Fish provided the inspiration that I needed. She has been able to rock the new stamp set, Circle Circus, and I used the “medallion” idea on her “Three Ring Circus” card as a starting point! Thanks, Mary!

  • Prepare a standard card base from textured Whisper White card stock.

  • Layer with Real Red and Night of Navy Textured card stock, which have been rounded on opposite corners with the Corner Rounder. Adhere to the card base.

  • Place Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon across the bottom as illustrated.

  • Ink the selected Circle Circus stamps with Real Red and stamp onto Whisper White. (Note: The circles were either hand trimmed or punched using the appropriate size circle punch. Several were given the “bling” treatment with Red Circle Fire Brads.)

  • For the large focal circle, I stamped the image twice, using Real Red on Whisper White. One image was punched out using the Scallop Circle Punch. The second was punched with the 1″ Circle Punch. A 1-1/4″ Night of Navy circle was punched and layered over the scalloped punch image. The 1″ punched image was then layered on the cardstock to create this stunning embellishment.

  • The Butterfly image from Great Friend was inked with Real Red and stamped onto Whisper White. It was trimmed using Paper Snips and placed into position with Mini Glue Dots.

  • The circles and medallion were popped onto the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

  • Ink the {friend to friend} sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Real Red and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch out with the Word Window Punch and position on the ribbon.
Even though these colors were not my cup of tea, I am now envisioning this card in other colors, like Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo and Bermuda Bay! In fact, I am finally getting a little excited about Circle Circus and its possibilities…thanks to the “Creative Corner Ladies”!
Your comments and emails are important to me! Please feel free to leave me a comment or email me. Until next time…


Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Set: Circle Circus (115778), Great Friend (113792)
Ink: Real Red (103133)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Whisper White Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted Pack), Night of Navy Textured (108696—Rich Regals Assorted Pack), Real Red (102482)
Tools: Word Window Punch (105090), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), 1” Circle Punch (109046), 1-1/4” Circle Punch (104403), Paper Snips (103579)
Embellishments: Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109052), Circle Fire Brads (109110)

Razzle Dazzle Lemonade

I actually started to make a “Lots of Bots” card today, but as I was experimenting with ways to color the “Get Well Soon” robot, I discovered that I really like the way Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Markers look with each other. So it was “Good-by Bots” and “Hello Razzle Dazzle!” Has that ever happened to you? I will also confess that I am running out of current Designer Series Paper. I can hardly wait until my new Designer Papers arrive Monday. But luckily for me, this selection of Razzleberry Lemonade worked perfectly!
  • Prepare a 7″ x 3-3/4″ card base from textured Bermuda Bay, scored at the top.

  • Select a 6-1/2″ x 3-1/4″ piece of Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper and wrap with Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. Mat onto Soft Suede and adhere to the card base.

  • Ink the “Floral” image from the Razzle Dazzle stamp set with Bermuda Bay and Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Markers. “Huff” and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Mat with Bermuda Bay followed by Soft Suede. Position and adhere to the card base.

  • Ink the “It’s Good to Dream” sentiment with Bermuda Bay and stamp. (Tip: Because I used a lighter selection of Designer Series Paper, I actually stamped the sentiment onto a small piece of it for a coordinated look. If I had used darker paper, I would have elected to stamp onto Very Vanilla, to match the image block.) Punch out with the Word Window Punch. Mat onto Bermuda Bay which has been punched with the Modern Label Punch.

  • Punch a second Modern Label with Soft Suede. Cut off the ends and layer behind the Bermuda Bay label. Adhere to the card with a Stampin’ Dimensional.

  • Extra bling was added with three Yellow Circle Fire Brads!

Maybe tomorrow I will get around to making the Lots of Bots card…unless I get distracted by another In-Color “Dynamic Duo”!

I know that I always end my posts by saying that your comments are important to me. They truly are! And this morning I received an email which was a day brightener on this cool and rainy Iowa Fourth of July. It is so rewarding to know that people are out there and that they are reading my posts! Thank you to S. in Canada!

Yes, I do enjoy your comments and emails. Please feel free to leave me a comment or email me. Until next time…

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: Razzle Dazzle (116714)
Ink: Bermuda Bay (115655), In-Color Stampin’ Write Markers (116329)
Designer Series Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade (115675)
Card Stock: Soft Suede (115318), Bermuda Bay (115317), Bermuda Bay Textured (115314—In-Color Assorted Pack), Very Vanilla Textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted Pack), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: Word Window Punch (105090), Modern Label Punch (116630)
Embellishments: Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115610), Circle Fire Brads (109110)

Americana

I love the Fourth of July! The parades and the food! The fireworks and the food! Well, you get the picture! In my small community, the Fourth of July celebration is the highlight of the summer. Literally and figuratively, everyone heads uptown for an entire day of entertainment, content to bask in the companionship of their neighbors and friends. Beginning with the Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast, and ending with a fabulous fireworks display, the Fourth of July in this small Midwestern town is a scene right out of a Norman Rockwell illustration and served as my inspiration for this Americana-style card. Enjoy this slice of American Pie!

  • Prepare a 5-1/2″ by 5-1/2″ card base from textured Whisper White card stock. Use a Corner Rounder on the bottom corners.

  • Layer with Night of Navy card stock followed by Whisper White and Real Red. (Tip: A Corner Rounder used on opposite corners breaks up the angularity of the card, adding visual interest.)

  • “Flick paint” this base with slightly diluted white acrylic paint and a tooth brush. (Tip: When flick painting, I always test it on scrap paper to make certain that the paint is the right consistency and that it is producing suitable flecks.)

  • Paint a large chipboard star from On Board Essentials with white acrylic paint. (Tip: After allowing the first coat to dry completely, I lightly sanded with a Sanding Block before applying the second coat.)

  • Flick paint with navy blue acrylic paint.

  • Position and adhere the star in the middle of the card base.

  • For a finishing touch, I added a red button which I had “threaded” with a snippet of Night of Navy card stock.

This was a “Do-I-add-more” card. I debated on whether to add more buttons, or whether to tea-stain it to age it. Should I add more stars? In the end, I decided to keep it clean and simple!

Don’t forget that from July 15th through August 31st, you can become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for as little as $85. Please join my group! For details, Click Here!

As always, I appreciate your comments. They are very important to me! So feel free to stop in and say “Hi!” Until next time…

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!

Card Stock: Whisper White textured (108693—Neutral Assorted Pack), Night of Navy (100867), Real Red (102482)
Tools: Corner Rounder Punch (109047)
Other: On Board Essential Chipboard (112085), vintage Stampin’ Up! button, White and Navy acrylic paints, toothbrush