I really like Baja Breeze! This simple card is easy to make and features Baja Breeze card stock, ribbon, and corduroy buttons. A touch of glitter is the “icing on the cake”! Here’s the recipe:

• Make a standard size card base from Baja Breeze card stock layered with Very Vanilla.
• Ink the “cupcake” from Party Hearty using Stampin’ Write Markers in Regal Rose and Brocade Blue. Stamp it onto Very Vanilla. Use the Ticket Corner Punch on the corners and mat onto Baja Breeze.
• Next, using a small paint brush, “paint” the edges with VersaMark ink and sprinkle with Heat and Stick Powder. Tip: VersaMark also makes a marker. I just happened to have the refill instead. It was so easy to put the VersaMark exactly where I wanted it. Remove the excess and heat using a Heat Tool until it liquifies. Quickly sprinkle with Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter, remove the excess, and heat again. Tip: Do not overheat, as this will discolor the paper and the glitter. In the photo, it appears as if the glitter has yellowed. It is not!
• Embellish the base card with Baja Breeze 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon.
• Position the “Cupcake” mat and adhere to the base card, popping it up with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Ink the sentiment using Regal Rose and Brocade Blue Stampin’ Write Markers and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Mat onto Baja Breeze. Adhere to the base card as shown in the photo.
• Finish with three Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons to add just the right touch!

This card is so much prettier in person. The glitter sparkles like…well…diamonds! Of course, this is one cupcake which is calorie free, so feel free to enjoy as many as you want!

Email me today if you need more information!
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Stamp Set: Party Hearty (111532)
Ink: Stampin’ Write Markers—Regal Rose (105108), Brocade Blue (100064), VersaMark refill (102193)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (101650), Baja Breeze (111352)
Tools: Heat Tool (100005), Ticket Corner Punch (107214)
Embellishments: Baja Breeze 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (111375), Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons (Occasions Mini 114344)), Dazzling Diamonds Stampin’ Glitter (102023)
Adhesives: SNAIL Adhesive (104332), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
Other: Heat and Stick Powder (100625)

I have to confess…I am in a love affair with “A Walk in the Park” Designer Series Paper and the butterfly stamp from the “Great Friend” stamp set. Add Stampin‘ Up!s Filigree Brads into the mix, and I am in Stampin‘ Up Paradise! Today’s card also features the sweet Trio Flower Punch. What could be cuter than a sprinkling of Coral Cameo flowers to add a splash of color! Are you ready to take another “Walk in the Park” with me this morning?

• Make a standard card base using Cameo Coral card stock.
• Mat the gray floral paper from “A Walk in the Park” onto Whisper White. Wrap Whisper White Satin Ribbon around this element and adhere to the card base using SNAIL Adhesive.
• Place a strip of Cameo Coral card stock on top of the ribbon. Position and attach three Filigree Brads on the Cameo Coral strip.
• Punch a square of Whisper White using the Large Square Punch. Using the Scallop Square Punch, punch a square from Cameo Coral and adhere to the Whisper White square. Attach this element to the Designer Paper near the upper left hand corner using Stampin‘ Dimensionals.
• Ink the Butterfly stamp from “Great Friend” with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Cut out this image using Paper Snips. Tip: These small scissors will help you precisely cut around even the most intricate of images.
• Bend the wings of the butterfly up slightly and adhere to the Whisper White scalloped square. Mini Glue Dots are the perfect adhesive for this task.
• Punch a few flowers from Cameo Coral using the Trio Flower Punch, and randomly scatter on the gray Designer Series Paper. Rhinestones are then added to the center of the flowers and down the middle of the butterfly for just the right amount of bling!
  

Design Tip of the Day: By using a Basic Black card base, this card could easily transcend into the formal realm! The formality can be further enhanced by removing the Cameo Coral Trio Flowers and Cameo Coral paper strip. Isn’t it amazing how just a few little design changes can transform the personality of a card? Try it!
Several of the products used in this card are available from the Occasions Mini Catalog. There is still time to take advantage of the Get Connected promotion! Spend $40 on Occasions Mini Catalog products and choose any one item from the “Under $10” page in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog for free. Or host a workshop of $150 or more and choose any one item from the “Under $10” page in the Spring-Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog for free. For every $150 spent at the workshop, you will receive another “Under $10” item. Partner up with a friend if you would like and place those orders today! But hurry…the Get Connected promotion ends April 30th. Remember, you can place your order by clicking on the link below.
Click here to access the Occasions Mini Catalog!
Order Your Stampin‘ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Set: Great Friend (Occasions Mini Catalog 113792)
Ink: Basic Black ( 101179)
Designer Series Paper: A Walk in the Park (Occasions Mini 115123)
Card Stock: Whisper White (100730), Cameo Coral (100475)
Tools: Trio Flower Punch (109183), Scallop Square (112081), Corner Rounder (109047), 1 3/8″ Square Punch (103375)
Embellishments: Filigree Brads (112577), Whisper White 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (Occasions Mini 114616)

Adhesives: SNAIL Adhesive (104332), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

The emphasis these days is to go “green” and we can certainly apply this principle to our card making, too! These colorful flowers were made using the Sizzix Big Shot, Bigz Die Daisies #2, and an advertisement from the newspaper! “What about the ribbon slide?” you ask. Why it just happens to be a tab from a pop can! This card was prepared for the Splitcoast Challenge 225 with the Pretty Pals twist…use green and go “green”. Don’t be afraid to take chances in your cardmaking and scrapbooking, whether its using a button from an old shirt, a single earring which has lost its mate, scrap lace and ribbon…or even a pop tab! Here’s my recipe for “Going Green”:

• Select a colorful ad from a newspaper or magazine. Tip: Select your ad first, as it will dictate the colors of cardstock you will use! Use the Big Shot and Daisies #2 Die to cut your flowers. Tip: Several layers will make your flowers lush and full. Use a Rhinestone Brad to add that extra sparkle to the center of your flower.
• Mount the flower on Whisper White cardstock to which you have applied the Ticket Corner Punch.
• Using Taken with Teal card stock, make four panels. Ink the “Leaves” image from the Botanical Blooms stamp set with Whisper White and randomly stamp the teal panels. Tip: Make sure to stamp some images off the edge to add depth and realism. Use the Ticket Corner Punch to add interest to the upper and lower right hand corners. Adhere this to the Tangerine Tango card base.
• Adhere the large flower and its Whisper White base to your card.
• Lace 1/4th inch Whisper White grosgrain ribbon through a pop tab. Position below the large flower. (The sample card also features a slightly wider orange ribbon that was a scrap that I happened to have. However, Stampin’ Up! offers a wide selection of ribbon in colors to coordinate with your “ad” paper.)
• As a final touch, a smaller flower was affixed at the edge of the pop tab.

Why not try the “green” challenge yourself? The Big Shot just lends itself to this challenge with its ability to cut through not only paper, but even chipboard and pop cans! With the wide variety of dies available, it is so versatile. Over the next few weeks, I will continue to showcase the remarkable things you can create with this tool.
Click here to access the Occasions Mini Catalog!

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Set: Botanical Blooms (Sale-a-bration 113812)
Inks: Taken with Teal (103257), Whisper White (101731)
Card Stock: Taken with Teal (101584), Tangerine Tango (111349), Whisper White (100730)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Bigz Die Flowers, Daisies #2 (114520), Ticket Corner Punch (107214)
Embellishments: Rhinestone Brads Square Ice (109113), Whisper White 1/4th inch Grosgrain Ribbon (109025)