Papers & Plums

The "could-not-be-any-faster" Birthday Card

When you're a stamper there's always that bit of (self-imposed) pressure to produce hand made birthday cards. I always have good intentions to build up a stash, but last week when I needed one, there was none to be found. "Everyday Button Bits" to the rescue!

This set makes it so simple to create quick one layer cards that look really sweet and special because of those cute buttons. I was able to make this card in 5 minutes! That is perfect when that is all the time you have. The one year old recipient never told me what she thought of it...but I'm sure she loved it. =)

Thanks for stopping by,

Sara

Simple Home Decor in Less than One Hour

Back in February 2009 I made this butterfly collage inspired by Ali Edwards to grace my wall. I had so much fun making it that I wanted to make another one using different paper punches. I picked up two Hydrangea Martha Stewart punches at Michaels along with a piece of patterned paper. In order to make the two match I decided to use the same paper as last time. On my way home I picked up a small twig found in the parking lot. Here's a picture of all the supplies needed.

 

It was so simple:

1. Cut a piece of white card stock to fit your frame. Mine needed to be 8 1/2" x 10". 
2. Punch out a good selection of flowers in different sizes.
3. Attach the twig to the cardstock using dimensionals. I think I only attached it in two places as I figured that the overlapping flowers would hold it in place. It turns out I was right about that assumption.
4. Attach the flowers around the twig using dimensionals.
5. Insert completed collage into the shadow frame of your choice.

Time to complete this project? Less than one hour!! How is that for a satisfying craft session?

 

I really enjoy having these hand made decorations on my walls. I'll leave you with this close up of the flowers.

 

Thank you for stopping by,

Sara

Back once again

Happy New Year!

Been a while since I posted anything on my little blog. Here's one of the reasons I've been gone...

 And here's the other reason why I've been a bit busy...

Sweet little reasons. =) They have kept me pretty busy and I must confess that some days are rather tough. Getting used to having two little boys has been a transition. Most of the time I feel too tired to work on my craft projects. I am impressed by all the mothers out there with even more kids!!

Even so, I did manage to make a small little holiday project. Using PTI's coffee bags I packed a selection of cookies as a gift for my family. I then brought out the "Holiday Button Bits" stamp set and made a few cards...the only Christmas cards I made this year. =) The little gingerbread man made a perfect tag for the bag. The ribbon with little hearts is from my stash. I suppose it might seem like a Valentine's kind of ribbon but in Sweden red and hearts is very much a Christmasy thing.

Here's a couple of closeups on the cards. So much fun to use those little buttons as part of the image.

 

I hope to be back shortly with another update of what went on during the holidays. After that, it's onto new adventures for 2010.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sara

The Details:

{Stamps}: PTI Holiday Button Bits {Paper}: PTI White, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss {Ink}: PTI Dark Chocolate, Versamagic Gingerbread {Other}: Corner rounder, PTI Buttons

Inspired to Stamp

About a week ago I read this post over on Becky Oehlers blog. Very refreshing to remember that you don't always have to come up with something totally original when you stamp. It's OK to be inspired by others and make something similar or, even CASE it. In fact, I know a lot of us stampers hope to do just that - inspire others to be creative with our work.

Right now I am having a hard time planning more than one dinner ahead of time, let alone come up with new and exciting card ideas. I blame it on being so very pregnant! =) That's why Becky's post was so timely.

This card was inspired by this post by on Nichole Heady's blog. She made these really simple and colorful cards for the "sign language" countdown in August. I was able to put this together in less than an hour last night. So much fun, and a great feeling of accomplishment after a bit of a dry spell on the stamping front. By imitating her layout I was able to get creative quickly, rather than sit there and just look at my stamps and bits of card stock. Yay!!

Supplies: {Stamps}: PTI Polka Dot Basics, Mixed Messages, Butterfly Kisses (Swirl) and SU! Bitty Basics (retired Hostess Set). {Paper}: PTI Stampers Select White and Ocean Tides. {Ink}: SU! Basic Black, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Basic Grey (the last three were used to watercolor the image). {Other}: Dimensionals, Corner Rounder.

Thanks for stopping by

Sara

My Own Card Sketchbook

I know I can always trust one of my favorite bloggers, Kristina Werner, to inspire me to create something new. Last weeks MACM was no different. The project for this video was a little card sketch book - what a great idea. Since I became a blogger myself, and an avid  blurfer ("blog surfer") I have seen how other paper crafters use sketches as a part of their creative process. It's sort of what a recipe is to cooking, it makes things a little bit quicker and easier when you feel like you can't come up with something totally original.

However, I never had a good way to keep track of card ideas or sketches that I liked. I doodled on whatever was closest to me at the time of inspiration, on little pieces of paper that were never to be found again...=(

But no more, check this out! My very own sketchbook.

I used the PDF that Kristina so graciously shared on her blog for the interior pages. Then I made a simple cover for the book using SU! Pink Flamingo DSP. The frame (inkadinkado) was stamped on a piece of Tempting Turqoise using Versa Mark ink and SU! White Embossing powder. I love how the frame looks.

My handwriting messed it all up a bit though. However, sometimes it's good to not be too picky about how things turn out. This book is supposed to be used, so it doesn't really matter if the staples are slightly messy (yes, I messed those up too. Blaming my old stapler on that one), or the handwriting is not as beautiful as you wanted it to be. I am still thrilled to have my own little sketch book. A place to jot down inspiration when it strikes me.

Thank you for stopping by,

Sara

I never know for sure what I'll end up with

Perhaps you're the same way. You start out with an idea of how your card is going to look. You pick your colors, inks and your stamp sets and you cut your paper and get to work.
That's what I did last night. But this card look nothing like I originally planned it! It doesn't even use the stamp set I had planned to use! Funny how that works. But that is all part of the creative process.

Instead of using a stamped image as my focal point for this card, I let the patterned paper (SU! Pink Flamingo) take its place. Originally I was going to use the other side of the DP panel, which is Summer Sun yellow in color and full of tiny little flowers. Really pretty. But when I turned it over and saw these gorgeous red ones I thought to myself...hmmmm...that would look good on its own. Let's try it. And so I did. I only added a bit of Stickles to some of the large flowers and then I stamped my sentiment from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" onto Whisper White card stock. I punched it out using my brand spankin' new "Modern Label Punch". So cute!!

I hope you'll have some time today to be creative. Post a link in the comments section to let me know what you came up with! I would love to see it.

Sara

Visit my Stampin Up! Store now.

{Friend to Friend} Mini Card

We have stifling hot weather (99F-102F) here in Portland, OR this week. Not something this pregnant lady enjoys very much! That means seeking out air conditioned places to hang out all day with my little toddler. So, the cards you've been seeing lately were made last week as it is difficult to get anything done that requires movement!! =) However, I am hopeful this shall pass quickly!!

I made this little guy (3.5" x 3.5" Square) at the same time as this card. I think it would make a nice little gift tag.  I stamped the butterfly on Melon Mambo card stock with versa mark ink and then I carefully cut it out. Then, for additional interest I stamped the little polka dots on top of it, using Whisper White Craft ink. I thought it still looked a bit bland so I took my 2-way glue pen and brushed a thin layer over the entire butterfly (after the craft ink was dry of course). Then I poured a bit of glitter on top. It's quite sparkly in person. The brackets, along with the butterfly and the polka dots are all from the set "For all you do". I told you there were many uses for this set. =) The sentiment is from "Pocket Silhouettes".

It's really hard to see in this picture, but I did add two score lines to the bottom of the card as well. It adds a bit of elegance to an otherwise very simple card.

Stay cool and enjoy the Summer while its here. I will try to do the same.

Sara

Visit my Stampin Up! Store now

Clean and Simple Thanks

Seems like one can never have too many thank you cards on hand. However, even when I do have them, I forget to send them!! That is of course another issue altogether. I think I'll keep making them with the hope that someday, I will be better at using them too.

This card started out with the idea of using my Curly Label Punch to create a window opening. I love this punch so much, it adds such a fresh look. A bit of faux stitching around the shape of the opening adds a bit of interest. For the inside of the card I used Pocket Silhouettes. Doesn't it look so cute! =)

Last I used a strip of Whisper White card stock and my fun Scallop Edge Punch. It gives the card that tiny bit of extra sweetness. 

Thanks for visiting,

Sara

Visit my Stampin Up!store now.

New Beginnings

Finally a new post!! Can you believe how long its been? I never meant to let my blog sit idle for months!! But sometimes life throws a surprise at you, such as finding out that you're pregnant again!! Things like that just might slow things down for a bit. Another little boy is more than welcome to this family of ours and I look forward to his arrival in November. Yay!!

Well, my blog is back up and running now and I have some other fun news to share with you too! Drumroll please...last week I signed up to become a Stampin Up! demonstrator!!! Fun!!! Yes, I have been a fan of their products for a long time and decided to take the chance and become a demonstrator for this fun, innovative company. And just yesterday I received my first shipment from Mr. Brown. What could be a better incentive to get you back in the creative saddle but a handful of new stamps?

Here's a little something I threw together tonight.

This card uses SU!'s new set For All You Do. A great "all occasion" set that I see many uses for. I'll be exploring those over the next few weeks, so please come back to visit me.

If you want to get this set for yourself, you can find it over here on my Stampin Up! Store Website!! Yes, you got that right. You can order this from me right now! Isn't that so cool! I am very excited about this new venture in life.

I'll be back soon with more information.

Sara

Supplies: {Stamps}: For all you do {Ink}: SU! Old Olive, Summer Sun and Ruby Red {Other}: Dimensionals and rhinestones from my stash

Over the Rainbow Challenge

Papertreyink is hosting another fun challenge and a chance to win free products today. I am so excited! =) This one really was a challenge for me because I don't normally use this many colors on one project. I tend to work with only a couple of colors at a time or with shades in the same family. In other words -  I go for safe options. =)

That made this card all the more fun to make since I had to step outside of my creative comfort zone. And isn't that how we grow and change the way we do things anyway? By punching out little circles of Pure poppy, Summer Sun, Old Olive and Tempting Turqoise and adhering them to a piece of Stampers Select White card base I was able to incorporate all the colors without any of them being overpowering. For additional interest I added a couple of scored lines, one on each side of the dots (unfortunately that is hard to catch in this photo). For my main image I used the cute and curly set from SU! that matches the curly label punch. Inside I stamped a sentiment from mixed messages and an image from pocket sillhouettes.

There it is, my official entry! Hope you enjoy it. I know i had fun making it.

Thanks for stopping by,
Sara