FUN, SQUARE, ONE LAYER CARDS

 Hi Stampers!

Today I have some more one layer cards to share with you. Instead of the standard A-2 size card, these cards are square (card base is 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored at 4 1/4”). The card front measures 4 1/4” x 4 1/4”. These cards will fit just fine in the Stampin’ Up!®️ medium envelopes (5 3/4” x 4 3/8”). Let’s look at the cards:

Yes, I included a Christmas card! I know summer is just beginning, but this is the time of year when I begin planning my Christmas card making strategy. For the Christmas card I used the PERFECTLY PLAID stamp set. The floral card was stamped with images from the LOVELY YOU stamp set. The two remaining cards were stamped using the ALL SQUARED AWAY stamp set. All three stamp sets can be found in the STAMPIN’ UP! 2021-2022 ANNUAL CATALOG.

ALL SQUARED AWAY CARDS

These two cards are basically the same, I just changed the colors and embellished them a bit differently. I used Basic White card bases, and stamped four images from the ALL SQUARED AWAY stamp set on the card front. I just eyeballed the placement.

SUPPLIES FOR THIS VERSION OF THE CARD:

* Inks - Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Just Jade

* Scraps of Basic White and Just Jade for sentiment and Stitched Rectangles Dies (smallest die).

* Just Jade and Gold Braided Ribbon

* Metallic Pearls - gold

* Dimensionals

SUPPLIES FOR THIS VERSION:

* Ink - Polished Pink

* Scrap of Basic White cardstock

* Picture This Dies

* Polished Pink Open Weave Ribbon

LOVELY YOU CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD:

* Ink- Coastal Cabana , Melon Mambo; Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Write Markers

* Masks - 4 pieces of printer paper 1 7/8” square (or Post It Notes) and blending brush.

* Low tack adhesive or a dab of multipurpose glue and blot it a time or two with a paper towel to reduce the stickiness.

ASSEMBLY

* Arrange the masks on the card base - Try to center them as best you can.

* use the blending brush and the Coastal Cabana ink and lightly go over the entire card front. Remove the masks,

In the four white squares stamp the flower images and the sentiment.

PERFECTLY PLAID CARD

SUPPLIES FOR THIS CARD:

* Inks - Poppy Parade and Granny Apple Green, Granny Apple Green (dark) Stampin’ Blends

* Blending brush

* Rhinestone Basic Jewel

ASSEMBLY

* Mask the card front as described for the previous card. Use Poppy Parade ink and a blending brush to add color to the card front. Remove the masks.

* Stamp the tree images in three of the white squares and the greeting in the lower right hand square.

* Use the Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blend to add color to the rhinestone. Place the rhinestone above the “y” in Merry.

There you have it, four square one layer cards that are quick and easy - and fun to make! Why not give them a try?

That’ it for today. Thank you so much for stopping by. Until next time...

Stamp Happy

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990 - 2021 Stampin’ Up!®️

GO WILD WITH A QUICK & EASY CARD MAKING STRATEGY!

 Hi Stampers!

Today I have a card making strategy to share with you. I use this when I need a card in a hurry, or when I just have no idea where to start on a card. I have 4 cards to share with you. They are all made with a card base, a 3” x 3 1/2” piece of DSP, and a 3 1/4” x 3 3/4” mat for the DSP. Just add a greeting and other images of your choice. You can dress up the card, or keep it simple. It’s totally up to you.

Here are my sample cards.

All the DSP I used is from the PATTERN PARTY collection. It will be available in the upcoming STAMPIN’ UP!®️ 2021-22 ANNUAL CATALOG  for purchase with STAMPIN’ REWARDS.

WILDLY GRATEFUL

This card features images and a greeting from the LOVELY YOU stamp set, along with a Blushing Bride and Gold color scheme.

LOVELY YOU 

(CARRYING OVER TO NEW CATALOG)

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS CARD

* A Blushing Bride card base plus a scrap of Blushing Bride cardstock.

* Gold Foil Sheet - a piece cut to 3 1/4” x 3 3/4” + some for die cut greeting mat and for the leaves

* DSP cut to 3” x 3 1/2”.

* Basic White cardstock - 4” x 5 1/4” for inside of card

* Versa Mark & Gold Embossing Powder

* Blushing Bride ink

* Gathered Ribbon - Rococo Rose / Gold (Retiring Item)

* Curvy Dies (Mini Catalog)

* Tasteful Labels Dies (Carrying over to new catalog)

* Dimensionals (I used dimensionals on all 4 cards.)

* Metallic Pearls - gold (carrying over).

WILDLY HAPPY

KANGAROO & COMPANY (MINI CATALOG)

WILDLY HAPPY (RETIRING)

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS CARD

* A Petal Pink card base

* A piece of Basic White cut at 3 1/4” x  3 3/4” and a piece for stamping the kangaroos and for the greeting and a piece cut at 4” x 5 1/4” for the inside.

* DSP cut at 3” x 3 1/2”

* Memento Tuxedo Black ink and Petal Pink ink.

* Stampin’ Blends - Flirty Flamingo (light), Gray Granite (light), Crumb Cake (light & dark), and Ivory.

* Kangaroo Dies (Mini Catalog)

* Stitched Shapes Dies Circles (retiring item).

* Dimensionals

WILD ABOUT YOU

ZANY ZEBRAS (RETIRING)

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS CARD

* A Pumpkin Pie card base plus a scrap for the greeting mat.

* Bermuda Bay card base cut at 3 1/4” x 3 3/4”

* Basic White cardstock cut at 4” x 5 1/4” for the inside and a piece for stamping the greeting and the zebra image.

* Memento Tuxedo Black ink and a Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blend or Stampin’ Write Marker (for zebra ear).

* Stitched Shapes Dies - ovals (retiring).

* Paper Snips / scissors to fussy cut the zebra image.

* Dimensionals

RUSTIC RETREAT BIRTHDAY 

RUSTIC RETREAT (RETIRING)

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO MAKE THIS CARD

* A Basic Black card base

* Basic White card stock cut at 3 1/4” x 3 3/4” and one cut at 4” x 5 1/4” for the inside, plus a piece for stamping

* DSP cut at 3” x 3 1/2”

*  Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

* Post It Note or other thin paper to make a mask for the beat image.

* Paper Snips / scissors to cut out mask.

* Stitched Rectangles Dies (carrying over)

* Elegant Faceted Gems (carrying over)

* Black Dimensionals

+ Stamp the bear image on Basic White. Stamp the image on the Post It Note cut it out and place the Post It Note over the stamped bear on the Basic White. Now stamp the tree images over the masked bear. Remove the mask.

That’s it; my strategy for a quick and easy card. As you can see this strategy is very versatile. It is great for portrait and landscape oriented cards. This strategy works great with all kinds of images and sentiments. 

That is it for today.  Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990 - 2021 Stampin’ Up!®️

COLOR COMBINATIONS FOR CARDS -STEP TWO!

 Hi Stampers!

Today’s post is a continuation of last week’s Color Combinations for Cards; Where Do I Start? But first I have an exciting announcement to share! 

YES, STAMPIN’ UP!®️ IS OFFERING FREE SHIPPING FOR ONE DAY ONLY!

Stampin’ Up! will offer free shipping on Wednesday, 17 March 2021 for product orders of $50 or more (excluding tax and shipping). Remember this special offer is valid  ONLY Wednesday, 17 March 2021!

Okay, now let’s talk color! Last week I shared one way I find inspiration for card making is focusing on color. Stampin’ Up! offers soooo many different colors! I love every one of them, but selecting color schemes from so many choices can be overwhelming! I mentioned my tendency to veer toward more monochromatic color schemes, and how that can lead to some of my ink pads and cardstock rarely (if ever) being used. So, I have developed several methods I use to come up with color combinations that help me overcome my “overwhelmedness” and break free from my monochromatic default. Over the next few weeks I will share my methods with you.

*Note - I am not an artist, color consultant, or any other type of color expert. I am a card maker with a basic knowledge and understanding of color. I am simply sharing as best I can methods I have found work for me. If I fail to use the proper terms when describing colors, please, just shake your head, and in your very best Southern accent say, “Bless her heart.” 

Last week I discussed starting from the beginning and turning to one of the first lessons many of us learned about color - there are three primary colors - red, yellow, and blue. What a great color combination! I shared 3 cards I made using this color combination, but the red, blue and yellow on each card were, let’s say variations on the theme. (See the 12 March 2021 post). Today I will use the same process as last week to create very different cards all based on variations of one color scheme.

Today’s color scheme will be secondary colors. Secondary colors are the result of blending together two primary colors. The secondary colors are orange, green, and purple! That color combination has become quite popular for Halloween cards, but let’s see if we can take it beyond the ghouls and goblins!

PUMPKIN PIE, GRANNY APPLE GREEN, GORGEOUS GRAPE

If this card looks familiar to you, it is because it is a replica of one I made last week using the red, yellow, blue theme. I used the Lovely You stamp set to create the floral background. 

LOVELY YOU (Annual Catalog)

So, now that I created a card using a color combination as close to crayon box orange, green, and purple as I could get, the next step is to select 3 more colors that we would consider to be orange, green, and purple. The trick is to select colors that are in the same palette, that have a similar color saturation - as in lighter or darker hues. For the next card I decided to use lighter versions of the secondary color theme. Here are my color choices and the card I came up with.

COASTAL CABANA, MINT MACARON, HIGHLAND HEATHER

I used the SEASIDE NOTIONS stamp set for this card. It is bright and cheery, and although not what I would consider traditional “beachy” colors, it still conveys the idea of fun summer days spent on the beach. If I make this card again I would change the Highland Heather greeting mat to Calypso Coral and stamp the greeting in Highland Heather. Other than that, I am very happy with this color combination.

SEASIDE NOTIONS (Annual Catalog)

Now, time to select three more colors that would fit the orange, green, and purple theme. For the next card I selected darker versions of the colors. 

CAJUN CRAZE, MOSSY MEADOW, BLACKBERRY BLISS

To me this color combination screams fall, so it seemed only natural to use leaf images. ROOTED IN NATURE was the perfect stamp set for this card.

The cardstock for the focal panel is Very Vanilla, but after stamping the leaves the Very Vanilla background seemed to contrast too much with the leaves. To remedy the situation I used a blending brush to apply just a bit of Crumb Cake ink over the entire panel. It gave the card a richer, warmer feeling. 

* Note I used the blending brush and Crumb Cake ink on the greeting, as well as on the insert I made for the inside of the card.

ROOTED IN NATURE (Annual Catalog)

Here are my three cards using orange, green, and purple. I was happy with the results. What will you create using these colors?

Thank you for stopping by. Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

My Stampin’ Up! Website and On line Store

http://greatinkspirations.stampinup.net

Email me at

greatinkspirations@gmail.com

Remember - Free Shipping - Tomorrow Only (17 March 2021) - on orders of $50 or more (US).

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2021 Stampin’ Up!®️

COLOR COMBINATIONS FOR CARDS, WHERE DO I START?

 Hi Stampers!

How many of you remember sitting down on Sunday evenings and watching The Wonderful World of Disney? The theme music would begin, Tinker Bell appeared on the screen, and with a magic wand touched the sky. Bursts of red, yellow, and blue appeared. Next the lyrics of the theme song began with the phrase, “The world is a carousel of color....”                                                                                       

 Stampin’ Up! inks and cardstocks are just that - a carousel of color! I love all the Stampin’ Up! colors (and yes, I have them all), but many times I feel overwhelmed by all that color! I ignore most of the colors, and use a small assortment over and over. I also have a tendency to create cards that veer toward monochromatic color schemes.  There is nothing wrong with having “go to” colors, but why have ink pads and cardstock and not put them to use? So, I thought we could explore ways to come up with color combinations that remedy the overwhelmed feeling and encourage a more equitable use of all those ink pads and stacks of cardstock.

A good place to start might be to remember kindergarten or elementary school when we learned there are three primary colors red, yellow and blue. There we go - an instant color combination! Let’s see what I can come up with using these three colors!

For this color combination I chose Real Red, Daffodil Delight, and Pacific Point. 

I feel this color combination would be great for nautical / sailing themed cards, circus / carnival themed cards, and all kinds of kids’ cards. I decided to create a kid’s birthday card.

Here is the card I created using this color combination.

I used the ZANY ZEBRAS stamp set (annual catalog).

The next step is to expand the definition of the color combination using different hues of the primary colors. I chose Merry Merlot, Bumblebee, and Night of Navy.

These colors are deep, rich, and comforting. To me this combination has a vintage feel, and it reminds me of autumn. For masculine cards I tend to use greens and browns, but I think these colors would be great for masculine cards.

Here is the card I made with this color combination.

I used the ENJOY THE MOMENT stamp set (mini catalog).

For the next color combination I decided to select other colors of red and yellow, but for the blue I selected a color that is blue with a step toward green. I chose Poppy Parade, Mango Medley, and Bermuda Bay.

These colors are bright and cheery. I think they could work well on cards for many occasions - birthdays, thank you, or just because!

Here is the card I created.

I used the LOVELY YOU stamp set (annual catalog).

By focusing on primary colors (red, yellow, and blue), I found three color combinations I can use. I didn’t feel overwhelmed and I used some colors I haven’t used in a while (if ever in the case of Merry Merlot). What color combinations can you come up with to turn your cards into a carousel of color?

Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

All stamps and stamped images ©️1990-2021 Stampin’ Up,®️