Sketch Series #1

I find myself coming back to the same card layouts time and time again. It's easier to give an old card a makeover than to invent a new one from scratch.

My downline in Michigan got together for a shoebox swap two weeks ago while I was visiting my family for Christmas. I was in a crunch to design my card. I had come up with several other ideas, but didn't like any of them. So I resorted to a layout I used for this cute penguin card. By changing the colors and stamp set, it seems like a whole new card!

Here's a sketch of the layout for this 6" x 3" card:

And here's my shoebox swap:

Supplies: Sincere Salutations, Sweet Stem embosslit for the Big Shot, Raspberry Tart DSP, Kiwi Kiss textured CS, Rose Red ink & cardstock, Cameo Coral cardstock, Very Vanilla cardstock, Rhinestone Brads (Pretties Kit), 1-3/4" Circle Punch

The embosslit and DSP are brand new and will be released in the Spring-Summer catalog on January 19.

Here's another card with this sketch that you can make right now at home. And better yet, if you don't already own the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set, you can get it 20% off with a $20 purchase before January 18. Click here for details.

Supplies: Flight of the Butterfly, Junior Varsity DSP, Bashful Blue cardstock, So Saffron cardstock, Rose Red ink & cardstock, Versamark ink, White embossing powder, heat tool, 1-3/4" Circle Punch

This layout is by no means new. Check out this card from September, when I used a very similar layout on a 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" card!

Love You Much Card

I'm stamping with some of my fabulous downline in Springfield tonight. We're doing a shoebox swap, so we're each bringing a project pre-cut and ready to stamp. We'll rotate to different stations so we get a chance to make all the cards. Of course, there will be plenty of chatting and eating yummy treats too.

Here is the project I'm bringing, a card using the Love You Much bundle. And it also happens to meet Stacey's latest Jewelry Color Inspiration Challenge!

I used the Pink Pirouette ink refill and a blender pen to create a marker and color in the word "Love". One other note, I trimmed 1/4" off the edge of the cardstock BEFORE I used the Scallop Edge punch. I wanted more of the DSP (which is adhered to the inside of the card) to show through.

Click here for details about the Love You Much bundle -- it's on sale for 20% off this month!

Supplies: Love You Much, Candy Cane DSP, Riding Hood Red cardstock, Close to Cocoa cardstock, Basic Brown ink pad, Pink Pirouette ink refill & cardstock, Certainly Celery marker, Very Vanilla cardstock, Blender Pen, Trio Flower Punch, Silver Brads, 1/16" Hole Punch, Riding Hood Red Taffeta ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch

Baby Window Card

My husband is a sales rep and one of his customers had a baby last week. He asked me to make a card for him to send so I whipped this up.

It's another window card, like my last baby card. The baby is adhered on the inside so you can see it when the card is closed and when it is open.

Like most nights, Jim falls asleep on the couch while I'm working and stamping in the office. When I finished this card for him, I left it by his wallet and keys so he would see it in the morning. When I asked him about the card the next day, he said it was great -- but he forgot to sign it! He put the card in the envelope and took it to work, where he addressed and stamped the envelope. It wasn't until after it was in the mail that he realized he forgot to sign it. D'oh! I'll have to remind him to call and follow up tomorrow...

Supplies: All in the Family, Family Phrases, Full of Life, Hugs & Wishes, So Saffron marker & cardstock, Regal Rose cardstock, Pretty in Pink marker & cardstock, Blush Blossom marker, Basic Black ink pad, Whisper White cardstock, Georgia Peach DSP, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" Circle Punches, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain ribbon