A Floral Thank You Card featuring the Simon Says Stamp April 2016 Card Kit

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share this fun floral thank you card that I made with the April 2016 Simon Says Stamp Card Kit.  I made this card for my aunt and uncle who came to visit me a few weeks ago.  They have the most beautiful garden in New Jersey, so I thought these floral stamps and paper would be a perfect fit.

I am also trying to make more YouTube videos, so you can watch my process video for this card here:

Materials

• White cardstock
• Red cardstock (included in the kit)
• Simon Says Stamp April 2016 Card Kit: A Colorful Life
• Simon Says Stamp: Stitched Rectangle dies
• Mama Elephant: Thanks Script die
• Lawn Fawn: Stitched Hillside Borders die
• Simon Says Stamp Hybrid Inks:
• Lake Shores, Scuba, Willow, Catkin, Twinkling Tutu, Duckling, Stone
• Versafine Ink: Black Onyx
• Glossy Accents
• Wink of Stella pen
• Foam Adhesive, Glue Pen, Adhesive Tape Runner

Directions:

• Die cut the front panel using the stitched rectangle, stitched hillside border and thanks dies
• Stamp the flowers using the Simon Says Stamp Birthday Flowers stamp set that comes with the kit. Layer different colors of ink.
• Stamp the leaves and center of the flowers.  Add some dots using Stone ink for added effect.
• Place a heart sticker in the lower right
• Add Glossy Accents the flowers and the heart
• Glue the centers of the letter (the "innards") to the patterned paper using the thanks cut out as a guide.
• Prop the front panel up using foam adhesive
• Adhere everything to a red card base.  Add a piece of white card stock on the inside of the card to write a message.
• Here is a close-up of the card:

Oh, and here's a picture of their garden that I took last year.  Isn't it pretty?

Thanks for visiting, I-e-lu and Uncle John!

Love,

Christina

A Pop-Up Birthday Card featuring new Mama Elephant products - Happy Birthday, Ma!

Hello everyone!

Today is my mother's birthday! My mom is so great about remembering everyone's birthday and never forgets to send a birthday card on time (in fact, it usually arrives early).  Her daughter (me), however, tends to prefer "just-in time" production... and so... Mama, here's your birthday card via YouTube (video here) and on my blog.  It will be arriving via snail mail shortly. Since the card is for my mom, I figured Mama Elephant products would be perfect. In addition, Mama Elephant just release a new stamp set last week featuring this super cute bunny rabbit named Pix.  I was born in the year of the Rabbit, so this stamp set was just calling out to me!

Front

Inside (Pop-Up!)

Materials:

• Mama Elephant: Pix Favorites stamps and creative cuts
• Mama Elephant: Framed Tags Columbus Circle creative cuts
• Mama Elephant: Fine Trimmings creative cuts
• Mama Elephant: Pop-Up Trio creative cuts
• Mama Elephant: Ella & Friends stamps and creative cuts
• Lawn Fawn: Scalloped rectangle stackables dies
• Lawn Fawn: Chit Chat stamps and dies
• Sizzix: Circle dies
• Two white card bases: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• Extra card stock for copic coloring
• My Mind's Eye Fancy That patterned paper, trimmed to 4.25"W x 5.5"H
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Simon Says Stamp: Lake Shores Hybrid Ink
• Versafine Ink (Clear)
• Ranger Embossing Powder (Liquid Platinum)
• Martha Stewart Crafts Heat Tool
• Copic Markers
• Wink of Stella
• Adhesive Tape Runner, Glue Dots, Foam Adhesive

Directions via YouTube:

• There are many steps used in making this card.  It's easier to watch the YouTube video here to see how I made it.

Step-by-Step directions:

• Stamp all the images on Copic-friendly paper and color with Copic markers.  Use the coordinating die-cuts to cut everything out.
• For the inside of the card
• Use the Lawn Fawn scalloped rectangle and partially die-cut the interior card
• Use the medium Pop-Up Trio die to cut the pop-up in the middle of this interior card.
• Stamp the sentiment on the inside and heat emboss with Versamark Ink and embossing powder
• Also heat emboss the "Happy Birthday" chit chat stamp
• Adhere the party hat to the sitting bunny and attach the whole thing to the pop-up die cut
• Adhere the speech bubble using foam adhesive
• Glue the inside of the card to the outer card base
• For the front of the card:
• Use the Columbus Circle die to cut a window from the patterned paper
• Use the Fine trimmings to add stitching to the top and bottom of the paper
• Use the Sizzix circle die to cut a circle from white card stock; gently ink blend this circle using the Simon Says Stamp Lake Shores ink and glue to the front of the card
• Tie a ribbon to the bottom of of the patterned paper
• Using foam adhesive, attach the patterned paper to the front of the card
• Attached the bunny with the heart to the front window using foam adhesive
• Finish with Wink of Stella glitter pen

Have a wonderful, happy birthday, Mama!

Love,

Christina

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up: New Challenge #16 - Gifts Galore!

Happy April Fool's Day!  I'm here with another Holiday Card (no, that is not a joke).

Welcome to the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Design Challenge.  This month we're featuring some really fun digi stamps by Sami Stamps.

Here are the challenge details:

• Blog link: The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up 
• Challenge dates: April 1-30, 2016
• Optional theme: "Gifts Galore" - if you would like to participate in the optional theme for the month, create a card that showcases a gift or presenton it. Also add "FT" after your name, so we can include it in the prize drawing. This theme is optional.  You only need to follow the theme if you are interested in winning a $12 Gift Certificate from Sami Stamps.
• As always: All card submissions (with or without optional theme) will be eligible to earn a free paper each month and some extra digital goodies.
• Guest Sponsor: Sami Stamps (see info below).
• Additional Sponsor: Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Prize Info: 
• From A Day for Daisies: A $12 Gift Certificate from A Day for Daisies for one random winner chosen from those who participate in the optional theme.
• From Décosse's Dynamite Doodles: 
• Prize 1: one free digital paper to EVERYONE who links up a minimum of two cards. The theme for these cards is optional.
• Prize 2: a mini-set of the Gifts Galore digital papers to one random winner

For some inspiration, here is the card I designed using the Chilly Bunny stamp and details on how I made the card.

Materials:

• Sami Stamps: Chilly Bunny stamp
• White card stock for card base: 5.5"W x 11"H, scored at 4.25" mark
• Gifts Galore red patterned paper from Décosse's Dynamite Doodles
• Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles Dies
• Sizzix Fancy Frame Dies
• Copic Markers
• Adhesive Tape Runner and Foam Adhesive
• Adhesive pearls in green and light pink

Directions:

• Size the image of the Chilly Bunny and print on copic-friendly paper
• Color the image using copic markers
• Embellish the snowflakes with adhesive pearls
• Die cut the image using a fancy frame die; die cut pink solid card stock using the fancy frame die that is one size larger
• Cut the patterned paper so it is 0.375" shorter than the stitched rectangle die on all sides
• Adhere the layers together.

SPONSOR INFO:

As I mentioned above, this month's challenge is brought to you by our Guest Sponsor, Sami Stamps. Here's some info about them:

• Sami Stamps provides a variety of high-quality, original illustration digital stamps in both JPEG and PNG formats.
• You can find them on their blog, blog shop or Etsy 

Our additional sponsor is Décosse's Dynamite Doodles.

Now it's your turn!  Create a holiday card and be sure to add it to the 12 Months of Christmas Link Up Challenge blog!  Look forward to seeing your amazing designs!

Happy Card Making!