Beige and brown Quiet Meadow Sympathy Card

Hi everyone!  I've been MIA for quite a while as I've had some things going on in my life, but I'm back in the saddle and I've created this sympathy card using brown muted tones and the new Stampin' Up! Quiet Meadow stamp set and matching Meadow dies.  The subtle stamped background is shabby chic and very understated and I just love how it turned out.  I hope you do too.  Here's how the magic happens:

List of Ingredients:

Stamps:  Quiet Meadow, Heal Your Heart (this set is retired, but you may use any sympathy sentiment you desire)

Dies:  Meadow Dies

Ink:  Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake

Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

Accessories:  Lovely Labels Pick A punch, Basic Patterns Decorative Mask, Crumb Cake linen thread, paper snips, blending brushes, Dark Soft Suede Stampin' Blend, bone folder, Tombow liquid adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Very Vanilla envelope, paper trimmer

 

Dimensions:

Card base:  8 1/2" x 5 1/2 ", scored at 4 1/2" – Crumb Cake

Inside of card:  5 1/4" x 4"  -  Soft Suede and 5" x 3 3/4" Very Vanilla

First layer:  5 1/4" x 4" –  Soft Suede

Second layer:  5 1/4" x 4" – Very Vanilla  (Will be trimmed down after stamping to 5" x 3 3/4"

Scraps:  Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede

 

Basic Instructions:

1.  Cut and fold card base. 

2.  Stamp top layer of Very Vanilla using stamps from Quiet Meadow stamp set including the text and splatter images randomly to create a background as desired.  Using a blender brush, blend Soft Suede ink using the basic mask as desired and also around the edges of the card to create a shabby chic appearance.  Then trim this panel to 5" x 3 3/4" and save the longer strip for use on the inside layer of the card.  Using paper snips, rough up the edges of the front panel and add more Soft Suede ink around the edges.  Adhere this panel to the Soft Suede panel and then adhere to the card base.

3.  Using the Meadow dies, cut out several different flowers using Very Vanilla, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake scraps as desired.  Using blending brushes, brush Soft Suede ink over the flower shapes to create a mottled type appearance on the flowers.

4.  On a 1" x 5 1/2" scrap of Very Vanilla, stamp the sentiment using Early Espresso ink.  Then punch it out to the desired length using the desired Lovely Labels punch.  Stamp over the sentiment using the splatter stamp and Crumb Cake ink stamped off to create a muted background.  Sponge around the edges using the blending brush and Soft Suede Ink.  Adhere dimensionals onto both ends of the sentiment strip but avoiding the middle, as this will be straddling the stems of the flowers and also the linen thread bow.  Set aside until flowers and bow are adhered.

5.  Dry fit the flowers as desired into a small bouquet on the front of the card, crisscrossing the stems near the bottom.  When you are satisfied with your arrangement, adhere them to the card front with Tombow liquid glue, again crisscrossing the stems near the bottom. 

6.  Tie a loopy bow with linen thread as desired and adhere onto the stems where they cross in the middle.

7.  Adhere the sentiment strip over the stems and bow using dimensionals.  If the bow is too high for one dimensional layer, add a second layer of dimensionals on top of the first so the sentiment is even. 

8.  Add some Wink of Stella onto the flowers that you stamped to give them a subtle sheen.

9.  For inside layer, stamp the desired sentiment in Early Espresso ink and blend Soft Suede ink around the edges of the Very Vanilla layer.  Adhere the small strip that you trimmed from the front layer of the card to the Very Vanilla layer on the right side, leaving a small border.  Adhere the Very Vanilla layer to the Soft Suede mat layer.  Using an extra flower left over from the front of the card, adhere this with Tombow glue to the lower left corner of the Very Vanilla layer.  Adhere this matted layer to the inside of the card using Tombow liquid blue.

10.  For the envelope, use the flower stamp from the Quiet Meadow stamp set and stamp the image in the lower left corner of the front of the envelope and also stamp a few sets of the flower stamp onto the flap so they are at varying heights.  Using the Dark Soft Suede Stampin' Blend, tap it against your bone folder of an acrylic block to create muted splatter on the front left corner of the card as well as the envelope flap.

 

If you would like to purchase the products used to create this card, please click on the picture below, which will bring you to my shopping page with a complete list of these items already checked and ready to add to your cart.  If you don't need or want all the products checked, just uncheck any of the items you don't wish to purchase. 

I hope this inspired you to get your fingers inky!

 

Chris

 

Handmade Christmas Cards for Sale

 

Hi everyone!  Sorry I've been missing in action for a while as my craft room was receiving a facelift with new flooring and storage.  It's been a challenge, but it is finally finished and I am back at my desk creating Christmas cards to sell.  Above is one example of what I have for sale.  All my cards are created right here in the USA using products sold by Stampin' Up!, a great company that sells quality cardmaking and scrapbooking supplies, stamps and dies, as well as multiple different embellishments and adhesives.  If you are interested in seeing all of my creations just for inspiration or if you are interested in purchasing any of them, please head over to my Facebook business page,  Due North Stamping, and take a look.  The price is $4 per card or 7 cards for $25, shipping is extra.  I accept payment via PayPal.  Limited quantities are available, so first come, first served.  I'm sure everyone knows someone who is stuck at home this holiday season with all that is happening in the world who would appreciate receiving a unique card letting them know you are thinking of them.  Thanks for looking and have a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Chris

Graduation Cap fun fold card

Here is a card I created for those poor 2020 graduates who may not be able to actually have a graduation ceremony this year.  I CASEd this card from a Stamptastic Designs video on YouTube.  I created it in blue and red, but it can be recreated in any color scheme to match your school colors.  Here's the scoop on how I made this cute fun fold card:

List of Ingredients:

Stamps:  Morning Star, Peaceful Moments

Ink:  Blueberry Bushel, Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Blueberry Bushel, Real Red, Silver Foil

Accessories:  Stitched Stars dies, Hexagon Dynamic embossing folder (no longer available but you can use an embossing folder of your choice), Bone folder, Gold baker's twine (the twine I used was from SaleABration and is no longer available, but you can use any gold twine), 1/2" circle punch, 3/4" circle punch (no longer available from Stampin' Up!),  Tombow liquid adhesive, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Whisper White envelope

Dimensions:

Card base:  8 x 8 ", scored at 4" on all sides

Inside of card:  3 3/4" Whisper White, 3 3/4" Real Red, 3 3/4" Silver Foil

Scraps:  Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White

Basic Instructions:

1.  Cut and fold card base into fourths (4" along each edge)

2.  Score diagonally along one edge.  Burnish all folds well using the bone folder.  (Both diagonal folds are to fold inward.)

3.  Run silver foil piece through Hammered embossing folder (or folder of choice)

4.  Cut Real Red and silver foil cardstock pieces in half diagonally.    Adhere silver foil triangle pieces to upper right and lower left quarters of the card.  Adhere Real Red triangle pieces opposite the silver foil triangles, alternating as desired. 

5.  Stamp sentiment from Morning Star stamp set to one of the white pieces and adhere to the lower right quarter of the card.  Adhere the other white piece to the upper left quarter of the card.

6.  Die cut some star/flourish shapes to adhere to the sentiment layer as well as the lower left corner red triangle.

7.  Stamp and fussy cut or die cut as desired the Congratulations sentiment from the Peaceful Moments stamp set and adhere to the right upper corner red triangle as desired.

8.  Cut a piece of Blueberry Bushel cardstock scrap into a 1 3/4" square.

9.  Punch out a 1/2" circle from Blueberry Bushel cardstock scrap.

10.  Create a tassel from the gold twine as desired, leaving a little length of twine to wrap under the button top of the cap.  Adhere a mini dimensional in the center of the square base piece of Blueberry Bushel, then wrap the extra length of twine around it and secure the twine with a glue dot or Tombow liquid adhesive.  Then adhere the circle piece to the mini dimensional, thus creating the graduation cap for the inside of the card.  Adhere the cap to the center of the white piece in the upper left quarter of the card.

11.  Create a tassel for the front of the card using a 3/4" circle punch (no longer available from Stampin' Up!)

12.  Stamp some of the stars from the Morning Star stamp set onto the flap of the envelope.

If you would like to purchase the products used to create this card, please click on the picture below, which will bring you to my shopping page with a complete list of these items already checked and ready to add to your cart.  If you don't need or want all the products checked, just uncheck any of the items you don't wish to purchase. 

Easter shaker card

Here is a cute little chick just waiting to brighten someone's Easter!  With all that is happening in the world, don't we all need a little pick-me-up?  If you want to know how I created this shaker card, please read on.....

List of Ingredients:

Stamps:  Welcome Easter

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock:  Balmy Blue, Subtles DSP

Accessories:  Stampin' Blends in light Rococo Rose, Highland Heather, Balmy Blue and Old Olive, Light and dark Daffodil Delight, Dark Pumpkin Pie, layering circles die, window sheet, sequins, Wink of Stella, foam adhesive strips, embossing buddy, Tombow liquid adhesive, Whisper White envelope, paper snips

Dimensions:

Card base:  8 1/2" x 5 1/2 ", scored at 4 1/2" – Balmy Blue

Inside of card:  5 1/4" x 4"  -  Whisper white

First layer:  3" x 3" – Balmy Blue gingham checked DSP

Second layer:  5 1/4" x 4" – Whisper White

Scrap:  Thick whisper white to stamp chick

Basic Instructions:

1.  Cut and fold card base. 

2.  Stamp inside layer as desired and adhere to the card base.

3.  Die cut a circle out of the whisper white top layer, centering it slightly above center.

4.  Cut a circle out of the DSP with the same circle die and adhere it to the card base, aligning it with the window in the white layer.

5.  Stamp flowers onto the white top layer around the window cut out as desired.  Color as desired with Stampin' Blends.  Stamp sentiment onto the center bottom of the white layer as desired.

5.  Cut a piece of window sheet large enough to cover the window in the white layer with a slight overlap.  Adhere to the back of the white layer, covering the window die cut hole.  Run the embossing buddy over the window sheet on the back of the layer to reduce static so the sequins move freely and don’t stick to the window sheet.

6.  Adhere foam adhesive strips around the window circle on the white layer to keep the sequins from slipping out.  Make sure there are no gaps.  Then adhere more foam strips around the perimeter of the white layer and on the bottom half of the card to prevent the card from buckling.

7.  Place a few pinches of sequins onto the DSP circle, keeping them within the circle.  Adhere the top layer over the card base, aligning the window over the DSP circle. 

8.  Stamp, color with Stampin' Blends and fussy cut out the chick image from the stamp set.  Apply a coat of Wink of Stella to add some sparkle to this little fellow.  Adhere to the bottom left of the window or as desired.

9.  Stamp flowers onto envelope flap or envelope front as desired.

The sequins I used were from the Sale-A-Bration brochure and they were so popular that they are no longer available, but you can use any other sequins you might have in your craft stash.

Do you know someone who might enjoy receiving a cute Easter card or any other card for that matter?  If so, please contact me and I can show you what I have available.  Let your loved ones know you are thinking of them during these days when you may not be able to visit them in person.  Each card is $4 each or get 7 cards for $25 (a savings of $3).  I accept cash or check only.

If you would like to purchase the products used to create this card, please click on the picture below, which will bring you to my shopping page with a complete list of these items already checked and ready to add to your cart.  If you don't need or want all the products checked, just uncheck any of the items you don't wish to purchase. 

Here are a few other cards made with the same stamp set, just changed them up a little bit.  One is even a baby card, in case you know someone who is expecting or has just delivered their bundle of joy.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the cards I have shared.  Be safe, be healthy and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Chris

Watercolor stripes Bonanza Buddies birthday card

Here's a darling card that would be suitable for either a young boy or girl's birthday.  I created this card using the Bonanza Buddies stamp set and Bonanza dies and a watercoloring technique that I CASE'd from someone but I can't remember their name.  It is super easy and really is a technique that would work with any colors, but I felt it went well with the cute little Bonanza Buddies.  You can change up the card base color as well as the DSP to suit your own taste.  Here is the low-down on how I made this card:

List of Ingredients:

Stamps:  Bonanza Buddies

Ink:  Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock:  Granny Apple Green, Whisper White, Pool Party, Flirty Fl

amingo, Brights DSP

Accessories:  Bonanza Dies, All Dressed Up dies, Layering Ovals dies, Aqua painter, Stampin' Sponges or daubers, Tombow liquid adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Whisper White envelope

Dimensions:

Card base:  8 1/2" x 5 1/2 ", scored at 2 1/4" on both ends – Granny Apple Green

Inside of card:  5 1/4" x 4"  - Whisper White

First layer:  5 1/4" x 1 7/8" – Flirty Flamingo

Second layer:  5 x 1 3/4" x 2 – Water color paper sponged with thick stripes of Granny Apple Green, Flirty Flamingo and Pool Party

Inside flaps:  5 1/4" x 1 7/8" – Flirty Flamingo DSP, pattern of choice

Scrap:  Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Granny Apple Green and Pool Party

Basic Instructions:

1.  Cut and fold card base.  Adhere Whisper White to middle of inside of card.  Adhere Flirty Flamingo DSP to both inside flaps.

2.  Sponge thick stripes of Flirty Flamingo, Pool Party and Granny Apple Green to a 5 x 3 1/2" piece of watercolor paper.  Using Aqua Painter, make thin stripes through the sponged ink.  Set aside to dry.

3.  Using scraps of cardstock, stamp all three Bonanza Buddies images in desired colors, including party hats and pompons.  Cut out using Bonanza dies.

4.  Cut varying sizes of ovals from the Layering Ovals dies to correspond to the sizes of the images used.  Adhere the layered ovals together using wet glue.  Adhere the animal images to the top oval using Stampin' Dimensionals except for the one you will adhere on the inside.  Attach this image to the oval shape with wet glue. 

5.  Cut out banners from the 3 different colors of cardstock, 2 of each shape.  Stamp sentiment in Smoky Slate or Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto scrap of Whisper White cardstock and cut out using label die from the Best Dressed dies.

6.  Adhere Flirty Flamingo layer to outside flaps on front of card.  Next, adhere the rainbow striped watercolored layer on top of the Flirty Flamingo layer.  Adhere the die cut images as desired to both flaps, leaving room in the center for the sentiment.  Adhere the sentiment to the left-sided panel in the center, using Stampin' Dimensionals on the left side only, leaving the right side with no adhesive so the card will open and close.

7.  Use the third animal layered oval to center bottom of the inside of the card.  Stamp sentiment on inside of card as desired.

8.  Stamp one of the animal images on the front left corner of the envelope.

If you would like to purchase the products used to create this card, please click on the picture below, which will bring you to my shopping page with a complete list of these items already checked and ready to add to your cart.  If you don't need or want all the products checked, just uncheck any of the items you don't wish to purchase. 

I hope you like this cute birthday card.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Chris

Silver and White Wedding card

Does anyone have a wedding coming up and you need a card in a hurry?  Here's one I think you'll really like.  It is very elegant and sophisticated appearing but doesn't take long to put together.  There is some heat embossing that I think adds to the classy look of this card.  Once you ger the heat embossing finished, you're all set to assemble the card.  Here's the scoop on creating this card:

List of Ingredients:

Stamps:  Birthday Jubilee, Special Celebrations

Ink:  Versamark

Cardstock:  Thick Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Whisper White

Accessories:  Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing folder, Sending Flowers Dies, Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon, Silver embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat tool, Tombow liquid adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Whisper White envelope

Dimensions:

Card base:  8 1/2" x 5 1/2 ", scored at 4 1/2" – Thick Whisper White

First layer:  5 3/8" x 4 1/8" – Smoky Slate

Second layer:   5 1/4" x 4" –   Whisper White

Top panel:  1 5/8" x 4" – Smoky Slate

Scrap:  Smoky Slate

Basic Instructions:

1.  Cut and fold card base. 

2.  Emboss white layer with Parisian Flourish 3D embossing folder. 

3.  Use embossing buddy on the top small panel of Smoky Slate, the scrap of Smoky Slate, the inside of the card and the envelope flap.  Stamp the flower image onto the top panel, the bottom center of the inside of the card and the envelope flap with Versamark.  Stamp the sentiment onto the scrap of Smoky Slate with Versamark.  Stamp the sentiment onto the upper center of the inside of the card with Versamark.  Apply embossing powder to all the stamped images and then heat with the heat tool until the powder is melted.

4.  Adhere the top panel of Smoky Slate to the embossed white layer.

5.  Adhere the embossed white layer to the Smoky Slate layer.

6.  Adhere the Smoky Slate layer to the card base.

7.  Cut out the sentiment using the label die from the Sending Flowers die set.  Adhere the sentiment to the front of the card below the flower embossed panel and to the right.

8.  Tie a bow with the tulle ribbon and adhere to the left of the sentiment below the flower embossed panel.

If you would like to purchase the products used to create this card, please click on the picture below, which will bring you to my shopping page with a complete list of these items already checked and ready to add to your cart.  If you don't need or want all the products checked, just uncheck any of the items you don't wish to purchase. 

Positive Thoughts "Thinking of You" Card

Today I am sharing with you a card created using the Positive Thoughts stamp set and dies.  I used Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake as my color palette and I really love this combination.  It is a card that can be used for a Get Well or Sympathy card, or just to let someone who is going through a rough patch know that you are thinking of them.  Here's the scoop on how I made this card:

List of Ingredients:

Stamps:  Positive Thoughts, Peaceful Moments

Ink:  Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride

Cardstock:  Thick Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride

Accessories:  Pattern Party Decorative Mask (brick pattern), blending tool of choice, Nature's Thoughts dies, Tombow liquid adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals, Very Vanilla envelope

Dimensions:

Card base:  8 1/2" x 5 1/2 ", scored at 4 1/2" – Thick Very Vanilla

First layer:  5 1/4" x 4" – Blushing Bride

Second layer:  5" x 3 3/4" – Crumb Cake

Top layer:  Blushing Bride cut out with Nature's Thoughts rectangular die

Scraps:  Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake

Basic Instructions:

1.  Cut and fold card base. 

2.  Brush/sponge Crumb Cake ink over stencil onto Crumb Cake layer along outside edges extending in about an inch all around.

3.  Brush/sponge Crumb Cake ink on edges of Crumb Cake card stock, Blushing Bride cardstock, and Very Vanilla card base.  Adhere the Crumb Cake layer to the Blushing Bride layer and then adhere to the card base.

4.  Cut various dies as desired from Nature's Thoughts die set to decorate the front of the card.  I used the mini butterfly and tiny leaves dies, several in each color.  I also cut the decorative border from Blushing Bride cardstock.  Adhere the border die to the bottom of the Crumb Cake layer leaving a small margin at the bottom.

5.  Onto the pink die cut layer, stamp the fern image from the Positive Thoughts stamp set in the lower left corner of the cardstock.  Stamp the sentiment in the upper center of the pink cardstock.  Adhere to the Crumb Cake layer with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

6.  Adhere with liquid glue the small die cut images around the edges of the top layer as desired.  I used the mini butterflies and tiny leaf images to decorate around the edges of the top layer. 

7.  Stamp the sentiment in the middle of the inside of the card.  Adhere any extra die cuts to the lower right corner of the inside of the card as desired.

8.  Stamp the larger butterfly image from the Positive Thoughts stamp set to the front lower left corner of the envelope using Blushing Bride ink stamped off once.

If you would like to purchase the products used to create this card, please click on the picture below, which will bring you to my shopping page with a complete list of these items already checked and ready to add to your cart.  If you don't need or want all the products checked, just uncheck any of the items you don't wish to purchase.