Weekend Inspiration With Country Lace

Isn’t the textured background on this card pretty? This Designer Series Paper is from the Country Lace DSP Pack.

I have to say that the new Basic Beige cardstock color is truly a winner! I’ve used it in the past with Early Espresso, Calypso Coral and Wild Wheat. Today, I paired it with two of my favorite blues – Pool Party and Lost Lagoon.

My design is a simple one. You can use any products you already have to create your version. Below is a sketch I created so you can easily see the creative possibilities for this design. Have fun with it!

Are you ready to make a card? Let’s get started!

  • I cut the Basic Beige cardstock card base 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ and scored it at 4 1/4″ on the 8 1/2″ side.
  • The Basic White mat layer is 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″.
  • The patterned paper top layer is 4″ x 5 1/4″.
  • I cut the patterned paper cross layer 2″ x 4″. It’s attached with glur.
  • Rather than a paper banner, I used a 6 1/2″ piece of the Natural Finish Ribbon to create a layer for the sentiment.
  • The sentiment layer is die cut using one of the dies from the Everyday Details Dies. It measures about 7/8″ x 2 1/4″.
  • Instead of using rectangle patterned paper strips (as shown in the sketch), I opted for two larger die cuts from the Flowers of Beauty Dies. You can also substitute this part of the design with ribbon strips and omit the ribbon on the cross layer. I think that would be a fun switch.
  • I adhered all of the elements with glue except for the ribbon. Stampin’ Seal works best for this.
  • I finished my design with a few of the blue Blooming Pearls.

So, I hope you use this sketch to create your unique version of this card. Sketches are a great source of inspiration and you will be surprised where your creativity leads you. Most importantly, just have fun with it.

Till next time, remember …

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It’s time for a new Customer Card Kit. The June, 2024 Monthly Customer Card Kit celebrates Country Flowers and Country Lace. The Card Kits feature a Fun Fold and an easy layered card design.

Below are additional Kit details.

  • You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
  • The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
  • I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to a stamp you already own, or you can purchase the Country Flowers Bundle.
  • You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
  • You will automatically receive this kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store.
  • This card kit will be available through June 30th.

  • Do you love Bundles? I do. It’s rare that I purchase a stamp set without the dies, or dies without the stamp set. Aside from that, there’s ALWAYS a 10% discount on Bundles. Starting today, Wednesday, June 5th, Stampin’ Up! is dicounting Bundles an additional 10%. If there’s a Bundle you’ve had your eyes on, you can save more from June 5th through June 30th with the additional discount.
  • Even Better! As much as I love Bundles, you absolutely have to have a cutting machine. If you don’t have one, think about investing in one during the month of June. From today, June 5th through June 30th, the Stampin’ Cut And Emboss Machine and the Mini Stampin’ Cut And Emboss Machine will be discounted 10%.
  • I’m sure you’ve heeard me say that I love my “Mini”. I do! Its smaller size makes it easy for me to keep it on my work surface when I’m making a card or project. The dies run through the machine smoothly and it cuts evenly.

Beginning July 3rd through July 31st, you will earn a $5.00 Bonus Coupon for each $50.00 in product you purchase. Below are the details:

  • Earn a $5 coupon for each $50 you purchase (befor3e shipping and tax).
  • The coupon code will be emailed to you at the email address you provide in your order.
  • If you earn multiple coupons with one order, you will receive one email for that order with multiple codes.
  • There is no limit to the amount of coupon codes you can earn.
  • Save your emails. You will need the codes to redeem your $5 credit(s).
  • The redemption period for the coupon codes is through the month of August, 2024. From August 1st through August 31st.
  • You can always reach out to me with questions. My email is expressivelydeb@gmail.com.
  • Get ready. This is a great time to stock up on your crafting ‘basics”.

Something For Everything Ephemera Card

Hello! It’s been a little bit since I’ve been in my craft room. I attended an event in Rhode Island over the past few days. Rhode Islamd is beautiful. The people in Newport were friendly and very proud of their stunning coastal community. The weather was a cooler than New Jersey (which has been over 90 degree consistently for about a week). There was always a cool breeze coming from the water. As much as I enjoyed the trip, it’s always good to be home. And it’s even better to be in my craft room!

Today’s card is not only a simple design, it came together very quickly with the Something For Everything Epherema Pack. The Ephemera Pack is part of Stampin’ Up!’s line of “Mix & Match” Products. I also used half of a card base from the Calming Creek Cards and Envelope Pack, to create a layer for the card deesign.

The die cut butterfly gave me my color inspiration. I probably wouldn’t have thought to put Pretty In Pink and Flirty Flamingo with Wild Wheat, but I love the combination. Black and white are the perfect neutrals for this design.

So, do you want to make a card? Let’s get started.

  • Since the butterfly was going to be part of my design, I went through the Ephemera Pack, found the typewriter, and small stack of books.
  • The Saying Something Ephemera Pack gave me my sentiment.
  • I cut a Basic Black cardstock card base 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, and scored it at 4 1/4″ on the long side.
  • The Basic White cardstock mat layer is 4″ x 5 1/4″.
  • I cut one of the card bases from the Calming Creek Cards & Envelopes to give me a patterned paper top layer.
  • The top layer measures 3 3/4″ x 5″.
  • My little ephemera cluster needed some “grounding”, so I cut a Basic Black cardstock strip 1/4″ x 3 1/4″, and a Pretty In Pink DSP strip 1/2″ x 3 1/2″.
  • I centered the Basic Black cardstock strip as shown and attached it with glue.
  • The Pretty In Pink DSP strip went on next using glue.
  • The Typewriter is attached with Dimensionals, the stack of books with glue, and the butterfly with Dimensionals.
  • I attched the sentiment with glue.
  • A few of the pink Blooming Pearls gives this design a little sparkle.

It was fun to put this card torgether using die cut pieces, color matching, and my creativity. If you haven’t tried the Mix & Match Product Line, take a look at it. The price is great, and the creative possibilities are endless.

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It’s time for a new Customer Card Kit. The June, 2024 Monthly Customer Card Kit celebrates Country Flowers and Country Lace. The Card Kits feature a Fun Fold and an easy layered card design.

Below are additional Kit details.

  • You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
  • The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
  • I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to a stamp you already own, or you can purchase the Country Flowers Bundle.
  • You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
  • You will automatically receive this kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store.
  • This card kit will be available through June 30th.

  • Do you love Bundles? I do. It’s rare that I purchase a stamp set without the dies, or dies without the stamp set. Aside from that, there’s ALWAYS a 10% discount on Bundles. Starting today, Wednesday, June 5th, Stampin’ Up! is dicounting Bundles an additional 10%. If there’s a Bundle you’ve had your eyes on, you can save more from June 5th through June 30th with the additional discount.
  • Even Better! As much as I love Bundles, you absolutely have to have a cutting machine. If you don’t have one, think about investing in one during the month of June. From today, June 5th through June 30th, the Stampin’ Cut And Emboss Machine and the Mini Stampin’ Cut And Emboss Machine will be discounted 10%.
  • I’m sure you’ve heeard me say that I love my “Mini”. I do! Its smaller size makes it easy for me to keep it on my work surface when I’m making a card or project. The dies run through the machine smoothly and it cuts evenly.

Beginning July 3rd through July 31st, you will earn a $5.00 Bonus Coupon for each $50.00 in product you purchase. Below are the details:

  • Earn a $5 coupon for each $50 you purchase (befor3e shipping and tax).
  • The coupon code will be emailed to you at the email address you provide in your order.
  • If you earn multiple coupons with one order, you will receive one email for that order with multiple codes.
  • There is no limit to the amount of coupon codes you can earn.
  • Save your emails. You will need the codes to redeem your $5 credit(s).
  • The redemption period for the coupon codes is through the month of August, 2024. From August 1st through August 31st.
  • You can always reach out to me with questions. My email is expressivelydeb@gmail.com.
  • Get ready. This is a great time to stock up on your crafting ‘basics”.

Full Of Life Friendly Thoughts

The Full of Life 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper is probably the “happiest” paper in the Annual Catalog. Bursting with color, it grabs my attention every time I go through my catty.

My card features one of the color block, and one of the watercolor designs from the Designer Series Paper. The patterns in this paper pack can be easily combined. I liked these two together. My next Full of Life card has to feature the watercolored dots pattern. I’m looking forward to cut into that one. It’ll be fun to see what evolves.

The Full of Life Designer Series Paper is one of those paper packs that can spice up your imagination. It can work for just about any occasion.

So, let’s make a card!

  • I cut a top fold Thick Basic White card base 11″ x 4 1/4″, and scored it at 5 1/2″.
  • I strategically cut the color block patterned paper layer, being careful to leave the white border around the color blocks.
  • The color block patterned paper layer measures 3 3/4″ x 5″.
  • There’s a Basic White mat layer behind the watercolored patterned paper layer. It measures 2 3/4″ x 3 7/8″.
  • The top watercolored patterned paper layer is 2 5/8″ x 3 3/4″.
  • I stmaped and fussy cur the sentiment using Pretty Peacock ink.
  • The Basic White hearts are die cuts from the Friends For Life Dies.
  • The layers and elements are all attadched with Dimensionals.
  • To finish the card, I added a few of the Iridescent Faceted Gems.

As you can see, this is a quick and easy card to put together. I kept the design simple to draw attention to the patterned paper. I cut the top layers (the white mat and watercolored layers) so they would appear to be framed by the white grid in the color block patterned paper layer. It was fun to add that little detail. I have to say, I didn’t discover it until it was time to cut the top layer.

So, create a frame with patterned paper, add a thoughtful sentiment, and make a quick and easy card to send to someone special.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is right-sized-signature2-6.png

It’s time for a new Customer Card Kit. The June, 2024 Monthly Customer Card Kit celebrates Country Flowers and Country Lace. The Card Kits feature a Fun Fold and an easy layered card design.

Below are additional Kit details.

  • You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
  • The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
  • I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to a stamp you already own, or you can purchase the Country Flowers Bundle.
  • You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
  • You will automatically receive this kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store.
  • This card kit will be available through June 30th.

  • Do you love Bundles? I do. It’s rare that I purchase a stamp set without the dies, or dies without the stamp set. Aside from that, there’s ALWAYS a 10% discount on Bundles. Starting today, Wednesday, June 5th, Stampin’ Up! is dicounting Bundles an additional 10%. If there’s a Bundle you’ve had your eyes on, you can save more from June 5th through June 30th with the additional discount.
  • Even Better! As much as I love Bundles, you absolutely have to have a cutting machine. If you don’t have one, think about investing in one during the month of June. From today, June 5th through June 30th, the Stampin’ Cut And Emboss Machine and the Mini Stampin’ Cut And Emboss Machine will be discounted 10%.
  • I’m sure you’ve heeard me say that I love my “Mini”. I do! Its smaller size makes it easy for me to keep it on my work surface when I’m making a card or project. The dies run through the machine smoothly and it cuts evenly.

My Brush Strokes Are Full Of Life

Do you believe this card is quick and easy? Once I made the decision to have my paint brush strokes laid out vertically on my card front, the rest was a breeze. It is fun to duplicate the colors of the rainbow. It made me smile.

My inspiration for this card came from the paint brush-stroke die in the Friends For Life Dies. I was deterined to find a way to use this die. Taking another look at the Ful Of Life Designer Series Paper helped me make the decision to go with the colors of the rainbow on a Basic White background.

So, let’s make a card!

  • I cut a Thick Basic White cardstock card base 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and scored it at 4 1/4″ on the 8 1/2″ side,
  • The Basic Black cardstock mat layer is 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″.
  • The Basic White top layer is 4″ x 5 1/4″.
  • I used the patterned paper design pictured above, along with the die from the Friends For Life Dies. (You can click on the product details at the end of this post).
  • As you can see in the photo above, I simply placed the die vertically over the color I wanted to cut.
  • Once I had my rainbow colors, I attached them to the Basic White top layer of the card.
  • Note that the left edge of the “red paint strip” is about 1/2″ in from the left side of the Basic White layer.
  • Similarly, the right edge of the “purple paint strip” is about 1/2″ in from the right side of the Basic White layer.
  • I attached those colors first, then filled in the center strips evenly placed.
  • The “friend” sentiment is die cut from the Dies and attached with Dimensionals.
  • I stamped and fussy cut the Happy Birthday sentiment.
  • I attached the fussy cut sentiment to Basic Black cardstock and fussy cut it again.
  • For a little sparkle, I added a few of the Iridescent Faceted Gems from the Full of Life Product Suite.

So, what do you think? Quick and easy, right? Pick your special cololrs, add your custom “paint” and create a fun, quick and easy card to share.

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My Customer Mini Card Kit for May focuses on products from the Unbounded Beauty Product Suite. I’m showcasing the Unbounded Beauty Designer Series Paper, along with the Flowers of Beauty Dies. The Kit Details are listed below.

  • You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
  • The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
  • I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to a stamp you already own, or you can purchase the Bright Skies Bundle.
  • You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
  • You will automatically receive this kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store.
  • This card kit will be available through May 31st.

Click the image to download the digital catalog.

The Color Coach is a reference tool I use often. You can view and download a copy of the updated version here, or click on the image below.

Thinking Of You, Let’s Remember

Wishing you a safe Memorial Day as we thank those who have served for us.

I thought it would be fun to put together a quick and easy card featuring the Frames & Flowers Specialty Designer Series Paper. This paper pack includes three double sided patterned paper designs, along with three 12 x 12 sheets of die cut elements.

Itf you’re like me, there are times when you just want to sit down and create a card or project, get out your glue, and get going.

The Frames & Flowers Specialty Designer Series Paper Pack can inspire all sorts of projects. The punch-out elements are easy to view. You can place the elements sheet next to a patterned paper designs, and your project inspiration will follow. The product details are at the end of this post.

So, let’s make a card!

  • I deciderd to use Pretty Peacock cardstock for my card base. It’s 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″.
  • The patterned paper layer is 4″ x 5 1/4″.
  • The Pretty Peacock cardstock horizontal layer is 5 1/4″ x 2″.
  • The Petal Pink patterned paper horizontsal layer is 5 1/4″ x 1 7/8″.
  • The dimond shaped sentiment layer (attached with Dimensionals) is one of the inside cut outs from a frame in the Frames & Flowers DSP.
  • I inked the sides of it with Pretty Peacock ink and a Sponge Dauber. This helps to give the layer some dimension.
  • The flower spray at the bottom of the sentiment layer is one of the die cut elements from the Paper Pack.
  • I added a little sparkle with one of the Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems.
  • I kept the inside of the card blank for a personal note.

Quick and easy, right? Only a few caardstock layer cuts and you can move on to the next pretty card I’m sure you’ll create.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is right-sized-signature2-6.png

My Customer Mini Card Kit for May focuses on products from the Unbounded Beauty Product Suite. I’m showcasing the Unbounded Beauty Designer Series Paper, along with the Flowers of Beauty Dies. The Kit Details are listed below.

  • You will receive everything you need to put the cards together as I’ve designed them.
  • The kit will include the card bases, layers, die cuts, embellishments, sentiment layers, and envelopes.
  • I cannot send stamped images, but you will have a sentiment layer you can customize to a stamp you already own, or you can purchase the Bright Skies Bundle.
  • You will also receive a printed PDF Tutorial, along with a video link so you can put the cards together along with me.
  • You will automatically receive this kit with a minimum product purchase of $50.00 through my online store.
  • This card kit will be available through May 31st.

Click the image to download the digital catalog.

The Color Coach is a reference tool I use often. You can view and download a copy of the updated version here, or click on the image below.