VC Rocks Blog Hop--Have a Heart!

Welcome to VC Rocks opening blog hop for 2012!  Our theme this month is "Have a Heart!"  You have arrived here at stop #11 after looking at the great projects shared by Kym at Artful Imagination.  I especially love her vintage card!

First off let me just say--"what was I thinking???"  I signed up for this blog hop quite awhile ago and did not look at my calendar because when I saw the theme I had an idea right away of what I wanted to do!  Does that mean I got it made ahead of time??  Oh no--I procrastinated and then realized...  that this was the same weekend that I was spending the night at school with my class of first graders--6:45 p.m. Friday - 9:30 a.m. Saturday!  Yes, I'm a bit crazy, but it's tradition!  =-)

So I'm writing this post on Thursday night so I'll get it posted in time...from school.    Anyway--on to my project.  Since I have few original ideas (maybe someday) I was inspired by a card by Wendy Weixler and combined the idea with a tutorial I saw here to make it into a 3-D card.  Here it is:

And here's what it looks like on the inside--that's where the 3-D name comes from

Here's what I used:
Stamp Sets - Pursuit of Happiness, Thank You Kindly
Paper- Summer Smooches dsp,  Pacific Point (I needed 12 x 12), Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Ink - Island Indigo (pad and marker)
Accessories - Heart Framelits, Island Indigo baker's twine, Have a Heart embosslits

Thanks for visiting!  Now head on over to check out the wonderful creativity of Mary Jo Price-Williams at Technostamper!

Make & Take Fun!

I got this idea from Wendy Weixler....I wanted the ladies to experience using the new diagonal scoreboard since it has a different feel to it.   So we used some supplies from the Summer Smooches sneak peak offered last month to do just that!  I had a several colors for people to choose from--wish I would've thought to take photos of everybody's finished project---they were cute!

Adorable--right?   The card is 3 x 3 and I got the measurements for the envelope here!  Thank you Jackie Topa!

Manly Card

It is hard finding a good card design that doesn't seem too feminine.  I was looking for something on You Tube and came across this accidentally...and thought it was a great card for either Father's Day, male birthday or sympathy.  It uses one of my favorite sets that is retiring, "Inspired by Nature".....and it was easy to make!  Check out the link for all the details--the only thing I changed was not using the ticket corner punch and a different embossing folder (couldn't find mine anywhere!)

Fox and Friends Fun!

I've always thought the set Fox and Friends was so cute!  I used it for a one sheet wonder swap I was in last year if I recall.  Anyway, I saw this card on Mary Brown's blog and it was too neat NOT to copy--so I did.  I'm shameless I know.  The only thing I changed was ummm--the sentiment which is from Up and Away--the hot air balloon set in the catty.  Colors used--wild wasabi, perfect plum and marina mist.  Get your circle punches ready--and go!  It's an easy card to make and the rhinestones just add that right touch to it!  Love it Mary!  Thanks for sharing so I can share!  =-)

I know!  Cute isn't it!  Too bad this set is another one that is retiring and one that I'll be keeping around!

You've Gotta Try This!

I found this tutorial by Dawn Olchefske on how to make a gingham background using your Stripes embossing folder and it is too cute!  I love how it takes on the look of fabric when your run it through the second time.  I basically copied Dawn's card except for a couple of minor changes--I used the label framelits instead of a rectangle for the duck and I paper pieced my duck's body--other than that....EXACTLY the same!

I used bashful blue and certainly celery ink and cardstock.  Ribbon is certainly celery 1/4 " grosgrain soon to be retired.  The stamp set is Easy Events which is a great all occasion set!    Next on my radar....a different gingham card.  I have a picture in my mind the question is can I pull it off!  =-)

Cheap--and Cute!

I've always loved the stamp set Upsy Daisy--it's the perfect silhouette stamp set, great for making a "shadow image" and always seems to make a striking card.  Well--Pinterest struck again!  I saw this card made from a paint chip---well more like a paint card (from Home Depot) and just had to try it!  My SIL and I were in Hutchinson checking out the Dillards that is closing and THERE was the Home Depot right behind the mall.  We cruised in--grabbed 8 - 10 paint chips and then hightailed it out of there.  Why do you feel guilty taking paint chips?  Aren't they there for people to take as samples?  Anyway....I still felt guilty.  When I got home most of my paint chips could be matched up to one of our SU cardstock colors.  I made one with Poppy Parade, but one of our stamping group gals wanted to buy that one so I didn't get a picture of it (thanks, Jan!).
The card I demonstrated used Regal Rose--

Just stamp the daisies in versamark and emboss with white embossing powder.  Very striking!

See you later....alligator

We had our monthly meeting up our stamping group and it was my turn to demonstrate.  In light of the retirement lists coming out my theme was saying goodbye to retiring sets.  The first card I demonstrated was this twisted easel card.  I've been wanting to try one for awhile, but the new diagonal score board insert really makes it easy!  The stamp set in the spotlight:  Friends Never Fade.

                              
Here it is closed--the embossing folder I used for the calypso coral piece is "Snowburst" also retiring, as is the set that I got the sentiment from--"You're a Gem."

And...open.  We had this big discussion on sending this type of card--"Do the people who receive them know how to set them up?"  or do they just get them, open them like a regular card and say--"hmm, Dawn put this inside part in here really, really crooked."  =-)  We decided maybe you need to include directions!  Ha!  

After I got this done (original sample) I decided I didn't like the little ribbon on the card front--so on my card that I demonstrated I used the same whisper white satin ribbon as on the side to just add a band across the front.  I left my camera at school so I'll get a photo of that up as soon as I go to check the chicks this morning (Sat.) 

P.S.  The "Thanks" is from Kindness Matters

Colors--Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Whisper White