#cardmaking

Earthen Elegance by Stampin’ Up

I will be honest. The Earthen Elegance Suite Collection was not initially on my radar to purchase. However, after seeing what some people had created with the suite, I decided to try it.

Today’s Video Tutorial

First, I stamped a bunch of different images in various colors. Second, I cut out those shapes and other die cuts. And lastly, I started putting some cards together. The first two steps really helped to get my inspiration going! I highly recommend doing this if you aren’t sure where to start.

Another thing that I like to do is look at other stamp and die sets to see if there is anything that would work well with my chosen suite or set. For example, in today’s card, I pulled in the Darling Details dies. And I even ended up using the negative piece instead of the main die cut.

More Earthen Elegance Cards

I created cards that would mostly fall into the Casual, Avid, and Artfully Avid categories with this suite. What category do you most identify with? I feel that I can fall into any and/or all of these categories on any given day. Don’t limit yourself! Which card is your favorite?

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope to see you again soon. As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Card Supplies

Shop my entire online store: https://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Card Measurements

  • Pretty Peacock Cardstock: 4 1/4″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
  • DSP: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ for card front
  • DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″ for die cut image
  • Scraps: Desired paper for die cuts
  • Very Vanilla Cardstock: 4″ x 5 1/4″

Beauty Of The Earth Angle Card

Today we are working with products from the Beauty Of The Earth Suite. I really like the Designer Series Papers from this suite. The featured colors are Merry Merlot, Cinnamon Cider, Bumblebee, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow, and Misty Moonlight.

Today’s Video

I tried a few other versions of an angle card in the past. They were cumbersome and involved a lot of math. And math just pulls the joy right out of cardmaking!

Fall cards are some of my favorite cards to make. I am a fall girl for sure! The Cork Specialty Paper just was calling my name for this card. And, it did not disappoint. Adding the Brushed Metallic Dots and the Diamond Weave Ribbon at the very end took this card to an entirely different level!

This winter version of the angle card uses the Snowy White Velvet Sheets. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it embossed and accepted ink. And the tiny birds steal the spotlight on this card! It is difficult to see in the video, but I added Wink of Stella to the tree.

More Beauty Of The Earth Cards

A slimline card is a perfect layout to showcase the Beauty Of The Earth DSP.

Any of these papers can be used for both feminine and masculine cards. They also work for any occasion. You just can’t go wrong with this choice.

Thank you so much for joining me today. As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Card Supplies

Shop my entire online store: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Card Measurements

  • Cajun Craze Cardstock: 5 1/2″ x 11″, scored at 3 3/8″ and 7 5/8″for base, and 1 1/4″ x 10″ for band
  • Basic White Cardstock: 4″ x 5 1/2″, and scrap for sentiment
  • Crumb Cake Cardstock: 2 3/4″ x 4″
  • Cork Specialty Paper: 3 1/4″ x 5 1/4″
  • DSP: 3 1/4″ x 5 1/4″, and 3 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ for leaves

Fine Art Floral Suite by Stampin’ Up

The Fine Art Floral Suite by Stampin’ Up is jam-packed with wonderful elements. There are stamps, dies, embossing folders, vinyl sheets, a ribbon, gold leafing, and DSP. And that Designer Series Paper is what I wanted to focus on today.

Today’s Video

I love this fun fold layout. It is perfect for when you have so many beautiful papers and you just can’t decide which pattern to choose. That is exactly why I chose this layout for today’s project. This card looks like it took hours to make, but it actually goes together pretty quickly.

The belly band is always a favorite for me! As an alternative, you could put the folded card into one of our acetate boxes and put the band around the box instead of the card base.

Remember, you can get tons of card layout ideas from Stampin’ Up catalogs! I even keep my old ones to look at for inspiration. I hope that you enjoyed learning how to. use the Foam Adhesive Sheets. It is one of those things that you might see in the catalog, yet not understand how to use. I do not use them often. However, they really do make a nice design element.

More Art Gallery Cards

Each one of these cards is unique and different. The gold leafing makes the already beautiful flower images come to life. And the florals are swoon-worthy! 🙂 Don’t forget to SEND these cards. They will be a big hit with your friends and family.

As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Card Supplies

Shop my entire online store: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Card Measurements

Card Base: 5 1/2″ x 11″, scored at 4 1/4″, 7″, and 9 3/4″ inches

DSP: 4″ x 5 1/4″, 2 1/2″ x 5 1/4″, and (2) 1″ x 5 1/4

Basic White: 2 1/2″ x 5 1/4″

Cardstock for Belly Band: 9 1/2″ x 1 1/2″

Last Chance Sale

The Last Chance Sale will begin June 1st.

Butterfly Brilliance and Color Challenge

Today, I am using the Butterfly Brilliance Bundle for my May team color challenge. My team leader chooses three Stampin’ Up colors that we must use on our cards. We are only permitted to use these three colors plus Basic White or Very Vanilla cardstock and Basic Black ink. This month she chose Magenta Madness, Mango Melody, and Calypso Coral.

Today’s Video

This challenge produced some pretty but bright cards! I feel that Magenta Madness is the most intense color in our Stampin’ Up lineup. However, it is a very happy color. I decided to use the Butterfly Brilliance Bundle for the challenge. Butterflies can be imagined in any color. They can also be used for many different card occasions.

More Butterfly Brilliance Cards

I began the creative process with this card. It was my first time playing with some of the new products from the 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. And it was so much fun! Sometimes, we just need one aspect of a card decided for us to help get our creativity going.

The Ombre Specialty Paper was the only DSP type of paper that I owned in the assigned colors. But it added such vibrance and sparkle to my card! I also used Wink of Stella on my butterfly.

Please be sure to take the time to watch today’s video. There are just too many options with both the die and stamp sets to cover in writing here!

I used the Checks & Dots Embossing folder to create paper to decorate my envelope flaps. And I had plenty of leftover butterflies to adhere to the front of my envelopes and insides of my cards. This color combination ended up being an enjoyable one for me. Although, it might not be fitting for every occasion.

Of course, these challenges are totally optional. Team members that choose to participate are eligible for prizes. And who doesn’t love a good prize patrol? Right now, Stampin’ Up is running the Join+ promotion. You can become part of the fun. A starter kit is $99 and that includes shipping. In May, you get to choose $155 of products! That is the crazy, best deal I have seen them offer!

As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Card Supplies

You can join my team here: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/join-my-team/

Card Measurements

  • Calypso Coral Cardstock: 4 1/4″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″ and scrap for butterfly
  • Basic White Cardstock: 2 3/4″ x 4″, 1 3/4″ x 5″, and 3 3/4″ x 5″ for inside layer
  • Mango Melody Cardstock: 1 3/4″ x 5″

Pretty Perennials And The Slimline Card

The Pretty Perennials stamp set is right in my wheelhouse. This set has many different parts and pieces. There are flowers, leaves, and additional types of plants included. Additionally, depending on the colors that you choose, you can totally change the feel of a card. There is a coordinating die set as well.

Today’s Video

More Cards Featuring Pretty Perennials

Making a slimline card was a totally new thing for me! To begin with, changing things up a bit for me “sparked joy”! I was kind of in a designing slump and simply changing the layout opened my mind. Additionally, just having a wider canvas made me feel a little bit more open to playing with my stamps. I enjoyed my design process today. The mistakes and all! Please don’t ever give up if you make a mistake. Sometimes our mistakes can open up an entirely different path for us. This is true in both cards and life.

I love how this card turned out! This card is very happy. yet, very subdued. I feel it would make a great card for both men or women. The Misty Moonlight and Bumblebee work so nicely together. I stamped the images and then ran this layer through the embossing machine. The embossing folder I used was the Tasteful Texture Embossing Folder. It gives you such a wonderful textured piece of art!

This color combination makes me very happy! I think these colors just play so nicely together. Just Jade is becoming my new favorite green.

I hope that you enjoyed the embossing technique that I shared with you today. It was just one of those ideas that came into my head one night in bed and I had to get it out! Don’t forget that these cards require a #10 Envelope.

As always, remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative!

Sally

Card Supplies

Shop My Entire Online Store Here: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Join my team and become a discount shopper: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/join-my-team/

Card Measurements

Today’s Featured Card

  • Basic White Cardstock: 7 1/2″ x 9″, scored at 3 3/4″
  • Granny Apple Green Cardstock: 3 1/4″ x 8 1/2″
  • Magenta Madness Cardstock: 2 3/4″ x 8″
  • Basic White Cardstock: Scrap for label and banner

Measurements For the Other Cards Shown

  • Basic White Thick Cardstock: 7 1/2″ x 9″, scored at 3 3/4″
  • Misty Moonlight Cardstock: 3 1/4″ x 8 1/2″
  • Bumblebee Cardstock: 2 3/4″ x 8″
  • Basic White Cardstock: 2 1/2″ x 7 3/4″

Stampin’ Up’s You Are My Sunshine

Even just saying You Are My Sunshine makes me smile! I have such fond memories of singing that song to my children and my mother singing it to me as well. We even used to have a little neighbor girl that sang it with a tiny lisp and it was precious! Our new Bumblebee In Color was the obvious choice to use for my card. And I feel that the Magenta Madness adds just a little sparkle. So happy!

I filmed this video at the same time that I shot the Lovely You video. So again I apologize that it is a little too close up. I do not expect that I will ever win an award for my filming skills! But it is what it is and I am learning more each day. I think life long learning is so important. Especially during all of this COVID stuff….it has been a great way to work through the time and work out some frustrations. I hope that your crafting has been a pleasant diversion to you. And when you are finished crafting you can share the sunshine to someone else by sending them your card!

Here is today’s video:

  • Bumblebee Cardstock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″
  • Whisper White Cardstock 4″ x 5 1/4″ (2)

Supplies For Stampin’ Up’s You Are My Sunshine Card:

You can shop for all the supplies here: http://www.thepolkadotlife.com/shop/

Always remember to be kind, send a card, and do something creative,

Sally

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