Butterflies :: Card Making with Market Street Stamps

Hello! Just popping in to post a card I made recently in hopes of ushering in spring. Here in Wisconsin, we're expecting another 6 to 8 inches tonight and tomorrow. But I am so ready for the warm sun, colorful tulips, and beautiful butterflies! 

I gathered together this stamp set from Market Street Stamps and paired it with the new collection from We R Memory Keepers, Simply Spring. Before rounding the corners of the white cardstock, I stamped the butterfly with various chalk inks. The edge punch from Martha Stewart Crafts is one of my favorites. I love that it can be used both horizontally and, in this case, vertically. 

Sending lots of warmth and craftiness your way! 

SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Paper Cut, We R Memory Keepers
Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Stamps: Market Street Stamp (Believing Butterfly)
Inks: Memento (Grey Flannel), VersaMagic (Thatched Straw, Aspen Mist, Aloe Vera)
Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts, EK Success (Large Rounder)

The easiest cards I've ever created...

Hello! Today I'm showcasing an upcoming class I'm teaching at Creations Galore. We received a wide variety of sticker sheets from Penny Black like the one below into the store. Challenged with how I could use them, I gathered together a limited amount of supplies and set the timer for one hour. Here's a list of my supplies: 

1- Penny Black sticker sheet {The above is Embrace}

1- 8.5x11 piece of patterned paper {Paper Studio White Polka Dot}

7- 8.5x11 pieces of solid cardstock 

1- Ribbon scrap

Stapler

Circle punch

3- Sentiment Stamps

Adhesive {MyStik Permanent} 

Journaling Pen {Black ZIG Writer, White Sakura Jelly Roll}

I chose to add some fun details with the ribbon scraps, stapler, and markers; however, these are not necessary items. I did not want to use more than the papers I had chosen, which coordinated nicely with the stickers. This really propelled me to use every scrap. Many of the card elements were results of me looking through what pieces I had left. Let's take a look at the creations:

7 cards and 2 tags! I didn't have enough cardstock to create full cards with the last two stickers on my sheet. So I opted for tags! I'm so glad I pushed myself to make as much as I could with the supplies, because those scraps would have made their way into the trash or continue to clutter my desk. Instead, they're beautiful creations ready to brighten someone's day! 

After creating the cards, I realized this was by far the greatest thing EVER! At only $2.50, Penny Black Sticker Sheets are a must-have! I completed everything in under an hour! An hour! Sometimes I can't complete a single card in 24 hours! The stamping, coloring, and cutting was already done for me! Which led me to think how affordable it was. I didn't need 9 different stamps, nor did I need a collection of markers or inks. 

It may sound like it, but Penny Black didn't give me free stuff, nor am I working for them. I'm just so excited at how simple and affordable this bundle of cards was to create. I'm planning on packaging them up and giving them as a gift. If you're intimidated by card making or still gathering a collection of supplies, you'll want to give this a try! 

Cuppa Love

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. A new week brings a fresh start. Every monday I post three new Make N Takes at my day job, including the card below.

 

Just some love and caffeine to send your way today. Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day!  

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: American Crafts, Paper Cut
Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers (Winter Frost Collection)
Stamps: Market Street Stamps (Daily Grind)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Punch: EK Success (Scallop)

Sketch Saturday

Hello! It's a sketch-filled morning with SWAT and Unscripted Sketches. First up is the new challenge blog SWAT. Every first and third Saturday, SWAT posts a new scrappy challenge for you to take part in with great prize packages up for grabs! Take a look at this great sketch by Jenessa Franco.

I had so much fun with this sketch! As soon as I saw the embellishment triangle, I knew exactly what I wanted to create. Here's my take on the sketch:

I was raised in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. I've seen all kinds of wildlife, heard the wolves howl, enjoyed peaceful summer nights and full moons, and seen the wonder of snow-lightening. But when it came to fireflies, I had yet to see one, let alone capture it in a jar like I had seen in movies. Ironically, I headed off to the "big city," and my first night in New York included a meeting with fireflies. Every night on the way home, I'd walk past a large patch of greenery with swarms of beautiful fireflies lighting up the pathway. Sadly, this magical place seemed to be a nest for rats too! I encountered my fair share of those. But the childlike excitement these tiny bugs created in me surpassed those furry creatures.

I haven't decided if I'm going to write my journaling onto the polka dotted paper or tuck it into a pocket in the same place. Creating the perfect layout is always a creative journey.

I cut the fireflies from the Cricut cartridge, Stretch Your Imagination, and doodled little hearts on them. All of the cardstock and patterned papers come from the new collection, Simply Spring, from We R Memory Keepers. I loved the light colors in the collection.

These great letters and embossed stickers are from Simply Spring as well. I added the embellishments and used a Copic Multiliner to outline and bring emphasis to the layers. 

Don't forget to take a look at the wonderful inspiration my fellow design team members have put together on the SWAT blog. You have until February 25th to link up your own creation to win a beautiful prize package! 

And now for the second sketch of the day! This comes from Unscripted Sketches! USS posts a new sketch every Saturday morning to inspire you! For some blog love, stop by the USS blog and link up your own creation using the sketch below as inspiration.

Here's my take on this sketch:

For this sketch, I decided to create a card, gathering together bright colors and fun patterns. It's a simple card with big impact! 

Thanks for stopping by today. Check out these two great challenge blogs. I hope they inspire you to create!

Library Love

Happy Valentine's Day! Today I'm spending time with my love, paper crafting! Anyone with me?! I'm still working on my album full of New York memories and wanted to share a page with you. 

This page documents our trip to the New York Public Library in Bryant Park. I've been there several times, yet every time I find something new to photograph and enjoy. 

I loved this journaling block from the Storyteller sticker sheet and incorporated a few other stickers from the collection into the layout.

How great is this cutout?! I decided not to add a title to this layout and let the cutout do the work. I have a few photo sleeves full of pictures and journaling from the library in the album and felt that the small, informal title would work for this page. 

Underneath the buttons I cut and adhered pieces of American Crafts ribbon. I added the buttons, stringing baker's twine through the centers, and created an embellishment triangle on the page. 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

PAGE SUPPLIES

Patterned Paper: Amy Tangerine (Coffee Break), Echo Park (Just My Type, Journaling Cards, Instamatic), 

Embellishments: Crate Paper (Storyteller Cardstock Stickers), Basic Grey (Chipboard Stickers), October Afternoon (Cherry Hill Wild Cards)

Ribbon: A Muse Studio (Onyx Baker's Twine), American Crafts (Kringle & Co)