Tag: diecuts

Clean and Simple · Winter

Woodsy Thoughts

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

I don’t ordinarily post twice in one day or even on Sundays, for that matter. But sometimes our schedules get a little off-kilter and we have to make some quick adjustments. I returned to working full-time in September, and as things are beginning to pick up at work, maintaining a good balance has become a little challenging. So hopefully you guys will bear with me as I work to find that perfect balance between enjoying down time with the family and time doing things I love, like crafting.

This week, we’ve been designing around the theme of in the woods. And I wanted to finish off with a really simple design that combines paper, a die, and ephemera.

We get started with a base of Mossy Meadow cardstock. Our focal panel has a sparkly backdrop of white glimmer paper with a panel of Garden Green diecut with the Winterly Treetops die and mounted with dimensionals to give us the look of peeking through the evergreens. Two reindeer from the Joyful Images ephemera pack are standing in the open glen as snow is softly falling (represented by the iridescent faceted gems). Our sentiment comes from the Joyful Sayings ephemera pack and is matted with a textured gold banner. I just love how simple and elegant this design turned out.

This next week will be a little hit and miss with card designs as I have to fly out of town midweek for some training. Our new design theme will be stopping by on a snowy evening. I hope to give you some fun ideas for working with this theme with some unexpected product combinations.

Product List
Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133676]
$11.50
Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[102584]
$11.50
Textured Metallic 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper
[163772]
$8.50
Berry Burst, Old Olive & White 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Glimmer Specialty Paper
[163769]
$6.00
Joyful Images Mix & Match Specialty Ephemera Pack
[164110]
$9.50
Winterly Tree Tops Dies
[164065]
$36.00
Joyful Sayings Mix & Match Ephemera Pack (English)
[164109]
$9.50
Iridescent Faceted Gems
[163368]
$8.50
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Sketchy Fridays

Sketchy Fridays: Thanks

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Well, the last several days have been far busier than I anticipated and so we’re playing a little catch-up here on the ol’ blog. I recently returned to a full-time job, and I’m finding it a little challenging to balance family time and my most favorite side gigs. I’m sure there are many of you who understand, especially when your family time includes sports activities that your kiddos have chosen to play.

Although a couple of days late this week, we’re marching on with our Sketchy Fridays, where each week we’re using a card sketch to design our featured card. Right now, we’re working through a full series of designs using the card sketches found in current Stampin’ Up! catalogs.

This week’s card is based on Sketch #7 in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Mini Catalog and features a fun assortment of products, including designer series paper, dies, and holiday ephemera.

If you’ve followed along for a little while, you’ve heard me talk about how sketches are such a great way to get started with a card design. And you don’t always have to follow a sketch to a T. This week, I’ve rotated the sketch but have otherwise stuck to the layout pretty closely. So let’s take a closer look at all of the elements that are working together here.

We get started with a base of Pretty Peacock cardstock. I used a piece of Tartan Foil patterned paper as the base for our focal panel. And then a piece of the Winer Meadow designer paper serves as our focal panel. I pulled the reindeer from the Joyful Images ephemera to serve as our focal image in the bottom corner. I added a smaller tree diecut from Pretty Peacock using the Merriest Trees dies to anchor the bottom corner of our focal panel. The sentiment pieces and greenery are also from the Joyful Images ephemera and sit nicely over a faux bow of Pretty Peacock & Gold metallic trim. A foil silver circle diecut with the Everyday Details dies serves as the top corner anchor and adds that nice pop of metallic sparkle to compliment the Wink of Stella on the opposing anchor tree. A few Pretty Peacock foiled dots finish things off nicely and draw the eye to the sentiment.

I’m rounding out this week’s woodsy card designs with a peek through the trees. Hope you’ll come check it out.

Product List
Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[150880]
$11.50
Tartan Foil 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper
[162332]
$10.00
Winter Meadow 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[162133]
$12.50
Silver Foil Sheets
[132178]
$5.00
Joyful Images Mix & Match Specialty Ephemera Pack
[164110]
$9.50
Merriest Trees Dies
[162047]
$37.00
Everyday Details Dies
[162864]
$34.00
Pretty Peacock & Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic Ribbon
[162588]
$8.50
Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems
[162587]
$8.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush
[141897]
$9.00
Add All to Cart
Holidays · Winter

Bright & Beautiful Season

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

We’re taking a trek in the woods this week, and as much as I love all things autumn, I thought it would be nice to show how a few simple tweaks can yield beautiful winter designs. Today’s card is another clean and simple design, and we’re highlighting the Stampin’ Up! In the Grove dies and the Snowflake Sky embossing folder.

We get started with a card base of Smoky Slate cardstock. A piece of Graceful Greenery vellum serves as a soft base for our focal panel and is diecut using the Deckled Rectangles dies. Our focal panel combines a white background embossed with the Snowflake Sky embossing folder and the trees diecut from the grey woodgrain in the Country Woods patterned paper pack using the In the Grove die. The sentiment from the Peaceful Season stamp set is stamped in Smoky Slate on white cardstock and then diecut using the Radiating Stitches circle die and then matted with a silver foil circle diecut with the Everyday Details dies. A scattering of snowflakes and iridescent faceted gems give the snowy background the perfect amount of twinkle.

Tomorrow we’re going to be pairing our woodsy theme with a sketch from a SU! catalog. I hope you’ll pop in and check it out.

Product List
Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[131202]
$11.50
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[159276]
$13.00
Country Woods 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[163393]
$12.50
Graceful Greenery Vellum 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper
[164118]
$10.00
Silver Foil Sheets
[132178]
$5.00
Peaceful Season Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[164145]
$24.00
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad
[147113]
$9.00
Snowflake Sky 3 D Embossing Folder
[162026]
$11.00
In The Grove Dies
[163511]
$31.00
Deckled Rectangles Dies
[159173]
$30.00
Everyday Details Dies
[162864]
$34.00
Radiating Stitches Dies
[161595]
$30.00
Adhesive Backed Snowflake Assortment
[162129]
$8.00
Iridescent Faceted Gems
[163368]
$8.50
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Fine-Tip Glue Pen
[138309]
$7.25
Add All to Cart
Clean and Simple

He Will Direct Your Paths

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

This week we’re venturing into the woods with our card designs. One of my favorite things to do is build scenes, and I love it when a scene comes together with just a few simple elements. For today’s card, we’re combining a stamp set, two die sets, and a patterned paper pack. And what a stunner this one turned out to be!

Our card design starts with a base of Pretty Peacock cardstock. A piece of Thoughtful Journey designer series paper sets the stage for our sunrise lake scene. The line of trees in the foreground is cut from Blackberry Bliss cardstock using the Frosted Forest dies. The deer is cut from Early Espresso using the Grove dies. The large sentiment from the You Are Beautiful stamp set is stamped in Blackberry Bliss and hangs beautifully in the sunlit sky.

This design literally comes together in minutes. I love how the Thoughtful Journey paper makes it so easy. Do you have products in your stash that can make easy scenes? Sometimes you just have to take a second look to see things a little differently.

Product List
Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[150880]
$11.50
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[119686]
$11.50
Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133675]
$11.50
Thoughtful Journey 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[163303]
$12.50
You Are Beautiful Cling Stamp Set (English)
[163704]
$24.00
Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad
[147092]
$9.00
Grove Dies
[157844]
$39.00
Frosted Forest Dies
[164136]
$36.00
Transparent Adhesive Backed Dots
[163432]
$8.00
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Autumn · Fall

A Brighter Tomorrow

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Happy Veterans’ Day to all of those who have served in the Armed Forces! We are ever so thankful for the sacrifices you and your family have made to make our way of life possible. Your service is always respected and appreciated!

I can’t believe we’re already starting another week. Is it just me or does it feel like August to the end of the year is always on fast forward?! Another new week means another new theme for our card designs. And this week, we’re going to be in the woods, which is one of my favorite places to be! I look forward to showing you some unique ways to use this theme in your designs.

Today, we’re getting started in the treetops. My favorite stretch of road in our neighborhood is just starting to show hints that the foliage is about to put on its fall foray. And I can’t wait! Before it’s all done, this stretch of road will look like it’s on fire. So today’s design is another nod to the changing foliage of fall.

We get started with a base of Copper Clay cardstock. Our focal panel consists of a background of Very Vanilla and a mat of Oxidized Copper. We build our forest of trees using the Frosted Forest dies. The base color is Mossy Meadow and then the changing foliage is a combination of Blackberry Bliss, Daffodil Delight, and Pumpkin Pie. The trees are adhered on varying levels of dimensionals to give some dimension to the scene and realism to the depth of forest. A few birds stamped using the Frosted Forest stamps add another layer of realism to our forest scene. The sentiment from Unbounded Love is stamped on the vanilla backdrop. The strip of Pretty Peacock & Gold metallic ribbon add some sparkle and help draw the eye to the top and the sentiment. A few Blooming Pearls help finish things off.

We’re going to be in the forest all week. So I hope you’ll tag along for the trip!

Products used in today’s card:
Copper Clay, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pecan Pie, Blackberry Bliss, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Mossy Meadow cardstock
Oxidized Copper DSP
Frosted Forest bundle
Unbounded Love stamps
Pretty Peacock & Gold metallic ribbon
Blooming Pearls
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Copper Clay 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[161721]
$11.50
Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[101650]
$13.00
Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[120953]
$11.50
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[119686]
$11.50
Pecan Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[161717]
$11.50
Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133675]
$11.50
Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[119683]
$11.50
Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[105117]
$11.50
Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133676]
$11.50
Oxidized Copper 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper
[162190]
$8.00
Frosted Forest Dies
[164136]
$36.00
Frosted Forest Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[164344]
$21.00
Unbounded Love Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[163378]
$25.00
Copper Clay Classic Stampin' Pad
[161647]
$9.00
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad
[147052]
$9.00
Pretty Peacock & Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic Ribbon
[162588]
$8.50
Blooming Pearls
[162238]
$8.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Mini Glue Dots
[103683]
$7.25
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[154031]
$7.00
Add All to Cart
Fall · Thankful

Amazing Leaves

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Fall is my favorite season of the year. Thus far, Texas isn’t really cooperating. It’s unseasonably warm for November and the leaves have only just started to hint at changing color. I’m ready for sweater weather and a big pile of leaves in the yard!

This week, we’re working within the theme of thankfulness. Aside from this time of year lending itself to this type of reflection, it just really feels like we all need a little reminder to slow down and appreciate all of the little things. Even when we don’t have it all, there are so many small ways we are living in the overflow of God’s grace and goodness.

For today’s card design, I took inspiration from the usual color palette of fall foliage that we see in our area. I really love the combination of foliage color and texture in today’s design.

We get started with a base of Early Espresso cardstock. Our leaf patterned focal panel is matted with lots of shimmer between the Oxidized Copper specialty paper and the Old Olive glimmer paper. For the focal panel, I inked the Leaf Collection background stamp with a combination of Blackberry Bliss, Copper Clay, Cherry Cobbler, and Mossy Meadow ink and stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock. I then embossed with the Changing Leaves embossing folder. I used gold ink to bring out the embossing and add a sparkly sheen to the leaves. The sentiment from the Changing Leaves stamp set is heat embossed in gold on a piece of Early Espresso that was embossed with the Leaf Fall embossing folder and then diecut with the Nested Essentials dies. Another rub of some gold ink helps bring out the pattern in the sentiment panel and match the sheen of our focal panel. A twist of the Natural Tones linen thread and some gold Blooming Pearls add the final touches.

Next week we’re going to take a trek through the trees and see what we can find. Hope you will tag along.

Sketchy Fridays · Thankful

Sketchy Fridays: Tweet Thanks

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

We’ve made it to another Friday, and you know what that means? It’s time for another Sketchy Fridays!

Each week we’ll be using a card sketch to design our featured card. Right now, we’re working through a full series of designs using the card sketches found in current Stampin’ Up! catalogs.

This week’s card is based on Sketch #22 in the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalog and features a whole assortment of products. We’re pairing our sketch with the Thoughtful Journey and Nests of Winter papers, the Timber embossing folder, and Simply Said stamps along with our thankfulness theme to create today’s card.

Today, I used our sketch more as a guide than an absolute. That’s the best part about using sketches to design cards—they get you started but don’t have to box you in!

Our card starts with a base of Early Espresso cardstock. The focal panel combines a sheet of Gray Granite embossed with the Birch Wood embossing folder with a mat of Blackberry Bliss. Our two focal panels are cut from a sheet of Thoughtful Journey patterned paper using the Nested Essentials dies. I fussy cut the bird from a sheet of Nests of Winter paper and adhered over the focal panel with dimensionals. The sentiment from Simply Said is heat embossed with gold on a Blackberry Bliss panel diecut using the Peaceful Season dies. A few gold iridescent foil gems and Blackberry Bliss transparent dots finish things off with pops of interest.

We’ll be finishing out our thankfulness theme tomorrow. I hope you’ll pop in.

Products used in today’s card:
Early Espresso, Blackberry Bliss, Gray Granite cardstock
Thoughtful Journey, Nests of Winter DSP
Nested Essentials, Peaceful Season dies
Birch Wood embossing folder
Simply Said stamps
Gold embossing powder
Transparent dots, iridescent foil gems
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[119686]
$11.50
Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133675]
$11.50
Gray Granite 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[146983]
$11.50
Thoughtful Journey 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[163303]
$12.50
Nests Of Winter 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[164183]
$12.50
Birch Wood 3 D Embossing Folder
[164069]
$12.00
Nested Essentials Dies
[161597]
$34.00
Peaceful Season Dies (English)
[164020]
$34.00
Simply Said Mix & Match Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[163756]
$17.00
Versamark Pad
[102283]
$9.50
Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder
[165678]
$21.00
Transparent Adhesive Backed Dots
[163432]
$8.00
Iridescent Foil Gems
[162842]
$8.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Thankful

Good Heart

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

I always find it interesting to analyze the overall sentiment people share on social media after elections. From gloating to despair, the feelings that people share very much run the full spectrum. In some election cycles, as a voter, I feel like a “winner” while in others I feel at a loss. And isn’t that the cycle of life. But the most important thing that I always like to carry with me is that, no matter what, my voice matters. And even more importantly, my actions on a day-to-day basis matter. Do my actions convey my deeply-held beliefs? That’s our point to ponder today.

This week, we’re working within a theme of thankfulness. And I really loved this sentiment from the Frosted Forest stamp set — no beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart. Let’s carry that thought with us today!

We get started on today’s card with a base of Cajun Craze cardstock. Our focal background is a sheet of the lovely Thoughtful Journey designer series paper that has been matted with a piece of Peach Pie glimmer paper. Our sentiment from Frosted Forest is stamped in Early Espresso on white cardstock and then diecut with the Autumn Leaves stamps. I had a collection of leaves diecut from some lovely shimmery paper (all retired) that really bring out all of the subtle colors in this piece of patterned paper, so I scattered them behind the sentiment and made a little pile on the ground. For a little extra pop of sparkle and to really draw the eye to our sentiment, I added some drusy embellishments.

I hope you’ll pop in tomorrow as we use a sketch to design a card, keeping with our thankfulness theme.

Products used in today’s card:
Cajun Craze, Basic White cardstock
Thoughtful Journey, In Color shimmer DSP
Frosted Forest stamps
Autumn Leaves dies
Drusy embellishments
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Thankful

Give Thanks in Everything

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Our design theme for this week is thankfulness. And on this post-election day, I can certainly give thanks for the ability to vote. How fortunate we are as Americans to be able to voice our opinions by choosing our leaders on all levels. What a tremendous privilege this is!

Back to the crafty task at hand. This week, my son actually helped me choose a theme. And I think it works perfectly for inspiring designs of all kinds. Today’s card borrows a fall color palette to deliver our message of thanks.

We get started with a base of Early Espresso cardstock. The backdrop for our focal panel is a piece of Cajun Craze diecut with the largest rectangle from the Radiating Stitches dies. I just love the pop the detail in this die lends to this card design. Our focal panel is a sheet of Early Espresso cardstock that has been embossed using the Leaf Fall embossing folder and then cut to fit within the center of the Cajun Craze panel. To add more depth and dimension to the embossing, I rubbed gold ink over the raised portions with my finger and then wiped the excess across the full panel so it has a slight gold sheen all the way across. To really bring this forward, the embossed panel is matted with textured gold specialty paper. The sentiment from the Courage & Faith stamp set is stamped in Copper Clay on Crumb Cake cardstock and then diecut with the Autumn Leaves die using the extension method. A faux bow of Cherry Cobbler & Gold satin ribbon is adhered behind the sentiment panel which is popped up over our focal panel using dimensionals. I added a few Earth Tone shimmer gems on either side of the sentiment to draw the eye and add a little sparkle.

Tune in tomorrow to see where our thankfulness theme takes us.

Products used in today’s card:
Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake cardstock
Textured gold SP
Leaf Fall embossing folder
Courage & Faith stamps
Autumn Leaves, Radiating Stitches dies
Cherry Cobbler & Gold satin ribbon
Natural tones shimmer gems
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Coming Soon

Here for You

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a design rut? Sometimes w have to shake things up and get out of our comfort zone! And today’s card design does just that.

This week, we’re spotlighting the new Marbled Elegance paper that will launch on Tuesday with the new Stampin’ Up! Online Exclusives. For today’s card, we’re pairing it with the cute Otterly Adorable paper (also launching Tuesday) and Friends for Life dies in a unique take on the window design.

We get started with a base of Real Red cardstock. Our background panel is from the Marbled Elegance patterned paper pack. Using the Heartfelt Hexagon punch, we make a window in the top of the Marbked Elgance background. I cut the cute cuddling otter pair from a sheet of the Otterly Adorable paper pack and mounted them in the open window. I tied the white diagonal trim around the panel under the window, making a small bow, and then adhered the panel to the card base with dimensionals. I had leftover heart outlines from yesterday’s card design, and I used those to create nesting hearts. A few additional hearts were cut from red Season of Elegance foiled paper. The sentiment panel is cut from white cardstock with the Radiating Stitches heart die and then stamped with the sentiment from Changing Leaves in Real Red. The smaller hearts are adhered with varying levels of dimensionals to create some depth and interest. I finished things off with iridescent rhinestones basic jewels for a dash of twinkle.

It’s always fun to push our creative limits with new design techniques. I love the unexpected mix of shapes, colors, and textures in this design.

Products used in today’s card:
Real Red, Basic White cardstock
Marbled Elegance (coming soon), Melon Mambo foil (retired), Otterly Adorable (coming soon), Season of Elegance DSP
Friends for Life, Radiating Stitches dies
Changing Leaves stamps
Heartfelt Hexagon punch
White diagonal striped trim
iridescent rhinestones basic jewels
Dimensionals
Adhesives