I Do! I Do! I Do! - an elegant wedding card

I wanted to create a very elegant wedding card and Very Vanilla and Whisper White with a touch of diamonds was the first thing that came to mind!  I used a Stampin' Write Marker to use just the "I do" from one of my favorite stamp sets "Word Play"  

Cardstock:   Whisper White

                     Very Vanilla

Stamps:        Word Play #120651

Ribbon:         Very Vanilla 5/6" satin # 117291

Big Shot:       Elegant Lines embossing folder #119277

                     Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder #117335

                     Beautiful Wings Embosslits die #118138

Punches:      Scallop Oval Extra Large # 119856

                     Oval Large #119855

Ink:               Stampin= Write Marker Crumb Cake #120967

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

Directions:

Whisper White: Cut 4-1/4" x 11" -     folded in half to make card (4-1/4" x 5-1/2")

                       Cut  4" x 5-1/4"   -    emboss with Elegant Lines - tie satin ribbon around top

                                                     and using Stampin= Dimensionals adhere to front of card

                       Stamp AI do@ to a scrap of card stock - cut out with Oval punch, adhere diamond.

                        

 Very Vanilla:     Die cut butterflies - accent with diamonds and adhere to card front using glue dots

                         Punch out Large Scallop Oval, run through Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

                         Adhere to card front using Stampin= Dimensionals

                         Adhere prepared  AI Do@ oval to Scallop Oval

ARRGH! It's the Pirate's Life for Me!

I actually created this to submit to a contest, but got busy and missed the deadline - oh, well! Thought it would make a great little party favor!

Card Stock: Basic Black 1 piece 5" square
                     Cherry Cobbler - 1 piece 4" square
                     Very Vanilla - 2" x 2-3/4" and 4" square
                     Marina Mist - scrap
Ribbon: 7" Real Red 1-/1'4" striped grosgrain
12" Basic Black 1/8" taffeta ribbon - cut into two 6" lengths
6" Linen Thread
Ink: Basic Black
Basic Grey
Stamps: Sail Away
Dies: Scallop Square #115950
Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder #117335
Square Lattice embossing folder # 119976
Punches: ½" Circle punch
Extra Large Oval Punch - used for pirate face and mouth
Word Window Punch - used for eye patch
Two Step Owl Punch - used eyes from punch for eye and nose
Directions:
1 Cut one scallop square die from Basic Black card stock
2) Run 4" square of Cherry Cobbler card stock through the Square Lattice embossing folder
Adhere to Black scallop square
3) Bring two opposite corners of Scallop Square together and punch a hole to accommodate ribbon using the ½"
Circle punch.
4) Tie with black taffeta ribbon.
5) Using Very Vanilla 2" x 2-3/4" piece, trim two corners to create tag
6) Using Basic Grey ink, stamp "ledger" from Sail Away stamp set onto tag
7) Distress edges of tag and punch a hole in top to accommodate ribbon. Tie to Scallop Square
8) Using the Extra Large Oval punch and Very Vanilla card stock, punch pirates face.
9) Run lower edge of "face" through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. Distress with black ink to create
"beard"
10) Using a scrap of black, cut just the very end of a Word Window Punch for eye patch - adhere to face. Draw on
string for eye patch
11) Cut one "eye" using Marina Mist cardstock and the eyes from the Two Step Owl Punch - adhere in place
12) Cut a "nose" using Very Vanilla cardstock using the eyes from the Two Step Owl Punch - adhere in place
13) Using a scrap of Cherry Cobbler and the Extra Large Oval punch, punch mouth (use just the end of punch)
14) Fold Striped Grosgrain ribbon in half, adhere to top of pirate face and tie with Linen thread. Trim as needed
15) Using a Stampin’ Dimensional attach pirate face to tag.
FILL WITH TREATS AND YOU ARE DONE! ARRRGH! It’s the pirate’s life for me!

Aviary Too!

Don’t you just love this Aviary set? Perky little birds and ornate cages. I designed this card after sitting in the backyard listening to the birds enjoy our waterfall. What a great combo Sahara Sand, Poppy Parade and Old Olive are together - with a dash of black (which really is my favorite color to wear!)

Stamp Sets: Aviary #120462, Silhouette Sentiments #120127, Afterthoughts #120121
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Sahara Sand
Ink: Stazon Black, Poppy Parade
Ribbon: Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain #111368
Punches: Jewelry Tag Medium #117190, Scallop Trim Border #118402
Accessories: Basic Pearls119247

Directions:

Sahara Sand:                     Cut 1 piece  4-1/2" x 11"

                                         Fold in half to make a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card

Poppy Parade :                 Cut 1 piece 4" x 5-1/4"

                                        Run through Big Shot using Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder

                                        Wrap Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around twice and tie in knot

                                        Adhere to front of card

Basic Black:                     Cut 1 piece 4-1/4" x 3"

                                        Punch one long side with Scallop Trim Border punch

                                        Adhere to card front slightly to left side 

  Whisper White:               Cut 1 piece 4" x 2-1/2"

                                        Stamp birdcage stand using black ink

                                        Cut 1 piece 2"x 2" or use scrap

                                        Stamp birdcage using black ink

                                        Stamp bird using Certainly Celery ink and cut bird cage out

                                        Adhere pearls

                                        Using Stampin' Dimensionals, adhere in place

                                        Cut 1 piece 2" x 2" or use scrap

                                        Using Poppy Parade ink, stamp flower from Afterthoughts stamp set

                                        Using black ink, stamp saying and punch out using Medium Jewelry tag punch

                                        Using Sticky Strip adhere in place on ribbon

Voila!  You have just created the cutest card!            

Graduation Time!

A special fold card using the Star die cut, Newsprint DSP and a little Very Vanilla rolled up as a diploma

Spring Blossoms with Embossing

It never occurred to me to emboss over a print paper and then sand for a bit more dimension but I’m glad I did and love the results! Isn’t that the amazing thing about stamping - the ideas are endless. No boredom here!

Stamp sets: Pretty Postage #123097
Cardstock: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Whisper White and Spring Blossoms DSP
Ribbon: Marina Mist and Rich Razzleberry 5/8" grosgrain
Accessories: Antique Brad #117273
Punch: Postage Stamp #122344
Embossing: Elegant Lines #119277

Congratulations, Graduate!

You know how sometimes you're happiest with the results when you work with what you have and don't worry about the fact you don't have what you think you need? (like a graduation stamp) That's how this card came to be. I love the Word Play stamp set and use it over and over. Stars seemed kinda "graduationy" to me, so that's what we put together. I like words that aren't really words but get the point across! I also discovered there are no rules limiting how you use the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, so I just centered it on the 5" square card stock - makes for a simple border on each side. Stars #2 die cut gave me the stars - how I love the Big shot! Smile!

Simple Pocket Notecards

I love to present notecards in pretty pockets - just adds a special touch. You can custom size your inserts by running the Big Scallop Square through the Big Shot a second time.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake!

I thought today I would share an amazing recipe with you - this was our Mother's Day dessert and it was incredible!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake
1 chocolate cookie crust
4 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 T vanilla
1 - 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
8 large Reese’s peanut butter cups, coarsely chopped

Place pan of water on bottom rack of over. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Line 8" round springform pan with foil and spray sides and bottom with vegetable oil spray
Pat prepared cookie crust into bottom of pan evenly
In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth, about 3 minutes
Add sweetened condensed milk and continue beating until smooth
Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition
Blend in vanilla
While mixing, slowly pour in melted chocolate - only mixing until there are no lumps and completely blended
Gently fold in all but ½ cup chopped peanut butter cups
Pour into prrepared pan
Sprinkle reserved peanut butter cups on top
Place on center rack in preheated oven
Bake for 65 - 75 mins. You’ll know it’s done when center still jiggles a little and sides are raised slightly
Cool completely and then refrigerate until it’s time to serve
Cut by running a knife in warm water, cut, rinse knife in warm water again .....
Cheesecake freezes well and what a great dessert to have on hand

Happy Mother's Day, Holly!

Happy Mother's Day to one of the most beautiful Mom's in the world! We are so proud of you and the incredible woman you are and the outstanding Mom you are to our grandchildren. Have a wonderful day!

Note: Here's a sneak preview of your card which did not get mailed in time to arrive for Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

A refrigerator magnet just for Mom! This wonderful flower comes to us from Stampin' Up!'s BigZ Flower Die. Keep checking back for more great ideas using this versatile die. I'd like to credit Becky Roberts - thank you for the original flower you presented to me! Have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Homegrown Graphics

A perfect gift set for the gardener on your friend list! Spring is in the air.... well on every other day, and gardening is right around the corner. This boxed set comes with four cards and four gift tags and uses Stampin' Up!'s Homegrown stamp set. I love it because the detail is outstanding and looks fantastic in black and white.

Every once in a while a stamp set comes along and just seems right in black and white. I love the detail in this stamp! Click on the picture for an up close view.

Spring and Blossoms

How many of you can remember back to when "orange" was in? Well, we do - because when we were first married (36 years ago!) it was all the rage and we purchased an amazing set of Lenox dinnerware complete with large orange poppies. We even have the fondue pot - remember them? It's been stored now for 25+ years. Well, this card brought back fond memories of that dinnerware and you know - we just may invite it over for dinner again one of these find spring evenings! This card shocases the brand new Triple Blossoms punch which does the prettiest flowers - it's available now in the Summer Mini Catalog