Super Bowl Thank You Card Set

How about those Sea Hawks?  Last Sunday my husband and I were invited to attend a neighbor's Super Bowl party, so along with our favourite party time appetizer, I made the hostess a small gift to thank her for her generous hospitality.  

Since our hostess is a great believer and user of "thank you" cards and notes, I decided to make her a box of six cards, using the new Butterfly Basics stamp set and matching dies.  

What fun I had making this wonderful set.  This is not my original design however.  I actually watched an awesome video demonstration by Brandy Cox on Youtube, and after I turned it off I had to grab my card stock and stamps and get to work making my own version.  You can find Brandy's fantastic Butterfly video at this link.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics Photopolymer Stamp set, Painted Petals and Gorgeous Grunge
Card Stock:  Whisper White and Night of Navy
Ink:  Hello Honey, Mossey Meadow, Night of Navy
Accessories:  Butterfly Basics Dies, Basic Rhinestones, Acrylic Blocks for stamps, 20" of sheer ribbon, 6 x 5 1/2" box, six Whisper White Envelopes, six cello bags, dimensionals and adhesive. 

How to Make The Cards:

1.  Cut six card bases from Whisper White card stock measuring 4 1/4 x 11. Score at 5 1/2".  
2.  Stamp a collage on the card front as follows:

• Stamp the leaf image from Butterfly Basics in Mossey Meadow ink, towards the center top of the card. Stamp the first leaf image then keeping the stem in place move the leaf slightly to the left and stamp and then move the leaf to the right of the main leaf and stamp again.  The stems should stay tightly together and the stamped off leaf will create a shadow effect. Note:  Using the photopolymer stamp set made the leaf positioning super easy as you could see what you were doing throughout the process. 
• Next ink up the honey comb image from Butterfly Basics in Hello Honey ink and stamp the image starting in the top right hand corner of the card front. Re-ink the stamp and stamp the image three more times moving the stamp downwards across the leaf each time it's stamped.  Try to keep the edges of the image just touching. 
• Using Night of Navy ink and the speckled dots image from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, stamp dots lightly and sparingly over the leaf and honeycomb areas.   
• Stamp the postage time stamp from Butterfly Basics in Night of Navy ink beside the leaf stems on the right hand side.
• Stamp the "thank you" sentiment from the Painted Petals stamp set on the bottom left hand area of the card front using Mossey Meadow ink.  
• On a scrap piece of paper stamp six of the lacey butterfly images from the Butterfly Basics stamp set in Night of Navy ink.  Cut these images out using the coordinating die cut.  Attach one of the butterflies with dimensionals beside the leaf images.  
• Add a large Basic Rhinestone to the center of the butterfly image and then scatter some various sized rhinestones around the card face.  I used six rhinestones on each card front.  

I had already packaged up this gift set - three cards and three envelopes in each cello bag, and then realized I should have taken some photographs, so it's hard to see some of the details on these cards.  

3.  Inside of the Card:

• Stamp the "You're Amazing, Amazing" image from Painted Petals in Mossey Meadow ink towards the top center of the inside of the card.
• Stamp the leaf image on the right hand side of the card.  I only used the top portion of the leaf and angled it onto the card stock and then shadow stamped it once.  
• Stamp the butterfly image in Night of Navy Ink towards the bottom of the leaf on the right hand side
• Stamp some speckles with the Gorgeous Grunge speckled stamp image in Night of Navy. 

4.  Envelopes:

• I made six white envelopes using my Envelope Punch Board.  I did not use Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White card stock for this because it's a little too heavy for envelopes, however I did use a 60lb weight card stock I'd purchased elsewhere.
• I stamped the leaf and the postage seal stamps on the bottom left hand corner of the envelopes, repeating the pattern from the card fronts.  
• I stamped the butterfly image on the envelope flap on the back of th e card in Night of Navy.

By simply repeating the same pattern as the cards you give an idea of what's to come when you open the envelope.  

5.  Card Box: 

I could have made a box to go along with these cards, however I had a white cardboard jewelry box left over from Christmas that was just the right size to hold the six cards and envelopes.  I decorated it as follows:

• I cut a 6 18" x 5 3/4" piece of Night of Navy card stock and glued it to the box top.  
• I re-stamped a piece of Whisper White card stock with the same images as the card front and adhered this to the Night of Navy card stock.
• I cut two butterfly images out and adhered them to the top right and bottom left of the card box top.  I added large Basic Rhinestones to the centers of the butterflies and some additional rhinestones scattered around the design.
• A sheer ribbon was added to hold the box together.  And, voila it was done! 

Here you can see the open box lid and the cards tucked inside.  

I hope you enjoyed these cards,  I absolutely loved them and plan on stamping a lot more of these to have on hand for gifts.  A special thanks again to Brandy Cox for her video tutorial and inspiration.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens 

The Creative Blog Hop

Today, thanks to Heidi Weaver of the blog Stampin Along With Heidi,I am posting as part of a very unique one-time only blog hop.  

Heidi nominated me to play along with the "Creative Blog Hop" and I have to say I was thrilled to accept her invitation. Why?  Well, there are a couple of reasons.  My main one was that Heidi has long been one of my Canadian "stamping idols". Seriously, she is just so uber creative and is always busy on some project that catches my eye! The second reason is that it was a one-time-only commitment. In and out so to speak and I find that awesome. So thanks Heidi, it's a real pleasure to accept your nomination!  

My Project This Week:
As a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I earned a free stamp set called Painted Petals, when I attended the recent launch of the Spring Occasions Catalogue and Sale-A-Bration flyer.  After using this fantastic set I can honestly say I would have bought it............... it's just the best!  So today I'm going to share with you some of the projects I've made using this 13 piece set.  I hope you love these as much as I do.  

I'm disappointed this picture doesn't show the additional score lines (see step one) on the night of navy card stock.  They really add an extra  "wow"  and super finished look to this card.  

I made this card for a shoe box swap I participated in last week, and it was very well received.  Everyone commented that although it was a quick and easy card to stamp and assemble they thought it had great appeal.  

I have to admit that I had a bit of trouble positioning some of the leaves and petals with my clear mount set, but with a little practice things came together really well. No brushes are required to achieve an amazing watercolour effect, just the ink pad, and because there are 13 stamps in the set, you get lots of versatility in choosing which stamps to stamp with.

Painted Petals You’re Amazing Thank You Card
Stamp Sets:   Gorgeous Grunge, Painted Petals
Ink:   Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow, Night of Navy
Card Stock:   Whisper White, Night of Navy, Lost Lagoon
Accessories: Lost Lagoon 3/8” Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Lovely Lace Embossing Folder, Big Shot,  Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Assembly: 
1. Cut card base from Night of Navy card stock. Score at 4 ¼”, 4 ½”, 4 5/8”, 8 2/8”, and 8 3/8” with Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  Note:  The additional score lines add a really nice effect on the face of your card.2. Cut a piece of Whisper White to 5 ¼ x 3 ½” a. Emboss with the Lovely Lace embossing folder.

b. Use the speckled stamp from Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and Lost Lagoon ink to lightly add random speckles

c. Attach a 5 ¼” piece of ribbon to the left hand side leaving a 1” margin. Attach to the back of the Whisper White card stock with sticky strip or tape. Attach bow to ribbon with glue dots. 

d. Use sticky strip to adhere this piece to the front of the card base. Line it up with the scored lines and center. 3. Cut a 3 x 3” piece of Whisper White card stock. a. Stamp speckles with Gorgeous Grunge stamp set for back ground effect. b. Stamp “You Are Amazing” sentiment from Painted Petals in Mossy Meadow inkc. Stamp leaves in Mossy Meadow ink 

d. Stamp flowers in Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy and add pearls to three flower centers.

4. Cut a piece of 3 1/8” x 3 1/8” Lost Lagoon card stock and adhere to the Whisper White stamped piece

The water colour effect in this stamp set is amazing.  Beautiful images with very little effort. 

5. Cut a piece of 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” Night of Navy and adhere the previous two layers to it. Adhere with dimensionals to the right hand side of the Whisper White layer. 6. To finish the inside cut a 5 x 3 ¾” piece of Whisper White card stock. a. Stamp “Thank You” sentiment in center in Mossy Meadow 

b. Stamp the dotted border stamp from Painted Petals in Lost Lagoon ink across the bottom

c. Adhere this piece with sticky strip (only at the top) to the inside of the card.
Voila! You’re Done

Some Additional Projects with this Set:

The Lovely Lace Embossing Folder is so beautiful and there is just so much detail in it.  It's one of my new favourites!

I love the colour mix in this card. I used Hello Honey, Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy.  I've combined Painted Petals with the Butterfly Basics set and they worked well together. 

I'm still working on this card and will be doing a tutorial later on, but I just thought I'd share it here. This is a very simple pop up card that's a lot of fun to make.  

Just Answer the Questions:
As a participant in the Creative Blog Hop I was asked to answer the following four questions:

1)  What are you working on now?  My stamp space is currently cluttered with about 6 different projects.  I'm working on my customer appreciation "thank you" cards and outlines for my spring schedule of classes and stamp clubs and I have a few pop up cards in the making for up coming birthdays.

2) How does your work differ from others in your genre?  I really love vintage style.  I know a lot of stampers who think vintage is passe but for me it rocks.  I'm at my most creative when I'm working with flowers, lace and bows. Soft subtle colours like crumb cake, blushing bride and very vanilla along with basic pearls and taffeta ribbon, really work for me.  Oh and another thing, I like layers, lots and lots of layers. I'm also a sponge addict and love to sponge and distress everything to achieve the look I want. White space and clean and simple terrify me....actually CAS (clean & simple) isn't even in my vocabulary! 

3) Why do you create what you do?  I never felt talented enough to be an artist in the traditional sense but I sought out a variety of arts and crafts over the years in search of something that would fulfill my longing to make beautiful things. I taught myself calligraphy, knitting, crocheting, and every form of stitchery imaginable, and when, quite by accident, I found stamping, it was like my creative world exploded.  I'd finally found a niche where I could be creative and indulge my passion for art work but on a small and timely scale.  I can honestly say paper crafting and sharing what I love has brought me endless hours of joy and happiness. 

4) How does your creativity work?  Oh this is a tough question for me. You see, I'm one of the world's biggest procrastinators, and I have a lot of difficulty making time to stamp. Sometimes it's almost like I'm afraid to take out my stamps and ink them up, which is silly because every waking moment I'm thinking about projects and stamping.  So I think to answer this truthfully, for me the mood has to be absolutely just right, and my Mojo definitely has to be working.  But, when all the stars and planets align, look out because there's nothing that can stop me.  I've been known to jump out of bed in the middle of the night, much to my husband's surprise and consternation, so I can get an idea down on paper, or try something different.  And, I usually don't sleep until it's done, so I'm the epitome of the "late night stamper". 

Inspiration is every where for me and I love to experiment and try new techniques and to demonstrate what I've learned to anyone who wants to learn something new.  

My Nominees For Next Week's Creative Blog Hop:  
And now it's my turn to nominate two great stampers who'll post next Monday February 9th on the Creative Blog Hop. My first nominee is Karen Gilbert from Kamloops, BC. Karen is an incredibly talented stamper who posts videos and tutorials galore on her wonderful blog Simply Said With Karen.  Karen also sends out a fantastic monthly newsletter that's full of tips and information. Although we've never met in person, I feel like I know her from all our on-line communications and I'm happy to to call her a friend.  Please drop by Karen's blog and check out all her wonderful projects and leave her some comments. 

My second nominee is Carol Held from Ontario Canada. Carol's blog Stampin Ribbons is chalk full of ideas.  She is the queen of stamping and crafting videos and produces them prolifically   I know you'll enjoy Carol's projects as much as I do, and hope you'll visit her site and leave her a comment or two.  You won't be sorry.  
Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens