Sweet Thoughts Memories & More #FMS624

I have a new sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches  that I want to share with you today.  I'm not overly fond of the sketch, but others might find it appealing.  Here's the sketch by Kim:

Click here for the Challenge Information

Here's My Card: 

My card this week is made with the Sweet Thoughts Memories & More cards and envelopes (162931) and the Sweet Thoughts Memories and More Card pack (162930) ephemera which consists of sticker sheets, 4 x 6 cards and 50 double sided 3 x 4 cards.  

The Sweet Thoughts Memories & More Cards & Envelopes (162931) pack provides such an economical and fun way to make cards.  The kit comes with 20 cards and envelopes - 10 each of Calypso Coral and Pretty Peacock, that are a bit larger than your standard A2 card base.  And the coordinating envelopes have gorgeous floral flaps that blend Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Garden Green, Pecan Pie and Pretty Peacock.  

Having card bases and coordinating envelopes on hand, really cuts down on prep time when you want to craft.  With a little maneuvering you can actually double the amount of cards you can make from this kit by cutting the envelopes and the card bases down in size and using coordinating card bases from the colours offered.  What fun!  

And, mixing in the Sweet Thoughts and Memories & More Card Pack (162930) makes it even easier to create with.  This kit includes fifty 3 x 4 and 4 x 6 coordinating cards that you can use for layering, backgrounds or focal points, as well as 6 pages of stickers including some rose gold foil pieces.  

Both of these products are featured on page 44 of the January to April Mini catalogue.  

Well I hope you've enjoyed my post this week, and if you've never tried out a memories and more kit from any of Stampin' Ups! catalogues you may want to give them a try.  You can create so many great projects!  

Happy Stamping!

Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin' Up! Demo since 2006

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Lovely Lavender All Occasion Card #FMS623

Here is the latest sketch challenge FMS623 from Freshly Made Sketches designed  by Linda.

FMS623

Here is My Card: 

I've been meaning to create some all occasion cards or other projects with my January 2024 Paper Pumpkin (PP) kit but my mojo just wasn't working enough to actually get started.  So, when I came across this week's Freshly Made Sketch challenge that was all I needed to get inspired.  I loved the fact that I could use any shape I wanted to create the focal point, I wasn't limited to something oval. 

My card design evolved from both the sketch and the little postage square focal point that had been hanging around on my desk for a week or two.  It was perfect for tucking some of the leaves and flower images from the Paper Pumpkin kit behind.  

It started with a standard A2 size Whisper White cardstock base, followed by a 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" piece of Blackberry Bliss.

I cut one of the PP card bases in half for the dsp mat and then cut the 4" x 5 1/4" mat on an angle to form half of the card front layer. I used a second 4" x 5 1/4" Whisper White card stock piece for the bottom half of the front mat. Before layering the two pieces of the mat, I embossed the full white piece with the Layered Florals 3D embossing folder call. The dimension this embossing folder brings to the mat is so wonderful, I simply love the effect!

I added a 1/4 strip of Blackberry Bliss cardstock on an angle across the join line and snipped off the overlap.  

The focal point began with the Perennial Postage square die cut from a scrap of Blackberry Bliss cardstock.  The lavender flowers and leaf sprigs from the PP kit were glued to the back of this piece. The square of Whisper White, also a scrap was die cut with a retired Simple Shapes die cut, and the sentiment was stamped in Highland Heather ink. 

Once the focal point was adhered with dimensionals across the center of the card I added some of the beautiful Purple Fine Shimmer gems which I got with the Perennial Lavender Suite Collection on page 23 of the Mini Catalogue.  

Supplies:

Here is a list of all the supplies used to make this card. 

Stamp Sets:  Lovely Lavender January 2024 Paper Pumpkin 

Cardstock:  

• Whisper White 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" for base scored at 4 1/4"
• 2 Whisper White 4" x 5 1/4" mats for the front panel and inside and a 2" x 2" scrap for the sentiment square.
• 1 Blackberry Bliss mat 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" for card front and a 1/4" strip, and a 2 x 2" scrap for the focal mat.

Paper Pumpkin January 2024 Kit:

• One card base piece trimmed to 4" x 5 1/4" and then cut on an angle for the front mat.
• Three lavender floral pieces and one sprig of leaves in Lost Lagoon.

Accessories:

• Purple Fine Shimmer Gems
• Layered Florals 3D Embossing Folder

I hoped you enjoyed my submission to FMS623 and will check out the other submissions  Between the designers and the participants there is a bevy of card ideas.  Better yet, if you're following or thinking of following my blog why not share what you made with this sketch.  That would be fun!  

https://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com/

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens' Stampin' Spot

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin' Up! Demo

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Sending Love with Most Adored DSP

I've had a lot of fun this past week making Valentine's Day cards to send to friends and family.  For these cards I used a fancy fold called a side flap or latch card design.  I used a mixture of old and new stamps with hearts and valentine sayings as well as embossing folders.  

This is a very easy card to make and starts with a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" card base that's scored at 4 1/4".  On the right hand side of the card front trim off 1" so you have a view of the interior of the card.  Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White or any light neutral for the mat on the inside of the card.  

For my cards I used designer series papers from the Most Adored paper pack that's available for FREE during Stampin' Ups! Sale-a-bration.  

For the front panel on the card cut a piece that measures 3" x 5 1/4" and for the inside edge of the card cut a coordinating piece that measures 1" x 5 1/8".  TIP:  if you're planning on making several of these cards at one time then cut two different pattern pieces of few pieces of DSP into 3" x 12" strips, and then cut these to 3" x 5 1/4". Cut a third strip from these strips at 5 1/4" intervals for your front panel.   You're left with a 6" x 12" piece that you can cut the 1 " x 5 1/8" strips from then just mix and match patterns. 

The latch mechanism is held in place by the focal point design so you need to cut your latch to fit between the dimensionals that hold the focal point in place.  For my latch I chose to use the 2nd and 3rd largest dies from the Nested Essentials dies (#161597 pg 165 AC).  The largest die cut is on coloured cardstock and I scored it right at the center of the die from top to bottom and then moved the cutter blade over about a 1/2 " and cut the remaining cardstock off.   Burnish the fold line with your bone folder and add glue to the backside of the fold.  Line up the fold along the side edge of the base and glue down.  Once this is done you can add the inside mat and decorate.  

Supplies: 

Stamp Sets: Perennial Postage (new), Artistically Inked #154542 (Retired),

Kangaroo & Company #154502 (Retired), Love Cats (160410 Retired), Blooming Love (140640 Retired), Heartfelt Hellos (Love You More - #162964), Hearts a Flutter (#129252 Retired), 

Dies: Nested Essentials, Give it a Whirl (Small & Large Heart), Kangaroo & Company, Hearts a Flutter 
Punches:  Large Heart (Retired) 

Embossing Folders:  Layered Florals 3-D #162935 Jan-Apr Mini 

Ink: Real Red and Momento Black Ink. Flirty Flamingo
Designer Paper:  Most Adorned DSP 
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Petal Pink

Embellishments:  Flirty Flamingo and Pink Sequins, Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels (retired). 

Here are some other cards I made: 

The little hearts are from the retired Kangaroo & Company stamp set and the Hi there Valentine is from Love Cats stamp set.  the hearts are popped up on dimensionals.  Some soft pink pearlized sequins provide a bit of glam.  

I absolutely adore this little black cat which is from the retired Love Cats stamp set.  I couldn't resist using it for several of my focal points.  

In this photo you can barely see it, but I actually embossed the white part of the flap with the Falling Hearts embossing folder (retired).  The Big Hugs sentiment is from the Perennial Postage  stamp set.

This is the only one of my cards I chose to use some of the reverse side of the Most Adored DSP.  The gold and white is beautiful, but I really like it combined with Real Red to give it some punch.  The gorgeous little envelope and bubbly hearts are from the Kangaroo & Company stamp set (retired).

The Layered Florals 3D embossing folder came in handy for adding texture to these hearts.  I couldn't believe what a beautiful  impression this folder gives.  I plan to experiment with it in the coming weeks using blends.  

I hope you like my Valentine Day card sampling and it gives you some inspiration to try a different fancy fold, or make some valentine cards to share with friends and family.  I'd love to hear from you.

HAPPY STAMPING!

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin' Up! Demo

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Valentines 5x5 Card for TSOT #640 Sketch Challenge

 I came across this inspiration sketch challenge today and thought |I'd give it a try.  The challenge site is called Try a Sketch on Tuesday, and this is their current sketch which closes on February 18th, 2024.

Try A Sketch On Tuesday TSOT 640

Here is My Card:

Although the sketch shows a heart it could just as easily have been a square, or some other shape.  I used two different designs from the Most Adored Designer Series Paper (DSP) which is part of the Sale-a-bration Products you can get for FREE during the month of February. 

I also added Flirty Flamingo cardstock for the lst mat and the strip that goes across the card.  

The sketch did not include a sentiment but I chose to add "You Are Loved Beyond Measure" which is from the Perennial Postage (#162598) stamp set.  

For the inside of the card I simple used a layer of the plaid paper and added a
die cut heart from one of my old retired stamp sets.

I really like the Most Adored Paper and have made about ten Valentine's cards which I'll share with you tomorrow.  The one side of the paper has designs in traditional Valentine's colors while the reverse side is white with a variety of gold designs.  It's pretty versatile and the marbled and plaid designs could easily be used to create baby shower or wedding cards.   

I hope you liked today's card and will come back again to see the other cards I've made with this paper.  

HAPPY STAMPING! 

PENNY TOKENS STAMPIN' SPOT 

Penny Hanuszak, CDN Independent Stampin' Up! Demo

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Organization Tip for February: 

In 2024 I've decided to post some tips on a monthly basis that may help my followers organize their craft space.  Here is the first tip this year, related to recycling.  

When you look at this picture you may be wondering "What's the link between breakfast sausages and papercrafting?" Well, I found one and I'd like to share it with you today.  

To begin with, I'm fairly organized and I love to recycle and do my part to keep plastic, glass and other non organic materials out of the landfill.  Before tossing any packing materials away, I look for useful ways to repurpose them.  Here's a link to one of my posts where I made a Stampin' Spot holder out of a chocolate box.  

I buy my breakfast sausages at Walmart, and they are packed into these clear plastic holders.  After I've removed the sausages I wash up these trays in hot soapy water and they are ready to go to work in my craft space. These trays which are about 6 1/2" x 7 3/4" really work for me.  Why are the useful?  They are the:

• Perfect size for holding cut images 
• Stackable
• Easy to keep clean - just rewash in warm soapy water
• Basically they are free.

  

  This is a stack of eleven trays each holding projects I'm currently working on. 

Stackable

Great for holding blends or markers while you're working 

Perfect for holding your inks or stamps 

Great for holding all the bits and pieces of ephemera while working on a project.  

I also like these larger plastic trays when I'm working Paper Pumpkin kits.  While they do take up more storage space, they work well to keep the kit pieces separated and close at hand.  

Here is the large tray on the bottom, and I'm able to fit the smaller tray across it to hold more project pieces.  

This smaller tray is perfect for holding the stamp set, ink spot, dimensionals, and glue dots for the Paper Pumpkin kit and fits perfectly across the end of one of the larger trays. 

The larger size tray works perfectly to separate all the card parts.  

Well that's it for today's tip of the month.  Hope you find it useful.  Happy recycling! 

Happy Stamping! 

Penny Token's Stampin' Spot