Fabric Butterflies

What a nice challenge we have this week at The Paper Players! "Play with fabrics" is the theme, and SU! has such a nice selection of fabrics. Our fabrics match with our Designer Series Papers, so you can make the card with any fabric and use the paper that matches.
Today I was inspired by a card designed by Andrea Amu that I saw in Cards Magazine. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! Enjoy!

NOTE: First, I ironed the fabric adhesive onto the fabric so that it could have enough body to die cut it with the Big Shot. I then peeled off the transfer sheet and ironed the cut fabric on the card.

To create the butterfly on the fabric, I die cut a butterfly on the Big Shot to use as a stencil. I then used daubers and daubed around the stencil with Not Quite Navy and a touch of Rose Red.

Finally, to get the wrinkles on the cardstock, I sprayed it with water, crumpled it up and smoothed it back out. Once it dried, I glued it onto the fabric.



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Cardstock: Very Vanilla (101650), Crumb Cake (120953)
Fabric: Springtime Vintage (121817)
Stamp Sets: Something To Celebrate (W 121897, C 121955; Hostess Level Two). Get this stamp set as your free hostess gift by hosting a workshop of at least $300 before April 30. Contact me and I will tell you how!
So Happy For You (W 121853, C 123220). For $50 spent in products you can get this stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalog!
Ink: Not Quite Navy (103008), Rose Red (101778), Pear Pizzazz (119784)
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Ribbon: Linen Thread (104199), Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding (121884), 5/8" Crochet Trim Victoria (118481), Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta (119257)
Buttons: Designer Buttons Subtles Collection (119745)
Bigz Dies: Clear Circle (114533), Beautiful Butterflies (114507)
Embosslits Die: Beautiful Wings (118138)
Tools: Big Shot (113439)
Cool Stuff: Big Shot Fabric Adhesive Roll (122194)

Bonjour-Paper Players Challenge #35

This is my first time participating in The Paper Players Challenge. I painted the three blue bands with daubers and classic inks.
This is an unusual card size for me, but I love the way it looks. It fits our Open End Whisper White Envelopes (# 107286).
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Marina Mist (119682), Night of Navy (100867), Not Quite Navy (101722)
Stamp Sets: Adorable Parc (116483, in French), Pendant Park (W 115456, C 120012)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (103008), Real Red (103133), Bashful Blue (105209), Marina Mist (119668)
Embellishments: Sending Love Brads (discontinued), Basic Pearls (119247)
Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Scallop Oval (119856), 2 x 1-3/8" Oval (119859)

Embellish Color Trends Challenge

This is my first time participating in the Embellish Color Trends challenge. I love this challenge because I enjoy playing with colors a lot.
What would life be without colors? I cannot imagine living without them, and I don't know if this happens to you, but I feel that colors are alive. I mean this in the sense that when I see certain colors, I FEEL something. For example, my color is orange and whenever I see orange, or hues of orange such as yellows or browns, I get transported to my creative zone. I get such a feeling of fulfillment. It's interesting, isn't it? What color are you?
There is a quite interesting book called "What Color is Your Brain?" by Sheila N. Glazov. If you have the time, check it out.
I hope you like my creation. Enjoy!
NOTE: For the background, I first stamped the leaves and flowers and then I embossed.

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Cardstock: Crumb Cake (120953), Not Quite Navy (100867), Early Espresso (119686), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Elegant Soiree (117163)
Stamp Sets: Nature Walk (W 121925, C 121997), Because I Care (W 118384, C 120118; Hostess Level One). If you host a workshop of at least $150 you can get this set! Contact me and I'll tell you how.
Ink: Not Quite Navy (103008)
Markers: Not Quite Navy (100059), Early Espresso (119680)
Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (119976)
Embellishments: Vintage Flowers Adornments (121879)
Ribbon: Baja Breeze 1/2" Seam Binding (122331)
Punches: Photo Corners (119878), Two-Step Bird (117191), Two-Step Owl (118074)

Pals Paper Arts Challenge (PPA82)

This week's challenge is scallops. It doesn't matter how you use them, just play around with them in your card.
I like the design I came up with! Hope you do too!
Enjoy!

NOTE: To create the background, I used our Emboss Resist Paper from the Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper. I used the dabbers to paint the paper with Baja Breeze and voilà! The design shows up! Play with different colors and have fun. I would love to hear your comments if you try this out! The most important thing is to have fun and be creative! Don't be afraid of creating! Relax and loosen up!

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Cardstock: Sahara Sand (121043), Early Espresso (119686), Pink Pirouette (111351)
Designer Series Paper: Presto Patterns Specialty (117175), In Color Designer Series Paper Pack (Hostess Level One; host a workshop of at least $150 and you can get this pack! Contact me and I'll let you know how)
Stamp Set: You're a Gem (W 122268, C 122270)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Baja Breeze (111833)
Embellishments: Trinket Keys (121892), Vintage Flowers Adornments (121879)
Ribbon: Linen Thread (104199)
Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (119275), Scallop Edge Border (119882), Fancy Flower (118073)

Mojo Thursday (MOJO179)

Mojo Monday is Mojo Thursday for me, but it doesn't matter! As long as I post my design within the week I'm okay. Sometimes I run behind schedule and I feel bad that I can't participate, not necessarily because it's a contest but because I love to participate and share my work with others.
I hope you like my design today. To combine the colors I used the Color Coach...so useful!
Enjoy!

NOTE: To make the flower, I punched four flowers with the 5 Petal Flower Punch: two in Rose Red and two in Designers Series Paper. I used the technique of breaking the fiber of the paper and pulling apart the paper, creating two flowers out of one. Click here to read my explanation of the technique (I did NOT wet these flowers). Finally, I crunched out the flowers and glued the petals together with the Mini Glue Dots.
To give the embossed paper greater depth, I inked the embossing folder with Old Olive and then put in the cardstock and embossed. This makes the dented area darker than the prominent one, thus creating the illusion of greater depth.

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Cardstock: Very Vanilla (101650), Not Quite Navy (101722), River Rock (108640), Rose Red (102544)
Designer Series Paper: Sweet & Sour Specialty (117390)
Stamp Sets: Something To Celebrate (W 121897, C 121955; Level Two Hostess). This stamp is only available in the Mini Catalog as your free hostess product choice by hosting a workshop of at least $300 before April 30, 2011!
Ink: Not Quite Navy (102977), Old Olive (102277)
Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (119976)
Embellishments: Flower Designer Brads (112579), Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Punches: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (118874), 2-1/2" Circle (120906), Pinking Hearts Border (117649), 5 Petal Flower (119880)
Cool Stuff: Paper Piercing Tool (116631), Mini Glue Dots (103683)

Estoy Tan Feliz Por Ti

The sentiment on this card translates to: "I'm so happy for you."
Hope you like it! Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Real Red (102544), River Rock (108640), Very Vanilla (101650)
Stamp Set: Me Alegro Por Ti (W 123260, C 123262) --> To win this Stamp Set, you need to spend $50 or more in SU! products. Contact me if you want to know more!
Ink: Rose Red (101778), River Rock (109010)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247)
Ribbon: Melon Mambo Pom Pom Trim (123322), Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding (121884)
Punches: Fancy Flower (118073), 1-3/8" Circle (119860)

Flowers for a Birthday

Here's a birthday card with a vintage twist.

NOTE: I cut some of the flowers out of the paper and I popped them with dimensionals. Then I added some rhinestones in the center of the flowers. I thought this made the card "pop."
Ruffle the ribbon: this is the same technique I explained on Thursday. Click here to see it!

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Cardstock: Always Artichoke (105119), Baja Breeze (111352), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Springtime Vintage (121782)
Stamp Set: Pensandolo Bien (120735, Hostess Level One)
Ink: Always Artichoke (105219)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247), Basic Rhinestones (119246)
Ribbon: Marina Mist 3/8" Taffeta (119965)
Cool stuff: Mini Library Clips (109857)

Buttons and Bows

Buttons, buttons, buttons! What a nice touch they give the card. It looks like they bring it to life!
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Very Vanilla (101650), Melon Mambo (115320), Daffodil Delight (119683), Old Olive (100702), Night of Navy (100867)
Stamp Sets: Gracias Por Preocuparte (W 122393, C 122395), Bold Blossom (W 123232, C 122232)
Ink: Old Olive (102277), Night of Navy (102977)
Ribbon: Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta (119254)
Buttons: Springtime Vintage (121817)
Punches: 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval (119855), Scallop Oval (119856)
Embosslits Die: Beautiful Wings (118138)

Feliz Dia de la Madre

There is no word to express how unique a mother is. Don't you think so?
So to try to convey that in a card, there are not enough embellishments to add to make the card as unique as mothers are.
To all of you who are mothers, I send you all the blessings you deserve.
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Wild Wasabi (108641), Rose Red (102544), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Springtime Vintage (121782)
Stamp Sets: Algo Para Celebrar (122390), Clearly For You (W 121911, C 121976)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Marker: Soft Suede (120973) (use with Spritzer)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247), Vintage Flower Adornments (121879)
Ribbon: Rose Red 1/2" Seam Binding (121884)
Punches: 2" x 1-3/8" Oval (119859), Two-Step Bird (117191), Decorative Label (120907)
Cool Stuff: Color Spritzer Tool (107066)

NOTE: To ruffle the seam binding ribbon, try to find a thread in the middle of the ribbon and pull on it to ruffle the ribbon.

Pesame

I never have  a sympathy card ready to hand out for those special occasions. I created this card for Leadership and I got the design from our Idea Book and Catalog 2010-2011.
There aren't many designs for sympathy cards out there, so here you have one. Even though it takes a little bit of work to make, it's worth it to give out if someone is going through a hard time.
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Marina Mist (119682), Sahara Sand (121043), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Botanical Gazette (121783)
Stamp Set: Gracias Por Preocuparte (W 122393, C 122395)
Ink: Soft Suede (115657)
Markers: Marina Mist (119679)
Embossing Folder: Framed Tulips (121809)
Embellishments: Trinket Keys (121892), Basic Pearls (119247)
Ribbon: Linen Thread (104199)
Punches: 2-1/2" Circle (120906), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Real Red (102482), Pretty in Pink (100459), Basic Gray (121044), Shimmery White (101910), White Vellum Paper (101839), Whisper White (100730)
Stamp Sets: XOXO (W 121909, C 121973), Valentine Defined (W 122458, C 122460), Filled With Love (121154)
Ink: Real Red (103133)
Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (119976)
Embellishments: Basic Pearls (119247)
Punches: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (119275)

Valentine For Him and For Her

This is the third masculine card I designed (the one on the right). Again, I played with only four colors and I didn't add any embellishments.
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Basic Gray (121044), Basic Black (121045), Whisper White (100730), Real Red (102482)
Designer Series Paper: Red Glimmer Paper (121790), Patterns Love (124156)
Stamp Sets: XOXO (W 121909, C 121973), Valentine Defined (W 122458, C 122460)
Ink: Real Red (103133), Basic Black (101179)
Embellishments: Trinket Keys (121892)
Ribbon: Real Red 1/8" Taffeta (119251)
Punches: Spiral Border (119872), 1-3/8" Circle (119860), 1-1/4" Circle (119861), Heart to Heart (119881), Small Heart (117193)
Tools: Big Shot (113439)
Cool stuff: Heart Pressed Letterpress Plate (121814), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Valentine For Him

This is another masculine card I crated with my friend Gisela.
As you can see, I used only four colors: One dark color (Basic Black), two neutral colors (Basic Gray and Whisper White), and a color to make the card "pop" (Real Red).
The base of the card could have been in black, and in that case there would only have been three colors. Go to my post from yesterday to understand exactly what I'm talking about :)
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Basic Gray (121044), Whisper White (100730), Real Red (102482), Basic Black (101179)
Stamp Sets: XOXO (W 121909, C 121973), Valentine Defined (W 121941, C 123057)
Ink: Real Red (103133), Basic Gray (109120), Basic Black (101179)
Ribbon: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain (109052)
Punches: Spiral Border (119872), 1-1/4" Circle (119861), 1-3/8" Circle (119860)
Tools: Heart Pressed Letterpress Plate (121814)
Cool stuff: Sponge Daubers (102892)

Feliz Dia del Padre

This is a very simple card but very masculine. Masculine designs are not so many, so I tried to concentrate on creating a card with a masculine look.
Within the next few days, I'll be posting cards "for him."
If it helps, what I can say is that cards for men are not very colorful and you should work with three or four colors tops. One of those colors should be a dark color (Basic Black, Concord Crush, Basic Gray, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Elegant Eggplant). You should also have one neutral color, such as Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, River Rock or Crumb Cake. Then you can pick a color to make the card pop (use the Color Wheel to pick colors that match the others). Hope this helps!
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), More Mustard (100946)
Designer Series Paper: DSP Paper Pack In Color (121028; Hostess Level One)
Stamp Set: Algo Para Celebrar (W 122388, C 122390)
Ink: Concord Crush (119785)
Embossing Folder: Framed Tulips (121809)
Ribbon: Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched-Poly (119266)

Lovely Flamingos

This is another card I made for Leadership with a Valentine's Day theme.
I love these flamingos, they keep me smiling.
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Crumb Cake (120953), Real Red (102482), Bashful Blue (105120), Pink Pirouette (111351), Basic Gray (121044), Whisper White (100730)
Stamp Set: Valentine Defined (W 121941, C 123057)
Rub-ons: Love Impressions (121886)
Ink: Pink Pirouette (111838), Basic Gray (109120), Real Red (103133)
Ribbon: Real Red 1/8" Taffeta (119251)
Button: Bitty Buttons (118761)
Punches: Pinking Hearts Border (117649), 2" x 1-3/8" Oval (119859)

Romantic Owls

I love owls. I don't know why, but their eyes remind me of my cat's eyes and the way he looks at me. I know cats have nothing to do with birds, but I always related owls to my cat somehow. Since I love my cat, I love owls by association, lol!
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Pacific Point (111350), Pink Pirouette (111351), Old Olive (100702)
Stamp Sets: Lleno de Amor (121745), Perfora y Decora (W 123250, C 123252)
Ink: Melon Mambo (115656), Pacific Point (111837), Basic Gray (109120)
Buttons: Bitty Buttons (118761)
Punches: Two-Step Owl (118074), Two-Step Bird (117191), Heart to Heart (119881)
Bigz Die: Scallop Circle (113468)
Cool Stuff: Silver Glass Glitter (120995), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Con Amor y Cariño

This is one of the cards I made for display at Leadership.
Follow this link to see my pictures at Leadership.
I spent a great time in Nashville with one of my best friends Teresa Giordano. Whenever I saw her taking pictures, I'd think "I should take some, too." But then when I'd go look for my camera I'd realize I had left it in the room. Oops. I guess that was the best thing, because instead of focusing on taking pictures, I just focused on everything there was to do and see. The best way to enjoy the convention is to just go. So even if you look at the pics, you can get a feel of the environment but if you'd like to be part of the Stampin' UP! family, you should save up and go and just live the experience.
Anyway, I leave you with my card.
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Night of Navy (100867), Crumb Cake (120953), Very Vanilla (101650)
Designer Series Paper: Botanical Gazette (121783; Occasions Mini)
Stamp Sets: Nature Walk (W 121925; C 121997), Gracias Por Preocuparte (122395)
Ink: Not Quite Navy (103008)
Marker: Night of Navy (100069)
Embossing Folder: Framed Tulips (121809)
Ribbon: Night of Navy 1/4" Grosgrain (109036), Linen Thread (104199)
Tools: Color Spritzer Tool (107066)
Cool stuff: Beveled Windowpanes (121881; Occasions Mini)

Dia de la Amistad

Here's a cute Valentine's Day card I displayed at Leadership. The sentiment means "Day of Friendship," but you can substitute it for something more romantic if you like.
Enjoy!

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Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Pretty in Pink (100459), Real Red (102482)
Stamp Set: Valentine Defined (W 121941, C 123057), XOXO (W 121909, C 121973), Lleno de Amor (121745; Occasions Mini)
Ink: Real Red (103133)
Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (117335)
Ribbon: Basic Gray 5/8" Satin (discontinued; but you can use the same ribbon in Basic Black (117285) and it will look nice also)
Buttons: Bitty Buttons (118761)
Punches: Full Heart (119883), Heart to Heart (119881), 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval (119863)

Fabric Flowers Tutorial

I showed these flowers at Leadership and I received a lot of positive feedback. So, I decided to post a tutorial so you can learn how to make them. They look great and you can use them as hair pieces, clip-ons, or a card decoration (or anything you like really).
I used the Springtime Vintage and Sweet Stitches Designer Fabrics (121817 and 121818 respectively), the Vintage Flowers Adornments (121879), Fabric Designer Brads (121880) and the Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die (133469).
To make the flowers, you will also need:

-Big Shot
-Hot glue gun
-Sewing needle, neutral colored thread, thimble
-A pin or clip (optional)

1. Cut out 9 scallop circles with the Big Shot.

2. Fold the circles in half, then again in half as shown.

3. Fold the top of the quarter circle as shown.

It should look like this.

4. Thread a sewing needle and pass it through the folded top of your quarter circle. Pass it through several times to close off and secure the top. Make sure to use a thimble! After you're done, you should have your first petal!

5. Repeat step #4 on all the remaining scallop circles.

6. Once you've finished making all the petals, thread the needle once again and join all the petals. Pass the needle through the top of each petal once and arrange them in a circle. Make sure to pass the thread as close to the top as possible so you can get a tight arrangement. Once you've threaded all the petals, you can close off the flower by passing the needle through the first petal once again and making a knot.

7. Using a hot glue gun, attach the flower adornment or brad to the center of the flower as shown.

8. To seal off the back of the flower, attach a circular piece of fabric using a hot glue gun as shown. You can then attach a pin or clip if you'd like with the hot glue gun.

9. Et voilà! You're done! Your flower should now look like this. Experiment using different buttons, brads, fabrics, and different scallop diameters (so you can have small and big petals, for instance).