All Things Red, White, and Blue

Independence Day is a little less than a week away so I decided I'd better get this post put together before the big day has come and gone! I've been having a ball creating all kinds of fun patriotic themed gifts and tags to give to a few ladies in the neighborhood! I made earrings, baskets, key wristlets, and tags! You can read more about the details of the sewn projects HERE. 

Up first are the tags that I created to add to the ribbon when I tie everything up! I'm putting the fabric baskets in larger cellophane bags and tying them up with ribbon, and a tag is always just the cherry on top!

I bought a bunch of things from Bath and Body Works included in their patriotic line this year and I just love the gingham, so that was the beginning point for these tags. The recipients will also be getting the cards I made for the Star Spangled Summer release from The Greetery. 

Here is another shot of my inspiration 

To begin these tags, I used the A2 Stitched Scallops Die and cut the smallest size from white cardstock. I added the gingham detailing by using the Scalloped Gingham Stencil; I love that it comes with stencils for all three sizes of the Die. Once that was done, I die cut the pieces I would need for the sentiment using the Land of Liberty Die from white cardstock. I did some gradient stamping with the Land of Liberty Stamp Set.

The flowers were made using the Bitty Botanicals Stamp + Stencil and then cut using the Bitty Botanicals Die. I added the dot to the flower centers using a journaling pen and then added details using colored pencils if applicable. This was the perfect floral addition to keep in theme with the cards. I just made a simple tag shape from Pure Poppy cardstock and then added the twine through the hole.

I had leftover fabric from the baskets, so I decided to make a few key wristlets using my updated tutorial.

I also got some new labels; as much as I love the P.S I Love You labels I have used in the past, they aren't always pertinent to the project. I loved them for Valentine's Day, but I wanted something a little bit different for these.

I made some patriotic earrings a few years ago and I wanted to make a few more to tuck in these baskets. I came here searching for the post with the old ones to remember the colors and faux leather I used, only to discover they were still on my camera roll from 2020! Woops! These are the new ones I made, but I will also be sharing the 2020 ones today, too! ha ha!

It looks like Taylored Expressions doesn't sell the Designer Dangles Dies anymore, but if you have them in your stash, that is what I used!

I bought all of my faux leather from an Etsy retailer called The Art of Fabric Folding. 

I bought the handmade labels forever ago at Hobby Lobby and I'm almost out; I'll have to see if they still make them.

These are the ones I made back in 2020.

I made 4 baskets in total, but only three key wristlets because one of my friends already got one from me and she also doesn't wear earrings. 

Here is a little peek at the basket all stuffed and ready to be wrapped along with THIS card that I just love! It is perfect for the baskets!

A quick shot of one of the baskets all tied up and ready to go! 

Here is what I put in each of the baskets, with the exception of the one I talked about earlier. 

I have a tutorial for these baskets that you can find HERE. I haven't made one in so long I actually need to follow my own tutorial! ha ha!

Well, that's all for today! I hope you all have a fun and safe Independence Day! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Happily Ever After

Just popping in to share another wedding card using leftover bits and pieces. I've decided that this will be the last one I share, because I'm not super thrilled with the 4th card. With each subsequent card, I was having a harder time trying to come up with an arrangement that looked cohesive and full. I created (and used) so many flowers from the Into the Blooms: Wild Wood Die Collection, but inevitably, I still had some leftover!

Once again, I used a few leftover Rosemary Sprigs, but this time WITH the berries: I colored them using ink and then added some glaze over the top for additional detail. 

The sentiment, which is from the Forever and Always Stamp Set, is heat embossed in gold and then cut using the Forever and Always Die. I layered it on a piece of Harvest Gold cardstock that was cut using the Reflections: Numbers 6 Die and then arranged the flowers on the right side using liquid glue and foam squares. 

The background was created using an embossing folder that was included with my Gemini Jr. machine and it has been my go-to for many of my sympathy cards. I love how it looks with this wedding design and it's such a quick way to add detail, texture, and dimension.

This particular embossing folder is smaller than an A2 card, so I cut it down to measure 3 3/4 by 5 inches and added it to a top-folding A2 card base using foam squares. 

This card also got a spritz or two of shimmer spray for sparkle and shine! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Wedding Congratulations

As promised, I'm back today sharing another one of my "use it up" projects, and yes, another wedding card! Although, I could definitely use this for an anniversary as well since it just has a generic congratulations sentiment. This card might look familiar; I had many of the same elements leftover from THIS card, but I thought it would work great for a wedding card as well.

The flowers are from the Into the Blooms: Anemones Die and are cut from white cardstock and the centers are cut from gold. I just can't seem to stop with the gold centers and to be honest, I don't really want to! ha ha!

I had some leftover Rosemary Sprigs after I made THESE cards, but rather than add the berries, I used some leftover flowers from the Into the Blooms: Wild Wood Die .

The anchor point for this card is cut using the Love to Layer: Garnished Edges Die. I really like this particular die set because of the beautiful edges and pierced details. 

The sentiment, which is from the Forever and Always Stamp Set, is heat embossed using gold powder on a strip of vellum and wrapped around the Lilac Grace background panel. I added a few gems to the anemone flower centers, added a spritz of shimmer spray and added it to a top-folding A2 card base using liquid glue. I'll be back in a few days to share the third card in my use it up series, so stay tuned! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Celebrate the Happy Couple

Hello friends! I'm popping in today to share a card made using lots of leftover pieces from my most recent projects. I ended up making four cards and two tags, but I am only going to share the 4 cards over the next week or so. My wedding card stash is dismal, so all of the cards were made for weddings. I never would have thought to make a lemon-themed wedding card, but now I'm really excited to put together a lemon-themed gift basket as a gift when I use this card! ha ha!

I had a few background panels already made using the Fall Harvest Hot Foil Plate. I have found that this particular plate doesn't really scream autumn, so I have been using it year-round for all kinds of cards! That being said, and I know I have  mentioned it before, but I would love a generic leafy/floral frame. I did use a corner rounder punch to round the corners.

When I made my lemon blossom card for the release, I had one lemon left over and I doubted I could pull off a card with only ONE lemon, but I feel like it works and looks balanced. I die cut the pieces using the Into the Blooms: Lemon Blossom Die from white cardstock and then used dye inks and blender brushes to color the pieces. I had the anchor panel that was die cut using the Love to Layer: Scalloped Oval Die all ready to go, so I arranged the lemons, blossoms, and leaves until I was satisfied with the arrangement.

The sentiment is die cut using the This is Big Sentiments: Celebrate Die from white cardstock and then did an ombre look with the stamping using the This is Big Sentiments: Celebrate Stamp Set. I heat embossed the companion portion of the sentiment using gold powder to tie in the foiled background. I added a trio of sparkling clear sequins and then added the entire background panel to a top-folding A2 card base using foam squares. I generally don't shy away from bulk when creating wedding cards because I never mail them, but rather attach them to the gift or add a gift card for hand-delivery. I gave the card a good spritz of shimmer spray and then added a sentiment to the inside. Each time my daughter uses one of my handmade cards, she gets distraught if there isn't an inside sentiment.  If I include one, it means she doesn't have to think of as many things to write on the inside! ha ha! 

As I mentioned earlier, I have three other cards to share and I hope you like yellow, because the majority have yellow on them! ha ha! When you're using up what you have, things like that just happen! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

Project Inspiration {Hello Sweet Sunshine}

Hello friends! It's my turn for this week's Project Inspiration feature for Papertrey Ink. I'll be sharing step-by-step photos and instructions.

I usually make at least one strawberry-themed card during the spring/summer and this is the first one for 2025. 

To begin, I used the Watercolor Plaid Stencil Collection using Pure Poppy ink to create the background. I trimmed it to 3 by 5 1/4 inches, used a corner rounder punch and then mounted it to a top-folding A2 card base using foam squares. 

Next, I used the Simple Stitch Crochet-Small Stencil Collection using Mint Julep ink on Mint Julep cardstock. I cut it using the middle size included in the Love to Layer: Scalloped Ovals Die. I added it to the background using foam squares.

I die cut the circle from white cardstock using the Love to Layer: Scalloped Circles Die and added it to the center of the mint piece using foam squares.

 I used the Sweet Celebration Die to cut all of the leaves, berries, and flowers from white cardstock. I used blender brushes and ink to color all of the pieces. I added them to the card using both liquid glue and foam squares.

The sentiment, which is from the Just Sentiments: Summer Mini Stamp Set, is heat embossed in gold onto a strip of Berry Sorbet cardstock and then adhered using foam squares.

I did give the flowers and leaves a spritz of shimmer spray before I added them, but forgot to mention that earlier. I added a trio of sparkling clear sequins using liquid glue.

In just six easy steps, the card is complete!

Some additional tips and details about this card: I always like to use a foam mat and a stylus to give dimension to the flowers I add to my cards. 

The smallest flowers have pink pearls in the centers for some added detail and interest.

Well, that wraps things up for today! Thanks for fluttering by!

 

The Greetery {Congrats! You're Amazing!}

 

Hello and welcome, friends! Today I'm sharing a pair of congratulatory cards using some of the beautiful new products from The Greetery included in the Star Spangled Summer Collection paired with some previously released stamps/dies from the Jubilee Collection! I had saved a cute illustration using a trophy cup but didn’t feel I could execute the same look with the available products, but all that changed when the Star Stream suite of products made their debut! I couldn’t wait to get started; let me tell you how I created the pair!

To begin, I used the beautiful new Star Stream Hot Foil on an A2 panel of Gray Kraft and Vintage Cream cardstock using champagne foil.  Once that was done, I used the Star Stream 3D Embossing Folder on both panels! Your die cutting machine should have instructions on how to build the correct “sandwich” for this type of embossing folder. The embossing folder is clear so it makes it easy to line the stars up for precision.

I spritzed both panels with shimmer spray (I’m definitely back in my shimmer spray era) and set them aside to dry. I used the World's Greatest Die to cut the two trophy cups from Antique Gold cardstock. I also heat embossed the two sentiments, which are included in the World's Greatest Sentiments Stamp Se , on the same cardstock using gold embossing powder and then cut them using the World's Greatest Sentiments Die . I attached them to the cups using small strips of foam tape.

I die cut the foliage using the Rosemary and Berry Die from white cardstock and then colored them using twisted citron, mowed lawn, and rustic wilderness distress oxide ink and finger sponge daubers. I also cut the berries, but quickly realized that the stars would be much cuter! The stars are left over from the centers of the stars tucked in the cups using the Star Struck Die. I simply glued them to the “bulbs” where the berries should go using liquid glue. I also gave a few of them a gem for added sparkle and detail.

Once that was all done, it was time to assemble the cards! I trimmed the foiled panels to measure 4 by 5 ¼ inches and attached them to their bases with foam squares: Antique Gold for the Gray Kraft panel and Gray Kraft for the Vintage Cream panel. The trophy cups hide the large star on the panel perfectly and then I added the foliage using small strips of foam squares, like I mentioned earlier; same goes for the stars tucked into the cups.

I had so much fun bringing this idea to life; it was one of those things that I kept thinking about and then the Star Spangled Summer Collection made it a reality! For the past few months, I haven’t been organizing the new cards I make very well and my stash had gotten pretty out of control. I took some time the other day to get it back where it needed to be and in doing so, I noticed the “congrats/well done” section was quite lacking. It’s nice to have gender neutral cards like this on hand for all sorts of occasions that would warrant it; retirement, accomplishments other than graduation (although these would work for that, too), recitals, performances, etc. I hope the pairing of these two collections has sparked some of your own ideas! Thanks for fluttering by!