Masculine Birthday

Greetings!  I am popping in very quickly to share a masculine birthday card I made for a family friend. It is very simple and I utilized some mosaic tiles I found on clearance at Michael’s along with a quote from a Studio G clear stamp set. I am submitting this card to this week's CASual Friday challenge to:
CFC77-Create a new Clean And Simple masculine project.

Thanks for dropping by!

Stay inspired,
Sabrina

Pleasant Poppies (2)

Hi there! I’m back for a second posting this week. This card is actually very similar to my last post in terms of materials and colors but with a different layout. This card is also a sympathy card for yet another friend who has recently experienced a loss (the third such event in the last few weeks). Again, the sentiment could easily be changed to something else. I am also submitting this card to the current CASual Friday challenge: CFC76: Create a Clean And Simple project using Kraft. 

That’s all for now--thanks so much for stopping by!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

Pleasant Poppies (1)

Hello!  I hope everyone is well--especially those who were in the path of the hurricane the last few days.  Super storm Sandy packed quite a punch! The area where I reside fortunately did not see catastrophic damage like areas both north and south of the region that were hit pretty hard and are still affected by flooding. My prayers go out to all those who have experienced loss due to this storm.

Today’s blog post is another “all Stampin’ Up!” card. I’ve had a little time lately to play with some new goodies that I recently received. This card is actually a sympathy card that I made for a friend but the sentiment could easily be changed to something else. The color scheme was intentionally made to be masculine. The kraft in the color scheme happened to fit the theme for this week’s CASual Friday challenge so I am submitting it to: CFC76: Create a Clean And Simple project using Kraft.  Thanks for dropping by!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

I've Got Heart

Hi!  I’m here this week with a card that I am submitting to a challenge: CASual Fridays CFC74: Create a Clean And Simple project with a heart.  I got a little carried away with the texture on this design so I’m not sure it’s still considered “clean & simple”.  I used quite a bit of tone-on-tone so hopefully that helps to present a cleaner appearance. The heat embossed background panel is the first layer of texture. The heart is actually made from two die cuts that are designed to layer (I love using the Memory Box dies).  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

Stylish Happy Birthday

Hi there!

I’m back this week with a card I made for a dear friend for her birthday yesterday (Sunday). I decided to submit this card to the CASual Fridays challenge since this card certainly fits the challenge for the week:  CFC73:  For The Girls-Create a Clean And Simple card that celebrates the women in your life. I admire my friend for her strength, determination and her sense of style. I couldn’t help but use my old (and I believe retired) paper doll dies from Quickutz to wish her a "happy birthday". I gave the doll a sparkly top and a bit of "shine" on the doll's accessories (glitter/silver heat embossing). The papers I used are from Stampin’ Up! and I also used a Stampin’ Up! embossing folder (Adorning Accents) for the edge detail. I love using the paper doll die set because it is so versatile. You can see another card that I posted earlier in the year using the same paper doll die set HERE.

Thanks for dropping by!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

Welcome, Autumn!

Hello and happy Fall!


My favorite time of year! I enjoy the beauty of the colorful leaves, the cool mornings and evenings and, yes, the return of football season. :-)

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to play in a challenge and I’m happy that I had time to play this week. All of the cards in this post fit the fun theme for this week’s CAS-ual Fridays challenge to create a CAS (clean and simple) design inspired by autumn (CFC71). The design for the third card below was made for last Wednesday's Splitcoast Stampers challenge sketch (SC403). I used alcohol inks to create some of the background and accent papers and plain metal accents for the sketch challenge card. I also used distress inks to color in the leaf images and a combination of distress inks and alcohol inks to color in the die cut pear.

Thanks for looking!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

         

Square Birthday

Hi!

I’m here with a post that I submitted to the CASual Fridays Challenge CFC65.  The challenge is to create a clean & simple square card.  I’m not sure how clean and simple my card is but I thought I would submit it anyway. My card is based on a technique/pattern called “the Traditional Pattern Card 1” from a book titled “The Art of Card Making” by Claire Sun-ok Choi, Lisa Kerr, and Susan Jaworski-Stranc (2005).  The technique involved overlapping triangles and trimming to create a flat, sort of patchwork design with crinkled papers and faux stitching. I strayed from the technique outlined in the book which called for using graph paper, metal ruler and an awl among other tools. I opted for simply punching squares and forming triangles from the squares. I then simply tucked the corners of the squares instead of creating an actual flat patchwork. For my cards shown below, I used the overlapping triangles to create a focal point for a masculine birthday card. The triangles were cut from patterned paper that I made with background stamps and I also used a die cut (from metal) as a centerpiece.  I’ve included photos of two different cards I made with the same copper centerpiece--I stamped a sentiment on one and I used a rub on “Happy Birthday” sentiment on the other. That’s all for now--thank you so much for looking!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

Love U...

Hi!  I’m back with a second entry for this week’s CAS-ual Friday challenge. This card is actually my first crack at the technique I did in my previous post (Love, Always & Forever) for the CFC60 challenge to use text in a clean and simple design.  The same steps are involved but I used a larger heart die and consequently more of the text can be seen. I used a QuicKutz alphabet die to cut out the “u” in the top panel.  Thanks for looking!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

Below is a closer shot of the heart with the layered die-cuts...

card details:

Paper:  white card stock, SU! Sahara Sand

Tools:  “love” dies from BossKut, Sizzix and QuicKutz, Memory Box Grand Heart die, “u” alphabet die from QuicKutz, Die-namics Solid Bracket Border die

Other:  Satin Sensations ribbon in Copper, Swarovski crystals

Love, Always & Forever: CFC60

It’s that time again--time to play the CAS-ual Fridays CAS challenge! This week's challenge (CFC60: Text Me) is to use text in a Clean and Simple card design. I knew the technique I wanted to use right away after reading the challenge description.  Since I love die-cutting (more than stamping it seems), I wanted to use die cut words in my design. I rarely use die cut words as sentiments on my card designs--it just rarely turns out the way I want. "Love" was the word that I had multiple dies for and I just didn’t have the time patience to use various fonts to cut each letter and spell out "love" over and over. I die cut the word “Love” multiple times and adhered them to paper. I then die-cut a heart from that layered "text" paper making sure that the full word was centered. Originally, the wording was all white on white but then I changed it to highlight one word once I selected gold for the stamped and embossed sentiment.

I am planning to give this card to my dear hubby for our anniversary. Next month (August), we celebrate 22 fun and blessed years of marriage! I cannot believe so much time has passed--I am truly counting my blessings for such a special mate.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

A closer view of the die-cut heart:

Card Details:

Paper:  white card stock, pearl, gold metallic

Tools:  “love” dies from BossKut, Sizzix and QuicKutz, Memory Box Cupid Heart die

Sentiment: Ditto from Studio G

Other:  Stampendous gold embossing powder, Versamark ink

Winter Wonderland (in July)--CFC59

Hello!  I have a second entry in this week’s CAS-ual Friday Challenge: CFC59: round and round.  It’s been so very hot here lately--the triple digit temperatures and high dew points make it difficult to breathe outside!  So, I’ve been staying inside, trying to "think cool thoughts" to help cope with the July heat. Christmas came to mind! This may be the earliest I have ever started my Christmas card designs. :-)  I went with a snowflake theme and found one more way to incorporate those glass micro beads that I mentioned in my recent “Pretty In Pink” post.

Thanks for visiting!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

I had a difficult time photographing this card to capture the beauty of the microbeads. I wish you could see it "in real life" to see the subtle sparkle.  Below is a close up of the focal image--a snowflake surrounded by a circular sentiment (Winter Wonderland).  

         Card details:

• Paper:  Heavy card stock base, SU! Bashful Blue, Silver paper
• Tools:  Martha Stewart Border Punch, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles (lg), Marvy Uchida circle punch
• Stamp: Unity Stamp Co. Winter Wonderland circle stamp
• Other:  Martha Stewart Holidays Clear Microbeads, Stampendous silver embossing powder, SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter

Pink Ribbon Note--CFC59

Hi there!  I am back with an entry into this week’s CAS-ual Friday challenge. The current challenge is CFC59: round and round where two circles are used in the design.

I opted to make a small note card--a 4 inch square card with my Aunt in mind. She can use this for a thank you note for one of her Avon Breast Cancer Walk supporters or use it for a small display. This card is just the right size to perch on her desktop at work. She is always looking for ways to bring about awareness of breast cancer research and the walk she does annually to raise funds and I think this may be a great little conversation starter with anyone who comes by her desk...

Here it is:

Thanks for stopping by!

Stay inspired,

Sabrina

        Card details: 

• Textured white card stock base
• SU! Sahara Sand card stock
• SU! Pink Pirouette card stock
• Die-namics Dizzy Doily Dies
• Cuttlebug Awareness Ribbon Die
• Spellbinders Standard Circles (lg & sm)

“Pretty In Pink”

Hi there!  Last week was the very first blog challenge that I entered. I must say that it was a very positive experience. Thank you to everyone who visited my blog and/or left an encouraging comment! It was just what I needed to get going and hopefully I can make this a routine when my schedule allows.

This week, I’m back with an entry for my second CAS-ual Fridays blog challenge.  The latest challenge is CFC58 “Pretty In Pink”. Pink is included in my “favorite color themes” category--I love the color and I’m always creating pink ribbon cards for breast cancer awareness. Yesterday, I made a card that has a breast cancer theme but does not incorporate the pink ribbon. It is simply a “hope” card. I did something else new in this creation, and that is to use clear glass beads over pink paper to make the pink background for the butterfly. It adds just the right amount of sparkle and texture (didn’t show through well in the still photograph but looks great in real life). Hmmmm...I wonder what else I can use these glass beads on?   Thanks for visiting!


Stay inspired,

Sabrina

        Card details:

• White textured card base
• SU! Pink Pirouette card stock (111351)
• SU! Apothecary Accents Framelits (127003)
• SU! Strength & Hope sentiment
• Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder (ES-006)
• Memory Box Vivienne Butterfly
• Martha Stewart Holidays clear microbeads