April Play Day

Happy Spring! Even though today it snowed...I feel spring in the air. I have some interesting stamping techniques to show you this month. All of them are simple with fantastic results. Let me know if you particularly like any one of these cards and I will try to add it to our projects for the Saturday, April 3rd Play Day at 2 p.m. in my studio. You are all invited.

This first little 4" x 4" card was made for my good friend, Sandy, who just had her first grandchild, Logan Michael. The folding technique is really simple and highlights the little Sweet Pea Baby. A little ribbon, small bit of coloring, a punch or two and you've got it made. We always make a coordinating envelope so our cards make a grand presentation.

This is a hostess stamp set (you can get this set FREE when you host a party). The background in Bashful Blue is textured using the Big Shot. Takes two shakes. The stamp was colored with markers and stamped all at once. Makes a pretty card that could be used for many different occasions. All the 5/8" satin ribbons have been carried over in the new mini catalog coming out May 1st.

Does this card look torn to you? The envelope, too? Actually this is a masking technique that gives your card a W O W impact with very little work. The stamp set is the Vintage Vogue set, which is one of my personal favorites.  This set will not be available after March 31st. If you'd like to order it, you can go to my website at http://www.billiemoan.stampinup.net/ and have it shipped to you.  

This little card is so simple and fast, but it's so stinkin' cute, isn't it? The background polka dots are textured by running through the Big Shot. The little flower is the It's Time to Bloom stamp set in the 2009 Idea Book and Catalog. I've made it a sympathy card, but this could just as well be a b'day, or get well card.

What do you think of this butterfly closed card? The butterflys interlock to close up the card. After I took this photo I added some butterflys to the inside card, too. This would make a pretty thank you note.

This is a stamp set from the 2009 Idea Book & Catalog. I've used watercolor paper, watercolor crayons and a blender pen to get this watercolor effect. It was really fun to do and you will have an original work of art to begs to be signed.

Here's another stamp set from the 2009 Idea Book & Catalog done in the same technique as the previous cards. I hope you like one of these well enough to select it, because it is really fun to do. Are you getting tired of looking at sample yet? Just a couple more....

Here is another simple b'day card made with the textured cardstock and a little bit of coloring. Between the texture and the color combination you can create a gorgeous card. Did you notice the envelope also has the polka dots?

Some of you have this stamp set already. I just wanted to show you how you can use some designer series paper inn part of the stamp image to give you a really different effect from a simple stamp. I made this layered card for my hubby who celebrated his b'day this month. He expects a "special" card after all this time.

This was a challenge card on the demonstrators website and I just had to try it. There are eight layers of paper to the card using only two colors...Bermuda Bay and Certainly Celery. I did use the scallop punch for a little more texture.

This isn't one of our projects, but I wanted you to see you can do many things with your Stampin' Up! products. I made these three headbands for my g'daughter for her birthday. Are there shirts to match? You betcha! She loves to dress up and I can't wait to see her in them.

That's all the samples I have for you today. I hope you have been inspired to play with your stamps. I hope you'll be here the first Saturday in April. Send me any comments to brm643@comcast.net and let me know if you'd like to make a particular project.

I'm merrily stamping...

Billie