March Already??

Okay, I'm not quite sure what happened to January and February - they seem to be sort of a blur. I think I must be losing my mind, as time seems to be just whipping right past me!!! I guess I'm too busy!! My schedule seems to be starting to clear out, though. With all of the running around I've done as part of the Spellbinders design team (our retreat in January and CHA in February), I have had to keep on my toes! I think I'm staying put for a few weeks now, though!

This is one of those cards that seemed almost effortless to me. The idea just popped right onto the paper! This was for last weeks color challenge on SCS - CC155 - to use Basic Black, Whisper White and River Rock. I also decided it was time to make a pocket card again, as I hadn't made one in a while. You start with the same size piece of paper as a standard card, you just make a "flap" by folding down the longest edge on the "open" side of your card. In this case, I folded it down by 1 1/2". I trimmed the flap a little, as I wanted to add the scallops and it just looked to bit to me somehow. The actual flap on this is just under 1 1/4". The inserted card needs to be scaled down a bit so that it will it in the pocket once the pocket has been taped or glued shut. The base for the insert is 5" x 4".

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, River Rock
Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks, Out on a Limb (Papertrey - for sentiment, which I LOVE!)
Ink: Basic Black, River Rock, Real Red
Accessories: Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder, smokey gray rhinestone jewels (Doodlebug), Liquid Pearls, Kraft taffeta ribbon, paper piercing tool, dimensionals, corner rounder punch

I was slow getting my butterfly card done last week, so I am sending it out today. Which means, I'll have to send another one Friday. Two in one week! It's a good think the mail to Germany/Austria is kinda uneven - I don't think my son will even notice!! This makes card #27 in my own personal "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see the link on the sidebar of this blog for more details). I made this in conjunction with TLC158 - debossing. I haven't done this technique in the longest time!! Basically, stamp an image on some vellum (vellum cardstock works a little better, as it is a heavier weight; I also like to use StazOn ink so that the ink will not smear, and line images work better than solid ones). Then, flip the image over. From the back side, use an embossing stylus to outline or fill in any of the details from the image that you want to "pop" off the front. Make sure to put a mouse pad or polymer mat under the vellum so that it will have a little give as you use the stylus on it. That way it will be less likely to tear.

I trimmed the right front edge of my card back 3/4" of an inch so that the designer series paper (Palette of Prints) underneath would be visible. Sometimes it's fun to do something even a LITTLE different!

I haven't used my "plums" for quite a while, either. I love both shades of plum offered by SU, I just feel that I neglect them far too often!! I can't ever seem to get away from either a shade of green or Chocolate Chip, though. I am proud that there is NO brown in this one anywhere!!

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Palette of Prints (celery), Vellum
Stamps: Time Well Spent
Ink: Black StazOn, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities (love 'em!!), corner rounder punch, paper piercing tool, stylus, rhinestone brads

I'm still hopeful that SPRING will be making a real appearance some time soon. It snowed again last Saturday. Maybe the sun will come out today, but I'm not holding my breath!!