Touch of Kindness thank you with scrappin' kit add-ons

A handful of my club members will receive this Touch of Kindness thank you card. The designer paper and strip come from the Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' Kit. There's still time to purchase either item. They'll retire for good on August 31 in the Summer Mini Catalog, along with some other great stamp sets and patterned paper. Click here to place your order with me. Thanks!

Facing The Open Sea with Monkey Challenge 68: Anything Goes!

I always feel a sense of urgency when we near the end of a mini catalog. Did I use my stamps enough? What designer series paper do I still need to use? I came up with The Open Sea stamp set and Nautical Expedition dsp. I love them both, and I'll miss them both when they're no longer available after August 31.

I love this week's A La Card Monkey sketch. I can visualize so many different kinds of cards using this sketch - and for every occasion. In fact, I may just try one or two more cards with this same sketch this weekend, so keep an eye out for that. Now for my card - I used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder on the Whisper White card front, then added 1-1/2" x 3-3/4" strips of Nautical Expedition dsp (made into flags with a square punch at the bottom). I used a bit of SNAIL to adhere the Baker's Twine across the top. I punched out the Early Espresso ship with the 2-1/2" circle punch and adhered it with dimensionals. Then I added "you're the BEST" from Perfect Words (a hostess offering) in Cherry Cobbler ink on a strip of white card stock that I also punched at the end with a square punch. There's a trinket brad on the end.

Fancy Fan Letterpress Plate with Love & Care

I changed the colors from a card created by Tiffany Bauer, and used the new Fancy Fan Letterpress Plate with Daffodil Delight Craft ink, along with the Love and Care hostess set in the Summer Mini (with Real Red and Old Olive colors). I ran scraps of Real Red card stock through the Big Shot on the Tasteful Trim die to get the big scallop border, then added a Teeny, Tiny Wishes sentiment with White Baker's Twine and a few pearls. I added "flower dust" with the Color Spritzer. It's a fun tool, if you haven't used it for awhile.

Sail Away into the sunset

I love the beautiful colors of this card. Seeing a sunset from a sailboat is a wonderful way to live. I've experienced it once and it was beautiful!

For this Sail Away card, CASE'd from Heidi Baks, I used Natural Ivory card stock with Night of Navy and Nautical Expedition dsp layered on top. The entire stamp was stamped once on a Natural Ivory layer, then again for just the sails on Whisper White card stock. I stamped the boat a third time on Not Quite Navy card stock that I ripped, sponged and used a white gel pen to highlight the waves.

For the sun, I punched a circle in a scrap and sponged Daffodil Delight. Then, using the circle I'd punched out, I tacked it down on top of the sun to sponge around it with Tangerine Tango and more Daffodil Delight.

Stamps: Sail Away, Teeny, Tiny Wishes;

Ink: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy, Tangerine Tango;

Paper: Whisper White, Naturals Ivory, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Nautical Expedition dsp;

Accessories: White gel pen, Modern Label Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, dimensionals, sponge daubers.

Touch of Kindness thank-you notecards

 

I keep forgetting to take photos of the variety of thank-you cards I make up for my customers' orders. This one uses some Flower Garden dsp with a large scallop circle out of Cherry Cobbler.

Postage Punch boat on a Poppy Parade sea...

I'm back to boats. This one was CASE'd from Mary Fish. I changed the colors and sentiment. Mine uses Poppy Parade, Not Quite Navy, and Sahara Sand - a Sweet Set on the Color Coach. The boat was created from about half a 1-3/4" Circle Punch, and the Postage Stamp Punch. I hand-cut the little flag and cut a tiny piece of card stock to thread through the Bitty Button. The big Not Quite Navy scallops on the card are from the Tasteful Trim die (still available to order, even though it was in the Holiday Mini). I used the Big Shot to emboss the polka dots on the Sahara Sand card front, and for the 3-inch circle die behind the boat. The sentiment is from the Pretty Postage stamp set. I punched it out with the small tag punch.

Alaska Cruise update: We're spending 6 p.m. to almost midnight in Victoria, B.C. I'm not sure what we'll do, other than walk around. We've got no plans!

Variety of swaps from American Ink downline

Mary Ann's swap uses the Four Frames stamp set

Karen's swap uses Elegant Lines embossing folder, Strength & Hope, and Butterfly Punch

Barb's swap with Just Believe and Elegant Soiree dsp

All in the Family/Best Dad Ever swap by Terry S.

Alaska Cruise update: We'll be at sea all day. There'll be plenty of time for good food, swimming, stamping, taking in a show, and more!

Happy Greetings and Nature Walk swaps by Michelle

One of my downline, Michelle, created these two cards to swap. Above, the card uses the Happy Greetings stamp set, Decorative Label and Eyelet Border punches, and Flower Garden dsp. Below, her card uses Nature Walk and Something to Celebrate stamp sets.

Alaska cruise update: Today I had to eat my friend. Oh, just kidding. We're on Day 5 of the seven-day cruise and will spend the day in Skagway. It's incredible to see how the cruise ship looms over the town, which still has false-fronted buildings and wooden sidewalks. The hot souvenir here is the hand-painted gold-mining pans. I want to get a photo of those!

After 6 p.m., we'll be cruising the Inside Passage. It's prime habitat for bald eagles, sea lions, and whales.

Touch of Kindness button card...

Frankie created this pretty swap with the Touch of Kindness stamp set.

Alaska cruise update: We're drifting among icebergs and waterfalls that cascade 1,000s of feet for the most close-up view of Sawyer Glacier. We'll be in Juneau by 2:30 p.m. The city is often described as America's most unusual state capital because it's the only center of U.S. government with no roads leading in or out of town.

A full day at sea with The Open Sea stamp set

We have a full day at sea today on the Celebrity Infinity ship. Though our ship doesn't look like the Clipper ship on the swap card above, The Open Sea is a really pretty stamp set. You can see how great it looks without any coloring. I love that! We'll arrive at our first port - Ketchikan - tomorrow. We'll have from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. to explore, and perhaps take in a lumberjack show. It's supposed to rain. After all, Ketchikan is known as the rainiest town in southeast Alaska!

Males of all ages are the focus of this 10-card class...

With summer fast approaching, I thought it a good idea to include a birthday card a boy or a girl could use. This card uses the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, and Sunny Day and Afterthoughts stamp sets. The colors are Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue and Real red.

A tie card is great for a businessman. I used Perfect Plum, More Mustard and Old Olive markers for this card, along with Brights dsp and a layer of Basic Black card stock. The stamp set is Best Dad Ever, and it's in the Summer Mini Catalog. My other sample uses the "Happy Father's Day" sentiment from the same stamp set.

I think this would be a fun card to give a young man. I used Tangerine Tango, Real Red and Pacific Point markers to ink up the surfboards from the Summer Splash stamp set. The big polka-dotted paper is from the Summer Mini Simply Scrappin' kit called Playful Polka Dots. The sentiment is from Teeny, Tiny Wishes.

This card is my favorite. I love the colors - Pumpkin Pie, Sahara Sand and Marina Mist. It uses the Sail Away single stamp in the Summer Mini, words from FYI, and 1-1/4" striped Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon. I CASE'd it from another blogger, with a few minor changes. Any outdoorsman would love this!

And finally, this Totally Tools card is right up my man's alley. He is a tool guy, so I love the sentiment and the distressing (done with the Cutter Kit). The colors are Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Night of Navy, and Crumb Cake, with some Elegant Soiree dsp. I used the same stamps and layout as another blogger, though I changed the colors and a couple other things.

I'm all legs on this Summer Splash post...

I love the simple sketch for a kid's card at A La Card Monkey this week. I was able to create this fabulous Peach Parfait octopus card in just minutes using the Summer Splash stamp set! Of course, googly eyes are a must on fun kid cards. They add a bit of silliness. I made a bunch of these for swaps at my American Ink team meeting this morning.

The sentiment is from Afterthoughts (a Level 1 hostess set). Here's the sketch I followed:

I used Recess for the new Monkey Challenge 56: A Kid Card + A Sketch...

It's a new challenge on the A la Card Monkey blog, and I've chosen this cute girl on the slide from the Recess stamp set, having her hold a balloon from Crazy for Cupcakes.

I watercolored the images with ink pads and an aqua painter after stamping them in Basic Black. I love the bright colors of the Play Date dsp and pulled the Real Red and Tempting Turquoise directly that it. I used the sketch below to make my card.

I didn't mean for my words to turn this way, but something wonky happened so here they are. I used a stamp from the new Summer Mini hostess set Swirls & Curls Verses. Cute, isn't it?

So now it's your turn to get creative. Make a project using the sketch above and link it to http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/ by next Thursday at midnight. Make something a kid would love! And have a great weekend.

Stamps: Recess, Swirls & Curls Verses, Crazy for Cupcakes;

Ink: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, and Soft Suede ink pads, Blush Blossom marker;

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Playdate dsp;

Accessories: Brights Buttons, aqua painter, dimensionals, 3" circle die for the Big Shot, 5/8" Early Espresso satin ribbon, 1/8" Real Red taffeta.

Recess is so much fun!

Can't you hear this little girl singing while she's hula-hooping? Her little cheeks are a ruddy red from playing for so long. lol

I created this card with the Recess stamp set in the Summer Mini Catalog.  I used a white gel pen to highlight "Hi" in the alphabet stamp, and added a glimmer brad on 1/8" Whisper White taffeta for a little bling. You could easily swap out the little girl for the little boy stamp, if you wanted the card for a boy.

Stamps: Recess;

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Basic Gray, Peach Parfait, Blush Blossom, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz;

Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz, In Color pad (hostess Level 1);

Accessories: Circle scallop punch, 2-1/2" circle punch, white gel pen, 1/8" Whisper White taffeta, In Color glimmer brads, aqua painter, dimensionals.

One more CASE'd club card - The Open Sea...

I always have club members and customers say they can't come up with original stamping ideas, and that they're not "crafty." So this month, I'm showing my club members that they don't need to be creative. After all, you just need to copy well. *smile* 

This fabulous card with The Open Sea stamp set comes from Ann Schach. The colors are Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip. I generally followed Ann's ideas, though there are several minor changes (no jumbo eyelet, a brad instead of a pearl, different sentiment - mine is from Trendy Trees), and different card stock layer on Not Quite Navy card. I think it's fun to copy cards because everyone has their own unique perspective. See the two other CASE'd club cards in the two posts below this one.

On The Grow scooter card...

This is another CASE'd card for club tonight. It's Very Vanilla, Marina Mist and Soft Suede, with a 2" x 3" piece of Elegant Soiree dsp. You can see the new Triple Blossom Punch on the left. I used an Itty Bitty Punch for the circle inside, then used the largest pearl for the center. I CASE'd this from Dawn Olchefske.

Fabulous Florets in Rich Razzleberry...

Club is tonight and I thought this CASE'd card would be a good introduction to the Fabulous Florets stamp set. It uses some Rich Razzleberry ink and dsp from the Brights pad, as well as Old Olive card stock and ink. The Dazzling Diamonds glitter is adhered to the center of the flowers with a 2-way glue pen. I copied this card from Jill Hilliard.

Fabulous Florets for Monkey Challenge 55 - Flowers and a sketch...

Here's a close-up of a few of the flowers I put on this A La Card Monkey challenge card. I used reinkers and an aqua painter for saturated colors, then added highlights with a white gel pen.

I love this sketch. I think it would work well for any number of stamp sets! Plus you can add many details.

I started with the Pawsitively Prints II dsp. The small flower pattern is my favorite. I pulled the colors from it - Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise and Daffodil Delight - for the entire card. Another highlight of the card, for me, is the "you are awesome" phrase from the FYI stamp set. Who wouldn't love to get a card that says you're awesome?

Fabulous Florets is available in the Summer Mini Catalog. Contact me if you'd like to order any of the supplies used to make this card! Now create your own project using Flowers + the Sketch above, then link it to http://alacardmonkey.blogspot.com/. Have a great weekend!

Stamps: Fabulous Florets, FYI;
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Black StazOn;
Paper: Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Pawsitively Prints II dsp;
Accessories: Jumbo brads, aqua painter, Scallop Border Punch, 1/4" Daffodil Delight grosgrain, Poppy Parade poly-stitch ribbon, 1/8" Whisper White taffeta, dimensionals, Word Window Punch.

Try Stampin' On Tuesday for Sunny Fun...

There's a challenge blog called Try Stampin' On Tuesday that I came across a few weeks ago. I think this is the second time I've entered a card into the challenge. And I had fun with it! It's a little cool and overcast today, so I felt like a little sunshine. I inked up the flip-flop stamp from a great new Summer Mini stamp set called Sunny Fun. I think any of the long stamps would look terrific for the sketch below.

I'm working my way through the Brights dsp pad, using Real Red for this card. It's on a Whisper White card base. I colored in the flip flops with markers and a blender pen, then added an Afterthoughts sentiment in Early Espresso, with a brights (red) button and some Early Espresso/White Baker's Twine.

Stamps: Sunny Fun, Afterthoughts (Level 1 hostess);

Ink: Early Espresso pad and marker, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie markers;

Paper: Whisper White, Brights dsp pad, Early Espresso, Real Red;

Accessories: Early Espresso/White Baker's Twine, Brights Buttons, blender pen, dimensionals.

Rich Razzleberry Proud Peacock...

I really need to look at deadlines for challenges! Once again this week, I made a card for a sketch challenge, only to find the Linky tool closed when I went to upload my card! Oh well.... I'll share the card anyway. I stamped this peacock from the Summer Mini stamp set Proud Peacock in Rich Razzleberry ink, then used markers to color in some areas before adding Dazzling Diamonds glitter with a 2-way glue pen. A tiny pearl makes a nice eyeball.

I love a monochromatic card. I used Brights dsp - the patterns shown on the card are both sides of the same sheet - as well as Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon. I made this card using the sketch shown below for Stamping 411.

Stamps:  Proud Peacock, Happy Greetings (both Summer Mini Catalog sets);

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz;

Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Brights dsp pad;

Accessories: Scallop Border Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, 5/8" Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon, dimensionals, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, basic pearls, small oval punch.