So here's what I did, and I have to say I am quite please with the results (and I got to use up a lot of retired product – win/win!):

1. Cut a piece of Blue Bayou card stock – 6.5"x 6.25" and score and fold in half so you have a 3.25" x 6.25" card.

2. Stamp the flower from From the Garden (retired) with Versamark ink on the front of the card.

3. Cut a 3"x 2.5" piece of designer paper (sorry, I cannot remember the name of this one), and tear one 3" edge. Attach to the left side of the card.

4. Use the Curly Label Punch to punch a hole from the front of the card in the lower right corner.

5. Line the inside of the card with a piece of River Rock card stock (3x6") – round the corners.

6. Close the card so you can see the River Rock card stock through the Curly Label hole on the front and stamp your image (Best Yet – retired) with Chocolate Chip ink.

7. With Chocolate Chip ink, stamp the flower image from Pocket Silhouettes on the left side, and a small portion on the right side.

Here's a close up of the inside:

Too bad the card didn't coordinate with the envelope, but hey, no one is perfect!

Here is the front view of the card.

And from the "side" so you can better see what the card looks like when opened:

And a top view:

Isn't this a cool card?! I used Not Quite Navy and the Bella Bleu designer papers to create this card. I also used Travel Post, which is retired, but I love the vintage look it adds to this paper. Wouldn't this be fun to receive in the mail? I love interactive cards! And this card does fit in a normal A2 size envelope – how cool is that?!

Stamps: Travel Post (retired), Matchbox Messages, Full of Life

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel

Paper: Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Bella Bleu DSP

Accessories: Big Shot, Matchbox die (for the tags), sponge, ticket corner punch

I wanted to do some dry embossing on my card (which, unfortunately, you cannot see in the picture), and decided to try an experiment with my Big Shot. I die-cut a Top Note shape from the center of some thin chipboard, cut to 5 ½" x 4 ¼". Then I took this reverse shape (not the actual Top Note die-cut, but the leftover chipboard) and treated it like an embossing plate. I used the Multi-purpose platform without any tabs (both tab 1 & 2 were flipped out of the way), then layered the following from bottom to top:

• Top Note reverse image chipboard
• Whisper White cardstock (I actually taped the template to the card stock so I knew it would be in the right place)
• Silicone rubber
• Impressions Pad
• Cutting pad (I used this because my homemade texture plate wasn't as thick as the "real" ones, so I needed some extra height)

I ran this sandwich through the Big Shot and it dry embossed a perfect image of the Top Note die right onto my card stock. Woo hoo – I love it when an idea works!

To stamp the flowers – from Inspired by Nature – I left my "homemade" embossing template on the top of the cardstock, inked up the stamp with Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss and Chocolate Chip, then stamped on the front of the card. The template acted like a mask so I only stamped within my Top Note shape. Cool, huh?! I sponged the edges around the template with Chocolate Chip and the edges of the card with Tangerine Tango.

To tie the Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon on the front, I used my horizontal slot punch to punch a partial hole in the edge of my folded card stock, just big enough to slide my ribbon through, around the back and tied in the front.

As many of you know, I love to stamp my envelopes to coordinate with the card inside and this was no exception. I love how the single flower makes such a lovely statement on this envelope. Wouldn't you love to receive something like this in the mail? Wouldn't it just pique your curiosity to know what was inside?

Stamps: Inspired by Nature

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango ink pad & reinker

Paper: Whisper White

Accessories: Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Horizontal Slot Punch, Top Note die, Big Shot, sponge daubers

And here is my card:

I had fun playing with my Big Shot and the Texturz plates. Not sure how well it shows up in the picture, so here's a close up (remember that you can click on the picture to bring up a larger view):

I used the Heartfelt Thanks stamp set (sadly, this is retiring – waaaahhhhhh!), and Pink Pirouette textured card stock (one of the retiring In Color colors – that's a weird phrase).

So just what is CAS? CAS stands for Clean and Simple. Per SCS:

There are different ways people view CAS. It is very subjective. There is no list of rules that will fit everyone's personal definition. The following are possible guidelines, only.

1. Clean: the design is uncluttered with lots of white or open space. Simple: having a clear focal point without a lot going on to detract from it. –OR-
2. simple in design regardless of the number of embellishments or how long it takes to color, stitch or to use a special technique –OR-
3. can be copied and mass produced fairly quickly… usually without a lot of coloring, layers, embellishments, tools and/or techniques –OR-
4. any combination of the above

Stamps: Heartfelt Thanks

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Pink Pirouette textured card stock, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Kraft

Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz plate – Backgrounds 1, sponge daubers, 1 ¼", 1 3/8" and Scallop Circle Punches, white gel pen, dimensionals

This week's sketch is the following:

I've never played along before, but I decided to give it a try while I was waiting for my new Stampin' Up! order to come in (and I'm waiting very patiently, if I do say so myself!).

***Hot off the presses*** My order just arrived, so I have to play first!

Okay, here's my new project, using some of my new goodies!

I used the new Elegant Thank You, which is only $6.95! I love these under $10 stamps – they rock! Check the last page of your catalog to see more of these low cost stamps. I also used the Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die (aka: embossing folder) I absolutely love dry embossing – it's how I got started in stamping. This embossing folder is finally available for order (you can find it on page 202 for only $7.95, and for those of you with Cuttlebugs – it works fabulously!) I don't know how well you can see the embossing in the picture above, so here's a close up:

This embossing folder gives beautiful detail and crisp embossing - *love it*! We will definitely be using this in my upcoming Spring Fling Stamp Camp.

Now I have to admit that the scalloped circle embellishment in the upper left corner had me stumped for a bit because I only have the Scallop Circle punch, which is not large enough for the new Elegant Thank You stamp I wanted to use. And while I have the scallop circle dies for the Big Shot, the small circle wasn't really any larger than the scallop circle punch, and the larger circle was way too large for my card. I don't have any Nestabilities (gasp – can you believe it?!). What to do?!

Well, I remembered reading on Julie Buhler's blog about how to create a scallop circle using the coluzzle and slit punch. While my first attempt isn't fabulous, I was rather tickled that it worked at all! If you haven't seen how that works and would like more information on it, please let me know (feel free to email me, or leave a comment). I created that accent using So Saffron card stock that matches the Delicate Dots DSP. I sponged the edges first with So Saffron, then with More Mustard and then a very light sponge of Pumpkin Pie. I used the Coluzzle to cut out the Thank You image which was stamped with Garden Green ink (and I also sponged the edges with that same color). I popped up the whole embellishment with foam dots and since I am not mailing this card, I offset the circle so it sits slightly off the card base.

Ooh – I forgot to mention that the designer series paper that I used for the bottom panel is from the Sale-a-Bration catalog – Delicate Dots.

Stamps: Elegant Thank You

Ink: Garden Green, So Saffron, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Not Quite Navy (sponging around the embossed card stock)

Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, Soft Sky & Wild Wasabi (retired), Delicate Dots DSP

Accessories: foam dots, Coluzzle, slit punch, Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Die, Bliss Blue eyelets (retired), Crop-a-dile, sponges, Big Shot

- Kari

I used some retired Ginger Blossoms DSP and the coordinating stamp set – Embrace Life.

At first I wanted to use up some retired Wild Wasabi textured card stock, but it just didn't work with the DSP, so I opted for Close to Cocoa and I think it turned out rather well after all. I started by stamping tone-on-tone with the multi-flower image with Close to Cocoa ink on the Close to Cocoa card. Then I stamped the flower/stem image on Very Vanilla card stock with Basic Brown ink. Then I used my Stampin' Pastels to color in the flower. I used a couple of different colors to add shading, but the picture doesn't really capture that too well. I also sponged the edges with Ruby Red ink to add a little pop between the vanilla and River Rock card stock. I popped up this main image with dimensional to give it room to fit over the 2 panels below.

Stamps: Embrace Life

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Basic Brown

Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Ginger Blossoms DSP (retired), River Rock (retired), Ruby Red

Accessories: Stampin' Pastels, Stampin' Dimensionals, sponge daubers

Linda, if you're reading this, I hope you enjoyed your card and Happy Birthday!

- Kari

Here's the card I made using the Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set and the (retired) Parisian Summer DSP. I changed the directions a bit, because I knew this had to go through the mail, so I made my window in the DSP, and layered that onto Pink Pirouette card stock with lots of dimensionals so that hopefully it wouldn't get squished during mailing. The picture below does a better job of showing the recessed window as well as the layers I cut out to create the flower and leaves.

I water colored the flower using reinkers and my aqua painter on Confetti White card stock. You can see some buckling of the white card stock in the frame if you look closely. Next time I think it would be better to use water color paper rather than the Confetti White. I stamped the flower a couple of extra times on scrap pieces of the Confetti White card stock, colored them, then cut out just parts of the flower and the leaves. I added dimension by attaching them to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals. Then I took some tips from my wonderful husband, and used some Bordering Blue ink to give a light "wash" around the flower itself. I like how it sets off the flower (this is easier to see in the first photo than in the close up).

Of course I had to stamp my envelope to match. Not sure what happened when I photographed this one, this is actually a Whisper White envelope, not Very Vanilla. I stamped with Baroque Burgandy on the front and back of the envelope – it's like getting an extra surprise in the mail to have artwork on your envelope!

Hopefully my step-mom enjoyed receiving this card as much as I liked making it!

Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful

Ink: Baroque Burgundy, Bordering Blue, Summer Sun; Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss reinkers

Paper: Confetti White, Pink Pirouette, Parisian Summer DSP (retired), Whisper White envelope

Accessories: Aqua Painter, 12" paper trimmer & bone folder, white taffeta ribbon, stampin' dimensional

Please leave me a comment, or email me letting me know if you'd be interested in a video showcasing this neat recessed window technique.

- Kari

From yesterday's card, I created a Versamark resist piece of card stock, using the Eastern Blooms stamp set and Glossy white paper. I purposely created a larger piece (sort of like a one sheet wonder), so that I could cut off pieces as needed for my cards. I still have a small piece left over, so I just might have to use these colors one more time – what do you think?

For today's card, I copied the layout from a previous card I made here. I added some (retired) Hodgepodge Hardware and used my favorite (current) Level 1 hostess set – Best Yet. I don't think I'm going to be able to sell that one next week! J

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Best Yet

Ink: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Versamark, Basic Brown

Paper: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Glossy White

Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware (retired), Pink Taffeta ribbon, sponges

Those of you who know me, know that I like to stamp my envelopes to match, because it's so much fun to receive a hand stamped card with matching envelope! The anticipation heightens when you pick up your mail and find a colorful envelope. Here is the one I made for this card:

Thanks for looking!

- Kari

This was the card I created (note you can click on any image to see a larger view):

I used the colors listed above and it was fairly straight forward. The only "tricky" part was that the center panel was done using the Versamark resist technique on glossy paper. If you aren't familiar with that technique, let me know and I'll put together a quick tutorial.

I really would like to take a class on photography to learn how to take better pictures of my projects for you all. In this one, you cannot see all of the Dazzling Diamonds glitter I used both on the cut out flowers and on the center panel. Here's a close up of the flowers so hopefully it shows up a little better:

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Best Yet (Level 1 Hostess)

Paper: Whisper White, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Glossy 

Ink: Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Black StazOn, Versamark 

Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Crystal Effects, Hodgepodge Hardware (retired), Orange grosgrain ribbon, sponges 

Check back tomorrow for another card I made using leftovers from my Versamark resist center panel – different layout, but same colors.

- Kari

I've started reading Kristin Werner's blog (which is fabulous, by the way) and she has a weekly feature for color inspiration. I decided to play along this week and for whatever reason, quilting was on my mind, so I made 2 cards using these colors and a quilting motif:

This first one I created started as a simple 9-patch using Certainly Celery DSP and whisper white card stock that I stamped using the Pocket Silhouettes in Old Olive. I used my Old Olive marker to add "stitching" around the celery DSP squares (fyi – the squares are 1 1/4"). I matted the 9-patch with a square of Old Olive card stock and then attached that to my Sahara Sand card (normal card size – 5 1/2" x 4 1/4").

I stamped the birthday greeting from Sincere Salutations in Certainly Celery on white and punched it out with the key tag punch. I matted that with Certainly Celery. I sponged both the white and celery with Old Olive ink. I attached the greeting with dimensional, then paper pierced some holes along the sides of the greeting. 3 olive brads on both sides and we're done!

I had so much fun making this card that I designed another one that is a square card (5x5"):

If this design has a name, I don't know it (I'm brand-new to quilting). I used the same 1 1/4" squares, but this time in Old Olive and Sahara Sand. I cut some of the squares in half diagonally, creating "half-square triangles". I stamped on the Sahara Sand with the same ink (using Pocket Silhouettes again), and stamped on the Old Olive with Craft White ink. I matted the design with white and then again with Old Olive. The whole thing was placed on a Certainly Celery card (5x5").

Both of these cards were designed for special people in mind – I hope they both like them as much as I enjoyed making them!

P.S. – Be sure to check back Friday for another Fabulous Freebie Friday!

Happy stamping!
- Kari