CAS MONDAY: Hello Beautiful Butterflies!...

Today I have a CAS (clean and simple) card to share with you!   I am trying to embrace Stampin' Up!'s #SimpleStamping campaign, but as many of you know that is not so easy for me.  I don't think I quite made it with this one, but I'll keep trying!  

I really wanted the oval die-cut for the sentiment.  And I just HAD to add some splatters of colored Wink of Stella to the beautiful Botanical Butterfly DSP from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog!  Yes, I know - I'm bordering on some OCD here, but I can't help myself!  I do love my Wink of Stella.

The small butterfly and sentiment are from the Occasions Catalog.  I just love butterflies, so I am sure this stamp set, punch and paper will be getting a lot of play in my studio this spring!  The photo is showing the purple card base as being a little more Gorgeous Grape than Highland Heather, but it is indeed the later.

I'll keep working on a really simple one, but for now, enjoy!!!

HELLO BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES CARD SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets –  Butterfly Gala (P #148580) ~ save 10% on bundle with Butterfly Duet Punch (#150599)
• Card Stock –  
• Highland Heather 5-½” x 8-½” Card Base
• Basic Black 3-¼” x 4”
• Whisper White scraps
• Botanical Butterfly DSP (#149622 ~ FREE during Sale-A-Bration) 3” x 4”
• Ink – Tuxedo Black Memento, Gorgeous Grape, Stampin' Write Markers: Grapefruit Grove, Highland Heather, Gorgeous Grape
• Accessories –
• Wink of Stella (#141897)
• Gorgeous Grape Reinker (#147164) to color Wink of Stella
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
• Punch – Butterfly Duet (#148523) ~ save 10% on bundle with Butterfly Gala stamp set (#150599)
• Tools –
  • Big Shot (#143263)
  • Stitched Shapes Framelits (#145372)
  • Mini Glue Dots (#103683)
  • Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

It's Sale-A-Bration time!!!  Earn FREE products starting for every product order of $50 or more.  OR Join My Team for only $99!  Don't miss out... CLICK HERE for Sale-A-Bration Details!

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

BEST OF 25 YEARS: New Best of Butterflies Stamp Set...

The new Best of 25 Years Stamp Set, Best of Butterflies, goes live today!  It includes an adorable new Butterfly image that coordinates with our Elegant Butterfly Punch (#127526).  Did you know that every year Monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico, and that the migration might span multiple generations of butterflies?  Of course, you can just stamp a butterfly from the Best of Butterflies Stamp Set on a card and mail it ANYWHERE in the WORLD!

Check out the Best of Flowers stamp set in 

my Online Store!

As part of our 25-year anniversary celebration, we're bringing back some of our favorite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into 12 sets, which will release—one set per month—during 2013.  Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!  Check back every month this year for a new "Best of" stamp set.

Be sure to keep the 25-year proof of purchase sticker included with every "Best of" set.  Once you collect stickers from six "Best of sets", adhere them to your collectors card and send it in to redeem a FREE set of your choice valued up to $14.95!

Things to Remember:

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $14.95. 
• While we are releasing just one "Best of" stamp set per month (with a new theme each month), all of the "Best of" sets will be available until March 31, 2014. 
• All "Best of" stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only. 
• Collectors cards for free stamp set must be redeemed no later than April 30, 2014.

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

HEART A FLUTTER VALENTINE CARD...

In the new Spring Catalog, there is a stamp set called Hearts A Flutter.  For some reason, I was imaging butterflies and hearts, but there were no butterflies in the set.  Don't get me wrong–it's an adorable set.  But, the image of fluttering butterflies and hearts stuck in my mind.  So, I decided I needed to do a heart filled with fluttering butterflies–all in shades of pink.  Hope you like it!

HEART A FLUTTER SUPPLY LIST:

• Stamp Sets – Delightful Dozen (W#122650 $32.95, C#122652 $24.95)
• Card Stock – Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, 
• Ink – Raspberry Ripple
• Punches – Bitty Butterfly (#129406, $15.95), Small Heart (#117193, $5.95)
• Accessories – Basic Rhinestone Jewels (119246, $4.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit (#118138, $11.95), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (#127819, $7.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95) , Mini Glue Dots

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

TECHNIQUE THURSDAY, Mixed Bunch Butterflies for Mom...

Today is my Technique Thursday class.  This week I am featuring the Faux Mother-of-Pearl technique.  It is such a simple technique to do, but it really adds a lot to your project.  I find it especially fitting for Mother's Day cards.

For the card we are doing, I opted to leave the Top Note piece white Mother of Pearl.  However, the butterflies were sponged with colors after using the technique on a square piece of Shimmery White card stock.  The "butterflies" were then stamped with one of the flower images from the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set from the Occasions Mini Catalog which ends on April 30.  I used the Blossom Punch to punch out the flower and then cut out two petals from the flower to form the butterfly.

In the photo below, you can see a version of the card where the petals cut off were different for each butterfly.  The Wisteria Wonder butterfly was formed by cutting out a "top" and a "bottom" petal (cutting each petal into the center of the blossom) leaving two petals on each side of the blossom.  The Blushing Bride butterfly was formed by cutting off two "top" petals that are next to each other leaving four petals around the bottom.  Ultimately I liked the Blushing Bride version, but I will show both versions and let the class attendees choose which ones they want to use.

And isn't the Pleated Satin Ribbon from the Occasions Mini Catalog fabulous behind a die cut?  I love the look of gathered ribbon without all the work!  Be sure to check out the FREE tutorial on the Faux Mother of Pearl technique at the end of the post.  Enjoy!

BUTTERFLIES FOR MOM SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Mixed Bunch (W#125535 $27.95, C#125537 $21.95),  Friendly Phrases (W#126149 $18.95, C#126151 $14.95)
• Card Stock – Wisteria Wonder, Shimmery White
• Ink – Concord Crush (retiring), Wisteria Wonder, Blushing Bride (retiring) Classic, Frost White Shimmer Paint (#116854, $5.95)
• Ribbon – Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin (#125570, $6.95)
• Punches – Blossom (#125603, $16.95)
• Accessories – Basic Pearl Jewels Accents (#119247, $4.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Top Note Die (#113463, $21.95), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), Sponge Daubers

FAUX MOTHER-OF-PEARL TECHNIQUE:

1. Pour a few drops of Frost White Shimmer Paint onto a CD or plastic tray of some sort.
2. Scrunch up a piece of plastic wrap, wax paper or cellophane and dip it into the Shimmer Paint. Dab off the paint a bit on another part of the plastic tray.
3. Dab paint coated plastic wrap onto Glossy White or Shimmery White card stock randomly covering the card stock evenly, but not completely—you want white spaces. Allow to dry.
4. Apply classic ink color of your choice over the entire surface with a Sponge Dauber, Stampin’ Sponge or Brayer.
5. Tip: Try using multiple colors for a watercolor look.  See the butterflies on the Technique card above.

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

3x3 THURSDAY, Dazzling Butterfly Thanks...

Today I have some little thank you notes I've been making to include with my orders.  I had such fun with the little "dazzling" butterflies I used on my Dazzling Kindness Matters Card, so I wanted to use them again for my 3" x 3" cards.  I just love the jewel tones!  I played around with several different color combos and ended up liking these two the best.  Enjoy!

I embossed the images with Basic Black Craft and Clear Embossing Powder.  Then I colored them with markers and added Dazzling Details to the wings.  Here are some of the colors I tried out during the design process:

3x3 DAZZLING BUTTERFLY THANKS SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Kindness Matters (W#122900 $11.95, C#122902 $8.95)  FREE with $50 purchase through Mar. 31
• Card Stock – Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Rich Razzleberry, Island Indigo
• Ink – Basic Black Craft, VersaMark, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo
• Punches – Scallop Edge Border (#119882, $15.95)
• Accessories – Dazzling Details (#124117, $2.95), Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder
• Tools – Blender Pens (#102845, $9.95), Heat Tool

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO GET YOUR FREE SALE-A-BRATION PRODUCTS!  Earn FREE products starting with a product order of $50 or more.  OR  Join My Team for only $125! for only $125!  Don't miss out...   CLICK HERE for Sale-A-Bration Details!

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

CAS FRIDAY, Dazzling Kindness Matters Scored Card...

Today, I have a very Clean and Simple card for you.  I used the Kindness Matters Stamp Set for the card.  It is an adorable little set and you will be able to get it for FREE with a $50 purchase during Sale-a-Bration beginning Tuesday, January 24.  I love the butterflies in this set, so I decided they should be the feature for this card.  After coloring in them in with Markers, I removed some of the color from the center of their wings with a Blender Pen.  Then I used Dazzling Details on their wings.  So pretty and sparkly!  And sooooo simple!

I added a small detail with the Simply Scored Tool.  With the card front face down, I scored each side at 1/4" and 1/2" all the way around.  One more reason why I love this scoring tool!  And beginning March 1, we will have a great new accessory for the Scoring Tool - a Diagonal Scoring Plate that is FABULOUS!   Can't wait!

CAS DAZZLING KINDNESS SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Kindness Matters (W#122900 $11.95, C#122902 $8.95)  FREE with $50 purchase Jan. 24 - Mar. 31
• Card Stock – Naturals White
• Ink – Basic Black Classic, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Island Indigo
• Accessories – Dazzling Details (#124117, $2.95)
• Tools – Simply Scored Tool (#122334, $29.95), Blender Pens (#102845, $9.95)

BAROQUE LOVE BIRDS WEDDING CARD...

Jenni is attending a wedding tomorrow and made this card for the happy couple.  She was inspired by my Love Birds 60th Anniversary card, but reinvented it in a whole new way.  The couple's theme is Black, White & Silver, so these are the colors she wanted to use for the card.

Jenni sponged Frost Shimmer Paint on the raised portions of the embossed Top Note piece as well as on the Love Birds and the white butterflies.  It adds the perfect tone on tone sheen.

For the sentiment, she used the Petite Pairs stamp set.  That set has quickly become one of my favorites!  It is perfectly sized for punched pieces and the I love being able to pair the sentiments for the card front and the inside!  Check out the picture at the end of the post for all the adorable sayings!

BAROQUE LOVE BIRDS SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Petite Pairs (W#122495 $28.95, C#122497 $20.95),  Baroque Motifs (#113490, $27.95)
• Card Stock – Basic Black, Whisper White, Brushed Silver
• Ink – Basic Black Classic, Frost White Shimmer Paint (#116854, $5.95)
• Punches – Modern Label (#119849, $16.95), Full Heart (#119883, $16.95), Two-Step Bird (#117191, $16.95)
• Accessories – Basic Pearl Jewels Accents (#119247, $4.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Top Note Die (#113463, $21.95), Punch Windows Movers & Shapers Dies (#115953, $29.95), Scalloped Heart Of Hearts Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die (#117332, $11.95), Beautiful Wings Embosslit (#118138, $11.95), Elegant Lines Embossing Folder (#119277, $7.95),  Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95), Sponge Daubers