A Fun Ride!

Hi there stampers!

It looks like a sunny and hot week ahead, for both Portland and Woodland.  Portland will be cooler than Woodland on Monday and Tuesday, but on Wednesday and Thursday, Portland will actually be hotter with temperatures of 108 and 109 in the forecast.  Hopefully it won't really get that hot!  My advice:  stay inside, keep cool, and drink lots of water.  

We can't really do anything about the weather so let's focus on something fun... like stamping!  I've got a very cute card for you today, made with the new stamp set Bike Ride.

I have to say that this is probably the easiest bike in the world to assemble!  If you've ever tried putting a bicycle together, you know that it's no easy task.  But this bike goes together in just a few minutes, thanks to the Build a Bike dies that go with the Bike Ride set.  A little stamping, a little cutting with the Big Shot and soon you have a very cute bicycle.  Now if I could just climb on that thing and ride somewhere cool!  

Here are the supplies I used to make this fun card:
Bike Ride Stamp set, p. 20, #143716, $21.00
Build a Bike Framelit dies, p. 213, #143729, $27.00

Save 10% by purchasing the bundle... both stamp set and dies, #145314, $43.00

Brick Wall embossing folder, p. 210, #138288, $8.50
Sentiment is from the Flirty Flowers stamp set, p. 25, #143872, 19.00
One inch circle punch, p. 207, #119868, $13.00
1 1/4 inch circle punch, p. 207, #119861, $16.00

Thanks for taking time to read my blog!  From today into next weekend, may your ride be smooth and downhill all the way!  It's much to hot to even think about pedaling uphill!

Happy stamping, everyone!
Susan

Try something new!

Hello friends!

Oh, goodness!  I turned 70 last Monday and I guess I'm now officially "old."  But just because I'm aging doesn't mean I have to grow old on the inside.  In fact, inside I feel like I'm as young as I ever was.  I would guess my true age to be somewhere in my twenties.  Isn't it strange that although our bodies and our minds grow older, our spirit seems to be ageless?

One way we can help ourselves to stay young in spirit is to try new things.  This is one area that I really need to work on, as I tend to be a bit of a 'fraidy cat when it comes to new adventures.  Trying something new doesn't mean we have to take up rock climbing, bungee jumping, or roller blading.  We can challenge ourselves to learn to cook a new dish, try a new restaurant, read a book in a different genre, shop at a different store, try a new hairstyle or color... just anything to shake up or normal routine.  

You might wonder what all this has to do with card-making.  Well,  I have a new card format that I'd like you to try.  It's called a bridge fold card.  When you first see the card, you're going to think that it's not something that can be mailed.  But actually it's very easy to fold flat and slide into an envelope.  I've seen this type of card on several blogs lately, so I'm not sure who originated the idea.  

I'm not going to go into the measurements of all the DSP pieces, where to score the card base, etc.  If you would like to know how to make this fun card, please email me at sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll be happy to send along the instructions.

Here are the Stampin'Up! products I used to make this card:

Pool Party card stock:   #122924, page 186, $8.00

Pool Party stamp pad:  #126982, page 186, $6.50

Whisper White Thick card stock: #140727, page 194, $7.00

Pear Pizzazz card stock: #131201, page 186, $8.00

Basic Gray Archival ink pad: #140932, page 201, $7.00

Whole Lot of Lovely DSP:  #144110, page 188, $11.00

Birthday Blooms stamp set:  #140658, page 70, $19.00

Flower Shop stamp set: #130942, page 28, $18.00

Pansy Punch (coordinates with the Flower Shop stamp set)

      #130698, page 207, $16.00

Gold Faceted Gems, #144141, page 197, $5.00

And of course for a card like this with multiple score lines, you will need a good scoring board.  I highly recommend Stampin'Up!'s Simply Scored Scoring Tool, #122334, page 205, $30.00.  I've owned two other scoring boards, but this one is by far the best I've used.  The stylus is made of metal and won't wear out like the plastic ones that other boards come with.

I would be most appreciative if you could leave me a brief comment on this card.  If you'd like to place an order, please use the July host code NN6FAB7P if your order is under $150.  I will close out this code on Saturday, July 29th.   For every order of $50 or more before tax and shipping, you will receive a Bonus Days coupon code for $5 off an order in August via email from Stampin'Up!   All those who use the July host code will be entered into a drawing for a nice prize from me at the end of the month. 

May the week ahead be a happy one and I hope you'll try something new!

Happy stamping, everyone!

Susan

Tomato Trucks and Tulips

Hello stamping friends and happy Monday!

It was a hot weekend here in Woodland, but that's to be expected, as it is mid-July.  On Saturday, I saw my first tomato truck of the summer, loaded to the brim with tomatoes on their way to the cannery.  Loaded tomato trucks are a sure sign that summer is in full swing and we'll be seeing them from now until late August-early September.  I might have mentioned "roadside salsa" before, but if you're not familiar with the term here's the story.  Sometimes when the trucks turn on an overpass to enter the freeway, some of the tomatoes spill over and land by the side of the road.  People have been known to pick them up, take them home, and make "roadside salsa."  I think I'll still be buying my salsa at the grocery store, though.

I've got a fun card for you today... one that we'll be making at my stamping class on Wednesday, July 26th.  I'm not exactly sure what this type of card is called.  I've heard it called an accordion card, but then some people call it a panel card.  Whatever you call it, it's a fun fold and one that's easy to make.

I used the new Designer Series Paper called Fresh Florals in Powder Pink, one of the new In-colors.  I used three different patterns for the panels that show when the card is closed.  A belly band that slips on holds the card closed.  The tulips are from a new hostess stamp set called Tranquil Tulips (page 223 of the annual catalog).  They are stamped in Powder Pink and Lemon-Lime Twist.  The sentiment and the little tulip stamens are stamped in Chocolate Chip.  The white panel doesn't show when the card is folded.  This is where you can write a message to the birthday girl.  Yes, "girl" is the correct term as I'm sure you all know that we'll always be girls at heart, no matter how old we are.  And of course no one would send such a pink and pretty card to anyone other than a girl.  

If you would like to have the directions and measurements for this card, please email me at sjrstamps@gmail.com and I'll be happy to send them along.  This post is long enough, without including the detailed instructions.  I will say, though, that once you've made the scores and cut the DSP panels, this card goes together pretty quickly.

In case you'd like to make a purchase, here are some of the supplies I used:

Fresh Florals Designer Series Paper, p. 187 #144131, $22.00 for 40 sheets in all the new In-colors

Tranquil Tulips stamp set, p. 223, a host reward stamp set.  Why not host a Party-in-a-Box and get this as one of your host rewards??  Hosting a party is the only way you can get this gorgeous set.

Layering Ovals Framelits, p. 214, #141706, $35.00

Powder Pink Stamp pad, p. 184, #144084, $6.50

Powder Pink Card Stock,  p. 184, #144244, $6.50

Lemon Lime Twist Stamp pad, p. 184, #144086, $6.50

Please use the July host code when placing an online order of less than $150:

NN6FAB7P

If your order is $150 or more (before shipping), please do not use the host code, as you will get the host rewards.

Thank you for visiting The Classic Card today!  I hope you'll feel inspired to stamp something pretty in the week ahead!

Hugs to all,

Susan

Staying cool

Hello stamping friends!

Happy Monday!  Did you enjoy your sunny summer weekend?  I hope you were able to get outside and garden, swim, grill on the patio, or just sit in the shade and read.  Whatever you did, I hope it was just the relaxation you needed!  Here in Woodland, it was hot, hot, hot!  So instead of going outside, I stayed inside and stamped. 

I've been meaning to use the Jar of Love stamp set (p. 29)ever since I ordered it last summer when the new annual catalog came out.  But between getting settled in the new house and a million other things, that stamp set had never seen the light of day until today.  Nor had I ever opened the package of framelits that go along with it.  I'm just lucky it carried over into this year's catalog.  I spent the afternoon stamping and using the Big Shot to cut all of the pieces for this card and, although it was quite a lot of work, I love how the card turned out and I hope you love it too!

The folded card base is Lemon-Lime Twist and the next layer is Berry Burst.  Both of these are new In-colors that will be around for two years before they are retired.  I stamped the jar on Whisper White in Basic Gray Archival ink.  The water is stamped in Soft Sky.  The flowers are stamped in Berry Burst, with one layer stamped off so that the flowers are two tones.  The smaller flowers were stamped in So Saffron, with the second layer stamped in Crushed Curry.  The leaves were stamped in Lemon-Lime Twist.  The sentiment is stamped in Basic Gray Archival ink.  I prefer using Basic Gray ink on cards that are more pastel than bold, as I think the gray is a lot softer than Basic Black. The ribbon around the top of the jar is the new 1/4 inch Ombre Ribbon in Lemon-Lime Twist on page 198 of the catalog. 

Here are some details in case you'd like to order:

Jar of Love stamp set #141587, 27.00, p. 29

Everyday Jars Framelits, #141490, 33.00, p. 213

Lemon Lime Twist Ombre Ribbon, #144234  7.00, p. 198

When placing your online order, please use the July host code   NN6FAB7P

Please do not use the code if your order is $150 or more, as you will get the host rewards!

Don't forget Bonus Days!  For every $50 you spend in July (before shipping), you will receive a $5 coupon code via email that you can redeem in August.

Thank you for visiting The Classic Card!  May the week ahead be a happy one!  Make time to stamp something pretty... you'll be happier when you spend time creating!

Hugs to all,

Susan

A Color Challenge Card

Hello Stampers!

Wishing a happy sunny summer Monday to all! 

I'm thinking that for most of you, today is a day off... part of the long 4th of July weekend.  If you are working today, I'm sorry, but at least you have tomorrow off, so that's something to look forward to!

I've got a super-simple card today... one that you could probably create in 10 minutes or even less, depending on how fast you are with an aqua-painter.  I made this card for a color challenge that my upline posted on Friday.  She gives us 3 colors and asks us to create a card using those colors.

I was feeling a little lazy today, and decided to use the new Floral Statements stamp set that's on page 163 of the new catalog (item #144701, $18.00).  What I love about this set is that you just stamp the image in either Archival Black, Archival Basic Gray, or Jet Black Staz-On ink, then add color with an aqua-painter and your stamp pads.  It's super simple!

The colors we were given to work with were Powder Pink, one of the new In-Colors, Peekaboo Peach (one of last year's In-colors) and Calypso Coral. 

Here's my card:

I'm not the world's best when it comes to coloring, but this is a very forgiving image.  I used all three colors of card stock, all three colors of ink to color the roses, and then accented with some Powder Pink ribbon (page 198, item # 144134, $7.00).  I used Pear Pizzazz for the leaves.  The other image in this set is the word "Hello," also accented with flowers.

I hope you'll find a little time to stamp something pretty in the week ahead.  Taking time out to be creative makes life so much better!

Thought for the day:

"When life shuts a door, open it again.  It's a door.  That's how they work!" 

So, my friends, if you've had a door slammed shut, be brave and open it again.  I have every faith in your ability to persevere and emerge victorious! 

Happy 4th and happy stamping!

Love to all,

Susan