The Lift Me Up set has been sitting around my stamp room for a while now.  I have done some tags and other things with it, but it was time to really take a look at the possibilities with this bundle, which are many!

I love hot air balloons and who doesn’t? There is something uplifting about using balloon art in cards.  Almost like using butterflies.  Seeing either element on a card cheers you up and makes you smile.  Giving friends and family a smile and a lift in spirits is ample reward for sending someone a handmade card.

For this card, I built it around the large balloon thinlit. This is a beautiful cutout for the centerpiece of a card.  I also wanted to use a sentiment that would fit in the big cloud. I really like the idea of putting sentiments into unusual shapes and this cloud is the perfect opportunity to do that.  You simply stamp your sentiment first and then place the thinlit over the sentiment for the best cut.  Because there is very little space to spare, I recommend using a post-it note to hold your thinlit as steady as possible!

Recipe

Papers: Calypso Coral, Peekaboo Peach, Early Espresso, Cupcakes & Carousels DSP Stack
Stamps: Lift Me Up
Embellishments: Emerald Envy 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon
Tools: Up & Away Thinlits Dies, Big Shot

I had quite a thing going with the So Detailed Thinlits!  Once I started using them, I could not stop thinking of cards designs.  You have seen several over the last few days.  Today’s card was an attempt to use the hearts die and also to make a more masculine card.

I don’t know how I ever ended up at the embossed woodgrain look, but once I saw it with the red, I loved it! This is a quick and easy card.  The Woodgrain TEIF is done on a Soft Suede card stock.  Then I layered that on black and then Real Red.  I used some of the hearts that were cut out from the die to scatter on the background.  And for some reason, I really liked the 2 enamel hearts I added as well. I think the sentiment could be changed to be more valentine.  But this worked so I could use the matching stamp set, So In Love.  I think as well as a valentine card, this could be used as a masculine wedding or engagement congratulations.

And in case you are wondering, I have replacement trimmer blades on the way!

Recipe

Papers: Real Red, Basic Black, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Stamps: So In Love
Embellishments: Basic Black Baker’s Twine
Tools: So Detailed Thinlits, Big Shot

Copper was the big excitement when the new catalog debuted for 2016-2017. And as much as I love it, I really don’t use it enough.  Continuing my fascination with the So Detailed Thinlits, I decided to try something a little different.  I first tried die cutting a piece of copper foil paper.  But that was just too much.  Then I got the idea of die cutting a copper foiled design from the Affectionately Yours DSP.  That ended up being the perfect solution to show copper in just the right amount!

This copper foiled DSP design is really pretty on its own. But as a die cut in this design, it really takes on a whole new look.  I layered it on Soft Suede, which has been my favorite “brown” the last few projects.  Then,  I embossed the stamped sentiment with Copper Embossing Powder.  A little copper thread and a few pearls completed the look.  I kept thinking 1920’s and “Downton Abbey” while doing this card.  In fact, I think even the Dowager Countess Grantham would like this card!

Recipe

Papers: Affectionately Yours DSP, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Copper Foil
Stamps: So In Love
Embellishments: 1/4″ Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Copper Metallic Thread, Basic Pearl Jewels
Tools: So Detailed Thinlits, Big Shot