Accented Blooms is another “go to” stamp set if you need simple, easy and quick cards. All of these new stamp sets with matching punches really caught my eye in this new catalog.  I seem more and more drawn to the simple and easy to make cards!  Wonder what that is all about?

The focus in the Accented Blooms set is the large piece of artwork that frames the sentiments which are punched out with the Tailored Tag punch.  I also like the option to color in the black & white outline artwork! That makes this a stamp set easy to customize to what you need it for. For whatever reason, I was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest using this set in black and white and ended up with this dainty card in Pool Party and Blushing Bride! The ribbon I used is retired, but you can use the 3/8″ Shimmer Ribbon in Powder Pink or the 1/4″ Petal Pink Ribbon in the new catalog!

I don’t always show the inside of my cards, but this set makes a very pretty inside sentiment as well as an envelope decoration.  All of it quick and simple to do!

Products Used For This Card

Varied Vases was #1 on my list of must haves from the new catalog! It had all the right elements to be a “go to” stamp set time after time. Its a photopolymer set, which means it has lots of pieces. And what I loved is that it came with a matching punch.  For me, a matching punch means this is a stamp set I can pull out for quick and easy card making.  Now, who doesn’t love that?

In fact, this card was totally quick and easy.  I had had the two pieces of the Share What You Do DSP lying on my desk for a couple of weeks.  I loved how the two patterns went together and I started on a card and never finished it.  How many times does that happen to you? Finally, I had a few moments and this little card all came together to show off those two DSP patterns. For cute, quick and easy to make cards, Varied Vases is both a “must have” and a “go to” stamp set!

Products Used To Make This Card

Peaceful Reflection was a stamp set I won at the April Stampin’ Up! On Stage event.  At the time I was excited just to win a stamp set! But when I really looked at it, I was definitely intimidated by this set. I could not figure out what I would ever be able to use this for! Then I looked at again this weekend and it dawned on me that I really love Asian inspired design.  I mean, my entire living room is Asian inspired! I love the simplicity, peace and calm of my Asian inspired living room. I thought, well that is what this stamp set is all about. So,  I decided not to be intimidated and just dive in and do my best interpretation of Asian design!

When you have a piece of Asian artwork, every element means something.  Anything from the way a bird’s wings may be or the way the waterfall flows, or how many trees are in the scene has a meaning.  I don’t have a great deal of knowledge about Asian art and all the subtleties of what each element means.  I just know that I like the simplicity and the “zen” or calm feeling this art gives me.

So, this is my own interpretation of the Peaceful Reflection stamp set.  The stamp at the lower right is my “chop”.  A friend brought it back from China for me.  In Asian art, an artist will have a personalized “chop” they stamp on all of their artwork. (Just like our customer stamps!) My friend knows I like stamping and decided I needed a “chop” of my own. The characters in the chop are a loose interpretation of my name in either Mandarin or Cantonese. I am not sure which. The other calligraphy and sentiment is from the Artistically Asian set from Stampin’ Up.

The background was watercolored on watercolor paper using Pool Party ink.  I stayed with a grayscale look on all the other inks just because it made the design simple. In the end, I think I got my calm and “Peaceful Reflection”.  I am definitely going to try more Asian inspired design.

Products Used For This Card