Simply Sent Create & Keep Set

Have you seen the Simply Sent Create & Keep card kit in the Occasions Mini? I love the fact that it comes with cards, adhesive elements, envelopes AND a card holder! For only $17.95 ~ how awesome is that? There are colors that would work for me and there are colors that would work best for women. So you can make cards for all occasions AND for both men and women:

I jazzed these cards up with some Calypso Coral Organdy Ribbon and the Packed for Mom/Dad stamp sets. We'll be using this kit and making these cards at my All Occasions Card Class this Friday March 9th. I made some cards for this class using only the Simply Sent kit:

Okay - so I added a rhinestone, but isn't it lovely? On others I added some ribbon and a greeting:

But those doilies on the left of the card? The cards *come* preprinted that way! How pretty :) On another card, I added a stamp from Happiest Birthday Wishes but the border on it, yes, it comes with the Kit! You really wouldn't need to add anything at all to these cards.

Not only will this card set you up with cards for a few months, but for $25 it's a steal - definitely cheaper than Hallmark! Or get the class to go with all the extra accessories! Hope to see you at the class! You can RSVP at stampingmonica@gmail.com.

A Masculine, Elegant Birthday Card

Masculine cards are hard to come by. So every so often I like to challenge myself and go in the masculine direction with my cards. Who's kidding who, many stamp sets are flowery or just very feminine. So when I can come up with a nice masculine card, I'm a happy girl :) I absolutely love the Everyday Enchantment Sale-a-Bration DSP. It's got some awesome feminine patterns, but it's also got some really awesome masculine patterns.

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch for inspiration. Such a simple but lovely sketch. I loved the idea of the little pennant and crowns to make the card even more regal. And because of the color palette (Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede and Pool Party), it works for both men and women. I'm excited to be doing this card at my March Private Classes and at my Fast & Fabulous Class on February 29th. Interested in either of these classes? Drop me a line ~ I'd love to stamp with you!

Tips & Tricks:

*I love how SU! coordinates their stamp sets with their punches. The inside of the elegant frame matches perfectly with the Curly Label Punch.
*Although the Pennant Parade stamp set coordinates with the Petite Pennants punch, I like using the punch to punch out DSP shapes. I love making festive little pennants on my cards.
*As much as I love ribbon, sometimes the Baker's Twine adds that perfect extra touch. Especially on a masculine card.

I also used the sketch to make two cards for my All Occasions Card Class, coming up on March 9th. I love the Create & Keep Simply Sent Card Kit. Makes making cards so easy!

Hope you've enjoyed these cards and my take on this week's sketch. 'Til next time, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!

Packed for...

... Mom & Dad. Or Packed for Masculine & Feminine cards. Have you seen the four Packed for... stamp sets in the Occasions Mini? They're full of images perfect for men, women, baby and birthdays. I was prepping for my All Occasions Card Class on March 9th. I'm using the Create & Keep Simply Sent Kit for this class and I LOVE it! It has a card box, envelopes, card dividers and everything you need to make the cards! Of course, you can add a little extra ;)

Using this week's Freshly Made Sketch, I came up with my first two cards for my class. I love this week's sketch, it so simple, but makes it so easy to add a few special touches to a card. I used the Packed for Mom and Packed for Dad stamps.

In the center of the two cards is the card box which I embellished a bit (and you can embellish even more!). The kit comes with 10 designer cards, 2 each of 5 designs. I used the Early Espresso cards for my creations today.

Tips & Tricks:

*Love this Simply Sent kit but not sure what colors to use? SU! makes that easy - they tell you that the color palette is Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Pear Pizzazz.

*When I first saw the Packed for stamp sets I wasn't sure how to use so much line art. But the possibilities are endless! Spot color with our Stampin' Write markers (like I did), punch out the elements you like best or color the elements you like best. I'm sure you can think of many other things to do with these great stamps!
*Do you have a tough time making masculine cards? The Packed for Dad stamp offers many possibilities!
*The greetings and scalloped edge on the feminine card are both from the Simply Sent kit. I love all the options this kit offers.
*I love the ease of the adhesive die-cuts in our card and scrappin' kits. But sometimes I want to put them on Stampin' Dimensionals and the tackiness of our die-cuts actually gets in the way. To reduce tackiness, stick the die-cuts to your clothes a few times and then put them on Dimensionals.

Hope you've loved these class previews and you'll join me at my All Occasions Card Class. Not in Ottawa? Get the class to go! 'Til next time, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!