Inspired by...finger puppet?

This has to be one of the cutest finger puppets that I have every seen. And it produced a card that I love!

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Big Deal Alphabet and Pure and Simple Upper Alphabet stamp sets; Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, Tempting Turquoise and whisper card stock; Chocolate Chip, Going Gray, and Tempting Turquoise classic ink pads; 1" circle, small oval, large oval and Photo Corner punches; Signo Gel Pen.

As soon as I saw that puppet I thought that it was cute and owls are a really popular trend right now. I also realized that it looked a little like the Big Deal Alphabet on the background. I just knew that I wanted to use paper to copy this as close as I could and I really liked the results.

Always

My new stamps are cut and mounted and I just had to make something. I decided that it was the perfect chance to leave my husband a card for no reason at all. I had been wanting this set for a while now and I finally got it! I hope that you like it and I am going to have to go back to playing with my new stuff - I am sure that I will have more to post next week with the new sets.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Always stamp set; Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip and whisper card stock; Soft Sky and Chocolate Chip classic ink pad; 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

Need an Envelope?

When you make a card that is not a standard size sometimes you have to make your own envelope. When you use the double sided designer series paper you get really cute envelopes that have that extra surprise when you open them up.
All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Carte Postale stamp set; Bashful Blue and whisper card stock; Old Olive classic ink pad; Old Olive Poly-Twill Ribbon; Summer Picnic DSP; Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware.

There is a simple formula to make an envelope - so if you are ready to use a little math...

To determine the size of paper you need for the envelope:
Take the height of the card times 2 1/2 and that will give you the height of the envelope paper. Take the width of the card and add 1 1/4" that gives you the width of the envelope paper.
For example a 3" x 4" card would need a pieces of paper cut to 7 1/2" (3" x 2 1/2=7 1/2") by 5 1/4" (4" + 1 1/4"=5 1/4")

To determine where to score the envelope:
Score 1/2" in along both long sides of the paper you have cut for the envelope.
Subtract 1 1/4" from the height, this is the first score line across the width of the paper. (using the 3" x 4" card example that would mean that you would subtract 1 1/4
from 3 and you would have a score mark at 1 3/4")
The second score line across the width of the paper is the height of the card plus the width to the first score line plus 1/4". ( for the 3" x 4" card that would mean 3"+1 3/4"+ 1/4" and you would put your second score at 5")

Once all of your score marks are done you can cut our the four corner rectangles and then I like to round the corners because I think that it makes the envelope look more finished. Here is a picture of what the "unfinished envelope would look like and the measurements for our 3" x 4" card example as well as placement of the sticky strip. This isn't pretty but it is what I store in my idea book so that I can remember the "formula" when I need to make an envelope.

Two things to sale-a-brate

I have two projects to share today. Both are made with a Sale-a-bration set. I love these sets and the best thing is for each $50 purchase made you get to choose an item from the sale-a-bration catalog. Doesn't everyone love a gift with purchase??

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Friendship Blooms stamp set; Kraft, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Mellow Moss and Whisper White card stock; Mellow Moss Stampin' Write marker; Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, and Mellow Moss classic ink pads; White 1/4" grosgrain, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky double stitched ribbon; So Saffron button.

I love to have cards on hand and ready to mail to a friend for no real reason at all and I think this one will fit the bill perfectly.

The next card used soft colors that I could not get to photograph as well but I do love how the card looks in real life.

All Supplies Stampin' Up!: Birthday Whimsy stamp set; Bashful Blue, Barely Banana and Whisper White card stock; Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Barely Banana Stampin' Write marker; Barely Banana, and Bashful Blue classic ink pads; Certainly Celery Prints Designer Series Paper; Bashful Blue and White 1/4" grosgrain.

I just love these two sets. They are both offer a ton of options. You don't have to take my word for it. Check out what other stampers are doing with Friendship Blooms and Birthday Whimsy.