Christmas Tuesday!

I’m back with another fun and simple Christmas card for you. The designer paper may not be available but you can easily swap any other paper and coordinating cardstock to achieve a similar look.

Most of my cards are pretty simple. Here I’m mixing different coordinating designer series paper (unfortunately retired) with layers to add dimension and some simple stamping to add interest.

Second generation stamping of the trees with Shaded Spruce ink.

This close up shows the crisp definition of the stamping of the sentiment using Cherry Cobbler ink and the first and second generation stamping of the trees using Shaded Spruce ink. Simply layer rectangles cuts with solid coordinating card stock mats and you have a lovely card with some very basic stamping that anyone would appreciate getting for Christmas.

Stuff I used here that's still available from Stampin’ Up:

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Christmas Crafts!

Love From My Heart

Hello Everyone!

This may look like they are valentines cards but these cards are not limited to one day a year. Sending love is good 365 days a year.

Here’s a picture of one of the main cards. I basically used a bunch of pieces and mixed and matched using real red, whisper white and flirty flamingo to mat the designer series paper.

The sentiment is made using a retired alphabet die set from Stampin’ Up in whisper white cardstock and attached them to a piece of real red or flirty flamingo cardstock cut using the Stitched Rectangle dies. The alphabet dies are currently on clearance at Stampin’ Up (they won’t last long). Normally this set is $99 but the clearance price is $59.40. If you want them, the link is below!

Here’s the inside of the card with a sweet sentiment from my A Wish For Everything stamp set from Stampin’ Up. Notice there is no wishing a happy valentines day. I wanted this card to be used at any time.

I hope you enjoyed this card designed and made with love! If you want some of the supplies used check out the links below:

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Real Red, Flirty Flamingo and Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: From My Heart

Stamps: A Wish For Everything

Dies: Large Letter Framelits, Stitched Rectangles

Crafting with LOVE!

Christmas Tuesday

Another Christmas card for you on this lovely Tuesday in February. All the goodies in this one are retired except the yummy ink and paper. But I just love the super simple layout of the card. Very easy to copy for your own card, whether it’s for a Christmas card any card!

Don’t you love fun ornament Christmas paper?

To get the lighter shade for my stamped ornaments I stamped off once and then stamped the image on my cardstock. That way the sentiment stood out when I stamped it at full strength with Pretty Peacock ink.

Here’s a close up on an angle to show you the dimension on the card and a closer look at the ink and paper I used.

Ink & Paper!

Cherry Cobler cardstock

Whisper White cardstock

Pretty Peacock Ink

Gray Granite Ink

Dimensionals

A craft Christmas card!

Mary and Me Layout

A simple layout of me and my wonderful friend Mary. I’ve recently switched back to 8.5 x 11 scrapbooking. I’m keeping it simple by reducing the amount of photos and just focusing on the moment.

Background created with black ink stamping of the poppies. Peaceful Poppies designer series paper takes center stage.

This photo of me and Mary was taken at a charity event at the Angus Barn restaurant. It was a fundraiser for House of Hope a few years back. Mary was part of the organizing and running of the event and it was incredibly successful.

A little bling is always a good idea. Also love the trim piece die from the Painted Labels dies.

These dies from the Poppy Moments die set add a whimsical touch but I wish I had my black mini dimensionals for the centers of these poppies…next on my order list!

The stuff I used…

Peaceful Moments stamp set 

Poppy Moments dies

Painted Labels dies

Stitched Rectangle dies

Memento Black Ink

Peaceful Poppies designer series paper

Blackberry Bliss cardstock

Rich Razzleberry cardstock

Flirty Flamingo cardstock

Poppy Parade cardstock

Old Olive cardstock

Mossy Meadow cardstock

Whisper White cardstock

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Scrapping crafty!

Peaceful Poppies Birthday Card

I love the new poppies products in the new Stampin’ Up Mini Catalog. I’m using a bunch of the products here. Take a look and let me know what you think!

I like to dress up the envelope flap with coordinating paper.

I added a coordinating stamp to the front of the envelope.

Here’s a close up showing off the rhinestones, birthday sentiment and punches.

Don’t forget the inside of the card too!

Goodies used in making this card:

Peaceful Moments stamp set 

Painted Poppies stamp set

Memento Black Ink

Peaceful Poppies designer series paper

Poppy Parade cardstock

Old Olive cardstock

Whisper White cardstock

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Label Me Fancy Punch

Label Me Lovely Punch

Keeping it crafty!

Let's Gather Together for Fall on Faulkner 2019

Welcome! Today I have a new scrapbook page to show. I’m switching it up and going back to scrapbooking on 8.5x11 instead of 12x12. It’s easier to store and allows me to keep it simple and not feel obligated to have a dozen photos on a layout. I’ve always been a clean and simple scrapbooker. I also wanted to show people that you can use your Stampin Up supplies for more than just cardmaking. I enjoy incorporating my stamps, inks, designer series paper and dies in my layouts. I hope to share more of these kinds of pages on the blog. I hope you enjoy them too!

Every year I do a layout I call Fall on Faulkner. I live on that street so I like to capture the look of fall each year in my yard. There have been so many changes throughout the year that I enjoy looking back and seeing the differences. This layout does not have journaling yet but I wanted to share it anyway. You will see I have featured the stamps, designer series paper and dies from the Come To Gather Suite. Although those products are not available for sale any more it should give you an idea of what’s possible when you use your own stamps, inks and dies for more than cards.

This last shot shows off the dimension in the veins in the leaf die as well as the texture in the designer series paper. I really love how this turned out and was excited to share. I hope you think of fun ways to use your stamps in scrapbooking!

Keep it scrappy!

Christmas Tuesday!

Another Christmas Tuesday has arrived and another card is here for your enjoyment. Sending Tiding of Comfort and Joy to someone in a few months.

Here’s a close up on an angle to show you the dimension of the embossing folder, the ribbon and and lift from the dimensionals. Again, the products aren’t necessarily available from Stampin Up anymore, but the card layout is easy to replicate.

I hope this card inspires you to make one just like it whether it’s an early Christmas card for you or a fun valentines card…you choose.

Keep it crafty friends!

Birthdays are the best days!

Hello Crafty Friends!

Here’s a fun birthday card using my favorite stamp set from Stampin’ Up…Beautiful Friendship. I’m not a girly-girl but I absolutely love this stamp set. I made this card as a part of the a card class. I love that you can make your own floral combination. You will see more of this stamp set in future projects!

Here’s a close up of the sentiments. It shows off the cool stitching in the die cutting of the paper with the sentiment as well as the texture of the embossing folder and bling - don’t forget the bling!

Supplies I have used for this card:

Stamps: Beautiful Friendship

Dies: Stitched Rectangle

Embellishments: Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Bermuda Bay, Old Olive

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Old Olive

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Birthday...celebrate with a refreshing drink!

I hope you enjoy this card. It’s never to early to start getting your stash of birthday cards done. Here’s a cute adult birthday card. I hope this card inspires you. If you like Stampin’ Up and are interested in any of the products considering checking out my online store HERE. Otherwise, please know that you can always use what you already have to create something similar.

Consider decorating the inside of your envelopes with paper that coordinates with the card and/or stamps used on the card…

I just love what a few dimensionals can do to a card…

Don’t forget to decorate the inside of your cards when you get a chance. I little scrap of paper can make all the difference tying it all together…

Supplies: (1) Stamps: Sip Sip Hooray, Sending You Thoughts. (2) Ink: Memento Black, So Saffron, Coastal Cabana. (3) Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Birthday Bonanza Designer Series Paper (DSP). (4) Dies: Layered Circles.

Directions: Front of Card - (1) Use a piece of Whisper White cardstock for a A2 card base. (2) Cut Night of Navy cardstock to 4-1/8” x 5-3/8”. (3) Cut a piece of Birthday Bonanza DSP to 4” x 5-1/4”. (4) Layer Birthday Bonanza DSP on top of Night of Navy cardstock. (5) Attach the base layer (#4) to the white A2 card base. (6) Cut a piece of Night of Navy scrap to 1” x 5-3/8”. (7) Cut a piece of Birthday Bonanza DSP to 3/4” x 5-3/8”. (8) Attached the Birthday Bonanza DSP strip to the Night of Navy strip. (9) Attach the strip (#8 )to the bottom half of the card. (10) Use the Layered Circle dies circle (you choose the size) and corresponding scalloped circle to cut the plain circle with some Whisper White cardstock scrap and the scalloped circle in Night of Navy cardstock scraps. (11) Stamp the champagne and martini glasses to the white circle in Momento Black Ink. (12) Stamp the drinks liquid in So Saffron (champagne) and Coastal Cabana (martini). (13) Stamp the “Happy Birthday” sentiment inside the circle. (14) Layer the white stamped circle to the Night of Navy scalloped circle die and adhere to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Directions: Inside of Card - (1) Copy the steps in #6, 7 and 8 above and adhere to the bottom of the inside of the card. (2) Stamp the sentiment (“Another Sensational Year of You”) in Momento Black Ink above the strip adhered in step #1.

Keep it crafty friends!

I'll Drink to That!

Welcome to a new year at Tradefish Designs. I hope this #SimpleStamping project inspires you to start getting crafty for 2020.

Remember to consider stamping the front and/or back of your envelope to give the recipient a hint at what’s inside!

Here is my first card of the year. I combine two stamp sets in a simply stamping (#SimpleStamping) project. I love have clean and clear it is…all the details are below (along with more fun photos).

I hope you’ve enjoyed my card. I have a photo of the stamp sets used below as well as a full list of supplies and directions to make the card yourself. I hope you all have a wonderful and craft new year!!!

Supplies: (1) Stamps: Sip Sip Hooray (“I’ll Drink to That”), Sending You Thoughts (“Congratulations”). (2) Paper: Whisper White, Balmy Blue. (3) Ink: Momento Black, Balmy Blue, Pear Pizzazz. (4) Stampin’ Blends: Light Olive. (5) Dies: Sip Sip Hooray dies - olives on skewer. All the supplies used in this project are from Stampin’ Up. If you are interested in purchasing any of them feel free to shop at my STORE or reach out to me via email at tradefishdesigns@gmail.com.

Directions: Card Front - (1) Use a Whisper White A2 card base. (2) Cut Balmy Blue cardstock to 4-1/8” x 5-3/8”. (3) Cut Whisper White cardstock to 4”x5-1/4”. (4) Stamp martini glass, olive pick and sentiment in Momento Black Ink. (5) Stamp the drink liquid with Balmy Blue. (6) Stamp the greenery in Pear Pizzazz Ink. (7) Color the olives with light olive Stampin’ Blend. (8) Adhere what cardstock with stamped images to the Balmy Blue cardstock. (9) Adhere the white/balmy blue layers to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Directions: Inside Card - (1) Stamp “Congratulations” inside the card with Moment Black Inc. (2) Stamp the olive skewer in Momento Black Ink on a scrap piece of paper. (3) Color the olives in using the Light Olive Stampin’ Blend marker. (4) Using a die cut machine, die cut the olives on a skewer with the dies that coordinate with the stamp set. (5) Adhere the olive die cut inside the card next to the sentiment.

Happy New Years Crafters!

May the warmth of Christmas fill each corner of your heart and home...

Hello Crafters,

I have a Christmas card that I made at a crop event at the beach in November. I make MANY Christmas cards each year. I make them for a charitable organization to thank large donors for their support throughout the year. I also design and make our family Christmas cards. Finally, I make an assortment of cards for my husband to distribute to his team at work. This year I also made an assortment of cards just for fun. This card is one of them…enjoy!

This card uses a bunch of my Stampin’ Up supplies. The stamp set is retired but if you want to recreate thes card design you can substitute any holiday sentiment you already have in your stamp stash. The designer paper is Night Before Christmas from the current Holiday Catalog. The Holiday Catalog is only good through January 2nd so it you see something you like please don’t wait to place an order!

Here’s a close up at an angle so you can see the textures and dimension of the card. I hope you enjoy this simple card and come back tomorrow for another holiday card.

What Stampin’ Up products I used to make this card…

1. Night Before Christmas Designer Series Paper

2. Pretty Peacock Cardstock

3. Mossy Meadow Cardstock

4. Whisper White Cardstock (thick)

5. Pretty Peacock Ink

6. Braided Linen Trim

IF you want to purchase any of the items ABOVE please feel free to visit MY WEBSITE and use the following host code: 3XGZA7HB

If you place an order you can use the Host Code above in the Special Offers section of the shopping bag. Please only use this code if your order is under $150. If your order is above $150 you can select hostess benefits on your order.

Happy Crafting!

Come Sail Away...

First project for quite a while. I’ve been out of crafty commission for months. New job and side hustle filled all the vacant space. Now I have made a few adjustments, cleaned my craft room and busted out a could of cards. Here’s the first one…

Joined Stampin’ Up as a Demonstrator. It’s not the only product you’ll see on my blog because I really love it all but I will highlight the SU products when I use them.

I will always try to take an angle shot so you can see the dimension in the project.

I decorated the front and back of the envelope and the inside of the card as well but I forgot to take an inside pic.

I try to make a coordinating envelope where I can and use some coordinating paper to really tie it all together. It really makes a statement when the recipient opens the card and sees the matching look.

I don’t really have the dimensions here for you on this one. I did use the following supplies that you can buy on my Stampin’Up website - TradeFishDesigns.stampinup.net:

Sailing Home Cling Stamp Set

Come Sail Away Designer Paper

Night of Navy Ink & Paper

Mossy Meadow Paper

Layering Square Dies

I hope you enjoyed this card. Come back soon for another fun project.

New craftiness coming soon!

I will be back very soon with all new crafty goodness…

Christmas in February?

Hello! 

For those who may not know, I’m on the Board of The Blind Spot Animal Sanctuary. In an effort to use my craftiness to help these amazing farm animals, I make Christmas cards for those who donate throughout the year showing gratitude for their generosity and hoping to inspire them to give one last time before the end of the year. The first year I sent out about 75 cards. Last year I send about 140 cards. Based on that trend I’m starting early and knocking them out so I’m not slammed at the busiest time of year. My goal is to have around 200 cards done by November. During a recent scrapbook weekend in Myrtle Beach I spent an afternoon with 2 card kits and created a total of 56 cards…a few more weekends like that and I’ll be all set!

Today I’m showing off some holiday cards I made from one of the kits. The kit was purchased from HSN and features some crazy adorable gnomes. From this kitI made 24 cards with a ton of leftover stuff to give to a friends to make her own cute cards. These cards are not fancy but whimsical and fun. I hope the future recipients enjoy them.

Merry Christmas in February my crafty friends!

Starting off the new year by making some changes!

Hello Friends!

2019 is going to be a year for change. I’m making some changes in my crafting life. I’ve stopped being a consultant for Close to My Heart. They are a wonderful company but I just started feeling overwhelmed by all the products and collecting. I am tired of products “expiring” before I had a chance to promote them. I was paying at least $300 per quarter to maintain the relationship and finding I was way to busy with life to use all the things I was buying. I also have so many stamp sets that I can’t possibly add more. I am moving in a different direction. I’m getting back to the basics…what got me into this crafting journey in the first place…scrapbooking. I will be selling off or donating a ridiculous amount of tools, paper, stamps, etc. to lighten my load in 2019. I encourage all of you to watch the YouTube video below. Lindsay, also known as the Frugal Crafter, is a mainstay in the crafting world for me and she totally captured how I was feeling.

I have many new goals in the new year and one is capturing more of my life in photos (with me in the photos!) and turning them into fun scrapbook pages. I’ll still make the homemade birthday and holiday cards but my focus is going to shift back to my original crafting heart. I hope you will enjoy my new journey here at Tradefish Designs. To all of you out there, have a wonderful new year and make it full of whatever brings you joy!

Thanksgiving Place Cards

Hello Everyone,

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner this year and I wanted to share a crafty project I made for the table. I used scraps of this and that plus my Cricut Maker to create some fun place cards for the table.

I pulled up my Cricut Design Space and searched for a place card I liked for a Fall look. I found a design that I liked but it was a napkin holder. I decided to convert the design and just use the toppers…with some modifications.

For a place card I need names of my guests. I don’t like my handwriting enough to personally write the names so I used my Cut & Write function on my Cricut Maker to make pennants/flags. I popped in my Cricut black pen and the machine used the pen and wrote out the names and then cut the shapes out. Love this feature!

Now I have compiled my pieces. I have the base and a leaf variety plus some color coordinated buttons. The base is two layers. I forgot to capture it on camera. I just glued them together and cut out three different leaves with different colors.

I grabbed some buttons from my stash and started arranging everything the way I liked and started gluing.

Here is what the place setting looks like with the place card (mine).

Here’s a close up of my place card. I like it and I think my guests will too!

Stay calm & Craft on.

Paper Trufflez Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Paper Trufflez Team Blog Hop. The theme for this hop is “Everything Christmas.” If you have come from Amy Ricker Pitts’ blog, you are on the right path.

The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here. It’s really simple to hop along with us. Simply click on the link at the end of each blog post to move to the next one.

My project today is a multi-page 6x6 scrapbook ready to capture all your memories this holiday season. This project used the ‘Tis The Season Coordinating Cardstock with the coordinating ‘Tis The Season Complements and Picture My Life Cards - Christmas List and this small album will hold a bunch of photos. I have the pages loose for the photos but you could easily add them to a 6x6 scrapbook or even bind them them using other tools. Again, I just used my paper cutter, adhesive and the cardstock and complements to create this fun project. White & Gold Skinny Ribbon and Bitty Sparkles are optional.

The Complements Kit has so many different types of embellishments. I used the beautiful red glitter shapes.

These pages highlight the gold foil elements.

I love the different Picture My Life Cards…they really make a difference throughout the album.

The addition on the Bitty Sparkles adds some whimsy to the snowflake stickers.

More Bitty Sparkles….

Lighting on this one is off but the last page of the album is highlighted with these gorgeous red glitter letters - also part of the Complements pack.

Now “hop” on over to Lisa Hidy’s blog to see her fabulous artwork. Be sure to visit all the Consultants in the hop to get some fun creative ideas. If you get lost along the way, here is a list of participants. Thanks for stopping by!

Here are the Close to My Heart Products used in this project (links to purchase above in post)…

Keep it crafty!

Grateful Heart Layout

Helloooooo!

I’m back with another 2-page layout highlighting the Grateful Heart paper pack from Close to My Heart and the coordinating Complements. In this layout I show off pictures of our recent visit with our son on Parent’s Weekend at the Coast Guard Academy. We took our son and some of his friends golfing and we had a wonderful time. My husband, Rob, came within inches of a hole in one on a par 3 course. For someone who hasn’t seriously played in a decade or two it was pretty impressive. I hope you enjoy the clean and simple style of this layout.

Products Used:

Grateful Heart Paper Pack

Grateful Heart Complements

Happy crafting!