Balloon Fun Happy Birthday Card

Back in February, I created a few different cards using the Number of Years stamp set that's found in the Occasions Catalog. 

It's a super versatile set and one of the things I like doing with stamps like these is collaging them on one clear block to create a custom background stamp. 

Here's the third card I created using that technique:

And here's a pic of how I set up the collage on the clear block: 

Now that you've seen how the background was created, the rest of the card is pretty simple. 

Here's a few tips:

1) The balloons were punched from one piece of Perfectly Artistic Designer Paper with the Balloon Punch. I just turned a couple of them over to show the different color tone on the back. The Wink of Stella clear shimmer pen was used to highlight each balloon and I added them to the card front with Stampin' Dimensionals. 

2) The balloon strings are made with a single piece of White Jute Ribbon. I cut the edge off one side of a 7" piece and pulled out the individual strings, adhering them to the back of each balloon with some Fast Fuse. I tied them all together with another strand and adhered them to the card front with a Glue Dot. 

3) The greeting was stamped a second time in Night of Navy ink on a scrap piece of paper. I trimmed it out with Paper Snips and adhered it to the card front, covering the Daffodil Delight image. 

Here's a complete supply list for you: 

I thought this was a fun birthday card for kids of all ages - and super easy to make too!

You can purchase all the supplies by clicking on any of the product photos above - they will take you directly to my Online Store. 

Sale-A-Bration ends on the 31st! 

Don't miss your last chance to receive FREE products for each $50 you spend - 

Here'a a graphic showing you ALL the free items still available to choose from: 

As you can see, the Metallics Glitter Tape is already SOLD OUT! 

But....the Perfectly Artistic Designer Series Paper that I used on today's card is STILL Available!

Shop at this Link:

www.trinitydesigntudio.stampinup.net

Traveler - Inspiration Series - Ocean Liner Card

It's Day 3 of the Traveler stamp set Inspiration Series - 

I hope you're enjoying this set of more 'masculine' cards. 

The images in this stamp set call out to my inner vintage maven, but honestly, my first thought is to go shabby-chic, romantic style with them. 

Creating a set of more masculine projects was a fantastic challenge! 

Here's today's ocean liner card: 

As with the first two cards, this one is pretty straightforward stamping - except.....

1) I created the inked layers on the bottom of the card base using a piece of torn grid paper and a sponge. Cover the top portion of the card front with the torn paper, exposing about a 1/4" or so across the bottom of the card. (shows darker in the photo) Sponge Crumb Cake ink all over the exposed portion. Next, shift the torn paper up and over, exposing more of the card front and shifting the torn edge so it creates a different sponged edge. Sponge more ink on the exposed card front. This will create the two-tone effect you see shown. 

2) As much as I hate fussy-cutting anything, this stunning ship image was dying to be made 3-D. So, I stamped the full image on the focal card stock piece, then stamped it again on a scrap. I cut out just the larger portions of the ship with my Paper Snips then popped it up on Stampin' Dimensionals. 

3) The Blackberry Bliss circle was actually run through the Big Shot in the Modern Mosaic folder, but my camera was being a booger the day I took the pics and I couldn't get it to show up in the shot. It looks awesome in person tho'! LOL!

Here's a complete supply list for you: 

Shopping for any of these products and more is so easy, simply click on any of the product photos and it will take you right into my Online Store. 

Be sure to check out the Clearance Rack and Weekly Deals while you are there and remember - all orders of $50 or more automatically earn you a choice of a FREE Sale-A-Bration product! (but just through the 31st!)

I'm so glad you stopped by today - be sure to come back tomorrow for the next card in the series.

How many of you have taken a cruise? And how many of you have cruised on a vintage style ocean-liner? I'd love to hear you're experiences! 

Birthday By the Numbers - Take Two!

Yesterday, I shared a really sweet and simple card that used the Number of Years stamp set and I promised that I'd share this one today:

And if you follow me on Periscope, you got to see the demo of how I set up my clear block with the stamps in the set to make the collage background. I also created the card live for you! 

I love Periscope! 

It allows me to stamp and create 'live' even if you're not in the same room with me. 

Be sure to follow my account there - @trinitydesign95

The app is free for both iPhone and Android AND you can watch from your laptop or desktop computer as well. 

Anyway, I digress - here's another look at today's card:

And here's a supply list for you: 

As always, you can click on any of the product photos and place your order in my Online Store! 

Shopping made easy!

I'm so glad you stopped by today - what will you be creating this weekend?

I'll be posting the Creativate Weekend Sketch Challenge tomorrow - come back by and let that inspire you!

Happy Birthday by the Numbers!

There's a new stamp set in the Occasions Catalog called Number of Years. 

It consists of mostly large number stamps (awesome!), a lovely leaf spray with different flower images to choose from and a few different greetings. 

It's a great stamp set when you need to create a specific age or date or year card. 

But then, what do you do when you want something more generic? 

Well, here's an idea - make a background stamp with it! 

Here's the card I created:

And here's how I set up my stamp:

One of the things I love about the photopolymer and clear mount stamps is the ability to arrange multiple stamps on one clear block to create my own designs. This technique is especially fun for making background images! 

Have you ever tried doing this? 

The card I created is really simple and one you can re-create in just 10 minutes or less!

The Night of Navy card base is a standard 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded to make a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card. 

The Soft Sky layer is 4" x 5 1/4" as is the Whisper White panel on the inside. 

I stamped the floral spray on a scrap of Whisper White and punched it out with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch. 

The greeting was stamped on more scrap and hand cut with Paper Snips. 

The Night of Navy Ribbon banner is about 14" of ribbon, casually adhered to the back of the circle, popped up on dimensionals.  

Here's a list of supplies I used: 

As always, simply click on any of the product photos above and you can Shop Online in my Store for all your Stampin' Up! needs! 

Don't forget that SALE-A-BRATION is still in full swing - 

you'll receive a FREE exclusive product for each $50 you spend in my store. 

Thanks for stopping by - what are you going to create today?

Don't forget to check out these fantastic Weekly Deals when you visit my store!

It's Your Day Celebration Card

What are YOU celebrating today?!?

Well, whatever it may be, remember - 

It's YOUR Day!

And here's a card just for you! 

We're celebrating BIG today in our home - 

our daughter got "the" phone call from her first choice college last night! 

She'll be attending Western Michigan University in the Fall and skating on their Synchronized Skating Team! 

That's been her dream for a long while now and even though she'll be very far away from home, we're thrilled that she gets to begin living out her dreams! 

And we have plenty of wonderful friends in Michigan who I KNOW will be there when Mom and Dad can't be - another blessing of this amazing company I work with. LOVE SU! and I LOVE my SU! friends! 

Anyway, enough about us - how about a FREE downloadable PDF Tutorial for this card? 

Here's the link: 

Party With Cake Circle Card

Your supply list is included on the tutorial sheet, but here are thumbnail photos of a few important items:

To shop for any of these items and more, simply click on any of the product photos and you'll be directed right into my Online Store!

Thanks for helping us pay for that out-of-state college tuition! LOL!

So, whatever you're celebrating today - make it awesome! And share it in the comments so we can celebrate with you!

NEW Weekly Deals! 

Great prices on some fabulous products!

Botanical Blooms Birthday Card

Did you guys know that I've been a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for over 10 years? 

Yep, it's true - crazy how time flies, huh? :)

There's a lot of things I LOVE about being part of this fantastic company, but far and away is the creativity and sharing that takes place with my fellow demonstrators. 

One of the things we do is participate in swaps. We trade project ideas with each other. 

Online, virtual swaps of shareable artwork are one way we share, but we ALL LOVE the physical card swaps! We each create say, 20 of 1 specific design and we SWAP them, ending up with 20 different card ideas! 

Who wouldn't love that??

I just participated in several different swaps for the new Occasions Catalog and Sale-A-Bration Brochure and here is one of the cards I created: 

I combined a few different stamp sets and elements to make a fresh, clean and simple birthday card design. 

The main stamp sets I used are the NEW Botanical Blooms and the NEW Rose Wonder from the Occasions Catalog along with the coordinating Framelit Die Sets for the Big Shot.

Good news is......you can purchase them starting TOMORROW, January 5th!

Here's a list of the other products I used to create this card: 

As always, you can shop in my Online Store for any of these products and so much more. 

Simply click on any of the thumbnail product photos to Shop Now!

I know it's Monday, and probably back to school and work for many of you, but I sure do hope you have a great day! 

Try to make time to create something fun today!

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If not, you're missing out on great WEEKLY card tutorials, Stampin' Up! News and Special Sale announcements and News from Me, here in the Studio!

Be sure to click the link in the right sidebar to sign up for my newsletter today!

I made a BIG announcement yesterday to my newsletter subscribers!

My newly redesigned Create By Mail Club Program begins THIS MONTH! 

I've updated all the details in the Create By Mail tab at the top of this page, or you can Click HERE to find out more!

Be sure to check it out and JOIN the club today!

A Very Special Birthday Card

My daughter turns 18 today. 

If you've lived this milestone with one of your own, you KNOW the emotions, and I could write a novel about what I'm feeling today....

Anyway, I'll spare you the details. 

But I KNOW you KNOW! 

So, funny thing, Emma came to me on Thursday last week and reminded me that her party was the following weekend and 

"Omigoshmomineedinvitationspleasedoyouhavetimetomakethemforme??"

GASP.....(BIG Deep Breath!)

"Iwantsomethingpinkandpurpleandsparkly!Please?!?!You'rethebestmomever!"

Or something like that. 

And you know how it goes, 

of COURSE I made them!

Because, well, because I can't look at that face and say no...

Honestly, at almost 18, I'm beyond grateful that she still wants her Mom to make her party invites, know what I mean? 

AND it gave me a chance to play with some new products from the Occasions Mini catalog too! 

The Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper is brand new AND that awesome circle stamp is in the New Project Life Stamp Set 'Memories in the Making'. LOVE it! 

All the rest is currently available - here's the supply list:

I hope you all have a fantastic day! 

I've got some birthday plans to finalize so we can celebrate BIG tonight! 

Here's a pic of the Birthday Girl! 

Happy, Amazing Birthday Emma - YOU are the best thing in our lives and we love you with all our hearts. ~~ Mom and Dad

#Thankful29 Project - A Card a Day in November (Day 17)

Do you have an Autumn birthday?
If you do, you'll like today's card.
I think it's easy to forget that we can make gorgeous seasonal cards for ALL occasions and birthdays are definitely deserving of a special card, don't you think?

This month, I've been posting one Fall themed card each day. 

I love everything about this season, and I especially love that so many choose November as a month to reflect and be thankful for the blessings in their lives. 

Each day I share here, I'll also share one thing in my life that I'm thankful for - I'm encouraging you to comment on these posts with your own 'Thankful Thoughts'! 

Let's make this November our most thankful season ever! 

Here's today's card project:

Card Created by Rachel Tessman

Here are the supplies used to make this card: 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

As always, you can click on any of the thumbnail photos above and shop in my Online Store 24/7! 

Today would have been my best friend Missy's 51st birthday. 

She was taken from us way too early - a victim of Ovarian Cancer that spread and metastasized in too many places to name here. 
I'm thankful for the time I had with her, even more thankful that I know I'll see her again someday in Heaven. 
She would be the first one to tell you - women especially - be the BEST advocate for your own health care. Don't delay your check-ups or treatments. When she was diagnosed, she was in Stage 4 and treatment only extended her life a short time. 
We have healthcare at our fingertips - for all who need it - don't put it off for any reason. 

What are you thankful for today?