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Sep 26

September 26, 2020

Card with World Map dies in Pretty Peacock and Old Olive

Design Inspiration for this Beautiful World Card

Do you ever start creating with an idea, and the end result is nothing like that idea? That’s the joy and frustration of design inspiration, and it’s the origin of this card. I wanted to make a card using the two globes in the Beautiful World stamp set. Looking through Pinterest, I saw a graphic of two old world maps, side by side. That was my starting point, and I would give my card an old world look.

detail of card with World Map dies and Beautiful World stamps

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Sep 12

September 12, 2020

Birthday card with Whisky Business from Stampin' Up!

An Old Fashioned Card Using Whiskey Business

As you can see from the card photo, my blog title is a play on words as the card sentiment is “sending you an old-fashioned birthday card.” But I think the design of this card, using the Whiskey Business stamp set, is rather old-fashioned.

Birthday card with Whisky Business from Stampin' Up!

There was a time when everyone used black mats for all their images. I didn’t do that a lot because it often struck me as being too heavy for a lot of images. However, I think it works perfectly for this card. It helps with the linear design and works with the dark background and over all tone.

Actually, this card just evokes an old-fashioned sensibility to me. I love historical fiction (books and movies) and I can imagine the men withdrawing from dinner to have cigars and whiskey. Then again, maybe its just the wood paneled background!

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Sep 28

September 28, 2019

Detail of Wonderfully Wicked bat card by Vintage and Fresh, showing splatter technique.

A Wonderfully Wicked Bat Card

The Wonderfully Wicked bundle in the Holiday catalog is perfect for a black and white card. This one features the bat image.

Black and white card using Wonderfully Wicked Bundle from Stampin' Up! and featuring the bat image.

This is an easy card to make. (more…)

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Sep 27

September 27, 2018

Spooky Bats Specimen Display card using Stampin' Up! Spooky Bats Punch and DSP, by Paula Cannon.

A Spooky Bats Specimen Display

Real life bats can be spooky, but paper bats can be fun. Especially when they are so easy to make with the Spooky Sweets stamp set and Spooky Bats punch. Bats are a Halloween staple, so a bat punch is a good item for your craft stash.

My spooky bats specimen display is a little different than bats flying through the sky.

Spooky Bats Specimen Display card using Stampin' Up! Spooky Bats Punch and DSP, by Paula Cannon.

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Jun 2

June 2, 2017

Card designed by Paula Cannon for www.vintageandfresh.com using Pieces & Patterns stamp set from the 2017-18 Stampin' Up! catalog.

Why Hello There, New Catalog

Why, hello there! The new catalog went live yesterday and I was among the thousands placing an order. One of the perks of being a demonstrator is the opportunity to pre-order select products a month before a catalog goes live. And I did. But there are so many things I like in the new catalog, I had to order again! Of course, I need new samples for my upcoming Open House, too. Of course.

One of the sets I pre-ordered is called Pieces & Patterns. (You can find it on page 41.) It’s kind of a goofy little set and not the style I normally get. But it caught my eye, and every time I looked through the catalog I had to stop and ponder what I would do with it. Every. Time. So I bought it.

Several of us got together for a swap with our new sets and I made this card.

Card designed by Paula Cannon for www.vintageandfresh.com using Pieces & Patterns stamp set from the 2017-18 Stampin' Up! catalog.

The camera image in the stamp set and the camera design on the matching Pick a Pattern designer series paper made me think of the faux Polaroid frames that are trendy right now. And the idea of the dinosaur, with his short little arms, taking a selfie made me chuckle. Yes, it doesn’t happen often, but sometimes a card will have a backstory. Is it just me?

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