#shopyourstash #useyourstash 2023

 I made these first two cards using distress oxides and the smooshing technique.  I cased these first two cards from a card I saw on Pinterest, I'm not sure the technique the pinner used.  I used my Tim Holtz wildflower dies on all three cards.  I had the inside from the rectangles and used them to make the third card using ink blending left on my blenders.  I heat embossed the sentiments from various, older stamp sets in my collection.  The ink blending was done on Tim Holtz watercolor card stock. I used stitched rectangle dies I've had from Stampin' Up in my stash for years.   Thanks to Helen from Crafty Mama Diaries on YouTube for inspiring this hash tag to USE our stuff!

Masculine Birthday, More strippin' it up

 I recently unearthed this happy birthday, wood block stamp and realized what a great background it would be.  I had left over strips of cardstock from another project and thought let's add a masculine birthday card to my stash.  (fyi, birthday cards are one of the fewest cards I personally send out) Also, raise your hand if you struggle with masculine cards ✋Sheesh, why is it SO hard???

 I messed up the stamping a little at the top, but again, I'm not perfect and I doubt the someday recipient will notice.  You're kind of stamping blind with wood blocks.  I really like how it turned out.  I added a stamps of life happy birthday die cut and pops of color in three shades to round out the design.  Matted with a thin layer of black and mounted to a 5x7 card base.  

A little ink blending

 This card evolved from my latest sympathy card.  I was just enjoying blending ink colors with distress oxide inks.  They blend so beautifully, especially on Strathmore bristol smooth cardstock.  I created a stencil on my cricut and while I was in the stencil making zone, I created a stencil with hearts as well.  Once I get through my "work" orders, I'll be playing with that.  

Maybe I'm longing for that warmer weather, which is something these colors evoke.  Our bipolar weather, went from 70 degree thunderstorms yesterday, to 28 degrees spitting snow today.  Indiana, you never let me down.  HA! 

I heat embossed this large thanks stamp and added black pops of color for embellishment.  Mounted on black cardstock with layering stitched rectangle dies on a 5 x 7 card base.  

This card feels just like Spring.

 Good old Indiana is throwing out her crazy weather as usual.  It was like 70 degrees today which is completely abnormal in February, but considering our weather history...maybe notsomuch. Anywho, I was asked to make a thank you card and I am determined to use my stash, specifically things I haven't used before. To be honest, I do not have a lot in my stash that has never been used.  I make it a point to use what I buy. That being said, there are occasions that doesn't always happen.  So, I pulled out this large die of the month that I've had from Spellbinders for some time.  Lots and lots of pieces.  Tedious, and I can't tell you how many times I had to re-cut pieces I lost. I also managed, in this work session, to dump my gold embossing powder all over my desk and onto the floor....not pretty friends.  Tedious, though it may have been, I always love how projects like this turn out when finished.  Super cute. Enjoy.

My grandmother's Mother's Day card

 I absolutely LOVE this collection from Spellbinders of Bibi's Butterfly collection.  It took some time, but I was able to add the entire collection to my stash.  I also used a set from Vicki P's birdhouse collection from spellbinders.  The flowers are from a spellbinders collection as well, that I already had created in my stash.  First let's talk about the card shape....is that not stunning???  I think an easel card is one of my absolute favorite styles to make, actually, I don't think, I know it is and let's just take that up a notch by making it a butterfly and 5 x 7 in size???  Yes, I am here for that.  True confession, this was my first time cutting the little birds and OH.MY.WORD. they are absolutely adorable.  Now I need to cut them in all the colors...maybe I'll do that tomorrow! I digress, I used an older Anna Griffin die for the Mom die cut and sub sentiments from an old lawn fawn set of stamps called Owl always love you...(I think,,not sure) The papers were cut from a 12 x 12 cardstock pack I got at Michaels I got for 5.00 on clearance, which I also love.  Gold foiled, water colored look...so pretty and also included solids.  

I know she will love it. 

"Strip it up" and Celebrate

 To quote the amazing Laura Bassen, I stripped it up.  I have a huge, I mean huge pile of colored cardstock scraps.  When I say pile, I mean all organized in the rainbow order (singing in the LB voice, go check her out, she's amazing) in a rainbow, colored cart.  I sort of hate having all those scraps and I like to make larger cards, and I'm not good about trimming the pieces I die cut...and the list goes on and on. I pulled out several large scraps using a color combo inspired by the slimline warm paper pad from scrapbook.com . Now, I'm not sure mine is a warm palette, but the color tones are there.  I just started cutting multiple strips of paper and adhering them to a 4 x 6 card front.  Initially, I ink blended a large butterfly for the focal, but it was just too busy.  I pulled out a hoard of flowers I cut probably a year ago, and laid them out on the stripped panel.  I was still struggling with a layout and somehow all the florals got a little wonky and I really liked it.  I cut some additional leaves in silver mirror carsdstock.  Cut out my celebrate sentiment, added some gems I got at hobby lobby and voila a birthday card was born.  I attached it to a 5 x 7 card base and stamped a sentiment inside.

One of my favorite types of cards

 I know it seems strange, but I really enjoy making a sympathy card.  I really hate the need for it, but that is the circle of life I suppose.  I prefer to have some on hand rather than having to make one when it is needed.  I recently purchased the unchartered mariner distress oxide ink. I blended with speckled egg and did a very small amount of black soot around the edge. I made my own "stencil" with my cricut.   This is a 5x7 card.  I stamped with a very old concord and 9th stamp set and used a black sharpie to extend the stem.  Messed it up a little, but I'm not hallmark.  I heat embossed the sentiment with Simon Says Stamp embossing powder.