Here is the 3rd Valentine’s day inspired card by guest designer Kriss.

This time she used a stamp created for Halloween. Witch Hazel is all dressed in pink and lookin’ for love – watch out fellas! Thanks Kriss!

Here are her instructions:

1. Cut light pink cardstock to 2.5” x 5.5” and mount to 4.25” x 5.5” dark pink top-folded card.
2. Stamp Witch Hazel with black ink on white cardstock.  Color with watercolor pencils, blend, and trim to size.  Ink edges with black ink and mount to card.
3. In a word processing program, type and print greeting on medium shade of pink cardstock.  Trim each word, ink the edges with black ink, and mount to card.
4. Punch tiny heart from pink cardstock and attach to card.

Finished card: 4.25” x 5.5”
eat cake graphics stamps used:
1083-Q Witch Hazel and Blackie Fly

Other supplies:
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watermark Resist Ink Pad, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Faber-Castell
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
White and two shades of Pink Cardstock
AR Christy Font, Microsoft Word

Here is the 2nd card from guest designer Kriss.

The little girl is actually a stamp I drew with winter in mind -  she is tasting snowflakes…but oh how cute to she is as a Valentines treat with kisses and everything!

Here are Kriss’s instructions:

1. Mount 4” x 5.25” red cardstock panel to 4.25” x 5.5” white side-folded card.
2. Stamp Becky with black ink, color with watercolor pencils, blend, and cut out into oval shape.
3. Cut out larger red oval, and even larger white scallop oval. Mount the three layers together and adhere to the middle, right-side of card.
4. Stamp and emboss greeting in lower left corner.
5. Doodle tiny hearts and dots from the upper left corner leading to Becky.
6. For added dimension, cover shoes with Glossy Accents.

Finished card: 4.25” x 5.5”
eat cake graphics stamps used:
1184-E Becky’s Tasting Snow

Other supplies:
Valentine stamp, Purple Onion Designs
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Glossy Accents, Ranger Industries
Watermark Resist Ink Pad, Ranger Industries
Seafoam Embossing Powder, Ranger Industries
Inkssentials Opaque Pen, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Prismacolor
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Oval and Scallop Oval Dies, Nestabilities by Spellbinders
Cuttlebug, Die Cutting Machine, Provo Craft
White and Red Cardstock

Kriss agreed awhile back to be a guest designer – yeah!

With the thought of Valentines just around the corner she created 3 cards using stamps which were actually created with different holidays in mind.
Here is the first along with her instructions.

1. Mount 3.75” x 5” pink cardstock panel to 4” x 5.25” red cardstock panel, and then mount to 4.25” x 5.5” white top-folded card.
2. Stamp Candy Eatin’ Sister two times with black ink, color one of the entire images and just the sleeves and arms of the little boy of the other image with watercolor pencils and blend.
3. Using red cardstock, cut out a heart slightly larger than the pumpkin, ink the edges with black ink and glue up-side-down on top of pumpkin of the image that has been completely colored. Cut out shirt sleeves and arms of second image and glue into place on complete image. Mount to card.
4. Stamp Tip #25 with black ink on red cardstock and trim off the top portion (Halloween Tip #25) and around the other three edges. If needed, ink edges with black ink. Mount to card.
5. Cut three layers of hearts with white, pink, and red cardstock pieces. Run middle heart through an embossing folder and stamp little heart with XOXO and black ink. Glue three heart layers together and mount to card.

Finished card: 4.25” x 5.5”
eat cake graphics stamps used:
1084-L Candy Eatin’ Sister
8059-D Tip #25 Sister Won’t

Other supplies:
XOXO stamp, Purple Onion Designs
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Faber-Castel
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Heart Dies, Provo Craft
Embossing Folder, Provo Craft
Cuttlebug, Die Cutting Machine, Provo Craft
White, Pink, and Red Cardstock

As many of you have probably figured out, I’m an animal lover. I believe they can teach us so much with their generosity of happiness and unconditional love. I strive to be the person our dog Tucker (you can meet him here) seems to think that I am.

With that said I love that Kriss combined these two images. I think she did a wonderful job with the bright colors and adding the little felt flower accents just makes it even more special.

As always, here are her instructions…

1. Adhere 1.75” x 4.25” strip of pattern paper to 4.25” x 5.5” top-folded blue card.
2. Stamp Unselfishness with black ink on white cardstock. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Trim to size and ink edges with black ink. Mount to yellow cardstock panel, and mount to front of card.
3. Stamp Dog Believes saying to lower right corner of card with black ink.
4. Embellish card by layering felt flowers and inserting brads into flowers and card.

Finished card: 4.25” x 5.5”
eat cake graphics stamps used:
1137-M Unselfishness
8080-E Dog Believes

Other supplies:
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Faber-Castell
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Felt Flowers, Prima Marketing
Brads, Making Memories
White, Bright Yellow & Blue Cardstock
Pattern Paper

Oh what fun! Kriss is making things pop with her color combinations and they’re perfect for this card featuring Herbert and Mildred, affectionately known as “Main Squeeze”. I love the lime green frame and the fact that she used the same green and purple in Mildred’s dress. And oh doesn’t Herbert look fashionable in his own shirt! Great job Kriss!

Here’s what she did…

1. Run 3 ½” x 5 ¼” purple cardstock through embossing folder. Adhere to the left-side front of a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” white side-folded card. Add ½” x 5 ¼”strip of pattern paper to the right-side.
2. Stamp couple with black ink on white cardstock and cut out with oval die. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Ink oval’s edge with black ink.
3. Cut out coordinating scallop oval die with lime green cardstock. Use Japanese Screw Punch to punch holes in scallops. Mount two ovals together and then onto the embossed part of the card.
4. Stamp saying twice on lime cardstock with black ink. Cut out individual words, ink edges with black ink, and mount to card.
5. Highlight lady’s dress by apply dots of Glossy Accents to each polka-dot. Let dry.

Finished card: 4.25” x 5.5”
eat cake graphics stamps used:
1016-J Main Squeeze
8168-D Here’s A Happy

Other supplies:
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Glossy Accents, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Faber-Castell
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Oval and Scallop Oval Dies, Nestabilities by Spellbinders
Embossing Folder , Provo Craft
Cuttlebug, Die Cutting Machine, Provo Craft
Pattern Paper, BasicGrey
White, Lime & Purple Cardstock
Japanese Screw Punch

If you need a little something to send to someone “just because”, Kriss has created this wonderful card. Taking color clues from the center floral paper she found the perfect match of orange and lime green. What a wonderful idea to make someone’s day.

Here’s what Kriss did…

1. Cover the front of a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” white top-folded card with three coordinating pattern papers. Center section is 3” x 4 ¼” and the outside sections are 1 ¼” x 4 ½”.
2. Wrap orange gingham ribbon around front of card and tie bow to left side.
3. Stamp greeting with orange ink on manila cardstock and cut out with oval die. Cut out coordinating pattern paper with oval scallop die, mount both together and add to card with Pop Dots.
4. Add stick pin. Glue rhinestone to center of flower with Glossy Accents.

Finished card size: 4.25” x 5.5”
eat cake graphics stamps used:
8168-D Here’s A Happy

Other supplies:
Adirondack Ink Pad, Sunset Orange, Ranger Industries
Pop Dot, Ranger Industries
Pattern Paper, Gypsy, BasicGrey
Manila Cardstock
Oval and Scallop Oval Dies, Nestabilities by Spellbinders
Cuttlebug, Die Cutting Machine, Provo Craft
Orange Gingham Ribbon, Michaels
Stick Pin, Making Memories
Glossy Accents, Ranger Industries
Clear Rhinestone, Darcie’s

This card is really great because Kriss actually used a Christmas stamp and by masking, took away some parts and made it into a great road trip card. The actual stamp starts as this:

I love the use of the map, it adds authenticity to the feeling of an actual road trip. And of course I love seeing what people do with stamps that start out as one thing and end up being something completely different. Thanks Kriss for the great idea!


If you’d like to make this card here’s what Kriss did:

1. Cut map to 4” x 5.2” and mount to front of 4.25” x 5.5” blue side-folded card.
2. Mask the tree of Getting the Family Tree stamp with a Post-It note and ink stamp with Jet Black ink. Remove Post-It and stamp image on 2.75” x 4” white cardstock. Stamp saying and color images.
3. Stamp license plate part of Getting the Family Tree stamp on white cardstock. Cut out license plate and use backside to make your own custom plate. Glue on top of existing license plate on car.
4. Mount to 3” x 4.25” black cardstock and mount to card.
5. Stamp bottom right corner with speed limit.

eat cake graphics stamps used:
8095-M Getting the Family Tree

Other supplies:
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Faber-Castell
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Word Bubble Stamp, Stampin’ Up
Speed Limit and 65 Stamps, Close to My Heart
White, Blue & Black Cardstock
Post-It Note
Map, Found Object

If you want something to pop, using black and white is the answer because there is nothing higher in contrast.

Well this card by Kriss really pops! And the borders created by layering cardstock frame the card quite nicely.

Here’s what Kriss did…

1. Stamp Tree Hill and Today’s Mighty Oak with Watermark Resist Ink on 4 ¼” x 5 ¼” black cardstock and emboss with Seafoam White Embossing Powder.
2. Mount to 4 ½” x 5 ½” white cardstock.
3. Mount to 4 ¾” x 5 ¾” black cardstock.
4. Mount to 5” x 6” top-folded white card.

eat cake graphics stamps used:
7047-W Tree Hill
8069-E Today’s Mighty Oak

Other supplies:
Inkssentials™ Watermark Resist Ink, Ranger Industries
Embossing Powder, Seafoam White, Ranger Industries
Black and White Cardstock

What a great project Kriss has sent in! Using the kids from Maple Lane she’s created a wonderful book. I just love the distressed stamp in the corner, her use of cork (something I’m certainly going to have to try) and all of the details – the flags, the brads – oh just everything!

You can click on the picture to get a closer look. Below are her very detailed instructions – thanks so very much Kriss!

1. Paint two 5 ½” x 8 ½” chipboard with red acrylic paint. Two to three layers may be needed to completely cover chipboard. Once dry, gently brush on snow paint with Ranger’s Acrylic Paint Dabber to soften red.
2. Using Watermark Resist ink, stamp flourish in upper right corner of front cover. Emboss with white embossing powder.
3. Cut cork with Keyholes Mover and Shape die (a label shape). Attach to lower right of front cover.
4. Stamp For the Brave with black ink on white cardstock. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Trim to 3” x 5 ¼”.
5. Cut light blue cardstock to 1 ½” x 5 ¼” and punch bottom with Effervescence border punch. Attach to bottom of stamped image, and mount both to 4” x 5 ½” black cardstock. Attach to front cover.
6. Stamp saying of For the Brave with Watermark Resist on navy cardstock and emboss with white embossing powder. Cut strip close to top and bottom of saying, and attach to front cover with white brads.
7. Mask For the Brave to allow cat only to be inked. Ink image with Jet Black ink, remove masks, and stamp on white cardstock. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Cut into circle shape. Layer on top of navy circle and red scallop circle. Attach to cork label with Pop Dots.
8. Stamp For the Brave with black ink on white cardstock again, this time for both the flags. Crease your cardstock back onto itself along the “stick” of the flag, and then cut out three sides of the flag; keeping the folded-section intact. Do this for both flags. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Attach each flag to a decorative stick pin, by gluing the stick pin inside the folded flag. Insert flags into Pop Dots on back of scallop circle/cat.
9. Attach silver sticky-back dots to cork label.
10. Cut either white cardstock or notebook paper to 5 ½” x 8 ½” for the pages of your book. Place pages between covers and punch holes at the top with Bind-It-All. Bind book together with white owires.

eat cake graphics stamps used:
1160-S For the Brave

Other supplies:
2- 5 ½” x 8 ½” Chipboard
Acrylic Paint, Lipstick Red, FolkArt
Acrylic Paint Dabber, Snow White, Ranger Industries
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Prismacolor
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Watermark Resist, Ranger Industries
Embossing Powder, Seafoam White, Ranger Industries
Border Punch, Effervescence, Fiskars
White Brads, Making Memories
Cork, Unknown
Keyholes Mover and Shapers, Tim Holtz, Sizzix
Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilties, Spellbinders
Pop Dots, Ranger Industries
Stick Pins, Making Memories
Silver Sticky-Back Dots, Unknown
Corner Flourish Stamp, Close to My Heart
White, Red, Light Blue, Navy & Black Cardstock
White Cardstock or Notebook Paper
1” White O Wires, Zutter
Bind-It-All, Zutter

Ok, so it’s a little bit after the actual 4th of July but as Kriss so poignantly said when she wrote me, Patriotism is good to have all year!

Kriss created this wonderful matched set – an ever so cute card using part of the “For the Brave” stamp and an adorable necklace as well.

She sent along great up-close photos, so please do click on any of the pictures to get a closer look. And below you’ll find detailed instructions so you can have fun making these too.

eat cake graphics stamps used:
1160-S For the Brave

Instructions: CARD

1. Mask For the Brave stamp to allow for boy with flag to be inked. Ink image with Jet Black ink, remove masks, and stamp on white cardstock. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Cut into oval shape. Layer on top of red oval and navy scallop oval.
2. Cut light blue cardstock to 2” x 4 ½” and adhere to left side of 4 ¼” x 5 ½” white top-folded card.
3. Cut 5 strips of red cardstock to ½” x 3 ½”. Run strips through embossing folder and adhere to card in flag pattern.
4. Adhere scallop oval/stamped image to card.
5. Stamp saying in lower right corner with black ink.

Other supplies:
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Prismacolor
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilties, Spellbinders
Swiss Dots, Embossing Folder, Provo Craft
Cuttlebug Machine, Provo Craft
White, Red, Light Blue & Navy Cardstock
Happy 4th of July stamp, Purple Onion Designs

Instructions: NECKLACE

1. Mask For the Brave stamp to allow for boy with flag to be inked. Ink image with Jet Black ink, remove masks, and stamp on white cardstock. Color with watercolor pencils and blend. Cut to 1” x 3” and sandwich between two 1” x 3” Memory Glass and insert into 1” x 3” Memory Frame.
2. Stamp saying part of For the Brave and cut out “brave” and “free”; ink the edges with black ink, and glue to top of glass with Glossy Accents.
3. Bead jewelry wire with red, white, and blue beads to create a beaded chain. Add a large jump ring to center of chain and attach Memory Frame. Add star charm with additional jump rings.

Other supplies:
Archival™ Ink Stamp Pad – Jet Black, Ranger Industries
Watercolor Pencils, Prismacolor
Blender Pen, Marvy-Uchida
1” x 3” Memory Frame, Ranger Industries
1” x 3” Memory Glass, Silver, Ranger Industries
Glossy Accents, Ranger Industries
White Cardstock
Jewelry Wire, Beadalon
Red, White, and Blue Beads; Star Charm; Toggle, and Jump Rings, Unknown