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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Fun with Bling and Border Stamps

Late Sunday night, I was trying (mostly in vain) to make a card with PTI's Merry and Bright trees, so I pulled out the snowflake trio in the set and started playing. Using Brilliance Sky Blue ink, I repeatedly stamped the snowflakes to form a border.

I liked it.

Then I stamped Merry Christmas from Peaceful Poinsettias in black.

Lovely.

Then I added blue rhinestones to each snowflake center.

OMG! CAS and BLING! The bling totally makes this card sing!



The Christmas version of this oh so classic and unoriginal layout looked so good, I decided to try the same layout with PTI's Background Basics: Retro. The next card was even easier!



Don't you just love all those tiny purple rhinestones? They are so happy to be ON A CARD instead of in my hoard where they sat, all sad and lonely and useless. Now they have a purpose, a new life. Bless their sparkly purple souls!

The third version uses an ink I learned about from JulieHRR: Brilliance pearlescent beige. Beige does not sound like a great color, but oh, my, trust Julie. It is. These rhinestones are champagne colored and blend perfectly with the pearlescent beige. So simple, so elegant!



If you're anything like me, you hoard bling, thinking that it's too special for everyday cards. Well, I challenge you to USE some. Actually, use A LOT, like I did here. Don't be afraid. Just go right ahead and bling generously. Then, you can buy more bling.

"Bling is good."

Let's call that Simplicity Wisdom. Go forth, Grasshopper, and bling.

24 comments:

  1. hey Susan....we must have been on the same wavelength...the card I made for the DT yesterday is full of bling. It just needed it, called for it. I hoard like you but glad I used it on that card. Afterall it was a sketch of one of your cards....giggle...

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  2. These are all so simple and elegant.

    And what a great motto -
    use it....so you can buy more!

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  3. Susan!
    I LOVE these Blinged Borders!!!

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  4. All fabulous cards. The Christmas one is so CAS and breath taking. Then we have a purple beauty. But you are right, that beige color is stunning. I really only have clear bling, I may have to go out and buy some cool colors....
    {enabler}

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  5. Lovely cards! I'm glad I'm not the only hoarder. I don't mind putting one, two, or three on a card. Anymore than that and I question the use of it! From this moment on I will try and bling generously...

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  6. They're all so pretty, Susan!! I love how elegance they are, and beautiful bling!!

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  7. These are beautiful, Susan! I'll try to get out the bling soon, but this may be a road too far for this old pack rat.

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  8. So SO pretty, Susan! These designs really pop the way you have showcased them with the bling! So glad you like that ink color, too! It's one of my favorites! :) *hug*

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  9. These cards are so elegant. I don't have a problem using a little bling on cards, but I almost hyperventilated when I saw so many on one card! I have yet to learn to use my supplies with reckless abandon. Your cards are so fabulous because of all the bling, so I will try my hardest to let go and use them. Thanks.

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  10. love these cards, perfection!!
    hey, I passed on a blog award to you, but please please please don't feel like you have to keep up the chain blog award system or anything, I'm sure you've had a bazillion of them, but you were one of the first divas that popped into my brain, why? because you're cards are awesome, and also because I'll never ever ever look at a pear the same for the rest of my life:) so happy blog award day to you, Susan!

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  11. LOL! I love bling, but I don't have many rhinestones.....so I will now go forth and buy! However, I'm a hoarder so putting that many on a card might give me seizures. Love the cards!! :)

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  12. Wow -- what an abundance of beautiful cards today! I have a lot of trouble combining CAS and bling, but you may have helped nudge me a little closer! :P

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  13. I DO hoard my embellishments. Mostly because once I use them they are gone and I will regret using them when I have a "good" project I want to put them on. Good for you for not only using your bling but using it in such a fabulous way. I think your cards would have been nice just stamped, but the bling really does make them extra special. And sparkly.

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  14. Awesome blinged out borders - love this design - it is so versatile!

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  15. That Pearlescent Beige is my go-to ink when I want the sentiment to be present but not heard, so to speak, and when black would be too noisy, even when there's nothing else that color on the card .

    I love the bling, and it's relatively inexpensive these days, but is there a sure-fire way to make it stay where you put it, through post office scanners and such?

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  16. Love all of these great CAS cards and yes I WILL stop hoarding and go forth and bling Oh Master!!!
    So pleased to see someone else using lovely pearlescent beige, I just love this colour it is so subtle and has such a lovely sheen. I think the name is a bit of a put off .... beige hmm doesn't exactly grab the imagination!!!! I always have a problem photographing it though;
    obviously I need to try harder because yours looks great .....
    TFS

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  17. Beautiful layout and bling. I like the blue and purple card best.

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  18. That's nice and gentle with these new cards !

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  19. mmmmmm......
    These are scrumptious! LOVE that bling!

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  20. How fantabulous! Very elegant, fresh and perfectly done.

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  21. Love that bling! You're right--I tend to be so stingy with it, using only one or two "gems" at a time. Nice use of such a generous number without it looking gawdy!

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  22. LOVE these, Susan! The bling is fab!

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  23. Beautiful cards! I love the Christmas one.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!