True Friend 3 Ways

Like everyone else, I love getting extra mileage out of my stamps, which is why Stampin’ Up’!’s “True Friend” stamp set is such a standout.  In honor of this past week’s premiere of “Project Runway,” today’s project consists of three cards, all using the same stamp set “True Friend” in 3 unique looks for 3 different occasions.

Come On True Friend, “Make It Work “. . .

Holiday Friend  

River Rock cardstock starts things off today.  Old Olive was stamped with the True Friend multi-flower in Old Olive ink and adhered to the base.  Near the bottom, I layered a non-SU crushed red velvet ribbon with Very Vanilla 1/4″ Grosgrain and looped another piece of Very Vanilla around to add a bow.  Next, I layered Holiday Harmony Designer Series Paper on Real Red cardstock.  Perfect Layers has become one of my favorite tools for creating perfect mats.  I created a Cool Tools Tutorial with instructions to show you how easy this tool is to use.  I wrapped these two layers with the same layered ribbon as below.  I then stamped the large flower in Real Red on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I added a second color with my Old Olive marker.  I cut around the image and matted it to Real Red cardstock, punched with a Marvy Uchida Super Jumbo Scalloped Circle Punch.  A rhinestone brad (ice) bumps up the sparkle and some Stampin’ Dimensionals finish the project.
Stamps:  True Friend
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Real Red, River Rock, Holiday Harmony Designer Series
Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red
Cool Tools:  Perfect layers, Marvy Uchida Scalloped Circle Punch
Perfect Touches:  Rhinestone Brads (Ice), Very Vanilla 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Non SU Crushed Red Velvet Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals Design Inspiration:  Splitcoast Stamper:  Jen70

Apple Cider with a Friend:
For the next project, I again began with River Rock cardstock.  I stamped it with the flower image in River Rock ink.  I then grabbed the gorgeous Apple Cider Designer Series Paper and cut 3 rectangles of differing patterns and laid them side by side.  A little Faux Stitching comes into play.  I used my template, paper piercer in a zigzag pattern and “connected the dots” with a Close to Cocoa marker.  I used a corner rounder punch for the Wild Wasabi border with small holes punched by my Crop-A-Dile.  I then stamped Really Rust cardstock with a Faux Ribbon stamp from Papertrey Ink and layered it on top of the Wild Wasabi Border.  I stamped Whisper White cardstock twice with the circle image, first in Close to Cocoa (bottom) and second Wild Wasabi (top).  I then used the 1/1/4″ and 1″ circle punches respectively.  The are layered using Stampin’ Dimensionals and a Jumbo Eyelet in Pewter was the finishing touch, with the help of my Crop-A-Dile.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment twice in Close to Cocoa and Wild Wasabi.  I cut out the “YOU” from the Wasabi version and adhered it with Stampin’ Dimensionals.  I then used Perfect Layers to mat the Close to Cocoa bottom layer.  Voila!

Stamp Sets: True Friend, Papertrey Faux Ribbon
Paper:  River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Really Rust, Whisper White, Apple Cider Designer Series
Ink:  Close to Cocoa (pad and marker), Old Olive (pad and marker)
Cool Tools:  Crop-A-Dile, Perfect Layers, Paper Piercing Tool, 1 1/4″ and 1″ circle punches
Perfect Touches:  Jumbo Eyelet (Pewter), Stampin’ Dimensionals
Techniques:  Faux Stitching
Design Inspiration:  Heather Thompson, Cards magazine, Sept. 2007.

Friendly Thank You
For my final effort, I softened things up a bit with a special thank you note.  I began with Whisper White Cardstock and layered 2 patterns of Linen Prints Designer Series Paper.  Then I added Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, with the end snipped in a flag pattern.  A couple of Earth Elements buttons add some punch.  I stamped the stemmed flower image and used my trusty Perfect Layers tool to create precise Cameo Coral and Close to Cocoa mats.  I even used “PL” for 3 sides of the bottom Apricot Appeal mat but left the remaining side wide enough to add some paper piercing.  I stamped my Party Punch stamp set “thank you” sentiment and punched it out with my round tab punch.  I tucked in on the side and wrapped these fun projects up for the day!

Stamp Sets: True Friend, Party Punch (Hostess Set)
Paper:  Linen Prints Designer Series, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Apricot Appeal
Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral (marker)
Cool Tools:  Perfect Layers, Paper Piercing Kit, Round Tab Punch
Perfect Touches:  Chocolate Chip 5/8″ Grosgrain, Rhinestone Brad (Fire), Earth Elements Buttons