Anyone who knows me really well, knows that I LOVE coffee! There is nothing like the first sip in the morning it makes me instantly happy. I do have a few coffee rules; only hot coffee in the morning no matter the weather and in the afternoon hot if the temperature is below 50 and iced if it is over. There is a slight variation on this if it is raining I have hot in the afternoon no matter the temperature. I know it’s a little quirky but that’s how I roll in the coffee department.
It was no surprise that as soon as I saw the Coffee Cafe stamp set, and the entire Coffee Break Suite it was a must have for me! I really like the sayings as well as the Designer Series Paper (“DSP”) and the super adorable Corrugated Elements.
The colors are very earthy which play nicely on the coffee theme.
It was the first set I chose to really play with when my first order arrived. Here is what I came up with.
First up a little gate fold card. The card base is Pear Pizzazz cardstock 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ score at 2 1/8″ and 6 3/8″). I used the polka dot DSP on the front of each panel (1 7/8 x 5 1/4″). Then I stamped the large cup and lid using Early Espresso and the oval saying with Pear Pizzazz on Whisper White cardstock, then each image was cut out using the Coffee Cups Framelits. I also cut the coffee collar from Early Espresso cardstock using the fluted framelit. Next I attached the lid and coffee collar to the cup with a small amount of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. The oval saying was adhered to the oval Corrugated Element and attached using a dimensional. I tied a strand of linen thread around the top then into a small bow. The coffee cup gets attached to the left side only, make sure you only apply adhesive to that side so the card can open and close.
I will be having a video how to on this card once my editor can help me with it. And by editor I mean my daughter. She is a tad busy the next few weeks moving into her first house, they closed on it this past week and are busy cleaning and painting. They thought it best to get this done before all the furniture was moved in. So production is on hold for a little while until she is settled in .
Next I wanted to continue with the polka dot DSP but add a few new elements. The Coffee Cups Framelits come with a teeny tiny coffee cup that fits perfectly on the cups of another sheet paper from the Coffee Break DSP pack. I thought it would be fun having them stacked on top of one anther going along the inside of the card. The card front is slightly smaller than the back allowing the cups to peek through. The Soft Sky card base is 5 1/2″ x 7 1/2″, score at 4 1/4″. I added a strip of the polka dots to the front panel (3″ x 5 1/4″. Next I stamped the cup and lid in Early Espresso on Whisper White cardstock and the saying in Soft Sky, it fits perfectly in the cup! They were cut out using the framelits and attached as in the first card. I took a small strip of burlap ribbon and attached using Tear & Tape adhesive, then the cup was attached on top using dimensionals. Next I cut 5 little cups from the DSP and glued along inside of the card using Multipurpose Liquid Glue. I always try to use odd numbers in my “works of heart”. In high school my art teacher always told us odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye and that rule has stuck with me all these years.
I decided to change-up the DSP for this card. This time I used Early Espresso for the card base (5 1/2 x 8 1/2″ score at 4 1/4), with a Crumb Cake panel (4″ x 5 1/4″) on top of this. I cut the DSP into 2 strips 1 3/4″ x 5″ with a small Early Espresso Strip 1/4″ x 5″, these were attached to the Crumb Cake panel then attached to the card base. I stamped the cup and lid again in Early Espresso but this time on Soft Sky cardstock and cut out with the framelits. The coffee collar was cut this time using the plain framelit not the fluted one. The cup was assembled as done previously and the heart Corrugated Element was added with a dimensional. I stamped the saying on Whisper White cardstock in Crumb Cake then stamped the hearts in Soft Sky using the outline heart stamp and coloring in with the matching Stampin’ Write marker. I added a touch of clear Wink of Stella for some sheen. This was cut out using the Layering Ovals framelits and I cut a matching oval the next size up in Early Espresso, then attached to the card using dimensionals.
I do love the occasional iced latte with whipped cream so that is what inspired this card. I used Garden Green for the card base, standard size 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ score at 4 1/4″. I took a Crumb Cake panel (4″ x 5 1/4″) and stamped it using the Burlap Background Stamp in Crumb Cake ink then attached to the card base. Then I took a 2 1/2″ x 4″ piece of DSP and tore the edges. To get the white inside to show tear the paper toward you not away. This was attached to the Crumb Cake panel. Next I stamped the saying on Whisper White using Garden Green ink. I tore the saying out then using a sponge dauber I inked the edges with Soft Suede, this was attached to the DSP using dimensionals. The cup was cut from Crumb Cake and sponged with Soft Suede. I stamped the straw using the small striped stamp on a scrap of Whisper White using Garden Green. With the photopolymer stamps you can line up each section with ease to create one long strip which was then cut with the framelit. The whipped cream was stamped using Crumb Cake and cut out along with the coffee collar in the matching DSP. To give the whipped cream a little something extra I added a little Wink of Stella in clear. After assembling the coffee cup, it was attached to the card with dimensionals.
This card will be featured in a video, as it has many elements that people always ask me about such as getting a clear image with a background stamp and tearing to get those nice feathered edges.
Now to show you the versatility of this set, I made a birthday card with a cupcake using the coffee collar and whipped cream. I also played with my other must have the Embossing Paste! The card base is Early Espresso, 4 1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5 1/2″, on top of this I added a Pear Pizzazz panel (4″ x 5 1/4″). I took a piece of striped DSP (3 3/4″ x 5″) and cut the center using the largest oval framelit from Layering Ovals. I cut another oval from the polka dot DSP, (I told you I loved the polka dot DSP!) and inserted it in the center of the striped panel. Now comes the fun part….I cut whipped cream out of a piece of thick Whisper White cardstock. I took a small amount of the Embossing Paste and put it on my Silicone Craft Sheet with a palette knife. I added a few drops of Early Espresso reinker and mixed it up to make the yummy chocolate frosting, I swear it looked just like real frosting I was very impressed! Then I frosted the little whipped cream piece, just like a real cupcake. While the embossing paste dries pretty quick when used in a thin layer, since this was so thick I hit it with a hairdryer on low to speed drying time. Then using Crumb Cake card stock I cut my cupcake using the fluted coffee collar. I found it a little large so I trimmed it down with my Paper Snips to a perfect cupcake size. The edges were sponged with Soft Suede and a dauber. I cut out the banners using the Duet Banner punch after I stamped the sayings from the Happy Birthday Gorgeous set in Early Espresso ink. These edges were also sponged with Soft Suede ink. Then the banners and cupcake were attached with dimensionals.
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Nothing is more exciting than placing that first order from the new catalog. After looking at it every night for a month before going to bed (as you know that assures visions of stamps and ink dancing around in your head). Not to mention all the drooling over the new stamps, toys and my personal weakness; ribbon. Then on June 1st we get the green light to order anything from the catalog. Of course the first order is never easy. I have written my list of must haves and changed it so many time I have lost count. And I as was placing that first order I had to keep shifting things around to get the most bang for my buck.
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