Sending Wishes your way

A very quick and simple card for today using elements from three stamp sets :- Butterfly Basics, Awesomely Artistic and Kinda Eclectic

 For this one I lightly sponged the entire square of whisper white card with dapper denim ink before stamping the fern along the left hand side. I stamped the dragonfly in dapper denim too and also stamped three more dragonfly images which I cut by hand and adhered one on top of the other, making sure to only glue the centre. I also stamped and punched two butterflies and added them with glue dots. A couple of basic pearls and  the card was ready for the sentiment.

It is a simple card and may not have taken long to make, but I was pleased with the overall effect. Sometimes less really is more.
Until next time
Cxx

Mixing the "old" with the new

As promised a current stamp set,  but together with the new 2016-2018 in colours ... because I simply could not resist!

There is a lot more stamping on this card than it may first appear. The background started life as a piece of 13.5 cm square very vanilla card. I stamped the floral images in each corner using the new Emerald Envy and  I stamped the dragonfly between the two. Then I set about building up the colour by using sponges and Dapper Denim ink, which was overlaid with stamping using white craft ink and built up until I was happy with the final result. I coloured the floral aspect with the remaining in colour selection and used a blender pen to drag some of the green of the foliage. Once that was done I added a mat of dapper denim and adhered it to a scallop card base.

I stamped three additional dragonfly images and cut them with scissors and used Tombow glue to stack them, being careful to only glue the centre of each layer to allow the wings to be free. Once that was all dry I adhered it over the top of the original stamped dragonfly. I added a  wink of Stella to the flowers and pearls for centres and the card is done. I will add a sentiment later when I decide to send it.

That's it for now, until next time
Cxx

This is what kept me busy

I have been a bit sporadic at keeping up with my blog in the past year but have been seriously trying to maintain a minimum two posts per week ratio...and then just realised that I have not posted for almost a week!

The clue for the  reason behind this sudden lapse is in the photo... Yep! I got my hands on the new upcoming catalogue and some pre-order goodies.

Great excuse eh?

As demonstrators we are lucky enough to get the catalogue a few weeks before the official launch and we also get to pre-order from a selection of new products.

I am  already in love with the new 2016-2018 in-colours  (mind you I have never met a set of in-colours that I didn't like) and I can't wait to start using them....and I will use them.... just as soon as I can tear myself away from the new catalogue. It is fabulous!

 I have not slipped back into irregular  blogging habits, I just fell face first into the new catalogue!

But as catalogue launch is still a few weeks away, I am going to try to curb my new catty enthusiasm and between now and then I will concentrate on giving some attention to  stamps sets that are current right now and will be carrying over into the new catalogue.

Until next time

Cxx

Papillon Pot Pourri

Butterflies...I use them all the time and I had the embossed flower (from flower patch set) sitting on my desk for ages after I changed my mind about a card I was making ...but if its good I don't throw it out and eventually the flower came into its own...

For this one I cut the yellow card at 14 x 14cm and I cut the green card at 14 x 11cm. On the reverse of the green card I drew a wavy line freehand and I cut this with a pair of scissors before running both halves through the embossing folder.

The two green sections were adhered to the yellow mat to form the base for the card. I stamped and punched the three butterflies out of the same yellow card and die cut the flower using the matching framelits..

I used  glue dots to adhere the butterflies and topped them with basic rhinestones. For the flower I cut a length of the silver thread and held it in place with a dimensional and then looped it three times before securing with another dimensional. I popped a rhinestone in the centre of the flower to finish.

Until next time, take care.
Cxx

Just for you

I have been very busy this past week trying to organise my craftroom and its an even bigger job than I initially thought...but I still have to find time to make something and this was one of the cards that I made yesterday.

Its a very simple vanilla background onto a honey card base. I used the soon to be retiring in-colours for the wording and the flowery elements and I cut and punched the butterflies to complete the card...

And then I decided it needed a bit more sparkle so I reached for the wink of Stella brush and added subtle sparkles to the Just for You and the butterflies and it did the trick.

This card is on its way to a crafting pal this week as part of a swap. I hope she likes it.

Until next time
Cxx

Work of Art

This is still one of my favourite stamp sets and I was thrilled to see it does not appear on the retiring list.

This card is for a friend overseas and she loves bright colours and bold patterns and this seemed the perfect set to use for a card just to let her know she is amazing..because let's face it, we could all do with hearing that more often, right?

I concentrated on using the out going 2014-16  in-colours for this card. I am certainly going to miss these colours, they have been among my favourites ever.... but as one set leaves, another comes along and I am pretty sure I will be raving about the newest in-colours as soon as I get my hands on them.

Until next time
Cxx

Traveller

I made this card to celebrate a dear friend who recently reached a career milestone in her cruise planning business and what better stamp set to use than the Traveller

I started out with the sunshine stamp from Kinda Eclectic  and then I blended Lost Lagoon and Bermuda Bay ink for the ocean and soft sky (for the sky obviously). When I came to stamp the ship I couldn't make up my mind if I wanted to stamp it in black or in blue and so I dithered and added both to the stamp...resulting a rather vivid school ink blue which I could never recreate in a millions years!

The Congratulations came from from Sassy Salutations and finished the card which was mat onto Lost Lagoon card to frame it off.

Three much loved but recently rather neglected stamp sets used in this one...it has been a joy revisiting old favourites...so I won't stop now. More to follow.
Until next time
Cxx

Amazing BIrthday

Throughout this week I shall be continuing to show some love for some old favourites and today is the turn of Amazing Birthday and Perfect Pennants stamp sets.
I have used these sets a lot  in the past and so decided to try to do something different from the cards I have made before and I came up with two designs using the latest in-colours.

For the first one I used the brick wall embossing folder but I ran in through the machine twice, turning the paper for the second run to get a random geometric pattern for my background. I used the tag punch to make a detachable bookmark using the Perfect Pennants stamp set (because I love a card that is more than a card) and layered up the little elements using dimensionals to give extra depth.

On the second card I randomly stamped the  circles and stars with cucumber crush ink onto cucumber crush cardstock  and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then went oin with the same ink and the random splash stamp (from Awesomely Artistic set) to fill in the gaps.

I stamped the striped banner and  the happy birthday stack and layered them up on dimensionals.

The word window punch was used  for the strap and I stamped and punched the cake and popped it on dimensionals too.  Three enamel accents finished this off.

I was happy that even use the same colours,  I managed to make two very different designs.

Look out for more old favourites throughout the rest of the week.
Until next time, take care
Cxx

Hello friend

This was one of those cards that sort of emerged as I worked. I knew I wanted to use the hexagon stamp set but other than that it was a very organic process.

I have seen some lovely cards made with this set and a couple of strips of washi tape or a banner but they were A6 size and I wanted to work in 6x6 format. The patterns just did not work on the larger square.

 I decided I would use the 2014-16 in-colours (they will retire this summer so if you don't have them yet, get them now - they are fabulous!) and stamped a variety of hexagons and set them aside... while I started out with Gorgeous Grunge stamp set on glossy card using two colours to make the background. Once I had finished the splatter I added a line of blackberry bliss and sponged Blackberry bliss ink around the edges of the card before matting it onto a mossy meadow card.

The I began arranging my hexagons, ensuring there was at least one of each of the in-colours in the design...finally deciding on the arrangement you see in the photo. I adhered them to the base and the centre hexagon I popped up on dimensionals.

To finish the card I added a bow of silver thread and a layered stamped butterfly with rhinestones.

I was quite happy with the end result and delighted to have used a couple of sets I have not touched in a while. It has been great fun working with old favourites and I must do it more often...especially since I know when the new catalogue launches this summer I will be busy with new product offerings.

Until next time,
Cxx

Choose Happiness

Choose Happiness was one of those stamps sets that I loved at first sight and I used it a lot when I first had it...I found it perfect for making embossed backgrounds and I love all the elements that you can layer up to add dimension and interest. Its another set that would work perfectly with just about any sentiment or for any occasion.                                                            

For this card I deliberately steered clear of heat embossing and decided to try it with a fair amount of white space....which I filled slightly with a pale ink and a random splash stamp (from Awesomely Artistically set - another of my all time favourites) After I took this picture I added a wink of stella brush to the flower and butterfly for that extra little sparkle.                                             

With no real design plan in my head before I began, I was quite happy with how it turned out. 

Until next time                                                       

Cxx

Work of Art

Still trying to show some love to some old favourites, but recently rather neglected stamps... and this one is one "Work of Art" is one of my all time favourite stamp sets because it is so easy to make a card in just a few minutes.

For this one I used the 2015-17 in-colours because I realised there are some shades I have not used as much as others and I wanted to give them equal attention..after all they are selected because they work so well together and it seems rude to to take advantage of the planning that went into them,

The card is simple, bright and fun and I am so pleased I   dusted off this one too.

Until next time,
Cxx

Old favourites

I have just returned from a lovely trip to the USA  - which I never announce because lets face it, we don't need to encourage burglars by giving them prior notice! The trip was everything we hoped it would be and now I am back with renewed energy.


Earlier today our team was challenged to take a neglected stamp set and show it some love by making a card or project... Oh the shame when I walked into my craft room and was able to grab a pile of stamps that I have not used in ages...but that all changes right now.

The first one I made was using Kinda Eclectic stamp set, which I adored when it first came out and used loads, but has sat unloved on the shelf for a while now.

 I used almost all of the stamps in the set for this one and as soon as I started using it I remembered why I loved it so much. It is a really versatile set and allows lots of options for all manner of occasions and can be paired with just about any sentiment from any set.

 This card will be going to a friend next week and there will be more neglected stamp projects to follow in the next little while.

Until next time,
Cxx

Hello

Sometimes I simply need a card that says Hello...

I used the Grateful Bunch stamp set and punch to make this card.The punch makes easy work of building up the flowers.

I just love the butterfly that comes with this stamp set, the image is so delicate and detailed and just the right size for using markers direct to stamp to get a two toned effect.

I went completely off my usual colour palette for this one and used pink and orange shades together for the butterflies and the flowers, but I think it worked just fine. Sometimes you just have to let go and see what happens.

Until next time

Cxx

Get well card

A friend is in hospital and  I wanted to send her something pretty and cheery and so I opted to use Rose Wonder stamp set and the floating re-inker technique.

So I stamped the rose and leaves using versamark embossing ink and I heat embossed using white embossing powder. I masked off the leaves and sprayed water onto the embossed rose image and then added a couple of drops of three shades of pink re-inker and allowed it to pool where it wanted. Once that was dry I covered the rose and repeat the process on the  leaves with two shades of green re-inker.

Once that was dry I edged the card panel using a sponge and green ink. I also used the green ink to stamp the two sentiments I had chosen.

 I adhered the card panel to a pink mat and adhered that to my base card. Finally I added a die cut butterfly that was floating about on my desk. I left the inside of the card totally blank so I could write personal message.

That's about it for this one...Until next time
Cxx

Birthday Bunch

This pretty birthday bouquet was made using the new Grateful Bunch stamp set and coordinating  punch

I stamped the leaves once and snipped into them to make a shorter double stem and I added punched flowers in three sizes which were stamped in crushed curry and tangelo twist inks. A couple of the flowers were adhered to the base card and the remainder were popped up with dimensionals.

A couple of basic pearls were added to the centres of the smaller flowers and a cut bow finished it off.

A simple sentiment along with a green mat to frame the whole thing, completed the card.

Until next time
Cxx

Balloon Celebration

This is the second of the two balloon themed sets and personally I love them both equally.

I made this card pretty much as soon as I got my eager mitts on this stamp set (when the spring summer catalogue went live,) but because it was for a friend's birthday I was not able to share it ...until now.

For this card I stamped the balloons on separate card and used the matching balloon punch. I adhered a couple to the base card panel and others I popped up on dimensionals. Although the set comes with a strings stamp,  I used the Just for you wording from the SAB free Botanicals for You set,  and so I was a bit space limited and so chose to use the metallic silver thread instead and cut a bow from matching card  to join the ends.

I think there are going to be a lot of balloons featuring in my cards and projects this year.

Until next time, take care
Cxx


P.S. The balloon punch comes separately or as a bundle saving 15% off individual prices. It also co-ordinates with the balloon builder set and ssh don't tell anyone but it may coordinate with at least one more upcoming set in the not too distant future... and of course you can simply punch balloons out of designer series paper and cardstock too.

Balloon Builder Birthday

I am loving the two balloon sets in the Spring Summer catalogue and can't decide if I have a favourite.

 This is the Balloon Builder set and I used it for this quick and simple birthday card that I needed in a hurry.

The mix of sizes in the balloon make it easy to quickly build the image you want and stamping repeatedly without re-inking  the stamp allows for the depth and shade variations.

I stamped this onto shimmery card for the extra sheen, using strawberry slush ink and then used a darker mat underneath.

For the sentiment greeting I used the Happy Birthday, Everyone stamp set.

That its for now.. until next time

Cxx

In the Meadow

In recent years I have become a huge fan of the nature inspired stamp sets with animals and scenery. I still have every one I bought  even after some retired because I continue to use them often.

  In the Meadow is another lovely addition to my collection and this morning I have been playing around with this set.

The first thing I did was stamped and fussy cut each image to use  as a mask in scene building. I keep these tacked to the case lid with the stamps so they are ready when I need them.







For the first sample (above) I triple stamped the mountains and kept the rest of the scene as grassland with the saplings and deer in the foreground.

In the second sample (left) I used the same basic layout but added some pale water and edged it with sand  to make a divide between the grassland in the foreground and the mountains in the background.

In both samples I used darker shading on the closest range of mountains and lighter on the farthest most range to accentuate distance.

For my final sample I decided to try stamping on a piece of linen card I had sitting on my desk form another project. The linen texture card gives a whole difference result - especially in terms of how the card takes the colour. The lines of the stamped images are  much more defined too.

On this sample I changed the scenery composition slightly and added more water.

This was just my first attempts at playing around with this set. I already have in mind to use the scenery to build a scene for the 'airplane' from The Sky's the Limit  SAB stamp set...but that is for another day.

Until next time, take care
Cxx

Rose Wonder

I thought I would just share with you a few cards I have made with this set. For each of the cards I have used the same basic design but wanted to show the very different results you can get...


A couple of days ago I shared this one... where I stamped and  then coloured the image and added the die cut overlay over the top which gives a raised  dimension detail to the card.

Now on this one I stamped the image in black ink. I then very roughly coloured using watercolour crayons. Once I had the basic outline colours down , I gave the image a quick spritz with water and gently blended the colours out across the whole image.

For this next card I  took an off cut piece of very vanilla card and then I die cut the rose and leaves from plain white card and used it as a stencil. I sprayed the colour through the stencil and once it was dry I lifted the die cut overlay and set aside.  I fussy cut the stamped and stencilled image and adhered it to the front of a diagonally cut card base. I cut another piece of very vanilla card, stamped the sentiment in the top corner, inked the edges with a sponge and adhered it to the inside of the blackberry bliss card base.









And finally, in the spirit of not wanting to waste anything tyat can be used on a project , I took the die cut that I used as a stencil and adhered it to the front of a card and added an embossed sentiment to the top corner. I added a few dots with a versamark pen and clear embossed those in the space to complete this very simple Thank you card








The thing that impresses me so much about this bundled set is that I have only used one floral stamped image and one die from the set and there are so many more  in each...and I haven't even begun to cut into the die cuts and develop the cards that way. There are just so many possibilities with this set and I really think my husband made a brilliant choice with this one.

There are sure to be more of these to follow. Until next time, take care
Cxx

The Sky's the Limit

Today I thought I would share the sale-a-bration freebie my husband chose for me. This one is a limited time product and only available until the 15th February , so if you want it, please don't miss out.

The vintage plane is a great image and really easy to cut out...all the fiddly detail is inside!

I needed to make this card really quickly and so grabbed  a retired embossing folder (sorry, no longer available oops!)  but the stamp set does come with cloud stamps and I will do other cards using this set  with a variety of background options.

There are some great wording stamps with this set and the fonts are really classy. As this was a birthday card and I want the recipient to have an exhilarating day, I adhered one of the planes upside down.... They loved it.

More soon... until next time,

Cxx