Birthday with a twist!

Card: marina mist, night of navy, whisper white
Ink: marina mist, night of navy
Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, well scripted

Accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, pearl

The lovely Paula shared a quick but very cool tutorial the other day on her blog, and today I wanted to CASE her project. This is my take, and trust me, it was quick! Yay! I ripped some scrap A4 printing paper and sponged with marina mist before stamping with night of navy. This is essentially a masking technique and so so effective! I just had to add a butterfly and a pearl to give it some 'wow'!

Card for a work colleague

Card: blushing bride, early expresso, pear pizzazz, whisper white
Ink: blushing bride, early expresso, pear pizzazz
Stamp set(s): just believe, well scripted
Accessories: blushing bride 1/4"poly-striped ribbon, top note, big shot, beautiful wings embosslit, brayer

A few weeks ago, a work colleague celebrated a birthday and I designed this card for the whole team to sign for her. It's A5 size, so quite big. But I love the hint of pear pizzazz that complements the blushing bride and early expresso (my colour coach comes in real handy!!). I tried to use some scraps I had lying around, but I knew I wanted to brayer some colour somewhere and use my new just believe stamp set. I was pretty pleased with the results, and the birthday girl loved it!

JAI Challenge #106

Card: poppy parade, calypso coral, tangerine tango, whisper white

DSP: poppy parade DSP
Ink: poppy parade, calypso coral
Stamp set: fresh vintage, so happy for you

Accessories: 3/4" circle punch, silver brads, calypso coral brad, poppy parade 1/4" poly-striped ribbon

The ladies over at JAI challenged us with a sketch this week. I decided to go with some of the different reds that I had, and I also wanted to make a rosette (the DSP worked well for this!). The sketch worked out well for this card, and I'm falling in love with the poppy parade and calypso coral colour comobo :-)

I've also used a new stamp set from the current Sale-a-bration promotion - love, love, love it! I've stamped a stuble pattern on the two outside panels, and on the inside panel. This stamp set can be yours for free if you spend $120 (not including shipping) - but hurry, only until the end of March!

Another thank you card

Card: soft suede, more mustard, very vanilla
Ink: soft suede, more mustard
Stamp set(s): french foilage, curly cute

Accessories: vellum paper, scallop trim border punch, linen thread

This is similar to the card I made yesterday, but I was so tickled with how yesterday's project turned out, I just had to make another one! I also just had to break into my new french foilage stamp set :-) You'll be seeing lots more of this stamp set; don't say you haven't been warned!

And I think this a timely reminder about the current Sale-a-bration promotion - I've just got another SAB stamp set, which I'll be using lots in the last few weeks of the promotion. If you spend $120 (not including shipping), you get to choose from 5 different options, including gorgeous DSP and embellishments as well as stamp sets. Contact me for more details, or to place your order!

Leaves thank you card

Card: pool party, soft suede, very vanilla

DSP: spice cake

Ink: pool party, soft suede, pear pizzazz

Stamp set(s): lovely as a tree, curly cute

Accessories: old olive 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, scallop border punch, vellum paper

Awhile back, I saw this card by Mary Brown on a challenge and today, I decided to CASE (copy and share everything) it. I love the vellum paper, the colours (although I don't think the old olive goes that well - Mary used choc chip scalloped ribbon) and the layered stamping. The pics aren't very good because I left taking the photos until too late...but hope it give you some idea. I'm thinking I might try heat embossing (or dry embossing, for that matter!) the vellum, so you might see more of this stuff!

Ribbon birthday

Card: confetti white, calypso coral, pool party, crumb cake, whisper white
Ink: calypso coral, pool party, crumb cake (marker)
Stamp set(s): silloutte sentiments, well scripted, pocket sillouttes
Accessories: calypso coral ruffled ribbon, linen thread, pool party in-colour brad

I fell in love with Delys' colour challenge a few months back, and today was the day to CASE this one... Love the colour combo, and the ruffled ribbon and the confetti white cardstock create just enough different textures to make this card "sing"! Someone will be tickled with this birthday card, I'm sure :-)

Remembering Christchurch

Card: real red, basic black, whisper white
Ink: real red, basic black
Stamp set: strength & hope

Accessories: petal cone die, big shot, perfect polka dot embossing folder, basic black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, real red grosgrain ribbon

I made this card in memory of Christchurch (I finished it late last night), a year on from the devastating earthquakes that they have experienced. I wanted to keep it simple, but portray courage, strength and resilience like the people of Christchurch. I also wanted it to be red and black - the Cantaburian colours. I know I have used a lot of butterflies lately, but I just had to add one inside the card to portray the new life and hope that has come out of the devastation, tragedy, and enormous loss of life that the people of Christchurch have experienced. Kia kaha, Christchurch!

Orange butterfly

Card: early expresso, pumpkin pie, real red, very vanilla
Ink: early expresso
Stamp set: bliss
Accessories: beautiful butterfly die-cut, big shot, petal cone die-cut, perfect polka dot embossing folder, real red striped ribbon, hemp twine, real red button, pearls

I have lots of bits of card and ribbon floating around, and I wanted to use some up today, so I challenged myself to only use scraps on this project. I reckon I did pretty well! Everything was cut or embossed from left-over die-cut projects and scraps of cardstock. I love the pearls and how the different sizes look in a row, and the big ribbon tied with hemp twine has been on lots of projects I've seen recently, so I wanted to give that little technique a go. A pretty cute card!

Friends

Card: whisper white, rich razzleberry, night of navy

Ink: rich razzleberry, night of navy

Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, just believe

Accessories: whisper white square envelope, night of navy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, 1" circle punch, sponge

This is a very cute card I made to fit a little square envelope from SU! I've stamped whisper white with two different doily stamps in two different colours, sponged the edge, added the ribbon and attached to the base card. I decided to add a sentiment, so I punched a circle and stamped it with the smallest doily, and stamped the sentiment to add on top. I have also stamped the front of the envelope, but wouldn't you know it, the razzleberry image came up with the outline of the stamp...grrr! It's not a mistake - only a creative challenge to cover up! Anyway, I had to add a big butterfly - I would have preferred not to, but there go... I think this is a lovely card/gift to cheer someone up with, all things considered :-)

Wisteria birthday

Card: pool party, wisteria wonder, whisper white
Ink: pool party, wisteria wonder
Stamp set(s): just believe, bliss, curly cute

Accessories: vellum paper, beautiful wings embosslet, big shot, sponge, rhinestones

Over at JAI this week is a colour challenge. I only had two of the colours they suggested, but they work so well together! For this card, I stamped the main image from the just believe stamp set and added a torn corner with some vellum paper behind stamped in wisteria wonder to show up on the pool party. It's so cool you can do some much with vellum paper - it looks fantastic torn, scrunched, stamped, empbossed... Then I added some subtle texture with stamping around the edges of the whisper white. A couple of butterflies that are on dimensionals to create a 3D effect and some rhinestones once again lift the artwork. I have stamped an inside panel - I can't get away from adding something extra inside these days! - to make a vintage, subtle birthday card.

Colour Throwdown #179

Card: crumb cake, poppy parade, blushing bride
Ink: poppy parade, blushing bride
Stamp set(s): silloutte sentiments, so happy for you

Accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, perfect polka dot embossing folder, clear block C, pearls, blushing bride 1/4" poly-striped ribbon

Over at the Colour Throwdown, the colour combo this week was right up my alley - my favourite combo AND a netural...! I've used a clear block to stamp a background 'mat', then added an image and sentiment over the top. The butterfly duo and ribbon set it off nicely. And of course, I had to add an inside panel for a special message. I've had lots of fun stamping with my clear blocks, creating lots of different effects. Very easy to do, and a quick way to add some subtle (or not so subtle colour) to your project. Hope you like it!

Techniques class no.1

Card: soft suede, more mustard, very vanilla
Ink: soft suede, more mustard, cajun craze, always artichoke, cajun craze marker, soft suede marker
Stamp set(s): french foilage, word play
Accessories: hemp twine, clip, very vanilla envelope

I attended Paula's first techniques class today, where she taught us how to create a mat/background using clear blocks. You can use your clear blocks as stamping tools, and create a layered effect without the bulk of card - genuis! I love the colours of this project, and I just adore the french foilage stamp set. It's now on my wish list, along with some of the inks we've used here :-) I also love the stamped envelope to make it truely unique. Thanks, Paula, for the fun and inspiration!

Brayered birthday

Card: calypso coral, island indigo, whisper white


Ink: calypso coral, island indigo


Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, well scripted


Accessories: brayer, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, pearls





This is a project I added to the tin of cards I gave my sister for Christmas. I know, it's taken me awhile to post this one...! But I adore this card, and the colour combo has got to be one of favourites still. I love the graduated look of the band of colour (that's what the brayer does - pretty cool!) because it stands out so well on the whisper white. Thought you might enjoy it :-)

Where pool party & rich razzleberry collide!

Card: pool party, rich razzleberry, whisper white
Ink: pool party, rich razzleberry
Stamp set: because I care

Accessories: scallop border punch, dazzling diamonds, sponge, pool party ruffled ribbon

When I was catching up with the lovely Sharlene today, she mentioned her new favourite colour combo - pool party and rich razzleberry. I just had to create something to see for myself! I mean, they don't go together, do they?? Oh, but they do - VERY well!

Here, I have punched a border on one side, stamped my image and sentiment and layered it on rich razzleberry. Ribbon and some dazzling diamonds on the flower just set it off nicely. Apologies for the blurry second picture of the inside panel...I'll have to work out what's happening with my camera.

Thanks Sharlene for the inspiration - you're a gem :-)

Back to school

Card: temping turquoise, real red, crumb cake, old olive, whisper white
Ink: early expresso, real red
Stamp set: bliss

Accessories: real red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, brights buttons (real red, tempting turquoise, old olive), quick accent sticker - play date

The challenge at JAI this week was Back to School. I wasn't going to enter this challenge, but today I decided to try something different. I've covered a notepad, and added a pen for a very cute "back to school" gift! I have stamped the real red and crumb cake panels , layered a sticker from the play date quick accents that fitted with the theme this week, and added a bow and buttons. I love the bright colours and how this all came together in the end!

Birthday wishes

Card: pool party, island indigo, whisper white
Ink: pool party, island indigo
Stamp set(s): bliss, silloutte sentiments, so happy for you
Accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, pearls, sponges

The lovely Debi had a significant birthday last week (Happy Birthday, Debi!!) and I sent this card to help her celebrate. Love the colour combo, the torn corner, and the shadow stamping. I did an inside panel, but didn't take a pic before I wrote in it, so I've left that out. Except to say that it was shadow-stamped around the edges for a subtle look (similar to the front), and sponged to create the vintage, whispy look that Debi loves! Big hugs, Debi!

For Valentines

Card: basic black, whisper white, real red
Ink: real red, cherry cobbler, poppy parade
Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, well scripted

Accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, sponges, pearls

I wanted another valentines day card, so I designed this one. Not quite how I had visualised it in my mind, but I quite like it! I love the three different reds together, and mounted on a thin red mat, then a black base. I think it looks classy! Fit for the special day tomorrow :-)

Card of hope

Card: early expresso, cherry cobbler, very vanilla
Ink: early expresso, cherry cobbler
Stamp set: strength & hope

Accessories: sponges, dazzling diamonds, early expresso striped ribbon, rhinestones

This was another quick card I pulled together yesterday. Yes, I missed posting yesterday - we've had internet issues which are now resolved, whew! I've sponged all of the edges, and added a inside panel with part of a butterfly in cherry cobbler - loving the effect of partial images right now. The ribbon and rhinestones add some texture and depth to the project.

Cute hello card

Card: rich razzleberry, wisteria wonder, whisper white, blushing bride textured cardstock

Ink: rich razzleberry, wisteria wonder

Stamp set(s): elementary elegance stamp set (SAB), fast flowers wheel

Accessories: sponge, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, small square envelope, pearl

A very quick "hello" card that I decided to make for a friend "just 'cos"! I've used a fantastic stamp set from the current Sale-a-Bration collection. If you spend $120, you can get yours for free! I've also used Stampin' Up! square envelope that fits a cute small card like this one.

Valentine with a twist

Card: marina mist, night of navy, whisper white
Ink: marina mist, night of navy, whisper white
Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, well scripted

Accessories: brayer, beautiful butterflies die cut, petal cone die-cut, perfect polka dots embossing folder, big shot, rhinestones, 1/4" whisper white grosgrain ribbon

The challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments this week was to use three different blues and a neutral colour. I only had one of the blues they suggested, so I've used two of the blues that I've got and whisper white. I thought I would make a valentines day card - the twist is that it's blue!

I've masked off a thin strip of the whisper white, and brayered top and bottom with marina mist and night of navy. I've stamped a sentiment across the strip that was created, added the top of the cone from the cone-petal die (embossed) and a beautiful butterfly (stamped with night of navy - you can just see it) with ribbon around it's middle for antenae (sp??!). The rhinestones give it a little bling.

Twisted tri-fold card

Card: pool party, soft suede, very vanilla
DSP: spice cake
Ink: pool party, soft suede
Stamp set(s): bliss, create a cupcake, pocket sillouttes, silloutte sentiments
Accessories: brayer, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, pearls, sponges

Just yesterday, I was looking for different card folds online, and found this one, which I wanted to have a go at. It's a tri-fold card with a twist... The main pool party base has been scored into three, but then the outside squares have been scored corner to corner and folded back to create two triangles. It's a little hard to explain, but I'm hoping you'll get some idea of what I've done from the photos. I have attached some square layers to each triangle, so it looks like it's a square card, but when you open it up, there are some "surprises", which is quite cool. Then, I have stamped and attached an inside panel. I've sponged all the edges with soft suede to give it a "worn, vintage" feel. Hope you like it!

Card tin

Card: poppy parade, whisper white

Ink: blushing bride

Stamp set: just believe

Accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, lattice embossing folder, poppy parade stitched-poly ribbon, real red striped ribbon, rhinestones

For christmas last year (I know, it's been awhile!), I put together a card tin for my mother and sister. I've posted about the tin I gave my mother, but this is the one I gave my sister. I managed to fill it with a few cards for Christmas which I'll show you over time...perhaps when I don't have anything to post! The tin is a Dilmah promotional tin, which I bought from Countdown just before Christmas. The perfect size for cards... I blinged it up with ribbon and rhinestones, but not too much as to make it annoying to pack away etc.

Anyway, my sister loved this gift, and she's even used some of the cards that were included already - yay! (but not before I took pics!). This means that she can go to her stash and decide on a card without asking me to make one for her :-) I'm thinking I could continue the tradition of giving her a stack of card for Christmas (and maybe birthday) each year to keep the tin supplied. The gift that keeps on giving!

JAI Challenge - Red & White

Card: real red, whisper white
Ink: real red
Stamp set: just believe, so happy for you

Accessories: brayer, pearls, real red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon

This week's challenge over at Just Add Ink was Just Add Red & White. This is my take on the challenge... With a real red base, I added some artwork on whisper white with my brayer with some stamping, and the pearls and ribbon finish it off. I stamped the sentiment on a small piece of whisper white and sponged the edges to help it pop, but then I curled it so it created a 3D effect, which I quite like.

Another birthday card...

Card: chocolate chip, pear pizzazz, very vanilla
Ink: chocolate chip, pear pizzazz
Stamp set(s): lovely as a tree, well scripted

Accessories: silver brads, framed tulips embossing folder, big shot

These photos aren't the best, but this card was quick and easy to make... Again, I used some scraps I had lying around (I often use that as a spring-board of inspiration for my projects). I've made this one another birthday card as I don't have as many of those right now... It could be a masculine card, but it has enough detail and cuteness to give to a female. The inside panel is blury, but has very simply been stamped in one corner for interest.

Turquoise Happy Birthday

Card: tempting turquoise, real red, whisper white

DSP: tempting turquoise patterned DSP
Ink: temping turquoise, real red
Stamp set(s): create a cupcake, siloutte sentiments, bliss

Accessories: brayer, 1/4" whisper white grosgrain ribbon, pearls, sponges

I decided to try the sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday today. The sketch was quite simple, but one I enjoyed using to create this birthday card. I'm not in love with tempting turquoise, but with the little splash of real red and whisper white, it's ok here...! I stamped on the DSP to begin with, then brayered on the bottom of the whisper white panel and stamped the images and sentiment. I sponged around the edges of the DSP and whisper white in tempting turquoise, which gives it a toned down look. The inside panel is sponged with real red and a single image has been stamped on the corner. As I say, the ribbon and pearls make this "pop"!

Colour throwdown #177

Card: melon mamblo, whisper white, basic black
Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, well scripted
Accessories: versamark, white embossing powder, embossing buddy, heat gun, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, pearl

There is a stunning colour challenge over at Colour Throwdown this week. Melon mambo, black, and white. Gorgeous! For my entry, I white embossed my images on basic black card, added a melon mambo butterfly with a little white butterfly to add depth, and the pearl on the butterfly just adds that 'little extra something'. I don't usually like using black, but seeing the way the white embossing looks against the black, I'm thinking my white embossing powder will have to come out more often!

Not a card challenge!

Card: island indigo, calypso coral, whisper white

Ink: island indigo, calypso coral

Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, punch bunch

Accessories: calypso coral ruffled ribbon, island indigo designer brads, scallop circle punch, rhinestone, scallop trim border punch

Over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, the challenge this week is to create anything but a card - a gift item/idea. I came up with this basket, CASEd from my upline, Paula (thanks, Paula!). I stamped all over the main basket, then added the whisper white panels on the two biggest sides (you can't see the other side!). I attached a handle that has been stamped, layered and punched with the scallop trim border punch with my new in-colour designer brads (gotta love those!). I finished it off with a sentiment that has been punched out with the scallop ciricle punch. I'll add some shredded paper inside and some chocolates to give away :-)

Butterfly birthday

Card: wisteria wonder, lucky limeade, whisper white
Ink: wisteria wonder, lucky limeade
Stamp set(s): just believe, curly cute
Accessories: brayer, wister wonder ruffled ribbon, pearls

Another quick, simple card. The lucky limeade has come out brighter than it is in real life, but I still quite like this combination. I set a challenge to use some scraps today, and I've done pretty well, I think. I also wanted to make a birthday card for my stash... You just never know when you'll need one in a hurry!

Bold & bright!

Card: confetti white, whisper white, melon mambo, daffodil delight
Ink: tempting turquoise, daffodill delight
Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, so happy for you

Accessories: perfect polka dot embossing folder, big shot, ice cream palour buttons, ice cream palour ribbon, sponge

A very quick and simple card today. I decided I wanted to make a bright, cherry card and so I dug out my ice cream palour buttons and ribbon and worked with the card stock and inks I had to match. I sponged the bottom of the front whisper white panel, but I'm wishing I had used my brayer to give a more defined and graduated look. Anyway, another card to put away in my stash for the market, or to give away :-)