A bit of 'me time'

I've been lucky enough to get some time today to 'play' and make cards. I made a special card for a good friend who is getting married to his partner later this month. I won't post it here just in case he sees it but I'll post a pic next month.

I was also able to create a card for a couple of challenges I wanted to enter, the Colour Throwdown #151 (Rainbow colours) and the Sweet Stampin' f-f-f-f-fashion challenge (Fashion themed). Here's my entry...

Lift an Odd Girl Challenge

Some Odd Girl has an unusually titled challenge this week... Lift an Odd Girl! By 'lift' they mean 'be inspired by' and the challenge is to take inspiration from a card on one of the Odd Girl DT's blogs. I saw Asa's card and immediately thought of how I could use the ink spots stamp from 'French Foliage' to imitate the effect she got around her image. I also loved the sweet bow made from Twill tape. Here's my homage to Asa's card...

I masked off the 'Tiny Tia' image and then stamped around it using Crumb Cake both on the stamp and as a distress effect. To get the corrugated effect on the second layer I used my scoring blade on the paper trimmer to score lines across the card.I've then layered it up on So Saffron cardstock and added a sentiment from the 'Best Yet' stamp set (retired SU! set).

I coloured the image using my Promarkers and went for a subtle, almost monochrome colour scheme and I love the innocent look it gives.

Sneaky peek at... Light Up Your Life

This week's Papercraft Session is sure to be an illuminating one (*groan* ) as we're stamping on candles.

We'll be creating stamped tealights, and a pretty gift box to present them in, together with a co-ordinating greetings card. We'll also be tranferring stamped images onto a small pillar candle - these make fab Christmas presents! Here's a little look at the sort of treats we'll be making, although a choice of colours and designs will be available.

 

There are just 2 places left and booking closes at 8pm on Tuesday evening, to allow me the time to get all the materials prepared. Please call me on 0757 848 6669 to book your place.

On a different note, take a look to the left of my blog and you'll see I'm now sporting a banner to celebrate getting picked for the Top 3 in last week's Simply Stampin' Challenge! How chuffed am I?? It was first time entering the challenge so I'm especially proud. Now what can I come up with for this week's challenge I wonder?...

Simply Stampin' Challenge #16

I was really happy to discover that there is a Challenge blog especially for fans of Stampin' Up! products and couldn't wait to make and enter a card. This week's challenge is to make a card based on this sketch...

Seeing those flowers reminded me of a project I'd seen recently (on Sarah-Jane's Cards and a cuppa blog) and wanted to try; Scalloped Fan Toppers.

First I made my toppers using patterned papers from the Jolly Holiday DSP pack with Night of Navy CS and Very Vanilla CS. The large topper has been stamped using the french script and ink blot stamps from the 'French Foliage' set and the bird stamp from the Hostess set 'Silhouette Sentiments'. The smaller topper uses the ink blots again with the Paris postmark stamp, again from 'French Foliage'.

The base card is Cherry Cobbler CS layered with Night of Navy CS. I've stamped a wide strip of Very Vanilla CS with the 'Bella Toile' background stamp in Crumb Cake and added a narrow strip of the same DSP I used for the large topper. A piece of co-ordinating wide striped grosgrain ribbon finishes it off beautifully. Oh, nearly forgot the sentiment! It's from 'Perfect Punches' and is stamped in Night of Navy on Very Vanilla, cut out by hand and mounted onto a piece of DSP I punched out using the Oval Extra-Large punch.

I think it's quite 'Parisienne Chic' if I do say so myself ;)  Wish me luck!

Peterborough Training July 2011

I was lucky enough to be able to go to the quarterly training event held by Monica Gale and Bekka Prideaux this month.

I'd been asked to make up to 40 'swap cards' on a Christmas theme, using stamps from the current Ideas Book & Catalogue. After the initial shock of making 40 swaps wore off I got my thinking cap on and got to work. I really wanted to do something that I hadn't seen done before, and I only had one set of stamps that were specifically Christmas stamps. In the end I decided I should stick to a simple design, for ease of replication, but have the 'wow factor' by using a stamp in an original way. Then it came to me... mistletoe stamped using part of the tree stamp from the 'Hopeful Thoughts' set!

The beauty of Stampin' Write markers is that you can use them to ink up as little or as much of a stamp as you like, making partial stamping a breeze. I used my Old Olive marker and stamped onto Crumb Cake card. It looked a little bare as it was so I added white berries using the Signo Gel Pen (which is amazing on dark colours too). Voila! Instant Mistletoe...


I used Versamark to stamp the flourish from Baroque Motifs onto Concord Crush CS and then punched out a frame for my sentiment using the Decorative Label punch.The sentiment is from Contempo Christmas and I've used the markers again to colour 'Merry' in Real Red with the rest in Old Olive.

Just take a look at all the gorgeous swap cards I received in return....

They were all fab but I'd like to give a special mention to the following:-

Cutest = Carole Claxton's cheeky snowman and Sandra's (C&S Cards) super sweet candy cane mouse.

Most original = Elaine's (Sassy Stampers) wine glass charms and Jo Press' punch art choir boy.

Designs with hidden gems = Ann Willis' treat holder with xmas owl inside. I love the button fastening that is actually made of card and stamped. Last but not least, Ali Wilkins' gift card holder.

Here's a look at the inside of those last two...

Fancy Folds class update

This was probably my favourite class so far. It was lovely to see everyone create the cards after initially thinking they were too complicated. That's the beauty of tri-shutter and easel cards, they're deceptively easy to make!

I completely forgot to take a photo of everyone's cards at the end and I only have a sample of the easel card which is a real shame. If I can persuade one of my class members to sent me a picture of the tri-shutter card we made I'll edit this post accordingly.

Here is the easel card we made, which was inspired by a canvas made by the lovely Margaret. As always, I wanted to put my own spin on it as, for me personally, I don't feel comfortable demonstrating someone else's design. I take great pride in knowing that all my cards are unique and reflect my style.

I used Daffodil Delight textured cardstock as a base and layered up the main image using Marina Mist and Peach Parfait card. The patterned paper is from the In Colour 6x6" DSP stack, which is exclusive to Hostesses who hold a qualifying workshop (qualyifying = sales of £150 or more. E-mail me if you'd like to hold a workshop).

This is what an easel card looks like from the side when it's standing. The sentiment on the base is mounted using Stampin' Dimensionals so that it keeps the top part of the card in place. When folded the card lies flat so it can be posted normally.

Here I've given a close-up view of the 3D stamping technique we used. First we stamped the flowers, from the 'Just Believe' set, using Bashful Blue ink. Then, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect alighment, we stamped the image again in a darker shade (Marina Mist) just slightly to the left of the original image. It creates a fabulous shadow effect and is so easy to do.




The butterflies (from the Sale-A-Bration set 'Bliss') and the frame ('Just Believe' again) used on the base are stamped and hand-cut (yep, not a die-cutting system in sight!) to add that extra 3D element.

Just a Note class update

Here's a much belated look at what my creative bunch of ladies came up with during the 'Just a Note' session...

I love how, given the same materials and example cards to work with, everyone came up with their own designs, ranging right from chic and minimalistic through to elaborate layers! It was great for me to see everyone crafting away with such enthusiasm.

An apology

Just a quick post to apologise for the lack of posts this month. It's turned out to be a VERY busy month!! I have pictures to share of last night's session cards and a peek at the exciting candle class coming up on 28th July.

I also have some exciting news to share concerning Christmas...yes I know it seems a long way off but it'll be here before you know it!