Happy Ever After

I've been struck by inspiration lightning today in the form of a number of fantastic blog challenges. I've chosen to incorporate four of them into this card's design.

The colour scheme of Pink, Black and white comes from the CCEE Stampers challenge #1216.

With such a clean palette I had to go with a Clean and Simple sketch, so CAS-ual Fridays challenge #49 sketch was perfect.

I was drawn to the 'How Charming' challenge laid down by the guys down at Less is More this week because I'm not usually one for using charms on my cards. However, never one to shy away from a challenge, I made my own charm using shrink plastic and a stamp from Stampin' Up's Fifth Avenue Floral set. I stamped the image using Memento ink and coloured it with my Promarkers before shrinking it with my heat gun.

Last, but not least, I'd like to enter this card in the C.R.A.F.T challenge #151 for being an anniversary card.

Another card catch up.

Just a quick post to show two cards I made for birthdays recently.

The first is quite a delicate card, featuring a 3D rose I made using a stamp from the Fifth Avenue Floral set and paper from the Domestic Goddess set. I simply stamped the image 3 times and cut out smaller sections from the last two, to layer using dimensionals.

The main panel is made using Island Indigo CS with a Pretty In Pink frame. I've lined up pieces of the Domestic Goddess DSP, which I've cut using the PTI Filigree Border Die, and stuck them to the back of the frame before adhering the whole piece to the Indigo panel, and then to a Bashful Blue base card. I should've used Pool Party so that it matched the DSP but I'm all out of that colour so need to add it to my next order.

The sentiment is from a PTI set and I've cut it out using their Limitless Layers oval dies.The leaves were also cut using a PTI die.

On a very different theme, I wanted to make a card for a friend of my Daughter, who is a big Peppa Pig fan. I tried making a punch art Peppa, but found it would look much more realistic if I cut it by hand.

I backed Peppa with patterned paper from the Just Add Cake set and added the same sentiment as before, this time cut with the Decorative Label Punch. A row of ducks and a row of flowers, both stamped using the Every Little Bit set from Stampin' Up! and coloured with SU markers, finishes off this cute card.

I've been itching to get making more cards for challenges lately and there are loads I'd like to participate in this week. With any luck I'll find some time and will of course blog any that I manage to make.

Time to play!

Apologies in advance for a lengthy post. I suggest a cup of Chai Latte and at least 3 biscuits for this one...

Last week I was able to find some time to have a proper play with some of the fab new products I bought from the 2011-2012 Ideas Book & Catalogue (click on the link on the left to view it).

I am REALLY loving the new In Colours, especially Calypso Coral and Island Indigo. I used the latter, together with Lucky Limeade to make this cute card featuring the new stamp set, Everybunny. The bunny is coloured using a Pool Party marker.


I also used Island Indigo for this birthday card which uses the new a la carte stamp, Elebration.

The base card is Certainly Celery and I've layered up with Island Indigo and Chocolate Chip cardstock. That beautiful border is created with the new Lace Ribbon Border punch, which is definitely a new entry on my fave products list (up there with the Stampin' Scrub LOL!).The sentiment is from the 'Heard from the heart' stamp set.

Next up is a card that I'm very proud of because it was my first attempt at watercolouring.


I wanted a real impact so I chose Melon Mambo for the base card and the Lace Ribbon Border punch accent. I stamped the Lily image from the US set Fifth Avenue Floral in Versamark onto Whisper White cardstock and applied Melon Mambo embossing powder. Once I'd heated it with my heat gun I set to work watercolouring with my Stampin' Write markers and an Aquapen. I then cut out the flower and mounted it onto Basic Black cardstock. The sentiment is from the retired set Basic Phrases. For the finishing touch I threaded some black 1/8" Taffeta ribbon through the punched section.

Back to the new In Colours and a spotlight on Calypso Coral. I love this colour and wanted a design that would really show it off. I decided to use Basic Black to contrast and used my Square Lattice Embossing Folder to create texture on the background layer.The image is from the new Hostess set, Simply Soft; a 2-step stamp set that has such delicate, almost oriental images. Once again, the black 1/8" Taffeta ribbon provides an excellent finishing touch.

Last but not least is the anniversary card I made for my Husband for our 6th Wedding Anniversary. I was inspired by Caroline Skinner's gorgeous card and wanted to make a version with Lovebirds on it instead. Calypso Coral came to the rescue as the perfect shade for their heads, together with Lucky Limeade for the bodies and Garden Green for the wings. The heart frame is made from branches cut from Real Red card using the 2-step Bird Punch. The whole thing is layered on Calypso Coral and Crumb Cake cardstock.

Phew! Well that's it for this post (finished your tea yet?) but I'll be back soon with an update on our 'Turn Up the Heat' class and a sneak peek at next week's 'Terrifying Treats' papercraft session.