Catch up on cards

I realised that there are a few cards I've made recently and not posted on my blog so I'm catching up and putting that right.

First up is a card I made for my Sister-in-law's birthday. One of my fave colour combos is Melon Mambo and Black as it just POPS!

I have a stamp set from the US called Up Up and Away, which features hot air balloons. However, I really wanted to see if those balloons could be used as petals on a flower and yes they can! I stamped each one and added ink to the edges and lines to the middle to add depth. I cut them out then curled them slightly with my bone folder. I stamped the large flourish from Baroque Motifs and assembled the flower at the top using Stampin' Dimensionals and Tombow glue, adding a black faux brad as a centre.

For my Father-in-law's card I chose a masculine combination of River Rock and Night of Navy, with accents in Basic Gray, River Rock, Soft Suede and Night of Navy. The accents are stamped using the Circle Circus set and punched out with a circle punch.



Finally, I was challenged to make a card featuring snowflakes and lots of sparkle. I followed a tutorial from the latest Impressions magazine (exclusive to Stampin' Up! Demonstrators) that showed how to make a snowflake using the Lace Ribbon Border Punch. For the base of the card I embossed some Whisper White card with a snowflake background and then highlighted some of the snowflakes by adding glue and a mixture of Tempting Turquoise embossing powder and glitter. The main card is Pool Party cardstock and I've added a pretty bow from matching Ruffled Ribbon.

'Cracking Up' Class Update

I loved this Papercraft Session as everyone was able to make the projects right from start to finish due to it being a smaller group than usual.  I'd deliberately brought a selection of stamps and colours for everyone to choose from and it was great seeing everyone's take on the design.

For the main image there was a choice between Young Vermillion (as used on my card shown) and the Pear image from Faith in Nature.

The background was stamped using the small flower from the Baroque Motifs set in Chocolate Chip ink. All the flowers are the same ink but I've given them a different look by stamping the images several times before re-inking, resulting in a lighter shade each time. I used Baja Breeze cardstock for the base and Chocolate Chip card punched with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch. See that ribbon? I love the pretty scalloped edge and those funky dots. The best thing is it's available in 10 different colours!

The mosaic itself was made by firstly stamping the image and watercolouring it using an AquaPainter brush. Once dried, the image is then overstamped with Versamark using an acrylic block covered with offcuts of foam mounted rubber. Clear embossing powder is added and heated with a heat gun. Finally, a dark ink is applied all over using a sponge dauber and then wiped off with a paper towel. The ink is left in the spaces between each embossed section, giving the mosaic effect.

Here you can see what my lovely ladies made with the materials. I love how the Whisper White looks on both the Cherry Cobbler and Island Indigo cardstock.

'Turn Up The Heat' class update

Last week's Papercraft Session saw us dig out the heat gun again for some heat embossing. I've always used heat embossing mainly for bold images, such as those in the 'Just Believe' stamp set, so I wanted to try a more subtle look for a change.

The first card we made was based on a design a featured in my last post, but instead of using the Big Shot and dry embossing the background, I used the large stamp from the Style Beautiful set. I applied the stamp to Certainly Celery cardstock using Versamark ink, then heat embossed using clear embossing powder. Because the design of this stamp is a dotted line, each little dot was picked out beautifully by the fineness of the powder. That's what I love about Stampin' Up! embossing powders, they're really fine and so you don't lose detail like you do with some other powders.

I then stamped the flower outline from the Hostess set Simply Soft. I inked the stamp up first with Versamark, to get the stickiness I needed, then Basic Black for colour. Don't try this the other way around or you'll end up with a messy Versamark pad!  After heat embossing that image with clear powder, I stamped the second part of this 2-step stamp, the flowers, using River Rock ink. I didn't want it to line up precisely for this design, so I stamped by eye, but if you did want perfect alignment I'd recommend using a Stamp-a-ma-jig. I coloured the leaves using a Certainly Celery marker.

After matting the image with Chocolate Chip CS and applying it to the Celery layer, I applied Sticky Strip across the bottom and added some Grosgrain ribbon in a pleated effect. I tucked the ends to the back of that layer and adhered it to another Choc Chip mat and finally to my textured River Rock card base.

The second card we made featured the striking tree image from the new Forever Young stamp set. The 'Life is Beautiful' sentiment (from the Style Beautiful set) was stamped in Versamark onto Choc Chip card and then heat embossed using the new Wild Wasabi embossing powder. Having used this colour and Melon Mambo, I can't wait to try the other new colours! Once again, the gorgeous Lace Ribbon Border punch is used to add interest to the left hand side - so simple!

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.