Juicy Fruit

When I saw the fruit clear embossed in the new IBC, I just had to case the idea.  These fruit look so juicy, and oh, so edible!  I hope this makes you feel all summery, despite the fact that I have the fire on and the wind is blowing in Hawke's Bay like it does in Wellington:  I am finally feeling a little at home. I really enjoyed making this card.  The colours were such fun to bring together; they are not colours I would usually put together, but I really like them.  What do you think?

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Oops, my cutting is not so good on this corner, but the sun's gone for another pic. I always love to discover another way to use this stamp set; these images always cheer the heart.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!
Stamp set: Tart & Tangy
Card stock: Real Red, Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight & Peach Parfait & Regal Rose 
Clear Embossing and Scallop Edge Punch with 2mm circle punch outs.  Matt pack for faux stitching line.

If you would like to own this lovely stamp set "Tart & Tangy" and discover more ways to use it, then it's available from me for $26.95 plus shipping. 

Easel Card with Butterflies

Today I would like to share with you an easel card.  I got the instructions how to put it together from Splitcoast Stampers.  I also was inspired by a share card by the very talented Judith Hutchinson for the design.  I had never used Apricot Appeal and seeing as it was retiring and I also had the DSP to match I thought I would give it a go.  I just love the butterflies in "All a Flutter".  I have used them a lot. I hope you like how this has come together, I must admit, the colours have grown on me.

I love using Crystal Effects.  This is one of those must have products that add dimension and variety to your projects. It can also be used as a glue.

Stamp sets: All a Flutter, Flower Fancy and Simply Said
Card stock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede and (retired) Apricot Appeal
Inks: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery 
Flower Coloured in with Pastels

Crystal Effects is available for $14.25 plus shipping.  Contact me to place your order.

Strong like the Oak

Today's creation I want to share with you is my son's 21st invitation.  We needed to make a few, so we wanted the design to be simple, but needless to say, it still took time.  That's what's great about having helpers though.  Guys can use punches too, and so between us we got them all made.  My son loves the "Lovely as a Tree" stamps so we stuck to the theme of oaks.  I enjoyed the opportunity of designing this together with Anthony.  We had recently shifted and left our maturing oak behind, which we all felt sad about.  I have used the "Top Note" die through the Big Shot and punched the red leaves with the "Two-step bird punch".  The large oak leaf is cut out using the "Leaves #2" die.  I have stamped the large oak leaf  with grey ink on to grey card stock. We brought the oak tree stamp into the foreground using Old Olive ink on Kiwi Kiss card stock. The greeting is from the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, also stamped in Old Olive ink.

You can see how a little sponging adds that extra bit of detail and effect.  All those dimensions make handmade cards so special and unique.  I hope you like this, we feel it came together well.  What do you think? There are some double themes here regarding the oak, we want all young men to be oaks and take up there place in society to be strong leaders and citizens.

"Lovely as a Tree" stamp set made it into the catalogue again and it's available for $58.95 plus shipping.  Get your order to me and start stamping.

 

More Butterflies

I just had to have a play with my new Embosslits die.  When you look through the catalogue, you don't fully appreciate the extent of the products available.  I was somewhat curious about these embosslits, but for such a small item, it's quite an impressive result.  On this card I used a dry embossing technique that was in our monthly magazine called Impressions.  When you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you are given amazing ongoing tools from Stampin' Up! and the Impressions magazine is one of these.  I have then cut out the cream circle using my Circle #2 die.  I made the tag by trimming the card stock.  The is a simple card but none the less effective in it's simplicity.  KISS (keep it simply silly) is a good technique.

You can see close up here how intricate the Embosslit die is and how effective a few pearls are for that extra accent. The embosslit not only embosses the shape but also cuts it out.  Notice the different butterfly patterns and sizes.  How super easy is that.

Card stock: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy and Naturals Ivory
Dies: Embosslits Beautiful wings and Circle  #2
Other: Jewels Basic Pearls  

Bird's of a Feather

I made this card for a cousin living in Holland who got married on Friday.  It was personally delivered by my sister who was there to celebrate with him.  I cased this card from the IBC. When I have a project that needs to be made NOW, casing from the IBC is always a great option.  I liked how these colours were cheerful and came together the way they did.  Wedding cards are usually more subtle in colour, but I thought this fitted the occasion well. As this couple certainly are birds of a feather, I hope that they have many happy years together. 
Card stock: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White
Punches:  Two-step Bird and Heart to Heart
Ribbon: 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain

My box of goodies arrived this morning.  The sun is out so it's great for getting my spray varnish blocks dry so I can mount my new stamp set.  I am always rather overwhelmed with so many amazing tools and colours to work with.  I earned the new In Colours stamp pads and card stock pack last month with my new recruit.  I will share later what I come up with.

Caught Monarch

I thought I would share a card that went in my newsletter and that I made for my girlfriends birthday.  Having just moved to Hawkes Bay I knew I would miss out saying 'Happy Birthday' in person, so I wanted to make a card that expressed my love just the same. My girlfriend is a gardener, flowers are always a hit, but of course there's nothing like seeing a monarch in the garden, and then catching it.  I have seen this idea somewhere, but can't remember, so if this is your idea, please let me know.  

The stamp sets that are used here are "All a Flutter" and "Flower Fancy".  I have used the Sizzlits die "Little Leaves" using Old Olive card stock.  The flowers have been coloured with an aqua painter and Not Quite Navy ink.  The butterfly has been watercoloured on water colour paper and popped inside a "Sweet Treat Cup". To fit the "Sweet Treat Cup" you need the 1 3/4" circle punch for cutting the card stock for a perfect fit.  I hope you like this as much as I enjoyed making it. 

Pearl Necklace for a Butterfly

This card was inspired by the scrapbook page layout we were given at our Regional Training.  I unpacked that project today as I still hadn't made it up yet.  I still haven't, as I got distracted and made this card instead. I love how the large scallop edge is made using punched circles from the 1 3/4" circle punch.  I used the colours Baja Breeze and Soft Subtle card stock.  The image is from the stamp set "Enjoy Every Moment".  I have water coloured the image and sponged the edges with Pumpkin Pie and Soft Subtle inks.

I have made this butterfly with the butterfly punch and attached selected words from the "Enjoy Every Moment" stamp set.  I have sponged the edges and then turned them up using a bone folder.  Don't you just love the wee pearls in the centre.  This pretty butterfly is fully dressed with her necklace on.

Beautiful Trees

I started my day today with a brisk walk on Te Mata Peak.  It was easier going down than up, but thanks for the push, Belinda.  What a wonderful way to enjoy some warm wind on my face.  I felt quite refreshed after that. My dog loves me so much more when she gets to enjoy some free walking.  Popping up onto a flat rise I felt so blessed to be able to enjoy the beautiful views over the area.  What a perfect creation. 

Today's post is a card my daughter made for my husband to give me on my birthday.  I love the way she will look at a stamp set so differently than I do.  She keeps her use of stamps simple and crisp and I just love this card.  "Lovely as a Tree" is a very versatile stamp set.  With a little sponging and layering, a clear rhinestone brad and a background stamp you can see what she has created.  One very special card filled with love.

She has captured that extra bit of detail by using 2-way glue and dazzling diamonds on the trees.  What a perfect finish.  Love that stuff.

Enjoy Every Moment

I just love daisies and at our regional training we were given the stamp set "Every Moment", which is the sort of stamp set that really appeals to me because I love to colour in.  This stamp set can be ordered from our new Idea Book and Catalogue.  It has been stamped on watercolour paper using the masking technique, and water coloured using the new colour Daffodil Delight.  The ribbons used are the new 1/8" taffeta in Old Olive, and 3/8" taffeta in Daffodil Delight. The card is mounted on Soft Suede card stock. Did you notice those pearls? They are something so yummy to use and add that bit of a subtle but striking finish.  These are also new products.
I hope this gives you some inspiration for some masking techniques. Leave a comment and let me know what you think of my first few blog entries.

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