Snow time

Hello, you may have noticed, if you've see any of my recent posts, how much I like like the Colourful Seasons bundle. There really is something for every season; if you're just starting out this set will cover so many occasions.

I'd noticed that several of my Christmas sets have been retired. At the time of writing this in early August I've yet to place my Autumn/Winter order so took a look at the snowflake dies.

Soft Sky

Whisper White

Smoky Slate

Silver Foil

I had a scrap of vellum left over from my Autumn card so decided to experiment with heat embossing in colour using Stampin' Up inks. First of all I covered the vellum in Versamark followed by the Soft Sky ink pad. I then sprinkled a holographic embossing powder over it and heated up until it had melted. This particular embossing powder isn't made by Stampin' Up but they do make a clear one which would have almost the same effect. Once cooled down, I die cut  a couple of snowflakes.

I also die cut more snowflakes in both glimmer card and silver foil. My sentiment was stamped in Smoky Slate  onto Whisper White and heat embossed before die cutting with a square Stitched Shape Framelit.

I don't often use embossed backgrounds, however, this one called Softly Falling fitted perfectly with the theme. I added a strip of ribbon before adhering the sentiment using dimensionals to raise it slightly. My handy tip today is when using a speciality paper such as the silver foil as a layer, cut out the centre as it won't be seen. I scattered the snowflakes loosely around the sentiment, adding a few rhinestones for a touch more bling.

Have you Scene the Delicate Ornaments?

Hello, have you started your Christmas projects yet? Normally, in spite of all good intentions, I leave my Xmas cards to the very last minute. Oh each year I say it will be different next year but usually it isn't. That is until now. I have started my Christmas cards; I've made a few, started them in July! I think I may need to lie down due to shock.

Now I know some of you will be wondering why I'm not using products from the new Autumn/Winter catalogue. Here's the confession, I actually made this card at the end of July, before my new crafty stash had arrived. I know, it's September already but I've been crafting and scheduling blog posts since I'm on the 7 week Summer break from work. Yes, working in education does have some bonuses. I've gone from posting once a week to scheduling 3 times a week as I've created so much. I only hope this time that once I'm back to my day job I can keep up.

I haven't taken Delicate Ornament Thinlit dies off the shelf until now. I was so disappointed it was retired in January. For this project I decided to combine it with Lovely as a Tree and Holiday Home.

Night of Navy

Whisper White

Silver Foil

Using the "onion" die, I cut an aperture and created a winter scene behind it.

As I wanted my sentiment to be heat embossed but in a colour that that Stampin' Up don't do I followed a tip by Sam from Pootles. First of ink up your chosen stamp in Versamark and then your chosen ink colour before stamping. Sprinkle clear embossing powder over it, remove excess and then heat until set. It really does work.

I still feel this needs a little extra, maybe either a sprig of holly and berries or other greenery around the hook. Chris, my friend suggested some snowflakes dotted around. What do you think? If you have any thoughts, please leave a comment below. Thank you for looking today.

Spotlight on Lovely as a Tree

If you've read any of my previous posts, you'll know that I like a stamp set to be versatile so that it earns it's keep. Well, there is one set, Lovely as a Tree that can be used for almost any occasion, either on it's own or in conjunction with other sets. Had you thought of using it for Christmas though?

I decided that I'd make a Christmas card using the negative spotlight technique and Lovely as a Tree. As with many of my cards, it's simple and uncluttered. I often feel that with cards less is more.

Whisper White

Night of Navy

As you can see, I only used 2 colours. First of all I stamped the row of trees onto both Whisper White and Night of Navy using Versamark ink and then heat embossed in white. It immediately had a wintery feel to it. I also took some stars from the Star of Light set and stamped randomly  for a twinkly sky on the navy card. These were also heat embossed for a cohesive look.











A circle was cut out of the navy card, I used a die although a punch would work just as well. I very lightly sponged the area of white that would be revealed through the hole and used dimensionals to layer both pieces of card. It took a little while to line up both images as there is so much detail on this stamp. I do think it's worth the effort though.

A little silver metallic thread was wrapped around my fingers to loop it and place on the base card. I used a couple of glue dots to hold in place. My design was then mounted onto white card before adhering to the navy base card, allowing the silver thread to show diagonally, top and bottom. I took a sentiment from Star of Light and once again stamped and heat embossed it.

Whilst playing with this technique, I also made a second card, this time with no heat embossing. It uses the same spotlight method but with a coloured background. Another male oriented card I think. I'm so pleased I managed to get the Sky is the Limit; this one was so much easier to line up!

Think I'm in Love...

On my last post I showed you a card I was commissioned to make for a birthday. Well I loved it so much that I made several more cards over the following days that were based on the same design. If you need to batch make cards or need one in a hurry this is so easy and so effective whether for Christmas as here with Merry mice, which has sadly been discontinued...

to say thank you to someone, using my favourite flower stamp, Birthday Blooms,,,

or to welcome a new baby, this time with Moon Baby...

The possibilities are virtually endless! 

Christmas in July

That really does seem a tad strange for a title doesn't it. At Stampin' Up though they have given us a teaser of things to come; there is a new stamp set available for demonstrators and anyone choosing to sign up in July. We're also eagerly anticipating the Autumn/Winter catalogue so that we can pre-order in August to create lots of gorgeous things for you prior to general release on 1st September.

I've chosen to use the Star of Light set that I'm so pleased has been carried over to the Annual catalogue this year. I love this set, apart from the obvious Xmas cards and goodies, I've used it to create fireworks and also a little magic - the flourish was perfect for my Harry Potter inspired cards!

Pool Party

Whisper White

 I cut the largest square in the Stitched Shape Framelit set in Whisper White. I then stamped my sentiment so I knew where to place my star die from the Star of Light set. This square was then mounted onto Pool Party and I cut a border using my Perfect Layers ruler. I know they aren't Stampin' Up, however there are some things I can't manage without and this is one of them, alongside my precision press for accurate stamping.

Using Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, I cut some stars, they really do sparkle. It's such a shame they don't show up too well . A quick tip; when die cutting Glimmer Paper, cut on the reverse.

These star die cuts were placed over the aperture using a mini dimensional with a rhinestone placed in the centre. This helps cover the fixing but I think adds a little more bling to such a simple card.

To make the box; 

Cut an 11" x 4⅝" piece of cardstock.
Score - on the long side at 3⅜", 4", 7 ⅜" and 8" 
and on the short side - ⅝" and 4"
Trim as shown in the photo.

The box before sticking. This time I chose to use velcro dots to close the flap which was shaped using an edgelits die.

 I also added a hint of white card behind the lid so that I could stick down my fancy star. Being a (sometimes) frugal crafter, I didn't want to use more of the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper as most of it would be hidden but I did want that effect. Then I had an idea, Before sticking the Whisper White card down, I ran some glue along the edge and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamond Stampin' Glitter. The same result... You can also see a hint of the heat embossing on the front too.

I think I already know the recipient for this little box of cards; the colours will match her lounge perfectly!

Merry Christmouse to one and all

Hello, it's Christmas Day and while I'm waiting for lunch to cook I thought I'd have a little play with the Merry Mice stamp set. My son pointed out that if they were real mice, I'd run a mile, which is probably quite true. These are so cute that I can't choose a favourite.

This set is from the Autumn/Winter catalogue and will be discontinued on 3rd January. At the moment it's still available and has been reduced in price, so if you want it and at a bargain price, please be quick as you only have a few days to place your order.

Sweet Sugarplum

Soft Sky

Whisper White

I chose to use a pastel palette, inspiration taken from the colours of the Fancy Frost Sequins, certainly not the usual colour choice for Christmas.

First of all I stamped the image onto watercolour paper and coloured the mouse in using the inkpads and a blender pen. For the sky, I used Soft Sky, Tempting Turquoise and Night of Navy, this time using an Aqua Painter to get a soft wash. Tip Top Taupe completed the ground.

I then chose an oval die to cut out the mouse and mounted it onto a slightly larger oval in Sweet Sugarplum from the latest In colour range.

 Once again the Softly Falling embossing folder came into use - perfect for this time of year. The Merry Christmouse sentiment was stamped directly onto the white card before it was mounted onto the base card. After I'd added the ovals it struck me that a die cut star wouldn't look out of place. It also balances the sentiment.

One of the Starlight Thinlit dies was cut from White Glimmer paper for added sparkle. I think you can just about see the sparkle on the photo. And finally the card was completed with the addition of some sequins for a little bling. Louise, who I see at Coffee and Cards sessions would be proud of me! She loves to add bling to her cards, you can never have too much apparently.

 As always, a little decoration inside the card and on the envelope to make it stand out from the crowd

How many Xmas cards do I need??

Hello, thanks for stopping by. I can't believe on Christmas Eve I'm still making cards for the holiday season. I am really enjoying making them so I've started on my stash for 2017; how's that for forward planning? No getting caught off guard this next year for me.

This time I'm sharing a shaker card. Susan of Craftyduckydoodah showed me this easy way of making them at one of her Coffee and Card sessions. I've used mainly SU products although I confess the church stamp is one I've had for several years and is not made by Stampin Up. I chose Night of Navy and White with silver accents for a fresh look.

Night of Navy

Whisper White

 I've used dies from several sets to create the bauble card so my shopping list might seem excessive this time. Those of you that know me, are aware I like to get value for money so this time, in my defence, I was trying to think outside the box. The bauble is actually just a round die with the top taken from the Delicate Ornament Thinlits. The bow is from Everyday Jar Thinlit dies although I could have used the bow as well as the sentiment fromWonderful Wreath Framelits. The Softly Falling embossing folder added some texture and just made the whole scene feel a little more Wintry

The band of Silver Glimmer Paper and die cut sentiment complete the look. Please look out for other cards based on the bauble theme; I intend to make a variety of them.

From Circles to Baubles

Hello again, Christmas is rapidly approaching isn't it. I hope preparations are well in hand, unlike mine this year. Its going to be a last minute rush again. Will I never learn.

The card I'm sharing today is made to look like a bauble, using a circle I confess, the image I coloured in is not SU, it's by Penny Black - and so like my cat, Star. I haven't put the tree up this year as she has a habit of climbing up curtains, plants etc. I can imagine I'd come home to a real Star on top of the tree each evening.

Soft Sky

Real Red

Whisper White

I'm not going to write a set of instructions today. There are many tutorials on You Tube for shaker cards that can be followed and indeed, several different ways of making them. I love this style of card, they look more complicated than they actually are but one piece of advice I will give is add the flakes before sealing...
 ...I'm sure you can guess what I've done in the past.!

Where's Rudolph?

Hello, I've been rather tardy about putting up recent makes. To be quite honest, there haven't really been many makes as I'm still part way through a Wedding stationery order.

Anyway, the other week at Coffee and Cards we made a great little Christmas card using the reindeer stamp from the Cookie Cutter bundle with a hat and scarf to keep him warm from Jolly Friends.

Susan had originally designed it in shades of brown to make suitable for a man. I don't know about you, but I find it quite difficult to come up with male oriented cards at times. When she showed me the card I instantly thought I'd like to make it in Blushing Bride, a lovely delicate pink, for my grandaughter who will have just turned one in December.

Blushing Bride

Crumb Cake

Very Vanilla

We used the Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder which gives a deeper and more detailed design. The cable pattern fitted so well with the theme that I couldn't resist using it on the envelope too.

Star of Light at Coffee and Cards

Although I know I should, I haven't yet had opportunity to buy from the Autumn/Winter catalogue so when Susan of Craftyduckydoodah suggested we use Star of Light, I jumped at the chance. In fact we were lucky enough to use this set two weeks running and make completely different cards.

Sweet Sugarplum

Very Vanilla

The first week we used Sweet Sugarplum and Very Vanilla, possibly not really thought of as Christmas colours, but the results were gorgeous.

As usual I added a little bling - well you have to for Christmas! The smaller star was die cut from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper. A Wink of Stella in clear alongside a few jewels completed the look.

As usual we decorated the inside of the card and the envelope. I think it gives a "finished" look each time. This set is on one of my wish lists - yes, I have more than one! List one is for must haves - the sets I just can't live without. Sets and/or bundles that I know I will go to for numerous occasions, regarless of whether they get discontinued. Star of Light (and Jar of Love) fall into this category. The next list is the wanted list - sets that I know will be used but may not have such versatility.

The swirly stars are perfect for backgrounds throughout the year. I've been eying them up for the next Harry Potter card I make for my youngest daughter but more about that later.

And so onto week two. This time we made a shaker card in Night of Navy and Whisper White. They look as if they are quite complicated to make but really are so easy....

Night of Navy

Whisper White

This time the star was cut using the plain die. The cutout was stamped and very carefully stuck onto the base card so it fitted the aperture. It's at this stage it helps to remember the acetate to hold the sequins in. It can be either glued or taped in place as long as there are no gaps for the sequins to escape, Stampin' Up now make foam adhesive strips which are a great depth and will mould around any shape.

Close up

Once again Wink of Stella added bling, this time to the swirls. Sorry it doesn't show up so well on the page. To make the shaker more interesting the star was stamped inside before adding sequins.

Is this where I admit there are actually more of the little stars on this card than I had intended? I'd just inked up the slightly larger of the 2 small stars when it fell put of my hand onto the paper, ink side down. Bit of an oops moment however by adding two more - one small and another larger, I think I've got away with it. And who knows, if I hadn't 'fessed up, no-one would be any the wiser.

Not quite Xmas in July...

I've been lucky enough to have a sneaky peak at the new Autumn/Winter Catalogue and I have to admit there are some gorgeous new stamps coming out; some even have dies or punches to co-ordinate. With so many to choose from I'm trying to work out my "can't live without list" and at the moment it's quite a list. The dilemma I have is that as a new demonstrator, I'm still trying to build up my core stock so I want the choices I make really work for me.

In the meantime as everyone is showing their Xmas makes, I thought I'd make a card using the Wondrous Wreath stamps and Wonderful Wreath die set. Luckily these stamps are extremely versatile, so if I wanted to, I can use them for other occasions as well.

First of all I decided on my colour scheme. I have a friend in mind to send this to during the holiday season who likes all her decor to match - and that includes cards when possible!
So for Chantelle, I've chosen Pool Party and Bermuda Bay with highlights of Crumb Cake.

Bermuda Bay

Crumb Cake

Pool Party

This uses up to 3 stamps to create the wreath, so first of all, I stamped the background leaves in Pool Party, then used Bermuda Bay to give a little depth. I finally did the berries in Crumb Cake and brushed them with clear Wink of Stella to add a little shimmer.

Layering the stamps is so easy as each one has a small tab to ensure correct placement, hence the small mark on the card. As I'm die cutting this, it won't be seen. Obviously, if this wasn't being cut out, I would use a light pencil guideline and erase.

To add interest, I took some bakers twine in white, separated it into single strands and coloured it with a marker before wrapping around the top layer of card before matting and layering.

The wreath and bow were fixed using dimensionals - double sided foam pads -to give a slightly 3D effect. The addition of a layered sentiment completes the look. I've placed a stamped insert in as well as stamped the envelope. A friend once said how nice it was to receive a card with a decorated envelope, that it ensured, depending on personality it was opened either first or last.

Inside and out