Jar of Love meets Delightful Daisy

Hello, I've finally made it into my craft room. End of term just can't come soon enough, while I love my job in college, it really doesn't leave me as much time as I'd like to be creative now that I'm full-time.

A while ago I made a book box and filled it with cards as a little thank you to a work colleague who sometimes gives me a lift home. She lives in the same village as me luckily and I have to say I really appreciate her kindness, especially at the end of a hectic day.

Pool Party

Smoky Slate

Calypso Coral

Old Olive

Whisper White

Today I'm going to show the first of the cards I made. I based them all on the colour palette of the Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper although I did use various stamp and die sets for a range of cards that hopefully cover most life events.

For this card I went back to one of my favourite stamp sets, Jar of Love. I chose to use a Whisper White card base for this birthday card. My DSP was cut smaller and using a collar fold mounted onto Calypso Coral. I really like collar folds as it shows off both sides of the DSP. This in turn was stuck onto the front of the base card.

Using a scrap of Whisper White card and the Pool Party ink pad I stamped the small jar and mounted onto the card to the left hand side. I don't know about you, but I love stamping and die cutting leaves, flowers and butterflies so that I can use up the smallest scraps of card stock. I hate throwing any away and if it's big enough to take a die or punch then I put it it in my scrap folder for later use. I arranged the flowers and stuck down using dimensionals once happy with the layout

A small bow using Pool Party ribbon and birthday sentiment taken from the Cake Soiree stamp set completed the look. As usual I decorated the inside of the card and the envelope, this time by adhering a strip of the DSP along one side.

So, this is card number one, I hope you like it. Keep an eye out for the other four cards and the book box I made for them to go in.

Nailed It with Jar of Love, well almost!

Hello again, as soon as I saw the Nailed It bundle it reminded me of a friend that stored his nails, screws, nut and bolts in old coffee jars. Since I also have Jar of Love it just had to be done! I adore the Jar of Love stamp set and corresponding dies; they are so versatile. I know, I say it every time but it's true so I'm really pleased they are in the new catalogue, released on the 1st June. I was disappointed though that Nailed It was retired as it makes creating cards for men so easy.

Oops, did you spot the lids?

To be perfectly honest, I started this card several months ago, putting it to one side as I wasn't happy with the original results. A friend did happen to point out that I'd managed to stick the lids upside down but even placing them the right way round still didn't solve the problem. It just looked dull; I love the idea of it but in reality it doesn't work for me.


So, what to do? Well, I've changed the colour of the lids and screwdriver handle. Any better? A little but not much. Should I just scrap it? Like I say, I love the idea.... then I had a thought. Why can't I just show that sometimes we all have cards that don't quite work for one reason or another? It's only time, a bit of card and adhesive that's wasted so not the end of the world. And really it's a learning curve, I might not be able to work out how to improve this card, but at least I know what doesn't work on the next one! Who knows,  someone else might see it and love it.



On reflection, I think that the problem may have been the use of Pool Party card stock; I was trying to get an effect of painted and slightly distressed wood but it looks too heavy. Maybe using white card and giving it a light colourwash would have worked better. I think maybe another day I'll have to make some time to experiment with some background techniques. All that remained was to add a sentiment, I think it managed to lift the colour a little in the end

The Joy of Sets Design Challenge 5 (Letter J) - Jar of Love meets Tranquil Tulips

Hello, goodness what a palaver this fortnights challenge turned out to be! There are very few Stampin' Up stamp sets that have a "J" in the title. Luckily I have Jar of Love - one of my favourites so I hope it won't be retired next time around.

If you've seen any of my recent posts, you'll know that I took delivery of quite a large (for me) SU order. I've challenged myself to use all the sets I bought as quickly as I can. I also have been very conscious that I hadn't used any of the new In Colours yet. So what better time than for the JoS challenge to use a new stamp set and colour? Here's introducing Tranquil Tulips and Fresh Fig with, of course, Jar of Love. I hope you like my choice.

This is a hostess stamp set you can get by holding an SU party. Contact your local demonstrator to arrange a suitable time and date, invite friends, add cake and you have yourself a fun crafty event.

Fresh Fig

Old Olive

Whisper White

I stamped the jar on Whisper White using Smoky Slate and then added "water" in the form of Pool Party stamped off for a paler shade. A couple of tulip heads, stems and leaves were stamped onto scrap paper and fussy cut before adding to the card with dimensionals to give a raised effect from the jar. I like to think maybe someone was arranging a bunch of flowers before being distracted mid way through. A small gold bow was tied around the 2 stems too for a hint of bling.

Three tulips were stamped directly onto the main card - this is a 2 stage stamp - along with a few leaves. It probably took me longer to decide on the leaf placement than anything else. Oh to be decisive... I did a little watercolouring to ground the jar and added 3 of the White Perfect Accents that I coloured with a Promarker. I haven't added a sentiment yet but I think when I do it will be inside the card. I hope you like it.

A Jar full of Birthday Blooms for Mother's Day

Hello, I don't know why. but for some reason today I just sat at my craft desk staring at my stamp sets. I mean it isn't as if I didn't have any ideas; problem was, I'm still in Xmas card mode! It isn't as if I didn't have ideas for other cards either, I just didn't want to make them yet. Anyway, a quick look on Pinterest kick started the thought process to combine the oh so versatile Jar of Love bundle with Birthday Blooms.

Daffodil Delight

Garden Green

Whisper White

I thought it would make a nice change to colour these flowers in yellow, not a colour I use too often. Because I was water colouring again I stamped my image onto watercolour paper using Black Archival ink. I rarely fussy cut I have to confess, but this design really needed it and quite honestly, it wasn't too bad.

Some cards naturally evolve, just like this one. I debated at first whether to mat and layer so that I could stamp the jar directly as I don't have DSP in the right colours. However, it suddenly occurred to me that I could make my own just to add a little more interest. And as usual, I chose to stamp both inside the card and on the envelope.

Happy New Home

Hello again, do you ever have to just sketch an idea for a card that pops into your head? Well, I was so grateful I keep a pen and notepad by my bed as the other night I woke with the following design rattling around my head. I knew if I didn't commit it to paper, I'd have forgotton by morning.

Pacific Point

Whisper White

Daffodil Delight

For some reason I've wanted to make a 'new home' card for a while....

...I'd also wanted to use the fish coming out of a jar from Jar of Love. It seemed a tad symbolic; I remember exactly how I felt after I moved into my own home over 6 years ago after staying with friends for a few months. I couldn't believe just how much space I had after carting most of my belongings around in the car.

It struck me that by using the Swirly Scribbles Thinlit dies I could create the effect of the sea and sun. I love the freshness of the colours and, silly as it seems, that the little fish are no longer cooped up in that tiny jar.  It really was a match made in heaven! All it needs now is a recipient with a new home of their own.

Pleats, Folds and More Pleats

Hello, this last week week I've been looking at ways to use DSP in my cards. I came across the idea of pleating it to create different effects and have to say, I really like the results.

For my first one I used 2 sheets of 6"x6" paper as I didn't have any 12" double sided. This really caused me headache trying to get the join hidden and I honestly wouldn't recommend it unless you have paper that you just can't not use.

Calypso Coral

Old Olive

Whisper White

As the paper has such a busy pattern I tried to keep the decoration to a minimal, with just a sentiment and one butterfly. I love butterflies, so the end result, for me, justifies the headache caused matching the paper. The DSP used is the sadly retired Pretty Petals and the butterfly was stamped from Papillon Potpourri and punched with the matching Elegant Butterfly punch.

The next card I made was far easier courtesy of Susan  from Craftyduckydoodah who on hearing my plight kindly sorted through her 12"x12" DSP stock and brought some sheets for me to use when I attended her Coffee and Card group.

Night of Navy

Whisper White

This time, the pleats weren't so close so more of the 2nd side could be seen. With the words facing, I thought it would be nice to add balloons.I didn't have any wide ribbon in either white or Night of Navy so used narrow navy on a strip of Whisper White cardstock. Balloons were punched from Whisper White, Night of Navy and the DSP.

So flushed with success I thought I'd try a collar fold for the third card. I combined  a sheet from Pretty Petals with my favourite bundle, Jar of Love to create this one. I think it might even be my favourite card of this group.

Calypso Coral

Very Vanilla

Old Olive

At the time of making this, a friend let me know that her son had been involved in an accident and was undergoing emergency surgery, hence the sentiment. Thankfully, he's making a good recovery and due to the skill of the maxillofacial surgeon will have minimal scarring.

And finally, getting right into folding, I chose to make a double pleated card. This one used Affectionately Yours DSP. I also used a Swirly Scribbles die and the tiny flowers from the Jar of Love bundle - could it have really been anything else!

Cucumber Crush

Watermelon Wonder

Crumb Cake

Whisper White

I really hope you like this selection. Next on my to do list is to try a different for me ink technique. I'm going to attempt to recreate the Northern Lights and will report back once it's completed. I expect to have very inky fingers.

I'm in love... with the Jar of Love bundle

My order containing the Jar of Love bundle arrived yesterday and I've been dying to use it. It's funny how with some sets, I have so many ideas I don't know what to make first. At times like these I put pencil to paper and make a very rough sketch so that I don't forget. Also many of my cards evolve as I'm working, whereas this one I had a very clear image right from the start. It's loosely based on the card I made at Cards and Coffee with Susan at the Grand Piano in Godmanchester, Cambs.

Having got in the mood for Xmas at this weeks Cards and Coffee, I thought I'd make another card for the holiday season, although it has been sugested it would be suitable for Anzac Day with the right sentiment. I don't know about you, but I still associate Christmas with rich, warm colours and these just fit the bill.

Crumb Cake

Cherry Cobbler

Garden Green

Wild Wasabi

I used Wild Wasabi and die cut the largest "round" shape from Swirly Scribbles Thinits as my wreath. I love using the linen thread and this time wrapped it round my fingers a few times before then securing it to the wreath along with some leaves and stems stamped in Garden Green and die cut.

Now last week I really struggled with the 2 stage stamping. I got some scrap paper and had a practise; it's actually quite easy once you get going. The set also has some really small flowers, probably my favourites out the sets I currently own, so I had to include a few. A sentiment added onto the banner and the card was almost complete. The second part of the sentiment was stamped onto cardstock and stuck inside to complete the look. I hope you enjoy it.

Inside

Cards and Coffee.... and a card or two

It's always nice to meet up with like minded people and spend a couple of hours eating cake, drinking coffee and of course, creating something beautiful. Yesterday I went to a Coffee and Card session hosted by Susan at the Grand Piano in Godmanchester. I highly recommend Susan's groups; lot's of chat and fun is had by all and she takes time to demonstrate new to us techniques whilst giving plenty of encouragement. I have to confess that yesterday I just couldn't get my eyes working well enough for the 2 stage stamping so ended up using some items already stamped. I've ordered the set used and know with practice I'll get the hang of it quite quickly.

Susan's design, Gorgeous isn't it?

The great thing about crafting with others is that we all have slightly different ideas on the theme and while it's accepted to copy - CASE - a project Susan has created for us, we're also encouraged to go "off piste" and run with our own ideas. The inspiration for this card was Jar of Love. We also used a Swirly Scribbles Thinlit die for the wreath. No two cards were exactly the same, I even chose to use slightly different colours on mine and also liked the idea of putting the sentiment onto a banner as you can see.

...and my version

I'm really looking forward to the next session, can't wait to see what we'll be creating next. If you'd like to create a card like this, pop along to Susan's blog for a list of items used.