Does it have to retire...?

Hello, a while ago a dear friend and SU colleague kindly gave me a bag of spares and offcuts from cards she had previously made. Amongst the crafty stash were some flowers stamped and punched from the Petite Petals set. This set is sadly now retired, I really don't know why as it's lovely. I've since been lucky to find them on a selling site so they are sitting happily on the shelf in my craft room.

Close-up of the flowers

It was during the recent heatwave here that I thought I'd like to make a fresh summery card and remembered these flowers already stamped and punched, it saved me so much time.

I started by stamping the wreath from Wondrous Wreath using Old Olive and Pear Pizzazz and then die cut it. The flowers were added after shaping them, along with some small shapes that looked like leaves. I thought it just added a little more texture. My base card was made from Whisper White and I added a border in Daffodil Delight to match the flowers before embossing my top Whisper White layer with the Softly Falling embossing Folder.

The wreath was added using dimensionals. A couple of butterflies couldn’t resist fluttering down to settle either side of the wreath. Again, they were found in the stash.

I wanted a bow, but didn't want it to overpower the design so once again Linen thread came to the rescue. I tied a small triple bow, wrapping the thread around a fork before securing with a tiny blob of liquid glue.

Finally I added a sentiment, taken from Cottage Greetings, which is the only current stamp set used. “Hope your day is wonderful” is relatively generic so the card can be used for more than one occasion. 

Woohoo, I'm Back...

Hello again. Goodness, it has been quite a while since I last posted; I really hadn't meant for it to be this long. So, what have I been up to over the last few weeks?

The seating plan

Actually apart from creating wedding stationery for a friend's wedding on the 20th May and taking a Creative Craft session one afternoon where I work, I have hardly picked up a stamp set at home.

Eastern Palace @ Coffee and Cards  -  Craftyduckydoodah

I've also occasionally been to Coffee and Cards run by Susan aka Craftyduckydoodah when time has allowed so I'm keeping my hand in a little. The great thing about going to Susan's card making sessions, apart from the great coffee and cakes, is that I get to try out stamp sets that I don't yet have.


You can imagine my surprise then when I received a message yesterday asking if I'd like to join the design team for a challenge blog that is in the process of being set up. My first reaction was that the wrong person had been asked! I mean, I really don't feel as if I'm particularly creative, but I've been assured that I'm perfectly capable of the job. I'm honoured that someone has faith in my abilities and would like me to join their team and am really looking forward to the challenges ahead. Hopefully I'll have more to report in the near future and plenty of new projects to show you.

A Little Piece of DSP Goes a Long Way!

Hello again, the other day I posted my first One Sheet Wonder. It got me thinking about using designer series paper more in my cards, particularly when I have just a small piece left that I can't bear to throw away!

This card only needed a piece of patterned paper approximately 1"x2". How cool is that? It goes to show that no matter how small, in crafting we can always find a use for it.

Sweet Sugarplum

Very Vanilla

I used two of the Stitched Shapes Framelit dies to matt and layer 2 squares using the DSP. Then I stamped my sentiment onto Very Vanilla and put the same plain matt behind that. As you can see, extra interest was created by embossing the background. And sometimes, there really is a case for adding a little sparkle, this time a few sequins.

One Sheet Wonder

Hello again, I don't know about you but I keep seeing some fabulous cards created from one sheet of DSP. It can be an easy way of making a bunch of cards quickly. I'd been thinking about trying this idea out but hadn't got round to it. The idea of making a wrong cut on a precious sheet of 12"x12" DSP was too much to contemplate. Then I stumbled across this one, making four cards by using a 6"x6" sheet on Pinterest so thank you to Sylvia for sharing. Click on her name and it should take you to the blog.

Calypso Coral

Pacific Point

Very Vanilla

Mint Macaron

I used a sheet from the Pretty Petals DSP, sadly now retired, which then dictated the plain colours I chose. I love butterflies, so the subject choice was very easy to make this time. I hate to say it but I am a creature of habit!

I also decided to stamp most of the sentiments onto the Stitched Shapes Framelit dies, they look that bit more interesting than plain shapes. I've noticed that some people haven't realised that the dies - 4 of each shape are stuck on both sided of the card in the pack. Circles and ovals on one side and squares on the other, so if you buy them please don't think you're missing some.

I tried to keep the designs pretty much on theme but with slight variations to make them more interesting. I really don't like making more than one of any design unless I actually need to.

A spot of 3 stage stamping on the butterflies...

...and a little water colouring

Even a length or two of ribbon for good measure.

For my first attempt I'm reasonably happy with these cards. I think it has given me the confidence to have a go with a 12"x12" piece of DSP which would give more variation of shapes, even reversing the paper as most of it is double sided. I've found that if you're really not sure of matching or coordinating colours, then this is a really good starting point.

Happy Mail

Hello again, the other day the postman knocked on my door and asked me to sign for a small parcel. Now that isn't unusual in this house but this time I wasn't expecting anything to arrive.





It was what I call "Happy Mail"; something sent by someone I know as a random act of kindness. It certainly maid me smile...  So what was in the parcel?

I was kindly sent the Sprinkles embellishments. I love these for adding to shaker cards. I feel so lucky, they were on my April order, now removed for something else to take the place.

It has made think though, how nice is it to receive something in the mail "just because"? I know of one or two people that randomly select someone to send a little treat to.

Although it would only be a handmade card they are made with thought, care and love. I've decided to occasionally choose someone to put a smile on their face with happy mail. So, if I have your address, you never know, one day it might be you.

One Design For Him... And For Her

Hello again, last time I promised I would take a design and show how just by changing the DSP and embellishments, you could totally change the look. I'm using the paper fold I saw on the blog of Stamp and Scrap with Frenchie again. 

So, number one card, I think you'll agree it's rather masculine. I know women can do DIY and some men don't know a spanner from a screwdriver but historically tools are for men. 

Basic Gray

Delightful Dijon

Smoky Slate

Very Vanilla

Once again I chose to use Urban Underground as my starting point. I also used the Nailed It bundle again. Keep an eye out, I have a design in mind using Nailed It in conjunction with Jar of Love.

A sneaky peek at the first card. You'll see the completed card at the bottom of the post

Not wanting to waste anything, I even found a use for the holes from the die cut nuts as you can see in the picture on the far right. The spanner was cut from Smoky Slate with a liberal coating of clear Wink of Stella. I think that may be one of my favourite craft items.

And now onto the second card. Goodness, I really struggled to decide on one DSP; I had two designs in mind, one using pastel shades and the other brighter colours. In the end, I plumped for the pastels. 

Blushing Bride

Sahara Sand

Very Vanilla

The DSP I used came from the Falling in Love series; the colours are so soft and delicate. I used a Lace Doily, cut in half and positioned behind the paper fold for added interest. A few sequins added just a little glitz while a water coloured and die cut butterfly finished off the look I was aiming for.

I guess after the teasers I guess you'd like to compare the cards?

Do you think they look different enough to appeal to both sexes?

To Bee or Not to Bee...

Hello again, recently I won the gorgeous Dragonfly Dreams stamp set in a prize draw I’d been entered into. I feel so lucky, I’d been eying up this set as soon as I saw it as my daughter, Abby, loves bees!

I had also seen a quick and simple paper fold on Pinterest by Stamp and Scrap with Frenchie so thanks to Frenchie for sharing. Click on the name to go to her tutorial. Her card was quite feminine but I thought by using the Urban Underground DSP it would make a more universal card. In fact, my second card is very definitely male oriented! Check out my next blog post to see how by using a different DSP and embellishments you can alter the same design to look either ultra feminine or masculine.

Basic Gray

Delightful Dijon

Very Vanilla

I love the detail on the bee. This was created by using a two part stamp. First I stamped the yellow base after stamping off on a piece of scrap paper. Then I stamped over the top with the second stamp, using black. Once I’d found my clear Wink of Stella, I added some shimmer to the wings – sadly not shown in these photos.

Isn't the beehive cute? It's from the Shooting Star bundle