Introducing "PUN FUN"

Hi friends

I'm happy to be able to squeeze in one more post before jetting off into the sunset.  Over the weekend I have had the chance to play with Stampin' Up!'s very cute stamp set called Pun Fun.  I have used a couple of the images, but none of the matching sentiments, on my cards.  It's a great set, with a million different uses; unfortunately I was a little limited in the amount of time I had in which to create, so I'll give you just a small sample.

My favourite image from this set is the cup - it really tickles my fancy.  I have unashamedly 'CASE'd (copied and selectively edited) this first card from some gorgeous creations I found on Splitcoaststampers - a really inspirational online community.  The stand-out features on this card are the yummy papers from the Sweet Slumber collection; heavy weight double-sided papers, with gorgeous co-ordinating and complementary designs.  I simply stamped the cup onto 3 different papers, cut them out and mounted them on another piece of paper - so easy, but a cute, cute result.  Here it is:



Stamps: Pun Fun, Short & Sweet

Card: So Saffron

DSP: Sweet Slumber

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Baja Breeze stampin' pad

Other: Sponge dauber, Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, scallop edge punch, craft knife, mini glue dots

I could happily have just made dozens of 'cup' cards whilst I have this set on loan, but branched out and used my next-favourite image, which is the rocket.  This is such a great stamp for boys' cards in particular.  I was inspired by my friend Claire to use Riding Hood Red and Pacific Point together - these are two of this year's "in colours", and whilst I LOVE the red, I am taking a little longer to warm to the blue.  I think I just need to use it more.  I've used a little, little bit of paper piecing, and used some of my fab-o star brads from Stampin' Up!  After I'd photographed the card, I actually raised up the scalloped sentiment on dimensionals (I made this card while we were away at our cabin on the weekend, and I took only double-sided tape with me), so just use your imagination a little with that!



Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, star brads, Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain, dimensionals (added later!)

I mentioned above that I'd used Washington Apple DSP on my card.  This paper is really lovely, and inspires me to combine colours that I wouldn't have thought to put together.  A very simple card, jazzed up with my favourite Build-A-Brads, that I created by punching out 1/2" circles of Washington Apple DSP.  I really like how well the Starring You stamps go with this rocket image.



Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You

Card: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, sponge dauber, Build-A-Brad, scissors to 'rough up' card edge (since I forgot to take my edge distresser away with me!)

Now I'm off to finalise washing and other bits and pieces before we finish packing for our big trip.  Please come back to visit after mid-July - I'll be back!

Christine :)

I have a couple of new favourites ......

Hello my friends!  I've been a bit absent from the blogging world lately, as we are attempting to prepare for being away for a couple of weeks.  There is so much to think about in advance of a holiday, with having our own business; it becomes rather stressful, trying to envisage anything that may eventuate in our absence, and putting into place contingency plans!!  We are SOOOO looking forward to the wonderful trip we are about to go on - just busy, busy, busy in the lead-up.  So, if you think I've dropped off the face of the earth in the next few weeks, I assure you we are just languishing in warmer climes, and I will be back!

But for now, I'd like to share with you a couple of cards that I've made in 'stolen moments' in my craft room in recent evenings.  I am LOVING the En Francais background stamp from Stampin' Up! This is the first 'favourite' I refer to in my post title.  It never fails to impress me, how a single stamp can turn a plain ole' piece of card into a panel that looks intricately detailed.  I love that it can be stamped off, and used as a subtle background, or it can be stamped boldly to be a feature.  Super-versatile, and I don't think I will tire of this stamp.

On my first card, I tried out a new (for me) colour combination, of Very Vanilla (yummo), Creamy Caramel and Baja Breeze.  The centre of the flower was stamped in Baja Breeze onto vanilla card, then punched out with a 1/2" circle punch, so I could custom-make a brad.  I am a bit disappointed with the result, as the resin in the Build-A-Brad has a real yellow tinge to it - I had read on others' blogs that they had found the same thing, but so far all my other brad 'tops' have been lovely and clear.  Anyhoo, I think this card is rather pretty, and hope you think so too!

 

Stamps: En Francais, On Your Birthday, Polka Dot Punches, Organic Grace

Card: Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze

Ink: Creamy Caramel stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze stampin' pad

Other: Sponge Daubers, rectangle nestabilities, 5-petal flower punch, Build-A-Brad, small brads from my own extensive stash!

Now, the next product that has worked its way into my heart, and I must say comes a close second to kraft card, is Stampin' Up!'s Naturals Ivory card.   It has a coarser 'tooth' than the super-smooth Very Vanilla, and is just a bit more 'rustic' looking.  For my next card, I combined Naturals Ivory with Kraft and Purely Pomegranate (one of last years 'in' colours, the demise of which  thousands of us are still lamenting!).  I had some pomegranate textured card, which is just beautiful on its own, but which I decided to alter a bit by repeatedly stamping one of the Pocket Silhouettes images on, to create a subtle background.  I've used Sahara Sand ink to complement the kraft (these colours are a great match - I'm a mad fan), and in adding ribbon I decided I could get away with including a strip of River Rock (another retired 'in colour'), as the yellow tones go well with the ivory card, don't you think?  Here is my creation:



Stamps: En Francais, Pocket Silhouettes, Occasional Greetings

Card: Kraft, Purely Pomegranate textured (retired), Naturals Ivory

Ink: Purely Pomegranate (retired), Sahara Sand

Other: Labels One Nestabilities, sponge daubers, kraft taffeta ribbon, mini glue dots, double-stitched ribbon in Purely Pomegranate & River Rock (retired)

I'm now off to have a coffee with my dear friend Claire. I took the day off work to run errands and attend Claire's Stampin' Up! new demonstrator training session, but everyone else has bailed out on us!  Oh well, don't want to miss the opportunity for a chat before I go away as I will miss our first-Thursday-of-the-month stamping night .  If you're reading this, Kerry, Judy and Leanne, I love you all and I'll see you at the August one!!  Will miss you, girls.

Christine x

Cute and cheery card for a cold and un-cheery day...

Back again - whoa, two posts in one day!  Andrew's niece is having a birthday next week, so I needed to make a happy, girly card.  I chose to use Cheep Talk, a very versatile set of stamps that I just love.  The set contains flower,fruit, foliage and bird images, as well as sentiments - all sorts of possibilities!

Everything on this card is Stampin' Up!, except for the orange embellishments in the flower centres (these are Rain Drops, that I went through a stage of collecting, so I have QUITE a few to use up. Once I decide I like something, I have a tendency to buy it in every available colour; it's a bit of a sickness, but I'm sure some of you reading this can relate!  My sister, Lynda, can attest to the many and varied benefits of having been bestowed with the 'obsessive' gene.  Certainly provides us with hours of laughs when we get together!)



Stamps: Cheep Talk, On Your Birthday

Card: Kraft, Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Green Galore

Ink: Lovely Lilac, Only Orange, Green Galore markers; Lovely Lilac, Green Galore, Whisper White, Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, Cloud 9 Designs Rain Drops

How wonderful it's been to have time today to make cards; my favourite way to while away the hours.  The only thing better would be to have friends around to share the stamping with; I am in the process of setting up my craft room so that others can join me, which is very exciting!  When my super-duper new craft room was built at the end of last year,  I organised it to be all white and pretty, but now I'm hoping to make it a bit more practical.  I have a fantastic built-in U-shaped area to craft at, and bought a cute little Ikea table to share crafting space with a friend.  The cute and pretty table just doesn't "cut it", though, so I have added a longer folding table that has enough space for 6 more people.

I'm looking forward to being able to hold classes at home now.  So, if you live in the outer east of Melbourne, and would like to come to my place in Mt Evelyn to attend card-making classes, I'd love to hear from you!  Let me show you the wonderful world of Stampin' Up! and have a lot of fun making cards together.

That's it for me for today, my friends.  Hope you're all having a lovely weekend too (preferably without a sick child!).

The perfect way to spend a wintery Saturday

Hi folks,

It's a bleak, cold day in Melbourne today - perfect for spending time in my craft room, so that's just what I've been doing.  Yippee!  Working full-time, and trying to tend to the needs of the family, leaves little play time some weeks, and this past week has been one of those.

Yesterday afternoon we were all packed and ready to go away for the weekend, when I received a call from Ethan's school asking me to pick up my sick little boy.  Poor little thing is feeling pretty miserable, so we are staying home this weekend after all.  Hubby and eldest son are out watching a local football match, and Ethan is happy to snuggle on the couch and watch tv for a while, so I have been stamping.

I have a couple of cards to show you.  I've just got the Lovely As A Tree stamp set, which I have been wanting for a loooong time, so decided to use it on my Dad's birthday card.  (I don't think there's any danger of Pop checking out my blog before he receives this).  The main colours I've used in the card are Chocolate Chip and Old Olive.  I really love how the Old Olive paper from the Holiday Treasures Designer Series pack complements the tree image.  I've also stamped the Weathered background on a separate panel of Old Olive card, to help add to the masculine feel of the card.  I have stamped a tiny leaf from Lovely As A Tree onto olive card, punched it out and created a brad with my trusty Build-A-Brad set.  (It's been a few days since I've made a card with the BAB - didn't want you to think I was neglecting it, ha ha.)  The word "POP" is made using twill stickers, from my extensive stash of alphabet stickers that have been sorely neglected since I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!



Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, On Your Birthday, Weathered

Card: Chocolate Chip, Old olive, Close to Cocoa, Confetti Cream

DSP: Holiday Treasures

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive and Close to Cocoa stampin' pads; Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke markers

Other: Sponge Daubers, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad, 1/2" circle punch, Nestabilities (rectangle & scalloped rectangle), horizontal slot punch, twill letter stickers and decorative scissors (not Stampin' Up!)

I LOVE the colours in this next card; white, baja breeze and kraft is one of my favourite combinations at the moment.  I love the look of white ink on kraft, and am also very partial to Sahara Sand ink on kraft (great match).  This card is intended for my parents-in-law, who are about to take our family on a fantastic holiday - an incredible experience.  To create the background of flowers, I stamped off once onto scrap paper, so the impression on the card is subtle.  I think everything else on this card is pretty self-explanatory, so I'll desist from waffling, and just show you the photo:



Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, En Francais

Card: Whisper White, Kraft, Baja Breeze

Ink: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: Eyelet border punch, sponge daubers, white embossing powder, Baja Breeze 5/8" striped ribbon, kraft taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

I have REALLY enjoyed spending a bit of time stamping today; I hate going days on end without making something.  I hope you enjoy looking at these cards; I sure enjoyed making them!

Christine :)

KIWI KISS & BASIC BLACK UPSY DAISY

I was rather taken with the colour combination of Kiwi Kiss (this year's 'in colour' green from Stampin' Up!) and black when I first dabbled with it the other night.  However, now that I have over-used it, I need to give it a rest!  I have a couple of cards to share with you before I move on to a new obsession.  Please excuse the appearance of them having been taken at night; it was pretty foggy and overcast outside when I took the photo this morning! 



Here are the details for the card on the left, with the base of kraft card:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Card: Kraft, Basic Black, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Versamark

Other: Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, Kraft taffeta ribbon, linen thread, button (from Button Bouquet selection), nestabilities (rectangle, scalloped rectangle), black embossing powder, white embossing powder.

The smaller card on the right is cut down to an irregular size, mainly because I decided I didn't want to add anything more once I'd cut out the main panel with my Labels 1 nestabilities - love that shape.  I just wanted to leave the card in its simplicity, with no further embellishments.  Details for this one are:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Short & Sweet

Card: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Jet Black Staz-On, Versamark

Other: Labels 1 nestabilities, word window punch, sponge dauber, black embossing powder

I got some new stamps delivered last night, and can't wait to have a play, so will be back with some new creations in the next few days. 

Christine :)

NO POINTS FOR GUESSING ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EMBELLISHMENTS ......

I did some late-night crafting last night, having been inspired by my friend Claire's use of the Upsy Daisy stamp set this past week, and my new blogging friend Renee's use of Stampin' Pastels on kraft card.  I have a couple of cards to share, to show you how one stamp set can yield vastly different results.

You MAY be able to tell, by looking at this first card, that I am rather partial to using brads on my cards.  For any uninitiated readers, 'brads' are split pins - they're just much prettier!  My monthly stamp group friends just roll their eyes, I'm sure, when I suggest the addition of Build-A-Brads to just about every card that looks like it might need a little extra 'something'.  I have actually been giving my Build-A-Brads a rest in recent weeks, and on the following two cards I have given black brads (from Stampin' Up!'s Vintage brad selection) a bit of a workout!

My first card uses the colours Regal Rose, Rose Red and Old Olive.  I had a scalloped oval piece of kraft card in my little stash of 'pieces of card cut out just waiting to be stamped on' (I seem to have accumulated a lot of these, thanks to the marvellous invention called Nestabilities).  On this, I stamped in Whisper White craft ink (slow-dryimg pigment ink) the main image from the Upsy Daisy stamp set - LOVE this little set.  I applied Old Olive stampin' pastels (chalks in Stampin' Up! colours - brilliant!) to the stems, then, using sponge daubers, 'pounced' Regal Rose and Rose Red stampin' pastels onto the flower heads.  The white ink base gives the colour real vibrancy - a really pretty result, don't you think?  The main Old Olive panel has been stamped with Stampin' Up!'s 'Weathered' background stamp, in Versamark ink so it is subtle.  Don't you love how the Felt Fusion flowers in Rose Red and Old Olive match the card and ribbon?  I do!!  Can't help but gush about all the co-ordinating elements in Stampin' Up!'s range; it's one of the things I love the most about SU!  I know I'm not alone in this, but I still get very excited by all the matchy-matchy things I can buy (and order for you, if you live in Australia!).



Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet, Weathered

Card: Kraft, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Rose Red

Ink: Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Staz-On Jet Black, Versamark

Other: Stampin' Pastels (Old Olive, Regal Rose, Rose Red), sponge daubers, scalloped oval nestabilities, Flower Fusion, black brads, eyelet border punch, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, edge distresser, stampin' dimensionals



I have seen a few cards lately using the colour scheme of Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black and Whisper White, and just love the crispness of that combination.  I started off my card by stamping the Upsy Daisy flowers in Versamark (a clear, sticky ink - this is great stuff, as it's very versatile) on Whisper White card.  I then applied, and melted, black embossing powder, to give a raised, shiny finish.  Next I inked up the flower stamp with Kiwi Kiss ink, and stamped the flowers a couple of times over the top of the embossed image.  How cool does this look??  Please excuse my excitement if this is 'old hat' to you, but it's the first time I have even thought to do it, and I'm rapt with the result.  I sponged heavily around the edges of the white panel, using Kiwi Kiss ink and a sponge dauber, then mounted the panel on a piece of Basic Black card.  The "hi' greeting comes from a stamp set called Say it With Scallops - I stamped it in Versamark on Kiwi Kiss card, then white-embossed it, and cut it out with the magnificent co-ordinating scallop square punch.  LOVE how Stampin' Up! has a great range of punches to co-ordinate with stamp sets; it makes it very easy to give your cards a 'finished' look.  The patterned paper is from the Kiwi Kiss Patterns Designer Series paper pack; isn't it beautiful?  A bit of ribbon and a few brads (had to cut back because I used too many on the first card, ha ha) finish off the card.



Stamps: Upsy Daisy, Say it With Scallops

Card: Whisper White, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss

DSP: Kiwi Kiss

Ink: Kiwi Kiss stampin' pad, Versamark

Other: Black embossing powder, white embossing powder, Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon, black brads, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, scallop square punch

I hope you enjoy looking at my cards as much as I enjoy making them!  I hope to make a few more with the Upsy Daisy images that I have stamped out; I was interrupted all evening last night by Ethan, who had a lot of trouble getting to sleep, so my creative flow was very stop/start.  Hopefully my tired boy will sleep soundly tonight, and Mum can play!

Thanks for coming to visit my special place.  Christine :)

Oh Groovy Guava, I do love you, even if you are SO "last year"!

Today's the day for a corny title, and a very quick blog post, my friends.  Family commitments have kept me away from my blog, and from my craft room, this past week.  I have stolen a few minutes (when I should be preparing my family a meal, but there are more pressing issues at hand...) to share with you a card that I made 'just for the sake of it', because I wanted to give some love to my neglected Groovy Guava ink and papers.  This was one of the "in colours" from Stampin' Up! last year; available only for 12 months.  I love it, and was a bit sad to say goodbye, but still have ink, ribbon, card and paper to keep me happy.

I have used some buttons from my rather extensive stash - how well does that big button in the top left match the card, though?  Everything else is from Stampin' Up!  Here's what I made:



Stamps: Embrace Life, Best Yet

Card: Kraft, Groovy Guava, Very Vanilla, Gable Green

DSP: Ginger Blossom

Ink: Groovy Guava Stampin' pad, Versamark

Other: Clear embossing powder, corner rounder punch, paper piercer, deckled rectangle nestabilities, kraft taffeta ribbon, buttons (not SU!), Groovy Guava stitched ribbon, mini glue dots, white string

Hope you like it - that's the only creation I have to share for now, but have firm plans for more 'play time' sometime in the next week!   Best be off to half-prepare some food, then pick up my youngest from football training ("mother of the year" did the drop-and-run tonight, because Ethan had already done tennis training, and I needed a bit of 'time out' - is that bad??).

Christine :)

"IN COLOUR" CARD AND A CATALOGUE CASE....

Hi friends

I am still on the Circle Circus bandwagon, having madly stamped out some extra images before returning the set to its rightful owner.  Last night I spent a little time in my craft room, and this is the card I came up with.  It's a little out of my comfort zone (a good thing for us creative types, right?), and I'm not entirely convinced that it looks okay, but it gets the 'thumbs up' from my darling son (who didn't like one of the cards that I thought was good!).  I love this year's "in colours" from Stampin' Up!, so they formed the focus of this card ......



Stamps: Circle Circus, ABC Alphabet Lower

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point

DSP: Bella Rose (the red medallion is stamped on this paper)

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Versamark, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig (for the greeting), scallop circle punch, Riding Hood Red 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, black brads, clear and red rhinestone brads, Labels One nestabilities, dimensionals



On Thursday night I went to our monthly get-together at Claire's house;  our 'stamp group', but for me it's emotional support/girl time/chocolate-eating/split-your-sides-laughing group!  It is absolutely a highlight of my life; the friendships I have made, and continue to develop, are so special and important to me.  Kerry is our most prolific stamper, usually churning out about a dozen gorgeous cards in quick succession (although one she made on Thursday was a bit dubious!); Leanne is the 'quiet achiever' who makes stunning cards, but is a little unsure of her own abilities (and of my wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve personality); Judy is very exact and precise, needing everything to be straight (LOVE that she whips out a ruler), and it ALWAYS is just perfect!; and Claire, our 'fearless leader' (well, it's her fault we all got together in the first place), whose cards have a very distinct, beautiful style, and who purposely 'parks' herself in a tight spot so we all have to pass her supplies all evening!  I can't even tell you how much I love these girls (sorry to embarrass you, Leanne).  Anyway, in the 5 hours I was at 'stamp group' on Thursday, I managed to make one card. It wasn't even original.  I am always under-prepared with supplies, and totally lack creativity, when I go to Claire's; I just get so much value out of the companionship, and sharing of ideas and stories. 

This card was inspired by one on page 111 of the Idea Book & Catalogue.  I love the white-embossed flower, on Kiwi Kiss card, so that was my starting point.  Here is the lonely little card that was the sum total of my 'creating' from Thursday night:



Stamps: Bella's Bloom, Best Yet

Card: Naturals Ivory, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine

Ink: Versamark, Pink Pirouette

Other: White embossing powder, heat tool, spiral punch, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, edge distresser, sponge dauber, brads (not SU).

Two very different cards, stemming from a distinct lack of inspiration this week.  I hope to get some more creating time over the weekend - we have a long weekend, but much of it will be taken up watching my son's football games (in the rain, no doubt!).  I plan to squeeze some card-making in somewhere (perhaps late at night), so come back to visit soon!

Christine xx

MORE CIRCLE CIRCUS ....Red and Blue this time ....

Hi folks, back for the second time in one day - woo hoo!  I didn't go to work today, and as a result am feeling much happier and 'in control' of things.  Several hours were spent attacking my mountain of ironing, and I have had the washing machine going for what seems like the entire day, but I have also managed to enjoy some 'down' time. 

This afternoon I stamped a panel of Circle Circus images in Real Red and Brilliant Blue, on Whisper White card.  I started off stamping a couple of images in a very neat, structured, repetitive pattern, then added a bit here and a bit there - before I knew it, things had got a little out of control, and I had an unstructured, cluttered, very full piece!  I like it, but it's not quite what I had in mind when I started.  This is what I had to work with:



The bold, primary colours made me steer towards cards that could be suitable for men/boys.  I initially thought of making a child's card, but because I incorporated almost all the patterns from the stamp set, it became a little more 'grown up' looking.  (Perhaps I should've kept it simpler??)  Anyway, here is the first card I made - really pleased with it, actually!  Very simple, clean lines and bold colours (even though the photography is a bit fuzzy, it's crisp-looking in real life!).



Stamps: Circle Circus, Occasional Greetings

Card: Whisper White, Kraft, Brilliant Blue, Real Red

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, small circle brad, edge distresser, circle punches - 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig



This next card is brighter and 'busier', since I didn't tone it down with kraft card.  Rather than punching out the circles, I used the stamped panel as the main focus of the card, and added a few embellishments.  Because of the detail in the stamped piece, I didn't want anything fussy - just a couple of lovely new brads, small scraps of ribbon, and some paper piercing.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Occasional Greetings

Card: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Real Red

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Large circle brads, Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, edge distresser, paper piercer, corner rounder punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

And that's it, for today's Circle Circus round-up!  I think I need a break; haven't been this prolific in my card-making for a while.  I do plan to post yet more Circle Circus cards on here before the week's up, so stay tuned!!

Thanks for looking!

CIRCLE CIRCUS ......"In the Pink"!

Last night I whiled away a few (alright, several) hours in my lovely craft room, and made a few decidedly pink cards.  I do love pink, but I will warn you that the following pictures could constitute a sensory overload....

I started off with a piece of Regal Rose card (must admit I've not used this colour before - now, I have very little left!), and repeatedly stamped what I like to call the 'bubble' image from the Circle Circus stamp set.  I stamped all over the card in Regal Rose ink, then overstamped in Whisper White.  This is a small sample of what I ended up with:



I then cut panels of the 'patterned paper' I had created, and used them on some cards.  This is the first one I made.  I really like the intensity of the pattern on the square panel.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly (how cute is that tiny butterfly?!), On Your Birthday

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Ink: Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose stampin' pads

Other: White embossing powder (and heat tool), Stamp-a-ma-jig, corner rounder punch, Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, circle punches - 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", scallop circle, sponge daubers, edge distresser



Before I assembled this next card, I added a few Chocolate Chip stamped images, from Circle Circus, to the 'bubbly' background.  This stamp co-ordinates with the new Filigree Brads from Stampin' Up!, so I found a place to add one of those (although rather than using the silver brad centre, I popped in a pink brad from my stash - thought there wasn't quite enough pink on the card, you see).  The main panel has images stamped in the colours to match the background.  Although I've angled it so it looks like the little bird is going to slide right down the branch, I like the simple stamping!  Some rather blobby dots with a white gel pen, and a knotted piece of divine taffeta ribbon, finishes off this card.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Cheep Talk

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose

Ink:  Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink stampin' pads, Chocolate Chip stampin' write marker (see the tiny dot?)

Other: Filigree brad (with non-SU pink centre), white gel pen, corner rounder punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon



Okay, on we go to more luscious pinkness.  This next one is my personal favourite, but I would love to hear which one you like the best.  I have used a larger panel of the bubble-patterned card, matted on some Chocolate Chip card.  The owl has been stamped on watercolour paper with Staz-On ink, then watercoloured using my stampin' pads and an aquapainter (love this little invention - no more pots of water to tip all over my desk!).  I masked the owl and branch, and stamped little pink hearts in the background.  These cute hearts, along with sentiment, also come from the Owl Together Now set.  I sponged the edges of the owl panel in Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose.  I used my Cuttlebug to create the tiny tag, and again stamped the hearts in Pretty in Pink. My wonderful Stamp-a-ma-jig allowed me to stamp the image exactly where I wanted it - yep, yet another of my favourite crafting tools. 



Stamps: Circle Circus, Owl Together Now

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-On, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write markers

Other: watercolour paper, aquapainter, white eyelet (from my stash), Cuttlebug mini tag, Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, sponge daubers, foam dots


Now for the last card in this pink series.  Having already said that the owl card is my personal favourite, I must say this one comes a close second.  I'm a big fan of the Flight of the Butterfly set.  I broke out and used Basic Gray instead of Chocolate Chip with this one.  Lots of scallops (thanks to my Nestabilities, through the Cuttlebug, and my scalloped square punch from Stampin' Up!), and simple stamping with gray/blingy highlights.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly, Best Yet

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Whisper White craft, Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink stampin' pads

Other: Nestabilites, scallop square punch, sponge dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig, rhinestones (Kaiser), Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, foam dots, Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen (dotted in the flower centres on the butterfly's wings)



Right, I think that's about enough pink for one day!  I hope to try out a few more things with Circle Circus before I (reluctantly) return the set to Claire, so please come back to visit over the next few days.  Happy Monday, everyone!