SC002/11 & CTD #154

I used to get a bit confused when I saw abbreviations like those I've used in my post title ..... thought it was some kind of secret code.  That is, until I entered the world of online challenges with my cardmaking - now it makes perfect sense!  Read on, and you too will understand (if you're a little confounded).

I have made a card for a very special friend of mine, who turned 80 a little while ago.  I only just found out that she'd passed this milestone birthday (I thought she was 5 years younger!), and couldn't let it go without marking the occasion.

There is a new Australian challenge site that has caught my eye - Sunny Challenges & Creations.  The challenges are a 'double-edged sword', in that a sketch is provided ...... but you also have to use a certain Stampin' Up! stamp set when making your creation.  I'd planned to take part in their inaugural challenge, but completely forgot the second part of the challenge (really, two things is not that hard to remember?!), and the card I made didn't fit the bill.  This time I've been more careful!

Here's this week's sketch, that is to be used with the Friends 24-7 stamp set - a favourite of mine, that I'm sad to see retire from Stampin' Up!'s range at the end of this month.

This challenge relates to the SC002/11 in my title - Sunny Challenges' 2nd challenge for 2011.

When I saw this week's colour combo at The Color Throwdown, I knew it'd work perfectly for the card I had in mind.  Here's challenge #154 at The Color Throwdown (hence the reference to CTD #154 - makes perfect sense now, doesn't it?!).

..... and here is the card I made tonight (and photographed late, so apologies for the colours - in real life it looks so much nicer!):

Stamps: Friends 24-7

Card: So Saffron smooth and textured, Basic Gray, Whisper White

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive stampin' pads

Other: Blender pen, Boho Blossoms punch, Curly Label punch, Neutrals brads, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Timeless Type alphabet sizzlits die, oval Nestabilities

"NATURE WALK" FROM STAMPIN' UP!

Earlier this month I ran a couple of card-making classes, to 'show off' the scrumptious new products in Stampin' Up!'s Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.  We make four cards in every class, and I thought I'd share with you my favourite.

I was very taken with this card made by the supremely-talented Teneale Williams; my eye was drawn immediately to the Bravo Burgundy she used.  It's a colour I don't give much love to, but I was determined to design my own version using Bravo Burgundy as a starting point.  My trusty Stampin' Up! Color Coach suggested I team it with River Rock and Baja Breeze - I thought "what the??!!", but you know what?  The colour combination is FANTASTIC, and I am determined to use it again; love, love, love it.  Here's the card we made in my classes:

Stamps: Nature Walk, French Foliage, Friends 24-7

Card: Bravo Burgundy, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bravo Burgundy stampin' pad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad and marker, River Rock stampin' pad and marker

Other: Modern Label punch, blender pens, Basic Pearls, Stamping sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, edge distressing tool

Since this is my second post for today, I want to just remind you that you NEED to come back over the weekend to check out the blog hop entries posted by a group of us Australian Stampin' Up! demonstrators!  We'll have more great ideas for you, for using products from the Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.

NATURE WALK MEETS BOTANICAL GAZETTE

I have a card to show you, made with Stampin' Up!'s new Nature Walk stamp set, and Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper (hence the less-than-imaginative title of today's blog post).

I was inspired by Bonnie Klass's card, to use the blue bird sheet of paper from my pack (wasn't quite sure what to do with that), and to stamp a little bird inside the cage.  This may be an obvious idea, but I thought it was brilliant, and had completely forgotten I owned the aforementioned bird stamp!  (Oh dear, do you think this girl has a little too much SU! stuff??!!)

I have added Old Olive into the mix, because an all-blue card was a little hard for me to do.  I always feel 'safe' with green!  Here's my vintagey Nature Walk card:

Stamps: Nature Walk, En Francais, Friends 24-7, Silhouette Sentiments, Tiny Tags

Card: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla

DSP: Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper

Ink: Night of Navy stampin' pad and marker, Old Olive and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Curly Label punch, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Basic Pearls, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Pinking Hearts border punch, sponge daubers, Night of Navy 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Victoria Crochet Trim, Vintage trinkets, Regals brad

THREE CHALLENGES, ONE CARD

I'm hoping I haven't missed the deadline at Stacey's Stamping Stage for this week's Curtain Call #68 (not too sure on time zones, but I have my fingers crossed that I'm scraping in!).  Stacey has put forward this colour combination to work with:

For the first time in a while, I was inspired to also work with a sketch (you might know that I find these particularly difficult!).  Here's the sketch challenge from Inkspirations:

Now, I also want to enter this card in this week's SUO Challenge, which is to use Stampin' Around wheels in our creations, but am unsure if it qualifies.  I don't have any of Stampin' Up!'s oval dies, so I used Nestabilities to cut the oval and scalloped oval on my card.  I'll link it up anyway, in the hope that this is okay!

Here's what I made; the layout is a bit outside of my comfort zone, but I really like how it turned out, and hope you do, too!

Stamps: Confetti, Friends 24-7, Take A Sip Stampin' Around wheel

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi textured, Pink Pirouette

DSP: Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Pink Pirouette stampin' pad and marker, Melon Mambo marker, Wild Wasabi marker

Other: Finial Press embossing folder, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Nestabilities

Happy Saturday, everyone!  Isn't it great that it's the weekend?!

CURTAIN CALL COLOUR CHALLENGE #56

This week at Stacey's Stamping Stage, the challenge is to use the following gorgeous colours together in a papercraft project:

I found this colour combination really enjoyable to work with, and came up with another friendship card (that I get so much pleasure out of making, and giving!).  Shocking photography, but I hope you can see it well enough.

Stamps: Sanded, Bella Toile, Hello Again, Friends 24-7

Card: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Peach Parfait stampin' pads and markers, Chocolate Chip stampin' pad

Other: Peach Parfait poly-stitched ribbon, Top Note die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Nestabilities, stampin' sponge, mini glue dots, 3/8" circle punch (*NEW* in upcoming Summer mini)

JUST ADD INK #28

The fabulous team at Just Add Ink have come up with a double challenge this week - to incorporate these yummy colours

  





in a man's card.  Now, that in itself is not really a challenge, because I love making cards for men and boys, and these are some of my "go-to" colours.  However, in the process of making my card I learnt the value of "less is more".  I'll explain.  I had a very clear vision in my head of what I wanted this card to look like.  You know, simplistic design, grungy and distressed looking background, bit of edge distressing and some faux stitching (all staple elements in many of my male cards). 

I started off with a panel of Kraft card, and stamped the Sanded background in Sahara Sand.  Nice, subtle, texture, and I should've left it at that.  But, no, I decided to over-stamp it with Sanded again, in Baja Breeze.  Hmm ... not quite the look I was going for.  I applied a bit of Chocolate Chip ink with a sponge, to my stamp of choice (the brocade image from Friends 24-7), to give a subtle, masculine look to one side of the card.  In an attempt to cover up the Baja Breeze stamping I'd regretted, I stamped Sanded AGAIN, this time with Chocolate Chip ink.  This detracted from my subtle brocade-y pattern, so I stamped the brocade bits again with full-strength Chocolate Chip ink.  Now the card just look imbalanced, so I proceeded to stamp the brocade pattern all over my card (with ink sponged onto the rubber, so it wasn't toooooo dark).

What I've ended up with is a card that very nearly got thrown in the bin.  However, because I've been rather short on "stamping just for fun" time, I decided to share my creation with you instead!  I'm hoping I'll get a chance in the next few days to make another card that is more to my liking.

I don't have my grandfathers any more, but my boys do, so one of them might just be lucky enough to receive this card one day, LOL.

Oh, to top off the "this isn't working out as I'd planned" experience, when I stamped "Wonderful", I got a small line of ink where I didn't want it.  Hence the lightly ruled line underneath that word - it was an attempt to salvage the Baja Breeze panel.  There are no mistakes in stamping ... just creative opportunities!

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamps: Sanded, Friends 24-7, Wonderful Favourites

Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Parisian Breeze and Baja Breeze Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads, Chocolate Chip stampin' write marker

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Jumbo brads, mat pack and paper piercing tool, sponge dauber, edge distresser

CAMEO CORAL, I'LL MISS YOU :(

I've taken a break for a few minutes from making Christmas cards (I'm determined to be organised this year .... despite making the same promise to myself every year around this time!!).  Today's post is dedicated to a Stampin' Up! colour that is rather polarising.  Cameo Coral - seems you either love it, or you hate it.  Me, I love it.  It's a rich, bright colour, and I will be sad when it retires at the end of August.

I have paired Cameo Coral with Chocolate Chip, and broken up the colour with some Whisper White.  Here's the busy, flowery card that resulted:

...and a close-up of the Tiny Tags (just 'cos they're cute!):

Stamps: Friends 24-7, Boho Backgrounds, Tiny Tags

Card: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Cameo Coral and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads

Other: Chocolate Chip and Whisper White taffeta ribbon, Sponge Dauber, Medium Jewelry Tag Punch

Do you like my new watermark?  The wonderful Karen Giron came to my rescue, when it dawned on me that my existing watermarks have my old blog address on them (I'm switched on, I tell ya!).  I have a few gorgeous new watermarks that I'll be rolling out as I get some more cards uploaded.  I'm going away for a stamping weekend with friends this weekend, so should have some projects to share after that.

Also, the next Art With Heart team blog hop is coming up on the first Saturday of August - that'd be the 7th, a VERY special day (I'll tell you why, then)!  I, and some of the other demonstrators in my wider Stampin' Up! team,  look forward to sharing with you then, a few projects designed for/around the men in our lives.

JUST ADD INK #25

Another day, another challenge!  When I saw this week's colour challenge at Just Add Ink, I was determined to NOT leave it until the very last minute to enter.  I'm a sucker for a colour challenge.  Sketch challenges, not so much.

Here is the colour combo for this week over at JAI:





 I added in to the mix a personal challenge, to use no flowers or butterflies on my card.  I didn't say anything about birds, though, LOL .... so, this is what I came up with:





Stamps: Friends 24-7

Card: Soft Suede, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant

DSP: Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Elegant Eggplant and Soft Suede Stampin' Pads

Other: XL Two-Step Bird Punch, Rose Red 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Very Vanilla 5/16" brads, sponge daubers



Aside from the untidy ribbon ends (no matter how carefully I trimmed the ribbon, it frayed, so this is as good as it gets!), and the late-night photography (yet again), I'm quite happy with this one!

FRIENDS 24-7

Today I gave myself permission to not go in to work - what bliss! We have our own business, and I have been trying for a long time to 'retire'.  The first step is to actually not be there some days, and it is harder than it sounds to make that happen.  Happily, today I'm at home.

I have been having a play with my Friends 24-7 stamp set, which is one of my favourites in the current Stampin' Up! catalogue.  First I made a couple of cards (just to have on hand) using my 'fallback' colour combination of Kraft, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip.  I love that they're simple and pretty - here they are:


All paper,punches and accessories are Stampin' Up! - if you have any questions, drop me a line!

I was visiting Renee Van Stralen's blog the other day, and loved this card she made using the cute little bird from this stamp set.  I was inspired to make a Christmas card using Friends 24-7.  Mine is a lot simpler, but I like how it turned out:

 Stamps: So Swirly Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Friends 24-7, Season of Joy

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red stampin' pads, Chocolate chip marker (bird's eye!)

Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red

Other: Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dimensionals

FRIENDS 24-7 MAKE & TAKE

Sorry for the lack of blogging, folks; I needed a bit of a rest after all the excitement of my birthday!  Thank you to all my lovely friends and family for making me feel so loved.  And to my two brothers .... where are my birthday cards???  Love you, Mark and Dean :)

Yesterday I demonstrated at my first-ever Stampin' Up! workshop, which was a pretty momentous occasion!  It all went really well, and I was lucky to have a group of 8 really lovely women to present to - thank you Leanne, Laura, Josie, Jo, Trudy, Leanne, Renee and Annette, for making it such an enjoyable experience.  I look forward to getting to know you all better!

I thought I'd share with you all the card everyone got to make at the workshop.  I have used the Friends 24-7 stamp set, one of my favourites from the Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalogue, that is current until September 2010.  The Parisian Breeze Designer Series paper is available only for a limited time, from our Spring Mini Catalogue, that is current until the end of November this year.  I LOVE this paper - I am already onto my second pack, and it was only released in Australia at the beginning of August. It co-ordinates beautifully with both Kraft and Baja Breeze - two colours that appear in lots of my cards.

Stamps: Friends 24-7
Card: Kraft, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
DSP: Parisian Breeze
Other: Baja Breeze striped grosgrain ribbon, eyelet border punch, stampin' dimensionals, stamp-a-ma-jig
I took along to the workshop three other 'stepped-up' versions of this card, on which I'd switched around the ribbon and paper used. I showed how different punches would look, and how the addition of buttons, Build-A-Brad, and/or a felt flower would look. I also used the Friendly Words jumbo wheel, in Whisper White craft ink, to create an alternative background. Hope you like them!



Well, it's high time for me to get off the computer now - I have spent far too much time on ebay today (listing items to sell), and am OVER it!  I hope you've all had a lovely weekend, and have much to look forward to in the week ahead.  To my friends Claire, and Sue, who are heading up to Noosa on an all-expenses-paid trip courtesy of Stampin' Up!, I'd just like to say "TRY NOT TO MISS THOSE OF US LEFT BEHIND IN THE COLD WET WEATHER!!!!".  Have a ball, girls, and I look forward to hearing all about it on your return.

Love Notes

After a few days' absence, I'm back with a couple of cards - little cuties.  Stampin' Up! has tiny cards called Love Notes, which measure 7.5cm (3") square.  Each pack contains cards and adorable matching envelopes in Whisper White and Very Vanilla (10 each).  I have had a play with them tonight, and here's what I came up with:



I really enjoyed making some mini creations for a change; these cards are very sweet.  They would make beautiful gift cards, or hand-delivered gifts - I don't think Australia Post could be trusted to safely deliver such little mail items.  I have photographed each of the cards individually, so you can see the details a little clearer.

I wanted to keep this first card fairly simple, and love the crisp Basic Gray stamped image (looks more 'blurry' than 'crisp' in the photo, but I assure you it's better in real life!).  I paper-pieced the bird, from the Friends 24-7 set, by stamping it in Basic Gray ink on Baja Breeze paper from the Urban Garden pack. I cut the bird out and popped it up on dimensionals, over the image I'd stamped on Whisper White card.  This paper is so pretty; I am in LOVE with the colour. (Well, it's fair to say that I love most of Stampin' Up!'s colours, really!  This year's "in colours" are pretty special, though.) My little card is finished off with a couple of silver brads from Stampin' Up!'s Vintage Brad selection (great assortment of silver, black, pewter and antique brass brads).



Stamps: Friends 24-7, Short & Sweet

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

DSP: Urban Garden

Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze

Other: Word Window Punch, silver brads, dimensionals, sponge dauber



Next up is my Very Vanilla card, with Bella Bleu and Kraft accents.  I make no secret of my obsession with kraft-coloured card - the matching taffeta ribbon is beautiful, and now I have a Sahara Sand stampin' pad, I am in heaven!  The ink colour goes so well with kraft card.  I'm one very happy girl!  I used Pocket Silhouettes stamps only on this card; the main image (and pattern on the butterfly), and the sentiment are from the same set.  It's a beautiful little stamp set, which I can see myself using a lot. The size of the image is perfect for a card this size.



Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes

Card: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, kraft

DSP: Bella Bleu

Ink: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Build-A-Brad, 1/2" circle punch, kraft taffeta ribbon, sponge dauber, mini glue dots, butterfly punch (non-SU)



I would insert some witty banter here, but I am very tired (was out until the wee hours of this morning at stamp group, laughing and creating with my lovely friends at Claire's house!).  Claire has very graciously (LOL) shown me how to link to her blog in my sidebar!  Just waiting for the favour to be returned now, number 3 demonstrator! 

Thanks for visiting, and to my lovely friends (new and old) who visit my blog and leave comments, I love you!  It really brightens my day!

Trees, birds and butterflies....

are some of my favourite elements on cards at the moment.  Thank you Stampin' Up! for all the beautiful stamps that feed my desire for such things!!  First up I have a couple of cards made using the great little Trendy Trees set.  This first card, I think, would make a suitable sympathy card.  It is simple, with classic colours.  Check out the cute little bird brad that I have had in my stash for a while; along with the button (non-SU, but how well do the colours match?!), it helps finish off the card nicely.  I have stamped on the Night of Navy card with Very Vanilla craft ink (not available in the current catalogue, but I couldn't resist - it complements the vanilla card so well).  The beautiful paper is from my brand new Urban Garden pack, just arrived today.

By the way, there is a GREAT promotion running through the month of May, with Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper (12" x 12" - perfect for scrapbooking,cardmaking, and other papercrafts).  If you buy three packs of the DSP, at $16.95 per pack (plus postage), you can choose another pack FOR FREE!  This is such a great offer - the range of papers is beautiful, and I would be happy to show you some 'real life' samples if you live near me in the outer east of Melbourne (I am in Mt Evelyn).  If you would like to take advantage of this limited-time offer, or if you would like to buy any products from the current Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalogue, please contact me by email: c.blain@yarravalleysnackfoods.com

Now, on to the aforementioned card ....



Stamps: Trendy Trees

Card: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Kiwi Kiss

DSP: Urban Garden

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla

Other: Kiwi Kiss 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, eyelet border punch, sponge dauber, Nestabilities, velvet bird brad (7Gypsies), dimensionals, cardboard button



Next up is a bold-coloured card, using Trendy Trees, to show what a different result you can achieve just by using different inks and cardstock.  I got the idea for this card from a Splitcoast gallery - sorry, but I didn't note whose.  I love the crispness of the foliage stamped in four of this year's "in colours".  It's not obvious in the photo, but I stamped just the spiral tree-top all over the Pacific Point card, to create a simple background.  Inside the card I inserted some white card (couldn't resist sponging those edges), stamped with one little tree for a cute touch.





Stamps: Trendy Trees

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

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango

Other: Kiwi Kiss 5/8" grosgrain, word window punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig


Warning - the next card is BRIGHT!  It's not my usual pick of colours, but gets the 'thumbs up' from my boys, so I decided to put it on here.  I used the Cheep Talk stamp set, using markers to colour the bird and the orange flower.  I used a Versamark ink pad, to ink up the flower and stamp all over the larger panel of Tempting Turquoise card.  Lots of co-ordinating card and ribbon on this one.



Stamps: Cheep Talk

Card: Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange Stampin' Write Markers, Versamark

Other: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 1/2" circle punch, scallop circle punch, corner rounder punch, eyelet border punch, dimensionals, 1/2" grosgrain ribbon - elegant eggplant, tempting turquoise, only orange, glitter brad (Doodlebug)


My fourth, and final, card for today's spot of sharing is using kraft - my "go-to" card and colour.  I just love it.  As soon as I saw the Bella Bleu DSP that has just become available, I knew I had to have it - it co-ordinates beautifully with Kraft and Very Vanilla, and introduces Not Quite Navy to the mix.  Stunning.  I think this card would definitely be suitable as a sympathy card; not the sort of card any of us like to have to make, but necessary.  I love the muted colours in this card, and have kept it very simple; I like the 'wallpaper' effect of the DSP.



Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Best Yet, Friends 24-7

Card: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla

DSP: Very Vanilla

Ink: Very Vanilla Craft (not in current catalogue), Not Quite Navy

Other: Oval Nestabilities, kraft taffeta ribbon, scallop edge punch, large half pearls (from Pretties Kit), 3/4" circle punch, sponge daubers, butterfly punch (non-SU)


I hope you've enjoyed the variety of cards I've posted today.  I am a long-time customer of Stampin' Up! and have only recently signed up as a demonstrator; I can vouch for the fantastic qualities of these products, and would love to share my enthusiasm with you!  Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions, or if there are any products you NEED! 

Christine :)

A couple of cards to share ....

 

My photo quality (particularly of the Raspberry Tart card posted yesterday) is pretty bad; apologies to my 3 loyal followers!  I hope to get a lot better at this as time goes on.

Here is a card made with that oft-mentioned "Friends 24-7" stamp set.  I have LOTS of ideas in my head for this one, so expect to see it often!  I am a huge fan of kraft-coloured card, so was quick to get my hands on kraft taffeta ribbon from the new catalogue.  It is beautiful, and oh-so-easy to tie in bows or knots.  It co-ordinates beautifully with the cardstock.

I inked up the sweet bird in Riding Hood Red, the branch in Chocolate Chip, and the leaves with my Old Olive marker.  Added some sponging around most of the edges - I am IN LOVE with sponge daubers, and have one for every colour of stampin' pad ('cos I'm a bit fussy about things like that!).  They are a great little tool, allowing you to give your cards a really nice finish with minimal effort.

Stamps: Friends 24-7

Card: Whisper White, Kraft, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Bella Rose

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, white

Other: Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, kraft taffeta ribbon, circle punches (1 1/4", 1 1/2", scallop circle), sponge daubers, paper piercer








On this card, I have done very little stamping, because I wanted to showcase the beautiful "Urban Oasis" designer series paper.  I have stamped, in white ink on basic gray card, a small image from Botanical Blooms (a sale-a-bration set, not in the current catalogue), and punched it out with the scallop square punch.  I matted that small panel on whisper white card that had been punched out twice with the same punch, and aligned to make a little border.  The sentiment is from the cute little Trendy Trees set, and has been punched out with the oh-so-versatile word window punch.  I have owned many punches over the years, and have to say that Stampin' Up! punches are brilliant - great quality, give a nice,clean cut every time, and are very easy to operate.  Some of the new Kiwi Kiss ribbon finishes off the card.

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Botanical Blooms

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss

DSP: Urban Oasis

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, white craft ink

Other: Kiwi Kiss 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, word window punch, scallop square punch

More new paper & stamps

The new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue is full of THE most beautiful stamps, papers and accessories.  Here is a card made with the new Raspberry Tart papers, which at first I was unsure of, but now love.  Don't the grosgrain ribbon colours match beautifully??  That's one of my favourite things about SU products - they're just so "matchy-matchy"!  Takes all the hard work out of trying to perfectly match your papers, stamps and accessories.

On this card, I have used my Stampin' Write markers to stamp the damask design (stamped off once, in Cameo Coral) from the Friends 24-7 stamp set.  I have stamped straight over the top of that with the sentiment from Friends 24-7, inked up with my Rose Red marker.  So easy, and just beautiful; this stamp set will have to rate as one of my very favourites this year - you'll be seeing many cards made with it, I promise!  I love the font in the sentiment, and the accompanying images are stunning.



Stamps: Friends 24-7

Card: Whisper White, Rose Red

DSP: Raspberry Tart

Ink: Cameo Coral, Rose Red Stampin' Write Markers

Other: 1/4" grosgrain ribbon - whisper white, old olive, pretty in pink; white half-pearls from SU Pretties kit