SC # 50/12: REFLECTION TECHNIQUE WITH STAMPIN' UP!'S ORNATE BLOSSOM

We have got to the end of the week, and I realised that I'm fast running out of time to enter this week's challenge at Sunny Challenges & Creations.

I have never tried the Reflection Technique, so I really wanted to give it a go.  I had an idea to use the Ornate Blossom stamp as a water lily/lotus type flower (sorry for my floral ignorance!).   This is the first time this stamp has seen ink!!  I first inked up the stamp using my Pretty in Pink stampin' pad.  I added colour with markers, and stamped onto Whisper White card.  Using my aquapainter and stampin' pads, I added a bit more depth of colour to the flower.

 The end result of my reflection stamping is not quite what I had in mind, but I'll leave it as is, and chalk it up to experience!  I think because I chose a lighter colour ink (Pretty in Pink) to stamp on the acetate, the mirrored image was a bit patchier than I'd hoped.  Perhaps it was just my bad stamping.  Anyway, here's the card I came up with for the challenge, that closes in a few short hours!

Stamps: Ornate Blossom, Friends Never Fade, Trendy Trees

Card: Rose Red textured, Whisper White, Pool Party

DSP: Pool Party Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Pretty in Pink stampin' pad, Regal Rose stampin' pad and marker, Rose Red stampin' pad and marker, So Saffron marker, Pool Party stampin' pad

Other: Aquapainter, Labels Collection framelits dies, Word Window punch, Basic Rhinestones, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, sponge dauber, Scallop edge punch, mini glue dots, acetate

SC 48/12: STAMPIN' UP!'S LANGUAGE OF FRIENDSHIP

I had a chance last night to make a card for this week's challenge at Sunny Challenges & Creations.  It has been weeks since I've played along, and I've missed taking part!

Vicky has come up with this sketch, with the added challenge of using Chocolate Chip and Old Olive:

I pulled out my hardly-used Language of Friendship stamp set for this one.  Whilst I do love any stamp sets that co-ordinate with punches, I have to say this one is a bit "off" in its measurements - if I want to punch the bird perfectly, the wing gets chopped off a bit, and if I want to punch the wing perfectly, the bird has a bigger border on one side than the other.  I know I could overcome this by stamping and punching the bird and wing separately, but I didn't actually think of that until I was typing this blog post .... so, forgive the oddly-punched bird!

Stamps: Language of Friendship, Trendy Trees

Card: Old Olive, Very Vanilla

DSP: Chocolate Chip and Old Olive Patterns Designer Series Paper, Jolly Holiday DSP (retired)

Ink: Old Olive and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads
Other: Labels Collection Framelits, Bird Builder punch, Decorative Label punch, Old Olive satin ribbon, Brights button, Lucky Limeade baker's twine, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, mini glue dots



JAI #125 : JUST ADD WINTER

The theme at Just Add Ink this week is WINTER, which is very apt as I type out this post on a miserably cold, very wet, Melbourne day!

My first thought was to make a snowy scene for a Christmas card, but I decided against that.  Christmas falls in Summer down here in the southern hemisphere (although Melbourne is generally a bit mild and showery on Christmas Day .... but you have to expect the unexpected with Melbourne's weather!).  I have instead created a little scene with Trendy Trees - one of my cute, neglected, stamp sets.  There's a light snowfall happening, courtesy of the Confetti stamp set, and I've used silver glass glitter to represent scattered snowflakes on the ground.

Stamps: Trendy Trees, Confetti, Sincere Salutations

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi and Garden Green stampin' pads, Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, sponge dauber, XL Oval punch, Designer Frames embossing folder, Tombow liquid glue, Silver Glass Glitter, mini glue dots

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples, for some winter inspiration.  We hope to see you playing along with us!



SC 042: STAMPIN' UP! KINDNESS MATTERS

With all the nervous energy I have to burn, in the lead-up to Stampin' Up! Convention in a few short sleeps, I've made another card today.  This one is for Sunny Challenges & Creations.

As you can see, there is a sketch to follow, as well as a technique - the Baby Wipe technique.  I LOVE this technique, but haven't played with it for a while.

I have used Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red and Crumb Cake ink refills to create a palette on a baby wipe.  I inked up the gorgeous butterfly stamp from Kindness Matters, on the baby wipe, and stamped it repeatedly on Very Vanilla card, to create a background. 

Using my Color Spritzer Tool, I added some splatters of Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake ink to the stamped panel.  Here's my card (warning: I got a little carried away with baker's twine bows!):

Stamps: Kindness Matters, Trendy Trees

Card: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red re-inkers, Crumb Cake re-inker and marker, Blushing Bride marker

Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso baker's twine, Color Spritzer tool, Basic Pearls, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, Tombow liquid glue

Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow, so I can't guarantee another card will make it onto my blog before I go away.  Watch this space!



DELICATE DOILIES ONE SHEET WONDER

Recently I shared with you a card I'd made using Stampin' Up!'s Delicate Doilies stamps.  I mentioned I'd made a "one sheet wonder".  I had stamped the doilies all over an A5 piece of Whisper White card, and was able to make three cards out of my handmade patterned paper.  Today I'm sharing with you the other two cards that resulted from the doily panel.


I made one card with a Certainly Celery focus.  I enjoyed making this one, because it's not a green I normally favour.  It pairs beautifully with Elegant Eggplant, though.  I used a purple Sharpie to colour some of Stampin' Up!'s Basic Pearls; such a sweet embellishment to use as flower centres, I think.  Here's my card, using my trusty Top Note die:

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Trendy Trees

Card: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Pool Party, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads

Other: Top Note die, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, mini glue dots

My third card is a bit more 'regal' looking, with Elegant Eggplant (such a rich purple) taking centre stage.  I stamped one of the doily images repeatedly on the base card, in Elegant Eggplant ink, and used a white gel pen to lighten the overall look a little.

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Bring on the Cake

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Pool Party, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads

Other: XL Oval punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Basic Rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals, Whisper White satin ribbon, White organza ribbon, mini glue dots, sponge daubers, white gel pen, sticky strip

  Which is your favourite?   Out of all three cards, I think I like the last one the best.  Let me know what you think!  I love the different looks achieved by using the one piece of card.



STAMPIN' UP!'S APOTHECARY ART IN PINK AND BLUE

As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I don't really think of colours in terms as simple as "pink and blue", but just used that description to avoid a super-long post heading!

The main colours in the card I have to share with you today are Blushing Bride, and Pool Party - two of Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous "in colors".  Unfortunately we'll be losing Blushing Bride when our new catalogue comes out later in the year.  It's a lovely pink, that I'm really enjoying using at the moment.

My card came about all because I had a 'negative' cut out of a Framelits die, left in a piece of Blushing Bride card.  Rather than throwing it away (which I tend to do ... in an effort to lessen my hoarding!), I decided to use it as a 'window', to show a piece of the gorgeous new Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper.   Using the Apothecary Art stamp set that goes so beautifully with the Framelits dies, I made what I think is a lovely, girly, card.

Stamps: Apothecary Art, Trendy Trees (sentiment)

Card: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Blushing Bride

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: Blushing Bride and Soft Suede stampin' pads, Pool Party ink refill

Other: Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Labels Collection Framelits dies, Finial Press embossing folder, aquapainter, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Victoria Crochet trim, Blushing Bride pleated satin ribbon, stamp-a-ma-jig, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, stampin' dimensionals, sticky strip

JUST ADD INK #38

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so please visit the Cancer Council's website at www.pinkribbonday.com.au, to see how you can help the cause.  Is it too much to dream that we will have a cure for this disease in this generation?  Five years ago this month, I lost one of my dearest friends to breast cancer, and I am sure that most of you, like me, know someone who is also a breast cancer survivor.  Let's do all we can to make sure ALL women, and men, who have breast cancer, are survivors.


The challenge for this week, at  Just Add Ink, is to "JUST ADD BLING .... AND PINK!!", to a papercraft project. 

Here is the card I came up with:

Stamps: En Francais, Trendy Trees

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White (smooth and textured), Pretty in Pink

DSP: Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink Patterns Stack Designer Series Papers

Ink: Pink Pirouette and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Two-step XL Owl punch, Two-step XL Bird punch, Basic Rhinestones, sponge dauber, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, mini glue dots, Tombow multi glue

I took the photo in late afternoon light, so it's not great, but I am rather pleased with how this sweet card turned out - hope you like it too!

JUST ADD INK #18 - Asian Artistry

Phew - that was close!  In my post-Convention haze, I realised it was Wednesday, but had momentarily forgotten that midnight tonight is the cut-off for challenge entries over at Just Add Ink!  Just went in to my craft room, and whipped up a card using the last of my watercoloured images from last month's stamp group - you know, the Asian Artistry series that has been getting a real work-out on my blog?!

Hubby has deemed my card "bland", so I have a feeling some of you, dear blog readers, will like it!  Historically, any cards Andrew doesn't like have proven to be quite the opposite in 'female eyes'.  Here it is, in its full photographed-at-night time glory:







... and here's a close-up of the tag, to show I stamped off the rose image a couple of times, then stamped it on a Very Vanilla tag.  The little flowers were punched from Mellow Moss card that had been stamped in En Francais.  Of course I sponged around all the edges!





Hmm, now that I see the close-up, I can see a brad prong sticking out (bugs me, but I'm not re-doing it!).  If I hadn't have mentioned it, would you have noticed??



Here's a list of products used to make this card:



Stamps: Asian Artistry, En Francais, Trendy Trees (sentiment)

Card: Kraft, Rose Red, Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Rose Red stampin' pad and marker, Mellow Moss stampin' pad and marker, Regal Rose marker

Other: Aquapainter, sponge daubers, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, Mellow Moss taffeta ribbon, Trio Flower Punch, Rose Red brads, mini glue dots, dimensionals

 

"ASIAN ARTISTRY" in blue

Asian Artistry is a brand new Level 2 hostess stamp set, in Stampin' Up!'s Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.  It's a beautiful set, containing a few images that are perfect for watercolouring.  Being a hostess set, it can't be bought, but it can be earnt for FREE if you host a qualifying workshop. If you like the sound of this, want to get some friends together for a few fun hours of stamping, and live in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, email me, and we'll arrange a date for your workshop!

The focal point of my card is the gorgeous bird, perched on bamboo; I've simply stamped the image in Basic Gray ink, and lightly 'painted' over the foliage with my aquapainter (water-colouring brush), to blur the lines a little.  I scribbled with a Brilliant Blue marker onto my plastic 'palette' (the clamshell case of the stamps), and picked up the colour with my aquapainter to watercolour the bird.  I don't gravitate towards blue very often, but I love the colours in this card.  I was thinking it'd make a nice sympathy card; what do you think?





Stamps: Asian Artistry, En Francais, Trendy Trees (sentiment)

Card: Basic Gray, Bordering Blue, Brilliant Blue, Confetti White, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker, Brilliant Blue stampin' pad and marker, Bordering Blue stampin' pad, Very Vanilla craft stampin' pad

Other: Aquapainter, Eyelet Border Punch, sponge dauber, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, corner rounder punch
  

One "male" card, and one decidedly pink one!

The other day I posted a photo of the card I'd made for my brother, Mark.  Today I have another Trendy Trees card to show you; I made this for my other brother, Dean, whose birthday is in a few days.  Yay me - actually getting a card made and posted BEFORE the event!  So, my brothers' birthdays are only a week apart; but, hey, my sister's and my birthdays are only a DAY apart!  Mum and Dad must have wanted to cut down on birthday party costs by combining for our entire childhood; precision planning on their part, don't you think?

I am really pleased with this card.  Started off not knowing what I was going to make, but once I'd chosen the colour scheme (Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy) it all came together quite smoothly.  The Urban Garden paper, and the fantastic Trendy Trees and jumbo eyelets, made it easy - love all those elements (just in case you hadn't noticed!).  Loving these colours; they are great for guys' cards, don't you think?



Stamps: Trendy Trees, Occasional Greetings, Linen background (retired)

Card: Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

DSP: Urban Garden

Ink: Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, White craft

Other: Crop-A-Dile, pewter jumbo eyelets, Kiwi Kiss 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, stamp-a-ma-jig, edge distresser, sponge dauber, dimensionals



The photo on that card is a bit dark (I always leave it until night-time to remember to photograph my cards, but hey you can see it alright).  Nothing dark about this next one - a little over-the-top pink number. 

I got the Fast Flowers wheel with my starter kit, and wasn't sure how I wanted to use it, but realised it is designed to co-ordinate with Fun & Fast Notes (a great collection of cute images and sentiments).  I used the wheel to create the little pink panel on which the bird is mounted -  see how the cute little flowers complement the flower in the bird's mouth?  Sweet.  I paper-pieced the bird, by first stamping her (has to be a girl, with that colouring!) in Basic Gray on Whisper White card, then stamping again in Basic Gray on Bella Rose paper.  I stuck the cut-out paper version onto the card; love this easy technique that saves colouring in! I have used the same Designer Series Paper in the background.  Anyway, enough talking - here's the card:



Stamps: Fast Flowers wheel, Fun & Fast Notes, Pocket Silhouettes (sentiment), Cute & Curly, Weathered background

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

DSP: Bella Rose

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, White craft, Certainly Celery

Other: Pink Pirouette 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, curly label punch, rectangle nestabilities, mini glue dots, flat-back pearls (from Pretties Kit), dimensionals, aquapainter



That's it for today, folks - hope you like them!  I had a lot of fun making them (especially the 'boy' one, I have to say, because sometimes male cards can be a bit tricky, can't they?  I get a bit tired of the fishing and tool themes.)  I am feeling a bit under the weather, with a cold (thanks darling son for sharing those germs around), but plan to have a couple of early nights so that I am in fine form for a big stamping night with my lovely friends on Friday night - can't wait!

'Til next time - thanks for visiting, and I love reading your comments, my lovely friends :)

BOYS, BOYS, BOYS......

Sorry, ladies, but the photos in this post are probably not what you were imagining, from today's title!  I have a couple of birthday cards for men to show you.  Ha ha.  PLUS ......drumroll, please......I have a scrapbook page to post!!!  This is noteworthy, because I am a cardmaker, and have only dabbled verrrrry briefly with scrapbooking.

Work has been more than a little challenging this past week, and I have not even set foot in my craft room - other than to open the door, switch the light on to check that all is okay and is still there waiting for me, turn off the light and leave.  I have done this a few times.  Sad, isn't it?!  My little family and I have been away at our cabin for a couple of nights, to reconnect, and recharge our batteries.  We really needed that; it was lovely.  Now we are back home, and I have mountains of washing to contend with.  While the machine is churning away, I have managed to have a little play, and decided that it's high time I shared my male-oriented creations.

First up, here is a simple birthday card that I think would be particularly suitable for a man (no flowers or pink in sight).  I have used ribbon, but as a simple accent to complement the card's colour scheme.  A couple of jumbo pewter eyelets help to give the card a masculine feel.



Stamps: Seeing Spots, Upsy Daisy (sentiment)

Ink: Versamark, Old Olive, Jet Black Stazon, Whisper White craft ink

Card: Whisper White, Basic Black, Old Olive

Other: Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, White Embossing Powder, Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Old Olive and Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon



My next card is one I have sent to my brother for his birthday.  I think it's safe to assume that he won't be looking at my blog.  I have used my much-loved Trendy Trees set, and my new favourite jumbo eyelets on this one.  All the other details follow th photo:



Stamps: Trendy Trees, On Your Birthday

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine

Card: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango

Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango

Other: Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, wide oval punch, edge distresser, sponge daubers, brads (non-SU)



Okay, so now I am going to be brave and share my scrapbook page.  I have had a photo of Jack (who is now in his second year at high school) that I have wanted to scrap, but hadn't got around to. It was taken on the night of his graduation from primary school - a very emotional time for me!  He felt very grown up, but I was grieving the loss of his truly innocent days, and the changes that were about to take place with his friendships.  (His closest friends were to go on to different high schools to the one Jack would be attending.) Everything on this page is Stampin' Up!, except for the lined paper I stole from my other son's school book. (It's okay, he had to remove a page, so I just used some of the unwanted paper - just wanted to add this disclaimer in case any teachers are reading!)  I set myself the challenge of using no designer papers - just cardstock, stamps and punches (and, boy, did I use a few of these!), with a couple of other embellishments.  Here is my handsome boy ....



Stamps: Classic Stars Jumbo Wheel, Best Yet, Season of Joy (just the letter "j")

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad and marker, Real Red stampin' pad and marker

Card: Basic Black textured 12x12, Whisper White (textured and smooth), Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Real Red

Other: Round Tab Punch, Curly Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Spiral Punch, Crop-A-Dile, Pewter Jumbo Eyelets, black brads (from Vintage brad assortment), SNAIL adhesive



It's good to be able to post on my blog again, after what feels like a looooooong absence.  I am hoping to fit in some more 'play' time this coming week, as I have new stamps (YIPPEE!!) - will be back to share when I've made something.  Hope you all have a great week.  

Christine :)

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