A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING!!

We were privileged to be invited to the wedding, yesterday, of our friends, Rachel and Aaron.  It's been a LONG time since I attended a wedding, and both of our boys were so excited about getting dressed up in suits.  Jack and Ethan were the only children invited to the wedding, and they made me as proud as always!

I am pleased to say that I introduced Rachel to Stampin' Up! last year, hee hee.  I knew she was using Blushing Bride cardstock, the Bella Toile stamp, and Basic Black ribbon to create the wedding bonboniere (using Stampin' Up!'s pillow box die, no less!), so I made our card to tie in with the theme.

Firstly, here's a photo of the bonboniere on our table:

And here is the wedding card I made:

Stamps: Bella Toile, Perfect Punches

Card: Shimmery White, Basic Black, Blushing Bride

Ink: Blushing Bride and Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: Basic Black satin ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Pinking Heart border punch (*NEW - out 1st December!), mini glue dots, Tombow multi glue

Here's the happy couple signing the marriage register (aren't they beautiful?!):

A rare photo of me, with my two handsome sons:

... and a gorgeous photo of all three of my "boys" (that's Andrew, my hubby, between Ethan and Jack):

Here's one more shot of the happy couple, Rachel and Aaron, at their wedding reception:

It was a very rainy day, but nevertheless a happy, relaxed and highly enjoyable one.  Rachel and Aaron are such a loving couple; they have a  very bright married future ahead of them.

CHRISTMAS BLOG HOP

Today I am taking part in a blog hop, with 10 friends, to show you some projects with a CHRISTMAS theme.  You may have come here from Ros Davidson's blog, but if not, don't worry - you can continue in a loop and visit all 11 blogs by clicking on the link at the end of each blog post.  I'm sure you'll get some great ideas, visiting everyone's blogs.

I'd like to share with you a few Christmas cards I've chosen to make in non-traditional colours.

This first card is my favourite, but I would love to hear which one appeals most to you; they're all quite different.  Please leave a comment, and let me know you've been to visit!

Stamps: Friends 24-7, Contempo Christmas, Delightful Decorations

Card: Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise (textured)

Ink: Poppy Parade and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Poppy Parade poly-stitched ribbon, Ornament Punch, Basic Rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Scallop Edge border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, mini glue dots

Next up is a less bright card; for this one, I've used another of Stampin' Up!'s "in colours", Peach Parfait, teamed with Basic Gray and Very Vanilla.

Stamps: Dasher, Snow Swirled

Card: Very Vanilla, Basic Gray

DSP: Peach Parfait Patterns Designer Series Paper (hostess pack)

Ink: Basic Gray and Peach Parfait stampin' pads

Other: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Wide Oval Punch, Peach Parfait poly-stitched ribbon, sponge dauber, Eyelet Trim border punch, Basic Pearls

My last card uses green and purple, with cream, and I love it!  (Since I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I don't think I've referred to colours as "green and purple, with cream"!!  That was a BIG step for me, to not use their SU! names, ha ha). 

Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Snow Swirled, En Francais

Card: Wild Wasabi (textured), Perfect Plum, Naturals Ivory

DSP: Wild Wasabi and Perfect Plum Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Wild Wasabi, Perfect Plum and River Rock stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Very Vanilla satin ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, sponge dauber, Eyelet Border punch, paper snips, mini glue dots

Next stop on today's blog hop is the blog of my friend Nikki Sadler.  We hope you'll visit all 11 blogs, and check out everyone's creations.  Here is a list of everyone participating in the blog hop; if you lose your way, just check back in here!

Ros Davidson

http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com/


Christine Blain (that's me!)
http://christineblain.blogspot.com/


Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au/


Kristine Thompson
http://www.inkspotcreations.com/


Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/


Di Dunk
http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com/


Judy May
http://www.judymay.typepad.com/


Sue Madex
http://www.madexcreations.com/


Amy Buchanan
http://fashioninggreatimpressions.com/


Gardenia Pepworth
http://alittlelessuseless.wordpress.com/


Alisha Watson
http://ratherbstampin.typepad.com/

I hope you have a great day; I will - we're off to a wedding, and my boys will both be in suits!  What fun.  Will share photos later!

JUST ADD INK #45 - SKETCH CHALLENGE

Normally I see the words "sketch challenge" and am tempted to run for the hills! I MUCH prefer colour challenges, but am trying to embrace the whole concept of stretching myself to try new things! This week's sketch at Just Add Ink sparked all sorts of ideas in my head - I can see myself using this gorgeous, simple, sketch time and time again.  Thanks, Danielle!  Here's the sketch:

I was in the mood for a bit of colouring in today, so had another play with my new Cupcake Kiki stamp - this time, I watercoloured her, using my Stampin' Up! markers and an aquapainter.  Using a white gel pen, I added a few little details - stripes on Kiki's stockings, and dots on her top (as well as highlights on her hair baubles, and in the flower centre).

This card will be going to someone we know who recently had a really nasty fall, and is 'out of action' for several weeks.  Hopefully it'll put a smile on her face.

Stamps: Cupcake Kiki (CC Designs), Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Watercolour Paper

Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento inkpad, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Night of Navy, and Baja Breeze markers

Other: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, aquapainter, Nestabilities, Rain Drops heart embellishment, Word Window punch, stampin' sponge, sponge dauber, Signo White gel pen, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP (retired)

I'll be back to "normal programming", showcasing Stampin' Up! stamps, tomorrow.  Please come back to visit my blog over the weekend, as I will be taking part in a blog hop with some stamping friends.  We've got some AWESOME Christmas projects to show you!!

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the world :)

CURTAIN CALL COLOUR CHALLENGE: {ACT 57}

Today I received in the mail a cute little CC Designs stamp, so decided to use her (Cupcake Kiki) on a card for this week's Curtain Call Colour Challenge.  These are the colours that Stacey is challenging us to use on a papercraft project:

Here is the result of my play session, with Cupcake Kiki and my Prismacolor pencils (blended with odourless mineral spirits):

Sorry about the wonky photo; I think my head was screwed on crooked when I took it!  After colouring the image with my pencils, I used my Sakura Gelly Roll silver pen to highlight the flower centre, and the creases on the cupcake case.  I added Crystal Effects to Kiki's shoes, the cupcake icing (which was then sprinkled with pink super-fine glitter), and the flower in her hair.  She looks very sweet in real life, even if the details aren't really clear in my photo.

These are the ingredients I used to make this card:

Stamps: Cupcake Kiki (CC Designs), Tiny Tags

Card: Basic Gray, Cajun Craze,  X-Press It Copic blending card

Ink: Memento black inkpad, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray and Cajun Craze stampin' pads

Other: Prismacolor pencils, odourless mineral spirits, Crystal Effects, Sakura Gelly Roll silver pen, pink super-fine glitter, pink rhinestones, oval and scalloped oval Nestabilities, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Whisper White satin ribbon, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon (retired), Pretty in Pink 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Big Shot, sponge dauber

JUST ADD INK #44 .... second attempt

I am really loving Stampin' Up!'s River Rock colour at the moment; it has grown on me since I first saw it a couple of years ago, and didn't warm to it.  I have made another card for this week's colour challenge at Just Add Ink, using these great colours (with Very Vanilla added into the mix):

I coloured directly onto my Upsy Daisy stamp with markers, in all three colours, then lightly spritzed the stamp with water before stamping onto a Very Vanilla piece of card - that had been cut out using the Top Note die, and stamped (second impression) with En Francais.  I love the understated look of the flowers stamped in these colours.

...and here's a close-up of the little details surrounding the sentiment:

Stamps: Very Vintage jumbo Stampin' Around wheel, En Francais, Upsy Daisy, Silhouette Sentiments

Card: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, River Rock (smooth and textured)

Ink: River Rock stampin' pad and marker, Chocolate Chip stampin' pad and marker, Wild Wasabi marker

Other: Top Note die, 3/4" circle punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, Victoria crochet trim (*NEW), paper snips, Tombow multi glue

"WE STAMP FOR LARA" COLOUR CHALLENGE

Tonight I made a sweet little 10cm x 10cm square card, which is a size favoured by my beautiful and very talented friend Chris (she makes the sweetest cards, and always inspires me).  This week there is a colour challenge going on at the We Stamp For Lara website.  If you haven't already joined in on the fun, there's still time to go into the draw to win some prizes (including a Big Shot, generously donated by Angela Sargeant), and take part in a lot of stamping fun, whilst helping to raise money for some much-needed equipment for a very special little girl.  Click on the "We Stamp For Lara" button to the right of this post, to find out how you can be a part of it all.

Here is the card that I made tonight, and was too impatient to wait until daylight to photograph!

Stamps: Punch Potpourri, Short & Sweet, Itty Bitty Bits, Bella Toile

Card: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard

Ink: Blushing Bride, Regal Rose and Pear Pizzazz stampin' pads

Other: Square Lattice embossing folder, Word Window Punch, Full Heart Punch, aquapainter, blender pen, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Itty Bitty flower punch (*NEW*), Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Basic Pearls, stampin' dimensionals, stampin' sponges, Tombow multi glue

JUST ADD INK #44

Second only to red, my favourite colours are earthy tones, so this week's colour challenge at Just Add Ink really tickled my fancy.

Last night I was a bit foggy-headed, in the aftermath of a migraine, but felt well enough to make a simple card.  I mention this because when I put my card scraps away, I was horrified to discover (and even more horrified that I hadn't noticed earlier) that I had used Early Espresso, instead of Chocolate Chip, cardstock on my card!!!  I am going to be unusually forgiving of myself, though, and have decided not to re-make the card; just pretend that the strip of card is a lighter brown than it really is, okay?!

It is a bit hard to tell in the photo I've taken, but the Christmas ornaments look a light gold colour.  I inked the stamp up first in River Rock ink, then used a sponge dauber to apply Frost White shimmer paint, before stamping the image onto white card.  I've taken a close-up shot so you can see some of the shimmer.

Here is the card in its entirety:

Stamps: Contempo Christmas, Delightful Decorations

Card: Whisper White, River Rock (textured), Early Espresso (let's just call it Chocolate Chip!), Wild Wasabi (textured)

Ink: River Rock and Wild Wasabi stampin' pads

Other: Ornament Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (retired), mini glue dots