Final Rue Des Fleurs... for a while anyway

Here is the final card made from the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set.  Have used the border stamp this time, stamping this image a couple of times and then cutting it out so I can join it into a border across the page.  There are Designer Series Papers (DSP) that match this stamp set, and one of the papers has the full borders, but I really don't mind cutting out.  The strip has then been backed with Early Expresso.  I have punched out three flowers from the Fun Flowers Dies (I really have to use this more), which are then crumpled and divided into six layers to form a flower.  Then behind the flower I have stamped the corset stamp to form a circle.  

More next time.  Enjoy your weekend. 

One more Rue Des Fleurs

Remember with film cameras, because they were quite expensive to get developed, you took two or three photos and you hoped that you would get one good shot.  Well it has just occurred to me that I can put more than one shot of a card on here.  Takes me a while, but I get there in the end.  So I have put in another photo of the umbrella card so you can see the background with the water drops and also the Edgelits border in more detail.  This is actually two separate sheets of white cardstock borders layered over each other for effect.  

The fourth card from this new stamp set is the trumpet.  At least I think it's a trumpet.  Wal, you will have to correct me if I am wrong.  This image has been stamped on white and cut out and then the image is also stamped in VersaMark randomly on the background of the main card. The underneath card is Island Indigo and top is Lucky Limeade. 

Another new stamp, and thanks

Well, my sisters have been busy over the last few days telling their friends about my new blogsite, so if you are just popping in I would like to tell you a bit about this site.  I was encouraged to start this by my family (husband and two kids), and as I don't have a job at the moment it was the perfect opportunity to start.  I had told a few of my friends about my blog, but Yvonne, Robyn and Janelle have all been spreading the word, for which I am grateful and very humbled.  

All the cards are made with Stampin' Up products unless otherwise stated.  Why?  Cause I like that everything is designed to match.  There are inks, cardstock, ribbons and brads available in the same colour and they also have a huge range of stamp sets and accessories that again are all designed to coordinate with each other.  They also sell their cardstock in "Collections" so you know that each colour will compliment with the others. 

So I hope you enjoy having a look, and feel free to comment or question.  

As you may know I like the look of squares on squares, and this simple card uses the pen from the Rue Des Fleurs set.  It's not a stamp that I think will get used a lot by me, but who knows.  

Colours used are Early Expresso and Taken with Teal (no longer available) and the edges have been sponged.  The centre square has been raised with Glue Dots.   

Rue Des Fleurs

The original umbrella stamp from the Rue Des Fleurs set had clocks hanging down from it, but I wasn't sure they went together, so cut them off the stamp.  I'm sure I will use the clocks by themselves for something else, just not with a dainty umbrella.  The pink background has been stamped with the water droplets from the French Foliage set in VersaMark, but unfortunately this hasn't shown up on the photo.  Have also used the second Edgelits dies in the set.  This die is scalloped like the SU border punch, but then each of the scallops has more scallops around it. Hopefully you can see what I mean from the picture.  It really is a lovely edge and very feminine.

A special thank you to my sisters, Robyn and Yvonne, for their comments and encouragement.  It helps when you know someone is looking.  The sentiment from the previous card applies to you both - Thanks for the support. 

A sneak peak at some new stuff!

Everyone loves new stuff, right.  The Summer Mini Catalogue starts on the 1st April, and over the next couple of posts I have a few cards to show you using two of the new products; Rue Des Fleurs stamp set and the Edgelit Dies.  

This first card uses the corset and also one of the Edgelit dies. I have also used the First Edition Speciality papers,  Decorative Label punch and non-SU Lacey Circles Nestabilities.  To me, nothing is more elegant than black and white cards with a touch of red. 
  

  

Fabulous Florets

Another set that I will miss after the Summer mini catalogue ends at the end of the month is the Fabulous Florets set.  Two very good friends bought this set for me as a birthday present, and I have used it so many times.  In my opinion, the cards in the catalogue don't do this set justice, so hopefully some of these will make you think differently.  

The flowers in the top three cards have been stamped in VersaMark, then embossed with clear embossing powder and shaded with a sponge.

Another Owl punch card

I knew there was one more owl card somewhere.  Sorry the picture isn't great, but I had so much fun with this one.   

The Open Sea

The first time I saw cards made with this stamp set I knew I "needed" it. I had to wait a while, but eventually the set was available in Australia in the summer mini.  The stamps are great for those hard to make male cards, or even travel journals or bon voyage cards.  There are also papers that are designed to coordinate with this set, and Baker's Twine for those of you able to tie Sailor's knots (obviously not me), but these are only available until the end of the month. 

On the fourth card I have used a technique where you ink up your acrylic block and "stamp" on cardstock.  This gives a mottled background great for vintage style cards. 

Tri-fold Cards

I first saw one of these cards on Splitcoaststampers and then found the measurements and instructions on Marelle Taylor's website.   The trickiest part to the card is cutting out all the papers, making sure that the boxes are straight and even - I still haven't quite perfected that part yet - and the fun part is decorating.  Once again the owl punch is perfect for this type of card.  A lot of time to make, but well worth the effort.  The hardest part is giving them away.  The last card is one of the four that I sent in to the magazine. 

Owl Punch

I just love this Owl Punch from SU.  I have seen it used so many different ways, and apart from the obvious owl or penguin, it can also be used as a flower, alien, girls head and lots of other different ways.  The positioning of the eyes can change the whole theme of the card, from silly to serious, they really are very expressive depending on how you make them.  They can be a little tricky to glue together, but a friend of mine (hi Jackie) bought me a clever tool called a "pickmeup" from Silhouette which sticks to small pieces and lets you glue them down a lot easier.  Lately I have also just drawn on an eye using the tiny circle negative as a guide - a whole lot easier. 

The first card here was supposed to be for Kaitlin's graduation, but I forgot all about it until months later.  The last three cards I submitted to a magazine (with another tri-fold card which I can show you after the weekend).  Unfortunately they are not going to use them all, but they are going to put one of them into the Reader's Gallery, which makes me quite happy.  

Am off for a job interview this afternoon - not sure whether I am really interested in it or not.  Will see how it goes.  

Elementary Elegance

Another beautiful day in Sydney, and too nice to be indoors.  After a bit of gardening I attempted a few cards using the Elementary Elegance stamp set.  They didn't turn out like I had planned in my head, but that's pretty normal. Cajun Craze and More Mustard is not a colour scheme I would normally use, but it actually looks quite "elegant" with the gold ribbon (non SU).

Not long now until the new Autumn-Winter mini catalogue comes out and there are some great accessories in it.  And that means that the current catalogue will finish soon, so if there was anything you had your eye on, now is the time before it goes.  We have been told that the Stocking Tag builder punch will not be available after March and nor will the Simply Adorned Charms, Chains and Baubles.  The good news is the Spice Cake DSP, Glimmer Papers, Candy Wrapper Die, Love Blossoms Roller, Flower Garden Embossing Folder, Bakers Twine and Postage Stamp punch will be carried over.  

Square Punch

The saying goes "When you're on a good thing, stick to it" and I guess I must agree with that too.  Squares on a card always looks good, and with a punch to keep all those squares alike it couldn't get much easier. 

The first card is actually done in Melon Mambo, not that you could guess that from the colour in the photo.  The image has been stamped in Versa Mark and then embossed in white powder.  Embossing on black cardstock isn't easy, but it's well worth the effort.  

The second card Calypso Coral cardstock, and the final card a combination of Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade (my current favourite) and Early Expresso.  I wonder who comes up with the names, and how long it takes them?  

Everyday Enchantment

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I must confess that I wasn't real keen on a lot of these papers as I felt they were a little dull, but it seems I am in the minority.  However I was really happy with the way the first card turned out, a CASE from Inking Idaho, a website I visit quite often.  


At a recent class I had we made these three cards, plus another one you will see later. 

Fresh Vintage

Having a play with the Fresh Vintage stamp set from Sale-a-bration and have CASED the first card from Mary Fish in US using Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist and Lucky Limeade. The second card is Cherry Cobbler cardstock with the Stripes Embossing Folder used on the lower half of the card. 

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to my new website.  My family have been at me for some time now that I should have my own blog, so thanks to my family for encouraging me, and especially Kaitlin for setting this up.  

I hope to be able to share with you what I have been up to, and to encourage you to start using what you have bought (Beth and Linda take note!)

Most of my cards will be made using Stampin' Up supplies, but an odd non SU product may sneak in some time.  I spend a lot of time looking on other websites, so some of my cards are influenced or CASED* from others I have seen.   If I am able to remember where I saw the original card I will give the person credit, otherwise please take it as a compliment that I have CASED your design.

Sale-a-bration is still on until the end of this month, so the first lot of cards will be using the products from that catalogue - the first card was just a practice run.    

* CASED means, as far as I can gather from the blog world, copy and share everything or copy and slightly edit. 

"Simply Soft"