Retired List out Wednesday

Just a reminder to let you know that the retired list for Stampin' Up comes out tomorrow.  Unfortunately I have to work so won't get to see it until the evening, but check out what will be leaving from our catalogues and if there are any specials.  This is the link to the Stampin' Up customer homepage where you should be able to see the list.

If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know.   

More Fresh Vintage

I decided to have another play with the Fresh Vintage set this weekend, one of the Sale-a-bration sets, and wanted to try a black and white theme.  I then wanted to try to use the border and tiny flower stamp cause I usually just go for the other three stamps and these two rarely get a look in.  

This is the first card I came up with.  I used a bit of Cherry Cobber for that extra pop.  

 

I like the look of the top half, but think the bottom looks a little ??.  I guess that's why I rarely use these two stamps.  I think the flower gives a bold outline but the border looks too fine.

So then I made this card and am very happy with the way it turned out.  In my opinion, a very elegant card suitable for a wedding. 

My latest toys - not Stampin' Up

I went to Henny's crafts on Saturday and look what I got!  It's a new Spellbinders Edgeability, or in simple terms, new cutting dies for the Big Shot.  It has three different edges; ric rac, a half starburst and a diamond edge.  

And this is a simple card I made using one of them, and a stamp from a friend, but I can't remember the company name.  

I thought she looked very elegant, but I don't think the card does her justice. And I can now also see how I haven't made both sides even.  However, you can see the beautiful edge very clearly.  And these are all the little bits left over.  

The punched out bits from the holes look so nice altogether, but what can I do with them?  I think they would look great all down on a piece of cardstock, but it would take forever.  I just don't want to throw them out.  Any suggestions?  Don't have any weddings coming up either.  

Seeing Squares yet?

OK, sorry about all the squares, but I really think they look good.  This is another birthday card, this time for a male relative.  We all seem to struggle  sometimes with male cards, so falling back on a classic makes things a little simpler. 

With this card I have used a set called Trendy Trees (another one I don't own) and also used one of the Adorning Accents Embossing Folders.  

 

More squares

Happy Monday to you.  Another work day!  

Here is another card based on the squares that I love doing.  Have used some of the Saleabration Everyday Enchantment and also First Edition DSP.  

Isn't it funny how you don't notice how crooked something is until it is posted for everyone to see!  Have used Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral cardstock, and three of the brads to match.  Quite simple to make, and looks pretty neat too. 

 

Apothecary favourite

As promised, this one is my favourite from Saturday.  I am not usually a pink girl, but this card just appeals to me.  Could be the fact that I am really liking the new Framelits and Apothecary Art set.  

Have also used one of the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, rows of tiny little hearts that are raised up, and some of the Pleated Satin Ribbon in Blushing Bride.  The flowers have been coloured with a blender pen and some of the flower centres have a little bit of Kindy Glitz added for that extra sparkle.  

If you are looking at the shape of the centre imaging thinking that it isn't cut too well and the shape is different to yours, you're right.  This card was designed BEFORE I got my Framelits so I had to hand cut the shape.  Imagine how much better it would look if I used the Big Shot and cut them out.  When they were made by everyone on Saturday they looked much better. 

A little late, but ...

I am a little late today putting this up, but I ran out of time (and photos) on the weekend.  We had a busy weekend with the group/class here on Saturday and then a 3rd birthday on Sunday, so apologies.

This is another card made on Saturday.  

The swirl from Baroque Motifs has been stamped in Crumb Cake ink on Very Vanilla cardstock.  The rose is from a retired set "A rose is a rose" using two step stamping and I have stamped the shadow part first onto a piece of scrap paper to remove most of the ink, and then onto the rose using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  If you don't know the Stampin' Up products, then a lot of this will be goobledegook to you.  And if that's the case, you need to come here for some lessons!  

 

The paper on the bottom of the card is DSP which has been folded to form a pleat.  A bit of measuring at first, and then it's quite easy to do. I took pity on the ladies coming and had it all pre-scored for them, so all they had to do was fold.  Their pleats were spaced a little wider than mine to show them up more.   Add a Soft Suede scalloped border and a little Vanilla seam binding and it's done. 

I have my favourite one to show you on Friday.  Wonder if it will be your favourite? 

Concord Fifth Avenue

On Saturday I was able to spend the day with a clever and generoous group of ladies who love to craft.  There is always something new to show and share with each other, and I really enjoy our get togethers.  Over the week I will show you the cards we made. One card you have already seen on here last week, but this one was designed by my sister in law who cut out all the pieces required so all we had to do was stamp, cut and stick together.  I forgot to do my insert, but just imagine there is another flower stamped inside on a white background.  Very nice!

This is another type of easel card which folds flat for posting.  The card base was Concord Crush, a lovely deep blue/violet and Wisteria Wonder, the lighter mauve.  The two Concord flowers have been embossed with white powder and the Wisteria flower was just stamped with Concord ink.  I popped a few pearls on the butterfly just because I could.  

 

Another punch dinosaur

My soon to be 3 year old nephew is into dinosaurs and Cars (the movie) at the moment, so I wanted to make a birthday card themed with either of those.  Couldn't figure out how to make Lightning McQueen or Mater, so I thought it would have to be the dinosaur.  Once again, the internet to the rescue.  

He's made using various oval punches and the Boho Blossoms punch and a bit of freehand.  And I remembered to keep the link where I found him here.

Fifth Avenue birthday

A while ago I saw a card using More Mustard and Rich Razzleberry, and liked the colour combo, so as I needed to make a bright card for a relative's birthday I thought I would give them a go.  I'm not quite sure I have done them justice, but I still like the colours together. 

The stamp is from Fifth Avenue floral, and the sentiment from very old retired set, the name of which I can't recall.  The frame is one of the Designer Frames Embossing Folders, another thing on my wish list.  

Birthday Fairy

This card is made using a non Stampin Up stamp borrowed from a friend, and now I can't remember the name nor the company.  This card was for my great niece in Queensland who recently had her 7th birthday.  The checked green background matched some SU cardstock and she was coloured in with a blender pen with a little bit of Kindy Glitz sparkle to the butterfly and bee trails and wings.  The little girl was stamped twice and the top layer popped up.

 

Baby Dino

Thank you to all of you who offered or sent me the instruction sheet for the dinosaur card we made last year.  I was actually looking for the website link with video instructions, rather than my instructions.  I shall try to be clearer next time I need something. 

This is the actual link I was looking for.  It's a website by someone called WunsaponaTime who will take you through a tutorial on how to make him.  

On a separate note, I hope you have all been watching Once Upon a Time on TV - it's a brilliant show.  

No stamping involved

Some of you may be looking at this card and wondering what the heck it is, but for those of you with teenage children, especially boys into Minecraft, you may know.

It's called a "creeper" and is apparently one of the bad guys in Minecraft that sneaks up on you and blows up, trying to destroy you and your creations.  Josh tried to explain it to me, but ....  My friend's son recently turned 16 and after asking the kids what sort of card I could make for him, this was the suggestion as he was very into Minecraft.  Apparently not much so now, but still he knew what it was. 

These little squares were all cut with the Big Shot and the green shades glued randomly to resemble a pixellated screen.  Took a while, but I think it looks quite effective. 

 

 

Baby Dinosaur

Here is another card made last year, but he is just so cute that I need to put him up here.  I was trying to find the instructions for him to share with you, but it's out there in the land of internet somewhere hiding from me.  He's made with different punches and a little bit of freehand cutting.  His head and tail are freehand, body is an oval punch, egg a larger oval cutting system, eyes are from the owl punch, scales and hands are from the boho blossoms punch.  A group of ladies made this, but to make it easier I had already precut and punched most of the body pieces.  I think the secret to making him look good is in the sponging around the edges to give a bit more definition.  He certainly looks like he partied a bit too hard, or maybe he's just a bit sad.  Lots of fun to make though.  

Am working on another dinosaur, so will show you him soon. 

Rose bud elegance

This is another card made in a class last year.  Some of the ladies that come have a wide variety of embossing folders which they generously allow others to use, so this card was designed with the idea that everyone could use whichever folder they preferred as the backing for the main design.  This was a simple card to make, but I think quite an elegant one as well. The rose bud is from the stamp set "A rose is a rose", which retired in 2010 but I kept because it's one of my favourites.