The reason for my absence

On Saturday I had a group of women over for another class.  Have I mentioned before that I love having these get togethers even though I always agonise over what cards to make, whether people will like them, whether they are too hard or too easy and how long it will take to make them.  Fortunately at our last get together I was asked if we could make Christmas cards next time and also someone wanted to use paper piercing on the cards.  Made things a lot easier for me. 

So, over the last few weeks I have been planning Christmas cards and another secret project, so I haven't had anything to share with you.  But now ....

This is the first card we made using Lovely as a Tree stamp set.  I'm not really a fan of Garden Green cardstock but it's Christmas, so I went traditional this time.  

The lovely shape was cut with the Adorning Accents Edgelits.  Fortunately I had 2 sets of these so we could cut both sides at once and also both sheets of cardstock ran through the Big Shot quite easily which made things simpler for all.  Then it was a case of cutting through the middle of the green cardstock and sliding it out to correct width for a border and then piercing all edges for effect.  Some chose to stamp in Garden Green ink rather than gold emboss and both versions looked good.  Add a seam binding bow and done.  The off cuts from the edgelits were then used to dress up the inside of the card.  

And I also made a few other cards to share different ideas for Christmas, all based on versions seen on Pinterest - the great time waster. 

 

 

After stamping the tree and sentiment on white cardstock I laid it on top of a front opening Old Olive card with the Framelit from Labels Collection inserted in the middle so it cut towards the front.  In the second photo you can see an indent from the framelit which I liked because it created an extra border for the inside.  Lastly I traced around the framelit to create the small border and hand cut. 

Framelits cards

These are 3 of the cards my group did a few weeks ago.  I let them choose whichever design and colour scheme they liked and I love how different the same thing can turn out.  (It made sense in my head)  And did you notice on my card I had cut the wrong way.  No-one has mentioned it yet, but anyway these are cut the right way with the solid panel on the front and the cut panel inside. 

Sadly I forgot to photograph the other cards. 

Don't forget to check out the list of retiring stamps and accessories from Stampin' Up.  Bordering on Romance is one of the retiring sets too, so if you have been thinking that maybe you might like this set after all, you had better do something about it soon while it's still available.  

 

Zig Zag male card

This was the easier option of card to make on Saturday.  I have used the new Chevron embossing folder but before embossing the folder has been swiped with an ink pad, so that when put through the Big Shot it inks up the colour into the unraised sections.  The technique is a little random so you can never really be sure whether you will get a good coverage of ink.  Guess that's part of the charm of this idea.  The stamp is from Serene Silhouettes and has just been inked in Staz On with the edges of the black done using the paper piercer also.  A lot easier than the previous card but still good. 

 

Another Framelits card

You can tell I love my framelit dies by the number of times I use them.  This is another card from Saturday.  People had a choice of this card, which was a little more involved, and the next one I will post.  Even now I think this one needs something more, but I ran out of ideas and time.  

The image is from one of the new stamp sets that I absolutely had to have.  The set is called Serene Silhouettes and has four stamps, this one, Friday's design,  a solid circle with a branch of flowers and a butterfly, and lastly a set of three trees, all obviously in silhouette.   

The stamp was coloured in with markers first and then cut out with the framelits.  A piece of Cherry Cobbler was also cut out with the next biggest  framelit and we used the new Paper Piercing Pack around the edge.  You can't see very well in the photos but there is a tiny line of pinholes all around the edges of the red framelit shape.  Next we used the Edgelits Dies on the white with the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder.  And finally the Stripes Embossing folder for the final piece of Cherry Cobber.  

One of the ladies changed the design slightly and hers is below.  I think that maybe that's what was needed - a sentiment of some sort and the white backed with Cherry Cobbler.  

 

Indigo Birthday

At last something I really liked and enjoyed working on.  In an earlier post where I was saying I had so much stuff on my desk and so many ideas of what I wanted to do and needed to have it looking just right, this was one of the cards I was working on.  This was for one of my friends who makes the most amazing things, cards, scrapbooking and off the page stuff, so I needed this one to be good.  

I bought some of the 12 x 12 textured cardstock (see the grainy lines through it) and Island Indigo is one of my favourites at the moment.  Teamed with Lucky Limeade and the look is very crisp (in my opinion - you may think otherwise).  All edges have been sponged and inked up with the french script and water droplets from French Foliage and the butterfly is on vellum with white embossing powder.  Add one of the stamps from Apothecary Art, coloured with a blender pen and then cut with Framelits.  

As you can see, I even did an inside for it. 
 

Two more extra special ones coming up soon.

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. 

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. 

Another reason to smile

This card is one of the cards we will be making in a forthcoming class.  The Reason to Smile promotion ends at the end of the month, so if you are interested in this set you had better hurry.   It can be yours free with a purchase of over $125-00 or you can buy it individually.  Let me know if you are interested.  

This card is called an easel card because of the way it can lie flat for postage, but then it will stand up like an easel.  I had originally decided not to purchase the new Labels Collection Framelits, but they really are worth it.  It's such a lovely shape and I love the way you can frame it with a larger shape.  So easy.  

Added these two photos so you can see why it's called an Easel Card - it props itself behind the front panel. 

Two more new products from the mini

It was such a beautiful day yesterday that I thought I would try some outdoor photography.  Have been looking at the layouts in a couple of magazines and decided I should try something a little different than sitting cards on the desk.  Stay tuned! 

Have found another set that I "have to have".  These cards use the Apothecary Art set and Framelits Labels Collection from the latest mini catalogue.  There are four different stamps of varying sizes and two greetings (the other one So Grateful) and they are designed to coordinate with the Framelets dies.  So you simply stamp the image and then use the die to cut out the shape, and then choose a slightly larger frame to back it.  So easy, and also very elegant.  I don't actually have these YET, but was able to borrow for a trial.  

If you double click on the photo I think you can make it larger if you want.  These cards also use a few more products from the mini; some of the new papers and also seam binding ribbon, which initially I didn't like, but it's very easy to tie into a bow.