Something a little brighter

I popped in to visit a friend the other day and while checking out her craft room tidy up and various projects I mentioned that I was thinking I needed to get this lovely border embossing folder.  Then I was lucky enough to get to take home a couple of borders already embossed for me, so I had to find a project suitable for them.  The original design came from this website. If you check Nikki's version out, make sure you have a look at some of the other cards she has made.  Lots of inspiration on there. 

My card is made on Coastal Cabana cardstock too with leaves in Pistacchio and flowers in Wisteria and Summer Sun - a retired colour I can't do without. 

Seeing stars

While on a trawl through Pinterest I found a card similar to this, and knew I had to make one for myself.  The design looked quite easy and I had the star shape, just had to find some patterned paper that would suit.  Now I know a lot of people are similar to me in this regard - I have trouble cutting into a  sheet of patterned paper.  I actually have accumulated quite a bit, but I just don't like using it.  But I am coming around to the idea that if I don't use it up, I can't get anymore.  Motivation works.

I'm not sure what's going on with the photos, but the cardstock is actually a beautiful pale blue - Bashful Blue - and the paper a chocolate colour with blue highlights.  Blame it on the beautiful rain that's falling and watering our garden.  I tried photographing the card in various different parts of the house, with and without flash, and couldn't get the right colour.  So you will just have to use your imagination with this one.  It really does look good - crisp, clean and starry.  

 

Mask and sponge

A bit of an odd name for a title, but that's the techniques used in making these cards.  

They are made by using post it notes to mask off certain areas of the card and then stamping and embossing in clear or white, stamping again in a contrast colour and then sponging.  I actually masked off and sponged first and then stamped in white just to keep the embossed white brighter.  On the butterfly version I stamped a couple of the butterflies beyond the masked area and on the leaf card I kept the images contained in the sponged area.  Either way is quite OK, just depends of what you like.  I actually think keeping it all in the block looks a little better. Which one do you prefer?

  

 

A little milestone - thanks

I am not sure if any of you have noticed, but the visitor count to my little blog site has just reached over 10,000 visitors.  Now I realise that probably most of that would be from me and my family, but thank you anyway.  

This card was made for my sister's recent birthday, a country garden theme for a country dweller.  This would have to be one of my favourite cards made recently and it was fun to make as well.  Lots of stamp sets were used, and apart from the sentiment and butterfly, all were second generation images.  This means that the stamp was inked up and stamped on scrap paper and then stamped again on the card front for a more subtle and subdued effect.  There is also something elegant about the vanilla on vanilla colour scheme too in my opinion.  I just like the way it looks, and then the sponging sets it off as well.  Hope you agree. 

 

Have you had a chance to check out the 2014 catalogue yet?  There is a link to it on the left side of the screen if you want to look.  My parcel of goods only recently arrived, so hopefully soon I will be able to put up some cards made with new stamps.  

Female birthday

Well for a Stampin' Up blog there really isn't a lot of their product on the main part of this card.  SU do have a new flower die but it's much larger than this one by Spellbinders. The frame is by Nellie's and the leaf punch from Martha Stewart.  Apart from that the rest all belongs to Stampin' Up with Wisteria Wonder cardstock and  ribbon, and then the new embossing folder Decorative Dots (which you can earn as a freebie if you spend more than $90 in Sale-a-bration current promotion) and sentiment - Teeny Tiny Sentiments.  

 

This card is for one of my friends who also happens to be a Stampin' Up demonstrator and each year for our birthdays we try to make something just that little bit special for each other.  Thank goodness we don't have to post our cards to each other - not sure how this one would go through the mail. 

A sampler for a friend

Recently I had the honour of being asked by a friend to make another couple of samplers.  This is one for her mother's 80th birthday. 

Very similar to the previous one in colour but with a little more emphasis on the recipient's favourite pasttimes such as gardening and sewing.   Lots of flowers and plants, postage stamps cause that's the generation she came from when people used to send letters, water pump and chook cause she was brought up in the country, sewing machine, manequin and dolls because she loves to sew and used to make beautiful dolls, teddies because she's a grandma, keys because she makes you feel safe and holds lots of secrets,  tea cup and teapot because she will always make you feel welcome when you visit and heart, because she loves you. 

A lot of the stamps are from Stampin' Up but you will probably see a few others as well. 

A gardeny card

Following on from Tuesday's post, this is the card for the lady who loves her garden and gardening.  Once again I cannot tell you the brand name of the stamps used, but they certainly have had a workout here over the last couple of weeks.  

The saying on the card reads "However many years she lived, Mary always felt that she should never forget that first morning when her garden began to grow" from The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett.  I thought that was appropriate for a gardener.   

Lots of sponging, layers and stamping on this card.  I was reasonably happy with both cards and the way they turned out.  Looking back there is always something you would do different, or something that could have been added, but hopefully the recipients will be happy. 

A few borrowed things

Recently I was asked to make a sampler for a friend's mother (which I will put up pictures of later) and was lucky enough to be able to borrow a bundle of her stamps for the project.  That's one of the great things about crafty people - they always seem willing to lend what they have and share ideas and techniques with others.  I also was asked to make a few cards as well, one for a lady who loves her garden, and another just a bit special.  

This is the bit special card.  I wanted the black and cream effect as it always seems elegant to me, and this is the result.  You can see the Stampin' Up embossing folder in the background, but I couldn't find the brand name of the lady anywhere on the set.  If you really have to know, email me and I will ask the owner if she can remember.  

The image has been cut around, lightly sponged and then popped up on the oval shape.  You may be able to detect a touch of sparkle with a couple of diamantes.  

 

I am sure it would look much nicer if I had chosen a different background instead of a crimson towel, but when you are in a hurry it's whatever is around. 

Another flag version

While I had the banner stamp set out on my desk, (and let's be honest, there  wasn't much that wasn't on my desk), I tried out another card, this time using multiple colours.  

I actually don't like the way it turned out, but maybe someone will.  Is there such a thing as too many colours?  Perhaps the key is just 2-3 different ones.   

Welcome baby card

Over the holidays I made a card to welcome the safe arrival of a little girl named Annabeth to very proud parents.  

I love all the animals from the Fox and Friends stamp set (sadly now retired) and as I was in a bit of a hurry as usual I based the card around one I had previously done.  Of course it had to be in pinks.  I also used a stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue which starts later this month, Banner Blast.  Flags and bunting are now all the rage, and sometimes you just have to go with the flow. And check out the new embossing folder available soon too - Decorative Dots.  I can see myself using this one quite a lot.  It's a little more playful than Perfect Polka Dots.

Engagement card

And now for something completely different  - an engagement card.  

One of our neighbour's recently became engaged after being proposed to while doing the Harbour Bridge climb.  It doesn't get much more spectacular than that, although it could never beat mine.  Nah, I'm not going to tell. 

Had to whip up a quick card for her, and what else could I use other than hearts.  

  

All the hearts have been cut out and stuck down the angle of the card, and then the same again inside - can't have them looking at the back of a white heart shape when the card is open. 

Welcome to 2014

Thanks for checking in, and Happy New Year to you.  Hope your year has started off well and you enjoyed your Christmas break.  

We managed to have hubbie's family here for Christmas Day, and apart from all the cleaning, re-organisation of furniture and deciding where everyone would sit to eat, it was a very easy and relaxing day.  Then the kids and I drove up to visit my Dad, and along the way were able to catch up with all my sisters at some point during the trip.  I am quite pleased that I was able to drive all the way to Dad's in a day, a distance of about 740 kms.  I know to some people this is just a normal and easy trip, but to me it was an achievement.  But not something that I'd like to do too often.  

Anyway, back to crafty stuff.  

Thought I might show you some of the cards received for Christmas from my crafty and clever friends.  

 

What do you think?  A talented bunch with lots of beautiful embossing folders, die cuts, stickers and stamps used.  It's a shame they have to be taken down and put away. 

 

Happy Christmas

Well I knew I had not been on here for a while, but I was a little surprised to realise it has been almost 6 weeks.  So, if there is anyone still out there checking to see if I write any more on here, hello and thanks for popping back.

We had our last class for the year earlier in the month and the ladies all got to  make a card using the thinlits circle or label card dies.  These are great little sets that cut the card out to make a flip card and also have loads of different shapes that you can use to decorate the card like scalloped circles, arrows, and a few greetings.  

I decorated the labels card with some of the dies that are included, and then on the circle card used the scalloped circle and some patterned paper to pretty it up.  Both very easy cards to make and decorate.

 

We also had a go at making a starburst card.  This is one of the latest trends in the stamping world apparently.  It involves making a template up first with and then uses it as a mask. 

I wish I had taken photoes of the ones that were made because they were definitely better than my attempt.  I guess my two problems were that I chose the wrong colour to start with and then didn't stamp enough to define the edges.   Hopefully you get the idea.  

We also had got to make a few envelopes with the envelope maker.  It's so nice to be able to make any size envelope you need so easily.  

We also had lunch together with everyone providing something and there were lots of delicious foods to chose from.  And one of the ladies even provided us with an elegant chocolate table decoration.  Very pretty, and not bad to eat either.

These are photos of the little gift cards that I gave everyone when they left.  I love making owls and so he got dressed up as Santa.  Inside were some Rhinestone and Pearl Jewels for them to use on their own projects.

And finally, this is our Christmas card for the year.  I really wish Lucky Limeade didn't get retired off - it's one of my favourite colours and perfect for me for Christmas. If you haven't received your card yet blame it on the postman. 

Thank you again for visiting my blog throughout the year.  I hope to have more things to share with you next year, including all the great cards we have received this year.  I have some very clever and talented friends. 

And if you would like to leave a comment anytime, please do.  It's nice to know someone out there is reading this.

Finally, Happy Christmas to you and your family.  Enjoy the break and stay safe.