A bit of watercolouring

Hello everyone.

I have a card that is a little bit different today, in that I have tried a technique I haven't used before.

I used a watercolour 'wash' for the background by simply using Garden Green ink and Aqua Painters. As the pens hold the water in them they are great for creating this effect as they let a fair bit of water through the brush. Once the panel had dried I embossed it using the Stripes EF and the sanded it using a sanding block.

The stamped panel is from Best of Sale-a-Bration and I coloured the stamp up with Garden Green, Summer Starfruit and Smoky Slate before stamping and cutting out. The strip of DSP is Summer Starfruit and I finished with some Smoky Slaky Chevron ribbon and Whisper White baker's twine.

I am entering my card into the following challenges...

Retro Sketches - #96

Dynamic Duos - #85

Products used

Please click on the pictures to buy direct from my online store,

Have a great Tuesday!

DinoROAR!

Hello!

Here is another of my commission cards for you to see...

This is the gorgeous, but sadly retired, Dinoroar set, and I knew it would be perfect for this commission! I wanted it to be colourful so I had a little play with my Stampin' Write Markers.

I cut each of the little fellas out, and attached to the card, but I knew the Pterodactyl just had to fly, so I used some acetate from some packaging to attach him over the top of the card.

The background was created by 'stippling' Pool Party and Garden Green to create sky and grass. (remember this technique from the 90's decorating fad?!) 

If you would like to purchase any of the products I have used here, please do visit my online store where you can also be entered into this month's Mystery Hostess club for your chance to win this month's hostess freebies!

Alternatively, please feel free to contact me with your order, or any queries you may have. 

Thank you for popping by today! I hope you have a lovely weekend! :)

A card and some cupcakes!

Oh my gosh! I cannot tell you how busy I have been this week! All good, of course, but I shall be glad to get a little break after the weekend! Not that I'm having any time off, but things look a little quieter next week (for now!)

So here is one of the (very) last minute commissions I was asked to make. I got an email Wednesday morning about this card, and it went in the post Thursday morning!

The lady who ordered the card for her husband sent me this quote to work around, so I thought it would look nice in a frame. I created the layout of the sentiment in MDS and printed it in Basic Black. I then cut it out with one of the Hearts Collection Framelits, and then I cut a frame using 2 framelits, off setting them slightly. 

The background is embossed with Pretty Print (who says it's just for Christmas?!) and the DSP is the downloadable for MDS Wild Wasabi. I finished with a button made using Simply Pressed Clay and one of the useful moulds. I do love these handmade buttons...they are so light so don't add weight to your card - handy when posting!

If you would like to purchase any of the products I have used here, please do visit my online store where you can also be entered into this month's Mystery Hostess club for your chance to win this month's hostess freebies!

Alternatively, please feel free to contact me with your order, or any queries you may have. 

Challenges

Colour Q - #208 (I have CASEd this gorgeous card by Silke)

A Random Thursday - Anything Goes

We have our coffee morning at work for Macmillan today so last night I was baking like crazy for it! Here are my treats...

This is one of my Sticky Toffee cupcakes, with Salted Caramel buttercream topping...they really are sooooo yummy! 

I found the recipe here. I've actually made about 30 of them!

These are my very easy, and very scrummy Blueberry Muffins.

This recipe was here.

I forgot how much I enjoyed baking...I think I may be doing it more often! Oooops...there goes the diet! ;)

Have a lovely Friday!

Simply Sketched

Hello all!

I would like to give a warm welcome to my 2 newest followers - Oma and Chris. I hope you find lots of inspiration here! :)

I didn't have time to do much crafting last night (too much ironing) so I am going to show you a card I made for our weekly challenge at Sketch Saturday...

I have used the lovely Simply Sketched stamp set here, which is only available as a hostess reward, but if you read on, I'll tell you a way you could get it without spending £150 on your own!

The paper is from the new Neutrals Designer Series Paper stack. I love these! 

So, how to get hostess benefits the easy way...

I have a Virtual Hostess code that you can use when you place your order, valid for one week only, but after that week, I will draw one of you lovely customers to be the hostess and earn all the freebies, including the EXCLUSIVE hostess items! The more orders I get, the more hostess benefits!

So this week's code is

MAXYUMSP

Simply enter the code at checkout in my store (make sure my name is in the top right corner) and you will be entered to be the hostess for the week! The code is valid until midnight next Friday 13th September, so get in there and don't miss out!!

Right...off to work! Have a great day! :)

Birthday Butterfly

Good morning! Yay it's Friday! 

I have the pleasure of my little man's company this weekend, and I can't wait! :)

I have a card for you today, using an stamp I haven't used for a while...

Here is the beautiful Swallowtail stamp and I have coloured it with Island Indigo ink; pen and inkpad with blender pen. 

I used the fab new Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder to give the illusion of flight and movement, enhanced by the butterfly not being flush on the card.

I will be honest, I'm not overly thrilled with this card...I think the butterfly could have done with more colour...what do you think?

Supplies

Stamps - Swallowtail, Simply Sketched

Ink - Basic Black, Island Indigo

Designer Series Paper - In Colour 2012/14 (ret)

Ribbon - Smoky Slate Chevron

Embossing - Stylish Stripes

Have you visited my new shop yet for all your Stampin' Up! goodies? What do you think? If you haven't, please do pop on over and give me your opinion...I'd love to know what you think!

Challenges

Tuesday Morning Sketches - #214

Colour Q - #205

Flutterby Wednesdays - Open (anything with a butterfly/fairy)

Thanks for popping by today, and don't forget to let me know what you think of my card and my shop!

A very special easel card!

Hello :) How are you today?

I have a special something to show you today...

I have made little 'box' using just one sheet of 12x12 Crumb Cake cardstock, would you believe?!

But this is not just a box, oh no...

Oh look! Another Candle Card! This time it's an easel card too!

How fun is that? I really love this card...it is an ideal design for an easel card as the candles offer the perfect stopper. 

EDIT: 
Here are the measurements and instructions for you, by popular request!
You need a piece of card measuring 18.5cm x 30cm

On one of the short ends score at 1cm, 3cm, 15.5cm & 17.5cm. 

#

The areas that are shaded need to be cut out, eventually.

Next, turn to the opposite short side, and measure 3cm in from each edge, then draw a line to the 3cm score line at the other end.

This is how it should look...

(it will look shorter than this...the picture is taken from the original tutorial for the non-easel card I made here)

Now you can remove all the shaded areas, and cut the flaps as shown in this next picture...




This is where the make up changes from the original post. Score your card at 9cm from the plain edge and then at 4.5cm. This gives you the folds for the easel part. 

Now cut a separate piece of matching card 9cm x12.5cm and stick just up to the second fold. This is the part you will decorate.

In this picture, to the right is the candle box part...from there I measured 9cm and 13cm and scored creating the easel folds. The part on the left with the ribbon is the extra piece of card measuring 9cm x 12cm and is glued on this side up to the 13cm fold. I used the ribbon to hide the joins in the card.

I really hope all that makes sense! I didn't take pictures as I was making the card which is why it is a little difficult to explain the last part, sorry! I hope you managed ok...please let me know how you get on! :)

Supplies

Cardstock - Crumb Cake

Designer Papers - Season Of Style

Stamps - Joyful Christmas

Ink - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Ribbon - Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Linen Thread

Dies - Ovals Collection Framelits

Other - Gold 

As you may be aware, you can now place your orders for all of these beautiful products directly from my page on the Stampin' Up site! You can find my very own shop here, or click on the link in my sidebar. There are even exclusive online only stamps sets available...how exciting!!
Of course, if you prefer the personal touch, I am still very happy to help, and am here for you should you have any questions. 

Challenges

Try Stampin' On Tuesday - #134

Merry Monday - Kraft, Red and Green

Addicted To Stamps and More - Anything Goes

Designed To Colour - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today! :)

A Happy Couple

Hi there!

Well, here is the last of the wedding cards for now...I love getting these commissions...to know that is years to come the happy couple will look through their memory box from their wedding and find this card again...I hope they love it!

This one is, again, using some of the retired products, but although they are retired, they are definitely not out of date!

Challenges

Seems a Little Sketchy - #45

Hopefully I will be back tomorrow!

Have a lovely day :)

Two Hearts

Good morning!

Here is one of the commission cards I made last week, that I think I am ok to show you now!

I kept it quite simple and elegant, again using up some retired Designer Paper. I also used the Lacy Brocade EF, hearts from I{Heart}Hearts and a computer generated sentiment.

I am entering this into the challenge at Deconstructed Sketch #112

I shall be back tomorrow with another of the commission cards!

A Joyful Christmas

Hello!!

I am currently at Jen's house having a bit of a crafty session to get ahead for this week so here is the card I have just made using the stunning brand new Joyful Christmas stamp from the upcoming Autumn/Winter catalogue.

I stamped the poinsettia in Cherry Cobbler, then coloured it with Real Red. To get the shaded effect I put the ink onto a tile (or your Stamp-a-ma-jig clear sheet) and then pulled it off using a blender pen. I stamped and coloured it twice, then cut out and layered the middle for definition. The gorgeous, bold designer paper is the new Season of Style, and the ribbon is Real Red Taffeta. 

The sentiment is from the same stamp set and is stamped in Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive. I framed each panel with Cherry Cobbler card.

If you would like to get your hands on some brand new products from the Autumn/Winter catalogue, there are 2 ways...

1. You could have me send you a lovely glossy catalogue for you to drool over for the next month until 29th August when I can order them for you.

2. You could join up to be a Demonstrator for only £99 and choose £135 worth of the stunning seasonal goodies from the upcoming A/W catalogue NOW!!

Yup that's right! you can order the brand new products now if you sign up to be a Demonstrator, and there is absolutely no commitment or catch! Seriously, once you have purchased your starter kit, you can either be a hobby demonstrator (and just keep buying your own stash with 20% off!), you could decide to make a career out of it and start your own business, or you could take your £135 of stash, use it, use it some more, enjoy it and you don't even need to order anything else! (Unless of course you can't resist!)

If you would like more information please do contact me and I will be more than happy to discuss it all with you! 

Challenges

Freshly Made Sketches this week...

Crafty Hazelnuts - Inspirational Photo

ABC Christmas - P is for....Poinsettia

Right...more cardmaking to do!

See you tomorrow!