Polar Party Christmas

As you may have guessed I love this stamp set it is just so versatile - this time I used the tree image and part of the polar bear.  My colour combination was old olive and real red.  I used matching marker pens and some designer series papers.  I wanted some focus on the polar bear so just stamped him and then punched him out - here is a close up.

I used the tiny stamps in the set in old olive ink to stamp onto the back of my card to add some extra interest as well as some whisper white bakers twine.

Less is More - Sketch Challenge

Over at Less is More this week there is a sketch challenge I've not played along with a sketch before and found it more difficult than I imagined!

Here's the sketch:

and here is what I came up with:

 

I used lots of my favourite products on this card and made it for my mum as we sadly lost my dad 7 years ago and its been very hard for her and its his birthday next week so thought I'd send her a little card.

The card base is SU sahara sand I just love this colour it really does change depending on what colours you pair it with here I've just gone for very vanilla, old olive, cherry cobbler and soft suede.  I used my favourite stamp set Fabulous Florets and stamped onto newsprint designer series paper.  I randomly stamped the stem once into the center of the card and then up the sides.  The main bloom is again stamped onto the patterned paper this time in cherry cobbler.  It is popped up on dimensionals here is a close up:

I then went mad with the sponge and distressed the edges the card looked a little blank and I had wanted the butterfly from the patterned paper to be more prominent but decided it wasn't working for me so added my own stamped in cherry cobbler.

 

Scentsational Christmas

After the time consuming card yesterday I decided to try something a little quicker as I sent out LOADS of Christmas cards!!!  This one was so quick and easy and I made 20 cards so quickly which is just what I need.   Its plain and simple but I really like it.

I used the scentsational christmas stamp set from the seasonal catalogue - you get a great selection of stamps with this set and it is also available as a bundle which is exceptional value and you get the matching sizzix dies with it.

For these cards I used the cute christmas tree and stamped it in gumball green you can just about pick up from the pictures I then took the dazzling details and smothered the tree with it this has such a fantastic shine.  These cards are 4 x 4 and I ran it through with the swiss dots embossing folder first added a sentiment, some strips of DSP and popped up the tree on dimensionals really quick and easy.

 

 

Christmas comes to Inkylicious

Well as it is feeling decidely wintery I thought I'd make a start on my Christmas cards.  I so love the Polar Party set its so cute and such great value.     I used one of the little penguins (you get two in the set) coloured him with pretty in pink markers and pool party.  My cardstock is crumb cake which I ran through the swiss dots embossing folder I then swiped it with my white craft ink and distressed the edges just to add some interest.  I think took some pool party cardstock and paper pierced it stamped the sentiment, punched out the penguin with a punch added some white satin ribbon and done.

I have to say I do love this card but it was quite time consuming so this one won't be my quick and easy card of choice when I go into meltdown when I've not made enough cards come Christmas lol.

Its so cold in the UK right now .. think winter is arriving with a vengeance.

Step up card

Well Mr Blogger didn't want to play uploading this image so its taken a while for me to get this post live .. so frustrating!  

As promised in yesterdays post this is a step up on the card I made yesterday all I added was an extra layer which was the newsprint designer series paper which I distressed to give it an old look.   I really love the combination of crumb cake and wisteria wonder and really enjoyed making these cards.

I've just go in from work, it's 8.00 p.m., in the UK and I cannot tell you how dark and cold it is tonight seems like winter is here already I'm going to tackle the first of my christmas shopping tomorrow so whatever you are doing I hope you keep warm :).

Something a little different

I am absolutely ashamed to admit how long I have this stamp set and not inked it up .. shock .. horror I'm not even sure why as I love it.  I do love this style of card and find I don't do it as often as I like and when I do I sit and think why haven't I done it for a while.

I used Crumb Cake and Wisteria Wonder with some crumb cake seam binding.  I made two of this card but decided I was going to step it up (I'll post that card tomorrow).  To add interest once I'd embossed my panel I ran my ink pad over to give it a distressed look.  I also added some extra interest using the wonderful and essential french foilage stamp set this one has so many uses.

If you would like to find out more about any of the products I've used please do not hesitate to contact me.

Delicate Doily meets Christmas

I am a little late in posting today this week has been a killer at work and I've not been too well I've got pulled muscle and all I can say is OUCH so it makes sitting in front of the computer a nightmare for long periods of time so I haven't been able to get round and comment on all my favourite blogs :(.

Anyhow onto todays card.  This stamp set is so versatile it has been in the catalogue for a while its called delicate doilies and I thought instead of investing in a new snowflake stamp set this one would be good value for money and I could use for both everyday and Christmas I do like value for money!

I used midnight muse (yummy), pool party and whisper white cardstock, pool party and midnight muse ink pads added some bling, my favourite Christmas sentiment and some pool party seam binding then sprayed it to within an inch of its life with my new favourite vanilla shimmer spritz!

Thanks for visiting me tonight I hope you are all having a good week.

Perfectly Preserved Thank You

I still really love this set and as I had it out already on my desk I didn't want to put it back so took some left over scraps from the Floral District DSP I created two banners.  I stamped the jar and this time filled it with the pears I got the two tone look from inking up the stamp with pear pizazz first and then taking one of the sponge daubers i dabbed into peach parfait then dabbed it directly onto the stamp before stamping I love the interest and dimension that it gives.

The sentiment is curly cute and I used the banner from itty banners to cut out a blank frame.  I used the swiss dots embossing folder directly onto my whisper white cardstock as it looked too stark and bare without anything.

With Sympathy

 

I was asked to make a card for a very sad occasion I'm not going into details as its so sad but think the picture tells a thousand words.

I used several different sets for this card, using very vanilla as my card base ad early espresso for my ink - the sentiment is not Stampin Up and is from Papertrey Ink.  The two main images came from the My Special Day stamp set I used the beautiful scroll set and the baby image.  I then added some interest as the card looked too clean so added the splodges from French Foilage as well as the text in crumb cake the final touch was some crumb cake seam binding.

Less is More Challenge - Autumn

So over at Less is More the challenge this week is Autumn.

Now who could resist such a challenge I love this time of year the glorious colours, the fresh bite in the air, the gorgeous early sunsets like the world is setting fire as it catches all the leaves in their glory .. its just so pretty.  Come see what I made..

I took a Very Vanilla card base that I made to standard size then using several markers (poppy parade, peach parfait - sadly retired, more mustard, old olive and cajun craze) I coloured directly onto the stamps from the Stampin Up Gently Falling before stamping down I sprayed completely with Vanilla shimmer spritz you can't really see it in the picture but in real life it looks gorgeous a bit like dew on the leaves.

I used two different leaf images from the stamp set and then used the outline on only one of them using Early EspressoI added one of the new wooden buttons (I love these) and some of the twine I then used a sentiment from Blooming with Kindness with set I so love that font.

Life is a bit chaotic in my house at the moment . we got a new kitten on Friday night and she is already causing mischief and mayhem my other cat is taking a while to get used to her being a set in his ways old boy!

But how can you resist these eyes .. I can safely say yes she is full of mischief and was found 6ft up the window climbing the curtains this morning!!!

Fabulous Florets Part 2

Whilst I had this set out on my craft desk I wanted to show how by using a different colour combination you get a totally different look from the card I posted yesterday.

If you are a little overwhelmed with all the choice in the new catalogue then this would be a set I would highly recommend it is so versatile and lovely.  My colour combination was Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla.

I added some of the twine and using the scallop punch to add two strips of early espresso card stock I used the timber wheel to add some detail to the bottom of the card.

I really like how this one turned out.

Product Details:

Fabulous Florets (W) 123025 £21.95 or (C) 123027 £17.95

A card for my mum using Fabulous Florets

My mum really has had a terrible time lately we have been struggling with ill health for a number of years and it all came to a head two weeks ago when she was rushed to hospital with a DVT she is on the way back up at the moment but its been a difficult two weeks I don't live close to my mum but will always be there for her and I wanted to send her a card just to say she is wonderful and I love her very much.

I do love the Fabulous Florets stamp set I love the simplicity of the stem and the detail of the blossom.  I used inks in midnight muse, lucky limeade and primrose petals.  The sentiment is from the wonderful delightful dozen.

I added some bakers twine in lucky limeade and one of the gorgeous vintage faceted designer buttons threaded with some more twine.

Product Details:
Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons 127555 24 buttons in 3 designs £5.50
Fabulous Florets (W) 123025 £21.95 or (C) 123027 £17.95
Delightful Dozen (W) 122650 £29.95 or (C) 122652 £23.95


If you would like to order any of these items please do not hesitate to contact me.

Betsy's Blossom Triple Time Stamping

I've seen lots of cards in blog land recently for a technique called triple time stamping so I thought I would give it a go.  I used the very gorgeous Betsy's Blossom stamp set, raspberry ripple cardstock and ink colours raspberry ripple, daffodil delight, primrose petals and gumball green and the loving thoughts sentiment set with some lush raspberry ripple stitched ribbon.  I'm really pleased how this turned out and will definitely be giving this technique a go again.  

Product Details:

Betsy's Blossoms (W) 126004 £25.95 or (C) 126006 £20.95

Loving Thoughts (W) 125843 £26.95 or (C) 125845 £21.95 

Stitched Satin Ribbon Raspberry Ripple 126845 £7.95

Festival of Prints .. not just for Christmas

The Festival of Prints Designer Series stack are just such fabulous value for money you get 48 sheets of double side prints in the slightly smaller size (4 1/2 x 6 1/2) I took two coordinating colours and punched out the butterfly from the new elegant butterfly punch added some rhinestones used the matching piece to make a banner and added to a strip of cherry cobbler cardstock.  I used an embossing folder from the new delicate designs folders to add some interest to the bottom of my Naturals Ivory card base.

Product Details: 

Word Play (W) 120308 £37.95 (C) 120651 £29.95

Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack 126904 £6.25

Delicate Designs Folders 127023 £8.50 

Elegant Butterfly Punch 127526 £14.25

Thinking of You

I had great fun playing with both the Comfort Cafe papers and the Fine Feathers Stamp Set I have a lot of friends at the moment who are going through some difficult times and I needed a card for a male in my life.  What better way to make masculine cards than the gorgeous Midnight Muse and Comfort Cafe papers which have a selection of both feminine and masculine papers.

Can you see the sparkle on the card that is from the new Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer I've not tried something like this before and after a few failed attempts at getting it everywhere apart from on my card I was happy with the effect it really does add a beautiful shimmer.

I coloured directly onto the Peacock feather stamp with several different markers and used two dies from the Apothecary Accents dies as wanted something unusual for my focal point - the sentiment comes from the Best Dad Ever set and I just love that font.  A touch of the lush midnight muse ribbon and a single bling rhinestone.

 

Product Details:

Fine Feathers (W) 126515 £14.95 or (C) 126517 £11.95

Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer 118772 £4.50

Comfort Cafe Designer Series Papers 126898 £9.95

Apothecary Accents Framelits 127003 £20.95 set of four different dies

Stitched Satin Ribbon Midnight Muse 126847 £7.95

Best Dad Ever (W) 120399 £16.95 or (C) 120681 £13.95

A fabulous evening

I had a fabulous evening last night with some ladies I met through Stampin Up we get together once a month and all bring a card idea and we do make and takes.  If you would like to host your own workshop I would be happy to come along to your house for a fun evening with your friends and we will do a make and take and browse lots of gorgeous products.

So back to my card I did a one sheet wonder technique which I just love - you take a selection of stamps and colours - I chose Summer Silhouettes and the colours Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple and Daffodil Delight the sentiment comes from Pursuit of Happiness.  Using a full sheet of Whisper White you randomly stamp your images all over the page you can then cut to size and make lots of matching cards from the one sheet.

I used Raspberry Ripple cardstock and one of the new finishing touches edgelits to create interest behind the sentiment. 

I just loved making this card.  I love the sentiment and think it is so very true no matter what life throws at you there is always a way.

I added a single flower and a bit of bling and I was done.

Product Details:

Finishing Touches Edgelits 127010 £8.95 for 2 dies

Pursuit of Happiness (W) 121907 £15.95 or (C) 121970 £12.95

Summer Silhouettes (W) 126445 £21.95 or (C) 126447 £17.95

Less is More Challenge Wings .. Part 2

I really enjoyed making yesterdays card for the Less is More Challenge - Wings so I made up another card but in a sightly different design come see what I made:

All the details for the card are the same as yesterday the only difference is the butterfly is just a stamped simple one layer.  The colours I used are River Rock, Crumb Cake, Early Expresso and Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I added one of the new naturals designer buttons I love these threaded with some twine.

They are great value at only £4.50 for 24 buttons in 3 different designs.

Product Details:

Sentiment is from Pursuit of Happiness (W) 121907 £15.95 or (C) 121970 £12.95

Music notes stamp around wheel 120327 £5.95

Summer Solstice (W) 122024 £15.95 or (C) 122037 £12.95

Naturals Designer Buttons 127554 £4.50

Less is More Challenge - Wings

I thought I would take part in the Less is More Challenge this week is One Layer Wings.  Now who could resist such a great challenge especially with one of my favourite things Wings .. predictably wings to me means beautiful butterflies come see what I made.

I love clean and simple one layer cards and think you can add interest whilst still keeping it one layer by using layers of different stamps in corresponding colours.

The colours I used here are all Stampin Up and I used River Rock, Crumb Cake, Early Expresso and Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla cardstock.

Here's a close up:

 

All stamps are Stampin Up and I've added the details below.

 

I hope you like my card I really enjoyed making it and just love this Stamp Set it does have its own sentiments but I chose to use a different sentiment that meant something to me.  

Product Details:

Sentiment is from Pursuit of Happiness (W) 121907 £15.95 or (C) 121970 £12.95

Music notes stamp around wheel 120327 £5.95

Summer Solstice (W) 122024 £15.95 or (C) 122037 £12.95

With Sympathy

I think the sentiment on this card says it all really.  I think we all hate having to make a sympathy card and I often struggle with what I think will be suitable rather than just thinking any expression of thoughtful loving wishes during this difficult time will be appreciated.

I love this sentiment from the loving thoughts sentiment set its such a pretty set of beautiful fonts simple and to the point.  The main images are both from the fabulous florets set I stamped the stem in gumball green and the main flower in primrose petals.  I added a small embossed piece of whisper white with the woodgrain embossing folder and added a scrap of my favourite daffodil delight paper from Floral District and a touch of ribbon from the new stitched grosgrain.

Product Details:

Floral District Designer Series Paper 126919 £9.95

Woodgrain Embossing Folder from Seasonal Catalogue 127821 £7.50

Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Daffodil Delight 126872 £4.50 

Fabulous Florets (W) 123025 £21.95 or (C) 123027 £17.95 

Loving Thoughts (W) 125843 £26.95 or (C) 125845 £21.95

Perfectly Preserved Yumminess

With the new main catalogue released it is easy to forget that we also have the great Seasonal Catalogue also offering some fab products too.

One of the sets which I wasn't sure whether to purchase was the Perfectly Preserved set as I like some but not all of the images however considering it was only one or two that I didn't think I would use I still loved the jar and the jar fillers so I took the plunge.

Now this is one of the stamp sets you can either buy as just a stamp set or buy with the matching Sizzix Framelits.  It is great value as you get 15% off the price which is a good saving (details of the bundle can be found in the product details section below the post).

Come see what I made:

Again I used the new In Colours and used Midnight Muse and Raspberry Ripple both for my card base and for my stamped image.  I used the jar and the tiny flowers from the set and both sentiments you can't really see here but the thank you is popped up on dimensionals.  I used papers from the Designer Series papers Floral District .. one word LUSH!  I also used the new Fancy Fan embossing folder again I just love this and can see me getting lots of mileage out of this.

Product Details:

Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set (W) 126690 £25.95 or (C) 126692 £20.95

Cannery Set Framelits 127922 £20.95

Perfectly Preserved Bundle (W) 129943 £39.50 or (C) 129944 £35.50

Floral District Designer Series Paper 126919 £9.95

Colours Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple

Summer Silhouettes meets Blooming with Kindness

I know I'm not supposed to have favourites as I get to play with so many gorgeous products as part of my job but I have to say when I saw the new catalogue two sets and an embossing folder jumped to the top of my must have list.

 

I am so in love with Summer Silhouettes and Blooming with Kindness I love everything about both sets from the gorgeous floral images to the oh so pretty sentiments.  In the new seasonal catalogue it is so easy to miss the Woodgrain Embossing folder hiding away at the top of Page 33 this embossing folder will be great for man cards or just for adding some interest and detail to any projects.

 

 

I thought I'd try some white on white so used the ever trusty Whisper White as my card base and then used a further panel and embossed using the Woodgrain Embossing folder I just love how much detail and interest this adds and the impression is just fab.   Midnight Muse is my favourite colour at the moment and I seem to be reaching for it time after time.  The sentiment comes from the Blooming with Kindness set and the floral image is from the Summer Silhouettes set I stamped in lucky limeade and primrose petals.  I then added some of the new stitched ribbon in Daffodil Delight (yummy) used a strip of co-ordinating paper from Floral District and a butterfly from the beautiful wings embosslits in Raspberry Ripple with a little rhinestone for extra detail.

Product Details:
Blooming with Kindness (W) 126420 £20.95 or (C) 126422 £16.95
Summer Silhouettes (W) 126445 £21.95 or (C) 126447 £17.95
Woodgrain Embossing Folder from Seasonal Catalogue 127821 £7.50
Floral District Papers 126919 £9.95
Beautiful Wings Embosslits 118138 £9.95

Blooming with Beauty and Grace

This is another new set that I totally love the sentiments have the most gorgeous script font and the image has so many possibilities its the very lovely Blooming with Kindness stamp set.

I couldn't wait to get started on this stamp set and have gone into overdrive and have lots of projects lined up to post with this set its great for mixing and matching because the sentiments are just so versatile and its great value too at £16.95 in clear mount.

 

I really have gone In Colour crazy and can't get enough of the new colours.  This time I used Raspberry Ripple and Midnight Muse.  I make most of my own card blanks and find that the Stampin Up cardstock is the perfect weight.  I stamped the main floral image in Raspberry Ripple and the sentiment in Midnight Muse.  Again I added a touch of my favourite patterned paper from the Floral District set I just love Daffodil Delight and it goes so well with Midnight Muse and Raspberry Ripple I added just a touch of the new stitched ribbon again in Daffodil Delight.

I used another new set Papillon Potpourri which has six stunningly beautiful butterflies and also has a matching punch to add a little detail in Raspberry Ripple.

I just loved making this card.

Product Details:

Blooming with Kindness (W) 126420 £20.95 or (C) 126422 £16.95

Papillon Potpourri (W) 123757 £16.95 or (C) 123759 £13.95

Elegant Butterfly Punch 127526 £14.25

If you would like to place an order for any of these products please do not hesitate to contact me.

A last minute card

I love card making I always have and always will there is just something so special about being able to create something that means something from the heart and I think a handmade card means so much more.

I had to make a card this evening for a close friend of mine that is having an horrific time I know we all have ups and downs in our lives, the good the bad, the sad and the happy and I wanted her to know just how much I'm thinking of her at this really difficult time.

So come see what I made

 

A mix of old and new for this card the new items are the sentiment from a fab sentiment set called Word Play, the little flowers (Summer Silhouette) and the butterfly punch and Papillon Potpourri stamp set.   The swirl is the gorgeous swirl from Everything Eleanor a set I am ashamed to admit I've only just opened after owning for quite a while! 

The colours are midnight muse, lucky limeade and raspberry ripple.

Product Details:

Word Play (W) 120308 £37.95 (C) 120651 £29.95

Papillon potpourri (W) 123757 £16.95 (C) 123759 £13.95

Everything Eleanor (W) 124162 £32.95 (C) 124164 £25.95

Summer Silhouettes (W) 126445 £21.95 (C) 126447 £17.95

I'm here for you Summer Silhouettes

Another card using the very beautiful Summer Silhouettes with another sentiment from Blooming with Kindness.   Colours used are Primrose Petal, Raspberry Ripple, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Midnight Muse aren't they just lush I know I keep saying that but you should really try them out especially with the new style inkpads. 

This time I used the gorgeous Fancy Fan folder on a piece of Primrose Petal cardstock isn't it just soooooooo .. sigh.  The ribbon is from the new stitched grosgrain ribbon in Daffodil Delight which is on page 173 of the new catalogue and is great value at only £4.50 and comes in 10 different colourways.

Product Details:

Blooming with Kindness (W) 126420 £20.95 or (C) 126422 £16.95
Summer Silhouettes (W) 126445 £21.95 or (C) 126447 £17.95
Fancy Fan Embossing Folder 127751 £7.50
Floral District Papers 126919 £9.95
Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Daffodil Delight 126872 £4.50

Comfort Cafe meets Summer Silhouettes

I think I've already said lots of times that I just love Summer Silhouettes if you were going to invest in any stamp set for its flexibility this is one that I would highly recommend you pair it with a simple sentiment set and you can have a card for almost every occasion.

There is just so much you can do with this set. One idea I fell in love with was a card that I saw and can no longer find the link to give credit to the original designer - if its you please let me know and I'll make sure to link your details I loved her idea and the colours but changed the design around.

I've never stamped on patterned paper .. I know shocking considering how long I have been stamping!!  The Comfort Cafe papers are new to the catalogue and are just gorgeous and have a wonderful range of colours including Cajun Craze, Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, Soft Suede and Midnight Muse they have some very soft florals but also some manly patterns that would be great for the men in our lives.

You get 12 double sided sheets of 12" x 12" papers.

So onto the card:

I took a piece of the Comfort Cafe paper and using the Summer Silhouettes Stamp set and the large bloom, leaves and small flower I stamped randomly over the paper using Melon Mambo with a touch of Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango with a touch of Poppy Parade (now sadly retired), Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade for the leaves.  The sentiment is from the Curly Cute set and is stamped in Midnight Muse I'm loving this for my stamping at the moment and I'm finding I'm using black less and less.

I added some of the Rhinestones and here is a close up:

 

I'm really pleased with how this turned out and will definitely be using this technique again.

Product Details:
Summer Silhouettes (W) 126445 £21.95 or (C) 126447 £17.95
Comfort Cafe Designer Series Papers 126898 £9.95
Curly Cute (W) 117014 £17.95 or (C) 120510 £13.95
Rhinestones 150 of 3 different sizes 50 of each 119246 £4.50