Simply Stampin Challenge

Good morning,

You may have noticed that I was absent from last weeks challenge, I had a sinus infection and was feeling very sorry for myself, but I'm feeling much better now - Thank god!

So back to this weeks Simply Stampin' Challenge, this week we are challenging you to come up with a

Clean & Simple

project, now I know for some of you this insist much of a challenge, (have you seen Amanda from the DT teams cards they are always amazing!) but for people like me they are very tricky indeed, I find it really hard to get the right balance between a simple card but one that still has enough details so that it doesn't look half finished.

Although my card looks simple quite a lot of details have gone into it, 

I started off with a Crumb Cake base, used my spritzer my Not Quite Navy marker to add some texture to the background. I used some DSP from the Simply Scrappin kit Country Club, a scrap of torn First Edition DSP, then I added a scalloped border in Pool Party CS. Next I inked up a flower from Mixed Bunch,in So Saffron and sponged the edges of the stamp with Pool Party before stamping it onto Vanilla card and punching out with the co-ordinating punch (love these too products they make card making quick!) I wanted some more dimension so I dug out a retired jumbo button from last years mini.

I still felt it needed alittle more (see what I mean about finding the right balance for CAS) so I used my Boho Blossoms punch to add some flowers in So Saffron with pearl centres for the glam look.

What do you think? Too much?

I'd love you to show me how it's really done, so join in this weeks challenge, and show me you're take on the challenge! xx

Sketching with Aviary

Good morning,

It's Saturday morning, so that means we have a brand new challenge for you over at Simply Stampin', and this week we have a sketch for you.

Don't forget that the sketch is just a jumping off point, so you can stick exactly to the sketch and keep it simply or you can use it as your starting point.

I decided to use the layout as my background and added some extra details. I wanted to use my Aviary stamp set, I loved these stamps as soon as I saw them, it must be my love of owls that drew me to it, plus I love all the different cage shapes.

I pulled out a colour combo from my trusty Colour Coach, I went with Calypso Coral, Riding Hood Red and Basic Grey, believe it or not they work really well together, check it out!

See what I mean don't those colours look pretty together!! I made my own DSP using the Aviary cages and my stamp-a-ma-jig, plus the Basic Grey marker and my Spritzer tool. there is a small strip of DSP from the Domestic Goddess range running underneath the greeting, topped off with the Lace Ribbon border punch, which I threaded some ribbon through. I also added a few flowers from the Boho Blossoms punch.

I hope that my card has inspired you to join us this week, and have a go with our sketch! Can't wait to visit you to see what you've come up with!

Colour Combo Time

Good Morning,

This week over at Simply Stampin', your challenge should you choose to accept it (I hope you will!) is a colour challenge.

Now those of you who know me will know that I have an orange phobia, and my first thought as I found out which colours we were working with this week was eeekk!
But I calmly sat down with the colours in my lap and started to look through the catalogue to find colour matching stash that I have ( I find it easier to look through the catalogue than search through my craft room), I wanted to use my new Young Vermillion stamp, so I also had that in mind.

Here's what I came up with, I started by stamping my Young Vermillion birdie, I got the Many Marvelous Markers for my birthday just over a week ago, so I HAD to use those! Water colouring, that's what my birdie needed, this was soooo much easier than I thought it would be any any detail that I lost I roughly drew back in with the fine end of the marker, perfect! Next he was cut out and popped up onto dimensionals, to be layered over a piece of Vanilla CS stamped with images from the Nature's Walk stamp set, and then I used my spritzing tool with all 3 of the colours to give an aged effect. The DSP used for this card is called Domestic Goddess, and this card just goes to show that you can use the DSP with any of the stamp sets, so think outside the box.

I hope you'll pop over to see what the rest of the DT have come up with, and give the colours ago yourself! Can't wait to see what you come up with!! xx

Sell Out News

Good evening,

I have news of the first sell out items from the retired list

Sense of time stamp set
2010-2012 in colour re-inkers
Riding Hood red 12x12 cardstock
Jumbo eyelets, both colourways
Star punch

We are only days into the sale and already having sell-outs, I'm not surprised about the Sense of Time set at all.

On to a card I have made using a set that will be staying out in the new catalogue, Just Believe,

Although this wonderful stamp set is staying with us, unfortunately the beautiful Springtime Vintage DSP is not :(

See you soon, xx

The Early Bird

Good morning,

If you can call it morning, it's before 7am, and I've been up for ages. My kitty is still poorly think we're nearing 3 weeks that he hasn't been well for now. Currently he had an abscess under his chin/mouth which is now open, he has antibiotics and a cone which he HATES! When he is 'coned' he always wants lots of cuddles, which means I haven't had very much sleep for the past 3 nights since the cone went on.
So at the moment I'm trying to type at the timy computer desk while he sleeps across the front of it.

right back to crafting, I have made this card for two challenges the sketch I have followed is from the Paper Players and the colour combo is from CR84FN,

I have chosen Basic grey as my neutral colour (hope that counts) I still had it out on my desk from the previous card I made and I thought it went well with the blues.

I have used Just Believe, for this card. I recieved a thank you card Saturday using the set, which reminded me I had it and I'm sure I've never used it!! How terrible so it has now seen ink! I have added a distressed edge to the circular layer, and embossed the grey layer with the Manhattan Flower embossing folder.

Enjoy the rest of the bank holiday weekend, xx

Viva la Verve Part 2

Hi there,

I'm back with the next Viva la Verve sketch of the month. I decided that this sketch would be perfect for a wedding card my mum has asked me to make for a wedding she is going to the beginning of next month. She asked for a monochrome card, and I couldn't resist a bit (well maybe quite a lot) of sparkle for this one.

Because this sketch was so wonderfully simple it meant I could really go to town with the stamped and glittered background, without over-powering the finished card, I haven't got an oval die........yet, so I've substituted with a rectangle.

See what I mean about the sparkles?! there are also a couple of rhinestones on the letters, and I teamed it with a strip of polka dot DSP finished with some black satin ribbon.

Really enjoyed making this one, I'm on a roll now, next sketch to follow later, xx

Play Date and Sweet Sunday Combo

Good afternoon,

Not content with one post today I'm here with another!

This card is a combination of two challenges the Play Date Cafe challenge, which is a challenge all about colour, this week we have a very girly colour combo, of Coral, Petal Pink and Antique Gold.
So I sifted through my Colour Coach to find colours like these and came up with Tango Tangerine, Blushing Bride, ad So Saffron (I don't have any gold so I went for a golden yellow shade)

 The second of the challenges I have used for my card is a sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, I really like the sketches from this challenge site. They are normally quite simple so that you can take them wherever you'd like, here is this weeks sketch.

I really liked the photographs used for the Play Date colour story and was inspired by the dress to use my Sew Lovely stamp set. What do you think?

I used the eyelet border punch for the strips to carry on the fabric theme, I think they look a little like fabric strips.I kept my promise and used several pieces of DSP in this card.

Well that's all from me for today, see you later in the week with some more offerings, xx

Broadsheet Anniversary

Hello!

I love my Broadsheet Alphabet set, any excuse to get it inked up and I'm there. So when my friend Gill asked me to make her son and daughter-in-law an anniversary card I knew exactly what I was going to do.

I pulled out my retired Mr and Mrs set and my Broadsheet alpha, not forgetting (of course) the fail safe Baroque motifs set and the card practically made itself!
Just a touch of glitter, some punched and shimmer painted Boho Blossoms, with a band of beautiful striped grosgrain ribbon and this is what I came up with.

I'm loving monochrome at the mo, its so sophisticated and elegant. Thankfully Gill liked it to, so this card will be winging it's way to the happy couple this weekend.

Happy crafting xx

Top Note Make and Takes

Hi,

It's dull, raining and miserable here this morning so I thought I'd share my Wednesday night workshop make and takes with you to brighten up a dark morning.

I got my hands on the top note die in May and I'm in love. The shape is just gorgeous, so this had to be the centre of my workshop, there were six fabulous ladies, one of which was completely new to the world of paper crafting, but still got stuck in and made the cards, I hope she loves them as much as I do!

So here is the first

A shaped card, all you have to do is make sure that the folded edge of your card blank doesn't go all the way to the end of your shape and you have yourself a great curvy shaped card. The top note also has a dotted line just inside the edge (which you can see at on the inner part of the card) which makes it easy to cut a perfect fit for layering. I got the ladies to do this with a black layer and then emboss with the vintage wallpaper embossing folder, isn't the pattern fab! I thought that the embossing was so pretty that it only needed a quick bit of ribbon (this ribbon is so great, you can colour tint it with your ink pads)
and a glittered butterfly, and viola!

The second card is a great way of using up those scraps of paper you just can't part with.

Just arrange your paper strips onto a scrap of paper and run it through your big shot with your top note, and you have a great backdrop for your card, I have spritzed the background (not sure if you can see it) with marina mist marker, stamped one of the four frames stamps, I love the bird, but the great thing about craft is that it's individual so some of the ladies went for the polka dots, and some for the roses too. Now onto the bit I don't think they thanked me for, the boho blossoms punched flowers. I made them scrunch them, a couple of faces didn't look happy, but I asked them to trust me, and hopefully they like the finished effect, just topped off with some rhinestones.

Hopefully these make up for my week long absence?

Baroque meets Boho

Today I've been playing with some of my new stash, its the Boho blossoms punch.
This punch features 3 flowers which I've layered up to make blossoms that (I think) look like water lilies.

I have matted and layered the white card stock onto green and then pink card, stamped the gorgeous swirl from Baroque Motifs, and added the 'for you' sentiment from Fresh Cuts. I find it really hard not to add gems and ribbon to cards and this one is no exception, so I added a gem to each end of the sentiment to draw your attention to it and finished with some fantastic pink ribbon.

Supplies used
SU Baroque motifs stamp set, Fresh cuts stamp set (sentiment), Boho blossoms punch.

I ordered rather a lot of stash in October for my birthday, but with the made Christmas rush (I always think I'm well prepared but it still manages to creep up on me!) I hadn't got around to using it yet.

This next card uses one of the stamp sets that I was most excited about in the current catalogue, Artistic Etchings which has a beautiful key, crown, two flourishes and sentiment as well as the Eiffel tower, the stamp that I have used for my card.

I'm quite pleased with the way this one turned out, originally the scallop bordered pieces were going to be the bottom of the card but I could face covering up my fabulous ribbon/lace.

Supplies used
SU Artistic Etchings, Scallop Edge Punch, Love Letter Paper Pack (black and white spotted paper)
Ribbon, coloured paper and gems (from stash)

All Stampin' Up supplies can be purchased from myself, Please e-mail me kellyslater_1983@hotmail.co.uk