Language of Love Florals

Hey! 

As promised, I'm back today with some details for card I shared yesterday plus another one too! 

Both these cards are using the Language of Love stamp set. Neither are at all romancey - yes I wanted to get more use out of this cute stamp set. You can still order this set which is in the Spring/Summer catalogue until the end of the month. 

Stamp Set: Language of Love, Happy Day

Ink: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Silver Glimmer Paper

Punch: Bird Builder, Small Heart, Owl Builder

Embellishments: Linen Thread, Subtles Buttons

Here I used the sweet little small hearts to make some sweet flowers. I love the patterns on then and look great. I decided I wanted the leaves to have some texture to match the flowers so I used the spotty banner and punched after. I know the banner isn't quite large enough to cover the whole branch but it doesn't look too bad. 

Buttons, a little linen thread bow and glimmer heart are cute finishing touches for this clean and fresh card! 

Stamp Set: Language of Love, Happy Day

Ink: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Silver Glimmer Paper

Punch: Bird Builder, Pansy, Fancy Flower, Owl Builder

Embellishments: Linen Thread, Subtles Buttons

Yes this is quite similar to the other card, same colour scheme, but just using one larger flower. I used the love text heart to make my own pattern paper by nesting the heart together a couple times then punching in the centre. If there's a little overlap, it doesn't matter all that much as the button can cover it. See the image below.

The fancy flower punch is retiring at the end of this month so get in quick if you want it before it's gone for good! Doesn't it layer beautifully with the pansy punch?!

I used the wing from the bird builder to make the leaves. Again button, linen thread bow and a glitery heart are sweet finishing touches.

Hope you're having a great day. 

Happy Stampin',

Floral Quatrafancy

Hello!!

Its been a while hasn't it!! Did you miss me?! Life has been totally manic around here lately and I'm afraid doing much of anything in my craft room or on the blog has had to take a bit of a back seat. 

Today was my first day on the new permanent job as a Learning Mentor. Its quite different to working in the manic Student Services and I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it. I just want to get properly stuck in to the job now and its a bit frustrating as I don't have any students to see as my group of kids don't start school until September. 

Anyway, I've also been super busy finishing off a million and one wedding things for a client - 90 favour boxes with bows, tags, menu cards, table plan, table numbers, orders of service....as you can imagine, I've been very busy! 

Now that the wedding is over I'm hoping to have a quieter few weeks where I can get creating beautiful things for you. I have a bunch of new goodies from preorder that I haven't even touched yet!! Scandalous I know!!

Stamp Set: Remembering Your Birthday

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Pear Pizzazz

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White

DSP: Quatrafancy, Gingham Garden

Punch: Bird Builder, Pansy, Blossom

Embellishments: Brights Buttons, In-Color Buttons, Brights Candy Dots

Other: White Gel Pen

I totally love these bright happy flowers. The patterned papers are beautiful and I will really miss both the Quatrafancy and Gingham Garden papers when they retire next week! 

Buttons and candy dots are the finishing touches this card needs. I also added some cute doodles too! 

I layered up lots of the flowers for a really full effect - love it! I used the wing from the bird punch to make some large leaves. I also decided I wanted a little more body and texture so added some curly twirly sprigs too! 

For a smaller little flower in the centre of the pansy flower I cut the petals apart and layered four of them on top to make a smaller flower. The button just covers up the joins in the centre.

Right, I am off to have a run. I'm back to trying to get through the couch to 5k challenge. I feel like I've been lazy of late and really need to get into some exercise again. 

Catch you again tomorrow,

Happy Stampin',

Orange Poppy

Hello! 

Wow has it really been a week since I last blogged?! Last week was really crazy. If you remember, I told you that I didn't get the job I applied for at school. On the Tuesday I got told Friday would be my final day working in Student Services - sooner than I had originally been told I'd be leaving so that came as a bit of a shock. Everything was just going really wrong but I was trying to pick myself up and just to my best til the end of the week. I think all the stress and disappointment really made me tired and although the headaches has finally subsided I was sleeping a lot. 

So roll on 7pm on Thursday night, we'd had dinner and I was curled up having a nap on Stuart's lap watching some tv when the phone went, much to my surprise it was the head teacher on the phone wanting to speak to me. Anyway, he basically offered me a job! Not at all what I was expecting to happen and not even a job I had at all considered. This job is as a Learning Mentor. Well you can imagine how happy this made me, and after a night of sleepless consideration, excitement and a chat with the current learning mentors at he school I accepted! Absolutely thrilled to have a permanent full time job! I'll tell you more about it later as this is already getting quite long and I'm sure you'd rather skip to something pretty! 

The card I have for you today reminds me of my Granny - she had these beautiful, big, bright orange oriental poppies in her front garden that she used to love. They were so bright and punchy - I actually have some of them in my garden now - like a little remembrance of her.

Stamp Set: Simply Sketched, En Francais

Ink: Crumb Cake, Baked Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Black Stazon

CardstockL Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar

Big Shot: Circles Framelits

Embellishments: Brights Buttons, Gold Baker's Twine

Other: Essentials Pierce Pack

I started off with stamping the poppy with the stazon ink on the vanilla cardstock, and used blender pens to colour it in. I then stamped over the top with the En Francais background stamp for a little subtle pattern/texture. 

I used the framelits to cut out a frame for the poppy panel to sit behind, ensuring that it was just big enough to fit the poppy and a sentiment in the frame. I wanted a little extra detail for the circular frame so used the pierce pack to do a little bit of paper piercing around the edge. I think it really finishes off the frame nicely. 

I used the leaves to add a little more pattern to the top and bottom opposing corners in a tone on tone colour. 

Love the final detail of the little button and small knot of baker's twine! 

Inside as it was quite a dark card base I like to add a white or vanilla insert. Of course a little stamping just pretties it up and only took a moment! 

I hope you enjoyed this card. I really love the Simply Sketched set which is a hostess set and will only be available if you host a party before the end of June! 

Now Stuart is taking me away to Chester for a couple nights (as its school holiday this week!), I should be back sometime on Friday. I'll be taking the laptop with me but not sure I'll get much time to blog - it is a holiday afterall! 

Have a lovely week! 

Happy Stampin',

For my Mum

Hello! 

Today hasn't been a great day - feeling a bit rubbish and didn't have the best day at work. I'm completely shattered so this will just be a super speedy post as I really need my bed. 

I've got a card for the Paper Players' challenge this week. The challenge this week is to make a "mother" card - seeing as American mother's day is this Sunday it fits well although British mother's day was back in March. Anyway I haven't actually shared either mother's day cards I made for mum or mother-in-law so I thought I'd share one I did for my dear mummy!

Stamp Set: Something to Celebrate (retired), Beautifully Baroque

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Versamark

Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe

Punch: Bitty Butterfly, Elegant Butterfly

Big Shot: Beautiful Butterflies

Accessories: Subtles Buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Pearls

Other: White Embossing Powder

My mum likes butterflies so I thought a pretty card with lots of layered butterflies would be perfect. The baroque stamp just adds a really elegant touch to this card. 

A multitude of pearls, white embossed sentiment and button in the centre just make this a wow card. 

Sorry to be so brief, I'm off to bed, have a nice evening, I'll be back tomorrow! 

Happy Stampin',

Butterfly 21

Hey there!

It was Stuart's cousin Andrew's girlfriend's 21st at the weekend, a whole big group of us all went out for a meal to celebrate last night - it was good fun and many laughs were had! Anyway, my MIL had asked if I could make a special card for them to give Bekah so I got busy designing a couple pretty 21st cards - obviously I needed to make one for us to give her too! I gave her both so she could choose, here's the one she picked. 

Stamp Set: Express Yourself

Ink: Pool Party

Cardstock: Soft Sky, Silver Glimmer Paper

DSP: Venetian Romance

Big Shot: Beautifully Baroque, Typeset Alphabet, Ovals Framelits

Punch: Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly

Embellishments: Subtles Buttons, Pearls, Whisper White Baker's Twine

I started making a card with a window similar to this petite petals blossom one. I just wasn't liking how it was working so seeing as I hadn't stuck anything down yet I cut off the card front with the window in it, embossed it, sponged it to help bring out some of that gorgeous texture and mounted it on another card base! The sponging REALLY lifted the card!

 Then I could add the glittery 21, sentiment and lots of pretty butterflies. 

21 is a pretty special birthday in the UK so I went a bit nuts with all the pearls and added lots of scattered pearls to the background too!

I wanted to do something a little different with the large butterfly rather than a pearl so I thought a button and baker's twine would be a cute little addition. 

I'm just loving all the soft colours here. I haven't really played too much with the new colour Soft Sky. I wasn't really sure about it, its quite pale and similar to Pool Party. But I've grown to love it after having a bit of a play with it. If you haven't played with it yet/much I'd really recommend giving it a go! I think you'll like it!

I'm back to work tomorrow so I'm enjoying my last day of holidays - I've been to coffee morning at church, looked at some new phones, had lunch with Emma and now I'm going to have a relaxing afternoon of stamping! 

Happy Stampin',

Hello, Baby & Twist on Scattered Embossing Technique

 Hi!

Its Saturday! Doing anything exciting this weekend? Ours is chilled - just what we both need. I've got a card a friend asked me to make for her new baby cousin. I had list of elements/things that she loved and wanted included in the card which was a challenge but it turned out well in the end. 

Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Vellum

Punch: Small Heart, Owl Builder

Embellishments: Subtles Candy Dots, Subtles Buttons, Tea Lace Paper Doily, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine

Other: Chalk Marker, scallop trimmer

I found a new spin on the scattered frosted embossing technique. Instead of using an embossing folder I found a way to use it with a punch! I punched and layered 3 negatives of window sheet together with some glue dots. Then it was just a case of positioning the vellum over the negative punch and use the embossing stylus to emboss the little hearts. Embossed images with a larger area don't work out so well as the centres don't turn white. I rectified this by colouring in the back side with the chalk marker.

I love the subtle little detail the scallop trimmer blade gives to the thin layer of calypso coral.  It just adds a little pop and lift to a rather cool and subtle card. 

Ally really wanted the baby's name on the card so I decided to print it off as I just didn't have a suitable alphabet. I just love the scattered buttons and candy dot - they seem to work really well and tie the sentiment and card together perfectly! 

The small piece of doily and baker's twine just add an extra little girly finishing touch. 

So pleased with how well this has turned out! Allyson loved it too which was the main thing.

Have a great Saturday! Catch you again tomorrow for a Simple Sunday!

Happy Stampin',

Simple Sunday - Natural Bright

Good morning! 

I hope you're having a pleasant weekend! We had a delicious BBQ yesterday - just the pick me up treat Stuart needed! 

Today's Simple Sunday uses just a small scrap of the Natural Composition paper.I wanted to show off some of the gorgeous Natural Composition Speciality DSP to y'all. This paper is £11.50 rather than £9.95 like many of the other papers but the extra money is totally worth it. 

The paper itself is a bit thicker than the other other pattern papers which makes for great sturdy boxes. What's so special about this paper is that each sheet has gorgeous heat embossed patterns (if you don't have a heat gun, versamark and embossing powder - this is a great inexpensive way to get that effect on your projects). They're all one sided but with so make nice patterns to choose from you won't mind they only have one side. 

The patterns are quite varied - woodgrain, florals, music notes, flourishes (the image above doesn't really do the paper justice!), all in a really yummy warm Baked Brown Sugar. It really is beautiful paper and i would make some fab cards by just adding a little sentiment and maybe an embellishment or two. 

Stamp Set: Remembering Your Birthday

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Baked Brown Sugar

Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar

DSP: Natural Composition Speciality

Embellishments: Bights Buttons

I spiced up this scrap by sponging ink over it - its a great way to extend the use of your ink pads! If you don't have lots of colours you could even make this card using just one or two colours! I've made this beautiful rainbow effect with mine! 

I added a sentiment and a few buttons which matched the inks I used on the Natural Composition paper. 

I sponged some baked brown sugar around the edge of the card for a bit of a pop with the tone on tone card base. If you wanted even more of a pop you could sponge the same colour as you used on the sentiment and Natural Composition paper. 

I have some other Natural Composition cards that I'll be sure to show you soon! Keep your eyes peeled for them! 

If you'd like to buy some of this gorgeous paper for yourself you can purchase it from my online shop and get it delivered directly to your door!

Happy Stampin',

Babies & Banners

Hi! 

Its Thursday! Only one more day to go until the weekend! I think its going to be another fairly quiet one although we do have a fellowship lunch at church so that'll be something fun and yummy to look forward

I've got a couple of cards for the SU Only Challenge here. The challenge over at SUO is "Banners". Banners are everywhere at the moment and so common I wondered what to do for this challenge. This is kind of a similar card to another baby card I showed you all last week but its got a bit more stamping and is very fun! 

Stamp Set: Cuddles & Kisses, Sweet Essentials, Banner Blast (SAB)

Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Crisp Cantaloupe, So Saffron, Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder

Punch: Banner (SAB)

Embellishments: Subtles Buttons, Sweet Sorbet Accessory 

I thought it'd be fun to use the sentiments from the Cuddles and Kisses and the Sweet Essentials sets to make my own DSP. The stamp-a-ma-jig was a total must here to get everything just in the right place. This is a very neat way to use all your sentiments in a fun way - it makes the sentiment the focal point of the card rather than being tagged on!

The hearts are stamped twice to get the different shades which adds some depth to the card.

The banners are at different lengths and layered up to add some interest to the strip. 

The button and twine are the perfect simple little embellishment. 

Instead of hearts for the boy card I thought stars were a more suitable alternative! 

Hope you enjoyed this card - girl and boy versions. I am definitely getting well stocked up on new baby cards for all my friends that are having babies at the moment! 

Happy Stampin',

Elegant Friend

Hi there!

How is it Thursday already?! I really don't know where this week has gone! I've been hard at work today doing some tidying in my craft room and making some pretties too! Today I've got a challenge entry for the Paper Players.

Now this sketch is so lovely and simple - and I began this thinking I'd do a seriously simple card with a few strips of DSP and an embellishment or two. I'm not sure it ended up quite the way I'd intended but its cute! 

Stamp Set: Beautifully Baroque, Label Love

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry

Cardstock: Coastal Cabana, Whisper White

DSP:  Eastern Elegance

Punch: Scallop Border, Artisan Label

Embellishments: Brights Button, Brights Candy Dots, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Pretty simple really, I stamped off the baroque stamp for a lighter shade in the background and added little strips of co-ordinating pattern paper over the top. 

I hand cut the label really close to the stamped image and then layered it on the Cabana cardstock for a little border. the sentiment was stamped in the cabana also and cut out with a dimensional underneath for some height. 

Finishing touches were candy dots and a button - I didn't have these in Crushed Curry and Coastal Cabana but I used the closest I did have - Bermuda Bay and Daffodil Deilght. I don't think it looks too off colour wise! The little baker's twine bow just helped soften the button. 

I'm really loving this colour combination - what do you think? Now, I'm back to my craft room to play some more!

Happy Stampin'

Flower & Ribbon FMS

Hey!

I'm back, and its Friday! Are you doing anything fun this weekend? Think its going to be a quiet one for us. 

Well on to today's card, and I'm playing along with this week's Freshly Made Sketch.  

And here's my take in the sketch...

Stamp Set: Morning Meadow, Express Yourself

Ink: Crushed Curry, Night of Navy

Cardstock: Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Night of Navy

Punch: Pansy

Ribbon: Night of Navy Stitched Grosgrain, Silver Taffeta, Silver Baker's Twine

Embellishments: Night of Navy Button (retired), Tea Lace Paper Doilies, Rhinestones

I saw a cute little treat holder with a flower and lots of ribbon on Peanuts and Pepper Papercrafting, I thought I really had to give it a go. I am a huge ribbon hoarder but seldomly actually use it on my cards. So its basically a bunch of very BIG bows layered under the flower. They were so big it looked pretty rediculous before they were placed behind the flower. 

I chose a colour combo that is bright and punchy - just what yo need to brighten a dreary winter day! Its not a usual choice for me but I've been seeing quite a bit of blue and yellow around and thought I'd try it out. The silver just added that little extra something.

The doily is all scrunched in the middle to make it smaller and also gives it a little more texture and body. I thought with everything going on under the flower the flower itself looked a little plain but the navy button finished it off nicely.

I hope are all having a great end to your week,

Happy Stampin',

Inky Fingers Challenge 1

Hi! 

Some of my faithful readers may know that over the past year or so I've been making projects and tutorials for the Inky Fingers Club for their subscription only special sessions. This year I am joining the weekly challenge design team for the year so not only will I be making some beautiful projects an tutorials 3 times a year for the special sessions but also a card (or other project) a week for their weekly challenge! I am really excited and hope you'll join in! 

A new challenge is released every Monday. The first challenge is a colour challenge! 

I've got to admit I did wonder what I was going to do. They're all nice colours but not ones I use much and certainly not any of my "go to" colours of choice! 

Stamp Set: Zoo Babies, See Ya Later (SAB), Sweet Essentials

Ink: Gumball Green, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight

Cardstock: Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Accessories: Brights Buttons, Brights Candy Dots

Baker's Twine: Whisper White

The Gumball Green struck me as a really good alligator green which worked perfectly with one of the stamps from a SAB set I got on preorder - isn't it cute?! You too can earn this set and many other stamps and accessories for free from January 28th!! 

The Zoo Babies croc paired nicely to create my own patterned background for the alligator sentiment. Also its a lovely way to use the Zoo Babies for a non-baby card!! Oh I do love versatile stamps!!

Tangerine Tango and Daffodil Delight worked really well as subtle accents and really make the sentiment pop amongst all that green! 

I'd really love it if you'd participate and enter something using this colour challenge too. I can't wait to see what you create. 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

Be an Earlybird!

Hi!

I hope you're having a good weekend! I want to know where the sun has gone! :(

A couple days ago you might remember I told you that I was going to be a guest designer for the NEW catalogue summer session in July. Well, early bird registration opens this weekend and for the first 50 people to register there is a special discount price of $19.95! (For those of you who work in pounds that's £12.85!!) I think you'll agree that is a bargain price considering everything you'll get your hands on!

Inky Fingers Club

Summer 2013 Session

July 7^th through July 20^th

All New Stampin’ Up! Products

Over 50 Exclusive Designs

Creative Card Sets & Containers

14 Daily Tutorials

Talented Guest Designers

Step by Step Directions

Lots of Photos

Daily Challenges with Prizes

Original Artwork shipped to Members

You can take advantage of this fantastic price and see what I have up my sleeve by registering today!

Here's the link, and send me a message to say you've signed up so I know you're joining in with all the fun!

And don't forget, everything I'm sharing with the Inky Fingers Club is exclusive and won't be seen on my blog so you'll have to sign up to see what I've made for y'all! I know you're sure to LOVE it!!

You can also take advantage of an Embellishment Pack which will include some of the embellishments each of the designers are using at your fingertips! 

Now for something to inspire you to be creative today! 

Stamp Set: French Foliage, Fabulous Phrases, Creative Elements

Ink: Basic Grey, Sahara Sand

Cardstock: Sahara Sand

Punch: Scallop

Accessoires: Buttons

Extras: Boutique Boxes

The Grey and Starfruit card is actually the back of the little notecards that come in the Boutique Boxes kit. The paper button was one of he embellishments and so was the Crumb Cake baker's twine! Layers were added by stamping lots of different stamps on top of one another. 

The feathers are actually the negative left from the feathers - I just cut them apart, added some 2 way glue and then used a sponge dauber to sponge some pretty feathers over the background! I just LOVE how they turned out! Its also a great way to use something that would otherwise get thrown away without a second thought! What do you think? Are you impressed at my use of scraps and throw away items? I hope that this has inspired you to think differently to some of your scraps! 

Stampin' Hugs, 

Amanda x