Selective Brayer

Usually I like to have lots of layers on my cards, and quite a bit of distressing too, so this card was something totally different for me.  I don't use my brayer very much, but I saw this idea with the select inking and wanted to give it a try.

I started out by tearing a couple strips of DSP to make the guide and then glued them to my working surface, then I slid my cardstock underneath them.  For the ink, I covered my brayer in Pool Party and covered the whole strip, then followed the the new Gumball Green one the bottom 2/3, and some Island Indigo up top.  The new ink pads are jucier than heck, so I had to give it a few goes before I got the variation that I wanted (I think I'll go back and try this again with a little more Pool Party showing through).  Also, the Island Indigo is very dark so I rolled off most of the ink before applying it.

Leaving my base in the guide I inked up the foliage stamp from Just Believe, and added it to the coloured strip.  I hardly ever use black and I forgot that it takes a while to dry, so I actually ended up smudging the first few tries before I just left it in there (and still managed to smudge - the butterfly on the right is hiding one).  While I was waiting for it to dry I stamped the big butterfly from the new set Papillon Potpourri in Versamark and heat embossed it with black powder.  Then I coloured it in with Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie and punched it out with the coordinating punch (LOVE punches).  the black butterflies are from the Embosslits Beautiful Wings and they're just glued to the base but I used a dimensional to give the main butterfly a little lift.  Finally, Curly Cute made an appearance for the sentiment.  I think this would also make a really nice sympathy card.

Hand Stamped Sentiments #124

Hello Saturday!  I have absolutely nothing that needs to get done today, so I stayed up late last night playing in my room.  I meant to try out some more of my new goodies, but I saw this sketch on Hand Stamped Semtiments and had an idea for it.

I've done many quilting cards before, and love the extra dimension the embossing gives.  Lately I've been on a square card kick (but I hate that I can only get one card out of a regular sized piece of cardstock).  Unfortunately, the biggest square card the folders can accommodate is 4.25".  So, I used the textures impressions plates (they've retired now - sorry!) to get my quilting done for this one.

Other than size, the difference between the TI plates and the embossing folders is that the EF offer a much deeper, crisper texture.  I really prefer the EF, but I wanted to make a nice big card, so that wasn't an option.  As you can tell from the picture, the embossing is quite subtle, but it shows much more in person.  Overall I'm still really happy with the card.  The colours are sure to brighten someone's day!

Colour Q #129

Being on spring break means I have more spare time on my hands than I know what to do with.  So what do I do with it?  Spend hours looking at challenge blogs and making cards - that's what.  I love the Colour Q site when I need inspiration, but I've never played along with their challenges.  Of course the week I choose to do so, one of the colours I like least shows up.

Don't get me wrong, Tempting Turquoise is a nice colour, but I rarely find myself using the brights.  (However, I did make 2 cards with brights this week...)  It was especially challenging to use these colours together.

I knew that I wanted to have white butterflies, so I added a few in Rich Razzleberry as well.  I think they look whimsical.  I really like the layout that I did for this card, so I think I'll repeat it in neutrals for a wedding card.

I'm not in love with this one, but I like it well enough.  I should have left the bottom corner alone and I would have liked it more, but, being a challenge and all, I tried something that I don't usually do, and stamped the sentiment right on the DSP.  Big mistake.  It looked horrible.  I had to cover it up with something, so this is what I ended up with.

Why am I posting this card if I don't like it?  Because I did something outside of my comfort zone, and though I don't love the colours, I do love the layout.

Happiest Birthday

It's my favourite Aunt's birthday today.  I was on a mission.  Continuing on with my love of rolled flowers, I spent ages making this card this morning.  I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like, but it certainly took some playing around before I could get it just how I wanted it.

After about an hour and a half, I was finally happy and glued it all together.  I have a card buffet coming up next week and I'm thinking about using this card as one of the selections.  I just love it so much that I'm convinced everyone else will too.  I'd need to balance it out with a really simple card to follow it with to make up some time, but I think it's a must.

I know there's a lot going on here, but I say - Go Big or Go Home!

Yay For (More) New Toys!

 


I have had the same camera for about 6 years.  It's been dropped about a hundred times, there is sand from Mexico under the display, and the megapixels are, well, downright embarrassing.  However, tomorrow is our anniversary, so we finally decided to get a new one.  It's nothing fancy, but it's like driving a Benz after owning a Datsun.

My other newest toy is the new Tim Holtz rosette die.  Love.  It.  I don't have a lot of patience, so scoring and folding my own was not very high up on my list of things to do.  I really like them though, so this does the trick for me.  I bought the newest version, which has 2 smaller patterns.  After playing with it today, I called the store and asked them if they would ship the other one to me.  They will.  Yay.

So here it is in all its glory.  These are a couple of little post it note holders that I've made up for the market this weekend.  

This one's a Petite Pocket using some First Edition DSP for the rosette.  The paper is Pear Pizzazz and I've stamped it with one of the small flourishes from Established Elegance.  I just cracked this set today and it is nothing less than extraordinary.  I'm going to play around with it some more tomorrow and see what I can come up with.

Sneak Peek

I love it when the Purolator van stops outside my house.  In my box of goodies today was a package of one of the designer papers that will be introduced in the new catalogue coming this summer.  As with all of Stampin' Up's designer paper, all of the pieces coordinate well together and this particular sheet includes my favourite - blues, greens, and browns.  I always want to use Crumb Cake since it's such a versatile shade, but I must say that River Rock is claiming its own spot in my heart.

Paper:  River Rock, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Paisley Petals
Ink:  Early Espresso, River Rock
Stamps:  Nature Walk
Extras:  Scallop Trim Border, Basic Jewels Pearls

 

Paper:  Not Quite Navy, River Rock, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Ink:  Not Quite Navy, River Rock

Stamps:  Because I Care, En Francais

Extras:  Embosslits Beautiful Wings, Basic Jewels Pearls

Gate Fold

Last night after a few hours of curling, I decided that I would warm up by sitting on my butt and crafting for a few hours.  I hadn't gotten around to trying gate fold cards out quite yet, so I gave it a whirl.  The warm temperatures (and by warm, I mean 1 degree) made me pick my Sunny Garden paper out of the pile and play.  I'm really happy with the result.  This was the perfect card to give to a friend that I wanted to let know how much she means to me.

Paper:  Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Sunny Garden
Extras:  Embosslits Beautiful Wings






I've still got a few pieces of Ice Cream Parlor hanging around, and I wanted to use them up, so I put together this little number.  I have been trying to get myself to make some cards with brights, so this was the perfect opportunity.  Ice Cream Parlor is only available through Sale-a-bration which ends on the 31st so get your orders in if you would like a stack of this fun paper!

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Pacific Point, Ice Cream Parlor
Ink:  Old Olive
Extras:  Scallop Edge Punch, Ice Cream Parlor Quick Accents

Workshop Thank Yous

I had a great workshop a couple of weekends ago and the ladies' orders should be in early this week.  I wanted to make them thank you cards to put in with their orders and here's what I came up with.  The Botanical Gazette designer paper is just beautiful and works perfectly with the Nature Walk stamp set.

I got another chance to use my Build a blossom set, and love how it turned out with the dark colour.







Stamps:  Nature Walk (121997), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370), Build a Blossom (121923)
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler (119685), Night of Navy (100867), Crumb Cake (120953), Early Espresso (119686), Botanical Gazette (121783)
Ink:  Cherry Cobbler (119669), Night of Navy (102997), Early Espresso (119670)
Extras: Blossom Petals Punch (121808), Modern Label Punch (119849), Embosslits Beautiful Wings (118138)

 

 

Altered Journal

Unfortunately, I cannot claim this idea as my own. I saw on someone's blog somewhere an altered journal and I knew that I wanted to try making one.  I love journals (though I never seem to follow through with writing in them regularly) and I think they make really nice gifts.  I think I might send this one down to my niece.

You could cover it with plain cardstock as opposed to designer paper, but I really like the look of stamping on newsprint, so my First Edition paper was hauled out once again.  I don't have my Melon Mambo ink yet, but as soon as it comes in, I'll make another one with that colour.

Stamps:  Elements of Style (120045)
Paper:  First Edition (121878), Basic Black (121045), Real Red (102482)
Ink:  Real Red (103133)
Extras:  Modern Label Punch (119849), Embosslits Beautiful Wings (118138)

Beautiful Wings & Scallop

I  love coming home to presents on my doorstep.  I bought these for myself mind you, nevertheless, it's so exciting to pull into the driveway to see a Stampin' Up box on the porch.  I really should have spent the evening marking some essays, but let's be honest here, this was waaaaayyyyy more fun.

I haven't tried making cards in any other than the traditional shape, but since this little baby was in the box today, I decided to give scalloped shaped cards a whirl.  It's definitely smaller than usual, but I think the funkiness of it more than makes up for the smaller size.  Along with my new scallop die I got an Embosslit.  I'm already in love with these little butterflies.  The plate actually cuts 5 little butterflies, so I put one of them inside the card for an extra touch.

If you want to make a scallop card, you just cut 2 scallops from your cardstock and on one piece, score across the top, about 1/4" in.  This will give your card the support it needs to stand up.


Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
Paper:  Pumpkin Pie (105117), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Whisper White (119952), Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (115675),
Extras:  Scallop Circle (113468), Beautiful Wings Embosslits (118138), Modern Label Punch (119849), Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (102023)