Trying Something New

So I was out in my new craft room this afternoon (pics coming tomorrow) and I tried out a new technique.  Basically I stamped the image in Daffodil Delight and then sponged some Old Olive onto the outer part of the image.  Then I used my Night of Navy marker to tap some colour on top of that.  I saw this on one of my favourite blogs (Sandi Mac Iver) and wanted to give it a try, however, I could see at once that I wasn't going to like it.  I think on a different background I would like it more.  She used Parlour Print and it looked amazing.  In this image however, it just wasn't quite right, so I sponged it in.  I like how it ended up, I just wish that I would have added a little more Navy.  Now I know for next time.

And here's my helper, Lily.  She traipsed back and forth across the ice patch that used to be our backyard and kept me company while I moved everything over from the house.  Tomorrow I'll post a better pic of my space.

Attic Boutique

 The new Stampin Up Occasions Mini has a LOT of good things in it.  Don't ask me if I've already ordered most for myself (I have).  Attic Boutique is one of the new DSPs and I am smitten.  I love the mix of colours and the patters they've chosen.  Perfect as a simple card layered with just a little ribbon.  For this first one I clear embossed the Medallion background stamp and then took my brayer and covered the rest up with Soft Suede.  The new Pool Party seam binding ribbon really caps it off.  This is one of the cards my ladies will be making this month.

This one also utilizes Attic Boutique, one of the nice backgrounds offered my the series.  I've embossed it with the Elegant Soiree folder, and then heat embossed some white powder onto Poppy Parade for my tea cup, from the new set Tea Shoppe.  I am a tea granny, so as soon as I saw this set, I knew it had to appear on my shelf.  Keep checking back here for more samples with this set over the next few weeks.

                              

I love the quilting technique.  I used it a lot back with last year's mini and the Springtime Vintage DSP. I CASEd this layout from someone out there in card land (if it was you, please give me your name and I'll happily give you credit!).  I thought the quilting look would look great with this antique looking paper.  After I "quilted" the paper, it was still missing something so I added the frame.  Still didn't look quite right so I played with ribbons, choosing the Victoria Crochet trim in the end.  I love the different textures on this card.

Yes, I am the worst blogger ever.  As soon as real life starts, blogging gets dumped.  Spring break?  Great time for blogging.  Long weekends?  Also great.  Summer holidays?  When could be a better time to devote myself to regular posts.  Back to work in September? .....  Is that the sound of crickets I hear?  Might as well be.

In between going back to work, teaching a new course, prepping for craft fairs, and putting on workshops, I have had very little time for blogging.  My apologies to anyone in cyberspace that actually gives a you-know-what.  But, here I am, cramming in a post when I really want to be cramming baked goods into my mouth while sitting in front of the fireplace watching The Borgias.

Last weekend I had an awesome workshop with all new ladies, and had a blast.  We were quite the bunch.  Lots of giggles and some beautiful cards were the result of our morning.  These are 2 of the cards we created.

The first one was really the first time I'd attempted emboss reveal on such a large scale.  I love how the white medallion stands out against the Island Indigo.  It's a little hard to see the background image that lies beneath the medallion, but it's lovely French script, courteousy of En Francais.  I inked EF in Daffodil Delight and stamped the image.  Then I inked the heck of of the Medallion with Versamark (wonder-ink extraordinaire).  After that it took a little plunge into come clear embossing powder and ran over it with my heat tool.  I used a brayer to ink the rest of the card, and wiped off the Medallion when I was satisfied with my coverage.

This card was a snap to put together.  I don't think it really needs any explanation, but I guess you could do some stamping on the Crumb Cake if you really wanted to.  I didn't.  Obviously.

Stamps:  Medallion, En Francais
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Wiseria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, First Edition DSP
Extras:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Fun Flowers die, Crumb Cake buttons, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, hemp twine