Retiring Products Class - card 4

Wow, I can't believe I've actually managed to have a consistent week of blogging!!!  I do hope I can continue on this path, but I won't make any promises!!!!

This is card number 4 from class last weekend and features one of my favourite A la Carte stamps from the 11/12 catalogue - Triple Treat Flower.

I've teamed Peach Parfait (retiring 10/11 In Colour) with Old Olive and Whisper White, using the Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder on the background layer.  The sentiment is from Petite Pairs.

The flower was stamped twice, once in each colour, and then we used the Fancy Flower Punch on one, and the 5 Petal Flower Punch (retiring) on the other.  They were layered with Dimensionals between and finished off with a Basic pearl in the centre.

The leaves were cut with the Big Shot and Little Leaves Sizzlit.

I liked the clean and simply styling of this card.

Only one card left to show you.  I personally think I have saved the best till last as it's my favourite :o)

Julie x 

Julie Halls

Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

07786266722 / 01256 335270

http://www.the-crafty-bug.blogspot.com

craftybugjules@yahoo.co.uk

Launch Party Make and Take 2

Hi,

Time for my second make and take from the weekend!

I was still thinking about Christmas and how often a bottle of wine (or any alcohol) makes a good gift for co-workers or neighbours.  So I decided to make a bottle git tag, though when I made this one I went with nice bright colours to suit the weather at the time.

It also showcases one of the gorgeous new In Colours - Calypso Coral!!!!!  

I cut the base from Calypso Coral wide enough to allow for the Scallop Circle Punch opening to hang over the bottle top.  The scallop is Baja Breeze.

The next layer is also Baja Breeze, and although you can't really see it in the picture, it's a folder tab to write a greeting inside.

This was simply glued onto the Calypso Coral base.

The flowers are Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral and Daffodil Delight DSP Stack.  I have run them through the Big Shot with the Fun Flowers Die, and then added a 1/2" Circle and a flower punched from one of the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  All secured with a brad, which means you can then move the layers about to get them how you like.  I used Red Stocky Strip to secure the flowers to the Baja Breeze layer as it really doesn't budge, and any other glue wouldn't hold as well due to the brad fastening added some bulk.

I loved this quick and simple project and so did all the crafty gals at my open house.

Now who to give that wine too????  Maybe a present for myself :o)

Training Make and Takes x 2

Hi,

This past Saturday I went to a training session held at my upline's, upline's home!  It gets confusing - technically I suppose you could call her my Stampin' Up! Gran, but she's way to young for that :o)

The lovely Cate had prepared two make and takes for us all to make.

The first was using the Mini Milk Carton Die with the Big Shot.  We wrapped a piece of DSP around it, and a sentiment was added on a Scalloped Square cut from Whisper White.  The flower is from Vintage Vogue, and the friends is from Just Believe.  A mini library clip was added from the Clip Assortment (part of last months freebie pack!) to hold the carton together.  These are just so cute and would make fabulous favours for wedding tables, or party treats for kids, and in reds and greens they would look lovely on the table for Christmas dinner!

The second make and take was a mini card.

The base is Pear Pizzazz with a 1 3/4" Circle of Whispoer White added.  This was stamped in Pear Pizzazz with the Dot, Dot, Dot background stamp before being punched.  The butterflies are scraps of cardstock put through the Big Shot with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

The senitment is inked in Pear Pizzazz and is from Party This Way stamp set.  Finally some Basic Rhinestones were added to give it some sparkle.

Thanks so much Cate - it was a great afternoon of fun......  xxx

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Whisper White / DSP Bright Stack - Old Olive / Pink Pirouette / Peach parfait / Regal Rose / Pear Pizzazz

Stamps / Ink - Melon Mambo / Old Olive / Pear Pizzazz / Dot, Dot, Dot background stamp

Embellishments - Clip Assortment / Basic Rhinestones

Tools - 1 3/4" Circle Punch / Beautiful Wings Embosslit / Big Shot / Paper Snips / Dimensionals / Sticky Strip / Tombow / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

August Flowers

Evening, 

I been busy crafting in my hot, humid craft room to make a card for the Daring Cardmakers Challenge this week.  The first challenge of each month is based on the flower of the month, and for August it's Poppies and Gladioli................

Well, I had just the stamp in mind, which I've never even used before today.  Can you remember back to this years Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration????  Well, the lovely set called Punch Bunch had a stamp that looks very much like poppies........  However the stamped image is one flower front on and one from the side, so I had to use my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig for this card.

I decided to go with an Easel Card format, made with the card cut with the Top Note Die (exclusive to Stampin' Up!)  The base is made from Green Garden and Cherry Cobbler card.  I also cut some Real Red DSP from the Brights Stack and some Whisper White with the Top Note and cut along the perforated line to make these slightly smaller.

Making up the card base was easy, some folds and a bit of red sticky and I was done.  The fun really started with the Whisper White card and getting the image I had in my head down.  

I started by using a Sponge Dauber or two to add some colour to the Whisper White.  The bottom was sponged very lightly in Pear Pizzazz and Garden Green, and the top in Bashful Blue.

I used markers to ink the large poppy flower head, Poppy Parade (of course!) plus some Real Red and Cherry Cobbler for highlights.  I stamped this and the smaller poppy image across the Whisper White.  I used the writing end of the Basic Black Marker to add dots to the flower centres, and then the writing end of a Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi marker to add in some grass and stems.

Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon was then wrapped around the bottom before gluing it to the card front.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Oval All, inked with markers, stamped onto Whisper White and punched out.  I layered it onto a punched piece of Cherry Cobbler and attached with Dimensionals to act as a stopper for the card.

Here is a close up of my poppies :o)

I hope you like my creation today.  Feel free to leave a comment as I love to know what you think!

The Details: 

Card / Paper -  Cheery Cobbler / Garden Green / Whisper White / Real Red DSP Stack

Stamps / Ink - Punch Bunch (SAB retired) / Oval All / Basic Black / Pear Pizzazz / Garden Green / Wild Wasabi / Bashful Blue / Poppy Parade / Real Red / Cherry Cobbler

Embellishments - 1/8" Real red Taffeta Ribbon

Tools - Top Note Die / Big Shot / 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch / Scallop Oval Punch / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Sponge Daubers / Paper Snips / Red Sticky Strip / Dimensionals / Snail / Tombow / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist

Autumn Trendy Trees

I realise it seems like we have only just had a taster of summer, but the card I have to share with you today has rather an autumnal feel to it.

The layout is based on a sketch from Try Stampin On Tuesday.

I grabbed the trusty Colour Coach and set about making my card with the combo Cherry Cobbler / Pumpkin Pie and Night of Navy.  I threw in Whisper White as a neutral, and a little Daffodil Delight as well :o)

The base is Night of Navy which I have stamped with the circle tree top image from Trendy Trees in Whisper White.  I layered some polka dot Pumpkin Pie DSP from the Brights Stack, onto some Whisper White Textured  card and sponge daubed the edges in Pumpkin Pie.  The main focus is the Whisper White panel, edges sponge daubed in Cherry Cobbler with the three Trendy tree images stamped onto it.  

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for positioning.  I couldn't live without this tool!

I stamped the three tree trunks first in Early Espresso.  The middle image is inked in Pumpkin Pie and then I coloured the edge with a Cherry Cobbler Marker.  

The two outer trees are inked in Daffodil Delight and then I used the Thumping technique to add Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler.  You basically colour an image in the lightest colour, then use the marker of the next lightest colour and drum it up and down onto the image randomly.  Then repeat with the next colour and so on........  I've photographed a close up of each so you can really see how gorgeous the trees look.  The outer trees especially look like the leaves are about to start falling!

This is all layered on Textured Cherry Cobbler card.  The sentiment is inked in Pumpkin Pie and the punched with the Decorative Label Punch and again layered onto Textured Cherry Cobbler card.

Maybe you can have a go at Thumping too next time your crafting stash is out!

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Night of Navy / Cherry Cobbler / Whisper White / Pumpkin Pie DSP Stack

Stamps / Ink - Trendy Trees / Cherry Cobbler / Pumpkin Pie / Whisper White / Daffodil Delight / Early Espresso

Embellishments -  None

Tools - Decorative Label Punch / Sponge Daubers / Snail / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Colour Coach / Trimmer

ILWS - Swaps Galore!

I did my first swaps a few weeks ago when I went to Team Training, and I think it is a fabulous way to get new ideas and inspiration, and also to see how stamp sets I may not own can be used.

In Love With Stamping (ILWS) is a forum site for card crafts, mostly Stampin' Up! related, but not always.

Well a lovely lady started a thread to see if anyone was interested in doing a swap of cards from your favourite stamp set, so I grabbed the opportunity and signed up.  I went with Fox and Friends, it a one of my favourites and I always think it works brilliantly with the Brights colour family.

We had to make 10 full cards not just the card fronts, send them to the lovely Linda, who grabs one of each and posts 10 different ones back to everyone.  Simple!

Here's the cards I made - all lined up!

I picked out five of the animals in the set and five of the Brights colour family.
The base card for all of them is Textured Crumb Cake and I also added some 1/4" Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon to each of them.


Here's one close up.

I love the look you get with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.

I'll post a picture of the swaps I get back, hopefully in the next week or so :o)

Please let me know what you think by popping a comment at the bottom of this post.  It's lovely to read everyones comments.

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Brights DSP / Crumb Cake Textured / Whisper White / Tempting Turquoise / Rich Razzleberry / Daffodil Delight / Old Olive / Pumpkin Pie

Stamps / Ink - Fox and Friends / Something to Celebrate (Level 2 Hostess) / Tempting Turquoise / Rich Razzleberry / Daffodil Delight / Old Olive / Pumpkin Pie

Embellishments - 1/4" Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools - 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch / Scallop Oval Punch / Sticky Strip / Dimensionals / Snail / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Trimmer / Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Happy Anniversary my lovlies.......

Today I wanted to show you the card I have sent my Brother and his Girlfriend for their 2 year Anniversary.

I've seen lots of cards with the Owl Punch used, and thought it would be perfect for the two love birds :o)

The Owl Punch is just so cute and has so many uses, Tulips, Penguins, Rudolf to name a few.....  it's just fab!

I went with a brights palette, plus some gorgeous Crumb Cake.

The base is Tempting Turquoise and I added a Whisper White backdrop that I created a cloudy sky on with the Scalloped Circle Punch and Tempting Turquoise ink with a dauber.

I made a male and female owl and added in a little love heart in Melon Mambo.  The Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon acts like a branch for them to sit on.

The sentiment is from Something to Celebrate (Level 2 Hostess) - I used this a lot, it's just great for so many occasions.  I punched it out using the Large Oval Punch and mounted it on a Melon Mambo Scalloped Oval.

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Tempting Turquoise / Whisper White / Early Espresso / Crumb Cake / Melon Mambo / Tangerine Tango / Brights DSP

Stamps / Ink - Something to Celebrate / Melon Mambo / Tempting Turquoise

Embellishments -1/4" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools - Two-Step Owl Punch / Large Oval Punch / Scallop Oval Punch / Scallop Circle Punch / Glue Dots / Snail / Dimensionals / Trimmer / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Sponge Dauber

Mini Handbags............

Hello!

Sunday again, but at least this week we have a Bank Holiday Monday thrown in as well, so one more day off of work which is lovely.

It didn't rain yesterday which was great, though it was still a bit too breezy to sit and have the bbq outside, so the boys cooked it outside and then bought it in for a picnic indoors.  It was a lovely day.  My nephew, Ethan, was on top form as usual, all smiles and lots of gurgles going on.  He's so, so close to turning him self from his back onto his front, if only he could figure out moving his arm from under him, he'd be there!  

My brother's lovely girlfriend Alex gave me a little list of people and occasions she needed card for, so as soon as I got home I got to work!

I made a girlie card based on the Stamping 411 sketch challenge this week.

I went for bright and bold colours of Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise, thrown in with some Whisper White and Basic Black.

Now I do have to confess that I used a Stampin' Up! product that isn't available in the UK!  In Canada they have a set of stamps called Create a Cupcake, and a co-ordinating punch.  I was lucky enough to be able to get one of these, and have resisted using it on my blog so far, but for this card I do have an alternative.

The cute little handbags are made by punching out a cupcake base, or wrapper I guess, and turning it upside down, but if you have the Scallop Square Punch, you can use that and just trim the sides at an angle to create the main body of the handbag.

The top of the handbag is made using the 1" Circle Punch and folding it over the bottom section, then use the same punch to create the handle.  A Basic Rhinestone is added for a bit of girlie bling, and there you have a mini handbag!

A girl can never have too many handbag, right????

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Basic Black Textured / Temping Turquoise Smooth and DSP / Melon Mambo Smooth / Whisper White Smooth

Stamps / Ink - Something to Celebrate (Level 2 Hostess) / Melon Mambo

Embellishments - Basic Rhinestones / 5/8" Whisper White Satin Ribbon

Tools - Build a Cupcake Punch (alternative Scallop Square Punch) / 1" Circle Punch / Eyelet Border Punch / Trimmer / Dimensionals / Sticky Strip / 2-way Glue Pen / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Stamp-a-ma-jig

Midweek Mojo - Just Believe

Hey,

Middle of the week already - I hope you are all having a good one?!?!?

Mojo Monday has come a little late this week - well the post is, I did actually make this card Monday night.

Well, based on the lovely Mojo sketch this week, here is the card I created using the gorgeous Just Believe stamp set.

This set is just so lovely.  I inked the images using the marker pens so I could get a variety of colours and create a proper picture, rather thank just one solid image.  It looks so different to the card I made last week using the big image from this set that I embossed in white.  You could use so many different colours on the flowers to really change this card for a variety of occasions.

Let me know what you think as I love reading all of your comments? 

Have a lovely Wednesday

Julie x

The Details: 

Card / Paper - Daffodil Delight / Early Espresso / Very Vanilla / Old Olive DSP

Stamps / Ink - Just Believe / Markers - Daffodil Delight / Old Olive / Cherry Cobbler

Embellishments - 1/8" Daffodil Delight Taffeta Ribbon

Tools - Eyelet Border Punch / Sticky Strip / Snail / Trimmer / Paper Snips / Dimensionals / Stampin Scrub and Mist / Colour Coach