(Another) Happy Day?

I made this card using the flower trio stamp from the Happy Day stamp set which forms part of the Happy Day "Simply Sent" set. Although the Simply Sent sets are completely self-sufficient in their own right, I think SU have created some really lovely stamp sets for the Simply Sent sets... and this one is so cute and versatile that it can be used for a number of other cards and projects once you've used up the contents of the Simply Sent set.

I stamped the flower trio stamp with clear Versamark and embossed the image with SU black embossing powder on Whisper White cardstock. I thereafter watercoloured the image using three ink refills (Real Red, Old Olive and Brocade Blue i.e. the same inks used for the card in the previous post... well, I told you I was playing!) and lots of water! If you haven't tried it before, my tip for this type of colouring would be to water down the ink and build up colour very gradually. If you use too much ink/not enough water it is very almost impossible to blend. (In this regard, inks are not at all like watercolour paint nor the SU Watercolour Wonder Crayons). If you build up the colour gradually, it makes a very good colouring medium... you can use some ink from your existing ink pads (either by pressing the lid onto the pad before opening the pad - and using the colour from the lid - or by tapping some ink onto a piece of plastic or laminate etc and using that to work with; I recently picked up a little plastic plate for 99p).

I've painted watered down Brocade Blue ink in a circular shape around the top three quarters of the stamped image, with a small amount of watery Old Olive ink at the foot of the image (to give an appearance of sky and grass, maybe?). The patterned paper was a scrap from my desk. The "happy day" sentiment was stamped with Brocade Blue ink and I've adhered Dazzling Diamonds glitter glue using a glue pen around the flower stamped image and in a line below the patterned paper. The ribbon is SU blue gingham ribbon.

Quick and easy, but I think it looks really effective. I've made a number of similar cards in different colour-schemes and I'll post those separately.

This card looks really modern, minimalist and fresh when you see it in your hands; it definitely loses something in the photo!

I've just noticed that it has just changed from Thursday to Friday. Friday is certainly a happy day, as far as I'm concerned - my favourite day of the week! Reason enough to celebrate...

Tall Flower

Non-SU stamps were used for this card. The cardstock is SU, though (Whisper White, Very Vanilla and Old Olive) and I've used SU re-inkers (Old Olive, Real Red and Brocade Blue) to colour the images. The Brocade Blue was used for the shadow around the flower - you can just see it in the photo above. I made this card using some old stamped images; I was playing with the re-inkers (rather than trying to make a card)... and then thought I'd be as well to make it into a card!

I've added dots of glitter the full length of the card on the left hand side. The glitter extends past the leaves/vine, which gives a nice feeling of continuity. See the macro photo below.

Another Love Note!

Another tiny card... this one was made using one of the SU Very Vanilla "Love Notes" (which come with tiny matching envelopes).

Colours: Sage Shadow and Ruby Red with the Carte Postale stamp set and En Francais background.

Happy Day

These two little cards were made using bits and pieces from the Stampin' Up! "Happy Day" Simply Sent set. The stamps included with the set are excellent and will be useful for a variety of other cards in future.

The card on the right follows the template included with the set. The card on the left is a variation (only the snowflake and flower group stamps are used in the two templates included with the set; the cupcake and large flower are not used at all, so I thought I'd use the pink flower template and substitute a cupcake).

These were quick and easy to make, although I think they look really cute. I enjoyed making them.

I've added some Stardust Stickles glitter glue on the candle flame and around the top of the candle on the cupcake; it looks great, but it's lost in the photo. I've shaded underneath the cupcake with Always Artichoke, but you can't see that either (and the pink and blue pastels are barely visible in the photo - the flash drained them).

Happy Anniversary

A quick anniversary card. The patterned paper is an old scrap by MOD (and it says 2005 on the rear - how bad is that? - I am trying to use up old scraps) and the pink scrap upon which the stamped piece is mounted is of unknown origin...

The card is an oddly shaped long, thin one... it is the full width of a sheet of A4. I had some envelopes to fit this size of card; I'm afraid I don't know where I acquired them as I've had them for ages too.

I used the SU Pastels to colour the flowers and I've dragged some Old Olive pastel around the edges of the white cardstock (i.e. the stamped piece) too.

Products:-

- stamps: SU Year After Year stamp set; SU Hugs & Wishes stamp set

- ink: SU Basic Black

- chalks: SU Pastels (to colour the flowers)

- cardstock: Whisper White; Only Orange (base); a strip of Real Red

- patterned paper: MOD and unknown

- other: SU black gingham ribbon; two crystal self adhesive gems (flower centres)

Celebrate

I like the colours used for this card... The backing card is SU Chocolate Chip and the other colours are Mellow Moss, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla and Ruby Red.

I stamped the flower and tag images on Very Vanilla cardstock, cut them out (leaving a narrow section of blank card around the flower image) and adhered them using Dimensionals 3D foam pads. The whole card was fairly straight forward. The only thing which took a bit of time was cutting out the two stamped images.

The flower was stamped with Ruby Red, the tag with Mellow Moss and the "Celebrate" sentiment with Chocolate Chip ink.

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):-
- stamps: Be Happy stamp set; Wonderful Words stamp set

- ink: Ruby Red; Mellow Moss; Chocolate Chip

- cardstock: Chocolate Chip; Very Vanilla; Mellow Moss

- patterned paper: Close to Cocoa Designer Series paper

- other: Ice Circle rhinestone brad (green); brown button (with white string); moss gingham ribbon

6 x 6 Scrapbook Page

This is a mini scrapbook page created using the SU Level 1 "Home Again" Simply Scrapping hostess set... although it's difficult to see in the photo, the plain cardstock supplied with these sets is textured, which is great (the blue and white cardstock in the photo has a lovely linen textured effect).

I've created a 6" x 6" page, which was really quick to make. I cut down a sheet of the Bordering Blue cardstock to use as my base. It literally took me a few minutes to create the entire page thereafter, as most of the hard work had been done for me. All of the bits and pieces (with the exception of the SU gingham ribbon and the SU So Saffron brad added to the centre of the larger circle embellishment) were included as part of the set. It usually takes me hours to create some ridiculously ornate scrapbook page... with the result that I take ages to get my photos scrapbooked and never get anything done. What I liked about using this set is that I was able to create something quickly and easily and get it filed away! The colours suited me, as the photo was taken in Dublin and I wanted some greens and blues. The little quote on the top right hand side says: "Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts".

I've stored my pages in the small 6" x 6" SU linen scrapbook album, which is really nice quality.

ps - no, it's not me in the photo!

Punch Storage

A quick post to show my new method of storing SU punches... Although this method is new to me, I think many other people have been using this type of storage system for years. It's great, as you can keep all of your punches to hand - whilst keeping them off your desk (i.e. saving on storage space - which is always at a premium!). Also, these Bygel poles from Ikea are quite inexpensive (about £2, I think; I can't quite recall the exact price). They're available in the kitchen accessories department and I think there are two lengths.

Green & Mustard

Well... I've been using green again - SU Gable Green, to be exact. I ran a portion through my Cuttlebug with one of my new embossing folders and that became the inspiration for this card. I'm pleased with this card, even though I've used the scallop punch (yet again!).

I like the mustard and green combination, although it's not one I'd have thought of easily... it happened by accident, because I had a scrap of the mustard cardstock lying on my desk. I think I'll use these types of accident as an excuse for the bombsite that is my desk - sound like a plan?

Products used (Stampin' Up):-

- stamps: Circle of Friendship

- ink: More Mustard

- card: Gable Green, More Mustard and Whisper White

- punches: 1" circle; 1 1/4" circle; scallop

- other: white gel pen

Other products: Cuttlebug embossing folder; small Paisley stamp (background) by Penny Black; Adirondack Lights ink in "Willow" (background with Paisley stamp); Creative Impressions ribbon.

Poppy (Again)

I promise this is the last poppy card.... As you can see, I had another scrap of the same dotted paper on my desk!

The main thing which I like about this card is the way I've used the SU tag punch. You can see I've punched part of the tag image and used it to form a "latch"-style effect on the right hand side of the card, with the red button on top giving the appearance of forming the locking part of the latch. I like the layout too. The inks and cardstock are more-or-less the same as before, with the addition of a piece of Always Artichoke card as the mount. I'd use this layout again! It "just happened" and I like it a lot... It was fairly quick to make.

Goodies!

I ordered five of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders about 8 weeks ago... and they turned up today... at last! To be fair, I think when I ordered them they were a "pre-order". In addition, I've bought the new Cuttlebug Harlequin die set (shown on the left of the photo). I haven't even had time to open the packets yet.... I hope to find time at the weekend. I'm particularly pleased with the Paisley folder - it looks excellent!

It has been raining here for most of the day and there's quite a bit of flooding. It is very windy too (it sounds rancid battering against the windows) and I think that is the forecast for tomorrow too.

Happiness

Another poppy card! Again, the poppy image has been stamped with Black Stazon over the rectangular "shadow stamp" (once again stamped in Gable Green) and painted with Real Red and Certainly Celery ink mixed with water.

The patterned paper is a scrap found on my desk... I have no idea who manufactured it, I'm afraid. A similar paper by SU is "Dashing" Designer Series paper (mine is currently in transit as part of an SU delivery which I'm awaiting... I've ordered the Dashing paper and there's a sheet which has small dots fairly similar to the one used on this card).

The red organza ribbon with white dots is by May Arts and the white ribbon is by SU. The red panel is a piece of Real Red cardstock and I've "pricked" both corners with the paper piecing tool from the SU tool kit. There's a thin line of Dazzling Diamonds SU glitter around the white stamped panel. The "Happiness" stamp is from the SU Level 1 hostess set. I might chop the ribbon a bit... it's probably too long!

Poppy

I'm not sure whether this flower is supposed to be a poppy, but that was my interpretation for the purposes of this card! The stamped image was coloured using Real Red and Certainly Celery ink pads (a small amount of ink pressed into the lid of each pad and mixed with some water).

The card itself is a square white card blank. I've cut approximately 1 cm from the right hand side of the front of the card and I've rounded all four right hand corners with the corner rounder punch. I've "coloured"/sponged 2 cms or so of the inner right hand side of the card with Real Red ink and a sponge dauber.

I've doodled around the main flower image using the SU black journalling pen. The "Thankyou" sentiment was stamped on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock and adhered to the left hand side of the card.

Products (all Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Oh, So Lovely; Paisley Background; Wonderful Words

- ink: Basic Black and Real Red

- card: Whisper White; Very Vanilla; Real Red

- other: corner rounder punch; black journalling pen; black gingham ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds and glue pen (around the Real Red panel)

More Green!

Yet another (predominantly) green card... I've used a sponge dauber to go around the edges of the Whisper White background card with Always Artichoke ink aftering stamping it with the background stamp in the same colour. There's a think line of Dazzling Diamonds glitter around the Artichoke panel, which really "lifts" the card (but isn't terribly visible in the photo).

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):-

-stamps: Garden Silhouettes (Level 2 hostess); Friendly background stamp

- markers: Regal Rose and Always Artichoke (to colour the stamp)

- ink: Always Artichoke (background stamp)

- card: Whisper White; Always Artichoke; Regal Rose

- other: distressing tool (used on the white card and the pink card); glue pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter (around the Always Artichoke panel); Moss gingham ribbon (adhered with a glue dot); sponge dauber

Green Card?

I'm still thinking in "American"... and I'm still functioning in another time zone i.e. five hours behind UK time (is the Boston time zone EST?) - I've been shattered all day. I keep thinking about "green cards" and the little green piece of card/temporary visa stuck in my passport... and this card is definitely green! I don't generally use a lot of brightly coloured green in my projects, so I had to push myself to try this colour scheme... and I like the effect.

I distressed the edges of the white card of the stamped piece with the little SU distressing tool (one of the four tools on the cutting tool). It works really well - I'm impressed!

The rectangular image from the "Oh, So Lovely" Level 1 hostess stamp set was stamped with Garden Green and the berries image was stamped on top with Basic Black ink. I very roughly coloured the berries with some Ruby Red ink (taken from the lid of the ink pad and mixed with water) and used the White gel pen to highlight a few of the berries and add some texture. The stamped piece was mounted on a strip of Green Galore card. The card itself is made from half a sheet of Garden Green card folded in half and it was overstamped (on both sides) with the En Francais background using Green Galore ink (to match the Green Galore card mount behind the stamped piece). The word "Happiness" from the "Welcoming Words" Level 1 hostess set was stamped using Basic Black ink.

I've tied some black gingham ribbon around a metal spiral from the Hodgepodge Hardware set.

Boston

I've been quiet because I've been in Boston for the last week or so. It was excellent and we hired a car and visited some rural places on the outskirts (including lots of little villages). The photo above was taken in the "North end", which is brilliant as it has loads of Italian restaurants and bakeries. The apparent absence of sky is because the snow clouds were solid and thick - completely white!

My favourite photo taken in one of the rural areas is this one of a little duck kennel (!) beside the road:-

The sign on the kennel says: "Beware of Attack Duck"!

I also visited a brilliant stamp and papercraft shop called Ink About It, which is about one hour's drive from Boston in a place called Westford, Massachusetts.

Trio Heart Tag

The main stamped image in this photo was created using another Magenta rubber stamp involving hearts... and I love this one too!

This is a little black tag card. My intention was to use it as a greeting card (probably an anniversary card), but I'm thinking of adding a couple of additional black tag "pages" and using it as a mini tag book/scrapbook. The main heart image was stamped using Black Stazon and I've used a couple of pale coloured chalk inks around the edges of the kraft card, some white pencil and a Copic Spica clear glitter pen to enhance the image. The red button is by Stampin' Up! The black card was stamped with a Penny Black scroll heart stamp using white chalk ink. It's still a work in progress, but I thought I'd post it today since it's Valentine's Day. I'll probably use the red heart die cut (shown towards the front of the photo) to embellish one of the photo pages in the tag book.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Wishes!

The main floral image is one of the new Spring Penny Black stamps... it was watercoloured using Stampin' Up! Watercolour Wonder Crayons and US ArtQuest metallic paints. Metallic Copper was also "washed" around the edges of the white panel (SU Whisper White cardstock). The "Happy Wishes" sentiment is one of the new Hero Arts acrylic stamps. The red mount is SU Real Red cardstock. Self-adhesive metallic crystal gems have been adhered to the centres of the two large flowers. The red brads are by SU.

Magenta Tree

This card was created because I had a notion to do something with the Magenta tree stamp which I've used as the focal image... I think it's a fantastic stamp. The image has been watercoloured with SU Watercolour Wonder Crayons and I've added self-adhesive simulated pearls amongst the tree branches. I've also drawn around the black doodle outline with clear and pink Copic Spica glitter pens - I've added dots and lines, but they are not visible in the photo, which is a shame.

The image was stamped on SU Very Vanilla cardstock with Black Stazon ink and mounted on Bordering Blue cardstock. The brown card blank (with white inner) is by Hero Arts. There's a large piece of heavy-weight cream ric rac behind the stamped image. The patterned paper on the left hand side is Basic Grey Obscure and it was the inspiration for the colour scheme.

ps: to those of you who have left such nice comments either on this blog or by email - thank you! It is appreciated.

Happy

I based this card around the Petals & Paisleys printed paper on the right hand side. The colour scheme is a bit unusual (for want of a better word), but I like it - and I'd use it again. The paper co-ordinates perfectly with the Polka Dots & Paisley stamp set.

The flower image was coloured with markers before stamping. I used the SU stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the flower outline (Rose Red marker) over the previously stamped flower petals (Regal Rose marker). I've applied Dazzling Diamonds SU glitter around the white stamped panel and the pink mount using a glue pen.

I've also stamped the envelope (photo below) using the same flower image (twice) and the Regal Rose and Mellow Moss markers, although omitting the outline over-stamping.

The three self-adhesive simulated pearls on the card are non-SU. I can't recall where I purchased them.

Products used (Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley

- ink: Tempting Turquoise

- markers: Mellow Moss; Regal Rose; Rose Red

- card: So Saffron; Regal Rose; Whisper White

- patterned paper: Petals & Paisleys Designer Series paper

- ribbon: Tempting Turquoise

- other: stamp-a-ma-jig; Dazzling Diamonds glitter; glue pen (from Sending Happy Thoughts Simply Sent card set)

Pink Elephant!

A baby card made using the elephant from the Stampin' Up! Year After Year stamp stamp set. I've stamped the Paisley background on the base card (in Pale Plum ink, which matches the Pale Plum card used to mount both stamped images), although it isn't terribly easy to see in the photo (and, likewise, much of the watercolouring of the elephant has been lost with the camera flash; if you click on the photo to see the larger sized photo, you'll see it a bit better - but it's still not great. The image was watercoloured with Watercolour Wonder Crayons).

There's Stickles Stardust glitter glue around the elephant stamped piece and around the Pale Plum cardstock circle on the right hand side. It really "lifts" the card (although, once again, it's somewhat lost in the photo).

Products used (Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Year After Year; Paisley background; Circle of Friendship

- card: Whisper White; Pretty in Pink; Pale Plum

- ink: Black Stazon; Pale Plum

- ribbon: pink gingham

- punches: 1" and 1 1/4" circle punches

- other: Watercolour Wonder Crayons (Soft Subtles)

Other products: Stickles Stardust glitter glue; wide (1 inch) pink organza ribbon (across the middle of the card) by Stampin' Up! (old American stock; I think it is retired); and May Arts dotted white organza ribbon.

Spring Chicken!

This card was very quick and easy to make... As I think I've mentioned before, I bought the French version of the Spring Fling set (Vive Le Printemps) - hence the sentiment on the card. The French (and German) versions of all stamp sets are available for purchase via the UK catalogue. I was trying to find something simple to make really quickly, as I've lost all my energy - I've had the winter vomiting virus all week. Very unpleasant!

I inked up the entire chicken with So Saffron ink and then coloured over the ink on the legs and beak with a marker before stamping.

I've added a couple of fun elements: (1) yellow Fun Flock has been adhered to the chick's body, making him nice and fluffy!; and (2) I've added a "googly eye"...

Products (Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Vive le Printemps

- cardstock: So Saffron; Whisper White and Pumpkin Pie

- ink: So Saffron (chick's body); Certainly Celery (sentiment)

- markers: Really Rust (chick's legs and beak); Creamy Caramel (ground beneath chick)

- printed paper: Designer Series Certainly Celery paper

- ribbon: Certainly Celery

Non-SU Products:-

- yellow Fun Flock (Stampendous); and "googly eye" (craft market)

Happy Hearts!

This is a Valentine card for my husband. My initial inspiration for a layout with a row of hearts with dots above came from the card shown on page 22 of the Stampin' Up! UK catalogue... I've changed the colours and layout, though. I'm really pleased with the end product; I like the colour combination and the contrast of the blue with the reds and purples.

I love the Happy Hearts stamp set; it's really good value at £14.95 for six stamps. I've been using it for quite a few scrapbook pages too, so I think I've already had my money's worth!

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Polka Dot background; Happy Hearts; Wonderful Words

- ink: Ruby Red; Bravo Burgundy; Brocade Blue; Perfect Plum

- card: Whisper White; Brocade Blue

- other: pale blue gingham ribbon

Happy Paisley!

This is a very quick and easy card... which was precisely what it was intended to be! I'm trying to make a few "quick make" cards for my sample packs. Quite often you just need to make a card quickly - at the last minute - and you don't have time to mess around with too much cutting, trimming, layering and watercolouring etc etc.

I really like the colour combination; I'd use it again.

The card itself was made with So Saffron cardstock and stamped with the Paisley stamp and So Saffron ink randomly on the left hand side. The right hand side includes a piece of Rose Red printed Paisley Designer Series paper - they co-ordinate very well! The flowers were coloured using So Saffron ink (by pressing the ink pad against the lid whilst closed and then lifting a small amount of ink from the lid of the open ink pad and mixing it with some water). I used a bit of Old Olive ink from the ink pad lid for the two leaves.

Products used (Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Polka Dots & Paisley; Year After Year (flowers)

- ink: Black Stazon; So Saffron

- card: So Saffron; Regal Rose; Whisper White; Rose Red Designer Series paper

- other: black brads; a scrap of non-SU black polka dot ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds glitter (in dots around the flowers)

Brocade Blue Mixed Bouquet

Another card made using the Mixed Bouquet stamp set... this time with Brocade Blue as the main colour. I cut out the rose and leaves and adhered them to the top right of the card, ensuring that there was a slight "overhang" of the top and right hand sections of the rose. I quite like the effect. The rose and leaves were watercoloured with Stampin' Up! Watercolour Wonder Crayons.

Don't forget that the Mixed Bouquet stamp set is reduced by 25% for the month of February (with a £35 purchase from the catalogue).

Products used (all Stampin' Up!):-

- stamps: Mixed Bouquet; En Francais background; Sincere Salutations

- ink: Brocade Blue; Black Stazon

- card: Whisper White; Brocade Blue

- other: Brocade Blue 5/8" ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds glitter (on the rose and around the Brocade Blue mounted piece)

Snow!

I've woken up to a full covering of snow this morning... and it's still snowing at 8am! It's very peaceful and quiet. I think it's forecast to continue snowing until at least 3pm.