(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.