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.