A Farewell using Stampin' Up! Chalk Talk Stamp Set

A Farewell using Stampin' Up! Chalk Talk Stamp Set

So, one of the rubbish things about being an army wife is that people are always moving and today I have to say goodbye to a fabulous friend and neighbour - and the dogs are losing their walking buddies.

Anyway I wanted to make a special card - and I happen to know that Pool Party is a favourite colour. I started with the sentiment I wanted to use from the Chalk Talk stamp set and went from there. After lots of punching (Large Oval), sponging (Crumb Cake), cutting (Banners Framelits, Apothecary Accents Framelits) and embossing (Arrows Embossing Folder) - and some ribbons (Crochet Trim, Taffeta & Linen Thread) I came up with the final design which I am really pleased with.

How cute is the little wave on the Designer Series Paper - one of the designs in I am Me.

Anyway I am pleased to report that the card went down well - as did the present! The funny thing is we had both bought each other the same thing - a huge tube of L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - you can tell the sort of exciting things we talk about on our dog walks!!

Here are the main Stampin' Up! supplies used to make today's card. Remember you can now order online if you prefer - if you click on the image you will be directed to my online store where you can pop them into your shopping basket. If you would prefer not to order online please either email me or give me a call on07530 368466 and I will be happy to help.

Stampin' Up! Uk - A Bright Blooming with Kindness

Stampin' Up! Uk - A Bright Blooming with Kindness

So I am onto the "B" stamps - namely Blooming with Kindness! And inspired by the Watercolour Wonder Designer Series Paper in the Spring / Summer Catalogue I have used a colour I very rarely use - Tangerine Tango, along with Daffodil Delight.  I used Stampin' Write Markers to colour the flower image (Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry and Tangerine Tango) and stamped the sentiment in Soft Suede.  The stamped images were cut using the Big Shot and Framelits (Circles Collection & Ovals Collection)  Pieces of Watercolour Wonder were matted and layered to provide the background. 

The card was finished with a bow in Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, some Linen Thread (am loving this at the moment) and some Pearl Basic Jewels on the sentiment and in the middle of the flower.

So what do you think? I am loving the bright summery colours - maybe I will have to use Tangerine Tango more often!

Here are the main Stampin' Up! supplies used to make today's card. Remember you can now order online if you prefer - if you click on the image you will be directed to my online store where you can pop them into your shopping basket. If you would prefer not to order online please either email me or give me a call on07530 368466 and I will be happy to help. 

Stampin' Up! UK - The Spiral Flower Die Goes Vintage

Stampin' Up! UK - The Spiral Flower Die Goes Vintage

Have you seen the Spiral Flower die from Stamping Up yet? I LOVE it - so many possibilities.

I had had this basic idea for a card and it kind of just evolved as I sponged. spritzed and distressed!   The colours used on this card are Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Crisp Cantaloupe.

The Tea Lace Paper Doilies are just about the right size to cut using the Spiral Flower die and add a fabulous shabby touch to the flower. 

I used 3 doily cuts - one rolled with the Crisp Cantaloupe card and then two wound round the outside. Lots of sponging, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Sptritz and a Pearl Basic Jewel finished off the flower.

The background is the En Francais stamp which I inked with Crumb Cake ink and then spritzed with a spray made from rubbing alcohol and Crisp Cantaloupe re-inker.  The Paper Doily Sizzlits was cut from Very Vanilla card and sponged.  Burlap Ribbon and Linen Thread were wrapped around the card.  

The sentiment is from the Four You stamp set stamped twice using a Stamp-a-ma-jig in Crumb Cake & Crisp Cataloupe ink. The border is from the Creative Elements stamp set cut out using the Apothecary Accents Framelits.  The card was finished with lots of sponging and spritzing.

As the card was too thick for a standard envelope I made a box envelope with the Envelope Punch Board - I love this tool - so versatile. It is decorated with a piece of Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper - available FREE with an order of £45 (excluding P&P) or more during Sale-a-bration.

Here are the main Stampin' Up! supplies used to make today's card. Remember you can now order online if you prefer - if you click on the image you will be directed to my online store where you can pop them into your shopping basket. If you would prefer not to order online please either email me or give me a call on07530 368466 and I will be happy to help. 

Don't forget that for every £45 (excluding P&P) you spend you can chose a Sale-a-bration item FOR FREE!

A Thank You with Stampin' Up! Lovely as a Tree

So have you downloaded MDS yet? I wasn't sure I would like digital crafting but I LOVE it - so versatile and I am loving the potential for hybrid crafting!

Anyway on to today's card.  Dex and I had a weekend up in Yorkshire and I needed a Thank You card for our hosts. The Lovely as a Tree Stamp Set was one I got in my Starter Kit back in 2010 but I haven't used it for a while.

The image was first stamped on a Post-It note, torn at "ground level" and then the landscape and moon were sponged onto Naturals Ivory card using these as a mask (the inks I used were Soft Sky, Island Indigo & Always Artichoke). I have done a quick tutorial showing this which I will post later this week. The image from Lovely as a Tree was then stamped over the sponged background using Early Espresso ink and the Stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure it was in the right place. This piece was matted onto Early Espresso card.  

A piece of Soft Suede Core'dinations Cardstock was run through the Big Shot using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and distressed using the Stampin' Sanding System. This piece was matted on Naturals Ivory card and an Early Espresso card base.  A sentiment from Morning Madness (an exclusive hostess set) was stamped and matted using the same inks and card and the tails punched using the Hexagon Punch. A button from the Naturals Designer Buttons and a Linen Thread bow finished off the card.

Lovely as a Tree by Stampin' Up!

I was really pleased with how it turned out - Lovely as a Tree is such a versatile set - I shall be using it to make some Christmas cards as well.

Here is a list of the Stampin' Up! supplies used to make today's card. Don't forget you can now order online if you prefer - if you click on the items you will be directed to my online store where you can pop them into your shopping basket:

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree / Morning Madness, 

Inks: Early Espresso / Soft Sky / Pacific Point / Always Artichoke

Cardstock: Early Espresso Core'dinations / Early Espresso / Soft Suede / Naturals Ivory

Big Shot: Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder  

Punches: 1 1/4" Circle / Hexagon

Other: Linen Thread / Naturals Designer Buttons  

Tools: Stampin' Sanding System / Stamp-a-ma-jig / Stamping Sponges

I am of course still more than happy for you to contact me directly to order any of these products if you would prefer, please either email me or give me a call on07530 368466.

Anchor it with The Open Sea

Have I mentioned before that I love this set? The Open Sea is one of the sets in the current Summer Mini Catalogue which ends on 31st August. We then have an anxious wait to see what will come back in the NEW Annual Catalogue 2012/13 which is released on 1st October. If there is anything in the Mini which you absolutely have to have then don't risk it not returning - make sure you contact me before the end of the month with your order.

Anyway back to today's card:-

The anchor image from The Open Sea was stamped on Confetti Cream card using Soft Suede ink and the image cut out using a Labels Collection Framelit Die.  I love the Framelits as you can ensure you cut the card in exactly the right place - no guesswork required! A mat was cut from a second piece of Confetti Cream using the next sized die and the inventory image stamped all over it in Not Quite Navy ink. A piece of Cherry Cobbler card was cut on both edges using the Adorning Accents Edgelits Die. The globe image was stamped over this piece in Soft Suede and then matted onto more Confetti Cream card cut with the edgelits.  The base card is Not Quite Navy with the images stamped in ink of the same colour. All the pieces were sponged with Crumb Cake ink to give the card a vintage feel in keeping with the images.  The card was finished with Linen Thread wrapped round and tied onto a Crumb Cake button from the Neutrals Designer Buttons.

Are you loving the Olympics? I was hooked listening to the Show Jumping this afternoon - what a fantastic win for the British Team! I think the coverage on Radio 5 Live has been fantastic and has meant I haven't had to be glued to the television for the past few days!

Here is a list of the Stampin' Up! Products used to make today's card:

Stamp Sets: The Open Sea

Inks: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Not Quite Navy

Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Confetti White

Big Shot: Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Adorning Accents Edgelits Dies

Other: Linen Thread, Neutrals Designer Buttons

If you would like to order any of these products please either email me or give me a call on07530 368466       and I will be happy to help. Don't forget that any order of £60 or more will qualify for the exclusive Reason to Smile stamp set.