1st Girly

Hi folks! 

Afraid I've had a lazy day today - well, not that lazy! Got a bunch of cutting and sewing done for my latest sewing project (I'll tell you more about it later). I just haven't done any card making today. Perhaps tomorrow I'll crank out a couple! 

I thought I'd quickly share a little card I made for a friend's little girl who was 1 last Sunday. I forgot about it so this was a last minute card. 

Stamp Set: Chalk Talk

Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe

Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, So Saffron, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pear Pizzazz

Punch: Itty Bitty, Bird Builder

Big Shot: Chalk Talk, Typeset Alphabet

Embellishments: Dazzling Details

Okay so its just a really simple card with confetti flowers. 

I used the embossing stylus to give the flowers some shape. I really wanted to do something in the centre, I didn't want to use rhinestones or pearls so I went for a cheaper and super speedy option...dazzling details. I let it dry while I was out at church and then it was ready to deliver later that day! 

Happy Stampin',

Oh the weather outside...

Hi guys! 

OH my goodness, can you believe its been almost a month since my last post!?! I am so sorry about that!! I've been sick for the past I don't know how long - at least 3 weeks - but it seems a whole lot longer than that!! Yes, my body finally succombed and cane down with the lurgy, and then just as I was getting better I got sick with another virus - I spent almost an entire week in bed asleep! Gracious me!! Anyway, I seem to be on the road to recovery now and am swapped with a ton of wedding stationary things for a couple of customers - it is a lot of fun but its a lot of work too! 

Anyway, I'm sorry I've been absent, but I'm here and hopefully I'll be about to blog a bit more...

We are experiencing horrid weather - snow in March - come on, its MARCH!!! Anyway I have a couple weather inspired cards for your enjoyment!

Stamp Set: Rain or Shine

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Basic Grey, Melon Mambo

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Punch: Itty Bitty

Ribbon: Melon Mambo Striped Organdy

Big Shot: Needlepoint TIEF

Accessories: Dazzling Details, Rhinestone

This was the make and take I had for my open house to launch the new Spring-Summer catalogue. Isn't it fun!? I am just LOVING the stamping off technique which basically involves stamping an image several times without reinking to get different shades of one colour - here I did it with the heart rain drops.  The little knotted piece of ribbon is such a great way to add a little ribbon to a card and a awesome way to use up any scraps! 

Stamp Set: Rain or Shine

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Basic Grey, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist

Cardstock: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Basic Grey

This card is inspired by one of the patterns in the Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP which is just covered in loads of little umbrellas. I had so much fun making this one! 

I hope you enjoyed these creations, I have lots more to follow!! 

Have a great weekend!

Amanda x

Paper Players 131

Hello!

I've been meaning to start entering some challenge blogs a little more regularly for a while now. Its great to be stretched or challenged to make a card/project with a certain theme/colour combination etc. So the last few weeks I've half heartedly tried - by that I mean that I thought through, and made something to enter but didn't get it posted in time. This week I am more on the ball and I have made a card, and I am posting in time too - woo hoo! 

This is for The Paper Players challenge...

So, sympathy cards aren't the most fun cards to make, because they come with a sad occasion! It just happened however that I needed to make one for the death of a dear friend and its coincided perfectly with this challenge.

Stamp Set: Thoughts & Prayers

Ink: Old Olive, Lucky Limeade, Gumball Green, Soft Suede

Cardstock: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Lucky Limeade, Rose Red

Punch: Itty Bitty, Corner Rounder

Big Shot: Woodgrain TIEF

Accessories: Dazzling Details

Sympathy cards are difficult, not only because of the sad occasion but also because you want it to be nice but not too over the top and fancy! Hopefully this hit the spot. The tree was coloured with markers - the leaves randomly coloured with 3 different greens for some variety and difference. I really like how its turned out, the flowers just add the last little touch. 

Its for the children of the man who was our cook and shopper when we lived in Pakistan. He and his wife were both so lovely and hard working. It was so sad to hear of his passing. So this tree with the pink flowers, reminds me somewhat of the bougainvillea that grew everywhere out there! 

So I hope you enjoyed this card, 

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xo

winter fun!

Sorry for being AWOL once again! Its that time of year where everyone is busy and when I do get a spare moment, blogging is not what first pops into my head, but now that I sit here I am thinking my life is pretty sweet right now... 

Its cold and frosty outside, bit I am inside with the nice hot fire, I'm sitting next to our Christmas tree, in a very Christmassy house. There are a gazillion homemade cookies in boxes in the kitchen waiting to be bagged up, tied and tagged for gifts. We made an awesome gingerbread house too!! Oh I definately have that Christmassy feeling going on! Love it! 

To go with that Christmassy feeling, I have a couple of Christmassy cards for you! 

Winter Skating and Tubing

Stamp Set: Winter Wonderland, Curly Cute 

Ink: Basic Black, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Pretty in Pink, Pool Party, Crumb Cake,  Blush Blossom

Cardstock: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade

Punch: 1 3/4" Circle

Extras: Silver Dazzling Details 

I used the blender pen to colour in the little kids, everything was assembled and the final thing to do is line the circle punches with a thin line of silver dazzling details! 

Seeing as I've been absent for a while, I thought I'd give you a bonus card today. 

Winter Wonderland Ornaments

Stamp Set: Winter Wonderland, Curly Cute 

Ink: Basic Black, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Summer Starfruit, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede, Lucky Limeade, Blush Blossom Island Indigo

Carstock: Whisper White, Soft Suede, Gumball Green Core'dinations

Bis Shot: Perfect Polka Dots Emboss, Holiday Ornaments Framelits 

Extras: Linen Thread, Dazzling Details 

I just LOVE this card! The "snowglobe" ornaments are adorable aren't they?! I coloured them with the blender pen again for that watercolour look. I used dazzling diamonds because I wanted that thick glittery look but dazzling diamonds would work well too. 

The Gumball Green cardstock is a lighter shade underneath so once embossed I sanded the paper to reveal the pretty colour below! 

I hope you enjoyed a couple Winter Wonderland creations today. If you want any last minute gifts for Christmas you have until the end of today to get your order to me and I will tag it on to the last order before Christmas!! 

Happy crafting! 

Amanda xx

snow angels

Stamp Set: Winter Wonderland, Come to Bethlehem

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Pool Party, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Midnight Muse

Punch: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border

Accessories: Silver Dazzling Details

The snow angel kiddies were coloured in with blender pens for a watercolour look, snow was stamped, tone on tone in the background for a subtle texture. Scraps of paper were added to the side to tie together the colours used for the kids. The red one does look like the stitched grosgrain doesn't it?! Its just a white gel pen for a faux effect! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

winter wonderland

Good morning! Its Monday again...I hope you all had a good weekend?! 

Well I thought what better way to start off a Monday than to introduce you to another new stamp set which is in the Autumn-Winter catalogue at the moment! My friend Emma, bought this set, its such a cute set with ducklings, bunnies drinking cocoa, kids in puffer suits making snow angels and lots more... so I cheekily asked her if I could borrow it. To make samples to show her what she could do with it for Christmas of course!! She kindly let me so I have lots of sweet cards to show you over the coming weeks using Winter Wonderland. (Thanks so much Emma!!)

Christmas Ducklings

Stamp Set: Winter Wonderland, Come to Bethlehem

Ink: Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Pool Party

Accessories: Mini Brads, Silver Dazzling Details 

This card is post friendly, cheap and very simple. the longest bit will be colouring in the ducks and waiting for the dazzling details to dry! The dazzling details was thinly applied to he edge of the white banner potion of the card for glitz - its really inexpensive at £2.25 a bottle and will go a long way! Its really glittery, I added a little bit to the snow and ground ad well for added shine! 

The brads work out at less than 2p each so they are a bargain also! but if you didn't want to use them I think this card would look cute without them too. Or if you wanted an alternative embellishment why not try adding faux brads with the silver dazzling details seeing as you'll already have it out! I stamped the snow in the background of the Pool Party too for a little added depth and texture, its subtle but a nice, quick and easy touch. 

I used the Merry Christmas from Come to Bethlehem because its the one I own but if you had another sentiment in a similar size I think that would work well also! 

Have a great week! 

Amanda x