Sanded Watercolor Wonder

Hello! 

Its Friday! I having another sick day. Still feeling pretty awful! I took some sleeping tablets last night and managed to sleep the whole night through, at least I don't feel quite so shattered and sleep deprived as I have been but still feeling pretty horrid. Anyway, I have a card I made on Monday to share with you today.

I'm loving the core'dinations paper that SU has in the current Annual Catalugue. I think it looks so fun embossed and sanded for a lighter shade beneath. Obviously you could emboss and sand any papers but the beauty of the core'dinations is the different colour under the surface. If you haven't played with core'dinations yet I'd totally recommend giving it a try! 

Now, the thought occurred to me that the watercolour notecards might look quite pretty embossed and sanded, yes its only white under the surface but I had a feeling it'd soften the intense colour and create a pretty effect! 

Stamp Set: Label Love, Pennant Parade

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar

Cardstock: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Crushed Curry, Pear Pizzazz, Baked Brown Sugar, Vellum, Watercolor Wonder Notecards

Punch: Itty Bitty, Boho Blossoms, Bird Builder, Artisan Label, 1" Circle

Big Shot: Beautifully Baroque

Embellishments: Gold Sequin Trim

I'm super impressed how this has turned out, the card was very pretty but I did feel the colour was super intense so this just added a beautiful soft texture and finish to the notelet. 

I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to add to this background but I knew whatever I did add I didn't want anything that would take away from the beauty of the background. I finally opted for the artisan label which has a pretty shape but isn't too big either.

I decorated it with flowers and cracked out the gold sequin trim which I've been meaning to use for ages! I used the sequins in a scattered fashion as I would have with rhinestones or pearls. The beauty of the sequins is they're a lot more post friendly! 

Hope you enjoyed this today! 

Happy Stampin',

Fishin' Around....sorta

Hello! 

Wow its been pretty busy today! I had Envelope Punch Board Class here this morning followed by a goodly amount of sewing and some card making! As a result I forgot to get a blog post out so sorry that today's is a little later than usual...but I'm here now. 

Today I have an adorable little project I made a while ago but haven't gotten around to sharing it with you yet. The card was based on the super cute a la carte stamp Fishin' Around. 

And here's my version.....

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Black

Cardstock: Pool Party, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Window Sheet

Big Shot: Circle Framelits

Punch: Owl Builder, Small Heart, Bird Builder, 3/4" Circle

Embellishments: Dazzling Diamonds

Aren't the fish just darling?! So to make the shaped card I just made sure my card base was folded and slightly too short on the top and bottom to cut a complete circle. the white is torn to give the impression of water. The crumb cake at the base is also torn to look like sand. Everything was popped up on dimensionals in layers so I could add some window sheet over the top which really gives the impression of a fish bowl. The dimensionals really add a lot of dimension to this card which I just love. 

Just a little photos to show some of the dimension! The window sheet is adhered with glue dots along the top and then cleverly hidden with a strip of Pool Party that looks like the rim of the bowl!

I made sure that the sand layers and the white top was very slightly smaller than the Pool Party card base so it looks like an actual fish bowl. 

The branch from the bird builder punch works great for some weeds and the tiny sentiment from Pennant Parade worked perfectly on the little flag! 

Dazzling Diamonds just takes these little fishies to the next level! Oh and there's glitter on the bubbles too!

Hope you enjoyed this cute little make. 

Happy Stampin',

Wish Big!

Hello there! 

Happy Thursday! Its almost the end of the week and that means two things....the weekend (!!!) and Stuart has a week off school (!!!). I am very much looking forward to spending a bit more quality time with my hubby next week. 

But back to today, I'm off to my demo friend Vicky's house for a long overdue catch up and to play with some new things - she always has goodies I'd love and vice versa so we get together and share the fun! I haven't seen her since convention which was November so this is very overdue! 

I also have a very clean and simple card for you! 

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade, Geometrical, Banner Blast (SAB)

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Basic Gray

Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Silver Glimmer Paper

Big Shot: Arrows TIEF

Punch: Merry Minis 

Embellishments: Essentials Hardware Clips

I saw a card similar to this on the net, it was using hearts instead of stars and ribbon instead of the embossing. I immediately had the idea for this card and logged the idea in my head but didn't "pin" where I'd seen the original idea. If that's you, thank you for your inspiration! 

The embossing is actually another selective embossing card - using the Simply Scored stylus again - to just get the single row of arrows. It looks great but was definitely more tricky doing it blind! If you're patient and careful though its a great little technique to get more versatility out of your embossing folders though! 

Totally loving how these white on white stars work to just add a really subtle element to the card while leading the eye to the small pop of colour in the banners and glimmery star!

Have you been inspired to do a very clean and simple card with just a pop or colour and dazzle today?

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Happy Stampin',

Baby Girl FMS121 & CQC226

Hello! 

Just a super quick second post of the day. I've got a few challenges I wanted to get something made for and I realised I was running out of time so I thought I'd combine them. Color Q is a beautiful girly pink colour palette and a fun sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  

Stamp Set: Hearts a Flutter, Banner Blast (SAB), Pennant Parade

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride, Primrose Petals

Cardstock: Whisper White, Primrose Petals, Crumb Cake

Punch: Banner (SAB)

Embellishments: Gold Baker's Twine, Gold Sequin Trim

I am totally LOVING the Banner Blast stamp and punch which are part of the exclusive Sale-a-Bration line available until March 31st! This is a sweet and simple little baby card! Love the layered banners and the hearts and sparkly gold sequins are the perfect finishing touches. 

Happy Stampin',

Hearts a Fluttering

Happy Thursday friends! 

It started off a bit of a rubbish overcast day today. I thought that I'd take advantage of a free day to do some jobs around the house, so I sanded down some more of my door - I've got almost all of one side stripped and sanded now. Its a long process but I'm sure my back door will look great when its done! So I did a couple hours of that - my legs were killing from all the crouching, I needed to call it quits for a bit. 

By this time the day had turned into a beautiful sunny day, I thought it would be the perfect afternoon to test out my dodgy cycling skills and go for a little bike ride with my camera. Now I haven't been on my bike for at least 7 or 8 years and I've always been a bit of a nervous cycler ever since I fell off and broke my leg as a kid! 

Well, I'm back, still alive, but feeling shattered and really achy. I think I got some pretty nice photos so I'll post a few later! 

For now I'll leave you with a couple engagement cards I made for some special friends last month. 

First one was for the lovely Tim and Sarah. 

Stamp Set: Sweet Essentials, Hearts a Flutter, Pennant Parade

Ink: Raspberry Ripple

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter Framelits

Accessories: Pearls, Artisan Embellishment Kit

I used some of the lace from the artisan kit - isn't it just so pretty? The hearts were layeres on top and the word love from Pennant Parade stamped in the centre, two little pearls below finishes it off nicely. Finally added a congratulations and a few more pearls.

My second card was for the engagement of one of my best friends from school, Lisa and her fiance Neil.

Stamp Set: Sweet Essentials, Hearts a Flutter, Pennant Parade

Ink: Raspberry Ripple

Cardstock: Whisper White, Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals

Big Shot: Hearts a Flutter Framelits

Accessories: Rhinestones

This card uses pretty much the same materials as the first. It was a bit more fiddly, I cut out lots of little hearts with the framelits and stuck them together to make a embossed looking hearts background - turned out well don't'cha think? The heart was the same as the first just added a rhinestone instead of pearls as I personally think rhinestones suit white better and pearls suit vanilla better! Added a congratulations banner and there you have it! 

If you're in need of some wedding card inspiration, I'm sure either of these cards could quite easily be used, keep the sentiment the same or switch it up to Bride & Groom (from the same sentiment set) and there you have it! 

Stampin' Hugs,

Amanda

Feather, feather...

Hi! 

Sorry its been a week since my last blog post, I was supposed to blog on Thursday but I was attempting to tidy my craft room and got distracted and so blogging slipped my mind. 

Exams were in full swing today so I was in school for some invigillation work, gazing at the gorgeous sunshine while watching kids sitting their history exam today. It took me back to my exams...not great memories! Watching them write was much easier! 

So last week/weekend I was trying to make an attempt on tidying my craft room - its a true mess. I kept finding half finished cards or scraps/shapes that would probably have gone in the bin if I hadn't used so I ended up stopping to make something. Unfortunately that meant getting other things out to finish the project...and I was back to the beginning again. 

One of the things I discovered was the Boutique Boxes which you can find in the Spring/Summer catty. Its £7.25 and comes with LOADS of little bits. 8 precut boxes, 8 printed note cards, 16 buttons, a die cut sheet, Very Vanilla/Crumb Cake baker's twine and dimensionals. 

The boxes turned out to be pretty small (great for a very small gift but I just wished they were bigger), as a result I had planned to give away the leftovers - I'd made up two boxes and notecards with a few of the die cuts for my downline at team training but there were tons left over and I was just feeling uninspired. Mainly because I was looking at them as boxes, not card potential! 

Roll in a facebook update from the lovely and talented Teneale Williams. I just fell in love with her use of the feathers and it inspired me to have a go myself and do a CASE of it. I got a little carried away and ended up with 25+ cards using all the bits and bobs in the kit! LOVE IT!!

Stamp Set: En FRancais, French Foliage, Pennant Parade, Fabulous Phrases

Ink: Sahara Sand, Basic Grey

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Summer Starfruit

Extras: Boutique Boxes, Sewing Machine

What do you think? I just love these feathers and sewing them on just adds depth and texture! The background has lots of depth to it by lots of layers of stamping, sponging. 

Did you enjoy today's share? Please do leave me a comment and let me know what you think of them!

Have you ever sewn cards with your sewing machine before? Not crossed your mind? Want to see more of it? I've got more to come. For more information on sewn cards check out tomorrow's post! See you there! 

Stampin' Hugs,

Amanda xo

what a festival of prints!

I'm back with a very clean and simple Christmas card for you today.

Merry Holly

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Lucky Limeade, Crumb Cake

DSP: Festival of Prints

Punch: Jewellery Tag, Decorative Label, Corner Rounder

Big Shot: Little Leaves

Baker's Twine: Early Espresso

Accessories: Pearls

Extras: Red Permanent Marker

The Festival of Prints paper stack is lovely, its a small stack of designer papers sized just slightly larger than your standard 6x4" photo. This makes it perfect for matting behind holiday photos for speedy scrapbooking but also perfect for card making! You get a HUGE range of designs, not all are overtly Christmassy, some in fact would be perfect for masculine cards!! Right, so this car only uses a little bit - very economical. I punched a decorative label punch out and then laid a strip of another paper that I felt co-ordinated nicely with it over top. The leaves were cut with the big shot and then baker's twine bow, sentiment on a tiny tag and pearls added for embellishment! The red pearls are just Stampin' Up! pearls coloured with a permanent marker for colour! Its such a great little tip to make your pearls go further and match with whatever project you might be working on! 

I rounded the bottom corner just to break up all the sharp lines in the card and just add a little quirky twist!

I feel like I've babbled way too much this morning...

Happy Stampin',

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge 62

Simply Stampin' Challenge time again guys! This week is a colour challenge, are you ready to see the colours we have for you this week?

Hello Blossoms

Stamp Set: Bright Blossoms, Pennant Parade

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango, Lucky Limeade

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise 

Punch: Decorative Label, Modern Label

Accessories: Pearls, Cherry Cobbler Button

I decided that I wanted to use the Bright Blossoms stamp set so I had to add the tiniest bit of Limeade for the stalks and leaves! I used the 3 colours in the flowers and vase and then I wanted to emphasise these colours so used the modern label punch as strips behind the decorative label punch. For the Tempting Turquoise I just added a thin border around the edge! 

Hope you enjoyed this really simple little card! 

Have a fantastic Jubilee weekend!! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda xo

simply stampin' challenge week 53

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a colour challenge. This week's colours are 

Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi

Spring Bunting

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade

Ink: Tangerine Tango

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight

DSP: Tangerine Tango, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight Paper Stack

Punches: Petite Pennants, Boho Blossoms, Itty Bitty, Curly Label

Accessories: Rhinestones

These colours are very bright and there wasn't a neutral colour in there so I added vanilla to the mix and made this card into a cute bunting card! The scallop pennants are plain cardstock and the triangle pennants are paper stack dsp. On each of the pennants are cute flowers made with the boho blossoms and the itty bitty punch pack and finished off with rhinestones. I stamped the sentiment and punched it out with the curly label punch because I stamped the seniment really badly the first time on my card so this is a cover up! To add just a tiny bit more colour to the curly label I ran my marker around the edge. I added a couple more rhinestones and there you go - done! 

Did you like this clean and crisp springtime card! Why not head over the the SSC blog to see the other DT entries and enter your own creation - if you don't have the exact colours that's fine just use the closest ones you do have! I look forward to seeing your creations!

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

feeling a little flirtatious

So another card today using some of the new products from Stampin' Up! Today is the GORGEOUS flirtatious Speciality designer paper! It co-ordinates with the Delicate Doilies stamp set and is just beautiful shades of Wisteria Wonder (another of the brand new in-colours this year), Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink and Daffodil Delight. The papers are just packed full of beautiful doilie shapes including 2 12x12 sheets of laser die cut doilies! This is definitely a double dose of all girlieness! Love it!

Hello Flirtatious Doilie

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade

Ink: Melon Mambo

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

DSP: Flirtatious Speciality

Accessories: Pearls

I cut out one of the die cut doilies from the sheet, if you cut carefully there's plenty to use and you won't waste any of the other doilies. I decided it looked stunning enough by itself and therefore left the card very simple, just adding a sentiment to the bottom right hand corner and accenting the card with a few pearls. The centre pearl also cunningly hides the dimensional popping the doilie off the card base.

I hope you enjoyed this quick and card using some beautiful new DSP. If you liked this card using the Flirtatious DSP stay tuned over the next few days as I have more Flirtatious goodness coming your way! Please do leave a comment and let me know what you think. I really do love reading them! 

 Come back tomorrow for another creation! 

Happy Stampin',

Amanda xx

new catalogue!

I am so excited!! The new catalogue was released on Saturday and it is just jam packed full of awesome new stuff! You can view the catalogue online here, alternatively come along to my launch party on Friday 7th October at 7:30pm to see the catalogue, some of the new products and have a play! It would be really great to see you there!

Today, I'd like to share with you a card  I made for Stuart's cousin, Abi, whose birthday it was yesterday!

Sweet Sixteen Icecream

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade

Ink: Soft Suede, Real Red

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: Just Add Cake

Accessories: Real Red Brads

Punches: Pennant

Extras: Paper Piercer, Dimensionals

This is using a new stamp set called Pennant Parade, designed for making bunting on your paper crafting creations, however it has lots of other uses too for example a Christmas tree and today I made mine into a icecream cone. We have been having so much lovely warm weather I decided that ice cream wasn't too far out an idea for a October birthday card. I hand wrote the sentiment as I don't have anything for a 16 year old. 

I hope you've liked this little share, please leave a comment and come back tomorrow for another new catalogue project!! I have been away from blogging for so long and now have a back log of cards and projects to share with you all!

Hugs,

Amanda xx