i'm addicted to mini's

Botanical Blooms Mini

Stamp Set Botanical Blooms (retired)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi DSP

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Early Espresso

Extras: Eyelet Border Punch

This card is so simple and really elegant! Literally all I did was stamp the flower (I stamped off once on scrap paper for a paler more subtle look) and leaves 3 times on the cardstock base and then punched a strip of Wild Wasabi DSP with the border punch and adhered it to the bottom. It simply gives the flowers a little bit of grounding! 

Thinking of You Ruffles Mini

Stamp Set: So Happy For You (SAB)

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive

Extras: Eyelet Border Punch, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, White Gel Pen

This card was slightly inspired and very loosly CASEd from a card I saw in the current SU ideas book and catalogue. In the card it had several layers on the eyelet border punch layered on top of one another. I was keen to try this, so I punched several strips of coloured cardstock and began playing around. To be honest I felt it was a little too flat how it was, it needed a bit more body and life to it, so I began crumpling, scrunching and distressing the cardstock pieces with my hands. Now I'm happy with it. The thin strip of Pumpkin Pie just helps break up the wide block of Melon Mambo and also just separate the frills from the sentiment slightly as it gives the sentiment something to sit on. I can't help think that it reminds me of those little frilly mini skirts that seem to be the fashion these days! I'm totally loving this card! 

A True Friend is You Friend

Stamp Set: True Friend (retired)

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Early Espresso, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

Extras: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Dimensionals, 1" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Recently, I dug this stamp set out of my stash and have been having fun playing around with it.I stamped the circular medallion on Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry and then punched them out with the circle punches. I stamped the larger medallion stamp from the set in Early Espresso on the Crumb Cake background and then layered the punched circles on top using dimensionals. I finally stamped the sentiment at the bottom, added a rhinestone and rounded the corner. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing more minis! 

Have a fab Friday! 

Amanda x

cute by the inch...

These cards really are cute by the inch...this stamp set is a level two hostess only stamp set, and I have to say, if you are wondering about whether to get it by hosting a workshop, go for it, it is a awesome set and I just can't get enough of it at the moment! Today I have a cute itty bitty mini set I made using the stamps from this set, they're so simple and easy to make but really do the job for all those little thank you's you want to give quickly and inexpensively! 

Cute Thinking of You

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink: Old Olive

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Eat Cake

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Hi

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Whisper White

Ink: Garden Green

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Fancy

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pacific Point, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute For You

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Friends

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, Whisper White

Ink: Night of Navy

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Love

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White

Ink: Pretty in Pink

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Thank U

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink: Riding Hood Red

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Scallop Square Punch

Cute Owl

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Ink: Pumpkin Pie

Extras: White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Dimentionals, Scallop Square Punch

I stamped the images out on Whisper White cardstock, cut them all out and then punched out coordinating scalloped squares and adhered them together. I then pierced the scallops on the square to add a little more detail and adhered it to the centre of the 3"x3" notelet. Finally I finished off the card by rounding the corners and adding some white stitching around the edge! 

These would make a perfect little gift but equally make very useful little notes to give to people! 

Finally, I just want to say that Stu's collegue was very happy with the wedding card I made, I am SO happy! Its a bit scary making a card for someone and not knowing if they're going to like it or not! 

I have a bunch of other cards I've been working on this week but I think they will have to wait for tomorrow as today was a little bit busy! It was a lovely day, running a couple errands, then lunch in town with one of my old uni friends, it was so nice to chill out and catch up with her for a bit! When I got home I had a few things to do and a few cards to get ready for a friend to pick up which she had ordered (a little side note, it still always gives me a little happy thrill then I sell something I've made!) Anyway, the order from my workshop last week came in today too so I sorted that out too and then it was time to go to the prayer meeting at church. Afterwards I got to give Deb her stuff she had ordered, I'm excited to see how she and Abi get on with it all! It really is a joy to see others getting creative through just a little guidance and coaching! 

Its now very late and I have to say I am really quite shattered. I better go get some shut eye! Can't wait for the weekend, this week I feel is dragging slightly, and I am excited and also a little nervous for Stampin' Up's regional training event on Saturday. I'm sure its going to be lots of fun and get to see and make cool new things, and I'll get to meet a bunch of other more local (more local than Shetland at least!) demonstrators. I'm just a little nervous as I don't know anyone yet, walking into a room full of people I don't know with no-one to hide behind is freaking me out just a tad! I'll let you know how I get on! 

I'll be back tomorrow with more lovelyness, 'til then, goodnight! 

Amanda xx

wedding card

My husband, Stuart, took in a bunch of my cards today to sell at his school for me, as a result, I have been asked to make a wedding card. Brilliant because I love making pretty wedding cards! However, the specifications are "beautiful and different!" That's a corker! Beautiful is the easy bit but trying to come up with a card that is different too is proving more tricky! Trying to remember back to my own wedding last summer and the cards we got then, I guess the common wedding cards include hearts, bride and groom, flowers and cake, so how to do a different card?! I've been mulling it over all evening and after finishing off a few other projects and having a go at bleach stamping because I just couldn't wait (so much fun - sample on its way hopefully tomorrow). I remember some gorgeous cards that my upline Rhoda posted on her blog (link: http://shetlandstamper.blogspot.com/2011/02/exciting-times.html). I've been wanting to try out one of these banner cards for a while, it was one of the reasons I decided I just had to have the modern label punch - not a decision I have regretted one bit! so, this is my CASEd version, please do let me know what you think...

Wedding Day

Stamp Set: All Year Cheer I (retired), All Year Cheer II (retired), So Happy For You (SAB)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Silver Brads, Linen Thread

Extras: White Gel Pen, Flower Punch (not an SU one but I would have used the Boho Blossoms punch if I had it!), Modern Label Punch

I stamped out individual letters from sentiment stamps and cut them out to layer onto the modern label punch which I used as the basis of my banner. I also used handwriting to make up the word. The modern label punches were then folded over in half and adhered with the linen thread in the middle. They were attached to the card with a brad at each end and the thread wrapped around the brads. I accessories the sentiment on the banner by adding a few little layered flowers and rhinestones for a elegant and sparkly look. 

I hope it goes down well, I guess I shall see tomorrow! Please do let me know what you think! I love reading your comments! 

Thanks. 

Amanda xoxo

where did the lovely weather go?!

We had several days of lovely weather, and I really though things were brightening up, it was feeling warmer and was very sunshiny, but the last couple days have been very over cast and cold! Winter obviously is trying to cling on just that little be longer! Although it was a cold and dreary day, as I walked to work this morning I admired the sweet reminders that spring is on its way. I loved seeing the snowdrops and crocuses come up last month but now I see the tulips and camellias budding, the daffodils too are on their way! This is one of my favourite things about March, I love flowers and after a solid winter with not much to see in the garden it is a reminder of bigger and better things to come! I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to some sun, heat and more flowers to see!


As a result of it not being such a nice day I didn't get around to taking any photos of this week's creations yet, I had enough to do and just thought it could wait another day...hopefully tomorrow! 


I hope you are all having a good day, catch you all tomorrow! 


xoxo

update 3 - miscellaneous

This is the third and final of my updates on the past week and half! I have some more stuff I've been making the past few days but I'll leave that for tomorrow (I'm enjoying some nicer weather so I can take the photos outside, they just look so much better in good lighting! Anyhow, its not a very sunshiny day so I'm going to hold off and hope for a better day tomorrow, its not like I haven't got enough to keep me busy on the blog today anyway!) 

This update, as the title suggests, is miscellaneous cards, which include thinking of you, friend and baby cards! 

For You Poppies

Stamp Set: Punch Bunch (SAB)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

Extras: White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Eyelet Border Punch

This is a sweet little card which combines stamping the scalloped poppy stamp in several colours, cutting and layering the pieces on top of one another. the Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie background strip just really makes the scalloped circle pop!

Friends

Stamp Set: Cute By The Inch (Level 2 Hostess)

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy/Riding Hood Red

Accessories: Rhinestones

Extras: Dimensionals, Scallop Square Punch, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper

I used a post-it note to mask out the word 'friend' on the stamp so that it just says 'friend' in one of the scalloped squares. By repeating the image but only having one of the images complete with the sentiment really enhances the sentiment and help it out stand out!

True Friend

Stamp Set: Punch Bunch (SAB)

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Pacific Point, So Saffron DSP

Ink: Old Olive, Pacific Point

Extras: White Gel Pen, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

This card is CASEd from a card I found on a website called Splitcoast Stampers,  if you have never heard of it before I'd definately recommend checking it out! Its a fabulous place for inspiration and sharing ideas. 

Welcome Baby

Stamp Set: Punch Bunch (SAB), Every Little Bit

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron DSP

Ink: Versamark, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette

Accessories: 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon 

Extras: Stampin' Pastels (Daffodil Delight), Cotton Ball, Eyelet Border Punch, White Gel Pen, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper piercer

A really sweet little baby card! Again I stamped the tag in 2 colours so I could paper piece over the top to create a multi coloured image, without having the markers! The ducks from Every Little Bit along the bottom mirrors the tiny ducks on the mobile!

Hope you enjoyed these cards and I look forward to hearing your comments! 

Amanda xoxo

update 2 - birthday cards

Second of my card instalments in an attempt to catch up on the last week or so! I hope you enjoy seeing all the things I have been making! Please feel free to leave a comment, I love reading them! 

Birthday Wishes Pressies

Stamp Set: Every Little Bit, So Happy For You (SAB set)

Ink: Basic Black, Pacific Point

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pacific Point DSP, Rich Razzleberry DSP, Wild Wasabi DSP

Extras: Eyelet Border Punch

A really quick easy card. I stamped the presents on Whisper White CS and then stamped again onto Designer Series Paper and cut them out. I punched some Wild Wasabi DSP with the punch and adhered it to the bottom with a narrow strip along the top. I adhered all that to the white background and finally stamped the sentiment above the presents.  

Birthday Wishes Gifts

Stamp Set: --

Ink: --

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Pumpkin Pie DSP, Rich Razzleberry DSP, Daffodil Delight DSP

Accessories: Silver Embroidery Floss

Extras: We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Modern Label Punch, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals

I wanted to try using DSP to make presents. I saw a card similar to this on the wonderful Kristina Werner's website, unfortunately I dont think it turned out as nicely as hers did. At least I tried! Let me know what you think!

HB Happy Birthday

Stamp Set: Punch Bunch

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Night of Navy

Ink: Night of Navy, Garden Green

Extras: White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Scallop Square Punch, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper

I cut strips in a variety of widths of cardstock, and adhered them to the card, adding the scallop punched saying HB in a row too. I finished off the card by doing some dots and dashes with a white gel pen on the card strips and rounding the corners. This is a good manly card!

Happy Birthday Owl

Stamp Set: Punch Bunch, Fun & Fast Notes

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

Ink: Elegant Eggplant

Extras: Dimensionals, Two Step Bird Punch

I punched out the leaves and branches using the Two Step Bird punch and then  stamped the owl onto Crumb Cake and Cut it out. I adhered it all together and popped the owl up on some dimensionals to add some depth. 

Birthday Flowers 

Stamp Set: Every Little Bit, Fun & Fast Notes

Cardstock: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive DSP, Pumpkin Pie DSP, Rich Razzleberry DSP

Ink, Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Orange Pen (would have used Pumpkin Pie marker if I had one!)

Accessories: 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Extras: Eyelet Border Punch, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals

I simply stamped the flower from Every Little Bit onto some DSP and then cut them out, adding dimensionals to the back and adhereing them in a grid pattern to the Whisper White cardstock, which I adhered to Rich Razzleberry cardstock that had a punched bottom edge on. I added some Whisper White grosgrain ribbon to help finish it off and a small blob of crystal effects to the centre of each flower to give it a glossy finish! Finally I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right hand corner!

Birthday Bliss - Donna's Birthday Card

Stamp Set: Bliss (SAB Set), Fun & Fast Notes

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Whispter White

Ink: Versamark, Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Linen Thread

Extras: Modern Label Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Paper Piercer, Glue Dot

I stamped the flourish onto Crumb Cake in versamark ink and then added clear embossing powder. I then sponged Elegant Eggplant ink over the cardstock to create this spongy purple and kraft coloured effect. I stamped the butterfly, cut it out and folded the wings up to add dimension. I attached it with a glue dot. I punched the eyelet border and adhered the card together. Finally I stamped and punched out the sentiment, pierced a whole in each side and attached it to the card by wrapping linen thread around the card. 

I hope you enjoyed my second update, check back later for my third update! 

Please leave a comment. 

Have a great Tuesday! 

Amanda x

update 1 - mini cards

Okay, so just I realised when I was taking photos that there's actually A LOT of cards, so I'm going to split up all I have to show you into several more bite size chunks! Here is the first instalment...mini cards! I LOVE this size card, they're just so cute and just perfect for all those little thank you's you have to send out to people all the time! They make excellent little surprise "hello" cards to give someone just for the fun of it too! I think I'm addicted...at least, I suppose there's worse things to be addicted to, right?!

thank you

Stamp Set: Forever Flowers Standard Wheel (retired)

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black 

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Early Espresso

Extras: Blender Pen, White Gel Pen, Modern Label Punch, Standard Wheel Handle, Dimensionals

Simple card, I just wheeled out the pattern to cover the background and then coloured it in using the blender pen, adhered some torn cardstock at the top with a dash and dot line and finally wrote the sentiment on the modern label and adhered it to the bottom right hand corner.

hello

Stamp Set: Watercolor Joy Standard Wheel (retired)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Elegant Eggplant

Extras: White Gel Pen, Modern Label Punch, Standard Wheel Handle, Dimensionals

Again simple card, I wheeled out the pattern to cover the background, adhered some torn cardstock at the top with a dash and dot line and finally wrote the sentiment on the modern label and adhered it to the bottom right hand corner.

happy

Stamp Set: Fast Flowers Wheel

Ink: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

Extras: Blender Pen, White Gel Pen, Modern Label Punch, Standard Wheel Handle, Dimensionals

Simple card, I just wheeled out the pattern to cover the background and then coloured it in using the blender pen, adhered some torn cardstock at the top with a dash and dot line and finally wrote the sentiment on the modern label and adhered it to the bottom right hand corner.

thanks

Stamp Set: It's Beautiful Jumbo Wheel (retired)

Ink: Night of Navy

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Garden Green

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones

Extras: White Gel Pen, Modern Label Punch, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Dimensionals

Again simple card, I wheeled out the pattern to cover the background, adhered some torn cardstock at the top with a dash and dot line and added some rhinestones for a little sparkle. Finally I wrote the sentiment on the modern label and adhered it to the bottom right hand corner.

gratitude

Stamp Set: Leaves a la Carte (retired)

Ink: Basic Black, Pacific Point, Old Olive

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pacific Point, Old Olive

Extras: Blender Pen, White Gel Pen, Modern Label Punch, Jumbo Wheel Handle, Dimensionals

Simple card, I just wheeled out the pattern to cover the background and then coloured it in using the blender pen, adhered some torn cardstock at the top with a dash and dot line and finally wrote the sentiment on the modern label and adhered it to the bottom right hand corner.

Hope you enjoyed them...second instalment coming soon! Hope you're having a good evening. Please feel free to leave a comment, they make my day! 

Amanda xx