Belated Birthday Wishes!!

As you can see from this card I couldn't really resist the Summer Mini Catalogue temptation. The new  Border Edgelits for the Bid Shot tie in fabulously with the Bordering on Romance Stamp set, I did this for a friend who  loves purples and lilacs, here's a close p of the card front . .

For the flowers I stamped onto Perfect Plum, Regal Rose and Pool Party and simply cut them out, using Rhinestones for the flower centres, raising the flowers with Stampin Dimensionals - a girl can never have too much sparkle ;-)

We go from Sparkle to shimmer, with a male Birthday card, even though it was for a 90th Birthday I wanted something a little understated - I used the Brushed Gold card and co-ordinated it with the Gorgeously Golden Mocha Morning Speciality DSP, with the Balloon and greeting done in Gold emboss on Very Vanilla card stock.

Keep on crafting, Gen xxx

Excited by envelopes!!!

I could hardly wait to get back from the Reading Stampin' Up! Training day as they showed us lots of possibilities for the Simply Scored Tool and the newly released Diagonal plate (which does what it says on the tin - gives you diagonals and the possibility of making ANY size of envelope you wish). I have always been a sucker for stationary but the thought of being able to make my own co-ordinating envelopes to match the cards I make is simply irresistible - as you can see above!

I won't really describe the Designer Papers here as they are retired, but the turquoise flower made the cutest 3" card - and by the time I sent the card it too had a scallop trim punched envelope flap - well, it would wouldn't it - hee hee hee!

I couldn't resist making a matching card to go with the larger envelope, here using the Eyelet border punch, Celery ink and Grosgrain ribbon, the fabulous stamp from the Creative Elements set, Butterflies from the Beautiful Wings embosslit and then a couple of Rhinestones for a little sparkle!

Hope to get my blog updated with the creative things I've been up to - just need a few extra hours in the day and I would be ahead of the game - keep on crafting, Gen xxx

Check out the details of the new Diagonal plate - hopefully by clicking on this link www2.stampinup.com/gb/eng/ ;-)

Summer Mini - serious temptation!

Hi All! Sorry for the delay in updating my blog, but I was at a Demo training day last Saturday and as always felt the deadline for my creations - why change the habit of a lifetime ;-) So thought I would show you the name tag I made for the day . . .

So here I used Neutrals Ivory card stock, the Apothecary Art stamp set, here, printed in Staz On to allow water colouring of the flowers in Regal Rose and Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive. Highlighted by Rhinestone jewels for the flower centres and Brights Glimmer Brads either side of my name, with just a little razzleberry around the edge dome with sponge daubers.



 For some reason, as there were 128 demos attending, I thought I would try to make a swap for those attending! Here it is . . .

On a background of Rich Razzleberry card stock, the filigree border in the same ink from the Creative Elements stamp set, and then the friend greeting from the You're a Gem stamp set in Whisper white. I simply couldn't resist the gorgeous Mixed Bunch stamp set and matching Blossom punch for the Confetti White background flower and then Rich Razzleberry ink on the Wisteria Wonder card stock, with a central pearl jewel for the centre and of course my obsession with the scallop trim corner punch continues with pearl enhancement of the scallop pattern.

I couldn't resist the putting together a little something for the Summer Mini Project for the Reading training - I would love to know what you think . . .

Melon Mambo card stock, and of course a use for left over printed flowers using the fabulous Simply Scored tool (New from SU), to make this flower into a folded medallion, glimmer brad centre, Wild Wasabi embossing powder for the stem of the Precious Butterflies Hostess set. A couple of butterflies from the Beautiful Butterflies embosslits, a few pearl jewels and then greetings from the You're a Gem set.

I have to say I am getting completely carried away with the simply scored tool, and am about to order my diagonal scoring plate do that I can set to making matching envelopes and other 3D goodies that were demonstrated at training last weekend - just not enough hours in the day - hee hee hee!

Keep on crafting Gen xxx

Ribbon starts it all.

Just wanted to share with you some inspiration for a couple of cards - the stamp set above was a promotional set (Free!), using Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango ink colours, on watercolour paper, simply ripped around the edges on my favourite craft card background.

And here I've used the Bird Builder Punch with a Jumbo wheel that I have been bursting to use. How could I resist the In Stitches wheel? You're right I couldn't!! I think it makes the cutest background for this fun little card - this one sent along to the friend that bought me the ribbon ;-)

Keep on crafting, Gen xxx

Spring sadness, Birthdays and Blooms!

Somehow I seem to have been sending sympathy cards more than I'd like, but thought I would show you the simplicity of this Hopeful Thoughts stamp set (IB&Cp82).

I used Stampin' Write markers to individually colour the flowering branch in Old Olive & Wisertia Wonder. Once more using the scallop trim corner stamp with two pearl jewels to highlight the scallops. My thoughts are with the families that have recently lost their loved ones.

Can you guess who's Birthday it was on Thursday? I have treated myself to the Simple Alphabet Bigz Dies and couldn't resist spelling my brother's name with Night of Navy card stock, using the candle and birthday greeting from the Party this Way set - colouring the candle using markers for the diagonal colouring to match in with the underlying ribbon - I'm going through such a Teal phase!

Needless to say my day off today should involved house cleaning but somehow involved making this card - oops! I have had this Manhattan Flower embossing folder for a while and haven't used it until today! I used a pale purple card stock and then Regal Rose ink and a sponge dauber to build the rose colour. I used the Scallop Trim Border punch with Regal Rose card stock and pearl jewels - Birthday Greeting from the hostess set (IB&C p8). Keep on crafting, Gen xxx

Happy Easter, Birthday Wishes & Get Well Soon!

Just in case you are hiding indoors from the weather too
- it's an ideal day for crafting - hee hee hee!

So here is just a final card for Easter, of course for my Green & Black friend, TLB. Here, I've used Lucky Limeade and Basic Black, the girl's silhouette looks really stunning with the contrast of the white card stock. 

So here is the card I sent to David - not possible to have too many cakes ;-) As always I have mixed up the stamp sets I've used - Birthday greetings (Printed with Early Espresso & Whisper White), from a hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes (IB&C p8) and For my Family (IB&C p85) - star and bottom left greeting from a previous promotion set!

Then the Well Worn DSP (IB&C p99) - I love the wood grain! Artichoke ribbon (IB&C p107) and an Antique Brad (IB&C p109) and then my favourite cupcake from the Crazy for Cupcakes set (IB&C p33), on Natural Ivory card stock, coloured with a light brown watercolour pencil and then a bit of gold and silver highlighting!

 

For my last offering I've rediscovered the Growing Green stamp set - the outlines are so versatile. I've used Melon Mambo, Perfect plum, Wisteria Wonder, Blushing Bride and Baja Breeze. I printed the outline on coloured card stock and then used Pearl jewels for the flower centres.

 

So with the chores you have planned for today, make sure you get a little crafty time to yourself! Keep on crafting Gen xxx

Happy Easter Everybunny!

Hope you're all having a fabulous Easter weekend

Here's how this Easter bunny has been spreading the Easter ;-)

This is of course the Eggcellent Everybunny stamp set (IB&C p28), I'm going through a real Island Indigo phase, using the ink for the outline, ruffled ribbon, secured with as Island Indigo Designer Printed Brad (2011-2013 In Colour). I have simply coloured the outlines in with watercolour pencils - and had lots of fun doing it too -hee hee hee!

So here are the rest for you to see up close.

I have used this set with quite a few children's workshops, and they love it nearly as much as I do! It makes a really great card for small money gifts too, just in case it's possible to have too much chocolate. Keep on crafting - that's what holidays are for, Gen xxx