Happy 50th Birthday Brother!

Today my brother is 50! I wanted the front of the card to be a bit less is more . . . 

Stamp set: Number of years (and an old star burst)

Card stock: Marina mist, Whisper white

Ink: Real Red, Pacific point, Tempting Turquoise

As the inside was a little popped ;-)

Stamp set: Let the good times roll

Card stock: Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Whisper white, Real Red, Silver Foil

Ink: Pacific point, Real Red, Garden Green

Accessories: Thrill ride Pop-Up Thinlits, Large numbers Framelits, White bakers twine

This pop up takes a little encouragement so the tracks sit flat and the pop mechanism works well, but is well worth the effort, and hopefully liked by the recipient ;-)

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

Sheltering Tree

As the last card for the Talgarth workshop we used the versatile Sheltering Tree stamp set, willing Spring on with the hope that Cherry Blossom will be happening at some point! I liked this simplistic design so much I used it for my swap at the Telford demo meet, but in simple printed format, without layered matting and ribbon as time was a little short ;-)

Stamp set: Sheltering Tree

Ink: Early Espresso, Lemon Lime Twist, Sweet Sugarplum

Card: Very Vanilla, Lemon Lime Twist, Sweet Sugarplum

Accessories: Lemon Lime 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon

I love the thought that we could all be swinging on the tree swing :-)

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

Eastern Palace Suite

Workshops also allow me to play around with Suites that I have been tempted by, especially when the possibility of buying this set as a bundle will soon be gone!

Stamp set: Eastern Beauty

Ink: Gold

Card Stock: Fresh Fig, Gold Foil, Eastern Palace DSP

Accessories: Eastern Medallions Thinlits, Decorative Ribbon Border Punch, Gold Faceted Gems, Button for Centre.

Keep on Crafting, GenGen xxxx 

Black Ice Technique

So for the ladies of Talgarth, I like to show a technique in each workshop, and tutorial videos for this technique can be easily found on You Tube ;-) This technique is easier than it looks, and most of us have a permanent black ink, versa mark and clear embossing powder already in our crafty stash. As the technique was the focus, the design for this card is very simple, but could be easily embellished.

Stamp set: Beautiful You

Ink: Archival Black, Versa Mark, Clear emboss powder

Card stock: Silver Foil, Basic Black

Accessories: Heat Tool, 1/8" Silver Ribbon

The graining and grungy effect of the black ink and versa mark, really lends itself to the sketchy stamp sets and the umbrella in this stamp looks fabulous with the melting ice effect :-)

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx

Colour revamp coming soon!

Having been to Stampin' Up! Telford onstage last Saturday, demonstrators were allowed to see some of the changes ahead with the new catalogue release in June :-)

As with previous colour revamps, I am always a little sad to see certain colours go! Anyone who has seen my blog before will know how much I use Chocolate Chip, so I think that's the one I'll miss the most!

I am used to saying goodbye to In Colours, but have particularly liked this range as the Flirty Flamingo, Peekaboo Peach and Sweet Sugarplum make a wonderful combination for female cards and Dapper Denim and Emerald envy are stunning for male cards.

I think the thing that keeps me going is the prospect of the new colours as they have really changed the colour collections, updated and I believe improved them :-)  As you can see below, the In Colours and the New Colours are pretty vibrant!

When you see the New Colour Collections you can begin to understand how much of a difference the New colours will make to the revamped Colour Collections. I have been such a fan of the previous Neutral and Brights Collections, I think that will change when I get to grips with the colour combinations that become my revamped favorites :-)

I think what this revamp will do for me is make me less likely to be loyal to particular collections, and work colour combinations more. I can hardly wait to format my album for colour coaching and playing around when my goodies arrive ;-) Hee hee hee!

Keep on crafting, with your retiring favorites before the revamp!

GenGen xxxx

Wood textures DSP stack

As always I am searching for male Birthday card designs, and loving a neutral palette I played around with the new Wood Textures Designer Series stack at a recent workshop for the ladies of Talgarth. The variation of this stack allows a lot of woodgrain variation, so there is something for everyone :-)

Stamp set: Celebrate You

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Card stock: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Wood Textures DSP stack

Accessories: Linen Thread

I used DSP strips that are 1.5cm and 2.5cm wide by 13.9cm long, but this DSP could easily be used in four blocks or horizontal strips ;-)

Keep on crafting, GenGen xxxx