The Third dimension . . . . and beyond!

Having treated myself to the medallion background stamp (IB p60), as the free product entitlement in my last order, I could hardly wait to use it. Here you see it in Soft Suede Ink on a buff folder that I've had lying around for quite awhile. I'm really pleased with the result - my file is now instantly recognisable for my SU paperwork :-) I have to admit that the real inspiration for this piece came from a gift earlier in the year (thanks TLB), and the paper pattern of the magazine file is quite a close match. As you can see the file is perfect for mini catalogues and leaflets!

In that order I also ventured into Accents and Elements with a Flower Fusion pack (IB p83) as I have a serious love of felt, and before I knew it my earlier bookmark had reinvented itself into this . . .
Here you can see the bookmark in Old Olive card stock with the 1/2" circle punch used six times, to thread the Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon through. At the top I've used the scallop circle punch with Old Olive card stock then the 1 1/4" circle punch for the whisper white card stock to highlight the large Old Olive felt flower, then the smaller Rose Red flower secured by an Old Olive brad for the centre of the flower. Quick and easy, but nice to play around with the colours :-)

Talking about playing around with the colours I have just sorted through my Ink tower and cleared the retiring colours out to make way for the new additions that will come into being with the new Ideas Book & Catalogue in September. I have also been browsing the August special offer to see if there are any two step stamps sets I can't survive without and think I'll do some samples of the sets I already have to tempt you all with - have already done some cards with Trendy Trees - will share on the next post! Keep on crafting Gen x

Christmas in July!

As a last minute queen, it's a strange concept for me to be thinking about Christmas, let alone make Christmas cards in July! Thanks to a home workshop and particular stamp set requests we produced this selection of cards - trees being the theme. As there was also a specific request for Pocket Silhouettes (IB p50) I decided to bring it into the Christmas theme by using a circular piece of paper in the centre of the card, stamping around the circle in Real Red ink (IB p 72), always with the base of the stamp at the circular edge to create the wreath shape, finishing simply with a 3/16" red gingham ribbon (IB p87) at the bottom of the wreath. I made the holes for the ribbon using a small circular punch and hammer as it's too central in the card for hand held punches.

The next card we made uses the Scandinavian Season stamp set and wheel (IB p17). Being the Earth Elements girl that I am I've used Chocolate chip ink for the wheel which I printed onto the inside of the card, then cut off approx 2 cm of the front of the card so that you can see the printed reveal. Then I cut the ruby red textured paper so it was approx 5mm smaller than the front face of the card and used the paper pricking tool to created a border. The Merry Christmas greeting actually comes from the Season of Joy stamp set (IB p 18) which sits nicely into the oval punch (IB p89) on whisper white card stock and the the oval scallop punch (IB p89) in Chocolate chip card stock. The tree is done using the Emboss Resist technique where you use versa mark (IB p91) and clear embossing powder (IB p86) for the tree and then using a sponge dauber with the Old Olive ink pad to create the differing shades of the image by varying the intensity of ink - the embossed image remains the colour of the underlying card stock, in this case whisper white. The dots of the Merry Christmas greeting line up with the paper pricking border, attaching to the front of the card, overlying but not glued to the wheel border of the inside of the card. Just something a bit different :-)

We then did a super quick card - Jolly wheel border (IB p17) in night of navy ink on the right border of the front of the card first. Then using the Lovely as a Tree stamp set (IB p46) again versa ink the image then use white embossing powder on Night of Navy card stock (IB p73) and a single star brad at the top of the tree from the Hodgepodge hardware set (IB p85). Ta dah - keeping it simple saves time too.

And to finish the workshop we continued with the Lovely as a Tree set and played with the Stampin' write markers (IB p72). The base card stock is Really Rust with Very Vanilla on top. To ink the image I have used Old Olive, Garden Green, and Really Rust for the leaves, and Chocolate Chip for the trunk. When using markers for different sections of the stamp, it may take some time, simply breathe onto the stamp before placing it on the upper half of the card and this will rehydrate the ink and improve the image printed, and when the image is dry glue it into place onto the card. Then I cut a slit just behind the side fold of the card long enough to thread Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon (IB p87) through and tie into a knot at the right side of the card. The greetings sentiment comes from the Trendy Trees stamp set (IB p39), Really Rust Ink on very vanilla card stock - fitting into the oval punch with Really Rust scalloped punch to emphasise it. More trendy trees in the next installment, and hopefully will put onto my side bar the new offer for August - excitement! Keep on crafting Gen x

Thanks so much!

I have has lots to be thankful for lately so thought I would let you see how I've been saying thanks :-) On the right you see the card I did for Chris at the SU demo support centre - he's been very encouraging for all my SU efforts. I used the new Soft Suede cardstock and ink with my favourite Baroque motif (Idea Book p57) for the background with the baroque wheel in Chocolate Chip ink on kraft cardstock as the bottom frieze. Having just received shimmer paint (Mini Cat p21) in Frost white, I stamped the greeting from the sincere salutations stamp set (IB p62), onto soft suede (using a sponge dauber - see close up on the left), and oval punched it, with the oval scallop punch being in kraft cardstock again. Being a huge fan of all things tiny, I couldn't resist the tiny tag (Punch MC p6 and stamps p15), of thanks so much, which I attached to the motif with a pewter brad. Hope he liked it, and that the postie liked the envelope!

Have had a few orders lately, and not being organised enough to have batches of cards to send out, I've been making them as I needed them. On the right you see the fabulous Fresh cut notes and stamp set (IB p53 & p80), in Melon Mambo card stock with Rich Razzleberry ink and silver brad to secure the central flower on the top.

Next, but continuing with the same colour combination, I've mixed the Simply Said (IB p59) stamp set and Flight of the Butterfly (IB p43) The Melon Mambo butterfly is printed and punched whereas the Rich Razzleberry is printed straight onto the card.

When I was flicking through the Idea Book I saw on page 50 a card layout that I've adapted for the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set and the colour choice was easy as this went to someone who has a penchant for purple. The thing that I love most about this card is that it was really quick, but not quite a quick as these . . . . . .

These are truly the fastest I've made to date! 5-Petal punch (IB p89) in Old Olive and Melon Mambo respectively, with a rhinestone brad for the flower centre on Grosgrain ribbon. With the Melon Mambo card I stamped the tips of the petals in the same colour ink with a flower stamp from the tiny tags set - really am hooked ;-) Both of these cards are made on the lovely Love Notes (IB p80) and are only 7.6cm square - really cute! Keep on crafting - hope to post more tomorrow!

Thank you Llandrindod Card Club!

A big thank you to Llandrindod Card club, (and particularly Teressa who asked me along), who meet on the second
Sunday of the month, who asked me to demonstrate in June.

As you can see from these photos they were a very productive group. We did the workshop listed earlier where everyone got to make and take the three projects (bookmark, card and gift bag in Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo), they had made that day. I enjoyed it enormously and hope that we can do it all again some day.


Also thanks to those that placed orders, hope you're enjoying your new goodies :-) Thanks again - keep on crafting GenGen x

Birth Day and Birthdays!

So welcome to the world little Howie! Although now months old by the time I post this blog! Just wanted to show you the congrats card I made :-) All in Bashful Blue - I used the Nursery jumbo wheel at the side - highlighting the edge of the h in silver and adding peel offs to spell his name. The teddy from the Bundle of Joy stamp set (Bashful blue ink on bashful blue card stock), with a couple of greetings from my stash to welcome this sweet little one.

Here on the right you see one of my recent Birthday cards - I am truly getting carried away with the new colours - here I've used Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry. Another excuse to use the Baroque Motifs background stamp and flowers. For the central flower I've used the flower stamp from the new a la carte range in the mini and then shaded the edges by using the darker colour on the edges of the petal leaves with the sponge daubers, securing the centre with a glitzy clear rhinestone brad. The melon mambo polka dot ribbon at the side was too girlie to resist, et voila!

And finally for this post - in an effort to catch up with the backlog of my absence I think I'll have to try and blog daily to let you see what I've been up to! A simple Birthday card for the cake making extraordinaire that is Graham - my cake may well of been paper, but it's the thought that counts! Continuing my fascination with turquoise I choose that as the background card stock. The cup cake comes from the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and here I have silver embossed the image to allow easier water colouring for the cupcake base and icing - the sprinkles have been coloured using the stamp write markers. The sentiment here is from the Sincere Salutations stamp set and the flowing writing is just moreish! Will blog again soon to show you the other goings on, especially the June workshop - many thanks to the Llandrindod Card Making group :-)