Marvellous March!

March is always off to a flying start with a Birthday celebration on the second! I was itching to use the watercolour technique that I learnt at convention again, any excuse to use the Just Believe stamp set (IB&Cp57). To add a little brightness I've kept the colours simple with retired Ruby Red marker and card stock, but then of course the ever present Old Olive for contrasting ink and 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon. I love this technique as it gives you the impression of being an artist without the effort - you simply use your Stampin' write marker pens to colour in the stamp and then once done spritz the stamp with water and then print onto the watercolour paper - it really is that simple! Just a little bit of edge tearing for the watercolour paper and contrasting red card stock and then after threading the ribbon round I finished it with a Flower Brad from the Brights collection (IB&Cp82). The Birthday sentiment on the envelope and oval scalloped topper of the card is from the Sincere Salutations set (IB&Cp72).

A few days later I was inspired by the fabulous Impressions March newsletter that comes through to demonstrators and wanted to try a technique which used embossing and ink refills for another watercolour technique. As you need a stamp with compartments I used the Cottage Garden set (IB&Cp53) and the Perfect Plum ink refill. With this technique you use clear emboss for your flower, than spritz the shiny card stock (ON OFFER in the MARCH FRENZY promo) and use an Aqua painter to pick up the colour you want and touch a portion of the image so it bleeds into the petal area. Although I have managed to get differing shades, I think the colours are a little more like emboss resist - so will just HAVE TO get the Growing Green stamp set (IB&Cp56) where the petals of the flowers are finely delineated and play some more ;-) The Old Olive stems of the flowers are from a retired set, but with the leaf from the Vintage Vogue set (IB&Cp62), I think they work quite well - and of course some small sparkly rhinestones (IB&Cp99), for the flower centres and Butterfly body.

And just to finish this update, some seriously simple Thank you cards, with the only stamping being the sentiment from the Fresh Cuts stamp set (IB&Cp67), as these are the matching cards (IB&Cp87). For speed I have used In Colour Designer Series Paper for the background of the large flower, in Concorde Crush, then the 5 petal punch (IB&Cp104) for the Blushing Bride card stock and Peach Parfait DSP smaller flower, held in place by a rhinestone brad on the right and a simple rhinestone on the left ;-)

Carry on crafting! Gen x

Llandewi WI - thank you!

Just a quick update to Thank Llandewi WI for inviting me to do a Workshop on the 21st February. I decided to use the In Colours as inspiration for the card design and as it was a group of 11 ladies I choose the Simply Said stamp set (IB&Cp47). As there were several new to stamping ladies I tried to keep it simple, with the flower stamp in Concorde Crush ink, along the top half, Pear Pizzazz Designer Series Paper on the bottom half, with 1/2" stitched poly ribbon tied around the middle. The sentiment is in Concorde Crush ink on whisper white card then punched out with the oval stamp and outlined by the oval scallop in concorde crush card stock. So there wasn't too much waiting around for inks and stamps, I also did a Peach Parfait version. This was actually was the colour way I began with, but have to admit that I prefer the stronger colour contrast, but had fun playing with all the colour combinations! Of course, being over optimistic with the amount of craft that it's possible to get through in an hour, we also did a bookmark to finish off the evening!

So here you see Concorde Crush and Blushing Bride card stock. I took along a selection of butterfly stamps, so here you see ones from Flight of the Butterfly (IB&Cp68) and Butterfly Prints (IB&Cp53). Punches used are butterfly, scallop circle and circles and then of course my favorite 5/8" organza ribbon threaded through the length of the book mark and v cutting the end for the finished look. Then who can resist a little sparkle with basic rhinestones (IB&Cp99), for the body of the butterfly? I had such fun doing the workshop, and am looking forward to doing a Christmas theme workshop in October. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment. Carry on crafting Gen x

February Celebrations!

February kicks off for me with my Nephew Garion's Birthday and fabulous fourteen means that I really need to be doing less not more. So have kept the colours to shades of blue - using the fabulous Broadsheet Alphabet (IB&Cp76) for the wrapping paper and card. I have used the Classic Stars (IB&Cp69) jumbo wheel with night of navy ink on bashful blue card stock. With my only other embellishments being some peel off silver stars and a silver pen to highlight the 4 of 4teen!

So, as February continues, it's Wedding Anniversary time for my Brother, so this is the card I made for them. Along the same lines of less is more I have used the love sentiment stamp from a retired set, then 1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon in Real Red (IB&Cp97 ) with the heart stamp from the Hostess set Punch Potpourri (IB&Cp10) in real red and whisper white ink on real red card stock, and then for the envelope a couple of hearts from the Tiny Tags stamp set (IB&Cp66). The printed hearts were of course punched out with the heart punch (IB&Cp105)

And finally, another reason to use my ornament punch that was my Christmas investment. I love that you can use it to for flower petals and here you see a Birthday card I made in a current In Colour Pear Pizzazz. The background paper is from the Designer Series Paper Pack (IB&Cp11), using the Scallop Trim Corner and Border punches (IB&Cp105) for a 10x10cm square of DSP. Then some matching 1/2" stitched poly ribbon, top row of flowers is from the Because I Care Hostess set (IB&Cp11) and the sentiment is from Sincere Salutations (IB&Cp72). I then punched out five petals with the ornament punch (IB&Cp105) simply shading the edges with ink and a sponge dauber using a button for the centre of the flower - Ta dah!

Only the workshop with Llandewi WI to catch up with and I might be nearly there! Keep on Crafting :-) Gen x

March Madness!

Here it is! The latest SU promo - as if the first signs of spring weren't enough to lift our spirits SU have got a 30% offer on the items listed - whoo hoo!

Even more exciting, I'm doing a demo at Llandrindod Card Club in April and that gives me even more excuses to indulge my love of all things Easter! Just need to rein in my enthusiasm and realise that people need to go home at some point!

The only thing I really need is a few more hours in the day and everything would be fitted in. Am playing with a new technique today for a friends Birthday card as I love embossing and water colouring so will post the results here soon after I post the February efforts - and some day soon I will have caught up. Carry on crafting - I'm trying not to be too distracted, and can hardly wait for the NEW mini catalogue which has oodles of fabulous goodies - all of which I will HAVE to buy at some point! Hee hee hee ;-)

January Birthdays!

One of my many indulgences was the Cottage Garden Set (IB&Cp53) and here I've used the In Colour Inks (IB&Cp81) Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Concorde Crush and Blushing Bride. I also used the retired stem sayings for the front of the card with the leaf from the Vintage Vogue set (IB&Cp62). I cut out a second butterfly and raised it on a dimensional and added basic rhinestones for the body of the butterfly (IB&Cp99). The Birthday Greeting comes from the Perfect Punches set (IB&Cp66) and then punched out with the extra large oval (IB&Cp105). I think when I do this type of card again I'll use clear embossing for the large flower on coloured card stock - but definitely food for thought!

Next is a neutral card using the Just Believe stamp set (IB&Cp57). Being a fan of all things neutral I've used Sahara Sand and River Rock Inks (IB&Cp85). I have printed the circle on Naturals Ivory card stock (p87), and then punched out the circle and scallop circle to make the embellishment for the soft suede polka dot Grosgrain side ribbon. Then as a simple embellishment I used a strip of the small basic pearls (IB&Cp99), which are sticky backed, making them incredibly easy to use. I really love this flower set and it would be a great set for toppers :-)

Finally for the end of January I used one of my other new stamp sets from Convention - Party This Way (IB&Cp31). Here I've used a simple silver background card to highlight the simple birthday balloons using my new 1 1/4" Large Square punch (IB&Cp106), using Not Quite Navy ink on white and blue card stock. The Happy Birthday Greeting is a quite funky and with the simple stripy ribbon, hopefully not too home made for the trendy teenager it went to. As always I've used my motto Keep It Simple :-) Keep on Crafting! More to come soon, GenGen ;-)

Catch Up Queen!

Having had a crafty afternoon today, with my fellow crafter Mandy she has managed to nag me sufficiently to update my blog with the few cards I've managed to produce! I am embarrassed to admit that these cards are from December 2010 and as you can see I still have a real weak spot for all things relating to stars and as there are quite a few male December Birthdays, I have kept to Blues and Greens. More specifically in this card you see the Classic Stars (Idea Book & Catalogue p69) Jumbo Wheel in Night of Navy ink printed on Tempting Turquoise card stock with some stripy ribbon I have lying around. I have punched small and large stars (IB&Cp105), out of some retired card stock in blue and white. Then the greeting is framed by the Word Window Punch (IB&C p105).

Continuing my star fetish, here I've used Night of Navy card stock, punching the extra large star at the bottom of the card and then placed 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (IB&Cp97), in stripes behind the cut out - here I've used tempting turquoise and elegant eggplant. I have then used Whisper White Ink for the stars and Birthday greeting - a real case of less is more :-)

Lastly in this update, but still along the same theme I've added another ribbon colour of Old Olive, this time with Not Quite Navy card stock and three small stars punched out at the side. I've used a retired greeting stamp set in Whisper White Ink. As always all of my envelopes have been stamped to keep the Postman cheerful. Will post again soon, as the backlog is rather huge, and perhaps one day I'll be up to date - slowly catchy monkey!

Catch Up Continues - Convention 2010

So having never been to a SU convention I thought I'd go along as this year it was in the UK - incredible Croydon! As we were all going to have the same bag at convention here is the name tag I did to distinguish mine from others. I've used Soft Suede background card then craft with Sahara Sand background flower stamp from Vintage Vogue set. The double flowers printed from the hostess set Punch Potpourri in soft suede ink, then punched out by Boho Flowers and secured by an antique brass brad. Then for the name I used the first initial from the Broadsheet Alphabet then the remaining letters from Just perfect alphabet. I put the eyelet into the largest flower and then threaded some of the gorgeous organza ribbon for the finishing touch.

This is the general swap I took for the convention. As you can see I carried on with the same colour theme and got to play with new punches - woo hoo! I am truly hooked to the scallop trim corner and border punches that work well on a 10cm square. I used the bird and flower stamp from the Punch Potpourri set and then the Two step bird punch - et voila!

Will follow up soon with the two organised swaps I did for convention and other forms of inspiration - hope you're all having fabulous festivities and 2011 brings your hopes into realities! Keep on crafting Gen x