Inky Fun Flourish Thank You For Being You Card For Michelle

This is the card I sent to the lovely Michelle from the Card Grotto blog to say thank you for a generous gift she sent to me. A few weeks ago I saw Gilly Haigh demonstrate with Tim Holtz Distress products at the Glitter Pot.  She had some fab creations on display and made some gorgeous backgrounds while she demonstrated.  She was so enthusiastic and very happy to answer lots of questions.  That really gave me the confidence to break out my non stick craft sheet, Distress Inks and water spritzer and get inky!  By the way, it's all Gilly's fault that the gorgeous Hero Arts Fabulous Flourish stamp had to join my collection!

I know Michelle loves purple and I'm loving aqua these days and I thought a combination of the two would make an interesting combo.  I patted Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Dusty Concord inks on my craft mat, spritzed generously with water and then applied my white CS panel to the mat to transfer the colour.  You need to use an uncoated CS for this.  I've tried with various CS, ones that are too thick tend to soak up the ink - with coated card you don't get even coverage, the results can be grainy and blotchy, a medium weight works well though and that's what Gilly recommended for best results.  This is such a messy technique, you are definitely going to get inky fingers but it's great fun!  At this stage it's tempting to look at your wet CS and think "oh my word, I've just made an awful mess"!  In the past when I've tried this technique this is the point where I'd throw my 'mess' in the bin and move onto something else.  However, this time, because of Gilly's encouragement, I kept going - I blasted my panel with my heat gun to dry it.  Phew, already it looked better!

Next I stamped the music background using Dusty Concord ink and then I stamped that fab flourish with VersaMark ink and embossed it with white embossing powder.  I trimmed the panel to size, inked the edges and then added shimmer by spritzing with Perfect Pearl mist.  Now it's definitely more 'art' than 'mess'!  I found the flowers in my stash, the bottom one is silky with a slight sheen and the top one is velvety - so lush!  I joined the two flowers together and attached them to the panel with a gorgeous SU! Antique brad.  Yep, I was happy to use one of these carefully hoarded treasures 'cos I know I can get more as they're now available from the new UK SU! catalogue!  I matted the panel on Broken China CS and that was layered onto a 5 3/4" square card made with Elegant Eggplant CS.  I stamped the music background on white CS, added the sentiment, punched it out with the SU! Decorative Label punch, sponged the edges, added a Broken China mat and popped it up.  The last thing for the card front was to add some pale purple rhinestones.

I cut a white panel for inside the card, stamped part of the flourish and inked the edges.

I also stamped the envelope and added a stamped, punched label.

I also sent Michelle a gift which I wrapped in silver tissue paper.  I made a tag using the same colours I'd used on the card and tied it onto the package with ribbon.  I really enjoyed making this, it was so very satisfying to play around and end up with something I was happy with.  I really like this colour combo and am itching to make a Christmas card with these colours.  Finally, I spent some time in the bathroom with my pumice stone to get rid of the ink stains LOL! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Fabulous Flourish & Music Background stamps, Thank You sentiment from SU! Best Blossoms set, sentiment on tag from SU! Yummy set, SU! Four Frames set
CS: SU! Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White, Glitter Pot medium weight white CS, Core'dinations Broken China CS
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Tumbled Glass, Broken China & Dusty Concord, SU! Elegant Eggplant, VersaMark
Tools: SU! Decorative Label punch, Sizzix Rounded Tag Frameliits dies, PTI Beautiful Blooms II #1 die collection, sponge daubers, Ranger Mini Mister, Crafts Too heat resistant craft mat
Embellishments & accessories: white embossing powder, Perfect Pearls 'Perfect Pearl' mist, aqua satin ribbon, SU! Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Bazzill flowers, SU! Antique brad, PaperMania glitter brad, rhinestones, 3d foam pads

Leaf Wreath Best Wishes Kickstand Card - Simply Stampin' # 26 Challenge

This week's Simply Stampin' challenge is a colour combo - Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla.  Hmmm, Pear, Choc Chip and Vanilla are firm favourites but I must confess to not being a fan of Soft Suede and I only have the marker in that colour.  However, after making this card I'd go so far as to say I don't mind the Soft Suede ink colour! 

I came across a video a few days ago on YouTube - here - and loved how Chris had made her kickstand card.  It made me want to have a go myself.  I started out with a piece of Choc Chip CS cut to 5 3/4" square and I added a layer of Pear patterned paper from the Greenhouse Gala pack.  I then cut a Choc Chip strip measuring 11 1/2" x 2 3/8", scored it at 5 3/4" and glued the back half to the back of the square Choc Chip panel as the kickstand. 

French Foliage was one of the very first stamp sets to spring to mind when I saw this colour combo.  I decided to use the smaller leaf stamp to make a leafy wreath.  First I cut out a circle frame to glue the leaves on to.  I then stamped leaves in Pear, Soft Suede and Choc Chip inks and cut them out.  I then glued the leaves to my circle frame, gluing the top of the leaves flat but popping a half dimensional under the bottom of each leaf so they have some shape and dimension.  I embossed a Choc Chip piece of CS with the Vintage Wallpaper folder, matted that onto a vanilla panel and glued that to my Choc Chip kickstand.  I then spritzed the wreath with Champagne Mist shimmer spray and popped it up on the embossed Choc Chip panel with dimensionals.  I then added a linen thread bow and the stamped and punched sentiment oval.

I stamped and sponged a message panel for inside the card.  I also added the postmark image plus two stamped and punched buttons to the bottom and stamped the envelope flap.

Here's a side view of the card.  I really like how this kickstand card was made, it's a bit different to chopping off the bottom of a normal card and adding an element and it's fab for using patterned paper!  I feel certain I'll make more of these.  As I'm quite happy with how the card turned out I feel it's good enough to apply for a spot on the Simply Stampin' DT!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! French Foliage, Sincere Salutations & Button Button sets
CS: SU! Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzazz & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Greenhouse Gala DSP pack
Ink: SU! Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede & Chocolate Chip
Tools: SU! plain & scalloped oval punches, circle punches, SU! Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! linen thread, SU! Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint made into an alcohol shimmer spray, SU! Dimensionals

Another Dangly Bauble Card

A few days ago I tried making a card using a colour combo of Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy and Very Vanilla but I had to give it up as a bad job - I wasn't happy at all with anything I tried!  I was determined to have another go with this combo though and I'm glad I tried again.  It resulted in a finished card that I'm happy to share rather than a full wastepaper basket!  I really like bright, bold Christmas cards and I've made a few of those but I fancied trying a more rich and elegant combo.

Mind you, it wasn't exactly trouble free - I found my Bravo Burgundy ink pad had an odd coloured patina on the surface and it didn't stamp at all well.  I was happy to discover that Adirondack Currant ink is a perfect match for Bravo Burgundy CS so I used that instead.  I stamped the Hero Arts Fabulous Flourish (can't argue there - it IS fabulous!) in artichoke ink and trimmed the vanilla panel down so I could layer it onto a burgundy mat.  I stamped the ornament on a separate piece of CS, cut it out and punched a small hole in the hanger part.  Yep, the ornament is a new stamp - I felt I needed it to soften the blow when I have to give Jan her SU! Delightful Decorations set back soon!  I punched two small holes on the vanilla panel and threaded gold cord through the holes and tied the ornament to the vanilla panel.  Before gluing the panel down I inked the edges with Currant ink.  I masked off part of the sentiment, stamped just the 'It's Christmas' wording and stamped the rest separately to go inside the card.  I decided to scatter a few gold snowflakes on the front and I also added some rhinestones to the ornament.

I then stamped the flourish on a vanilla panel for inside the card, sponged the edges of the vanilla pieces with Currant ink and added the sentiment label.

Then, because it IS just so fabulous and I LOVE it - I stamped the flourish on the envelope a couple of times.  What a classy stamp - hope you like it too 'cos you're definitely going to be seeing it again LOL!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Fabulous Flourish & Decorative Ornament stamps, Stampendous Christmas Wishes clear stamp set
CS: SU! Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy & Very Vanilla, gold CS
Ink: SU! Always Artichoke, Adirondack Currant
Tools: SU! Designer label punch, Woodware small snowflake punch, 1/16" handheld circle punch, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: gold cord, clear rhinestones

CAS Birthday Bloom Card

Today's CAS challenge on Splitcoast Stampers is to use paper piecing.  I bought a lovely Hero Arts clear flower set a few weeks ago from the Glitter Pot after seeing some fab cards on display made with the set.  In fact, most of the example cards had used paper piecing.  This was the perfect nudge for me to get those new stamps inky!  I fancied a change from Christmas cards today too.

I've used textured Dot papers from Bo Bunny for piecing - 3 shades of blue for the flower layers and a green for the leaves.  The papers are dotted on one side and plain on the other and I alternated between plain and dotted on my flower layers.  I've edged the leaves and flowers with distress inks.  I added some shaping to the flowers and leaves and popped the flower layers up.  I rounded the top right corner of the card and added gems to finish off the front.

I then stamped a few flowers plus a favourite birthday sentiment inside the card and I also stamped some flowers on the front of the envelope.

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Sew Me Jewel Flowers clear set, Inkadinkado Stylish Sentiments set, inside sentiment from Stampendous
CS: PaperMania 5 1/4" square white card blank
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny Dot papers in Island Mist, Ocean, Aquamarine & Avocado
Ink: Adirondack Espresso, Tim Holtz Broken China & Peeled paint distress inks, SU! Old Olive
Tools: Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: Kaisercraft gems, 3d foam pads

Merry Dangly Bauble Card

I've just got the SU! Broadsheet Alphabet set after umming and aaahing about it for a long time and I was playing around with it.  I've made a birthday card with a name on it - great fun! - which I'll share later on.  I then started stamping various words out to use on Christmas cards.  I stamped 'JOY' a few times but whatever I did, whatever orientation I chose just didn't look right to me and I wasn't happy with it.  I think certain letters look better together than others with this alphabet, the letters are all so different and that's what makes it fun.  So then I tried 'MERRY' and success - I loved it!  I then had a light bulb moment when I looked at the Rs - ooooh, they look like hooks at the bottom - perfect for dangling a bauble from!

I couldn't wait to put this theory to the test and so out came Jan's Delightful Decorations set.  I'll have to use my bauble from the Contempo set after I've given Jan her set back!  I stamped the bauble on Whisper White CS, punched it out and backed it with an Old Olive punched shape to give it a bit more weight.  I punched two small holes, one either side of the bottom of the red R, punched a hole in the top of the bauble and tied it on with silver elastic cord.  I glued the punched olive borders flat to the card but I've popped the white panel up as I thought the bauble would dangle better on a popped up panel.  I stamped 3 more baubles, punched the snowflake centres out with the 3/4" circle punch, glued those to the white panel and finished off by adding rhinestones.

Here's a close up photo of the dangly bauble.

I then stamped another bauble inside and added the 'Merry Christmas' from the Delightful Decorations set to it.  Another punched border, a narrow Riding Hood Red strip and the inside was done.  I stamped another bauble, punched the snowflake out with a 1" circle punch and layered it onto 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" punched circles for the envelope flap.  I'm chuffed my idea worked - actually, I'm chuffed that I had a light bulb idea in the first place LOL! - and am happy how the card turned out!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Delightful Decorations & Hung Up on the Holidays sets
CS: SU! Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Riding Hood Red & Old Olive
Tools: SU! Ornament, Eyelet Border, 3/4", 1", 1 1/14" & 1 3/8" circle punches, 1/16" handheld circle punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! silver elastic cord, rhinestones, 3d foam tape

CASEd SU! Catalogue Christmas Cards

I've had the new UK SU! catalogue for a few days now and it's SO lovely!  Of course, I'm eager to get some of the new goodies but can't order until 1st October. Patience is not one of my strong points!  What I can happily do though is CASE some of the sample cards inside the new catalogue.  There are some fab cards and I'm happy to see quite a few that use some sets I already have, it's so nice to get some inspiration for older sets that I haven't inked in a while. I'm on a Christmas card kick currently and I particularly liked the card on page 25 and Jan very kindly lent me her Top Note die so I could make my version. 

Another bright and cheery combo, I seem to gravitate towards brighter colours these days and they seem to work out for me.  I went in the complete opposite direction yesterday and tried making a card with a much richer combo of Always Artichoke, Baroque Burgundy and Vanilla - let's just say it wasn't a success and leave it at that!  I'll have another go at that combo later though, to see if I can pull it off!  Here the card base is Wild Wasabi, the half Top Note is Melon Mambo and the circle is Pink Pirouette.  I stamped the Dot, Dot, Dot background stamp on it in Pink Pirouette ink.  The teeny flowers are stamped in Melon Mambo and were punched out with a small circle punch.  I added them to the popped up tree and added rhinestone centres.

As I had another Melon Mambo half a Top Note shape I thought I may as well make another card with the same layout.  This time I've used the poinsettia stamp from the set.  This card base is Pink Pirouette and the circle is Wild Wasabi.  I've stamped the poinsettias in Melon Mambo ink, stamping three times without re-inking to get three different shades.  I've added a bit of shaping to the flowers and added rhinestones to the centres.

I decorated the envelopes and insides of the two cards exactly the same way.  I used the So Swirly wheel, a Stampendous sentiment and added Pink Pirouette punched snowflakes with silver Stickles in the centres.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Season of Joy set, Dot, Dot, Dot background stamp & So Swirly wheel, Stampendous Christmas Wishes clear set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso & Whisper White
Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye 12 Days of Christmas 'It's the season'
Ink: SU! Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi & Early Espresso
Tools: SU! Top Note die, SU! Eyelet Border punch, small circle punch from Itty Bitty Shapes pack, circle Nestabilities die, Woodware small snowflake punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: clear rhinestones, silver Stickles, 3d foam pads

Bright Bauble Christmas Card

I've recently bought a couple of card making books.  One is the Card Maker's Sketch Book - Christmas Celebration.  I got mine from Amazon in the UK, here's a link if you want to check it out.The book has sketches for different sized cards, has some great card layouts in it and fab card examples too.  Of course, you can use the layouts for non Christmas cards too!  I particularly liked a card on page 11, I loved the turquoise, green, red and white colour combo so I've CASEd it and I've changed very little from the original card.  I just so happen to have the SU! Delightful Decorations set on loan from a friend at the moment so I was able to use the same stamps as on the example card.

The card measures just a tad under 5" square and was made using SU! Tempting Turquoise CS.  I added a panel of Bo Bunny textured dotty paper.  I stamped the string from the Hung Up on the Holidays set and then popped up the Riding Hood Red bauble.  I added the strip of white ribbon and the 4 red squares are popped up.  To finish off the card front I've added clear rhinestones to the bauble and snowflakes.

Inside I've glued a white CS panel.  I stamped another bauble and string and I've punched out the round Merry Christmas sentiment from the set and glued it to the bauble.  A strip of the dotty paper and a thin Riding Hood CS strip finishes the inside.  The snowflake on the envelope flap was punched out from another bauble in the Delightful Decorations set. 

All the while I'm enjoying making Christmas cards I'm going to carry on, strike while the iron is hot as they say!  I really liked making this bold and bright little number and was very happy how it turned out! 

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Delightful Decorations & Hung Up on the Holidays sets
CS: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny Avocado Dot
Ink: SU! Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Tempting Turquoise, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Labels SU! Ornament punch, circle punches, square Nestability die, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: white grosgrain ribbon, clear rhinestones, 3d foam pads

Cupcakes Sweetest Day Card - Simply Stampin' #25 Sketch Challenge

This week it's a sketch challenge at the Simply Stampin' Challenge blog.  I liked it as soon as I saw it and decided I must make a card.  I've been busy for the last few days though and haven't had any inky time.  I managed to finally get in my craft room today and stamp.  Here is the sketch.

  I decided to use my Crazy for Cupcakes set which hasn't seen a lot of ink lately.  I love the pile of cupcakes on the stand!  I chose Pink Pirouette, Rose Red and Baja Breeze as my colour combo.  I've coloured the image with marker inks and a blender pen and I added Glossy Accents to the cherries.  I cut out the pile of cupcakes and have popped it up.  I've sponged the edges of the sentiment and image panel with Pink Pirouette ink and I also did the same on the dotty embossed Pink Pirouette square layer.  I embossed the Baja Breeze strip with the Vintage Wallpaper folder.  I punched a Rose Red border with the Scallop punch and glued it behind the Baja Breeze layer and I added a clear rhinestone to each full scallop.  The main image and sentiment oval are popped up.

For the inside I used patterned papers to paper piece balloons and I added the lovely Happy Birthday sentiment from the Swirls and Curls Verses set.  I also added a paper pieced balloon to the envelope flap but forgot to take a pic!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Crazy for Cupcakes & Swirls & Curls Verses sets
CS: PaperMania 5 1/4" square white card blank, SU! Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Baja Breeze & Whisper White
Patterned paper: papers from various SU! Designer Series Paper packs
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Baja Breeze, Creamy Caramel & Riding Hood Red
Tools: Rectangle Nestabilities dies, SU! Scalloped Border punch, SU! plain and scalloped oval punches, SU! Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Crafts Too Dots 5" x 5" embossing folder, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: Glossy Accents, clear rhinestones, 3d foam tape

2 Black & White Christmas Tree Trio Cards

When I went to the Glitter Pot Christmas demo weekend I saw a lovely black and white Christmas card that Jackie Huckstepp had made.  It made me want to make some black and white Christmas cards myself!  I know they're probably not everyone's cup of tea but I have a thing for black and white cards, I'm always drawn to them and I think it's a very elegant combo.  I decided to use white card bases and not overdo the black.  Some sparkle was absolutely essential of course!

First up is this sparkly number using the SU! Patterned Pines set which is a retired USA hostess set.  I love the images in this set, the patterned trees and gorgeous snowflake especially!  I embossed a piece of white CS with a snowflake embossing folder, leaving a plain piece at the bottom for a sentiment.  After stamping the trees I patted my VersaMark ink pad all over the panel, sprinkled Stamp 'n Bond powder on, heat set that to get it sticky, sprinkled on the glitter, patted it down with a piece of paper and gave it a quick blast with the heat gun to set the glitter.  I attached the sparkly panel to the black mat with brads and popped it up over the embossed panel.  I stamped the sentiment and before attaching the panel to the card front I wrapped some black swirly sheer ribbon around and tied it in a knot.

Inside I glued a stamped and cut out tree.  The tree image in the Patterned Pines set has three trees on the one stamp, I masked off two and just stamped the one I wanted for inside the card.  I stamped a sentiment, added two poinsettia scrolls and stamped a snowflake on the envelope flap.  The snowflake and poinsettia scroll are also stamps from the gorgeous Patterned Pines set.

 

I stayed with a trio of trees for my next card but this time I've used die cuts rather than stamps.  The trees were made with two sizes of dies from the Sizzix plain pennants Framelits die set.  I've used patterned papers from the SU! Night and Day pack and I cut strips of black CS for tree trunks.  Again I embossed my white panel with a snowflake folder and left a plain piece at the bottom for a sentiment.  The trees are popped up.  This card got black and white gingham ribbon tied in a bow and the sparkle comes from clear rhinestones.

Inside the card I stamped a sentiment and some of those gorgeous snowflakes.  As I did for the previous card, I stamped a snowflake on the envelope flap but I haven't included that in the photo.

Supplies for glittered trees card:
Stamps: SU! Patterned Pines set, front sentiment from Personal Impressions Christmas Messages clear set, inside sentiment from Stampendous Christmas Wishes clear set
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark
Tools: Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder, paper piercer, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: Stamp 'n Bond powder, SU! Dazzling Diamonds, SU! Vintage Brads, black swirly sheer ribbon, 3d foam tape

Supplies for die cut trees card:
Stamps: Sentiments from Hero Arts Very Merry Christmas clear set, snowflakes from SU! Patterned Pines set
CS: PaperMania white square card blank, SU! Basic Black & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Night & Day Designer Series Paper pack
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Sizzix 'Banners, Pennant Plain' Framelits dies, Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: black & white gingham ribbon, clear rhinestones, 3d foam tape

More Snow Globe Cards

I've been playing with Lesley's snow globe stamp again.  The other day when I was looking at the stamp wondering what to do with it the idea of a Christmas pudding came to mind.  I stamped the globe on Close to Cocoa CS, cut off a piece from the bottom, added currants by filling in the dots with a black marker and then sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.  I stamped the bottom part of the base of the snow globe onto Baja Breeze CS, cut it out, sponged with Baja Breeze ink and glued that to the pudding as a dish.  I then punched and snipped some holly, added some veining detail with an embossing stylus, popped up the leaves and added deep red nailheads as berries.  The pudding is popped up on the Crumb Cake layer.

I knew I wanted to use the 'Merry Christmas' stamp from my clear Stampendous set which has a gorgeous retro font.  I LOVE this font muchly!  The stamp has a line of text ('and best wishes for the coming year')underneath in a small plain font but I masked that off before inking.  I think adding the Wonky Rectangle die cut mats has added to the retro feel of the card as well.  I embossed a piece of Core'dinations red CS with the Sizzix 'Sugar' embossing folder and then scuffed the embossing with fine sandpaper.  This particular paper doesn't have a pale core, the core is still a deep red so the scuffing has only produced a subtle effect.

The Stampendous clear set I've used has some lovely sentiments but also includes some very pretty holly images.  I've used a couple for inside the card and another for the envelope flap. I've used markers to colour in the leaves and berries.

For the next card, I'm using the stamp as a snow globe again.   I was going through my Christmas stamps looking for images that would fit inside the globe and I came across this sweet Elzybells penguin stamp.  I stamped him on Whisper White CS and added a bit of colour with SU! inks and a blender pen.  I cut him out and glued him flat to the globe. I've added crystal glitter flakes to the snow globe again and also stamped a wooden base for the snow globe and that's popped up.  I cut a small piece of double sided sticky sheet, peeled off the backing, stuck it to a piece of SU! Basic Gray CS and punched the star.  I peeled off the other backing layer from the star and added Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  That penguin needs something to look at!  I used a clear Sakura Stardust pen to add shimmer to the snow dots inside the globe.

Having finished the snow globe element it was time to make the card and I decided to make a kick stand card which is sort of a reversed tent topper card.  The fold is at the top and the open card rests on the snow globe.  I used Baja Breeze CS to make the A6 sized card and I chopped 1 5/8" off the bottom and added a Basic Gray strip.  I'm really not a lover of grey on cards but I'd coloured the penguin image in first and then wanted to match that and I thought black might be too much.  So I tried the Basic Gray CS and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it paired with Baja Breeze!  I cut a square of Baja Breeze CS and embossed it with a snow flurry embossing folder after first inking the folder with Baja Breeze ink.  I sponged the edges and added clear gems to the snowflake centres.  I stamped the sentiment in Baja Breeze and Basic Gray inks and then cut the sentiment apart and cut out the Baja Breeze 'joy', 'hope' and 'wonder' words separately and glued them over the top.  All 3 sentiment pieces are popped up.

Inside the card, I stamped a snowflake border at the bottom and added a grey strip.  I stamped a sentiment, added stamped snowflakes and used square Nestie dies to mat and layer.  I also stamped the snowflake border on the envelope front and added a grey CS strip.  I hope Lesley likes what I've done with her snow globe stamp and I have a sneaking suspicion I may be asking to borrow it in the future!

Supplies for pudding Merry Christmas card:
Stamps: Personal Impressions 'Snow Globe', Stampendous 'Christmas Wishes' clear set
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke & Close to Cocoa, Core'dinations Fired Brick CS
Ink: SU! Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive & Riding Hood Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Wonky Rectangle Nestabilities dies, Sizziz 'Sugar' embossing folder, Martha Stewart Holly Branch punch, sponge daubers, embossing stylus
Embellishments & accessories: deep red self adhesive nailheads, 3d foam tape

Supplies for penguin snow globe kick stand card:
Stamps: Personal Impressions 'Snow Globe', penguin from Elzybells, sentiments from Penny Black, snowflakes from Butterfly Kisses 'Snowy Christmas' clear set, Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain DesignBlock stamp
CS: SU! Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Creamy Caramel & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso & Bashful Blue, blender pen
Tools: snow flurry embossing folder from Cuttlebug 'Winter Wonderland' set, brayer, Woodware star punch, square Nestabilities dies
Embellishments & accessories: Woodware double sided sticky sheet, Cosmic Shimmer Iced Crystal Glitter Jewels, SU! Dazzling Diamonds, clear gems, Sakura Clear Stardust pen, 3d foam tape

Snowman Snow Globe Easel Card

Lesley, my friend from card group, has had this Personal Impressions snowglobe stamp for ages and was at a loss as to what to do with it.  I asked if I could borrow it to see what I could come up with.  I decided to pair it with a Hero Arts snowman stamp and made an easel card.

The card measures 4 3/4" square and I used Crumb Cake CS for the base.  I stamped the snowman on watercolour paper and after colouring him in with inks and a blender pen I cut him out.  He was a tad too tall so I cut a slit along the snow line in the globe, slid the snowman into the slot and glued him flat to the globe.  I stamped the snowy bit separately on some Whisper White CS, trimmed it and popped it up with 1mm foam tape.  I stamped the snowglobe base on Creamy Caramel CS, overstamped that with a woodgrain pattern in Espresso ink, cut it out, sponged the edges with Creamy Caramel ink and popped that up with 2mm foam tape.  I've added crystal flakes to the snowy bit of the globe and Star Dust Stickles to the snowy dots inside the globe.

I cut a panel of Riding Hood Red CS for the card front and embossed it with a dotty folder, popped up the image on square Nestie die shapes, added some brads and mounted the image panel to the front of the easel.  For the easel stop, I stamped a large greeting on a strip of Crumb Cake CS, added a Riding Hood Red scalloped border and popped it up with foam tape.  I punched 3 Baja Breeze snowflakes, glued those to the sentiment strip and added some rhinestones.

For inside, I added another red scalloped strip glued flat to the card and stamped some snowflakes in Riding Hood Red ink. That's where I will write my message. I stamped the same snowflakes on the envelope flap.  I hope this inspires Lesley to have a go with her snowglobe stamp.  I know I'm going to use it a couple more times while I have the chance!

Supplies:
Stamps: Personal Impressions Snow Globe, Hero Arts 'Let It Snow' snowman cling stamp, Woodware 'Wishing You' single clear stamp, snowflakes from Butterfly Kisses 'Snowy Christmas' clear set, Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain DesignBlock stamp
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze & Whisper White, watercolour paper
Ink: VersaFine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Creamy Caramel, Early Espresso & Basic Gray
Tools: Square & Lacy Square Nestabilities dies, SU! Scalloped Border punch, Woodware small snowflake punch, Crafts Too 5 x 5 Dots embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Vintage brads, Star Dust Stickles, Cosmic Shimmer Iced Crystal Glitter Jewels, clear rhinestones, 1mm & 2mm foam tape

Fern & Butterflies Happy Birthday Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #24

What a lovely challenge Simply Stampin' has for us this week - Flutterby Butterfly.  I combined butterflies from the gorgeous Beautiful Wings embosslits die with one of my favourite stamp images, the fern from the Growing Green stamp set.  I also tried something that I've been wanting to do for ages - use the H from the Hope stamp from the Strength and Hope stamp set and add on 'appy birthday'.  It worked out rather well I think!

My card is a side opening A6 landscape card made with Marina Mist CS.  I opted for a serene green and blue colour combo for this card.  I stamped the fern on watercolour paper in Wasabi ink, patted my Wasabi ink pad onto a ceramic tile and then used a wet paintbrush to pick up the ink and colour in the leaves.   I then sponged Marina Mist ink on the panel.  Using a sponge dauber, I applied Platinum Shimmer Paint to the embossed areas of the die cut butterflies.  If you shake the bottle of paint you'll get some in the lid, I dab my dauber in the lid to pick up the paint - you don't get too much that way.  I've popped up the butterfly wings a tad and added rhinestones.  I added Night of Navy and Wasabi punched photo corners - the photo corners punch is on the retired list, what are Stampin' Up! thinking?!  It certainly won't be retired in my house LOL!  I used markers for the sentiment so I could easily ink just the parts I needed.  After trimming the Whisper White panel I sponged Marina Mist ink onto it and added a couple more butterflies.  Couldn't resist popping a rhinestone on the photo corner to finish off the front!

I then cut a panel of Whisper White CS for inside the card.  I stamped the fern in Wasabi ink and I've popped up a flower that I stamped on Marina Mist CS.  I sponged the edges of the white panel and the flower with Marina Mist ink.  I stamped another fern on the envelope to finish off.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Growing Green, Strength & Hope & Curly Cute sets
CS: SU! Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Wild Wasabi & Marina Mist
Tools: Petite Oval Nestabilities dies, SU! Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, SU! Photo Corners punch, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Platinum Shimmer Paint, rhinestones & dimensionals

Sponged Silhouettes Just For You Card - Simply Stampin' #23 Challenge

This week's Simply Stampin' Challenge is a colour combo challenge - Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue and Whisper White.  I've always liked Bashful Blue and Melon Mambo is a true favourite of mine but it took me a long time to warm to Perfect Plum.  I think I've always used it with Old Olive or Elegant Eggplant so this colour combo was quite a reach for me, a real challenge but I'm really glad I tried it!  As the combo was enough of a challenge I decided to make things easier by using one of my favourite sets, the gorgeous Just Believe set.

My card is an A6 landscape easel card made with Bashful Blue CS.  I punched a 1" circle as a mask for the moon and then got sponging with my Bashful Blue and Perfect Plum inks using a torn piece of CS as a mask.  I then stamped the silhouettes in Perfect Plum ink.  I used an edge distressing tool on the white panel and sponged the edges with Plum ink.  I've matted on Melon Mambo and Plum layers and added brads and a sentiment.  For the bottom of the card, I added some Bashful Blue patterned paper to a Plum mat, added a Melon Mambo Scalloped border and used three flowery circles to act as a stop for the easel.  I stamped one circle in Bashful Blue and two in Perfect Plum - stamping off the Plum ink once first.

I then stamped a message panel and sponged the edges.

Finally, I stamped the front of the envelope.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Just Believe set
CS: SU! Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Bashful Blue Prints DSP pack
Ink: SU! Bashful Blue & Perfect Plum
Tools: SU! Scallop Border punch, circle punches & Word Window punch, edge distressing tool, sponges and sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Vintage brads, dimensionals