Christmas Tree Gift Tags - 52 CCT Anything Goes Challenge

This week at the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge blog it's Anything Goes.  Hope you'll join in with this fun challenge as you can let your imagination run riot and make whatever you fancy!  There's some fab inspiration from Jacqueline and Mynnette as usual so make sure you check their cards out.  I look forward to seeing what you come up with!

I've taken a break from a card and got a head start on some gift tags.   Every year my card group exchange Secret Santa gifts when we get together for the last meeting of the year in December.  I make tags for each member of the group - plus me - and on the day of the November get together we each draw a tag and that's the person we buy a Secret Santa gift for.  Typically, I remember the day before the November meeting date "aaaargh, I haven't made the gift tags yet!"  So I always end up making the tags in a rush which results in me getting stressed and grumpy - plus the tags have to be very quick and simple.  I've taken advantage of Anything Goes week to make my Secret Santa gift tags - no stress, no grumpiness and nicer tags!  How smug will I feel that I actually made them in advance come November LOL?!  Of course, I've made them so far in advance that I may well not be able to find them come November 'cos I won't remember where I've put them!

I needed 11 tags in all and so I split the process into stages and did one stage at a time until I had all my elements ready for assembling.  Actually, it worked out faster than I thought it would.  I used a Hero Arts stamp/die combo set, Sizzix tag dies and some punches.  My colour combo is Lucky Limeade, Real Red and Whisper White.  The dot ornaments on the trees were punched from sparkly SU! red Glimmer Paper.

First off I stamped the trees, then I die cut the trees and the rounded tag shapes.  I then punched the glitter dot tree ornaments and the snowflakes.  I cut my ribbon lengths - which was great fun with my playful cat Tingha on the desk LOL! I glued the tag shapes together, punched the ribbon holes and added the ribbon.  I glued the glitter dots on the trees, adhered the trees to the tags with 3d foam tape so they're popped up and added the punched snowflakes.  I printed all the names onto a piece of white CS, cut them all out with a circle punch, stamped a snowflake over the name on each circle and I glued the circles to the back of the tags.  To finish off I added rhinestone jewels to the snowflakes.

Here's all 11 of my assembled tags.

Here's just one front and back of a tag.

There's a reason I didn't put names on the front of the tags - it occurred to me that the tags would make a great topper to go on a card.  So rather than the tags just being thrown away after the gifts have been opened, everyone gets an element to go on a card!  Yep, feeling pretty pleased with myself right now LOL!  Just have to hope the ladies at card group like them!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts & Sizzix Joy Snowman stamp & die combo set
CS: SU! Lucky Limeade, Real Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! red Glimmer Paper
Ink: SU! Lucky Limeade
Tools: Christmas tree die from Hero Arts & Sizzix Snowman Joy stamp & die combo set, Sizzix Rounded Tags Framelits dies, 1/4" circle punch, 1 1/2" circle punch, Woodware small snowflake punch, Crop-A-Dile
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels, 3d foam tape

Two CAS Cards For Simply Stampin' Challenge #66

This week at the Simply Stampin' blog the challenge is to make a CAS (Clean And Simple) card.  To me, a CAS design means lots of white space, a clear focal point and few, if any, layers.  Using details like embossing and piercing add interest but not bulk to CAS cards.  The CAS style doesn't necessarily lead to a quick and easy card - as I discovered!  I first tried a one layer, masked and sponged card but that was too challenging as it turned out!  Many things went wrong so after several attempts - and a few choice words - I abandoned the one layer option!

So, for my first card I embossed a piece of Whisper White CS with a Designer Frames embossing folder and added the stamped vase of flowers from the Button Buddies set.  I trimmed the panel to size, stamped a separate vase, cut it out and popped it up.  I threaded white Baker's Twine through the holes of the flower buttons and attached them with glue dots.  I then popped the embossed panel up on the front of my A6 white card.  I stamped the sentiment and pierced a row of holes beneath to finish off the front.

For the inside of the card and the envelope I did some marker inking, stamping and punching.

Of course, you don't just have to use white CS for a CAS card, for my second card I've used Pink Pirouette CS for my card base.  I used my Simply Scoring tool to add some embossed lines and punching hearts from pretty Beau Château papers resulted in a simple and speedy card.  I offset Marina Mist CS hearts behind the paper hearts, popped the hearts up and added the pearls.  I thought the 'heartfelt thanks' was the perfect sentiment to go with the hearts and I stamped that in Soft Suede ink to finish off the front.

I used more pretty Beau Château papers for the inside of the card and the envelope.

  
I'd love to pop along and see your wonderful CAS creations for our challenge this week, so please do join us!  The other members of the design team are bound to have some fab cards to inspire you so make sure you check them out!

Supplies for it's your day! card:
Stamps: SU! Button Buddies & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets
CS: SU! Whisper White & Real Red
Ink: SU! Real Red, Tempting Turquoise & Pumpkin Pie
Tools: SU! Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Set, Mat Pack & paper piercer, plain & scalloped circle punches, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Brights buttons, white Baker's Twine, Dimensionals & glue dots

Supplies for heartfelt thanks card:
Stamps: SU! Sweetheart set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette, Marina Mist & Soft Suede
Patterned paper: SU! Beau Château DSP
Ink: SU! Soft Suede
Tools: SU! Full Heart, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" & 1 3/4" circle punches,  Simply Scored Scoring Tool
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Pearl Jewels, Dimensionals

 

Moonlit Teasels & Grass With Best Wishes Card

Nature silhouette stamps are a definite favourite of mine, I find them hard to resist and I recently succumbed to a new one which I received in the post this week.   This lovely teasels stamp is designed and made by Jacqueline (deezinesart) who runs the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge blog along with Mynnette.  I saw that Jacqueline had used her teasels stamp with the grass stamp from the SU! Inspired by Nature set to make a lovely card.  I already had the SU! set and was very happy to add the teasels to my collection! 

I made a punched circle mask for the moon, sponged with various colours of Distress Inks and stamped the teasels and grass. I sponged the edges of the panel with Chipped Sapphire ink and added a lovely pearly shimmer by spritzing Perfect Pearls mist over the panel.  I layered onto a black mat, stamped the sentiment and added the Marina Mist ribbon with a piece of Elegant Eggplant ribbon tucked into the knot and glued the panel to the card front.  To finish the front I added gems to the sentiment and ribbon knot.

Some simple stamping inside and on the envelope flap finished off the whole card.

I can't tell you how pleased I was after I finished this card 'cos I had major trials and tribulations earlier in the week trying to make a masked, sponged one layer silhouette card.  I was using the SU! Pocket Silhouettes set and no matter what I did something went wrong.  First I wasn't happy with my sponging then it was my stamping that went wrong and then when I got those right I got inky smudges on my pristine white card front - twice - grrrr!  So after several attempts I gave it up as a bad job!  I think this card came together so well for me as I didn't try the one layer this time and the silhouette images are larger and need fewer stampings so there's less potential for error!  I was chuffed to bits that this turned out well first time, phew!

Supplies:
Stamps: deezinesart Teasels, SU! Inspired by Nature set, Hobby Art Sentiments clear set
CS: PaperMania A6 white card blank, SU! Whisper White & Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire & Dusty Concord Distress Ink
Tools: SU! 1" circle punch, Perfect Layers, sponge applicators, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Marina Mist & Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbons, Perfect Pearls 'Perfect Pearl' mist, SU! Rhinestone Jewels

Inlaid Branches & Bird Warm Wishes Card

I saw this fab card made by Debby Hughes (limedoodle) on Pinterest and knew I wanted to CASE it and make my own version.  I started with a 5 1/4" square white card and die cut several branches out of a panel of Pear Pizzazz CS.  I then cut white branches to inlay into the pear panel - I taped them at the back to keep them in place.  I know you could just die cut branches and glue them over the top of a panel but I really like the look of the inlaid pieces, it's a subtle but polished look I think.  I rounded the corners of the card and the pear panel, added turquoise gingham ribbon and popped the pear panel up with 3d foam tape.  I stamped the 'Warm Wishes' onto white CS with Memento Espresso Truffle ink - this is a new colour for me, it's sort of a dark grey/brown - unusual but I like it!  I cut the sentiment out with a Labels Trio die, chopped off a tad at the left hand side and popped it up.  I then popped up the die cut bird and added some turquoise jewels to finish off.

I put a branch on the inside of the card and added a popped up birdie.  I used the SU! Decorative Label punch for the sentiment - I cut the top and bottom off a turquoise label and glued them to the pear shape to form a mat.  Isn't the "sending special wishes for a bright & beautiful day" such a lovely and versatile saying?  It comes from my newly purchased Hobby Art 'Sentiments' set - the sentiments in the set are lovely - warm and meaningful but not slushy!  I used the negative die cut shape from the birdie I used for inside the card, punched out a circle and popped the turquoise circle up over a white circle and then matted on a Pear Pizzazz circle for the envelope flap.

Supplies:
Stamps: 'Warm Wishes' from SU! Cheer & Wishes set, Hobby Art Sentiments clear set
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Espresso Truffle
Tools: Memory Box Woodland Branch & Nestled Bird dies, Spellbinders Labels Trio die, SU! Decorative Label & circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: turquoise gingham ribbon, Kaisercraft turquoise rhinestone jewels, 3d foam tape

Gilding Flaked Ferns Just For You Card For Michelle

Michelle from The Card Grotto wasn't very well recently and had a stay in hospital so I sent her this card to let her know I was thinking of her and wishing her well. Surprise, surprise - I've been gilding my ferns stamp again!  The gilding flakes look fab on black CS but I wanted to try it on something different so I went for a  neglected neutral - Sahara Sand.  Actually, I was surprised how well the gilding looks on Sahara Sand CS, it may just encourage me to use it more often!

I made the 5 3/4" square card base from Sahara Sand CS and added a mat of Early Espresso CS.  I layered the flaked fern panel onto Rich Razzleberry and Pool Party mats.  I used a Martha Stewart punch to cut out the butterflies, sponged the edges with ink and added rhinestone jewels.  I got the gorgeous aqua crochet trim from a lovely gift shop we visited in Salisbury when we had our trip to the New Forest recently - it's a perfect match for Pool Party!  I made a little trim tab for the image panel, taped it behind and added a large Razzleberry button.  I made the flower element with aqua Prima flowers - I added an antique brad and a rhinestone jewel to the flower centre.

Here's the inside and the envelope -with more flaked ferns!  I cut the sentiment out with a Labels Trio die and added tiny punched flowers with jewel centres to finish off.

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Three Ferns, Hero Arts Wishing You Well, Just for You from SU! Precious Butterflies set
CS: SU! Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry & Early Espresso
Ink: SU! Early Espresso & Rich Razzleberry
Tools: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, flower punch from  SU! Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Spellbinder's Labels Trio die, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: IndigoBlu FlitterGlu, Phat Foam, scoochy & Brighton Pier gilding flakes, aqua crochet trim, Prima E Line aqua flowers, SU! Antique Brad, SU! Rich Razzleberry button, SU! Rhinestone Jewels

Sparkly Tree Merry Christmas Card - 52 CCT Glitter Embellishment Challenge

Yay, it's time for seasonal sparkle at the 52 CCT blog this week - we're asking you to add glitter to your cards for this week's challenge!

I love sparkle and one of my fave techniques with glitter is to use double sided adhesive sheet to cover an entire stamped panel.  For this card I stamped the fir tree from the SU! Lovely as a Tree set in Night of Navy ink onto white CS, sponged the edges of the panel with the same ink, applied the double sided adhesive sheet and covered the panel with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  I never fail to have an an "ooooh, sparkly!" moment, no matter how many times I've done it before!  I press a piece of paper firmly over the panel and rub and that gets rid off the excess glitter so there's not too much shedding. I kept things very simple with a tried and tested layout.  I added some Island Indigo patterned paper, navy ribbon and layered my sparkly panel onto Island Indigo and Night of Navy mats.  I've added square silver brads to the corners of the white panel, popped the panel up and rounded the top right corner of the card.

Here's a close up of that sparkly goodness!

For the envelope I stamped a line of trees across the front, some with full strength ink and some stamped off.  I did the same inside the card and added a sentiment.  It's hard to tell from the photo but the inside and envelope have some sparkle too because I dotted the trees randomly  with glue and sprinkled on more Dazzling Diamonds.  I added a frame on the front of the envelope where I can write the recipient's name to finish off. 

Surely no-one can resist a sparkly seasonal card so I hope that means you'll join in with our challenge this week and get glitzy with your glitter!  I'd love to come and see what you've made!  Also, a reminder that the 52 CCT blog has a Design Team call going on in June - there's just a couple more weeks to go so get your entries in if you would like to apply for a spot on the team!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Lovely as a Tree, Seasonal Wishes & Four Frames sets, Stampendous 'Merry Wishes'
CS: PaperMania A6 white card blank, SU! Island Indigo, Night of Navy & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Island Indigo dotty paper from In Color DSP stack
Ink: SU! Island Indigo & Night of Navy
Tools: SU! Decorative Label punch, Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Crafty Notions double sided adhesive sheet, square silver brads, SU! Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, 3d foam tape

Leafy Birthday Wishes Kickstand Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #65

This week's challenge at the Simply Stampin' blog is to use this lovely colour combo.  I hope you can play along with us - don't forget you don't need the exact SU! colours, you can substitute similar colours if need be!  I thought this combo would be fab to use with my French Foliage set which I've been itching to get inky with after recently seeing some lovely cards made with the set!  It's been a while since I made a kickstand card and that's where my fancy took me with this card.

I cut a piece of Crumb Cake CS to the size of an A6 card, cut a strip the length of an A4 piece and 1 5/8" wide which I scored at halfway to make my kickstand piece.  I layered Limeade patterned paper and Bashful Blue CS onto the Crumb Cake panel.  Before gluing the kickstand to the back of the card I added a white scalloped Edgelit die cut border.  I stamped the Whisper White panel using Crumb Cake and Lucky Limeade inks and sponged Crumb Cake ink around the edges.  For the leaves I inked the stamps with Crumb Cake ink first and then added Limeade ink with a sponge dauber.  I then stamped five leaves separately, cut them out, glued them together in a cluster and popped it up.  I extended the width of the Word Window punched shape to fit on the Birthday Wishes sentiment - please see this post if you'd like an explanation of how to do that.  I also popped the sentiment up.  I used my Crop-a-Dile to punch 1/8" dots of Crumb Cake and Limeade CS and I added those to the scalloped strip.  To finish off the front, I added three flower shaped buttons to the leaf cluster after threading linen thread through the buttonholes.

I stamped a message panel for inside the card and stamped the right side of the front of the envelope. 

 This is such a lovely combo I'm sure you'll enjoy working with it and I'm looking forward to seeing your fab creations!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! French Foliage & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade, Bashful Blue & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Lucky Limeade paper from In Color DSP stack
Ink: SU! Crumb Cake & Lucky Limeade
Tools: Scalloped Edgelit Adorning Accents die, Word Window punch, Crop-A-Dile, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! flower shaped buttons from Brights pack,  Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Flower Pot Best Wishes Card For Migdalia

Migdalia (Creative M) has left some lovely comments for me and we've exchanged a few emails after I answered a question she had asked me about one of my cards.  When she left me a comment telling me it was her birthday that day I offered to send her a card - albeit a belated one!  I knew Migdalia liked the flower stem stamps from the Woodware 'Three Flowers' set so that's what I used for her card.

The card measures 5 3/4" square and I used Pool Party, Pretty in Pink and Basic Black as my colour combo.  The front of the card is shaped as I used an Edgelit die to trim off some of the Pool Party card front, I added a pink shaped piece and the ribbon and then I glued a strip of black CS inside the card.  I stamped on watercolour paper and coloured with inks and a water brush.  I stamped three flower heads separately, cut them out and popped them up.  I added a touch of twinkle to the flower centres with a silver Stardust pen.  I popped the flower pot up and added three black candy dots to the main panel to finish off the card front.

As I knew the card would arrive after Migdalia's birthday I used a non birthday sentiment - this Hero Arts 'Wishing you lots of everything wonderful' is one of my faves and is suitable for lots of occasions!  I added some teeny flowers with black gem centres to the label and stamped a circle element for the envelope flap.

I always like an opportunity to send a card to someone I've 'met' even if it's a virtual meeting over the web, especially if they've taken the time and trouble to leave me comments or email me!  Thank you Migdalia for the sweet email thanking me for the card - it was a joy to make it for you! 

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodware Three Flowers clear set, Hero Arts Lots of Wonderful, Kanban Floral Panels clear set
CS: SU! Pool Party, Pretty in Pink & Basic Black, watercolour paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Pool Party, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose & Lucky Limeade, Sakura silver Stardust pen
Tools: SU! Adorning Accents Edgelit die, Labels Four Nestabilities die, circle punches, flower punch from SU! Itty Bitty Punch Pack, water brush
Embellishments & accessories: stitched black & white ribbon, Pebbles Inc. black candy dots, black gems, 3d foam pads

Birdies "And Baby Makes Three" Congratulations Card

A friend of mine is expecting a little bundle of joy and I made this congratulations card for her.  Not a traditional baby congrats card I know but I fell in love with the sweet embossing folder and I thought it would work really well to convey "and baby makes three"!  I used three different colours of Core'dinations CS and scuffed all the embossing to bring out the details.  The card is A6 size and made with Crumb Cake CS.  I matted the embossed layer onto Early Espresso CS, added Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon and popped up the sentiment banner.  I cut out the birdies separately, added gem eyes and popped them up.

I found one complete 12" x 12" sheet of Magenta 'Robin's Nest' paper in my stash and thought it would be good to use it to make an envelope for the card to keep the birdie theme going.  I love my SU! Diagonal Plate for making envelopes and it might just mean I can make a dent in my paper stash!

I used a strip of the paper inside the card to tie it all together.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Curly Cute, So Happy For You & Four Frames sets
CS: SU! Crumb Cake & Early Espresso, Core'dinations Amazon, French Roast & light brown
Patterned paper: Magenta Robin's Nest
Ink: SU! Early Espresso
Tools: Crafts Too 'Tweet Tweet' embossing folder, MFT Fishtail Flags Stax die, SU! Decorative Label punch, Spellbinders Labels Trio die, SU! Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, corner rounder punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, rhinestone jewels, ultrafine sand paper, 3d foam pads

Flaked Background Thank You Card For Debbie & Mike

Another card I've made using gilding flakes - this time I've used them to make a background panel.  I adhered double sided adhesive sheet to a piece of CS, peeled off the other backing sheet, applied the gilding flakes, trimmed the panel to the size I wanted it and layered it onto a black CS mat.  For the image panel, I sponged Scattered Straw, Wild Honey and Spiced Marmalade Distress Inks onto white CS, stamped the flowers and sentiment using black ink and edged the panel with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.  Again I layered onto a black mat and I popped the mat up.  To finish off the front I applied three black gems.

Some more stamping finished off the inside of the card and the envelope.

 This card went to our fab friends Debbie and Mike to thank them for letting us accompany them to the New Forest recently.  Whether they will ever let us go with them again remains to be seen!  Owen and I have been looking for a piece of furniture for our living room for some time.  On the last day of our New Forest trip we went to Salisbury for the day and while there we found the ideal cabinet, it was the perfect size and just what we needed.  Debbie and Mike, with oodles of patience and good humour, went back to the park and ride car park to fetch the car, drove back to the town centre and collected the cabinet.  Later on they completely unpacked the car, put our cabinet in and repacked the car so we could bring our perfect piece of furniture home - bless their hearts!  I reckoned a thank you card was definitely in order! 
 
Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Thank You Kindly set, Hobby Art Just for You clear set, Hero Arts Sending You Love clear set
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Basic Black CS
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks
Tools: Hero Arts 'Small Tag Frame' Frame Cuts die,  Perfect Layers, sponge applicator tool, scoochy (sponge for burnishing the flakes)
Embellishments & accessories: IndigoBlu Brighton Pier gilding flakes, Crafty Notions double sided adhesive sheet, black gems, brads, 3d foam tape

Two Snowmen Cards - 52 CCT Theme Challenge Cards

This week at the 52 CCT challenge blog there is a snowman theme - fabulous, that's right up my street, I LOVE snowmen!   I've been spending more time in my craft room this week due to hubby watching the football games on TV.  It just so happened that I had two new snowmen stamps that needed to get inked up - so all in all it was easy for me to make two cards for this week's challenge!

First up was this 5 1/4" square black, white and red card using a popped up die cut panel - I love making cards with this technique at the moment!  I die cut the snowflakes from the black panel and then popped the panel up over the white mat layer.  I couldn't resist adding this unusual snowman stamp to my collection, I love the festive details on the image, there's Santa in his sleigh with reindeer, snowflakes, holly, trees and a candy cane.  I stamped the snowman, cut him out and popped him up.  I added a rhinestone brad to my Merry Christmas banner and placed rhinestone gems in the centre of the snowflakes.

Here's the inside with a stamped sentiment and a punched snowflake border.  I stamped the SU! 'Snowman Fun' wheel stamp on the front of the envelope - it always make me smile to use this fun stamp and see the resulting line of snowmen - the worried one whose neighbour has just melted tickles me no end!

Onto card two and isn't this snow couple stamp adorable?!  Such a happy image!  I stamped on watercolour paper and coloured with inks and a water brush.  It's a jumbo stamp so when you add a couple of layers you've got a card front more or less sorted.  The card measures 5 3/4" square and I've used Baja Breeze and Elegant Eggplant with white as my colour combo.  I stamped the sentiment and added a die cut snowflake.  To carry on the 'love' theme suggested by the snow couple and sentiment, I added a punched heart to the centre of the snowflake.  I added Crystal Effects to make it raised and shiny and popped a gem in the centre.  I added gems to the snowflake points too and popped the snowflake up.

Inside I carried on the love theme by using an appropriate sentiment and punched hearts.  The swirly snowflake border is included in the set with the snow couple, I stamped it again and punched out a circle for the envelope flap.

I had such a happy time putting these cards together - I hope you'll play along with us this week and get inky and happy with your snowmen too, I look forward to seeing what you make!  Check out Jacqueline and Mynnette's fab creations for this snowmen challenge too!

Supplies for Merry Christmas card:
Stamps: Inkadinkado Snowman, Merry Christmas from SU! Season of Joy set, inside sentiment from Penny Black, SU! Snowman Fun wheel
CS: SU! Riding Hood Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Groom Specialty paper
Ink: SU! Riding Hood Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Sizzix Mini Snowflakes Movers & Shapers dies, MFT Fishtail Flags Stax die, EK Success Snowflake border punch
Embellishments & accessories: rhinestone brad, rhinestone jewels, 3d foam tape

Supplies for snow couple card:
Stamps: Stampendous Snowfall Pair Jumbo Cling set, Personal Impressions Christmas Messages clear set, Hero Arts Merry Merry Christmas clear set
CS: SU! Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White, watercolour paper
Ink: SU! Baja Breeze, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie & Basic Gray, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Sizzix Snowflake Sizzlits die, small heart punch, circle punches, water brush, Perfect Layers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crystal Effects, rhinestone jewels, 3d foam pads

Fern & Flowers Hello Card - Simply Stampin Challenge #64

We have a sketch for you this week at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog - and it's a great one!

I've rotated the sketch and made a portrait orientated card.  I consulted my Colour Coach and chose Wild Wasabi, Rose Red and So Saffron as my combo - and I threw in some Early Espresso and Whisper White. I added texture to the Saffron panel by embossing it with the Square Lattice folder.  I sponged Wasabi ink onto Whisper White CS, stamped the fern, cut it out and sponged the edges with more ink.  I stamped the flowers, cut them out, sponged them with Saffron ink, edged them with Rose Red ink and used an Espresso marker to add colour to the dots in the centre of the flowers.  The fern and flowers are popped up.  For the four circles I used a stamp from the Mixed Bunch set plus the Hello stamp from the Precious Butterflies set - the Hello circle is popped up.

Here's the inside and the envelope.  I will use this as a note card so I haven't stamped a sentiment inside.  Quite a happy colour combo I must say, it makes for a bright and cheery card!

Do join in with our challenge this week and make a creation using this fabulous sketch layout - it really is a good one -  I'd love to pop by your blog and see what you've made!  If you don't have a blog we'd love you to share your work by email.  If you need inspiration there will be fab offerings from the rest of the design team so make sure you check those out too!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Growing Green, Mixed Bunch & Precious Butterflies sets
CS: SU! Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, So Saffron, Early Espresso & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, So Saffron & Early Espresso
Tools: SU! Square Lattice embossing folder, SU! Eyelet Border & circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Early Espresso taffeta ribbon, rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals

Flaked Ferns & Flutterby - Birthday Card For Jan No. 2

This is the birthday card I made for Jan's hubby Alan to give to her.  I've used two different gilding flakes and methods for this card.  The card measures 5 3/4" square.  I inked the fern stamp with FlitterGlu, stamped onto black CS and applied Morris Dance flakes.  For the butterfly, I cut a piece of double sided adhesive sheet, peeled off one backing and applied it to a piece of CS, die cut the butterfly, peeled off the other backing and applied Brighton Pier flakes.  There are so many colours in the gilding flakes so it was hard to choose a colour combo - in the end I plumped for Taken with Teal and Rose Red to go with the black.  After adhering the layers, I added a flower brad with a gem centre to the butterfly and popped  this up on the sentiment banner.  I added two gems to the sentiment and gold nailheads to the black corners.

A close up  of the gilding.

Here's the inside and the envelope.  I made an envelope using Taken with Teal patterned paper and I carried that through onto the inside of the card.  Making envelopes with the SU! Simply Scored Diagonal Plate is so quick and easy - fabulous!  I also punched Rose Red borders for the envelope and inside.  Lastly, I added a frame to the front of the envelope and used markers and a blender pen to colour in the roses.  I am pleased to say both Alan and Jan loved the card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Three Ferns, SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes & Four Frames sets
CS: SU! Basic Black, Taken with Teal, Rose Red & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Sweet Pea DSP
Ink: SU! Taken with Teal & Rose Red, blender pen
Tools: SU Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die, SU! Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border & Decorative Label punches, MFT Fishtail Flag Stax die, Perfect Layers, scoochy for burnishing flakes, SU! Simply Scored Diagonal Plate
Embellishments & accessories: IndigoBlu Morris Dance & Brighton Pier gilding flakes, FlitterGlu, Crafty Notions double sided adhesive sheet, SU! flower brad, rhinestone jewels, gold nailheads, Dimensionals

Butterflies Raised Panel - Birthday Card For Jan No. 1

It's my friend Jan's birthday today and this is one of two cards I made for the occasion.   I made this birthday card for us to give to Jan using some new goodies that Jan and I both bought at the Glitter Pot when we were there for the demo weekend.  I love die cutting or punching shapes in a panel and then popping the panel up.  Movers and Shapers dies are really great to use for this style of card and we both bought the butterfly set.  We also both bought the Tim Holtz embossing folders pack that contains the woodgrain and brick designs and I've used the woodgrain folder on my raised panel.

Patterned paper with a small design is perfect for placing underneath a cut out layer and I've used a Basic Grey Kissing Booth paper here which led to a colour combo of Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red. After die cutting the butterfly shapes I embossed the panel with the woodgrain folder, lightly brayered Soft Suede ink over the top and sponged the edges. I added three ribbon loops and a flower brad to the sentiment panel and popped that up.  I then added the punched photo corner and two small die cut butterflies to finish off the card front.

I stamped and decorated a panel for inside the card.

I also made an envelope with the patterned paper using the SU! Simply Scored Diagonal Plate - I love how a matching envelope ties everything together so nicely!  I used Labels Four Nestie dies and added a large butterfly cut from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Cheer & Wishes set, Hero Arts Yummy Treats clear set
CS: SU! Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette & Riding Hood Red
Patterned paper: Basic Grey Kissing Booth 'Pucker Up'
Ink: SU! Early Espreso & Soft Suede
Tools: Sizzix Mini Butterflies Movers & Shapers die set,  Sizzix Woodgrain embossing folder, brayer, SU! Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, SU! Photo Corners punch, Labels Four Nestabilities dies, SU! Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: brown & white gingham ribbon, SU! flower brad, jewel rhinestones, Dimensionals