Touch Of Nature Happy Birthday Grid Card

I never got into inchies when they became popular but I really liked the grid sketch featured on the Simply Stampin' challenge blog a couple of weeks ago.  It occurred to me that it would be a great way to use multiple stamps from a set.  I thought my neglected Touch of Nature set would be a good choice and I decided to make it a square grid card with 9 squares.  I also chose to go for a distressed and shabby look to the card.

I started off by stamping images in Early Espresso ink onto Very Vanilla CS and I cut out the squares.  I then stamped a dotty stamp from the Itty Bitty Backgrounds set on the squares with Crumb Cake ink, applied So Saffron ink with a sponge dauber and edged each square with Early Espresso ink. I stamped a framed sentiment for my centre panel of the grid and I added tiny punched leaves and flowers.  I made a 5 3/4" square More Mustard card base and I arranged the squares on the front, popping up the centre panel.  I've put a tiny pearl in the centre of each flower.  I used a Nestie die to cut my squares and they measure 1 6/8" (4.5 cms) square.

I glued a Very Vanilla panel inside the card after stamping and sponging the corners and edges.  I then added the framed Best Wishes sentiment.  I really love the leafy stem stamp in the Touch of Nature set and I used it for a circular element to go on the flap of the envelope to finish off. 

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! A Touch of Nature, Frames with a Flourish & Itty Bitty Backgrounds set, 'Happy Birthday' from Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It With Style clear set, 'Best Wishes' & frame from Hero Arts Luscious Frames clear set
CS: SU! More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke & So Saffron
 Ink: SU! Early Espresso, Crumb Cake & So Saffron
Tools: Square Nestabilities die, circle punches, flower punch from SU! Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, tiny Woodware leaf punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: pearls, 3d foam pads

CAS-ual Fridays CFC38 Movie Inspired Challenge Card

This week at CAS-ual Fridays the challenge is 'On the Red Carpet' and you're to make a card inspired by a movie.

 
What a fab challenge, it should produce some very interesting results!  I've chosen my favourite film, Moulin Rouge.  I loved Baz Luhrmann's Strictly Ballroom and Romeo and Juliet films and couldn't wait to see Moulin Rouge when it came out, the 3rd film in the so called 'Red Curtain Trilogy'.  I met hubby after he finished work one evening and we went to see it.  I was completely blown away by the sheer joyous madness of it!  Spectacular, spectacular indeed!  After the film ended I got up, walked out the exit and walked straight back into the cinema foyer and bought tickets for us to see the film again at the next showing later that night. I saw Moulin Rouge about 6 times in 2 weeks as I went with various friends to see it.  It was so funny, so sad and utterly entertaining, I fell completely under its spell, I loved that film so much -  and I still do!

Come what may, I was determined to make a card for this challenge inspired by my favourite film and when I went to my craft room to make my card I put the soundtrack CD on to inspire me further.  The first song is Nature Boy and that gave me the wording for my card.  I computer generated the words using the 3-DGoldRush font.  I used that gorgeous heart stamp from the SU! You Are Loved set again.  I wanted the heart to be black and I wanted to emboss it but I couldn't find my black embossing powder - nor could I find a black pigment ink pad.  However, the show must go on, so onto plan B - I inked the stamp in VersaMark ink, then in VersaFine Onyx Black ink, stamped  and then heat embossed the image with clear powder.  I used square Nesties for the mat and layer.  I glued a strip of red glimmer paper to the card before attaching the square.  I then cut the sentiment apart, applied the strips, stamped the Love image, cut it out with an oval punch and popped it up.  The character Satine in the film was known as the Sparkling Diamond of the Moulin Rouge and the film features the song Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend so adding some clear rhinestones to the card was a must!  "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love...

...and be loved in return."  So for inside the card I finished off the sentiment by gluing my die cut onto a black CS strip.  I then added a red, sparkly scalloped border and a punched sparkly heart with a rhinestone.  I wasn't entirely sure how my scallop punch would handle the SU! glimmer paper but it worked fine - phew! For the envelope flap, I stamped the heart and punched part of it out with the SU! Full Heart punch. 

Right, I'm off to make a cuppa, grab the tissues and load up the DVD player!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! You Are Loved set
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Real Red, Basic Black & Whisper White, SU! Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: VersaMark, Versafine Onyx Black, SU! Real Red
Tools: Square Nestabilities dies, SU! Scallop Edge Border, Full Heart & Large Oval punches, X Cut heart punch, Hero Arts 'Small Tag Frame' Frame Cuts die
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Basic Rhinestones, clear embossing powder, SU! Dimensionals

Heart Thinking Of You Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #45

This week it's a 'Heartfelt' theme challenge at Simply Stampin'.  I hope you will come along and play with us this week, it will be lovely to come and see what you create!  I really fell for the You Are Loved set in the mini catalogue when I saw it and even though I knew it wasn't wholly practical with it being a Valentine's set I decided to buy it anyway,  that heart is just so gorgeous!  My fab demo Joanne delivered my goodies to me on Tuesday afternoon and I dashed upstairs to my craft room immediately to use my new set.  I thought that beautiful heart stamp would be ideal for my Heartfelt challenge card.  

I decided to colour the heart with various colours so I got out my markers.  After a minute or two I was thinking maybe just one colour would have been a wiser choice LOL!  Then after I'd stamped the image and I saw how pretty it came out I was so glad I'd made the effort! I wanted to let the heart take centre stage so I've kept to a very simple layout.  I've used Old Olive for the 5 1/4" square card base with Perfect Plum, Rose Red and Marina Mist for the mat layers.  I cut around the heart and added a few rhinestones.  I stamped the sentiment and used the 1 1/4" square punch to make the banner shape at the end of the Whisper White strip.  I added a Perfect Plum brad to the banner, attached it to the heart and then popped the heart and banner up on the Marina Mist mat - I also popped up the Rose Red mat. 

I came to decorate the inside of the card and envelope as I usually do and then kicked myself for not having ordered the matching Love Blossoms wheel 'cos it would have been perfect - never mind, I'll get it next month!  I inked the flower stamp with Old Olive and Rose Red markers, stamped it on the white panel inside the card and stamped it again to make a circular element for the envelope flap.

We got a note card from Julie, Owen's cousin, just recently and she said "I wanted to write and thank you for the lovely cards you always send at Christmas.  They are so lovely Ruth and admired by everyone".  Awwww, that was so nice, I was chuffed to bits!  She went on to say she'd had to have a knee operation and was convalescing and it would take quite a few weeks for her to recuperate fully.  So I'm sending this card to Julie to say we're thinking of her and wishing her well - hope she likes this card too!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! You Are Loved set
CS: SU! Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Marina Mist & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Rose Red, Marina Mist & Basic Black
Tools: SU! square & circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Basic Rhinestones, SU! Perfect Plum brad, SU! Dimensionals

February 2012 Card Group Projects - 3 Masculine Cards

Wait - 3 masculine cards?!  I hardly ever make male cards but once I'd made the first one I decided to keep the masculine theme going.  The ladies at card group were surprised LOL!

I made this flower card a little while ago, I love the popped up negative shape layer and I really wanted to make a masculine version using my PTI leaf dies.  The 3 largest dies in the set have such nice shapes, perfect for this technique.  The leaf dies are bigger than the flower dies so this card has a more CAS feel as there wasn't room for a mat layer.  CAS for masculine cards is good though - and I left off the butterfly LOL!  I started off by choosing patterned paper to go underneath the popped up layer - it's interesting how some papers look so much better than others for this, it's worth taking the time to select the right pattern!  The reverse of this paper is a large houndstooth design which looked awful behind the leaves!  I glued the paper to the card base, cut a square of Chocolate Chip CS and cut out the 3 leaf shapes.  I've popped up the Choc Chip panel and added the sentiment to finish the front.

I didn't want to discard the 3 positive leaf shapes so I used one of them for inside the card and another for the envelope.  I know it's hard to see in the photo but both these leaves were embossed with the Victoria embossing folder to add some texture.

I kept the 3rd leaf shape plain to use on our second card.  I spritzed the leaf with water, scrunched it up, unfolded it, scrunched it up again and then I ended up with a rugged textured leaf.  While the shape is wet it's really soft and pliable but once dry it becomes hard so keeps its texture and shape nicely.  While the leaf was drying I tore the patterned paper, applied mustard ink to the edge, glued that to the card front and added an artichoke strip.  I stamped a woodgrain stamp on the More Mustard Wonky Square panel with mustard ink, mounted that onto an Always Artichoke Wonky Square and stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso ink.  I attached the leaf to the Wonky Square panel with glue dots.

I saw this fab card made by Lisa on Pinterest and it just tickled me no end that a flower stamp had been used on a masculine card as part of a tree - very clever!  Of course, you know that meant that I had to buy the flower stamp LOL!  I used my tree trunk stamp, grass punch and cloud dies to make a little scene for my card and added a sentiment.  I inked the stamp with Pear Pizzazz ink and then added Old Olive ink around the edges with a sponge dauber.  I cut out the tree with a circle Nestie die, debated whether to leave the circle plain but in the end opted to fussy cut round the shape and I popped it up.  I sponged Baja Breeze ink around the clouds and the largest cloud is popped up.

Supplies for 3 leaves birthday wishes card:
Stamps: birthday wishes from SU! Wow Flowers set, inside sentiment from Hero Arts Friends are Treasures cling set
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Chocolate Chip & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Echo Park Green Damask
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Adirondack Lettuce
Tools: PaperTrey Ink Leaf Prints Collection dies,  SU! Word Window & Modern label punches, Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories:  3d foam tape


Supplies for textured leaf best wishes card:
Stamps:  Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain background stamp, Best Wishes from Hobby Art
CS: PaperMania cream square card blank, SU! More Mustard, Always Artichoke & Chocolate Chip
Patterned paper: SU! Haiku DSP pack
Ink: SU! More Mustard & Early Espresso
Tools:  Wonky Square Nestabilities dies, PaperTrey Ink Leaf Prints Collection die, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: glue dots


Supplies for tree great day card:
Stamps: Hero Arts Small Solid Flower & Tree Trunk stamps, sentiment from Penny Black
CS: SU! Pear Pizzazz, Bashful Blue, Creamy Caramel & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive & Baja Breeze, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools:  Circle Nestabilities die, Memory Box Puffy Clouds die, Martha Stewart Grass border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories:  3d foam pads

Sunset Spirit Of The Season Card - 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Embellishment Challenge

My friend Kelly sent me a link to a Christmas card challenge blog - the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown challenge blog.  I really like the idea of getting a head start on Christmas cards this year and making one a week is easily achievable.  Every year I say I'll carry on making Christmas cards after it's all over but I've never managed it yet - I'm usually sick of them by then and really can't face making any more!

Another idea that appeals to me about this challenge is that I will use what I have in my Christmas stash rather than being seduced by new goodies.  The theory is that come September when the new Christmas stuff is hitting the shops I won't need to buy any of it 'cos I'll have the majority of my Christmas cards made.  That's the theory anyway - we'll see the reality later on LOL!  I'm certainly not going to make any promises after I said I wasn't going to buy any Christmas stuff in 2011 - and failed miserably!  I think taking part in this weekly challenge is a step in the right direction though and I hope I can be disciplined to keep at it!

Kelly sent me a beautiful easel card for Christmas, I just fell in love with it and had to buy the Kanban Enjoy the Spirit of the Season set immediately. It's such a lovely set, the frame stamp has so much detail - gorgeous!   I stamped the frame, sentiment and Santa onto white CS and then got inky with various Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  I used a craft mat and the foam applicator tool to apply the inks, swirling them on in a circular motion.  After I'd finished inking I trimmed the panel to size and applied a generous spritzing of Champagne Mist alcohol spray for lots of sparkle.  I matted the panel onto black CS and attached it to a Riding Hood Red 5 3/4" square card base.  I used the Sizzix 'Brackets' On the Edge die to cut a black decorative border and I applied the negative piece to the card base.  This week's challenge is an embellishment challenge and you must use at least 3 sparkly rhinestones.  I added 3 rhinestones to my bracket edge and applied more to my sentiment frame.  Some ribbon finished off the card front.

I stamped a white panel for inside the card and stamped the Santa, sleigh and reindeer image on the envelope flap to finish off.

It is so hard to capture the sparkle of the Champagne Mist spritz in a photo  - here's a close up so you can see a bit of the sparkle at least!

Supplies:
Stamps: Kanban Enjoy the Spirit of the Season clear set, PSX Snowflake Medley, sentiment from Penny Black
CS: SU! Riding Hood Red, Basic Black & Whisper White
 Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Fired Brick & Dusty Concord, SU! Riding Hood Red
Tools: Sizzix 'Brackets' On the Edge die, Ranger foam ink applicators & tool, craft mat, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint in an alcohol spritz, black satin ribbon, black & white gingham ribbon, SU! Basic Rhinestones

Faux Metal Top Note Butterfly Thanks Card

Faux Metal is a technique I haven't done in years.  When I first did it I'd build up several layers of embossing and then press a stamp into the molten powder.  I recently saw Diana's Faux Metal Tin Ceiling video tutorial on YouTube and it made me keen to have another go at the faux metal technique using an embossing folder.   It's a lot less fraught - embossing a cooled piece with a folder as opposed to putting a stamp into molten powder LOL!   While I really liked the tile effect that Diana produced I decided to use a Top Note die cut shape as my faux metal piece.

I die cut the Top Note from Sahara Sand CS, covered it with VersaMark ink and embossed with silver embossing powder - and I did that twice.  After the piece had cooled I ran it through my Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and I got this wonderful looking faux metal shape as a result - fab!

I didn't want to cover it up too much so I went with a die cut butterfly and a sentiment on a Night of Navy side opening A6 landscape card.  I chose the gorgeous patterned paper for the butterfly first and that led to me using navy and vanilla as my colour combo.  I scored lines on both sides of the butterfly body so I could put 3d foam pads under the wings to pop them up.  I used some Night of Navy ribbon as antennae and added  2 silver glimmer brads.  I used a Memory Box label die for the sentiment but cut off the outermost end parts and added rhinestones.  I sponged Night of Navy ink around the butterfly and the label before attaching them to the card.

Here's the inside and the envelope where you can see I used more of that gorgeous paper!  I really enjoyed making this, it was fun to revisit an old technique but use new tools with it.  Embossing folders hadn't been invented when I last did the technique - how on earth did we manage without them?!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Thank You Kindly set
CS: SU! Night of Navy, Sahara Sand & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: Prima 'Spring Tide' from the Madeline Collection
Ink: SU! Night of Navy, VersaMark
Tools: SU! Top Note & Beautiful Butterflies Bigz dies, SU! Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Memory Box Bistro Label die
Embellishments & accessories: silver embossing powder, SU! Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, SU! glimmer brads, SU! Basic Rhinestones, silver nailheads, 3d foam pads

Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub

While on Pinterest a while back I came across a recipe for a homemade lemon sugar hand scrub and decided I'd have a go at making some.  It's so easy to make, Stephanie gives the recipe and instructions on her blog post here. 

After I'd made it I must admit I found it a bit too oily for my liking.  So I scooped it all out of the jar, discarded about half of the mix and then I added more sugar and stirred in some Vaseline.  I will try using half olive oil and half Vaseline for the next batch I make up.  I also added a few drops of  lemon essential oil and some lemon zest.  Once I was happy with the texture and consistency I placed the mix back in the jar.   I've been using it for the past couple of  weeks and I really like it.  It's a lovely pampering treat if I get dry, chapped hands from being out in the cold or have had my hands immersed in water a lot.  It's perfect to use after I've got inky too!

I plan on making more scrub to give as gifts and I wanted to be able to decorate the jars.  I realised the fruit slice from the SU! Tart and Tangy set would be the perfect thing but I didn't buy that set when it was available.  So I had a look at eBay and picked up a used Tart and Tangy set for under £5 - marvellous!  I can now decorate my scrub jars!  I stamped my 3 slices with Memento Dandelion ink, punched them out with a 1 1/4" circle punch and added Dazzling Diamonds to the edges.  I attached the slices to a Crumb Cake circle which I'd stamped with the Victorian Lace background stamp in Soft Suede ink - popping 2 slices up.  I layered the Crumb Cake circle onto a larger Barely Banana circle.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Tart & Tangy set, SU! Victorian Lace background stamp
CS: SU! Barely Banana, Crumb Cake & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Dandelion, SU! Soft Suede
Tools: SU! 1 1/4" circle punch, circle Nestie dies
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dazzling Diamonds, Dimensionals