Pecksniff's Inspired Card

My good friends Debs and Mike gave me this box of Pecksniff's Eau de Parfums as part of my birthday gift.

As soon as I saw it I thought, ooh, that would make a good card design so I knew a CASE would happen at some point.  I've paired River Rock with Basic Black and I've used a branch stamp from an old Hostess set, Garden Silhouettes.  I added a strip of black satin ribbon, tied a separate bow and attached it to the strip with a glue dot.  Hmmmm, River Rock is an SU! colour I'm not fond of, I've only just got round to buying an inkpad and some CS.  However, I have to say I'm pleased how this turned out.  Hubby said the card was "sparse and minimalist but still had something to say" - that sounded good to me!  Not bad seeing as how it was after midnight and he'd just come home from an 8+ hour shift at work, I was impressed with that critique LOL!

Here's the inside and envelope.  I do love that this was a great gift AND inspirational as well, you can't beat that!  Many thanks Debs and Mike! {{{{hugs}}}}

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Garden Silhouettes set, Hero Arts 'Fabulous Birthday'
CS: SU! River Rock & Basic Black
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Perfect Layers
Embellishments & accessories: black satin ribbon, glue dot

Robin On Snowy Branch Card - 52CCT Sketch Challenge #5

It's a great sketch this week at the 52CCT blog, I can see me using this layout again.  For my card I pulled out  my lovely Inkadinkado English Robin stamp - love it, he's so podgy!  I stamped the image on watercolour paper, coloured with inks and a wet paintbrush and added white Flower Soft to the branch as snow. Hmmm, it looks like the poor little robin has been out in a blizzard!  I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I used Real Red CS and glittered polka dot paper for my two strips and used a Fishtail Flag die on the dotty strip.  I popped the robin panel up and added 3 gold nailheads to finish off the front.

I stamped the robin again on a Very Vanilla panel for inside the card and added a sentiment. I stamped and punched a snowflake circle element for the envelope flap.  Feels good to have another Christmas card added to the box!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inkadinkado English Robin, SU! Contempo Christmas & Snowflakes sets, Stampendous Christmas Wishes clear set
CS: SU! Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Really Rust & Very Vanilla, watercolour paper
Patterned paper: SU! Holly Berry Bouquet DSP
Ink: VersaFine Vintage Sepia, VersaMark, SU! Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Really Rust & Basic Gray
Tools: MFT Fishtail Flags Stax die, circle punches, Perfect Layers
Embellishments & accessories: Polar White Flower Soft, gold nailheads, 3d foam tape

Hearts Thank You Card Plus A Bottle Topper Tag

This is the card I gave to our lovely friends Gill and Brett to say thank you for my birthday gifts.  They gave me a gift on my birthday and told me that an extra gift would be coming my way later on.  Brett has just got a new laptop and he very kindly passed his old one on to me!  I'm SO chuffed to have it - CASEing cards will be so much easier now I don't have to keep running downstairs to look at photos on the desktop PC!  I can do my blogging while at my desk, blog surf, look at eBay, Splitcoast Stampers, Pinterest and shop online as well - I'm so happy!  Owen is happy too - he gets to spend more time on the PC now I'm not hogging it LOL!

Heartfelt thanks were definitely in order so I used a hearts theme for their card.  I cut a square panel of SU! Shimmer White CS and stamped the dotty border and sentiment.  I punched several hearts from red Glimmer Paper and I punched one heart out at the bottom of the Shimmer White panel and glued a piece of red Glimmer Paper to the black panel.  I then popped up the Shimmer White square over the black square and glued it to the Real Red card base.  I popped 2 of the hearts up and added some rhinestone jewels to finish off the card front.

Here's the inside and the envelope.  I just HAD to use the 'thanks from the bottom of my heart' stamp for inside the card! 

I knew Brett had to spend quite a bit of time getting the laptop ready for me.  Also, when he first brought it over to me there were wireless connection problems so he had to take the laptop away again and do more tinkering.  As a thank you gift to him for all his efforts I gave him a bottle of vodka as that's his tipple of choice.  I decided to make a bottle topper tag as I've not made one before.  I used a Rounded Tag Framelits die to get an arched shape at the top - I first cut my CS to the width of the tag and threaded the CS strip through the die and ran it part way through my Big Shot so that only the top part was cut.  That way I could get a longer tag.  After scoring a line I used circle Nesties to make the hole to slip over the bottle neck and I added a Brushed Silver CS frame around the hole.  I added a Brushed Silver panel to the Real Red tag, embossed the bottom portion with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and added some Real Red ribbon.  I stamped the sentiment and flourish and used Nesties to cut the white and red circles out.  I'm quite pleased how this turned out seeing as it's my first attempt!

Supplies for card:
Stamps: SU! Borderlines, Thank You Kindly & Four Frames sets, Hero Arts Hugs 'n Hearts clear set
CS: SU! Real Red, Basic Black & Shimmer White
Patterned paper: SU! red Glimmer Paper
Ink: SU! Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU! Full Heart punch, Woodware heart punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Real Red grosgrain ribbon, rhinestone jewels, 3d foam pads

Supplies for bottle topper tag:
Stamps: sentiment from SU! Yummy set, flourish from Frames with a Flourish set
CS: SU! Real Red, Brushed Silver & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Real Red, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Sizzix Rounded Tags Framelits die, circle Nestabilities dies, SU! Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Real Red grosgrain ribbon

Bird Swing Birthday Card

It was our good friend Mike's birthday on Saturday and this is the card I made for him.  I knew I wanted to make a bird swing card but I wasn't sure about the colours to use.  I turned to the SU! Colour Coach for help and chose More Mustard, Night of Navy and Cajun Craze - I was surprised at how much I liked that combo, it's great for masculine cards! I did add some Old Olive with the leaves.

I die cut the swing card from More Mustard CS and added some Night of Navy patterned paper and ribbon plus a strip of Cajun Craze CS.  I used the SU! Language of Friendship set (an eBay U.S.A. purchase) to stamp the bird and then I punched out the bird and wing using the bird builder punch.  I sponged ink around the shapes to add a little definition and shading.  I sponged Bashful Blue ink onto a square of Very Vanilla CS, edged the square with Night of Navy ink, added some die cut leafy branches and popped the bird up.  I layered the Very Vanilla panel onto Cajun Craze and Night of Navy mats.

Here's the other side of the swing panel.  I used markers to ink the sentiment in different colours and I added a part of a leafy die cut shape.  I decorated the front of the envelope very simply with just some Night of Navy patterned paper and Cajun Craze CS strips.  I am very pleased to report that Mike loved the card!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Language of Friendship & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets
CS: SU! More Mustard, Night of Navy, Cajun Craze, Old Olive & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Night of Navy DSP from an old pack
Ink: SU! Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, More Mustard & Cajun Craze
Tools: Sizzix 'Card, Square Flip-its' die, Sizzix  Branch w/ Leaves medium Sizzlits die, SU! Bird Builder punch, square Nestabilities dies, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, 3d foam pads

Printed Petals Happy Birthday Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #58

This week at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog we have a lovely sketch layout for you.  Quite a versatile one I think and it would work equally well on a square card.

I rotated the sketch and made a portrait oriented A6 card.  My colour combo is Lucky Limeade, Rose Red, Marina Mist and Whisper White - very bright and cheery!  I thought it was about time I used my Printed Petals set as I've neglected it of late and it always makes me happy to get inky with these fun stamps.  I stamped the Marina Mist flower direct to the Whisper White panel, stamped the Rose Red and Limeade flowers separately and cut them out.  After punching out the Rose Red flower with the scalloped circle punch I snipped between each scallop so I could add some shaping to the flower.  I stamped the Happy Birthday in Rose Red ink.  I used the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch for my 3 strips and I added 3 flowers where the strips intersect.  All the flowers got a coloured brad in the centre and I popped the Rose Red flower up on Dimensionals.

I've used the matching Petite Petals wheel stamp for the inside and the envelope.  I added the lines above with a Marina Mist marker.  Three more flowers and a sentiment finished off the card.  For inspiration, do pop along to the blog to check out what the other design team members have made.  I hope you'll play along with us at Simply Stampin' and make a card with this fab sketch - I look forward to seeing what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Printed Petals & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets, Petite Petals wheel stamp
CS: SU! Lucky Limeade, Rose Red, Marina Mist &  Whisper White
Ink: SU! Lucky Limeade, Rose Red & Marina Mist
Tools: SU! 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & SU! brads, Dimensionals & glue dots

Button Tree Merry Christmas Card - 52 CCT Embellishment Challenge #4

This week it's an embellishment challenge at the 52 CCT blog.  We are to use buttons and/or bows.

I was a tad concerned I wouldn't get a 52 CCT card made in time this week but I managed to get a card made today!  My card base is 5 3/4" square and was made with SU! Mellow Moss CS.  I decided to use some buttons to make a Christmas tree shape and I threaded gold sparkly thread through the buttonholes and tied knots.  I die cut a Whisper White rounded tag and punched a Real Red flower pot.  I embossed the pot with a spotty embossing folder and sponged Cherry Cobbler ink over the embossing and around the edges.  I put 3d foam tape behind the pot - a 3mm depth strip in the centre and 1mm depth pieces at the side - so that the pot has a rounded shape to it.  The pot was taller than I wanted it so after applying it to the rounded tag I chopped off the excess.  I've added a stamped and punched sentiment circle and two gingham bows.  I love red and white gingham, it always seems so cheery!  I rounded just the top right corner of the card and added a gem to the dot over the i in Christmas.

I added a stamped and die cut sentiment circle inside the card.  I coloured the holly with markers and added white gel pen highlights to the berries.  I embossed a strip of Mellow Moss CS with the Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons folder for the front of the envelope to finish off.  Phew, I'm glad I got this card made in time, I really want to keep going with making my Christmas cards throughout the year.  I'm tickled that I've combined new and old goodies on this card, the Mellow Moss CS hasn't seen daylight for such a long time but it was an excellent match to the buttons.  I haven't used the Holly Ribbons embossing folder in ages either - the spotty embossing folder I used on the pot is brand new, part of my birthday gift from the lovely Kelly. Actually, it's down to Kelly that I'm taking part in the 52 CCT challenges as she was the one who told me about the challenge.  Mind you, she's never taken part herself, naughty girl LOL!

Supplies:
Stamps: sentiments from Stampendous
CS: SU! Mellow Moss, Real Red & Whisper White
 Ink: SU! Cherry Cobbler & Real Red & Mellow Moss markers
Tools: Woodware large flower pot punch, Sizzix Rounded Tag Framelits die, 1 1/2" & 1 3/4" circle punches, Crafts Too Spots embossing folder, Cuttlebug Holly Ribbons embossing folder, circle Nestabilities dies, Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: American Crafts buttons, gold sparkly thread, gingham ribbon, rhinestone jewel, 3d foam tape

May 2012 Card Group Projects

We had our May card group get together and as well as making 3 cards we had a bring and buy sale with our unwanted crafty goodies.  Our first card was a swing card made with my new Flip-its die and a Hero Arts stamp and die combo set.  I cut the swing card from Perfect Plum CS and the mat and die cut border are Always Artichoke CS.  I stamped the images onto Confetti White CS using Elegant Eggplant ink for the flowers and Always Artichoke for the butterfly.  The flowers are popped up.  I stamped the flowers along the side of the card in Perfect Plum ink.

Here's the other side of the swing panel - a stamped sentiment and butterfly on a Confetti White panel.  I took a variety of sentiment stamps so the ladies could choose what occasion they wanted to use the card for.

Up next is a bright and breezy birthday bunting card.  I stamped the sentiment, die cut the clouds, sponged them with Bashful Blue ink and attached some string to the Bashful Blue CS square.  I stamped the plain pennants in Tempting Turquoise and punched the scalloped pennants from Melon Mambo CS.  I popped the pennants up and added the stamped circles.  I stamped the birdie in Early Espresso ink on Bashful Blue CS, cut him out and popped him up.  

Last week I was at the Glitter Pot with Lesley who comes to card group and we both loved this gorgeous Magnolia patterned paper when we saw it and I said I'd use it for a card group card. As I knew we'd need some time for the crafty goodies part of the afternoon I kept this card super simple and fast!  I used an X Cut punch to cut out 5 postage stamp shapes and I popped 2 of them up.  The butterfly was punched from Early Espresso CS and the sentiment was stamped in Early Espresso ink.  Some gems added to the butterfly finished off the card.  Clean, simple and fast but pretty all the same!

Supplies for swing card:
Stamps: 3 Butterflies Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp and die combo set, 'Warm Wishes' from SU! Cheer & Wishes set
CS: SU! Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke & Confetti White
Ink: SU! Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke & Elegant Eggplant
Tools: Sizzix 'Card, Square Flip-its' die, dies from Hero Arts/Sizzix 3 Butterflies stamp & die combo set, MFT Dainty Lace Border die
Embellishments & accessories: 3d foam pads


Supplies for bunting birthday card:
Stamps: SU! Pennant Parade & Curly Cute sets
CS: PaperMania square white card base, SU! Bashful Blue
 Ink: SU! Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Early Espresso & Bashful Blue
Tools: SU! Petite Pennants Builder punch,  Memory Box Puffy Clouds die, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: string, 3d foam pads


Supplies for butterfly birthday card:
Stamps: SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes set
CS: PaperMania A6 white card base, SU! Early Espresso
Patterned paper: Magnolia Blue Heart Flowers paper
Ink: SU! Early Espresso
Tools: X Cut postage stamp punch, Craft Tonic butterfly punch
Embellishments & accessories: rhinestone jewels