So Glad

Have you ever bought a paper pad or pack that you love so much you never want to use it? I have two - For the Record (Echo Park), and Portrait (Crate Paper). But as I see more and more lovely papers from so many companies that I love, I realise that it's gotta be out with the old and in with the new! So this card comes from the For the Record collection. Because of the bold backgroud pattern, I decided not to go overboard with the layers.  

Stamps: Polka Dot Greetings (My Favourite Things)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Papers: For the Record (Echo Park)

Accessories: Petaloo flower, Stampin Up twine, Kaisercraft pearls, Spellbinders label, button (unknown)

CAS Birthday

Hi there! This card is for Viva La Verve week 4. They've decided to do more CAS sketches (clean & simple), and I must say, 2 years ago, this would've been my forte, but now, I'm definitly a layers girl!!!! I found the flower in my stash and decided I'd branch out and try some colours I don't use often, but I really don't think this combo works! I actually found this card quite difficult, but I'm looking forward to the challenge of the CAS sketches each month!

Stamps: Yummy Treats (Hero Arts)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Bravo Burgundy, Very vanilla and Kiwi Kiss (Stampin Up)
Papers:
Accessories: Prima flower, cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha stewart butterfly punch, EK Success border punch, Ranger liquid pearls

Birthday Ballerina's

 

This is my first attempt at colouring a LaLa Land stamp. My sister owns a ballet school so this had to be the first one I bought! I love how these turned out! The one on the left is slightly different. I made the brunette one first but felt it needed a bit more, so I did the blonde one and added the damask stamp behind it. I think I like it better like that. I also wanted to not use any patterened papers because I think I'll be making a lot of these in the future!

Stamps: Marci Ballerina, Big Wish (Verve)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette and Rose Red (Stampin Up), Neenah Solar White

Papers: N/A

Accessories: Ranger liquid pearls, Stampin Up oval punches, Spellbinders oval, doilie (my stash), Martha Stewart butterfly punch

Viva La Verve Week 2

This sketch is for Viva La Verve January Week 2. I still look at this card and feel I should've added something else, but here it is! The papers are all from Webster's Pages, Hollywood Vogue. I cut around the flowers on the film strip, and the pearls are half of a ZVA flourish. Thanks for looking :)

Stamps: Yummy Treats (Hero Arts)

Ink: Momento tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Papers: Hollywood Vogue (Webster's Pages)

Accessories:  ZVA flourish, Spellbinders oval and scallop oval, Prima flowers, Martha Stewart butterfly & scallop edge punch, Ranger liquid pearls

Love is Like a Butterfly

Hi there! When I saw this sketch (Mojo Monday 223), I knew I wanted to use the little butterfly on the Butterflys and Blossoms stamp set from Flourishes in the small circle. I coloured several in before I settled on using this pink/purple one. Just so happened that the best colour to match it was Pale Plum from Stampin Up (now retired). The only papers I could get to match it were Eva from Basic Grey - soooo old and long retired! But after that was decided, the card came together very easily. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: Butterflys and Blossoms (Flourishes)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Cardstock: Rose Red, Whisper White, Pale Plum, Basic Black and Old Olive (Stampin Up)

Papers: Eva (basic Grey)

Accessories: Kaisercraft pearl flourish, Ranger liquid pearls, Spellbinders Labels One, Stampin Up heart punch

My First Hedgehog!

This is my very first Penny Black hedgehog! So excited! I love Penny Black stamps, but I've never attempted a hedgehog before. I see all the other wonderful cards with hedgehogs on them on other blogs, but I don't think I'm quite up to their standard! But I hope this is the first of many, and I can only get better from here right? This sketch is for Viva La Verve January Week 1!

Simply Wonderful

Wow! Is January half over already! I can't believe how December just flew by! I have a renewed desire for making cards, after burning out a bit making so many Christmas cards! It's so great to be back to making whatever I like! I was able to purchase a few new supplies, including Spellbinders Fancy Tags 2, which I couldn't wait to use on this card! The base cardstock is Stampin Up's Sage Shadow, which is now discontinued. It was my last sheet so I bought some Bazzill that matched, which is the strip accross the middle - a pretty good match I think! I would've loved to do some machine stitching around the edges, but I'm just not up to that standard yet! I'll get there one day!!! (Sketch is Mojo Monday 222).

Stamps: Polka Dot Greetings (My Favourite Things)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Whisper White, Sage Shadow (Stampin Up), Bazzill

Papers: Breeze (My Minds Eye)

Accessories: Pearl Flourish (ZVA), Prima flower, Ellen Hutson doilie, Spellbinders Fancy Tags 2

Reindeer Christmas

Here's that reindeer card I was talking about in an earlier post. I made this for Christmas last year but had it left over. This was one of 3 designs I gave out but I actually did all of them in these colours.

Supplies

Stamps: Holiday lineup (Stampin Up)

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Naturals Ivory, and Kraft (Stampin Up)

Papers:  -

Accessories: Red striped grosgrain ribbon (Stampin Up), Stampin up twine, Stampin up circle and scallop circle punches 

Thinking About You



I just wanted to have a break from Christmas cards with this week 4 Viva La Verve sketch. I had this girl stamped and hadn't used her on a card previously and I thought she'd be a perfect match for these papers - yep, you guessed it, they're My Minds Eye! I only lightly watercoloured the image with Stampin Up ink pads and a blender pen. But I used a copic marker on her face. 

Supplies

Stamps: Betsy Bluebell (Penny Black)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Pink Pirouette (Stampin Up)

Cardstock: Rose Red, Very Vanilla & Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Papers: Blush (My Minds Eye)

Accessories: Ranger liquid pearls, doilie (local packaging warehouse), Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Crum Cake seam binding ribbon (Stampin up)

 

White Christmas

These two cards are probably my favourite Christmas cards I've ever made. I've had the stamp set with that santa face on it for ages, but have never found a good way to use it. I think this is perfect. I liked the card so much I had to try it again with the tree stamp! Didn't go overboard with the liquid pearls this time ;) This is also for Viva La Verve Week 3 sketch. Thanks for looking!

Supplies

Stamps: Snow Swirled (Stampin Up), Holiday Sentiments (Inkadinkado)
Ink: Early Espresso (Stampin Up)
Papers: Figgy Pudding (Basic Grey)
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler (Stampin Up)
Accessories: Doilie (local packaging warehouse), Whisper White taffeta ribbon (Stampin Up), Spellbinders circle, Stampin up oval punches, Ranger liquid pearls

Elf Christmas

Last year, I did Christmas cards with the reindeer stamp in this set, (which I will post later to show you), but decided to try the elf one. I love Baja Breeze, especially on Christmas cards so glad I could use a bit here! The papers are old, from Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding! This is for Viva La Verve's Week 2 sketch.

Supplies

Stamps: Holiday Lineup (Stampin Up0

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, and Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler and Always Artichoke (Stampin Up) 

Cardstock: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Baja Breeze (Stampin Up)

Papers: Figgy Pudding (Basic Grey)

Accessories: Spellbinders petite scallop circle and circle, Ranger liquid pearls, Whisper White taffeta ribbon (Stampin Up), Oval and scallop oval punches (Stampin Up)

First Christmas Card Of The Year

Hi there! What a crazy last two weeks. Leading up to Christmas there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! My cards have been pretty low on the priority list unfortunately :( But I have managed to rush the 4 Viva La Verve sketches in the last couple of days. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get a start on my Christmas cards. This is for week 1. I used the My Minds Eye Christmas collection. Probably my favorite Christmas line ever! I just love the non-traditional colours!

Supplies

Stamps: Merry Christmas (Inkadinkado)

Cardstock: Kraft and Cherry Cobbler (Stampin Up)

Papers: My Minds Eye

Ink: Momento Momento Tuxedo Black, Old Paper (Tim Holtz)

Accessories: Jillibean Soup Twine





Birthday Wishes

Yes, another attempt at hand stitching. I know I should be using thinner thread, but this is all I had! And I actually quite like the chunky look on this card. The butterfly and around the sentiment  are sponged with Old Paper ink, but the sentiment is stamped with Crumb Cake ink.


Supplies

Stamps: Sincere Salutations (Stampin Up)
Cardstock: Kraft and Vanilla (Stampin Up)
Papers:  Devonshire (Kaisercraft)
Ink: Crumb cake (Stampin Up)
Accessories: Prima flower, Basic Grey button, Vanilla ribbon (Stampin Up), Prima lace, We are Memory Keepers thread

Viva La Verve Week 3 - Take Two!

So I decided to have another go at the Viva La Verve week 3 sketch. I like this one better I think. It's a bit more my style. Notice I avoided a bow on this one! Don't know why I keep buying ribbon - I never use it!! :) I used the same papers as the other week 3 sketch - Sunshine, by My Minds Eye. Love them!

Supplies

Stamps: Yummy Treats (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Basic Black and Vanilla (Stampin Up)
Papers: Sunshine (My Mind's Eye)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron (Stampin Up)
Accessories: Prima flower, Martha Stewart butterfly and edge punches, Spellbinders circle and scallop circle

Viva La Verve Week 5

I just loved this sketch, and this card came together so quickly. I used White cardstock and papers from Pink Paislee's Butterfly Garden for all the layers. One of the sheets had doilies on it, and I just cut two of them out to layer. I didn't have a stamp that filled the oval as much as I would like, but I think this one still looks okay.

Supplies

Stamps: Sweet treats (Verve)

Cardstock: Kraft and Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Papers: Butterfly garden (Pink Paislee)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Prima flower, Martha Stweart edge punch and butterfly punch, Ranger liquid pearls

Viva La Verve Week 4

Hi there! This is Viva La Verve week 4 sketch. I pretty much stuck to the original sketch, except I added a few circle layers. Such a simple sketch, but so versatile for any occaision. The doilie is one of those I mentioned in a previous card from a local packaging warehouse. They're just the perfect size for my cards!

Supplies

Stamps: You and I (Verve)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Grey and Bordering Blue (Stampin Up)

Papers: Shabby Chic (Collections)

Ink: Bordering Blue (Stampin Up)

Accessories: Buttons (unknown), doilie (local store), I Heart you die (Verve), Ranger liquid pearls, Martha Stewart punch



Viva La Verve Week 3

This is my card for the week 3 Viva La Verve sketch. I am just the worst at tying bows, and try to avoid them on most cards, but I wanted to be true to the sketch so I thought I'd give it a go. Does anyone have any bow tying tips? I'm in obvious need!!! lol! The papers on this card are from one of my current favourite collections - My Minds Eye Lost and Found Sunshine.

Supplies

Stamps: From The Garden (Flourishes)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black and More Mustard (Stampin Up) 

Papers: Sunshine (My Minds Eye, Lost & Found)

Ink: Momento tuxedo black, watercolour crayons (Stampin Up)

Accessories: Black seam binding ribbon (Hug Snug), buttons (unknown), Martha Stewart scallop edge punch

Simple Happy Birthday

I make a lot of cards for family and friends, and although they like all the cards I make, they occaisionall ask for more "simple" cards without too much on them. This is what I came up with. The turquoise flower on the right is Prima, but I didn't have a purple flower so I made that one. I saw a tutorial on you tube some time ago on how to do them and I'm not sure if I do them the same, but I cut 8 scallop circles with the Stampin Up scallop circle edge punch. I wet them with a spray gun and crunched them into a ball. I waited till they were dry and layered them on top of each other and joined them with a brad. I then scrunched each layer inwards and up, and then pulled them outwards again to make the flower shape. I hope that's a good enough description!

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Happy Birthday (Penny Black)

Cardstock: Tempting Turquiose, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Grey and Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Inks: Basic Grey, Elegant Eggplant and Tempting Turquoise (Stampin Up)

Accessories: Martha Stewart butterly punches, Prima flower, Cuttlebug dots folder, Ranger liquid pearls

Viva La Verve Week 2

This is my card for Viva La Verve week 2. I loved this sketch, and made this card super quick! I changed it slightly, I added the white panel behind the circle, used lace instead of stitching, and made a rosette flower instead of using a heart. Once again, I used my favourite paper - Victoria Gardens by Echo Park!

Supplies:

Stamps: Big Wish (Verve)

Cardstock: Whisper White (Stampin Up)

Papers: victoria Garden's (Echo Park)

Ink: Momento tuxedo black, Pink pirouette (Stampin Up)

Accessories: Button (Stampin Up), Ranger liquid pearls

Viva La Verve Week 1

Have you ever sat at your craft table for hours working on the one card, never happy with what you come up with! That's what happened when I made this card! Although aside from the wonky pearls at the top, I'm actually pretty pleased with the end result. I thought this would be a relatively easy sketch to do, but it turned out for me to be the hardest!  

Supplies

Stamps: Cherry Blossoms (Flourishes), Small Phrases (Verve)
Cardstock: Basic Grey, Sage shadow and Pink Pirouette (Stampin Up)
Papers: Victoria Garden's (Echo Park)
Ink: Momento tuxedo black, Basic Grey
Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Stampin Up scallop edge punch, doilie (Ellen Hutson), Ranger liquid pearls

Heartfelt Thanks

I placed my first order with Flourishes stamps a few weeks ago, and this flower image was from a free stamp set I recieved with my order! It's actually turned out to be one of my favourite sets! I am still learning how to use copics properly. I need a lot more practice!


Supplies

Stamps: With gratitude (Flourishes), Celebration of Thanks (Verve)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black & Always Artichoke (Stampin Up)
Papers: Early Bird (Cosmo Cricket)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, So Saffron, Copic markers
Accessories: Spellbinders scallop rectangles, oval punches (Stampin Up), Twine (Stampin Up), Kaisercraft pearls, button (unknown)

Thinking of you

I bought a bulk pack of doilies from a local packaging warehouse because they were similar to the ones I'd bought from Ellen Hutson. This is one of them and I just love how they look! The papers are from Echo Park's Victoria Garden collection. I watercoloured the image with Stampin Up crayons and a blender pen, as I didn't have quite the right colour of copics. 

Supplies

Stamps: With Gratitude (Flourishes), Wordy Birds (Verve)
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, and Whisper White (Stampin Up)
Papers: Victoria Gardens (Echo Park)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Doilie (local packaging warehouse - unsure of name), Punches (Stampin Up and Martha Stewart), Spellbinders labels 17, Ranger liquid pearls

Thanks so Much

Because I'm relatively new to the cardmaking world, there are hundreds of sketch challenges from past years for me to try. I am a HUGE fan of Verve stamps and their weekly sketch challenges. This card is a Mojo Monday sketch from December 2009! The papers are from Kaisercraft's Chapter One. The background paper looked a bit bare after I finished the card, so I drew the black square border just with a black marker. 

Supplies

Stamps: Celebration of Thanks (Verve)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White and Wild wasabi (Stampin Up)

Papers: Chapter One (Kaisercraft)

Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Baja Breeze, Black marker (Stampin Up)

Accessories: Spellbinders scallop rectangles, Martha Stewart butterfly pucnch, Kaisecraft pearls 

Kind Words

I have quite a paper collection, and many of my papers are very old. I can't even remember when this collection was released. It's Basic Grey's, Wisteria! My goal for the rest of the year is to start using up all my old papers so I can get up to date with all the gorgeous new stuff! Anyway, you can see I've hand stitched a border on the card. It's my first attempt at hand stitching (and it's not great!). I have a sewing machine and would love to sew on my cards, but I just chicken out all the time! Maybe one day.....

Supplies

Stamps: Echo's of Kindness (Stampin Up)
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant (Stampin Up)
Papers: Wisteria (Basic Grey)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Butterfly (Wisteria collection), Ribbon (very vanilla - Stampin Up), Button (unkown), Twine (Stampin Up), Pearls (Kaisercraft), Spellbinders labels 16

Happiest Birthday Wishes

Although I am no longer a Stampin Up demonstrator, I still use and love their cardstock and inks. And I must admit, their current catalogue is by far my favourite so far. This card is using one of the new stamp sets - Creative Elements. The blue green cardtock is actually Baja but it doesn't look like it in the photo at all! The edges are sponged with Chocolate Chip ink, and the pearls are a large chocolate flourish from Kasiercraft which I cut up so I could place it where I wanted.

SUPPLIES

Stamps: Creative Elements (Stampin Up), Happiest Birthday Wishes (Stampin Up)
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Kraft, Vanilla and Chocolate Chip (Stampin Up)
Ink: Chocolate Chip and baja Breeze (Stampin Up)
Accessories:  Pearls (Kaisercraft), Punch (Martha Stewart), Spellbinders labels 16