BERRIES ...

Have you noticed the Perfect Postage stamp set in the new mini catalogue? I love this set, particularly with the postage stamp punch which matches it! I've used one of the four stamps for this card, and coloured it with SU markers - you'd hardly know it was the same stamp three times because I've turned each one to a different angle. The 1" images have then been mounted onto Early Expresso cardstock, cut out with the punch. Below there's a layer of embossed vanilla card (using the polka dot embossing folder) and then another of Sahara Sand.

The card itself is made with Old Olive cardstock - always a favourite colour of mine - to which I've added some leaves from the French Foliage set stamped in Expresso ink, and a cheeky bird from Everything Eleanor.

VALENTINE

My beloved doesn't for things which are pink and pretty, so I made sure his Valentine card is a bit more masculine! It uses the scrumptious Mocha Morning speciality papers from the main catalogue - and in fact I was able to make this with a number of small offcuts. The metallic bronze of the papers doesn't photograph too well, but I assure you its there.

In another first for me this card was made using the Joy Fold card technique - that central panel opens to the right, and then the bronze panel beneath opens to the left. Its not complicated to do and really effective; this will be one of the ideas we use in the upcoming card class on 25th February, plus two other designs. BOOK NOW by emailing me - I can only take 4/5 people and the cost will be £6.50 with all materials included.

ITS PINK!

Sorry about the slightly skewed picture! This card is made with one of my favourite cardstock colours "Melon Mambo" which is a delicious deep pink. What's not to like? The swirly flowers on the background use a stamp from the Creative Elements set, from which the sentiment frame also comes.

But the main thing I've used here is the brilliant Top Note Die, which fits the Big Shot and other die cutting machines. I cut one in black and then embossed a sheet of white with the square lattice embossing folder, from which I then cut another Top Note. If you've never seen one of these it has a row of "stitching" close to the edge, and if you cut along this line it makes a shape which nests inside a Top Note.

Onto the white I then stamped the swirly motif from the Everything Eleanor set in Pear Pizzazzz. The flowers are from the same set and I stamped them onto white before watercolouring and cutting them out - some of them are mounted on dimensional pads but you can't really tell that from the picture.

The final addition was a butterfly from the Creative Elements set, stamped in Rich Razzleberry then cut out and mounted as before. The result is a very pretty card, yet not as difficult or complicated to make as it might look! Please just ask if you have any questions.

WEDDING CARD

I made this for a wedding we attended recently, but stupidly forgot to take it with me on the day .... so it has ended up here among my samples. It occurs to me that this design would also work for a Valentine's Day card too - its nearer than you think!!

It was rather a dark day when I took the picture but I think you can still see that I used a 6" square base of Wisteria cardstock (loving this new colour) and layered onto it pieces of the Flirtatious speciality paper and added a ribbon bow before I stuck the paper down. How many times have I glued elements in place only to realise I'd meant to add ribbon .....? It happens to you too, right? The smaller panel of paper was given a punched lacy edge and then the two punched out hearts were layered up on Dimensional sponge pads to give a bit of depth. I'd pre stamped these with delicate floral sprays from the Tiny Tags stamp set. The final touches were some sparkly stones and a cute little tag made with the tiny tag punch, and of course the wording from the Curly Cute set using Concord Crush ink.

Open House just two weeks on Sunday (29th) and hope you can come along then - there'll be lots more to see!

WELCOME TO 2012

Before I do anything else - I need to let you know that the date of the planned OPEN HOUSE EVENT has had to be changed. It was going to take place on Sunday 22nd January, but so many people wouldn't be able to make it that I've changed it to Sunday 29th, 2.00 - 5.00 pm. Hope you can be there to see lots of new sample cards, eat cake, natter to other crafters, and generally have a nice afternoon? The timing of the event coincides not only with the introduction of a NEW MINI CATALOGUE, but also the Saleabration promotion, where if you spend £45 you can choose a FREE STAMP SET!

Anyway, on to today's card ....
After a very happy and busy family Christmas, I'm emerging at least enough to post another sample of what you can do with the lovely Stampin' Up! products. The card itself is made from Pear Pizzazz cardstock, one of 2012's new In Colours, and fast becoming a favourite of mine.

The butterfly is from the Creative Elements stamp set, and I've used the sponge daubers (I keep one for each colour) to add different shades to the stamp, which as you can see gives a shaded look to the stamped image. Try it yourself - put down the palest colour first and the darkest last - not sure if you can see, but the inks used here are Pale Plum, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz.

The mount of the main image is Concord Crush, edged with the scallop trim border punch, and the small floral stamp is from the Tiny Tags set. If you've noticed that the card is tall and thin, I should perhaps explain that this is simply A5 folded lengthways, rather than the usual way. It makes an interesting card shape, and you can get envelopes to fit.

Don't forget about the Open House and hope to see you there!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO BOTH MY READERS!

I do realise that this is not remotely a festive greetings card .... but then I figured if you'd been going to make them you'd have done it by now! So instead I've gone with something more general - after all there'll be lots of thank you cards to make in a few days time?

This is a 6 x 6" card (my favourite size) made of Early Expresso cardstock, and the papers used for the background are from the pretty Beau Chateau designer series paper (page 97 of the catalogue). A length of Marina Mist ribbon neatly covered the join. The flags are made using the Petite Pennants punch (page 119) and are mounted on Dimensionals with a length of cord strung behind. The lacy cream panel was punched using the Lace Ribbon Border punch (p 116) and the greeting uses the Oval All stamp set (p 71) and the matching large oval and scallop oval punches. Quicker and simpler to do than you might think - and of course absolutely any wording could be used to personalise this for the right occasion.

Merry Christmas, and hope you get some crafting time over the holiday to just chill out!

Unusual Colour Combination ...

Red and brown always make me think of robins - which is as near to festive as I'm getting yet! I saw this colour combination of Cherry Cobbler and Sahara Sand somewhere and thought how well it worked, so borrowed the idea to try it out.

On a base of Sahara cardstock I added a torn strip of the Newsprint paper and a panel of Cherry Cobbler. Then using the Creative Elements stamp set I stamped the background with flower vines (some of which I coloured in) using Cherry again, and also inked the edge of the paper. The other stamps are from the same same - the box for the wording and the butterflies - to which I've added a teeny sparkling stone that I think you can just see.

I was pleased with how this turned out and will definitely use these colours together again. Not sure if I will be able to post before Christmas now, so if I don't Merry Christmas to all my readers!!