Baby Shower Goodies

We're going to a baby shower tomorrow! We don't have these in England so I'm looking forward to seeing it in action! It's a great idea, just get all your friends to buy everything you need for the baby ... why didn't we think of that? Brilliant!

Anyway, Roy and I talked to the parents-to-be about what they need and we decided on a gift card for Babies-R-Us which they can spend straight away, or wait for a few months when they need MORE stuff! Last month, Papertrey came out with the sweetest umbrella set which I thought would be perfect for a shower. I made a card, plus a slimline box to put a home-made gift card holder into. All jazzed up with liquid pearls and ribbon. I really like how it came out ... and you can't find THESE in Hallmark!

On the left is the card and on the right is the box which is tied up with the PTI ribbon. The gift card sits inside the box.

This is the box with the lid off. You can see the gift card holder lying inside the bottom of the box.

And last but not least, here's the gift card holder standing up in the box. Everything coordinates ~ the colours are Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush and the stamp set is called Scattered Showers by Dawn McVey. Gorgeous!

Gamsol Magic

I was just playing around today with my Prismacolour Pencils and Gamsol. I still haven't got the hang of shadows ... my DD (aged 13) just pointed out that the basket looks weird and patchy ~ so I guess I need to practice some more!

The stamp set is the new 'Vintage Picnic' from Papertrey Ink ... it just came the other day and this is the first time I've tried it out.

Here's a close-up of the blending. The basket isn't too good, but the apples look a little better ~ although they look a bit like peaches!

Recipe
Stamps : PTI Vintage Picnic
Cardstock : Kraft, Ballet Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink : PTI Chai & Cammomile Ink, Palette Burnt Umber
Accessories : Gamsol & Prisma Pencils, SU Button & Floss

Faux Denim Technique

Well, Monday is the technique challenge over on SCS so I decided to have a go at today's 'Faux Denim' ... for all the details and instructions, go here. I was a little disappointed with the way my 'denim' turned out ... it doesn't really look like denim (!) but as a kind of 'shabby chic' effect, I think it's great! I just used my new Friendly Words wheel to make the design and hey presto ... easy peasy!

Recipe
Stamps : Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel
Cardstock : Kraft, Soft Suede, Bordering Blue (denim base)
Ink : Night of Navy
Accessories : dimensionals

A Quick & Easy Sketch PTI Style

Here's a sketch layout from SCS today, SC233. I needed something quick and easy so I reached for my 'go to' PTI teapot. I love, love, love, this one! I don't have much time today, it's the funeral of the father of one of my Daughter's good friends. It's raining too which isn't a good start!

Anyway, here's the simple card, see the recipe below for details! I know a lot of people look at me with a horrified expression when I say I don't often use embellishments on my cards ... but just have a go, the CAS {clean and simple} style really doesn't call for anything other than the stamped image! And I love cards done this way ...

Recipe
Stamps : PTI Tea for Two
Cardstock : SU Whisper White, Soft Suede, PTI Spring Moss, Everyday Blessings Patterns
Ink : Spring Moss, Burnt Umber
Accessories : {{gasp}} NONE!

A Colour Challenge & Sympathy Card

Today's Colour Challenge on SCS is to use Whisper White, Baja Breeze and Ruby Red. I didn't realise how gorgeous these colours are together! Unfortunately, my Daughter's Friend lost her dad yesterday. He passed away in the afternoon after complications with pneumonia ... and the worst part is that she's just 14 years old. How dreadful to lose your dad at such a young age, it's just too sad. I wanted a card to send to her that wasn't too 'funerally' if that's a word and I thought these colours and the tree from Branch Out worked nicely. Not much more to say about that, it's just too sad.

Recipe
Stamps : Branch Out, Friends 24-7 (sentiment)
Cardstock : Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, BB Designer Paper
Ink : Close to Cocoa, BB, RR
Accessories : Stampin' Up Punches, 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and Scallop Circles

A new Technique

Well, I've been seeing this 'crinkled cardstock' technique all over the place and today we got to use it in the 'WT or Ways To Use it' Challenge over on Splitcoast. Thanks Cindy! I dragged out some old Papertrey Designer Paper and randomly cut out Circles (well, they were supposed to be circles LOL), crinkled them up and stuck a button in the centre. Hey Presto! It's THAT easy!

Recipe
Stamps : Flight of the Butterfly, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock : PTI White, PTI Blush Blossom, PTI Pink Prints Pack
Ink : PTI Blush Blossom, Spring Moss
Accessories : PTI Spring Moss Ribbon, Buttons

The sketch today over on Splitcoast is a really great layout. You can see it here. I changed the squares to circles and used my new SU In-Colours again. Just a quick and easy card really, nothing too difficult!

Recipe

Stamps : Trendy Trees
Cardstock : Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink : Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede
Accessories : Nestabilities Blossom, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, Stamp a Majig, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon

CC222 ~ White!

Our Colour Challenge over on Splitcoast today was WHITE! Love it! We were asked to make a one-layer card with white! I recently ordered another Nestability from Spellbinders. This one is called 'Blossom' and I just embossed it into my cardstock. The cardstock is Shimmer White from SU, I LOVE IT! My friend Debra gave me 3 sheets of it to try and it's going on my next order, it's really beautiful. You might need to click on the picture to see it's shimmeriness (is that even a word?). This one's for Auntie Nancy who sent me the most beautiful navy & white polka dot chiffon scarf for my birthday. It's so pretty, Sarah wore it yesterday!

Stamps : Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock : Shimmer White
Ink : Kiwi Kiss, Choc Chip
Accessories : Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Blossom'

... and one more! I promise this is it for today, are you sick of me yet? I didn't post all week and now you've got 4 cards! Well, this last one is a little outside my comfort zone, very bright and funky ... but I think I could be a convert! Well, I need to go and do some work, I can't indulge myself ALL day! Well I could, but the lawn does need mowing!

Stamps : Circle Circus, Animal Stories
Cardstock : Whisper White, Bermuda Bay
Ink : Dusty Durango, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay
Accessories : Bermuda Bay polka dot ribbon, blender pens and reinkers

Another Card with Sneak Peak Goodies

I'm on a roll this morning. Here's another card made with more goodies from the sneak peak items!

Stamps : Teeny Tiny Wishes, Razzle Dazzle
Cardstock : Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, WW, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry
Ink : Rich Razzleberry
Accessories : Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon, In Colour Stampin' Write Markers

Sneak Peak for SU 2009/2010 Catalogue

Well, what a week! I received my sneak peak pre-order from Stampin' Up's 2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalogue. The previewed stamps sets were just lovely ... and I bought almost all of them (I know, naughty!) but the other thing previewed were the new 'In-Colours' ... I like them but I don't LOVE them ... but like all things Stampin' Up, I'm sure after a couple of weeks I'll fall in love!

Last night I stayed up late to make some cards. Not my best work (well it WAS late you know!) but today I shall try again!

Stamps : Animal Stories, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock : WW, Soft Suede, Melon Mambo
Ink : Melon Mambo
Accessories : Melon Mambo polka dot ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Ruby Red Brads

This one is for my dad. Mum & Dad live in rural Suffolk in England and frequently get pheasants trotting through their garden! I thought he'd like this. Oh, and Dad? The yellow card is called 'Crushed Curry' ... made me think of you {{for those of you who don't know my daddy, he's the #1 curry chef in England ... really, he is! Sarah and I wait all year for one of his Indian banquets ... ooooooh yummo!}}

Stamps : Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Cardstock : WW, Soft Suede, Dustry Durango, Crushed Curry
Ink : Soft Suede, Crushed Curry
Accessories : Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

New Sugar Nellie stamp!

I'm supposed to be cleaning my house today ready for 10 English friends coming for lunch tomorrow ... but this cute stamp from Sugar Nellie came in the post, so I had a little interruption and did some more Gamsol blending. I still need practice, but I'm getting there :) My friend Gayle found this little stamp on the Sugar Nellie site and immediately told me to go and look at it ... she thought the teapot and teacup were perfect for me ~ thanks Gayle, you were so right!

LAST CHANCE Lists ~ formerly the Retired Lists

Just a quick post to draw your attention to the links on the side-bar. There are 2 lists for you to look through, one is the retiring stamp sets list, the other is the retiring accessories list ... now known as The Last Chance Lists! These products are available to order until June 30th but only WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! I also wanted you to know that Stampin' Up have increased the Hostess Benefits Dollars for June ... so if you were thinking of having a party, let me know and we'll arrange a time to suit you! Details of the hostess promotion are also on the side-bar.