WARNING!!!!

This is what happens to your kitchen if you receive a huge order of NEW GOODIES from Stampin' Up's new 2009-2010 Catalogue. Sorry mum, if you're reading this, are you ashamed of me? Tee Hee ... but seriously, wouldn't you rather be stamping????? I feel naughty now!!!

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