Poinsettia Bookmark Card

Card/Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Versamark
Stamps: Season of Joy
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Cup Sequins, 1/4" Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is one of the projects from our August stamper's ten meeting. It's a bookmark card - the right half of the back of the card can be detached by the recipient and used as a bookmark. The green background card has been stamped using Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. The flowers have a crease along each petal to add a bit of dimension, and each flower has two layers, finished with three gold sequins in the centre.

Inside view of the card - you can just about make out the line of perforations for detaching the bookmark (between the green and white backgrounds) if you enlarge the picture.


If you would like to receive regular monthly project packs, click here for more details about my stamper's ten club.

Saffron and Blue Butterflies

Card/Paper: Brocade Blue, So Saffron, Whisper White
Ink: So Saffron, Brocade Blue
Stamps: Touch of Nature, Sincere Salutations
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

This is the second make and take card we did at last night's stamper's ten meeting.

We used the fern and branch image from the Touch of Nature set to make the saffron background. The butterflies were stamped using the blue, and then very carefully had the saffron added by dabbing with a marker so as not to make the blue run. After cutting them out, they were glued on just by their bodies.

To keep the wings elevated, half a foam pad was stuck behind each wing as shown. The backing paper was left on the pad so that it doesn't stick to the card, but just acts to keep the wings raised.

The little yellow corner decorations on the front of the card were made by punching 1/4" circles and shaping them with an embossing tool.

Little Flower Vine

Card/Paper: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Tea Party DP
Ink: Certainly Celery
Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Other: 3mm flat backed pearls, Certainly Celery 1/4" Ribbon
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

It's our stamper's ten meeting tonight, and this is one of the make and takes we're doing. I got the idea for the flowers and vine from a card I saw on Splitcoast.

The bottom edge of the white is punched with the Scallop Edge punch, and there is a score line on either side of the ribbon. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to create the vine in Certainly Celery. The flowers were punched using the three flower punch from the Three for You punch box set, and shaped with an embossing tool before attaching to the card and finishing with the pearls. The colour combination looks really fresh and pretty, and this is a very quick card to do.

Ruby and Chocolate Thank You Card

Card/Paper: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Holiday Treasures Designer Paper
Ink: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Season of Joy, Thank You Kindly
Other: 5/8" Grosgrain Old Olive, Pearls
Card Size: 10cm x 10cm (just under 4" x 4")

I have been sorting out my boxful of cards ready for a craft fair I'm doing in August, and rediscovered this little card I made a while ago. The circles were cut with Nestabilities, and the corners of the designer paper were shaped using my Stampin' Up! 1/2" circle punch, which is handy for this job as it has markings that make it easy to do it evenly without measuring.

The flowers were made using the two largest sizes from the Woodware Multi Christmas Flower punch - not that I've ever used these flowers on a Christmas card - not yet, anyway! The centres of the flowers are the mini snowflake punch, again from Woodware.

A few people have asked me to show them how I made the flowers on my flowerpot card from a few days ago. I've taken the photos - just need to write the tutorial!

Gift Voucher Card

Card/Paper: Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery
Ink: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant
Stamps: Soft Summer, Live Your Dream, Fresh Cuts
Other: 1/4" Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon

Just for once, the card I had in my head ended up as I envisaged it. So often I get side tracked along the way, and the card evolves into something completely different to my original idea.

I used the lovely soft flower image from Live Your Dream - it's the outline part from this two step set. It's done with Old Olive ink, but I stamped off once on scrap paper first to lighten it. The strip of Elegant Eggplant at the bottom is simply scored to make a frame for the ribbon. A quick sentiment with the oval punches, and two little butterflies, and it was done.

The inside is stamped to match, with a pocket to hold a Stampin' Up! gift voucher - redeemable only through me. This one shows £25, but I can create them in any amount on request. Use the contact me tab at the top of my blog if you would like to purchase one. (UK only.)

Quick Little Pumpkin Flower

Card/Paper: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Canvas
Other: Black Brad
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

Just a simple card as a base for the flower - which is made using the Stampin' Up! Scallop Circle and Boho Blossoms Punches. The leaves were made using the Five Petal Flower punch. I cut the petals apart, and reassembled them to make sprays of leaves. The flower is really easy to make also, and I'll do a few photos for another posting if anyone is interested to see.

ETA: The tutorial for the flower is now here.

More Birthday Cake

Card/Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Whisper white
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Other: Linen Thread, Antique Brass Eylets
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

I had another male card to make as well as hubby's, so to save time, I used the same card and stamp sets as yesterday's card, but made a simpler one. I think I like this one better in fact. This time I stamped all the elements of the cake individually and cut them out, stuck them together and mounted the finished cake with foam pads to pop it up a little. The front two candles are inserted into the cake through little slits cut with a knife. Even with the cutting out, this was a pretty quick card to make - well, by my standards anyway!

Blue Birthday Balloons

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Whisper White
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Creamy Caramel, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Other: Linen Thread, White Gel Pen
Card Size: 12.5cm x 12.5cm (approx 5" x 5")

Well, Emma's converted me to liking Kraft! I really like it with Not Quite Navy for a masculine colour combination. This is hubby's birthday card - and I even made him a real cake as well. Shame he's away this week, and we're finishing it up without him!

Blue Leafy Vine Thank You Card

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Brocade Blue
Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Other: Pearl from the Pretties Kit
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is a little card I made to send to the newest member of my team, the lovely Emma.

The flower is made using two layers of the scallop circle punch, plus one of the shapes from the Boho Blossoms Punch. The layers were sponged with brocade blue before assembling, and the flower finished off with a large pearl from the Pretties Kit. The background was scored and then also sponged with brocade blue to highlight the score lines. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to create the leafy vine, and to position the greeting. The Night of Navy card has been edged with the scallop edge punch. All finished with some stitching lines drawn in using a matching Brocade Blue marker.

Birthday Oak Make and Take

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Summer Picnic Designer Paper, Watercolour paper for image
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel,
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Sincere Salutations
Other: Stampin' Pastels (blue for sky), Vintage Brads
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is the other make and take card from our last stamper's ten meeting. The image was stamped using Basic Grey ink, and then watercoloured using the markers scribbled onto a plastic sheet, and an aquabrush. The sky was coloured using blue chalk. The brads are fixed on to a tab punched shape. The image is matted onto a chocolate chip square, and then mounted onto the designer paper with foam pads. The right hand edge of the card base has five score lines at 1/4" spacing, which have been sponged with Chocolate Chip for an extra bit of definition.

Bright and Cheery Balloons

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Summer Picnic DP
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Other: Linen Thread, White Gel Pen
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is one of the make and takes from our last stamper's ten meeting. Very simple card, and quick to make. The balloons and present are popped up on foam pads for a bit of dimension.

Soft Summer Butterfly

Card/Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal
Stamps: Soft Summer & Touch of Nature from Stampin' Up! and Greeting is a Hobby Art Stamp
Other: Flat backed Pearls
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Soft Summer is a two step stamp set. The outline was stamped with Creamy Caramel, and then I used my markers to colour different parts of the branch with Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink. I left the centres of the flowers blank, and then coloured them in afterwards with Apricot Appeal direct to paper. I just dabbed the colour on gently so as not to make the Creamy Caramel run.

The butterfly was stamped with Creamy Caramel on a scrap of Whisper White, and colour added with Apricot Appeal and Pretty in Pink markers. I cut it out minus the antennae, and marked it's position on the image. Then inked up just the body part with Creamy Caramel and used my stampamajig to stamp it onto the main image. Finally I stuck the body part of the cut out butterfly over the stamped body. The wings have foam pads on the back near to the body. The pads are only stuck to the wings - the backing paper is still on so that the wings are held up by the foam, but not actually stuck to the main image.

The base card has been stamped with the outline of the other image in the Soft Summer set using Pretty in Pink. The greeting is stamped in Close to Cocoa. The main image has the corners punched using a half inch circle punch and then matted on to Chocolate Chip - finished off with the flat backed pearls.

Little Pumpkin Butterflies

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Haiku designer paper
Ink: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Live Your Dream, Fresh Cuts
Other: 1/4" Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain ribbon
Card Size: 9.5cm x 9.5cm (3.75" x 3.75")

Method:

This is the second of the make and take cards from our stampers ten meeting this month. Simply stamped across the Vanilla card with one of the Pocket Silhouettes stamps, alternating Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive - the Old Olive was stamped off once first on scrap paper to lighten the shade. A very quick card - even with cutting out the little butterflies!

Playful Petals Make and Take

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Whisper White, Tea Party Designer Paper
Ink: Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Almost Amethyst, So Saffron, Basic Grey
Stamps: Playful Petals, Birthday Cheer and Wishes
Other: 5/8" Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon, Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon, So Saffron brads, Silver Elastic Cord.
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is the project that we made at our stamper's ten meeting on Monday evening.

All the flower parts were stamped onto the different coloured card using Basic Grey, and then different sections cut out to create the layers. Some of the design on each layer was coloured in with the matching marker, to give a two tone effect. The pieces were shaped before gluing together, and finishing off with a brad in the centre.

The flower is arranged onto a piece of the Tea Party designer paper, and matted onto Pretty in Pink card. The corners were punched with a 1/2" circle punch before matting. Wrapped the grosgrain ribbon around and then tied the taffeta on top. The greeting is stamped in Certainly Celery, and the three little yellow dots are 1/4" circles of So Saffron card shaped with an embossing tool.

The flower on the tag is made to match, with the base card stamped all over with the small flower from the set in Almost Amethyst. The tag is a petal fold envelope, and opens up at the back to a square of Whisper White matted onto Certainly Celery, and decorated with the little stamp. There is a small hole punched in the corner of the tag to thread the silver cord through, which is hidden on the inside by the message area, and the on the front by the flower.

Amethyst Potted Plant

Ingredients: All from Stampin' Up!

Card/Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Tea Party designer paper
Ink: Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Basic Grey
Stamps: Playful Petals
Other: Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, 5/8" Certainly Celery Grosgrain, So Saffron Striped Grosgrain
Card Size: 21cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 8.25") (DL size)

Method:

I stamped the flowers, leaves and stalks in Basic Grey ink onto Whisper White card, and coloured them in with markers. Cut out leaving a narrow border of white. Curved the flowers using a large ball embossing tool, and scored down the centre of the leaves to give some dimension.

The pot is made using my 1 3/8" circle punch to round the ends of a piece of card, then snipping out the corners to create the shape at the top. Stamped it with the small flower from the set withVersamark and embossed with clear powder. Sponged the edges of the pot with Almost Amethyst ink, and then shaped with the large embossing tool.

Everything is fixed onto the desiger paper background with silicon glue, matted onto Certainly Celery. The card base was scored across the bottom, and then the section between the score lines masked off whilst I stamped the flower head all over with Versamark and embossed with clear powder.

Cut a slit in the fold of the card, and wrapped the ribbons around between the score lines, having first threaded on the slider.

Popped Up Petals

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Textured So Saffron, Tea Party Designer Paper
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Basic Grey
Stamps: Playful Petals
Other: Pretty in Pink Brad, Glue Dots, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, 1/4" Certainly Celery Grosgrain, Signo White Gel Pen
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

Have been itching to ink up these stamps, and use the gorgeous Tea Party paper, and finally got around to it yesterday.

I stamped the images onto Whisper White using Basic Grey ink. Then coloured them in using the markers direct to the card. Cut everything out, leaving a narrow white margin around the edge. The dotted lines on the larger flower were just crying out to be cut with a knife - so I did that, and then curled the main part of the petals backwards, but the little cut out pieces forwards. I embossed a crease down the centre of the leaves to give them some dimension too. The brad in the centre of the flower is a Pretty in Pink brad, with a glue dot molded over the top, then dipped in Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Used the scalloped edge punch on the textured So Saffron, and added faux stitching using a pricking tool, and the white gel pen. Wrapped with the grosgrain ribbon before mounting onto a base of Almost Amethyst.

Chocolate and Saffron Fresh Cuts

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Fresh Cuts note card, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
Stamps: Fresh Cuts
Other: Flat backed pearl from the Pretties Kit
Card Size: 10cm x 10cm (approx 4" x 4")

Method:

I have had these note cards and stamp set for about a month now, and finally got round to using one of them!

I cut a square of So Saffron to fit behind the aperture, and stamped it with the background stamp from the Fresh Cuts set with Chocolate Chip ink - having first stamped off once on scrap paper. Used the Five Petal flower punch and punched a shape from Chocolate Chip card to lay behind the aperture on top of the saffron card. I sponged So Saffron ink on the five little petals around the centre of the aperture, then embossed a line down the centre of them, before sticking the Chocolate Chip flower and the stamped backing on behind. Stamped the little brown flower from the set onto Saffron card, cut out and embossed a line down the centre of the petals - again, I stamped off once on scrap paper to get a lighter effect. Finished off with the flat backed pearl.

I stamped the trailing leaf stamp around the edges using my Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement. Stamped off once on scrap paper first. Then sponged around the edges with So Saffron ink.

Live Your Dream in Blue

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Confetti White, Ballet Blue, Always Artichoke
Ink: Always Artichoke, Ballet Blue, Night of Navy
Stamps: Live Your Dream, Best Yet
Other: Metallic Eyelet, 1/4" Grosgrain Always Artichoke, Linen Thread
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

I used the Stampin' Write markers to ink up the flower stamp before stamping on to Confetti White card. The corners were punched using a 1/2" circle punch, before matting with Handsome Hunter and Ballet Blue card. Wrapped with the ribbon and linen thread. Used the two tag punches, and a greeting from the level one hostess set Best Yet to create the tag. Popped in a silver eyelet from the metallic eyelets set using my cropodile. All mounted onto a Confetti White card base edged with the scallop edge punch and a piece of Ballet Blue stuck behind.

ETA: I completely forgot when making this post originally to mention that this card is a shameless case of one by Lynda Moss in Australia! My aplogies to you Lynda.

Marmite is Back!

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Old Olive, Ruby Red, water colour paper
Ink: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Creamy Caramel, Night of Navy Black Stazon,
Stamps: Unfrogettable
Other: Stampin' Pastels Chalks, Old Olive brad, googly eyes
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

Another quick card needed for a 5 year old boy's birthday. So I turned to Marmite the frog to help me out, as I find that it is so quick to create a little scene with this set, and it's simple to colour as well.

I stamped the sitting frog first, then stamped him again on a post it note, cut it out, and used as a mask whilst I stamped the mushroom he is sitting on. I then created a mushroom mask, and used it, and my Stamp-a-ma-jig to do all the other mushrooms. Finally I stamped the leaping frog. The dragonfly was stamped on a scrap piece. All the painting was done using the Stampin' Write markers scribbled onto the Stamp-a-ma-jig sheet, and an Aquabrush to pick up the colour. Old Olive for the frogs, Ruby Red for the mushroom caps (with the spots coloured in with the Ruby Red direct to the paper), Creamy Caramel mixed with a little Ruby Red for the gills and stalks, a very watered down Night of Navy for the dragonfly wings, and Creamy Caramel for it's body.

Once the painting was dry, I sponged Bashful Blue and Old Olive chalks from the Pastels set on for sky and ground. Cut out the dragonfly and stuck him on once the card was assembled. The tag is made using the Stampin' Up tag punches, and the greeting from the Unfrogettable set. Sponged the edges of the white part with the chalk as well. Finished off with an Old Olive brad, and googly eyes.

Sadly Marmite is retiring, but is still available at the moment.

Simple and Quick Birthday Card

Ingredients:

Card/Paper: Brocade Blue, Creamy Caramel, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Ink: Brocade Blue, Creamy Caramel, Barely Banana
Stamps: Big Bold Birthday, Sincere Salutations
Card Size: 15cm x 10.5cm (approx 4" x 6")

Method:

This is a very plain and simple card - but I needed one in a hurry! It was for a man, so no frills!

I stamped the cup cake using the elements from the Big Bold Birthday set. For the icing, I used the 'rock'n'roll' technique of rolling just the edges of the stamp on the ink pad. This way, I had ink just on the edges of the solid stamp. I then cleaned the stamp, and put ink just on the edge of one end, and used this to stamp the humps in the middle of the icing. I stamped the candles on to the card, and then masked them off before stamping the icing. Using my Stamp-a-ma-jig of course for placement. I masked off the icing before stamping the bottom of the cake. Added a little bit of Barely Banana to give some colour to the flames.

The Creamy Caramel strip behind the image was stamped with another of the stamps from the set, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig again to line up all the little circles from one block to the next.