Resplendent Rectangles

Happy Sunday morning!  I hope you are enjoying a break from all the Christmas cards of late!  I was beginning to feel like I was bombarding you since I have so many to show.  Even though there aren't a lot of samples comparatively for today's shows (only about two dozen, after all it is only three shows, not a POTW), I really enjoyed working with these die sets.  Today's card features the Resplendent Rectangles.  I really like this die set as there are just so many options you have with it.    I started with a pale yellow piece of card and embossed it with the Garden Lattice A4 embossibility folder.  I then cut an aperture using the largest size of the rectangle set.  I love how it leaves a decorative piercing edge outside the die (you can see it nicely in the close up below).   I mounted the negative piece on 3D foam pieces as a border to my focal element.   I cut a piece of black card that I used as a background in my aperture, them recessed the die cut on top of it .  I cut the next die in the set and created a black frame which I glued to my recessed die cut.  I stamped my sentiment on pale yellow card and then cut a black frame from the two smallest dies in the set.  I cut thin pieces of 3D foam and mounted this over the sentiment, giving it dimension.  I tied a double bow out of black silky crush ribbon and added a fancy button from my stash.  I pierced the edges of a double black mat to finish the card.

 As today is Sunday, it is also time to draw the winners of the weekly comment game.  This week's winners are:
Karen Edwards!!!
Jean Johnston!!!
CraftingMarg!!!

Congratulations!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  I hope you remember to tune in today at noon until 2pm and 5 to 6pm to see the rest of the dies on offer.  If you aren't in the UK, you can watch the shows on your computer at www.createandcraft.tv  Just remember it is live and the times I have listed are for the UK.  All for now, Sue x

Sneaky Peek For Sunday's Shows

Good morning all!  A peek at one of tomorrows sample cards.  There were a few last minute changes on the show and the Grand decorative Ovals used here will not be available as previously thought.  So since I can't demo this one, I thought I would show it first.  I do have the other two dies used on this card and they are really scrumptious!  The Marvellous Squares and the Fancy Lattice Extendable background.  There aren't incredibly huge stocks for the show (not like with a POTD at least), but there should be enough for the three shows I have scheduled.  I know that the background has been one of the most popular of the new releases and is pretty scarce in some of the local shops.  I'm just saying don't sit on your hands too long if you like any of the dies on offer.  There are only five dies sets and the two A4 sized embossibility folders this time, but every one of them is gorgeous!  The problem will be in deciding between them.  For this card I started with a piece of blue card as my main background.  To it I added some of the Fancy lattice cut in white and then cut down to a strip backed by white card.  I cut another of the lattice pieces in blue and backed it in white to create a lacy effect for the bottom of my card.  I matted it all on a piece of white card just peeking out from behind.  Next I cut one of the Grand Decorative Ovals in white.  I used the smallest size inside the die cut to emboss the design into it.  In the centre of this piece, I stamped my sentiment black archival ink.  I used a pale blue pencil to give a bit of colour around it (only because I couldn't find a distress ink that matched this shade of blue!)  Next I used a square of the sticky adhesive sheets to cover a piece of coconut white card.  I cut out one of the Marvellous squares creating a frame.  I peeled back the backing paper and coated the piece with micro beads.   The inside corner fall away pieces were used in the upper corners of  the card.  I beaded them also.  I mounted the frame over my sentiment with mounting foam for dimension.  I added a ginormous double bow out of the white frilly satin edged ribbon, a pearl embellishment and a couple of stick pins because, after all, this is a girlie girl card!  I hope you can tune in to tomorrows shows to see the rest of what is on offer.  The shows are at noon until 2pm (Tool Shed) and 5 to 6pm.  I'm looking forward to the shows and the nice thing is that there aren't hundreds of products on these shows so I may even get TWO demos done per show!  All for now, Sue x

Cream And Gold Bauble

Hello my crafty friends!  I spent yesterday finishing up my samples and prep for Sunday's shows.  I was going to post one of the cards today, but I was having some issues uploading the piccies.  I will get it sorted out for tomorrow I am certain (well as certain as one can be when dealing with a temperamental computer that is! LOL)  I will do my best though.  I hope you will like today's card in the meantime.  This is another of my favourite "channel or canal" cards as I have named them.  I had really wanted to demo this card, but the products for it did not arrive in time.  I started with a piece of milk coloured card and stamped my sentiment with a clear perfect medium pad.  I embossed it with Cosmic Shimmer bright gold embossing powder.  I cut the card just below the sentiment to create my canal.  I cut a Holly Accent border out of the soft gold card and glued just the tips of the holly to the edge of the main background piece.  I glued the bottom swirly bits to the remaining strip of my background, leaving a gap for my canal below.  In the canal, I placed a strip of card that I used the self adhesive sticky sheets on and covered it with the new Distress Stickles Dry Glitter in Clear Rock Candy by Ranger.  I have never been a huge fan of glitter, but I love this stuff as it is just gorgeous.  It isn't a true white, but rather more of a milky white, but it doesn't have all the other colour that you see in white glitter (no pink or green or lavender hues to it).  It looks milk colour on the milk card and has a lovely reflective quality to it.  When it arrives in stock, you will see what I mean. (I am hoping to have it on my stand at the Kettering show in a few weeks time).  You can see a close up of it below.

I placed 3D foam pieces on the background to raise it for dimension and then matted it in the soft gold card.  I stamped the new Heartfelt heirloom ornament on the soft gold card using a clear perfect medium.  Again, I embossed it in gold.  I cut it out with the matching Ornament die.  The stamp has a poinsettia on it, but I decided to cut one out of milk card and glitter it with the same Rock Candy glitter.  I used a bit of glue on my finger for this to just add glitter to most of it, but not completely covering the flower.  I mounted the flower on the bauble and added a large flat back pearl to the centre.  I added some pearly swirlies across the front above my sentiment and a seam binding bow and fancy button to the top of the ornament.  I pierced the edges to finish it off.  I think this card would make a lovely addition to any mantlepiece at Christmas, don't you?  All for now, Sue x

Vellum Joy

Hi bloggers!  This is my favourite Christmas card of the past shows (well maybe one of my favourites, LOL)  I just love the mixture of white and kraft and vellum and gold.  It's just so eclectic, right up my street.  It's not traditional really, but it gives me the sense of Christmas in a modern way.  I started by stamping the large sentiment with a clear perfect medium and embossing it in gold.  Next I embossed the coconut white card with the new Holiday Magic embossibility.  (Don't forget to do your stamping before you emboss)  This folder certainly gets my choice for favourite Christmas themed embossing folder though, just love those swirls!  I matted that piece on soft gold card.  I came across a small piece of patterned kraft card in my stash (I think it may have come from the Tim Holtz kraft pad, but I am not certain on this).  I cut it in the shape of a tag and punched a hole in the top for my ribbon.  I used the edge of my scissors to distress it then I inked it with walnut stain distress ink.  Distress inks stay wet for quite some time so I just poured some gold embossing powder over the edges.  I used my finger to take away the distinct line of the embossing powder.  I wanted a rather random soft gold edge to it.  Heat the powder until it melts and you will see the gold with the walnut stain showing through too.  I cut the reindeer from the Frosty Forms set in gold card.  Do not emboss it however.  Cut a second one in the same gold card and do not emboss it either.  Since you haven't embossed it, you can turn one of the reindeers over so they are facing each other and they both look fine that way.  I did add a very small red rhinestone to each of their noses, I couldn't resist this time! LOL  Glue them to your tag so they are facing each other but slightly offset.  Cut your poinsettias out of plain vellum.  I used a couple of each of the medium dies in the set to make each flower.  Dip the edges of the petals in your clear perfect medium to get them inky and sprinkle with gold embossing powder.  Use your finger to remove it slightly to remove some of the powder to give it a distressed look.  Assemble your flowers using Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue and put a flat back pearl in the centre of each of them.  I had a piece of hessian that I unravelled to give me the jute string for the bow behind the flowers.  You can see the close ups below.

 I tied a few pieces of white American seam binding through the hole in the tag and spritzed it with water so I could scrunch it for a shabby chic look.  I pierced the edges to finish it off as I usually do.  What do you say, does this one get your vote for my (personal)Christmas card design for this year or do you like others better?  All for now, Sue x

What You Do

 Morning all!  I had been holding off on posting this card because I was getting a bit of comments requesting brighter cards, but everyone that saw it Ally Pally seemed to really like it.  It is one of my favourites too.  I picked out a decorative paper for the background (which I think was Graphic 45, but I'm not positive).  I added a matching paper strip with one of my Vintage Lace borders added in black.  I did a bit of machine zigzag stitching around the edge as an accent.  Next, I cut a length silky crush ribbon in champagne colour down the centre to make it thinner.  I added a bit across the bottom of my card, then used the rest to tie a messy bow (by messy, I mean I just let the loops go where they may, it isn't symmetrical).  I added a bit of gold tulle behind it and a fancy black button from my craft stash.  I cut the largest Decorative Labels One in black for the back layer of my focal element. a Decorative Labels 27 in black on top of that sentiment and cut it out with one of the smaller Decorative Labels 27 and very lightly inked it with black soot for a soft smokey look.  For the flowers, I used the new Krinkly Kraft paper (it is officially called twist wrap kraft paper if you are looking for it to purchase) cut small circles out of it by hand so they were a bit irregular.  I used my fingernail to stretch the paper a bit to form them into a cup shape a bit and then inked them with Black soot.  I layered up two to three different sizes and put a black brad through the centres to hold them together.  I just love the way this paper looks for flower making.  These remind me of a sort kraft looking poppy! Not to mention, these flowers only use very small pieces of it so they are a great way to use up your scrap pieces (which is just what I did!)  I cut a few leafy bits from Foliage Two set as accents.  I added a black rhinestone swirl in the upper corner and Cosmic Shimmer black PVA dots around the edges to finish it off.

Present Tree

Hi bloggers!  After the whirlwind that was Ally Pally, I am jumping back in the saddle to get ready for the next set of shows that I am doing.  There is a Spellbinders POTD this evening, but Creative Expressions isn't doing those shows (I hope I still have a job demoing! LOL)  I do have three hours scheduled for Sunday the 30th.  I will be doing the tool shed from noon until 2pm and then an hour at 5pm.  I hope you will save your pennies for them as there are exciting new dies and the new A4 size embossibilities too on the shows.  I am very excited about these and have some lovely samples to show.  Don't forget to put it in your diaries.  I will give you a sneaky peek later on in the week.  For today's card, it is a really easy card which really doesn't need a detailed explanation.  I have simply used the small present from the Frosty Forms set, added the swirly bow from the set to it and created a Christmas tree of presents.  I used some of my favourite gold decorative card (which was purchased in Florida at Hobby Lobby), but it just looked like it would make lovely wrapping paper for my pressies.  The background was created using the Lattice embossing folder designed by Sam Poole.  These were supposed to have been on the last shows, but the stock did not arrive in time.  We will have them available very soon though if you are looking for it.  I added a small 3mm black pearl to each of the bow centres on the presents as an accent.  You can see these better in the close up below. I added a double bow at the bottom, tied from the satin edged frilly organza ribbon.  I added a fancy button from my stash to the centre.   I added some 5mm black pearls to the corners as an accent and pierced the edges to complete the card.  Great card if you have lots of scraps to use since those pressies don't take but a bite size piece of decorative card!  All for now, Sue x

Shaun's Christmas Card Choice

Hello crafters!  One of my favourites from last weeks Christmas shows and this one was also Shaun's choice.  It looks a bit more complicated than it is actually.  Start with a piece of coconut white card and emboss the Holiday Tree on one side of it, then move your tree to the other side and emboss it again. Tip: if you leave a die cut in the die while you are embossing onto another piece of card, it will not cut through your card.   I marked a tiny spot with my ruler when I had the die in place so that I knew where the die needed to be placed the second time so they lined up.  You can eyeball it but since the die is actually slightly larger than where the embossing will show up, it is a bit harder that way.  Next I cut the holiday tree in the new soft gold card four times.  I scored each of the trees down the centre and folded them.  Using a tiny bit of Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue, I glued them back to back lining up the swirls.  I glued the back of this piece to the centre of my background, overlapping both the embossed trees.  By the way, you will have a line down the centre of the card when you emboss and have to move the tree over to do it again.  Don't worry about it as it is easily covered by the gold tree.  Tie a messy bow with the white seam binding and add it to the top of the tree (which hides the top of the line) and glue a medium Dazzler in the centre of your bow.

Cut two of the smaller Holly corners out of white card and two of the larger Holly corners out of gold card.  You can see in the close up that they will nicely interlink together with the curly cue parts.  Glue one in each of the top corners.  Add large flatback white pearls to both of your embossed trees as accents and pierce the edges to complete your card.  Your gold trees will flatten if you want to mail this, but I think it would also look lovely with one of the Label 28 easels attached to the back and placed on a mantel piece at Christmas too! 

I originally scheduled this post before I left for Ally Pally, but since I got home earlier than usual on Sunday evening, I had some time to add a bit on to the post.  I just wanted to say what a fun time I had there this past weekend, meeting so many of you that read the blog.  Thank you for all your outstanding comments and praise, as well as the lovely cards, gifts and even cupcakes I was given!   I was completely overwhelmed with your generosity! 

Since we are a day late for our comment game winners, I quickly got that sorted out when I got home too.  So this week's winners are:

Bettie Couson!!!

MCRAFTZ!!!

Beth Fox!!!

Congratulations to all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.All for now, Sue x

Noel

Good Sunday morning to all!  Or at least I hope it's Sunday as I have scheduled this post to go live then since I am away at the Ally Pally show in London.  I have to postpone the Comment Game winners until Monday too, so be sure to check in tomorrow to see if your name is drawn.  Today card is all about quick and easy.  I love the recycled look in cards so I thought I would try to achieve that using some of our kraft card.  I stamped the Merry Christmas background by JustRite Stamps using a coffee archival ink pad.  I cut it out and inked the edges with walnut stain.  I stamped it again, but this time, I cut out the inner section.  I inked it in the same way and mounted it with foam pieces for dimension.  I stamped the JustRite stamp of the Heirloom Ornament 2010 in coffee archival, cut it out with the matching die and inked it with walnut stain while still in the die, leaving the nice uninked edge as a border.  I stamped the sentiment using the red pepper Adirondack ink pad and cut it out with the tag from the Holly Motifs set.  I inked it very lightly with Antique linen and mounted it in the centre of my ornament.  I added a bow tied from brown Bakers twine and a red button with some twine to go with the recycled look.  I pierced the edges to complete the card.  I think this would be a great card to send to the guys on your Christmas list too, definitely not to fussy for them!  All for now, Sue x

Happy Holidays

Hello all!  How's this for a traditional Christmas card!  I have used my much loved "Tied Together" embossing folder to create the background for this one on coconut white card.  I had my flatback pearls handier than my PVA glue so I put them on each of the junctions in the background (it just cries out for something at those intersections, doesn't it!)LOL  I used some lovely red and green velvet paper for my poinsettias that was sent to me by a lovely blog follower named Annette.   I made two of them using several layers so they are nice and thick and full.  Just to keep it nice and simple, I cut a strip of white card and stamped my sentiment (from the JustRite sentiment stamp set).  I pierced the top and bottom of the strip and matted it on red card.  I cut one of the holly borders in black card and glued it to the bottom edge of the strip.  I mounted the strip in the upper half of the card and added the poinsettias to the left.  I pierced the edges to finish it off.  I really quick fun card to make.  Obviously less expensive but giving you a similar effect, you can use the Cosmic Shimmer PVA glue in white or pearl too.  There are a few close up pics for you below for you.  I hope you like it!  Thanks Annette, what fun I have had with my velvet papers!  If you are heading to Ally Pally today, please stop by my Rubbernecker stand and say hi!  I would love to meet some of my blog followers.  All for now, Sue x

Make A Wish

Hello there bloggers!  A lighter, brighter card for today, and just in case the colours don't show up true, this one is lavender and white with a bit of black as an accent.  I decided on a lavender background behind my lattice, but first I wanted to micro bead it so I applied my sticky adhesive sheet to my lavender card.  I peeled the backing paper off and carefully laid my white lattice background on top.  Making sure that I had the shiny side of my backing paper against the lattice, I used it to press the lattice down to make sure that it made contact with the sticky sheet everywhere.  If you put the matte side towards your sticky sheet, it will adhere so be careful not to do that.  Once I was satisfied that it was completely stuck, I poured my micro beads over the top of the piece.  I cut my flowers out of several shades of purple and stacked them for a whimsical looking flower.  I added a few of the flourishes and two stick pins to complete my corner focal element.  I stamped my sentiment on white card and added a light inking of dusty concord.  I cut one of the small fancy framed tags in white and mounted it over my sentiment with foam pieces.  I trimmed the sentiment to the edge of the tag and added it to the upper corner.  I cut a small lavender butterfly from the set to rest on the edge of the tag.  I pierced the edges in my usual style to complete the card.  A lovely whimsical card for any occasion.  All for now, Sue x

Christmas Blessings

Hi everyone!  More Christmas since we have another day of Christmas shows.  Today's shows are with Julia at noon, 4pm and 7pm so be sure to tune in.  This card is a vintage styled card using the new JustRite Christmas Holly Background stamp.  I stamped it in Walnut Stain distress ink and used a bit of water on my brush to pull the ink into the image, giving it a softer old fashioned feel.  I like this technique as it doesn't require a lot of time to be spent colouring too. I stamped the sentiment in the centre using clear perfect medium and embossed with gold powder.  The sentiment is actually part of two different phrases.  The "from our family to yours" is supposed to go to another sentiment, but since they are unmounted, you can cut them apart and use them however you like.  It seemed to suit to oval area better!   I cut four poinsettias for the corners, each consisting of several of the same size dies in the two smallest sizes.  I wanted to distress them a bit so I used an old gold pigment ink pad on the edges of all the petals and leaves.  I stamped the cut out dies with the matching Heartfelt poinsettia stamps too.  Since there were so many of them, I did the cheater method of pressing the die cut piece into the inked stamp while it was inked side up.  If you want an absolutely perfect match, you need to stamp your poinsettia on your choice of card.  Cut the poinsettia out of copy paper and register the negative piece over your stamped image.  Tape it into place, then place the die back into the cut out area of the negative.  Tape the die in place also and cut.  This will give you as close of a match as possible.  I mounted all the poinsettias in the corners, then matted my focal element on brown card.  I cut a larger piece of milk coloured card and embossed it with the new Holiday Magic embossibility folder.  I moved the folder to do the remaining part of the background too.  It's not a perfect pattern match but it is quite swirly so you don't tend to notice that the alignment isn't perfect.  I added a piece of duchess lace for a more vintage feel.  I matted it another piece of brown card and used the pearl PVA glue dots around the edge to finish it.  I hope this will appeal to the more traditional or vintage lovers out there.  All for now, Sue x

Love

Hi crafty friends!  I am really hoping to redeem myself with today's card after yesterday's flop!  I love the soft muted dusty rose and greys in this one.  It is actually one of the samples for today's shows but I cheated a bit and used the Grand decorative Circles and they aren't on the show so I won't be demoing this one.  However, what I really wanted to show was how you could use basic Christmas type dies and create a card that you could use any time of the year.  I cut a Holly Motif out of pale grey card then I cut a frame using the smallest sizes of the Grand Decorative Circle dies.  I glued them both to matching decorative paper for my background, cutting away the lower portion of the Motif.  I  stamped the word "Love" inside a bit off centred to make room for my flowers.  I embossed the sentiment with silver powder.  I matted this piece on to dusty rose card .  I cut a larger piece of pale grey card and embossed the Holly Accent border at the bottom.  I used a light inking of Pumice Stone distress ink to bring out the embossed pattern.  With my background sorted, I started work on my flowers.  These are the Layered Poinsettia dies, but I have assembled them using the same technique that I used from the Blossom Five dies last month.  I formed an inner bud to the flowers, then added slightly larger dies for the outer parts to the flower.  They don't really look like poinsettias, but I'm not sure what flower they actually do resemble.  I like them though, and now you can hopefully look at your Christmas Poinsettia and think about it for year round use too.  I did two flowers, one slightly larger than the other and added a few leaves too.  I had a bit of fun using the Cherry Blossom dies too as twigs for accents for the flowers (I just love that set!)  I finished the card with Cosmic Shimmer silver PVA glue dots around the edges.  I got a little snap happy with the camera on this one so there are quite a few different angle pics for you too.  What do you say, did I redeem myself? LOL 

Don't forget to tune in to today's shows at 8am, 11am and 3pm and Julia's shows on Thursday at noon, 4pm and 7pm!  All for now, Sue x

Laced Venetians

Hi guys!  I know this card isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I just loved the unusual colour combo, the Graphic 45 butterfly paper and the green gem seam binding.  Pare them up with micro beads and laced Venetian accent borders and you can see my non traditional side coming out.  I must admit too that this card looks better in person than my meagre photograph can show.   I started with my background paper all covered in butterflies in shades of teal and rust and covered it with clear micro beads (you can see it better in the close up pic below).  To my micro beaded background, I added Venetian borders top and bottom cut from black card.  I added a strip of straw coloured card so that I could add mounting foam and raise the strips up to make the lacing process easier.  Since the tips of the Venetian borders are very fine, you must go carefully through them with your ribbon.  Don't pull too hard or they may tear.  I laced the borders back and forth across my background with some Green Gem Seam Binding, leaving a bow at either side in opposite corners.  I topped the bow with a fancy black button from my craft stash.

I stamped my sentiment on the same straw coloured card and cut it out with the Hexagon dies and inked it lightly with tea dye ink.  I used one of my Vintage Lace accent pieces as a background for my sentiment.   I mounted this in the centre of my card with mounting foam and pierced the edges to finish the piece.  Hopefully, even if the colourway is too wild for you, the layout may appeal and you'll want to try it in your own choice of papers and ribbons.

Just a reminder that I have three shows tomorrow at 8am, 11am and 3pm (the last one is on Ideal World) and Julia is set to do more shows on Thursday at 12, 4pm and 7pm.  I hope you can tune in to see all the fun demos we have planned!  All for now, Sue x

Wondrous Christmas

Hi bloggers!  I've been having a little play time with the Tied Together folder this past week so I thought I would show it off.  I think I can even be so bold as to say if I were forced to pick just one single embossing folder to use (heaven forbid! LOL) but I would absolutely pick this one.  It always looks nice with whatever you put it with and I just love using the PVA glue to dot the intersections,!  This is also a little sneaky peek at the Frosty Forms set that is on my next shows which are on Wednesday this week (the 19th at 8am, 11am  on C & C and 3pm on Ideal World).  I really like the way this one came out, very non traditional but blingy just the same.  After I embossed my background with the folder, I tore two pieces of milk card to form my hills.  I covered them with our sticky self adhesive sheets (which I used scissors to trim to approximate the tear).  I peeled the backing sheet off and covered them with Cosmic Shimmer Luna Silver Mica flakes.  It gives it a snowy but blingy feel which I rather liked.  I cut two of the reindeer from this set, one out of dark brown card and one out of tan card.  I used a little tea dye ink to stencil through the die to bring out the pretty pattern on the reindeer.  I stamped my sentiment using Coffee Archival ink and cut it out with the Holly Motif.  I inked it while still in the die using Tea Dye ink again.  Using a fine tip pair of scissors, I nipped away the scrolly part of the die, leaving just the centre label area.  I cut one more of the Holly Motif using tan card and inked it too with Tea Dye.  I mounted my sentiment a top with mounting foam for dimension and added it to my embossed background.  I matted the entire piece with a tan mat then a final mat of milk on which I pieced the edges.  I added white pearl PVA glue dots to the background to complete my card.  I took the picture of the card for my blog, but I am still thinking of adding a tiny red nose on my reindeer, what do you think?  Too corny?   All for now. Sue x

Congratulations

Happy Sunday!  More winners today with the comment game too so that is a nice way to start the day off I think! First the card though, I set out to make a masculine card, hence the colours, but somewhere along the way, it changed (the addition of the butterfly, I think!)  My goal was to show off the Large Ribbon Banners, (which at least I did), as you don't really get a sense of the size of these until you see them on a card.   I wasn't really sure where I was heading after that but I began by cutting a frame from two of the smaller dies in the Grand Decorative Ovals in black card.  I cut a basic Lattice extendable background and trimmed it to fit in my frame.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out using one of the Large Ribbon Banners in milk coloured card.  I inked it lightly with Antique Linen distress ink.  I cut another one out of camel coloured card to use as an accent shadow.  I split in down the middle length ways and added to the top and bottom of my banner.  I just like the way it framed it and made it a bit bolder too.  I cut a matching butterfly from the Les Papillons set out of the camel coloured card.  The butterfly needed a bit of bling so I cut the solid version out of black glitter card to put underneath it.  When I add butterflies to cards, I only ever attach them at the centre body area and leave the wings free for some movement (it makes you want to play with the wings a bit too, which is fun).  Butterflies also really lend themselves to pearlie swirlies as trails behind them, I just can't help myself I always add it!  I liked the way it looked against the Lattice cut out too.  I added some black pearls to the body of the butterfly and a few different sized ones in the corners.  Pierced the edges to finish it off as usual.  Sometimes our cards just take on a mind of their own, don't they? 
Now on to the Comment Game Winners for the week.  They are:
Bluebell!!!
Barney Bear!!!
Lainey!!!

Congratulations to all!  You have to email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize too.  Don't forget if you want to be entered in the weekly contest, all you have to do is leave a comment after any of the posts I make each day.  I'll draw three names at random from those that do so.  All for now, Sue x

Candy Winners!

I'm back with the names of the candy drawing winners!  Thanks for your patience on it, it has been a crazy week with the run up to the Ally Pally show next weekend.  Lots to do!  Just a quick note too, that the blog candy pictured was from the last drawing.  I forgot to take a pic of the one that we are giving away today (opps!)  I will get a new picture up for the next drawing very soon.  Without further delay,
the winner of the THIRD place prize is:......................
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Magpie (Karen)!!!!

The winner of the SECOND place prize is:................................
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Sonja Jones!!!

And finally, the winner of the GRAND FIRST place prize is:.............
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Ita O'Byrne O'Keeffe!!!

Congratulations to all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  The game rolls over and we will pick new winners when we hit 3600 followers!  All for now, Sue x

Asian Design In Kraft

Hi bloggers!  I know it is a bit different to see black flowers on a cherry blossom twig, but I just love the combination of kraft card with black and red.  I did them first in red and it just didn't work for some reason.  I like the black flowers, it gives the card a more mysterious feel to it I think.  Whether you like it or don't though, I hope at least it will show you that you can try different colours rather than just traditional ones and step outside your comfort zone a bit.  I started with a piece of kraft card as my background.  I very lightly inked the edges with black soot.  I cut a wide strip of red card and embossed it with the Asian embossibility folder.  I matted it on black and wrapped some red Bakers Twine around it before adhering it to my kraft card.  I stamped my sentiment on milk card and cut it out with the Asian Motif.  I inked it with Antique Linen while in the die.  Next I cut my cherry blossom branches, I used the reverse side of the kraft card and inked them with Antique Linen.  I cut a bunch of the smaller flowers in black card, but cut the largest flower in milk card twice.  The large flowers I used in the corner of my Motif with smaller black flowers atop them.  I dotted the black flowers around my twigs and put tiny flatback pearls in the centres of all of them.  Matted the entire card in black and pierced the edges.  I am glad to see a touch of the Orient coming back into style as I really enjoy the look.    Check back later this afternoon for the blog candy drawing winners.  All for now, Sue x 

Clean And Simple

Morning all!  This one is almost in the clean and simple category, no where near my usual look, but I hope you aren't disappointed with it.  I think it is pretty nonetheless and I just loved the negative piece from the swirl in the Jewelled Flowers and Flourish set.  So I cut not one, but two of them out of my white background.  I overlapped the cut so it looks like one continuous cut out.  I mounted my negative piece up on foam pieces over a piece of moss green card and allowed the edges to peek out from behind.  This piece I mounted on a larger white piece of card where I stamped my sentiment in the lower corner.  I used the Awesome Blossom embossibility to give texture to the background.  This set also has a couple of nice small butterflies in it.  I covered a bit of white card with one of the sticky adhesive sheets and cut two butterflies.  I removed the backing paper then micro beaded the white butterflies for a bit of texture against my flat white background.  Piercing around the edges finished it off for a clean simple look.  On another note, I know that we have reached our blog candy target, but I am tied up all day today, but I promise to get the winners drawn and posted by midday on Saturday.  All for now, Sue x

Beaded Sweet Thoughts

Hello all!  This is another card that I planned to demo but it never made it out to the counter for a viewing.  There is a bit of detail to this one so it may have been too long of a demo, but it is a fun card to make.  I started with a faux letterpressed background.  I inked the negative side of the Awesome Blossoms embossibility folder with Antique Linen distress ink.  I think that using a tone on tone colour selection for this technique works best, but it is a bit more subtle too.  The last pic shows a close up of the technique so you can get a better idea of what I'm talking about.  The letterpress technique will apply the ink from your folder to your cardstock in the recessed areas.  It adds more dimension to your backgrounds too.  Once inked, I cut the piece on a diagonal and placed mounting foam on the back of both pieces.  Next I cut a piece of dark brown card and stamped it with my sentiment using clear perfect medium.  I embossed it with white powder so it would show up nicely against the dark card.  I covered the entire piece with a self adhesive sticky sheet, peeled the backing paper off and covered it with clear micro beads.  I put this piece so it filled the gap in my diagonal background (I find it easier to trim the sides once it has been put together)  I added two thin strips of brown card to accentuate the focal area of the card.  I mounted them up on foam for definition.  Next I cut the flowers from the Crinkly Kraft paper (called Crinkle twist Kraft Paper on the Creative Expressions website).  I cut several flowers from the Jewelled Flowers and Flourish die set and layered them up to create two flowers.  I made the last flower by adding redline tape to the bottom and gathering and rolling to form it.  I used a Snow White Dabber on the edges as an accent and pearl brads in the centres of two of the flowers.  I added some dries clear glue to the edge of my rolled flower and some clear micro beads to it.  I cut several leaves and a flourish as accents for the flowers.  Around the edge of the background, I added some Cosmic Shimmer pearl PVA glue dots as a frame accent.  I finished the card by paper piercing a dark brown mat.  I wanted to make an earthy toned card, but this would look just as nice in so many other colour combos if this isn't to your taste.  All for now, Sue x