Iris

 Happy weekend!  I hope the weather is playing nice wherever you may be.  It's a bit funny, but sometimes the cards I make bring me back a little when I look at them.  I remember this one was the very first card sample that I made for my June shows.  I just loved these Iris and couldn't wait to see them coloured up (I have always had a thing for Iris!)  Plus, I had just been given our new soft custard card and it just spoke to me for this card.  I used a combination of soft lead pencils with some marker highlights for my Iris which were stamped in Black Archival ink.  I actually stamped them three times in fact and die cut just the centre sections for the top two with the ovals in the Vintage Labels Four die set so that I could layer them up a bit.  I used the Enchanted Labels 28  to create my background.  Now, this is a rather large die, but I found that it can easily be cut down and re-sized to fit the Vintage Labels Four from Justrite.  You do really have to look, but I cut it down the centre then slide the excess under the other half until it was the size that I needed.  It is mostly hidden by the top die cut which is why it works so easily with this set.  I matted it with a piece of white card to bring out the design before adding my double pierced mats in custard card.  I tied a messy bow from Royal Blue seam binding (which is a very purplish blue) and topped it with a small flower that I had in my stash.  I used a light touch of Mustard seed distress ink to the top of the flower.  I stamped a small sentiment and cut it out with the Charmed I'm sure tag set.  I lightly inked it with Mustard seed as well while it was still in the die and tucked the end under my flower.  A few flatback pearls to the die cuts were the finishing touches for my first Iris card sample.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" in size (a mere baby by my standards, huh?!) LOL  All for now, Sue x

Welcome Little One

Hi guys!  Another baby card for you today.  This could be for either a baby boy or girl as I used peach and lavender (how noncommittal is that!)  I started with a piece of milk coloured card and embossed it with the Interlocking Circles embossing folder.  I stamped my sentiment using a Blue Violet Archival ink pad on peach card.  I cut it out with a large star die (had to go digging for this one as I hadn't used it in ages!)  I inked it while still in the die using Tattered Rose distress ink.  I cut two smaller star dies out of lavender card and lightly inked both of those as well using Dusty Concord distress ink.  I mounted them together using 3D foam pieces.  I slightly overlapped them in the lower corner of my card.  Using some pastel peach and lavender Bakers Twine, I wrapped it top to bottom around my card and tied a cute bow with it and put small knots in the ends.  Next I stamped some of the Buntings and Banners stamps from Justrite Stamps.  I used two different bunting stamps and embossed them both in white.  I inked one of them with Tattered Rose and the other with Dusty Concord to match my stars.  I cut them out with the matching dies from Justrite  and crisscrossed them on the top of the card, tucking the ends under my Bakers Twine.  I cut out some small flowers that are from a Heartfelt Creations die set called Layered Scalloped Posey.  I added them between every two bunting flags for a pretty accent.  Very small flat back pearls were glued into the centres of each flower.  I matted my card with both matching peach and lavender card before adding a double milk coloured pierced mat to finish it.  I just love the sweetness of this card, I must remember to do more baby cards as they are just so much fun!  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8 1/2" in size.
A quick reminder that Julia Watts has four shows today on Create and Craft tv.  You can catch them at 8am, 10am, 2pm and 7pm.  Be sure to tune in to see her great demos and products, I know you will love them!  All for now, Sue x

Thinking Of You Makes Me Smile

 Hi bloggers!  A pretty framed card for today's offering.  I find myself picking up this Graphic 45 background paper far to often as I just love the vintage feel to the pattern.  I used a small strip of it for the bottom panel on this card and put it with our coconut white and mauve (their name, not mine, I think it looks more lavender) card.  I embossed the white background with my decorative panel attached with my Tapestry embossing folder.  I cut a mauve border to the decorative panel using the  Bracket Border die set, another of my favourite go-to sets.  I added a thin white strip across the top as an extra element, then tied a messy bow out of white seam binding.  One of the frosted lavender Dazzlers matched perfectly so I seated it in the centre of my bow.  For my focal element, I used the Decorative Labels One die set and cut two frames using  the two largest dies and then another two frames using the next size smaller in the die set.  I glued the two largest frames together offsetting them and did the same with the other two frames.  I stamped my sentiment on to white card using a Black Archival ink pad.  I used one of the stamps from the Celebrations Labels One from Justrite set to add some interest around my sentiment.  I stamped it with a clear perfect medium pad and white embossed it.   I added some foam mounting pieces to the backs of both frame sets and then offset them over the sentiment and trimmed the excess card away from my sentiment piece.  I loved the pretty way these dies frame my sentiment using the two different sized frame pairings.  I added some flat back pearls to my frames and the corners and finished with my double white pierced matting layers.  A nice way of letting someone know they are in your thoughts!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Thank You

 Hi crafters!  Back to clean and relatively simple-ish for today's card.  I just love this background called Secret Garden from Justrite stamps.  This is sort of a reverse technique for a stamp that has been drawn with a negative image.  I stamped it on coconut white card using a clear perfect medium pad and heat embossed it with white embossing powder for a tone on tone look.  Now since the stamp is actually drawn so that the background stamps and the flowers are left unstamped, I was able to colour the flowers because they were not embossed (does that make sense?)  I used some watercolour crayons to colour the flowers and leaves on the image.  Next I covered the entire background with a sticky adhesive sheet.  Due to the embossing, you need to make sure and burnish it well, then peel the backing paper off and cover with micro beads.  Once covered, I cut the background into three sections and matted each one with a thin white mat.  I mounted them with a small gap between them on foam pieces for dimension.  I stamped my sentiment in black archival ink in the lower corner.  Using one of the stamps from the Floral Thank You set by Justrite, I stamped it off the edge of the card in the opposite corner and heat embossed it with white powder for a little bit of interest.  I matted my piece with a thin piece of pale green (to match my leaves) then added my final double white pierced mat to complete the card.  I decided to keep it flat (easy posting possibilities) and opted for no bow or further embellishments on this one as I rather liked the simplicity of it.  I hope you do too.  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Hello

Hello all!  A pretty, girlie channel card for today.  Blush and white are the colours of choice and I used the Bracket Border dies to cut my channel in a piece of coconut white card.  I cut the same shape for the bottom half of my channel as well, leaving a pretty bracket shaped channel.  I embossed both halves using my Heart Lattice embossing folder to give the background a bit of texture for interest.  I added mounting foam to the two pieces.  I cut a piece of blush card for them to sit upon and placed a strip of sticky adhesive paper where the channel was going to sit (I cut it a bit larger than I needed so I had a bit of wiggle room when I put the two pieces down).  I peeled the backing paper off and covered it with Diamond Sprinkles for a bit of glam.  Next I seated my two background pieces leaving a gap for my channel.  I cut several of the Delicate Asters and leaves and glued them together to form two flowers.  Using the large size of the micro beads, I tinted them with shell pink alcohol ink and snow cap mixative.  I allowed them to dry thoroughly then glued them in to the centres of my Asters. Using a black Archival ink pad,  I stamped my sentiment (from the Floral Thank You set by Justrite stamps) and made a banner with a blush mat for it.  I tucked the end under one of the flowers and gave it a bit of wave by using a glue dot under the end.  I tucked some white tulle under my flowers and added a pearl swirl spray as an accent.  The double white pierced mat was the finishing touch.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

For You

 Hi bloggers!  I thought it was about time I got back to a full blown "Sue" card with bows, swirls and flowers, among other things!  This is another of the cards from my Scotland demo day.  I started with a piece of taupe card and used the corner from the Gold Element One die set. I just used the insert piece and cut the opposite corners with it.  I used long strips of the Scotch brand double sided sticky tape across the edges and then covered them with Summer Meadow gilding flakes.  I used a piece of rubit scrubit pad to refine the flakes.  I matted this piece on black card so that there was a nice contrast showing off the corner cut out areas.  Next I used the Splendid Circles and cut the largest die out of black card for the backdrop on my focal element.  Next I stamped the Kaleidescope Stamp To Die For using the Flake and Glitter Glue on to taupe card.  I covered it with the same gilding flakes and refined it too.  You can see some of the lacy detail in the close ups below.  I cut it out with a circle die and mounted it in the centre of my Splendid Circle.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with the Decagon die. I used a light inking of Black Soot while it was still in the die. I made a matching faux nestie for it in black and seated it in the centre of my circles.  Using the Bitty Blossoms dies, I made an assortment of flowers out of taupe card and arranged them around my circular focal element with some matching leaves from the set.  I added a messy bow tied from black seam binding and a natural jute bow.  Finally, I finished my card with a double pierced mat out of taupe and some black rhinestones swirls.  I love the elegance of the gilding flakes against the taupe and black card.  I hope you will like this one too!  Finished dimensions are 7" x 9" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Festive Gold And White

 Good Sunday morning all!  Another carefully slipped in Christmas card for today. LOL  It will be here before you know it though so you may just thank me for giving you that nudge to get started! (Or maybe not! LOL)  This is definitely a clean and simple style, lots of white space and no bow in sight!  When I first laid eyes on this new set of stamps by Justrite called Festive Poinsettia" I knew that they were going to be a favourite go to set for my Christmas cards.  I fell in love with them!  I started this card by stamping my sentiment (another Justrite set called Elegant Christmas sentiments).  I used a clear perfect medium pad and heat embossed with gold powder.  Next I cut a wide strip of white card and used one of the larger poinsettia dies to cut an aperture, but I offset it so it cut off the strip.  I lined up the strip with my sentiment where I wanted it to be, then stamped the coordinating stamp through the aperture.  I heat embossed it with gold powder too.  I removed the strip, then added mounting foam to the back to give the piece dimension, then placed it back in place lining it up with my stamped image.  I stamped and cut out two more smaller poinsettia singles and glued them in place.  I added white flatback pearls to al the centres.  Finished the card with my usual double white pierced mat for a nice frame.  I think it looks very elegant and especially with that beautiful Festive Poinsettia embossed in gold.  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8" in size.

Now for the weekly winners of the comment game!  This week's winners are:
Jean Phillips!!!
KathR!!!
Mazzer!!!

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

Welcome Little One

Hi bloggers!  How about a sweet baby card for today?  I think these bunting dies work perfectly for baby cards, among other things so I couldn't help myself!  I started by stamping my sentiment in the upper corner using a coffee archival ink pad.  I added a panel of some pretty tone on tone decorative paper from my stash to the side, matted in dark brown card.  I embossed a smaller piece of white card using my Cascading Hearts embossing folder.  I matted it with dark brown then layered it over the first panel.  I stamped another sentiment in coffee archival and cut it out with Vintage Labels three.  I inked through the die with Tumbled glass.and then matted it with a larger sized Labels Three die.  I tied a double bow from some pretty hombre blue and brown organza ribbon and added a brown Dazzler to the centre as an accent.  I cut  a couple of the different shaped buntings and stamped them.  One was stamped with the dotted stamp from the Buntings and Banners set from Justrite stamps.  The other was stamped with the word Baby, but I used one letter for each flag and inked them lightly through the die with Tumbled glass again.  I crisscrossed them on the top of the card around the sentiment and added  tiny bows tied from the pastel Bakers twine.  I finished the card with a double white pierced mat to nicely frame.  It makes me wish I had someone to send it to!  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Miss You

Hi crafters!  I miss you too!  It feels like forever since I did a show and I still have a few more weeks to go!  Oh well, on to the card! LOL   Another really easy one as this is the layout I go to whenever I need to get back into the swing of things so to speak.  I have embossed the top half of my coconut white card using the New Year Dove embossing folder by Couture Creations.  I stamped my sentiment(from Justrite stamps) in the lower right hand corner using a Black Archival ink pad.    I ties a length of black silky crush ribbon around the card and added a double bow and some white tulle to the left side.  I seated a small cameo in the centre as an accent (I think they are so pretty!)  For my focal element, I stamped the flower from the Floral Thank You set by JustRite stamps (yes, it is the same stamp that I used on yesterday's card!) using a Black Archival ink pad on a piece of blue-violet card (from my stash).  I wanted to dress it up just a bit so I stamped the Secret Garden background over the top using just a Clear Perfect Medium pad so it looks like a watermark.  I love the extra bit of interest it gives.  I cut it out with the Scalloped Labels One die.  To give it a pretty mat, I cut a Decorative Labels One out of black card and used mounting foam between the layers.  I used the blue violet card to add a thin mat before finishing my card with a double pierced mat in black.  Again, pretty, but so simple and can be used with any sort of sentiment.  Finished dimensions are
 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x