Journey

Hello my crafty friends!  What a whirlwind past few days!  I received a phone call from my friend Karen Lines to say that I had won the" Best Blog Award" at the Origin Publishing awards which were held the first evening of the show.  I wasn't even aware that I had been nominated at all so it came as quite a surprise!  I only knew about the Crafts beautiful magazine awards (which I didn't win, unfortunately).  It seems from yesterday's comments that many of you already knew about the Origin Publishing Awards so thank you so much, it really made my day!   The trade show is now over and I hopefully will be able to get a few pics from the show up on the blog on Thursday or Friday to show you.  I say hopefully as I am now using a new laptop and I haven't quite figured out all the ins and outs of Windows 8!  I do have some other fun stuff to tell you about in the next few days along with some giveaways so don't forget to check back.
 I decided we needed to show a guy card as I hadn't shown one for a bit (and I still have a bunch of them)  This is one of those cards that I really don't necessarily need to give you a detailed rundown for as it is pretty much "what you see is what you get." But, I'll do a quick one.   I did start with a script patterned and a stripe patterned paper, which for the life of me I cannot recall the manufacturer of (so sorry).    I used a square of kraft card and put four faux screw brads in the corners.  Using the Vintage  Labels and Banners die, I cut the largest size out of a rust coloured card.  I stamped the airplane from the Going Places set using a coffee archival.  I coloured it with soft lead pencils and cut it out with the matching die.  I mounted the two dies in the centre and added small choco brown glue dots around the edge of both the outer die cut and the card edge.  I tied some natural jute twine around the bottom of the card and added a Tim Holtz journey charm as an accent.  I did use frayed burlap distress ink and the edge of my scissors to distress the card edge to give it a more vintage look too.   A real guy's guy card i think!   Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Thinking Of You Today

Hi all!  I really like this background as it sort of looks like cork when you first see it, doesn't it!  I have simply used kraft card and stamped the Justrite Victorian Tile background using a clear Perfect Medium pad, giving you a watermark effect.  I added a piece of black duchess lace across the bottom of the card.  On blush coloured card, I stamped two of the Justrite Embroidered borders using a black archival ink pad.  I cut them out using the matching edgeability die edge.  Adding 3D foam to the back of both borders, I mounted them up for dimension, leaving a small gap in the foam to allow for the height in the lace.  I stamped the decorative stamp from the always and Forever set on black card using a clear perfect medium pad.  I heat embossed it with clear and cut it out with the oval nested medallion die.  On kraft card, I stamped the frame from the same set.  I stamped my sentiment on blush card and overstamped it for texture with the decorative stamp from the set.  I clear embossed for texture.    I matted the three pieces up to form my central focal element.  To keep my embellishments light, I used pink tulle to tie a bow and added some black jute twine and a black dazzler for definition.  I added a double blush mat and pierced the inner layer. To complete the card, I added small black dots to the edge of the borders using the Cosmic Shimmer black PVA glue.  Finished dimensions are 7" x 7 1/2" in size.

Thank You

Hi crafty friends!  This one is a favourite of mine as I love unusual backing papers.  I find myself looking at papers now thinking "how will that look covered in micro beads!"  LOL  This paper is from Graphic 45 and has a lovely brown, creamy yellow and black colour combo to it.  I covered it with a sticky adhesive sheet and micro beaded it.  I cut the bottom edge on the diagonal.  I used a piece of coordinating pale yellow card for the bottom of my background.  Using a score board, I added some lines to the bottom and a light inking of black Soot to add interest.  I used a leftover piece of the background paper and tore small circles of different sizes, crumpled them and glued them together to form the floral  cascade between the two sections of the background.  I added small black pearls to the centres of each of the flowers.  Next I stamped the lace medallion on black card using a clear perfect medium pad.  I heat embossed it with clear powder and cut it out with the matching nested medallion die.  I stamped the smaller medallion from the Always and Forever set on the pale yellow card.  I cut two sizes of the nested medallion to create a frame from it.  I stamped my sentiment on the yellow card and mounted the frame over it with foam pieces.   I added it atop my lace medallion as my focal element.  To finish the card, I added a couple of soft black feathers to my focal element and a black rhinestone swirl section to my bottom corner.  I pierced the inner layer of my double black mat.  It's very Moulin Rouge in it's feel, but a really fun piece!  Finished dimensions are 6" x 7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Be Mine

Good Sunday morning!  I wish that I could say I'm having a nice long lay in this morning, but alas not.  I'm at the trade show in Birmingham for the next few days so I am leaving the blog in Bloggers' hands to put the posts up at their scheduled time (which I always do, but I can usually check on it to make sure it has actually gone up!)  I frequently do cards that just rely on the background to make the entire card, a tag, a flower, maybe a few embellishments, but basically it's done.  This is no exception.  Pull out your pretty border stamps to start.  I used the Justrite Embroidered borders and stamped it using a clear Perfect Medium pad and heat embossed with white powder.  I repeated it four times to fill up the piece of fuschia card I selected.  Once stamped and embossed, I covered the entire piece with a sticky self adhesive sheet.  Peel the backing paper off and cover the piece with clear micro beads to add an amazing texture to your background.  Next I stamped the Valentine tag on coconut white card.  I cut it out with the matching Justrite shape and inked through the die with a bit of raspberry Adirondack  ink (I usually use distress inks, but couldn't find a colour that matched).  I made two of the six petal roses (see tutorial on Creative Expressions website)and used some dries clear glue on them, followed by the new Ranger Rock Candy Dry Glitter.  I added a small piece of white tulle (from my stash) and two pearl stick pins with my roses and tag in the upper corner.  I added a double mat of white and pierced the inner mat.  I have had so many questions about my pierced edges lately.  Finally, we have the rulers on my next set of shows in March so I will be demonstrating this technique for you!

As it is Sunday, we have new comment game winners to announce today also. 

This weeks winners are:                                                

  Alice G!!!                                 

Sharon  Kirkwood!!!             

 Anthea!!!                               

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

 

Hearts Full Of Love

Hi bloggers!  I thought I would continue with the love theme since it was Valentines Day this week and basically, love is in the air!  I love this quickie little card.  It is soft gold, taupe and black and I can't tell you how many times I reach for that colour combo.  It just always has such a rich, elegant look to it.  I started by cutting two of the largest size of the Resplendent Rectangles out of black card.  I used them as a background border and matted them on to some taupe card.  I cut a piece of soft gold card and used the Petite Fleur embossing folder by Couture Creations.  It has a nice empty centre section that was just crying out for a nestie focal element.  I stamped the Vintage Pearl stamp from Justrite using a clear Perfect Medium pad and embossed it with gold powder.  In the centre I stamped my sentiment in black.  I cut it out with the matching die and then made a faux nestie by tracing around the outside of the die and hand cutting it.  I used a piece of fine sandpaper to smooth out any ragged edges.  I mounted it behind my stamped image and then used foam to mount both in the centre of my background.  I made a black rose using my flower tutorial that can be found on the Creative Expressions website.  Once the glue was dry, I dipped it in clear melted Utee (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) to give it a porcelain look.  I used some thin gold ribbon and black tulle (from my stash) and seated the rose in the middle.  I added it to the card below my focal element to complete my card.  Finished dimensions are 6" x 7" in size.

Friendship Buckle Card

Morning all!  A five way buckle card today.  Usually my buckle cards have three main elements, but just to be a bit different, I thought I would try five and put them on the diagonal.  I really like the way it came out myself.  I started with a piece of aubergine toned card and stamped the opposite corners with a perfect medium and the lace border from Justrite stamps.  I heat embossed it with white powder so it looks very bold.  Then I embossed my background using the Floral embossing folder from Creative Expressions.  I had to do it twice to get the size I needed but it easily realigns for that purpose.  Next I stamped out five of the medallion from the Always and Forever set from Justrite Stamps.  I used a clear perfect medium pad and heat embossed them all with white powder for a tone on tone look.  I cut out each one using the nested medallion dies to create frames in all of them.  I used the lace medallion die and randomly stamped it across a strip of purple card using a black archival ink pad.  I matted the strip on black and cut forks into both ends.  I used this strip to weave my five frames together into a diagonal line.  I placed a long piece of mounting foam on the back to secure them, then added then across my card.  I stamped the Antique Friends stamp in black on purple card for my focal element.  I cut it out with the matching die and placed it in the centre of my card with foam.  I pierced around the edges of my double white mat to finish it off.  I am partial to these types of cards as they really work for both men and women.  I love the versatility.  Add a bow or flower and dress it up if you like or leave it as is for a simpler appeal.  Finished dimensions are 7'' x 8'' in size.  All for now, Sue x

Sweet Friend

Happy Valentine's Day!  This one is probably the closest that I have to being appropriate for the day.  It has hearts and it's pink blush colour (not specifically Valentines, but oh well!)  I used the Cupid background and stamped it on blush card using a Clear Perfect Medium pad.  I heat embossed it with white powder.  I used Victorian Velvet Distress ink around the edges to bring out the soft image a bit more.    I stamped it one more time, but only used the bottom area of the stamp.  I inked one of the small text stamps from the Grand Sentiment set and stamped it in the frame and cut it out with the matching Antique tags One die.  I mounted it on foam and placed it over the same area on the original.  I cut one of the swirls from the Jewelled Flowers and Flourish set and a couple of leaves and added it with two pink organza roses and some Bakers Twine to the corner of my sentiment.  I stamped my main sentiment in the heart on the background and added another rose and leaves to the upper corner of the heart.  I pierced the edges to give a finished look to my card.  I think this one would be perfect for a friend for any occasion, not just Valentines day!  Finished dimensions are 6'' x 7'' in size.

Beaded Thinking Of You

Hi crafty friends!  This card is so pretty in person, another case of my photography skills falling short.  I will try to give you a good description so you can imagine it better (than my pictures show it!)  I started with a piece of Graphic 45 paper.  It had a small pattern on it, not quite tone on tone, but almost.  I covered it with a piece of self adhesive sticky sheet and then covered it with clear micro beads to give my background a textural feel.  Next, using milk coloured card, I cut the largest size of the Resplendent Rectangles to use as the bottom layer on my focal element.  Using the next size in the set, I cut it also using milk card.  On the very edge, I ran a bead of Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue al the way around and covered it in Rock Candy Dry Glitter.  I love this glitter as it dries white and sparkly.  There is no interference colour added so you don't get the pink and purple colours coming from it.  It is perfect for use as snow (dare I say that word! LOL)  I added small flatback pearls to the inside corners on this piece.  Next I stamped the Embroidered Background by Justrite Stamps using a clear perfect medium pad on another piece of Graphic 45 paper with a similar pattern as my background.  I heat embossed it with clear powder so it gave more texture to the piece, but allows you to still see the paper pattern.  I cut a nested oval medallion shape from this piece and layered it up in the centre of my focal element.  Next I stamped the oval medallion frame from the Always and Forever set and cut it out using two dies to give me a frame.  I inked it with Tattered rose distress ink while still in the die.  I stamped the frame again, this time on milk card and added my sentiment to the centre.  I mounted my frame over this piece using 3D mounting foam for dimension.  I tied a messy bow out of seam binding and spritzed it with water to give it a shabby chic feel.  I made a rose using the method in the tutorial on the Creative Expressions website and added it atop my bow and attached both to the corner of my focal element.  I used a paint brush to add CS glue to my rose and then sprinkled it with more Rock Candy Dry Glitter for extra bling.  Just the best kind of card to get, thinking of you today!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2'' x 8 1/2'' in size.  All for now, Sue x

Lace Friend Card

Hi bloggers!  Blush, brown and white are the colours of the day.  I have gone for a shabby chic feel with this one.  I stamped the Lace background on brown card using a clear perfect medium and heat embossed it with white.  I cut it out by hand (can you believe it, no matching die!)and glued it to the top of a piece of brown card. I wrapped a piece of blush card around my background and taped the ends to the back.   Next I stamped it again on blush card and white embossed it.  I fussy cut it again (it is very easy to cut out) and glued it vertically, this time, allowing the other piece to peek out behind it.  I stamped the oval lace medallion on brown card and embossed it with white and cut it out with the matching die.  I stamped the small frame from the Antique Valentines Tags one set by JustRite and sentiment and white embossed it also.  I cut it out with the Antique tag set.  I cut one more out of blush card and cut it in half to add as a shadow for my sentiment and mounted it in the middle of the lace medallion.  I cut some circles from the blush and brown card and spiral cut them to make pretty rolled flowers for the top and bottom corners of my card.  I tied a messy bow out of the blush seam binding and scrunched it for a shabby chic look.  I added some natural jute twine under my bow and flowers as an accent.  I pierced the edges of a double brown mat to complete my card.  I think this one would make a lovely Valentines card too.  Finished dimensions are 7 1/4'' x 8'' in size.
As I have been getting quite a few emails about when my next shows are, I thought I would give you a quick heads up.  I am doing a 4 Day Deal on March 4th to 8th which is some gorgeous new Heartfelt Creations dies and stamps as well as some Justrite designs that sold out so quickly last time!  There is loads of new stuff on the shows too (new card colours, embellishments, etc.) so don't forget to save your pennies,you will love it!
On March 17th, I am doing tool shed and another hour later in the day with brand new Justrite stamps and dies (just released at CHA) and these are stunning also.
I am working on another show at the moment also, but I don't have a firm date on it yet so I won't go into too much detail.  Again, the samples are coming out so pretty, I think you will enjoy these items too. I am hoping it will go forward in early April, but I will let you know once the details are finalised.
All for now, Sue x

Always And Forever

 Hi bloggers!  Lovely lavender today!  I started by stamping our new lavender card with the Victorian tile background stamp from Justrite.  I used a clear Perfect Medium pad and heat embossed it with white powder.  I stamped two of the Always and Forever medallion stamps with a black archival ink pad on coconut white card.  I cut them out using the matching die and a smaller one to create a frame from them. I stamped the frame from the Always and forever set using a black archival ink pad.  Before cutting it out, I stamped the Victorian Tile over the top of it and clear embossed it.  I lined up the matching oval medallion die and also the next size up in the set so I ended up with my centre element and a matching frame in one cut.  I turned the frame in the opposite direction from the sentiment and used the two earlier cut frames on the sides as accents.  I wrapped a piece of lavender seam binding around opposite corners and tied a messy bow in the lower corner.  I added a square Dazzler and two black stick pins as accents.  I added some flatback pearls in the corners and pierced the edges of the double white mats to finish it off.  I hope you like it!  Finished dimensions are 5 3/4" x 7" in size.

Now for the winner of the card giveaway from Saturday's post is...............
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JeanPhillips!!!!

Congratulations!   Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize!
 Thanks for all the lovely emails left on the day!  I so enjoyed reading all of them!
 All for now, Sue x

True Friend

Good Sunday morning all!  Another card from my last JustRite stamp shows today.  White on white with a touch of rose here and there.  I started by embossing the background with the Creative Expressions Floral embossing folder.  Like the lattice folder from yesterday, I use this one a good deal.  I rounded the corners then matted it on rose card and started to work on my focal element. I stamped the large stamp from the Friends Antique Label One set by Justrite Stamps using a clear perfect medium pad and then heat embossed it with white powder. I cut it out with the matching die and mounted it vertically in the centre with some 3D foam.  Next I stamped the smaller matching stamp on the rose card and used white embossing powder on it also.  I stamped the small sentiment in the centre with a black archival pad.  I cut it out and mounted it horizontally across my other die cut.  I stamped two of the Justrite embroidered borders on white card  using a clear perfect medium pad.  I used white embossing powder on both for a tone on tone look.  I cut them with one of the edgebility dies and mounted them on a rose coloured mat.  I used mounting foam on the back of both of them for dimension and added them to either side of my focal element.  I stamped the butterfly from the Grand Sentiments (Justrite) set on rose card and embossed it with white.  I cover ed it with a self adhesive sticky sheet and cut it out.  The backing paper is thin enough to see the image if you hold it up to the light.  Once cut, I peeled the paper and covered it with clear micro beads for a lovely texture.  I mounted it in the corner and used pearls for the body.  I added a double white mat and pierced the inner layer to finish it off.  Finished Dimensions are 6" x 7 1/2 in size.
Now I do have a bit of a confession to make.  While this is a nice card, I probably wouldn't have put it on the blog as it is more of a card I would make if I had no more than 30 minutes to put something together kind of card.  However, when I got home from Florida last week, I realised that I have a damaged both of USB ports on my computer. Not sure how it happened but I can't Skype with my daughter, can't charge my phone and  I can't download any pictures until I get it fixed.  I am having to use some card pics that would not have necessarily been my first choice.  I am hopefully getting it sorted during the week (before I run out of card pictures!)  I saved a much better one for tomorrow though so don't worry!
 And since it is Sunday, I have some winners for the comment game this week.

The winners are:

Anne Crawford!!!
Fuchsia!!!
Alimecca!!!

Plus we had over 200 comments on Saturday so we have another qualifying day.  The winners are:

Sonja W!!!
Jazza C!!!
Tracy Harris!!!

Congratulations!  You know the drill, email me at americansue1@gmail.com  to confirm your address and claim your prize.

Don't forget to check Monday's post to see if you have won the card giveaway!  All for now, Sue x