Blended Dahlia Wedding

Big News!!

For a limited time (until the end of June) you can purchase a reduced-priced Starter Kit at the low price of $60 ($65 product value) and join my team of Tri-City Stampers!  This reduced-price kit still offers all the fantastic Demonstrator benefits of the full-price kit, including $65 worth of products of your choice as well as catalogues and business supplies.  This is the perfect time to join Stampin' Up! as we launch a brand new Annual Catalogue - you'll get a 30% discount on your first order!  What a great way to get the items on your new catty Wish List!  To learn more about the demonstrator opportunity click the Join My Team tab above.

Now for some stamping!  This is another project I made a couple of weeks ago while I was playing with my new Blendabilities...

Wedding card featuring the Regarding Dahlias and Label Love stamp sets.

 I love this image coloured with Blendabilities!  So rich and luxurious looking...I couldn't help but make a wedding card with it!

I used the Cherry Cobbler set to colour the image, which is stamped in Memento black ink.  I used the (retired) Pretty Print TIEF on the background and added some Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon (more colours of that stuff coming in the new catty-woohoo!) with an Antique Brad and some bling.  The label is from the Label Love set and is punched using the Artisan Label punch.

Inside view with sentiments from One in a Million.

On the inside I just stamped two sentiments from the retiring One In a Million stamp set in Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black ink.  Aside from the colouring this was a snap to put together!

Farewell Fabulous Florets

When the new catalogue launches next week I'll be saying good-bye to one of my favourite sets:  Fabulous Florets.  I made this card as a fond farewell to this beloved set:

Any occasion card featuring the Fabulous Florets stamp set with sentiment from A Dozen Thoughts

Of course I coloured the flowers and leaves using my Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Blendabilities sets.

I kept everything else pretty simple, adding a few rhinestones as the only embellishments.  I really wanted those beautiful flowers to shine.

On the inside I left the flowers uncoloured...I really like the look of them in black and white too.  If you don't already own this set you might want to order one soon.  The clearmount option is sold out but the wood mount is still available Item # 128574.  Speaking of retiring products, there is still a good selection of items available at a discount of up to 50%.  Don't miss out on these great prices on retiring products!

Courage & Strength

Happy Monday!  I hope your weekend was as gorgeous and sunny as ours was.  The weather was simply perfect...long may it last!!
Today I have a project I made a couple of weeks ago using some new products from the upcoming Annual 2014/15 Catalogue.  Check it out:

Masculine card featuring the World Map background stamp and The Open Sea stamp set, the Traveller stamp set with sentiment from the new Something to Say set (both available June 2nd)

I made this as a graduation or retirement card...some occasion that leads to a major change in life.  I used the new Lost Lagoon In-Colour...I love that tranquil shade of blue!  I also use some of the new Moonlight DSP pack, which includes Lost Lagoon in it's colour palette. 

The stamped images on the grid-patterned paper are from the new Traveller stamp set...I love the vintage images in that set...so perfect for masculine cards.  The sentiment is from the new Something to Say set, which includes several paired sentiments...one for the front of the card and one for the inside.  Speaking of the inside, I used another of the sentiments from that set as well as one of the images from the Traveller set.

As we draw closer to the end of yet another school year I know I'll be saying good-bye to some very special students as they head off for bigger and better things.  One of them will leave with a little piece of me when I give them this card! 

Card in A Box for the Twist

Happy Saturday!  I know those of you living in the US are celebraing Memorial Day this weekend, so happy Memorial Day...I hope the weather there is as perfect as it is here!
It's time for a new challenge over at The Technique Twist again and this time we're all about the oh-so-trendy Card-in-a-Box!  For my sample project I decided to try a horizontally-oriented one...just to...ahem...step "outside the box"..heehee :)
Check it out:

Birthday Card in A Box featuring the Sketched Birthday and Sassy Salutations stamp sets.

I decided to pull out some favourite retiring products: the out-going In-colours and Birthday Basics DSP.  I made the card base out of Gumball Green card stock.  In case you want to try re-creating this one, here is a great cutting and scoring guide from Australian demonstrator  Debbie Henderson:

I added one strip on the inside of the box to adhere my flag posts to.  I cut it 1" wide by 4-3/8" long and scored each end at 1/8".  You can see it in this side-view photo.

The little banners are cut with the smallest die in the Bitty Banners Framelits set from several patterns of DSP in the Birthday Basics pack, as well as Raspberry Ripple, Bermuda Bay and Summer Starfruit card stock.  I used toothpicks for the flagposts and white baker's twine to string them on.  The balloon image is from the Sketched Birthday set and is coloured with Bermuda Bay and Pool Party Stampin' Write Markers.  I added a few rhinestones I coloured with the darkest of the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities set.

On the back panel I stamped the balloon and party hat from the Sketched Birthday set and again coloured them with my Stampin' Write markers.

If you haven't tried making a Card in a Box yet you really should give it a go...they're such fun!  Then be sure to share your creation with us over at The Technique Twist!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Blessed Tulips and a SALE!!

Stampin' Up! is having a Blowout Sale!  Starting today save up to 50% off a wide selection of retiring products.  These products are available only while supplies last, so be sure to snap up your favourite items today!  Click HERE to view the complete selection of retiring products.

Today I have another project I did with my Blendabilities...are you sick of them yet??  I am having such fun with them!  This time I used the image from the Blessed Easter stamp in the Occasions Catalogue.  When I mounted the stamp I trimmed off the sentiment and mounted it separately so that I could easily use the image without the text...it makes the stamp much more versatile!  Try it next time you purchase a stamp that has both an image and text on the same piece of rubber ;)  But I digress...here is my project:

Any Occasion card featuring the Easter Blessings and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets

I used the Easter Blessings image which I coloured with the Daffodil Delight and Old Olive set of Blendabilities.  I layered the stamped image on a larger oval in Hello Honey and then pierced a border around it.  For the background I stamped images from Gorgeous Grunge in Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow (fabulous new In-colour available June 2), and Metallic Gold.

 I also added a little Watercolour Wonder Washi tape, some butterflies die cut from vellum and a few rhinestones I coloured with the darkest of the Daffodil Delight Blendabilities marker.  I like the whimsical feel of this one!
On the inside I couldn't resist colouring a few more tulips...its just so fast and easy with these awesome new markers!

I left this one without a sentiment..sometimes its just nice to have a blank card ready to go for what ever occasion arises ;)

Blended Thanks

Happy Tuesday!  We had a simply glorious holiday Monday here...perfect weather with lots of sunshine and family time.  Today I have another project I created with my Blendabilities alcohol-based markers.  I am simply addicted to them!

Thinking of you card featuring the So Very Grateful stamp set with sentiment from the new Something To Say set, available June 2nd.

I used several new products on this one:  Hello Honey and Mossy Meadow card stock, Moonlight DSP and Blackberry Bliss stitched satin ribbon...so yummy!

I coloured the rhinestones with my dark Rich Razzleberry Blendabilities marker so that they match perfectly.  To colour the image I used the Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Coastal Cabana and Daffodil Delight marker sets.

I couldn't help colouring the inside too!  You really need to try these fantastic markers...I promise you will love them just as much as I do!

Imagine the world

Happy Victoria Day!  Today is a holiday for us here in Canada and I couldn't be happier to have a day at home with my family.  We're planning to spend time outdoors and just enjoy the warmer weather - finally!!
Today I'm taking a break from flowers...don't worry there'll be more tomorrow...to bring you a masculine card I made.  Check it out:

Masculine card featuring the World Map background stamp, the Open Sea stamp set and sentiment from Loving Thoughts.

 First let me say this was NOT a quick and easy one!  It has been a very long time since I  had time to just create without a specific purpose in mind.  When I do, I tend to make projects that are very involved...this is one of those times.  Can you believe that background panel started out as a plain piece of Whisper White card stock??  I started by stamping the World Map background stamp using the Memento Black ink pad (available June 2nd).  Then I pulled out my Blendabilities and started colouring.  I used the Old Olive set for the land and the Coastal Cabana set for the water.  It took a while to colour that whole map, let me tell you!  Then I sponged the entire thing in Soft Suede ink to antique it.  The colours started out quite vibrant but the layering of the Soft Suede gives the whole thing an aged, faded look.  Then, and it was hard to do this after I'd spent an hour colouring, I crumpled the whole thing up!  I also tore the edges and sponged them with Early Espresso ink.

The focal image also started out as a Whisper White die cut on which I stamped the ship from the Open Sea set using Early Espresso ink.  I sponged the entire thing with Crumb Cake ink and then sponged the edges with Early Espresso.  I created the seal using the faux wax seal technique with gold embossing powder.

Inside view featuring the Traveler stamp set with sentiment from Something To Say (both available June 2nd)

 On the inside I stamped both the globe and the sentiment in Early Espresso ink on Naturals Ivory card stock.  Both of these images are from new sets which will be available on June 2nd when the new Annual Catalogue goes live...I can't wait!!
Stay tuned for more fun with Blendabilities tomorrow ;)

One more Blended Bloom for you...for now!

Happy Friday!!  TGIF!!!  This has been an unbelievably difficult week and I am so glad it's finally over...plus it's a LONG WEEKEND!  I sure need the extra day after the week I've had!
To kick the weekend off right I have one more card I did with the new Blended Bloom stamp and my Blendabilities markers:

Any-occasion card featuring the Blended Bloom and Chalk Talk stamp sets.

This time I used the Daffodil Delight marker set to colour the petals on my flower and the Old Olive set for the centre.  I cracked open some of the new In-colours for the rest of the card, using Hello Honey - that yummy yellow - and Mossy Meadow, which is a rich, warm green.  The DSP is from the new Moonlight DSP stack, which will also be available in the new 2014-15 Annual Catalogue.  The sentiment is from the Chalk Talk stamp set and is stamped in Mossy Meadow ink on Whisper White card stock.  I added a touch of lace with a Tea Lace Doily and some sparkle with a few gold sequins.

The background is embossed using the Decorative Dots TIEF, which was from the Sale-a-bration catty, but that is also making a return in the new Annual Catalogue - woohoo!  I love that folder!
Hope this sunny card helps you have a sunny weekend...enjoy!!

More Blended Bloom Beauty

Yesterday I showed you my first attempt using the new Blendabilities alcohol-based markers from Stampin' Up!  Today I have another project I made...colouring with these new markers is just such fun!

Any-occasion card featuring the Blended Bloom and A Dozen Thoughts stamp sets.

In addition to colouring the blossom, I also coloured the coordinating rhinestones in the centre of the flower and at the edge of the sentiment banner.  I love that I can instantly create coordinating embellishments!

Now in case you're wondering, I've given you a wee sneak peek at one of the new In-Colours for this year.  This lovely yellow is called Hello Honey and is just about as yummy as its name sake.  It is such a warm mellow yellow...i'm sure it will soon become one of my favourites!  It looks terrific combined with Coastal Cabana on this card...a marriage made in heaven, if you ask me!

Blended Bloom Love

I am in love with Stampin' Up!'s new Blendabilities alcohol markers!  They will be available to order when the new Annual Catalogue goes live in June, but as a demonstrator I got to pre-order select sets.  This weekend I had a chance to crack them open and have a go and, let me tell you, I LOVE them!!  I spent a good chunk of my Mother's Day afternoon sitting on the deck colouring...it was heaven!  I used them with several different stamp images, but my favourite, by far, is the brand new Blended Bloom stamp, which will also be available June 2nd.  Check it out:

Thank you card featuring the Blended Bloom A la Carte stamp with sentiment from Sassy Salutations

Isn't that gorgeous??  I had such fun playing with my Blendabilities that I had my whole team create this card at our meeting last night.  Each person used a different colour set but with the same basic card layout.  Such fun!  You may notice that, in addition to colouring that pretty flower, I also used my Blendabilities to colour the three rhinestones in the upper left corner.  A quick and easy way to add coordinating embellishments!

Now you may also be wondering about my colour scheme on this card.  It uses two of the gorgeous new 2014/15 In-Colours:  Blackberry Bliss and Hello Honey.  Both are simply yummy colours that look fantastic together.

 I can't wait for the new Annual Catalogue to go live so that I can complete my set and have a full colour pallette to work with!  The Blended Bloom image is so pretty and a great one to learn to colour on.  I made several more projects using this beautiful image which I will share later this week. 

A Twist at The Technique Twist

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day!  I was spoiled with breakfast in bed, a dozen roses and some new gardening gloves.  I put them to good use yesterday, as the weather here was picture perfect! 
I was so busy enjoying my weekend that I forgot to post about the new challenge over at The Technique Twist!  This time we're twisting our challenge...rather than a technique, we're all about 3D flowers.  For my sample I pulled out some of the oh-so-versatile filter paper and went to town...

Any Occasion card featuring the Feel Goods stamp set and filter paper 3D flowers.

Aren't those flowers pretty?  I made them using the Floral Frames framelits.  Each flower has 20 layers of filter paper diecuts!  You could certainly use less, but your flowers wouldn't be as full. 

I started by die cutting the floral frames - you can cut several layers of filter paper at once - and then spritzed them with some Blushing Bride and Gold Glow Smooch I had in my stash.  If you dont' have any Smooch you could use some rubbing alcohol with reinkers in Blushing Bride and Daffodil Delight in a Stampin' Spritzer.  I layered the coloured die cuts on top of each other and then pierced a hole in the middle.  I inserted a silver mini brad and opened the prongs to secure it.  Then I started scrunching each layer.  Once they were all scrunched I fluffed them up a bit and that's it!  Easy peasy flowers!

Why not try bringing some spring blossoms into your stamping space by creating your favourite 3D flowers.  Then be sure to enter your creation over at The Technique Twist...we'd love to see your work!

Happy Mother's Day...a little early!

Well this Sunday is Mother's Day and I thought it only appropriate to show you the card I sent my own mom to mark the occasion. 

Mother's Day card featuring the Family Reunion (retired) stamp set.

My mom is, among her many other talents, an avid gardener, so I thought it only fitting that I incorporate flowers on her card in some way.  I had been wanting to try this lattice look, done using the Chevron border punch, for a while so I figured there was no time like the present!  I punched the white card stock and then used the punched chevron shapes, inverted, to create the lattice look.  I had a bunch of branches, punched with the Bird Builder punch, left over from another project.  I began weaving them into the lattice and then added the little punched flowers in Raspberry Ripple.  To give the flowers dimension I layed them on my Stampin' Pierce mat and pressed in the middle with the eraser of a pencil...instant petals. 

The DSP I used is from the Sale-a-bration Sweet Sorbet pack (yep, still using that stuff up!) and the little butterflies were die cut using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.  The sentiment is from the long-retired Family Reunion set and I punched it using the Artisan Label.  I used up some of the my remaining Raspberry Ripple stitched satin ribbon and finished with one of my beloved Antique Brads.
Although this card took a while to put together it was worth the effort for the woman who gave birth to me and allowed me to survive my teen years ( and let me tell you, I'm sure that wasn't easy!).  I love you mom!!

Baby Mojo

Well I'm late again!  Today's project was designed using LAST WEEK'S sketch over at Mojo Monday.  I quite liked the sketch, but alas I am too late to enter the challenge.  Ah well...maybe next time!  Here is my project:

Baby card featuring the Zoo Babies, Hearts A-flutter and Sweet Essentials stamp sets.

Would you believe this is the first time I've inked up my Zoo Babies stamp set??  I've had it for nearly a year and it just finally saw ink this past weekend!  Sad or what??  Thankfully it is back in the new 2014/15 Annual Catalogue so I'll have another year to play with it.

Here are some tips in case you want to recreate this one:

• The colour in the top photo is really off...the bottom one is more accurate!  My colour scheme was Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Crumb Cake and Whisper White.
• The DSP is from the Fresh Prints DSP stack.
• I used the Adorning Accents TIEF to add this little embossed hearts along the bottom of the card base.  (psst...if you like those little hearts get those folders now...they're retiring soon!)
• The rear panel is stamped using the soon-to-be-retired Hearts A-Flutter stamp set and was then run through the Big Shot with the also-soon-to-be-retired Square Lattice TIEF.  I trimmed the left edge of the panel with a bit of Stretch ruffled trim (also retiring!)
• The sentiment is from the Sweet Essentials stamp set (it's retiring too...are you sensing a theme here?)
• The ribbon is 3/8" taffeta in Crumb Cake, which is...wait for it...also retiring!

Yup, I'm losing a ton of supplies to retirement this year!  There is going to be one heck of a Yard Sale come June...stay tuned for more about that!

Speaking of retirement, there are some great soon-to-be-retired items on this week's Weekly Deals.  Check 'em out:

Alhambra Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel Reg. Price: $10.50 Sale Price: $7.88	Card Base Pop' N Cuts Reg. Price: $48.95 Sale Price: $36.71	Hearts A Flutter Clear-Mount Stamp Set Reg. Price: $22.95 Sale Price: $17.21	Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies Reg. Price: $30.95 Sale Price: $23.21
I Am Me Designer Series Paper Reg. Price: $13.50 Sale Price: $10.13	Pacific Point 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Reg. Price: $12.50 Sale Price: $9.38	Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon Reg. Price: $6.75 Sale Price: $5.06	The Man, The Myth Board Book Designer Template - Digital Download Reg. Price: $16.50 Sale Price: $9.90

Florets for Grammy

My son is very close to my mother.  She is his only Grandmother and he simply adores her.  For Mother's Day this year I wanted to make a special card for him to send to her so I pulled out the soon-to-be-retired Fabulous Florets stamp set along with some of the out-going In-Colours.  This is what I ended up with:

Mother's Day card featuring the Fabulous Florets stamp set with sentiment from the (retired) Family Reunion set.

Pretty, huh?  I asked me son if he thought Grammy would like it and his response was "Ohhh, yeah!".  This one took a bit of time but was worth the effort.  I stamped the flowers in Versamark, heat embossed in white and then white-washed each flower and leaf with my Aquapainter and Whisper White craft ink.  Then I used a blender pen and Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple markers to colour the flowers and a Gumball Green marker for the leaves. 

I layered the Top Note die cut on a background that I left just stamped and heat embossed...I liked the way the coloured flowers contrasted with the plain line-art images.  The sentiment is from the long-retired Family Reunion stamp set.  It is one I will likely keep forever, as it has a stamp for just about every family member you could imagine!  I used Primrose Petals stitched satin ribbon and a vellum butterfly cut with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit.
A pretty card for a beloved Grammy!

Triple Time with a Twist!

Yay!!  It's Friday!!  TGIF!!  How about some stamping inspiration as we head into a weekend??  This week's challenge over at The Technique Twist is Triple Time Stamping.  This fun technique creates some awesome looking projects!  Here is one that I  put together:

Encouragement card featuring the Triple Time Technique and the Serene Silhouettes stamp set with sentiment from Blessings From Heaven.

I began by laying out my pieces.  I really just used scraps of Whisper White card stock I had laying on my stamp desk.  I temporarily adhered them so that I could sponge without them moving around.  HEre are some tips for you:

• I  created a mask for the sun using the 1-1/4" circle punch and a Post-it note.  
• Starting from the bottom, I sponged Pear Pizzazz for the grass, then added Old Olive and Always Artichoke toward the bottom. 
• I then moved to the top and worked my way down with So Saffron, then Crushed Curry, then Tangerine Tango, Cajun Craze and finally Cherry Cobbler.  With each new colour I didn't go quite as far down the page so that I ended up with gradually darker shading from the bottom to the top.  
• I removed the circle mask and sponged the sun with So Saffron.  
• The silhouette image is stamped in Staz On, as is the sentiment.
• The mats for each layer are just 1/8" larger, which is narrower than most tutorials suggest for this technique.  I like the narrower mats, as they don't detract from the image as much.
• I used Naturals White for the card base.

On the inside I stamped the silhouette image again in black Staz On.  I also stamped the sentiment from the Trust God stamp set on scrap Whisper Whiteand die cut it using the Squares Collection framelits.  I then sponged a bit of So Saffron, Crushed Curry and Tangerine Tango to echo the front of the card.

Inside view with sentiment from the Trust God stamp set.

I am actually planning to send this card to the principal of my son's school, who is battling breast cancer.  She is a wonderful lady who is facing this horrible disease for the second time.  I know it will brighten her day to know many are praying for her recovery.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  If you have time to give this technique a try be sure to enter it over at The Technique Twist...we'd love to see your work!

Now for some exciting news!!  Project Life has arrived! 

A selection of Project Life products are now available for order with more to come in the new 2014/15 Annual Catalogue.   My box of PL goodies arrived this week and I am SUPER excited to play with them this weekend!  I also can't wait to get my hands on the other collections in the new catalogue...so many awesome ideas!  You can view the selection of products currently available by clicking HERE.  Then contact me or place your order online and get going on preserving those precious memories!
Have a great weekend!!