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!!