Our granddaughter has been visiting with us from the UK for the past three weeks and the time has simply flown by. We’ve been so busy visiting places that there’s been hardly any time to craft. So our plan for today is to spend some quality time exploring my latest box of goodies from Stampin’ Up! But first we need to write some thank you cards. This one was made using the Charming Sentiments and Petal Park Stamp Sets. Of the 17 Charming Sentiments, “beyond grateful” seemed particularly ... VIEW POST
Fill Up With Pecan Pie
Yesterday I created a vintage effect bookmark using a set of Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers I was rediscovering. Today’s project is somewhat similar and again uses just one pair of Stampin’ Blends markers, this time Pecan Pie. One of the great things about Stampin’ Up! is that they make sure that their card, inks, markers etc all coordinate. They also list the colours used on their Designer Series Paper (DSP) thus taking out the guesswork. Then all I had to do for this card was cut and layer ... VIEW POST
Petal Park Puzzled
I’m a big fan of stamp sets that coordinate with punches or dies, simply because they provide so many more possibilities for my creative process. But that doesn’t mean the stamp set or tool can’t be used by itself too. In fact some of my most enjoyable crafting sessions are when I’m exploring how to use just one half of a coordinating set. Today for instance I wanted to see whether the Petal Park triple flower stamp (designed for the Petal Park Builder Punch) fitted within the large multi-leaf ... VIEW POST
Slimline No More
One product that I’m really sad to see retire from the Stampin’ Up! range is their Slimline Envelopes pack. This pack of 15 envelopes (5 each in white, Smoky Slate and Soft Succulent) have been such fun to play with. Looking at it now I don’t know why I was surprised at the decision, after all Soft Succulent is a retiring In Color. Still, I hoped that perhaps they’d bring out a new pack in different colours. So using my last remaining slimline envelope I created this colourful birthday ... VIEW POST
Highlighting Thanks
Once upon a time I was a card maker who couldn’t use anything but the card and ink that I’d acquired. Back then my designs were very simple and rarely included layers, But as my skills developed I realised that often what gives interest is texture and dimension. Sometimes that might be through the use of patterned papers, or lifting elements off the main surface. But right now my favourite method is to use fun techniques with embossing folders like this one from the Thanks & Hello Embossing ... VIEW POST
Petal Park Forget-Me-Nots
There’s something about forget-me-nots that I love. They’re so small and delicate but still manage to grow where many other plants fail. A couple of years ago a local friend was thinning out her plants and gave me a bucket full of them. As expected they transplanted very well and every year I look forward to seeing them bloom. So when I noticed the small flower in the Petal Park Stamp Set I knew exactly what colour scheme I wanted to use. This “thinking of you” card was the result. FIVE ... VIEW POST
