Sweet Inspiration...

Hello all!

Just thought I'd pop in and share a card I made on the weekend for the inspiration challenge over at SCS, combined with this week's Sweet Stop sketch.

I created the background using a square punch from the SU catalogue, punching out Bashful Blue cardstock and layering onto Whisper White cardstock. The panel across the card is Night of Navy DSP layered on Night of Navy cardstock punched with the scallop trip border punch. The main image (from Ornate Flowers) was stamped with Cajun Craze. The sentiment is from Notably Ornate and was punched out with the Modern Label punch. I added a bow/button to finish.

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Cards for Kids...

Hiya!

I had a class today all about kids cards - I admit that this is not a style that I find easy but I was pleasantly surprised with what I managed to come up with! I used a combination of the Play Date DSP and some child-friendly stamp sets. Here's one I made with Fox & Friends:

I saw the idea for these animals in a cart on someone's blog recently but can't remember who! I didn't have the same punch they did so I used a tag punch with some small circle punches.

Here's one using the Party this Way set:

I used some linen thread for the strings of the balloons and tied some grosgrain ribbon around the top of the card. The scallops were created with a 1" circle punch.

This one is my favourite - I love the film-strip effect:

I used Forest Friends for the images, together with a square punch, corner rounder and spiral punch to create the film strip.

Hope you enjoyed my kiddie cards - I'll try to share the other half of the class next week (that's the baby ones).

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Nursery Mojo...

Hiya!

I've been on a baby card theme this week as I have a class on Saturday that is all about kid's cards. I used this week's Mojo sketch to get me started on this one:

I used the Nursery Suite DSP as well as the Quick Accents that compliment it as well as the Little One stamp set. I love the fact that when you sand the edges of SU's designer paper it reveals a white core - looks so shabby and lovely! If you live in the Bristol area and would like to come to this class (or any of the other ones I hold at my house) just get in touch and I can give you some more details.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Little One
Ink: Stazon
Paper: Nursery Suite DSP & Quick Accents, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Watercolour
Accessories: basics pearls, eyelet border punch

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Rosy Cottage Plums...

Hiya!

I got the chance to play along with this week's SCS Colour Challenge today - Perfect Plum, Always Artichoke and Rose Red. I wanted to do something 'floraly' so I pulled out Cottage Garden, a set I haven't used a lot but have been keen to try. Here's what I came up with:

The Cottage Garden set comes with 'two-step' flowers so you have both a solid and an outline image - I used them both with Perfect Plum ink and sponged the same ink around the tips of the petals of the outline flowers. I pierced around the main panel with a piercing tool and mat pack. The greeting (and the gorgeous frame around it!) is from Just Believe. I stamped the frame with Always Artichoke and the greeting with Perfect Plum. The background DSP is from the Sweet & Sour speciality paper (which has a glossy flourish on it - absolutely stunning IRL!) - the little strip across the middle is the reverse side of the main paper. I added some white organza ribbon and some basics rhinestones to the centres of the flowers to finish.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Cottage Garden, Just Believe
Ink: Always Artichoke, Perfect Plum
Paper: Sweet & Sour DSP, Always Artichoke, Whisper White
Accessories: basics rhinestones, white organza ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Upsy Daisy on my mind...

Hi again!

This is my second post for today so if you want to check out my earlier post just scroll on down. I've been having lots of fun playing today and was able to combine a few challenges in one card. I used the colours from the Inkspirations challenge as well as the layout from the CPS sketch challenge. I also took some inspiration from the SCS Inspiration challenge today. Here's what I came up with:

I used a SU set that's not in the UK catty sadly but I managed to get it second-hand from someone in the States - I really love so many of the cards I've seen with it (called Upsy Daisy) and I've now had it for ages and haven't used it! I thought it was about time I broke it out - particularly when I saw the inspiration pieces over at the SCS challenge today. I stamped the silhouette image with Tangerine Tango and then added Stickles to make it sparkle. The DSP in the background is some retired stuff (Haiku) and I added some Marina Mist and some rhinestones. The little peek of doily at the side is the left-over piece from another card I made.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Upsy Daisy
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso
Paper: Haiku DSP, Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Whisper White, paper doily
Accessories: rhinestones, Marina Mist satin ribbon, Stickles, circle punches

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Hold the phone...!

I've actually made a 'clean & simple' card... well as CAS as it gets for me lol! Still has lace, ribbon, pearls and a button on it but hey - it only has one layer apart from the card base and THAT, my friends is a BIG achievement for me! I wanted to play along with the new PTI challenges - Make it Monday. This week was to incorporate a vellum sentiment strip and here's what I came up with:

I wanted to try stamping on Kraft (or Crumb Cake) card and colouring with copics so I had a go and really liked the effect - great for muted cards.

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Baby Mojo...

Hi again!

Two posts in one day! Sorry I've been absent over the last week - it's been exam week at Bible School and I've had five assignments to write as well as two exams - thank goodness I'm all done now! And I'm looking forward to half term in a week's time - more creativity time! Today I got the chance to play as I finished my last two essays yesterday so I treated myself to a bit of play-time so I could play along with this week's Mojo Monday sketch. I paired the sketch with this week's CR84FN colour challenge:

Here's my take on it:

I wanted to go with a baby theme as I don't have many of these in my stash and people all around me are getting pregnant so I'll be needing a few of these over the next while! I've just gotten my hands on the Nursery Suite DSP as well as the accent elements that coordinate with the papers - lots of fun to play with. I stamped some baby tees onto watercolour paper and coloured with markers and an aquabrush then cut them out. The scallop piece poking out is some of the pre-cut fancy DSP (so pretty!). The circle piece and oval 'sweetheart' are both from the accents and elements pack.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Baby Tees wheel, Perfect Punches
Ink: Stazon, Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze
Paper: Nursery Suite DSP & accents, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Accessories: rhinestones, pear pizzazz ribbon, modern label punch

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

PTI Make it...Sunday!

Hiya!

I wanted to play along with the new PTI Make-it-Monday challenges that were launched on Nichole's blog here. I loved the idea of grouping the same themed sentiments together to make a background or feature on your card. Here's my take on it:

I used a bunch of PTI birthday sentiments to create the background piece on Spring Moss cardstock. I added a few tiny butterflies in a few of the gaps between the sentiments and loved the overall effect (which begs the question: why did I then cover half of it??). The main panel is stamped with the lovely free PTI set I got at CHA. I stamped the flowers on scrap card and cut them out to pop over the top of the leaves and stems then added some Melon Berry buttons. The Vintage Cream background piece was embossed with the woodgrain impression plate and I added distress ink around the edges of all the pieces. The final touch was adding some Spring Moss ribbon. I'll definitely be playing along with more of these Make-it-Monday challenges!

Thanks for stopping by...!

x Amy x

Owl love...

Hiya!

Thought I'd share with you a card I made the other evening for a workshop demonstration - I think it's going to be hubby's valentine's card (even though it has got a bow on it and he thinks that means it's a girl's card lol!). I got very glittery while making this one...

I cased the general idea from this card I saw on SCS then changed a few bits and pieces. The background was created by stamping three different hearts onto Real Red cardstock with Versamark then adding Heat & Stick powder then red glitter - so sparkly IRL! The frame in Early Espresso around the owl panel was created with the scallop trim border and corner punch (love, love, love this effect!).

I got a bit carried away by the cuteness of it all and ended up decorating the inside as well:

To decorate the inside of a card, just take whatever bits and pieces are left from the outside (like DSP, cardstock etc) and follow the theme through onto the inside. In this case I used the dotty DSP and Crumb Cake cardstock with the scallop trim punch and I just stamped the owl onto Whisper White, added a glittery heart and layered the whole piece on Early Espresso for a bit of extra pop. Doesn't take very long to do but really gives it that extra something. don't ya think?

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Punch Bunch, Basic Phrases
Ink: Early Espresso, Real Red, Versamark
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Confetti White, Real Red DSP
Accessories: Fine Galaxy glitter, heat & stick powder, scallop trim border and corner punch, heart to heart punch, full heart punch, word window punch, modern label punch, two-step bird punch

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Papertrey Favourites...

Hiya!

When I saw this post on Nichole Heady's blog this morning I couldn't resist joining in the fun! Since going to CHA in Chigago last July, I have quite a few PTI favourites that I've created with my new goodies... It was TOO tough choosing just one, so I thought I'd share three lol!

These first two I made when my hubby and I went on holiday straight after I got back from Chicago - I brought more craft supplies than clothes and had a marvelous time {grin!}.

I just adore those violets and had a huge amounts of fun colouring these in with my copics. The ticket greeting is a combo of PTI stamp set and die that I got at CHA.

This next one is using the Bundle of Joy set with a few buttons (gotta love me some buttons!) as well as the lovely woodgrain impression plate:

That doily peeking out of the corner was another great purchase from Michael's - got 30 in a pack for not very much money! Must see if I can find some of those over here...

Finally, there's this one (which might be my ultimate favourite but I haven't decided!) that I made for an Inspiration Challenge over at SCS last year - I love the colour combo as well as the fabulous stacked flowers:

These flowers are made with a combination of a fabulous stamp set (Beautiful Blooms 2) as well as the coordinating dies. The greeting is from my favourite greeting set by the amazing Dawn McVey, Signature Greetings.

Thanks for stopping by while I shared a few favourites!

x Amy x

Owl Bliss...

Hiya!

Thought I'd share a card I made the other night with you - it started out being an idea for a worshop make-and-take but then it got WAAY too complicated lol! I really don't do very well with keeping things simple!

I just wish I had a lightbox so I can take decent pictures - with the sun going down so early I have to take photos with artificial light and the best place is the kitchen - but it's not great.

I used a ton of stuff on this card - here's the recipe:
Stamps: Punch Bunch, Bliss, I {Heart} Hearts
Ink: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Paper: Woodland Walk DSP, Sweet & Sour DSP, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Accessories: Early Espresso ribbon, neutrals brads, heart to heart punch, 1 1/4" square punch

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x