Happy Mother's Day!

Good evening,

On Friday, I shared some cards that my friend Nettie made (you can see the post here), and I really liked the layout of one of them especially so I decided to CASE it for my mum's mothers day card. I saw her this morning to give her the card so I know it's safe to show you now.

I went with the neutral Mocha Morning DSP, it's my mums favourite so I knew I was onto a winner with this one. I have used all the same elements as Nettie did in her original card expect I have stamped that in Chocolate Chip. I added Champagne shimmer paint to the little leaves die cuts, and another of the Antique tags.I also coloured some pearls with a gold pen and added them to the stamped image.

I was very glad when my mum opened her card and smiled, it's the best feeling when you're giving a card, and I'm happy to report that Julie my boyfriend's mum also loved her card (you can see it here).

Happy mother's day!! xx

Everyday Enchantment Coral Combo

Good morning,

As promised I'm back to share another card with you, this time I'm back to the gorgeous Sale-a-bration papers,  I've teamed Calypso Coral with Poppy Parade, I know! I would never have put red and coral together but thats the fab thing about Stampin' up! the DSP colours are already matched up so you can pull colours from them to give you colour combos that really blend well.

I have used the tiny butterfly from the Elementary Elegance set on the sentiment panel, again SU! have been really clever, the images from this stamp set echo the images on the DSP. I made another flower for this card, this time I used the scallop circle punch, and can you spot the glimmer brad in the centre? These are so sparkly and yummy, I couldn't resist sneaking one in there!

Well I'm on a roll now so tomorrow I'm hoping to have another card to share, I'd love you to pop back and see! xx

Old Meets New

Good afternoon,

During the weekend I have been working on a very special card for a friend at work to give to her, son and Daughter-in-law to be, next week they will be getting married and I was honoured to be asked to make the wedding card.

I was asked for a Red, black and cream card, and I know that the bride is planning on having red roses in her bouquet, so I started off with my favourite retired set A rose is a rose, of course you can't make a wedding card with out another retired set I can't seem to let go of, Mr & Mrs.

I found the inspiration for the layout  on a sketch challenge called Freshly Made Sketches, a challenge that I've been meaning to enter for a long time, but never got around to

As you can see the sketch is meant to be a side opening DL card, but I was asked for an 8"x8" card, I hope the ladies don't mind that I've adapted it for my needs.

As I was asked to use red in the card, I choose the gorgeously deep Cherry Cobbler which fits perfectly with the PPA colour challenge

I stamped the flower spray from the Mr & Mrs stamp set  using my stamp-a-ma-jig, in alternate lines of Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black, to make the background paper, which means along with the rose that my card also fits the Paper Players challenge which this week is to use flowers on your card, perfect!

So without further a do ( or should that be I DO) here is the card

As you can see I've mixed my retired products with current ones, I love the Mocha Morning DSP, the texture is so great, and gives that luxurious feel, along with Black satin ribbon.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, xx

Gifts for Friends

Good morning,

As you may have already read previously on my blog, each year I like to make at least one batch of Christmas presents, (scroll down to see my festive fudge bags) but I did want to make one special present for a dear friend of mine who I met through her fabulous blog, she also happens to be one of my fellow DT members at Simply Stampin' too. Her name is Ruth and you can check out her amazing blog by clicking here, I have received so many wonderful gifts throughout the year, that I wanted to make her something that no one else would have. So I decided to cover a notebook for her.

Every crafter needs to make notes and jot down websites they have seen something inspiring on, so I thought it would make a useful gift! The colours are much brighter IRL, this photo was taken at night before I rushed off to the post office to make sure she got it well before the big day, I'm sure that I'm safe posting it now.

Why not decorate one for yourself? xx

Colour Throwdown Anniversary

Hello you,

If you read yesterdays post you'll know that I was looking for inspiration for a anniversary card for my friends daughter and son-in-law. She told me that she wanted the card to be girly but not too girly so that her son-in-law wouldn't feel left out.

I found the perfect colour combo over at the Colour Throwdown challenge, perfect mix of feminine and masculine, don't you think.

I didn't have all of these exact colours, I think Barely Banana retired here in the UK last year, and we don't have Kiwi Kiss, so I substituted these for So Saffron and Old Olive, but I really liked this combination.

My friend Ann seemed pleased with it, so I hope the happy couple are too.

I hope you'll pop back and see me again soon, xx

Happy Birthday Mum!

Good Morning,

Today is my Mum's birthday! I really don't know what I'd do without her, she is my best friend, and I love her more than I could ever say. So I wanted to make her a birthday card using her favourite stamp set which she picked out of the mini catalogue, Nature Walk.

I think that she would make a great crafter, she is brilliant at drawing (although she'd never admit it) and has also enjoyed decorating and making things for her home. I'm hoping to get her to take the leap into the world of paper craft someday.

I had seen a gorgeous card using this set somewhere, but can't remember who's blog it was on. I always have my phone handy when I'm at the computer so I can take a quick picture of any cards that I'm inspired by.

So here is the card I've made for her,

I have used a few items here for the first time, including the stamp set, the card stock vellum, and the big buttons. I have used DSP from to different paper packs, the bottom half is from Greenhouse Gala, and the top is from Lap of Luxury. Stampin' up usually retire all the designer series paper packs with the launch of the new catalogue is if you've been hankering after one, time is running out.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, xx

Less is More - theme week

Hello there,

This weekend I'm all about challenges, so of course I couldn't pass by the Less is More theme challenge, which this week is circles.

I immediately thought of my Circle Circus stamp set, and had an idea of making a Hungry Caterpillar out of the circles, (good thing I didn't) have just popped over to the blog to link up and found that someone else had that idea too!

When looking at my Circle Circus stamps I thought that one of them looked like bubbles so I looked through some more sets and pulled the whale out from Fox and Friends.

I masked off the edges of my vanilla CS and brayer Marina Mist into the centre, positioned the cute little whale, and set to work with my whisper white ink pad and my circles, which from now on are bubbles!!
I glittered a few bubbles, (the glue will dry clear but I had to take my chance and photograph the card in between showers) and cut out the Little Leaves die in Old Olive and Certainly Celery to look like seaweed.

I decided after much deliberation not to add a sentiment in case this made it over crowded.

Hope you like my fun take on the theme - xx