Simply Stampin' Challenge - colour combo

I'm not sure about this weeks colour challenge, it was definitely outside of my comfort zone. Ideally I would have liked to use the stamp set 'lovely as a tree' with these colours, but as I don't have that set yet, thought I would try and use some of my stamp sets that are being retired at the end of this month.
I hope you like what I have done, I always find men's cards harder as it is difficult to restrain myself from putting flowers and / or bling on almost everything...

I love to create texture on cards, and this one is no exception. I crumpled the pear pizazz paper to age it, and used clear embossing to make the text more defined and shiny on the four corner and centre square panels. I played around with the ribbon and StazOn ink to add another layer and even more texture - highlighting the word thanks from the So Many Thanks stamp.

Finally a button and some linen thread were added in the corner to finish it off. (No naked buttons on this blog!)

Recipe:
Stamp sets: A comme amie (friendly - French option), so many thanks.
Card stock: very vanilla, chocolate chip, soft suede
Inks: versamark
Ribbon: pear pizazz, linen thread
Other: clear embossing powder, pear pizazz designer series paper, neutral buttons, chalks,


Happy Crafting Bx

Simply Stampin' Challenge - Sketch 9

This weeks sketch challenge was a perfect opportunity for me to dive into some of my NEW stash from the NEW catalogue - can you spot what goodies I have used?

I love this vintage and traditional style of image, and the card as a whole is updated by having a more contemporary layout. I hope you like it!

Recipe:

Stamp Sets: Soft Holly and Beautiful Season

Card Stock: Old Olive, Real Red, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla.

Inks: Old Olive, Real Red, Black StazOn, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Marina Mist.

Punches: Designer Label, Scallop Trim Border

Other: Ribbon (non SU), DSP, Sponge Daubers, Blender Pens, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.

Happy Crafting!

Simply Stampin Challenge - Flutterby Butterfly

 A lovely challenge this week which I am sure will prove popular!
I had some perfect photos in my stash from a day out to a butterfly house - what could be more perfect?

So here is a close up for you of one of the pretty bits, where I have used the fantastic bevelled window panes, combined with layers of ribbon and card... The window panes are such amazing quality, and really make the photo underneath 'pop':

Really pleased with how this layout turned out, and I have been asked to create a sketch of the layout to share, so keep an eye out for that at a later date!

Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Medallion, Strength and Hope, Dot dot dot.
Card Stock: Certainly Celery, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White.
Inks: Certainly celery, Black journalling pen, Crumb Cake.
Ribbon: Certainly Celery (Striped grosgrain and taffeta)
Other: Cuttlebug, Top Not Die, Bevelled Windowpanes, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Happy Crafting, and don't forget to check out the other designers' work by clicking HERE!

Last but not least I have entered this page into an open challenge over at flutterbywednesdays

Bx

EXCLUSIVE offer!

Well I hope you are all well? Today I am offering all those who have been or are signed up to be one of my HOSTESSES an exclusive discount on my All Day Christmas Workshop! This fantastic offer is also available to my wonderful blog FOLLOWERS...

So I am offering a massive £10 discount on the cost of the class (sorry, but no, if you are both a hostess and a follower you cannot have the discount twice! Cheeky!)

So for you lovely ladies the cost is now not £30... ...but only***£20***

I think this is a real bargain, and hope you do to. To take advantage of this offer, you must book and pay the full balance by 23rd September 2011...

copyright Julie Kettlewall

There are very limited places so hurry! Above is an example of the wreath we will be making, although in slightly different colours. I hope you can come and join us!

Promise card

I made this card for a friend who is having a tough time at the moment. I used silver mirri board embossed with a fantastic radiating pattern, which draws the eye towards the cutest little chipboard embellishment I found in the shape of a dove. I made the frame using some fantastic free papers I received with a magazine some time ago, along with the 'promise' rub on:

The chipboard dove has been coated with floral vintage fabric to add texture, and I used the SU exclusive sizzix die 'little leaves' trimmed down to make the sprig the dove is carrying.

I chose the dove and promise rub on to go together as they both made me think of the story of Noah, and the promise of the rainbow. Please excuse my photography on this, project, being mirri board it is difficult not to get colours reflected.

No recipe for this one as it is so straight forward!

I have entered this card in the CASE challenge below. Unfortunately I am unable to access the artist's gallery in question, but thought I would base my card on what I do know - that she is a commited Christian and loves all things purple!

http://cpccreativeblog.com/?p=8153

CPC-WCA113

Happy Crafting x

Simply Stampin' Challenge - Colour Combo - Ornamental Bloom Bag

Wow - I LOVE the colours from this week's challenge! So fresh and girly...
I recently bought the Ornament punch from SU, and wanted to try and find some ways of using it that were not Christmas orientated, to demonstrate it's versatility. So what could be better than making a layered flower to decorate a handbag?

For the side panels, I have die cut the 'top note' shape from both bashful blue, and whisper white card. I deliberately then cut the white down further than the dashed line cuts, so it would look like stitching on a hand made bag. Finally I embossed the white with a dot pattern before assembling the bag.

The flower was made by punching out 5 pieces of Melon Mambo paper and very carefully curling them, before gluing the small tab sections together. Want a tutorial on how to make your own? Leave me a comment! Below is a close up of the flower, and you can see how I have used a paper rosette to create the flower stamens, and a button in the centre tied with ribbon to finish it off. The petals themselves have been individually inked from the centre with Perfect Plum ink to add interest.

A close up of the tag - I had to put some bling on there somewhere! The shape of the tag is made by punching a circle, then using the same circle punch to remove two symmetrical crescents.

Last but not least - who wants a boring handle? I made faux ric-rac ribbon using a 1" strip of card and the eyelet border punch staggered along both edges of the card.

I hope you like it - I certainly do as you may be able to tell by the very long post. More importantly I hope the recipient gets as much joy from it as I do.

Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Just Believe
Card stock: Melon Mambo, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Perfect Plum
Inks: Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue
Punches: Ornament, Large Circle, Eyelet Border, Boho Blossoms, Word Window, Modern Label (XL).
Other: Top Note Die, Cuttlebug (non SU), ribbon (non SU), Basic Rhinestones, Neutral Buttons, Sponge Daubers, Dots embossing folder.


I am going to enter this creation in a couple of challenges this week as well, just for fun!

• cpccreativeblog.com - CPC G104 (Ok, so it isn't a scrapbook layout, but the natural world and giving gifts still instil Joy in me)

• SSC - Challenge #104 - 1 Cor. 10:17 (Using a popped up image, button and ribbon)

Happy Crafting!

Last Chance List is Here!

Here is a link to the LAST CHANCE LIST

Each Friday I am hoping to place an order - please get in quickly with your orders as some items are reduced by up to 40%!