Christmas Challenges

I decided to do two separate challenges today, one a colour challenge from Just Add Ink and the other a sketch challenge from Stamping 411. It was only after I had finished both cards and wondering whether to do two bog posts on separate days when I realised I had used the same sketch for both cards! Serves me right for having my sketch book open while I was making both, lol.

Project recipe card one
Stamps: Snow Swirled
Ink: Cherry cobbler and early espresso, versamark for embossing
Card: blushing bride, cherry cobbler, soft suede and whisper white
Accessories: Beau Chateau dsp, pink taffeta ribbon, champagne glimmer brad, champagne shimmer paint, decorative label punch, clear embossing powder

Project recipe card two
Stamps: Dasher and Perfect punches
Ink: Cherry cobbler
Card: Cherry cobbler, riding hood red, silver metallic and whisper white
Accessories: Scallop circle punch, riding hood red taffeta ribbon, silver glimmer paint, circles embossing folder (gift from my secret sister!)

Guilt Free Crafting!

Hooray!! A day of crafting without feeling like I should be doing something else.  I finished all my homework, no work today, the house is clean and the kids are at school, even Matt is busy with other stuff. So today I have got not one but two cards using the layout from this week's challenge at Just Add Ink. The first uses one of the new hostess sets and the hostess dsp.

The second is a Christmas card which is looking good to be the design I will use for all my cards this year. I will just alternate the colours and use different sheets of dsp.

Project Recipe card 1
Stamps: Precious Butterflies
Card: Pink pirouette, melon mambo, concord crush and whisper white
Ink: melon mambo, concord crush, lucky limeade
Accessories: Cheerful Treat dsp, scallop trim border punch, Beautiful wings sizzlit, white organza ribbon, versamark and clear embossing powder, gold smooch spritz

Project Recipe card 2
Stamps: Dasher and Snow Swirled
Card: Riding hood red, old olive and whisper white
Ink: Early espresso
Accessories: Letters to Santa dsp, scallop trim border punch, versamarker and gold embossing powder, red hood red taffeta ribbon

James' Birthday..my baby is 6!!

How did he get so big so fast! Happy Birthday James, I hope you have a lovely day with your friends.
The layout and colours for this came from Stamping 411. The stamp set is called from Sunny Fun and it really does make me think of summer (which we are supposed to be heading into) and swimming (lessons which the kids are doing at the moment).

I used the Stripes embossing folder for three reasons; 1. I thought the stripes were a good contrast for the circles, 2. I am hoping it gives the look of a beach towel, and 3. I just got it and it was begging to be used, lol!

Project Recipe
Stamp sets: Sunny Fun, Short and Sweet
Card: Baja breeze, so saffron, calypso coral and whisper white
Accessories: Stripes embossing folder, marina mist ribbon, 11/4" and 13/8" circle punches, Lots of tags sizzlits, tempting turquoise mini brads, blender pens and ink pads for watercolouring

Butterflies Everywhere!!

I saw this layout in a magazine and thought it was so pretty with the butterflies looking as though they had just taken flight. The magazine had used an Anywhere Punch, which I don't have, so I thought it was a perfect opportunity to use my new toy: a BossKut Gazelle, which is an electronic cutter  you connect to the computer to cut any shape you want! All the supplies are still Stampin' Up!, the gazelle is just a tool. Like a very expensive pair of scissors, lol!!
Project Recipe
Stamps: Fifth Ave Floral
Card: Pool  party, certainly celery, blushing bride and whisper white
Ink: Daffodil delight, melon mambo, pumpkin pie, tempting turquoise, pool party and blushing bride
Accessories: black marker, self adhesive rhinestones

Christmas Sketch

I am still working on the final design for my Christmas cards this year. I love the Christmas paper in the catalogue this year, especially the traditional colours but with a dash of the unexpected! And check out that beautiful ribbon. The layout has come from Stamping 411 Saturday sketch.

Project Recipe
Stamp: Tree Trimming
Card: Riding hood red, old olive, early espresso and whisper white
Accessories: Letters to Santa dsp, white organza ribbon, 1/4" circle punch, gold glitter

Hostess Promotion!!

For the month of October only you can receive this stamp set and matching punch for FREE as a Hostess of a workshop with $450 in sales. This is in addition to the normal hostess benefits. The stamp set and punch will be available in the Summer mini catalogue, but can be ordered now to help you get an early start on your Christmas cards! Just give me a call to place an order or book a workshop.