Clean and simple is my favourite style of card.  Doesn't this branch die from the Artistic Dies look elegant silhouetted in black on a crumb cake base?  I've also used the Rectangle Stitched dies and the Bark Embossing Folder to add a little texture.  That snazzy greeting shape is from the Pierced Blooms dies.  One nice thing about putting my dies on black magnetic backing sheets is that it helps really highlight those extra ones you find in packs like this great shape.  I know I'll be using that one a lot.  Well worth throwing a pack of those adhesive backed Artistry Blooms sequins into your cart when you're next ordering - they're great colours and so easy to add to a project for a final simple flourish.  

How are you?  I'm super grateful I managed to get away for a lovely craft retreat last weekend before the cases took off again and we are back to staying close to home.  A handful of friends and I went to Craftaways in Rye.  It is a great little place all set up for groups of up to 10 crafters or quilters.  Had a most enjoyable weekend of getting back into the creating mood again after a bit of a break away from the inks.  I was rather chuffed with myself that I managed to get all my craft gear unpacked and put away just after I got back - that sometimes takes me a few weeks.  Wink!  

Hope you are keeping warm and keeping the spirits up. 

Take care, Sue

Would you like a tour of my craft room?  I always love seeing people's craft spaces.  Here's mine on a sort of tidy day.  :-)  

The Fine Art Floral suite is such a great collection to get creative with. It features the Art Gallery bundle and has lots of extra bits and pieces to add some wow to your cards. If you love a dash of gleam - the gilded leafing flakes are lots of fun. 

The dies in the bundle cut the words 'Just Want To Say' and you can add from the selection of stamps to finish your message.  

Grab some of our adhesive sheets or our foam sheets to make sticking the words down super easy.  Just peel off the backing, add the adh sheet or foam sheet to your cardstock or DSP piece and then run it through your machine.  Then peel the other backing piece off and stick your words down.  If you're using the foam backing - take your time and ease your words out carefully.  Well worth the time for the raised lettering effect.

Just look at this GORGEOUS paper.  I love this pack.  So many beautiful designs, with a more subtle coordinating option on the back. 

This one is my favourite.

Did you know this paper has a coordinating pack of Golden Garden Designer Specialty Acetate that works so well with it.  Add some lovely gold shine to your creations.  

Tip: If you're using the gold leafing - it expands A LOT.  I grabbed a plastic container and tipped in just a small amount to start off with.  Keeping the rest in the jar until I use up this first lot.  Remember to protect your work surface and be aware of breezes, fans and air conditioning.  :-)  It is a lot of fun to play with.  

The Painted Texture embossing folder is a lovely one for backgrounds.  It is exactly as the name suggests - giving that textured look of thick paint.  

If you just love ALL of these things, you can get the whole suite using item code 155982 for $178. Or click here:  Fine Art Floral Suite

Add a pack of dimensionals and you'll also qualify for two Level 1 Saleabration items or one of our beautiful Level 2 freebies.  (Find them here:  Saleabration free items Level 1 and Saleabration free items Level 2) 

Have a wonderful weekend and happy creating if you're spending some time with your craft supplies.  :-)  

Take care, Sue

This week on our AWH Colour Creations Showcase we are featuring the colour Gorgeous Grape.

I had some trouble with my project until I realised that the feature panel I'd made didn't match the background I'd made. 

When I separated them into two different cards- yay.  

Tips to make this card at home:  The flower stamp there (and the greeting) is from Queen Anne's Lace stamp set.  I stamped it in Gorgeous Grape ink then stamped it off first on scrap paper.  Then I dabbed some extra ink on some parts with a sponge dauber.  The embossing folder is Scripty and it is shimmery white cardstock.  I've matted it with champagne foil which teams nicely with the Gorgeous Grape.  My favourite Elegant Faceted Gems are the finishing touch. 

This was the background I'd made initially - it didn't quite work with the floral circle but I love it with this panel.  It is a gatefold card and for the background panels I've used the Plush Poinsettia specialty paper and the Wrapped In Texture embossing folder - both from the Aug - Dec mini.  

Oops sorry I think that congrats die has retired but Well Written die set has some beautiful script words to use.  I popped a couple of leaves from Birds and More dies cut from the Plush Poinsettia paper.

 Now if you love Gorgeous Grape then head on over to our lovely Showcase Host - she's got all the links to the other projects from our talented team.   Click here:  Showcase Host Catherine 

Happy creating,

Cheers, Sue

Wednesday evening is when the Art With Heart team I belong to has their Colour Creations showcase.  Each week there's a different colour featured and this week it is Flirty Flamingo. 

I'm excited to be joining in the fun.  The lovely Catherine is hosting us and there's links at the bottom if you'd like to do a lap and see all the Flirty Flamingo inspiration.

Tips to make this one at home:  I've used the Birds and Branches bundle - I just love that floral frame die.  This is a cute little square card in whisper white that I cut to fit the feature panel.  There's a vellum layer under the Flirty Flamingo piece.  I embossed another piece of vellum with the Ornate Floral embossing folder.

I stamped the flowers in Flirty Flamingo ink - some at full strength and some stamped off once for a lighter look. 

And for a finishing touch of sparkle some of these blue adhesive backed gems - did you know these were one of the top 3 popular products from our Aug - Dec Mini? 

I hope to join in more regularly so keep an eye out here each Wednesday evening for our featured colour of the week.  

Now head on over to our lovely Colour Creations host where you'll find the rest of the links for some more Flirty Flamingo creations from my talented team mates.    Catherine - Colour Creations host

Happy creating.  

Take care, Sue

Head on over here to shop for all the products you need for this card:   Flirty Flamingo Bird Card Products

Was moving some photos from my phone to my computer and came across a few I made at our last craft retreat and hadn't shared yet.  As soon as I saw the Very Versailles stamp set I knew it would go straight into my collection.  

Tips To Make This At Home:  I've cut a whisper white rectangle with my stitched rectangles dies (or you could cut a plain one with a trimmer if you're just starting out and don't have a die cutting machine in your tool stash.)  Cut an oval window from a scrap piece of cardstock - I've used one of the layering ovals dies.  Lay it over your white piece and secure with post it notes.  Sponge some ink into the oval window.  I've used Old Olive, Mint Macaron and Highland Heather. Lift off the oval window piece to reveal your sponged background.  I've stamped the gorgeous branch from Very Versailles in Memento black ink.  

For a softer look - I've used Basic Gray ink for the branch in this next card and sponged very lightly when making the background. 

Sponging through a shaped window is a great way to make an interesting background for your next card.  Keep an eye out in packaging for some windows you can use as sponging masks for your card making.  Stampin' Up! make it easy to create a coordinated card with our matching inks and cardstock - you can't go wrong.  

Happy creating! 

Take care, Sue

Product List: Shopping links to make this card at home

Very Versailles Cling Stamp Set [149275] $40.00	Layering Ovals Dies [151771] $58.00	Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $61.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad [147090] $13.00
Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [147106] $13.00	Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad [147103] $13.00	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock [138344] $15.25	Highland Heather A4 Cardstock [147010] $15.25

This was such a simple card to put together - just a card base and 3 other parts - but I LOVE how it turned out.  Sometimes my simplest cards are my favourites.  

Like to make this one at home? Here's the details.  The 7cm wide panel is cut from one of the brushed metallics pack sheets - you get a mix of gold, copper and bronze - and embossed with the beautiful dandelions embossing folder.  Just stunning.  I popped it on an Early Espresso card base and added some copper ribbon and a greeting on crumb cake.  

I've been test driving the new Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machine to make this card.  If you're in the market for a groovy machine to give your cards a bit extra vavoom - I've got a video showing you some of the features of this one.   

Happy creating.  I'm just loving spending time at my craft desk lately. Tomorrow I need to have a post office day and get some into the mail. That's the true magic of cards, writing a message and sending them to someone special.  

Cheers, Sue

Click on the pic if you'd like to shop for any of the supplies used: 

Dandelions 3D Embossing Folder [152953] $17.50	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $209.00	Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $61.00	Stampin' Seal [152813] $14.00
Basket Weave & Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack [153553] $14.00	Early Espresso A4 Card Stock [121686] $15.25	Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $13.00	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685] $15.25

Did you know that you can use sponge daubers and inks with your Stamparatus stamp positioning tool to ink a multicolour flower for your handmade cards. 

Technique Tips:  First I positioned the flower stamp on my Stamparatus.  I inked it with the Petal Pink ink pad and stamped the image.  Then I added some Rococo Rose with a sponge dauber to some areas and stamped again.   I sponged some Crumb Cake ink onto the stems and leaves and stamped again.  The final one was with a touch of Soft Suede ink.  The end result is a lovely multicoloured flower.  This technique would work well with any large stamp.  

Cardstock Colours:  Crumb Cake, Petal Pink, Shimmery White

The first half of this video gives you a closer look at how to make this card.

The card below has a more subtle variation of the same technique.  I've stamped first with Crumb Cake on the Petal Pink cardstock then added a touch of Soft Suede. 

Wishing you a cosy weekend.  Bit chilly here so I'm enjoying snuggling up at home - might be time to go find a lap blanket I think!  

Take care and stay safe,

Sue

Click image to browse or shop some of the supplies used to make these cards:  

Stamparatus [148187] $85.00	Prized Peony Bundle (English) [154056] $100.75	Sponge Daubers [133773] $9.00	Shimmery White A4 Card Stock [121717] $17.50
Petal Pink A4 Cardstock [147009] $15.25	Petal Pink Classic Stampin' Pad [147108] $13.00	Rococo Rose A4 Cardstock [150888] $15.25	Rococo Rose Classic Stampin’ Pad [150080] $13.00
Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685] $15.25	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $13.00	Soft Suede A4 Card Stock [119982] $15.25	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115] $13.00
Stitched Rectangles Dies [151820] $61.00	Stitched Shapes Dies [152323] $50.00	Elegant Faceted Gems [152464] $13.00	Champagne Rhinestone Basic Jewels [151193] $10.50

I've been having fun today putting together some quick and easy 3 panel cards using some of my favourite new patterned paper.  (DSP - Designer Series Paper.)   This card features some of the stunning designs in the shimmery Frosted Florals DSP. Isn't it beautiful. 

Tips and Tricks:  For these cards I cut my strips to 1 1/4" in width and 14.5cm in length.  (Scuse the mixed measurements there!)  This size works well if you're sticking them straight onto the base and just want a thin border to show.  I stick the outside two down first then you can wiggle the middle one to be even on both sides.  Our Tombow Multipurpose Glue is super handy for this as you get that little smidge of time to give your panels a nudge if they're not straight. 

The greeting is from First Frost stamp set and I've cut it with the Stitched Labels framelits. 

See some more 3 panel cards on my weekly update today.   (Ooh that's a shocker of a thumbnail.  My weekly entertainment is picking one of the automatically generated thumbnails.  They're all usually of the 'stunned mullet' variety - ha ha.)

I'll have some more close up pics of the 3 panel cards later in the week.  Don't forget to stop by my patch of blog land Tuesday evening at 8pm for our latest colour creation .  This week we're featuring Daffodil Delight.

September classes are just about full - but there's space this week on Wednesday night at 7.30pm.  Come along - we'll be having a fun time trying Faux Silk technique plus we'll be making our own 3 panel card and giving the Stampin' Blends a whirl too.   Get in touch to grab a spot at the table.  Thurs and Fri classes the following week are now full. 

Cheers, Sue

Product List:    The current host code is 9BNXTKTX if you're shopping online with me

Frosted Floral 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [147800] $24.25	Frosted Floral A4 Cardstock Pack [147754] $14.75	Shimmery White A4 Card Stock [121717] $15.75	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $7.00
First Frost Clear-Mount Bundle [149943] $85.50	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad [147092] $13.00	Stitched Labels Framelits Dies [146828] $57.00	Stampin' Trimmer [129722] $50.00

We've had such a lot of fun in card class last month using Brushos watercolour ink crystals and a water spritzer to make gorgeous backgrounds.  Every one turned out differently. 

This technique is so easy.  Just emboss your image onto watercolour card - I used Dandelion Wishes stamp set and white embossing powder.  Then sprinkle some of the Brushos crystals - there are 5 colours in the pack.  Last you spritz some water. 

You can wet the paper first then sprinkle but I love the element of surprise you get when you spritz last.  Add just a little water for a more speckled look, or spray away and get more of a watercoloured look.  SUCH a lot of fun to experiment with.  These were my two favourites from my batch. 

Add some Brushos and watercolour paper to your next order if you'd love to have some creative colourful fun.  Don't forget to protect your surfaces to prevent staining.  Great way to use some of that brown packing paper that comes in our boxes!  Another tip - don't open the lids. Just pierce them with a pin.  I leave the pin in when I'm not using them or you can seal them with some washi tape. 

Have a colourful weekend!

Cheers, Sue

Shopping Links:  Use the host code QHC24T6B when ordering and I'll pop a gift in the post for you next month. Contact me if you have any product/technique questions.

Brusho Crystal Colour [144101] $52.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $8.75	Stampin' Spritzer [126185] $5.00	Grid Paper [130148] $19.25
Dandelion Wishes Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146747] $35.00	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $8.75	Heat Tool [129056] $50.00	Stitched Labels Framelits Dies [146828] $57.00
Itty Bitty Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [146667] $63.00	Classic Label Punch [141491] $31.00	Poppy Parade A4 Cardstock [121694] $14.75	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577] $14.75

Everyone who sees this Delightfully Detailed Laser Cut Paper LOVES it.   You get 4 each of two designs - one is a full 12 x 12 design.  Just snip off the section you'd like and adhere to your card as I've done above.  The other design has 6 note card front sized designs plus some border strips.  One side is vanilla and one is white which makes them extra versatile - or sponge them in a colour of your choice.  Coordinates with the Delightfully Detailed Note Cards and Envelopes.

Tip:  To adhere - use our Multipurpose Glue.  Dab on teeny tiny dots - or even better use a sponge and silicone mat.  Leave for just a tic then adhere. 

For this card I've popped it over one of the designs from Garden Impressions DSP with a vellum matting layer on a navy base. 

This paper is so beautiful - a must have addition for those extra special cards.  A little fiddly and delicate to work with but very well worth the extra effort.

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Shopping links below here if you need them.  The host code this month is QHC24T6B

Product List

Delightfully Detailed Laser-Cut Specialty Paper [146907] $24.25

Garden Impressions 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [146289] $19.25

Classic Label Punch [141491] $31.00

Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $7.00

Delightfully Detailed Note Cards & Envelopes [146911] $16.50