Happy Watercolour is one of the sets from the Occasions Catalogue that will not be carrying over to the main catalogue at the end of the month.  I love this set so thought I'd make a few more cards with it. 

In a simple mood lately so this is just a sheet of Night Of Navy cardstock. I've scored a rectangle using my Simply Scored board then added some piercing.  I used the Essentials Piercing Pack on page 179 plus my Paper Piercing Tool. 

The greeting is Perfectly Penned again (going to miss that one) and some of the splodges from Happy Watercolour.  Cut out with the super versatile Apothecary Accents framelits.  And some Candy Dots to finish.

I tried another panel of Happy Watercolour stamping and didn't like how it turned out.  

To save it from the bin, I got out one of my square framelits and used that to punch out a few pieces. 

And used those to make this that I like a bit better.  Base is Rose Red and the panel is Perfect Plum.  Used my Paper Piercer and Essentials pack again and the Fancy Fan embossing folder.   Can you tell I'm getting every use out of my Perfectly Penned set?  :-)

Tomorrow I've got some Blendabilities colouring with another favourite stamp set from the retiring list. 

See you then. 

Cheers, Sue

* Get in touch or visit the Retired List section of my online store if you'd like to grab any retiring products before they disappear this month. 

I've been sorting through my stamp stash to see what we are farewelling this month and have a nice pile to have a Retirement Month play with.  Two to share with you today that are super simple - just stamps, inks and cardstock.  Sometimes it is nice to get back to basics. 

Stamps:  Bright Blossoms and the stunning greeting set Perfectly Penned.  Both retiring this month.

Colours: Pacific Point, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight.  A bright happy combo. 

While I had my inks out I made another one with a different retiring stamp set - Betsy's Blossoms.

The greeting this time is from Happy Day - yep, also retiring. 

I love to use our Shimmery White cardstock when I'm doing cards like this.  It is a lovely white with a touch of added shimmer (we could all use a touch of added shimmer couldn't we!) and nice and strong for a card base.  I go through tons of it. 

My daughter Hannah (11) and I were making cards together this day so here's a few of her creations.  She's added some washi tape as well.  Spending time creating is fun, spending time with someone who shares a love of creating - even more fun. 

If you'd like to share some time creating this month - I've got space left on Thursday 26th June for my card class.  We'll be doing the Delft tile technique plus making another snazzy card using our new fringing scissors.  Details here. 

I've been rather busy at the craft table (aka the dining table) so check back soon for some more retiring product creations, plus some sneak peeks.

Cheers, Sue

This year' I've been enjoying using our little notecards and envelopes packs - I love the small size. 

For these ones I've been making use of some scraps left over from last month's class.  Trying to do a little more recycling this year! 

We cut out lots of banners in my February classes so I had a pile that looked a bit like this.  Perfect time to get out my new banner punch.  (Get this free during Saleabration with a $90 purchase. Ends 31 March.)

I've got a small fold up table that I sometimes set up in front of the TV of an evening.  For these cards I grabbed some inks that coordinated with the Sweet Sorbet DSP (another free choice with a $90 purchase) and the gorgeous Hardwood stamp set. 

Stamp straight on for a darker wood background like this ......

Or stamp off on scrap paper once then onto your card for a lighter background like the card at the top.  It doesn't matter if you get a slightly uneven finish - sort of works well with this project I think. 

I love my new Just Saying stamp set.  Bundle it with the coordinating Word Bubbles framelits and save 15%. 

If you've got some scrap patterned paper - grab a banner punch and make a pile of banners.  Quick and easy then to pop some along a card.  I used dimensionals to give them a little lift.

Products Featured: Including shopping links if you're shopping online or looking for more detail.

Just Sayin' Wood-Mount Bundle

$76.25

Hardwood

$30.95

Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper

$0.00

Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes

$9.95

Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Stampin' Dimensionals

$6.95

Banner Punch

$0.00

 

Table by StampinBuddy.

 

Happy stamping!

 

Cheers, Sue

A quick and simple card today using the Perfect Pennants stamp set and some circle punches. 

I do love embossing folders.  This card features the new one - Ampersand.  Find it here.

The greeting is from Perfect Pennants stamp set.   Some handy greetings in that one for both card making and scrapbooking I think.   Find it here. 

I had some leftover bits of cardstock stamped with the Woodgrain background stamp so added those to the card to finish it off.  Always handy to make use of those scraps isn't it. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Another simple little card idea for you today using our Notecards and Envelopes.  I love love love the new flower stamp set - Petite Petals.   There's a coordinating punch too. 

A nice, bright, happy colour combo today - Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight. 

The greeting is from Lacy and Lovely stamp set.  I use it a lot - 'Hello' works for all sorts of occasions and is great for 'just because' cards too.   It is quite relaxing to just sit and whip up a bunch of these one layer, no fuss cards. 

Notecards and Envelopes pack:  $9.95 for a pack of 20. 

Happy creating. 

Cheers, Sue

I've got a quick little Stampin' Up sneak peek for you today using one of the new stamp sets in our forthcoming Occasions Catalogue - Happy Congratulations stamp set. 

January has been my month for quick and simple creating and I've been loving using the Notecards and Envelopes packs. You can find them on page 162 of the main catalogue.  $9.95 for a pack of 20.  They're a lovely size and great value. 

Do you get stuck for colour combinations?  I've been using my Colour Coach lately while my brain has been on holiday!  Handy for quick colour suggestions.  Today's combo is Real Red, Tangerine Tango and Tempting Turquoise.

I've got catalogues here ready to post, along with our Saleabration brochure with this year's freebies to select from with a $90 purchase.  Saleabration and the new Seasonal catalogue both kick off on January 28th.  Get in touch if you'd like me to pop a copy in the post for you. 

Cheers, Sue

I was inspired by this card  made by one of my talented team members - Tina Gillespie - to try the clear block stamping technique.  Loved this simple but effective technique so we've been trying it out in my March classes. 

I can see myself using this technique quite a bit to whip up some quick cards.  The new large rhinestones made a nice finishing touch. 

Stamp Set:  Lacy and Lovely (pg 99).  Colours: Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette and So Saffron. 

Cardstock: Whisper White and Bashful Blue      Other: StazOn Black ink.

I've got another variation to share but I'll wait til after our last class on Wednesday. 

I'll be back tomorrow night though with some exciting news from the land of Stampin' Up.  I'll give you a little hint .....

I should really add a pic of me skipping around the loungeroom saying  'Yippee yippee'  but the loungeroom is rather messy and I'm having rather a bad hair and fashion challenged sorta day so ......

Happy stamping!     Wink.

Cheers, Sue

I've been having fun making these cute little gift cards using the Spring Sampler stamp set and my Stampin' Write markers.  The greeting is from Delightful Dozen.

Here's a few more in a different size and featuring the lovely organdy striped ribbon in the Seasonal Catalogue.  Such a pretty range of ribbons.

Wishing you a fabulous week ahead.  Last week of term - wow that came quickly. We're all looking forward to a bit of a break from the school routine over Easter. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

My nephews had a birthday party on the weekend so it was off to the card making table for me.  (Should I add that we left for the party at 11.30am and I started the cards at 11am = no, probably not!) 

Really liked how they turned out, even with a short timeline.

Pennant punch combined with the rather cute Sweet Shop DSP ( pg 23 of the Autumn Mini).

Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo bases and letters.  With a touch of crimping for texture.

Bakers' Twine (pg 24 for some new colours) and the Timeless Type alphabet set.

Happy birthday boys! 

Cheers, Sue

I never seem to have enough guy cards in my little box of cards, so this week I decided to grab out a pack of Well Worn DSP and some Crumb Cake (Kraft) cardstock and get creating.

I trimmed all my cardstock strips to the same width and spaced them randomly so I didn't have to do any maths - ha ha.

Simply Scored for the score lines, some linen thread and an antique brad, and a greeting.  (From one of the big birthday sets.)  Even dug up my stampamajig this time rather than winging it on the greeting.

One more pic since I rather like this one.  My sort of style - simple.

Have a fabulous weekend.  I had a creative burst last week so a few more things to share with you in the coming week. 

Happy stamping!    Cheers, Sue

Need more card inspiration for making cards for the guys in your life?

I've got lots more ideas for making masculine cards featuring patterned paper over on my youtube channel. 

Here are just a few.