Stamp With Us colour inspiration challenge

I loved all your entries to meet the male cards challenge last time around.

Our challenge this week over at Stamp With Us is a colour challenge using this image as our inspiration:

I took my colours from the tulips and then used the Spring stamp from the Flower for all Seasons as that includes some tulips! I decided to make a gift box and a small square card.

Nice and bright and cheery for Spring I think - hope you agree.

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Flower for all Seasons, Happy Moments

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Black Stazon, Markers, Pink Passion

Punches: Tag, Small Tag, Word Window

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie

Other: White Eyelet

I used a blend of Pumpkin Pie and Pixie Pink markers to colour the tulips to mirror the inspiration photo and the Kaleidoscope DSP. The aperture created by the Word Window punch was marked in pencil on the Pixie Pink card behind it. I then stamped the sentiment in Pink Passion ink and then erased the pencil marks.

Recipe

Stamp sets: A Flower for all Seasons

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Black Stazon, Markers

Punches: 1-3/4" Circle, Scallop Edge

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie

For this matching gift box I covered the flap in the same DSP, punched some holes with the Crop-a-dile and threaded with ribbon to close. I coloured an identical image to that on the front of the card, punched with the Circle punch and raised on dimensionals.

Can't wait to see what you create for this challenge.

Later this morning I'll be taking part in a bloghop to showcase the new products in our Mini Catalogue. You'll be able to see it here, any time after 10am. Hope you get chance to check it out.

Sara xx

Bunches of flowers for a girlie birthday card

A long day for me yesterday. I did make it to Birkenhead but we got stuck in traffic on the M62 so we had to reschedule meetings to the end of the afternoon. Tired already and there's still so much week to go :-( never mind, I'll have to craft to take my mind off it :-)

I'm rushing through another card using the free Sale-a-bration sets before they disappear at the weekend. There's still time to email me and order if you haven't got yours yet.

I've combined the Happy Moments with the Vintage Labels for this birthday card:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Vintage Labels

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, SU Markers (Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose)

Punch: Scallop Circle

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Regal Rose

I stamped the flowers in Black Stazon on the white card and coloured them with SU markers. The pink background was made by stamping with Pretty in Pink ink on Pretty in Pink card but you could get the same sort of watermark effect by using Versamark. The scallop circle frame was stamped with Regal Rose and then the sentiment popped in the centre using the stamp-a-ma-jig. The whole was stamped out with the Scallop Circle punch and matted onto a Regal Rose Scallop Circle. Some ribbon to finish and that's the front done.

If you don't have a stamp-a-ma-jig then (you're missing out, lol) you could always stamp the sentiment separately, punch it out with a smaller circle punch and mat it onto the scallop.

For the inside I stamped the bunch of flowers again lightly in Pretty in Pink and used the sentiment from the Crazy for Cupcakes set.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Little and large using the Happy Moments present stack

We haven't managed to get to Bess's socialisation class today. (I'll post some more piccies of her soon Siobhan - have seen your request :-) ). We have snow again, about 4-5" so far and it's still falling (gulp). Hopefully we'll be able to dig the car out a little later. I'm supposed to be travelling to Birkenhead tomorrow for work and it's not looking too likely at the moment. Roll on summer!

A simple card for today using the present stack from Happy Moments as a model to build my own stack. I wanted to use bold, bright colours for the presents so I kept the card base neutral so that the colour scheme wouldn't get too busy.

Recipe

Stamp set: Happy Moments

Cardstock: Kraft, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

DSP: Kaleidoscope

Ink: Black Stazon, Tempting Turquoise, SU markers

Punches: Tag, Word Window

Other: Silver Elastic Cord, Brads (Bold Brights)

I chose DSPs with spots and stripes and backed them with some scrap card so that I could raise them on dimensionals. For the plain parcel I used plain card (turquoise). The parcels are placed so that they're not quite straight (yes that's on purpose, lol), to match the stamped image.

Take care and keep warm wherever you are.

Sara xx

The Happy Moments are ticking away

Bess did a little better in class on Sunday. Her training (or is it ours lol?) now involves walking her backwards every time she tries to pull forwards too much. I think we're going to see a lot of places we've already been in the foreseeable future!

And talking of foreseeable future - there's just over a week left to get your free Sale-a-bration sets. Please email me if you'd like to order.

Today's card is back to Happy Moments - my favourite set I have to admit. And then I used Whimsical Words for the sentiment inside - my other favourite, heehee.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Whimsical Words (inside)

Cardstock: Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Markers

Punches: Boho Blossoms, Word Window, Eyelet Border

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: So Saffron (from previous SU offer)

Other: Circle Fire Rhinestones

I decided to use the flowers on the cake as a motif for my card. My flowers are made using the Boho Blossom punch with each flower snipped between the petals and shaped.

Here's the inside:

Which is your favourite Sale-a-bration set?

Sara xx

A spinning birdcage in a window

Have you got hold of your free Sale-a-bration stamps yet? They're only available until the end of February so don't miss out. Spend just £45 to choose one of the exclusive four sets. Click here for more details or email me to order.

Today's card uses Happy Moments again - with a twist. Click here to see previous cards using this same set.

Recipe

Stamp set: Happy Moments

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Taken with Teal, Summer Sun, Whisper White

Ink: Taken with Teal, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Pink Flamingo

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Tempting Turquoise

Punches: 1-3/4" Circle, Word Window

Other: Silver Elastic Cord

The birdcage is stamped twice, once with a blue bird and once with a yellow card. The elastic cord is sandwiched between the two birdcages and the mat layers. Once made up, twist the cage around several times before putting in the envelope. When the recipient opens the card the birdcage will spin around.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

My first christmas card this year uses the Happy Moments Sale-a-bration set

This is a case of my own card from the bloghop on Sunday but I thought I'd show you how this versatile, free, stamp set is ideal for Christmas as well as birthdays.

I also created it for the ILWS January Christmas Card challenge. This is a laid back challenge with no deadline but the idea is to help you create all the Christmas cards you'll need, so you're not in a last minute rush when December rolls around. January's challenge is a colour one, using Black, White and Red. I made four identical versions of this card to start my stock off.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Season of Joy (sentiment)

Cardstock: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White

DSP: Ski Slope (retired)

Ink: Black Stazon, Versamark, Markers, Real Red (envelope)

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Real Red

Other: Black EP, Silver Elastic Cord

You can see that I'm still using up some of my older DSP but you could use the Real Red papers from Merry Moments or Jackpot if you don't have Ski Slope.

Again the present opens up to reveal a little hidden message:

I used the sentiment from the Loads of Love stamp set for the hidden message. I also finished off the inside of the card with a stamped insert.

Recipe (inside)

Stamp set: Baroque Border

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Real Red

Have you started your Christmas cards yet?

Sara xx

Join us on a bloghop featuring the Sale-a-bration stamp sets

Hi and welcome to our Sale-a-bration bloghop.

If you're starting here then grab a cuppa and make yourself comfy cos we've got lots to share with you ;-) There are 15 blogs to visit in this loop and 15 to visit in loop 2. You'll know when you've completed a loop when you end up back where you started.

If you've joined me from Debbi's Taylor-made Cards (aren't her bloghop creations marvelous), then welcome and thanks for stopping by on your way through our bloghop wonderland.

Don't forget that you get one of four exclusive, free, Sale-a-bration stamp sets with every £45 purchase. With no limit on how many you can get, this is the best possible time to treat yourself to that new stamp set you've had your eye on, or simply stock up on the essentials; cardstock, adhesive, inks etc. Just email me to place an order.

You may wish to consider supporting the Haitian Disaster Relief by adding the Greenhouse Garden set to your Sale-a-bration order. From now until 28 February, 2010, £1 from every Greenhouse Garden stamp set will be donated to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. The Red Cross is already well established on Haiti and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to those in need.

Now, on to the crafting ...

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Oval All

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, More Mustard, Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon, Taken with Teal, Markers

DSP: Tea Party

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval

Other: Gold Elastic Cord

For this card I stamped the stack of presents and then folded the card at the base before cutting them out. The elastic cord was wrapped around and then tied shut. This allows the present stack to be opened up for a tiny hidden message.

Next I put together a simple set of cards to showcase the Vintage Labels and show just how easy it is to make quick cards with them. Each frame is matched with a sentiment from the same free Sale-a-bration set and a different jumbo wheel used to create the background.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Vintage Labels, Whimsy, It's Beautiful, Leaves a la Carte

Cardstock: Whisper White, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Certainly Celery

Ink: Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Certainly Celery

Punches: Scallop Circle, Eyelet Border, Scallop Edge

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive

And finally from me, here's a card using the Good Neighbors set:

Recipe

Stamp set: Good Neighbors

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive, Versamark, Markers

Wide Grosgrain Ribbon: Old Olive

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Certainly Celery

Punch: Scallop Edge

Other: White EP, Small Circle Metal Edge Tag

I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position all the separate elements, houses, roofs, trees and clouds. The background is all stamped in Old Olive on Certainly Celery card. I then used markers (Close to Cocoa, Really Rust and Ruby Red) to stamp onto the Metal Edge Tag (a little fiddly but works as long as you don't nudge the Tag). The sentiment was borrowed from the Vintage Labels set, stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with White embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting and now I'll pass you on to ...

... Victoria over at Blue Jelly Stampin' where you're in for a real treat.

See you again soon I hope.

Sara xx

A get well card using a Happy Moment

It's about time I stopped complaining about the weather, after all I've got it easy compared with some. The Mum of my crafting pal Heather, is having a tough time at the moment battling one illness after another and is missing being home into the bargain. Heather's asked for some get well cards to cheer her up (details here if you're able to add to them, I'm sure she'll appreciate it). I sent this at the weekend so hopefully she's got it by now and I'm safe to show it on here.

I've made it using the new Happy Moments set but also combined with a few others.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Happy Moments, Flight of the Butterfly, Fun and Fast Notes (sentiment)

Cardstock: Taken With Teal, More Mustard, Whisper White

DSP: Pink Flamingo

Ink: Taken With Teal, Black Stazon, Markers

Punches: Corner Rounder, Scallop Edge, Butterfly

And because I wanted to make the inside pretty to look at too:

Recipe (inside)

Stamp sets: Baroque Border, Flight of the Butterfly, Curvy Verses

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Taken with Teal

Punch: Corner Rounder

Wishing you a speedy recovery Karen.

Sara xx

A Happy Moment with some chocolates

Yes, I've had another Happy Moment. I thought I'd have a go at the fabulous video tutorial that Monica posted for us on In Love With Stamping. I decided to make my bird in a cage a canary and pop chocolates in the pouch, hence the colour scheme.

Recipe

Stamp set: Happy Moments

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

DSP: Tea & Crumpets

Markers: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Summer Sun

Taffeta Ribbon: Chocolate Chip

Punches: Tag, Small Tag, Word Window

Other: Pretties Kit, Gold Brad, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brad, Medium Cellophane Bag, Crop-a-dile, Chocolates

The technique is the same as Monica's tutorial. I coloured the flower with the So Saffron pen. To make my bird stand out better I used Summer Sun rather than So Saffron. I didn't have a small cellophane bag (I always seem to use medium) so I folded my medium bag to fit and trimmed a little from the top.

I love these little sweetie pouches, they're so cute. I can see more on the way :-)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Happy Moments for me indeed this weekend

Happy Moments is one of the new Sale-a-bration stamp sets that you can get free, see here for details. I'm expecting lots of Happy Moments this weekend - you see I finally got my hands on the bumper order I put in just before new year. The UPS delivery had been rescheduled several times due to the snow and so yesterday we made a special effort and got out and went to collect from them - I just couldn't wait any longer. Now I've lots of new goodies to play with, including all four of the Sale-a-bration sets.

In one of my Happy Moments this morning, I popped over to the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge to have a go at the sketch challenge they've set for this week:

I inked up one of my new sets and created this:

Recipe

Stamp set: Happy Moments (free SAB set)

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Cameo Coral, Whisper White

DSP: Pink Flamingo

Ink: Cameo Coral, SU Markers

Punches: Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Boho Blossoms

Other: Soft Subtles Brads

Non-SU: Die-cut ovals

I stamped the cake, stamped it again onto a Post-it and masked the original. Then selectively inked the top two parcels of the three and stamped them on either side of the cahe before removing the mask. The flowers are the largest and smallest of the Boho Blossoms, snipped between each petal and shaped for dimension.

Off to play again now, I don't care about the snow anymore now I've got my toys.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx