Easel card using the scallop circle die

Readers from earlier this week will know that it was hubby's birthday on Saturday. Poor lamb, he's been proper poorly the last couple of days but luckily he's on the mend, just in time for tonight's treat of a spa visit. Sauna, steam, turkish bath ... and a lovely relaxation area with soothing teas and coffees. Is it wrong to buy him a present I get to share in? Heehee.

As I haven't had time to create a new card for today's post I thought I'd share one that I've been demonstrating at my workshops recently.

The Bigz dies are excellent for creating shaped easel cards.

And if an easel card creates something of a Wow factor then the shaped easels are a double Wow. I just love them and having sent one or two of these to friends recently for birthdays I know they are appreciated.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Sincere Salutations, Four Frames, Perfect Punches

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight

Punches: Decorative Label, 2" x 1-3/8" Oval

Bigz Dies: Scallop Circle, Flower Daisies 2

Originals Die: Leaves 2

Non-SU: Large Circle (drawn around a saucer and cut out or use an alternative die)

Tools: Big Shot

To make the Scallop Circle Easel card, a folded piece of Chocolate Chip card was positioned a little way down the die (eg. so that around four scallops are showing) and run through the Big Shot. A horizontal fold line was scored approximately halfway down the front of the shaped card. A full Scallop Circle was cut from Chocolate Chip card, using the Big Shot again and adhered to the bottom folded area of the shaped card. Two Large Circles of Very Vanilla were cut out. One was stamped with the sentiment (Sincere Salutations) in Chocolate Chip ink and adhered to the card front and one was adhered direct to the inside of the card. Three large and three small daisies were die cut from Daffodil Delight card and the edges sponged with matching ink before offsetting the petals and adhering them together. A Chocolate Chip flower centre was die cut and adhered to the flower. Two leaves were die cut from Pear Pizzazz card, then one was flipped over before sponging them with Old Olive ink. The leaves were adhered direct to the card front and then the flower was popped up on dimensionals. A spotty frame was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Very Vanilla card and punched out with the Decorative Label. The inside sentiment (Perfect Punches) was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink onto Daffodil Delight card and punched out with the 2" x 1-3/8" Oval. These layers were popped up on dimensionals on the inside of the card to prop the card front at the right angle.

Now off to meet hubby for a bit of rest and relaxation ...

Sara xx

A rising star on my team and my card for her

I made this card last week but didn't want to share it until I knew that it had been received. My super talented downline Jan recently added another member to her Stampin' Up! team and I wanted to congratulate her on her success.

I'm showing customers the inlaid embossing technique at my workshops at the moment and so decided to use the same technique for this card. And as Jan's favourite colour is orange, I also incorporated that into her card ... just a little, heehee.

Recipe

Stamp sets: Business Basics

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

Ink: Pumpkin Pie

Punches: Star, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Corner Rounder

Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots

The card base is an A6 portrait of Pumpkin Pie, matted with a layer of Very Vanilla. Panels of Peach Parfait, Pumpkin Pie and Tangerine Tango were punched with the Corner Rounder on all corners and lined up on grid paper. Stars punched from Very Vanilla card were adhered onto the panels, covering the joins and once dry the panels were cut apart again and then run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder to get the inlaid embossed effect. To keep the layers down (for sending through the mail) the panels were adhered direct to the front of the card, keeping them evenly spaced. The sentiment was stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink onto Very Vanilla card and punched with the 1" Circle. It was matted onto a 1-1/4" Circle of Pumpkin Pie and then a 1-3/8" Circle of Very Vanilla before popping it up on dimensionals on the card front.

Recipe

Stamp set: Perfect Punches

Cardstock: Very Vanilla

Ink: Pumpkin Pie

For the inside the sentiment was simply stamped onto a Very Vanilla card insert with Pumpkin Pie ink.

If you'd like to join my team and have your successes celebrated or if you'd like to hostess a workshop and see the inlaid embossing in real life, then please get in touch.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

A glitzy name card for my SIL

Oh what a disappointment this morning when I had to get up and go to work. I could really get used to those bank holiday mondays, lol!

It was my SIL's birthday yesterday and this is the card I made for her. Before you all write in and correct me - that is actually how she spells her name, with the umlauts on the "E" not the "O". Unusual isn't it?

Recipe

Stamp sets: Perfect Punches, Something to Celebrate, Thanks for Caring

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Ink: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Craft White

DSP: Elegant Soiree

Punches: 2" x 1-3/8" Oval, Scallop Oval

Bigz Die: Beautiful Butterflies

Embosslits Die: Beautiful Wings

Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots

Other: On Board Alphabet Soup, Baja Breeze Glass Glitter, Basic Rhinestones

The base card is tri-shutter cut from a 12" x 12" sheet of Baja Breeze card. This was matted with different pieces of Elegant Soiree DSP, all sponged around the edges with Early Espresso ink. For the name I sponged the letters from the On Board Alphabet Soup with Craft White ink (in case any showed through the chunky glitter) then covered with Baja Breeze Glass Glitter. The sentiment on the front was stamped in Early Espresso ink onto Very Vanilla card, punched with the 2" x 1-3/8" Oval and sponged around the edges as for the DSP. A Scallop Oval of Blushing Bride card was cut in two lengthways, the edges trimmed and adhered directly behind the sentiment before popping up on the top of the card front with dimensionals. Beautiful Wings butterflies were die cut from Blushing Bride card and the largest was popped up on dimensionals on the bottom of the card front.

The inside writing area was created by matting and layering Very Vanilla card, sponged around the edges, onto Early Espresso card then adhering direct to the central area. Using Early Espresso ink, the sentiment from the Something to Celebrate set was stamped in the middle of the panel and the flower and butterfly from the Thanks for Caring set were stamped either side in Blushing Bride ink. To decorate the back panel, one of the large Beautiful Butterflies was die cut from Blushing Bride card and run through the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. The smaller Beautiful Butterfly was die cut from DSP and sponged before adding to the centre of the large one and a strip of Basic Rhinestones run down the middle to finish. This was popped up on dimensionals on the back panel. A couple more small butterflies left over from cutting with the Embosslits for the front, were also popped up on dimensionals.

Hope she likes it.

Sara xx

Technique class results for kissing and emerging colour

I promised to share the cards we made last weekend at the technique class and here they are.

Everyone at the class gets their own technique book with a little explanation page of how to recreate the look and space for an example of the technique on the opposite page.

We then put the technique into practice to create full cards and we also stamp card to be able to make co-ordinating 6" x 6" scrapbook pages.

First of all we had a go at kissing (of the stamping kind of course):

And then we had a go at emerging colour:

Want the full recipes? Then please email me to sign up for the next class or you can book a workshop and I'll demonstrate one of these techniques to you and your guests ;-)

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xxx

My clever DH made a card for his Mum

A change for you today - this card was made by my DH for his Mum. He designed it himself. I helped out just a little by demonstrating the heat embossing technique and how to use the stamp-a-ma-jig but the actual card was made by him. I'm so proud of him, I think he did a great job.

And his Mum was really impressed.

Recipe

Stamp sets: En Francais, Baroque Motifs, Perfect Punches

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie

Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso

Punches: Extra-large Oval, Large Oval

3mm Taffeta Ribbon: Early Espresso

Other: Clear EP, Brights Brads (Pumpkin Pie)

The card blank is an A6 portrait of Melon Mambo, matted with Early Espresso card. The En Francais background and the Baroque swirl were stamped in Versamark onto another layer of Melon Mambo card and then heat embossed with Clear EP. Early Espresso ribbon was wrapped around the top left corner and a bow secured to it with a brad. Using Early Espresso ink, the sentiment was stamped onto Pumpkin Pie card and punched out with the Large Oval. This was matted onto an Extra-Large Oval punched from Early Espresso card and decorative brads added before adhering the layer to the front of the card.

My MIL isn't so keen on flowery verses so DH stamped the insert with images instead:

Recipe (inside)

Stamp sets: Baroque Border, On a Pedestal

Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo

He wheeled the Baroque Border with Early Espresso ink (he already knows how to stamp with a wheel) and then used the stamp-a-ma-jig to build the birthday cake.

I mentioned Easter last night and he asked in a shocked voice "you don't think she'll expect an Easter card as well as Mother's Day do you?"

I think he may be joining me at the crafting table more often than he thought, lol!

Tomorrow I'll show you the card that I made. Yes, my MIL still wanted a card from me too heehee, I'm not redundant yet.

Sara xx

Some little rays of christmas cheer

Yay! I've made it home. Set off from Plymouth this morning and it was cold but clear, then it's got whiter and whiter and then the snow deeper and deeper, the nearer I got to home. DH picked me up at Meadowhall and now I'm warm and cosy again and really don't care too much if I get stuck now. At least I'd be stuck in the right place - with DH and Bess.

Thanks to everyone for your kind comments on yesterday's video. I feel encouraged to make more of them in the future so watch this space.

For today, I have another card. Our sketch challenge this month over at In Love With Stamping is this:

I squared the design off a little to create this:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Medallion, Perfect Punches, Tiny Tags

Cardstock: Basic Black, Real Red

Ink: Versamark

Punches: 1-3/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, Jewelry Tag

Satin Ribbon: Real Red

3mm Taffeta Ribbon: Basic Black

Other: Silver EP, Black EP, Silver Brad

The card blank is a 5" square of Basic Black. The Medallion was stamped with Versamark on Basic Black card and then heat embossed with Silver EP. It's easier to stamp onto a bigger square of Black and then trim it to position the Medallion exactly where you want it. This square was cut diagonally into three sections and adhered direct to a square of Real Red card. Sticky Strip was laid across the top left corner and Real Red Satin Ribbon ruffled across the Sticky Strip. The Merry sentiment from the Tiny Tags stamp set was stamped in Versamark onto Real Red card, heat embossed with Black EP then punched out with the Jewelry Tag. This was secured to some 3mm Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon with a Silver Brad and then wrapped over the ruffled ribbon. These layers were adhered direct to the card blank. The Joy at Christmas sentiment from the Perfect Punches stamp set was stamped in Versamark on Real Red card and heat embossed with Black EP. The centre of the sentiment was punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle. This was popped up on dimensionals on Basic Black card punched with the 1-3/4" Circle and then popped on more dimensionals in the centre of the Medallion.

This is for a female friend whose favourite colour combo is black, red and silver but I think it would work equally well as a man's christmas card.

Look forward to seeing your take on these challenges in the ILWS gallery.

Have a safe and warm weekend.

Sara xx

A quick and easy christmas card using your paper scraps

Is it really December tomorrow? Where has the year gone, it just seems to have flown.

If you've left your christmas cardmaking to the last minute for any reason or suddenly get asked by nearest and dearest to make a set of cards for them (that happen to you too lol?), then today's card is a great one for quick and easy mass production. It's also great for children to help you with and for using up those scraps of designer paper that may be cluttering up your craft cupboard.

Recipe

Stamp set: Perfect Punches

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla

Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Jolly Holiday

Punches: Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Square

The card blank is a 5" square of Cherry Cobbler that's been matted with a 4-1/2" square of Crumb Cake. 8 squares were punched out of Jolly Holiday DSP with the 1-1/4" Square punch and adhered direct around the edges of the Crumb Cake layer. The Perfect Punches sentiment was stamped twice onto Very Vanilla card, once with Old Olive ink and again with Cherry Cobbler ink. The Cherry Cobbler version was punched out with the Scallop Circle and the Old Olive version was punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle. Each layer was popped up on dimensionals in the centre of the card.

Simples!

Sara xx

Fresh colours for christmas

Well that's my course finished and I'm just waiting around now to get my train, so I thought I'd hop online and share a quick card.

This is a very different colour scheme for me for a christmas card but DH approves and I'm hoping that some of you like it too.

The colour combo isn't one I'd have gone for, probably at any time of year, but it was suggested by the new Color Coach tool we have. The Coach has a card for every current colour that all fan out for you to test your own combos and on the back of each card are a few suggested combos. This was just one of them:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Perfect Punches, Contempo Christmas

Cardstock: Pear Pizzaz, Rich Razzleberry. Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Rich Razzleberry

DSP: Greenhouse Gala

Punches: Scallop Edge, Scallop Circle

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Tempting Turquoise (retired)

Other: Fine Cosmo Glitter

The tree was stamped in Pear Pizzazz ink onto Whisper White card then matted onto layers of Pear Pizzazz, Tempting Turquoise and Rich Razzleberry card. A strip of Rich Razzleberry was punched along the long edges with the Scallop Edge. Tempting Turquoise ribbon was wrapped around this border and a matching bow added with a glue dot. Although the Tempting Turquoise ribbon has retired now, it's very easy to make your own by colouring Whisper White ribbon with a marker, inkpad or reinkers. The A6 portrait card blank of Pear Pizzazz was matted with a layer of Rich Razzleberry card and then a layer of Greenhouse Gala DSP. The border was adhered direct to the lower portion of the card front and the tree layers were popped up on dimensionals towards top left. Finally the christmas sentiment from the Perfect Punches stamp set was stamped in Rich Razzleberry ink onto Whisper White card, punched out with the Scallop Circle and popped up on dimensionals overlapping the corner of the tree layers.

Have a great weekend.

Sara xx

Hostess gifts for my lovely ladies

This was the table set to greet my hostesses at their recent event:

As well as a copy of the catty and the make and takes I'd also made a few gifts for each of them to take away. There was a little treat folder based on the same design as I'd made here but using a different colour combo and using the rock n roll technique rather than embossing:

Recipe

Stamp sets: Ornate Flowers, Perfect Punches

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White

Ink: Marina Mist, Certainly Celery

Punch: Scallop Oval

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Certainly Celery

Narrow Taffeta Ribbon: Marina Mist

The card was cut a little longer than usual and folded to create little pockets for their treats:

Should just keep them going while they sit and browse the catty.

And then they each had a notebook and pen for making notes as we went along that evening.

Recipe

Stamp set: Ornate Flowers

Ink: White Stazon

DSP: Greenhouse Gala

Non-SU: Notebook, Pen

The notebook was stamped direct with Stazon. I used White Stazon on the darker colour notepads and Black on the lighter/brighter ones. The pens were prettied up by inserting a rolled piece of DSP into the barrel.

It was funny to see how they made notes on scraps of paper so that they didn't "spoil" their new notepads, heehee.

We had a great evening and my virtual hostesses that live further afield still didn't miss out as I mailed their gifts to them.

There's still time to join my Stampers 6 group (see the Spread the Cost tab at the top or click here for details) if you'd like to be one of my pampered hostesses next time around.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Ornate flowers for the colour challenge take 2

This flower set, Ornate Flowers, is fast becoming a favourite of mine. It looks great in so many different colourways and using so many different techniques. For today I've used the colour challenge I set over at ILWS again ie. Basic Black, Whisper White and Real Red and used some heat embossing for a glossy effect on the embellishments. I've also used one of the new ribbons we have available, which is the narrow taffeta in black. Isn't it great to have so many varieties of ribbon and know that they'll match your project perfectly?

Recipe

Stamp sets: Ornate Flowers, Perfect Punches

Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red

Ink: Real Red, Versamark

Punch: Scallop Oval

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Real Red

Narrow Taffeta Ribbon: Basic Black

Other: Black EP

I stamped the flower spray from the Ornate Flowers set in Real Red ink down the right hand side of a layer of Whisper White card before adhering it to the front of an A6 portrait Basic Black card blank. Real Red Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon was wrapped centrally down a panel of Basic Black card and then Basic Black Narrow Taffeta Ribbon layered onto the Real Red. This panel was adhered to the left side of the card front. The block flower from the Ornate Flowers set and the Thank you sentiment from the Perfect Punches set were stamped in Versamark onto Real Red card and heat embossed with Black EP. The sentiment was punched out with the Scallop Oval and the flower was trimmed close to the frame. These were popped up on dimensionals over the layered ribbons. A dinky bow of the Narrow Taffeta Basic Black ribbon was added with a glue dot in between the flower block and the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx