Today is our blog hop retirement party

Hello and welcome to our blog hop retirement party! Hi to all of you who've joined me from Caroline's blog (if you haven't, then don't worry you'll end up there on your way back around the hop). I hope you loved what she created as much as I did. Her card sets are gorgeous but that bag is just to die for! Got to have a go at casing that.

Our aim today is to inspire you with a few ideas for using retiring stamp sets and colours. If you'd like to get hold of any of these, then just check out the Last Chance List and email me at sarastamper123@gmail.com.

My projects for you today are a quick and simple thank you card and a little Christmas set perfect to gift to a friend before the holidays.

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: Green Galore, Pixie Pink, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Passion, Pixie Pink

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

Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool, Brads (Bold Brights)

This month True Friend has a 50% discount and costs just £10.98 (while stocks last). The base card is an A6 portrait card in Green Galore. Using Pink Passion ink I stamped the True Friend sentiment direct to the Pixie Pink card front and added a border all round with the Nat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool. Each of the other stamps in the set were inked direct to stamp with Pink Passion and Pixie Pink markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. These were punched out with the 1-1/4" Circle and matted onto Green Galore card punched out with the 1-3/8" Circle. The circles were popped up on dimensionals and the card was finished with brads.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas

Textured Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow

Plain Cardstock: Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Ruby Red

Punches: 5-Petal Flower

Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon: Whisper White

Other: Brads (Soft Subtles)

Spotlight on Christmas currently has a 25% discount and is just £14.21 (again while stocks last). I've used it for all elements of the gift set, the box and each of the four cards. The card box was made following Joanne's tutorial over at In Love With Stamping, using Handsome Hunter textured card. Using Handsome Hunter ink, the oval sentiment was stamped onto Whisper White card and the number added with the journaling end of a matching marker. Swirls were added around the edges with Sage Shadow ink. This was matted direct to textured Sage Shadow card and popped up on dimensionals on the front of the box base. The poinsettia was stamped in Ruby Red and again in Handsome Hunter onto Whisper White card and punched out with the 5-Petal Flower punch. The two flowers were layered together and secured with Apricot Appeal brads from the Soft Subtle collection and popped up on dimensionals. The box closure is Whisper White ribbon.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel

Punch: Small Tag

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Each little card is made in the same way, just varying the colours and punch shapes (recipes for each are given below). The card base is a 3.5" square of Creamy Caramel. A 3" square Close to Cocoa mat was punched with the Small Tag and adhered centrally direct to the card base. The Small Tag was punched again through the existing aperture (the punches can manage one sheet of card at a time). The sentiment on the Christmas Punches Three stamp was inked direct to stamp with the Close to Cocoa marker, stamped onto Whisper White card and punched out with the Small Tag. The edges were sponged lightly with Creamy Caramel ink and the Tag popped up on a dimensional in the opposite corner to the aperture. A Whisper White insert was added and the December 25 image stamped in Close to Cocoa ink through the aperture and again onto the envelope. Whisper White taffeta ribbon was coloured with a Creamy Caramel marker, tied into a bow and added to the card front with a glue dot.

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Ballet Blue

Punch: Large Star

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow

Punch: 1-1/4" Circle

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Recipe

Stamp set: Spotlight on Christmas, Punches Three

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Whisper White

Ink: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral

Punch: 5-Petal Flower

Taffeta Ribbon: Whisper White

Now I'll pass you on to next step of the blog hop which is the super talented Kim. She's got some gorgeous birds on a branch to show you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Sara xx

Melon Mambo and black easel birthday card

Well I promised Melon Mambo and here it is. This is a card I made for Karin who runs the In Love With Stamping forum. It was her birthday on Wednesday so I think I'm safe to post this now.

I think all the Bold Brights work brilliantly teamed with Basic Black and although there won't be a Bold Brights category in the future I still think of this Melon Mambo as Bold and Bright and figured it would also work well with black. I opted for an easel card as that design always delivers a wow factor. Here it is closed:

Recipe

Stamp sets: True Friend, Sincere Salutations, Curvy Verses (inside)

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black

Ink: Melon Mambo, Versamark

DSP: Night & Day

Punches: Two-step bird, Boho Blossoms

Polka Dot Ribbon: Melon Mambo

Other: Black Brad (Vintage), Black EP

Non-SU: Die cuts

I made my own Melon Mambo background paper by brayering a sheet of black and white Night & Day DSP with Melon Mambo ink. The flower was stamped with Versamark onto Melon Mambo card and heat embossed with black EP before cutting out and matting onto a black circle die cut. The sentiment on the front is similarly stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black EP. The flower and leaves next to the sentiment were punched out, fastened with a brad and popped up on a dimensional. I used the polka dot ribbon to create a stopper bar for the easel card to prop up against.

And here's the side view showing the easel arrangement better:

I used another die cut on the inside stamped with a Curvy Verse:

If you'd like to order your own Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry or Melon Mambo card, ink or ribbons then please email me.

Hope you have a great weekend.

Sara xx

March sketch challenge at In Love With Stamping

Our March sketch challenge at In Love With Stamping is this:

The little green frond represents embellishments of your choice. I decided to try out the little felt flowers from my Flower Fusion kit.

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie (plain and textured), Rose Red, Whisper White

DSP: Rose Red Patterns

Ink: SU Markers (Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Old Olive)

Other: Flower Fusion, Brads (Earth Elements), Mat Pack, Paper Piercer

Non-SU: Die cuts

I used marker pens direct to stamp to colour the leaves Old Olive and the flower Pumpkin Pie, Using a sponge dauber I then dabbed Rose Red around the outside of the flower before huffing and stamping. I used the small spots edging the flowers and leaves as a template for paper piercing. The flower was die cut with an oval and then matted onto a scallop oval, die cut from textured card. This was raised on dimensionals onto the mats of card and DSP. The felt flowers were used to finish the card.

Thanks to the gorgeous and talented Craftmaiden for passing along this award:

As I'd already played along with this here I won't play again but thanks Siobhan, for thinking of me.

Have a great weekend all.

Sara xx

Limited supply challenge for the ILWS Cup Challenge

Well I should have kept my big mouth shut - we did get too much snow. Had about 8" of snow so far, it's still falling and we've been warned that there's a heavy fall on the way :-(

By early afternoon it was getting a bit difficult to walk the dog:

DH has since cleared a little path for her but it's getting covered over again pretty quick.

Anyway, onto the crafting - the second challenge for the In Love With Stamping Cup Challenge was a limited supply one.

We were allowed whatever ink, card and paper we wanted but only one stamp set and no embellishments. Punches and piercing tools were allowed but no brads, buttons, flowers or ribbon ... you get the idea.

I turned to my trusted True Friend:

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace, So Saffron, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark, Certainly Celery, Lavender Lace, So Saffron

Punches: Eyelet Border, 1-3/4" Circle, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle

Other: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool

I punched the edge of the card with the eyelet border and added a strip of Lavender Lace to the inside back of the card for contrast. Using Versamark I stamped off around the three plain edges of the card with the frond stamp from the set. Colouring the markers direct to stamp I stamped the main flower and the little circle flower.

Next challenge tomorrow.

Stay safe and warm wherever you are.

Sara xx

A post it note holder in girlie pink

I may have admitted already (several months ago) that I had a Bind-it-all machine that I'd never used. Well - ta-da! I've finally got around to trying it (just as well it works, don't think I could return it after all this time). This little post-it note holder design came from Angie over at Chic' n scratch. 

 

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White

DSP: Tea & Crumpets

Ink: Regal Rose

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

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Pretty in Pink

Other: Crafter's toolkit

Non-SU: BIA machine and wire, Post-its, chipboard

I used chipboard instead of coasters and cut it a little larger than the post-it notes. Everything else is as Angie's instructions.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sara xx

Stamp With Us Thank you card using True Friend stamp set

As a new member of the Stamp With Us Design Team, today's card is to meet the theme challenge of Thanks. As a personal challenge I also set myself the task of sticking with a single stamp set to create it.

Recipe

Stamp Set: True Friend stamp

Cardstock: Pale Plum, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Paper: Vellum

Ink: Perfect Plum, Garden Green, Versamark, Markers

Ribbon: Elegant Eggplant narrow grosgrain

Other: Clear embossing powder

Punches: Corner Rounder

The Certainly Celery background is stamped with Versamark for a watermark effect. The flowers were inked with Versamark first and then with Perfect Plum before stamping onto Pale Plum card. Clear embossing powder applied over the top of these layers and heated, gave a glossy effect that you can't really see from the photos. I used the stamp-a-ma-jig to place the stems and the leaves where I needed them and so that they weren't overlapping too much. Colouring the markers directly onto the stamp, in Certainly Celery and Garden Green, gave a variegated effect to the leaves.

When she's been able to get a word in edgeways between the chatter of the SWU on-line class chat, Monica's been advising us of ways to use the SU vellum card. Well I don't have any vellum card at the moment (on my order list for next time now) but I used vellum paper to create an envelope for the Thank You mini notelet to sit it. I wrapped the vellum around the note to get the size and shaped the closure using the corner rounder punch (best to do this before sticking the envelope together as I figured out doing it the wrong way). You can write a message inside the card and perhaps add a little, more personal message inside the notelet.

Looking forward to seeing your versions of the challenge posted over at Stamp With Us. Hope you get chance to play along this week.

Sara xx

Saying thanks with a Spring zigzag card

Today's card is for the Stamp With Us challenge. This week it's a recipe challenge. We are to use:

2 x patterned paper

1 x ribbon

4 x brads

Here's my card, I chose a zigzag card to show off the papers fully (please stop by at the end of the week for info about offers on the DSPs). And paired the new papers with an old friend of a stamp set.

Recipe

Stamp set: True Friend

Cardstock: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Stampin' Write Markers, Versamark

Narrow grosgrain ribbon: Certainly Celery

Brads: Soft Subtles

Punches: Boho Blossoms

Other: White embossing powder

This week is the last week of the SWU DT Call. The new DT member will be announced on Thursday. I'm still hanging in there hoping for a spot but there's some fantastic competition so I'm not very confident.

Keep stampin'

Sara

A card in spring colours to welcome my downline

I mentioned the other day that Julie is the first Stampette to join my little team. Before dashing down to London for a few days, for the work that is my day job, I made a card to welcome Julie (I also posted her a birthday card, but that was from my dwindling stock of cards that I've already blogged). I chose Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue and Lovely Lilac for all the elements, as I think they make such a cheerful spring colour combo.

I started with Lovely Lilac card as my base and matted Certainly Celery card and Bashful Blue, Patterns Designer Series Paper onto it. Using markers I stamped the leafy flower from the True Friend stamp set onto Whisper White card. I added a medium, blue rhinestone brad from the Circle Ice collection to the centre of the flower and matted onto Lovely Lilac card. Using Certainly Celery narrow grosgrain ribbon, I tied a small bow and stuck it below the main image using a glue dot. Finally I stamped the trio of flowers from the One of a Kind stamp set three times, using Lovely Lilac ink on Lovely Lilac card. I used the Boho Blossoms punch to punch them out. I added Certainly Celery brads from the Soft Subtles collection to the centre of each of the largest flowers and attached them to the card with dimensionals (saving the other flowers for a future project - waste not, want not).

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend.

Sara xx

A couple of ATCs in red and black

I'm a little late posting tonight because I've just got a new computer and so I've been copying files across from the old to the new. I tend to get a little paranoid over backups these days as I've lost files in the past - better safe than sorry now.

These are a couple of ATCs that I made for a swap a short while ago. The red one is Ruby Red card as the base. Using the dinky heart from the Cause for Celebration set (level 2 hostess gift), I stamped with Pretty in Pink ink onto Whisper White card. This was tied with Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon and topped with a Ruby Red heart stamped with the Polka Dot Punches heart and embossed with white embossing powder.

The black ATC was Basic Black card. Using the flower trio from the True Friend set I stamped with Basic Black ink onto Whisper White card. I sponged the edges to reduce the contrast a little. I also stamped the True Friend sentiment and matted that over the flower trio. To fill the final bit of (too white) space, I used the solo flower from the One of a Kind set.

All corners were punched with the corner rounder punch.

Keep stampin'

Sara xx

What is your favourite colour combination?

Yes - it's another pink birthday card today, a combination of Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose and Rose Red. Pink's a favourite with me so I'm afraid that you'll just have to get used to it and if you don't like it then at least it's easy enough to substitute your own favourite colour combination.

What is your favourite colour combination? Please leave me a comment to let me know and over the coming weeks I'll incorporate your suggestions into my cardmaking.

Anyhow - onto the recipe. I started with Rose Red as my card blank and stamped the flower trio from the True Friend stamp set in Rose Red ink along the edges of the card as shown. Using markers direct to the stamp I inked up the stemmed flower from the same set and stamped onto Whisper White card. This was matted onto Regal Rose and the edges of the mat were swiped with Rose Red ink. The matted flower was stuck to the card with dimensionals. I next punched an aperture in the bottom right hand corner of the card using my 1-1/4" circle punch. Using the scallop circle punch I punched a flower of Regal Rose card and created the same aperture in the same way in the centre. I paper pierced the flower with my Crafters Toolkit and stuck it to the aperture on the card. Inside I added an insert of Pretty in Pink (light enough to write on easily) with the corners rounded with the corner rounder punch. Finally I stamped the Birthday Wishes sentiment from the Circle of Friendship stamp set in Rose Red ink onto Whisper White card, punched it out with the 1" circle punch and stuck it with a dimensional through the aperture onto the inside of the card.

Looking forward to hearing your favourite colour combos.

Sara xx

Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home

This card is one that I made for a sketch challenge over on Splitcoaststampers here. I'm not quite happy with it as the balance seems off somehow but sometimes you just have to have a go and see what you end up with.

One part of the challenge was the little "spot" near the bottom of the card. This could be filled or left empty (but that's chickening out right?). Now I virtually always use some sort of flower for filling such a spot so I wanted to challenge myself to do something different and felt that the ladybird from the Garden Whimsy stamp set was about the right size for this. I coloured direct to stamp with markers and stamped on Whisper White card. The base card was Certainly Celery and I layered and matted this with Old Olive Card and Patterns Designer Series Papers. The large flower from True Friend was stamped in both Only Orange and Summer Sun inks onto Whisper White card. The orange flower was corner punched and matted onto Only Orange Card, also corner punched. The yellow flower was trimmed to the centre and raised on a dimensional on top of the orange. The ladybird was also added on a dimensional.

Keep Stampin'

Sara xx

A flowery thank you card to fulfil a colour challenge

I'm home working again due to the snow and so I've been able to use my lunch hour to play at Kristina Werner's Colour Challenge - well at least some good has come of the bad weather, heehee. Kristina's colours this week are these.I decided to start with the More Mustard as my base cardstock. Using the 5 petal flower stamp from the Polka Dot Punches stamp set (click here to found out how to get it for free) I stamped in Old Olive ink onto Old Olive card 5 times. I stamped 3 times in Taken with Teal ink onto Whisper White card and twice with Versamark and white embossing powder onto Taken with Teal card. All flowers and leaves were punched out with the 5 petal punch. The flowers were attached to the leaves with a More Mustard brad through the centre. 

Using the Thank U sentiment from the True Friend stamp set I stamped once onto Taken with Teal card with Versamark and white embossing powder and once with More Mustard ink onto So Saffron card, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to centre the image. The corners and the area under the Thank U were paper pierced and the So Saffron card was matted onto the card blank. The white flowers were stuck flat to the card and the teal flowers were raised on dimensionals . I cut the U from the teal card and attached half a dimensional to each stem before positioning it over the mustard Thank U. 

Well we had another 3-4" of snow this morning and here's the view out of the back window. Pretty ain't it? This is about as tidy as my garden is going to look all year *grinning*.

Keep warm and safe.

Sara xx

A pink gift bag to match the 60th birthday card

Today I thought I'd show you the gift bag that I made to go with the 60th birthday card. I love to make cards and gift bags or boxes that match and as Stampin' Up! groups its products by colour families that's just so easy to do. 

I used the box in a bag template again from over on Splitcoaststampers. Click here to see their tutorial.

I used the Rose Red cardstock for the box, the trim and the handles. The main paper is the same one from the Sweet Always collection that I used for matting and paper ribboning on the card. The White Signo gel pen provided the faux stitching on the trim and handles.

I punched three of the largest Boho Blossoms from Rose Red card and three of the smallest from Regal Rose.  The Ruby Red brads from the Earth Elements collection were used on the centre of each 

flower and they were attached to the bag with dimensionals. The tag was stamped with the flower from True Friend in the same way as for the front of the card and I hand trimmed it to a tag shape and coloured all the edges lightly with Rose Red ink. I filled the bag with choccies (not SU! - wish they did make 'em) and tied it shut with Whisper White ribbon. 

Here's a pic of the full set including the envelope that I also stamped in Regal Rose ink using the round flower from the True Friend stamp set. You see how well the colours fit together?

By the way we still have plenty of snow around here. If it's still the same tomorrow I'll show you the pretty view out of the back window...

Keep warm.

Sara xx

Its snow joke and a 60th birthday card

Hope you're keeping warm and cosy today and staying safe from the bad weather. I'm working from home as we're snowed in here and so I thought I'd take a little break for lunch and update you all.

Here's how things looked this morning out

 of my window when it first got light. It's snowed a fair bit more since then and it's still coming. And we've got it easy. Friends around the country are reporting 10" of snow! I just hope that the forecasters have got it wrong that tomorrow will be even worse.

On the other hand at least it's waited until today to really get bad. Yesterday we went to an aunt's 60th birthday party and apart from making the return trip a little hairy it didn't spoil the fun.

Here's the card I made for her. I used Rose Red 

cardstock for the base. I made a narrow paper ribbon with Sweet Always Designer Series Paper and added Ruby Red brads from the Earth Elements collection. These were just pushed through the paper and not the card, so that they didn't spoil the look of the card inside. I stamped Happy Birthday from the Occasional Greetings stamp set onto Regal Rose card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The leafy flower from the True Friend stamp set was inked first with Versamark then Regal Rose and stamped onto Whisper White card. This allowed me to add clear embossing powder and heat to give a glossy finished image. A large pink Circle Fire rhinestone brad was added to the centre of the flower before it was matted onto more Sweet Always paper. I hand trimmed a tag from Regal Rose card and used my white Signo gel pen to apply faux stitching around the edge. The numbers were die cut from Rose Red card and the tag was finished with more paper ribbon and a brad to match those along the bottom.

For the inside of the card I stamped the Loads of Love sentiment from the Loads of Love stamp set with Rose Red ink onto Whisper White card. I added another paper ribbon and brad before sticking the insert to the inside of the card.

Keep safe and warm.

Sara xx

Birthday card for a true friend

Yes! - for my last post of the year I've managed to actually use some of my more precious goodies, rather than just buying them and admiring them from time to time, lol. That's gonna have to be a resolution for the new year - to actually use my stash. My friends and family are worth it, after all (good reason) - and if I use it then I'll have to buy more (even better reason)!

So now to the recipe - for this card I started with Rose Red cardstock as the base. I used the small circle flower from the True Friend stamp set and stamped this onto Whisper White card in Regal Rose, Rose Red and Bravo Burgundy inks and punched with the 1-1/4" circle punch. These were layered onto matching flowers punched using the scallop circle punch and the centre of each flower is a medium Rhinestone brad. To keep with 3 separate colours I used pink and red brads from the Circle Fire set and a clear from the Pretties Kit.

To get the blend of colours on the True Friend sentiment I used the same inks again as for the flowers, building up from the lightest to the darkest. The inkspots make it easier to do this sort of detailed inking. This was layered onto Regal Rose and Bravo Burgundy card, all of which were punched with the corner rounder. The background paper strip is from the Spiced Cider designer series paper which matches the True Friend stamp set.

A very happy and healthy new year to you all. Here's to a Super Stampin' 2009!

Sara xx

Window variation

On Sunday I posted instructions to make a snowflake window card. You can follow along here.

This card design isn't just for christmas though. It works great for birthdays, thank yous ... basically any occasion, just by substituting different stamp sets.

For this card, instead of the snowflake, I used the circle flower from True Friend in the windows. The christmas tree was replaced with the leafy flower from the same stamp set. Finally the Holiday Hello was substituted with Birthday Wishes from the Circle of Friendship set.

I've used Regal Rose and Always Artichoke textured cardstock (this gives a real luxury feel to the card) . Inks are the same colours and also Rose Red.

Thanks for looking.

Sara xx