Personalised Wedding

Hi guys

A while ago I was approached by my boss as she wanted me to make a personalised card for her son's wedding...yikes, no pressure!!!

All I had were their names and the date, the rest was up to me.  So, I wanted to keep it fairly soft and neutral.  The wedding is today and I know the card has already been given so its now safe to upload!

Here's what I managed to come up with...

 

 

I added an insert and continued the theme inside...

 

 

and I also stamped a matching envelope

 

This card took me quite a while to create as I didn't have a vision when I started.  This was also an A5 card which was a bit scary in itself!  I started by cutting some pearlescent cream paper slightly larger than the white top layer and used a Stampin' Up Edgelit and matching embossing folder to create the ornate edges.  I then held the two layers together with low tack tape while I die cut the ornate square through the two layers.  I then used a matching die, slightly larger, to just cut through the white cardstock, enabling the cream edge to be seen through the aperture.  This was what took the time, working out how I wanted it to look and then lining it all up.  I then used a stripes embossing folder to emboss the top half of the white cardstock.

Next I stamped the tiny roses and leaves to add a touch of colour.  I then tied some cream grosgrain ribbon around the white cardstock before adhering this to the cream layer and then the base card.  Once the aperture was in place I stamped the main sentiment on the base card.  I decided to use Charcoal ink instead of black which gave it a softer feel.

I then printed the names and the date on some thick paper, again using dark grey instead of black.  Unfortunately, I don't have a printer that prints on card so paper had to do but I made sure I placed enough 3D foam underneath to hold it in place on the card.  I die cut these with banners and a heart and stamped the little hearts and rings and added some gems.  I finished off with a cream grosgrain bow.

I wanted to add an insert so I stamped another sentiment from the same stamp set and continued with the rose detail in the bottom corner.  I also stamped the rose on the envelope to bring it all together. 

Phew, this card took me about two hours to create, mainly because I was making it up as I went along, and also because it was A5 and had a lot more elements than I am used to including.  But I was really pleased with it and I've had a text from my boss today to say the happy couple liked it too :)

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Southfield - 300gsm Pure White Glass Smooth; pearlescent paper from stash
• Embossing Folders: ProvoCraft/Cuttlebug - Stripes; Stampin' Up - Adorning Accents
• Dies: Stampin' Up Edgelits - Adorning Accents; Spellbinders Nestabilities - Labels One; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Tag Along and Love Hearts
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Happily Ever After and Many Thanks (small hearts)
• Ink: Versa Color - Charcoal, Bisque, Laurel Leaf and Silver
• Grosgrain ribbon from stash

Apologies, that was a very long post!  If you're still reading thanks so much for visiting, it really is appreciated and I hope to see you very soon. 

Bye for now

Autumnal Just For You

Hi there

I've had a hectic week but have managed to find a little time today to create this next card.

 

 

This was fairly simple to create.  I started by die cutting a circle from the top layer of kraft cardstock.  I then ran this panel through my Big Shot using a woodgrain embossing folder.  I stamped the leaves directly onto the base card covering the area that would appear through the aperture then mounted the upper layer on 3D foam.  I stamped the sentiment on a larger, matching die cut leaf and also popped this up on 3D foam. 

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Autumn Flowers and A Little Sentimental
• Ink: Versa Color - Khaki, Bamboo, Paprika, Bark and Pine Cone
• Dies: Xcut - Nested Circles; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Autumn Flowers
• Embossing Folder: Craft Concepts - Woodgrain
• Cardstock: Papermania - Kraft

 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

 

Less is More - Sketch #10

 

 

Addicted to CAS - # 23 Autumn/Fall

Pile It On - #39 Leaves

2 Sisters Challenge - # 163 Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More - #64 CAS



Thanks so much for visiting, I'll be back with another card shortly :)

Pink Polka Dot 30

Hi there

I'm back again with another card I made for a friend who celebrated her 30th birthday this weekend...

 

 

I inked up an image from a Stampin' Up set I hadn't used before and added the number 30.  This was die cut and popped up on 3D foam on top of a polka dot background which was wrapped in some grosgrain ribbon.  Fairly quick and easy :)

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Happy You (Hostess set), Dovecraft - Roman Alphabet (numbers)
• Ink: Memento - London Fog; Versa Color - Silver
• Coloured with Promarkers
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Reverse Wonky Rectangles
• Patterned Card: Pebbles - Basics Cardmaking Pad 2
• Grosgrain ribbon from stash

 

As always, thanks for visiting and I hope to be back very soon with more to share.  Until then, take care :)

 



Sparkly Fabulous 30

Hi guys

Here is a card I made for my good friend to give to another of our good friends for her recent 30th birthday.  She wanted clean and simple, pink and sparkly and I'm told this fitted the brief perfectly :)

 

 

I decided to use a linen effect card base.  I stamped the 30 in pigment ink and then heat embossed with a pink glittery embossing powder.  I then stamped the sentiment before die cutting with a heart die.  I then die cut an embossed snippet of card using a slightly larger heart die from the same set.  I arranged these on the card, popping one up on 3D foam.  I then stamped the happy birthday sentiment along the curve of the dotted heart.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Dovecraft - Numbers; Clearly Besotted Stamps - You Are and A Little Sentimental
• Ink: Versa Color - Orchid and Sky Grey
• Embossing Powder: Personal Impressions - Mothers Day Pink
• Dies: Xcut - Nested Hearts

I love white on white with just a little colour, it looks so clean and fresh.  May just have to recreate some similar designs again in the future :)

Thanks for visiting and I love hearing your opinions.  I've missed so many challenges lately but hope to get back in a routine soon.  I'll have another card for you very shortly so pop back if you get the chance.

 

Pastel Foliage

Evening crafters

Tonight I'm here to share a card I made for a friend's birthday and which is also another entry for the latest Clearly Besotted Challenge, the brief being to 'Stamp Your Own Background'.

I made this a few days ago but haven't been able to share it in case the recipient saw it, so I'm cutting it a bit fine as the challenge deadline is later tonight.

 

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Leafy Accents, Happily Ever After (flower) and Happy Days
• Ink: Versa Color - Sage and Lilac; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Xcut - Nested Circles
• Pearls from stash

 

I have a couple more cards to share so I will be back shortly :)

 



Masculine Stripes

Hi guys

Firstly, I'd like to say a big thank you and welcome to my new followers.  I think I missed a few recently as my blog doesn't seem to be showing my Bloglovin followers correctly.  So thank you for joining me and I hope my creations don't disappoint :)

I finally found time last night to make a card for the latest Clearly Besotted Challenge and this time the brief is to 'Stamp your own Background'.  Hopefully I'll find time to make one or two more for this challenge before the deadline but for starters I decided to make a masculine card as my stock is severely lacking in cards for men.

Here's what I came up with...

 

This was very simple to make.  I used one of the stripe stamps from the Clearly Besotted 'Basic Stripes' set and repeated the image using varying shades of blue.  As its a clear stamp its very easy to line up below the previously stamped image.  I finished with a sentiment and some gems.  These glazed gems from Papermania are ideal, even for masculine cards, as they have a smooth domed surface as opposed to being faceted, so can be used for either gender without looking too feminine.  I mounted the striped panel onto some dark blue vellum, before adhering to the base card on 3D foam.

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Basic Stripes and Honeycomb (sentiment)
• Ink: Versa Color - Baby Blue, Smoke Blue, Atlantic, Royal Blue, Indigo and Neptune; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Gems - Papermania - Glazed Gems (Iridescent)
• Cardstock and vellum from stash

Thanks for popping by.  I've got a day off today and the plan was to do some cleaning and decluttering and somehow I've ended up on here!  So I'd better get back to it :)

 

Bye for now

 



CAS(E) this Sketch #45 - Happy Anniversary

Hi guys

Today I'm sharing an anniversary card I've made for a friend and I've used this week's gorgeous sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch for my design...

 

 

and here is the fabulous sketch this week...

 

 

 

I thought this would be simple but as the flourishes and hearts are all part of the same stamp inking it up was a bit tricky!  I still had my Glossy Accents to hand after making my last card so I gave the little hearts a bit of shine. 

 

Material used:

• Stamps: Hero Arts - Love Flourish; Clearly Besotted Stamps - Paired Up (sentiment)
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Rose Red
• Ranger - Glossy Accents
• Cardstock from stash

 

Just a quick post tonight as I've got lots to do, including making a few more cards over the next few evenings for orders.

 

As always, thanks for your visit and I'll be back very soon x

 



Less is More Week 137 & Addicted to CAS #22 - Get Well Soon

Hi guys

Today I've got a very quick post to share a very simple card I made for the following challenges:

 

Less is More - One Layer Card: Get Well Soon

Addicted to CAS - Get Well

This has to be the most simple card I've ever created!

I used a stamp by Stampin' Up which includes the image and sentiment in one stamp, inked it up with some markers and then finished with some glossy accents to give the plaster some dimension.  I rounded the corners of the card to match the curve of the image. 

Materials used:

• Stamp: Stampin' Up - Patterned Occasions
• Ink: Whispers Strokes
• Ranger: Glossy Accents
• Corner Punch: Tonic

That's all from me today, off to a friend's tonight for a night out so need to pack a bag and get over there :)

Bye for now

New Home

Hi there

I'm back to share a card I've made for my brother and his girlfriend who get the keys to their new home tomorrow.  I'm hoping he'll be far too busy packing boxes to be looking at my blog but I needed to link it up now to catch a couple of challenges in time! 

I'm really starting to love making CAS cards more and more and my recent purchases of buttons and twine are starting to make a regular appearance on my latest cards too :)

 

 

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Pink Petticoat - name of set unknown (free with publication); Woodware - Home Sweet Home (sentiment)
• Ink: Impress - Jet Black
• Promarkers/Flexmarkers: Satin, Tan, Poppy, Grass and Blue Grey 3
• Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Tag Along; Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Ovals Large and Classic Scalloped Ovals Large
• Button: Stampin' Up - Designer Very Vintage
• Cardstock and twine from stash

 

Hopefully they'll be happy in their new pad, I'll be round there on Saturday being nosey helping them settle in :D

 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

 

Addicted to Stamps and More #62 - Make your Mark

CAS on Sunday #16 - Welcome Home

Cute Card Thursday 286 - Hip to be Square

I Love Promarkers #185 - 3 Different Shapes

 

Muse # 34

I used the new home theme, the tag and twine as my inspiration from this week's muse...

 



 

 

Thanks so much for visiting and I'll be back very soon with more to share.

 

Until then, take care

 

 

Floral Retirement

Hi guys

It's feeling very autumnal all of a sudden, don't you think?  Its dark when I get up in the morning and I'm only finding about an hour of daylight in the evening after work to do some crafting before I have to resort to artificial light :(

That's the problem I had when I created this card last night.  I didn't want to take the photo in artificial light so I took it this morning just before I left for work but it wasn't really bright enough so I had to tweak the brightness and highlights slightly.  I think I'll have to start using my daylight lamp over the next few months as, unless I wait until the weekend to take the photos (which is difficult if I need to send the card or catch a challenge in time!) I won't be home in daylight hours.

Anyway, here's the card I made which is for a colleague who is leaving to retire.

I used a mix of Clearly Besotted stamp sets for this one.  Its a one layer card which involved some masking which I do with post-it notes.  I did make it in a bit of a rush and realised afterwards that I forgot to add the leaves!  But I love the stripes I placed along the bottom, they ground everything really well.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Flower Arrangements, Basic Stripes and Happy Days
• Ink: Versa Color - Grape, Ash Rose, Orchid, Heliotrope, Petal Pink and Green; Versafine - Onyx Black

The Happy Days sentiment stamp set is fantastic, there are three different bold 'Happy' fonts and lots of other occasion sentiments to mix and match.  I'll be using this one A LOT!

I also have another card to share with you tonight so please pop back in a short while :)

Bye!

Pastel Anniversary

Good morning

Today I'm here to share a card I made for my very best friend and her hubby who have just celebrated their 10th Wedding Anniversary.  It was such a wonderful day, I can't believe how much time has passed since I had the honour of being their Chief Bridesmaid.  And its even more amazing to think we met 30 years ago!

Originally I wanted to incorporate the number 10 in the design but I don't have much in the way of numerical stamps in my stash and I didn't want to make the card too cluttered so I decided that clean and simple was best.

I didn't have a design in my head when I started to create this, it just sort of came together as I went along and I'm really pleased with it, it has to be one of my favourites so far :)

 

 

I started by adhering a square white panel to a slightly larger peach coloured cardstock.  I then die cut a heart through the two layers.  Then behind where the negative die cut would be positioned I stamped a cluster of pastel coloured hearts on the base card.  I then adhered the die cut panel to the base card before stamping the sentiment on a fishtail flag and finishing with some buttons and jute twine.

 

I adore this layout so you may be seeing this one a lot more in my future creations :)

 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Many Thanks (hearts) and Paired Up (sentiment)
• Ink: Versa Color - Seashell, Seafoam and Orchid
• Dies: Xcut - Nesting Dies, Hearts; MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flags Stax
• Cardstock: Papermania Premium Textured Cardstock (peach); white card from stash
• Buttons: Stampin' Up - Designer Brights and Subtles Collections
• Jute Twine from stash

 

That's all from me today.  I'm shortly going out to meet a couple of friends for gossip and coffee (and perhaps a naughty brekkie!).  The diet isn't going well this week!!

 

Thanks as always for visiting and for taking the time to comment, it really is appreciated.  Take care and I hope to be back very soon. 

 



Watercolour Roses

Hi guys

Back with a later than usual post tonight but I wanted to take part in this week's challenge at Less is More before the deadline tomorrow night.

But before I go any further I'd like to welcome all my new followers.  It really is appreciated to know that you visit to see my creations and you leave such lovely comments - so thank you so much xx

Back to the challenge and this week the brief is to use a Rubber Stamp with the option of Watercolour.

When I first started cardmaking years ago I purchased some Marvy Le Plume pens and they haven't seen the light of day for ages so I decided to use a couple here.

 



I inked up my stamp with the red and green pens and stamped the image.  I then used a waterbrush to draw in the colours from the linear image.  A little bit of matting and layering with some cardstock offcuts and a little sentiment and that was it, done :)

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Both Way Blossoms; Personal Impressions - Mix and Match
• Ink: Marvy Le Plume II - Persimmon and Emerald; Versa Color - Camelia

I'm loving CAS designs more and more and I really enjoyed making this card.  I get so much inspiration from all the entries at Less is More each week and I'm learning that its ok to stop when you think the card needs something else.  I used to be so guilty of overdoing it!


On a separate note, I want to say a massive THANK YOU for all your lovely comments about my Clearly Besotted September release cards.  Its so great to get such fab feedback and to know that I'm doing ok! :D

Take care and bye for now

Clearly Besotted Stamps - September Release Teaser Time - Day 5

Hi there

Today is the final teaser day for the September release of Clearly Besotted Stamps' new stamps and dies collections.  Don't forget to pop over to Stephanie's blog today, owner of Clearly Besotted Stamps, as she will be revealing the whole release in its full fantastic glory.  The eight new stamp sets and seven new die collections will be available to purchase from the online store from midnight tonight.

Today I am once again showcasing the 'Autumn Flowers' stamps and co-ordinating dies collection, I love it so much I made two more cards :)

 

 

 

I love this pine needle stamp, the detail is fantastic and it stamps beautifully.  I created the background frame by stamping and embossing white on white.  I must have taken about 20 photos to try to capture the effect but hopefully it comes across in the pics.  I then used the same stamp to create the main focal image before cutting and layering on a square frame of dark brown to echo the dark brown die cut pine cones.  A small die cut oval for the sentiment and some grosgrain ribbon completed the card.

 

Materials used:

• Stamps and Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Autumn Flowers; Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Ovals Large
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - Evergreen and Pine Cone
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - White
• Cardstock and ribbon from stash

 

 



 

 

For this second card I used a snippet of dark brown cardstock and embossed using a woodgrain embossing folder.  I then created a stamped background panel which is popped up on 3D foam.  I stamped the sentiment and framed in a simple oval die cut, then finished off with a die cut oak leaf and acorns.   I love the stamped leaf images and how the effect that they are starting to break down looks so realistic.

 

Materials used:

• Stamps and Dies: Clearly Besotted Stamps - Autumn Flowers; Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Ovals Large
• Ink: Versa Color - Khaki, Bamboo, Paprika, Pine Cone and Bark
• Embossing Folder: Craft Concepts - Woodgrain

Thanks so much for visiting today and I hope you've enjoyed my teaser cards.  And judging by Steph's previous releases there will be a high demand for these products so get yourself over to the online store from midnight tonight.  Happy shopping! :)

Take care