Millie's turned ONE!














Our gorgeous Grand-Daughter Millie has just turned ONE....oh how that brings back a flood of memories from our own children - and how quickly those years have gone by; we absolutely love being Grandparents and all that comes with it.

I had so much fun creating this card for Millie.  I wanted it to be pretty as well as a 'party' of colour.

The stamp is one by Penny Black and the range available is just gorgeous - for both little ones as well as grown ups!  I have some that will certainly have you laughing.

I tried my hand at water colouring and had a great time experimenting, sometimes holding my breath for fear of making a mess of it, but I am really happy with the end result.  The main cutout is raised with small foam dimensions to give it a slightly raised effect. You're never to young for diamonds, so to add a little pizazz I added some 'dazzling diamonds' to the edge of the cupcake icing.  Don't forget to click on the image to get a larger view and see the detail if you want.  It certainly helps when casing a card.

Unfortunately at the time of working on the card we were experiencing humid weather which played havoc with my cardstock, making it a little damp and can curl the edges. I ended up putting a book on the card to stop it from curling - that works but it also flattens everything and I'm not sure how to get around this problem.

The SU materials used in this card were:

Stamps:  For a Friend, Penny Black - Cheesecake Party No. 1665K

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla (card base), Lovely Lilac, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise (butterfly) and the stamped image is on watercolour paper.  The DSP is from the Lap of Luxury range.

Bigshot:  Swiss Dots embossing folder, Top Note Die and Beautiful Wings Embosslits

Ribbon:  So Saffron 5/8" wide grosgrain

Punch:  Oval scallop extra large

Have fun and keep smiling....Ann

Happy 21st Birthday to you....

A card destined for my niece who is turning 21 today.  I cased this card from one of my favourite stampers Chat Wszelaki; details are below if you want to case.  This card design is very universal and could be used for many other occasions.  We have had quite a bit of humid weather lately with the storms that have been around and it's made my cardstock go limp. I'm thinking of using a heavier cardstock for my base to give it more strength; I'm finding the SU whisper white seems a little weightless and struggles to handle a lot of layering, especially when the weather is humid.  I've had a heavy book on this card to stop the card from bulging.  Sometimes I print my inside message on a coloured sheet and adhere this to the inside of the card.  I've found not all cardstock absorbs ink the same and there are differences in the quality of image so it's a matter of doing a test job if you want to see how well the heavier cardstocks ink up.

You may or may not of noticed that I've also changed my blog background.  It was time for a face lift big time......I got this one from HOT bliggity Blogs and I found these instructions super easy with installing a new background on your blog

I've also been trying to improve my card photography and found this link on Splitcoasters which you may find helpful for your projects.  Just putting your card on a slight angle I think has made a big difference and allows layers to be seen as in this card photo.  I'm still working on getting the light right.  The instructions also include how to edit in Photoshop which I'm struggling a little bit with, but I'll get there.  Here are the instructions from Amy Sheffer at http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/photography-f217/htdt-7-22-09-photographing-your-papercrafting-projects-t515388.html

Stamps:  Just Believe and Perfect Punches

Paper:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and Chocolate Chip

Ribbon:  5/8" Grosgrain ribbon in Pretty in Pink

Ink:  Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink

Bigshot:  Square Lattice EF and  BeautifulWings Embosslits

Punches:  SU 2 x 1-3/8" oval punch

Accessories:  adhesive pearls, adhesive 'at home stash' numbers/alpha sheet and dimensions for the birthday sentiment.  The birthday image was trimmed around the oval border and then glued to the chocolate chip cardstock and punched out using the oval punch.  Hope you like it....I loved making it.  Thanks for dropping by.....keep smiling....Ann

Thinking of you....

I truly love everything about this card.  It is on its way to my cousin who lives in the UK.  I received her Christmas card the other day, which I always look forward to, as the English cards are so lovely with the winter scenes.  Unfortunately she has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.  I couldn't believe what I was reading when she told us, but I knew I had to make a very special card to send to her, to bring us closer together than the thousands of miles that separate us, and to give her a few minutes reprieve from the worry she must be having when she receives this, along with a special little gift. 

Another cased card from Chat at Me, My stamps and I, and it was exactly what I was looking for.  I replaced the covered button with a brad from the SU antique brads selection.   The DSP across the bottom was from a little pad I have called Queen Bee.  It is 6" x 6" and has a selection of 30 sheets, one of each design.

Thanks for dropping by.  Have a wonderful Christmas, with much laughter and happiness and best wishes for a safe, very healthy and prosperous 2011!

Kind regards, Ann

A gift from me to you....

This is the first card in a bundle of 12, I have made as a Christmas present for my son's partner Amy. Amy commented to me once that she loved the way I made the handmade cards....and I've always thought I would do her a mixed bundle of cards as part of her gift this year. I purchased a little box with a Christmas tree on the front to place them in. As the box was narrower than the standard envelopes I usually use, I had to make the cards slightly smaller to fit inside the box with a smaller standard envelope to go with them.

The first three cards use the SU set called 'Just Believe'. It is a gorgeous set, which has become one of my favourites, and has so many possibilities for its use.  I got the ideas for these cards by purchasing a kit from one of my favourite stampers, namely Chat Wszelaki.  It was the October 2010 Kit Tutorial available on her website.

This one was created quickly with the Elegant Lines embossing folder and the Beautiful Wings embosslits Dies, I just love these and the SU ones gives such a deep and crisp image.  The die comes with 5 differently sized butterflies, 4 embossed and one left plain.  The blue mounting piece behind the 'happy birthday' image is a sizzlit from the 'lots of tags' pack.

These little 3" x 3" cards are from another favourite card maker Stampin-Style with Mike. Here you will find all the info to case them if you wish. I just love mini cards and feel they can give just as much pleasure as a larger card. These mini's also use another little addition to my card resources, namely the 'movers and shapers die cutting system'. I haven't played with it much, except to make these cards, but can see again a lot of possibilities.

 

 

And finally, a little hedgehog from the SU 'Fun and Fast Notes' set.  The 3" x 3" cards are unable to be posted through Australia Post obviously because of their size.  Sometimes I don't put them in an envelope, but just adhere them to the top of the present for added pleasure. 

Thanks for looking.  Keep smiling, Ann

Birthday Blessings

Two postings in the one day, this will be a first...this card is for my mother-in-law for her 80th birthday.  It's another cased card by another favourite blogger No Time To Stamp; thanks Sharon.  She does some amazing cards and and has some great stuff to add to your wish list.  But I think her biggest favourite is her love of beautiful ribbons which are a delight to work with.  The one opposite is 1.25" Ivory pure silk and I used the large bow easy to make it.  If you zoom in you can see it is a double bow.

This was a large card (base 14 x 21 cm) due to the 'birthday blessings' sentiment (9 x8.5 cm) which was stamped in Night of Navy on Very Vanilla c/s.  The DSP is called Blue Awning and Sharon has the matching adhesive flowers which really do the card justice.  The little cut out in the top LH corner was a spellbinders die called Vintage Dies, there are 4 in the set and each are 2" x 2". I have been wanting to have a go at these for a while; they are excellent and to make it even better I purchased some time ago a little machine called a Xyron that turns them into stickers.  It takes cut outs up to 1.5" wide and you simply drop your cut out, right side up, down a little slot, pull on the tape at the other end and it draws your cut out through and places adhesive on the back of it....absolutely brillant for these fiddly little morsels.  I also had a go at using my new scallop trim punch too....just on the corners.  On the inside of the card I placed a strip of the blue poka dot DSP across the bottom, about 3cm in width, and placed in the centre of this a repeat of the spellbinder cut outs.  So yes as you can see I've had a great time in my little space of the house.

Thanks for dropping by, take care and keep smiling.....Ann

Just for you...Just Believe

My goodness it seems that long since I've actually made a card and posted on my blog, that for a minute there I completely forgot the process....has that happened to you??  DH has been away with work and of course I took the opportunity to stay up until midnight most nights catching up on some cleaning, ironing and more importantly creating, reading and learning how to use some new additions to my growing stamping collection.

This gorgeous simple card was made using the SU set called 'Just Believe'.  I absolutely love it!  This little creation was cased from one of my favourite sites Me, My Stamps and I, also found in the blogs I follow; thanks Chat.  It was Chat's October kit which I purchased and reproduced just to get back into the knack of making a card again.  Presently I'm feeling pretty flat, just tired, but so want to create and find casing a card for me, is the best way to go....at least something gets made.

Both these cards are exactly the same.  Both use the Woodland Walk DSP.  Products used were Very Vanilla as the base card, then topped with Kraft and then Very Vanilla embossed using the square lattice folder.  The four squares were Chocolate Chip c/s with the lovely Woodland Walk DSP.  It's topped off with the centre floral stamp and I used flowers from another set which I cut out and topped with an adhesive pearl, but Chat has used the itty bitty punch for her flowers - mine's in the mail!  The centre piece is also raised with a dimension as is the scallop oval on the top centre piece.  The top centre piece is made using the oval and scallop punches with the modern label punch carrying the sentiment.  It all comes together with a little chocolate chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.  Hope you like it.  Take care and keep smiling....Ann

Happy Birthday - Let's rock!

Let the music rock on....a birthday card for a special son who loves his music and does DJ-ing as a sideline.

A very simple design and I would have loved a little more time to play.  The base card was black cardstock highlighted with the music theme DSP purchased locally, some black grosgrain ribbon with the beautiful spellbinder die made from some at home rusty red cardstock, then the cirle and scallop necessability cutouts were added with a dimension and of course a couple of black adhesive pearls to help balance it all out.

I jazzed up the back flap of the envelope with the DSP. Just place a little glue to hold paper on flap and then trim around.  Really makes a difference.  Another idea I've tried is to run the envelope flap through my bigshot placing the flap in an embossing folder, now that really does look nice!

Another alternative design to the above would be to do a card around the 10 or 12 cm square, just play around with sizing to see what suits you.  Place the DSP on two-thirds of the front and place a series of scor lines on the black cardstock at the bottom.  Attach your ribbon and centre pieces.  This way I think the card would be more balanced and it would soften the starkness of the white background of the DSP.  What do you think....would love to hear your ideas?

Thanks for stopping by....take care and keep smiling...regards, Ann

Happy Birthday to you!

 

A birthday card for DH!...Just love this stamp set and especially the little 'love flower' which has become another favourite of mine.  As I was fingering through my cardstock collection my fingers kept backtracking to this beautiful buttery yellow card which has a slightly lined texture to it if you zoom in; I so wanted to use it.  I wasn't out for a lot of colour and wanted to keep the card simple but get the message through.  The staz on black ink was a perfect choice to give the images the crispness to detail they deserved.  A quick snip around and the little cute squares were gently adhered with a SU dimension.  Addition of the sentitment and a few accessories and there you go!

As the card developed and finally came to an end it took me a while to decide whether or not I liked it.  At first I thought it looked a bit drab and lacking life, but the more I looked at it close up, from a distance and overnight, I have decided that I now love it and am very happy with the finished result do you do that? I hope you like the photo it was an experiment to try and make my images more interesting.

RECIPE:
Stamps:  Dreams du Jour set
Paper:  SU basic black, at-home:  buttery yellow and rustic textured cardstock.
Ink: Staz on black - TIP:  adhere a small glue dot to the top of the clear cover (between the staz on lid and clear cover) and the clear cover will pop off with the main lid every time.  Stops inky fingers!
Accessories:  12 mm black grosgrain ribbon
Tools:  Paper piercing tool for corners
Card size:  15 x 10.5 cm     

No stamping...2 step bird punch - blue tones

I thought it would be good to take part in some challenges as a way of having to work with different layouts and see the variations that others create.  Well this is my second attempt at a challenge; namely the MOJO133 challenge. 

I had a great time working with this sketch even though it took me a couple of hours playing around.....but that's just me.  For me it's not just the creating but also the feeling of relaxation and all those feel good endorphins that come with it; my cards certainly come from the heart.

I look forward to taking part in other challenges as time permits and being happily challenged with more sketches and getting out of my comfort zone and trying new techniques. 
Hope you like it.

Until your next peep - keep smiling.....Ann

RECIPE:

Stamps:  Nil

Paper:  Stampin Up Whisper White card base, SU Night of Navy, grey textured c/s, SU Bella Bleu DSP, SU Creamy Caramel C/s.

Ink:  Nil

Accessories:  blue brads, stick on half pearl for bird's eye, rub on 'Make a Wish', dimension to adhere label, Spellbinder oval nestabilities.

Tools: 2-step bird punch, modern label punch, spellbinder oval die and bigshot.

Card size:  11 x 17 cm    

Sending Birthday Wishes your way....

This card was cased from a new blog I was fortunate enough to come across belonging to Chat, from Me, My Stamps and I. Chat creates some absolutely beautiful cards and I always look forward to viewing her blog to see what else has appeared.  I thank her for this one.  You can check out Chat's blog from my blog roll.

This is not the greatest photo, the white background makes the card look insipid....I'm working on increasing my photography skills...any tips would be welcomed....I have Photoshop Elements 3 that came with a scanner as bundled software.  I haven't had a need to learn how to use it, but now there is a definite reason, so I'm challenging myself to improve in that area.  I am waiting on a text - PS Elements 3 in a classroom to arrive....I purchased a used copy for $11AUS with the addition of around $5.50 postage .... fantastic - the supplier was http://www.fishpond.com.au/ and they have both new and used books depending on what you're after .... do you ever think to purchase good quality used books?  If you're a book worm I think they would save you heaps and sometimes come with the added surprise of little notes the previous purchaser has kindly left for you as tips.  Now back to my card....

As you are probably aware by now I love the bosskut butterfly and have used it on many of my cards. This colour combo is a new one for me but one I like.  The floral paper is from a series called Lilac Avenue, a 6" x 6" pad of various patterned and embossed pages.  Available from Sharon Johnson another great US SU card maker from 'No Time to Stamp'.  The pad is a great size for cards as there is very little wastage.  The wider grosgrain ribbon with a lightly tied knot almost resembling a rosebud adds another dimension to the card.  The three window panels are DSP mounted on Chocolate Chip.

Hope you like it.  Keep smiling.....Ann

RECIPE:

Stamps:  Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Whisper White, DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  5/8" so saffron grosgrain ribbon, pearls, butterfly
Tools:  Big Shot machine, swiss dots embossing folder

Sending you a smile...

A card of friendship given to a neighbour who was working through some health issues.  Simple yet stylish.  A thank you to Mary Fish, US Stampin Up demonstrator for her permission to case this card.

The photo doesn't really do this card justice as it was much brighter than the photo shows.  And please just close your eyes to the disorganisation in the background...a typical look when a card is completed.

The card base is Whisper white which is matted with basic black and topped with at-home rusty coloured textured cardstock.  The images from the Mostly Fowers stamp set were inked using Black Staz On Ink and then heat embossed leaving a high shine finish.  I had trouble getting the basic black ink to give a good coverage on these solid stamps, but the Staz On did it with ease!  The images were snipped out and attached with a SU dimension.  The card is finished off with basic black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and the sentiment is a rub on from the at-home stash.
Hope you like it.

Keep smiling......Ann

RECIPE:

Stamps: Mostly flowers
Paper: Whisper White, basic black and at-home rusty coloured textured cardstock
Ink: Staz On black
Accessories:  rub on 'sending you a smile..', 1/4" basic black grosgrain ribbon, SU dimensions
Tools: heat embossing tool
Card Size: 15. x 10.5 cm

Wishing you a happy heart - blue

Tonings of blue along with the whisper white gives a crisp finish to this card.

Simple layering of colours and paper sizing help to draw the eye to the centre focus which is the dandelion and the small hearts floating away.  The white ribbon and rub on help with the finishing touches.

Hope you like it.  Keep smiling.....Ann


RECIPE:
Stamps: A Happy Heart
Paper: Bella Bleu DSP, at-home blue textured cardstock, whisper white cardstock
Ink: Versamark and white embossing powder
Accessories: rub on birthday sentiment, white 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Tools: heat embossing tool, paper piercing tool
Card Size: 15 x 10.5 cm

I love you...with a happy heart

I must thank Mary Fish, US Stampin Up demonstrator for allowing me to case this card.

The dandelion image emits tiny little hearts....so cute....brings back childhood memories of how we used to blow them in the wind!  I inked the main image in Versamark, stamped it on Bravo Burgundy and heat embossed it in white.  It's layered on a piece of at home - Caramel coloured textured cardstock.

Bella Bleu and Bella Rose DSP creates a beautiful background (both patterns).  The top layer is matted on at home - caramel coloured textured card stock.  I popped out the sentiment (also from A Happy Heart using basic black ink on Bravo Burgundy cardstock) with my oval punch.  The individual image was stamped again in Versamark on Bravo Burgundy, heat embossd in White and cropped with a 1/2" circle punch.  Tip:  I next layered the embossed heart on the sentiment with a Stampin' Dimension.

The finished sentiment is adhered to the Bravo Burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon with a small silver heart brad.  The card base is at home - lighter caramel coloured textured cardstock.  The dandelion is topped off with a small rhinestone in the centre.

Hope you like it.
Keep smiling....Ann


RECIPE: 
Stamps: A happy heart
Paper:  Bella Beu and Bella Rose DSP,  at-home caramel coloured textured cardstock, lighter (base card) caramel textured cardstock
Ink:  basic black
Accessories:  stampin dimensions, white embossing powder, stick on rhinestone, silver heart brad, bravo burgundy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Tools:  punches, heat embossing tool
Card Size: 15 x 10.5 cm

Truckin by with a Birthday Hi!

This was a birthday card for my father-in-law whilst in hospital.  I enjoyed working with these colours and as he owned a few old trucks from his rural property I thought he would enjoy this.  We all love pets hence the dogs in the back of the truck!

Hope you like it.

Keep smiling.....Ann


RECIPE: 
Stamps:  Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories and Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Textured Rust coloured c/s from home, Basic Black and Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: SU Write Markers, 1/4 basic black grosgrain ribbon, gold brad
Tools:
Card Size: 15 x 10.5 cm

Let's celebrate!

These were my very first cards......which I cased from Rachel Capps,  an Australian cardmaker, and I thank her for her assistance and permission.

A simple design, but one that I admired for quite some time before attempting and then gifting as birthday cards to special friends. The icing was highlighted with dazzling diamonds to give a bit of pizzazz to the cup cake. 

Hope you like them.

Keep smiling.....Ann

RECIPE:
Stamps: Wonderful words
Paper: SU Lavender Lace, Whisper White and Basic Black
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Ribbons
Tools: Stampin' Write Markers, SU Basic Black Ink, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Card Size:  15 x 10.5cm