Happy Valentine's Day...

 

How cute is this little hedgehog....you guessed it, another Penny Black stamp this time destined for DH on Monday14th Feb, along with a couple of 'win for life' scratches....oh how magic that would be....and of course a red chocolate heart, plus one for me!

You wouldn't believe me probably if I said this card took me a whole Saturday afternoon to create - yes that's right.  I started with a blank mind and went from there, trying this and that, choosing this stamp or that one, and finally here is the end result, which I just love.....this cuddly little morsel would make anyone feel warm and fuzzy.

The base card measures 11cm x 11cm a little larger than a mini but just as cute. The two top cutouts were zipped through the Bigshot using the 'Labels Three' spellbinder nestabilities die.  These have been raised using the foam dimensions to give a 3D effect as has the sentiment cutout too.

Materials used are:

Cardstock:  Real Red which has been embossed with the Swiss Dots EF.

Paper:  Bella Rose DSP and watercolour paper for stamped image.

Stamps:  Penny Black clear stamp - 'Wonderful' series of 10 stamps and Whimsical Words

Bigshot:  Labels Three Spellbinder Nestabilities die - two different sizes used

Punch:  Extra large curly label punch.

Ink:  VersaCraft White, Staz On Black, SU watercolouring pencils used with the aqua painter.

Accessories:  black self adhesive half pearls.

Hope you like it....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

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

Thinking of You...

This card is a smaller version of one previously created as a sympathy card...I love the colour combo.  The card was enclosed with a gift for a relative living in the UK so no envelope needed.  The trim inside the card helped to add balance to the colours I think.  There are two butterflies one BB and the other LL cardstock.  They are joined with mini glue dots.  I snipped the tail off the underneath butterfly on this one as it seemed to be in the way.

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

RECIPE:

Stamps:  Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Barely Banana and Lavender Lace c/s
Ink:  Lavender Lace
Accessories:  Pearls and ribbon
Tools:  bigshot, Victoria embossing folder, bosskut butterfly, eyelet border punch
Card Size:  approx 12 x 14 cm

Welcome Millie - Embossed Baby Card

On 6 February 2010 our first grand-daughter Millie was born; oh how she just melts our hearts; isn't being a grandparent just the best thing!  This card was made to celebrate her welcoming into the world along with a cross-stitch for her wall, called Reading Bear by designer Maureen Christie. I think I've set a precedence now! Here's the link to the cross-stitch if you're interested http://www.vicstitch.com.au/p/367302/reading-bear---a-dmc-hobby-bears-cross-stitch-kit-from-maureen-christie.html

The bigshot played a big part in the creation of this card. When I saw cards in the US created using this machine I knew I just had to have one because I could see how it would allow me to move forward with my card making. I've never regretted it and can thoroughly recommend it if you're looking to take a step up!

I hope it makes you smile.........have a wonderful day.

Ann

RECIPE:

Stamps:  No stamping with this one.  The text was printed in brown using the computer and then a label was made by hand.
Paper:  SU Pretty in Pink, SU Whisper White cardstock
Ink:  SU Basic Brown
Accessories: poka dot ribbon, clear rhinestones and mini dimensions on label
Tools:  Bigshot - Cuttlebug embossing folders Baby and Swiss Dots, Bosskut butterfly die cut, Eyelet Border punch
Card size:  approx 22 x 11 cm

With Heartfelt Sympathy

The stylish embossing and cutting machine called the Bigshot brings any card to life by adding texture and style with ease.  Simple embossing on the top half of this card and then the addition of the boskut butterfly (2), which is embossed by running through the swiss dots folder.  You just need to add a few pearls or rhinestones on the centre of the butterfly, ribbon and stamp and that's it!

Hope you like it.

Keep smiling.....Ann

RECIPE:

Stamps: Close as a Memory
Paper: Barley Banana, Lavender Lace
Ink: Lavendar Lace
Accessories:  Pearls, 1/4" Elegant Eggplant ribbon
Tools: embossing folders - Swiss dots, Victoria and bosskut butterfly, mini glue dots to hold the two butterflies together
Card Size: 

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

Wedding Card

A wedding card for my nephew and his new bride Kelly.  A bit of an experiment.....using the A Happy Heart set.  The text was printed on the computer and trimmed to fit the panel.

Hope you like it.

Keep smiling.....Ann


RECIPE:
Stamps:  SU 'A Happy Heart'
Paper:  Bella Rose DSP, SU Rose Red c/s, at home - apple green textured c/s
Ink:  SU Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories:  SU Certainly Celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, brads
Tools: SU Scallop edge punch, Friskars - hand embossing
Card Size: This was made to fit into a large 'recylcle' envelope.  From memory it was approx:  22 x 16 cm.  I would probably make it a little smaller next time.