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

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

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

Simply.....Thank You

No intro needed; just what it says.....simply thank you!

Hope you like them.

Keep smiling....Ann

RECIPE: 
Stamps:   Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Rusty Red textured c/s from home, SU kraft, whisper white, SU Chocolate Chip, Textured Pink C/s from home.
Ink: Basic Black and Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Basic Black and Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
Tools:
Card Size: 15 x 10.5cm