Best Thoughts is the Best!

Hello, another beautiful sunny spring day today! I have a pretty floral card using one of my favourite stamp sets from the 2015-16 Annual Stampin' Up! Catalogue. It is one of the host/hostess or great rewards sets you can earn with a qualifying order. It's called {Best Thoughts}. I absolutely love it, it was on my very first order of products I got for myself. It definitely got a lot of miles put on it!! 

I used 3 out of 4 stamps from this set, I'm a sucker for flowers being a gardener and all. This rhododendron flower is simply stunning. The sentiments in this set are also appropriate for many different occasions from birthdays to get well. 

I used a "mask" when overlapping my image so it appears as though they are layered. 

How do you do that? It's really easy. 

1. You just stamp the image you want to mask and fussy cut it out. 

2. Then stamp your first image onto your project. 

3. Add your mask over top what you just stamped, I use a temporary adhesive so it doesn't move.  

4. Then stamp your second and remove the mask. 

Because of the size of the floral image, I only stamped two flowers but if you turned the card the opposite direction you could get more.  I decided that these gorgeous flowers would look lovely with some watercolouring, but with a slightly different take on it. I added some pool party classic ink first over the entirety of both flowers. Then I took a Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker and added an outline where there would naturally be darker spots on the flowers and blended the marker lines with an aqua painter. You can keep adding more ink until you get the desired effect you're looking for. A slightly different way to do it, and it was surprisingly easy and gave some depth without having to work too hard on it. I added a bit of daffodil delight & pear pizzazz for the flower stamens and stems.  I stamped two butterflies, one directly onto the card front and the second I fussy cut out so I could make it look like it was fluttering over the flowers to get some pollen. I did add a bit of {Clear Wink of Stella} to make some glittery clouds. I hope you like my card, have a beautiful day! 

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps: Best Thoughts (host set)

Papers: Bermuda Bay, Basic Black & Pool Party Card stock; Water colour paper

Inks: Archival Black; Pool Party Classic; Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze & Tangelo Twist Stampin' Write Markers; Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush

Accessories: Paper Snips, Stampin' Trimmer, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, 

Sending Good "In Colour" Thoughts Your Way!

Hello, I've got another card made using some of my favourite retiring products. I must say the products that I will miss the most are the fabulous '2014-2016 In colour' collection. These are without a doubt my favourite set of In-colours ever! I use them on almost all of my projects, together or in combination with other colours. 

I used the stamp set {Perfect Pennants} to stamp my card with. This set does coordinate with the Banners Framelits Dies, but they are sticking around in the new catalogue. I stamped multiple times to cover the entire card layer with Archival Black Ink offsetting them slightly so they aren't in a straight row. I used the heart image from the set to stamp some colour to the card. With card stock layers of Hello Honey and Basic Black it is definitely a bold look, don't you think?! I just had to add some Baker's Twine, I used the two-toned twine from the Occasions catalogue - only I unraveled it to only use the black, saving the other colour for another project - you've gotta love products that can get stretched further! I added a few punched out hearts with using the {Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack}. I hope you like it, have a great day! 

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps: Perfect Pennants 

Papers: Tangelo Twist, Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Basic Black & Whisper White card stock

Inks: Archival Black; Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Tangelo Twist

Accessories: Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Trimmer, Two-toned Baker's Twine

Blended Bloom Birthday

Hello again! When the retirement list was announced I decided that I would pull out some of my favourite stamp sets and play. One stamp that I have gotten a lot of use out of is {Blended Bloom}, a pretty single stamp. 

I decided I wanted a tone-on-tone look, and since the black stampin' emboss powder is also on the retirement list I wanted to use it. I never get tired of the look that embossing adds to a card, so sophisticated and pretty. You're probably wondering how I got the golden shine to the flower, I used {Gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush}. It's super easy to use and it adds a nice effect when applied onto the black card stock.

 The sentiment is from one of the host only stamp sets in the Annual book called {Happy Birthday, Everyone), so it will be retiring in June also. I love the look of this stamp with the pretty scripted "happy" and the bold block letters for "birthday". I stamped and embossed on vellum card stock and adhered to a piece of Gold Foil card stock. That wasn't enough, I added a bit of gold metallic thread and some punched out blossoms using the {Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack}, which is also retiring. I'm so sad that they fab products are leaving, but the new catalogue is full of amazing new products also! I hope you like my card, have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps: Happy Birthday, Everyone; Blended Bloom

Papers: Basic Black & Lost Lagoon Card Stock, Vellum Card stock, Gold foil

Inks: Versamark & Black Stampin' Emboss Powder; Gold Wink of Stella Glitter Brush

Accessories: Heat Tool, Gold Metallic Thread, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Stampin' Trimmer

Botanical Gardens: Layout to Card!

Hello, what a beautiful sunny day!!! The garden is calling out to me. I shared a page layout on Monday featuring the {Botanical Gardens} products. I decided to make a matching card. This is something I had yet to try, and I must say it was really fun to try to "shrink" the layout, which is 12x12" to a card. But I did it. 

In the layout, I used four panels for the photos to go on. I decided to go with one panel, as to not overwhelm the card being much smaller than the 12" page. I used the exact same piece of designer series paper, the same stamps, and accessories but just less of them. 

I am really happy with how both the layout and card turned out and will definitely be trying this matching page + card designs in the future. 

You can see the comparison below first the layout page and the card. I'd love to hear what you think! I hope you like it, have a super day! 

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

A Botanical Gardens Page Layout

Hello, so today was the day... the Stampin' Up! Retirement list was posted. I have mixed feelings about it, since some of my favourite products are on it. The hexagon, 1" square and word window punches, honeycomb & chevron textured impressions embossing folder just to name a few that I will personally miss the most. But, I will say that the NEW catalogue is AWESOME!! So many fabulous products that I can't wait to order next month and play with. For today, I have a scrapbook page layout to share. It's featuring the {Botanical Gardens} stamps & {Botanical Builder Framelits Dies}.

I am totally smitten with this stunning bundle of products. The paper, the stamps, and the framelits... all so awesome. The sentiment that I chose is from {Watercolour Wings}, I thought it was appropriate for this layout because I plan on putting some photos of my mom, sister and myself in it. 

The stamp set makes adding the details to the leaves and foliage super easy. For the flowers, I added a bit of ink to the center with a sponge dauber and some lines with a Hello Honey Stampin' Write Marker. 

I added a bit more stamping around the perimeter of the page with various shades of green. I used Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Always Artichoke & Pear Pizzazz. I made each of the flowers slightly different to add more interest. The framelits are so fun to play and experiment with. 

I am happy to say that this stamp set and framelits are being carried forward into the upcoming annual catalogue - yay! You can click on this link to view the Retirement List 2016.

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Botanical Gardens: The "Butterfly" writings on the card!

Hello... I have a fun card to share featuring the {Botanical Builder Framelits Dies}. I absolutely love the edgelit die that is included with the framelits, it adds such a fun element to the card. 

I started by die cutting the bottom of the card, I angled it slightly. I really wanted to use the {Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper}, since I tend to hoard my DSP - I took the plunge and used a bunch of it recently. I chose a print that wasn't too bold because I wanted the edgelit to be shown and a large print might not have done the trick as well. 

I used the colours that were in the particular piece of paper I chose, Pool Party, Hello Honey and Cajun Craze. I wanted to add a fun element with a butterfly, but I wanted it to look like the butterfly wrote out the word "hello" when fluttering by. Neat, eh?!

I added a {Window Sheet} along the edge of the card, otherwise it would be too short on the front and might look a bit silly standing on a slant. This way you can get a sneak of the pretty paper inside. 

I didn't realize until I had my design all finished that the only stamping was the sentiment on the inside. I used the fabulous {Suite Sayings} stamp set. I thought this saying went nicely with the "hello" die cut from the (Greetings Thinlits Dies}. I hope you like it, enjoy the sunshine!  

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

LOVE YOU: Bloomin' Heart Z-Fold

Hello... I hope you all had a great weekend! We got a bunch of snow dumped on us, but luckily it's been raining and it's pretty much gone now. I sure do hope that's it with old man winter, I need spring. Any hoo, I have a pretty and very feminine card to share today. I was organizing my craft room again, and I decided to pull out some stuff I haven't shown much love to lately. I used the {Bloomin' Love} stamp set and {Bloomin' Heart Thinlits Dies} to create my ultra-girly, not like me at all card! 

I used Rose Red and Whisper White card stock and Silver Foil card stock to die cut the heart. This heart is super intricate, so I use the {Precision Base Plate}, to go with my magnetic platform and the {Big Shot Die Brush} is also helpful to get all those little bits and pieces out. 

This card is a Z-FOLD card, meaning it looks like a zee/zed. I wanted the die cut heart to really pop off the card, and it literally does! I was thinking about Mother's Day when I came up with this card, it's pretty fitting for that occasion which is coming up quickly. I stamped a bunch of the flowers, die cut them out and added them to the thinlit cut out heart. I decided to leave the sentiment simple, just LOVE YOU repeated x3 so you could use it for something other than Mother's Day if you wanted. I hope you like it, enjoy the rest of your day! 

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Guy Greetings, You're my Anchor

Hello, I'm on this masculine themed card kick lately. I am really liking the neutral colour palette, and the {Going Places Designer Series Paper} is perfect for that. I just can't say enough good things about this paper stack, love the neutrals and the subtle colours mixed into others. I made another card that I shared last week also using the {Guy Greetings} stamp set, you can view it HERE. 

I decided to add some twine, well I used the {Very Vanilla Thick Baker's Twine} to be exact! I absolutely love the thick twines. I tied a knot on each end and frayed the tail, it sort of fits with the anchor (nautical) theme. I hope you like my card and have a great day.

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps: Guy Greetings

Papers: Going Places Designer Series Paper Stack; Very Vanilla & Basic Black card stock

Inks: Black Archival; Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker

Accessories: 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 2" Circle Punch, Very Vanilla Thick Baker's Twine, Stampin' Trimmer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips

Grateful Bunch: You are loved A LOT

Well, we thought we were done with winter... but, it's not done with us. I've got two pretty floral cards to share to help chase the winter blues away... I used wisteria wonder, very vanilla and Bermuda bay for my colours. I started by stamping the stems and leaves, then the blossoms which I punched with the coordinating punch {Blossom Bunch Punch}.

The DSP is from the {Have a Cuppa Designer Series Paper}. So many fabulous papers available in the Occasions catalogue to choose from. All stamps are from the {Grateful Bunch} set. 

For my next card I went with some softer colours than I usually tend to gravitate towards. I used Mint Macaron, Wisteria Wonder and Very Vanilla with a splash of Whisper White. Starting by stamping the 3 flower image and punching it out with the coordinating {Blossom Bunch Punch}. The largest flower that I used, doesn't not fit in the punch but was relatively easy to fussy cut with some {Paper Snips} or fine-tipped scissors. 

I stamped the flower stems to get things started, leaving a diagonal gap so I could add the lacy image to the center on Wisteria Wonder Card stock and matching ink. This set is lovely and has nice details... just look at the butterfly.

I even added a bit of stamping on the inside of the card, I love this stamp set! 

I hope you like them, have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: 

Stamps: Grateful Bunch 

Papers: Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Mint Macaron card stock; A nice Cuppa Designer Series Paper; 

Inks: Mint Macaron, Wisteria Wonder, Bermuda Bay Classic Inks

Accessories: Blossom Bunch Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Stampin' Trimmer, Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Shine On Birthday Bouquet Paper Tole

Hello, I have a pretty piece of framed paper art to share with you today. Looking at the flowers from the {Birthday Bouquet} stamp set make me happy since it has been snowing here ALL day and pretty flowers, even paper one's is always a good thing! My paper crafted creation has lots of layers, lots of fussy cutting and colouring, but I love how it turned out - so the effort was worth it. 

The background is from the {Shine on Specialty Designer Series Paper}. This paper is so stunning, and when the light hits it just right it does just as the name suggests - Shine on! 

And if that wasn't enough shine, I added a die cut oval with the help of a silver foil sheet. I added some embossed dots using the {Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder}.

I was going to colour with just Stampin' Write markers, but then I remembered I had a bunch of eye shadow make up sponges. I used watermelon wonder, calypso coral, mossy meadow & old olive inks for my sponged colouring.

I used the markers to add some more depth and intense colouring to the blooms from the {birthday Bouquet} stamp set. Such a pretty image, and when I first saw it I knew immediately what I wanted to make with it... some paper tole. Albeit, a much more minor piece of paper tole... but I'm pleased with the final project. I was going to add a sentiment, but then opted to leave it just as it is. 

I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Stamps: Birthday Bouquet

Papers: Whisper White card stock; Silver Foil Sheet; Shine on Specialty Designer Series Paper

Inks: Watermelon Wonder, Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow & Old Olive Classic; Tuxedo Black Memento; Hello Honey, Watermelon Wonder, Calypso Coral, Mossy Meadow & Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories: Ovals Collection Framelits Dies, Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Stampin' Trimmer, Stampin' Dimensionals, Paper Snips, Big Shot Die Cutting Machine

Hats off to you... Guy Greetings

Hello, with sale-a-bration now over... I feel like I've been so focused on playing with my "new" toys from the Occasions Catalogue & sale-a-bration brochure, that I have slightly neglected some of my not-so-new... but still very loved favourites from the Annual Catalogue. There are some truly wonderful and timeless stamp sets in the annual book, and the card I made today is featuring one of my favourites called {Guy Greetings}.  

Some of the things that I love the most about this set is the vintage inspired feel, and that it makes creating masculine themed projects super easy too. I've never understood why it's more difficult - but I'm not the first person to say that!? I try to make a couple more masculine or gender neutral cards when I do sit to create. When I "inked up" the stamps, they sure didn't disappoint... and before I knew it I had a card that I was very happy with. I used several of the images, the muscle flexing dude (not sure how else to describe it?), the set of hats, and two sentiments. I love the outlined look that the sentiments have. I started with the hats. Some of the hats were stamped once, and some were stamped off before stamping onto my project to add variation in the gray tones. I used Smoky Slate Classic Ink. 

Since the sentiment was CONGRATULATIONS, HATS OFF TO YOU, I thought it was fitting for this muscle flexing dude to have a bunch of hats around him. I think he was throwing them around, don't you?! I added a vellum star and some silver metallic thread to finish off my card. I hope you like, have a great one!

Thanks for stopping by, happy stamping!

Beckie