Curvy Wurvy!

 Hi bloggers!  Today's card was an exercise in "what if."  I just asked myself what if I cut a whole card of these borders, what would it look like?  You know what, I rather like it!  These Curved Borders are rather funky so I think it works since it gives the card an overall funky feel to it as well.  I started with a piece of coconut white card and used two of the decorative inserts from the Curved Border set.  I alternated them starting and ending on the same one and adding the cutting edge in as well on the top and bottom.  I find that it is easy to keep the spacing if you move the bottom die up so it is touching the second die, then tape it into place and move the second die above the taped die (I do hope that makes sense).  By placing the dies so that they touch each time, it gives you an even spaced result.  Next I placed a piece of red card behind this piece for spacing and lined up my edge die on it so it showed out from behind the white cut piece.  I did top and bottom this way so it was also evenly spaced.  I mounted these two pieces together then added foam mounting pieces to raise it for dimension.  I tied a piece of red frilly edged ribbon around the left side of my card piece before attaching it to my double mat of white card.  I tied a double bow and added it with glue dots and finished my bow with a pearl embellishment and pearl stick pins. I stamped my sentiment with a black archival ink pad and cut it out with one of the tags from the Charmed, I'm Sure die set.  I inked it while still in the die with Fired Brick Distress ink and tucked the end under the pearl embellishment on my bow. I only pierced the top and bottom of my back mats but I added three white flat back pearls to the top and bottom area left open by the curve to finish my card.  The beauty of this type of card is that it will work in any colour, for any occasions and it is rather quick to do as well!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

With Gratitude

Hi crafty friends!  Black and white today as you know how much I love it!  I started by embossing my background using the Dotted Flowers embossibility folder.  I decided to cut a bottom piece on the diagonal out of black card.  I used my score board and added embossed lines every 1/8th for texture.  I taped this piece to the bottom of my card.  I like to have these joined pieces covered with some sort of decoration so I picked some melted ribbon flowers and thought they would do the trick nicely!  I made six black on black flowers and added white pearls to the centres.  I tied a messy bow out of back seam binding and added a white on white ribbon flower to the bow with a black pearl centre.  Next I started on the focal element by stamping my Stamp To Die For called Jewelled Frame in black archival ink.  I covered it with a sticky adhesive sheet and die cut it using the largest sizes of the Opulent Ovals to create a frame.  I peeled the backing paper off and covered it with clear micro beads for texture.  I added foam mounting to the back.   I stamped my sentiment on black card and heat embossed it with white power. I covered a piece of white card and cut the smallest sizes of the Opulent Ovals to create a frame.  I peeled the backing paper off and cover it with micro beads also.  I mounted my large oval frame over the smaller frame and sentiment.  I mounted this entire piece in the middle of my embossed background.  I added a large pearl swirl to the bottom of the card and a few flat back pearls to the upper corners.  I pierced the edges of the inner mat to complete the card.  A show stopper in real life and perfect for any occasion.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Sending Smiles Across The Miles

 Hi bloggers!  More of my favourite products again today, Stamps To Die For, Elegant Labels Four, Scalloped borders, pearl embellishments, the list goes on!  I started this card by cutting the Elegant Labels Four out of a piece of Coconut white card.  While it was still in the die, I inked the area around the die with Dusty Concord and Tumbled Glass to match my secondary colour.  I removed the die and then inserted it back into the card and taped it from the back carefully.  I added foam mounting to the back of this piece to raise it for dimension.  Next I stamped lavender card with my Stamp To Die For called Flower Frame in black. I cut it out with the large rectangle die from the Radiant Rectangle set.  I used the oval from that set to emboss the design in the centre of that piece, then I stamped my sentiment in the middle of it.  I mounted this with foam in the middle of the background piece.  I cut the bottom of a larger piece of white card using two inserts and one cutting edge from the Scalloped Borders set.  I matted it with a piece of lavender card behind it and tied some mauve seam binding around it.  I tied a messy bow and added a pearl embellishment and stick pins to it as accents.  I added my focal element to the top of this piece and matted it on a piece of white card slightly larger on the sides.  I used Cosmic Shimmer white PVA glue to add dots down the sides only.  I matted it with a final piece of white card and added flatback pearls to the corners and selected areas within the focal piece to complete the card.    I hope it sends you a smile across the miles!  Finished dimensions are 7" x 7 1/4" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Thanks Ever So Much

Morning all!  Another real quickie of a card today.  It showcases another of the Stamps to Die For line which I really like called Posy Lace.  I stamped it on Blush card with a grey pad.  I didn't want it to be too dark so I decided not to use black this time.  I used coloured pencils to lightly colour the flowers, leaves and swirls.  I used a black pencil and outlined the flowers and leaves so they stood out a bit more.  I cut it out with Labels 30.  I picked a deep peach for my background colour and cut the Grateful Lattice die out of black card to mat against it.  This background die, by the way, is quite easy to cut as compared to the other lattice dies since the design is larger.  I mounted my labels 30 die in the centre on mounting foam.  I stamped a sentiment and cut it out with the small die in the Opulent Oval set.  I used some Tattered Rose distress ink to highlight it while in the die.  I tied some flesh coloured seam binding around the card and added a messy bow.  I used one of the black ribbon roses for the centre of my bow.  Two black pearl stick pins and some black rhinestone swirls added the accents for the card.  I added a matting layer of blush to lift it a bit before my final black mats which I pierced.  Three small pearls finished the sentiment and card for me.  Again, pretty and quick, my favourite kind of card!  Finished dimensions are 6" x 8" in size. 
  Just a quick note to let you know that Julia Watts will be doing the POTD shows starting Tuesday evening.  It is Justrite and Heartfelt Creations.  Be sure to tune in, the times are on Julia's blog (Inkyfingerzone).
All for now, Sue x

Thanks So Much

 Good Sunday morning all!  I started today's card by stamping my sentiment in the lower corner with a black Archival ink pad.  Next I embossed the background with my Tapestry A4 embossing folder for texture.  I matted it with blue card and ran a piece of thin redline tape across the bottom above my sentiment.  I peeled off the liner backing and used white seam binding to ruch across the tape.  I added a messy bow, Dazzler and crystal stick pins to the right side.  Next I began work on my focal element.  I stamped my Stamp to Die For design called Kaleidoscope  using a clear Perfect Medium pad and heat embossed it with Cosmic Shimmer True White embossing powder.  I cut it out with the Decorative Labels 22 die.  I cut an Elegant Labels Four out of Coconut white card.  I cut it in half and taped it to the back so the decorative edge was just peeking out from behind my blue die cut.  Next I cut two of the smaller size of the Stately Circles.  Using a scoring board, I scored across it so there were score lines every 1/4".  I cut to the centre of both of them, then folded them concertina style.  I glued the two pieces together to form my rosette.  I cut the smaller size of the Stately Circles in blue and added an 8mm pearl to the centre.  I mounted it the centre of my rosette to complete my focal element.  I added a double white mat with a pierced inner mat to finish the card.  Finished dimensions are 6 3/4" x 8" in size.

Time for the weekly comment game winners.  We have two sets of winners this week due to an extra qualifying post.  The first winners are:
Crafty Lark!!!
Sandy's Crafty bits!!!
Hazel G!!!

For the extra qualifying post of May 14th, the winners are:
Phi!!!
Nanny Jo!!!
Bosquie!!!

Congratulations all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  Just a little note, I am heading out on a road trip to Miami this morning to pick up some relatives returning from a cruise (no, I'm not jealous at all, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) LOL  I won't be back until Monday evening so I won't be able to answer emails until I return.  I am leaving the blog in Bloggers hands, everything is scheduled.  Just keep your fingers crossed!  All for now, Sue x

Just For You

Hi bloggers!  I love this card, so simple, but you know when you finish a card and just want to look at it?  That is how I felt about this one!  I stamped my Floral Lace Stamp (Stamps To Die For Range) and coloured it with a combination of Distress markers and coloured pencils.  I used the Elegant Labels Four to cut it out so I had that pretty decorative edge around it.  Next I cut the larger die from that set out of our sky blue card.  I applied some foam mounting pieces to the back of it and mounted it in the middle of my double coconut white mat that had been pierced on the inner layer.  I stamped my sentiment using a Black Archival ink pad and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I cut it out with one of the smaller dies from the Opulent Oval set and mounted it in the centre of my stamped image using mounting foam.  I added some flat back white pearls as accents to the sentiment and the corners on my blue die cut as accents.  I finished the card off with a messy bow tied from white seam binding and one of the ribbon roses (already sold finished as roses) in the middle of the bow.  Seriously quick card, but so pretty I think!  Finished dimensions are 6" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

It's A Rare Sight

 Hi guys!  It's a card, an actual card!  Not just a front like I usually do, but a folded card with the ability to open.  I am not sure what possessed me, but I just thought these borders were so pretty that I wanted to show them off in a true card fashion.  I started by scoring a line down the centre of my white panel so it would fold in half.  On the top edge I used the lattice insert to the Bracket Borders with one of the cutting edges.  This cut a pretty top edge that was now shorted than the bottom edge.  I cut a piece of red card to go on the inside of the bottom flap.  I cut it just shorter so I had a pretty white edge peeking out.  On this red piece, I used my border to simply emboss the design into the card so that it shows when the card is completely closed.  I opened up the folded white card and used one of the dies from the Radiant Rectangles to emboss the design in the top half of the card next to my cut border edge.  I used the smaller piece in that set to cut a pretty red die to fit inside of the embossed area.  Next I stamped my sentiment and used the oval to cut it out.  Once cut, I added in the next smaller die and embossed the pattern over the top of the sentiment for a textural look.  I mounted it with foam so it was centred on my decorative red piece on the front of the card.  I added a few flat back pearls as accents to finish my "card."  The finished dimensions are 5" x 6" in size (so tiny for me!)  All for now, Sue x

Friends Make Every Day Special

 Hello my crafty friends!  A bit of die cut cutting fun.  You know me, no die is ever safe from being quartered (that sounds really bad! LOL)  Today's card uses the Ornate Squares for the basis of the card.  I started by giving my background some texture using the Garden Lattice A4 embossibility folder on my coconut white card.  Next I cut out two of the large Ornate Square also in coconut white.  I cut both of them in half and glued the cut edge in line with the edge of my embossed background. I stamped two of the coordinating stamps from the JustRite Ornate Happiness stamp set and heat embossed them in true white embossing powder. I cut both of them out using the coordinating size die from the set and cut them in half as well.  I used mounting foam for dimension and placed them atop the larger Ornate Square pieces.  I used the next size in the set and once again cut two and cut them in half.  I glued these atop the last piece to create a die cut and embossed background.  Next I stamped another stamp from the set in black.  I cut it out and coloured it with markers (from my stash).  I stamped it again and this time added my sentiment in the middle.  I cut out the inside square by hand and mounted it on an angle in the centre of my focal element.  I added some flatback pearls to the sentiment area and to the tips of the Ornate Square pieces as accents.  I matted the entire piece in a matching pale lavender card double mat and pierced the inner mat as a frame.  Remember to cut your die pieces sometimes to give you different options for your cards.  It is hard to see that this die started life as a square!  Finished dimensions are 8" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

 

You Are Amazing

Morning all!  This is my favourite kind of card to do when I only have a few minutes and want to get the most Wow out of that time.  When I am working, I try to keep to a schedule so I know I can get all my samples done for upcoming shows.  Sometimes I take too long working on very detailed cards, but want to stay on target for the number of samples I make for shows.  This is one of those real easy, quick cards for just those occasions.  I selected a favourite Graphic 45 backing paper.  I covered it with a sticky adhesive sheet, peeled the backing paper off and covered it with clear micro beads.  I don't know why, but it instantly makes me happy!  I am a very textural loving person and these just hit the spot for me.  I wrapped a length of cream silky crush around the left side of the card and taped the ends to the back.  I tied a double bow and attached it with a sticky glue dot.  I made a pretty rose out of lavender card and covered it with Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue.  I then dipped it into my container of Rock Candy dry glitter to "sugar" it.  I have some gorgeous stick pins that were made for me by Linda Burrows and this card was just calling out for one of them so I added it to my bow.  I stamped my sentiment using Blue-Violet Archival ink and cut it out with the Stately Circle die.  I inked it lightly while in the die with the same ink.  I cut one of the tags from the Filigree Delight set and inked it also, then mounted my sentiment atop it so you can just see the ends peeking out.  I mounted it in the lower corner of my card with mounting foam.  I finished the card off with a double milk coloured card mat and pierced the inner mat.  I spray of swirly pearls was all that was needed to complete this one.  Quick and easy!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x