Best Wishes

 Hi bloggers!  I am jumping back to a card made with my first release of dies, which I still keep picking up time and time again, I might add!  I started with the background on this one and cut the California background out of aubergine card.  I cut the background into five strips and attached them to a piece of white card with a small gap in between each one.  I covered the entire piece with vellum to soften the colour and put it more into the background of the card.  I cut one of the borders from the California Collection out of coconut white card and glued it across the bottom of the card horizontally.  I tied a messy bow out of white seam binding and seated it upon some white tulle on the left side of the border.  Using aubergine felt from the vintage felt pack, I cut a strip, folded it in half then snipped into it all the way down the length then rolled it into a flower, adding glue to the bottom edge as I rolled.  I seated it on my bow and made two matching stick pins as well.  For the focal element, I used the Decorative Frames Set B from the California Collection with the decorative insert from the Beverly Hills set.  I stamped my sentiment using a Blue-Violet Archival ink pad, cut it out with the decorative frames from the Italian collection and inked through the die with Dusty Concord distress ink.  I cut a tag and Set B die both from the California Collection to seat my sentiment on in the centre of my focal element.  I finished the card with a double white mat with a paper pierced inner layer.  Finished dimensions are 8" x 8 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Wednesday Weekly Card Giveaway

Hello everyone!  Time again for another Wednesday card giveaway.  For this one, I stamped a piece of raspberry card with the Rose Bouquet stamp by Justrite.  I used a black archival and stamped it all over the background, trying not to overlap but give it a nice even coverage.  I used my Galicia die to cut an aperture in the top portion of the card.  I used the die again to cut another out of black card.  I added mounting foam to the back of the stamped background and seated on a piece of white card.  I recessed the black Galicia die cut into the aperture and glued it in place.  I tied a piece of black silky crush ribbon around the bottom of the card and tied a double bow and added it to the centre of the card.  I finished the centre of the bow with a black crystal sparkler and adorned it with two matching stick pins.  I stamped the Rose bouquet Labels three stamp on to white card with a black archival ink pad.  I coloured the roses with distress markers and covered the entire piece with a sticky adhesive sheet.  I cut it out and peeled the backing off and coated it with Diamond Snow.  I mounted it with foam in the centre of my aperture.  The card was finished with a white pierced mat layer, then thin raspberry and black mats with a final white mat.  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x 8" in size.  If you would like to be included in the drawing to win this one, just leave me a comment.  The winners name will be posted on Saturday's post.  All for now, Sue x

It's A Tuesday Two-Fer

 Hi crafters!  It's a cute two-fer today with gingerbread man and snowman as the features.  This first card was created by stamping the Retro Sparkle background by Justrite on to kraft card using a clear perfect medium pad.  I heat embossed it with True White embossing powder and distressed the edges with my scissors.  I wrapped a length of lipstick red seam binding around the card horizontally and taped the ends to the back.  I tied a messy bow and added it to the right side of the card.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it into a tag and added Iced Snow to the edge.  I tucked the sentiment tag under a white crystal sparkler and twine bow in the centre of my seam binding bow.  I stamped the gingerbread man on kraft card and cut him out by hand.  I coloured him with pencils and stamped and cut out a candy cane for him to hold.  I used a bit of Diamond Snow on the candy cane for a bit of bling.  I used the Elegant Ovals and cut out the shapes to use as a backdrop for him.  I mounted him in the centre with foam for dimension.  I finished this card with a pierced white mat, a thin red and kraft  mat and a final white mat.  Finished dimensions are 6" x 7 1/2" in size.  Scroll down to see card number two.

Here is card number two for you with a really cute snowman to make you smile!  He is from the Christmas Applique set by Justrite as well.  I stamped the Retro Sparkle background using a clear Perfect Medium pad on to aqua card.  I heat embossed the image with True White embossing powder and covered the entire piece with a sticky adhesive sheet.  I peeled the backing off and coated it with Iced Snow for a pretty blingy look.  I wrapped a piece of red seam binding around the card and taped the ends to the back of the card.  I stamped two of the poinsettia on to red card and cut them out by hand.  I coated them with Cosmic Lacquer and set them aside to dry overnight.  Once dry, I offset the pieces, added a pearl to the centre and seated the flower on some white tulle and Red and white Bakers Twine.  I stamped a sentiment and tucked the end under the flower.  I cut an Majestic Circle and lightly sponged through the die with aqua Adirondack ink.  I stamped the snowman and candy cane in the centre of my circle, coloured him and added some flocking to his hat and a pearl to the end.  All around the image, I added white PVA glue dots as snow drops. I sprinkled Diamond Snow lightly over them to add some sparkle.  I mounted the circle in the middle of my card with foam for dimension.  I finished the card with a pierced white mat, a thin red mat and a final white mat.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/4" x 7 1/2" in size.  Both the gingerbread man and the snowman do bring a smile to your face, don't you think?

  By the way, the videos will start back up a week from today on the 5th of August.  I hope you are ready to see some demonstrations using the second release of my dies!  All for now, Sue x

Christmas Bells

 Hello there my crafty friends!  I know that brown isn't your usual colour choice, but sometimes you jut have to step out of your comfort zone and try something new I say!  I started by stamping the Bells of Christmas stamp by Justrite using a Walnut Stain distress ink pad.  Ordinarily, I would not advise stamping with distress inks as the results are not always favourable, but I used it so that I could draw the ink in to colour with.  I used a paintbrush loaded with water and pulled the ink into the background of the image, leaving the actual bells unpainted.  I covered the piece with a sticky adhesive sheet then lined up my matching Vintage Labels Two die over it by holding it up to the light.  I cut it out then peeled the backing paper off and coated it with Rock Candy Distress  Stickles Dry Glitter.  I cut a Tranquil Moments die out of milk card and a Divine Eloquence die to mat my piece on top.  For my background, I inked my Quilted Flower folder with Walnut Stain Distress ink and letterpressed it on to kraft card for a tone on tone look.  I cut a wider piece of milk card and used the sentiment stamp from the set and Antique Linen to stamp the edge.  I added final milk and kraft mats and dotted the edge with Ivory PVA glue dots.  I tied a messy bow out of chalk seam binding and added a brown Dazzler as an embellishment.  The finished dimensions are 7" x 7 3/4" in size.  All for now,
 Sue x

In My Thoughts

 Good Sunday morning all!  I started this card by stamping the Butterfly Meadow stamp that matches my Spanish Collection.  I used a black archival ink pad for this since it is a silhouette style stamp.  I've noticed that many crafters aren't aware of this, but if you miss part of your image when you stamp, don't throw it away and don't use an ink pen to fill it in, but rather, use a black pencil as it will blend better and be far less noticeable.  Just use a light hand.  The ink will be easy to spot when tilted as it will grab the light differently.
   Once stamped, I hand cut an irregular scalloped looking piece that I laid down and moved around as I  lightly sponged varying shades of blue and purple to create a billowy sky.  I stamped my sentiment in the upper corner, then used the Valencia cutting edge to cut the piece out.  There is a butterfly in the stamp, but I cut the side view butterfly twice from the Magical Butterflies set and added some Midnight Snow to the edge of the wings.  I glued them together for a 3D side view butterfly and added it over thee stamped image.  To create the background for my focal element, I used the Basketweave embossing folder on coconut white card.  I cut a border from my Italian Collection and added it to the left side of the card.  I tied Sky Blue seam binding around the card horizontally and taped the ends to the back.  I tied a messy bow and added it to the side of my focal piece.  I made some stick pins to match (and yes those beads are actually blue in real life, not the lavender they look in the pics!) and a black crystal sparkler for the centre.  I finished the card with some white and blue mats and used my Cosmic Shimmer white PVA glue to make dots all the way around the edge.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.

Time for the winners of this weeks Comment Game.  They are:
Wheely Bad!!!
Julie's Crafty Creations!!
Nanna Tina!!!

For the extra qualifying post of July 21st, the winners are:
Sandra Biggs!!!
Craftetter (Elaine)!!!
Angie D!!!

For the extra qualifying post of July 23rd, the winners are:
Ginnie Rutter!!!
Ivy Leong!!!
Janice Robinson!!!

Congratulations all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your postal address and claim your prizes.  All for now, Sue x

Many Thanks

 Hello everyone!  It's off to Napa Valley for this one (it's a lovely place in No. California, in case you wondered!)  I created the background for this card by simply using the California Background to emboss the design into a  piece of milk coloured card.  I inked through the die with Antique Linen distress ink to bring the pattern out a bit.  I decided to leave a wide border around the background, then add some mauve seam binding wrapped around opposite corners.  I tied a messy bow and added it to the lower left corner.  It matched perfectly with our lavender organza roses so I seated one in the middle of the bow with some twine and dried baby's breath.  I made two stick pins to match and added them to the bow.  For the focal element, I cut the Napa Valley die insert out of milk card, but used the larger cutting edge from the Basic Frames Set A. This gives you the pretty wider border around the die.   I inked it lightly with Shaded Lilac distress ink before removing it from the die.  I used the same cutting edge and cut a mat out of lilac card to add behind it.  I used mounting foam between the two pieces for dimension.  I stamped my sentiment using the Blue-Violet Archival ink pad and cut it out with the die centre from the Umbria set and inked it with Shaded Lilac as well.  I mounted it in the centre of my focal die with mounting foam.  I added a double milk coloured mat and used the pearl Cosmic Shimmer PVA glue dots all the way around the edge to create a frame.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.

The winner of this week's Wednesday Card Giveaway is:

Tina Eldridge!!!

Congratulations!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  All for now, Sue x