Friends Make Every Day Special

Hi crafters!  A buckle card is on offer today as it has been awhile since I've posted one.  This is the sort of card that kicks my mojo into gear when I need it.  They are always so easy to execute when you may be a bit stumped for ideas.  I started by embossing my white background with the Floral embossing folder from Creative Expressions to give my background some texture. Next I stamped the Vintage Labels Two coordinating stamp from the Live, Love, Laugh set  from Justrite using a black archival ink and clear embossing powder. I cut them out creating frames using the matching Vintage Labels Two.  I cut a strip from black card to weave through the frames. I stamped the sentiment and coordinating frame and cut it out with the Ornate Squares tag.  I coloured the tag with a Fired Brick distress ink marker.  I mounted it with foam across the centre of of the card.  I cut two more of the tags out of black card and nipped the ends off to create corner pieces for my card.  I added some flatback pearls as accents and finished with a double pierced black mat.  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8 1/2" in size.
Julia Watts has some shows for you today at 10am and 6pm on Create and Craft tv.  Be sure to tune in to see what she has in store for you. She has told me that there are some brand new items.  The remaining items that I had on my show live from Vegas have been added to her poll, if you are interested.  Please be quick on those as there is not much stock left for sale!  All for now, Sue x

Something Just For You

Morning my crafty friends!  Another card from my Scottish demo day.  I was showcasing the Copper Engraving board on this card.  I started with a piece of it cut to size.  Now if you have never seen this product, it looks completely matte black when you pull it out of the package.  I used my Basketweave embossing folder on it as the engraving board embosses beautifully.  Using a fine sanding block, I lightly sanded the top of the embossing to reveal the copper core beneath.  I cut a border out of white card using the Bracket border dies.  I glued it in place across the bottom of the card.  For the focal element, I cut four frames using the Marvellous Squares.  I glued two together offset, then the other two.  I then offset the two sets to create a delicate frame for the card.  I stamped the sentiment and cut it out with the Fancy Framed Tags Two.  Using Rusty Hinge Distress Ink, I lightly inked it while still in the die.  I glued the ends across my framed focal element and added flatback pearls to selected spots as accents.  I tied a messy bow out of London Tan seam binding.  I added another bow of white tulle and black jute twine underneath my messy bow and finished the centre with a pearl embellishment.  A double white pierced mat finished the card off nicely.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Think Snow

 Hi friends!  I thought I would gently ease you in to Christmas cards a few at a time, hope you don't mind!  I really liked the way this one came out and the colours were a bit different for me too.  I selected gold, silver and navy blue to use for today's card.  I started my embossing a piece of coconut white card with my Sea Garden embossing folder.  Once embossed, I used the Enchanted gold gilding wax over the top of the embossed design to add a soft shimmer.  Next I used the Create a Flake three die set and the Snowflake Pendant 2011 and cut various snowflakes out of soft gold, silver and navy blue card.  I arranged them in a wreath shape on my background.  I glued flatback pearls in the centres of each of them.  I decided to add some small pearl strings to the wreath.  I purchased these in white from a craft shop while in Florida.  Using Gold and silver alcohol inks, I changed the colour of the strings.  I intertwined them throughout my snowflake wreath as an embellishment.  I stamped my sentiment and gold embossed it.  I matted it with silver card and cut the ends into a fork.  I attached it across the wreath using glue dots.  I tied a double bow out of the blue/silver reversible ribbon and added it in the corner of my wreath.  A fancy button from my craft stash was added to the centre.  I matted the piece on a blue mat, then a double white pierced mat to complete it.  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Wonderful Christmas

 Hi everyone!  As promised, here is one of the samples from my show live from CHA in Las Vegas.  This sample shows how pretty it is when you have the stamps and matching dies for your projects.  I stamped a handful of the the holly berry swirl onto milk coloured card.  I coloured them using Distress markers (Forest Moss and Fired Brick).  I cut them out by lining up the matching die (called Ornamental Add Ons) from Heartfelt Creations and taping it into place before running them through the Grand Calibur.  I attached them to a background that I embossed with the Wild Poinsettia embossing folder by Couture Creations.  I added some diamond sprinkles to all the berries for an added extra bling.  To create a focal element, I covered a piece of red card with a sticky adhesive sheet.  I cut it with the Heirloom Ornament 2010, peeled the backing paper off and glittered it with the Diamond Sprinkles as well.    I stamped the sentiment from Heartfelt Creations and cut it out with a circle die and a slightly larger red circle mat for it too.  I used Fired Brick to ink it while in the die.  I added some green to the holly and mounted it in the centre of my ornament.  I matted the piece with a thin red mat and then added my double pierced mat to complete the card. Very traditional (so unusual for me, huh!)LOL 

It's Sunday and you know what that means!  For this weeks winners, we have:
TDQ Karen!!!
Laura O!!!
Hellma!!!

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

Thank You And A Few Show Pics

 Morning all!  Red, white and kraft for today's card.  I love kraft card and think it has a really fun look to it, and works great for both male and female cards.  I started with the kraft card and used the Fleur de lis Square dies to cut an aperture.  I used the two largest sizes in the set for this and then did a reinsertion technique and taped the outer frame back into pace.  It left me with a pretty aperture that was both useful and interesting.  Next I stamped a white on white background to show through my aperture.  I used the Garden Gate background stamp from Justrite for this.  You can see it in the closeups below.  I also stamped another piece of white card with it and used the Bracket Border with the lattice insert to cut a border for my card.  I glued that in place below my aperture.  Next I cut out a Decorative Labels One out of red card and used a circle die to cut the inside of it.  I stamped my sentiment from the Buntings and Buttons set by Justrite and cut it into a thin strip and wove it through the lacy edge of the red die cut.  I added it to the centre of my aperture with mounting foam.  I tied a messy bow with Lipstick red seam binding adding a natural jute bow beneath it on my card.  I had this fun burlap flower in my craft stash and thought it was perfect for the centre of my bow, keeping with the feel of the card.  I matted it on a thin mat of red card, the added a final double white mat.  Around the inner layer of the white mat, I added Cosmic Shimmer white PVA glue dots to finish the card.  The finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8" in size.
  A few CHA show pics if you are interested, scroll down.

This was taken at the early morning private demo put on by Ranger that I was invited to attend.  Here Wendy Vecchi shows us a tag using her new masks and Archival ink colours.  They are stunning!

Tim shows off his new colours of Distress glitters.  They were so pretty and are not like other types of glitters at all (more like a sort of German glass glitter without the drawbacks).  The colour range was just yummy!

 I have to admit that I didn't take very many photos during the show, but the next two pics were taken of samples in one of the booths (can't recall which one) as I just could not believe the amazing work in these!

 This sample was quite large, about two foot by three foot in size (if I had to guess).  It must have taken forever!  It was truly a spectacular work of art!

 The last few pics were taken at the Ranger booth and the Stampers Anonymous booth which both carry Tim Holtz designs and products.

All for now, Sue x

Something Just For You And Vegas Pics

 Hello all!  Todays card uses some older dies as accents.  The Damask Motifs make a lovely lacy background for the focal piece from Just Rite stamps.  I started by embossing my milk coloured background with the Tapestry folder for texture.  I used the large decorative piece from the Damask Motifs and cut four of them from milk card.  I glued them into place with the tips pointing to each corner.  I cut four more of the same die using a pale teal card.  I arranged these so the tips were pointing in the open areas between the milk coloured dies.  Next I stamped my sentiment on milk card using a matching Green Archival ink pad.  I stamped the Labels three stamp from the Winged Vintage Labels Two and Three set by Justrite stamps.  I used a clear Perfect Medium pad and heat embossed it with clear powder.  I cut it out with the matching Vintage Labels Three die and used a smaller Vintage Labels two die for the inside of the frame.  I added some mounting foam to the back and seated it over my sentiment.  I added some flatback pearls (which I have just noticed were misplaced during their flight across the pond home, so sorry!)  I matted it with a few shades of teal and then a double mat of milk card which I pierced.  I decided to add some pearl PVA glue dots to the larger teal mat as well.  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.
  I thought I would show you a little of what I have been doing while in Las Vegas and then tomorrow show you a few pics from the actual show. So scroll down to see the Las Vegas activities!

 Here is the helicoptor that I took down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon for a champagne picnic at sunset!













The Hoover Dam by air!  Isn't it spectacular!

 This was taken on the other side of Hoover Dam and the white is mineral deposits on the embankments.

 This was an extinct volcanoe out in the desert before reaching the Grand Canyon.

 My first view of the red rocks of the Grand Canyon by air.

 We flew by the Grand Canyon walk which over hangs the canyon with a glass platform.  I took bunches of pics while in the air, but those are the quick highlights.  Suffice it to say that the whole adventure was fabulous. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

 The dancing waters at the Belaggio Hotel on the strip.  It goes off every fifteen minutes so it was always a welcome surprise when stuck in the traffic on the strip.

Inside the Belaggio Hotel, the reception area has this amazing glass chandelier installation done by a famous glass artist named Gil Chihuly.  It  sort of looks like coloured jellyfish!  Absolutely stunning in real life!

Although we didn't stay at The Belaggio, I love to see their gardens.  They change them about every six weeks and they are always fabulous.

 Also, there is an amazing chocolate shop there and this is their chocolate fountain that is in the window of the shop!  It is floor to ceiling and spectacular!

 This is the view inside the chocolate shop and that dress is entirely made of chocolate on the manequin!  Love the cakes flanking it on either side!

I met up with my very good friends Jimm and Audrey Freedman that used to own Stamp Oasis.  We did many,many stamp conventions together over the years!  We had a great time and caught up while they showed us around the town (they live in Las Vegas)

We went to a Brazilian steak house one evening, They have 17 different types of meat that they bring around to your table on a giant skewer for you to chose from!  Pretty impressive as they show up with these and slice off of them for you! I think I ate enough for a week!

















And last but not least, and only in Vegas!!  Chapels every where in the town, but here was one that you can go to to have your pets get married (if you have nothing better to do with your $50!!!) LOL

Some show photos tomorrow.  All for now, Sue x