You Are Simply The Best

Hello all!  Today's card is a Heartfelt Creations creation! LOL  I started with one of the floral stamps from the Majestic Blooms collection.  I stamped it all over a piece of coconut white card using Seedless Preserves distress ink.  Once stamped, I used a wet paintbrush to pull in some of the colour and give some shading to the flowers.  I set them with a heat tool so they were nice and dry then put a sticky self adhesive sheet over the top.  I used Labels 22 to cut an aperture out of the centre.  I peeled off the backing paper and covered the piece with Diamond Sparkles.  Next I used the Tapestry embossing folder to add texture to the glittered background (and yes you can emboss even after you have covered the piece with glitter!).  I used the Labels 22 in the next smaller size to cut another aperture out of coconut white card.  I put a thin line of glue around the edge of the aperture, then covered it with Diamond Sprinkles.  I taped it to the stamped background so the apertures were lined up evenly and trimmed the edges to match.  I stamped my sentiment (Heartfelt Creations)on another piece of white card and used Seedless Preserves to lightly ink around it.  I used the matching distress marker to add a bit of colour around the actual wording too.   I added foam mounting pieces to the background and mounted it over my sentiment, which I centred in the window.  Using the Majestic Blooms stamp, I inked it with a clear perfect medium pad and stamped them on purple card and heat embossed them with white powder.  I cut them out with the matching die and layered up several of them to form three flowers.  I added pearls to the centres and seated them around the edge of my aperture and on some mauve seam binding that I tied into a messy bow.  I cut a couple of swirls from the Heartfelt Creations Dutch Iris set and added them around my floral embellishments.  I added a pearl swirl to the other side of the aperture and finished the card by adding a purple mat and my usual double pierced mat layers.  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x 8 1/2" in size.
  I just wanted to let you know that I have added a bit of a small surprise to Saturday's post, so do pop by tomorrow to see what is there.  You will have to scroll to the bottom to find it!  All for now, Sue x

Just Because

Hi there folks!  Here is a different way to create some stunning flowers for your projects with just a few simple supplies.  I think you will agree that they look lovely when used on your cards and so very easy to make as well.
Today is Kim Robertson's first solo show on Create and Craft.  Be sure to tune in to see what she has on offer as I am sure you will be amazed when you see her samples and demos!  Her show times are at 9am and 2pm today.

Finished dimensions are 7 3/4" x
7  3/4" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Wednesday Weekly Card Giveaway

Hi crafters!  I know that this isn't the usual type of card that I offer on the giveaway, but I thought I would mix it up a little bit just to see if there was any interest in a clean and simple styled card.  Leave me a comment today if you would like to be in the drawing for this card.  Today's card showcases the Discover Your Wings stamp set from Taylored Expressions.  I have to admit, it was a bit of an experiment here as I just wanted to see what sort of look could be achieved with these stamps.  I stamped them first with just clear Perfect Medium to get a watermark look.  Next I stamped the same stamps across the bottom of the card using a black Archival ink pad.  I cut a mask with a circle die and sponged some white snow cap ink through it to create a moon in the background.  I dried it well with a heat tool.  I removed the mask and used the side edge of the perfect medium pad and swiped it across the sky area a few times.  I used some blue mica powder and dusted the swiped area, then used a tissue to remove any leftover mica powder.  I stamped the sentiment in the upper corner of the card.  Using a white gel pen, I added a reflective edge to the moon.  I cut the entire piece with the Grand Large Label die and did some matting and layering with black and white card before finishing with a double white pierced mat layer.  Perfectly flat for easy posting!  Finished dimensions are 6 3/4" x 8" in size.  Winner to be announced on Saturday's blog post.  All for now, Sue x

Pink Posy

Morning all!  Here is a lovely card for a friend  or could easily be adapted for other occasions. The video shows a step by step break down for making the card.  I hope you enjoy it.

Finished dimensions are 6 3/4" x 7 1/4" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Hugs And Kisses

 Hi there everyone!  A pretty baby card for today.  I really like this one myself.  I wasn't sure where I was heading with it when I started, but I like where the journey left me.  I used Tumbled Glass on the Tied Together embossing folder and letterpressed it onto some coconut white cardby running it through the Calibur.   I cut the piece into a square, then diagonally across the centre.  I used another piece of coconut white card and embossed it with the large polka dot mask.  I cut it in half diagonally as well.  I pieced them together to form my background for the card.  It needed something more so I cut four of the Scalloped Borders using a pretty filigree insert with it.  I attached one to each side of my background so that it was just peeking out from behind and formed a nice pattern all the way around.  I stamped the sentiment from the Bundle Of Joy stamp set from Justrite in black and cut it out with the Vintage Labels 5 die.  I inked through the die with Tumbled Glass distress ink and mounted it in the centre of my card with foam piece.  I used the Vintage Floret die to make several small buds and two slightly larger roses (see tutorial at the top of my blog for the method used)  I seated the buds on a white messy bow and some pastel Bakers Twine.   The two larger flowers were seated in the opposite side of the sentiment.   I dabbed the tip of the flowers with some Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue then added Iced Snow for a bit of a twinkle on the flowers.   I finished the card with a double white pierced mat layer.  How pretty would this be for a new baby boy!  Finished dimensions are 7 1/2" x
7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Let Your Soul Sing

Good Sunday morning all!  You can probably tell that I have been going back through some of my folders looking for cards that have fallen through the cracks so to speak.  I haven't shown a clean and simple style recently so I thought this one would fill the bill.  This sample is from shows in October and uses the Justrite stamp set called Let Your Soul Sing.  It was so simple, I merely ripped a piece of copy paper in to a sort of diagonal strip and taped it across my coconut white card (which I taped to my craft mat so it wouldn't slip.  I used Peacock Feathers distress ink in a sort of pouncing motion rather than the usual circular fashion (that way it doesn't get under the copy paper accidentally).  I blended the colour outward away from the copy paper to give it a softer look and when I was happy with it, I removed the copy paper mask.  I stamped the branch from the set using a black Archival ink pad coming in from the side.  I stamped the sentiment, also in black Archival so that it was both inside and outside of my inked area.  I used two of the small butterflies from the set and added them with the peacock feathers ink.  I added a hint of yellow in the larger butterfly (just because it looked like it needed a bit more colour).  The card was finished with a double white pierced mat layer (in about 15 minutes, record time for me!)  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8 1/2" in size.
I have added the other short video that I did at CHA at the bottom of the post.  I only had the idea to do a few videos on the last day, maybe I will try my hand at a few more at our trade show next month!

Since it is Sunday, it is time for Comment Game winners to be announce.  This week's winners are:

Beryl Treble!!!
Rosie!!!
Caron28!!!

Congratulations all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize!

A little reminder too that Julia Watts is on ToolShed today at noon for two hours then again at 5pm.  Don't forget to tune in for her great demos! All for now, Sue x

Ode To Marisa

Hello my crafty friends!  You may wonder about today's title on the blog post.  Let me explain.  I made this card for the shows I did in October.  The Floral Harvest Background by Justrite shown here was one of the stamps on the show.  I wanted to try to show this stamp in a multitude of different ways so you could see just how pretty and versatile it is.  I have long admired the work of Marisa Job (pronounced like in the Bible, the patience of Job) and have always wanted to try my hand at her style so I decided that this stamp would be a perfect opportunity.  I don't really know how to describe her style so you will have to take a look at her blog which you can find at marisadesigns.blogspot.com  and decide for yourself.  She uses a lot of browns and other vintage toned colours, but today's card is my interpretation of Marisa's beautiful style.  I had the pleasure of meeting her at CHA a few weeks ago and I filmed a little short video for you to see (at the end of the post).  Not only is she a fantastic crafter, but she is a lovely and warm person too.  I really enjoyed meeting her.

To give you a quick rundown of how I created this card, I stamped it in Coffee Archival on taupe card.  I used the Tim Holtz distress markers to colour the background, then went over it with Antique Linen to give it a more vintage look. I used a clear perfect Medium around the edge of the background, then sprinkled gold embossing powder on it.  I used my finger to remove some of it so it ended up with a sort of distressed edge look.  I matted it on blush card that I inked with Victorian Velvet.  I stamped the banner at the bottom of the background and put a sentiment inside and cut it out.  I mounted it on foam over the same area on the background.  I stamped a larger sentiment and cut it out with Labels 32.  I inked through the label with Tattered Rose.  I cut a larger Label 32 out of darker card as a mat, but turned it so it was offset.  Using the Vintage Floret dies, I made two flowers for the corner of my card.  I inked the cut pieces with Tattered Rose and Victorian Velvet before assembling my flower.  Once assembled, I added a yellowish edge to them and seated them with some jute twine.  I finished the card with a double pierced mat out of soft gold card.  Finished dimensions are 6" x 7 1/4" in size.

Before you go, the winners of the Wednesday Card giveaway is :
Ros Hodgkins!!!

The winner of the second card is:
Liz Spooner!!!

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