Peaceful Wishes

Hi bloggers!  If you are a traditionalists, look away now! LOL  You may not want to see poinsettias done out of krinkly kraft paper.  If you are like me, this will be right up your alley!  I just love the way that flowers look out of this paper!  To begin, I emboss the coconut white background with the large polka dot mask. I matted it with some kraft card and some black card.  I cut several of the poinsettias from the Layered poinsettia die set and lightly inked them with black soot distress ink to highlight the krinkly kraft paper pattern.  I layered them up in an offset manner and glued a black pearl in the centre.  I used some of the black rhinestone swirls to give it a little flair from the corner too.  I stamped my sentiment on a strip of white card.  I cut one end into forks and matted it with kraft card.  I used black PVA glue to dot the length of my sentiment strip as an accent.  I glued one end under my flowers then placed a glue dot under the other end to give it a bit of height.  I pierced the inner layer of the double white mat to complete the card.  Would you have this one on your Christmas card list?  All for now, Sue x

Just For You

Morning all!  I pulled out an older die for today's card, the Fleur de Lis Pendant.  Still one of my favourites and probably one of the first of the detailed type dies to come along.  I love the way it looks coupled with Labels 20, just peeking out at all the right spots!  I started with a piece of floral backing paper (Kaiser Craft, I think, but I'm not 100% certain on that).  I covered it with our adhesive sheets and micro beaded it to give it a softer look.  I cut my pendant out of matching rust card to use as the backdrop for my focal element.  I stamped the Justrite Kindness stamp using a clear perfect medium and clear embossed it.  I cut it out with the matching labels 20 die and added pearl Nestabling to the edge.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with one of the Justrite custom tag dies and mounted it with foam for dimension.  I had a strip of background paper left so I decided to make some rolled flowers using it.  I cut the strip into "circles" (not die cut ones, just hand cut ones) of varying sizes and rolled them to create a cascade of flowers across my card.  It is difficult to make out the pattern in my pic, but they are quite pretty in real life as you get a sense of the coordinating flowers.  Keep these kind of flowers in mind if you haven't got enough matching paper for some of the other types.  I added some flatback pearls in the opposite corners and pierced the edges to finish the card.  I think we need to see more of this older Fleur de lis pendant die shape as it is quite pretty I think.  All for now, Sue x

Hello Friend

Hi crafty friends!  The majestic elements dies are a really lovely addition to the line this year.  Here I have used the Marvellous Squares for a really simple card.  I started by stamping my sentiment in the lower corner using a clear perfect medium pad and heat embossing with gold powder.  I wanted a bit of bling so I cut a square of black glitter card.  On top of that I cut a piece of black card using the largest die from the Marvellous Squares.  I love the tiny pierced edge you get from this one.  Using the soft gold card, I cut a frame using the next sizes down in that set.  I liked the shape of the cut outs from this so I used the die again but out of black card this time so that I could use them atop the gold card.  The corner pieces hook into each other to form the sort of diamond shape.  I cut the smallest piece out of gold card and inked it while in the die with clear perfect medium.  I heat embossed it with clear powder and mounted it in the centre of my focal element.  I wrapped a piece of champagne coloured silky crush around the bottom of the card.  I tied a double bow and topped it with a fancy button from my craft stash.  I used one of the beautiful stick pins that were given to me by blog friend Linda Burrows (isn't it gorgeous!).  I think it was quite fitting for the opulent colours in the card, don't you?  All for now, Sue x

Miss You

Hi bloggers!  I think I missed showing this card (at least I can't find hide nor hair of it anywhere!).  I made it for shows in Aug. or Sept.  It is one of those long skinny shaped cards I adore.  I used the fancy lattice and extended it to make a long background (it was about 5" x 9" in size as I recall).  I left the edge on the sides of it so I had somewhere to hide my mounting foam pieces!  I cut frames from the Marvellous Squares, one larger, two smaller for my focal elements.  I love this set of dies because there are so many different combinations you can use to create different looking shapes.  I layered them across my card and added two white flourishes on each side.  In the centre I used one of the dies from the French Frills by Samantha Walker to create a frame to highlight my sentiment.  I stamped my sentiment on the same pale celery green card as my frames and cut it out with the smallest die in the Marvellous Square die set.  I added just a light inking of Shabby Shutters to give it some dimension.  I tied a double bow using the ruffly edged white ribbon and added a pearl embellishment and stick pins to the centre.  I pierced the top and bottom edges and added some tiny pearls as accents on the dies.  Whatcha think?    Also, a quick note, I see that we have hit the blog candy goal.  However, it will have to be postponed until I am back in the UK .  Don't worry, even if we hit the next goal, I will just do a second drawing then also.  All for now, Sue x

One For The Girls

Good morning all!  The pendulum has swung back the other way from yesterday's guy card.  It is all girlie today.  I started with the background, which was created by inking the Mystic Embossibility folder with Tattered Rose distress ink (faux letterpress technique).  I ran it through the GC to transfer the ink to my peach coloured card (you can see it best in the last pic as it is tone on tone mostly).  I extended it by lining up the pattern and doing a few more inches in the same fashion.  I used a piece of cream Duchess lace from Creative Expressions on the side to give it a soft vintage feel.  Using the Labels 20 set and milk coloured card, I lined up the three largest dies in the set and taped them in place and cut them.  This gave me two frames and a smaller label shape (which I didn't use for this card.)  With the two frames, I added foam mounting pieces to the back.  The larger frame had an extra layer to give it the most dimension as I wanted an inverse stairstep look for this card.  I stamped the labels 20 Justrite Kindness set on to a scrap piece of decorative paper and white embossed it.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink so it would show up better.  I glued this piece to my background and added my stairstepped frames over it.  I tied a double bow with the cream silky crush ribbon, added a couple of stick pins and one of the new frosted peach Dazzlers to the centre.  As usual, I pierced the edges for a finished look.  Ah, back in my comfort zone!  All for now, Sue x

One For The Guys

 

 Morning all!  I get asked for guy cards all the time so I thought I would try to include a few with the Labels 20 samples I was making.  This one is my favourite as it really has that rugged distressed look to it.  I started with a piece of milk card and inked it all over with distress ink, bundled sage and broken china.  Just randomly until I had a large enough area inked for my background stamp.  I inked my Harlequin Script background stamp from Justrite stamps using Brushed Corduroy distress ink.  I stamped it onto my inked card, then lightly spritz it with water to soften the ink and the paper a bit.  I crumpled them card and then opened it back up and ran the Distress ink over it straight from the pad to add some random distressed bits to it.  Using the fleur de lis stamp from the set, I stamped them in opposite corners as accents.  I cut a large Labels 20 aperture in the centre of this piece.   I used a piece of kraft card and embossed it with the Mystic embossibility folder to use in the background through my aperture. 

I stamped the Labels 20 Justrite stamp from the Fleur de lis set with Brushed Corduroy for my focal element.  I used the inked piece that I took out of my aperture for this.  I cut it down using the coordinating die shape.  I stamped it a second time and just cut it with a circle die.  I stamped Thank you over the script and mounted it on foam above my labels 20 piece.  I cut a thin strip of card and inked it, cut the ends into forks, folded it and stapled it to the centre.  (Very distressed looking for the guys! My version of a guy bow! LOL)  I matted the entire piece on kraft card and used the Choco Brown PVA glue for dots around the edges.  Definitely a guy card!

Time for the Sunday Comment Game Winners to be announced again.  This weeks winners are:
                        Mariana Hammer!!!
                           Helen VofG!!!
                         Carolyn MacH!!!

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

Frosty Forms

Hi guys!  I love this fun (and a bit corny) Christmas card.  That little snowman just took my heart away.  I used several different (non Christmas) sets for the card today too.  I started with the background and embossed it using the itty bitty polka dot mask. I inked it with Broken China to give it a blustery look.  Next I used the Cherry Blossom set and cut some branches.  I used some liquid applique (or puff paint) on the branches to give them a snowy look.  I decided that I wanted to create snowy hills so I covered several pieces of coconut white card with self adhesive sticky sheets then cut the top in an irregular fashion so it resembled a snowy hill.  I covered them with micro beads and added a bit more of the liquid applique to the edges, heated it until it puffed for a more snowy look.  I stamped my sentiment on to white card and cut it out with the Holly motifs tag.  I inked it with Broken China distress ink while in the die.  Next I stamped the JustRite Vintage tag in aqua and cut it out with their custom matching die and used it as a backdrop for my sentiment.  Using a few of the snowflake dies, I cut three out of vellum for a translucent look and glued them into the bottom corner.  I added flatback pearls to the centres.  Finally, my little snowman is part of the Frosty Forms set.  I used the Cherry Blossoms die to cut small arms for him and I added a small sliver of orange card for his nose.  Two very tiny black PVA glue dots for his eyes and the scarf is part of the set that I cut in red.  I so wanted to add a little hat to him, but I just couldn't get it to look right, so alas, he is bald!  I added Cosmic Shimmer pearl PVA glue dots around the edge to frame and finish my card.  Not an elegant card, but really fun if you have any younger recipients on your Christmas lists!  All for now, Sue x

Faux Buckle Card

Hi bloggers!  Labels 18, not 20 for a change!  You know I just had to do it though, another buckle card, well it is actually a faux buckle card!  I  am not sure what it is about these, but I just love making them in all their different configurations.  Diagonally this time.  I started with the background which was embossed with the Mystic Embossibility folder.  It is easily extendable because the pattern repeats so that is what I have done to get the larger size background.  I used the three largest sizes dies in the Labels 18 set for my frames, one large and two slightly smaller ones.  For the largest size, I added the matching pearl Nestabling to really bling up the centre of my card.  I used one of the Justrite border stamps and white embossed it for my strip in my buckle.  I added an aqua mat for it and cut the ends into forks.  On a piece of coconut white card, I stamped the Justrite Fleur de lis stamp and white embossed it.  I stamped my sentiment in the open area using Broken China distress ink and I edged it too to bring out the pattern in the embossing.  I cut it out with the matching labels 20 die.  Since it is a faux buckle card, I haven't actually woven my strip through the frames.  I didn't want my strip to cover the Nestabling, so I have just made it look like the strip is woven when in fact I have just placed it between the frames and attached mounting foam on the back to hold them in place (making it a faux buckle card!)  I placed the sentiment tag in the centre with mounting foam.  I used some aqua silky crush ribbon across the bottom of the card and tied a double bow.  I used some pearl stick pins and a fancy brad from my craft stash for the middle of the bow. The only thing left to do was the piercing around the edges to complete my buckle card.  I hope you're not all buckled out!  All for now, Sue x

Girlie Thank You

Good morning all!  I have a bunch of Labels 20 cards from the last shows and here is another one.  I started with a piece of decorative card (from a Kaiser Craft pad I had in my stash)  I used the Elegant Fronds background on the same background paper and stamped it with a clear Perfect Medium pad and white embossed it.  I used the two largest sizes of the Labels 20 dies to cut two frames from it.  I used one of the frames on top of another label that I cut out of aqua card, creating a fancy edge for it.  I used this piece as the back layer for my focal element.  The other frame I used turned vertically across the centre on some mounting foam.  I stamped the smaller Justrite Kindness stamp on to the same aqua card.  I heat embossed it with white powder and stamped my sentiment in the centre in black.  I seated this piece in the centre with foam for dimension.  I cut a flower out of white felt from the Bitty Blossom set, rolled it and seated it on a messy bow made from turquoise seam binding and stick pins.  Next I stamped my border from the Justrite Lace border set and embossed it in white.  I added a sticky adhesive sheet so I was able to micro bead it for texture.  I added this to the bottom of the card and pierced the edges.  To complete the card, I added some flatback pearls to the upper corners.  This one is a lovely, soft girlie card in real life, so my style!  All for now, Sue x

Footprints On Our Hearts

 Hi crafty friends!  The Heartfelt Creations Oval Window die is the star of today's card.  I started this one by using a piece of coconut white card (yes white, not purple) and cutting my oval window out of it.  While the window was still in the die, I inked the entire background piece using Dusty Concord distress ink.  This gave me a really crisp clean white edge for my aperture.  I used the negative piece for my background and lined the back of it with mounting foam to create height and dimension for my card.  On a separate piece of white card, I stamped my sentiment.  I used the window die that I cut to frame the sentiment and glued it in place.  I cut another oval window die and inked through the die once again.  Then I nipped it apart, using a section on either side of my aperture.  The curlie parts of the die hooked around the aperture opening, creating a nice extension to my aperture.  I added flatback pearls to the top, bottom and sides of the window as accents.  I wrapped a piece of silky crush ribbon around the bottom and tied a double bow.  A single pearl embellishment finished it off.  I pierced the edges as a final touch.  While I only had distress inks at hand to use, this card looks lovely with some of the brighter Adirondack inks if you want something more striking (the sailboat blue is gorgeous  for this).  All for now, Sue x

Labels 20 Congratulations

 Morning all!  Today's card is a fun one and a real good way to use up those bits of paper you have been squirrelling away in your stash (yes we all do it!)  I started with a wide strip of decorative paper (I think it was Teresa Collins, but I am not positive).  I matted it with a matching but darker shade of card.  I use the Fleur de Lis mask to emboss the background on to a piece of milk coloured card.   I attached my strip above my embossed background.  I stamped the labels 20 from the Justrite Kindness set using a clear perfect Medium pad and clear embossed it.  I stamped my sentiment in the open centre area and cut the label shape out with the matching die.  I cut a couple of swirls from the Heartfelt Creations Dutch Iris set in milk card to use as accents.  I made a floral spray by simply tearing circles from small pieces of leftover card and decorative paper.  I layered smaller circles on top of the larger ones using a drop of Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue.  I added a flatback pearl to the centre of each flower.  I like to give them a little scrunch from the centre upwards to give them a bit of a distressed look too.  I assorted them into a small cascade down the card, inserting pieces of my swirls as I went.  I finished the card with Cosmic Shimmer pearl PVA glue dots around the edge.  I love the fact that you can use up some of the leftover bits and still end up with a really pretty card, don't you? 
Has anyone gotten a copy of the project book yet?  I would really love to know what you think of it!  If you are still looking for one, there is a list of stockists on the Creative Expressions website.  All for now, Sue x

All White Thank You

 Morning bloggers!  Ahh, all white, I just love doing these!  Today's card is another Labels 20 creation.  I started with embossed paper from Canvas Corp.  It has such a nice deep embossed pattern to it, it provided a lovely ready made background for my card (okay we all like shortcuts once in awhile, don't we? LOL)  I wrapped a piece of white silky crush around it and secured it to the back.  I tied a double bow and added it to the side of my card with a pearl embellishment and stick pins.  I cut three labels 20 frames all in graduated sizes for my focal element.  Using the Justrite Fleur de lis stamps, I stamped on to white card with a clear perfect medium pad.  I heat embossed the image in white. I stamped my sentiment in the opening in the stamp (it shows a bit better in the close up below).  I layered up all my frames with differing amounts of foam pieces, using several layers on the smallest one to raise it the most.  I liked the stair step effect it gave it.  I mounted them all over my stamped image and attached it to the card using Cosmic Shimmer glue.  I added a pearl swirl in the corner for a feminine touch and pierced the edges to give it a finished look.  This would make a lovely wedding card with a simple change of sentiment.  All for now, Sue x

Merry Christmas

Happy Sunday!  This one is pretty traditional considering the selection of Christmas cards that I have shared with you up until now.  Not sure how it snuck in! LOL   What I love about this card is that it is pretty and a really quick, easy card to make too.  The only part that takes any time at all is the poinsettia and it isn't too bad considering what kind of time you can spend making some flowers!  I started by stamping the Merry Christmas background from Justrite stamps.  I stamped it three times using a black archival ink pad on to coconut white card.  I cut out one full background and inked it with both Pine Needles and Forest Moss to get the shade of green I wanted.  The next one was cut out but I left the outer section off.  I inked this one with Fired Brick distress ink.  I cut just the inner section on the last stamped background.  I didn't ink it at all, just left it white with the black stamped image.  I layered up each piece with mounting foam for dimension.  I matted the back piece with a thin black mat.  On the edge of each section, I added Cosmic Shimmer black PVA glue dots around them.  I tied a messy bow out of white seam binding and added it to the corner of my inner section with a glue dot.  I cut two poinsettia sections out of red card and one more out of green card.  I stamped the sections with the matching Heartfelt Creations poinsettia stamps.  I assembled my flower, then cut the green one apart to use as leaves on either side.  I added a single pearl in the centre and pierced the edge of a white double mat to complete the card.  So quick, so easy and even traditional, who could ask for more!
The good news is we have a double lot of winners in this week's comment game since we had so many comments on Friday!  This week's winners are:
                                                         Jules Ireson!!!
                                                        Belinda Raven!!!
                                                         Paper Junkie!!!

And the winners picked from Friday's post are:
                                                       Suzanne Thomas!!!
                                                         Karen Lotty!!!
                                                          Melody!!!

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

For You In Black And White

Happy weekend everyone!  A channel card in black and white for you today.  I started by embossing my coconut white card using the Couture Creations Houndstooth folder ( you know how I love my houndstooth patterns!)  I cut the piece so that I could make a channel in my card as a border.  I added mounting foam to both pieces so I was able to raise it for dimension.  Next I applied my sticky self adhesive sheet to my black and white striped piece of card.  I peeled the backing paper off of it and covered it with micro beads for texture.  I glued this piece to a larger piece of white card, then attached the two pieces of my embossed background over it leaving about an inch gap for it to be seen.  I cut two of the pretty swirls from the Heartfelt Creations Dutch Iris die set.  I put glue on the edges only and laid it down so the swirls bridged the gap, creating my channel.  Next I cut one of the Decorative Oval windows and nipped out the crossbar.  I cut two of the Vintage Lace Accent pieces, one in black and one in white.  I offset them and stamped my sentiment in the centre of the white one.  I added flatback white pearls to the centre area for a bit of the bling and pierced the edges to wrap it all up.  A good for any occasion sort of card I think!

Now for the part you have been waiting for!  Such a response yesterday, I think I should giveaway stuff everyday!  I really enjoy reading all your comments everyday so thank you for taking the time to make my day special too.  Creative Expressions have shipped out loads of the project books I am told.  If you want to find one to purchase (if your name wasn't drawn!), then just have a look at their website for a list of stockists.  The name that I have drawn out as the winner of the project book is:

Carol Clarke!!!

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

A Giveaway Today (and A Card!)

Hi bloggers!  I have been given the go ahead to give away one of the new Creative Expressions Project Books as a blog candy prize!  I am so excited, I love giving away stuff!  To be entered in this contest, you just need to leave a comment on today's blog post.  I will draw a winner tonight (before my bedtime) and post the winner's name on Saturday's post.  Easy peasy!  For today's card, I embossed the milk coloured card with the Creative Expressions Lattice embossing folder designed by Sam Poole (which, by the way, are back in stock after a long absence!)  I cut out a piece of light blue card using the largest size of Labels 18.  While it was still in the die, I inked up the Elegant Fronds background stamp by Justrite stamps using a clear perfect medium pad.  I stamped it on to my label shape (I didn't use it on an acrylic block for this so it was easier to push it into the die through the foam mounting on the back).  I heat embossed it with clear powder to bring out the pattern.  I also stamped it on milk coloured card, then cut out several of the Bitty Blossoms to create the flowers on the card.  It doesn't show up incredibly well, but they are nicely patterned with a tone on tone look.  I added the flowers to opposite corners of my label shape with some blue and milk coloured swirls from the Bella Rose die set.  I really like the nice fine lines from these swirls.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out so it was on a vertical orientation using one of the tags from the Fancy Tags Two set.  I inked it with Antique Linen while in the die for a gentle stencil effect.  I mounted it with foam in the centre of my focal element.  I pierced it around the edge for a nice finish.  No ribbon or bows today, but still very girlie.  Don't forget to leave a comment if you want to have a chance to win one of the new project books, it is simply lovely too!  All for now, Sue x

Enjoy The Moments

Good morning my crafty friends!  I felt the need for a Christmas card today.  I am often asked what inspires me when I sit down to create a card.  Rarely can I answer that easily.  Today, however, I found this velvet trim one day and I fell in love with it.  It was an odd colour, a sort of celery green, but I just wanted to use it so I designed the card around it.  At the time, I was working on Christmas cards for a show so this is my interpretation of a Christmas card using my funny celery green velvet trim.  I loved the way it came out, mostly because I love unusual colour combos for Christmas cards.  You see traditional ones all the time and they start to feel overdone sometimes to me.  And even though this one is red and green, it is far from traditional.  I started by embossing my white background using the Holiday Magic embossibility folder.  I cut a Holly accent border glued it to the side of my card.  I ran a strip of redline tape down the edge of it, peeled off the red liner and ruched my velvet trim.  I dyed some seam binding using Shabby Shutters distress ink and made a messy bow.  I spritz it for that shabby chic look.  I added two pearl stick pins and a Tim Holtz button to the centre and glued it on my ruched trim.  Next I cut out the Holly Motif in the matching green card.  I cut a Labels 22 frame out of white card using the two largest dies in the set.  I added mounting foam to the back of my frame and placed it over my Holly Motif.  I trimmed away the bits of it that were exposed outside my frame, leaving a pretty filigree look through my frame.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out Holly Motif.  I nipped away the edges leaving only the centre and mounted it with foam in the centre of my frame.  Out of red card, I cut several of the layered poinsettia die.  I stamped them using the matching Heartfelt stamps for definition.  I layered them up and added them to the corner of my frame for a pop of colour.  I added some flatback pearls to the centre of the poinsettias.  A swirl added to the top and bottom of the frame accented it and piercing around the edges finished it off.  Do you share my taste in non traditional Christmas cards?  All for now, Sue x