Petal Power

It's the double challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches today and I have a birthday card to share with you. For this challenge you must use the sketch AND the colours given. I must say I do like this combination.

I rotated the sketch, which is allowed, of course, and moved the sentiment over, but I think you can still see the basic sketch in my card. I used a stamp set that I haven't used in forever! It's called Paisley Petals, and I've probably only used it a couple of times before.

I stamped the large bloom image three times onto Wisteria Wonder card (it looks a little pink here, but it definitely is pale purple) using the Rose Red ink and fussy cut them out.

 You can see one of the flowers is popped up on foam pads to add a little dimension to my card. The bold sentiment is one of my favourites from the set Happiest Birthday Wishes.

The card used for the layer is Razzleberry ( actually the closest match I have, it's OK to use ink or card which is not Stampin Up, we just use the names for reference, as long as it's close)

 I'm scheduling this post as today we are heading off to London for a couple of days to see a show and visit some museums, and mooch around. A late birthday celebration.

A CASEd Card

It's my month as hostess at Technique Time Tuesday and we are more than half way through October so it's time for some mid-month motivation as I case one of the cards already submitted in the challenge.  You may remember this month's technique is Faux Cloisonne - it's got one or two of you running to Google to find out what real cloisonne is, but to make it easy we have a complete tutorial for you over on the blog, just click here.
The card I cased is this one from Jacqueline

and here is my card

I chose another regal colour, and CASEd the shape and paper pierced border from Jacqueline's card. Instead of one large central flower (the poinsettia) I have made a bouquet, with visiting butterflies. Here's a close up of the faux cloisonne technique

The stamps are from Paisley Patterns, Reason To Smile and Butterfly Potpourrie and for my paper I used a glossy catalogue from an art gallery, which had a good weight to it as well as beautiful shiny colours- perfect for the job.

Did I mention it is my birthday today - it's a big one too, so I'll be out celebrating with all my family this evening.  I might send this card to myself, I really love it so much -thanks for the inspiration Jacqueline!

Blurred Image

Today is the first Tuesday in July and we have a brand new challenge for you over at Technique Time Tuesday. It's called the Blurred Image and it's really simple, there's even a tutorial showing you how to do it. Basically, all you need is an aquapainter and a stamped image. You can check it out by visiting the blog
Here's my card

You will see that I used the technique on my background. I stamped the flower image from Paisley Petals and then used the aquapainter to blur the image slightly. The central panel is made with two layers of cs, an image cut out of some Paisley Petals DP and more blurred image flowers,have a closer look

A few coordinating gems and a heat embossed sentiment from Friendly Phrases and my card is ready. The other DT members have created some awesome and very inspirational projects, so do go and take a look.

Pedestal Pop Up for Hubby

Today is my husband's birthday.  We can't celebrate yet as he's in the States until Sunday, but I thought I would sit down and follow the excellent tutorial on Technique Tuesday to make him a pedestal pop up card. I was helped by the fact that it's snowing here in the UK where I live and so school is shut, the buses aren't running and we all get an extra day off! They are called Snow Days and probably those of you who live out there where snow is dealt with in a much more matter of fact, get-on-with-it sort of way will be amazed!
Any way here is my card

the inside with a pop up bird.

I used two stamp sets, Fine feathers and Nature Walk, and I stamped onto polka dot paper and Naturals Ivory cs, using chocolate chip, crumb cake and soft suede inks.  The Chocolate chip scalloped edge  ribbon picks up the polka dot theme.  I picked up the colour scheme with some burgundy DSP from the Paisley Petals range and I've fussy cut out one feather and raised in on dimensionals to give the front a bit more interest.
OK, so it's not all lovey dovey for the man in my life, but I know what he will like is the 'paper engineering' - the clever pop up pedestal, inside. i rather like the inside decoration too and I think I might be doing a bit more of this.

Dynamic Duo Green and Orange

I am not at home at the moment, so crafting is a bit more difficult than normal, but I thought I would still have a go at one or two of the challenge blogs.  This is my first offering - it's for Dymamic Duos colour challenge - orange and green.

I stamped the green leaf image from SU's French Foliage set first and then added a punched daisy flower to each one. I put a little orange rhinestone for the centre of the flowers. Then I stamped and coloured the leaf from another SU set, Paisley Petals, and coloured it using Promarkers.  I stamped the flower from the same set onto orange cardstock and heat embossed it to make the definition on the flower stand out and then snipped these two images out to combine them and pop them up with dimensionals. I edged the card with my Pear Pizazz Stampwrite marker and the paper twine and little leaf and flower tag finishes the job!
I have to admit that I'm really into watching the Olympics, and was in London yesterday to see the Ladies' Marathon...wow, they are amazing, but, watching them, I think I'll stick to crafting!

Card for Ellie

I made this card for my daughter, who is doing something very exciting at the moment and living away from home for the first time.  We are awaiting exam results in August so I'm getting ready -  and, no matter the outcome I am very proud of all she has achieved over the last two years.  As she is 18, this card also meets the criteria forSt Luke's Charity Cards Challenge, where they are asking for cards for teenagers.

I chose some of her favourite things (see the little shoe?) , and,yes, that is a real i-tunes card.  I popped it up on dimensionals after mounting it on some foil paper cut out into a big note shape using my Big Shot and matching lime green cardstock. The ribbon and bow are made from some beautiful SU organdy ribbon in Lucky Limeade and I stamped a little 'Well Done', which is a bit understated, but she doesn't like a fuss!
August 6th - just found out this card was a runner up in the challenge, I'm chuffed to bits!

Daffodil and Black

I have made several daffodill and black, with some embossing for dessert, cards but only when this idea materialised was I completely happy. The monochrome papers are from Papermania and the ribbon is from my stash, but the flowers and sentiment are both Stampin'Up.  The flower is from Paisley Petals - I LOVE this suite of stamps and paper (I must get more paper as I've nearly used it all up). I stamped and embossed them and cut them out and added a few 'Sweet Buttons' from the embosslits dies, which emboss and cut out at the same time- simples! If you are wondering, the colours are this weeks challenge from the dynamic duos challenge.