Stamptacular Girl

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by two challenges. The Sketch Girl blog had a really interesting sketch and the challenge at Stamptacular Sunday was to go back in time. I'm really quite excited about this card. I think it may be one of the prettiest cards I've ever made.


The card base was stamped with Stampin' Up Cornelli Lace jumbo wheel then heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl. The focal element is an old, old card that I've repurposed by cutting with a Spellbinder Nestabilities Label die. It is mounted on a piece of pale, pale pink paper of unknown origin. The ribbon is Sheer Creations from Michaels (thanks for the tip Eleanor). The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short and Sweet.

I just love this card! I don't often make kid cards but I was utterly inspired by this ballerina. I had a lot of fun going 'back in time' for the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. I went through my desk drawers and my 'Tickle Trunk' looking for old bits that I could use in a card. I found a bunch of stickers that are at least 20 years old now. I also happened upon a stash of vintage cards. When my mother was decluttering a number of years back, she gave me a bunch of old cards, some of which I'm guessing go back at least 40 years. She also gave me a 'Birthday Party Ensemble' which is just striking and likely of the same vintage as the cards. I find all of it inspiring and can't wait to repurpose it into some really great cards.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

411 Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today I decided to take advantage of my down time to do some much-needed organizing. That, in addition to laundry, and the day just flew by. Today's card is based on Stamping 411's Saturday Sketch which was really appealling and, with my recently received Close To My Hearth paper, made for a great Birthday card.

The background paper is Close To My Heart You Rock. The solid papers are scrap pieces of Close To My Heart. The origins of the star brad are unknown. The sentiment is Stampin' Up All Holidays.

I really like this card. I think it would be a great card for an adolescent. I just love the colours in the Close To My Heart paper.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Simple Sympathy II

Hello everyone,

I know I promised not to post another sympathy card but when today's No Time To Stamp challenge was to make a sympathy card, I figured it was a sign. I also used this week's Friday Sketchers sketch as inspiration.

All the paper is from Stampin' Up - Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Delicate Dots. The Certainly Celery was textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The sentiment is Verve Forever in Our Hearts. The four gems are a CRAFTS dollar store find.

I really like this card. I find the overall feel to be very calming and I suspect is because I used grey instead of black. I figure I should still put a couple of more sympathy cards together but I promise, and this time I mean it, not to post them.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sketched Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Yes, it's another sympathy card but I promise I'll make a stash of sympathy cards on the weekend that won't be posted! This card is anything but sedate and sombre. I got my latest Close To My Heart order yesterday (thanks Sue) and I just couldn't wait to dig into it. I used yesterday's Sweet Sketch Wednesday as inspiration and I'm not at all disappointed.

The patterned paper is Close To My Heart 'Grace'. The blue stripe is a scrap of Close To My Heart Autmn 'Garden'. The ribbon is Stampin' Up Soft Suede Polka-Dot grosgrain. The image is Stampin' Up Flower Factory. The sentiment is Verve Forever in Our Hearts.

This is certainly not a traditional sympathy card but I think it is still effective because the fall colour are wonderfully muted. I also had fun with the stamps. I've had the set for a while but have not been brave enough to experiment. I wish I had, because I just love how the different elements came together.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon!

Gisèle

Patterned Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on Saturday's Card Patterns sketch which was just too interesting to resist. This is another commissioned card for a colleague who is sending it to a young boy in England (yes the same colleague as Monday's card).

The card base is from Recollections. The tag elements were punched from DCWV Textured Birthday cardstock. The image is an old stamp from one of my daughter's craft kits from years back. Based on other stamps in the same batch, I believe it is a Visuation Design by J Deni. It is stamped on Stampin' Up Whisper White and layered on more DCWV Textured Birthday cardstock and a unknown scrap of black. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings.

I'm working hard to get more comfortable making male cards but jeuvenile boy cards are still a real challenge because I just don't make that many of them. I do love this card! The bright colours contrasted with the soccer balls is really appealing.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Simple Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I will apologize in advance for yet another sympathy card but truly, I sell at least one a week and have a hard time keeping them in stock. I used this week's i{heart}2stamp sketch challenge. It will go towards my entry for the incredible blog candy Jen del Muro is giving away.

The card base is from Recollections. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Whisper White, Basic Black and Elegant Eggplant. The Elegant Eggplant strip was textured with Sizzix Flourish. The image is Verve Filigree Fantasy. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warmest Regards.

I'm very pleased with this sympathy card. I think the colour combination is very classic and the sketch is simple enough to make this a very suitable card without being dreary and heavy.

I also want to admit that I my very first Verve stamps just arrived in the mail today and I just had to use them. I fell in love with the Thankful Hearts set through Jackie Pedro's The Scalloped Edge blog. When I went to the Verve site, I had to practise some serious restraint as there were so many sets that really appealed to me. I am not disappointed and can't wait to get creative.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Polka Dot Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on Sunday's Card Positioning Systems sketch. This is a commissioned sketch for a colleague who is sending it to a young girl turning seven.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Flowers For You upon which is layered a piece of Tempting Turquoise textured with Sizzix Eyelet. The butterfly is a Sizzix Bigz die cut from a piece of glossy paper that was smooched with Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink. The image is Stampin' Up Flight of the Butterfly. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings. The ribbon is a dollar store find. The image and papers were highlighted with purple, turquoise and gold Stickles.

I wanted a very sweet and girly card with a ton of glitter and this certainly fits the bill.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sweet Birthday

Hello everyone,

I can't believe I actually had to miss a day yesterday, it was a really busy Saturday. I spent an inordinate amount of time hooking up my new washer and dryer. I'm also in the process of organizing my craft area, yet again. I think organizing is part and parcel of paper crafting as I always seem to be moving things around, trying to make things simpler.

Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch was really appealing so it became the inspiration for this card.

The card base is from Recollections. The horizontal strips are from my paper stash, bought so long ago that the packaging is long, long gone. I'm pretty sure I bought it at Loblaws Superstore but beyond that I've no idea. The solid blue vertical element is Stampin' Up Brocade Blue textured with Sizzix Diamonds. The sentiment is Studio G Clear Stamps on a scrap piece of Whisper White.

I really wanted to make a male Birthday card because I never have enough and for some reason I find them a challenge. This card though, worked beautifully. I have not done a Sweet Sunday Sketch in a while but I highly recommend them if you're looking for inspiration.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Raising A Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a two-challenge card. It is Wednesday's sketch from 365 Cards and today's Raise the Bar challenge which was to use only a sentiment, no stamped images. I had some Decoart Glamour Dusted images stashed away so I decided it would be a great time to get creative and put together a wedding card.

I used DCWV textured Pastels cardstock for the base. The white element is a piece of Stampin' Up Shimmery White paper textured with the Spellbinders Impressabilities Flourish plate. The ribbon is part of a 'free gift with order' from Scrap 'N Stamp. The focal image is a piece of water colour paper that was coloured with Stampin' Up water colour crayons and spritzed with water. The paper was then covered with Grafix Double Tack mounting film and liberally coated with DecoArt Glamour Dust. A Peel Off's sticker was affixed and cut out. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Small Script.

I just love this card! The colours work beautifully and the ribbon is the perfect compliment to the fancy oval focal point. Most of my close friends are already married but I know that some of my husband's colleagues are getting married over the summer so I'll just put this card in my stash.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Pals KISS

Hello everyone,

Well my back is certainly feeling better so I thought it would only improve more if I got a card made today. I'm really enjoying clean and simple cards these days so I thought I would use today's Pals Paper Arts KISS challenge. That I decided to make yet another sympathy card is not a reflection on how I'm feeling but rather I can't keep up with the demand for sympathy cards at the office.

>The card base is from Recollections. The image is Inkadinkado Delicate Branches which was highlighted with Cinnamon and Crystal Ice Stickles. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warmest Regards.

This is the first time I used this set from Inkadinkado and I can't wait to play with it to see what else I can come up with. I'm hoping it will make some really nice masculine birthday cards.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Saturday Girl's Club Project Update

Hello everyone,

I don't have a card for you today. It has been the usual wicked Wednesday and I've pulled a muscle in my back so am not feeling overly creative tonight. I still wanted to feed the blog however, so I thought I would provide you an update of the Saturday's Girl's Club Project that I posted at the end of January.

As you can see, the girls' projects turned out beautifully. The bags were filled with cinnamon heart candies and candy hearts. The girls had a lot of fun decorating the bags and it was a really fun afternoon.

We're now planning a Mother's day project. I'm thinking maybe bag toppers and cards. We'll have to see.

I hope you enjoy their projects and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Funky Sketched Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today's fun card was a commissioned thank you for a colleague and is based on Monday's Sketch and Stash Challenge blog.

The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye Magnolia. The image is Stampin' Up All in the Family stamped on a scrap of Whisper White. The sentiment is Gina K. Tag, You're It! The ribbon is Stampin' Up Dusty Durango polka dot. The layered flowers and brad are old stash pieces likely from Multicrafts and the dollar store, but the packaging is long, long gone.

I really liked the sketch and was purposely trying to make this a fun card. I love the All in the Family set but find it rather hard to use. The stamps are small and almost impossible to place properly without a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. I'm very pleased with this card!

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Caardvarks Challenge Card

Hello everyone,

I've a really special card for you tonight. The Caardvarks blog is sponsoring a publication challenge. The winner's card will be published in the July 2010 issue of Cards Magazine. The challenge was make a wedding card.

The card base is from Recollections. It was textured with Stampin' Up's Cornelli Lace Wheel in VersaMark and heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl embossing powder. The focal element is a Spellbinders Shapeabilities Renaissance Hearts Pendant. The blue die-cut pendant was cut from a piece of glossy card stock which was smooched with Denim and Cloudy Blue Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink, then covered with a piece of Grafix Double Tack Mounting Film and liberally sprinkled with DecoArt Glamour Dust. The white die-cut element used the exact same technique except the glossy card stock was smooched with Pearl and Silver Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink Mixatives. The sentiment is Stampabilities Changes Everything stamped in Jet Black StazOn on a scrap of Stampin' Up Whisper White and mounted on another piece of smooched and glittered glossy card stock. The ribbon is Celebrate It Sheer Creations from Michaels. Square cut outs, leftover from the die-cut, were affixed to both the pendant and sentiment elements.

I decided that my best card would be one made from all my favourite things. I love using Ranger's Alcohol Inks as the effect is so beautiful and the paper never turns out the same way twice. I also love anything that is Glamour Dusted as that sparkle is just gorgeous. More favourites, the Cornelli Lace Wheel, Silver Pearl embossing powder, Spellbinders dies, the sentiment and the ribbon. All together, I think it makes a very beautiful wedding card.

I hope you enjoy, cross your fingers and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

i {heart} Birthdays

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a birthday card based on this week's i {heart} 2 stamp Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT). Jen del Muro is offering some incredible prizes for participating in all the SYFTT sketches in February.

I went to my scrap box for this card. There is a piece of Generations Pretty Simple, a scrap of Paper Pizazz Green w/Daisies and some scrap Stampin' Up Very Vanilla. The background paper was textured with Sizzix Pattern 1 and highlighted with Star Dust Stickles. The brads are from Mulitcrafts. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings.

I love the purple and green colour combination. It is so classic. I'm very happy with this card and love how it just came together.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Creative Congratulations

Hello everyone,

I used two challenges for today's card. The Allsorts Challenge was a three, two, one challenge - use three of one item, two of another and one of something. I also used yesterday's sketch from Creatively Yours as I found the graphic pattern very appealing.


I used three different Stampin' Up Cottage Wall papers as well as some Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry scraps and Quickutz Tropical QuickStripz. There are two embellishments - Rich Razzleberry polka dot ribbon and Peggy's Pretties. The single sentiment is from Waltzingmouse.

I love, love, love the Cottage Wall paper. The colours and pattern are just so beautiful. This is a combination that I've used before and will likely use again. This card is actually for a friend who was looking for a congratulations card for her son's girlfriend.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's Clean & Simple sketch challenge was the perfect inspiration for today's card.

The card base is from Recollections. The image is Stampin' Up Playful Petals. It was coloured with Faber Castell artist pens after being heat embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings. As usual, I wasn't all that thrilled with my colouring so I thought I would try covering the image with Close To My Heart Liquid Glass and see what happens.

I love the clean and simple aspect of this card but I have no confidence in my colouring abilities. Practise, practise, practise. Again, I had a tough time getting a nice photograph. My camera doesn't like white space. I'm going to try again tomorrow in daylight to see if I get a better photo. It has also been tough double-tasking between blogging and watching the Olymic opening ceremonies.

I'll just hope that you enjoy today's card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

365 Keeping It Simple

Hello again everyone,

This is my second post for today's 365 Cards challenge which was to keep it simple. The challenge was to stamp an image in one colour and add one embellishment that related to the image. Very fun!

This is another Recollections card base. The image is Inkadinkado Hearts. The heart brad is from Multicrafts. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses.

This is another great challenge for working out issues with clean and simple cards. I think this is a wonderful Valentine. I love it!

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

365 White Space

Hello everyone,

This post in one of two for today. The 365 Cards blog had a great challenge yesterday and another today that I just couldn't resist so I was a bit of a card-making fool. The first challenge was to stamp only in the bottom right corner of the card and leave the rest white. The challenge was so irresistible that I made three cards.

I thought I would try some new card bases, these are from Recollections. The images are all Stampin' Up Circle Circus in Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay and Rich Razzleberry. Each one is highlighted with a coordinating Peggy's Pretties. The sentiment is Gina K. Tag, You're It!

I just love the simplicity of these cards. I really could have kept going and going. This challenge is perfect if you're trying to get comfortable with clean and simple cards. The only problem I have with these cards is photographing them. I suspect it would be easier if I photographed in daylight but that is long gone by the time I get creative. It seemed to work reasonably well photographing the three cards together.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Inspired Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on two challenges. Creative Inspirations wanted us to use our scrap bins and ColourQ was looking for a card with Stampin' Up Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and White. Thank goodnes I've a big scrap box.

I used a Halcraft card base. Each strip of Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Close To Cocoa and Chocolate Chip was stamped with Stampin' Up I {Love} Love wheel. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses. Peggy's Pretties add just a bit of bling.

I have to say I wasn't sure about this colour combination but I love how my card turned out. I was looking to do something simple yet impactful and this fits the bill. It is amazing how elements that may not thrill you, can come together and make a really great card. I also love using the Stampin' Around Wheel and I don't use it often enough. It is always very impactful. I also have to mention Peggy's Pretties (I get them at Scrap 'n Stamp) which are just half rounds that have been painted beautiful colours and I just love how they look on cards.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Throwdown

Hello everyone,

It is club night tonight so I'm pushed for time in a big way. I decided to take up the Tuesday Throwdown and make a clean and simple congratulations card.

I used a Halcraft card base. The image is Stampin' Up Asian Artistry. The sentiment is Gina K. Tags Lines.

I am very pleased with this card. When I fist saw this set I knew it would be perfect for clean and simple cards. I know I'll get a lot of use from these stamps.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Valentine Mojo

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a two-challenge card. The Kaboodle Doodles challenge asked for spots and stripes and Mojo Monday provided an irresistible sketch.

The background paper is Making Memories Be Mine Stripe Love Struck. The white layer is Stampin' Up Whisper White textured with Sizzix small dots and highlighted with Fruit Punch Stickles. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses. It is stamped on scrap of Whisper White which is mounted on a scrap of Rose Red. Both were cut with Spellbinders Nestability. There is also a scrap of Stampin' Up Basic Black. The ribbon is Offray organdy.

I love this Valentine! The Mojo Monday sketch was so appealing I couldn't resist. I also used some favourite things - Stickles and organdy ribbon.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Boys Valentine Challenge

Hello everyone,

My card today is based on today's "Love Is In The Air" challenge from Stamptacular Sunday Challenge . They've asked for a card which demonstrated love without using a heart. Now this particular card is not for my love, but it is a commissioned card for the young son of a colleague (her older son will get the blue Valentine).

I used a Halcraft card base. The airplane is from Visuation Design and is a stamp that was once in my daughter's craft box when she was just a tot. I coloured it with a red Tombow and embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder. The sentiment was stamped with letters, again, found in my daughter's craft box. I suspect they were part of an Inkadinkado set that I found years and years ago at Costco. I sponged the sky and sun and I drew in the OX string with a Staedtler pen.

This is most definitely not the type of card I usually create but then it is rare for me to make kids cards, let alone little boy cards. I'm quite happy with the playfulness of this card. I like how it is not a really mushy Valentine which I believe could be much more appealing to a young boy.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Unorthodox Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's Valentine is utterly and completely out of the box. This is a commissioned card from a colleague at the office who asked for a Valentine for her older son who is a huge Toronto Maple Leaf fan. I think this really fits the bill. I used today's i{heart}2stamp sketch to help me keep this design focused.


I used a Halcraft card base on which I rolled Stampin' Up's I {Love} Love jumbo wheel. The leaves were cut with a Spellbinders die in Stampin' Up Whisper White. The heart strip was made with a piece of Whisper White and Brilliant Blue and stamped with TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses and Inkadinkado Hearts. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted mounted on a piece of Whisper White, Brilliant Blue and Basic Black scraps.

When all is said and done, I think I actually like this card. It is certainly different. I hope that my colleague and her son love it!

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Doodled Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by the sketch at Clean & Simple Stamping. I really think I'm getting the hang of clean and simple, I'm sure enjoying the results.

I used a Halcraft card base. The patterned paper is Making Memories Valentine Paisley Love Struck. The ribbon is American Crafts. The image is Stampin' Up Doodle This highlighted with Fruit Punch Stickles. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses.

I really like how I managed to coordinate the different elements of this card. I thought the image related well to the paper and the ribbon related well to the image. It is so nice when it comes together like this.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Diva Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on yesterday's Diva Coffee Break Designs sketch challenge which was awesome. It is one of those sketches that gets my inspiration flowing and I know I could easily make a ton of cards using this design!

The card base is from Halcraft. The paper is Stampin' Up Sending Love Specialty paper. The ribbon is Sheer Creations organdy from Michaels. The pearl brad is from Multicrafts. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings.
I went all-out feminine for this card. I just couldn't help mysel once I pulled out the pink flowered paper. It is my favourite in that paper series. Of course, if I'm using favourites, I'm going to use that organdy ribbon. If you're inclined, check out the Diva's cards, they are truly inspiring. I stuck pretty closely to the original sketch with this card but I see so very many possibilities.
Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Another Four Challenge Valentine

Hello everyone,

Well it is the season and I just can't seem to stop with the Valentines. Goodness knows what I'm going to do with them all. This card is inspired by today's 365 Cards blog which asked for a dominant heart shape, the ABC Challenge was to use something new, Creative Inspirations was looking for pink and cream and Creative Belli was looking for riboons.

The card base is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla. The heart is woven with an assortment of strips of Stampin' Up Sending Love Specialty paper. The ribbon is a dollar store find. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses.

I just love this card! I'm sure I didn't do the weave properly but it seemed to turn out OK anyway. The paper and ribbon are both new. I also just love the pink and cream combination, it's a classic.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Four Challenge Valentine

Hello everyone,

I used four different challenges to help build today's card. The challenge at 365 Cards was to include the word 'love' in a sentiment, Creative Card Crew asked for a Valentine, Jacksonbelle Embellishments was looking for any combination of buttons, bows or brads and Lord Have Mercy! provided the sketch.

The card base is from Halcraft. The heart paper is BW Sweet Talk Pattern Hearts. The textured square is Quickutz while the base of that element is some scrap Stampin' Up Rose Red. The brads are Recollections. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses.

I'm really pleased with this card. I couldn't resist picking up a sheet of the heart paper, it was just too appealing as were the brads.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Three Challenge Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's card was inspired by three challenges. The Pink Elephant challenge called for pink, My Grafico's challenge was looking for metal, and today's Sketch and Stash Challenge was a great sketch.

All of the paper is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla, Pretty In Pink and Sending Love Specialty Paper. The image is Inkadinkado Hearts embossed with Close To My Heart Baby Pink embossing powder and cut with a Spellbinders scalloped circle die. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses. The ribbon is Celebrate It Sheer Creations from Michaels. The brads are Recollections.

I'm very pleased with this card. It is softly romantic and very, very pretty. I'd love getting a card like this one but I suspect it might just be a titch too pink for my hubby.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle