Stamping & Friendship

Hello everyone,

I've two very special cards for you today. One of my best friends, who is brand spanking new to stamping, asked for help making two cards. We got together tonight and had a great time cardmaking. It is one of my favourite things about stamping - sharing my obsession.

The paper is DCWV Birthday, Stampin' Up Whisper White and unknown bits from Valerie's stash. The pink paper was textured with Cuttlebug's Happy Birthday dry embossing folder. I believe the image is Stampendous and is highlighted with Gold Stickles. The ribbon is American crafts.

The background paper is Autumn Leaves Fashionfolio which is textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The white layers are Stampin' Up Whisper White. The patterned paper is Stampin' Up Raspberry Tart. The image and sentiment is Stampin' Up Special Blessing. The image is heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl. The ribbon is Celebrate It Sheer Creations from Michaels.

I just love both of these cards. They are so very pretty and just perfect for the recipients; two of Valerie's nieces. It was a great evening of cardmaking and I hope just the first of many. Thanks for the wonderful evening Valerie.

I not sure if I'm going to manage posting for the next couple of days. I'm participating in a 12-hour charity crop on Saturday and still have to get all my supplies together. I've never done a crop before and I'm earnest about being prepared. I'm not sure how I'm going to get it all together in time as life in general just keeps encroaching on my crafting time.

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

Gisèle

Father's Day Sketch

Hello everyone,

Yeah, I'm starting Father's Day cards. I know I'm going to need them so why not. I have also been dying to play with some new Stampin' Up paper that I got recently. I used this week's Tuesday Morning Sketch challenge because I thought the sentiment stamp was really well suited to the sketch.

The paper is all Stampin' Up - To The Nines, Sahara Sand, Sage Shadow and Chocolate Chip. The paper is textured with Cuttlebug's Houndstooth embossing folder. The sentiment is Stampin' Up All Holidays. The image is Sweet 'n Sassy Autumn Blessings.

I think this is a great Father's Day card. I love the colours and the designer paper certainly did not disappoint. The sketch was interesting and once I figured out which elements I wanted to use, outside the sentiment, it came together easily.

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

Gisèle

Kraft For You

Hello everyone,

It's been a really busy day and the week looks even more hectic so I jumped on today's Jacksonbelle Tuesday Challenge with my Kraft paper and adhesive.


The paper is all Stampin' Up - Kraft, Basic Black and Urban Oasis. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value.

I find this card absolutely striking. I love kraft and black together. I used this particular sentiment because I thought this card could be good for Mother's Day or a birthday or even a sympathy card. I have to confess, I feel as though I copped out with this card. I just had to put a few bits together thanks to the Urban Oasis paper.

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

Gisèle

Aqua Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on two challenges, Techno Stamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge provided a very interesting sketch to follow and the Pink Elephant challenge was to use the colour aqua. Given the idea that came to me when I saw the sketch, aqua was pretty easy.

The paper is all Stampin' Up - Bermuda Bay, Whisper White and Shimmery White. The background layer is textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The image is Hero Arts Starburst Lace and is highlighted with a Peggy's Pretties. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted. The ribbon is Stampin' Up polka dot grosgrain.

I think this is one of my favourite Mother's Day cards so far. I love the colour combination of Bermuda Bay and white. It is so clean and crisp. I also love the Starburst Lace stamp. It is so very, very striking. I suspect I'll be tempted to overuse it.

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

Gisèle

Wonderfully Sweet

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday sketch. I'm putting together Mother's Day cards so I thought I would combine the two.


The card base is from Recollections. The green strip is an unknown stash piece. The blue strip is Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise. Both the green and blue strips are textured with Cuttlebug D'vine Swirl dry embossing folder. The white strip is Stampin' Up Shimmery White which is layered with Offray Galena Opal ribbon. The focal element is DCWV All Dressed Up cut from Spellbinders Label 9. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warm Words layered on another scrap of green stash paper and highlighted with turquoise Stickles.

I love how wonderfully fresh this card turned out. I know some of my male colleagues will want Mother's Day cards that are not overly frou frou and I think this will be emminently suitable.

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

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Mother's Day

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by yesterday's Clean & Simple Stamping sketch.


The card base is from Recollections. The designer paper is Stampin' Up Raspberry Tart. The flower is Sizzix Embosslits Simple Flower cut from Stampin' Up Cameo Coral, layered with a scrap of Ranger alcohol ink smooshed vellum. The brad is from Multicrafts. The sentiment is Stampin' Up All Holidays.
I just love this card. Everything works together beautifully.
Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Simply Wonderful

Hello everyone,

I'm finally feeling like I've got my mojo back. Yesterday's Pals Paper Arts challenge was to 'Keep It Simple Sweetie', the type of challenge that I love so I decided to just go for it. I went through my stamps to see what appealed and came across Stampin' Up's Botanical Blooms. Am I ever glad this set was inspiring because this card is spectacular!

The card base is from Recollections. The images are the two-step Stampin' Up set Botanical Blooms. The first part of the stamp, the outline, was stamped with Soft Suede. The second part of the stamp, the fill, was stamped after being coloured with watercolour crayons and spritzed with water. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warm Words.

I love this card! It is truly a KISS card. While I could have positioned the leaves better, it adds a certain dimension because it isn't perfect. Thank goodness for the Stamp-a-ma-jig! This is a tool I don't think I'd want to live without.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Yet Another Sketched Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I know, I know, it's another sympathy card. This one, unfortunately, is not for my stash but for a friend and colleague whose mother has just passed away. As my creativity is still not up to par I used today's Eat, Sleep, Stamp sketch to help me focus.

The paper is DCWV Far East Stack, Close To My Heart Vineyard Berry and Stampin' Up Very Vanilla. The image and sentiment are Verve Forever In Our Hearts and Thankful Accents. The focal element was cut with the Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Three. The embellishments are Peggy's Pretties.

This card was extremely difficult to pull together. Not because of the topic but I'm just not feeling all that creative. I sat at my desk for the longest time to try to come up with something and it just took forever to find paper and a sentiment. If it weren't for the sketch, I don't think it would have happened tonight. I have to say I really like DCWV's Far East paper. Although I don't dislike Asian inspired material, I don't necessarily gravitate towards it however, I see tremendous possibilities in each and every sheet of this particular stack.

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

Gisèle

Diva Sketch

Hello everyone,

Well, my creativity remains at a low ebb after this past weekend's marathon so I've turned to today's Diva Coffee Break Designs sketch for inspiration.


All the paper is Stampin' Up Cottage Wall, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and Orchid Opulence. The images and sentiment are My Sentiments Exactly Live & Learn. The Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry layers were textured with Cuttlebug's Everyday Greetings and Victoria.

I love this card. The sketch utterly appealing. Using the Cottage Wall paper, one of my favourites, really simplified putting this card together with such wonderful results. That is what makes designer papers so great to use.

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

Gisèle

Mother's Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses the Monday Lunchtime Sketch from Techno Stamper. It was one of those sketches that I find absolutely appealing and irresistible.

The paper is all Autumn Leaves Emily. The image is Stampin' Up Medallion which is highlighted with Star Dust Stickles. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted.

This is a much more simple card than it actually appears. Keeping to just one type of fantastic paper made all the difference. I really like this card. The medallion stamp is one of my very favourites. I actually worry that I use it too often and I know I would use it even more. I actually stamped the medallion on the wrong side of the paper - I meant it to be on the lavender side as opposed to the white. Oh well, it still works just fine.

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

Gisèle

Sweet Butterfly

Hello everyone,

It shouldn't be much of a surprise that my creativity is lagging somewhat today after yesterday's marathon. I turned to a favourite, Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch to help me focus and it worked it's usual magic.


The background paper is My Mind's Eye Magnolia. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Ruby Red, Wild Wasabi, More Mustard and Whisper White. The Ruby Red layer was embossed with the Sizzix Pattern 2 texture plate and highlighted with Platinum Stickles. The More Mustard layer was textured with the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder. The image, stamped in black Versafine and heat embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder, is Technique Tuesday BoHo Buzz. The image is painted with an Aqua Painter and Stampin' Up Earth Elements watercolour crayons and highlighted with Platinum Stickles. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value. The metal flower brad is from Multicrafts.

I love the warm colours of this card. I`m still not thrilled with my colouring / painting abilities but that just takes practise. This is still a lovely card.

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

Gisèle

Butterfly Space

Hello everyone,

This is the last one! I managed to do all of this week's 365 Cards white space challenges. It was a great day of card making and I really wish I could have creative days like this more often.

The card base is from Recollections. The paper is Stampin' Up Dusty Durango textured with Cuttlebug's Floral Fantasy embossing folder. The butterflies were cut with the Sizzix Embosslits Beautiful Wings. The butterflies were cut from leftover DecoArt Glamour Dusted and Ranger alcohol ink smooshed paper.

I am very pleased with this card. I had to go through all of my solid paper stash to find one that actually set off the butterflies. Dusty Durango works wonderfully.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Simple One Layer

Hello everyone,

As soon as I saw this 365 Cards white space sketch on Friday, I knew I wanted to combine it with the new one-layer Wednesday at my favourite blog, Susan Raihala's Simplicity.

The card base is --- Recollections. The image is Verve Filigree Fantasy. The pearls are an unknown part of my stash, could be dollar store, could be Multicrafts.

I love this card. I wish I didn't need an excuse to do a one layer card. They are always so wonderful but I feel I'm ripping off the recipient because there isn't enough extra. I guess it will just depend on the recipient. All that being said, I didn't add a sentiment. I felt it would mess up the sketch and put it out of balance. I think this card would be good for a wedding, birthday, Mom's day. I suspect that when I fianlly figure out it's ultimate purpose, then I'll add the sentiment.

Please enjoy and come back for more later.

Gisèle

Stars and Arrows

Hello everyone,

Here's my next 365 Cards sketch card.

The card base is from Recollections. The paper is Close To My Heart You Rock, Gold Rush, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim. The white piece is a scrap of Stampin' Up Whisper White. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Greetings.

One of my favourite paper sets ever is You Rock. I love the blues, greens, oranges and purples. The starts are more versatile that I ever imagined.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again later!

Gisèle

Another Sketched Sympathy

Hello everyone,

If productive, I'll be making a number of posts today. Last week, 365 Cards was all about white space. They ran a different sketch each day and I aim to do them all. For some reason, this card just came together as a sympathy card. It just happens that way sometimes.

All the paper in this card is Stampin' Up - Sahara Sand, Whisper White and To The Nines. The images and sentiments are Verve Forever In Our Hearts.

I love the simplicity of this card. It is calm and peaceful and beautiful. I love it when a card turns out this nicely.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Vanilla Space

Hello everyone,

This is my second post today and my take on Tuesday's 365 Cards white space challenge. All week 365 Cards is doing white space challenges and I'm going to try to do every challenge.


The paper on this card is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and Bella Bleu. The Very Vanilla was embossed with the Sizzix Damask plate. The image is Verve Thankful Accents. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted. The pearls are from Hero Arts.

I fell in love with the Bella Bleu paper at club night when I discovered that that catalogue just didn't do it justice. I may have to get a second pack before it retires. I have to say I also love the Hero Arts pearls and I think they will become a staple. I think this is a beautiful Mother`s day card.

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

Gisèle

Simple and Shiny

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on Monday's 365 Cards white space sketch. They did a white space sketch every day this week and I'm hoping over the next couple of days to do each one of them. Fingers crossed anyway.

The card base is from Recollections. The focal paper is Crafts - a dollar store find. The ribbon is also Crafts. The oval is Stampin' Up Whisper White textured with Cuttlebug's D'vine Swirl.

Given the interesting sketch, I wanted to use some really eye catching paper and this certainly does the trick. I also liked texturing the oval. It remains white but relates really well to the paper. I will likely add a sentiment at some point as I think this would make a great wedding card.

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

Gisèle

Christmas in April

Hello everyone,

I know, I know it's too early for Christmas if you're a normal person. Cardmakers however, are already thinking Christmas because the cards don't make themselves you know. I actually had packed up my Christmas stuff because I'm not really ready to think Christmas. This week's ABC Christmas Challenge is holly which is my all time favourite Christmas image - I couldn't resist. I also loved today's Clean & Simple sketch challenge so I decided to combine the two into a Christmas card.


The card base is Recollections. The green and white layers are Stampin' Up Green Galore and Whisper White. The Whisper White is textured with Sizzix Holly & Berries. The red printed paper is atd Under The Tree. The image is Hero Arts Winter which is highlighted with Xmas Red Stickles. The sentiment is Impression Obsession Christmas Sentiments.

I love this card! Maybe I'm missing Christmas cards more than I thought or it is the combination of holly and the sketch but I think this is a great card.

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

Gisèle

Asian Butterflies

Hello everyone,

So, I am not quite finished with the watercolour technique after all. Today's card was inspired by today's Pals Paper Arts sketch and Flutter By Wednesday's open challenge.


The background paper and the vertical strip is DCWV Far East stack. The image is Impression Obsession Butterfly. The stamp was coloured with Stampin' Up watercolour crayons, spritzed with water and stamped on watercolour paper. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value.

I just love this card! Asian motifs are not necessarily my style but there was something so very appealing about this paper. I'm very excited to explore the possibilities. The butterfly stamp was just irresistible and it works so beautifully with the watercolour technique.

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

Gisèle

Yet Another Three Challenge Birthday

Hello everyone,

I used three challenges for today's card. This week's Monday Lunchtime Sketch challenge provided a really appealing sketch. Monday's Color Chef challenge asked for pink, black and white. This week's Pink Elephant Challenge was actually a recipe challenge to use one image, two dies and three embellishments.


The background and striped layers are DCWV All Dressed Up. The pink layer is Multicrafts Forever In Time. The black and white layers are Stampin' Up Basic Black and Whisper White. The focal image is Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Buds stamped on a piece of Whisper White cut with the Spellbinders Label Eleven. The image was embossed with Close To My Heart black embossing powder. The focal image is layered on a piece of Basic Black cut with the Spellbinders Label Ten which was textured with Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy dry embossing folder. The metal brad is from Multicrafts. The ribbon is Michael's Celebrate It. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet. The pearls are from Hero Arts.

Filling the Pink Elephant recipe:
1 image - Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Buds
2 dies - Spellbinders Labels Ten and Eleven
3 embellishments - ribbon, flower brad, pearls

I just love this card. Pink, black and white are a beautiful colour combination. The flower brad was a stroke of genius on my third attempt and it turned out better than I expected. I wish all my cards turned out like this.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sunshine and Teal

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on Sunday's Card Positioning Systems sketch.

All the paper on this card is Stampin' Up - Sweet Pea, Whisper White, So Saffron and Taken With Teal. The So Saffron layer was textured with Cuttlebug's Spot and Dots dry embossing folder. The image is Hero Arts Pop Stems and is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

This is a bright and cherry card. I love the So Saffron and Taken With Teal combination. I decided against a sentiment so this card could really be used for any occasion.

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

Gisèle

Sweet Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by yesterday's Sweet Sunday Sketch from Karen Giron. My apologies for yet another sympathy card, I have to keep a stash because I go through them awfully quick.

The background paper is Autumn Leaves Emily. The green strip is Multicrafts Forever In Time. The purple paper is also Autumn Leaves Emily. The flowers, Bosskut Tri-Flowers, are cut from a combination of Autumn Leaves Emily and Stampin' Up Whisper White. The brads are Making Memories. The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts.

I love Sweet Sunday Sketches. They are always so appealing. When I started putting this card together I just had to use the Forever In Time paper. It doesn't photograph really well but there is a lovely texture to the paper that is just beautiful.

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

Gisèle

Scrapped Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by Friday's Everything Old Is New Again challenge to use only scraps and yesterday's Sketch Saturday. Again, I couldn't resist the challenge of going through my scrap box and I think Sketch Saturday's sketch was just made for scraps.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Ruby Red textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The brown paper is Stampin' Up Bella Rose. The lighter paper is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla. The four strips were also textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The patterned paper is a free gift that I got with an order from Scrap 'n Stamp. The image is Stampin' Up Pockette Silhouettes. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages. The embellishments are Peggy's Pretties.

I love this card! I started with the patterned paper and drew everything from there because my scrap was only 1.5" by 5.5". I also found that texturing really added dimension to the scrap pieces. The image and sentiments are favourites of mine. I couldn't not do the Everything Old Is New Again challenge after last week's bonanza. I promise Allison, only one card this week.

Please enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Flowered Birthday

Hello everyone,

It's a late night posting tonight. I was helping a friend, who is relatively new to stamping, figure out her Stampin' Up order. I suspect we'll have her hooked before long. Anyway, it's late and I wanted something quick and easy - the fourth time was the charm.

The card base is Recollections. The image is Impression Obsession Flowers. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages. The pearl embellishments are Hero Arts pearls.

I just love this card. It is simple and beautiful. Sometimes less really is more.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Embellished Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by today's Embellish Magazine colour challenge of Red, White, Black and Kraft.


The card base is Stampin' Up Kraft paper. The remaining paper is also Stampin' Up - Basic Black, Real Red and Whisper White. The black layer was textured with Sizzix Pattern 2. The red layer was textured with Cuttlebug Moroccan Screen. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value. The image is Hero Arts Starburst Lace which is cut with a Spellbinders Nestabilities. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet.

From the moment I saw this Hero Arts stamp, I wanted it. It came in today's mail and I am not at all disappointed. Like the Stampin' Up Medallion stamp, I know I will get a ton of use from this stamp. I'm really impressed with this colour combination. It really works. I think this is a great card!

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Cool Challenge

Hi everyone,

Thanks to Allison at Stampin' When I Can, I found a really irresistable challenge. It is Stamping Ground's What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday. My desk isn't too bad at the moment which is why I'm not shy about posting.

I won't have time to do up today's card until later (further to yesterday's post, I'm celebrating Cheri's 50th Birthday tonight) so it's not yet a total disaster. If I'm crafting, my laptop is on. I have the majority of my supplies in front of me in a combination of cubbies and drawers. My punches and embellishments are on the wall to the right of my desk. Behind my desk (not pictured) is a large cupboard which also holds my Big Shot supplies and some bins with paper. I'm in the process of organizing my acrylic and cling stamps as I just got an order of binders from Gina K. I also just received an order from Addicted To Rubber Stamps so I'm getting ready to experiment a titch. On top of that, I'm planning for my first crop on May 1st. I've never done one before and it is a 12-hour fundraiser. I should be able to make a ton of cards in twelve hours but only if I've got it together. I don't know if I'll last twelve hours but we'll see.

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

Gisèle

Chocolate Pattern

Hello everyone,

Today's card is really special. It is a 50th birthday card for one of my very best friends and my daughter's godmother. She is a major chocoholic and I bought the Sweet 'n Sassy Chocoholic stamp set with her in mind. I've used Saturday's irresistible Card Patterns sketch as inspiration.

The background paper is part of an unknown stash that was acquired a long, long time ago. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink and Whisper White. The images and sentiment are Sweet 'n Sassy Chocoholic. The images are highlighted with Cinnamon and Fruit Punch Stickles. The ribbon is a dollar store find.

I love this card! Pink and brown together is a lovely combination. The stamp set did not disappoint and I know my girlfriend will hang on to this card. Happy Birthday Cheri!

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Three Challenge Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on three challenges. The Play Date Cafe wanted to see blue; My Time To Craft wanted spots; and Papertake Weekly provided the sketch.

Notwithstanding the sentiment, which is Lizzie Anne Little Bits, this is a Stampin' Up card. The background paper is brocade blue textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The patterned paper is Patterns Pack II, some of which is highlighted with Diamond Stickles. The image is Medallion and is also highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

Blue is my favourite colour. I love this card. It was fun to combine all the papers into a very workable card. I also have to say that spots scream for Stickles. I think I use Stickles on the Medallion stamp every time I use it. Oh well, it works for me.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sentiment-less

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a very different one because I stamped absolutely nothing on this card except my signature stamp on the back. I was inspired by the Monday Lunchtime Sketch from Technostamper and today's Flourishes Timeless Tuesday "bought it, use it" challenge.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Bella Bleu. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Kraft and Not Quite Navy. The solid paper elements were textured with the Cuttlebug Victoria dry embossing folder. The leaves are Craft Medley from Multicrafts.

I pick up interesting bits and pieces wherever I go and these leaves are one of those finds. I've had them for months and bought them because I thought they were interesting, not because I had a plan for them. Today's challenge from Flourishes was the impetus I needed to get them on a card. I love the results. The sketch was fantastic for this card. I've been anxiously awaiting my recent Stampin' Up order to get my hands on this Bella Bleu paper and I'm not at all disappointed. I didn't stamp anything on this card. I thought about adding a sentiment but decided against it as I really wanted the leaves to stand out. I also couldn't figure out what kind of a card it was - wedding, get well, friendship, it could be any of these things.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Finished - Promise

Hello everyone,

I love a four-day weekend. Friday was chores, chores, chores and the remainder of the weekend was family time, a bit of visiting and the rest was pure, unadulterated card making time. I'm a lucky and very happy lady!

I think (think) that the next three cards really do use up the last of my unfinished project bits. It must have been providence that Friday's Everything Old Is New Again challenge was to finish projects. I also seem to have a bit of a spring cleaning bug because I can't remember when last I was so productive. When I was much, much younger, my family referred to it as Gisèle going Tazmanian. Allison, I promise, even if I find more old project pieces, that I'm moving on to new cards this afternoon.

As I SPI followers are aware, I'm always in need of sympathy cards. My sister, who was visiting this weekend, grabbed a few from my stash, so I'm replenishing. The image is one of the 'mistakes' from my Sweet Sunday Yet Again Birthday card from last week. In the clear light of day, I found that though not 100% perfect, some of the images were still very usable.

The image is Stamp Barn (for Heather's Stamping Haven) Enchanted Hollow stamped with the watercolour crayon and watercolour paper technique that I'm so 'enchanted' with at the moment. The background paper is Close To My Heart Cocoa textured with Sizzix Harlequin. The patterned paper is scrap Close To My Heart Everyday Celebration kit. The navy blue layer (lovely and subtly textured) was discovered in the paper stash and is of unknown origin. The white elements are watercolour paper scraps. The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts.

I'm very pleased with this card. The navy paper was a real find, it is lovely and unfortunately I have only one sheet. I love how all the harlequin diamonds relate and turns this into a great card.

This second sympathy card uses another watercolour technique 'mistake' from last Sunday. The background paper is Stampin' Up Sweet Pea paired with Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip which were textured with the Cuttlebug Houndstooth dry embossing folder. The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts. The ribbon is Home and More from Michael's.

I love this card! It was wonderful to pair up all the houndstooth. The ribbon is one of those buys that I just couldn't resist when I saw it in the bin. A very simple and very effective sympathy card.

As my daughter and I critiqued this card, we decided it could be a wedding card or a baby card. There is not one piece of new paper on this card. The focal layer, is part of my Verve Filigree Fantasy and Stampin' Up Whisper White ink practise pieces. I couldn't decide to use as a focal element or a background layer. Once I added the dollar store gems, though, this card just came together. The background layer is of unknown origin from my scrap box and is textured with Sizzix pattern 2. The brown layer is a scrap of Stampin' Up Bella Rose. The striped layer is a scrap of Hot Off The Press Brown and Pink Stripes. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warm Words stamped on a scrap of Whisper White.

I love the softness of this card. I can't say it enough but kraft paper always, always surprises me. Is there anything that doesn't go with kraft paper? To think I hate it when I look at a blank sheet yet love it when I've got it into a card. Amazing!

I hope you enjoy these last three unfinished projects and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Finished A Third

Hello again!

It's been a very, very productive day. As per Friday's Everything Old Is New Again challenge to finish up some products, I've managed to combine two unfinished pieces into one card. That is certainly not what I planned when I first played around with these elements but I think it actually worked OK.

The card base is the usual Recollections. The designer paper is Stampin' Up Delicate Dots. The blue layer is part of my stash, likely Recollections, and is textured with the Cuttlebug Argyle dry embossing folder. The image is Penny Black paisley pattern. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings. The twine is from Stampin' Up. The gems are from the dollar store.

I was playing with the argyle embossing folder and a wooden frame when I made the blue layer. It really didn't do much for me at the time. The image was stamped and coloured eons ago when I was playing with markers. I wish I coloured better.

I really like how this card turned out. I just pulled layers together and if they didn't seem offensive, I just ran with it. Maybe I should run more and think less some days.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Finished Another

Hello again everyone,

I love having guilt-free time to craft. I've used three challenges as inspiration for this card. Stamptacular Sunday asked for sugar and spice and everything nice - a girly card. Yesterday's Allsorts challenge was to not use designer paper. Putting together my earlier card for Everything Old Is New Again, I came across a number of unfinished bits that I wanted to use so I'm doing that challenge a second time.


The card base is from Recollections. The purple and green layers are Bazzill Basics Textures card stock scraps. The patterned layered is Local King Rubber Stamps Garden Delight stamped on a piece of glossy card stock and highlighted with Stickles. The yellow layer is an unknown scrap textured with Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy dry embossing folder. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings, stamped on Stampin' Up Whisper White then heat embossed with Stampendous Amethyst embossing powder. The ribbon is a dollar store find.

I wasn't all that happy with the image when I first stamped it as it is challenging on glossy paper. The Stickles certainly helped but didn't solve the entire problem. I think the butterfly colours are flat and that's why it's off. Anyway, I didn't want to throw the piece away because it wasn't totally horrid. I do think it works well with the solid layers and I do like how it eventually came together. I also thought it would be difficult to avoid using designer paper but it wasn't at all. Thanks to this large stamp and texture, this card didn't even need anything designer. I like that.

I love the freshness of this card. This is a nice 'spring' birthday card and I can't wait to give it away.

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

Gisèle

Finished Already

Hello everyone,

Happy Easter! Today is my day! Chores are done, obligations are few and my Stamp, Paper and Ink are calling. I get to make cards. What a beautiful day!

Today's card is inspired by Friday's "Everything Old Is New Again" challenge which was to finish a project. I always have a bunch of bits and pieces lying around some are failed projects others are test results for new purchases. Today's card is a test piece that I've been looking at for a couple of months.


The background paper is My Mind's Eye Magnolia. The layers are Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. The blue element is a piece of textured scrap likely DCWV. The image is Cuttlebug Friends Forever embossing folder. It is highlighted with Cinnamon and Lime Green Stickles. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Autumn Blessings. The brad is part of an unknown stash likely Making Memories.

I really like this card. I'm glad I finally used the image in a card. I bought the folder because I felt it was perfect for Stickles. I really love how all the colours came together in this card. Once I found the background paper, it really came together easily.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Checked Birthday

Hello everyone,

It's a three-challenge Birthday card today. The Penny Black Saturday Challenge was, in addition to a Penny Black stamp, looking for checks. The "Just Us Girls" Challenge provided an excellent sketch. Wednesday's Creative Inspirations wanted only a sentiment, no stamped images.


The card base is from Recollections. The patterned paper is all Martha Stewart Playful Blue. The white layers are Stampin' Up Whisper White. The sentiment is Penny Black Happy, Happy. The ribbon is Sheer Creations.

I love this card. The two colours are so classic and wonderfully soft. Of course, the organza ribbon is a favourite.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Casing Simplicity

Hello everyone,

Today's card is cased from my favourite blog, Simplicity (I swear I'm not stalking you Susan). I was utterly struck by Susan's card (who cased it from Joan B at Paperlicious) and just couldn't help replicating. I also took advantage of today's Stamp Something challenge which was to use pink.

The card base is Recollections. The image is Stampin' Up Delight in Life which was embossed with Close To My Heart black embossing powder and highlighted with Golden Rod and Fruit Punch Stickles. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines embossed with Close To My Heart baby pink embossing powder. The pink layer is Stampin' Up Pink Passion. The black layer is an unknown piece from my stash. The image on the black layer is stamped in white Color Box ink and embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder.

I really love this card. It turned out better than I pictured in my mind. I love how everything just pops. The colours are sophisticated but the card is so simple. Thanks for the inspiration Susan.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

When It's A Good Thing

Hello everyone,

After the success of the panda card the other day, I thought it would be fun to explore some of the other panda stamps in the stash. Ironically, today's Charisma Cardz Challenge was animal magic - how fitting.

The black paper is all part of the unknown origin stash. The white is Stampin' Up Whisper White. The green paper is Autumn Leaves Emily. The bamboo image is Hero Arts Decorative Bamboo. The panda is Imaginisce. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet.

I couldn't resist this panda stamp. He is so adorable. I love this card. Notwithstanding the cute panda, I thought the bamboo, stamped on the green paper, turned out really well. It is not something I usually do but I like it.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle