Glittering Butterfly

Hello everyone,

I decided to try playing around with some alcohol ink techniques and while some worked, others didn't, so I just added some glitter.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin' Up Baja Breeze and Orchid Opulence.  The butterfly is Marianne Design COL1318 die cut  from alcohol inked glossy paper glittered with DecoArt Glamour Dust and stamped with StazOn Midnight Blue ink.  The sentiment is Avery Elle Oh Happy Day stamped in StazOn Midnight Blue on Whisper White and layered on more Orchid Opulence.  The embellishments are Crafts Gem Chic.

The ink is a little darker than I would like but I didn't think anything but StazOn would work over top of the glitter.  I didn't intend to use any other embellishments but that space needed to be fill up a little otherwise it looked like I forgot something.  This is not the best card in this alcohol inked butterfly series but it's not a bad card either.

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

Gisèle

Two-Stepping Style

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last thank you card in this series.  It's been so much fun crafting these special cards!

The image is Stampin' Up Too Kind stamped in Orchid Opulence, Marvelous Magenta and Mellow Moss on Recollections White and layered on Orchid Opulence and Mellow Moss.  The sentiment is Verve Thankful Accents stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The ribbon is Craftsmart.

This has to be one of my favourite two-step stamps.  It doesn't require the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig for positioning to get beautiful results.  The biggest challenge is actually choosing two colours that will work well together and not over power each other.  I used each colour for both the first and second impressions on different flowers to see if there was any major difference but I think its only slight at best. I felt I needed just a little more texture so added the ribbon.  It's not a perfect colour match but it's close enough not to offend.

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

Gisèle

Simply Perfect Thanks

Hello everyone,

Only a few more cards to finish up this thank you card series.

The image is Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamped in Always Artichoke on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Cosmo Cricket Art Angel, Recollections Vanilla and Mellow Moss.  The sentiment is from Verve, stamped in Early Espresso.

I love this stamp so much I just can't help but use it every chance I can.  If I can ink the stamp without making a horrible mess, I can actually get a really decent impression on my first attempt (I probably just jinxed myself!).  This is the perfect image for the type of monochromatic cards I seem to have favoured in this series.  I'm actually going to try some colouring (gulp!) to see what happens.  I also need to play with some other layouts because I've used this so much it might be getting a little 'done'.  Some Pinterest research required!

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

Gisèle

Autumn Ikat

Hello everyone,

I must have been a glutton for punishment for trying to craft straight ikat lines after yesterday's medallions.

The image is Avery Elle Ikat stamped in Stampin' Up Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry.  The sentiment is Serendipity stamped in Always Artichoke on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Always Artichoke and more Crushed Curry.

I was looking for an entirely different feel for today's card and this ikat stamped in fall colours was just the ticket.  Remarkably, this was much easier to stamp than the medallions.  I think its partly because as a straight line, it just an easier stamp to stamp.  It's also a polymer stamp which, being clear, is much easier to position and I also think because you can actually see the impression being made, you're less likely to press too hard.  I can't wait to try this in some different colours.

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

Gisèle

Magnificent Medallions

Hello everyone,

Today's card was another percolated idea.  Unfortunately it didn't come together as easily as Wednesday's card.
 

The image is Stampin' Up Daydream Medallions stamped in Blackberry Bliss, Elegant Eggplant, Midnight Muse and Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Simply Sketched stamped in Mossy Meadow.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Crushed Ice Gem-bellishments

I've seen some pretty amazing cards using these medallions and just never took the time to play.  It was a frustrating exercise (four attempts) but so worth the effort.  I am eternally grateful for my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig because this card wouldn't have happened without it.  I've also been not all that impressed with Stampin' Up new ink pads but I have to say, once I managed to let up on the pressure, these juicier pads helped prevent over-inking the stamps, leaving bad impressions (four attempts).

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

Gisèle

CASED Thanks

Hello everyone,

This thank you card series required thirty cards and that kind of volume requires lots of mojo.  Luckily, I found inspiration all over but I'm particularly grateful to the creative sharing of Pinterest.  Today's card is another lovely CASE.

The printed paper is My Mind's Eye Vanity Fair.  The images are Stampin' Up Work of Art and Serene Silhouettes stamped in Close To My Heart Juniper and Slate, and Versafine Onyx Black.  The sentiment is Penny Black Special Wishes also stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

This is one of those cards in which I find each element utterly appealing.  This type of layered impressions is a real favourite technique that I use often.  This would make a really spectacular single layer card as you could easily forgo the paper and ribbon.

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

Gisèle

Thankful Feathers

Hello everyone,

Today's thank you card is just incredibly awesome!

The printed paper is BasicGrey Porcelain layered on Stampin' Up Pear Pizzazz and Calypso Coral.  The image is Stampin' Up Four Feathers stamped in Pear Pizzazz and Cameo Coral on Recollections Vanilla and die cut from Sizzix Feathers Framelits.  The sentiment is Gina K Labeled With Love stamped in Pear Pizzazz on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Calypso Coral.  The brad is of unknown origin.

Sometimes a card just crafts itself.  Sometimes I agonize over every element.  Sometimes a card percolates in my mind for a bit before it actually comes together.  This is a percolating card.  I had the idea running through my mind for a couple of days before I actually had time to sit down and craft.  I have to say, it turned out better in reality than in my imagination.  I love having the bird cage paper that speaks so well to the feathers.  I love the colour combination.  I thought about adding a hint of brown (very subtly in the printed paper) but the coral and green was more than enough.

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

Gisèle

Rows of Thanks

Hello everyone,

There were a lot of thank you cards to craft and it can be a challenge to keep the mojo going but I took the opportunity to use some papers that I hadn't touched in a while and it was much easier to stay inspired.

The printed paper is My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline" Dolled Up 'Day' Butterflies layered on Close To My Heart Tulip and Stampin' Up Sahara Sand.  The sentiment is Verve Thankful Accents stamped in Tulip on Whisper White and layered on more Tulip and Sahara Sand.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

This is such a wonderfully simple card but is so impactful.  I really could have added a punched butterfly and I played with a butterfly charm but in the end I found the pop of red was enough.  I think this is really a case of less is more.  I don't know the origin of the ribbon but I think I salvaged it from a gift and I'm really happy I did.  No muss, no fuss!

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

Gisèle

Denim Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another thank you card in this latest series.

The printed papers are Pink Paislee "Indigo Bleu" Jacquard and Denim.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Four Square stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections Vanilla.  The twine is from Target.  The upper right square is highlighted with Silver Pearl Liquid Pearls.

I'm particularly fond of this card.  I love the very vintage feeling in such a modern layout.  I couldn't choose one particular pattern from this collection so I decided to use them all.  The beautiful of coordinating paper collections is that they all generally work wonderfully together.  This is neither a real feminine or masculine card so I thought it may also be suitable for a family thank you.

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

Gisèle

Thanks Mom!

Hello everyone,

For the past few years, my mother has quilted some beautiful bags for our fundraiser.  I always craft her a quilt inspired thank you card.  I was really drawn to this particular technique.

The printed papers are BasicGrey Lemonade and K & Company Jubilee and Julianne.  The yellow layer is Recollections textured with Couture Creations Entangle embossing folder.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more K & Company Jubilee.

I really love this card.  These hexagon flowers are utterly incredible!  The original card had smaller flowers (they used a Cuttlebug) than my Stampin' Up punch but the results are just as wonderful.  The Entangle embossing really looks like a quilt.  I could go on and on about this card.

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

Gisèle

Thank You Blues

Hello everyone,

After the last few more frilly type cards, I wanted to get back into the monochromatic.

The printed paper is Echo Park "A Walk In The Park" Raindrops layered on Stampin' Up Pool Party and Lost Lagoon.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Thanks Words stamped in Lost Lagoon ink on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Pool Party and Vanilla.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Strips.

I picked up this paper because of the coloured raindrop graphics on the flip side.  I didn't think much of this side of the sheet until I laid it against a sheet of Lost Lagoon then the card just crafted itself.  I debated using the embellishments because it could have been a great masculine card.  In the end, it will work great for a couple of the families who helped us out.

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

Gisèle

Spring Fling

Hello everyone,

One of our very generous donors was a great scrapbooking shop - Crop A While.  I found this great printed paper while I was browsing.

The printed paper is Forever In Time Lavender layered on Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Perfect Plum.  The Certainly Celery layer was textured with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The image is Stampin' Up Pocket Silhouettes stamped in Tombow 623 and 158 on Very Vanilla and layered on more Perfect Plum.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Express Yourself stamped in Mossy Meadow.  The embellishments are Keepsakes Memories.

Green and purple is a favourite colour combination that always reminds me of spring.  I'm so ready for spring!  I bought this printed paper because I love the colours, the images and I knew I had this Pocket Silhouettes image that would coordinate perfectly with the paper.  I'm so happy with the results and I can't wait to see what else I can come up with.

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

Gisèle

A Very Girly Thanks

Hello everyone,

Another most girly thank you card today.

The printed papers are DCWV Girl Stack layered on Stampin' Up Melon Mambo.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Curly Cute stamped in Taken With Teal on Recollections White.  The embellishment is of unknown origin.  The flowers on the printed paper and the flower embellishment are highlighted with Turquoise Stickles.

The card was so quick and easy its actually pretty embarrassing.  I chose paper that not only had a pretty graphic but was a good scale for a card.  I didn't need to add any additional images.  I used the Stickles for that titch of glitter and dimension.  The embellishment has been in my bits and pieces bin for eons but works perfectly with this paper.

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

Gisèle

Sweet Dotty Cupcakes

Hello everyone,

I'm still working away on the thank you cards for everyone who helped us with our recent fundraising Crop.

The printed paper is Stampin' Up Sweet Shop layered on Calypso Coral and Pool Party.  The images are Stampin' Up Darling Dots stamped in Soft Suede, Pool Party and Cameo Coral on Recollections White and layered on Soft Suede, Pool Party and Calypso Coral.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Everyday Sayings stamped in Soft Suede on Recollections White.  The embellishments are American Crafts Elements brads.  The card is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

This card is for one of my beginners who is also a good friend.  She brought some really beautiful and oh so tasty cupcakes.  She is an absolute whiz when it comes to cake and icing.  Her beautiful creations always amaze me.  Of course, her thank you card had to be special!  Because I can, I really went all out to customize her thank you.  I know it will be really appreciated!

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

Gisèle

Another Simple CASE

Hello everyone,

This is the second card that I CASED from Pinterest almost exactly.

The background images are Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamped in Rich Razzleberry on Recollections White and layered on more Rich Razzleberry.  The butterfly is Sizzix Bigz Beautiful Butterflies die cut from Rich Razzleberry.  The sentiment is Verve Amazing Wishes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are Queen & Company Iridescent Rhinestones.

My card base is bigger than the Pinterest card so I had to adapt for size but the results are just as wonderful as the original.  I placed the sentiment a little too high, as its hard to see against the background images.  I debate redoing the base or attempting a cover up but decided in the end this would do just fine.  I used my Sakura pen to try to make the sentiment more visible but it didn't make it pop as much as I would have liked.  Ironically, this is another monochromatic card.  I thought I was done but obviously not.

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

Gisèle

Simple CASE

Hello everyone,

My next couple of cards are Pinterest CASED (Copy And Share Everything) almost identically.

The background image is Stampin' Up Happy Watercolor stamped in Pool Party on Recollections White.  The flower image is Stampin' Up Greenhouse Garden stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Say It All, also stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The focal element was layered on Basic Black and Pool Party.

It is very, very rare for me to CASE a card so closely but I actually had the flower image and was just struck by the colours and simplicity of the original card.  This is another card that I could, and probably will, craft over and over in multiple colours with different sentiments.  I added no bling or shimmer because it just doesn't need it.  Perfect simplicity!

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

Gisèle

A Most Cheerful Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I'm posting another super feminine, cheerful and colourful card today.

The printed paper is DCWV Girl Stack layered on Stampin' Up Taken With Teal and So Saffron.  The images are Stampin' Up Darling Dots, Polka Dots and Petals, and Itty Bitty Buds stamped in Taken With Teal, Crushed Curry and Pear Pizzazz on Recollections White and layered on Taken With Teal and So Saffron.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Always In My Heart stamped in Taken With Teal on Recollections White and layered on more So Saffron.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

There is no way in the world this card won't cheer up its recipient!  Once again I mimicked the stamped images from the printed paper.  They are not an exact match in flower or colour but it is close enough.  I could have added more embellishments to the printed paper, its what I intended, but once I'd placed them on the images, I thought I didn't really need more.  I really love the final results!

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

Gisèle

Pink and Blinged

Hello everyone,

After three masculine cards, I needed pretty and nothing works better than pink and bling.

The printed paper is Crafts layered on DCWV All About Girls.  The sentiment is Penny Black Thanks, Thanks stamped in Stampin' Up Basic Grey on a piece of Whisper White that was stamped in Work of Art in Pink Pirouette and layered on more DCWV All About Girls.  The sentiment was highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The ribbon is American Crafts.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Diamond Gem Strips.

I love pink and black together.  It is a sophisticated colour combination.  Unfortunately, the black in this printed paper is more grey than black.  I was disappointed though as it let me use some grey ribbon and embellishments.  This is a favourite thank you card sentiment.  I smudged the ink when I was putting the elements together but resolved the problem with the Sakura pen.  Everyone should have one of those pens readily available.

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

Gisèle

Man Thanks III

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last of the masculine thank you cards I've been crafting.

The printed paper is BasicGrey Oxford layered on K&Company Julianne.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Thank You Words stamped in Midnight Muse on Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment element is layered on another piece of Recollections Vanilla that was stamped with Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge in More Mustard, Not Quite Navy and Ruby Red, and layered on more Julianne.  The embellishments are from Fabricland.

In my mind this is one really ugly plain.  Notwithstanding the ugliness, I wanted to challenge myself to craft a great card.  I succeeded!  I used the lines stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge set to replicate the lines in the printed paper and I think they speak really well to each other.  I actually had a hard time finding solid papers with which to layer because there were so many colours from which to choose.  Something I didn't expect when I decided to go this route.  A happy surprise because this card turned into a real favourite.  Just goes to show you can craft something beautiful from something ugly.

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

Gisèle

Man Thanks II

Hello everyone,

Today I'm posting the second of the masculine thank you cards I've been working on.

The printed papers are BasicGrey Marjolaine.  The image is Close To My Heart Fabulous You stamped in Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, and Close To My Heart Sweet Leaf and Juniper on Recollections White, and layered on Sweet Leaf and Juniper.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages stamped in Midnight Muse on Recollections White.  The banner was punched from a scrap of Midnight Muse paper.  The embellishment is Multicrafts Keepsakes Memories.

Going through my stash of BasicGrey paper inevitably led to have too many choices for the masculine cards I had planned.  I specifically turned to this argyle sheet because it's a 'go to' pattern for masculine cards and I knew I could use this particular diamond image.  I love how the image replicates both the colours and the patterned paper.  This is something that I do, often!

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

Gisèle

Man Thanks I

Hello everyone,

My list of thank you cards include three for some of the gents that gave us a hand.

The printed papers are BasicGrey Granola.  The image is Stampin' Up Work of Art stamped in Crumb Cake of Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Granola.  The sentiment is Avery Elle Oh Happy Day stamped in Midnight Muse.  The embellishments are from Fabricland.

My rule of thumb when crafting masculine cards is to keep it simple and add metallic accents/embellishments.  This card follow that rule to the letter.  I particularly like this sheet of BasicGrey.  It is not at all frou frou and the colours suit a masculine card wonderfully.  I love the worn feel of the paper which also works wonderfully with the Work of Art stamp set.  I should have played with the circle image out of the set but I was on a crafting role and was still reeling from Monday's more complex card.

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

Gisèle

Simple Goodness

Hello everyone,

After the shimmer and sparkle of yesterday's card I wanted to go back to monochromatic simplicity using a stamp set that I found ages ago but had never played with.

The images are Stampin' Up Good Things Grow stamped in Mossy Meadow on Recollections Ivory and layered on more Ivory and Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages stamped in Mossy Meadow.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

Just a note, the image panel is not crooked!  My photography skills though, are less than impressive.  I absolutely love, love, love, love this card!  The images were a challenging to stamp.  Not only did they require the juiciness of the new Stampin' Up ink pads but I also had to use my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to get the precise placement.  It was utterly worth the extra effort because the impact is incredible.  I could craft this card over and over again in multiple colours and never get tired of it.  I'm a little irritated with myself because it took me so long to use this stamp set.

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

Gisèle

Burnished Thank You

Hello everyone,

I'm working away on the rather significant batch of thank you cards needed for the many people who helped my girlfriend and I with our recent fundraiser.

The image is Stampin' Up Bloom With Hope stamped in StazOn Timber Brown on a piece of glossy paper smooshed with Pink Sherbert, Shell Pink, Watermelon and Gold Mixative Ranger Alcohol ink.  The image element was layered on Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and a copper paper of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Expressions stamped in Timber Brown on Very Vanilla, layered on more copper and Vanilla, and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The ribbon is American Crafts.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Rhinestone Medley.

My first go at this card was to see what I could do with my new Stampin' Up Blendabilities markers and some alcohol ink blending solution.  It didn't go well.  I turned to my trusty alcohol inks for a cover up operation and the results were fabulous.  I love the shimmer of the alcohol inked glossy paper and the big blooms of the images.  It seemed only natural to add this sparkly ribbon and a few rhinestones.

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

Gisèle

Sincere Silhouette

Hello everyone,

I warned that I was not quite finished with the monochromatic cards.

The background image is Hero Arts Old Letter Writing stamped in Stampin' Up Lost Lagoon on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Lost Lagoon.  The image is Stampin' Up Just Believe also stamped in Lost Lagoon on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Lost Lagoon.  The sentiment is Impression Obsession Thank You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections and layered on Lost Lagoon.

Can I just say how much I'm loving the monochromatic schemes of the last few cards.  I love how they are the same but so very different.  I played with adding some pearls, bling or glitter but decided that this was just enough.  I don't think I'm quite finished yet.  Not only do I have a few more colours I'd like to play with but I have some other larger stamps that I feel I need to experiment with.

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

Gisèle

Prettiest Paisley

Hello everyone,

I was so pleased with yesterday's Simple Circled card that I just had to repeat it with another of my large stamps.

The image is Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card Small Paisley stamped in Stampin' Up Blackberry Bliss on Recollections White and layered on Blackberry Bliss.  The sentiment is Studio G Hampton Art also stamped in Blackberry Bliss on Recollections White and layered on more Blackberry Bliss and Recollections White.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Ice Granite Glam Gems.

So I think this card is as spectacular as yesterday's.  Blackberry Bliss has to be one of the best colours Stampin' Up has ever produced!  I'm not all that fussy about the new pads but they sure work wonderfully on these large stamps.  I debated using a ribbon but when I found these gems in my stash I though they were just perfect!  I suspect I've got a few more of these types of cards coming in this thank you card series.

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

Gisèle

Simple Circled

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a thank you card that I crafted on Sunday afternoon when I was utterly exhausted.  I'm surprised it turned out so very well.

The image is Hero Arts Artistic Circles stamped in Stampin' Up Midnight Muse on Recollections White and layered on more Midnight Muse.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Thank You Words also stamped in Midnight Muse on Recollections White and layered on more Midnight Muse.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Strips.

I wanted craft enough cards on Sunday so I could have a bit of a blogging break this week.  When browsing through my wooden stamps I came across this stamp that I've not used in ages  I remembered some of the Christmas card sets I crafted using one image in multiple colours and I thought this would be the perfect stamp to use on a similar card.  I didn't craft multiple cards but used the new Midnight Muse ink pad I picked up at the 'garage sale' at the crop.  It turned out even better than I expected!

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

Gisèle

Pretty Petals

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the Stampin' Up card.  Our rep is the most wonderful and generous lady and I'm always so grateful for her contributions to the Crop.

The images are Stampin' Up Painted Petals stamped in Blackberry Bliss, Pacific Point, Rose Red and Wild Wasabi on Recollections White and layered on Wild Wasabi and Blackberry Bliss.  The sentiment is also Painted Petals, stamped in Blackberry Bliss on more Recollections White.  The ribbon is Craftsmart.  The card is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

I just love this set but its not as easy to use as many of the other two-step stamps I've played with.  I have found that using multiple impressions that overlap certainly help.  I'd still like to see if I can find a way to make it easier to use.  I really love Blackberry Bliss.  In this particular case, it really makes everything pop.

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

Gisèle

Loving Lola

Hello everyone,

This is the card I decided was much more suited to our Close To My Heart rep who was so very generous with her time and some wonderful product.

The printed paper is Close To My Heart Laughing Lola layered on Laughing Lola Gold and Purple.  The image is Close To My Heart Your Own Kind of Wonderful stamped in Stampin' Up Lavender Lace ink and heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Laughing Lola Gold.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart For Every Occasion stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments is a Close To My Heart Filigree Charm.

I bought this paper, not because I needed it (name me a papercrafter who needs more paper!), but because it has paisley and the colours are really awesome!  I had to dig through my stash to find the embellishment but I knew I had something that coordinated with this paper.  I generally rely more on printed paper that I do on images but butterflies stamps are one of my weaknesses and these seemed to work pretty well.

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

Gisèle

So Very Sweet

Hello everyone,

I wanted today's card to be wonderfully feminine.  It is!

The printed papers are Close To My Heart Chantilly layered on Pear.  The horizontal element Buttercup punched from the EK Success Infinite Loop punch.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Quick Cards Thanks stamped in Cotton Candy on Recollections White and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

Isn't this card so very pretty?  I would love to receive this card.  This is some of my very favourite Close To My Heart paper and I use it very, very judiciously.  I originally planned to have this card go to our Close To My Heart representative but it actually struck me as a little too frou frou for her.  I've crafted her something much more suitable.  I know there will be someone on our list of thank yous form whom this card will be perfect.

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

Gisèle

More Fruitful Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the second card I've crafted for one of our local produce stores which provided a very generous donation for our fundraising crop.

The printed paper is Studio Calico South Market Collection 'Stoney Creek' layered on Stampin' Up Old Olive.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Thank You Words stamped in Dusty Durango on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Dusty Durango.  The banners are punched from Old Olive.  The brads are of unknown origin.

I'll use this awesome paper again!  How great is this fruity paper!  I want to try it with some white core paper that I've run through the Big Shot.  The white will show through and the distressing will work wonderfully with the distressing on the printed paper.  Both these cards are for men and this paper really allowed me to keep the card really simple and straightforward.  I used multiple layers for the sentiment to add some extra interest.

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

Gisèle

Fruitful Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today my girlfriend and I are recovering from our very fun and successful fundraising crop!  It was an amazing day!  Now it's time for all the thank you cards.  I will be crafting weeks worth of thank you cards because people were incredibly generous with both their time and their donations.

The printed paper is Studio Calico South Market Collection 'Stoney Creek' layered on Stampin' Up Dusty Durango.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Thank You Words stamped in Dusty Durango on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Dusty Durango, Old Olive and a yellow of unknown origin.

This is one of two cards that I've crafted for local produce stores which provided gift cards to cover some of our food costs.  They have been supporting us for a number of years and make a huge difference.  Our crop has a great reputation for the food that we serve and it wouldn't happen without them.

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

Gisèle