Purple Blossoms

Hello everyone,

I decided to use some more of the watercoloured paper that I used yesterday because I was so very happy with the results.

The printed paper is Ken Oliver Watercolored Memories layered on Stampin' Up Almost Amethyst.  The image is Penny Black Delicate Florals stamped in Tombow 158, 228, 553, and 623 on Whisper White and layered on more Almost Amethyst.  The sentiment is Creative Expressions Amazing Sentiments stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Keepsakes Memories.

I really liked yesterday's card but I absolutely love today's card!  I played with watercolour crayons on the image but I didn't like the results - they were rather muddy and soupy.  Too much water which is one of the drawbacks of stamping with watercolour crayons.  I think turning to markers was a better call.  The image is a littler crisper than I'd intended but the colours are just perfect.  I'd do this again!

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

Gisèle

Watercoloured Roses

Hello everyone,

Now that I've finished with the recent Christmas card series and with now commissions on my plate, I'm little lost for inspiration.

The printed paper is Ken Oliver Watercolored Memories layered on Stampin' Up Soft Suede and River Rock.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Four You stamped in Soft Suede on Recollections Vanilla.  The ribbon is Crafts.  The embellishments are Marianne Design Butterflies.

I sometimes find that when my mojo is lagging, finding some beautiful paper and keep it simple will help spur on the creativity.  This card is a perfect example.  I found this 6 X 6 pad at my local scrapbooking store and couldn't resist the beautiful watercolours.  I find it especially appealing because one side of the sheet is muted while the other, with the same image, is quite bold.  A very interesting perspective that could make for some really beautiful cards.  I think I'd like to try using both muted and bold sides on one card as it would probably be quite phenomenal.  I found these wonderful pearl embellishments at Ecstasy Crafts which is a truly marvelous store just off highway 401 on the way to Toronto.  It also has an online store which is well worth checking out.  I'm not certain my creativity is completely back but I'll keep slogging through.

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

Gisèle

Texture and Glitter

Hello everyone,

This is the last post of the green card base ornament Christmas cards that I'll be donating to the Fall charity card sale at the office.

The card base is a shimmery green of unknown origin.  The ornament is die cut with Sizzix Delicate Ornaments Thinlets from glossy paper smooshed with Red Pepper, Meadow, Clover and Snow Cap Ranger Alcohol ink, then covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust.  The ornament is layered on a shimmery ivory that was textured with Sizzix Thin Ice embossing folder and layered on a shimmery pink of unknown origin.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone stickers.

I have to say I'm quite relieved to have used up so much of this shimmery green cardstock.  I really don't know what I was thinking when I bought such a big batch.  I could see one or two pieces but that's pretty much it.  I have had a lot fun crafting all these ornaments cards and challenging myself not to use sentiments.  I think they turned out really well and I hope they sell well.

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

Gisèle

Glittered Snowflake Trio

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another glittered ornament Christmas card from the series I've been crafting for the Fall charity card sale at work.

The card base is a shimmery green of unknown origin.  The ornaments are die cut with Memory Box Classic Ornament from Glossy white paper of unknown origin and Sizzix Delicate Ornaments Thinlets from glossy paper smooshed with Red Pepper, Meadow, Clover and Snow Cap Ranger Alcohol ink, then covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust.  The ribbon is Offray Sheerly Yours.  The embellishments are Crafts.

I hadn't intended to craft another trio ornament card but some of the leftover glittered scraps were just big enough for this snowflake die.  I managed to squeeze three snowflakes from various pieces and I love that they're all different colours.  The glossy bottom layers were die cut pieces that I used a few days ago.  I'm glad I thought to cut some extras because this card is just wonderful!

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

Gisèle

Glitter Candy Bits

Hello everyone,

Another glittering ornament Christmas card post today.

The card base is a shimmery green of unknown origin.  The ornament is die cut with Sizzix Delicate Ornaments Thinlets from glossy paper smooshed with Red Pepper, Meadow, Clover and Snow Cap Ranger Alcohol ink, then covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust.  The ribbon is Stampin' Up Silver 1/8".

I hope this card isn't too weird for everyone,  When I first saw this candy cane shape die, I was trying to figure out what they intended with it because it doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the dies in the set.  Well when I was closing up the case, I realized this shape is actually the ornament hanger.  I didn't see it!  To be frank, I'm still not certain I do.  I've used it as a candy cane and this it is actually kind of cute.  I think I should have added some tiny embellishment to the candy crosses, and I actually still might before I put them on the sale table.

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

Gisèle

Sweeping Sweetness

Hello everyone,

It's been a busy and exhausting couple of days so I decided to take a bit of a blog break.  I'm back however with the final few charity Christmas ornament cards.

The card base is a shimmery green of unknown origin.  The ornament is die cut with Sizzix Delicate Ornaments Thinlets from glossy paper smooshed with Red Pepper, Meadow, Clover and Snow Cap Ranger Alcohol ink, then covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust.  The ornament base is a shimmery ivory of unknown origin.  The ribbon is Offray Sheerly Yours.  The embellishments are Recollections.

When I first started this series, I smooshed and glittered a full 8 1/2 X 11 sheet thinking I didn't have so many ornament dies and I'd be able to use the leftover for something else.  Well, I've finished using up all the bits and I've still got ornament dies I've not used.  That's rather scary.  I particularly love this layered ornament.  The sweeping lines are particularly lovely.  I added the snowflake/flower as an after thought and quite liked the results.  More ornament cards to follow!

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

Gisèle

Sparkle And Shine

Hello everyone,

I still have a few more green card bases and die cut ornaments to use up so I'm back to posting ornament Christmas cards.

The card base is a shimmery green of unknown origin.  The ornament is die cut with Sizzix Delicate Ornaments Thinlets from glossy paper smooshed with Red Pepper, Meadow, Clover and Snow Cap Ranger Alcohol ink, then covered with DecoArt Glamour Dust.  The ornament base is a shimmery ivory of unknown origin.  The ribbon is Stampin' Up Silver 1/8".  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone strips.

I only recently got these Thinlets and you really need the new Precision Base Plate to get it to work.  One of the ornaments I still had to run through the Big Shot a second time.  I love how the intricate dies fit over the ornament base absolutely perfectly.  It really makes the intricacies of the top layer really stand out.  Of course I didn't intend to add bling but just couldn't resist.

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

Gisèle