Christmas Hello

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the first of this year's Christmas In July series. 

The printed paper is Flonz Vintage Paper Retro Christmas Gift layered on Close To My Heart Gypsy.  The sentiment is from an unknown Stampin' Up set stamped in Altenew Deep Iris on a white of unknown origin and layered on more Gypsy.  The ribbon is Craftsmart.  The candy cane brad if of unknown origin.  The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

It is rather ironic to be crafting Christmas cards when there is a blistering heatwave happening!  I only recently discovered Flonz and when I came across their vintage Christmas papers I just couldn't resist.  I also have more Merry Christmas sentiments than I'll never get bored!  This is a vintage vibe that I especially like the colours and the images are just adorable.  It's a great Christmas card.

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

Gisèle

Bottom's Up

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a non-holiday wine bottle tag that was commissioned by the mother of a colleague who I had the pleasure of meeting when I was a vendor at a small Christmas show in early December.

The printed paper is Doodlebug "Polar Pals" Ski Sweater layered on Close To My Heart Lagoon and Recollections White.   The medallion was punched from more Close To My Heart Lagoon as well as Thistle using Martha Stewart's Double Loop Punch Around The Page set.  The sentiment is Microsoft Word layered on more Lagoon.  The ribbons are Craftsmart and Multicrafts.

I have to say it was so much fun to craft a bottle tag that wasn't holiday themed.  Besides the sentiment, the only element requested was the medallion so I chose a piece of paper with colours that I really love.  The new light/dark sided Close To My Heart solid paper coordinated beautifully with the colours in the printed paper.  It was also pretty easy to choose a couple of ribbons that worked.  I was going to add another embellishment but couldn't figure out a good placement so decided to just forgo.  In the end, it wasn't needed anyway.

I hope you enjoy this tag 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

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

Blue Ribbon Thanks

Hello everyone,

I decided a really simple, but still very cute, card was needed after all the intricate cards so far.

The printed paper is Recollections All Seasons layered on Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Thank You Words stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla, layered on Ruby Red and Crushed Curry, and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The ribbon is Craftsmart.

This card couldn't have been easier to craft.  I chose this particular sentiment from the set because I could use a square punch to cut it as well as to cut the Ruby Red piece upon which its layered.  I decided to add another layer to the sentiment is a different colour because it needed just that little extra pop!

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

Gisèle

Repeating Iris

Hello everyone,

I'm still working on cards for my stash.  Even though I'm lost without my list, I know that I wanted to add cards without any sentiments.

The printed paper is Momenta Denise Urban textured cardstock layered on Stampin' Up Wisteria Wonder.  The image is Gina K Garden Silhouettes stamped in Tombow 679, 098, 623, and 636 on Recollections Vanilla.  The ribbons are Multicrafts and Craftsmart.

I've not done a repeating card like this in a long time.  I like the repeats in this layout because it really lends itself to not using a sentiment.  I think this is the first time I've coloured a Gina K stamp.  I've found that some red rubber stamps don't take well to being coloured but that certainly wasn't the case with these stamps.  I did use Versamark first, just in case, but I really didn't need to.  I probably could have added some embellishments but in the end, these iris are so striking I felt that less, was way more.

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

Gisèle

Feeling Floral

Hello everyone,

Today's post is for another card that's going into my stash.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim.  The images are Stampin' Up Bordering On Romance stamped in Outdoor Denim on Recollections Vanilla.  The images were clear heat embossed, coloured with pastels and covered with Close To My Heart Liquid Glass.  The sentiment is Gina K Fanciful Tags stamped in Outdoor Denim.  The ribbon is Craftsmart.

This Liquid Glass technique is a favourite even though I don't do it all that often.  I love the depth it gives an image.  The pastels (chalks really) were the best option for coordinating with this beautiful background paper.  I sure wish I remember where it came from.  I seem to really be into adding ribbon at the moment.  A good thing given the amount of ribbon I've got.

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

Gisèle