More Christmas Words

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another easy quick and Christmas card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla.  The image is Denami Design Christmas Tree Script stamped in Altenew Hunter Green and Tombow 055, and layered on Stampin' Up Garden Green and a printed paper of unknown origin.  The star is highlighted with Yellow Stickles.

I learned from this earlier 'wordy tree' card to use yellow ink for the star so it would be more visible.  I like this version much more.  I hadn't originally intended to add a printed paper layer but felt this card needed just that little extra layer to add more interest.  It was a good decision because the result is wonderful!

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

Gisèle

Snowy Tree Trio

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another wonderful Christmas card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla.  The image/sentiment are Denami Design stamped in Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine on more Very Vanilla and layered on Ponderosa Pine.  The trees are highlighted with Crystal Glitter Ritz Microfine Cool Highlight Glitter.

This is a favourite stamp whenever I work on Christmas cards.  These trees are perfect for adding glitter snow.  It is also the perfect scale stamp for a card.  This great result came about in just minutes, not including drying time!

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

Gisèle

Exotic Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another pretty feminine birthday card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The image is Hero Arts Exotic Blooms stamped in Tombow N57, 192, 228 and 772 on Recollections White, and is layered on Marianne Design Basic Paper Watercolour and a grey of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite.  The card is highlighted with Platinum Liquid Pearls.

This is a layout that I've done many times before.  I've probably used this image in this layout before as well.  I find the pink and grey colour combination very appealing.  This vertical sentiment is a favourite.  The font is wonderful and the size is perfect for these larger cards.  I love the results.

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

Gisèle

Grand Nana's Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very special birthday card.

The card base is Studio G.  The printed papers are Stamperia Lilac Flowers.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla.  The card is highlighted with White Opal Liquid Pearls.

This card was crafted for my husband's grandmother who will be turning 101 in a couple of days.  She is the sweetest woman ever so had to have a very special birthday card.  I love the softness of these images and the colours are so beautiful.  I think the scalloped card base suits the vintage style of the card.  Grand Nana loves getting handmade cards so I know she'll love this one.

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

Gisèle

Rose Bud Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post uses a favourite floral image.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The image is Hero Arts Delicate Rose Stems stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White.  The image was coloured with Stampin' Up Rose Red and Old Olive watercolour crayons and is layered on Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

I've had this stamp in my stash for years.  I use it fairly often because it is particularly easy to colour.  In this case, I used watercolour crayons because they were already out.  I very lightly coloured the image and very judiciously added water with a paint brush.  You can use the same technique with watercolour pencil crayons.  The sentiment is another favourite wooden stamp.  The font is lovely and that it is a vertical stamp is a bonus.  I always use my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig because it's a large stamp and can be challenging to get straight.

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

Gisèle

Circled Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a sweet feminine birthday card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The image is Hero Arts Artistic Circles stamped in Close To My Heart Hollyhock on a white of unknown origin and layered on Paper Accents Glossy Mirrored Silver and more white of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Denami Design stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

This is another lovely feminine birthday card.  This is a wooden background stamp and it can be a challenge to get a good impression.  I ink it then place the paper on the stamp and use a brayer.  It can take a couple of attempts before I'm happy with the results.  Depending upon the size of the layer needed, I'll trim it.  This piece was trimmed because the edges of the images didn't come out all that well.  Again I chose the ink colour to coordinate with the card base.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Soft And Serene

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a beautifully soft and serene birthday card.

The printed paper is Momenta layered on a pale pink and a pale purple Bazzill.  The sentiment is DeNami Design stamped in Stampin' Up Midnight Muse and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The card is highlighted with White Opal Liquid Pearls.

This was not the paper I originally planned to use but I stamped a bad impression and couldn't fix it so I had to start over.  I'm still very happy with the results, if a little frustrated in getting them.  I've stamped on printed paper a number of times and really like the effect.  This is a super simple card, at least if you can stamp a good impression.

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

Gisèle

Retro Sweetie

Hello everyone,

Today's post is one of the last retro/vintage recycled cards in this series.  I still have lots of images to use but I need to move on to other cards.

The image is from a recycled card layered on Close To My Heart Poppy and Fern.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Velvet and is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are Me & My Big Ideas Green Rhinestone Singles.

I love this sweet girl.  She rather reminds me of Holly Hobby, which I was really into when I was little.  The images and colours from this card are really wonderful.  I'm thrilled that I managed to salvage two cards from the original.  This image was the front of the card which included the images from the earlier Vintage Birdies card in this vintage series.

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

Gisèle

Birdie Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a birthday card I crafted for a girlfriend.

The printed paper is Joy Crafts Owl's World layered on Momenta Denise Urban, an ivory Bazzill and Stampin' Up Soft Suede.  The sentiment is Denami Design stamped in Soft Suede on more ivory.  The embellishments are Kaisercraft Denim Pearls.

This is another pretty simple and straightforward card made very effective by this great paper.  My girlfriend has a penchant for owl's and I bought this paper pad with her in mind.  I love this owl and tried to position the sentiment to catch his eye!  My girlfriend has three young boys which doesn't lend to many really feminine moments thus the swirly/girly sentiment.  Her birthday, like my own, is in December so I purposely craft her a definitively non-Christmas birthday card. 

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

Gisèle

More Beautiful Christmas Bits

Hello everyone,

Part of my girlfriend's Christmas card commission included a series of teacher cards.  I always have a great time crafting these fun cards!

The printed paper is Stampin' Up Christmas Around The World layered on Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow.  The image is Denami Design stamped in Mossy Meadow on Recollections White, coloured with Copic R39 and G09, and layered on more Mossy Meadow.  The ribbon is Multicrafts.  The gingerbread man embellishment is of unknown origin and filled with Green Stickles.

I love this particular Christmas paper from Stampin' Up.  The images are the perfect scale for Christmas cards and the variety of colours ensures coordinating is so easy.  My girlfriend has boys and I didn't want to craft cards that were so frou frou they'd be embarrassed to give them to their teachers.  This card fit the bill perfectly!

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

Gisèle

Shimmering Holly

Hello everyone,

Today's Christmas card is another simple beauty.

The image is Denami Design stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and painted with LuminArte Emerald and Ruby Red Twinkling H2Os.  The image is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The image is layered on a metallic green of unknown origin and a burgundy Bazzill.

This is another favourite stamp that I've used often when crafting Christmas cards.  It's a great stamp for painting.  Although, now that I look at it, I bet I could glitter this image very effectively.  I kept this layout very simple, using coordinating shimmering layers.  Notwithstanding the subtle shimmer, this would be another great card for my girlfriend's masculine clients.

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

Gisèle

Glitter Tree Trio

Hello everyone,

Today's simple Christmas card is the exact opposite of yesterday's elaborate ornament.

The image is Denami Design stamped in Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Mossy Meadow.  The trees are highlighted with a glitter of unknown origin.

I think I say this every time I craft a card with this stamp but I find this image perfect for more masculine Christmas cards.  My girlfriend loves glitter, sparkle and shine but she also has clients who may not share the same design sense.  I figured this card, with an restrained amount of glitter, would be perfect for her male clients.  While extremely subtle, it's a very appropriate client Christmas card.

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

Gisèle

Painted Holly

Hello everyone,

This Christmas card is very classic.

The image is Denami Design stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and painted with LuminArte Emerald and Poppy Red Twinkling H2Os.  The image is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The image panel is layered on a shimmery green and mirror red of unknown origin.

I couldn't resist including a few painted beauties in my girlfriend's commission.  This is one of my favourite stamps to paint.  Every time I use it, I'm sure I've said how much I love how the image and sentiment are incorporated.  I layered with these two shimmery papers to coordinate with the red and green Twinkling H2Os.

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

Gisèle

Birthday Elegance

Hello everyone,

An truly elegant birthday card post today.

The image is Stampin' Up (no idea which set) stamped in Elegant Eggplant on Very Vanilla, highlighted with Wink of Stella Clear 999, and layered on more Elegant Eggplant.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday also stamped in Elegant Eggplant.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Strips.

I found this image in my stash of leftover bits.  I had stamped it years and years ago so have no idea in which set in belongs.  I just love this silhouette and deep purple, it's very striking.  Given it is quite a large image, it works best with a simple layout as anything complicated would detract from the overall impact.  It was the perfect image to pair with this equally bold vertical sentiment.

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

Gisèle

Shiny and Bright

Hello everyone,

Today's Christmas card was commissioned by a colleague for her Aunt with specific instructions for shiny, glitter, red, and big.

The card base is Recollections Mercury Glass Christmas.  The vertical stripe is a glittered gold of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Denami Design heat embossed with Close To My Heart gold embossing powder, layered on more glittered gold, Mercury Glass and a shimmered gold of unknown origin.  The embellishments are silver snowflakes of unknown origin and Annabelle Elements.

I always try to accommodate commissions and in this case, filled the requirements of shiny, glitter, red and big.  This card is not necessarily to my taste exactly but I don't hate it either.  I've a particular 'thing' for mercury glass and I think this particular red and gold sheet is particularly perfect for this commission.  I wish I'd had gold snowflakes but decided to use the silver ones I had on hand because the size worked well with the larger sized card base.  I don't often get the opportunity to work with this large vertical Christmas stamp so this was another bonus with the larger sized card.  My colleague liked it and I hope her Aunt does as well.

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

Gisèle

Falling Leaves

Hello everyone,

I just had to try the new stamps I picked up at Scrap En Masse on yesterday's shopping trip.

The printed paper was made using the shaving cream technique with Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Close To Cocoa, Dusty Durango and River Rock ink on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Close To My Heart Sunflower and Goldrush.  The images are BoBunny Falling Leaves stamped in Crushed Curry and Cajun Craze, and Close To My Heart Sunset on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more vanilla.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are brads of unknown origin.

I absolutely love this card!  The marbled background is stunning and these leaf stamps are spectacular.  I debated buying the stamps as I do have others but there was something especially appealing about these leaves and I'm sure I'll get lots of use from them.  I debated stamping the sentiment directly on the background paper because I thought it would get lost in the swirls but with this dark brown ink, it turned out just fine.  I use this vertical sentiment quite often especially when I do images on the vertical.  This font works particularly well with the swirls in the marbled paper.

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

Gisèle

Black-Eyed Beautiful

Hello everyone,

As I was going through my stash of outline stickers I found this black-eyed Susan sticker and just couldn't resist.

The image is Elizabeth Craft Designs affixed to vellum and painted with LuminArte Burnt Umber, Dreamsicle, Golden Jade, Ice, Mango Mamba and Olive Vine Twinkling H2Os.  The image is layered on Stampin' Up Very Vanilla, Garden Green, Early Espresso, and a gold of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Early Espresso.

I'm generally not attracted to yellow and black-eyed Susans are certainly not a favourite flower, but after yesterday's less than pleasing red roses, I wanted to do something entirely different.  I'm glad I did because this card is utterly wonderful!  This photo doesn't do justice to this card.  The brown really pops and the gold layer is a wonderful highlight.

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

Gisèle

A Very Special Anniversary

Hello everyone,

My creativity is at a somewhat low ebb at the moment so I'm only crafting and posting ad hoc over the summer.

This particular card was commissioned by a girlfriend who needed a special card for a priest's 25th anniversary in the priesthood.

The image is DeNami Design Cross stamped in Tsukinko Starlite Black on Recollections white and layered on Recollections Mercury Glass and a shimmery grey and a shimmery onyx of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampendous Special Messages also stamped in Tsukinko Starlite Black.

Twenty-five years in the priesthood is very special and I think this card speaks very well to this occasion.  Despite using layers of shimmery papers, until I added the silver Mercury Glass paper, the card was a little flat.  This Tsukinko ink coordinates very well with the papers as it also has a shimmer to it.  I debated adding embellishments but I felt this sophisticated elegance was just enough.

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

Gisèle

Indian Inspired

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for one of my bosses.  He's wonderful to work with and I wanted to show him some appreciation on his birthday.

The printed papers are layers of BasicGrey Ambrosia.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Sunset on more Ambrosia.  The embellishments are Black Licorice Oregon Raindrops.

My boss heritage is Indian so I decided to craft something in those warm tones.  It was a bit of challenge to keep it from becoming too frou frou but my boss is a pretty confident man so I'm fairly certain he can handle it.  I also figured with the grey card base and the hints of black, there is some balance that tones it all down a little bit.  I think this is better than I envisioned and I'm pretty certain it will be well received.

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

Gisèle

A Christmas Challenge

Hello everyone,

This is another one of the Christmas cards I designed for a girlfriend and I to craft at a recent charity crop.  It was planned to be simple yet impactful.

The printed paper is American Crafts "Holiday Sinterklass" layered on a brushed silver and a green of unknown origin.  The sentiment is DeNami Design stamped in Stampin' Up Garden Green on Whisper White, highlighted with Sakura Clear, Red and Green Gelly Roll pen, and layered on more green.

This is not necessarily my favourite printed paper.  I thought when I bought it, it would be fairly straightforward to choose coordinating colours but without any shading, the red, green and grey are pretty unforgiving.  I've tried any number of embellishments and glitter but nothing makes me love this paper any more.  The scale of the images is great for carding but it's those colours that make it so very challenging to use.  I'm actually quite glad I've almost used up this sheet.  Notwithstanding all this whining, this is still a lovely card.

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

Gisèle