Hanging Ornaments

 Hello everyone,

Today's is a lovely ornament Christmas card.

The card base is a mirrored blue of unknown origin.  The printed paper is Heartfelt Creations Snow Kissed layered on Recollections White.  The sentiment is Gina K The Magic of Christmas stamped on Recollections White with Altenew Permanent Black, and layered on more mirrored blue.

I love these hanging ornaments!  I ended up with a full 12x12 sheet so was careful cutting it in order to get at least one, if not two, more cards.  I kept the layout simple because I thought the printed paper was fancy enough.  I debated stamping the sentiment directly on the printed paper but couldn't find a placement that pleased my eye.  No extra embellishments were required!

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

Gis&le

Vanilla Duo

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last duo in this commission of sentiment-less cards.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla.  The background image is Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background stamped in Altenew Vineyard Berry.  The images are Altenew Frosted Garden also stamped in Vineyard Berry and cut with the coordinating die.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla.  The images are Altenew Frosted Garden stamped on more vanilla in Altenew Jet Black and Versafine Onyx Black.  The image panel is layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black.

This is a lovely pair of toile cards.  At least that was I was trying to evoke.  The images are not as detailed as traditional toile but use the traditional colours and are very formal.  I used two black inks for the second card because the solid aspects of the images needed a little extra inking.  I didn't add any embellishments because I really wanted to focus on the overall toile feel of the cards.  They actually turned out even better than I'd imagined.

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

Gisèle

Pretty And Painted

Hello everyone,

As easy as yesterday's card came together, today's card was, to say the least, a challenge.

The printed paper is Stampin' Up Home For Christmas layered on Bazzill Cardinal red and Mossy Meadow.  The images are Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and painted with LuminArte Cinnamon Brown, Jasper Red, Ruby Red and Sweet Alfalfa Twinkling H2Os.  The berries are highlighted with Wink of Stella Clear 999.  The sentiment is Rubber Cafe G-751 Merry Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Very Vanilla.  The embellishments are Mark Richards 3mm Gold Metals.

I never did figure out why this small strip of paper caused me quite so much angst.  I'm quite pleased with the results.  I was a little worried that the painted elements would bleed through the card base or cause the card to warp but I kept the paint as dry as possible while still being able to blend.  I blotted a lot!  Everything was kept vertical in terms of the layout.  A bonus of having a couple of vertical stamps.

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

Gisèle

Earth Toned Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last of the sympathy cards I've been working on lately.

The image is Stampin' Up Watercolor Wings stamped in StazOn Metallic Gold, Tsukineko Brilliance Starlite Black and Pearlescent Crimson, and Versafine Onyx Black.  The butterfly is layered on a shimmery copper and red of unknown origin and Stampin' Up More Mustard and Really Rust.  The More Mustard layer was stamped with Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background in More Mustard ink.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Bloom With Hope stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishments are of unknown origin.

This is a butterfly that I'd stamped when I first got this set and was doing some experimenting.  I thought it was perfect for an autumn inspired sympathy card.  I'd also come across these shimmery copper and red papers that had been in my stash for eons.  This layout is a favourite and with all different types of papers used for layering, it's pretty interesting.

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

Gisèle

In All Holliness

Hello everyone,

As this month's Christmas In July series are cards for my own use, it was inevitable that there would be some holly cards.

The images are Heartfelt Creations Elegant Holly Swirls stamped in Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow on Recollections White, painted with Ruby Red and Forest Green LuminArte Twinkling H2Os, and layered on Mossy Meadow.  The images were clear heat embosssed before I started painted so the ink wouldn't run.  The sentiment is Stampendous Christmas Wishes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on a shimmery red of unknown origin.  The embellishments are gold ZVA pearls.

Love, love, love this holly card!  You'd think these large images wouldn't be the right scale for a card but by stamping them off the paper and using one of the larger card bases, it works really well.  I only used three impressions as the eyes like odd numbers.  I really offset the sentiment because I didn't want to cover up too much of the holly images.  I should have flipped the images and placed the sentiment in the sweet spot (bottom right corner) but I honestly didn't think of it until I was writing this post.  Next time.

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

Gisèle

Snowflake Magic

Hello everyone,

I so liked yesterday's paper, I pulled two more sheets from the collection to craft today's Christmas in July card.

The printed papers are Little Yellow Bicycle Making Merry.  The sentiment is Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry stamped in Stampin' Up Ridinghood Red on a white of unknown origin and layered on more Little Yellow Bicycle Making Merry.  The snowflakes are Fabricland Fashion Accents which are highlighted with Rouge Liquid Pearls.

I love finding embellishments for my cards in unusual places.  One of my favourite is Fabricland, where I've found wonderful snowflake appliques.  I wasn't sure they would be a good scale for my cards but I'm not disappointed.  Once again I kept the layout simple because it really makes the sentiment pop!

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

Gisèle

Vintage Butterfly

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for another girlfriend.  She appreciates anything handcrafted.

The printed paper is Momenta layered on Close To My Heart Garden Green and Garnet.  The image is Heartfelt Creations Butterfly Medley, stamped in Stampin' Up Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla, coloured with Faber-Castell watercolor pencil crayons and layered on more Crumb Cake.  The butterfly is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Rubbernecker Happy Birthday stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

I can't remember where I found this Momenta 6X6 paper pad but it is awesome!  It is full of these wonderful vintage botanical sheets that are going to craft some really beautiful cards.  The watercolour crayons were a bit of a challenge as I was either too we,t or too dark, or too outside the lines.  Arrrrrggggghhhhh!

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

Gisèle

Green Seeds

Hello everyone,

Today's card is another for my daughter's hostess gift.

The printed paper is Close To My Heart Wings.  The image is Woodware Going to Seed stamped in Close To My Heart Whisper ink on watercolour paper that was painted with Stampin' Up watercolour crayons and layered on K&Company Julianne.  The image element was layered on Stampin' Up Very Vanilla that was stamped with Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background stamp in Close To My Heart Sweet Leaf ink.  The sentiment element is Stampin' Up Four Frames and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Very Vanilla with Whisper ink.  The embellishments are ZVA Creative.  The ribbon is Crafts.

I just kept finding bits and pieces that all worked together on this card.  This Close To My Heart Whisper ink is a really green grey and it seems to go with just about everything.  A fantastic neutral coloured ink if you're looking for something besides black or brown.

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

Gisèle

Shimmering Thank You

Hello everyone,

After yesterday's tropical interlude, I'm back to thank you cards.

The background image is Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word stamped in Stampin' Up Pale Plum.  The image is Sweet & Sassy Butterfly Flourish stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on watercolour paper that was painted with LuminArt Plum Blossom, English Lavender and Icy Iris Twinkling H2Os and layered on Canford Silver.  The image was heat embossed in Close To My Heart Silver Pearl embossing powder.  The sentiment is also Sweet & Sassy Butterfly Flourish stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Recollections.

I'm still working on my stash of leftovers.  This watercolour background was done months ago when I was playing with some Twinkling H2Os.  I have a whole bunch of these background elements in a variety of colours.  I love the soft blended effect.  As I didn't want anything to overwhelm the blended background, I didn't add any printed paper but instead turned to a background stamp.  Would you believe I stamped that background in one shot!  I was amazed as normally it would take at least a couple of attempts.

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

Gisèle

Fanciful Holly Swirls

Hello everyone,

It is impossible for me not to use some of the many holly stamps in my arsenal for my own Christmas cards.

The image is Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry which was inked with Tombow 177 and 847 before being stamped.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Merry Christmas 06 coloured with Tombow 177 and stamped on Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and layered on Real Red.  The embellishments are Want 2 Scrap Say It With Baby Bling Red.  The holly berries and sentiment were highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

This is a pretty fanciful holly stamp but I just love it!  It is perfect for this semi- one layer card.  I can't wait to try some other uses with this lovely stamp set.

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

Gisèle

Good Bye Ginetta III

Hello everyone,

This is last sympathy card for Ginetta.  This card went to her daughter in France so I crafted it in a single layer to ensure easy mailing.

The background was masked and sponged with Stampin' Up River Rock, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Crushed Curry, Wild Wasabi, Brocade Blue, and Ranger Spun Sugar Distress inks.  The image is Heartfelt Creations Butterfly Medley stamped in Early Espresso and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts also stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Platinum Liquid Pearls.

I love the blocks of colour in the background.  I'm not as fussy on the Liquid Pearls as I think you need to practise somewhat to ensure a more even application.  This is a really great card for mailing as it has lots of interest with the colour but no depth for going through the mail.  I will remember this in future.

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

Gisèle

Soft And Sweet

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for the wife of one of my husband's colleagues.  I made his card for her at the end of June but couldn't post it until now to accomodate "Christmas In July" and all the posts I planned while on vacation.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin' Up Crumb Cake and a pink paper of unknown origin on which I used a Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word stamp.  The senitment is Annabelle Stamps Square Posies stamped in Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

I wanted this card to be entirely different from the card she received from her husband.  This receipient is a wonderful and sweet soul and I'm so very happy she's a good friend.  She always appreciates my cards and I always love crafting them for her.

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

Gisèle

Wonderful Wings

Hello everyone,

I saved the absolute best sponged card in this series for last!

The card base is Recollections.  The sponged stripe is Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Orchid Opulence, Pale Plum and Pink Pirouette.  The image is Heartfelt Creations Butterfly Medley stamped in Soft Suede and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Hero Arts also stamped in Soft Suede.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

This is the stamp that I inadvertently stamped upside down on yesterday's card.  I just had to do try again because even upside down it was amazing!  These are pretty new stamps in my stash.  I'm glad I couldn't resist.  There is a coordinating butterfly die but I didn't want to cover up this thing of beauty. 

I could have easily kept going with this technique but a week's worth is plenty for the moment.  I do have a few ideas that I'd like to try so stay tuned!

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

Gisèle

Wings For Mother

Hello everyone,

I'm on a little bit of a Mother's Day card kick.

The printed paper is K&Company Jubilee layered on Stampin' Up Pale Plum and Crumb Cake.  The Pale Plum layer was textured with Sizzix Pattern 1 and sprayed with Tattered Angels Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist.  The image is Heartfelt Creations Butterfly Medley stamped in Crumb Cake on Whisper White and coloured with a variety of Stampin' Pastels and Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The butterfly is Spellbinders Shapeabilities Les Papillions.  The top layer of the butterfly was cut from Orchid Opulence.  The bottom layer of the butterfly was cut from Pale Plum which was glittered with Crystal Glitter Ritz.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Pale Plum.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Pearl Opaques.

I'm in love with this card.  It is so very, very pretty.  This piece of printed paper coordinates well with a multitude of solid papers.  It inspired me to use the Crumb Cake paper.  This is another of the butterflies that I cut yesterday.  I'm not as fussy about the Orchid Opulence with the rest of my colours but it isn't too bad.

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

Gisèle

Pretty Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today's Thank You card takes advantage of a new Close To My Heart order that I got this week.

The printed paper is Close To My Heart is My Reflections Chantilly layered on Twilight.  The focal panel is Buttercup stamped with Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background in Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight and layered on more Twilight.  The sentiment Verve Celebration of Thanks stamped in Twilight ink on Very Vanilla.  The embellishments are My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 3 Oliver Enamel Dots.

I was just in the mood to put something on an angle.  I really like this layout, it is very different from my usual.  This new CTMH paper is just beautiful.  There is one sheet I especially love and which you'll soon see as a one sheet wonder. 

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

Gisèle

Birthday Wishes I & II

Hello everyone,

I'm bringing back the one sheet wonder!  Fair warning folks, I'm crafting for the Fall card sale at the office so you're going to be seeing a whole lot of one sheet wonder cards over the next month or so.  I've got a feminine series, a masculine series, a traditional Christmas series, a non-traditional Christmas series and possibly a kid series (I'm still mulling that one over).  Some cards will be english and some will be french.  I'll also have a bunch of tags at some point.

All the card bases are all Recollections.  All the printed paper is Scenic Route Sonomoa Melody Lane.  The solid papers are Stampin' Up Ruby Red and Lucky Limeade and Close To My Heart Colonial White.

The background stamp is Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Words stamped in Stampin' Up River Rock.  The sentiment is Papertrey Ink Signature Greeting stamped in Ruby Red ink.  The embellishments are Stampin' Up Basic Pearl Jewels.

The Ruby Red background layer is textured with Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Whimsy.  The sentiment is Verve Amazing Wishes stamped in Ruby Red ink.  The embellishments are Stampin' Up Basic Pearl Jewels.

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

Gisèle

Thank You Marathon XII

Hello everyone,

I'm back on the thank you marathon project. This card is a study of 'blue'.

The background paper is of unknown origin, stamped with Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Work Background and layered on Stampin' Up Baja Breeze. The printed paper is My Mind's Eye Coastal "Curious" also layered on Baja Breeze. The sentiment is Verve Amazing Wishes, stamped in Baja Breeze on Very Vanilla. The embellishments are Multicrafts Keepsakes Memories.

Blue is my favourite colour so it is easy to see why I love this card so much. I've still got a couple of full sheets of this great My Mind's Eye paper, all that sparkles just makes my heart sing.

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

Gisèle

Paisley Petals 7 & 8

Hello everyone,

I have cards seven and eight in this Paisley Petals one sheet wonder series.

The background is Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background stamped in Not Quite Navy. The printed paper is Stampin' Up Paisley Petals layered on Not Quite Navy. The sentiment is Gina K Fanciful Tags stamped in Not Quite Navy on Whisper White and layered on Not Quite Navy. The embellishments are Pebbles Pearl Candy Drops.

The printed paper is Stampin' Up Paisley Petals layered on Not Quite Navy and Cajun Craze. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Licorice Opaques.

These are two great simple cards. The layouts are completely intended to focus the great paper. Would that all cards come together so wonderfully.

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

Gisèle

Get Well Soon

Hello everyone,

I've picked up a few more pots of LuminArte Twinkling H2Os and while experimenting, painted some images that I stamped months and months ago.

The background paper is Stampin' Up River Rock stamped with Heartfelt Creations Large Elegant Word Background. The image, Impression Obsession Fall Leaves, is stamped in Early Espresso, clear heat embossed and painted with a variety of LuminArte Twinkling H2Os. It is layered on textured Dusty Durango. The sentiment is Annabelle Stamps Sentimental Bluebells. The embellishments are Martha Stewart White dimensional mini pearls.

I love this card. I had stamped the image so long ago, but never did anything with it as I'm terrible at colouring. I'm convinced that Twinkling H2Os will change all that. This image is not as well done as my previous two cards. I didn't get the shading that I would have liked but practise will make perfect.

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

Gisèle

Happy Holidays

Hello everyone,

Today's Christmas card just came together effortlessly. I love it when that happens.


The background paper is Close To My Heart Wings. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Jovial Christmas Tree. The vertical strip is Stampin' Up Olive Olive and Early Espresso textured with Sizzix Thin Ice and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen. The small strip on the vertical element is Recollections Pearlized Gold. The image/sentiment is Heartfelt Creations Ornament Medallion stamped in Taken With Teal, highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen and cut with the Holly Ornament die from Spellbinders. The embellishments are Sea Blue Oregon Raindrops.

I think this is a great card! I've obviously been playing with some new stamps and dies which are really impressive. This is actually a pretty simple card however it looks substantial because of all that glitter. I thank Sakura every time I use my Clear Star pen.

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

Gisèle