A Simple Christmas Plaid

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another wonderful Christmas card.

The card base is a vanilla of unknown origin.  The printed paper is Graphic 45 Happy Holly Day layered on Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi and Ruby Red.  The sentiment is from Magenta stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Wild Wasabi and Ruby Red.  The embellishment is from Martha Stewart.

Plaid, next to holly, is one of my favourite papers for crafting Christmas cards.  I love all the possible options.  This is a bit of a brighter colour scheme but it still works just as well.  I used a very simple layout that allowed enough space on the left side to add a sticker.  These Martha Stewart Christmas stickers have been in my stash for eons and I just love them!

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

Gisèle

Fancy Trees Five Ways

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fantastic set of Christmas tree cards.

The card bases are a vanilla of unknown origin.  The image is Magenta stamped on more vanilla of unknown origin with Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Mossy Meadow and Bravo Burgundy, Altenew Hydrangea, and Close To My Heart Peacock.  The sentiment is Penny Black Festive Wishes on more vanilla with Versafine Onyx Black.  The image and sentiment panels are layered on Stampin' Up Midnight Muse, Mossy Meadow and Bravo Burgundy, and Close To My Heart Pansy and Peacock.  The embellishments are Darice Gems.

I love this stamp in five different colours.  They are all just different enough to keep me interested and all they are all beautiful!  You have to give Stampin' Up credit, it's wonderful to be able to coordinate the ink and paper so easily.  I was even able to find rhinestones that coordinated which was just icing on the tree!

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

Gisèle

Shades of Blue

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a wonderful thinking of you card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Midnight Muse.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tombow 062, 192, 476, 528 and 533 on Recollections White and layered on Close To My Heart Spring Iris and more Recollections White.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Say It All stamped in Outdoor Denim on more Recollections White.  The embellishments are Mark Richards 3mm silver metals.

This is another large image that I just love!  It is just excellent for using marker although it would be equally wonderfully in a single colour.  There is a lot of white space and the fine lines don't overwhelm a card.  The image could easily be cropped for a smaller card base and I suspect it would be just as lovely.  I chose different shades of blue in this example but any combination of colours would be just as great.  I'm quite pleased with the random placement of the embellishments.  A win!

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

Gisèle

Two Little Birds

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a wonderful 'thinking of you' card.

 The card base is Stampin' Up River Rock.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tombow 026, 076 and 992 on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Beige and a dark brown of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warmest Regards stamped in Early Espresso.

This stamp is part of the latest Magenta order I received a few months ago and I just love it!  These two little birds are wonderful!  There is also something about the grass that I find very appealing.  It was very easy to apply different colours and stamped just beautifully!  I know that I'll get a lot of use from this image.  I really love that I was able to overlay the sentiment in a darker ink.  I didn't fee the need for any extra embellishments as even wooden or cork dots would have been too much!

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

Gisèle

A Half Medallion

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another gorgeous sentiment-less card.

The card base is Paper Accents Pearlized White.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tsukineko Brilliance Lightening and Starlite Black on Recollections White and layered on a pearlized grey of unknown origin and a shimmery white of unknown origin.  The card is highlighted with Mercury Glass Stickles.

This is a very sophisticated but simple card.  I love the half medallion and the best part is there is another half available for a second card.  These two black inks are awesome and have a different tone depending upon how the light hits the image.  It was a no-brainer to add a bit of Stickles.  It's an fantastic result!

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

Gisèle

Smile Bouquet

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another pretty little card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Whisper White.  The image is Magenta stamped with Tombow 055, 076, 126, 373 and 755 on Whisper White and layered on a dark teal Bazzill.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Lovely You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. The embellishments are Recollections Adhesive Faux Pearls.

This is another new Magenta stamp that I love!  It's a great vertical image that took marker really well.  I played around with the colours a bit and wished I had three nice pinks.  I love the horizontal sentiment on the side and this one was better than I had pictured..  I wasn't planning to add embellishments but these three tiny pearls are great and I'm glad I went ahead with them. 

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

Gisèle

Simply For You

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another simple tiny card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Whisper White.  The image is Magenta, stamped in Tombow N57 and 992 on Whisper White and layered on Close To My Heart Slate.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy To Be Friends stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond.

After all the issues I had with yesterday's card, I was so grateful to have this extremely simple image to try.  I find this grass image very appealing.  I particularly like that it is perfect for stamping a horizontal sentiment along the vertical stem.  It was easy to apply two marker colours and it stamped beautifully.  A fantastic result!

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

Gisèle

Twice Is Nice

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a pair of sweet tiny 'friendship' cards.

The card bases are Stampin' Up Whisper White.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tombow 126, 177, 443 and 665 on Whisper White and layered on Stampin' Up Taken With Teal.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Pocket Silhouettes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White.  The image/sentiment panels are layered on Close To My Heart Pansy.

As quick and easy the last two tiny cards were to craft, these two were the result of more than half a dozen attempts.  I almost gave up.  I think the issue was because this image is a little more intricate and I applied too much ink when I coloured the stamp.  The more pale version resulted from a second impression of the original inking.  I wish I'd figured that out just a little earlier.  That said, I also had problems with colour choices and the size of the panels.  I love the results but am happy to have these two little cards finished!

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

Gisèle

Small and Sweet

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a sweet little card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Whisper White.  The image is Magenta, stamped with Tombow 062, 126 and 373 on Whisper White and layered on Quickutz Tropical Quick Stripz and more Whisper White.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Tin of Cards stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

I found a number of small (3" x 5") envelops in my stash and thought they'd be perfect for experimenting with some of the Magenta stamps I got in the mail yesterday.  Wow! They may be tiny but they are awesome!  This tiny stamp took marker and stamped beautifully.  It is the perfect scale for this smaller card.  The layout is simple and familiar.  I decided to forgo embellishments, not wanting to clutter up the white space.

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

Gisèle

Wheat Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another simple 'sympathy' card.

The card base is Momenta Textured Cardstock.  The image is Magenta, stamped in Tombow 977 and 991 on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Quickutz Garden Quickstripz and Close To My Heart Saddle.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warmest Regards stamped in Altenew Espresso on Recollections Vanilla.

This is a perfect image for a sympathy card.  It's easy to apply marker and always leaves a great impression.  I chose to use natural colors, not only because it suits the image, but it's a little more somber without being maudlin.  The layout is straightforward but the layers, especially the offset amber piece, adds interest.

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

Gisèle

Layered Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a more bright 'sympathy' card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tombow 062, 873, and 985 on Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment is Gina K Block Greetings stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The image/sentiment panel is layered on an orange Bazzill and more Recollections Vanilla.

While this sympathy card is a little on the bright side, I think it works because it's very simple and the multiple layers make it more sophisticated.  I rather like the contrast of the simple image and more formal font of the sentiment.  I didn't add any embellishments because, given the bright colours, no more elements were needed.

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

Gisèle

Soft Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another simple 'sympathy' card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tombow 451, 623, and 991 on Recollections White.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The image/sentiment panel is layered on a yellow of unknown origin, Recollections Purple and Stampin' Up Pool Party.  The embellishments are Recollections Faux Pearls.

This is another favourite Magenta image.  It is so simple!  It looks wonderful no matter the colours.  I chose more soft colours and drew on those for the layers.  I wasn't certain about the colour combination at first but the more I look at it, the more it appeals.  The black sentiment is a little jarring, a grey probably would have worked better.  This is another layout I've used before and I love it every time.

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

Gisèle

Condolences Blossoms

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another lovely 'sympathy' card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla.  The image is Magenta stamped in Tombow 098, 905, 933, and 985 on Very Vanilla and layered on Close To My Heart Cranberry and Garden Green.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Sincere Expressions stamped in Altenew Forest Garden on more Very Vanilla.

I love this image!  It's perfect and easy for using markers and these warm colours are great together.  I've used this layout before because it works great when the image doesn't fit the size of the card base easily.  The biggest challenge is adhering the elements evenly.  I decided no extra embellishments were needed as the image speaks for itself.

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

Gisèle

Cheerful Noël

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fun French Christmas card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is Penny Black Wintertime layered on a green and a grey Bazzill.  The sentiment is Magenta stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite on Recollections White, layered on more green Bazzill and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are Maildor Cooky stickers.

This is a really fun Christmas card.  The sentiment and embellishment are in the design 'sweet spot' which makes the overall card even more appealing.  I wasn't crazy with the impression of the sentiment so I applied the Sakura pen.  It often improves a less than perfect impression.  It's a great, fun result!

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

Gisèle

Christmas Stockings

Hello everyone,

Today's final Christmas In July post is another pretty non-traditional Christmas card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler.  The printed paper is Dovercraft layered on Bazzill Aspen.  The sentiment is Magenta stamped in Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine on Recollections White.  The ribbon and snowflake embellishment are of unknown origin.  The card is highlighted with Silver Stickles.

The was the perfect paper for using a vertical sentiment.  While I'd hoped to coordinate with pink elements, I couldn't find the right shade and I just had more dark green elements in my stash.  As you know, I'm not all that fussy with rows but again, because the scale of the images was just right, this paper works.  It's a really wonderful result.

I hope you enjoyed this card as well as this Christmas In July series and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

A Holly Branch

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fairly traditional Christmas card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Old Olive.  The printed paper is Flonz Vintage Papers - Happy Merry Christmas layered on a khaki of unknown origin.  The image is Penny Black A Wish for Peace stamped in Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow and coloured with Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Blendabilities markers on Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment is Magenta stamped in Altenew Vineyard Berry on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more khaki.  The brads are Recollections.

This image is another leftover I found in my scrap bin of Christmas bits.  To be honest, I was grateful to have finally used it.  I thought it worked very well with the background paper and the simple lines of the font of the sentiment.  It took a while to find an appropriate paper for layering and I think the khaki works rather well.

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

Gisèle

Christmas Goodies

Hello everyone,

Today’s post is the last of the colleague Christmas cards I crafted last fall.

The card base is a green Recollections.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Santa’s Workshop layered on a white of unknown origin and a red Recollections.  The sentiment is Magenta stamped in Altenew Ruby Red on a white of unknown origin and layered on more green Recollections.  The cookie cutter embellishments are of unknown origin, highlighted with Xmas Red, Cinnamon and Green Stickles.

This colleague has two young daughters, so I was really drawn to the playfulness of the printed paper.  I also thought the cookie cutter embellishments were inspired.  The is a fantastic French Christmas sentiment because it works vertically or horizontally.  The mix of two fonts also makes it a pretty versatile stamp.

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

Gisèle

Serene Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a sympathy card I crafted for an old friend.

The card base is Stampin' Up Night of Navy.  The image is Magenta Cold Harmony coloured in Tombow N57, 076, 16, 158, 177, 228 and 528, stamped on white of unknown origin and layered on a green Bazzill.  The sentiment is BoBunny Sentiments stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on a white of unknown origin and layered on more green Bazzill.  The embellishments are Echo Park Imagine That enamel dots.

My friend's father had been ill for quite some time so his passing is very much a mixed blessing.  I hoped the blues and greens in this card will be peaceful.  This is a favourite tree image and though I often use it for Christmas cards, it was perfectly suited for this sympathy card.  The font in the sentiment speaks well to the image.

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

Gisèle

Autumn Wheat

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last of the French birthday cards in this commission.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The image is Magenta stamped in Stampin' Up Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie and More Mustard on a white of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Bonnidee French Wording #1 stamped in Pumpkin Pie.  The image and sentiment are layered on Pumpkin Pie and Really Rust.

I really love this stamp.  It's the perfect scale for these smaller card bases.  I used three separate ink colours, applying light to dark.  This image would also be ideal for using the watercolour crayon technique.  The font of the sentiment is a little fussier than I'd like for these wheat stalks but it's not all together terrible.  I debated adding some ribbon or other embellishment but I really like the layered image and sentiment by themselves.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Sunkissed Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a birthday card that I wasn't sure would actually work until the very end.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The background image is Stampin' Up You've Got This stamped in Altenew Sunkissed on a white of unknown origin.  The focal image is Magenta stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso and layered on more Early Espresso.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Perfect Punches stamped in Early Espresso on a more white of unknown origin.

Oranges and browns are not a favourite colour combination but I've a number of these orange/gold card bases that need to be used and I wanted to try a silhouette style that wasn't black.  I thought the Sunkissed kissed background would coordinate well with the card base and the Early Espresso is dark enough for a silhouette.  Black would have been a little too Halloween-like.  I like this sentiment because it coordinates with the large oval punch and I thought, placed just right, would be a nice anchor for the image.  This is a great result even though I wasn't sure of myself the entire time I was crafting it.

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

Gisèle