Ode To Simplicity

Hello everyone,

One of the cardmakers I admire most is Susan Raihala. Her blog, Simplicity, is one which I look forward to every day. She crafts some of the most beautiful cards I've ever seen and her blog posts usually have a great quip or two which keeps me chuckling throughout the day. I've never really CASED one of Susan's cards even though I love her style but decided I'd give it a try.

The card base is from Recollections. The image is Penny Black Birds On Wire stamped with Stampin' Up Pacific Point on Very Vanilla and layered on Pacific Point paper. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages.

This is a Susan Raihala card and I love it! It is simplicity at its finest. It is not really my usual style as I usually can't help but add multiple layers and printed paper not to mention embellishments and glitter. Funnily, it is still the type of card I strive to craft. Keeping it simple was actually quite a nice change of pace.

I'm on vaction until after Labour Day so my posts will be somewhat erratic unless I manage to get the mojo really flowing and find time to pre-post some cards.

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

Gisèle

One Layer Ribboned

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a challenge card from Susan Raihala's One Layer Wednesday challenge at her Simplicity blog. Today's challenge was to use ribbon on a one layer card.

The card base is from Recollections. The butterfly image is Technique Tuesday BoHo Buzz. It is stamped in Versamark and Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay and heat embossed with Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style. The ribbon is Sheer Creations from Michaels.

Even though this is my fourth attempt, this is one of my favourite cards ever. I love the simplicity and the femininity. The ribbon, rainbow organza, is one of the most beautiful and versatile ribbons I've ever found. It goes with everything and when I'm stumped, it's my go to ribbon.

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

Gisèle

Simple One Layer

Hello everyone,

As soon as I saw this 365 Cards white space sketch on Friday, I knew I wanted to combine it with the new one-layer Wednesday at my favourite blog, Susan Raihala's Simplicity.

The card base is --- Recollections. The image is Verve Filigree Fantasy. The pearls are an unknown part of my stash, could be dollar store, could be Multicrafts.

I love this card. I wish I didn't need an excuse to do a one layer card. They are always so wonderful but I feel I'm ripping off the recipient because there isn't enough extra. I guess it will just depend on the recipient. All that being said, I didn't add a sentiment. I felt it would mess up the sketch and put it out of balance. I think this card would be good for a wedding, birthday, Mom's day. I suspect that when I fianlly figure out it's ultimate purpose, then I'll add the sentiment.

Please enjoy and come back for more later.

Gisèle

Casing Simplicity

Hello everyone,

Today's card is cased from my favourite blog, Simplicity (I swear I'm not stalking you Susan). I was utterly struck by Susan's card (who cased it from Joan B at Paperlicious) and just couldn't help replicating. I also took advantage of today's Stamp Something challenge which was to use pink.

The card base is Recollections. The image is Stampin' Up Delight in Life which was embossed with Close To My Heart black embossing powder and highlighted with Golden Rod and Fruit Punch Stickles. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines embossed with Close To My Heart baby pink embossing powder. The pink layer is Stampin' Up Pink Passion. The black layer is an unknown piece from my stash. The image on the black layer is stamped in white Color Box ink and embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder.

I really love this card. It turned out better than I pictured in my mind. I love how everything just pops. The colours are sophisticated but the card is so simple. Thanks for the inspiration Susan.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Inspirational Thank You

Hello everyone,

Tonight's card is inspired by yesterday's Inspirational Card Sketches blog.


The card base is from Recollections. The background paper is Close To My Heart You Rock. The image is Hero Arts Three Ferns stamped on Stampin' Up Whisper White and mounted on Quickutz Tropical. The sentiment is is Stampin' Up Four Square.

I quite like this card. I bought this stamp because Susan Raihala used it on a card that she posted on her Simplicity blog. I couldn't resist it and I can't wait to explore all it's possibilities.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

DSP-Free Fix-Its

Hello everyone,

Well, if you caught yesterday's post you'll have read that I had a few troubles getting the Sweet Sunday Sketch to work to my satisfaction. I managed to get a lovely card in the end, but had a bunch of flubs and bits that never made it onto the final product. I wasn't about to through them away, so I took a page from Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog and turned them into really wonderful cards. The two cards below use these pieces from my earlier efforts. As I originally intended, they also work for Sunday's 2 Red Bananas "Behind the Scenes" challenge, which was to stamp a background instead of using designer paper.

This card base is Stampin' Up Whisper White. The background was created with Verve Filigree Fantasy in Stampin' Up Soft Suede. The card was overlayed with vellum. The red paper is part of an unknown stash but possibly Recollections, from Michaels. It is textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The sentiment is Verve Wishing You. This focal element was cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Label Twelve die. The ribbons are Stampin' Up Soft Suede Polka Dot grosgrain and Dollarama Crafts.

I found the card base was much too busy once I had it stamped so I put it aside. I eventually decided that covering most of it with vellum would soften the overall effect. It did and frankly, I find it quite appealing. I glued only the left side of the card and as I've no vellum-specific adhesive, it shows through. I solved this issue by covering the adhesive with ribbon. I used the reverse side of the polka dot grosgrain because I found the dots added more 'busy-ness' that I didn't need or want. Without texture though, I found the red element was just too plain. I used small dots to texture because I felt it related very well to the filigree.

I find this card positively striking. It is not at all what I intended when I first put stamp to paper but it turned out so much better than I imagined. I'm really glad I didn't just throw the card base in the garbage.

This card base is Stampin' Up Confetti White. The red paper (same sheet as the card above) is textured with Cuttlebug's Floral Fantasy dry embossing folder. The vertical element is Stampin' Up kraft paper. The images are Stampin' Up Circle Circus. The sentiment is Verve Uplifting Phrases. The ribbon is Celebrate It Sheer Creations from Michaels.

I've been meaning to play with my kraft paper for some time. I generally don't find it particularly appealing on it's own but I always seem to like the final results. Anyway, I once saw it (no idea where) used with white ink, I found the combination absolutely striking, so I wanted to replicate a similar look. Unfortunately, once I had this piece stamped, I couldn't work it into the sketch in a way that looked right to me. This particular application does however, work quite well. The ribbon element is also one that I've seen before (but can't remember where) and I found it so beautiful, I just had to case it.

I really love this card. This red (more burgundy really) works beautifully with the kraft paper. I also have to say that the kraft paper and white ink together - it isn't disappointing.

Please enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

2009 Favourites

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by the current Crafty Cardmakers challenge which was to use a favourite from 2009. I thought this would be soooo easy but actually finding a favourite was really difficult. I've come across so many fantastic cardmaking things this year that it was hard to choose something.

Again, I started with the standard Halcraft card base. I used the Stampin' Up Medallion stamp in Bermuda Bay. The medallion was highlighted with Start Dust Stickles. The sentiment is Gina K Designs Tags Lines.
This is the first time since I started with Stampin' Up in 2006 that I absolutely fell in love with each and every In Colour. I couldn't wait to get my hands on each and every one. I also fell in love with this stamp. I find it indescribably striking. It is one of the first things I bought out of the new Stampin' Up catalogue. Another 2009 favourite is Stickles. I love Stickles and am hard-pressed not to use it on each and every card. The other thing I fell in love with this year was clean and simple cards. It has taken me a while to be able to craft a clean and simple card confidently. I've said it before but I am utterly inspired by Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog and look forward to each and every email update. Finally my most favourite thing in 2009 has to be blogging!
There are a ton of other favourite things in 2009 but I just couldn't fit them into one card. I love anything Glamour Dusted what a spectacular technique. I love Shimmerz especially when combined with a nice textured piece of cardstock. I also love the effect created by Ranger Adirondack Alcohol inks. When combined with Glamour Dust, nothing beats it. I absolutely fell in love with white organza ribbon. I stretched that recycled piece forever and am utterly thankful I found a new roll of it. I found some pretty awesome stamp sets and ribbon this year as well - far too many to name, let alone put onto a card. There is probably a whole lot more favourites from this year I just can't think of it off the top of my head.
I hope you enjoy this card and my list of favourites, may it inspire you to take out your own favourites and get crafty!
Gisèle

Simple Congratulations

Hello everyone,

Today's card is not a challenge card, but is utterly inspired by one of my most favourite blogs - Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog. There is not a card Susan makes that I do not admire.



I used a Halcraft base and some scraps of Stampin' Up Whisper White and Tempting Turquoise. The image is Stampin' Up Circle Circus and is highlighted with Turquoise Stickles (like Christmas Evey's Double Thanks). The sentiment is Gina K Designs Tags Lines.

A friend asked me to make her a congratulations card and I hope this will do nicely. The recipient likes teal / turquoise and is into modern art. I really like turquoise and white together and Susan's Pieces Parts card was the perfect jumping off point.

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

Gisèle

Creative Winter Wonderland Part II

Hello everyone,

Here are the other two cards I promised you yesterday. Believe it or not, the Season's Greetings took me three tries but it was worth it in the end. Many thanks to Susan Raihala and her Simplicity blog. Susan is so talented so check her blog if ever you've the chance. I will certainly be playing with this layout through the year as I see so very many, many possibilities. Our Creative Corner also has a wonderful blog worth visiting and this week's Winter Wonderland challenge is spot on!

Both card bases are from Halcraft. The two sentiments are Close To My Heart Holiday Commentary. The images on the Season's Greetings card are all Stampin' Up Holiday Tag Team highlighted with a variety of Stickles. The Happy Holiday's image (tiny ornaments) are Close To My Heart Magical Season embossed in gold and highlighted with Xmas and Green Stickles.

I can't wait to deliver these cards tomorrow!

I hope you've enjoyed all four cards and come SPI again later today for at least one more card.

Gisèle

Creative Winter Wonderland

Hello everyone,

It's been another wickedly busy day but I didn't want to miss posting a card and there are so many excellent challenges on Saturdays. I've fallen back on a very clean and simple card inspired by Wednesday's posting on Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog earlier this week. This card is also for today's 'Let It Snow' challenge from Our Creative Corner blog.


This is a super simple and quick card. I used my standard Halcraft base. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Holiday Commentary embossed with Silver Pearl. The snowflakes are Stampin' Up Snow Burst, Inkadinkado Holiday Silhouettes and Warm Holiday Wishes. I highlighted parts of each snowflake with Starry Night Stickles.

I really love this card. It is, to me, the epitome of a clean and simple card. I loved it so much I couldn't resist making a second card.

It is the same Halcraft card base. The sentiment is also Close To My Heart Holiday Commentary. The holly leaves are Inkadinkado Warm Holiday Wishes to which Xmas Red Stickles were added for the berries.

Again, how can you not love these cards. I have some male colleagues at the office and I think these are going to be perfect for them. There are two more sentiments in this stamp set so I'm going to make another couple of cards. I could, very easily, use this card for next year's Christmas cards.

Please enjoy these cards and come back tomorrow to SPI the other two cards.

Gisèle