Layered for the Holidays

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great Christmas card.

The card base is Stampin' Up Garden Green.  The printed paper is American Crafts "Be Merry" Stockings layered on Stampin' Up Real Red, a white of unknown origin and Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Studio G stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Recollections Black.  The embellishments are Eyelet Outlet enamel dots.

This is another great piece of printed paper that I've used many times.  I cut it a little smaller so I could play with layers with a variety of reveals.  I love the hints of black which seem to make all the other elements pop.  I felt the font of the sentiment worked particularly well with the simple 'folk art' style images.  The enamels dots anchor the sentiment without adding any extra bulk.

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

Orchid Simplicity

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a sweet thank you card.

The card base is Studio G.  The image and sentiment are Stampin' Up Happy Watercolor stamped in Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette and Soft Suede.  The embellishments are Crystal Stickers Mark Richard 2mm clear gems.

One of the things that appeals to me so much about this particular stamp set is the juxtaposition of the rather formal images, simple font and 'loose' background patterns.  These things shouldn't work so well together.  I chose this image because, like Monday's card, the embossed corner coordinates rather well with the image.  The sentiment is raised because it's covering up a blotched stamp attempt.  I wasn't sure about the white on white but with the embossing, it seems to work just fine.

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

Gisèle

The Best Blooms

Hello everyone,

Part of the housewarming gift that was paired with yesterday's card included the next six cards.

The card base is Studio G.  The images are Stampin' Up Wild About Flowers stamped in Cameo Coral and Always Artichoke and Close To My Heart Peacock, Topiary, Sweet Leaf and Pomegranate.  The sentiment, also Stampin' Up Wild About Flowers, was stamped in Peacock.

I hadn't originally planned to include cards in the housewarming gift but my girlfriend really likes cards and is always happy when I give them to her.  I wasn't particularly satisfied with the cards in my stash so decided only a few short hours before seeing them to get creative.  I don't always work well under pressure so was very purposeful in my choices for this series.  I decided to stick, as much as possible to stamps, including this two-step one, as it makes for very straightforward cards when you don't have to worry about coordinating with paper.  I also selected a variety of card bases at the start so I didn't have to waste precious time making my choices.  This is a great result that took only a few minutes to craft.

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

Gisèle

Thank You Pairing

Hello everyone,

I'm slowly but surely coming to the end of the butterfly series.

The card base is Studio G.  The butterflies are Joy! Crafts Vintage Flourishes 6003/0023 die cut from Ranger alcohol inked glossy paper.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Happy Watercolor stamped in Elegant Eggplant.  The embellishments are Kaisercraft Plum pearls.

Three elements in a simple z-pattern layout makes for a pretty wonderful card.  This particular die cut is truly lovely.  It's a great size and scale for cards.  Given I'm ready to get this series wrapped up, keeping it clean and simple seemed logical.  These butterflies are wonderful!

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

Gisèlestudio

Butterfly Birthday Bliss

Hello everyone,

Today's post is one of my favourites in this butterfly series.

The card base is Studio G.  The image is Joy! Crafts Floral Flourishes 6003/0006 die cut from Ranger alcohol inked glossy paper.  The sentiment is Joy! Crafts Clear Stamps Sayings stamped in Stampin' Up Blackberry Bliss and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are Crystal Stickers 2mm clear elements.

I love the contrast of large image and sentiment with the tiny embellishment trio.  This is a tried and true three element design layout that always works each and every time.  When combined with the beautiful colour swirls of the alcohol inked paper and intricate die cut butterfly, there is no going wrong.  This is a card that you can't help but love and as much as I do, I can't wait to give it to someone.

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

Gisèle

Thinking of Butterflies

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for a colleague whose life is in a bit of a tangle at the moment.  I'm hoping these cards will keep her spirits from sagging.

The card base is Studio G.  The background is Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card Butterflies stamped in Close To My Heart Blush.  The butterfly is Marianne Design Collectables COL1317 die cut from glossy paper that was smooshed with a variety of Ranger alcohol ink and spritzed with Tattered Angels Dazzling Diamonds.  The image was stamped in StazOn Olive Green.  The sentiment is Rubbernecker Best Wishes stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Queen & Company Irridescent Rhinestones.

This is one heck of a butterfly card!  I was playing with my stash of alcohol inks a few weeks back with some very interesting results.  I couldn't resist using these papers to  die cut some of the butterflies I also have in my stash.  In crafting this particular card, I decided to pull out one of the Cover-A-Card stamps.  I knew it would work well on this smaller, squarish card.  It's a little busier than I'd envisioned but knowing my colleague, it will be perfect for lifting her spirits.

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

Gisèle

Wings And Vines

Hello everyone,

Today's post is yet one more butterfly card.

The card base is Studio G.  The butterfly images are Marianne Design Collectables COL 1319 die cut from Ranger alcohol inked glossy paper, stamped in StazOn Jet Black and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The vines are Gina K Hope Grows stamped in Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine.  The background was lightly sponged with Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine, Pomegranate and Twilight, and Stampin' Up Pale Plum and Daffodil Delight.  The sentiment is Purple Sky Limited stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

This recent set of thank you card series has given me a chance to play with a few things like alcohol inks and butterfly dies.  I also pulled out sponges.  This isn't generally a technique that I like all that much however the sponges I used were very tight and fine.  It allowed for a much more delicate and light application of ink.  Subtle.  I like subtle sometimes.

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

Gisèle

A Flock Of Butterflies

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another beautiful butterfly card.

The card base is Studio G.  The image is Memory Box Fairyland Butterflies die cut from Ranger alcohol inked glossy paper.  The sentiment is Annabelle Stamps Square Posies stamped in Close To My Heart Peacock ink.

I love this card!  I've used this die with alcohol inked paper before and it was equally spectacular.  This die might be a tad to large for the card base but once I angled the butterflies on the diagonal, it seemed to work all right.  I really love the blending of these inks.  The blues, purples and greens are really wonderful!  This will be another that I'll want to keep but I've actually got someone special in mind for it.

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

Gisèle

Circle of Butterflies

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another beautiful butterfly card.

The card base is Studio G.  The images are Joy! Crafts die 6002/0322 cut from Ranger alcohol inked glossy paper.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Curly Cute stamped in Close To My Heart Peacock.

Once I finished playing with my stash of alcohol inks I ended up with a wonderful variety of papers.  Using the papers to explore some of the butterfly dies has been just as fun.  I never realized how wonderful this die was until I'd seen it like this.  Wow!  I'm going to have a tough time giving this card away.

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

Gisèle

A Well Flourished Butterfly

Hello everyone,

This is the first of a couple of butterfly cards that I've crafted for a colleague who is going through a really challenging time at the moment.

The card base is Studio G.  The image is Creative Expressions Majestic Monarch die cut from a piece of glossy paper smooshed with a variety of Ranger alcohol ink.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Wetlands stamped in Midnight Muse.  The embellishments are Recollections Rhinestone Stickers.

There were a couple of alcohol smooshed papers that left a little to be desired.  That said, I've learned that with the right die cut and a few embellishments, they can still work extraordinarily well.  Case in point.  This die cut is utterly amazing!  I didn't bother with any background stamps or papers because it would only distract from this great butterfly.  I want to say that the embellishments are an off shade of pink but there seem to have hints of ivory/beige that make them not as pink as you'd think.  They work perfectly with this particularly bizarre smooshed paper.

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

Gisèle

Prettiest Paisley

Hello everyone,

I was so pleased with yesterday's Simple Circled card that I just had to repeat it with another of my large stamps.

The image is Impression Obsession Cover-A-Card Small Paisley stamped in Stampin' Up Blackberry Bliss on Recollections White and layered on Blackberry Bliss.  The sentiment is Studio G Hampton Art also stamped in Blackberry Bliss on Recollections White and layered on more Blackberry Bliss and Recollections White.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Ice Granite Glam Gems.

So I think this card is as spectacular as yesterday's.  Blackberry Bliss has to be one of the best colours Stampin' Up has ever produced!  I'm not all that fussy about the new pads but they sure work wonderfully on these large stamps.  I debated using a ribbon but when I found these gems in my stash I though they were just perfect!  I suspect I've got a few more of these types of cards coming in this thank you card series.

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

Gisèle

Owls For You

Hello everyone,

My internet connection has been extremely spotty the last few days, hence my lack of posts.  It's all fixed now so I'll get back on schedule.

Today's post is the last of the cards I've designed for the beginners group I'm teaching at a fundraising crop at the end of the month.

The printed papers are Joy Crafts Owl's World layered on Close To My Heart Cocoa.  The sentiment is Studio G stamped in Close To My Heart Slate ink on Recollections White and layered on more Cocoa.  The ribbon is American Crafts.

This sweet paper makes this card so quick and easy.  I figure by the end of the day, the ladies are going to be pretty tired so it's best not to do something too complicated.  It was tricky to cut the printed paper so the owls were not cut off but it was worth the effort.  I think the ladies will be pleased.

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

Gisèle

Boy Wonder VII & VIII

Hello everyone,
Only a couple of more posts for this latest boy one sheet wonder series.

The printed paper is BoBunny On The Go layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black.  The vertical strip, Whisper White, is stamped with a Studio G stamp in More Mustard and layered on More Mustard Paper.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Celebration stamped in VersaFine on Whisper White and layered on Basic Black.

The printed paper is BoBunny On The Go layered on Stampin' Up Pacific Point which was stamped with Stampin' Up Circle Circus.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Celebration stamped in Pacific Point on Whisper White.

Very clean.  Very Simple.  Perfect boy cards and I just love them!

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

Gisèle

Wordy Wishes II

Hello everyone,

I'm casing myself with this card. It is the second card I'd planned for last night. This is the male version of the Happy Birthday card for this week's One-Layer Wednesday challenge which was to use only words, no images.

The card base is Recollections. The images are Close To My Heart Celebration, Studio G, Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings, Annabelle Stamps Sentimental Bluebells, Stampin' Up It's Your Birthday and Papertrey Ink Wreath For All Seasons. The inks are Nick Bantock Cerulean Azure, Prussian Blue and Deep Turquoise, and Stampin' Up Pacific Point, Marina Mist, Brilliant Blue and Night of Navy.

I love this card as much as I love the feminine version from yesterday. It is absolutely perfect for a male card. I could see myself do any number of cards with simple sentiments, in this layout and monochromatic colours.

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

Gisèle

Wordy Wishes

Hello everyone,

A really quick card tonight. This week's One Layer Wednesday challenge is to use only sentiments, no images. I thought this was a great challenge and imagined this card as soon as I read the challenge.

The card base is from Recollections. The sentiments are Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings, Studio G, and Stampin' Up It's Your Birthday. The ink is Stampin' Up Melon Mambo, Pretty In Pink, Pink Passion, Positively Pink, Rose Romance and Studio G pink.

I love this card. It is exactly as I'd pictured it in my mind and that always thrills me. I'm hoping that the lines around the first 'happy' won't count as an image but I might be stretching that just a tad. I had plans to do exactly the same card in blue tonight but life got in the way so I'll plan that card for another time. I think this will look so awesome in blue for a man.

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

Gisèle

Thinking of You

Hello everyone,

I found out today that one of my nieces, who has a compromised immune system, is in the local children's hospital battling the flu. I just had to make her a card that I hope will cheer her up, if only a little. I used today's Inspirational Card Sketches challenge as a starting point and combined it with My Time To Craft's 'spots and dots' challenge.

The background paper is BasicGrey Lemonade layered on Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight. The sticker is Bazzill Basics Little Girl Chip Toppers. The two rectangular elements are scraps of Certainly Celery and Rose Red which have been textured with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots dry embossing folder. The sentiment is of unknown origin but probably Studio G. The embellishments are also of unknown origin but possibly Making Memories which are attached to a scrap of Shimmery White. The entire card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

I really like this card. It is bright and cheerful and perfect for a really ill little girl. I really like how well elements from so many different companies combined so wonderfully. This is why I love cardmaking!

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

Gisèle

Happy Birthday Sister

Hello everyone,

This Saturday is my oldest sister's birthday and if it's to get to her on time, I need to get it in the mail. I used Saturday's I {Heart} 2 Stamp Sketch For You To Try as a jumping off point. I also used a really fresh colour scheme because it's was something different from the traditional fall colours.

All the printed paper is DCWV Floral Prints. The white layers are Stampin' Up Whisper White. The solid purple and green layers are of unknown origin out of the scrap bin. The image is Studio G. The sentiment is Hero Arts Small Greetings.

I think my sister will love this card. The purple, green and white is a really classic colour combination that just turned out beautifully. I used a lot more layers than the sketch called for but I found that all the printed papers one on top of each other was too much but that little bit of white really makes everything pop. I also wanted dimension without adding brads or anything too bumpy because Canada Post doesn't like that extra thickness.

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

Gisèle

Criss Crossed Birthday

Hello again everyone,

I'm on a roll and decided that yesterday's 365 Cards criss cross challenge would be kind of fun.

The background paper is Crafts from the dollar store and is highlighted with Waterfall, Star Dust and Fruit Punch Stickles. The ribbon is Offray. The focal image is from Studio G, stamped in Chocolate Chip on Stampin' Up Whisper White and layered on Bashful Blue.

This paper isn't one that I particularly like but it came in a pack from the dollar store with papers that I really did like. This is a case where Stickles is just what's needed to make a paper palatable.

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

Gisèle

Inspirational Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by three challenges. Inspirational Card Sketches provided the sketch, Cards For Men wants a Birthday card and Jacksonbelle wanted us to use something new.

The patterned paper (which is new) is We R Memory Keeprs Coppered Out - Argyle and Coppered Out - Tiles. The solid papers are Stampin' Up scraps of Close To Cocoa, Bordering Blue and Very Vanilla. The green strip is a piece of unknown textured scrap. The Close To Cocoa strip was textured with Sizzix Harlequin texture plate. The sentiment is Studio G. The focal element was cut with a new Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Twelve.

I really like this birthday card. It is certainly a man card. I love the colours, textures and patterns.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle