Another Modern Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is yet another sympathy card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla.  The printed paper is BasicGrey Marjolaine layered on DCWV Cool Neutrals.  The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite on Close To My Heart Colonial White and layered on more DCWV Cool Neutrals.  The embellishments are Teresa Collins Far and Away enamel dots.

This is another lovely piece of BasicGrey printed paper.  I love these 'splashed' flowers.  They're so simple but very effective.  The colours are also wonderful and I was happy I'd still had the DCWV Cool Neutral stack on my desk because it was so much easier to find a great solid to work with the paper.  I thought it would be more difficult to find embellishments but with all the different shades of blue in the printed paper, I was pleasantly surprised.

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

Gisèle

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

This first post of 2019 is the last Christmas card I crafted in this commissioned series.

The card base is Stampin' Up Real Red.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections Black and Vanilla.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up More Merry Messages stamped in Recollections Vanilla in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishment is a Teresa Collins Candy Cane Lane brad.

This is such a quick and easy card!   I trimmed the printed paper carefully so the bird sat on top of the sentiment.  I do love this paper, finding quite retro.  I wish I had more of it because I could use it over and over.  It's not the greatest scale for a card but I think it worked because of the trimming.  A great card!

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

Gisèle

All Traditional

Hello everyone,

Today's post is one of the more traditional Christmas cards I'll be posting this week.

The card base is a green Bazzill.  The printed paper is Flonz Vintage Papers Happy Merry Christmas layered on a red Bazzill.  The sentiment is Impression Obsession Vintage Ornaments stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on a vanilla of unknown origin.  The ribbon is Michael's.  The brad is Teresa Collins Candy Cane Lane.

I often pick a number of papers at once and then build multiple cards from there.  I hadn't originally intended to use ribbon but these leftover end pieces from yesterday's card were perfect for adding under the sentiment.  It was a bit of a challenge to find an embellishment to cover the tops because it had to be large enough to cover the wider ribbon and still fit with the images in the paper.  This works perfectly!

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

Gisèle

Plaid and Pretty

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another commissioned Christmas card.

The background is BoBunny Merry & Bright layered on Stampin' Up Whisper White and Basic Black.  The image is Stampin' Up Embellished Ornament stamped in Close To My Heart Tulip and Sakura Red Gelly Roll pen, and cut with Sizzix Delicate Ornament Thinlits.  The sentiment is Bonnidée C'est Noël stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on more Whisper White.  The embellishment is Teresa Collins Candy Cane Lane.

When I crafted this card I couldn't help but think of my father as he loved a flannel plaid and this black and red check would have been a favourite.  This somewhat fancy ornament shouldn't work with the plaid but because the white snowflakes are rather intricate, I think it turned out beautifully.  I also love using the sentiment as a tag, making this card even more of a gift.

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

Gisèle

Nostalgic Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's Christmas cards is one of my favourites in this series.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections red.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Christmas Messages stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections vanilla.  The embellishments are Teresa Collins Candy Cane Lane.

I really love this somewhat vintage paper.  With all the squares and boxes it really shouldn't work for a card but because of the scale, it turned out better than I expected.  As always, I was careful with the trimming so I wouldn't lose too much of the images.  The sentiment placement was also handled carefully.  I used this particular stamp set because it worked so wonderfully with the style of the printed paper.

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

Gisèle

Take Two

Hello everyone,

So I was so very happy with yesterday's card that I just had to give it a try on some kraft cardstock.

The image is Stampin' Up Bordering on Romance stamped in Ranger Glacier White and heat embossed with Stampin' Up white embossing powder on Recollections Kraft.  The image is painted with LuminArte Deep Coral, Mango Mamba, Moss Agate, Mystic Blue and Razzleberry Twinkling H2Os.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up You've Got This also stamped in Ranger Glacier White, heat embossed with white embossing powder and cut with an EK Success punch.  The embellishment is Teresa Collins Candy Cane Lane enamel dots.

I decided to replicate, exactly, yesterday's card only using kraft instead of black.  The black card was pretty spectacular but this one is truly wonderful!  The colours are just a little stronger even though they're exactly the same.  I have to say, I don't think I like one over the other.  They're both just stunning!  My plan, while I was playing, is to try this technique on some Christmas cards.  I can't wait to get started.

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

Gisèle

Take One

Hello everyone,

After I finished the Painted Poinsettia card a few weeks ago, I got to thinking about trying a quasi black magic technique.  I didn't just want to try it on black cardstock but I wanted to see what I could do with kraft cardstock.  Instead of pencil crayon, I wanted to try Twinkling H2Os.  Today's card is take one.

The image is Stampin' Up Bordering on Romance stamped in Ranger Glacier White and heat embossed with Stampin' Up white embossing powder on Basic Black.  The image is painted with LuminArte Deep Coral, Mango Mamba, Moss Agate, Mystic Blue and Razzleberry Twinkling H2Os.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up You've Got This also stamped in Ranger Glacier White, heat embossed with white embossing powder and cut with an EK Success punch.  The embellishment is Teresa Collins Candy Cane Lane enamel dots.

Oh my goodness!  This is one utterly incredible card.  I really liked the twinkling H20s on Soft Suede but on black, it's incredible!  The shimmer of the paint, which you don't see very well in this photo, is beautiful.  The pop of white and colour against the black is really amazing.  I love, love, love this card.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for Take Two.

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

Gisèle

Jolly Shimmering Holly

Hello everyone,

This is the last of the Christmas cards I've crafted for the hostess gift for my daughter's upcoming student exchange.

The printed paper is Little Yellow Bicycle Making Merry layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black.  The image is Stamp Oasis stamped in StazOn Jet Black on Recollections and painted with LuminArte Ruby Red and Emerald Twinkling H2Os.  The sentiment is Taylored Expressions Big Bold Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections, painted with more Ruby Red and Emerald Twinkling H2Os, and layered on more Basic Black.  The ribbon is Michael's Special Value.  The embellishments are Teresa Collins Fabrications.

This is a stamp I recently acquired.  It appealed because I figured it would be easy to colour and it certainly was!  I couldn't craft a set of Christmas cards without including at least one with holly.  I choose this sentiment because it had that little sprig of holly that coordinated with the image.  I so liked yesterday's card with the black that I just had to do another.  It all came together so well with this lovely plaid paper!

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

Gisèle

Modern Santa

Hello everyone,

Today is one of my favourite cards in this particular Christmas series.

The printed paper is Teresa Collins Christmas Home layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black.  The image is Delta Rubber Stampede Santa Collage stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White and layered on Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler.  The sentiment is Bonnidee Layering Trees stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Teresa Collins Fabrications.

Every time I use this stamp, I fall in love with it a little more.  It was a really great find!  I don't usually use black on Christmas cards but it really does work well especially with the pop of Cherry Cobbler.

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

Gisèle

Thinking Travel

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for my sister's nephew who is really into all things travel.  When I saw this paper I thought he'd get a kick out of the different signage.

The printed paper is BoBunny Detour Icons.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Everyday Sayings stamped in Stampin' Up Night Of Navy stamped on Very Vanilla.  The embellishment is Teresa Collins Far and Away enamel dots.

This is a super simple card.  I didn't even do any layering.  This entire set of cards have to be mailed thus I'm really trying to keep in mind that thickness just won't work.  I love these enamel dots for just that reason.  They add some zing without adding any bulk.  I also like how the circles all work together.  Maybe the mojo is returning.

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

Gisèle

Holly and Plaid

Hello everyone,

I've spent the day pre-posting a one sheet wonder that will show up in August while I'm on vacation.

The printed paper is Teresa Collins Christmas Home layered on Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Holiday Sayings stamped in Cherry Cobbler on Whisper White and layered on more Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black.  The ribbon is Michael's Craft Narrows.  The embellishments are Jolee's All That Bling.

This sheet of holly is what drew me to this paper pad in the first place.  This is some really nice holly.  A card making friend crafted a card with this type of ribbon detail and I liked it so much I decided to copy it.  I love using plaid on Christmas cards so combining it with holly was inspired and the results are stunning.

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

Gisèle

Pretty Poinsettia

Hello everyone,

I was having so much fun painting yesterday's image that I decided to try another. 

The card base is Artoz Klondike.  The image is from Harmonie, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Stampin' Up Whisper White, clear heat embossed and painted with LuminArte Twinkling H2Os.  The poinsettia center is coloured with Y&C Gel Extreme gold.  The sentiment is Annabelle Ornamental Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White, layered on a metallic red of unknown origin and more Whisper White.  The embellishments are Teresa Collins Fabrications "Linen" rhinestone.

I was probably a little eager to get painting this pretty poinsettia as I could have done a better job with the shading.  That said, it's still a very pretty card and it was a joy to work with this image.  In hindsight, as I look at this card, I should have used black and red under the sentiment instead of white and red.  I would have been a nicer balance.  I really like this card and I know whomever receives it will also appreciate it.

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

Gisèle

Holly Happiness

Hello everyone,

This is the sheet of paper, more than any other, prompted me to buy this particular pad of paper.

The printed paper is Teresa Collins Christmas Home layered on Stampin' Up textured Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black.  The sentiment is Serendipity stamped in Cherry Cobbler and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are Making Memories.

Was there any doubt I would love this card in the extreme?  All this awesome holly.  I even have a big 12 X 12 sheet of it that I think I'll probably use in a spectacular one sheet wonder.  I'll hoard those cards.

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

Gisèle

Texting Christmas

Hello everyone,

I've another Christmas crop card for you tonight.  It's all about the text.

The printed paper is Teresa Collins Christmas Home layered on textured Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.  The sentiment is Serendipity stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White and layered on Basic Black.  The embellishments are Teresa Collins Fabrications.

I just love this card.  I'm not sure why this particular sheet of paper appeals to me so much but I think it is because the scale of the words are so well suited to cards.  Given this very workable scale, it's a really busy paper so layout, sentiment and embellishments have to be kept to a bare minimum or it will be just too much.

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

Gisèle