Fifty Years

Hello everyone,

My mother is visiting her brother out West this summer, getting gorging herself on blueberries, the mountains and small-town life.  She is going to be attending a 50th wedding anniversary party so she commissioned a special card.

The printed paper is Rossi 1931 layered on a brushed gold and shimmery aqua of unknown origin.  The images are Impression Obsession Small Flourishes stamped on Recollections Vanilla in Stampin' Up Pacific Point and Bermuda Bay, and Close To My Heart Peacock and Twilight, highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen, and layered on more brushed gold and shimmery aqua.  The sentiment is Just Rite Large Fancy Sentiments stamped in Tsukineko Lightning Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more brushed gold.  The embellishments are Platinum Liquid Pearls.

This is one very beautiful card.  I found this printed paper at local paper store in Ottawa - Paper Papier - which carries some extraordinary wrapping papers.  I love visiting the store as it's always inspiring and has been the jumping off point for some pretty spectacular cards.  Not only did this sheet have some great flourishes but it has some beautiful blues and just a hint of shimmer.  The sheets are much larger than a normal 12 x 12 scrapbook paper but once cut up, it's perfect for sharing.  I think Mom will love this card.

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

Gisèle

A Very Special Anniversary

Hello everyone,

My creativity is at a somewhat low ebb at the moment so I'm only crafting and posting ad hoc over the summer.

This particular card was commissioned by a girlfriend who needed a special card for a priest's 25th anniversary in the priesthood.

The image is DeNami Design Cross stamped in Tsukinko Starlite Black on Recollections white and layered on Recollections Mercury Glass and a shimmery grey and a shimmery onyx of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampendous Special Messages also stamped in Tsukinko Starlite Black.

Twenty-five years in the priesthood is very special and I think this card speaks very well to this occasion.  Despite using layers of shimmery papers, until I added the silver Mercury Glass paper, the card was a little flat.  This Tsukinko ink coordinates very well with the papers as it also has a shimmer to it.  I debated adding embellishments but I felt this sophisticated elegance was just enough.

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

Gisèle

Indian Inspired

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for one of my bosses.  He's wonderful to work with and I wanted to show him some appreciation on his birthday.

The printed papers are layers of BasicGrey Ambrosia.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Sunset on more Ambrosia.  The embellishments are Black Licorice Oregon Raindrops.

My boss heritage is Indian so I decided to craft something in those warm tones.  It was a bit of challenge to keep it from becoming too frou frou but my boss is a pretty confident man so I'm fairly certain he can handle it.  I also figured with the grey card base and the hints of black, there is some balance that tones it all down a little bit.  I think this is better than I envisioned and I'm pretty certain it will be well received.

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

Gisèle

The Blues

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a way of telling someone they'll saying you'll pull through even if life's a mess.

The images are Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamped in Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Bordering Blue and Brocade Blue, and Close To My Heart Twilight.  The sentiment is Avery Elle Brushed stamped in Midnight Muse.  The embellishments are Denim Oregon Raindrops.

I've done a similar card in the past but not on a single layer.  It's a rather messy card but the strong, bold sentiment rises above the mess just as the sentiment rises above the 'grunge'.  I wanted to change up the colours from all the green I've been stamping this past week so turned to the multitude of blue inks my stash.  This card is so out of my comfort zone but I also find it quite appealing.  I'm at a loss to explain why.

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

Gisèle

A Masculine Bent

Hello everyone,

I've really enjoyed crafting the last few over stamped cards.  They are not always as easy as they look!

The background image is Stampin' Up You've Got This stamped in Close To My Heart Slate of Very Vanilla and layered on Recollections Kraft.  The top image is Hero Arts Pop Stems stamped in Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Say It All stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Moss Oregon Raindrops.

The whole purpose behind this series of cards what to craft some that are a little more on the masculine side.  I think this one worked particularly well.  I'm particularly fond of the Slate ink.  I love it's grey tone.  In this particular case though, I wish I'd pre-stamped because the impression is a little darker than I'd envisioned.  It's not at all bad as the top stamp, in Mossy Meadow, shows up just fine.  This still took a couple of tries to get right but I've got some more ideas for other cards.

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

Gisèle

Bloomin' Beautiful

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) of the card I crafted yesterday.  There was much less angst in today's creative effort!

The background image is Stampin' Up You've Got This stamped in Pear Pizzazz.  The focal images are Stampin' Up Summer Silhouettes stamped in Always Artichoke and Wild Wasabi, and Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine, Topiary, Pomegranate and Ruby.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Too Kind stamped in Ruby.  The embellishment is Martha Stewart.

I'm much more happy with this card given it took but a single attempt.  Some of the stamp impressions are a little off and a titch smooshed but I can absolutely live with it.  I do love the different shades of green and the red really pops!  The metal butterfly works wonderfully with the vanilla background.  This is one card I could craft over and over again and frankly, I just might!

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

Gisèle

Shades of Green

Hello everyone,

After taking a bit of a weekend break, I thought it would be smooth sailing as I crafted today.  Not so much really!

The background image is Stampin' Up Watercolor Wash stamped in Pearl Pizzazz.  The focal image is Stampin' Up Just Believe stamped in Mossy Meadow on Very Vanilla and layered on more Very Vanilla.  The sentiment is Sweet Essentials stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Doodlebug Mini Pearls.

My original plan was to use a kraft card base and over stamp the image over the background then heat emboss in white.  After two attempts, I had to change my plan.  This is the fourth attempt because the image panel is actually a cover-up because I totally smooshed the sentiment.  I loved the concept but my executive was way off.  I think it has been salvaged fairly well.  I love the idea and I'm going to try again - I just have to figure out how to make it work.

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

Gisèle