Throwback Thursday..

Do you like designer series paper ( pattern paper) ?
Do you buy it often?.....and then just lovingly admire it?
Do you have a stash of beautiful pattern paper?
If you can answer yes to any 1, or 2 or if you're like me all 4, of those questions then you are going to like today's Throwback Thursday card!!
For today's inspiration I've used a piece of my lovingly stashed DSP, (designer series paper). The paper is from thw 2018/19 annual Stampin Up catalogue.  It's called Best Route and is a great travel inspired collection of papers that work well for more masculine or gender neutral projects as well as travel ones.
The colours are Blueberry Bushel, Mango  Melody, Pineapple Punch, Gray Granite,black and white. The blueberry and pineapple are both soon to be retired 2018/2020 In-Color's.
The stamps are from the Ornate Thanks set which are a sneek peek from the upcoming 2020/21 annual catalogue from Stampin Up.
So the moral of this post is dig out that lovingly stashed paper and enjoy creating gorgeous projects.. . Don't save it for best the best is Now!! 😁😁😁

Watercolour Wednesday...

Hands up who's a gardener?  ... not me!! But my mum on the other hand has won prizes for her beautiful garden!.
 So I hear say what's that got to do with a papercrafting post??? Well it's where the colour inspiration for today's card came from!
Mum sends me pictures of her garden and she was particularly pleased with the colour combination of the tulips in the photo below. And I sure agreed with her it's stunning and I just couldn't resist using it 😁
So how did I bring it into a watercolour card....I created a watercolour wash background.  I then stamped the bouquet image in versamark and heat embossed it using white embossing powder.  I then fussy cut the image out.
Whilst I had the ink on a block and my aquapainter out I decided to create an ombre effect tassel embellishment. It's very easy just dab the ink on with your aquapainter and leave to dry!
I also created my own background by placing some of the smaller sentiments from the Ornate Thanks set onto a large block and stamped them as one.
So where do you get inspiration for colour choices?

Tips tricks and technique Tuesday..

Today's card was made in a flash with the help of my faithfull stamp positioning tool.. the Stamparatus from Stampin Up.
The reason I love this tool is because it allows me to stamp at regular intervals just by using the hinged plate! This feature means that I can create stepped images down or across my card stock.
It also means that if I didn't quite ink the stamp properly I  can restamp with out worrying that I'm going to mess it up as the stamp will stamp in exactly the same place time after time!!
I used the image from the same stamp set as yesterday the Ornate Style set. This fab set isn't just floral it also has these gorgeous swirly corner and band stamps which give a very classic feel to a card. But I think my sample has quite a modern twist with its ombre effect and clean lines.
The sentiment came from the Ornate Thanks which is full of great thank you sentiments that are especially appropriate in the current situation the world is in.
Gill and I give thanks every day for all you lovely people who comment and like our posts. We really do hope that each and every one of you and your families stay safe and well.

Make it simple Monday...

Well the weather has sure improved here!!! The sun is shining, the temperature is rising and the flowers are blooming 🌞🌞🌞
And Stampin Up  has released an early release from the upcoming 2020/2021 annual catalogue!!!!....it's a full suite including 2 bundles, stamps and coordinating dies, pattern paper, an embossing folder, a ribbon duo and the best bit of all new sparkles 💠💠💠
So this week I'll be highlighting some of the goodies. Today's sample is made using the beautiful Ornate Style stamp set, which has the fresh a pretty flower arrangement stamp, and the Ornate Thanks stamp set, full of gorgeous scripted sentiments.
I kept it really #simplestamping by just repeat stamping the image in black then colouring with watercolour

pencils.  To create a smooth finish I used a blender pen to blend the pencil with.
I then stamped the sentiment in black ink to keep it very simple.
Well if you'd like more info about the stamps or the suite just click on our shop button and take a peek.

Fun Fold Friday  

As you may have gathered, I like to make different styled cards. I do love to make a standard shaped card too but I really enjoy playing with a piece of paper and then finding a new way to fold it. 

This one is similar in style to one that I made a few years ago too. Once again as I'm trying to keep the children occupied with homework, I decided to keep them amused and occupied making some different shaped cards.

This is basically a trifold card where I have literally folded a length of card into 3 equal sections. 

Height wise, it will still fit into a C6 envelope.

The differences are that I have diecut shapes from the middle of the first 2 pieces, each one centralised within the coordinating one behind or in front. It's not difficult but a little fiddly. I'm sure that with a little guidance and help most of the older children will be able to make it.

 I used the Birthday Bonanza suite for this one again, more information HERE plus the addition of the dies from Stitched So Sweetly and set of dies, look HERE

and Stitched Nested Labels, look  HERE

Please note that it is not imperative that you use these dies. If you don't have them, try with alternative shaped ones.

The first style of card that I made like this, I used the retired set of So Sassy Dies. 

So the apertures were made with heart shapes all over.

I started by adding and fixing the DSP over the mats. I die cut the smaller shape with the 2 sides together. You aren't advised to do 2 layers of card at a time as it's not meant to cut right through.

However, it will mark the outer rim of the second layer. 

So place the die around the marked area and then it can be cut out from there. 

Using a coordinating colour of card, you should be able to die cut all 3 shapes out at once. 

Fix these die cuts around the apertures and I'm sure that you'll be delighted with the outcome. 

Well, that's all from me this week. 

I hope you have a few more ideas of things you can do with your children. 

Have a fun week with them but just as important, please keep yourselves safe and well. 

Take care, stay safe and keep crafting :) 

  Gill xxx

Throw Back Thursday  

Today's card is one is a version of one that I made several years ago. I'm sorry 

but I can't seem to find a picture of it!

A very simple card made by punching out a few individual holes and placing a 

stamped image within it.

I have used the Dinosaur's DSP (more information HERE and Stamp set again for this one as this week's cards are made specifically aimed for children to make and help to keep them occupied.

I took a C6 mat in Sahara Sand and embossed it with the Stone embossing folder 

after I had punched the 3 holes out.  I then stamped, coloured and fussy cut out the 3 dinosaurs before mounting them onto Black Dimensionals. 

I mounted the Sahara Sand mat onto Black Dimensionals and mounted that onto a 

Soft Suede card base,

My grandson isn't often into making cards but he stamped and coloured the images and told me 

where to place them. He was impressed! That's saying something, a real complement coming from Jayden! Nice one Nana!

Watercolour Wednesday

This week I have decided to make some cards suitable for the younger at heart, especially as they are all home from school at the moment!

This one is made using Wildly Happy stamp set from Stampin' Up! of course. See it HERE

I have used Pear Pizazz, Soft Sea Foam and a piece of Whisper White card stock.

My granddaughter, Bella loves the embossing machine so she embossed the white mat with Layered Leaves Embossing Folder. see it HERE

Bella finished this card off. She added the embossed mat with Tombow glue, She colour washed onto the Soft Sea Foam mat using Pear Pizazz stamped onto a block, an Aqua marker brush and a little water to wash the colour across the mat. On a remaining piece, she stamped then water coloured in the fox the same way as before using a block and the Ink Pad, Cajun Craze.

I cut it out and using Dimensionals, she mounted it onto the dry mat.

We finished off with a message for the front and inside, then a little bunny and it's mummy to complete it. 

The message on the front was punched out using the 1,3/8" scalloped circle punch.