Because I care

 

Well sorry for the long break between blog posts.  I have had computer problems, sick kids and now I’ve got it too. 

I did manage to make a card yesterday, but it took me at least twice as long to make as it usually would. It’s a slow process when you’re blowing your nose every couple of minutes!!!!

Anyway, I am very happy with the result.  It is a card for my daughter’s violin teacher, just to say thank you for all the effort she puts in.  Just letting her know we appreciate her kindness and generosity. 

At Just Add Ink this week there was a just add blue challenge to raise awareness about anxiety and depression.  It was a great challenge to be involved with.

I used the new Level 1 hostess set Because I Care.  I had used the words in it before but not the actual flower. When I saw the challenge was to use blue I thought of it immediately.  I love blue hydrangeas (sp?) and I love how it turned out.

My daughter’s violin teacher is a keen gardener and of course with the music background, it is a card made just for her.

 

 

It’s a bit hard to tell in the photo, but I stamped the flower onto vellum cardstock using stazon and then I turned it over and used a stylus to give the petals dimension by rubbing on them to “push them out”.

Then I used baja blue, not quite navy and old olive markers  to colour in the flower from the back.

 

Ingredients :

Stamps : Because I Care, Music Notes wheel

Card : Not quite navy, vellum card, crumb cake (kraft)

Ink : stazon, NQN, crumb cake (daubered),NQN,Baja blue,old olive markers

Other : neutrals brads, large oval punch, cropadile, kraft taffeta ribbon

Christmas special offer

Stampin’ Up! are giving away rolls of exclusive ribbon with selected christmas bundles.
The sale ends November 30 and is while stocks last.
To see this sale click here.
If you are interested in buying one of these bundles to make your christmas cards this year please send me an email or phone me.
Kathy

Elements of pink

 

This card is for a challenge at Just Add Ink .

It is Pink Ribbon Day very soon (25th October) and the challenge was to create a card which celebrated the feminine, using “pink and bling”.

So this weeks card wasn’t that challenging for me, but I wanted to make it a truly beautiful one.  I also wanted to use a sentiment which could be used for any occasion really, but one you could give to someone who was going  through a tough time and in need of some TLC.

 

 

I used another new set of mine, Elements of Style. I just love the roses in this set!

I watercoloured them with PIP and Rose Red and used River Rock and Old Olive for the leaves.

I also cut out a watercoloured piece using the smallest butterfly from the Beautiful Butterflies die.

A new technique I used on this card was to spritz it with Frost White Shimmer Paint. It looks so pretty and with a hint of sparkle, In Real Life, but unfortunately I’m not a good enough photographer to capture it.

I used some of the new sating ribbon (vanilla) on the card too.  I love it and will have to buy 1 or 2 or 3 or maybe more rolls!

Ingredients :

Stamps : Elements of style, Thoughts and Prayers

Ink : stazon, PIP, rose red, old olive, river rock

Card : very vanilla, river rock, pink pirouette

Other : Pearls, frost white shimmer paint, beautiful butterflies, big shot, polka dot e.f., aquapainter, vanilla satin ribbon, daubers

Final one sheet wonder

 

Well my daughter’s violin eisteddfod was on this week and she got a merit certificate (YEAH!!!)

I packaged the one sheet wonder cards up in this Card Folder to give to her teacher and accompanist.  They thought they were beautiful.

It’s so nice to give and receive hand-made presents!

I got the instructions for the card folder from  

http://makeeshabyl.com.au

She has some great stuff on her blog.

The 3 cards fitted in well, but if I had put less ribbon and bling on them I could have fitted in one or two more I think.

It was very easy to make and was a nice way to package the cards.                              

 

 

This is how it looks on the inside.  The ribbon holds it closed and keeps the cards in place.

 

There are violin exams on very soon too and I’ll have to come up with another gift for them !!!  I’d better get off this computer and start thinking, umm……….

 

Ingredients:

Stamps : Awash with flowers, Apple Blossoms (level 2 hostess set)

Card : bashful blue 12”, early espresso, whisper white

Ink : early espresso, bash blue, regal rose, pip, wasabi, marina mist

Other : word window punch, lots of tags die, big shot, bashful blue ribbon, cropadile, brad, dimensionals

Flutter notepad

 

Just thought I’d show you a little notepad I made, well decorated actually, for Rose.  She’s the friend my daughter gave the 5 side-step card to and I thought a little notepad with her name on it might be appreciated (plus the present just looked like it needed “something extra”).

I used another new stamp for me called All a Flutter, isn’t it a beautiful butterfly!  I also used Confetti for the background, it is one with lots of tiny letters, appropriate for a notebook I thought.  I also used lots of ribbon from my pre-Stampin Up days and some retired cardstock (as I was sure Rose wouldn’t care!)

 

Ingredients :

Stamps : All a flutter, confetti

Ink : stazon, cameo coral, choc chip

Card : cameo coral, blush blossom

Other : ribbons, aquapainter, big shot, timeless type alpha, rhinestone

A watercolour challenge

I decided to play along with the Just Add Ink challenge again this week.  This time it is a colour challenge (and challenging it was!) You had to use Rose red, Old olive, Always artichoke and Pumpkin pie.  Together!  Well it’s good to venture out of your comfort zone and do something different for a change.
I also incorporated a sketch challenge from Splitcoaststampers which was a nice one and so it’s a double challenge card.
I decided to try out my new set, The Nicest Things (isn’t it sweet!) and do some watercolouring.  I haven’t done any for a LONG time and I really enjoyed it.

Ingredients :
Stamps : The nicest things
Card : confetti white, always artichoke, pumpkin pie, rose red, watercolour
Ink : stazon, pumpkin, olive, baja, rose red, daffodil, saffron, pip, plum, blush, bash blue
Other : old olive ribbon and button, dimensionals, aquapainter, linen thread, glue dot

Awash 3

 

This is the third card from my one sheet wonder using Awash with flowers.

I really like this set, it’s a bit different to my other "flowery” ones.

It is a two-step set and I bought it in clear mount, which has made it a lot quicker and easier to use I think.

This one uses an old sketch challenge from splitcoaststampers.  I keep sketches I really like in a folder and refer to them occasionally for inspiration. I have used this one a few times because I really like the design of it.

The “Thank You” is from a new level 1 hostess set called Because I Care.  It’s a really beautiful flower set too.  If you’d like to get it for free by having a “party” please email me.

I’ve been stamping a lot this week. I hope you’ve had time to create too.

 

Ingredients :

Stamps : Awash with flowers, Because I care (level 1 hostess set)

Ink : Early espresso, regal rose, pip, bashful blue, marina mist

Card : Early espresso, pink pirouette, whisper white

Other : Pearls, dimensionals