You're invited....

 

Been battling with a head cold (thanks to one of the munchkin's I work with) and a case of the doldrums after waving goodbye to my sister and her husband at the airport this morning. 

 

Haven't had an overly productive week, but did manage to whip up this set of commissioned A5 invites for a work friend....

 

Cardstock:  Costal Cabana, Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Oh, Hello (Retired), and Crazy for Cupcakes (retired)

Other: Bermuda Bay Stamp'n'Write Marker, Real Red Stamp'n'Write Marker, Stampin' Dazzle Silver Marker, Dazzling Diamonds,    Tea Lace Paper Doilies.

 

Happy Stamping....Manda xx

Happy 20th.....

 

I was asked by a friend at work to make a 20th wedding anniversary card.  I've used the sketch from this weeks Fusion card challenge as inspiration.

 

 

Not sure that you can see it clearly, but I've repeatedly stamped the Crumb Cake flag with numbers to create lots of 20's. 

 

 

Card stock: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake

Ink: Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral

Stamps: Memorable Moments

Other: Best Year Ever DSP, Large Rhinestone, Pansy punch

 

Happy Stamping..... Manda xx

Fussy Tulips .....

 

This is a simple and elegant card.....not really fussy at all!!!  So why that title?  Have a closer look at the tulips.....

 

Yep......fussy cutting!!!  This is a technique that (though very simple!!)  I feel has gone out of style a little with all the tools that are available to us now to 'cut' out our images.  Using scissors and a craft blade/knife is one of the basics of card making and scrapbooking.

 

Here's a tip I learnt from a hairdresser...... use your thumb and ring finger when cutting ...... it alleviates RSI injuries in your hand from repetitive cutting...feels very odd to start with, but trust me, when you are doing a lot of cutting, it really makes a difference.

 

 

Here is the full card.....yes some retired product on there....but I still love the oval background stamp from Oh, Hello.  I've used the stamping off method here, to make that background oval a little lighter in colour.  Ink up your stamp, lay it gently onto scrap paper to take some of the ink off the rubber, then stamp onto your card stock.....leaving a lighter coloured ink.

 

Cardstock, Whisper White,

Ink: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Stazon Black,

Stamps:  Oh, Hello, Love is Kindness

Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Stamp'n'Write markers in Lost Lagoon, Perfect Plum.

 

Happy Stamping....Manda xx

 

 

Strawberry Love......

 

Sounds like there's a theme running, doesn't it!! 

 

Another quick and simple card tonight....this time in Strawberry Slush.  Much the same as yesterdays layout, but changed up the accessories for lots of silver.  Don't you just love the bow???

 

 

Recipe as per yesterday, but also featuring Strawberry Slush and Silver Sequins.

 

Happy Stamping....Manda xx

Blackberry Love....

 

A more modern take on an anniversary card this time.....Actually I guess you could use it for any occasion when 'love' is called for!!!   Love the simplicity of this card, and this set of stamps!! 

 

 

 

Cardstock:  Blackberry Bliss, Whisper White

Ink: Blackberry Bliss

Stamps: Seasonally Scattered

Other: Blackberry Bliss Ribbon, Antique Brad, Silver 3.2mm Ribbon

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda xx

Spotty Anniversary....

 

One of my favourite stamp sets is on the retirement list..... sob!!  Bye bye to Gifts of Kindness.  I love the sentiments, and I LOVE the spotty flower silhouette.

 

 

  For the Colour Q #292 Challenge, I've remade one of my favourite cards using this stamp set.

 

 

Looks really funky with those retro dots, and it's so easy to do.....  Want to see the secret? 

 

Yep....Use your circle punches to create a mask, (I've used the card backing from the Dimensionals packet) and sponge your desired colours onto the white background card stock.   

 

Quick, easy and very effective.

Card stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Strawberry Slush

Ink: Strawberry Slush, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Costal Cabana, Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Gifts of Kindness, Memorable Moments

Other: Basic Pearls.

 

Happy Stamping....Manda xx

Daffodil Dreams.....

 

I have been asked to make some anniversary cards for a friend....here is the first one that I whipped up tonight.  Nothing fancy technique wise, but I do love the touch of dazzling diamonds in the yellow wash!! 

 

Here's the whole card.

 

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede

Stamps:  Work of Art, World of Dreams, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Other: Dazzling Diamonds, 2 Way Glue Pen, Park Lane DSP

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda xx

Teeny Tiny Congratulations.....

 

I've made another set of cards, this time that meet the criteria for two challenges.  The first is my second entry into Cas(e) This Sketch challenge #123 (see previous post for the sketch!).  The second challenge is #TGIF03 Congrats Grad.

 

The card I am featuring is a congratulations note card.

 

I've used Teeny Tiny Sentiments to make a selection of cards which can be used for many occasions....Get Well Soon, Thinking of You, Happy Birthday, etc.

 

I've taken another DSP from my stash, which has this gentle graduation of colours.  I've used the blue outline colour as my feature colour, which (conveniently!) is an exact match for Island Indigo.

 

Here's a snap of the full sets - yep, I got 2 sets of 6 cards out of this 12 x 12 piece of DSP too!!!  Got to be happy with that!

 

Card stock: Island Indigo, Whisper White

Ink: Island Indigo

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Petite Petals

Other: Island Indigo Satin Ribbon

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Label Something....

 

Here is the next little set of note cards that I've made.....

 

I'm making these up to try and use up my DSP stash....Mind you, it's going to take a while.....I made 12 A6 note cards from ONE sheet of DSP!!!  I'm going to have to think of something else to help me get through it all....maybe some matching envelopes!! 

 

Here is a photo of the whole 2 sets.....One is packaged, the other is showcasing the cards.

 

 

The design for these cards I've taken from Cas(e) This Sketch #CTS123

 

 

 

I've turned the sketch around and slimmed the centre panel somewhat, but here are two of the cards up close.

 

 

Card stock: Whisper White, Lucky Limeade (retired), Whisper White

Ink: Lucky Limeade

Stamps: Label Something

Other: DSP from my stash, various punches to match the labels.

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Variations on a Theme....

 

In a previous post, I shared a simple birthday card, that I LOVE!!

 

Anyway.....I decided to create a couple more, but to mix it up a little bit.

 

 

 

For this one, I've used Brights Candy Dots as the centre of the flowers.

 

Here's the full card.

 

This time, I've added Brights buttons.  I've used the flower button from the collection, and added some silver cord from my ribbon stash.

 

I can't decide which version I like best, the rhinestones, buttons or candy dots.  I'd love to hear which is your favourite.  Leave a comment letting me know!!

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Six-Sided Fusion

 

This card is a challenge card.....no it wasn't a challenge to make, I made it to enter a challenge......This Fusion Challenge: French Twist.

 

Here is the inspiration.......

 

I love that you can choose either the photo, the sketch or a combination of both.  For my card, I've chosen to combine the two ideas.   I've taken inspiration from the photo in a few ways.  Some like the colours and bow are obvious, but I wonder if you know why I stamped the bottom of the card with the floral image from Six-Sided Sampler?

 

Well......

I've lined up the image repeatedly to replicate the texture of the tulle that is visible on the top of the skirt.    I also love that the antique brad detail matches the detail on the stamped image....I discovered this quite by chance when looking at which brads I had left in my container.  Not only did the colour match, be Stampin' Up! have co-ordinated the accessories as well.  How awesome is that?????

 

Anyway,....here's the full card. 

 

 

Stamp Sets: Six-Sided Sampler, Banner Banter

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Smoky Slate

Other: White Organza Ribbon, Antique Brads, Stamp-a-ma-jig (very important to line up the hexagons in a uniform pattern!!) (Yes I am OCD!!!)

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

 

 

Petite Petals.....

 

My immediate boss at work is having her birthday this week.....here is the card that I made for her. 

We have a standing joke that she's a 'driver'.......here's the idea, bash it out and refine it later.  I knew that this no-nonsense, simple and elegant card would appeal to her.....no 'fluff' or 'tizziness'. 

 

I love the simplicity, but dimension that is created by stacking the punched flower.  I've layered a coloured cardstock flower directly underneath the stamped image flower using glue dots.  I've used my bone folder to curve up the petals of the flower.....just like when you curl ribbon!!  Here's another close up that shows what I'm trying to describe.

 

 

Stamps:  Everything Eleanor, Petite Petals, Petite Pairs

Inks: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi

Cardstock, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White

Other: Glue Dots, Basic Rhinestones

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Banner Greetings Hearts....

 

Playing along with TGIF Challenges #TGIF02 tonight, which is a sketch challenge..... here 'tis.

 

 

 

 

And here is my take on it.....

 

I've made this as an A6 note card......and then I decided that as I had a whole sheet of paper out, I'd make a set of note cards.

 

Here's another colour way, with a different position to the bling.

 

And then here is the set of 5 all together.

 

I've created this set as part of my challenge to myself to actually USE some of my stash of craft supplies this year...... for this project, I've used some non-SU! DSP, and some retired stamps and punch shapes. 

 

Here's my trick for this post though......don't you love the perfect ends to the banners?  Use your square punch!!  As long as you line up the corners of the punch with the edges of the banner strip, you'll get a perfectly 'square' banner tail every time!!

 

Cardstock and Ink: Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Whisper White.

Stamp Set: Banner Greetings (retired), Dotty Angles

Other: DSP and coloured rhinestones from the craft stash.

 

Happy Stamping......Manda xx

Pieces of Love is Kindess....

 

Another walk down memory lane with the techniques.....I have to say, that I am loving reinventing these!!  I hope you are enjoying these all as much as me!!  This one is...... Paper Piecing.

 

Here's the full card.

 

Here's another angle of the paper piecing..... stamp the image onto different coloured card stock or DSP and then cut out and adhere to the base, which is also stamped with the image.  A great way to colour a line art image, without colouring!!  I love that you can add details like the tiny polka dots on the Painted Blooms DSP.  You will also see that I've fussy cut the newspaper wrapping out of Park Lane DSP and wrapped it with some Gold Metallic Bakers Twine.

 

 

In this version, I've added a couple of tabs to adapt it to a Mother's Day Card.....Happy Mothers Day Mum!! 

 

Stamps: Love Is Kindness, Crazy About You

Ink: Stazon Black, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Painted Blooms DSP. Park Lane DSP

Other: Gold Metallic Bakers Twine.

 

Happy Stamping...Manda

Potpourri Just For You....

 

I love this card......just a simple card really, stepped up with a few little tweaks. 

 

Firstly....here's the card.

 

 

The use of the large polka dots embossing folder adds texture to the background......

 

 

After stamping the gorgeous butterfly, then I used my aquapainter to lightly wet the image to draw the ink from the line art to cover the white spaces.....as you can see below.

 

Add a few rhinestones, and some careful cutting of the sentiment to create a variation on the tag and you have very lovely card.

 

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry

Stamps: Label Love, Papillion Potpourri

Other: Painted Blooms DSP, Basic Rhinestones, Large Polka Dots Embossing Folder.

 

Happy Stamping.....Manda