Marina Mist Dino.....

As a mother of a Mr 4, I was very excited when the new IBC came out and there were.......

wait for it......

DINOSAURS STAMPS!!!!!!

(Insert happy, smiling and jumping for joy, 4 year old here)

So one of the first cards that I made with my new goodies was this card.

Yes I know.....it's a little bit sophisticated for a 4 year old, but I was also trying to incorporate a technique for classes in there.....and we have embossed water colouring.   I've tried it stamped with Stazon and it works just as well.

Mr 4 now has a request.....

"Mummy, can you make me a picture with dinosaurs for my bedroom?  Triple please?"

Stay tuned for that one!!

Stamps: Dinoroar

Card stock: Riding Hood Red, Watercolour Paper

Inks: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Other: Mini Brads, Letters to Santa DSP, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Petal Cone Die.

Happy Stamping.....Manda  xxx

Variations on a theme of Greehouse Garden Wisteria......

Firstly, I'd like to welcome a new member to my group of stamping mad friends.......a big hello to Paige. 

Paige has joined as a SU! demonstrator, and I wish her every success with this amazing business opportunity.

Below is the card that we featured at Paige's launch party last weekend.   We looked at 2 step stamping, and we used the Greenhouse Garden stamp set. 

All of the ladies who attended LOVED learning to use the stamp-a-ma-jig!!!  We even lined up the vertical stripes with the SAMJ.

When I got home and unpacked, I discovered 2 extra kits, cause I always have an extra 2 of everything - LOL.

So here is variation on a theme #1 ..... Hibiscus.

This time I've used the centre stamp as a pattern on the piece of Wisteria Wonder card stock.  I love the way the Wisteria co-ordinates with the Concord Crush.

And then here is the next one......daises (I think) again, but this time in portrait orientation. I've also used a piece of DSP from the new hostess papers.

Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card stock:  Whisper White, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush

Ink: Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Lucky Limeade

Other:  Cheerful Treat DSP, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Grosgrain Ribbon

Leave me a comment and let me know which one you like best.

Happy Stamping......Manda xx

Not only for Christmas.....

I have just opened up some new DSP, Letters to Santa.  Gorgeous colours, not traditionally Christmas, but beautiful.  And I found this combination of Old Olive, Blushing Bride with a hint of Early Espresso. 

Seeing as I have a couple of birthdays coming up, I thought I'd whip up a gift card and gift box to package the present in. 

And the perfect stamp set for all birthday occasions is the new hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.  A fantastic assortment of birthday sentiments.  This one fits the scallop circle punch perfectly.  I've stamped it 3 times, and then used my scallop circle, 1 3/8" and 1" circle punches to layer the stamped image.

Another fantastic hostess set is Tagtastic.  This cute little birthday tag comes from there.  This time I've used my markers to colour the stamp.  I love it when sets co-ordinate with punches, and this one is fantastic, with a stamp for just about every occasion.

Card Stock: Whisper White, Blushing Bride

Ink: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Old Olive

Stamps: Tagtastic, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Other: Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain and thin taffeta ribbon, Letters to Santa DSP

Happy Stamping.......Manda xx

Pink Elements

Here is a card that I've made!

Yes I am making a statement. 

 I actually got to sit down and make a card.

 O.M.G.

For those of you who know me, life is crazy busy at the moment.  So I was thrilled to be able to sit down today and after I rediscovered my craft desk under the piles of 'things' that had been dumped on it,  I opened a new to me set, and this is what I came up with.

I've used glossy white card stock and stamped the floral image from Elements of Style in Black Stazon.  After it's dry, I then sponged Pretty in Pink Ink over the top, in varying strengths.  You can't really see it in the photo, but I promise it's there IRL.

Then I've used the grid technique to chop up the image.  Some snail and patience later, getting the gaps right, and then a fussy cut bird and .....I'd made a card.  Woo Hoo.

Card stock: Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey, Whisper White, Glossy White

Ink: Black Stazon, Pretty in Pink

Stamps: Elements of Style

Accessories: Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon.

Happy Stamping.....Manda

A change of technique....

I thought I'd share with you a card from my latest technique class.  We were learning the 'Faux Mother of Pearl" technique, and this is the card that we started to create.

During the course of teaching this technique, we began a discussion about distressing, and whether or not we could use the SU! distressing kit to achieve the same result.  So I whipped out my brand new, never been opened, despite being in my stash since it was introduced into the catalogue nearly 12 months ago (GASP!!!) Distressing Kit and we began to play.

This is the finished card using the distressing kit.

Surprise, surprise, I think I like the distressed one better. 

Here is a close up of the technique.  We all love Shimmer Paint!!

Stamp Set: Strength and Hope, En Francais

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Tea Stain (from Distressing Kit)

Card Stock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip

Other: Pretty in Pink and Rose Red Stamp'n'Write markers, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Basic Pearls, Scallop border punch

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Something a little different.....

Background Fact #1: Today is Stamping Friend J's birthday.

Background Fact #2: Friend J is a Twilight Saga fan (as am I, sad I know).

Background Fact #3: Yesterday, I visited Stamping Friend C's house, and she let me 'raid' her stamping stash, and experiment with her Copic Markers.

Background Fact #4:  I found 'Edward' in the stash.

Result: One birthday card, especially made for Friend J, and posted snail mail earlier today.  (Friend J - if you are reading this post before getting happy mail, STOP NOW!!!)

Sad story continued.....the vampire's skin shimmers like diamonds in the sunlight, so Edward wouldn't be complete without some Shimmer Paint. I think you can see it in the photo below.

Again, not to spoil Friend J's surprise, but inside the card I wrote, " I can't send you the real one, but I think my stamped Edward is actually cuter than the real one anyway!!"

Now I should add that I'm not sure that this stamped Edward is supposed to be the Twilight Edward, but he looked close enough for me.  Sometimes, things just work out perfectly!!

Happy Birthday, Friend J!!

Happy Stamping.....Manda

Clearly for you....

When this stamp set was released in the current Mini Catalogue, I ordered it straight away, and while it has seen some ink, it's not seen nearly enough yet!!

Anyway this card we did for a techniuqe class, where we learnt what I call dry embossing. Here is a close up of the detail......

and here is the card.