Fairy Celebration

Hi there

I have something other than a Christmas card for you today (hooray you say!). I have a lovely friend who wanted to make a spinner card with the 'Fairy Celebration' stamp set, so I was happy to take up the challenge. This lovely stamp set is in the Annual Catalogue and is fabulous for those who (like me) love colouring and of course, fairies. It comes in either wood mount or clear mount and is a set of 9 stamps.

 

I love spinner cards too; it is fabulous seeing the whirling and twirling and very hard to put down! This is the card I came up with.

 

I have used the largest image as the focus of my spinner card, colouring it with Copic markers. I cropped the image with a circle framelit and then added it to a Melon Mambo circle. I then chose another circle framelit that would be approximately 1cm  (3/8") larger and used that to work out the size of Melon Mambo square. I have stamped fairy dust across the top and half way down the sides and then heat embossed it in silver for lots of sparkle and added the greeting to the bottom edge

I added the Melon Mambo square to the thick Whisper White base card using the 1/8" foam strips. The strips need to be edge to edge all the way around the square for a firm finish and also around the centre circle, ensuring it is about 6mm (1/4") in from the edge so it doesn't interfere with the spinner mechanism. Once the Melon Mambo square is attached to the card base, centre the coloured fairy in the space. To attach, place a strip of the foam tape all the way around the underneath edge of the stamped and matted circle, ensuring it is 6mm (1/4") in from the edge.

I have coloured and fussy cut the small fairy image and added it to my washer mechanism. (I have previously explained how to make the washer mechanism in this blog post.) It doesn't show up very well in the photo, but I have added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the wings of both fairies and it is very sparkly in real life.

For the inside, I have stamped the third fairy image in the top corner of the writing panel and coloured it with Copics. I added the checked Melon Mambo washi at the bottom and topped it with the narrow silver washi from the Year of Cheer Specialty set. A mat of Melon Mambo was added to the writing panel and attached to the inside of the card. The final size of the card is 13.7cm square  (5 3/8") so it fits nicely into a 14cm square envelope.

Here is a view from the top. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. If you've never made a spinner card, then please give it a try.

Project Details
Stamps	Fairy Celebration
Card stock & Papers	Whisper white, Melon Mambo
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark
Accessories	Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Basics Pack 1 Washi, Year of Cheer Specialty Washi
Tools	Layering Circles Framelits, Big Shot, 1/8" Foam Strips, Dimensionals, 1/2" Circle punch, 1/4" Circle punch, Copic markers, Silver EP, Heat gun

Finally, I'm delighted that Stampin' Up! will be releasing their own alcohol markers very soon (actual date still to be announced). The markers are called Stampin' Blends and come in 12 colours, featuring a light and dark marker in each colour. There is also an ivory and bronze marker for skin tones and a colour lifter. The light and dark markers can be purchased as a combo pack and all of the markers will also be available individually. The lid design on these markers has been modified to ensure that there is no evaporation of the ink. One of benefits of being a Demonstrator is that I get to order these markers first and in fact they just arrived yesterday, so I'm looking forward to giving them a work out. Here are few of the benefits of these markers, as I see it:

• There is a lovely range of colours that match the Stampin' Up card stock and embellishments perfectly.
• These markers are very easy to use, giving a smooth layer of colour on Whisper White card stock.
• The light and dark markers allow you to add depth and shading to your coloured images, without it being tricky or complicated.
• The colour lifter allows you to remove colour if you go outside the lines (love this!).
• The marker has a brush tip and fine tip, which is great for colouring large areas and fine details.

I'll be back soon with some projects using my Stampin' Blends!

Thanks for looking!

CASE-ing the Catty - Year of Cheer

Hi there

At CASE-in the Catty this week, we are looking at the lovely Year of Cheer suite on pages 36-47 of the  Holiday Catalogue.

You may have come from visiting Sandra's blog, but if you are visiting me, you can start your journey here and continue by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of the post. 

     

This week I have chosen to CASE the card in the bottom left of the photo above, which is unfortunately, slightly obscured by the Stampin' Up! logo. This is a great layout and I was pleased how quickly my cards came together.

I've stayed very close to the sample for this card, using the narrow silver washi from the Year of Cheer Speciality set and the silver Foil Snowflake to trim my card. I've heat embossed the greeting in silver and used the silver metallic edge ribbon at the top instead of Baker's Twine. The star embellishment was tied into the bow with white Baker's Twine. With this designer paper you can use both gold and silver, so it is perfect to make a whole batch with the both colours.

For the inside I have gone with the same look, adding the narrow silver washi to each side of my writing panel. I have heat embossed the garland from 'Merry Mistletoe' in silver at the bottom and the greeting from 'Hearts Come Home' in the centre.

Project Details
Stamps	Merry Mistletoe, Hearts Come Home
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Year of Cheer Specialty Designer Paper
Ink	Versamark
Accessories	Silver Metallic Edge Ribbon, Year of Cheer Embellishments, Foil Snowflakes, Year of Cheer Specialty Washi Tape, Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Tools	Banner Triple punch, Silver EP, Heat Gun, Glue Dots

I decided to make the same layout using the 'Be Merry' designer paper and coordinated this with the gold toned embellishments.

 

I started with a card-sized panel of Cherry Cobbler card stock and added the tree design paper from the 'Be Merry' pack. The narrow gold washi was added to each side. I have heat embossed the greeting in gold this time and used the gold Foil Snowflake at the base of the flagged banner. At the top is the Garden Green Stitched Satin ribbon from which the gold star embellishment hangs. The finished panel was added to a Whisper White card base.

 

You can see the embellishments in this close-up photo.

For the inside of this card, I have a Cherry Cobbler mat and then added both the wide and narrow gold washi tapes from the Year of Cheer Specialty set at the bottom. At the top I have heat embossed the garland in gold. 

Project Details
Stamps	Hearts Come Home, Merry Mistletoe
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Be Merry Designer Series Paper
Ink	Versamark
Accessories	Year of Cheer Embellishments, Foil Snowflakes, Year of Cheer Specialty Washi, Garden Green Stitched Satin ribbon
Tools	Banner Triple punch, Gold EP, Heat Gun, Glue Dots

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see the great project Mel has for you this week. 

We would love you to join in with your CASE from the Year of Cheer Suite using our Facebook group. Click on this link or the image below to go there. The first time you will need to click on the 'Join Group' button at the top. Once you have been added to the group, you can go ahead and post your creation and you do not need to have a blog.

 Thanks for visiting today!

CASE-ing the Catty - Kits and Memories & More

Hi there

This week, the CTC Crew are looking at Kits and Memories & More products from both the Annual and Holiday Catalogues.

You may have come from visiting Mel's blog, but if you are visiting me, you can start your journey here and continue by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of the post. 

       

This week I am using the 'Merry Little Christmas' Memories & More Card Pack to show how you can quickly add more Christmas cards to your stash. It coordinates with the Merry Little Christmas suite of products, including the 'Carols of Christmas' stamp set and Card Front Builder Thinlits. The card pack has 52 (26 double sided designs) that are 3" x 4" (7.6cm x 10.2cm) and 20 (10 double sided designs) that are 4" x 6" (10.2cm x 15.2cm) plus 2 sticker sheets and 4 acetate overlays, so there is plenty to work with. 

    

For my first card, I've used the larger red and white striped card and one of the acetate overlays to add extra interest and trimmed them down to the size I wanted. For the acetate overlay, which has the design at the top and bottom, I cut a strip out of the centre. I put adhesive across the centre of the striped panel and then aligned the acetate at the top and bottom. The 'merry and bright' panel was trimmed to fit the width of the striped panel and I took a little off the top as well. I decided to pair the card panels with Bermuda Bay for a more contemporary colour combo. I added a narrow border of Bermuda Bay card stock to the top of the greeting panel and a bow with the gorgeous Bermuda Bay Mini Chevron ribbon at the base with a little string of Silver Mini Sequin trim threaded through. Some coordinating baubles from the 'Carols of Christmas' stamp set were stamped and die cut and popped up on the greeting panel. The whole panel was then popped up on the Bermuda Bay card base.

 

This closeup shows the design in the acetate overlay and the other finishing details.

 

For the inside I have added a mat of Cherry Cobbler, with a strip of coordinating DSP from another of the small cards at the bottom. I added the narrow silver washi at the top of the DSP and stamped a group of baubles at the top in coordinating colours.

Project Details
Stamps	Carols of Christmas
Card stock & Papers	Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, 'Merry Little Christmas' Memories & More Card Pack
Ink	Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories	Year of Cheer Specialty Washi, Bermuda Bay 3/8" Mini Chevron ribbon, Mini Sequin Trim, 1mm Rhinestones
Tools	Card Front Thinlits, Big Shot, Mini Dimensionals, Stampin' Write markers (Bermuda Bay, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black)

For my second card, I have paired 2 of the smaller cards. When working with the smaller cards, I recommend you cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to the size you want and then layer on the smaller cards and trim them to size. 

 I have taken my cue from colours in the bauble card, pairing it with the Cherry Cobbler striped card at the bottom.  I've added a gold Foil Snowflake as the background for my greeting that has been stamped and then die cut with one of the Stitched Shapes framelits. A strip of Old Olive card stock covers the join and I added a strip of the narrow gold washi across the centre. I felt it needed something else to finish, so I have added the gold bow. The whole panel has been popped up onto the Old Olive card base. 

This closeup shows more of the details and the little baubles from 'Carols of Christmas' that I have popped up on the panel.

For the inside, there is a mat of Cherry Cobbler and a strip of the Cherry Cobbler DSP at the bottom. A strip of the narrow gold washi has been added above the DSP and I stamped the little trees from 'Hearts Come Home' in the coordinating greens. The greeting from the same stamp set has been stamped in the centre.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Hang Your Stocking, Hearts Come Home
Card stock & Papers	Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, 'Merry Little Christmas' Memories & More Card Pack
Ink	Lemon Lime Twist, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories	Foil Snowflakes, 1/8" Gold Ribbon, Year of Cheer Specialty Washi, 1mm Rhinestones
Tools	Stitched Shapes Framelits, Card Front Builder Thinlits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see the great project Monique has for you this week. 

We would love you to join in with your CASE from any of the Kits and Memories & More Card Packs from the Annual or Holiday Catalogues using our Facebook group. Click on this link or the image below to go there. The first time you will need to click on the 'Join Group' button at the top. Once you have been added to the group, you can go ahead and post your creation and you do not need to have a blog.

 Thanks for visiting today!