Another Side to Sweet Soirée

Hi there

The Sweet Soirée Suite has to be one of my favourites from the Occasions Catalogue. I think it started when I was fortunate enough to get the stamp set for free from the box of goodies at the last Stampin' Up! OnStage event. It is one of the fun things about the event - all the new products used for the make and takes are divided up amongst the people at the table.

The bold floral papers with the silver accents really stand out in the Sweet Soirée Specialty Designer paper pack, but although not as obvious, is this pretty blue, yellow and olive spotted design. Blue, yellow and white is one of my favourite colour combos because it is fresh and bright and for those in the northern hemisphere, epitomises spring. I think it would also make a lovely Mother's Day card.

I've layered some of the pretty spotted paper onto a Marina Mist mat and then added a strip of Marina Mist card stock across the centre that has been embossed with the 'Simple Stripes' embossing folder. Some of the beautiful silver metallic edge ribbon was wrapped around the whole panel and finished with a knot at the right end and then added to the Daffodil Delight card base.

The focus of the embellishment is the silver embossed vellum flower spray, which I have coloured on the reverse with my Stampin' Blends alcohol markers (I thought I would give it a try), but you can use Stampin' Write markers as well. This die cut  and many more come from the Sweet Soirée Embellishment Kit. They are perfect to colour coordinate with other elements on your project. I adhered it to the stitched oval by placing a glue dot underneath the Clear Faceted Gem and in the centre of the yellow flower. The Stitched Oval was adhered to a Marina Mist scalloped oval and then onto a plain Silver Foil oval and popped up on the left side.

For the inside of the card, I have a Marina Mist mat for my writing panel, which I have decorated on the right hand side for a change. I've used a small strip of the spotted paper and a band of the olive and silver foil paper (unfortunately, it is the opposite side to the spotted design). At the top is a small cluster of stamped and die cut flowers and some coordinating greenery.

My clean and layered card fits well with the The Card Concept Challenge this week - 'Spring has Sprung'. This is the inspiration photo they have provided.

This scene certainly screams 'spring' with the bright yellow and white features and touches of blue and what looks like green to me in the striped carpet. 

  

Project Details
Stamps	Cake Soirée
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Lemon Lime Twist, Sweet Soirée Specialty DSP
Ink	Versamark, Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight
Accessories	White Metallic-Edge ribbon, Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Sweet Soirée Embellishment Kit, Clear Faceted Gems
Tools	Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Simple Stripes TIEF, Big Shot, Silver EP, Heat gun, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Stampin' Blends

 

Thanks for visiting today!

CASE-ing the Catty - Sale-a-bration Last Hurrah!

Hi there

We are in the final week of the Sale-a-bration promotion, so this will be the last time the Crew will be CASE-ing from the Sale-a-bration catalogues. There is still time to earn the Sale-a-bration products on your Wish List with an order of $90 or more (before shipping) enabling you to choose one of the many fabulous Level 1 products. A $180 or more order (before shipping) enables you to choose two Level 1 products or one of the Level 2 products. Don't forget the extra Sale-a-bration products that were released in February and March - you can see all of the products available here.

You may have come from visiting Peta'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'm taking my inspiration from the samples in the photo above using the beautiful 'Springtime Foils' Designer Series paper. This is much more like card stock than paper, with mixed metal foil designs and a glossy finish; perfect for 3D projects such as boxes and bags. There are 4 single-sided designs, with 3 sheets of each. You can use the paper as it is or colour it with sponges, daubers, brayer or ink pads to name a few.

 

My first card is inspired by the design on the bottom left of the sample photo. This layout really focuses on the designer paper, so I didn't want the embellishment to compete with it. I started by colouring all the leaves with an Emerald Envy Stampin' Write marker. As it is a pretty intense colour, I have wiped off some of the ink with a synthetic chamois before it dried. I then used my Pool Party ink pad and swiped it across the panel to create the soft background that blends with the leaves. I added the panel to an Emerald Envy card base and then created the embellishment.

I've chosen to highlight the gold in the design by looping some Mini Sequin Trim under the Emerald Envy scallop circle. The wooden heart was adhered to the circle and the greeting stamped in Emerald Envy was adhered to the heart. I finished with 2 small flat gold cabochons. My camera couldn't capture the vibrancy of the Emerald Envy, so you will have to take my word that it is very pretty and the gold leaves really pop!

I have kept the inside super simple, with a white writing panel and a strip of the designer paper at the bottom. I highlighted the gold again with a narrow strip of foil above the designer paper.

My second card is inspired by the one on the far right in the sample photo. I have used a landscape orientation for my card; staying with the gorgeous rose gold dotted paper and pairing it with Pink Pirouette and Copper Foil accents to create a soft and pretty card. I think this would make a lovely Mother's Day card.

I have heat embossed the greeting from the 'A Mother's Flair' stamp set in copper, cropped it with a circle framelit and adhered it to a Pink Pirouette stitched circle. I popped half a doily under the designer paper so that it frames the circle. On the left side is the pretty floral die cut from the 'Petals & More' Thinlits Dies in Copper Foil. I added a piece of the Adhesive Sheets to the reverse of the copper foil before die cutting, creating an easy to adhere sticker.

For the inside, I went all out with a Copper Foil mat for the white writing panel. I added a strip of the designer paper at the base, topped with a narrow strip of Pink Pirouette. In the corner I have the other smaller floral die cut from the Petals & More Thinlits Dies with a small pearl in the centre of the flower.

I hope this has inspired you to get out your pack of 'Springtime Foils' and try some colouring techniques and create something beautiful to light up someone's day!

Project Details
Stamps	A Mother's Flair, Friendship's Sweetest Thoughts
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Emerald Envy, Pink Pirouette, Copper Foil, Springtime Foils DSP
Ink	Versamark, Pool Party, Emerald Envy
Accessories	Pealrs Basic Jewels, Gold Mini Sequin Trim, Delicate White Doilies, Hearts & Stars Elements, Flat back gold cabochon (not SU)
Tools	Petals & More Thinlits Dies, Layering Circles Framelits Dies, Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Big Shot, Confetti Heart border punch (retired), Copper EP, Heat gun, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Adhesive Sheets, Emerlad Envy Stampin' Write marker

 

 Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see what Megan has to inspire you this week. 

We would love you to join us with your CASE this week, 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!

AWH Blog Hop - It's Nearly Easter!

Hi there

Tonight the Art with Heart team are sharing inspiration for Easter, just in time for you to make some cute projects of your own to share with friends and family. 

Don’t forget,  there is just over a week left of the Sale-a-bration promotion to run (it finishes on 31 March 2018) so you still have time to earn FREE products with your purchase. Plus, it is the BEST time to join Stampin’ Up! to save money on your craft supplies or to start your flexible home-based business. You get 2 additional FREE stamp sets of your choice in your starter kit, adding up to $174 of extra value (depending on what you choose). Contact me to have a chat and get more details of this great opportunity. 

A couple of weeks ago, I created a box using the 'Lots to Love Box' Framelits to hold a set of thank you cards. While I was doing that, an idea for this Easter project popped into my head and I was delighted that there were some Easter treats that fitted in it. I love it when your idea turns out exactly as you saw it in your head; I wish it happened more often, lol. So here is my 'Lots to Love Bunny Treat Box'. My ladies had fun making these in my classes this month.

I have mainly used dies with a couple of punches to create the cute bunny, which is popped up on the 'Lots to Love Box'. The greeting the bunny is holding is from the 'Sweet Little Something' stamp set. I've added a handle to the tabs at the top of the box, which makes it feel more like a gift, if that makes sense. Through the acetate covered hole in his tummy, you can see the pretty spotted Lindt eggs that fit perfectly in the box.

This is how many Lindt mini eggs fit into the box, so you may want to add some of the crinkled Sweet Soiree Ready Shreddie to the bottom of the box first. These pretty coloured eggs work perfectly with the Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist designer paper I have used on the Smoky Slate boxes. Here is a close-up of the bunny.

I have used a sponge dauber and Smoky Slate ink on the edges of all of the pieces to add depth. The inside of the ears was sponged with Pink Pirouette, using the stitched oval die as a stencil.

If you want to gift some larger Easter treats, then I another option for you with this open box version. The bunny is the same apart from not having the peep hole in the tummy and the paws are on the front of the box. You can also pop your treats into a cello bag and tie it with a ribbon and then add to the box. I have added some of the Sweet Soiree Ready Shreddie to the bottom of the box, to make a nest for the hen and eggs.

If you're looking for something super cute and suitable for your children to give to their friends, then I have my third option using the 2" cello tubes that were new in this years Annual Catalogue.  They fit larger treats such as the small Lindt bunny and the larger Lindt egg (not shown). I've added the bunny head to a stitched circle and then added his front paws to hold the Easter greeting and his back paws to the bottom of the tube. I think the combination of the small spotted eggs and the bunnies works well. The photo doesn't really do him justice; he is super cute in real life.

I hope to have a tutorial available for the 3 treat options I have shown you, so check back to my Tutorials & Kits page in a few days.

Project Details
Stamps	Sweet Little Something
Card stock & Papers	Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist, Basic Black, Flirty Flamingo, Fresh Florals DSP Stack, Window Sheet (Acetate)
Ink	Smoky Slate, Pink Pirouette, Versamark
Accessories	Rhinestone Basic Jewels, 2" Cello tubes
Tools	Stitched Shapes Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits, Layering Circles Framleits, Big Shot, 1/2" Circle punch, Holly punch, Confetti Hearts border punch (retired), Simply Scored Scoring board, 2" Circle punch, Dimensionals, Tombow glue, Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker, White Gel pen, White EP, Heat gun

 

Of course, Easter is more than bunnies and chocolate, although they are fun and yummy. I have a card for you as well, that reflects the Christian meaning of Easter, that I'll be sending to my Mum.  It seems that very few people send cards for Easter nowadays (or here in Australia, at least), but I know Mum will appreciate it.  

I used the large aqua painter to create the background wash on water colour paper, using Elegant Eggplant and Rose Red. I wanted the background for the cross to symbolise a beautiful sunrise, so I hope I achieved that. After the piece was dry I ran it through my printer to print the Easter greeting at the bottom. I did a couple of trials on normal paper first, to get the right placement. 

Next I heat embossed the floral spray from the 'Hold on to Hope' stamp in white and then popped up the cross over the top. The cross was created with the 'Cross of Hope Framelits Dies' with the background cut in Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer and the filigree overlay in Silver Foil. I added the ribbon and rhinestones for the finishing touches. You can see the lovely cross in more detail in this closeup. The finished art piece was layered on to Silver Foil and then popped up on the Rich Razzleberry base card.

I have kept the inside simple, with the verse printed on the writing panel and then the floral spray partially stamped in the corners in Rich Razzleberry. The panel was layered onto a silver mat and finished with a little butterfly stamped in Flirty Flamingo as it was the best match for the pink wash.

Project Details
Stamps	Hold on to Hope
Card stock & Papers	Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Silver Foil, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Water colour paper
Ink	Versamark, Rich Razzleberry, Rose Red, Flirty Flamingo
Accessories	1/4" Organza Ribbon, Clear Faceted Gems, Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Tools	Cross of Hope Framelits Dies, Big Shot,  Aqua painter, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig, White EP, Heat gun, computer & printer

 

Now it’s time to hop on over to our next participant, the lovely and talented, Monika.

Here is a full list of participants in case there are any issues.

Monika O'Neill 

Sharon Davern 

Caroline Manwaring

Tina Gillespie

Ros Davidson

Rachel Woollard

Rebecca Jacovou
Catherine Proctor

Kathryn Mangelsdorf

Fiona Ryan

Judy May   ---> you are here!

 

Thanks for visiting today! 

CASE-ing the Catty - Tutti Frutti

Hi there

This week the CTC Crew are taking inspiration from the Tutti-Frutti section of the Occasions Catalogue on pages 28-35. 

You may have come from visiting Liz'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. 

I've taken my inspiration this week from the card above on page 30, using the 'You're Inspiring' stamp set. This set has a large and small line image of daffodils to colour, plus 5 greetings and the dots background stamp. They look a bit like bubbles, but could be rain drops (being spring in the northern hemisphere). 

I have taken a number of design elements from the sample, but my resulting card is quite different.  My base card is Old Olive and the next layer is Soft Sky. I stamped the dots in Soft Sky ink all around the edge of the Soft Sky layer to add interest to the background without adding any other colours. The finished art panel has been popped up on foam pads.

I have coloured the daffodil image with my Stampin' Blends alcohol markers, choosing to go with yellow and orange daffodils. The fine tip end is perfect for the the smaller sections of the stems and leaves. The Color Lifter marker is amazing at fixing up any bleeding or colouring outside the lines. Some colours move very easily and others will need a couple of goes to move. You use the Colour Lift to move the colour back inside the lines. I keep my heat gun close to hand, so I can dry the area where I have used the color lifter really quickly, which prevents any further bleeding and allows you to use it again if you need to.

After colouring the image, I added it to a larger piece of Whisper White and added the border of Old Olive and Silver Foil designer paper to the top and bottom. The Linen Thread was wrapped around the panel and threaded through the button and finished with a bow. I used the birthday greeting from the 'You're Inspiring' stamp set, but it also includes an Easter and Mother's Day greeting so it is very flexible. I finished with some pearls at the top and on the greeting banner. 

For the inside I have used the smaller daffodil stamp across the bottom of my writing panel.  I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to get the exact placement of the image and it works best if you stamp the right hand side first as the daffodils fit together without any masking being required. I've used the same colours as the main image and you do need to take some care with the narrow stems. I added the panel to a Soft Sky mat exactly the same dimensions as the front panel, and it was also stamped with the dots around the edge.

  

Project Details
Stamps	You're Inspiring
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Sweet Soiree DSP
Ink	Memento Rich Cocoa & Tuxedo Black, Soft Sky
Accessories	Linen Thread, Pearl Basic Jewels, True Gentleman Buttons
Tools	Stampin' Blends (Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Color Lifter) Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Heat gun

 

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see what Rachel has to inspire you this week. 

We would love you to join us with your CASE this week, 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 - Sale-a-bration

Hi there

Can you believe, there is just under 3 weeks left of the Sale-a-bration promotion remaining. This year is flying by, so if you've been sitting on the fence wondering which of the free products to get, then let the CASE-ing the Catty Crew help you out with more inspiration from the Sale-a-bration catalogue samples.  An order of $90 or more (before shipping) entitles you to choose one of the many fabulous Level 1 products and a $180 or more order (before shipping) entitles you to choose two Level 1 products or one of the Level 2 products. Don't forget the extra Sale-a-bration products that were released in mid-February; you can see them here.

You may have come from visiting Rebecca'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'm taking my inspiration from the card above that uses the 'Amazing You' stamp set, which is a Level 1 option. It has a great set of greetings to mix and match, plus the sweet flower and sunburst images.  You can see it below, in case you're wondering what it looks like.

It is nice by itself, but when you pair it with the 'Celebrate You' Thinlits dies, magic happens! The dies are a Level 2 option, but the great news is that they will be available in the new Annual Catalogue starting in June 2018. So, if you can't stretch to get the dies, then I recommend you choose the 'Amazing You' stamp set and purchase the dies in June. The combination of the words and dies gives you lots of options for congratulatory cards.

 

So this is my card and you can see I have taken the layout from the sample and turned it into a landscape orientation, so I had room for my 'celebrate' die cut as well as the flower. I started by cutting a piece of thick Whisper White card stock slightly larger than the 'celebrate' die and used my sponge daubers to create a soft ombre style colour graduation with Soft Sky, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay ink pads. Next up I stamped the flower from 'Amazing You' twice in Memento 'London Fog' ink and coloured them with the Pink Pirouette Stampin' Blends. I fussy cut the centre from one flower and popped it up on the base. Once I assembled the white strip I could determine the positioning for the sunburst which was heat embossed in silver and the 'lets', which was stamped in Bermuda Bay (I think it should have been a bit further to the right though). 

I added a strip of silver glimmer under the white panel and tied some white Baker's Twine around the Pool Party panel, with the bow finishing under the flower. I tucked some greenery that was die cut with the 'Sweet Cake' Framelits under the flower and added a clear Faceted Gem in the centre. The Pool Party panel was adhered to the Whisper White card base and lastly, the silver foil die cut 'you' was adhered at the bottom with a row of rhinestones to finish.

For the inside, I stamped part of the flower image in the top right corner of the writing panel and then added the Bermuda Bay 'stars' washi at the base and topped it with a narrow strip of silver glimmer. The finished panel was layered onto a Pink Pirouette mat and adhered to the inside of the card.

 
Finally, here is a view from the top.  

Project Details
Stamps	Amazing You
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Pool Party, Pink Pirouette, Lemon Lime Twist,Silver Glimmer, Silver Foil
Ink	Memento London Fog, Versamark, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Soft Sky
Accessories	Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Basics Pack 3 Washi, Clear Faceted Gems, White Baker's Twine
Tools	Celebrate You Thinlits Dies, Sweet Cake Thinlits Dies, Big Shot, Silver EP, Heat gun, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

 

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see what Julia has to inspire you this week. 

We would love you to join us with your CASE this week, 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!