AWH Blog Hop - We're Saying Goodbye!

 

Hi there

Tonight the Art with Heart team are sharing creative projects featuring products from the last chance (retiring) products list. There are lots of products to choose from with retiring stamp sets, ink pads and ink refills guaranteed to be available until 7 May (and all other products while supplies last). Use the Contact Me link in the side bar to get in touch with your order or go to my Online Store and place your order. Browsing the Last-Chance Products in the Online Store is the best and easiest way to see what is retiring.

Although it was not intentional, I have managed to incorporate a number of retiring products into my project. The focus of my card is the lovely 'Butterfly Basics' stamp set. This is a 2-box set of 11 stamps that is available in photopolymer, clear and wood mount. It has such a great range of images and you can create different styles of cards from clean and simple to layered and collage. I haven't given it much love recently, so I wanted to do something a bit different to my normal style. This is the stamp set and the coordinating Butterflies Thinlits Dies are also retiring.

I've started with a panel of Whisper White and stamped the little hexagon background all over  in Daffodil Delight ink. I masked off a half centimetre on the edges to give it a more random finish (this is so NOT me, lol). The lovely fern image came next, stamped in Old Olive, both first and second generation images.  Then came the Delicate White Doily which is another retiring product and my off-centre stitched square backed with vellum to frame the floral image. 

The greeting is from the 'Hello Friend' stamp set (another favourite that is retiring), stamped in Old Olive and popped up on a Marina Mist circle cut with the (retiring) 1-3/8" Circle punch. The finished panel was adhered to the Marina Mist card base. Marina Mist is a retiring colour that I will miss.

The flower was coloured with Pink Pirouette and Old Olive Stampin' Blends alcohol markers. As Pink Pirouette is a retiring colour (sob), the corresponding Blends markers are also retiring. I have fussy cut the flower and popped it up over the frame. I have finished with some of the small gold Metallic Enamel Shapes that are retiring and a double bow of white Baker's Twine. This photo shows more of the details of the layers and dimension.

For the inside, I've stamped the hexagon background at the base of the writing panel and topped it with the slanted line. On the side, the fern has been partially stamped with first and second generation images and I added the sweet butterfly in Marina Mist. The Bitty Butterfly punch is already retired, but it doesn't take much to fussy cut it.

Project Details
Stamps	Butterfly Basics, Hello Friend
Card stock & Papers	Marina Mist, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Marina Mist
Accessories	Metallic Enamel Shapes, White Baker's Twine. Delicate Lace Doilies
Tools	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, Big Shot,  1-1/4 & 1-3/8 Circle punches, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Stampin' Blends (Pink Pirouette, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight)

 

Now it’s time to hop on over to our next participant, the lovely Caroline Manwaring who is sure to have something fabulous to share with you.

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

Catherine Proctor

Sharon Davern

Leanne Mitchell
Judy May   -------------->>>  You are here!

Caroline Manwaring

Ros Davidson 

Rebecca Jacovou

Monika O’Neill

Kate Morgan

Rachel Palmieri
Tina Gillespie

Kimberly Hern
Rachel Woollard

Alisha Watson 

Kathryn Mangelsdorf 

 Thanks for visiting today! 

CASE-ing the Catty - Favourite Occasions Big Shot Project

Hi there

Today the CASE-ing the Catty Crew are starting to say goodbye to the Occasions Catalogue that finishes on 31 May 2018. I just can't keep up with how fast this year is disappearing. This week we're looking at our favourite Big Shot project and that is a hard ask as there are so many great products with coordinating dies in this 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 gorgeous box in the photo above took my eye as soon as I saw the catalogue. I love making pretty gift packaging and the recipient is always wowed that you made it for them. I'm really pleased the Cake Soirée stamp set and coordinating Sweet Cake Framelits Dies will be carrying over to the new 2018-19 Annual Catalogue. However, they won't be sold as a bundle, so if they are on your wish list, take advantage of the 10% bundle discount by purchasing before 31 May.  

 You may remember that I used this sample as inspiration previously, turning the box into a layout for this card. Today I decided to make the box and the tag. Making gift packaging is a great way to use up designer paper that you have been saving (for a rainy day that rarely comes, lol).



I'm not sure what size the box in the photo is as photos can be very deceiving.  I decided to make the biggest one I could with a 12 x 12 sheet of card stock. I prefer to make the base of my boxes from card stock so that they are very sturdy and reusable (and re-giftable) and it also uses less designer paper too. My box is 6" x 4" x 3" deep, which is a great size for a couple of candles, treats, a scarf, jewellery, crafting goodies and many more possibilities.

I decided to go with Berry Burst for the box base and I adhered the designer paper after I had cut and scored it and before assembling, so I could get a really neat finish. I sandwiched the centre flap between the 2 side flaps to get a really neat finish on the inside too. When I went to make the top I realised that I only had one piece of the striped Old Olive foil left and the stripes were going the wrong way, so I had to improvise! The lid of the box is Old Olive, so that it isn't noticeable that the designer paper was a few millimetres short. When you open it, it looks bright and funky.

I have cut the lacy tag with the Sweet Cake Framelits and stamped the 'for you' at the top in Berry Burst ink. I added one of the greenery elements die cut in Lemon Lime Twist and some vellum leaves from the Sweet Soirée Embellishment Kit. The silver foil open flower was die cut and I traced around it to create the Berry Burst backing and then popped it up on the leaves. It is attached with the silver and white Baker's twine. 

This is a really great bundle for any celebratory occasion, so make sure you get yours at a bundle discount before 31 May!

Project Details
Stamps	Cake Soirée
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Old Olive, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist, Silver Foil, Sweet Soirée Specialty Designer Series Paper
Ink	Berry Burst
Accessories	Berry Burst Metallic-Edge Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Silver & White Baker's Twine
Tools	Sweet Cake Framlits Dies, Big Shot, Simply Scored Board, Tombow glue, Glue Dots

 

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see what Monique 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 - Hostess Sets and Memories & More

Hi there

It's Sunday, so that means the CASE-ing the Catty Crew are back with more creative inspiration for you. This week we're looking at Hostess Sets and Memories & More Card Packs from both the Annual and Occasions Catalogues. 

You may have come from visiting Megan'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 from this pretty sample on page 56 of the Annual Catalogue using the Petal Garden Memories & More Card Pack and the Petal Garden DSP Stack. I think it is a gift box, but I've created a card using the same layout.

I've changed up the colours a bit, but kept the square layout, using Old Olive for the basic card. I added some of the Sweet Sugarplum trellis design paper to a piece of Sweet Sugarplum card stock and layered on a banner using a coordinating design from the Petal Garden DSP stack and tucked half a Delicate White Doily underneath. I wrapped the Old Olive ribbon around the panel twice, crossing it over and finishing in a bow on the right.

I selected the 3" x 4" card with the wreath design from the Petal Garden Memories & More Card Pack and stamped the greeting from the (sadly retiring) 'Butterfly Basics' stamp set. I popped the card into my Stamparatus stamping platform and placed a scrap piece of acetate over the top of the card. It allowed me to stamp the greeting and check the positioning in relation the wreath image. Before adhering the gold foil overlay, I trimmed down the wreath card slightly and rounded the corners so they didn't poke out and then popped it up over the banner.

There are coordinating floral die cuts in the card pack, but I chose to stamp the matching image from the 'Graceful Garden' stamp set. I used Stampin' Write Markers in Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry direct to the rubber to create the outline image in coordinating colours. Using the Stamparatus stamping platform it was easy to add some extra colour to the image where I needed it.  Stampin' Blends alcohol markers were used to colour the flower before fussing cutting and popping it up in the corner. I love the softer look that is achieved by using the markers on the outline image.

 

For the inside I have a Sweet Sugarplum mat for my writing panel. I added some washi at the bottom in Old Olive and what I thought was Rich Razzleberry, but is actually Berry Burst. However I think it all blends in without a problem. In the top corner I've heat embossed part of the trellis in gold and then added another of the coloured and fussy cut flowers. 

The asymmetric layout doesn't come naturally to me, but I quite like the end result. When I asked my husband what thought, the first thing he said was that it was crooked. I hope the lady who is going to receive it doesn't think that! I'm going to be using this as a 'get well' card, I think it would also be perfect for Mother's Day.  

If you love this look, you will need to order the Petal Garden DSP Stack and Memories & More Card Pack now, as both products are retiring.

Project Details
Stamps	Graceful Garden, Butterfly Basics
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Old Olive, Sweet Sugarplum, Petal Garden DSP Stack, Petal Garden Memories & More Card Pack, scrap Gold Glimmer
Ink	Sweet Sugarplum
Accessories	Delicate White Doilies, Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon, Pearls Basic Jewels, Basic Packs 1 & 2 Washi
Tools	Stampin' Blends (Rich Razzleberry, Pink Pirouette, Color Lifter) Dimensionals, Tombow glue

 

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see what Angela 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 - True Gentleman

Hi there

This week the CTC Crew are taking inspiration from the True Gentleman section of the Occasions Catalogue on pages 44-51. As you will see, there isn't anything masculine in sight in my project!

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. 

I'm taking my inspiration from the scrapbook page shown in the photo above using the lovely 'Southern Serenade' stamp set. I've taken the main decorative elements from the page and created a soft and pretty birthday card.

My card is surprisingly close to the layout of the scrap page, with the blossom spray sitting on a vellum oval, which I embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder to add some background interest. I didn't end up using the lacy background image you can see in both corners of the sample, as it seemed to 'muddy' the clean look of the card. I have used a simple band of card stock at the base to ground the blossom spray and allow the doily to peak out.

I have stamped the blossom spray with Memento Rich Cocoa ink to match the pink tones and then coloured it with Stampin' Blends Alcohol markers. I have fussy cut the image and popped it up on the foam pads.

At the top left I have a little strip of Pink Pirouette card stock with the doily peaking out and a silver Baker's Twine bow and some pearls to finish this cute embellishment. I have die cut the 'friend' in Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper and stamped the birthday greeting above it.

For the inside I have a Sahara Sand mat and I've stamped part of the blossom spray in the top right corner and coloured it with the Stampin' Blends. I've added a single  flower at the base sitting on a strip of Blushing Bride washi tape to finish.

This is definitely one of my favourite colour combos:

Project Details
Stamps	Southern Serenade
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Sahara Sand, Vellum, Dazzling Diamonds
Ink	Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories	Lacy Doilies, Silver Baker's Twine, Pearls Basic Jewels, Basic Pack 1 Washi
Tools	Layering Ovals Framelits, Lovely Words Thinlits, Softly Falling TIEF, Big Shot, Stampin' Blends (Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Color Lifter) Dimensionals, Tombow glue

 

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!

Sweet Hedgehugs!

Hi there

Today I'm sharing a card that I made while I was playing in my craft room over Easter. The 'Hedgehugs' stamp set jumped out at me when I first saw the Occasions Catalogue; I think it is such a sweet collection of images and it is good to finally get it inked up. I was intending this to be for CASE-ing the Catty last Sunday, but I ran out of light to photograph it. 

I started with a panel of Sahara Sand card stock and stamped the little flower randomly at the bottom in Soft Suede ink and then I embossed a smaller section at the top with the 'Simple Stripes' embossing folder, choosing to use the de-bossed side for subtle texture. I used my Stamparatus stamping platform to position the 3 stamps on the panel of thick Whisper White card stock. Using Stampin' Write markers directly to the rubber generally results in a lighter image, but using the Stamparatus I was able to use the markers a second time on the toadstools to get more depth of colour, knowing it was going to be perfectly positioned. 

The hedgehogs were inked in Soft Suede ink and I used the Stampin' Blends alcohol markers to add some extra colour to them and to create the background. The greeting was stamped in Soft Suede ink and then I stamped over it with the flower that I had inked with the Stampin' Write markers. I finished with a soft bow in the pretty organza ribbon and a trio of the small silver Enamel Shapes at the top.

For the inside of the card, I have a Sahara Sand mat for my writing panel, which I have decorated on the left side with the cute bird on a branch image that was also coloured with Stampin' Write markers. The greeting is from the 'Birthday Wit' stamp set and I've finished with a strip of Flirty Flamingo washi at the bottom.

I stamped the little bird on the branch image again on the envelope for a coordinating touch.  

Project Details
Stamps	Hedgehugs, Birthday Wit
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, Sahara Sand
Ink	Soft Suede, Stampin' Write Markers, Stampin' Blends Alcohol Markers
Accessories	Metallic Enamel Shapes, 1/4" Organza Ribbon
Tools	Layering Circles Framelits, Simple Stripes TIEF, Big Shot, Glue Dots, Stamparatus

 

Thanks for visiting today!