Sunday, September 22, 2013

Stampin' Up! "Baroque Motifs"

Stampin' Up! "Baroque Motifs" includes a flourish in its set, along with a lovely flower of sorts. This is my favourite card, one  I made when I very first joined Stampin' Up! so yes it is an oldie and still treasured.

How did I make this card...
  1. On Confetti cream paper, I stamped the flourish with versa mark and gently coloured it with the Stampin' Up! chalks/pastels. 
  2. I stamped the dragonfly in Taken with Teal (from the a retired set) and coloured it with a two way glue pen and dazzling diamonds. 
  3. The flower was stamped in Pink Passion and  the centre features a dot of crystal effects covered in dazzling diamonds. 
  4. Three dots of crystal effect were placed to the left of the ribbon to represent glassy brads and then both the flower and dragon fly mounted with Dimensionals to that they floated above the card.  This was then mounted on Taken with Teal.

A mosaic of highlights on the card, the dragon fly, flower centre, chalking and ribbon with faux glassy brads.
A mosaic of close ups so you can see the detail on the card.
I hope to read your comments - see if you like this card as much as I do.  Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you soon.

Happy crafting

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Stampin' Up! "French Foliage"

French Foliage coupled with Stampin' Up! beautiful Core'dinations papers; in this case Primrose Petals, makes for a stunning card.  This card is presented in a Gate Fold Card, the leaf images stamped on an acrylic block stamped background.  This card was a gift for a very special Mum in France, for a very dear friend.
The base card, Raspberry Ripple, was stamped in Raspberry Ripple as is the focal leaf.  The background and leaves were stamped in Primrose Petal, the highlight green (card and splatters) Old Olive.
 The Card features a gate fold...
Love gate fold cards, the are so cool.
A little closer...
Just for you Mrs Abad; I attached this card to a Stampin' Sound Card and recorded Ben delivering a family message
For a more masculine look, but still using the French Foliage in Regal colours on a Faux Fossil background, I cut the centre piece out and popped it with Dimensionals.  The card base is More Mustard and Cajun Craze.
The greeting is from the wonderful Stampin' Up! set Perfectly Penned W128703/C122892.

This stamp set was retired in 2013 but could be replaced with Gently Falling, a two-step set that will work just as awesomely W128430 / C123804 (so cannot wait to get it!)  Yes another one on my wish list LOL

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to look,
Love

Monday, September 9, 2013

Stampin' Up! Papillion Potpourri Dazzling Diamonds v's Iridescent Ice

Stampin' Up! have the best, fine glitter, known as Dazzling Diamonds to add to your crafting projects.  For those of us who love to add a little glitter to our powder embossing, Stampin' Up! have answer - Iridescent Ice.
Dazzling Diamonds used on the centre LHS butterfly : Iridescent Ice used on the centre RHS butterfly.
For a closer look - Dazzling Diamonds adhered with a 2-way Glue Pen
Island Indigo on Marina Mist highlighted with Dazzling Diamonds
Iridescent Ice embossed on Island Indigo gives this look...
Butterfly stamped in versa mark and then Island Indigo.  Iridescent Ice sprinkled over the top, excess tapped off and then the powder was heat set.

I made the following card in Island Indigo and Pool Party featuring the beautiful stamp set Papillion Potpourri WM132058/CM123759 and acrylic block stamping for the background of each butterfly. 
I used a two way glue pen around the Pool Party mat to give that extra bling.  The centre butterfly is embossed in Iridescent Ice, however I just don't think you can see it....
A little closer and from a different angle you can see the Iridescent Ice on the butterfly cut out using the coordinating Stampin' Up! Elegant Butterfly 127526 punch.
 
A very simple layout, but a favourite when it comes to butterflies; and room for the fitting greeting when the time comes.
Whisper White and Island Indigo with all butterflies embossed with Iridescent Ice.
 Perhaps you can see the embossing in this closer shot?? I like the way it gives a wet appearance to the ink...
Owwww now you can see the glitter, so pretty LOL
OK and now for a layered card, Pool Party card stock (which was spritzed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch) with the lower section embossed with Square Lattice embossing folder, the top half embossed with Perfect Polka dots and joined with Stampin' Up! Stitched Grossgrain. I used a Pool Party base for the butterflies and acrylic block background stamp, with stamping in Island Indigo for the script (from French Foliage) and butterflies. The base card is Island Indigo as is the base for the greeting. 
 
A little closer look at the acrylic block stamping background and the Dazzling Diamonds in this picture - yes I loaded it on ... 
French Foliage Script behind the butterfly looks great.
Glitter, Glitter here I come.  I am so grateful we no longer have to mix our clear with Diamonds so that we can get our bling with embossing, but remember if you are after extra bling with your embossing powders you can add either Dazzling Diamonds or Iridescent Ice to any colour embossing powder.  Which is your favourite product?  Leave a comment and let me know.
 
Thank you for visiting and happy crafting!
Love
 

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Masculine Cards - Stampin' Up! "By the Tide" featuring faux fossil stone backgrounds

Stampin' Up! stamp set "By the Tide" is a detailed set that is purrrfect for male cards and use on scrapbook pages for that big catch or event by the sea.  This versatile set includes coral, shell, seahorse, fish and more. Todays hand made background is Faux Fossil Stone, a background which can also be used in scrapbooking.

Traditional Marina Mist coupled with Early Expresso resulted in this card...my favourite of all the made I think...
A simple layout with the greeting from Curly Cute.
On this card I embossed the fish in Gold and the coral in Mellon Mambo and Tangerine Tango embossing powder.
 
I love the square lattice embossing folder; it adds real dimension to the card.  I layered the greeting on the postage stamp punch 122344 to bring forward the Early Expresso and add to the masculinity of the card.
Matting and popping a mat with Dimensionals makes the card pop.   
Gumball Green, embossed with the Woodgrain 127821 embossing folder, with Not Quite Navy matting resulted in this card. 
I powder embossed the coral in Early Expresso and the anchor in Pool Party embossing powder to add a little more dimension to the card.
 
Loving the background technique - Click HERE to learn how.

It is always lovely to show the makings of others, especially the results of a class where the ladies are new at Stampin' Up! and card making.  Bev and Lenny made the following cards using the Faux Fossil Stone Technique with By the Tide stamp set.
Bev's card used a very different colour combination of Marina Mist and Perfect Plum card stock, Gumball Green, Melon Mambo, Pewter and Silver embossing powder with Gumball Green, Tempting Turquoise and Perfect Plum ink.
 
Lenny was taken by the Tangerine Tango and I have to say I really love this card.  Coupled with Not Quite Navy matting and stamping the Marina Mist/Old Olive background worked a treat

Male cards are thought to be difficult to make, but By the Tide Wood Mount 129117 / Clear Mount 129120 is one set that makes this task very easy.  There are more posts and ideas using this gorgeous set so be sure to check them out.

Thanks for stopping by
Stay warm and happy crafting.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Secret Garden meets Floating Reinker Water Colouring

Secret Garden is a beautiful set of flowers, purrrfect for crafting the celebration of any female event.
In this card I used an old favourite technique of water colouring. 

The flowers were stamped on Gloss Cardstock and powder embossed in white.  I then liberally spritzed the flowers with water.   I dipped an aqua pen in a drop of Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Raspberry Ripple re-inker and then dabbed this over the flowers.  Want more detail?  See HERE for pictorial instruction (how stunning is that colour combination) and HERE for a You Tube Video.
Secret Garden in our beautiful new In-colours with a Vintage Faceted button and Rhinestone centre.  Using the same layout as a previous post, I coloured the flowers in pinks to obtain this beautiful look
For this card I used only the pinks and Daffodil Delight in the flower centres only.
This photo give a better look at the colouring and beautiful rhinestone flower centre feature
The finished card using a brad embellishment and clear resin centre
I used a very different colour combination, inspired by Bev for this one and changed the focus flower to the beautiful rose from Fifth Avenue.
 I coloured the flowers very differently to obtain this stunning colour combination - thanks Bev for the inspiration
The flowers were again stamped on Gloss Cardstock and powder embossed in white.  I liberally spritzed the flowers with water and coloured with the aqua pen dipped in Calypso Coral re-inker and then dabbed this over the rose, the smaller flowers from Secret Garden were coloured with Daffodil Delight reinker.  Once dry I sprayed Vanilla Smooch to give that beautiful flower shimmer.
Love the shimmer that smooch adds to projects, especially flowers.
Pool Party with Island Indigo contrasted with Daffodil Delight and Calypso Coral made for a very lovely and different card.
A close up of the layering and sanded core'dinations card stock and the lovely vintage brads.
This layout would make an excellent scrapbook layout, one I am desperate to try.  I hope these cards inspire you to go to your craft cupboard or crafting area and dust off those line stamps of flowers and create something extra special for a lovely woman in your life.  Click HERE if you want to see this reinker float water colour technique by another SU Demonstrator.
Happy paper crafting,
love