Thumping Again with Betsy's Blossoms

I wasn't very satisfied with my last card. That sometimes happens when you create in the middle of the night when you really should be sleeping!!

It was nice enough, but the "Thumping" was a bit faint, so after a stimulating afternoon outdoors tending to my garden, I had another go at Betsy's Blossoms. This time you can definitely see the colours, can't you?
I've used exactly the same colours, Crushed Curry is the main colour again, but this time I stamped off once onto scrap paper before thumping with Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral and Tangerine Tango. Popped a couple of leaves from the stamp set this time too, and used the Lucky Limeade as the card base. I textured a strip of Crumb Cake by embossing with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and used some Daffodil Delight stitched grosgrain ribbon across as well before placing the Stamped Square over.

I have to show you the inside of this card though. I modified the Thumping Technique for these tiny blossoms. I stamped into Crushed Curry, stamped off once, and then rather more methodically stroked the Lucky Limeade into the centres and Calypso Coral and Tangerine Tango around the edges of the petals. I really like this effect and think I will try that again with different flowers and colours.

I will link into Freshly Made Sketches challenge again, I don't know how to remove the one already there, but they don't limit the entries, so here goes....
Rachel
By the way, here is my first card, with much less distinct colours.

Moving Forward with RetroSketches#65

Tomorrow the retiring list is released for Australia and New Zealand, but it is no secret that Moving Forward is to retire. That's because it is a special stamp set for Ronald McDonald House and $3 from each sale goes to the charity - that sounds like such a good idea! Buy stamps sets that are just so cute, AND help out a worthy cause, don't you think?

Moving Forward is an absolute favourite for me, you can use it for a wide range of events, with the tricycle, sailboat and this blimp among the main images. I've used the Ink to rubber technique for this card, check my class schedule for June if you live nearby.
Paired with the birthday greeting from Curly Cute (also retiring) and some Comfort Cafe DSP, it is based on this sketch from RetroSketches. You know, whenever I lack inspiration I go straight to a sketch or colour challenge and find that usually that will get the imagination going. I also entered it for the Make it Masculine challenge at CAS on Sunday

Just a short post today - back tomorrow with the retiring list!
Cheers!
Rachel

Curly Cute

FMS#80 & PPA Color Challenge - Faith in Nature

I knew I had a lot to do today but it is amazing how you can fit a little bit of stamping between chores when it is a sketch as sweet as this one at Freshly Made Sketches and these lovely restful colours from PPA Color Challenge.





I decided to go with a 'Blast From the Past' this week, using a retired stamp set Faith in Nature, maybe you still have it in your stash too? I love a stamp with a subtle script and the three main images all fit the bill here. I chose the pear, and stamped it with Pear Pizzaz, one of the colours about to return to the Stampin Up! family of colour. To give some added interest, I rock 'n' rolled the edge into Marina Mist.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to discover this but I had a happy moment when I was punching some Bitty Butterflies out and I wanted to use the patterned chevron stamp from Oh Hello, stamped so delicately with Bashful Blue. I discovered how perfectly the punch fits in each segment of the chevron, so the wings are both different, and the body is an exact fit in the white space between the patterns!

I think they're gorgeous, but I am a sucker for anything miniature too!  I finished them off with a row of 3 little pearls, then wound some Lucky Limeade Baker's twine several times around the card, once it was mounted on Pear Pizzaz card, and stamped the greeting from Faith In Nature stamp set. 

I like the way those 3 shades of green are similar enough to mix and match them.

Cheers for now

Rachel

CCMC201-Sketch Challenge

Over the last few days I have been working on masculine cards for some classes I will be holding in June. I love the Grunge Rock stamp set and Extreme Elements stamp set, both on Page 60 of the current IB & C. They seem to complement each other very well and look good in 'earthy' shades used frequently for the fellas.

Then today I decided to take part in my very first challenge on a blog I follow, Create with Connie and Mary. Not sure that I am satisfied with my effort, but it was fun to try meeting the challenge. Here is the sketch for this one. I have changed my card since I took the first photo, but only slightly. See below.

 

By the way- I did use my stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp happy in Crumb Cake,Pool Party,More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, Cajun Craze and Island Indigo. I might need a bit more practice, the spacing is a little off, but I love practising all these different techniques!!!!

Thanks for taking a look, and happy stamping!

Rachel