Pretty Pink Birthday Wishes FMS192 & PP202

I wasn't planning to make a card today. I had this sketch at Freshly Made Sketches pinned to my blog for a number of days, but wasn't sure what I wanted to make. Then last night I noticed Sandy's Tic Tac Toe Challenge at the Paper Players, and I quickly decided the bottom row was exactly what I wanted.
So there are a couple of shades of pink:- Strawberry Slush and Blushing Bride.
There are pearls, because pearls are so refined and elegant!
And there is embossing: Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder.

That particular embossing folder gives great spots to pop a tiny flower, these are stamped before punching with the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack flower. The flower stamp (and a star and heart that also have punches) are all included in a super new stamp set, Something To Say. It was one of the first things I added to my pre-order nearly a month ago, and I've been making pretty things with them ever since my parcel arrived. You can order too, in less than 24 hours! The Happy Birthday greeting is from a stamp set I've had for ages now, its very well-used. Itty Bitty Banners comes with matching Framelits, so you get a very precise cut around the greeting.
I'm going to save this card for a work colleagues birthday in a month or so.

Have a great day!
Rachel

I enjoy playing with card, stamps, ink, ribbon and other embellishments that make it onto cards. I get a real kick out of creating a card. Often it is for a challenge, but in the back of my mind are also the other family & friend events that I will need a card for, and so that might set the theme too. I'd love to share the fun with you too. If you think its something you might enjoy too, ask me how you can get a 20% discount on all the goodies in the Stampin' Up! catalogue. As long as you live in Australia, you can join through me. There's a "Join my Team" tab to the right of my blog, or you can ring 0417500681 or email me. for more information.

One In A Million PPA203

How good are these colours! I have used them in the past too, but usually for a masculine card. This one has been softened with the retired Comfort Cafè DSP. More than one of my customers has been smart enough to pick themselves up a pack in the Clearance Rack recently. You'll find heaps of inspiration at PPA Color Challenge, where I've entered my card too.

Nearly everything on this card has retired or is soon to retire, but that's not a reason to stop using these items. The stamp set, One In A Million, has been a favourite of mine, I've used all the stamps multiple times. You ought to take a look at the ones for babies and weddings, so sweet!

A while back, when I was feeling guilty about the reams and reams of brown paper the warehouse packs into our orders in Australia, I sat one evening punching out scalloped circlesfrom this packaging. I threaded ten onto a split pin and scrunched them into flowers. I still have a container half-full of these flowers, so I decided to add one of those to the circular label, which is sitting on the largest of the  Delicate Doilies Sizzlets-L. The Very Vanilla layer has been embossed with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder. The tulle and the little buckle have been retired for a while, but the tulle, especially, softens this card so nicely, I had to use it.


Because the stamp has 2 parts to it, of course I added that inside with a strip of  Comfort Cafe DSP and a Petite Petals bloom stamped in Crumb Cake.
Happy stamping
Rachel

#126999

#132052w #126382c

Peaceful Thoughts Of You FMS 134

I've decided that Bermuda Bay must be my all-time favourite colour! I do seem to use it such a lot, and I am always happy with the cards I make in that hue, more so than any other.

The rumour mill has been working overtime since some Stampin' Up! demonstrators in the US collected their new catalogues this week. There is a whisper about that Peaceful Petals didn't make the cut for the next catalogue, so if you love it as much as I do, you'll need to order before the end of the Occasions Catalogue (30 June for Australia). Now, I have to say, I was surprised, as it has some lovely floral images, just perfect for watercolouring, as I did, with this stem of small flowers. I used the Aqua painter and a small amount of ink squeezed onto the lid.
There's a hint of Bermuda Bay on the petals, Pistachio Pudding on the leaves and stem and then I used the thick end of a Stampin' Write Marker to place some Crushed Curry in the centres.

The patterned paper is gorgeous, Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper comes in Smokey Slate, Coastal Cabana and Crushed Curry and this was such a nice 'understated' pattern. Of course, all the DSP retires at the end of each catalogue, so that will be going too.

Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), the two floral shapes and one tiny circle are on the US retired list too. I can't imagine what we'll do without them. I trimmed the strip of Whisper White card that has been embossed with  Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder. At least that seems to be staying for another year.

What a nice 'clean' sketch Karren has provided for the challenge at Freshly Made Sketches. I used the Circles Collection Framelits to cut the white circle and the large scalloped circle is from that set too. It stays too, Yay!

We're really settling into Autumn here now, and it has been raining and rather chilly as I write my blog. I was very glad I did all my shopping earlier when it was still fine. Looking forward to catching up with friends tonight.

Rachel

It's A Boy! PP193 & DD100

Today started with lovely Autumn sunshine, but has become drearier as the day progressed so I do not feel guilty in the least, escaping to indulge in some card making.
This time I've gone for a baby boy card. My daughter-in-law, due to have a little boy in June, has had to stop work this week, to allow her little man to gain some weight. A work colleague, due to deliver in the same hospital as my D-I-L, same week too, is expected to finish work at the end of next week. There are others coming this year too, so you can never have too many of these cards in your stash.

I've stuck with the final colour challenge from the wonderful team at Dynamic Duos, Pool Party, So Saffron and Smokey Slate.
(Dynamic Duos design team -Please reconsider!)



I've used three Stampin' Up! stamp sets for this card and the sketch from Anne Marie The Paper Players. You must check out the design teams cards, I want to CASE everyone of them! I have to say I was glad I'd ordered the Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (130135) because I have a enormous supply of perfectly colour-matched patterned paper now. I embossed with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder (129984) and layered my strip and square of subtles paper onto Whisper White. It gave a 'cleaner' look than when I had it on the matching colour.

I used only one footprint from Baby Prints (125472 C) because two needed a larger circle or some toes were amputated! I then used Smokey Slate to stamp 'it's a boy'  from A Dozen Thoughts(131056W) , over the top and under that 'congratulations' from Cuddles & Kisses (131913). I will use a verse from Cuddles & Kisses inside too. I believe this stamp set and Baby Prints are retiring in the US, so chances are they will here too. Check them out on page 56 of the catalogue to see if you might need them.

There is an underline on the greeting, in pearls, and three to the right, as well as a loop of the retired ruffled ribbon in Pool Party.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog, leave a comment if you like,
Rachel

Exciting news! 

LeAnne picked my card as a 'Cut Above' at the Paper Players! You made my day LeAnne!

Sending Thanks - RS #83 and PP#165

As soon as I saw the challenge at Retro Sketches, I wanted to die cut half of the largest shape in Framelits Apothecary Accents(127003) and use the paper piercing tool and Essentials Paper Piercing stencil(126187) to create a faux envelope flap to suit that sketch.The paper piercing adds a nice finishing touch to that pretty shape.

Next, I teamed it with the Tic-Tac-Toe challenge #165 from Paper Players, its such fun deciding which combination to use. I have gone with the top line: Thanks, Button, Ribbon. I DID have a bit of a struggle threading the ribbon through the holes in the button! The Very Vintage Buttons are so pretty, don't you think?

The card is Soft Blue and Very Vanilla and after I had used Summer Silhouette to stamp the base in Smoky Slate, Soft Blue and Marina Mist, I put it through the Big Shot to dry emboss with the Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder.

The prettiest 'thanks' I could locate in my messy room today was this retired one, I'm sure if I tidied up I could find more things. Maybe tomorrow.......

Don't forget to click on the links to see some more inspiration,

Rachel

Update:Exciting news for me, I got a SHOUT-OUT from Retro Sketches for this card!!!