Remarkable Lily RS#193

Feeling a need to distract myself, [life is super-crazy at this time of year] I took to the computer for a quick look through some of the challenges out there. This sketch at RetroSketches inspired me to get inky. It has been quite a while since I've played along here, but their sketches always help unblock things for me when I'm stale, or just too tired to think.

Very, very simple stamping on this card. Remarkable You has some amazing floral images, including this Calla Lily. Cottage Greetings has some lovely sentiments, so 'clean and simple'.
I love the two different fonts.

I wanted a paper with some yellow in it, and Wildflower Fields, the new DSP for Stampin' Up!® Sale-a-bration (beginning January 3rd in Australia) includes Hello Honey. The two banners are also from that pack of Wildflower Fields.

Cheers, Rachel

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

In My Thoughts RS#136

Adding a tag to a card is a very popular technique currently, and I thought I'd give it a try using this sketch at RetroSketches this week.


I particularly liked the two banners with flagged ends on the sketch and decided that the top one would carry the message and the lower one would be in gold foil. They do a great job of 'grounding' the tag. I had a stamped rectangular piece already floating about my work table, which was easy enough to cut into a tag with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch. The bottom corners were rounded on the Envelope Punch Board.

Blackberry Bliss is such a strong shade it is possible to stamp it three times without inking in between, and still get a good, strong shade. That is evident in the small flowers next to the sentiment and on the lower left of the tag. One ink pad- three shades of purple, now that's good value!!!

I have used this colour combination a number of times over the last few days, but not all of them will make it onto the blog. I've loved using the Blackberry Bliss/Pear Pizzaz combination.
The only problem is, Blackberry Bliss is very difficult to photograph. To the eye, it looks very dark, but that then looks black in a photograph and when you lift the lighting level, it becomes rather bright looking. However, you can see that the base card has been stamped with the Summer Silhouette flowers as well, it was too plain without that.

I'm happy to have another card for my RAK stash, there have been a few needed lately with people in hospital, and living through difficult times, so it is nice to have a few on hand to write a quick message and pop into the post box.

Have fun getting inky!
Rachel

A Dozen Thoughts Wood Stamp Set

$46.95

A Dozen Thoughts Clear Stamp Set

$36.95

Summer Silhouettes Wood Stamp Set

$42.95

Summer Silhouettes Clear Stamp Set

$33.95

Clear Block Starter Bundle

$33.95

Banners Framelits Die

$45.95

Tag Topper Scalloped Punch

$39.95

Blackberry Bliss 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon

$15.95

Gold Baker's Twine

$5.95

Envelope Punch Board

$31.95

Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Pear Pizzaz Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Pear Pizzazz A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Blackberry Bliss A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Flowers On The Fence RS#119 CTD#297

This old fence is just a touch wonky, and a little quaint with flowers rambling over.

I think this is one of my favourite colour combinations, mainly because I love Bermuda Bay and those other hues set it off so nicely. I 'built' my fence with Hardwood, stamped on Smokey Slate with Smokey Slate, and then sliced into 'planks' with some 'nails' here and there. I've seen someone else (maybe a demo friend?) use those same 'nails', which are actually tiny button-brads, Vintage Trinkets (118764) and on the retirement list.


I stamped with So Very Grateful, a stamp set we say goodbye to at the end of June also, and the 'Hello" is part of a stamp from Six-sided Sampler. The inspiration picture with its cascade of flowers helped in designing this card. There are flowers from Petite Petals (that set carries over into the new catalogue), the NEW (available 1st July) Something To Say flowers and both of those have matching punches, plus tiny Daffodil Delight flowers punched with the 4-petal punch from Itty Bitty Accents Punches, which is also retiring.
Many thanks to RetroSketches for another great sketch and Color Throwdown for a inspirational color palette.


The weekend looms......YAY!

Rachel


Australian readers - You can shop for supplies in my online shop, there's only 10 days till the mini Occasions catalogue and main catalogue finish. Lots of retiring bargains to be had and weekly specials too.

Hostess code C2KVNKJJ

Classes for watercolouring available if you are near to South Morang (Melbourne) VIC

Thursday 17th July 7.00pm - 10.00pm

Friday 25th July 7.00pm - 10.00pm

Saturday 2nd August 2.00pm - 5.00pm (daytime)

Birthday Sketch RS#100

Happy 100th sketch Retrosketches!

That's an awful lot of inspiration, and week after week I visit their blog to get some for me. Anyone can take part, why don't you challenge yourself too?

I love DSP and always buy it, and then I have trouble cutting it. I've had even more trouble with Quatrefancy DSP, which matches the Mosaic Madness stamp set, because it has 2 sheets of acetate window sheets in it. I love it but find it hard to use. I decided to take the plunge and cut into it for this lovely sketch, and overnight all sorts of other inspiration has popped into my head!

The pretty paper is also from the Quatrefancy pack, in my favourite colour too - Pool Party. Teamed with Island Indigo, such a cool combination. The two pieces of the flower were left over from another project, and using them made sense. I smudged the petal edges using a sponge dauber with Island Indigo ink, and popped a button in the centre. The three Pool Party buttons on the left were in last year's SALE-A-BRATION, its on again now too.

I haven't decided the occasion this card is destined for, so I've left the greeting off at this stage. It could even be placed on the bottom strip of Island Indigo, using white embossing powder.

Thank you for visiting my blog, I'd love you to leave a comment.

Happy crafting!

Rachel

Camera, Action, Smile -RS #99

I was 'in the mood' for a sketch challenge this afternoon, so popped over to RetroSketches to see what the sketch looked like and I sure did like what I found!

The half-circle cut out really appealed to me, and it didn't take too long before this idea came to me. I'm a sucker for camera stamps, so best I get on and ink up Peachy Keen! It has matching dies too and can be bought as a bundle at 15% off if you like cameras too. I used the Circles Collection Framelits for cutting my half-circle from the Sale-A-Bration DSP Sweet Sorbet. Most of the papers in this set of design series are sweet pastels, as the name might suggest, but I really like this bold pattern and mounted it on a mat of black card. The circle of Silver Glimmer Paper with the middle missing is from my scraps, I liked the way the central circle cut-out is off-centre! Some scattered rhinestones add a bit more gleam, and the bold smile greeting is from Happy Day.

Here is another close-up of the card, don't forget to leave a comment if you like my card, I really do get a thrill reading what you say.

Catch you soon,

Rachel

Retro Sketches Shout Out - Yay!!!

Another Shout Out! from Retro sketches for this birthday card. I used all New goodies from the Occasions Catalogue and a Sale-A-bration freebie stamp.

See the original post here












Have a great weekend!

Rachel