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.

ColourQ 174 and Freshly Made Sketches 71

Initially, I thought the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches was difficult, but after the first card, the second was easy. I decided to use the colour challenge from ColourQ so that I expanded my colour choice for a change. I always feel more comfortable with only three colours, but after all, these three shades of pink do go beautifully together, so it wasn't too tricky.

I chose Primrose Petals for my base and added a NEW dry embossed border, one of the two in the Needlepoint Border folder (page 5) available in the 25th Anniversary Catalogue. Next, with the Big Shot, I cut the wider tag from the Two Tags die in Very Vanilla card. There is a crease just above the greeting, so I could have folded the tag and made a little pocket and these two dies are able to be used not only as tags, but as gift holders for small gifts. Ask me, I'm happy to show you how.
 


Summer Silhouette/ Daydream Medallions



I twice-stamped the lovely leaves from Summer Silhouettes, without re-inking between stamping, which gave two shades to the Early Espresso. This sweet little greeting is from a lovely little set of three stamps called Made For You. I really like this font, so fresh and young.

Next I stamped some Pink Pirouette card with Primrose Petals and Raspberry Ripple using the Daydream Medallions stamps, before using Floral Frames Framelit die to cut matching floral shapes, which I layered up after hand turning the petals, and finished off with the NEW Large Rhinestone.

Lastly, a piece of Raspberry Ripple ribbon and an Antique Brad were the finishing touches.

Cheerio for now,
Rachel

FMS 71

I've had a hectic 3 days away at my son's home, helping out with their two lively little men, 'cos their dad had surgery last week and they needed Poppy and Gran to take them fishing and to the park to run off some of the energy that Dad usually takes care of.

Since we arrived home my other two grandsons have visited, and when they left, I decided to have an hour or two of "me-time" to recharge before fronting up to some more darling children at school tomorrow!!

I've missed deadlines for some challenges that I had bookmarked (that happens a lot....LOL) but still have time for Freshly Made Sketches, one of my absolute favourites! If you click on that link you will see heaps more great cards by very talented players.

I have used some patterned paper from Sale-a-bration, it's called Sycamore Street, to set the colours for my card. Inks used are Pool Party, Tangerine Tango and I substituted Marina Mist for Island Indigo for a more subtle deep blue. The tag was cut with the Two-Tags die on my Big Shot using Whisper White card. I had tried it in Pool Party but it didn't look "clean" enough. The flower and leaf is from a Sale-a-bration set called Bloomin' Marvellous, and then I stamped a flower centre in Tangerine Tango with a little stamp from the Summer Silhouettes set. The same colour was used to stamp a stamp from the Papillon Potpourri and it was punched with its matching punch.

There's a new petite sized butterfly punch in the 25th Anniversary Catalogue (page 13) which punches the smaller butterflies from the Papillon Potpourri set and also the wee butterfly in Bloomin' Marvellous. I love the way everything mixes and matches. I was going to include one of the Bitty Butterflies too, but it made it a bit busy, I'm sure I'll use the other ones I punched very soon anyway.

At the top of the tag I have placed an Antique Brad over some Pool Party Seam Binding, which unfortunately covers the pretty scalloped top of the tag and the butterfly has three Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Oh, and the greeting I used is from a Itty Bitty Banners stamp set that is available both as a sale-a-bration bonus (Free with a $100 order, before shipping) or it can be purchased from the Annual catalogue for $27.95 for wood mount. It's on page 134, where you can see that there are three shapes and sizes, six different greetings. Also available are Bitty Banners Framelits dies if you happen to have a Big Shot.

I'll say ciao for now,

Rachel

Freshly Made sketches #70

This week at Freshly Made Sketches Rita has provided this great sketch for our inspiration. I changed the format for my card because (I'm hiding embarressingly behind my hands... LOL) I didn't look carefully at the sketch before I put it together!

There is a strong possibility it wouldn't have fitted in landscape, but maybe I will try a different card in that format, this is such a great sketch.

I have used Ciao, Baby! (page 16 mini catty released Feb 1st) for two of the stamped images and 'Hello' is from the sale-a-bration set Pretty Petites. I love these two sets, probably because they have the sweetest little punches to match, mainly the Petite Curly Label Punch, because its new, and it is free with your $100 order. There is a 1and a quarter scalloped punch, originally in the Holiday Catalogue, but carried over now. I punched a one inch circle in Pool Party for them to sit on and then and Island Indigo punched out of the original Curly Label Punch. The ampersand fits pretty well inside the three-quarter inch circle punch. The patterned strip is a stamp from Summer Silhouettes, (page 82 annual catalogue) stamped in Pool Party too, which is a handy image when you just want something subtle to join it all together. The 'its your day' greeting is a retired hostess set called Happiest Birthday Wishes, which I still use quite regularly.

Hope you are feeling inspired to get a little inky too.

If you live in Australia and need help to get any of these products or catalogues, call me (0417 500 681) or email.

Cheers

Rachel