Hippity-Hoppity CC#32 SFF

The urgency of  Easter approaching has really motivated me into action. My cards have been partially made for a week or more, but everything needed to be attached - oh dear! It has been a delightful day with a visit by our second son and his two boys, and in the afternoon we visited our third son at home with his wife and baby Oliver. Luckily, my husband took on cooking the fish for our Good Friday meal while I tidied/crafted.

Tomorrow we have a road trip to our first son and his family, where we will spend a couple of nights. It is school holidays and so it will be good to spend time with the children when they aren't rushing to do homework or reading (although that is fun too).

Staying within my comfort zone, my card is 'clean and layered' for the Card Concept challenge. I love the jar of flowers in the picture and those colours, so it was a pleasant assignment. I used a Word Bubble to hold the bunny's babble, similar to Sketch Frenzy Friday's sketch.

Using the pom-pom for the bunny's tail isn't an original idea, it has been done many times, but how perfect is it? Happy Easter Bunny is a cute stamp and I found it easy to colour with Stampin' Write Markers. I used a Word Bubble Framelit and added in some words from And Many More. The bunny would say, "Hippity-Hoppity, Hippity- Hoppity, Hop" wouldn't he?

Cheers
Rachel


  

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thoughtful Bouquet TCC#30

Today was a beautiful autumn day in Melbourne and I have enjoyed a little time in my garden, trimming back straggly plants and admiring the last of the roses. Before I prepare dinner, I've played in my craft room to make a card for The Card Concept. This challenge categorises styles of cards, which I hadn't ever thought much about before discovering this site, but I know now, that I have a 'clean & layered' style.

There was a stamped image, Love Is Kindness, already lying on my table, so I picked up a few shades of Stampin' Markers and had a little colouring fun. I love tulips, but rarely buy any, and I certainly don't succeed in growing them. It's just not cold enough over winter in Melbourne and we have to remember to put them in the fridge before planting!

The jug in the picture shows some textured areas, and I used the Textured Embossing Folder Decorative Dots to replicate that look and added some random inking of Dictionary, by using my fingers to rub the back of the naturals white card onto the stamp, which was inked with Crumb Cake. I often work with bold shades, but these pretty pastels felt just right today. I didn't feel a need to add 'Thinking Of You' to the card, there's room inside to write plenty.

Cheers
Rachel

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Little Birdie

I made a card on Thursday using these colours, and how refreshing they looked. I thought I needed to make another and this is what I came up with. Thanks to The Card Concept for an inspiring colour challenge. Nearly forgot to mention, mine is a "Clean & Layered" example.
Since I ordered Polka -Dot Pieces, I've been mystified as to why I didn't order it sooner. It has the two sizes of flowers, a butterfly as well as the bird, and they all stamp out so crisply. I used the Bird Builder Punch to punch out the pieces after stamping with Lime and Aqua.

I thought it would be quirky to use the greetings from Hello Love, with the 'birdie' theme. It is a bit light, even in Coastal Cabana, but it says.."A Little Birdie Told Me - it's your birthday".  I had stamped out a speech bubble with Happy birthday in it, but it seems too much on the outside, so it can go inside. To tie in with the polka dots on the stamped pieces, I used the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, and a retired In Color brad (with polka-dots, of course) in the centre of the flower.
I'm entering this card for a second challenge too. Clean & Simple Stamping had a lovely sketch and there's another week to go on this challenge. Click on either link and take a look at all the great cards at The Card Concept, and Clean & Simple Stamping, maybe you will enter the challenge too?
 Have a lovely weekend

Rachel

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana

$11.95

Polka-Dot Pieces Wood Stamp Set

$35.95

Polka-Dot Pieces Clear Stamp Set

$28.95

Hello Love Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$31.00

Hello Love Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$22.00

1-3/4" Circle Scallop Punch

$29.95

Builder Bird Punch

$29.95

Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$13.95

Happiest Birthday PP206 CC15

It's been a very full week, and I have had very few moments to craft. For my card using The Paper Players sketch, I have used some favourites from Stampin' Up! which have retired now, all except Apothecary Art, which is where the "Happiest Birthday" greeting comes from. The paper is from SALE-A-BRATION 2012, and the stamp is from that lovely series from last year, Best of... and this was Best Of Flowers. I love the way the hydranga shows up inked with a Coastal Cabana Stampin' Write Marker. It's been teamed up with Lucky Limeade.

Aqua, Lime and White are the suggested colours at The Card Concept, it is such a fresh, clean combination.I'm sure I will have a bit more time in the coming days.

Thanks for dropping in

Rachel

Apothecary Art Wood Stamp Set

$60.95

Apothecary Art Clear Stamp Set

$48.95

Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana

$11.95

2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers

$25.95

Sweet Baby Girl CTD298 Card Concept13

I paused in my preparations for  my Catalogue Launch this coming Friday, to spend some time this morning
creating. Actually, it doesn't take a lot to distract me from cleaning and tidying!
Color Throwdown have presented the prettiest combination of colours, and I love the flowers in the picture too. I've included the crumb cake in the card base and the tiniest touch to bunny, applied with a blender pen. There is only a hint of Wisteria Wonder too, its mainly Blushing Bride which I used instead of Pink Pirouette.
The Card Concept have challenged us to create a baby-themed card - one of my favourite types of card at the moment.I'm pretty sure my style is clean and layered, click on the link and see what your style is.
A combination of stamp sets worked really well here too, Baby, We've Grown has provided all the stamped images, and Something for Baby is a stamp set with matching Framelit Dies. The onesie is cut from patterned paper.

In the NEW Stampin' Up! catalogue, which begins next Tuesday in Australia, you will find Something For Baby stamp set, Baby's Firsts Framelit Dies (you can bundle & Save 15% with those two) and a new paper piercing template - Eclectic, which has images for Kinda Eclectic, Angled and Scalloped Tag Toppers, Stars, Chalk Talk, Word Bubble Framelits, and all on three small sheets. Very Eclectic indeed!!!

Rachel

Australian readers - You can shop for supplies in my online shop, there's only today and Monday till the mini Occasions catalogue and main catalogue finish. Lots of retiring bargains and weekly specials too.
After July 1st you can order lots of fabulous new products!
Just a little hint, in this upcoming catalogue you will find the clear stamp sets and photopolymer stamp sets VERY affordable. My preference, wood mount, are still about the same price point as previous years.

Hostess code C2KVNKJJ until June 30th

Catalogue Launch: Friday 4th July 2pm - 8.30pm
If you'd like to come, ring 0417500681 for more details, or email me.

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)

Nautical but Nice

I have limited stamps for a nautical theme, but Stampin' Up! stamp set The Open Sea is in my stash. I think I will invest in the  new Traveler stamp set very soon too, I had intended to buy it on my pre-order, but somehow left it off!!! How could that happen?

Just Add Ink challenged us to use the retiring colours for one last time and I grabbed Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit and Primrose Petals. Oh, you should have seen the mess I got myself into with that!!! I inked up a large acrylic stamp block by wiping the ink pads across the surface and then I soaked watercolour paper and sprayed the acrylic block too so the ink was running all about. I love the shades it makes when the colours run together. It makes such a glorious sunset background for the sailing boat and then I felt it needed to have 'Live the Life You've Imagined' from Really Good Greetings.

This would be a great Bon Voyage or retirement card, I think. I remember in 2011, my husband and I took our first overseas trip together, including a 10 day Mediterranean cruise. A highlight was visiting Santorini, a picturesque Greek island which involves being brought ashore by tender. When it was time to return to the ship, I was thrilled to bits to be among the group who were taken on a sailing boat (with engine!!!) which looked very much like this one, it was a magical moment.

This card also fits really well with The Card Concept challenge of a nautical theme.
I followed some online instructions for this sailor's knot which I tied using some of the Summer Starfruit Bakers Twine from SALE-A-BRATION, isn't it great? And I did remember to pre-order all the Project Life I was allowed and the greeting was cut with Project Life Cards and Labels Framelits, there are some handy shapes in that pack. The arrow shaped paper clip is from Hung Up Cute Clips and the Labels Collection Framelits cut out the shaped panel.

Happy stamping!
Rachel


Australian readers - You can shop for lots of supplies in my online shop, there's only 12 days till the mini Occasions catalogue and main catalogue finish. Plenty of retiring bargains 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)

Passing of Time

June is going to be a busy month in my family for birthdays, so I've made an early start with this card for a daughter-in-law celebrating her special day on June 1st.
I have used a range of purple hues for my Clean & Layered birthday card for the 'Monochromatic Purple' challenge at The Card Concept. Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum and Wisteria Wonder all feature with a touch of Rich Razzleberry as an accent on the stamping.

That quote is from a James Taylor lyric and features in the Stampin' Up! stamp set, From My Heart. I have used it quite a lot in the past with another favourite stamp set, Clockworks, which you may be able to see has been stamped onto the Elegant Eggplant base using the same colour ink. I put Wisteria Wonder through the Big Shot to emboss with Decorative Dots Embossing Folder. I just love the randomness of those dots, such a shame that SALE-A-BRATION items are available for such a short time and never, ever make it into a catalogue.

I had a fun session with a friend recently, using our paper piecing templates, to trim up labels and tags. Its a very soothing activity, sitting and chatting, while decorating card. The Apothecary Accents are really useful shapes, doesn't it suit this stamp so perfectly?

As well, the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack has a template to make your paper-piercing perfect. The twine tying this card is the Silver Bakers Twine and I've used my very last clock charm from Trinket Keys, which retired last year. I do wish I'd bought another pack or two while they were still available. I mustn't make that mistake this year, and neither should you!

When I make cards for family and those closest to me, I layer and stamp the inside of the card, and this one is no exception. A layer of Wisteria Wonder under the Whisper White, which has been stamped with various images from the Clockworks stamp set.
Hope you like my Monochromatic Purple card, please leave a comment if you've visited today.

Rachel

Birthday Flowers

I had a lot of fun colouring this Wildflower Meadow stamp with my markers today. It gives a watercoloured effect in a way, very soft and subtle. I did a few images while I was on a roll, another is full-size, but this is only a half of the stamp approximately.The panel is mounted on a rectangle of Pistachio Pudding and then a small strip of Blushing Bride DSP was laid across the bottom of the picture. White Bakers twine was wound a couple of times around this panel before it was adhered to the Blushing Bride card base.
The Card Concept called for a birthday card, with this as the inspiration picture, so I have gone with the flowers, no cake this time, and clean layering.

To explain the "no cake" comment, if you saw my previous post, you might realise that I took the challenge rather literally using an image I had already stamped from Love & Laughter, which happens to be a wedding/engagement stamp set. When I was getting ready to link the post, I re-read the challenge. Oh whoops! It was meant to be birthday, and there's no way to turn a wedding cake into a birthday cake when it has "I do" and similar all over it!!  Not that I mind, making cards is just what I like to do for fun anyway.

Hope you're having some time for yourself this weekend...
Rachel

Hang In There

I have an extra day to my weekend this week - Yay! Although we are officially into Autumn now, it is very hot outside. I gardened yesterday, when it also was rather hot, so today is an inside day.
I have been preparing for my April class, when we will use large background stamps and the Tag Topper Punch, so although this isn't exactly what I will be offering, I like to show different samples to my crew.

What better for these colours than Lovely As A Tree? This stamp set has been around for years, longer than I've been a demo certainly, but it still has something for everyone in it. Just as everlasting as a tree, I guess.

Firstly, I stamped Crumb Cake card with the same colour ink and the large background stamp, Hardwood. Its very authentic looking, available in the new Occasional Catalogue and I love it, especially stamped in out of the ordinary colours like blue. I'm making some of those too! I didn't want to make the usual Tag Topper Punch card this time, so I snipped the side and trimmed it up. I chose the single old oak tree from Lovely As A Tree and inked the greenery with Pear Pizzazz before thumping with different green Stampin' Write Markers. Also used an Early Espresso marker for the trunk and branches. This is a combination of Ink to Rubber technique and the Thumping technique. The variation in greens is perfect!

For the greeting I went to a very neglected stamp set, From My Heart. You'd really have to know the recipient of this card well, to know whether they would appreciate the sentiment. It says, {HANG IN THERE} and on the inside of the card  'They say "this too will pass" they just never say WHEN'. I was able to use an off-cut from the hardwood card front to trim the bottom of the card.

I'm thinking this card will fit the Clean & Layering section of the Card Concept Color Challenge. Check out the gallery there too.

See you again soon?

Thanks for visiting my blog

Rachel

Lovely As A Tree 128655

So Grateful

Such a hot weekend, I've spent all my days indoors tidying and crafting. I must get my craft room tidied up because I have a class at the end of the month, and the ladies will need room to get crafty too.

I wonder if it's stretching it to say that Raspberry Ripple is a shade of pink? Possibly, but the rest of the card is definitely pink - Strawberry Slush. The challenge at The Card Concept is 'Monochromatic Pink' and I think this card fits the Clean and Layered category. The label is from the Chalk Talk stamp set, the flowers are the lovely poppies from Simply Sketched, a Hostess stamp set. Don't the dahlia (button) embellishments look bright in the photo?

You probably can't see that I stamped the poppy image two extra times and cut portions of the flower to layer. I can see this as a Mother's Day card, so long as Mum loves pink!

Back to work at my regular job tomorrow! At least it has cooled down slightly.
Thanks for visiting my blog

Rachel

Classy and Elegant 40th

I need a 40th birthday card next week, for my sister-in-law. I made 2 versions, but deep down I knew the black, white and gold version was "her". I asked family members for their opinion and it was totally unanimous, so I'm happy about that!

I found out today how difficult it is to photograph a black card, especially as I wanted to highlight the texture that the NEW Arrows Embossing Folder ( 132187) gives the card. I used my metallic Encore gold ink pad (132141) to stamp the 'Fabulous is what you are' greeting from One In A Million stamp set. The gold sequin trim (132983) provided a few loose sequins when I pulled them off the thread and I die cut 40 from Champagne Glimmer Paper (127885). There is a glimpse inside of the gorgeous Watercolor Wonder Washi Tape(133000), also available in the New Occasions Catalogue, and going live next Tuesday! Washi tape is such a fun and easy embellishment, very forgiving if you place it crookedly and such good value too.

There's a new challenge out there, this is the second week. The Card Concept has six different categories for the different styles of cards people create. I wasn't on the ball last week to enter a card, but thought I could try with this one as the theme is 'texture'. I think my card fits into 'Classy and Elegant' style and the shingle roof of the house in the picture is a lot like the Arrow pattern.

My holiday is coming to an end, but we head off tomorrow to the coast for a weekend with my eldest son, his wife and their three sweet children. Should be fun!

Thanks for reading my blog, feel free to leave a comment.

Rachel