Holidays CTC#135

Welcome back to another blog hop with the crew from CASE-ing The Catty. Do keep on hopping along, to see what else the crew are sharing. Our challenge this week is to CASE from the NEW Annual Stampin' Up!® catalogue, Holiday section, from page 112-125.

Because I haven't very many of the holiday sets yet, I've had to put a bit more thought in and ended up CASE-ing the following sketch for a couple of cards. I liked the 3 circles with an image on the middle one and decided to CASE this to make a couple of bereavement cards. I've been sending more of those the last couple of weeks than birthday cards, and it really pays to have a couple on hand.

I began with a base of Tranquil Tide and a second layer in Crumb Cake. I thought I'd ink around the edges for a more shabby chic effect. One circle was cut from the Wood Textures DSPS, another from a long-retired newsprint while the central circle was cut in Very Vanilla. It was stamped using Versamark and Birthday Blossoms flowers and leaves, then heat embossed in copper.

All the edges were inked and some Ombre ribbon was laid behind along with some copper cord. Looking at it now, I do wish I'd put a sentiment on the outside, as it seems to be missing something. This has already been posted, so I can't change anything now.

The inside has been decorated to match with a scalloped piece of newsprint, a straight strip of wood texture and the copper cord tied in a bow.

Next I changed the colours and stamped with Thoughts and Prayers, probably the second oldest stamp set in the Stampin' Up!® range. The reason it has been around for a while is because it is a lovely stamp set, as is Lovely As a Tree, the longest-lived stamp set. The sentiments are perfect for those more sombre occasions such as illness and bereavement, but saying that, I used one of the images for my son's wedding card. This image was inked with Stampin' Write Markers to get the flowers a different shade from the stems and leaves. This time I added washi tape, and some Glitter Enamel Dots.

Next stop along this week's blog hop is Rebecca Scurr

Keep on crafting,

Rachel

Most Thoughtful Branches

When a new item is being promoted by Stampin' Up!® I try very hard to evaluate how much I will use it. I did my best to resist Thoughtful Branches, after all, I have tree and leaf stamps, don't I? The selling period is quite short, August 2nd-31st and I won't be able to run a class in this period, so I won't be really promoting it. After two weeks I gave in, mainly for this 'bare branches' framelit. The starkness of this outline against the background really tugs at my heartstrings. Love the scrawly font of this 'thank you' too.

Next was the leaf. Such a gorgeous clear image with defined veins on it, I had to stamp it in a variety of shades just to see how they looked. The green is Emerald Envy, one of this year's InColors and it is stamped twice without inking in between. The other is Tip Top Taupe stamped and stamped off, plus Sweet Sugarplum. TTT is last year's InColor, SS is another from this year. 

You're In My Thoughts is part of the Thoughtful Branches stamp set. These cards were both finished off inside with part of a sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers and a pair of overlapping leaves. It is quite simple, but could easily be stepped up if need be, with a piece of matching ruched ribbon, or linen thread. So many possibilities actually.

Lastly, I used a couple of the Sweet Sugarplum leaves with Jar of Love and followed a sketch at Global Design Project, you can check out their blog here if you missed my post last week. If you purchase this bundle through me, or anything at all from my online shop, please add the HOSTESS CODE 9Z44PC2P to your order before checkout, and I will mail you a little something from my stash. This stamp set, framelits or bundle is available today, so if you do pop over to my online store, you will see it there.

Cheers, Rachel

So Saffron Sympathy FMS #125 & CTD #281

 I need to replenish my supply of sympathy cards, and because when you need them, you're unlikely to be in a creative mode, I like to keep a few on hand. I have been feeling a little off-colour all day and that is my excuse for mirror-reversing Narelle's lovely sketch. It wasn't until I began to place all the pictures here on the blog that I fully realised! I'm sure that it won't cause a problem to the lovely ladies at Freshly Made Sketches, they're a forgiving group and permit 'artistic liscence'. If you visit their blog you will find oodles more inspiration.

I went to The Color Throwdown for some colour inspiration, they are rather cheery colours, I'm not sure how I will feel about them when I need the card, but it seemed a good idea when I started. The stamp set is Happy Watercolor, a greeting comes from Thoughts and Prayers and it is mounted on the baby stamp from Label Love, I really liked the checked pattern in black and white and the Artisan Label Punch makes this stamp set so easy to use. The smaller oval punch was perfect for the greeting and covered the other words on the baby stamp.

Thanks for visiting my blog

Rachel

You Made My Day

I'm having such a lot of fun with the new catalogue goodies, but my most favourite item has to be the new Big Shot Magnetic Platform. In the past, I was a little bit reluctant to use the Adorning Accents Edgelits because they always ended up crooked and it took so many pieces of card to get the result I was after. There are magnets inside the platform to hold your edgelits and framelits in place and it REALLY works!
I've been making good use of it this weekend, you'll see I used it twice to cut the Crumb Cake and Bermuda Bay card with the Adorning Accents Edgelit and I also used it to cut the Apothecary Accent Label.
The stamp set is an older one, still current though and a VERY useful one, for the tree image and this graceful floral bough. Its called Thoughts and Prayers, so it also includes some lovely greetings for bereavement and ill health. I've punched the flower pot using the Cupcake Builder Punch out of Venetian Romance DSP (so is the label at the top of the card). The colours in these papers are Crisp Canteloupe, Island Indigo, Pistachio Pudding, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango and Very Vanilla.
I added some Itty Bitty flowers in Strawberry Slush and Crisp Canteloupe punched with one of the Itty Bitty Shapes Punches with pearl centres. There is a piece of the Bermuda Bay 1/8" taffeta Ribbon and a small button from the new Brights Button range, with a pearl on top too.

The sweet greeting is from a fantastic Hostess set Express Yourself. It contains 12 greetings in this script and you can earn this and other benefits if you hold a party in your home with sales over $300. Or you can party on your own and by submit an online order totalling $300, before shipping costs are added and you will receive an additional $50 worth of products of your choice, which might include Express Yourself.

Last Sunday I had some much appreciated help from my friend, Alison Douglas, (check out Alisons blog here) to learn a bit more about the Stampin' Up! MDS (My Digital Studio) and I thought I'd send here a card to say thanks. Inside I've used the greeting, you made my day, which comes from a new stamp set A Dozen Thoughts.

Catch you soon
Rachel

Thoughts and Prayers- $35.95(clear)

Express Yourself - Hostess

Page 184 $69.95 (Australia)

Flowers for Mum PP#136

I mentioned in my last post that Pool Party and Lucky Limeade were my favourite colour combination, but what about when you add Regal Rose and Early Espresso? Now, that's a REAL winning combo. Have a look over at The Paper Players challenge for lots more inspiration.

I continued along the floral theme and broke out Thoughts and Prayers, such a lovely set with this graceful branch or a beautifully-shaped tree, as well as some very thoughtful greetings. I have found many uses for this set besides bereavement cards, and decided to get it inky for this project.

I've gone a bit crazy with the punches again too! Itty Bitty Shapes blossoms finished with SU Basic Pearls, Boho Blossoms punch for the Pool Party flower on the vase, and the vase itself is the Ornament punch with a flattened base, also embossed with the Fancy Fan Folder.

A tiny greeting from Teeny Tiny Sentiments, and then a simple layering of different coloured squares of card and this easy card was finished in no time.

I'm heading back to the table to make another card! Catch you again soon,

Rachel