D is for Diamonds...

Yes D is for Diamonds but not the sparkling kind!

Remember  I made a diamond shaped stencil using the triangle punch last year,

well I decided to resurrect it and made this card using it.

The colours used were Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip and Early Espresso

sponged through the stencil onto Very Vanilla Card.

The star trails are from the Be the Star stamp set

and the letters are from the Epic Alphabet stamp set.

Think this could be a useful all occasion card.

Julie's Wetlands scene

Julie from the Wednesday class enjoyed making the little scenic card so much last week

that I suggested she do something similar again this week using the ink dusting technique

with the Wetlands stamp set and make it into a twilight scene.

This is the result.

I think that it's beautiful - well done Julie - a great project!

D is for Daydream Medallions

Here's a card that I saw on Split Coast Stampers

and I just had to case it, as it was love at first sight.

I do love to do little scenes and this one was no exception.

Daydream Medallions is the stamp set that I have stamped the fancy frame with,

using Black ink on Soft Suede card.

This was then cut using one of the Floral Frames Framelits dies.

The little scene was built up using the ink duster technique with

Soft Sky, Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral and Cajun Craze Ink pads.

The tree silhouette is from the Serene Silhouettes stamp set.

I cut the scene with a 2.1/2" Circle punch, then stuck this on top of the floral frame.

The base card was Very Vanilla with an embossed layer of Cajun Craze card stock,

embossed with the Tiny Triangles Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

I am so pleased with the end result.

Think it looks a bit Chinesey.

And the final C is for Christmas of course!

I am sure that by now, most of you know that I love contemporary colours

on my Christmas cards (even though Barry prefers traditional!)

Here's my latest addition to my small, but growing, collection of Christmas cards -

I will not be caught making last minute cards this year!! (Famous last words!)

Another Gap card, colour combo is Night of Navy and White with a touch

 of Dazzling  Diamonds Glimmer Paper for the stars and the tree pots.

Sentiment is from Ornamental Pine.

I think I might make a selection of these cards in different colours - 

they don't take too long to make.

Lucas and Lexie's crafting afternoon

I had a lovely day yesterday with the children.

Lexie came at 9:00 a.m. whilst Simon and Kerry took Lucas to his football match.

Lucas was dropped off about 11:45 and Simon and Kerry went off on house hunting business.

So after lunch I suggested to the grand-kids that it was an ideal time to make 

Kerry's Mothers' Day card.

They had a great time and were both pleased with their makes.

Here's Lucas' card (he's eleven)

And here's Lexies - she's eight

They both tried the ink dusting technique on their cards -

Lucas created this little scene, copying a card of mine,

 but chose the colours himself.

Lexie's design was entirely her own!

Aren't thes both fabulous - Kerry will love them!!

And even more Cupcakes!!

Jean (one of my Wednesday ladies) came up with this pop up box card....

complete with Cupcakes!!

Side view

                            

front view

The stamp set used again here,  is Cupcake Party, and the colour combination is

Strawberry Slush, Crumb Cake and Blushing Bride.

Great card Jean!!

C is for Cupcakes.

At my Tuesday Class this week, I asked one of my ladies is she would like to make

 an updated version of the cupcake card that we had originally made with

an old (now retired) cupcake stamp set.  

Liz was happy to use the new stamp set and agreed for me to post it on here.

The current stamp set used is Cupcake Party and Liz decided to use the 

2013/2115 In Colours:-

Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush,

 Coastal Cabana and Crisp Cantaloupe.

I think that she has done a great job - don't you?

Well done Liz!!

And C is for Condolences

Whilst I was making a CAS birthday card today, I thought that it would make a

 lovely condolence card - and then I will have one to hand rather than

having to make one at a difficult time.

A very CAS card using the Sheltering Tree stamp set.

Colour combo Lost Lagoon, Smoky Slate and White.

The leaves and the ground are stamped in Smoky Slate,

the sentiment, from Petite Pairs. is stamped in Versamark and heat embossed

with Silver Embossing powder.

C is for Congratulations!!

Back to our Alphabet theme......

It's lovely to receive congratulations cards when we've achieved something,

so I like to have a couple of general congratulations cards in my box

ready for just such an occasion.

Here's a congrats card that Chris and I made the other week .

The colour combo is Coastal Cabana, Sahara Sand and White.

The Sahara Sand layer was embossed with the Spring Flowers 

Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

The two panels are made using the FREE SAB Best Year Ever DSP

The bow is made using the Bow Builder Punch.

Sentiment is from the (also FREE) SAB Stampset Simply Wonderful

A Valentine for hubby!!

Did you get a Valentines' card  on Saturday?  Well I did - and a box of choccies too!!

I made a card for Barry and bought him a bottle of his favourite wine.

Who says that romance is dead!!

Here's his card.

Card stood

Card closed

As you can see it's a very CAS Gap card - simply Black card with Red Glimmer paper hearts

 and a White embossed greeting.

Hope you had a fabulous Valentines' Day!

Jackie and Tom's Golden Wedding card.

Yesterday Barry and I were invited out to lunch to help our friends Jackie and Tom

 celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary.

A car picked us up and took us home after the meal!  We had a fabulous time.

This is the card I made for them.

Thank you Jackie and Tom for a wonderful day.

C is for Calendar

Each year I update the design of the little handbag calendar/notepad wallet -

here's this years- notice that January has already gone!!  Where to I don't know!!

Front view

inside view

A simple colour combo of Crushed Curry, Black and White - with a touch of Old Olive for the leaves.

The flower was stamped using the Crazy about You stamp set,

then punched out using the matching Flower Medallion Punch

and the leaves were punched using the Bird Builder punch.

The paper used for the inside was from the Stacked with Love DSP paper stack.

A post it note pad was glued into the middle panel and the little calendar 

tab glued onto the RHS one to finish it off.

A quick and simple - but very effective little project

don't you agree.

The Final B is for Bag!!

Yes B is for Bag

-and here is one of the little treat bags that I made as a thank you gift

 for  each of my customers who placed an order in January.

This one is made using Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper

and the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits  Dies - which includes the "For You" die!

(Both of these feature in the Spring/ Summer 2015 Catalogue)

he  flower is punched in Blackberry Bliss card stock and the matching ribbon

was simply tied in a knot around a paperclip to fasten the bag shut.

Inside each bag I put a metre of the same ribbon that was used for the bow.

I used up quite a few of the smaller pieces of DSP that were lying about,

and went through my stash of retired papers, and made quite an assortment of bags -

each one different - they looked super altogether, but I never took a photo! Doh!

(The bag can also be recycled as it simply says - "for You" on it!

so it can be used again and again)

And of course - B is for Birthday!

Yes - no alphabet would be complete without a Birthday card in it!!

Here's one that Chris (sis-in-law) and I did a couple of weeks ago.

This card uses 3 FREE Sale-a-bration items - did you spot them?

The beautiful Lotus Blossom Stamp set,

Best Year Ever Designer Series Paper

and the ribbon is from the Best Year Ever Accessory Pack.

Colour  combo is Sahara Sand, Coastal Cabana and Daffodil Delight.

We just added a mat of Sahara Sand card stock onto a White base card.

The stamped flower is layered onto a piece of Coastal Cabana card stock with a border

cut with the Finishing Touches Edgelits.

The Sentiment is from Petite Pairs.

Not bad for freebies!!

B is for Bereavement.

 B is for bereavement, and I have had to make two such cards over the last couple of weeks.

Here are the two cards - both totally different styles.

This one has a mat of Blackberry Bliss card stock, then a mat of  Painted Blooms DSP on top of this.

Stamp set  used is Love and Sympathy- both flower and sentiment-

these were stamped in Blackberry Bliss and Wild Wasabi ink,

then cut using the Labels Collection Framelits

then stuck onto a larger Label die cut from the same set in Blackberry Bliss card stock.

A knot-less bow tied with Wild Wasabi seam binding ribbon makes a simple embellishment.

This second card is a page from the Adventure Bound Designer Series  Paper stack,

layered onto Wild Wasabi card stock themn onto a White base card.

A simple sentiment - from the Petite Pairs stampset is stamped then punched 

with the Large Oval punch, then glued onto a punched scallop oval.

A very CAS card, but I think it looks quite surreal and serene.

And B is for Butterfly

Last month, Chris (sis-in-law), Anita and myself were invited to our friend

 (and my downline) Cheryl's  home to spend some time crafting together.

She had 3 lovely projects for us to make - here's one of the cards we made.

Card closed

Gate fold - opening

Inside

Colour combo is Rose Red,Wild Wasabi and Crushed Curry.

Stamp set is Butterfly Basics.

The vellum and white butterflies were cut with the Butterflies Thinlits Dies.

The base butterfly in Rose Red was fussy cut after drawing round the die shape.

We really enjoyed making this card - thanks so much Cheryl!

B is for Belated

Whilst we were away on holiday  it was Brother-in-law, Gerald's birthday,

(on the 19th January) and whilst I hadn't forgotten his birthday, I forgot

to leave his card with sister Maggie!

So here's the belated card that I made for him - I am so pleased with this.

I am not very good at colouring in, and this is only the third time that I have used

the Stampin' Up Blendabilities pens, so I think I might get a bit better - must practice more!!

I used Old Olive and Soft Sky card stock to make the grass and sky, 

layered onto a White base card .

I stamped the image from the "From the Herd" stampset

onto Whisper White cardstock and then coloured the image in with Blendabilities,

then cut this out and stuck it onto the base card.

The clouds are punched using the Cupcake Builder Punch.

I then sketched the three birds in the sky...

and voila - the masterpiece was complete!

What do you reckon to it?

B is for Blue (and Black!)

Continuing on the alphabet theme, as the title says 

B is for Blue and Black

These colours are featured on this card that we made at our monthly

 Jems' training in Pudsey yesterday.

(Hence no blogging yesterday as we all had lunch together after training,

then once home I had to make dinner for Barry and then it was

my weekly Wednesday Craft class - that's my excuses over!)

Colour combination is Coastal Cabana, Black and White.

Stamp set used is Crazy about You

The die-cut "you" is from the matching set of  "Hello You" framelits .

The ribbon and button are both Sale-a-bration freebies from

the Best year Ever Accessories Pack.

Thank you Julie for this lovely little card - I think I would like to use 

the design for my little thank you cards I give to my Stampin' Up customers.

And A is for Animals

I have quite a few punch art animal patterns, but I wanted to find something new, 

so I searched the trusty Internet and found the pattern for this little racoon

here

I have modified this a little, and am well pleased with him!

If you follow the link you will find Jan has listed the colours of card stock and  the

 Stampin' Up punches that have been used for this little racoon.

(Please note that a couple of these have since been retired -

but if you are like me - I never get rid of my punches - they are just too useful!)

So thanks to Jan Farring and Debbie Henderson for the inspiration - much appreciated.

A is for Angel

And who could resist this beautiful little angel - isn't she sweet!

For the more observant of you, you may recognise the component parts of this little angel -

The dress and wings are made using the Stampin' Up Bow Builder Punch.

Front view

Side view

A simple colour combination of Pink Pirouette and White, with a touch of glimmer.

The background paper is from the Subtles DSP Stack and the halo and little circle body are punched using various circle punches - 1/2", 3/4" and 1", in Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.

I think that this little card would be ideal for a new baby, a little girl's birthday 

or even a baby's first Christmas.

One of my ladies decided to do a little boy's version - here it is

I am so sorry, but I have forgotten who made this card, so if it's yours, 

please let me know and I'll edit this post accordingly.

I think they both look fabulous - what do you think??