F is for Feathers

Fine Feathers to be exact!

This is a retired stamp set, but I just couldn't bear to part with it.

Here's a card that I made with it last year, it is cased from one that I saw 

on the Internet, so I am afraid I can't give credit to it's originator as I

never made a note of whose it was - if it's yours, please let me know 

and I will link this post back to your website/blog.

The sentiment is from the Four You stampset.

The colour combo is Lost Lagoon, White and Basic Gray.

The white feathers I have stamped in Versamark heat embossed 

with White embossing powder to make them show up

on this sponged background.

I have coloured the Basic Pearls with a Basic Grey Stampin' Write marker pen.

I still love this stampset - it doesn't age.

F is FLORAL

I am sure that you must have noticed that I love floral designs and flowers are 

frequently featured on my cards.  I saw this card as I was browsing the Internet

 the other day and just had to case it.  Here's the site where I found it.

born2stamp

Colour combo is Crumb Cake, Pool Party and Lost Lagoon.

Stamp sets used - Flower Shop, Petite Petals both used with the ma

Only embellishments used are Basic Rhinestones.

I just love these delicate flowers and colours!

(All the products used are Stampin' Up!)

And F is for FORTY

Here's a really quick CAS card for a forty year old.

I think that I should have inked round the die cut letters to make them stand out more,

so i will try this one again and see how it looks.

The letters are die cut using a retired set of  Alphabet dies

using the beautiful Gold Speciality Designer Series Paper.

I do love the simplicity of this and think it's quite effective.

F is for Frog

..... and here's a cute little punch art frog that is so quick and easy to make.

The colour combo is Old Olive, Soft Sky and White.

The background is Sweet Dreams DSP - this shows both the sides of one double sided sheet,

The punches used are:

1.3/8" Circle

1/2" Circle

Owl punch (for the whites of his eyes)

Large Oval

Boho Blossoms

I haven't put a sentiment on it yet, but I'm thinking of giving this to

my great-nephew Hayden for his first birthday next month.

I think it will make him chuckle.

... and also for Friend to Friend

Here's a card that I have made today, whilst exiled to the craft room, as we have 

had new replacement windows fitted to the front of the house.

I might add that we only got back from Tenerife late last night (11:30 p.m.!)

and the window fitters were scheduled to come tomorrow.

There was a message on the ansaphone saying that they would be coming today -

I only listened to the messages at 7:30 this morning, so it was panic stations

 trying to ensure that the workmen had easy access to all the windows, 

and Barry had to take down the blinds and fasten back the curtains.

Needless to say all's well that ends well - the fitters arrived at 11:30 and finished 

at 5:15 - a job really well done.

I had phoned up the chap who fitted our existing blinds, to come and quote us

for the downstairs window blinds (to match those upstairs)

and he came along just as the fitters were tidying up.  I cheekily asked him

if he had time to put the upstairs blinds back up for us - and he very kindly obliged.

He's measured up and we should have them in a couple of weeks - magic.

So - after all that digressing - here's the fruit of my labour!

It's a 7" x 5" card, which I think really suits this Butterflies Thinlits die cut.

The colour combo is Sahara Sand, Black and White

with a touch of Blushing Bride rosette trim and Mossy Meadow leaves. 

The background paper is "Something Borrowed" DSP.

There is a white doily underneath the butterfly, which has a Basic Rhinestone

embellished body and head.
The sentiment is from teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped on Sahara Sand Card stock,
then punched with the Word Window punch,
stuck on top a Modern Label punched in Black card stock.

I can't take credit for the design, which I found on the Internet

Here
 made by Carolyn King from Perth, Australia.
I really enjoyed making this card, so thanks Carolyn!

F is for Friend

Another card featuring the lovely Something lacy stamp.

A simple colour combo of Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White.

The ribbon is retired, but it was the only matching ribbon that I had.

The sentiment is from the "Simply Wonderful" (Sale-a-bration) stamp set.

Another quick and easy card

This is a card that I have cased from my Stampin Up Mummy - Julie's blog.

I really love this card, which I think looks fabulous.

The colour combo is Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Gold (sequins)

The stamp set is Butterfly Basics, and the butterflies are cut using the 

matching Butterflies Thinlits Dies.

You can see other cards that Julie has made HERE

And now for something completely different!

 Here is a wiper card!!

Card closed

Card Open - you can just see the flower peeping out.

View from above - showing how the "wiper" works

This may  look complicated, but it didn't take long to make.

I've just noticed that I lost one of the rhinestones off the front !!

E is for Emergency!!

This is a card for an emergency - when you need a card at the last minute!!

So I  like to have a couple of cards at least, that I can just add a

suitable greeting to, and then either give or send to the person.

This card features the Something Lacy  stamp - inked in Wisteria Wonder,

then coloured with Blushing Bride and Old Olive - using Blender Pen and Ink pad.

The little bow is punched out using the Bow Builder Punch.

And another of Elizabeth's punch art creations!!

Today's card is one that she has made for her husband Alan,

who you might have guessed by the outfit is a Mason.

(This is to celebrate him being Master of the Lodge for the second time in 2015

the first time was in 2007 - if you wondered what the dates were!)

I think she has done this perfectly!!

Great stuff Liz!!

Eis for Elizabeth's Punch-art

You will recognise this style of punch -art as one of my Tuesday class ladies

 (who is also a good friend!) - Elizabeth - affectionately known as Liz.

(But I need to call it Elizabeth's or it won't fit in with E!!)

Liz has 4 grandsons, so she loves doing these super characters for their birthdays.

Isn't he cute!!

E is for Envelope

E is for envelope - and I like to do a matching one for the card that I send.

Today is my friend Carol's birthday (as well as my Sister Maggie's!)

and here is the envelope that accompanied her card.

And here's the card

Happy Birthday Carol

and Happy Birthday Maggie too!

E is for Easter Chick

I just love doing these gap-cards and I thought that these cute little punch-art chicks

would just fit nicely in the gap!!

I don't think that I can bear to part with this one!!

E is for Easel

Another suggestion that I received for the letter E was Easel card.

As it's my sister Maggie's birthday next week, I decided that an easel card

would fit the bill nicely.

I wanted something bright and cheerful, but eye catching...

Here's the result.

I love the Black and Daffodil Delight combination - think it's

quite dramatic.

The "Happy" is one of the Hello You Thinlits dies

"Birthday" is from Crazy  about You stamp set

and the TH on 60th is just the T and the H from the "Birthday" stamp.

Maggie was stamped using the Back to Basics Alphabet stamp set.

Petite Petals stamp set used for small flower then punched out with matching punch. 

The Pansy Punch was used for the large flower and the centres of this were punched with

the Petite Petals punch and the Boho Blossom Punch.

I used the Circles Collection Framelits for both the scalloped and plain circles.

Hope that Maggie likes this!!

E is for Elephant

As you know, I am trying to come up with different ideas for cards by doing a different letter 

of the alphabet each week or so - and you remember I asked for help with the letter E.

Someone suggested "elephant", but I know that I don't have a stamp with an elephant on,

so I resorted to punch art - and here it is!!

I am really pleased with how this came out - I did consider personalising this card

with a name on the body part of the elephant, but then thought better of it.

I think that it's really cute - and I might make another one similar,

along the lines of a belated birthday card and words to the effect that

an elephant never forgets - then inside put something like

shame I'm not an elephant!

E is for Eggcraft

I have long been a fan of Faberge eggs, and many years ago my brother bought me 

a hand crafted decorated egg with a timepiece inside as a special Christmas gift.

The following year he bought me another similar decorated egg.

A short while after this, I saw an Eggcrafting class advertised on one of our

local schools Night Class schedules, and thus started one of my past hobbies.

I went to classes for a few years, joined the Eggcrafters' Guild and for some 10 years

this was one of my main hobbies. (Remember I worked full time until recently,

and they were very time consuming to make).

Here are a few of my favourites.

This one is inspired by Faberge himself

Closed front view

Open front view

Open Side view

The next one utilises eggs that have suffered "accidents"

you can see that the girl's skirt is made from the bottom half of an egg -

I assume that the top half was broken at some stage.

Always a great one for "waste not want not" - this was then transformed

with the addition of quilled body, arms head and flowers,

into a pretty little bridesmaid.

This one is an egg that I made for my mother-in-law (sadly deceased - so now back in my custody!)

the top is cut and the see through panels are chiffon.

Inside there is a platform, enabling this to be used as a jewellery box.

Sadly, the glue has deteriorated over the years and so I daren't open it to photograph

for fear of breaking the egg in doing so!

Another little lady made from a mishap!!

This next one features decoupaged flowers and greenery.

I recall that it took 6 hours to cut them out!

Truly a labour of love!

Top view

Front view

Side view

All the eggs used above are goose eggs, blown, disinfected, hand cut

and then decorated in different mediums.

You may find it interesting to note that the first egg featured here was made 

using the following, very basic, list of tools.

A Junior Hacksaw blade - for cutting the egg ( in later years I bought a miniature

electric drill with a circular saw attachment")

A craft knife - used to cut the membrane inside the egg.

An elastic band - used for drawing cutting lines on an egg,

the band clings to the egg and was most useful for this purpose.

Again, in later years I bought sophisticated tools for marking out patterns on eggs.

Sadly, I now no longer have the patience, nor the standard of eyesight required

to do this hobby any more. I do talks to various local WI groups on Eggcrafting

and take along my precious cargo of eggs, and the talks are very well received.

Hope that you have enjoyed this diversion from card marking!

E is for Embossing

Thanks ever so much Andree and Laine for your suggestions for the letter E,

I may need your help again later on in the alphabet!!

This card demonstrates Heat Embossing -

using Versamark and Gold Embossing Powder.

If you look closely you can see that the embossing emphasises the leaves on the tree

and the trunk and branches appear to be behind it.

The stamp set used here is Sheltering Tree - it's so versatile,

I have used it for several different occasions.

This is the thank you card that I gave to Jackie and Tom

to thank them for letting us share their special day.

Well I wonder what E is for??

Easter of course!!  I may struggle with this letter as I can only think of Easter - 

maybe I will come up with something else soon!!

I am open to suggestions for my alphabet theme.

Colour combination is Blushing Bride, Old Olive and White.

Stamp set is Love is Kindness

Sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched out with the

Word Window punch then matted onto a punched Modern Label .

The tag is punched using the Scalloped Tag Topper punch

Background paper is from Typeset Speciality DSP.

The flowers are coloured in using Blender pen and ink pad.

Right - thinking cap on now!

February Thank yous

Before I start on the letter E, I thought I would show you some of the thank you cards 

that I made for my customers who placed orders in February.

I used one of the new Sale-a-bration free stamp sets that are only available during March,

For Being You, and the "so much" sentiment was from Crazy about You.

and was inspired by the cards that we made at Jems MonthlyTraining last week.

I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this stamp set and as soon as it arrived,

I knew what I was going to make with it!

Subtles

Brights

Neutrals

In Colours 2013-2015

I coloured these cards using the different "families" of colours,

i.e. Brights, Subtles, Neutrals and In colours, but haven't yet finished them,

I have still to do Regals and In Colours 2014-2016.

Some I coloured with Stampin' Write Marker Pens, others I coloured

using a Blender pen and the coloured ink pads.

I am really happy with these little cards and hope they brighten

my customers' days!

And the last D is for Double Display card

The other week at Chris's (sis-in-law), we both tried our hands at this Double Display card.

I was amazed that I was able to finish it!!

It was all thanks to our fellow Stampin' Up Julies' Jem teamie -

Amanda, who shared the instructions with us.

You can see all of Amanda's fabulous Double display cards 

here

Card open

Card closed

Card opened out flat

The colour combination is mainly Old Olive, Night of Navy and Gold

The papers used are Birthday Bash Speciality DSP

The stamp set used is Balloon Bash.

Well Amanda - have I done you proud??

I am so pleased with this card - and I even let my ladies have a go at this 

at my Saturday Morning Workshop and they loved it too!!

Thanks for sharing this !!

D is for Dad

Suitable for any sailing enthusiast, as well as a Dad, or could be for a Son,

or even a small boy -

this CAS card is a quick and easy one to make.

All the stamps used are from the Work of Art stamp set and the 

colour combo is Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky and White.

(The mast is stamped in Soft Suede)

This is a card that Chris (sis-in-law) found on the internet and we 

cased it the other week.

The flag is just a die cut Itty Bitty Banners Thinlit Die.

And D is for Daughter

Well I haven't got a daughter - just a son,

 but Emma is my God-daughter so that's near enough for me!

Her birthday was Valentine's Day and here's the card I made for her.

The colour combo is a very simple (but effective don't you agree?)

Sahara Sand and White.

Emma is stamped using the Epic Alphabet stamp set

and the sentiment "Sending Wishes your way" is from Butterfly Basics.

The flowers and leaves are from Painted Petals

The "Just because" is from a retired set, which I find really useful for many cards.

Thin strips of paper from Something Borrowed Designer Series Paper

provides the finishing touches to this card.