Sympathy cards.

Yesterday was the funeral of my Auntie, who passed away at the good old age of 88. 

Uncle Les died last August and Aunty Hilda just didn't wan't to carry on without him.

So they are re-united again, and leave behind 3 sons - my cousins.

I made each one a sympathy card, all with the same images, but in different colours.

(Needless to say I had to make these specially as I didn't have any made in advance

 - which I do try to do!)

So here they are.

Perfect Plum on Very Vanilla

Night of Navy and White

White and Night of Navy

I cut out an acetate template using one of the Floral Frames Framelits dies.

Placed it on top of my 5"x5" card and then stamped the background using En Francais stampset.

I then got a small piece of sponge and teased the excess ink off the acetate around the

border of the template onto the card, giving a nice neat edge.

I then used one of the Flowering Flourishes stamps at the top,

and the "Thinking of You" sentiment from Hopeful thoughts stamp set underneath.

I have to say that I was pleased with the effect and will now make a couple  more

ready for when needed next time - they are never easy to make.

I'd like to enter these in
Aud Sentiments Challenge 85 - Sympathy
 http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/challenge-85-with-sympathy_17.html

Happy Birthday Sharon

Today is my Stampin' Up! sister Sharon's Birthday and here is the card that I sent to her,

It's done in the same way as the card that I posted yesterday, just different colours and sentiments.

Inks - Crumb Cake, Old Olive and Early Espresso.

Curly Cute stamp set used for the "Happy Birthday"

and "My Friend" stamp set used for "my friend"

Happy Birthday Sharon - have a great day!!

Floral Frames monochrome thank you

A really quick and easy CAS card today

I die cut the largest Floral Frames Framelit and used the negative as a template.

Stamped over the template in Basic Gray using the En Francais stamp.

Inked the edges of the frame using a dauber and Basic Gray ink.

Overstamped the silhouette from Just Believe.

Then stamped the sentiment (from Itty Bitty Banners) and fussy cut it out.

Die cut the matching Itty Bitty Framelit in Black and stock the sentiment on top

and voila!!  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Thank you Liz

Yesterday I went out for lunch with our select little "Ladies Wot Lunch" group and afterwards one of the ladies, my fellow crafter and friend Liz, came back to our house to "help" me plant some seeds.

My help consisted of being the gopher and seed tray/plant pot filler and Liz did all the technical stuff

like putting the seeds in and gently watering them in.  She worked tirelessly, so I wanted

to make her a little thank you card for being so kind.  She is my gardening guru and has

already made a significant contribution to my garden already with her green fingers and

excellent knowledge of all things gardening!

Really CAS thank you card

The colours are actually Early Espresso and Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla

but on this picture look like Night of Navy, Sahara Sand and White!!

Stamp sets used, Just believe, En Francais and sentiment from Curly Cute.

Liz doesn't do blogging, so I shall email the link to her hubby

and get him to show her this post, and I will give her the card when I see her tomorrow!

Thanks again Liz - you are a star!

Elements of Style

Been to Chris's today and finished two cards and started another.

Here's the first one I have to show you.

The colour combo is Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Regal Rose and Very Vanilla.

The stamp sets used are Elements of Style, En Francais 

and the sentiment is from Petite Pairs.

Natural Trim Ribbon and Basic Pearls embellishments.

All products Stampin' Up!

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Simon and Kerry's Anniversary

Well I have had a weeks break from blogging and am now raring to go (lol!).

Tomorrow it is my son's 12th Wedding Anniversary, they are celebrating it in Portugal - lucky things!!

- and here is the card that I have made for him and Kerry

Colour combo is Baja Breeze, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake on Very Vanilla card stock.

Stamp sets are En Francais and Papaya Collage - really love this set (as you can see!!)

Sentiment punched using the Modern Label Punch then layered onto

an extended Modern Label punched in Baja Breeze cardstock

Happy Anniversary Simon and Kerry!

Barry's card

Here's the card that I have made for my darling husband Barry.

I am so pleased with it - I hope he will like it!

I have used a colour combo of Cherry Cobbler (fancy that!), Old Olive and Early Espresso.

Stamp sets:- En Francais, Papaya Collage and Pines and Poinsettias (now retired.

The greeting around the card is computer generated

and for the final touch a generous spritzing of .glimmer spray

Hope that you can see this as it really does finish it off.

Winter Post

Here is a card that I have made - cased from an old Convention swap that I have kept

 as I liked it so much, just never got round to making myself.

I have changed the colours round a little.

My colour combo is Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede on Very Vanilla.

Stamp sets are En Francais and Winter Post (sadly now retired!)

Snowdrop centres are Basic Rhinestones.

All supplies are Stampin' Up.

Variation on a theme

Here's my  birthday version of the same card using the Papaya Collage set again.

The colour combo this time is Pretty in Pink, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake, 

with a touch of Old Olive for the leaves

Maggie's retiring!!

Today is my lil sister Maggie's last day at work.  I hasten to add that she is retiring early,

as she is 5 years younger than me- and she would kill me if I didn't mention that!

We are all going out for a Chinese meal tomorrow evening to celebrate.

Here is the card that I have made for her.

I have used a different colour combination and style to my usual ones.

I have used Soft Suede, Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze on Whisper White.

The Stamp Sets used are Papaya Collage and En Francais.

The Sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.

The photograph really doesn't do the card justice, but I am sure you can get the effect!

Here's wishing you a long and happy retirement Maggie!!

Love ya!

French Foliage Thank you

Needed to make a thank you card today and had seen something similar to this on Pinterest.

I used French Foliage, En Francais. and Curly Cute stamp sets.

I stamped the leaves in Versamark and heat embossed with clear EP.

Then I lightly sponged on top with Primrose Petals ink. (It doesn't show up very well on the picture)

 I then over-stamped using the En Francais stamp with black ink.

I matted this onto a square of Primrose Petals card stock.

I then stamped the three feature leaves in Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip and Early Espresso.

The Modern Label punch was extended to mat the greeting on.

Another Triple Time creation

Having had a first attempt at this technique, I wanted to have another go,

 it isn't really difficult (or I wouldn't have repeated it!!) 

So here's the second card. 

Colour combo - Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White.

Stampsets - En Francais and Creative Elements,

sentiment from Petite Pairs.

Faith in Nature

Today I made a birthday card for my good friend and crafter Liz H, whose birthday is on Saturday. Liz's favourite place to be is in the garden so I thought that this stamp-set - Faith in Nature - was quite appropriate.
I have used Ivory, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake for the colour combo of this card, plus I have used the Tea Stain ink-pad from the Distressing kit. The background is the En Francais stamp, and the Square Lattice folder was used on the Ivory card and then rubbed with the Soft Suede pad to enhance the pattern.
Obligatory bling today is Basic Pearls!

Patchwork thank yous

Here are a few more thank you cards that I have made, this time using the patchwork technique.
I stamped co-ordinating colour cards, with co-ordinating inks - in this case, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip and Soft Suede, and used Melon Mambo embossing powder with white Craft ink for the embossed piece.
The stamp-sets used were Charming, Creative Elements, En Francais, Fine Flourish, Vintage Vogue and Medallion.
Then I cut them all with the 1.1/4" square punch, then pieced them back together randomly.
These were then matted up onto a Crumb Cake square and then layered onto a 10cm square Pink Pirouette card.




And closer up views

Autumn Days

This little beauty is by Helen Read

SHEFFIELD SWAPS - Jill's Neighbourhood Card

Here are some of the swaps that I received from other SU Demostrators on Thursday at the Sheffield Training Event. Hope that you enjoy viewing them. I will post some more as soon as I get some free time.
Enjoy!
















This is the handiwork of Jill Boulton