I for inspiration.

After a prolonged absence I am attempting a comeback at blogging,

 and just needed a little inspiration.

I have done plenty of crafting in my absence from blogging, just lacked the oomf

 to sit down and blog what I have been doing.  Hope to make amends in the short term!!

At training on Wednesday, Julie challenged us all to make a project using

 the Hardwood stamp and anything out of the Annual catalogue.

My inspiration came from the Internet, where I happened upon a card by 

Narelle Famigia who is also a Stampin Up demonstrator .

This is my version.

I used The Open Sea stamp set, along with the Hardwood stamp, and used Crumb Cake

 and Night of Navy inks.  The sentiment was from Wetlands. 

I am trying to get to grips with blogging from my iPad and it has taken me ages to do this post.

I think that's what has been putting me off doing my blog.

However I will persevere and see if I can't master it!!

If anyone has any helpful tips that might be useful to me I could sure do with some help!!

Chris's Shed Card

On Wednesday, Chris (Sis-in-law), Anita (Chris's downline) and myself had a crafting day at my house.

I had borrowed a card from my good friend and fellow crafter Ann, that she was happy

for us to case - and here's the card that Chris made.

As it's late, I'll post details of this card tomorrow.

Christmas Door Wreath

I have just done a new version of an old card, bringing it up to date using new stamps and punches.

The door is stamped with Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake card stock using the Hardwood stamp

and matted onto a Very Vanilla base card.

The wreath is made using the leaves from the Bird Builder punch and Old Olive C/S,

 and the flowers are cut with the shamrock from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack and Real Red C/S.

The snow is just torn card, with frosted accents using Dazzling Details.

The flower centres are done with Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details.

I'm quite happy with this updated version of an old favourite -

and that's another Christmas card completed!!

Congratulations Stephanie!!

Some of my followers will know who Stephanie is - she gave up smoking 

36 days ago - so I am sending her a congratulations/celebrate card to encourage

her to carry on with the quitting!!

Here it is 

Cased from my Stampin' Up! Grandmother Monica's Blog 

I have tweaked it a little to make it my own and obviously it is

personalised for Stephanie.

Colour Combo is Naturals White, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist and Gold.

Flowers stamped using the Flower Shop stamp set

and cut out using the Pansy Punch,

sentiment from Express Yourself (Hostess) stamp set.

Background stamp - Hardwood!  Just can't stop using it!!

Gold Bakers Twine and Gold Sequin Trim embellishments.

Watercolour Wonder Washi Tape.

I am sure that Stephanie will see this, I have posted it today, but it will take a while to arrive with her

and I do so want to cheer her on and share in celebrating her success

in quitting the weed (and I speak as an ex- smoker myself so I know it's not easy!)

Congratulations Stephanie!!

And there's more! .......

I can understand why this Hardwood stamp is so popular, once you start  making cards with it, 

you just can't stop - so here's another card that I made at Christine's on Wednesday.

Colour Combo is Old Olive, Daffodil Delight and Crushed Curry

The fence is Crumb Cake cardstock with Early Espresso Ink

using the Hardwood stamp.

The large flowers are stamped in Pistachio Pudding using the Betsy's Blooms stamp set

Flowers are from the Flower Shop stamp set cut with the Pansy Punch

and Petite Petals cut with the matching Punch

and the tiny flowers cut with the Itty Bitty Flower punch

flower centres embellished with tiny Basic Rhinestones.

Leaves punched with the Bird Builder punch.

Sentiment from Petite Pairs.

More Hardwood

Yesterday I went to Chris's (sis-in-law) to spend time crafting with her.

here's one of the cards I made

Chris had found the original of this card on Pinterest (how did we manage before?)

Once again we used the Hardwood stamp and the all time favourite

Petite Petals and the matching punch, and a splash of Gorgeous Grunge. 

The base card was made in Naturals White and cut with the Circle Flip Card Die.

The leaves were cut using the Little Leaves Sizzlit.

The sentiment is from Express Yourself stamp set.

I really enjoyed making this card and am so pleased with it.

WWWU - Sympathy card

I had another sympathy card to make this week , it was for the family of one

 of my Stampin' Up! sisters (one of our Julies' Jems family) Doreen.

I always find it difficult to decide what colours to use on a sympathy card,

but our Colour Combo Queen - Julie Wade comes up with some super combinations

for us to use, so I used this weeks colours.

Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pool Party and Midnight Muse.

The sentiment is from "Love and Sympathy" stamp set.

image from "Hopeful Thoughts" and the background "Hardwood" stamp.