Floral Prints

I've combined challenges for my card this morning (OK, so it'll be afternoon by the time it's posted, but it was made this morning), taking the colours from Keesh's Colour Challenge #3 and the layout from Taylor's Challenge #51. I've used colours very similar to this before, so this time I went with something a little more feminine. I had also forgotten to sketch or save the layout from Taylor's site and was having troubles with my net connection this morning and didn't get to double check before now... it doesn't surprise me that I haven't stuck to the sketch 100%, I like to use sketches for a jumping off point... I find that if I trying following a sketch exactly I fight with the card a lot more - it's better to let the card go where it will than try putting a square peg in a round roll . Anyway, I pulled out the old Petal Prints and Floral background for my card, inking the Prints flower with my markers and stamping it repeatedly without reinking. I also used my Bayou marker (which you can't order, but if you'd like to see how to make your own check this out) to ink the sentiment. Both Vanilla layers have been stamped with the Linen background over top using VersaMark ink, though this is hard to pick up in the photo.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Stamp Sets: Petal Prints, Linen, Floral, So Many Sayings
Ink: Chocolate Chip, VersaMark
Accessories: Ruby Red marker, Blue Bayou "marker" (washed out Not Quite Navy marker + refill), cutter kit, Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon, Earth Elements brads, Word Window punch, dimensionals
Show watched while stampin: Aus v SAf ODI cricket

Recycled Flower

I recently gave my scrap draw a tidy, and while it is still fuller than I would like with half-finished things, it's a bit more organised and I have started working through the half-completed projects. These two flower pieces were among the items in my drawer, originally stamped and coloured for a Kristina colour challenge, but I started trimming the full flower closer than I meant to, so I re-did it. I trimmed the full flower as I had started, so little bits of petal would poke off the edge, layered it and then went looking for a sketch so I could finish it off quickly. I settled on Julee's Mojo Monday for last week, creating a little tag sentiment and stamping the Floral background and sponging the edges.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Confetti White
Stamp Sets: Touch of Nature, Occasional Greetings, Floral
Inks: Old Olive, StazOn Jet Black
Accessories: District Ribbon Originals, linen thread, Earth Elements eyelets, dimensionals, 1/8" circle punch

Cherished Florals

Last week the Inklings had a cyberstamp. I was a bit slow with completing the challenges, and with my net troubles I'm only just getting them uploaded now! This one was my response to challenge 1. It was a scrapping sketch challenge, but well all know I don't scrap (well, I didn't have any photos on hand, the print needs new ink etc etc...) but I thought it'd make a nice card. I've used the En Francais and Floral backgrounds as well as a few stamps from Baroque Motifs (yes, that one is a new favourite!), lots of VersaMark, some Purely Pomegranate, Old Olive and Whisper White ink (I'm falling back in love with that). Cardstock is Confetti White, Pale Plum and Old Olive. The card is covered in stamped images so I decided to have a non-stamped focal point and pulled out the Pretties kit again. The smaller flower has been died with a few drops of Purely Pomegranate ink, the large one left white and in the centre is a medium lilac circle rhinestone brad. If I had my time over the Old Olive piece would be a little lower, but it's a minor quibble... I really enjoyed making this card because I forced myself not to think about it too much, just get on with the stamping!

Mother's Day card the 2nd

Sorry for such a long break between posts. I've had a bit of a cold and sinus headaches, and then my camera software was playing up and I didn't get beyond thinking of just posting a message without something for you to look at. Anyway, here's the card I made for my Mum for Mother's Day:The hearts were created using a Heidi Swapp mask set that I won at Scrapbooking Divas a while back. As soon as I saw them I had this basic idea... it just took me an awfully long time to put it into action! I started by stamping the Stampin' Up! Floral background on Very Vanilla cardstock using VersaMark. I then put the masks over this and dusted pastels on them using daubers. Over the top of this I stamped "MUM" using the EK/Image Tree Loopy uppercase alphabet using VersaFine Imperial Purple ink. These stamps were actually the driving force behind the card. In talking to my Mum about my first published projects she asked about the butterfly I had used that was from this alpha set (well, the upper or lower, can't remember now). My Mum stamps too and was after another alpha set in a size between what she had, so I decided the best way to show her the size of them was to use them on a card for her! Unfortunately, this was pretty much the state the card sat in for a week because I just couldn't decide on what to do to finish it off. I scanned what I had and emailed it to my sister and mentioned the few ideas I had and she replied "even a strip of lace along the bottom would be too much". And once again I went to bed without the card progressing any further: every idea seemed to throw the card off balance. When I woke up the next morning it suddenly hit me: yes, a strip of lace would be too much, but a little bow of it in the corner would be perfect. Thus, finally, what looks like a simple card was finished days (and many canned ideas) later!

I should point out that the previous card I uploaded was made by me, but using my daughters design. She'd particuarly struggle with cutting out the butterflies, I think largely because she is left handed. Will have to pluck up the courage to let her use my paper snips and see if that makes it any easier for her.