May Stamp Club

Despite completing a few projects of late I have been feeling a bit flat in terms of getting into my scrapping space and creating. So what better way to get going again than a challenge. Seeing as we got our next months challenge for stamp club I thought I would get onto it early. This one is take the sketch and see what we come up with. I have several boys cards to make and like to use my challenges for something I need. After pondering for some time as to what to do, so that I stick to using mainly Stampin Up products, I started with the buttons. More mustard isn't particularly a favourite of mine so it added more to the challenge. Playing with a few different combos came up with grey and black. I added to it the inspiration from Papertrey Inks April 2011 release which you can find at Nicoles blog here. In particular this jeans card from Betsy Veldman. . I love their stamps and one day will get on to getting some. In the meantime the challenge as always to create with what you have.
After lots of playing and adding bits {I even used my sewing machine!} I was very pleased with the end result. So much so that I made two more in different colours to make use of all the things being out and the effort that goes into one card.

Colours: more mustard, bravo burgandy, old olive, basic grey and black
Stamps: in the stars, sanded, little pieces, background sampler, cirle of friendship, rough type
Finishing Touches: stitching, black embossing powder, colour spritzer, star punch, buttons, linen thread, distressing tool

Last minute birthday card

By chance I found out that one of the girls at stamp club had a birthday this week and wanted to make something for her. Having just had a play with my sense of time stamp set I remembered this inspiration from a magazine and pulled it out for this card. I love the crisper look of embossing vs stamping so used it to create a cleaner image for my patterned paper with the a stamp from the le chateau set from kaiser.

colours: black, white, cherry cobbler
Stamps: sense of time and vintage labels (SU), le chateau (kaiser)
Finishing touches: black and red embossing powders, black stitched ribbon, cotton, round tab punch, buttons

April Stamp club

This month the challenge was something Easter. I have all of a couple of Easter stamps as I don't tend to make cards or projects for Easter. But I was looking through a book from the library on mini albums - Outstanding Mini albums by Jessica Acs and found this great project with instructions. I thought it would be fun to create an Easter advent box to put together some new traditions and old ones. I already have bible verses, a hot cross bun recipe, and readings It really isn't as hard as it looks. In fact the decorating is the part that takes the work. I wanted the outside plain to symbolise Christs death and the inside bright for the promise of new life. It is still a work in progress. Looking forward to sharing the reason for the season with my boys.

Using what I have

Every so often I have a bit of a clear out of my stash and make cards with what I have. The basics for this card were already in my collection. A demo that I did at SENZ one year. I added a few extra details to complete the card.

Turtle time

I have had the set Sense of Time (Stampin Up) for a while but haven't used it too much. Until I saw this card while blog hopping and thought what a fab idea. Team it up with a turtle. This guy is actually from one of my boys stamp sets as I don't have one. Looking forward to having more of a play with the combination.

Colours: riding hood red, always artichoke
Stamps: turtle (unknown) and sense of time (SU)
Finishing touches: spiral punch, round tab punch and linen thread (SU), calendar page. black embossing powder, button

Magazine inspiration

I happened to be re-reading a magazine {creating keepsakes} that I had tucked away and found a number of different ideas for cards that I wanted to have a go at. My list of birthday cards seems to get longer and longer. I am always on the hunt for quick cards to add to my collection. The circles and little extras with the punches from this card got me started.

Colours: white, pear pizzaz, peach parfait, blushing bride and chocolate chip
Stamps: birthday whimsy
Finishing touches: in colour DSP and ribbon, circle cutter (creative memories), star punches, buttons and calendar page

Wedding card for a friend

A good friend is heading off to her brothers wedding and mentioned that she needed something special so I offered to make her a card. Taking on the challenge is something I love. I started with the idea of creating a dress from my Klutz paper fashions book and I was on a roll. What didn't I use would probably sum it up! I love how it turned out and so did she.

Colours: baja breeze, early espresso, white
Stamps: beautiful things sentiment, praire lane and le chateau (kaiser)
Finishing touches: paper fashions (klutz), fancy tree embossing folder (cuttlebug), rhinestones, white embossing powder, small tag punch, linen thread, bitty buttons and mat pack (SU), faux stitching, praire lane patterned paper (kaiser)

Male cards

I don't know how many times I read that male cards seem to be harder to make. It must be true as they are the ones that I have left to fill my birthday box. The idea from this one came from none other than a tissue box. Clean lines and simply embellished. And I figure while I have the bits out why not make another. Something I keep thinking I will do and then don't.

Colours: black, always artichoke, night of navy, not quite navy
Stamps: circle of friendship
Finishing touches: brads, stamps die cutter (cuttlebug), black embossing powder, dimensionals

Fun at stamp club

Thanks to the very creative Cherie who runs stamp club each month, we made these gorgeous bags. And I actually had a go at making another for my mums birthday to fill with some much needed pampering goodies. Very easy once you know how! She loved it (and will no doubt be after the instructions).