A new stamp set

It's my new thing - brackets! And I found a great stamp set (punctuation) by Kelly Panacci for Sandylion designs at a store while on holiday so of course had to get it. They work great on scrapbook pages as well. I got inspired by this design at Brenda Johnstons blog so thought I would try it out. I think her cards are great. After hunting out some patterened paper the cards took shape quite quickly. And why do one when you can do two? My birthday card box is filling up. I think I am even a month or so ahead for the first time in forever.

Colour: kraft, always artichoke, so saffron
Paper: wild daisy (heidi grace)
Stamps: bud basics (SU), punctuation (kelly panacci)
Finishing touches: wild daisy chipboard alpha (heidi grace), pearls (kaiser)

Colour: kraft, pink pirouette, close to cocoa
Paper: bouquet (kaiser)
Stamps: bud basics (SU), punctuation (kelly panacci)
Finishing touches: alpha stickers, pearls (kaiser)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 64

Take the fact that it has been a while since I did a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and happened to be hopping by when I saw this weeks one. Add Stamp Club is coming up again next week and this month the challenge was nature. The stamp set that I had chosen seemed to fit with the sketch. Mix in a design for adding beads to the butterfly that I had found while tidying out my revolutionize ideas folder and the recipe for a card was born. Shame the photo doesn't do it too much justice as it looks better in real life. All ready for stamp club next week despite attempts by my 16 month old to destroy it. It can now be tucked away safely.

Colour: almost amethyst, basic black
Stamps: natural beauty and whimsical words (SU)
Finishing touches: DSP paper, white embossing powder and black embossing powder (SU), copper wire, beads, white brads, ribbon

Scrapbooking fun

Going away for the weekend I debated over whether to take some pages with me as I never seem to get too much done. And I never know what to take. Sooooo glad I did. Despite a busy weekend with one night and some afternoon sleep time for the little one with his brothers away fishing I managed to put together 5 pages. Part of the challenge was only using what I had taken with me. This was all thanks to some great new stamps I have from Kaiser (journal blocks CS703 and all about me CS711) and my new favourite embellishment the bracket. I have also been hooked on to Page maps where I got the sketch for the first layout 'stones'. I have downloaded the map archives and have them on hand for creating layouts. Love them! I really enjoyed putting together the memories and getting back into my journalling.

Our last birthday boy

The start of the year is a busy on for us. Only into month four and we have completed all 6 birthdays. Happy birthday to Seamus who turns 8 today. He has had a fab one that has been going since his party last weekend. With more presents over Easter when we went to see family and his presents today topped off with his choice for dinner (burgers and chips) he has had a great one! Here is the card that I made for him. Always a challenge I am up for boys cards! He is into Harry Potter and all dragons so what better stamps to use than Whiff of Joy's medieval set . I got mine from All that Scraps and Simon Says Stamp. Now I just need copics for my colouring and I would be set.

Colours: baja breeze, chocolate chip, very vanilla
Stamps: charlie and charlotte medieval (whiff of Joy), whimisical words (SU)
Finishing touches: spots and dots embossing folder (cuttlebug), silver hodgepodge hardware (SU)

A special birthday

A very special lady indeed. My Mum. We went down this Easter so we could celebrate her 60th. She certainly deserved something very special for al the amazing things that she has done for us over the years. I really enjoyed putting this one together. Mum loves flourishes and flowers so I made sure to include both. The design is an easel card from a design we did at stamp club, (which if you google will lead to loads of examples and instructions on how to make them).

Colours: basic grey, rose red, barely banana, very vanilla
Stamps: impressions (Bella!) , sense of time, vintage labels and baroque motifs (SU)
Finishing touches: pearls (Kaiser), stylized flowers embossing folder (cuttlebug), designer label punch, felt border (Bella!) dazzling diamonds and silver embossing powder (SU)

Clean and simple

I love finding simple designs especially when it comes to designing male cards. Clean lines and the right colours work every time. I happened across a design at Clean and Simple Stamping blog. When it came to making the card I had the idea in mind without the sketch and gave it a go. I teamed it with this colour combo from a Spotlight flyer that I liked. My first attempt at matching papers and colours didn't work but ended up being used for the other card I made. It was fun coming up with the different textures and colours. The bonus was taking the card with some goodies delivered by my beautiful boys and hearing that it made their day! Why I love making cards. There is something special in being able to create something for someone. When I have a specific person in mind I can match colour and design to suit.

Colours: ruby red, chocolate chip, only orange, kraft
Stamps: happy birthday (kaisercraft) stripes (own design), leaves
Finishing touches: argyle cuttlebug embossing folder, red embossing powder

Colours: various patterned papers (unknown), kraft
Stamps: happy birthday (kaisercraft)
Finishing touches: argyle cuttlebug embossing folder, copper embossing powder

When things come together

I have been making cards for our kindy to use and sell and I was approached by one of the teachers to make something a little different. They wanted something to give someone to let them know we were thinking of them. I said I would see what I could come up with. That morning a friend told me about a sales table at Spotlight and I managed to sneak in a few minutes before I picked up my son from kindy. I had to dig through to see what was there and happened upon this stamp set and coordinating felt border by Bella! Then found the sentiment stamp. They seemed to fit well. Card sorted

Colours: white, chocolate chip, rose red
Stamps: beautiful things (kaisercraft), bella blvd clear stamps,
Finishing touches: fiskars apron lace border punch, stylized flowers cuttlebug embossing folder, felt border (Bella), dazzling diamonds glitter (SU)