Gina K Designs - A Beautiful Life

This is a simple but elegant stamp set with a whole host of greetings you can use.  It also requires a minimum of colouring in and can be used for when you need a sympathy card in a hurry.

I used Archival Ink for the image and sentiment and coloured the flowers and leaves in using markers.  The card size was cut down to fit the stamp.

Penny Black - Sunshine in the Rain

I am a sucker for teddy bear stamps and this one is really cute.  The best about Penny Black stamps is they come with a picture of the image coloured in.  It does not get any easier than that.

This image was stamped on watercolour paper (still my favourite) and coloured in using Distress inks.  The brolly was paper pieced.  I used Nestabilities Curved Rectangles to die cut the image and layered it on an embossed piece of blue cardstock.

Post-It note - Art Impressions

Another of my post-it note gifts.  This time I could not find the exact colour green cardstock and decided to use a paint swatch which DH picked up at the local hardware store for me.  I had forgotten that the Archival ink I use will not dry completely on it.  I thought a heat gun would help but it did not so I ended up putting a square of vellum over it to stop the ink from smudging.

The sentiment is from Flourishes and the image, coloured in using markers is from an Art Impressions Doorways Clear stamp set called Apr/May DW.



Go Kreate - Binki Boo Bear

This is a die I really love for baby cards.  I think the dummy does it for me !

The background on the white card was embossed with the CB Swiss Dots folder, the bear was sponged on the edges with Antique Linen Distress ink and a Peachy Keen face was added.

The blue 'nest' the bear is standing on is a Boss Kut die, the sentiment is a Flourishes one from a set called Baby Love and the banner is from Spellbinders Ribbon Banners.

Apologies for the quality of the photo, the actual card is a lot lighter.

Post-It note - Stampin Up - Open Sea

With just having been away I made a number of small gifts to take overseas.  This is a post-it note pad which I covered using a fairly thick locally obtained cardstock.  Next on was a layer of cream paper, then a layer of yellow on which I stamped a set of Crafty Individual ticket stamps and distressed the edges.

The focal image stamp is from the Stampin Up set called Open Sea.  I used Archival Ink Sepia and popped it onto dimensionals before placing it on the cover.

Whilst in London I managed to get to a craft show which was pure sensory overload !  I bought a number of interesting stamps and other goodies but will need time to sort them all out before using them.

Punch Art - Little Girl

When I saw this idea on a blog I knew I just had to try it out for my niece's birthday.  The hair reminds me so much of her.

For the hair behind the head I used 2  SU scalloped circles, the front section is a SU scalloped oval which I re punched smaller.  It was by sheer fluke I got it right the first time !  The head is the SU ornament punch and the face is Peachy Keen stamp.

The dress and pinafore are hand cut.  On the pinafore bottom I used a Nestabilities scalloped oval to get a slightly curved look.  The arms and legs are SU word window punch, the hands are a SU small heart, the shoes are the SU medium heart and the actual heart is the largest in the SU Heart to Heart punch which has 3 hearts in it.

The grass is a Magnolia die, the background paper is from my stash and as it was a tad too bright I laid some vellum over it to dull it down.  The side punch strips are from a MS punch.

I will not be posting for the following 2 weeks as we are leaving on an overseas trip on Sunday.  Usually I have some stock but this time I have been slightly pre occupied and have not managed to get ahead of myself.  I am really looking forward to popping into a craft store or two whilst in the UK.

Post-It note cover - Victoria Case Beema

This dear little bunny was coloured in using markers and die cut with Nestabilities Deckle Edged rectangles.  I used a CB border embossing folder on the purple cardstock - as I did this a while back I wondered why I used purple.  Now I remember that the post-it note pad was purple.

I do find it handy to have a number of the post-it note covers already made up so I can give them as gifts. 

Penny Black - About Town

Some of my first stamps were Penny Black.  I just love their "cute" factor and this one is no exception.

I stamped Mimi on watercolour paper and after using Distress ink for the car I decided it did not look too good so I went over it with SU watercolour crayons and used a blender pen to recolour the image.  Mimi's face was coloured with Copics - yes, I used the wrong paper and ink but if you colour in really carefully you can sometimes get away with it.  The rest of the image was done using a blender pen and markers.

The balloons are from an Art Impressions clear stamp set called All Occasions and they were coloured in using Copics - I used the correct paper this time.  I drew in the balloon strings by hand.  The houses in the background are from a retired SU set and the sentiment is a Flourishes one called Tag Lines.  The die cut clouds are from C.C. Designs and the fence is a Martha Stewart border punch. 

Gina K Designs - Block Greetings

Every now and again I go on a mission to make quick and easy cards.  This is the last of the current series and I was going to post a more lively one but have not yet photographed it.

Using Cobalt Archival ink and a stamp from the Block Greeting set from Gina K Designs, I stamped the image and used a Nestabilities square to frame it.  The sentiment is also from the same set.  Underneath the square is a Nestabilities Eyelet Square die.  The embossed border is from a CB embossing folder.

Not quite sure what went wrong on the photo but the white card and inner square are almost the same colour when I look at it in real life. 

 

Tag - Stampin Up Top Note Die

For those of us who have larger writing or a lot to say, the SU Top Note die makes a decent sized tag.

Here I used SU Barely Banana cardstock for the yellow, I think the Nestabilities Deckle Edged Rectangles is SU Close to Cocoa  and the Classic Rectangle is watercolour paper.  As I did this tag at the end of last year the name of the stamp has me a stumped.  When I find it I will put the name in.  The image was coloured in using a combination of aqua pencil crayons, crayons, blender pen and markers.

Gina K Designs - Dreams

Another quick and simple card using the Gina K Design set called Dreams.  The image and sentiments are all stamped using Archival Plum ink.  The striped paper is from a SU pad.

Dies used are Nestabilities Deckled Edge Rectangles and Clear Dollar Tabs and Tags.

Stampin Up - Open Sea

A plain and simple masculine card.  The image is from the Stampin Up set called Open Sea.  The only colouring in is the sea and the flag on top of the mast.

I used a combination of Nestabilities small and large ovals to build up the frame and stamped on the sentiment.

Kaszazz - Tiger

Being passionate about tigers I was delighted to find this image in the Kaszazz range.  All I did was stamp the tiger (which I believe to be a Siberian) using Archival ink, coloured in the nose with a pink marker and did the eyes. 

The sentiment is also from Kaszazz as is the paw print which, by the way, is not that of a tiger.

Tag - Penny Black Eat Cake

To colour this image I used pencil crayons and a blender pen.  The Nestabilities Deckle Edged Ovals were sponged with Distress Ink as was the large plain Go Kreate Oval.

Sizzix ScoreBoard die - Box with Scallop Flap

Once I got my Big Shot Pro and bought some chipboard I made this delightful XL die called Box w/Scallop Flap and Flowers again.  I was impressed with how the die cut out using the thicker material.  This time I also ran some patterned paper through the die and stuck it on (after trimming it a little).

The image on the outside is from a Clear Dollar set called Goose Hugs and I used Distress Inks plus an aquabrush to colour them in.  On the inside of the lid I used a Popcorn the Bear image from the set called Someone Special featuring Souffle the duck carrying a daffodil which I coloured in with markers.

Tag - Slice Dance and Music

Here is another tag using a Slice design card called Dance and Music for the ballet shoes.  The tag is from the Go Kreate Rectangular Frame Frilly #3 set.  Not sure which set the sentiment came from - it reads "Follow your heart - it knows the way".   For the rest of the tag I sponged it using Distress ink whilst keeping the die in place.  The ballet shoes were also sponged using Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  I tend to use this technique often as it seems to add another dimension to the project.  The pink ribbon was from my stash.

Kaszazz - Ebony and Ivory by Guest Designer

This gorgeous card was made and sent to me by my sister, Debbie, who is a Kaszazz consultant living in Melbourne, Australia.

As far as I can work out the Kaszazz Ebony and Ivory set was used in different layers with the gold parts being embossed.

Thanks, Debs, the card was really appreciated.

Sizzix - Square Envelope Die

This small Sizzix Square Envelope die is the same size as is used on a bouquet of flowers here in South Africa.  It is a handy little die and I found the Nestabilites Deckled Edge Long Rectangles (third smallest), when scored in half, fitted perfectly into the small envelope.

I had the image coloured in and cut out in my work box and think it came from a very old (foam) SU set I bought on e-Bay.  I am going to make a couple more of these small cards as they are quick to do and handy to have put one side for when they are needed.

Tag - Stamparvie - Gillian Roberts - Christmas Stocking

Having just recently been to a "Christmas in July" dinner - it is something us Southern Hemisphere folks get up to in our winter - I thought it is time to post a Christmas tag I made a while back.

The image was coloured in using markers and Smooches.  The background paper is one I made ages ago using a straw and ink coloured water.  If I remember correctly you blow bubbles which then pop onto the paper and the result is as above.  The circles are Nestabilities Classic and Scalloped.

Art Impressions - Colliseum

Yes, I know the spelling should be Colosseum but I took the stamp's name straight off of the Art Impressions website. 

I stamped the image in Sepia Archival Ink and added the sentiment which is from the SU set called Treat Yourself.  Once I had die cut the image with Nestabilities Curved Rectangles I sponged the inside part with Antique Linen Distress ink.  The embossed background is from the SU folder called Square Lattice.

Tim Holtz - Artful Muse Embossing Folders

Most of us tend to struggle with male cards but when I saw this set of embossing folders I knew they had potential.

I used a cardstock with a white core to allow the embossed part to show through, plus I helped it a little with a sanding block.  The sentiment is a SU one called Sincere Salutations, punched out using a SU retired punch and I added three small orange buttons to finish it off.  The stripes top and bottom are ribbon and the paper is all from my stash.

Tag - Stampin Up - Because I Care

Another project using the SU Hostess stamp set Because I care.  This time I coloured in the hydrangea using a mixture of SU, Marvy Le Plume and Tombow markers.  I then cut the image out and placed it onto a Nestabilities Oval.  The actual tag is a die from Go Kreate called Rectangular Frame Frilly #3.  Not sure where the sentiment came from as I did this tag a couple of months back.  I must admit that creating a whole lot of tags as a present gave me chance to use some dies I had forgotten about and also to use up some of the ribbon I have.  I am sure I am not unique in having a whole large drawer dedicated to ribbon !  A girl can never have enough ribbon !!

CottageCutz / Peachy Keen Duck w/egg Notepad

I have a sneaky suspicion this dear duck is going to be my favourite CottageCutz die.  He comes with a variety of faces, all cute and so expressive.

Using white cardstock I ran the die through the Cuttlebug and then used Distress inks to sponge it to the colour I wanted.  On went the face, the beak was coloured with markers and the cheeks were also Distress ink.  The brown shape behind the duck is a Nestabilities Nested Eggs and behind that is is a Nestabilities Big Scalloped Ovals.  The background cardstock covering the notepad is SU.

Post-It Note Pad - Marij Rahder Suzy 5

Another Post-It pad, this time plain and simple with a cute Marij Rahder Suzy 5 image.  I coloured in the stamp with Copics and used Nestabilities Classic and Scallop Circles to frame it.

I have already given 3 of these pads as a thank you gift to a friend - there are 3 ladies in the house, so one for each of them.  I was tempted to put a magnet on the back but felt there might just be a bit too much weight for them to be put onto the fridge. 

Bib Tag

When I saw this idea over at Stamp & Scrap with Frenchie I thought it was really clever.  Frenchie's idea was to make a card using the SU Scalloped Circle die whereas I decided to make a tag using the Nestabilities Scalloped and Classic Circle dies.

I used CB Swiss Dots embossing folder on the white cardstock and the small scallop circle is from a SU punch with the white inner circle also from the Nestabilities Classic Circle die set.  The cute baby stamp is from a retired SU set called All Occasions.  For the neck opening of the bib I used a circle punch.  The ribbon, I think, is also from SU but I am not certain.

This is the sort of tag one could mass produce quite quickly and it is certainly fun to make.

Kaszazz Rollagraph - Skyline

This is a card I have had on my desk for a while and whilst I am sitting here at my computer I am struggling to remember the names of the items used.  Please bear with me on this one !

The window die is one which I use in the Big Shot and can only be either SU or Sizzzix.  The border punch used vertically on the front of the card is a Martha Stewart one - of that I am certain.  The cityscape (not sure if that is even a word) behind is a rollagraph from Kaszazz called Skyline and it is coloured with the usual mix of SU, Marvy Le Plume and Tombow markers with a bit of Distress ink for the sky.  The yellow cardstock was originally white which I coloured using Distress ink.  I just kept on swiping the ink pad over it until the colour was what I was after.

I seem to recall the sentiment being a Gina K design one. 

Post-It note pad - Marianne D Cupcake die

There are a couple of cupcake punches and dies around but none of them really took my fancy until I saw this Marianne D die.  First off, I love her dies as they are a pretty blue colour, not sharp edged and cut out beautifully.  This die is no exception and it is so easy to assemble.  I buy my Marianne D dies from Bunny Zoe in the UK.

The cupcake is on a Post-it note pad cover and I used Nestabilities Eyelet Squares behind it.  The sentiment is from a Flourishes set called Let Them Eat Cake and I punched it out using the SU Word Window punch.

The cupcake base was highlighted with Distress Ink, the paper used for the topping is a glittery one and the cherry is a normal red cardstock with the main part coated using a red Viva Decor Pearl Pen.

Tag - Inkadinkado Flower Sentiments "Thank You"

When I buy a new stamp set I like to try one of the images out but do not always have an immediate use for it.  Rummaging around in my box I found this one and thought it would make a quick and easy tag. 

The dies are all Nestabilities and the Pinking Circles are ones I seldom use but thought it would make for an interesting contrast this time round.  On the back of the blue circle I placed a white circle for the message to be written.

Dawn with Birthday Cake - Nellie Snellen stamps

This was one of those photos which did not turn out well so my apologies for that.

The image was coloured in with Copics and matted on Nestabilities Labels 2 dies.  The sentiment is unknown but looks like it could be a Flourishes one and it is placed onto a SU modern label punch and a tag from SU Sizzlets Lots of Tags.  The background paper is Creative Memories and the flowers are ones from my stash.

Tim Holtz & Marianne D dies

I recently bought the Tim Holtz die called Vintage Cabinet Card.  I cut out a full sized card and saw I had a bit of cardstock left over.  Not wanting to waste it I ran it through the top half of the die and came up with quite a cute card shape.

Using a Hero Arts background stamp and Distress Inks I made a patterned circle and popped on the Marianne D Cupcake die which is really great to work with.  A quick and simple card ideal to give with a batch of cupcakes or cookies.