Inspired by Keesh ....

Just loved this week's sketch challenge by Makeesha. This sketch is one I can see myself using again and again so I had to have a go at this one. I have LOTS of birthdays coming up, so I went for the bright and happy Stampin' Up! Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper.

 

Here's my recipe. All products are by Stampin' Up!:

• Cardstock / Paper: Bali Breeze DSP, Old Olive Prints DSP, Rose Red, Taken with Tea and, Old Olive carstock.
• Stamps: Think Happy Thoughts (greeting) and Linen Background
• Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4 and 13/8 circle punch, Old Olive 5/8 inch grosgrain, Fusion Flowers

Thanks for a great sketch Keesh :)

Here's a quick unisex, unipurpose card I came up with too. This it Stampin' up! Outlaw DSP. This has been another one of my favourite papers this past Stampin' up! year.

 

Here's the recipe:

• Paper / cardstock: Outlaw DSP, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip and naturals Ivory cardstock
• Stamps: Wanted, Basic Phrases
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
• Accessories: Jumbo Brads, Twine, Cropadile

Have a few more sketch challenges I want to get done this week (so many gorgeous sketches this week!) so check back soon and in the meantime stay happy and stay safe!

Claire

Inspired by Beate ...

I'm sure many others are also jumping for joy that Beate's sketch challenges are back! They are one of my fave challenges. Thanks Beate!

This card was inspired by WSC69, Beate's gorgeous sample and quite a few elegant cards floating around on the blogs in this gorgeous colour scheme (Very Vanilla, River Rock and Basic Black). I am really going to miss River Rock (if you haven't stocked up on your InColour reinkers, inkpads, ribbon and cardstock drop everything and do it RIGHT NOW - last year a lot of them sold out really quickly after the retired list was announced). Anyway back to my card:

 

Here's the recipe:

• Stamps: Damask stamp from Stampin' Up! Simple Delights Simply Sent kit; Occasional Greetings (greeting)
• Cardstock: Very Vanilla, River Rock and Basic Black
• Ink: River Rock
• Paper: scrap from my scrap paper box without a name left on (sorry ..)
• Other: Cuttlebug, Martha Stewart punch, Stampin' Up! 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punch

I was also asked to post the recipe for the scrapbook page I did in the last post, so I will edit the post now to include that information.

I have completed another couple of cards for challenges, just need to photograph them tomorrow.

I've  had a lovely week this week. I've spent some time chatting with some lovely supportive friends which really was a great start to the week. Then I sent out lots of cards to people for various birthdays etc and have also spent some time in the garden and regenerating some pot plants on my patio after the scorchingweather earlier in the month. I was reminded how great both of these things make me feel. The boys have so much fun when I am gardening too. They have even been getting excited about picking up my cuttings and weeds so you have got to love that! I really love gardening, it's so good for the soul. It's a little harder this time of year but I am perservering thanks to the recycled water. The taste of the home grown herbs and tomatoes is well worth it! I am also excited to see LOTS of limes on the lime tree the boys gave me for mothers day a few years ago (it's a tradition in my house that I get a plant for mothers day every year). Anyone else into gardening? Oh and anyone else know what I should do with Olives once they are picked?

Have a happy Thursday,

Claire xx

Bali Breeze Layout ....

Aren't the colours in this paper so bright and funky? It makes for a very happy scrapbook layout, so perfect for this photo of me and my boys taken on Christmas eve last year.

 

If you are reading this for the second time, you could be forgiven for thinking I have gone a little nuts. I originally offered a kit around this theme earlier today, but I've changed my mind now, so I'm just posting this for your enjoyment.

I think it really shows how well the Stampin' Up! papers and embellishments match - don't you think? Those Flower Fusion felt flowers are SO perfect for that paper. The Ice Rhinestones are a great match too. (Edited to add the recipe in full as requested):

All products by Stampin' Up! (except the kids, they're mine!).

• Card / paper: Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper
• Ink: Basic Black
• Stamp: Baroque Motifs
• Other: Ice Rhinestone Brads, Cherished Memories rub-ons, Flower Fusion felt flowers, Black journaling pen

I pronted the photo at home using the Canon Pixma MP980 and the Canon Semi-Gloss Photo Paper. Just a hint - one of the keys to great 'at home' prints is to use the photo paper manufactured by the same company as your printer. I'm a Canon girl through and through as you know. I don't print all my own photo's, but I find printing at home great for scrapbooking pages because you can print any size to match your page. You can also print lots of different images on a page, and different sized images using the Easy Photo Print software that comes with the printer.

Be back soon,

Claire xx

Botanical Blooms, watercolouring and the Mojo Shiraz....

Last night my husband took me out for dinner and a movie. I had a glass of Mojo Shiraz with dinner, and look - I have cards to post! (I kid you not, that's what it was called - I think I might order a case! It was nice wine too, from the Barossa Valley).

Here's a couple of cards I have made using the Stampin' Up! Saleabration set Botanical Blooms. I think this has turned out to be my favourite of the Saleabaration sets. I do love the 'with love' stamp from the Yummy set as well as those swirls! This first one has some clear embossing and some two step stamping using Old Olive, Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant.

 

This one uses some white embossing, paper piecing, two step stamping and the same colour scheme. All products Stampin' Up!

 

I also made a couple of cards using watercolouring, as this was something I hadn't done for ages. All products are Stampin' Up! I used the white craft ink on river rock and love how that turned out! If you are after a white ink that gives a great opaque effect, the Stampin' up! one is awesome! The image on this one is from Natural Beauty, and it's coloured with the Rich Regal Watercolor Crayons. The sentiment is from the Yummy Saleabration set.

 

 

This one is the same colour scheme and watercolors, but the image is from Embrace Life and thegreeting from Occasional Greetings.

Hope you enjoy looking at these cards (especially you with all that purple Carol :) ).

See you back here soon,

Claire xx

Happy Valentines Day ......

Just stealing a moment to escape from reality and send some love to you all.  

This was inspired by Kristina's colour challenge this week. 

Thanks for your lovely messages and emails this week. You guys are the best :)

Claire xx