Inspired by Leo's hoody

I was searching for some colour inspiration a couple of days ago and got caught up in my son's latest top!  I always find it rather amusing these days that whenever I see colours I translate them into SU names - does that happen to you?  So his top is definitely Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Black.

I translated those colours into a card with the generous addition of white to tone it all down a little and here is what I came up with - you'll see the cheeky monkey I used for inspiration at the end of the post! (he's at that age when they will just not sit nicely for the camera, the're always pulling funny faces for the camera - I hope he outgrows this phase soon!)

What I used:

Card:  Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Black, Play Date DSP.

Ink:  Basic Black

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Tools and other fun stuff:  Floral Fusion Sizzlets die, Button #5 die, 1/4' circle punch, scalloped border punch, word window punch, dots embossing folder.

February birthdays

Second post of the day!

For some reason February seems to be rather full of birthdays in our family, a niece, a nephew, my brother, two of my sister-in-laws plus a cousin of Carlos (and I may have even missed some off that list!).

Anyway, both my brother and one of my SILs are turning 50 this month, I've already posted one card off to Chile, and today I got stuck into the enjoyable task of creating a card for my brother who lives in Melbourne.  It is quite a different thought process when you are creating with a specific person in mind, I spent an enjoyable hour reminiscing about teenage years whilst I created, yet all the time bearing in mind that the last card I sent him arrived in pieces!!   Not sure what the postie did but this time it is NOT going to happen!  I glued, then I sewed, then I glued it again all together with WOODWORK glue (I know, terrible thing to admit to!....).  Now, if this birthday card falls to bits in the post I know what he is getting next year - a single layer card!

It was great to have an excuse to follow a sketch on Stamping 411 AND ink up a new set called Autumn Days - I tend to choose nature inspired stamp sets so this was perfect when I saw it in the catalogue.  Not sure if you can see it in the photo but I embossed the DSP and then sponged it a little with Old Olive, I also did some tone on tone stamping on the bottom area of the card for an added layer of interest.  All I needed to really be true to the sketch was three little brads but I don't own any - yet - so will leave them off 'till next time.

(I think the camera was playing tricks today, the card is definitely square and trim, it looks a bit strange in this photo!)

What I used:

Card:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie, Play Date DSP

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Stamp sets:  Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Sentiments (I'm getting a lot of mileage out of this set!)

Tools and other fun stuff:  Scallop border punch, Large Oval punch, Scalloped Oval punch, swiss dots EF, Stampin' Sponges, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon (retired), Stampin' Dimensionals, sewing machine.

Bright and Cheerful Fish!

I made this card purely for the joy of it, I saw this inspiring colour combination at Diva Coffee Break and just had to try it.  I still remember my first reaction when I saw Stampin' Up!s bright collection early last year and thinking OMG they are so bright, I'll never use those and purchased a pack of Rich Regals instead... and guess what?  Little by little my card collection has grown and now it's mostly brights!!  You just have to love those cheerful colours, so full of life.

When I posted my Eastern Blooms for a Friend card earlier on I was reminded that I could also use my Large Ornament punch to make fish, I had seen quite a few examples of this punch art technique but had never tried it myself until now.  I think they turned out really cute, the scales are made with the 'offcuts' from the scallop punch - I had originally intended using the scallops instead but then chose the 'scraps' to adorn my fishies - the scallop was used at the bottom edge instead!

For the 'fish tank' I embossed the background with dots, then cut wavy slivers of Old Olive and Certainly Celery for the 'seaweed', and finally glued a strip of scalloped Peach Parfait at the bottom for 'gravel' (and to hide the ends of the 'seaweed')

 The fish all ready to 'swim' in their new tank!

The completed card, the fish are popped up with Dimensionals for a slight 3D effect.

What I used:

Card:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Peach Parfait

Ink:  Basic Black Stampin' Write marker

Stamp Set: None

Tools and other fun stuff:  Large Ornament punch, Heart to Heart punch, Scallop Border punch, swiss dots embossing folder.

A Valentine Challenge

I am a little over red at the moment after Christmas, so when someone suggested we make a couple of Valentine projects I opted for colours which were a little less traditional - a combination I like to call my chocolate, raspberry and whipped cream delight!  Delicious, and zero calories!

When I mentioned raspberries it reminded me of when I grew up on a farm in Chile and mum had rows and rows of those berries growing in the vege garden/orchard - ah, life was so sweet and simple in those days.  Of course it wasn't so much fun when my three brothers and I were 'conscripted' into picking the darn things to make jams, syrups and preserves... but in the middle of winter we were ever so grateful for all these delicacies, I can almost taste them now!

Anyway, enough reminiscing and here is my very simple card and a small container for chocolates or sweets.

(Yes, you are quite right, I have added a sentiment to the card now as it was looking a bit naked previously!) 

What I used:

Card:  Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Rose Red ink pads; Pretty in Pink and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers

Stamp Sets:  Simply Said

Tools and other fun stuff:  Scallop Border punch, Heart to Heart punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Stampa-ma-jig, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Baby's first Christmas

Hi again!

A very dear friend had a wee baby boy just before Christmas and I thought I'd combine a baby card with a Christmas card and this is the result!  I had this adorable stamp set on my wish list for a very long time and now I finally have it, I think it will be well used and loved by myself and master 3 as well!

He is reasonably well trained not to touch 'mummy's things' as I have a workstation set up in the living area, but every now and then he just can't help himself!  I've had a jar of glitter emptied on the carpet (some of it is still embedded in the carpet...), and some of my nicest Stampin' Up! cardstock has been punched by him - right in the middle as well - but even though I growl at him at the time I can't help but smiling after as I remember these mini disasters... who can blame him for wanting to play with all my stuff!

What I used:

Card:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Ink:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Stamp Sets:  Fox and Friends, Sweet Sentiments (retired)

Tools and other fun stuff:  Large Ornament punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/8" Old Olive taffeta ribbon, Swiss Dots embossing folder (non SU), Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch, Stampin' sponges.

Valentines' Day is getting closer

Well, it has dawned a stunningly cloudless day, hard to believe after the rain and wind last night - master 3 and I will be off to the park for Push Play in a couple of hours so thought I'd get this posted early.

......................................

Some of you may have already seen these cards on my Facebook page, but thought I'd share them again - just in case you missed them.

I like the simplicity of the first one, and the Saffron/Poppy Parade colour combination is slowly growing on me!  I made it earlier this month and I feel would be appropriate for a number of occasions, anniversary, Valentines' Day, even as a wedding card.  You can see cards with similar colours here at Color Dare.

The second card I made for my husband for our anniversary and uses the same colours, as well as a hint of Old Olive in the punched leaves, I also added some tiny pearls to the 'leafy heart' though you can't really appreciate them in the photo.  Once again, by using a different sentiment you could use it for various occasions.

Hope you enjoyed looking at my cards today!