Well, Hello Gorgeous

That probably should read Hello Scrumptious, but either way I just love this cupcake stamp and as soon as I saw this week's Just Add Ink challenge I knew what was going in that circle.  I had intended to keep the card the same orientation as the sketch, but decided it looked better turned into portrait mode.

Card Recipe:

Stamp Set:   Avery Elle Cupcakes

Card:             Stampin' Up Whisper White; SU DSP In Color collection 2013-2015

Inks:              Copic markers

 

Just love the icing on the cupcake!
Mary

Make a Wish

Today I have finally finished a card for this month's challenge at Scrapbook Boutique.  Their inspiration photo is gorgeous, as usual.

 

Decided to go with the cupcake theme, but added some ribbon and pearls as well.  I do keep trying for the clean and simple style,  but usually end up adding a bit of bling here and there.

 

 

I have used some of my recent purchases from SB - the stamp set from Avery Elle and some new copics.  I enjoyed the colouring on this one so much I made a couple of extras in different colours.

Mary

 

 

 

Clearly not my style

Ok folks, I was too late with the last challenge at Just Add Ink so was eagerly anticipating this one, but, shock ! horror! it is clear block stamping, and clearly this is not my style.  Why am I posting?  Well I have spent most of the day trying to come up with something.  I had Strawberry Slush fingers for the early part of the morning till I washed that idea away and then I moved into the twilight zone with the silver ink pad.  I must put a warning onto the Encore Stamp Pad to remind me that it takes FOREVER to dry!   I keep reminding myself that not everyone is good at everything - so here it is.

 

Honestly, the layers are straight! - its just the photographer, or I should say, the person  who takes snaps!!  - me!!   Not everyone is good at everything...... not everyone is good at everything........not everyone is good at everything........

 

Now remember girls, if you can't say anything nice .......

Mary

 

PS:  I should have left the stars off !!

... and a Partridge ...

Hello, I'm back!  Two posts in one day!! Woo hoo !!

 

Having spent the best part of this glorious day inside making cards, my brain was obviously still on the Just Add Ink colour challenge. 

Not being happy with the previous card I tried something different, and this one makes me smile.  Not sure if a second entry is allowed but here it is: 

The stamp set I have used is SU Partridge in a Pear Tree, and although it was my first choice from the occasions catalogue, this is the first time it has seen ink and it didn't disappoint me.

I have no idea what a partridge looks like, but pretty sure it isn't blue and purple any more than pears are pink and purple or leaves are pink and brown, but it sure was fun colouring it in.  Although I started with Whisper White card, I decided to use the aqua brush to keep the colours a little more muted.  So happy with the Blackberry Bliss stripes from the Moonlight Paper Stack, but it took a while to decide on the matting which is Glossy Black and Whisper White.

Not a ribbon or gem in sight, just layers!

Hope you like it!
Mary

NB:  Just realised that this is my 100th post- so there's another "woo hoo" for the day!

Rainy day

Well it certainly isn't a rainy day here in Melbourne - it is a brilliant Sunday.

 

Just Add Ink have a colour challenge this week and I am playing along. 

I had the idea of making raindrops with the circle stencil but the circles were all too large so went with the stars. 

Got carried away with using all the colours in the challenge and made too many stars with not enough white space, and the finished card needed was looking rather dull so gave each star a little dazzling diamonds, and some gloss on the umbrella.   The finished card doesn't look like the one in my head, but with a full week ahead I wont have time to make another.  At least the Strawberry Slush should brighten up the recipient.

 

All supplies are Stampin' Up:
Stamp:  Life's Adventure
Card:     Whisper White; Strawberry Slush; Blackberry Bliss

Cheers,
Mary

Sweet Baby

"Just Add Baby" is the request over at Just Add Ink, and as I have been wanting an excuse to use this sweet bunny for some time now, I decided to join the challenge.  Instead of opting for pink or blue, I have stayed fairly neutral with Lost Lagoon and Hello Honey on lots of lovely baby white.

All supplies are Stampin' Up:  
Card stock:  Whisper White and Lost Lagoon
DSP:  Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack
Stamp:  Baby, We've Grown

Happy World Card Making Day to all
Mary

Edited to Add:  Thanks to the team at Just Add Ink for giving me an honourable mention for this card.  I was tickled pink. M

Celebrate

It's been quite some time since I entered one of Scrapbook Boutique's monthly challenges, so I am here to rectify that. 

 

September Challenge

 

I have been trying to use some of my tools that haven't had much use and this die is one of them, so that's where the card started and then this cake image seemed perfect for it.

I started water colouring the cake so that it would look like nice pale icing, but somehow the Strawberry Slush just took over.  I think I will have to use the bright colours more often.

 

Cheers

Mary

Coffee time

I gifted a card using the Perfect Blend stamp set from Stampin' Up for the first time and it was very popular, so I decided to make a few more along that theme to have on hand.  I got a bit carried away colouring the coffee mugs in while testing the new Blendabilities and have just finished putting nine cards together.  Here is a selection:

All SU supplies: Perfect Blend stamp set (retired, but available on MDS); Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Whisper White and Crumb Cake card stock; Polka Dot Parade dsp (retired); Petite Petals stamp set and matching punch.

 

Two posts in one day!!! That's all folks!!

Mary

YAY

Yay, I'm finally posting something, so that's a celebration of sorts.

 

Just Add Ink have the challenge of adding "chipboard" this week. 

 

I love the "Yay" from SU Circle Card Thinlets and have used it many times, but wanted to try this idea for some time now and this seemed the perfect opportunity to put it together.

 

I have used the white card that backs SU designer paper to cut out 18 white and one silver Yay!  The card stock is the new Lost Lagoon - beautiful, but a bit lost in this photo and looking much darker than it is in real life.  "Celebrate" is from a retired Saleabration stamp set.  The trickiest part was getting the layers to stay put while I arranged them.  I am quite happy with the card but not the photography.

 

Cheers,

Mary

Kris Kringle 2013

I joined in a group Kris Kringle last year and this is the gift I made to send.   All I knew was that the lady liked purple, so I went with Elegant Eggplant.  I think the box design is called "secret drawer".

The box opens on the diagonal to reveal the three drawers.

which I filled with embellishments from SU -  lovely pearls, rhinestones, buttons and scalloped tulle ribbon.

and of course, a matching card. 

Mary

Casing Cecile

Not long ago I was fortunate to find the blog of Cecile Ortiz.  Her work is amazing - unbelievably gorgeous.  One card in particular that I loved was this one and I just had to have a go at making one for myself.

 

Although I love this card and have tried to copy it faithfully, it is not as delicate as Cecile's card.  Her flowers look so real. 

 

 

As I only had a six inch square of the beautiful venetian designer paper, I made my card a little differently, which also allowed room for a message.

 

 

 

Ingredients are all SU:

Stamps:  Simply Sketched; Forever with you; En Francais

Ink:  Soft Suede

Card:  Soft Suede; Very Vanilla

DSP:  Venetian Romance

Other:  Pretty prints Embossing folder; Pearls

 

I think I will be keeping this one. 

 

Do pop over and check out all of Cecile's beautiful creations.

 

Mary 

Why do I scrapbook?

I usually tell people that I am not into scrapbooking, but I have realised that I most definitely am a "scrapbooker" in the truest sense of the word.

 

While out walking this morning I was wondering who I could ring and ask "Hey, can you remember what you were doing on this day 50 years ago?"  Sadly, not many people came to mind.

 

I pulled out my Wedding Album and saw glimpses of a few friends and relatives but not a group photo of all who came.

 

 

very modest by today's standards

 

oh my !!!!!

 

Then I remembered my Scrapbooks - just that, those old fashioned scrapbooks that we buy now for the kids to scribble in.  Over the years I made one for every special birthday, enagement, wedding or birth, into which I pasted all the beautiful cards received, scraps of the lovely wrapping paper and ribbons, and usually a list of gifts received.  Pasted, filed and forgotten!  Until now!  I pulled out the Wedding one.

 

nothing special - just a covered scrapbook

 

Amazingly, the first half of the contents were still in situ but then as I turned each page the cards fluttered out at me.  Obviously the first batch of tape I used was far superior to the latter.  Yes, the pages have certainly turned yellow (mustard, actually), and there is no need for distressing here, but the cards and their messages are as clear as ever.  What a lovely reminder of work friends long lost, family and friends long gone, and yes, a couple where I just could not put a face to the name.  Ahh memories - very bitter sweet because I don't have anyone to share them with, but wonderful just the same. 

the invitations, printed by my Brother, are as crisp and lovely as ever

 

and the cards - love the one with the fan!

 

I decided a blog was in order to remind myself and others why I make scrapbooks. 

 

Just this last week I brought home two carrier bags with all of the Baby and Christening cards and paper to make a book for my Grandson.  I did wonder whether it was a waste of time, but this morning has shown me that perhaps it is not.

 

the next project to be scrapbooked

 

I hope you have enjoyed my walk back in time and hope you have a lovely day on this 50th anniversary of my wedding.

 

Mary

 

PS.   Yes, in case you were wondering, I did re-affix all the errant cards.  Used double sided tape - I don't think it will have to last another 50 years!

A little more Christmas

It is always a pleasure to make something special for good friends and the following little parcel was for a friend who went on holidays just prior to Christmas.  Her favourite colour is purple so I am sure she would have liked it.

I did have plans to decorate the Lindt chocolates but ran out of time.  Although on this occasion I have used cards and papers from my stash, the Bon bon is made with the recently introduced SU Envelope Punch Board.  I have had a lot of fun making many different boxes and envelopes with it in the last month or so.

Since I joined SU, I have had lots of new toys to play with and plenty of beautiful products to use as well.  Certainly keeps me out of trouble.

This next card was for a special friend who is a lover of pink and glitter, but I don't think even this was quite enough sparkle for her.

 

So proud of myself here as I actually used one of the beautiful Frosted Finishes Embellishments on this card.  I loved them so much I bought a second pack even though I still had lots left.  I did make two sets of ear-rings from them and they were much admired.

 

I needed to make a gift card for some vouchers which turned out to be quite large and it took me a little while to work out, but I think they looked really great when finished.  Of course being larger than our normal cards, I needed to make special envelopes for them - Envelope Punch Board to the rescue!!

 

 

 

 

I mentioned above that I had made some boxes with my latest toy so thought I would pop in this photo of them.  I cannot claim the credit for their design though, as I saw them on the blog of Sam Donald from Pootles - an amazing box maker.

 

 

Aren't they cute?  most of them only take a six inch square of dsp.

 

Bit of an overload of photos I know, but thanks for staying with me,

Mary

 

 

Christmas in review

Whilst cleaning out files on the computer and ipad I realised that I had been somewhat slack in posting updates onto either of my blogs, and I have a glut of photos that never saw the light of day - indeed, not only had I forgotten them, but I had great trouble remembering to whom the cards were given or why I made said cards, so I thought I would try and remedy the problem now, and instead of starting at the beginning I am going to work backwards.

So this was Christmas:

 

The cards were made in batches of two,
 

some were cherry and some were blue:
Many thanks for the design must go to Monica Gale's gorgeous card.
 

  

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The banner was flying for all to see,

but I didn't get around to erecting the tree:

 - see previous post for a photo of the banner!

The stockings were hung for the grandchildren three (and Mum and Dad as well, see!):

For more photos of the stockings click onto my stitching blog at the right.

 

The presents were wrapped (before Christmas Eve !!!!!) - so early for me:

 

and that's about it - there's no more from me.

 

Cheers,

Mary

 

A Christmas Banner

Perhaps it would have been better named "Post Christmas Banner", but nevertheless here it is.  I had it made in November, but wasn't overly happy with it so I took it apart and re-jigged it a bit. 

Just Add Ink are looking for a Christmas project as are the girls at Sunny Challenges, so I thought this might fit both bills.

I started the project with a Banner Kit from Stampin Up and all of the elements are from SU too.  Not an easy one to take a photo of, but I am sure you get the idea.

Happy New Year to everyone !!
Cheers
Mary