Hostess Only set...

Today's post contains some really simple single layer cards, all made using the Hostess Only set - Simply Sketched. These Hostess sets are only available to be purchased using Hostess Pounds or On-Line Rewards.

This particular set just ticked all the boxes for me - I will just say - you are not limited to buying Hostess sets with your rewards... you can spend them on anything from the catalogues.

I'm not going to write very much more as I think Simply Sketched speaks for itself...

This first card is the most complex - I heat embossed the poppy on Vellum, dry embossed the top and bottom edges of the Vellum using the Needlepoint Border embossing folder and my Big Shot.

This second card, I coloured the poppy using my Stampin' Write Marker and used the sentiment from Million to One.

This card I coloured using ordinary coloured pencils to follow the Sketch theme.

This is another where I used Million to One. I just love the big bold sentiments in the set.

Finally the little bird was also coloured using my markers and a Blender Pen.

Hope you'll pop back for another post soon!

Paula xxx

Explosion Box

Hi there!

I've done another video for you today, though it isn't really a tutorial it just shows the explosion box I made.

Looks gorgeous just as it is doesn't it? I'm loving the new Stretch Ruffle Trim in the new In-Colours. It gets even better - just look at the decoration on the lid! The Quatrefancy, Speciality Designer Series Paper is stunning isn't it - You get two window sheets in a pack. But they are fancy ones, so best saved for box making rather than cutting down for this sort of project.

That butterfly is actually sitting on the flower! Held on with a glue dot it is light enough, and the vellum is rigid enough... I stamped the image from Flower Shop and coloured it with my Stampin' Write Markers, punched it out using the Pansy Punch - I call it something else in the video as my mind went blank... But I wasn't going to re-record! The butterfly is from Papillon Potpourri and punched out using the Bitty Butterfly Punch.

Here's my little video!


It's amazing how much seeing something can inspire you! I love using the Brayer and Blender Pens!

Here is the link to Caroline's video tutorial here. I'm so grateful for her inspiration!

Here is a close up of those gorgeous flowers... I just could not live without Vellum and Window Sheets!

Do let me know if you give it a try and I'll be back with something else really soon!

Paula xxxx

Sweet Goodbye

Hi folks - I'm back from the sunny continent. We visited a number of 1st and 2nd World War, sites of interest in Belgium and Holland. Luckily we were accompanied by some really knowledgeable people and it was an absolutely awesome experience, but humbling and at times emotional. I shall share some pictures once I have been through all 250 of them!

Last week I said goodbye to a lovely friend and customer who has moved abroad.

I will miss her so much - she is a very special person - and I hope to stay in touch.

I thought I would share the card I made for her. I was so pleased with it and I think she loved it too - though she refused to read her cards at her leaving do, for fear of shedding more tears than absolutely necessary!

Firstly I stamped a blank card with one of the Flower Shop images, then I rounded the corners with a Circle Punch. 

Next I cut a Top Note out of some of the Venetian Romance DSP using my Big Shot. I stamped the flower from Blooming with Kindness and over stamped it with the sentiment. Finally tying some Organza Ribbon round it before adhering it to the card.

I cut the leaves from my Little Leaves Sizzlits, again using the Big Shot.

Finally the flowers were stamped on Vellum, punched out using the co-ordinating Pansy Punch, curled slightly with my Bone Folder and then I added a little Dazzling Diamonds and a Pearl in each centre.

I also decorated the envelope, just with a couple of the stamped flowers.

I can feel another tutorial coming on!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend - it has been hoofing it down with rain for the last couple of hours... Hopefully the grass will grow a little for the rabbit and guinea pig!

Back soon!

Pxx

Floral Fantasy

Yup - It's Saturday! Today is the big housework blitz, then I only have 3 days at work next week as I am off to Newbury Showground for an Agility Competition.

Poor old hubby gets left at home to look after the rest of the animals!! I need to make the most of my last weekend away in the camper - though it will be mega busy as it is our (Wallingford Agility Club) show so I'll be working hard all weekend!

Today's little floral fantasy uses Secret Garden again.. I have stamped them on Vellum and coloured them using my Blender Pens. Finally to give them a little shape and texture I 'embossed' them using my Simply Scored tool, with the flowers rested on my Piercing Mat.

Sooo - What do you think? Likey Lighty, no Likey no Lighty!  I was able to give the leaves some definition... I like that a lot!

I may not have a chance to post tomorrow with all my household chores I might not get time to craft tonight, either way, pop back and check - and have a great weekend!

Pxx

Bordering on...

...something. But not sure what! I am on a course at work today, so it could be an 'interesting' day. You know how these things go. Sometimes you just wonder how anyone thought up a course on the subject. Now if it were a crafting course I would be much more 'up for it'.

Today's post is the first of 3 showcasing some colouring - it is an entry for Dynamic Duos challenge this week which is to use Pool Party and Lucky Limeade. I'm not keen on Lucky Limeade... so I hope this card is OK as it is definitely not a combo I would have chosen myself. If you click on the Dynamic Duos image in this post it will take you to the challenge blog.

So this is my take on the challenge.

I embossed an image from Bordering on Romance with pool party embossing powder on Vellum cardstock. I then coloured the images using a Blender Pen. Now I would like to have used my Stampin' Write Markers but don't have them in the 2011-13 in-colours, so how did I do it? If you squeeze your stamp pad gently before opening it you have a pool of ink on the lid. Dip in your Blender Pen and you can 'paint' with it. Awesome! I do love the way the ink takes on the Vellum, such a soft effect.

I love to hear what you think and love to see how you manage to use different techniques. Please leave a comment and if you like, a link to your own creations!

See you again tomorrow! xxx

On Strike! Embossing Vellum.

Today I am going on strike! Well kind of, I still need to walk the dogs and clean out the various reptiles and furries, but apart from that I'm not going anywhere or doing anything.

In fact once I've posted this I'm sneaking back to bed! Shhhhhh, don't tell anyone! But I deserve a day off!

Today's card is an entry for the Fab Friday challenge #13 and is a Sketch challenge, So I got to choose the colours myself! Certainly Celery and Rich Razzleberry!

I have two techniques for embossing Vellum on this card, the first, is where I have run a strip of Vellum through the Big Shot in the Vine Street Embossing Folder, something I call 'Dry' embossing.

The second, shown up here is where you stamp an image, in this case a Mixed Bunch image, punched out using the Blossom Punch, that I then 'hand' embossed using my Scoring Tool. I just chose selected parts of the image and with the flower on my piercing mat I carefully 'scored' them. Not only does it add the 'white' to the flower but it causes it to curl slightly. What do you think?

Visit the challenge page here, why not join in yourself? It's a fabulous sketch!

Here is another card using the same technique, This time I used Island Indigo and Pool Party, the flourish from Creative Elements, Curly Cute Sentiment and Pool Party 'heat' embossing on the sentiment.

I may be back tomorrow... or I may still be sleeping! Have a great weekend!

Pxx

Paper Piercing - Stampin' Up!

Today's post is a little more girly. It is an entry for the Less is More, week 108 challenge of Paper Piercing.

I have never tried this before, but Stampin' Up! do make it easier as they have a number of templates available as well as a brilliant piercing mat.

For my card I stamped the flower from Mixed Bunch, in Rose Red on Vellum, I speeded up the drying with my heat gun then added it to the pre pierced card with a dimensional. Topping it off with a Large Pearl.

The sentiment is from Itty Bitty Banners, cut out using my Big Shot and the corresponding Framelit.

In this case Less is Definitely more.

I hope you like it and will share your thoughts by leaving me a comment!

Pxx

Stampin' Up! Stampin' Medley

I have used a medley of old and new Stamp Sets for this card.

Flourish from Creative Elements
Flowers from Bright Blossoms
Butterflies from Papillon Potpourri
Sentiment is Beautiful Birthday (I love this Stamp!)

The background images are stamped with Summer Starfruit, Garden Green and Wisteria Wonder

The mat is Elegant Eggplant, as is the Sentiment.

As you can see I couldn't resist Embossing and Punching out another butterfly, this time I used Vellum Card and underlaid it with another Punched butterfly. Finishing it off with three 3mm Pearl Basic Jewels.

You can make a version of this card at a party or make an appointment to visit my home and see some of the products for yourself. Just call me to make an appointment.

Paula xxx