Retro Baked Poinsettia...

Hello!

It's my turn to host the Friday Mashup this week and I've got a fun recipe for us to play with...

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project with using "A-B-C (use elements on your projects starting with the letters A, B, C). "
2. Create a project using a "1-2-3 card recipe (1 embellishment, 2 Stamp Sets, 3 Colors) ."
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project "A-B-C & a 1,2,3 card recipe. "

I chose to make a Christmas card using the colours Always Artichoke, Baked Brown Sugar and Cherry Cobbler (A, B, C). See if you can spot the 1-2-3...

How gorgeous is that poinsettia??! It one of the fab new Christmas stamps in the new Autumn/Winter catalogue (email me if you want to place an order!). I stamped it on Cherry Cobbler card twice and embossed with gold EP then cut out the two layers and layered up with dimensionals. The leaves were stamped on Always Artichoke, embossed and cut out then popped under the flower.

The central strip is Baked Brown Sugar card stamped with the text and star image from O Holy Night using a stamp-a-ma-jig to line them up. The ribbon is Very Vanilla seam binding.

I used this week's Retro Sketch (somewhat loosely!) for my layout...

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Joyful Christmas, O Holy Night
Ink: Versamark, Baked Brown Sugar
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Baked Brown Sugar, Naturals Ivory
Accessories: Very Vanilla seam binding, gold EP

Make sure you check out what the rest of the design team have cooked up this week!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Crisp Coral Flowers...

Hiya!

Just popping in quickly with a card I made yesterday for a couple of challenges: the Dynamic Duos colour challenge and the sketch from Hand Stamped Sentiments...

I was playing around with Simply Pressed Clay and a few techniques and ended up with some pretty flowers for this card...

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Happy Day
Paper: Venetian Romance dsp, Calypso Coral core'dinations, Very Vanilla, vellum, Soft Suede
Ink: Soft Suede, Calypso Coral & Crisp Cantaloupe ink refills, Calypso Coral marker
Accessories: Antique brads
Tools: Paper doily sizzlit die, Little Leaves sizzlit die, Floral Frames framelits, Blossoms bigz die, Simply Pressed clay

Ok, I'm keeping it short and sweet tonight cos I need sleep lol!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Fab Zoo ColourQ!

Hello all!

I had a lovely relaxing weekend chilling with my sister, who came up to visit me from London, and we ate WAY too much (sugar... in the form of cake, biscuits and dessert lol!) but had a great time watching White Collar on Netflix hee hee! I took some time out to just create for fun which was nice too. Today I get to share with you my creation with this week's ColourQ palette...

How fun is this combo?! I've just received my Zoo Babies stamp set and the Alphabet Press embossing folder, which go perfectly together, so I wanted to use them with these fun colours...

I used Gumball Green instead of Lucky Limeade and Elegant Eggplant instead of Concord Crush (I sell most of my retired inks etc. to save room and make some money to spend on new stuff lol!). The background is Calypso Coral core'dinations card, embossed with the Alphabet Press embossing folder and sanded to reveal the core, then layered onto Elegant Eggplant card. The focal point was cut using the square framelits (as was the Vellum cardstock layer underneath) and stamped with the croc and bird using my stamp-a-ma-jig to get the bird sitting on the croc! I created the banner by punching little triangles out of dsp and Bermuda Bay card using the Pennant Parade punch. The elephant was stamped separately, cut out and popped up with dimensionals. I couldn't resist adding ribbon (when can I not?!) - the gorgeous Calypso Coral chevron ribbon went perfectly with this design I thought! And of course... there had to be candy dots didn't there..?!

I used the Fab Friday sketch for my layout on this one...

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Zoo Babies, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Gumball Green, Bermuda Bay
Paper: Epic Day dsp, Calypso Coral core'dinations, vellum cardstock, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Calypso Coral chevron ribbon, Regals candy dots
Tools: Pennant Parade punch, square framelits, Itty Bitty banner framelits, Alphabet Press embossing folder, sanding block

Make sure you check out the fabulous creations from the rest of the design team!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Freshly Made Winner...

Hello!

I played around with a couple of challenges this weekend: the Freshly Made Sketch (celebrating their 100th challenge!) and the Curtain Call inspiration...

The inspiration board made me think of the You're Amazing set with the hot air balloon so that's where I started...

I combined a couple of dsp designs for this (isn't it fun to see how different collections can work with each other?) - one from Epic Day and the other from Quatrefancy. The balloon was inked with markers (Pool Party, Calypso Coral and Basic Grey) and cut out with my paper snips. I wanted to add something extra to the image panel so I stamped the chevron pattern from Oh Hello in Sahara Sand ink. The 'winner' ticket was stamped in Bermuda Bay and the one underneath was stamped on Sahara Sand with Calypso Coral ink (using a stamp from That's the Ticket) - both were punched out with the ticket punch. I embossed the Naturals Ivory strip with the stitches embossing folder (from the Needlepoint Border collection). Of course, I couldn't help adding some candy dots (best embellishments EVER!) to finish. I shabbified (is that a word..?!) the edges of the panels to distress the whole project a little.

By the way, you may have noticed a few extra features on my blog have appeared over the weekend... I'm in the process of changing some things about my blogging, including adding classes (coming soon!) for download. I wanted to give a big shout-out to the amazing Patsy Waggoner who helped me and my technically challenged brain with adding the buttons and bars that you now see! She was just fab and if you're ever wanting to revamp or redesign your Typepad blog, that's her specialty and I would recommend her wholeheartedly. Even though I decided to stick with Blogger for the moment, she was still so helpful and sweet and was able to help me out with all the things I wanted to add. Thanks so much Patsy!

That's all for now... hope you're enjoying your weekend! Those of us in the UK have a bank holiday tomorrow... yay!

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Merry Mashup!

Hiya,

This week at the Friday Mashup Liliana has a fab sketch for us to play with...

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project with the "Sketch Liliana created."
2. Create a project with a "School Theme (books, pencils, rulers, numbers, etc."
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "School themed project using Liliana's Sketch. "

Well I didn't get to 'mash' it this week as I don't have ANYTHING that features books, pencils, rulers or numbers in stamps or paper lol! So I thought I'd take the opportunity to play along with some new goodies from the up-coming Autumn/Winter catalogue and so I ended up making a Christmas card...

I used some new designer paper as well as a new little stamp set that has lots of possibilities! I stamped the stack of presents three times, in Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Crumb Cake, then cut each present out with my trusty paper snips and reassembled to make the focal point. The sentiment (stamped on Crumb Cake with Cherry Cobbler) is from the same set. I added a couple of vintage trinket brads to finish the sentiment banner.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Wishing You
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Crumb Cake
Paper: Season of Style dsp, Early Espresso, Naturals White, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Vintage Trinkets
Tools: Square framelits

Make sure you check out what the rest of the design team have created with this sketch...

Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

She believed she could...

Hiya!

I'm super excited today as it's my first post as part of the fabulous Colour Q design team - woohoo! What a wonderful group of talented ladies the Royal Court are! This week's colour palette is such a pretty one...

Lots of possibilities with this colour scheme, as you will see from the rest of the DT's samples. I went in a floral direction and pulled out the Blossoms bigz die and some Pacific Point core'dinations card and came up with this...

Gotta love that flower die - makes the most fantastic flowers! I popped an antique brad through the middle and added some leaves, cut with the Leaves sizzlit die (I added some details with the new White Stampin' Chalk Marker... coming in the Autumn/Winter catty at the end of the month!).

I was inspired by the Fusion inspiration and sketch for this one...

The background paper is from Quatrefancy but I altered it a bit by sponging Island Indigo ink around the edges to blend and soften a bit. The chalkboard greeting is Early Espresso card, stamped and embossed with the greeting from Feel Goods with white EP, then die-cut with a squares framelits die. Using a stamp-a-ma-jig I restamped the sentiment in white craft ink, slightly offset from the embossed greeting to create a shadow effect. To get the 'chalk dust' effect, I rubbed a little white craft ink over the panel.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Feel Goods
Ink: Versamark, Island Indigo, white craft
Paper: Quatrefancy dsp, Naturals White, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Pacific Point core'dinations card
Tools: Blossoms originals bigz die, squares framelit, woodgrain embossing folder, leaves sizzlit die
Accessories: antique brads,

Make sure you check our the amazing creations from the rest of the design team this week!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Seizing the sketch...

Hi there!

When I saw the new challenge site Seize the Sketch I knew I wanted to play along (you know how I love sketches!). Here's their first sketch...

When I saw it I knew I wanted to use some new goodies that are coming in our Autumn/winter catalogue at the end of this month, so I got into Christmas mode and came up with this...

The new goodies are that amazing 'merry' die (so much fun!) and the designer paper. I added some baubles from the fab Ornament set that carried over from the last Autumn/Winter catty. I'm a bit addicted to candy dots so I couldn't help adding some of those!

Well I'm keeping it short and sweet today. Thanks for stopping by!

x Amy x

Clear Block Grunge...

Hiya!

This week over at the Friday Mashup, Amanda's got us using our clear blocks in a different way (not just for holding stamps!)...

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project using "Clear Block Stamping (use your clear block as a stamp)."
2. Create a project using "Color-blocking."
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project using "Clear Block Stamping & Color-blocking."

Well I must confess that my card for this challenge is one I made a while ago at a training day that I've never posted here and fit the bill perfectly so I thought I'd go ahead and post it for this challenge...

I stamped the Whisper White panel with clear blocks in Basic Grey, Calypso Coral and Crumb Cake, then dragged the This & That Epic Day rotary stamp down the card and few times to get a grungy sort of look (Hayley demonstrated this at the training day - always fun to learn new tips and tricks eh?!). I added some washi tape, cut some hexagons from the Epic Day paper and added some faux stitching with a marker. The greeting is from Label Love, stamped with Basic Grey on Crumb Cake, cut out then layered on an Artisan Label punched shape from Basic Grey card. I figure this sort of card would be good for a boy - maybe even those scary teenage boys lol! I'm linking this up to the current Seize the Birthday challenge - can never have enough birthday cards eh?!

Make sure you check out the rest of the design team's creations this week!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Yellow Ribbon Birthday...

Hello!!

I've got some exciting news to share today... I've joined the AMAZING Colour Q Royal Court design team!!! I was so excited when I saw this post there earlier today this week - what an honour! I can't wait to start designing with the future colour combos (you know how much I love a colour challenge, and Colour Q has been a fave of mine for ages!). Anyways, I really wanted to play along with this week's challenge, which is a lovely bright combination...

I know the picture has got pretty doilies etc in it but when I saw the colours together I went in the direction of a boy's birthday card and ended up with this...

I used this week's Freshly Made Sketch for my layout...

I used the Blue Ribbon circle stamps for this, inking the lower one with an old Ruby Red marker I had in my drawer, the middle one I embossed with white EP on Ruby Red card, and the top one was stamped with Daffodil Delight, and again on Ruby Red with Basic Grey. I cut out the '1' and layered it over the Daffodil image, then punched it out with a circle punch and layered it onto a slightly larger Ruby Red circle. I created a grey layer under the middle circle with my scallop circle punch, punching once then putting the shape back in the punch, rotating slightly and punching again to get this shape. I added some Daffodil washi tape, some retired ribbon and some Basic Grey buttons tied with white baker's twine.

The white panel is layered onto some Basic Grey chevron pieces cut from the Tasteful trim die then onto the background piece. The background is So Saffron card, stamped with images from Clockworks in saffron and grey. I added a little silver clip at the top for a bit of shine.

I quite like how this one turned out, even though boy's cards are probably my least favourite to make (cos I don't know what I'm doing mostly!!).

That's all for now - I'll be back tomorrow with my Friday Mashup card (another boy's card actually..!).

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Strawberry Tulip Backyard...

Hiya!

I've been playing with the Backyard Basics set this week and I decided to play along with this week's Paper Players colour challenge...

I hadn't used the tulip image from this stamp set so I stamped a couple and got colouring, and came up with this...

I love the matching framelits that go with this set - makes things so easy! I used some Pear Pizzazz core-dinations card for the layer behind the tulips, scored around the edges and sanded lightly. The dsp is from Quatrefancy and I layered it on some Strawberry Slush cardstock and then onto some Naturals White that I embossed with the woodgrain EF. The sentiment is from Express Yourself, stamped on Whisper White with Strawberry Slush and punched out with the decorative label punch and tucked behind the Pear Pizzazz panel. I couldn't resist adding some white organza ribbon to finish off!

I'm linking this up to CAS(E) this Sketch! as well, as I did use the sketch as my starting point, even though I didn't really keep it CAS, and I added an extra panel... oh well!

Well that's all from me... thanks for stopping by today!

x Amy x

Pistachio Papaya Mojo...

Hi there!

I played around with a couple of challenges this weekend: the colours from Pals Paper Arts and the Mojo Monday sketch...

I pulled out the lovely Venetian Romance paper as it has some beautiful prints in Crisp Cantaloupe and Pistachio Pudding and went from there...

I haven't used the Papaya Collage set in a while and that rose was begging to be coloured with these pretty colours. I also used the butterfly from the same set.

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Papaya Collage, Petite Pairs, Four Frames
Ink: Stazon, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Pistachio Pudding
Paper: Venetian Romance, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Very Vanilla seam binding, pearls, decorative label punch, ovals framelits

I hope you've enjoyed your weekend! Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Primrose Cantaloupe Blossom...

Hiya!

This week over at the Friday Mashup Tara is challenging us with a colour combo as well as to use a tag on or as our project...

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project with a "Tag (as an embellishment on your project or as the project itself )."
2. Create a project using the colors "Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky, Primrose Petals & Bermuda Bay".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project "with a Tag using the color combo above".

Well when I first looked at the colours I wasn't sure how I was going to use them all together, but when I looked at them in two groups (pinks and blues) I thought of using a two-step stamp set and it started to come together from there...

The flower was stamped first with Crisp Cantaloupe, then with the second layer in Primrose Petals over the top. The leaves were stamped with Soft Sky and Bermuda Bay (ok so I know that leaves are not blue, but I kinda like the tropical look of it!). I stamped a piece of Soft Sky card with the large postage collage image from Postage Due with Soft Sky ink then ripped around the edges for a shabby vintage look. The embossed piece in the background is some Primrose Petals core-dinations card that I'd embossed with the Argyle EF and sanded ages ago that was sitting in my stash. I added half a doily (also from my scrap collection) and arranged the panels for a scrappy/collagey (is that a word?!) kind of feel. The tag element is a piece of Very Vanilla, stamped with a sentiment from Petite Pairs in Bermuda Bay, punched into a tag and pierced. I added a Crisp Cantaloupe tag (core'dinations card crumpled and sanded... not that you can see much of it!) underneath and used some Bermuda Bay twine (from the Tag-a-Box kit) and a few pearls to finish. I couldn't resist adding a bit of faux stitching around the edge with a Crisp Cantaloupe marker.

Make sure you check out the rest of the design team's creations this week!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x

Sketched Marina Flower...

Hello!

I wanted to play along with this week's 200th Colour Q challenge so I combined it with the fab Deconstructed Sketch this week...

 

I wanted to use the beautiful hostess set Simply Sketched for this as well as my new Dictionary backgrounds stamp (love!)...

 

I stamped the flower image onto watercolour paper with Stazon and coloured with Old Olive, Marina Mist and Midnight Muse inks and an aquapainter. I stamped an additional flower, coloured and cut out then popped over the top for added dimension. The sentiment (from the same set) was stamped underneath with Stazon as well. The So Saffron panel is core'dinations card, embossed with the Beautifully Baroque EF and sanded. The Marina Mist panels in the background were stamped with the Dictionary background with Marina Mist ink, and all the panels were layered onto Midnight Muse card. I added a Midnight Muse heart (cut from core-dinations card with the Fashionable Hearts embosslit die) and some retired Old Olive ribbon as well as a vintage faceted button with some white bakers twine. I couldn't resist adding a few candy dots (LOVE these things!) in white to finish off.

 

I hope you've enjoyed your weekend, wherever you are!

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

x Amy x



Happy, dotty hexagons...

Hiya!

This week at the Friday Mashup Erica has a fun challenge for us...

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project with "Polka Dots ".
2. Create a project using "the Word Happy".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project "with Polka Dots & The Word Happy on it ".

This card was based on a couple that I've seen around blogland using the Six-Sided Sampler set. I played around with it a bit and used the Epic Day This & That dsp and colour scheme...

Here's the recipe:
Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink: Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Stazon
Paper: Epic Day dsp, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Neutrals card candy, Epic Day washi tape
Tools: Itty Bitty Banners framelits, hexagon punch

This card also fits with this week's Just Add Ink challenge: Just add Blokes!

Make sure you check out the fab creations from the rest of the Mashup design team this week!

Thanks for stopping by...

x Amy x