#JOSTTT003 - TIC TAC TOE CHALLENGE

It's the first Saturday in the month and that means another Tic Tac Toe challenge over at  Joy of Sets Tic Tac Toe.  Our grid this month was chosen by Design Team Member Jane Allmark and this is what she chose for us:

I chose to do Sparkle, Layers, Pearls.  I started off with a retired piece of DSP from Stampin Up and used some Soft Suede ink around the torn edges.  I added a pearlised doily.  The banner in the middle was embossed with SU Vintage Wallpaper and inked over the top with Regal Rose - an old SU colour.  I used the Jar of Love set and its matching framelits as this hasn't had an outing in a while - the flowers are all sparkly with Spectrum Noir glitter pen.  I added some stitching around the edge of the grey cardstock, some lace ribbon and some pearls and that finished off the card.

I'm so looking forward to see what you all do - don't forget you get the chance to be our Guest Designer for the following month.


 

APERTURE CARD

I'm playing along with Global Design Project #GDP177 with this card and decided to do an aperture card as I've never done one before.

GDP has a colour pallette for us to work with - 



I used a combination of thinlets from two sets for the foliage - Jar of Love and Colourful Seasons.  The butterfly is from a retired set Nature's Perfection which fits the retired butterfly punch perfectly. I coloured in the balloons on the sentiment with some of the Melon Mambo.  A touch of copper thread and some Wink of Stella on the flowers and the butterfly just gives that touch of sparkle.

I run a Facebook Group called The Joy of Sets with over 3,000 members where we celebrate all things SU both retired and current so I'm often seen using my old set.  As I'm not a Demo there is no pressure to keep using new stuff and I love to use old favourites.

CLEAR EMBOSSING

Another outing for the new stamp set from Stampin Up Dandelion Wishes - I can't put it down at the moment.  This card combines two challenges - a colour challenge from Fab Friday and a summer embossing challenge from TGIF.  These are the colours we were to use from Fab Friday- I had all of them bar Mint Macaron - I know I had an ink in this colour but it's disappeared.  I did have some ribbon left though.

I started off my card by using the Tim Hotlz blending tool to blend some Mossy Meadow on to white cardstock.  Inspired by the image for the TGIF challenge I used the sun from Kinda Eclectic and using Powder Pink I clear embossed it. It gives off a lovely sheen to the card.  My PP ink is very dry and it sometimes needs a helping hand from Versamark to help it show up.  I used Tranquil Tide stamped off for the dandelion stamps.  The sentiment is from Jar of Love and this was inked in Tranquil Tide but not stamped off so it's a bit darker.  Some coloured rhinestones in the daffodils finishes off the card.  I hope it looks summery enough for the challenge.  We are certainly experiencing hot weather here in the UK and melting - it's even too hot to craft especially when you take into account our homes do not have air-con!

What we need is a good summer thunderstorm to water all the gardens and cool us down.  I never thought I'd hear myself say we needed rain lol!


           

MERRY LITTLE LABELS - BOXES #CHRISTMASPUNCH

I've been busy making lots of little boxes lately using the Merry Little Labels set and the matching punch.  #christmaspunch.  


The boxes are very simple to make and I've done a quick tutorial to show you how easy they are.  They can be left open at the top or closed as in the Christmas example below. 

 This example uses Crumb Cake as the base and stamped with leaves from Colourful Season and Jar of Love. The jar was cut out of the front using the Jar of Love Framelits and then stamped over it with the jar image.  The lid was added on an embellishment.  Clear Acetate has been put behind the jar and then you can fill it with all sorts of goodies - I've added some of our Sequin Assortment.

The leaf has been made with the Seasonal Layers Thinlets.  The tag has used the cut out of the jar and I've stamped one of the sentiments from Merry Little Labels on it and added some Linen Thread to the top.

 This is a slightly different example using Old Olive as the cardstock.  The leaf has been cut into the front.  I've used the same leaves from Colourful Seasons to stamp on the cardstock with Versamark.  A brad attached the label which has been punched out with the new matching punch - #christmaspunch.

 This is a Christmas version using Night of Navy and Silver Embossing Powder.  I've used the snowflakes from Colourful Seasons and a touch of Metallic Edge Ribbon in silver.  The Let It Snow is a perfect accompaniment and looks so lovely embossed in silver.

I'm adding my boxes into the following challenges:

SU Only challenge - which is asking us to use our favourite punches or dies  



The Paper Players this week is Autumn Floral 

Global Design Project theme this week is Grateful - 
 

JOY OF SETS CHALLENGE - JOS #005 - THE LETTER ''J'

 

We are up to our fifth challenge already at Joy of Sets.  This time we are working with the letter J.

I chose to use Jar of Love as I love this set - it is so versatile as can be seen from the Design Team examples.

I've used some of the new gorgeous Coffee Break DSP for the background which goes so well with the Island Indigo cardstock.  The jar itself has been cut out of the same cardstock and given a glitter wash with Wink of Stella.  The stems and hearts have been cut out of Everyday Jars Framelits and the flowers from Seasonal Layers thinlets.  The sentiment is from Watercolor Wings.

 I hope you join in with our challenge this week and go and visit the Design Team and leave them a comment.

Happy Crafting


 

EMBOSS RESIST TECHNIQUE - WATERCOLOR WINGS

A technique for you all today - the Emboss Resist Technique I'm not sure if that is its correct technical term but it's what I call it.  Here are a couple of examples of the technique and I've done a You Tube tutorial for you - its makes it easier than typing it all out.   This one uses Watercolor Wings and the sentiment is from Best Birds.  The flowers and firefly is from Jar of Love.

 This one uses Watercolor Wings and some of the fireflies and flowers from Jar of Love again using some of the new In-Colours of Lemon Lime Twist and Fresh Fig.

I hope you have a go at this technique - drop me a comment if you do and I'll come and have a look.

All products can of course be purchased from my on line store - click on the link below.

Don't forget our super Special Offer during July - for every £45 you spend in July you get a coupon to spend in August for £4.50.  It soon mounts up to some great free goodies.

 

 

 HAPPY CRAFTING

 

WATERCOLOR WINGS - RESIST EMBOSSED

A technique from me today which is not a new technique at all but one I haven't seen around for a while - called the Resist Embossed Technique.

I've used some of the new Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper here, the leaves from Jar of Love and the Butterflies from Watercolor Wings.

The butterflies were first stamped onto Whisper White with Versamark and then embossed with White Embossing Powder.  I then used some Lemon Lime Twist, Powder Pink and Berry Burst ink with one of our sponge daubers to make the image of the butterfly pop!

The happy birthday is from Best Birds and I finished the butterflies off with some Rhinestones.

I'm adding this into the Time Out challenge  #85 this week which has this lovely photo as our inspiration.  It's a shame Picture Perfect is retired as that hummingbird would be lovely to use.

 

DAISY DELIGHT - SNEAK PEEK

One of the huge benefits of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is the chance to get to see the catalogue over a month before anyone else and, in May, to participate in Pre-Order which allows us to choose from some of the new products.

Can you believe I nearly didn't buy this gorgeous bundle called Daisy Delight?  1st June will be your D-Day - Daisy Delight day for getting your hands on this little beauty.

To tempt you somewhat here's a few cards I have done with it so far:

Both cards are also using some of fabulous new In-Colours - I love them all - which I must admit isn't always the case.  But I can't choose a favourite out of them yet!

The background daisy on this card was done using the image left after using the punch to punch out the daisy - I then used it as a stencil and used two of our colours to ink the daisies.  The sentiment is from Jar of Love.  I have cut out three daisies with the punch to make the 3d daisy on the card.  The challenge over at As You See It is Three to Party so I'm adding my card in for their challenge this week.

If you would like to get your hands on these products before June 1st you could always join my team as a Demonstrator - with all the great perks that entails.


 HAPPY CRAFTING


 

JAR OF LOVE

 

I was delighted to be chosen as one of the Top Three this week at Inkspirational Challenge for my little Picture Perfect card.  Proudly displaying my badge!


Their challenge this week is the following: Click on the image to be taken to the challenge Challenge #132



  



 I had a bit of a mix up with this challenge this week as the link actually took me to Watercolour Swooshing which I did then found I couldn't link it up as that was actually the week previous.  Anyway my card can still be considered a Spring card so I'm going to put it in anyway.

I had fun with this - getting inky and not as messy as I thought I would. I was surprised at the colours that came out - as I used quite dark colours and ended up with a realy pinky greeny colour!

I've used the lovely Jar of Love set and Framelits which is continuing into the new catalogue.  I love playing with this set and its so versatile for spring, summer autumn or winter cards.

Saying farewell to Papillon Potpourri and the Bitty Butterfly punch by just adding a small butterfly to my card.

 Here you can see the colour combination that went into making the flowers for the jar.

The Challenge over at Watercooler Wednesday is also Spring so I'm going to add my card to their list also.

HAPPY CRAFTING


 

LOVE AND AFFECTION

Do you find when there is excitement over a new catalogue, even a mini one, some of our old friends get forgotten.  I found this set in the back of my cupboard - it was one I received at On Stage so it doesn't have its case and can get overlooked.  I have the embossing folders to match and I don't think I've done much with it at all so its coming out to play.

This is the thinking behind my new Facebook Group The Joy Of Sets - where a few times a week I will post the name of a Stampin' Up! Stamp Set be it current or retired and all you have to do is pop your image in the appropriate album.  Its open to all - SU demos and non demos so why not pop along and join in. Click on the image below to be taken to the group.

I've used the sketch from Case this Sketch this week for my card

 I've used Melon Mambo as my cardstock  base and used the lovely Falling Petals Embossing folder to add the hearts.  I used the Floral Affection  embossing folder for the flowers on the Whisper White.  The flower is from Love and Affection and I've cut it out after colouring it with Melon Mambo and Rich Razzleberry Watercolour Pencils.  An enamel dot is placed in the centre and the flower is finished off with Wink of Stella.

The stem is actually from Jar of Love.  I used a Banner Framelit for the sentiment which is from Love and Affection and the card is finished off with some of our lovely Organza Ribbon.

HEY CHICK

I'd resisted this little set from Sale-A-Bration in my first set of orders.  But I've see so many cute little projects made with it that I took the plunge and its growing on me.  Funny how some stamps can do that to you.

I'm way out of my comfort zone here and am joining in with the Less is More challenge this week which is one layer with the provison Opposites Attract and Watercooler Wednesday which is sparkle CAS. 

I used Hey Chick and Jar of Love for the flowers and the bee as well as Papillon Potpourri for the butterfly.

This would make a cute Easter Card, athough I must admit I don't normally send them out.  I'd love to know how many of you still do?

I stamped the hen and the egg in Early Espresso and used Daffodil Delight and Tangerine Tango.  I used a blender pen to colour in the chick and the egg and Wink of Stella to make it all sparkle a little.

 

DELICATE DETAILS - TIME OUT CHALLENGE 76

One of the wonderful sets in Sale-A-Bration is Delicate Details. I must admit I overlooked this set the first time I browsed through the catalogue but now I love using it.

 This card started out as a piece of Very Vanilla and I inked it up - yep I went mad with the inks!  Pink isn't normally my colour but hey - it's nearly Valentine's so love is in the air!

I'm afraid I used quite a few stamp sets here for the various backgrounds but it does show how versatile all your sets can be.

After I had inked the background I used the Versamark to edge the paper with the Delicate Details and used White Embossing Powder. Do make sure to use an Embossing Buddy before hand otherwise all your inked paper will take the powder.

I used Painter's Palette and Best Birds for some of the background images.  

The Elegant Butterfly Punch and the Bitty Butterfly punch were used for the butterflies.  I punched them out of Designer Series Paper Stacks  and then inked them up.  They have a touch of Dazzling Diamonds on their wings.

I used Jar of Love and Painter's Palette for the sentiments.  The little heart comes from Bookcase Builder - and there are a few Enamel Shapes on there also.  Phew!  Don't think this will be going in to a category challenge of Clean and Simple lol!

However, I am going to put it forward for the following challenges:

 Time Out Challenge 

FabrikaFantasyDigis 

SUOChallenges 

  Thanks for stopping by and do leave a comment - I love to hear from you.

As usual all products can be purchased from me if you are in the UK or parts of Europe - just click on my Shop logo above or browse the SU catalogue shown on the side bar.

 HAPPY CRAFTING

  
 

TOTALLY TREES - DELICATE DETAILS - SALE-A-BRATION - WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY

This week's challenge at Watercooler Wednesday is a sketch challenge - I love these - really makes you think outside of your usual box. This is the sketch for us to work with.

 

 I turned to Totally Trees for my card.  I've done a purple card for a change - its not my normal choice of colours but my daughter has Epilepsy and purple is the colour for the charity.  This month they are holding Purple Days to raise money and awareness for this condition so I will be making a lot of purple cards for her.

I used Rich Razzleberry on the tree here and then embossed over it with our Copper Embossing powder - this is so lovely!

The edging was done with one of our Sale-A-Bration FREE sets - did I mention it is FREE if you spend £45 on one order.  This set is called Delicate Details and has some gorgeous lacey images which look so lovely when embossed - embossed here once again in the Copper Embossing Powder.

The little bird is from the Best Birds Framelits. I used a white gel pen to go over him and give him some stitching marks to match the Stitching Framelits.

SUPPLIES USED:

Cardstock - Wisteria Wonder - Blushing Bride
Inks - Perfect Plum Elegant Eggplant, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry
Stamp Sets - Totally Trees, Delicate Details, Jar of Love (For You sentiment)
Framelits - Stitched Framelits, Birds and Blooms,  Bunch of Banner Framelits
Accessories - Copper Embossing Powder, Enamel Shapes, Sequins Trim, Very Vanilla Lace Trim, Wink of Stella (on bird) 

Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment - its great to hear from you

HAPPY CRAFTING 


 

POOTLERS DESIGN TEAM - TOTALLY TREES AUTUMN

It's week three of the Pootlers Design Team month of Totally Trees.  My cards have been going through the seasons and this week its Autumn.  My favourite time of the year, even though the nights are drawing in.  There is something so comforting about dark nights, fires, comfort food, and making preserves.

 I've used some of the Serene Scenery DSP here as the background - it looked kind of autumnal.  The sentiment comes from Jar of Love and I thought it had sort of an autumnal feel to it.  I do love this set and can see its going to be used a lot.