stamps + ink = cute school books

Here's another different post – one for the Mum's who have to cover their kids' school books... even though I'm sure you'll all have well finished them by now.

Cara brought home her school books to cover a few weeks ago & initially wanted to use the dreaded Contact, but I (having 'a few' stamping supplies & not enough stamping time lately) suggested we stamp some covers instead, & this was the result.

We stamped A3 sheets of paper with 'Flight of the Butterfly', 'Short Order Alphabet', 'Starring You' & 'Circle Circus' & ink pads in orchid opulence, pixie pink & tempting turquoise. (Can you pick the ones Cara did & I did? – she did a great job). Then, I covered the books with the paper & then thick plastic (to protect the stamping of course!). I have to say I was really happy how they turned out & best of all, Cara was thrilled with our handiwork. Hope you like them too.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:
Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, Short Order Alphabet, Starring You & Circle Circus
Card/Paper: A3 copy paper, pixie pink & whisper white card
Ink: orchid opulence, pixie pink & tempting turquoise

Sweet Sunday Baby

I had a bit of time to play today, so I decided to try the fabulous Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge for this week to jump start the process.

This is the sketch:...

...& this is my effort. I think it's too late to officially enter, but it was just good to have a go anyway.

As you can see, I turned the sketch around & stretched it to 21 x 10cm. The pressie image (stamped on pink pirouette & coloured with markers) is from the free 'Happy Moments' Sale-a-bration set. The polka dot papers are from the retired DSP packs, 'Spring Fling' & 'Loves Me'....I think! I used the Circle Scissor to make circles & I free cut the pink oval around the greeting.

OK, that will have to do for now, but if you have any questions, please drop me a line.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:

Stamps: Happy Moments (SAB set), Best Yet (Hostess L1)

Card/Paper: pretty in pink, pink pirouette, whisper white, Loves Me DSP, Spring Fling DSP

Ink: basic brown ink pad, pretty in pink marker
Accessories: celery grosgrain ribbon
Tools: large oval punch, circle scissor

Journals for some lovely ladies

Hi there

Today, I have something a bit different to show you....well, different for me anyway – some covered art journals that I made as a gift to each of the lovely ladies in my Stampin' Up!® team late last year.

I used different Kaleidoscope DSP sheets to cover each journal. The pack has really large prints with gorgeous colours & I thought they would work well. I adhered the DSP to the chipboard cover, then added ribbons, die cut letters & some other goodies to personalise each one.

The journals are approx 5 inches square & are filled with whisper white cardstock. On the inside, I included 3 dividers in co-ordinating colours.

Before I show you the pics, I have to say that the colours are much better IRL, as I them took the pics late at night....running late finishing things again ;0). Anyway, here we go...

On Lyndell's journal I added a knot of celery grosgrain ribbon & some felt flowers & corduroy brads to follow the stem-like print.

On Andrea's, I kept it simple & attached a die cut letter with celery ribbon, as the print was too pretty to hide.

All Leesa's journal needed was a die cut monogram & some ribbon strips compliment the bold flower.

Finally, with Cathy's I die cut the 'C' & used Crystal Effects® to make it really glossy. Since this paper print was smaller, I added some more layered detail.

Here's the inside of Lyndell's journal, so you can see what I did. Each divider has a tab made with 1 inch circle punches.

I hope these give you some ideas to make your own. If you'd like more information on covering journals or anything else I did, just drop me an e-mail.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies

Card/Paper: Art Journal, Kaleidoscope DSP, various card colours to match!

Accessories: baja breeze corduroy buttons, pink pirouette felt flowers (Flower Fusion II pack), celery & vanilla grosgrain ribbons, pink taffeta ribbon.

Tools: 1 inch circle punch, spiral punch

Tri-Shutter for Shirley

No, it's not déjà-vu, but I'm back with another tri-shutter card that I made for my wonderful mother-in-law, Shirley, whose birthday was in December.

For this one, I used a new set (well it was in December) called 'Butterfly Prints' from the Summer Mini. It's a beautiful set & even better, it has a matching punch (& you know that the only thing better than a punch is a punch that matches a stamp set!). The DSP is from 'Walk in the Park', which was from the Spring Mini & includes the unusual colour combo of basic grey, baja breeze & cameo coral. In case you're wondering, both this tri-shutter card & Mum's have a 21 x 9 cm front, so they fit in a DL (normal business size) envelope. The whole card piece is 21cm x 27cm. 

On the main front panel, I've stamped a background using one of the beautiful stems from the Pocket Silhouettes' set, added some baja double stitched ribbon, then the stars of the show – 2 layered butterflies with a rhinestone brad centre & a scalloped oval greeting.

Well, I think that's about it, but please contact me if you'd like any more information.

Inky wishes, Di

PS: Did you know? The scallop oval punch (& some other accessories too) from the Spring Mini is still available for purchase, even though it doesn't appear in the Summer Mini. I'm so happy about that one!

Supplies:
Stamps: Butterfly Prints, Pocket Silhouettes, It's Your Birthday
Card/paper: whisper white, baja breeze, cameo coral
Ink: baja breeze, cameo coral
Accessories: clear rhinestone brad, baja breeze double stitched ribbon
Tools: butterfly punch

Tri-Shutter for Mum

Today, I have another tri-shutter card to show you. These seem to have become my go-to card when I need an extra special something. I made this one for my wee Mum's 80^th birthday in November.

I used some beautiful Haiku DSP for this one, teamed with the main flower image from the 'Upsy Daisy' set. To get the graded colour on the flowers, I inked the whole flower stamp with so saffron, two thirds with more mustard & one third with tangerine tango & then stamped on very vanilla card. I attached filigree & celery rhinestone brads to old olive ribbon & wrapped it around the front panel. The '80' (from 'Short Order Numbers') is stamped in tangerine tango, the happy birthday (from 'Think Happy Thoughts) in old olive & punched You can see the layers better here.

Update: I've added one more pic, so you can see the full layout.

Anyway, hope you like it. I'll be back with another tri-shutter later.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:

Stamps: Upsy Daisy, think Happy Thoughts, Short Order Numbers (Retired)

Card/Paper: very vanilla, tangerine tango, old olive card, Haiku DSP

Ink: so saffron, more mustard, tangerine tango, old olive

Accessories: old olive grosgrain, filigree brad, celery rhinestone brad

Tools: circle punches – ¾ inch, 1 ¼ inch 1 3/8 inch

Some birthday love

I promised I'd be back with something to show you, so without further delay....

It's been ages since I made this one for my gorgeous Damien's birthday waaay back in November. I like giving unusual cards to Damien, so I came up the idea of making with mini Cara & Di's (using the 'All in the Family' set) holding a heart of Sweet Treats (new in the Summer Mini).

The 'minis' were stamped with a choc chip marker since some of the body pieces had to be realigned & I used some riding hood red 'Candy Lane' DSP for the dresses & heart. To get the lollies (red Skittles) out of the cup, I made a pull tab with more 'Candy Lane' DSP & cut some circles in the base & mat layers. You can maybe see them here.

It was a little bit of trial & error making the holes (not helped by me only making it the day before Damo's birthday), so I think I could do it much simpler next time, but I finished off the card with the Love you greeting from 'Short & Sweet' punched out & layered on punched word window. The hearts inside are from the 'Something Sweet' set, which is designed to work with the Sweet Treat Cups.

I was still really happy how it turned out in the end, & best of all, Damien loved it. He still hasn't eaten the lollies though, despite much persuasion from Cara. Hope you like this sweet idea too.

Warm & inky wishes
Di

Supplies:
Stamps: All in the Family, Short & Sweet, Something Sweet
Card/Paper: choc chip, pink pirouette, whisper white, Candy Lane DSP
Ink: choc chip & blush blossom stampin' write markers, riding hood red ink pad
Accessories: Sweet Treat cup
Tools: small oval & word window punches, 3/4 inch circle punch, Circle Scissor Plus
Other: Skittles lollies

a little update

It doesn't seem like a month & a half since I've blogged, as the time has passed so quickly. I wish I could say that we've been having too much fun for me to find time to blog, but in reality, it's been a huge time of change for our family, which although is positive overall, has been very emotionally draining & we're still coming to terms with it all.

As some of you know, my Mum is living with Alzheimer's disease. As the disease has progressed, her care needs have grown & by last September, we realised Mum was needed more help than we could give her at home. Since then, we've been waiting for her to be offered a permanent place in a good care facility. We were expecting a long wait, but by God's grace, we were offered one unexpectedly in our preferred place on 11 January & Mum had to moved in 2 days later (when things happen, they happen fast!). As you can probably imagine, the change has been a rollercoaster of emotions for Mum & for us all, not to mention our extended family & Mum's friends & one we all just need more time to settle into a new phase of life.

One thing I know is that I'm so so so thankful to have my darling Damien at my side to share the load (& my many moods) & wonderful friends to talk things over with (& on many occasions cry with). I've also been so proud of my special girl Cara, who's had lots of deal with beyond an 8 year olds experience. Anyway, I won't say more for now. Hope to be back soonish.

Warmest wishes
Di

PS: A final hello & thanks to my fab & understanding friends & customers who haven't had a class since December & no blogging inspiration either. I'm looking forward to getting some stamping done soon to show you. I do have a few things to show that I made in Nov/Dec/Jan for friends & family, so hope to get them up here soon.