Baby girl chickie

Hi there & happy weekend. Today, I’m showing you a baby card I made recently to welcome a friend’s beautiful baby girl (waving at you Kim!).

On looking at this card again, I realised there’s a couple of elements I unknowingly repeated from Kellie’s card, even though I made them a couple of weeks apart – weird! Can you see what they are?
The cute little chickie is from the ‘A Good Egg’ set. It’s actually an Easter set, but I think she looks really cute for babies. Chickie is stamped on barely banana & cut out. Her egg is cut from a ‘Good Morning Sunshine’ DSP print. Here she is up close.

On the inside, I added some more DSP & scallops & one more cute chickie for good measure.

Hope you like this idea. Thanks for popping in for a visit. Nightie night for now.

Inky wishes, Di

PS: I made a mini album for Kim too, so I’ll try to give you a peek of that next time.

Supplies:

Stamps: A Good Egg (chickie), Family Phrases

Card/Paper: pink pirouette, pretty in pink, barely banana, certainly celery & very vanilla card, Tea Party DSP, Good Morning Sunshine DSP

Ink: basic brown ink pad, so saffron marker (beak)

Accessories: certainly celery grosgrain ribbon, pink taffeta ribbon

Tools: punches – large oval & scallop oval

Kellie’s birthday flower

Hi there & hope you're having a happy weekend. Today's card is one I made recently for my gorgeous friend & fellow stamper, Kellie's birthday.

The large flower is made from a combination of die cut blooms flowers and flower fusion felt flowers with a pink rhinestone brad in the centre. You can see the flower layers better here.

I made a stem for the flower one of the greetings from the 'Flight of the Butterfly' set which I thought looked a bit like a stem and leaf, as well as having a lovely message that I thought was so true of Kellie – "one person can make a difference and that person is you". I also used a large silver grommet (from the Summer Mini) with some double stitched ribbon. The colours don't look quite right again, but I used rose red, pink pirouette (for the front flower panel), chocolate chip & a beautiful print paper from the 'Tea Party' pack.On the inside, I added a panel to hold a gift card & added another felt flower to finish it off.

I was really happy with how this one came out. Hope you like it too. Thanks so much for popping by & if you'd like more info on anything, just let me know. Back soonish.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly - stem (IB&C p82), For Everything - Bracket (Summer Mini), Happy Moments – Happy Birthday greeting (SAB)

Card/Paper: rose red, pink pirouette, chocolate chip card, Tea Party DSP (IB&C p 133), die cut flower - Blooms Again (IB&C page 144)

Ink: old olive, choc chip ink pads

Accessories: large grommets (Summer Mini), chocolate chip double stitched ribbon (IB&C p 150), pink rhinestone brad, felt flowers – Flower Fusion & Flower Fusion Too Accents & Elements (IB&C page 144)

Tools: scallop edge punch

Leesa’s birthday book

Today, I have another book project to show you. This time, a birthday book I made for my friend & SU team member Leesa, whose birthday was at the end of January.

If you haven't heard of birthday books (or card organisers), they include a perpetual calendar of dates/months for you to record special occasions like birthdays & anniversaries & pocket pages to store cards you've made ready to send in that month (if you're organised that is!). I've wanted to make one for ages & thought it would be a great pressie for Leesa, as she is very organised, as well as being very thoughtful.

The whole book is completely handmade (well, except for the wire binding). I used lots of different papers from the retired 'Afternoon Tea' DSP pack & matching 'Live your Dream' stamp set, as I thought Leesa would like the colours & theme. Here's a closer view of the front cover.

The covers are made from the thick card backing sheets included in our designer series paper packs. I covered the outside cover in DSP & the inside cover in cardstock. You can see a close up of the front decoration here. (A big thanks to Nette for lending me her 'Life Definitions' set for the 'remember' definition, which worked so well). You can see the inside cover & first pocket here:

Each pocket page is made with half a 12x12 sheet of card. I included 13 pockets in the book (1 extra, so that you can store stamps, tags etc in the front of the book & so the January calendar wouldn't have to be on the inside cover). The finished pocket pages are about 20 x 15cm. The covers are a little bigger.

For the calendar, I made a table in word & added the month & days (the font is called Amelie in case you're interested!). I stamped a couple of tiny flowers either side of the month, to carry the theme over to the calendar. Here's a pic of a calendar page:

I bound the book with a binding machine to make the holes & a ¾ inch o ring. I don't think you could add any more pages than this for that size. I hindsight, I would probably use less layers around the pockets too, as it made them quite thick in the middle. Nevertheless, I was really happy how it all turned out & I think Leesa liked it too, which is what it's all about.

If you'd like to try making your own book, you can find a similar book here at Splitcoast. Please contact  me if you have any questions.

Thanks for visiting & hope to see you back again soon.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
Stamps: Live Your Dream (Retired) Life Definitions
Card/Paper: choc chip, soft sky, groovy guava, wild wasabi card (all retired), whisper white card,  Afternoon Tea DSP (retired)
Ink: choc chip, groovy guava, wild wasabi, soft sky
Accessories: choc chip grosgrain ribbon, ruby red brads
Tools: scallop edge punch, binding machine

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.