Easy Events Cupcakes

Hi there! Today's project is one we made at my friend Jo's workshop this month. Jo wanted to learn about watercolouring & has the Easy Events set - a perfect one if you're new to watercolouring - so this is what everyone made.

I pre-punched circles of watercolour paper & we stamped the cake image with black staz-on. Then we coloured the image with four of the 2011-13 In-Colours & added a little dazzling diamonds to finish.

After that, the rest of the card came together with simple layering, including some yummy SAB paper. Just about everyone there was new to stamping and/or watercolouring, but I was really impressed with how well they did.

Going Purple!

Fast forward a week after the workshop. I needed two birthday cards for Cara's friends & no time! Thankfully, a spare workshop kit gave me card one. Then, I decided to make the same card in a different colour combo. Cara requested 'purple' for the second card, but mono-chromatic wasn't working for me, so I went out of the box (for me) & settled on elegant eggplant (love) & daffodil delight (generally not so love, but hey, they're complementary colours!). Anyway here's the finished card, complete with extra bling.You can decide for yourself whether it works! Cara thought it was cool, so that was good enough for me!...& the colours looked better IRL.

Easy Events Tip! - Use the clear mount version of the set & separate the sentiment from the image for even more flexibility to swap sentiments & easy inking. If you want to use them together, simply place on the same clear block.

Next time, I'll show you the hostess gift I made for Jo, to give her more watercolour inspiration.

I can't show you my demo project, as didn't take a pic! Until then, thanks for visiting & please leave a comment if you have any questions about anything.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:

Pool Party Card

Stamps: Easy Events

Card/Paper: pool party, island indigo, calypso coral, very vanilla card, watercolour paper, Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB)

Ink: jet black staz-on ink pad, island indigo, pool party, calypso coral, lucky limeade ink pads

Accessories - calypso coral ruffled ribbon, dazzling diamonds glitter

Tools: Big Shot, circles die #2 (2 inch circle), punches - 2 3/8in scallop circle, 1 3/4 in circle, word window, modern label punch

Eggplant/Daffodil

Stamps: Easy Events, Create a Cupcake

Card/Paper: elegant eggplant, daffodil delight, very vanilla card

Ink: jet black staz-on ink pad, elegant eggplant, daffodil delight, pumpkin pie, lucky limeade ink pads 

Accessories - basic rhinestones, elegant eggplant dotted scallop ribbon, dazzling diamonds glitter

Tools: Big Shot, circles die #2 (2 inch circle), punches - 2 3/8in scallop circle, 1 3/4 in circle

Quick & easy - Fresh Vintage + Pretty Postage

Sneaking in a quick post today, to show you some super quick & easy thank you cards. Both are made with a combination of the Fresh Vintage & Pretty Postage sets & my newest punches from the Summer Mini Catalogue - the postage stamp & 1 inch square.  Here's the first, in a fave girly combo of razzleberry & melon on crisp white.

The second is a square version in more neutral colours of tangerine tango, island indigo, lucky limeade & vanilla.

I love the pretty flower stamp from the Fresh Vintage SAB set & it fits the punch perfectly (as you would expect).
Both cards are pretty self explanatory, but if you have any questions, just leave me a comment.

Pretty Postage Gift Bag & Tag
I have one more little Pretty Postage project to show you before I go. It's a little gift bag (approx 10cm x 20cm x 5cm) made with some Flirtatious Speciality DSP & a very easy matching tag. The daffodil & eggplant is an unusual colour combo for me & didn't show up quite right in the pic, but I liked how it turned out.

Next time, I WILL be back with the workshop projects I promised!
Until then,
Inky wishes, Di

PS: The Summer Mini ends on March 31, so if you'd like the punches or Pretty Postage set, let me know before then.

Supplies:
card 1
Stamps: Fresh Vintage, Pretty Postage
Card: whisper white, melon mambo, rich razzleberry card, Patterns DSP (brights - melon)
Ink: melon mambo, rich razzleberry ink pads
Accessories: basic pearls
Tools: punches - postage stamp & 1 inch square

card 2:
Stamps: Fresh Vintage, Pretty Postage
Card: tangerine tango, lucky limeade, island indigo card
Ink: tangerine tango, lucky limeade, island indigo ink pads
Tools: punches - postage stamp & 1 inch square

Gift bag:
Stamps: Pretty Postage
Card: daffodil delight, elegant eggplant, very vanilla card, Flirtatious Specialty DSP
Ink: elegant eggplant ink pad
Accessories: eggplant dotted scallop ribbon
Tools: punches - postage stamp & 1 inch square

Enchanted flower baskets

As promised, I'm back to show you the second project from my February class - a cute basket, made with the larger of the Two Tags die. This would be perfect to hold an Easter or Mother's Day, or anytime treat.

Like this card, the main feature is another beautiful Cathy Clark style flower.
This one is made with pool party card (which I'm kind of obsessed with atm.) I forgot to mention how I made the leaves last time, so I'll share that now. I punched the largest leaf from the Blossom Builder punch, scored a slight curve from end to end & sponged the edges & centre with a little old olive ink.

I've seen quite a few of these baskets around, but I got my starting measurements from a tutorial by the fabulous Bronwyn Eastley, who demonstrated lots of great ideas using this die at SU Regionals in Tassie. I tend to work in cm's so I fiddled around with sizing & made this almost square version, which is about 7cm deep.
This was my first version - riding hood red - which is pretty much the same size as Bronwyn's - approx 4.8cm deep.

Both baskets are wrapped with a pretty piece of Everyday Enchantment DSP & the basket handles are secured to the base with 2 mini brads.
Hope you like this little project. I'll definitely be making more of them.

Before I go, I really recommend you check out Bron's two tags tutorial, as she shows so many fantastic ways to use this die. You can find it here: Bronwyn Eastley's fantastic Two Tags die tutorial. Don't forget to leave a comment on her blog to say thanks!

Almost forgot to show you this quick & cute little tag I made at the same time with the Two Tags die, used for it's original purpose. The tag has a score line which allows it to fold onto itself & lock under the little tab. I used a smaller flower - this one is just the doily & boho punches. I added a sentiment from the Friendly Phrases set, on more DSP & some lovely coral SAB ribbon. Simple, but very cute I think

Next time, I'll show you a project for a workshop I ran for a friend, earlier this month.

Hope you're having a fun weekend. Thanks for visiting & hope you come again soon. Leave a comment if you have any questions, just want to say hi.
Inky wishes, Di

Edited to Add - 21 Mar: Now with instructions! 
I've now added my class instruction sheet to make these baskets, so I hope you find this useful. Any questions, just leave me a comment

My Two Tags Basket Instructions:  Click here!

Supplies:
Baskets
Card/Paper: pool party/riding hood red, very vanilla, old olive card, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Accessories: antique brads, mini brads
Tools: Big Shot, Two Tags die, punches - fancy flower, doily triple layer, boho blossoms, blossom builder

Tag
Stamps: Friendly Phrases
Ink: early espresso ink pad
Card/Paper: pool party, calypso coral, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Accessories:  in colour printed brads,Everyday Enchantment ribbon - calypso coral
Tools: Big Shot, Two Tags die, punches - doily triple layer, boho blosso

Enchanted flowers side spring card

Hello, I'm finally back! Tonight's card is one I made for my gorgeous friend Kellie's birthday in Feb. I liked it so much it became one of the projects for my first class of the year too. Kellie & I both love fancy fold cards, so when I saw a tutorial on SplitcoastStampers for a side spring card, I thought I MUST try this. Then I saw some great info on our SU Demonstrator site by the v talented Cathy Clark, on making awesome vintage style flowers with punches. So, I combined the two with some pretty SAB DSP, yummy velvet ribbon & this is what I came up with.

I adjusted the size of the Splitcoast side spring card, to make it bigger & fit our standard size envelopes....although I needed a padded envelope for this flower version!

Here's a slightly different layout, using a different sentiment from the 'Friendly Phrases' set. Love, love, love this set!

And, here's a close up of the flowers.

I made the flowers with a combination of 3 punches - the fancy flower, triple layer doily & largest boho blossom. Just put all the layers together with a brad (I used our gorgeous antique brads), then wet & scrunch each layer, then gently open up each scrunched layer & leave to dry in your preferred shape. I got a little impatient & used my heat gun on some - just be careful not to singe the flower or yourself.

I think my class regulars enjoyed the project too & now we're experimenting with other flowers & punches too. Kellie liked it too, as she decided to make a variation with her own class this month.
Hope you liked them too.

If you'd like to try either the side step card or the flowers, check out the following links:
Side Spring card tutorial here
Some of Cathy's fab flower projects - you must check out all Cathy's flowers. They're just divine!
Any other questions? Just leave a comment.....or leave a comment anyway. I love hearing from you.

I'll show you the second project from my class next time. Until then, thanks very much for visiting.
Inky wishes, Di

Edited to add - looking at the pics now, the cards are at a weird angle making the diagonal look huge. It's not like that IRL. I had so much trouble photographing this & tried 3 separate times, so not going back again! Sorry!
Supplies:
Stamps: Friendly Phrases
Card/Paper: very vanilla, early espresso, riding hood red card, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: early espresso
Accessories: antique brads, regular brads, very vanilla velvet ribbon
Tools: punches: fancy flower, triple layer doily, boho blossom, blossom builder, decorative label

Up, up & away

Today I have two cards to share using the Up, Up & Away stamp set. Both cards were made for good friends back in November (I know, I know, still behind!). This set was at the top of my must-have list, as I loved the look & flexibility of the images for so many types of cards & the little details like the birds & pennant trails.
One for a guy
First up, one for my friend Ray, in shades of blue.

This is one of my fave go-to layouts & I liked how it worked with the balloons. The balloons are all stamped, cut out & popped off the base with dimensionals.The navy strip at the bottom is our great denim ribbon, which is great for male cards (click on the pic to see it closer). on the inside, I created another little scene to finish it off.

...& one for a girl
I made this centre step step card for my dear friend (& now keen stamper) Alison. This was my first attempt at the style of card & won't be my last, as it's such a fun fold.

I used the balloons in a similar way to Ray's card. This time, I added some itty bitty punch flowers & pearls to make them a little more girly. The colours are a bit off in the pic, so let me tell you that they're pool party, island indigo, poppy parade & calypso coral.

If you'd like to try a centre step card, check out this tutorial on SplitcoastStampers.com.
I changed the measurements for my card & can't remember for the life of me what they were. If you'd like to know, leave a comment & I'll see if I can 'borrow' the card back from my friend (Hi Alison!).

Edited 16 Sept 2014
You can now download my pdf tutorial for a centre step card in this post.

Anyway, must fly for now. Hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for visiting & hope to hear from you or see you here again soon.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies: All Stampin' Up!
For a Guy
Stamps: Up, Up & Away
Card/Paper: Night of Navy, bashful blue\, whisper white card, Patterns DSP (Regals - Navy)
Ink: night of navy, bashful blue ink pad & markers
Accessories: blue denim ribbon
Tools: Big Shot, Top Note die

For a Girl
Stamps: Up, Up & Away, Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess)
Card/Paper: pool party, whisper white, calypso coral, poppy parade card. Patterns DSP (In-colour 11-13 - indigo & pool party)
Ink: poppy parade, calypso coral
Accessories: basic pearls
Tools: itty bitty punch pack flower

Harry Potter Owl pocket card

I've something a little different to my beloved butterflies to show you today - a Harry Potter-themed pocket card featuring my favourite owlie friend, dressed up as Harry.

(click pic for a bigger image)

I made this for Cara to give Damien for his birthday back in November. She had a great idea to get Damien tickets to the Harry Potter exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney.....yes, we're all big Harry Potter fans, so I want a Harry themed card. I also love dressing up owlie, so I went had a bit of a play & came up with what you see here. I also tried a bit of curling & distressed  for a more vintage look...well, as distressed as I do anyway.
Anyhoo, here is Harry Owl for his close-up - very simple, but I think kind-of Harry like. All the bits as made using shapes from the owl punch.

I wanted to include the tickets in the card, so a pocket card was the best option. I found a couple of free HP like fonts online & used them for the inside message. Cara was pretty impressed with that!. By the way, the card front is approx 21cm x 10cm & fitted a DL envelope.

It was a lot of fun to make & it made Damien smile, so that's a win in my book. Hope you like it too.
That's it for me tonight - must finish the post before my battery runs out. Thanks very much for visiting. Hope you pop in again soon.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
Stamps: Curly Cute
Card/Paper: basic black, whisper white, riding hood red (textured card), Patterns DSP (neutrals pack)
Ink: staz on black, black stampin' write journal pen
Accessories: black satin ribbon, silver brads
Tools: owl builder punch, Big Shot, Circles #2 die

Another enchanted butterfly

Well I didn't get back here as quick as I expected, but at least I'm here now to show you the card I made for Leesa, to match the butterfly frame I made for her.

It's a very simple & well used layout, but I liked how it turned out...I can't help myself with those butterflies. Like the frame, I used the SAB Everyday Enchantment DSP & Patterns DSP. I also used the ribbons & a brad from the SAB accessories pack. I like the subtle shimmer that the ribbons added to the card....even if it doesn't show in the pic....so here's another angle. This one shows off my new sentiment stamp set - Friendly Phrases, which includes 2 of my fave fonts & such lovely sentiments.

 I kept it simple on the inside of the card. Just some DSP, card & more butterflies just for good measure.

I hope you're not getting too sick of butterflies. I seem to have had a real obsession with them, looking through my card pics...& I haven't even shown you them all!
Thanks very much for visiting & leave me a comment to say hi if you have time. I love hearing from you. Until next time, inky wishes
Di

Supplies:
Stamps: Friendly Phrases
Card/Paper: pool party, calypso coral, poppy parade card, Everyday Enchantment DSP, In Colours 11-13 Patterns DSP
Ink: early espresso
Accessories: everyday Enchantment accessory pack (SAB) - brad & ribbons
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, Beautiful Wings die,

Everyday enchantment butterfly frame

Today's project was a gift I made for my lovely friend Leesa's birthday. She loves butterflies, so I came up with the idea to make a shadow box frame with my butterfly dies & I have to say was thrilled with how it turned out.

The whole frame (which I got at Ikea ages ago) is about 71cm x 31cm & is about 5cm deep. The white border is part of the glass & the base sits well below the glass. This leaves heaps of space for some beautiful 3d butterflies. Here's a close up of each window.

The butterflies are of course cut using my fave Beautiful Butterflies die & Beautiful Wings embosslit die. "What's that beautiful paper" you say? Well, the backing & butterflies are mainly the Everyday Enchantment DSP pack,  made especially for Sale-a-bration, teamed with a little of the in-colour Patterns DSP & a little calypso coral & pool party card. The butterflies are finished off with some antique brads (large butterflies) & Sale-a-bration brad pack (smaller butterflies).

The butterflies are lightly curled at the edges & popped up with many, many, many dimensionals to keep them in place - some are 3-high! Here are some angled pics I took before the butterflies went in the frame, so you can see the layers better. Unfortunately, they were taken at night with dodgy lighting, so the colours are a little off.

I was so happy with how it all turned out & even better that Leesa really loved it. I think I'm going to have to make another one for me too. Hope you like it too. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment.
I'm out of time for now, so I'll have to show you the matching card I made for Leesa next time.
Until then, thanks very much for visiting & come back soon.
Inky wishes, Di

PS: In case you've missed the Sale-a-bration buz, you can earn the paper & brads I used here FREE during Sale-a-bration, which runs until the end of March.

You can find out more about Sale-a-bration HERE, or by contacting me

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless noted)
Card/Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB), In-colour 11-13 Patterns DSP, calypso coral & pool party card
Accessories: Antique brads, Everyday Enchantment brads (SAB)
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, Beautiful Wings embosslit die
Other: frame from Ikea

Poppy Butterflies for JAI 103

Hi there. Today I actually have a new project to show you (shocking I know). I'm trying to get back into my stamping groove & have quite a few cards to make & thought a challenge would be a good way to get me started. So, I checked out the latest challenge at the fab Just Add Ink, which is JAI103 - just add red & white.
I thought the challenge would be pretty easy, but the red & white was a little trickier in practice. The one easy choice was using the butterflies. There's just something about them that I can't resist at the moment & I had my two butterfly dies already on my desk, so I went for it. Anyway, without any further waffle, you can see what I came up with.

I cut the butterflies from some retired poppy parade DSP & cardstock. I also used some of the Sale-a-bration DSP pack for the bottom mat. Initially, I stamped the white stripe embossed panel with a swirly stamp, but thought it was a little busy, so I changed it. I distressed the edges of all the mat pieces. I popped the sentiment inside one of the embossed designer frames, which I cut out & mounted on dimensionals. The butterfly edges are sponged & popped with dimensionals & not forgetting the cute brad from the SAB accessory pack.

Here's a different angle to show the layers better:

Anyway, hope you like what I came up with. Leave some comment love if you have any q's or just want to say hi. Bye for now.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:

Stamps Elements of Style

Card/Paper: poppy parade, riding hood red, whisper white card, In-colour 10-12 Patterns Hostess DSP pack (retired), Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB)

Accessories: white taffeta ribbon, Everyday Enchantment brads pack (SAB), basic pearls

Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, Beautiful Wings die, Designer frames embossing folder, stripes embossing folder, sponge dauber

Inlaid embossing fun with K's

Todays card is one I made for a friend who wanted to give a special 40th birthday card for a friend. While asking what her friend might like, she said the friend was having a themed party where everyone had to come dressed as something beginning with the letter K, as the birthday girl's name begins with K - fun huh! So, with that in mind, this is what I came up with:

 As you can see, I've used the inlaid embossing technique again with the square lattice embossing folder. I just love the look this gives. The K & the 40 is from the timeless type junior alphabet die set & I think it was perfect for this, since it's almost square. I thought it might look too plain with just the K's so I added some itty bitty punched flowers before I embossed & some little rhinestones after.
The card is a tall one - The front is approx 21cm x 10cm from memory. This was a hurried photo, so the colours are not quite right, but you get the idea ;0)

It's been a while since I made this, but I'm pretty sure at the time I thought of the lovely Sarah Klass's card with numbers to get me started (coincidentally a 'K' too!). Thanks again Miss S.

My friend liked what I came up with & hopefully the birthday girl did too.

Thanks very much for stopping by. Hope you liked the card & hope to see you again soon.

Inky wishes, Di

Supplies

Card/Paper: baja breeze base, rose red, regal rose, whisper white, lots of Subtles collection scraps for the K's

Accessories: basic rhinestones, celery grograin ribbon (retired)

Tools: Big Shot, square lattice embossing folder, Timeless Type junior alphabet dies, circles #2 die, 1 3/4 inch cirle punch, itty bitty punch pack