French Foliage - Getting Ready for Fall

Hello my friends.

With the beginning of fall, we tend to put away the summer clothes, pull out the warm sweaters and anticipate the wonderful colours that only fall can bring.  I love this time of year - it always seems like a time of new beginnings and beauty everywhere.  I wanted to create a card that reflected a change in the seasons and I came up with this:

The stamped leaf image is from the "French Foliage" stamp set (page 115) and instead of using ink to stamp the leaf, I used Stampin' Up Write Markers (page 202) which gives me the freedom of mixing different colours and making the leaves look more authentic.  I really like the way it turned out.  I made this card for a girlfriend that I have known since Jr. Kindergarten and we just recently hooked up again on Facebook.  Just a little something to show that I have been thinking of her.  What can YOU create to reflect the time of the season?

It Happens in Threes - Technique Tuesday

Hello my friends.  Happy Tuesday.

I don't have so much of a technique as much as it is something worth a try.  How about stamping an image three times to give your card more of a visual appeal? It doesn't sound like much, but I sure do like the look.  Tell me what you think....

I love this stamp set.  It's called "Established Elegance" (page 130) and I just love the retro feel of it.  It would be a perfect card for a girlfriend to say hi or to cheer her up.  I used linen thread (page 194) to wrap around it to give it texture and dimension. 

This stamp is from the stamp set called "Under the Big Top" (page 63 ).  It's really a great set to invest in.  I used Watercolor Pencils (page 202) to color in the image and then a blender pen (page 203) to finish it off.  It creates a nice, soft look.

This stamped image is from the "Timeless Treasures" stamp set (page 135).

So you get the picture.  You could infuse new life in an old stamp set just by finding new ways to use it.  It's worth a try.  See what YOU can come up with!

I'm Back

Hello my friends.  Summer is over and here we are in September, back to school routines and forging ahead with work schedules.  It's taken me a while to get back to what I love but I am definitely back.

Last week, my husband and I celebrated our 11th year anniversary.  As usual, I wanted to make a card for him and was flipping through a cardmaking magazine called Card Creations.  I saw a card that I wanted to duplicate so I have to give a shout out to the person who designed it in the first place.  Her name is Jane Ralph and she is featured on page 17 in the latest Card Creations magazine that is out on newstands right now.  As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to do it.  Here's my take:

The main colour that I used is Poppy Parade (cardstock & ink) and I just love the way it turned out.  It doesn't take itself too seriously which is exactly what I wanted.  Anniversary cards don't have to be all stuffy and stiff with the usual flowers and romantic overtures.  And  yes, my husband loved it.

See you tomorrow!