Weekend Sketch Challenge

I made this for Beate's sketch challenge this weekend. I used a new set from Stampin Up called Upsy Daisy - it came all the way from Germany from my Secret Sister, April. I made this for her to say a big thank you for all the lovely things that April has sent me over the last 3 months:)
I stamped the the daisies in 3 different inks and then used my new Lables 1 nestabilities to frame it.

Berry Sorbet Flowers

I think Berry Sorbet ink from Papertrey is one of my all time favourite ink colours. I thought I'd try something new for this card - I squished some of the ink on to the lid of the ink pad and picked up the colour with an aqua brush and used it to paint the flowers. I wasn't sure if hybrid ink would work with water but I liked how I could then match the flowers to the Papertrey designer paper, cardstock and ribbon. I lifted the layout of the flowers from Melanie (again!) as I just loved how she had grouped them on her card on her blog. The flowers on the middle panel are stamped in the same ink on the reverse of the linen vellum cardstock.

No Flowers!

My DD needed a card for a friend's birthday last week and so I put this together for her using some matching papers and this fun stamp set from My Favorite Things called 'How Sweet it Is'. I used Copic Markers to colour it in and added sentiment & ribbon by Papertrey and some hodgepodge hardware from Stampin Up.

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge

I go look at Beate's weekend sketch challenge every weekend and this was great inspiration to put this card together. I used my new Year of Flowers stamps and took my colours from the designer of the stamps Melanie Muenchinger - check out her beautiful blog if you have time. I was trying for an Autumnal (if that's how you spell it!) feel for this one.

Rainy Day Tulips

It's a really miserable rainy day here today and the clocks went back this morning so it's going to be dark extra early - not my favourite time of year so a good excuse to stay in and play with my new stamps from Gina K. Designs. The tulip is from A Year of Flowers and I made this as a case for the featured stamper over at SCS's to send to a friend who is having a very tough time right now.

Home for the Holidays

I made this acetate card as a submission for the Papertrey Ink guest star stamper this month (you can see all the great entries here) using a combination of two sets - Boards and Beams and Home for the Holidays. I went through a whole pack of acetate to get the fence and masked trees right when I was stamping them with white stazon.

The house was coloured with Copic markers and the decorated windows & snow (done with liquid applique) are popped up to give it a bit of dimension.

I was definately the most difficult card to photograph as I kept getting my own reflection in it! I just managed to keep it open here with Paul holding while I clicked away. The inside sentiment is from the Holiday Wishes set and the leaves/berries from Believe.

A Rose is a Rose

In my last parcel of goodies from the US was this new rose set from Stampin Up and some new Bella Rosa papers. I had decided to get it and sell my old wild rose one and I'm so glad I did as this one is so much better and the main rose is smaller and easier to use.


I was lucky enough to win a prize from Split Coast Stampers recently -thank you Gina :) - and it included some of the new In-colours, so I used some here. The green was some older SU cardstock and I think it clashes a bit but by the time I had stuck all those roses and leaves on I wasn't going to change it!

The roses are stamped with Papertrey Sweet Blush and Berry Sorbet inks - love those colours.

Blue Poppies

I've been playing with my new set again and thought I'd try a very non-poppy colour but I like how it turned out. I eventually managed to tie a tidy bow - courtesy of Becca Freeken who has a great tutorial video on her blog Amazing Paper Grace, for the first time I didn't get the knot the wrong way around - so simple when you see it done properly! I added a strip of paper I stamped with Papertrey's Guide Lines stamps - I love how you can make so many different patterns with it.

Tapestry Rubber Stamps x 2

I spent the day out with my DD trailing round the big shopping centre in North London and I needed to do something relaxing afterwards! It's a while since I got my tiny tapestry rubber stamps out and these were two quickies that I paired with some Stampin Up paper from their designer paper stack and some May Arts ribbon. I can't get the stickles glitter glue to show very well in the photo but they do sparkle quite prettily.

Colour Challenge

Today's colour challenge over on Splitcoast Stampers was pink, black and white - I just love that combination. The pink is for breast cancer awareness month and I was remembering my flower arranging teacher at evening class who lost her battle 3 years ago. I still have foliage plants in my garden that I planted on her recommendation. I used the Remember set from Papertrey Ink but added the Believe stamp (double stamped in pink and black) from the Christmas set as I thought that sentiment worked well with the belief that a cure will be found for this dreadful disease. On that note - are you all doing your checks yourself? :)

Scallop Oval Pair

Here are two cards I made last weekend - same layout just different stamps. I used the Blossoms Abound set from Stampin Up for this first one with SU coloured cardstock and Papertrey stampers select white cardstock which is worth the postage alone from the US -

and Floral Frenzy from Papertrey Ink for this one which uses berry sorbet ink, ribbon and cardstock from Papertry.

I think I'll make a few more as a set and get some more milage from my Nestabilities!

Out of the Box Siberian Iris

I know it's not very seasonal to have irises in Autumn but I made this for the sketch challenge over on Split Coast Stampers. I love the papers and cardstock from Papertrey they are such great quality. The Flourishes iris stamp is coloured with Copic markers and the half pearl and pin is made from the Stampin Up Pretties kit. My blending of the Copics is starting to get better - slowly :)