Father’s Day Trio using Urban District

With Father’s Day just three weeks away I decided it was time to add to my stash of male cards. I chose to use the retiring Urban District stamp set as this is a very male themed set. All three of the cards I made could be used for Father’s Day but also Dad birthday’s as I’ve not used the phrase “Father’s Day” on any of them.

urbandistrictno1card

For all three cards I kept to a colour scheme of Crumb Cake, Early Expresso, Cherry Cobbler and Crushed Curry. I think you could replace the Cherry Cobbler with either Garden Green or Dapper Denim if these colours were more suited to your dad.

The first cards also uses the Labeler  Alphabet to create the DAD background. I stamped each letter individually as there wasn’t two “d” letters in either font. This took a little time but I think is a great effect. I then simply finished this card by stamping the hexagon in Crushed Curry and cutting it out ( if you have the Build It Framelits there is a matching die in the set). I then simply added a couple of strips of cardstock in Early Expresso and Cherry Cobbler as an anchor for my hexagon. To finish the card I added a few loops of linen thread behind the hexagon before I stuck in down.

urbandistrictreddadcards

With the second card I made I still wanted to create a background with words so I chose the “world’s greatest” and stamped in all down the card front in Early Expresso. Looking at the card now I wish I’d used Crumb Cake or Versa mark for a more tone on tone effect as I think the letters would have stood out more.

urbandistrictdadcard

This final card is my favourite because I love how much the Dad letters stand out and how you can really see what detailed stamps they are with all the little icons. I love that there is even a tractor on them, which makes them perfect for all the important men in my life.

urbandistrictfathersdaycardtrio

Here are all three together, I’d love to know which is your favourite?

Remember the Urban District stamp set is on the retiring list and only available until Wednesday 31st May.

Happy Crafting

Joanne x

Birthday Bright: Quick & Simple Birthday Cards

Today I’m highlighting the Birthday Bright set, a set which I love but think has been slightly overlooked in the catalogue. It’s supposed to compliment the Birthday Bright project kit but I feel its a great little stamp set on its own. It’s especially useful for making quick and simple birthday cards.

birthdaybrighttwinset

I choose to pair this set with the new Fresh Florals Designer Series Paper Stack, which now comes as loose sheets. I choose the Lemon Lime Twist sheets as its so bright and felt it matched the feel of this stamp set perfectly. I love how well it has worked with both Berry Burst and Pacific Point.

birthdayrightpacificpointcard

I think my favourite thing about the Birthday Bright stamp set is this Happy Birthday font, its big, bold and curvy meaning you don’t really need to add much else to make a great card.

birthdaybrightberryburstcard

I added the balloons to add to the birthday feel but think this card would have worked just as well without them. Bold and bright these cards make me happy when I  look at them. If you  like the Birthday Bright set then gab it quick as its only around for four more days!

Happy Crafting

Joanne x

Floral Friday – May Flowers Sympathy Card for #GDP088

This week at  Global Design Project the challenge is to case the following project by Shawn De Oliveria:

GDP088_ShawnI love the card that Shawn has created its simple and elegant and uses one of my favourite stamps sets Rose Wonder. Looking at this card I really wanted to use the same technique that he has used with the inlaid die-cut as I think this looks stunning. I alos kept a similar layout but changed the colour scheme and changed to using the May Flowers Framelits and Falling Flowers stamp set. I also kept the greeting the same as its a stamp I haven’t previously used.

Here is what I came up with:

mayflowerssympathycard1#gdp088

To start I stamped the swirl from Falling flowers in Island Indigo onto a background of shimmery white cardstock and yes I badly need to re-ink this ink-pad.  I gave the background a slight speckled look by using the end of my Island Indigo marker and gently flicking the tip to create a light covering of speckles, be gentle doing this or you will ruin the end of your marker.

I next cut of matt layer of silver foil card and then cut out my flower from the centre of this matt so I don’t waste any cardstock. I then cut the same flower from Island Indigo cardstock and tried to keep all the pieces in the die.

Next I took the Versamark ink and stamped the greeting in the top right hand corner and embossed with silver embossing powder.

mayflowerssympathycard#gdp088

I stuck down the silver flower using SNAIL in the bottom left hand corner and then filled each gap with a tiny drop of fine-tip glue. Next comes the delicate part and I suggest using tweezers if you have any. Carefully place each petal from your Island Indigo die-cut into the same space on the silver die-cut. It makes it easy if you’ve kept all the petals in the metal die so you know where each petal goes. I found doing this very therapeutic!

Hope you’ve enjoyed todays card. If you’d like to take a look at what the design team created for this challenge the click here.

Happy Crafting

Joanne x

 

One Week to Go: My favourite retiring products

With just one week to go before the 2017-2018 Annual catalogue launches now is the time to take another look at the retiring list and make sure there aren’t any beauties which you’ve missed ordering. Here is my list of favourite products which I think you should grab before there gone forever.

  1. Love & Affection Stamp Set, this has been one of my favourite sets from last years catalogue and I’m gutted its retiring as it has some lovely floral elements to create great cards.

2. Affectionately Yours Speciality DSP – I have loved using this paper and am so tempted to purchase another pack just so I have another sheet of that gorgeous copper foiled cardstock.

3. Grateful Bunch stamp set – another floral stamp set which  I have adored using throughout the last year

4. Helping Me Grow – I don’t own this stamp set but its always been a stamp set which has been on my maybe list. If I place a last minute retiring order then this set will be on it as I think it will be one I regret if I don’t own.

5. Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper – I love Stampin’ Up! Glimmer paper as its adds real bling with no glittery mess. In Blushing Bride its perfect for wedding cards, baby cards, birthday or whatever needs a little bit of sparkle.

6. 2016 – 2018 In-Colour Enamel Shapes – These have become my favourite embellishment, they are perfect for when you just need a little something extra on your cards. I have two packs to use up so I’m good till I fall in love with new embellishments in the catalogue.

7. Ruched Ribbon – This is lovely to work with and I highly recommend you add at least one roll to your collection. It’s currently still available in Dapper Denim, Emerald Envy and Flirty Flamingo

8.Custom Tee Bundle- I have loved using this and I’m really gutted its not carrying over as its such a versatile set, it’s definitely a keeper for me.

9. Nailed It! stamp set – This was still available when I made this list but doubt it will last its such a good set for male cards. As it hit the retirement list just after I bought it I haven’t used it yet but I’m looking forward to creating so fab cards with it soon.

10. Succulent Garden DSP – This is probably one of my favourite paper packs that Stampin’ Up! have ever made probably because I love Mint Macaron and Sweet Sugarplum and I’m beginning to fall in love with Calypso Coral. It’s simple and delicate patterns make it ideal for all kinds of projects.

11. Love You Lots Hostess Set – This has been my favourite Hostess Set this year so if you’ve got an order which is over £150.00 then this can be yours, sadly its not available to purchase.

All the current bundles from the 2016- 2017 catalogue will be retiring at the end of this catalogue, so if you’ve had your eye on one and would like to save 10% then this week is the time to grab them. Starting with the new catalogue we will have a whole new set of bundles available.

To see which bundles are currently still available click here.

Hope you manage to get everything off your wish-list for this catalogue and are all ready for the launch of the new catalogue next week.

Happy Crafting

Joanne x

Delightful Daisy Thank You for #TGIFC0108

Today’s card was inspired by this week’s challenge over at TGIF Challenges, this new discovery for me,  is a card-making challenge blog and one I can joining in with more in the future. This week’s challenge was to take inspiration from the sketch provided.

_TGIFC108

I love that this was a simple sketch as it meant my card came together very quickly. I decided to use the new Delightful Daisy stamp set and co-ordinating dsp from the new catalogue, both of which I really love.

deligthfuldaisythankyoucard#tgifc108

As a starting point I decided to use the paper with the large muted daisies on as this is the pattern which I like least in this pack as its a little busy for my tastes. I think used as a matt here it works really well though.

I stamped the large daisy in Daffodil Delight to try it to the background paper and stamped the Thank You greeting in Tranquil Tide to create a focal point.

A little Tranquil Tide ribbon just finishes the card off.

If you fancy having a go at this challenge or want to see the other creations then pop over to TGIF Challenges and take a look.

The Delightful Daisy products will be available to order next week on June 1st.

Happy Crafting

Joanne x