My First On-line Challenge

Hi there. I have been looking at on-line challenges for a while (especially the Inkspirations Challenges) and contemplating playing along. Since I now have a blog, I figured I don't have an excuse anymore. This sketch caught my eye, so I thought no time like the present!

I flipped the sketch onto its side to suit the Birthday Bakery (hostess set) image I used. This DSP, Sweet and Sour Specialty is a real fave of mine! It is embossed and glossy on one side and I just love the colours in it, Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red. I have added some bows and BLING, which seem to be a recurring feature at the moment also.
I stamped the image in Basic Grey and have coloured it in using markers. I then used Crystal Effects to cover the icing and plates to give them a glossy look.

Sorry about the picture quality, it was a dull day here today.


Materials:
(All SU unless otherwise stated)
Stamp sets: Birthday Bakery
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Whisper White
Inks: Basic Grey
Accessories: Clear Rhinestones, Taffeta Ribbon (Pumpkin Pie), Dimensionals, Crystal Effects

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah xx

Flown the Coup

I'm back. Four days in a row not bad!
This blogger software is great. It lets you look at stats for your blog, it even shows you where in the world your blog viewers are. I was surprised to see views from Germany and Canada! It doesn't take long for things to get around these days. I guess that's why they call it the World Wide Web!
Well as promised today's card does not contain any birdys! I have seen this paper lace look around blog land and decided to give it a ago. I am quite pleased with the result and hope the recipient is as well. I think this card really suits their style. As soon as I sat down to make this 'thank you' card I knew this was the time to try this technique.

I started by using a variety of border punches to create my lace, then layered them onto the card. I'm not sure how well it shows up in the picture, but about halfway down I punched both sides of the cardstock to make a double sided lace.
I then stamped two butterflies from the Bliss set, using the rock and roll technique. I hand cut them, mounted them onto dimensionals and added my favourite little touch of BLING.
I have used some Pretty in Pink satin ribbon to make a double bow and have fastened it using a Rhinestone Brad. The sentiment if from the hostess set Afterthoughts. I have only inked up the word thanks, using a Pretty in Pink marker and punched out the word using the Large Oval Punch. I then layered the sentiment onto a tag from the Lots of Tags Sizzlit Pack. Love that Big Shot!

I have decorated the inside also, using two more strips of my paper lace and a butterfly. The sentiment is from another hostess set, Occasional Quotes, which I have stamped in Pretty in Pink and have punched with the Curly Label Punch.

If you have any questions about this card, or anything else Stampin' Up! related, don't hesitate to contact me.

Materials:
(All SU unless otherwise stated)
Stamp sets: Bliss, Afterthoughts, Occasional Quotes
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Inks: Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose
Accessories: Clear Rhinestones, Satin Ribbon (Pretty in Pink), Rhinestone Brad, Curly Label Punch, Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Edge Border, Eyelet Border


Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah xx

Aviary take three

Another scheduled post....I am getting brave!

So are you sick of these birds yet?!

I am in love with this set, if you can't tell. This time the card is more to my usual style.....PINK! Those of you who know me well would have been holding out for it.

This card was inspired by the wonderfully talented Michelle Le Brenton, but of course I gave it the pink treatment!

I once again used a Crumb Cake base and added a Pretty in Pink layer. The bird cage was stamped onto acetate using black StazOn. I have added a bit of bling to the top of the birdcage and have once again used the Pinking Hearts Border Punch down the side. The sentiment is from Perfect Punches.
For the background I have used another fave of mine at the moment, Bliss, also a Sale-a-bration set.

I have used the big flourish and stamped it with Versamark, Watermark Stamp Pad. The birdy and sentiment are stamped in my all time fave, Melon Mambo! I have used the Mat Pack to pierce a cord for the hanging bird cage.

I will try to have something other than Aviary for you tomorrow!

Materials:
(All SU unless otherwise stated)
Stamp sets: Aviary, Perfect Punches, Bliss
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink
Inks: Black StazOn, Melon Mambo, Versamark

Accessories: Acetate, Extra Large Oval Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by.
Sarah xx

Two Birds with One Stone

I have scheduled this post, as I knew today was going to be a busy day. I hope it worked! 

Today's cards were inspired by Monika Davis of M.A.D. Stamper. I killed two birds with one stone by flipping the sketch for the second card.

 

The first card was landscape and I used the colours Crumb Cake and the now retired Orchid Opulence (I love this colour). The ribbon is actually Rich Razzleberry but I find the taffeta colours are a little different to the true colours, so it works well. I used my favourite embossing folder, Vintage Wallpaper as my background. Also you will notice I added my signature BLING!  

This next card is my first attempt at using Marina Mist on one of my cards (You may begin to notice I am more a pink and purple type of girl).  I have paired it with Crumb Cake, am loving this colour at the moment!

I have flipped the sketch on this card to make it portrait and have added a strip of the Pinking Hearts Border Punch rather than the paper piercing edge. Use your Stamp-a-ma-jig (I love this thing!) to align your little birdy in its cage. Both sentiments are from the Sale-a-bration set, So Happy for You.

Click on the sidebar link to Sale-a-bration if you would like to get this stamp set for free.

I am really quite happy with both of these cards. I hope the recipients are too! 

A late addition: These cards have also been entered into 'The Kraft Journal's' Spring Fling Challenge.  The brief is to use Kraft cardstock and to use the inspiration of the Spring Fling theme. I also entered it onto the 'There She Goes'  Get Krafty Challenge.

Materials:
(All SU unless otherwise stated)
Stamp sets: Aviary
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Orchid Opulence (Retired), Marina Mist, Whisper White
Inks: Crumb Cake, Orchid Opulence (Retired) and Marina Mist
Accessories: 3/8" Taffets Ribbon (Rich Razzleberry and Marina Mist),Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Clear adhesive rhinestones

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah xx

Off with the Birds.......

I'm back again as promised.....I wonder how long that will keep up! :)
Well my blogging is off to a flying start! I am mad for Aviary at the moment, and yesterday I made four cards using this set! I might pace myself and post one each day, otherwise we may be in for the feast and famine I was talking about! :)
My creation today is a case of a card by the very talented Danielle Daws. Love her work!
I have changed up the colours and have used ribbon instead of the Seam Binding, as it isn't available in Australia. I popped the little birdy in the cage up with a dimensional, more due to a mistake with the birdy placement, but I like it! I have used a Filagree Desginer Brad with a Clear Rhinestone Brad centre. Love a bit of BLING!

This card would be great to mass produce, you could alter each slighty by changing the placement of the cages, birdy and the bow.

Materials:
(All SU unless otherwise stated)
Stamp sets: Aviary
Cardstock: Crumb Cake
Inks: Crumb Cake and Basic Black
Accessories: 3/8" Taffets Ribbon (Pretty in Pink), Filagree Designer Brad, Clear Rhinestone Brad.

Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah xx

A Brave New World!

Hey there! Is there anyone out there? If so, welcome to my little corner of the world.
I have been thinking of starting a blog for a while now but wasn't sure that I was brave enough to put my work out there! I can't promise how often I will post, between my two kids and my job, my crafting time is often limited. It may be either a feast or a famine, but if you are willing to take the ride with me, I will try and post as often as I can!
Luckily yesterday was a good crafting day, so I will have some cards to post for you later in the day.
Although, you may have to bear with me for a while, as I navigate the workings of blogland!
Thanks for reading and hope to see you again soon!

Sarah