Monkey Challenge #53

One of the things I'm liking most about having joined the whole blogger family is seeing what others are up to.  Through my friend, Leena, who inspired  me to join this family I have discovered A La Card Monkey and their weekly challenges.  They post a sketch and then others make a card based on the sketch.  I had fun with my first "Monkey Challenge".  Here is the sketch followed by my version:


Monkey Challenge #53 sketch

Fabulous Florets....again

 I have been incredibly inspired by the "Fabulous Florets" stamp set from the new Summer Mini Catalogue as well as the "Beyond the Garden" DSP and Wild Wasabi embossing powder.  I really like the "springy" nature of this card.  Next time, however, I would run the Wild Wasabi card stock through the Big Shot first in the "Perfect Polka Dots" embossing folder. 

To create the flower images, I stamped the leaves first in VersaMark and used the new Wild Wasabi embossing powder.  Although you can't see it here, it leaves a really nice, shiny finish to leaves and makes you want to reach out and touch them.  I them took the flower image and stamped it using Melon Mambo ink.  I stamped off again and then re-coloured the inner petals and then stamped again for the top flower.  It coordinates nicely with the flowers on the DSP.  I matted the flower images on Pacific Point card stock.

Fabulous Florets

What a fabulous weekend it has been!  After church on Friday morning (which was a great service) we headed to Toronto to visit my cousin and her husband who were in town from Vancouver for the weekend.  I always enjoy my time with her and it was great to catch up in person!  On Saturday we were in London visiting the "in-laws".  My son had a great time splashing in the puddles with his grandfather and singing "I'se the B'y" with his Great-Grandma "Noose" : ) 

And then we still had 2 full days at home!!!!  Unheard of : )  After an uplifting Easter Sunday service we spent the afternoon relaxing....which meant playing with my new stuff from the new Summer Mini Catalogue!!  YAY!   The new mini starts next Sunday and I'm working on creating projects for my Make and Take next Tuesday, May 3!

Here are some of the things I came up with using the Fabulous Florets stamp set, Beyond the Garden DSP and Flower Garden Embossing Folder. 

There are a lot of spring birthdays in my family.  I created this card with my aunt in mind for her birthday next week.  I had fun using the Wild Wasabi embossing powder on this card and, although it's hard to see on here, the shiny, raised effect it gives the leaves.  This card makes me smile and I hope it makes my aunt smile when she receives it!

Cheery Birthday Day card

This next card I "cased" from my friend, Leena's, blog (check it out at http://alacards.blogspot.com).  Thanks Leena for the great idea!  I love the quotation that comes with the Fabulous Florets stamp set; "the earth laughs in flowers" e.e.cummings!  I love the imagery of this quote.  It makes me smile!

"the earth laughs in flowers" e.e. cummings.  I love this quote!!!

I hope you are inspired by these cards and that they brighten your day.   I'm looking forward to creating more cards using these fabulous florets : )   The possibilities are endless!!! 

April Make and Take cards

Hopefully soon I will start posting more pictures of new projects, but for now here are some older ones.  The following cards were ones that we made at my monthly Make and Take on April 5th.  I refrained this time from using my favourite stamp set "For All you Do" this time and set out to explore the bold world of the Brights collection.  I had a lot of fun creating these. 

This pinwheel quilt square is very easy to create.  The Nursery Suite DSP with this stamp from the Four Frames set compliment each other nicely.

I had fun creating this card.  It is really quite simple.  Decide what area you want your square to cover and then divide it into quarters.  For example, if you want your quilting sqaure to cover 4' then each individual square should be 1'.  You will need 2 small sqaures of each colour/design.  Then cut your small squares in half and adhere to the cardstock.   I then machine stitched a zigzag stitch around the perimeter of the square before adhering it to the cardstock.




I love the Four Frames stamp set and Paisley Petals DSP.  Here's a quick and easy card using both products!

 For this card I took inspiration from the return of the robins and a design that Stampin' Up! published for the "Spring Is Blossoming" promotion.  I used Marina Mist cardstock for both the base and the embellishing strip.  The accent colours are Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White.  I REALLY like the Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon and I'm going to be sad to see it go at the end of the month.  Hopefully it will reappear in the new Idea Book & Catalogue!

Wiper card

I was exploring the Splitcoast Stampers website one day when I came across the tutorial for this card, the "Wiper Card".  It's a really fun card to make and the little surprise that pops up when the recipient opens it is a nice touch.  I used Baja Breeze as my base colour for this card and accented with Not Quite Navy, Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink.   My favourite stamp set from this year's Occassions Mini had to be the "Valentine Defined" set....it is so versatile!   Often I look at Valentine Day sets and think.....hmmm, I don't know.  But this one was different and can be used for any occasion.   Again, the seam binding ribbon is so nice to work with and I used Baja Breeze here.  For the Melon Mambo border I used the Scallop Trim and Scallop Trim Corner punches.  It took me a little while to figure them out together (I lost the instructions) but I think I've got it now.

For detailed instructions for this card go to http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ and search for "Wiper Card" under resources.

The fourth card we did was the "Hello Again" card that I posted a couple of days ago.  Stayed tuned for upcoming sneak peeks from my May 3 Make and Take.

Summer Mini Sneak Peek

I was so excited on Friday when the UPS man showed up at my door.....my new Big Shot machine had arrived!!! It was my birthday present and I'm so excited to finally have one to play with.  Along with the Big Shot came a whole bunch of new product from the new Summer Mini Catalogue.  I love everything in this catalogue so I really had to limit myself to just a few things.  Here are a couple of cards that I created using the Big Shot, the new Blossom Bouquet Triple layer punch, the "Bold Blossom" stamp set and the new (and very pretty) "Beyond the Garden" Designer Series Paper (henceforth, "DSP).

This card uses the Four Frames stamp set, Beyond the Garden DSP, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi, and Daffodil Delight cardstocks and inks.  I also used the Scallop Edge, Scallop Trim and Decorative Label punches.

I really like this combination of colours.  The Wild Wasabi and Pacific Point compliment eachother so nicely and the Daffodil Delight adds a really nice accent.

For this card I used the Bold Blossom stamp set (available in both the Occasions and Summer Mini Catalogues) as well as the new Blossom Bouquet Triple layer punch.  I used Pacific Point, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green, and So Saffron inks and cardstocks.

I really like this card.  I will be using this one (or a variation) at my next Make and Take on May 3rd.  I experimented with some colours that I don't use very often (Pumpkin Pie and Garden Green) and really like the effect I got.  This certainly helped to brighten up a cold, snowy spring day!

The new triple layer punches allow the user to create multiple shapes using one punch.  All of these shapes coordinate with one another but can also be used independently.  I'm having fun experimenting with this.  Stay tuned for more projects using these products!

Weclome to Idlewood Cards....

I am continually amazed and soothed by the beauty of the Idlewood Bush that my yard backs on to so I wanted to include it in some way in my blog....hence the title.  The Idlewood Bush is my little piece of wilderness in the middle of a city that I never imagined living in.  It brings me such joy and calm at anytime of year.  Now, as spring is blossoming, I am enjoying watching the birds, ducks and deer return.  It has been such a pleasure to share these little moments with my (almost) 2 year old son.  Nothing escapes his notice and he is learning the names of the birds so quickly.  Yesterday we had fun observing two wood ducks flying from branch to branch in the trees surrounding our yard.

I think that the Idlewood Bush also helps inspire my creative side.  I have been creating cards for almost 8 years now and I'm so excited this year to begin to share my projects with others as an Independent Demonstrator for Stampin' Up!   I'm looking forward to sharing some of these projects on here from time to time and I hope you enjoy them.

My first project is one that I included in my most recent card class or "Make and Take".  It uses the "Hello Again" stamp set which I am finding so fun to use as spring begins and numerous papers and inks from Stampin' Up's Brights collection (my new favourite colour family). 

 

The background paper is So Saffron card stock.  I stamped various images on Whisper White card stock and punched them out using a 1' circle punch and then matted them using Pacific Point, Old Olive, Melon Mambo or Tangerine Tango card stock punched with the 1 1/4' circle punch.  The 1/4" strips on the side are Melon Mambo and Tangerine Tango.  I would advise adhering those strips with a 2-way glue pen.  I hope this card will brighten someone's day!