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Layers of Beauty

Inspired by this week's colour combination, I created this card that I know is similar to so may others I have made. It makes me wonder if I'm stuck in a creative rut or do I just have a certain style? I'm not really sure, but I do know that I really, really, really like this card. So, does it matter that I have a certain style and I have trouble deviating from it? Well, not really sure where that came from, but I do sometimes find myself creating and thinking deeply, looking introspectivel...

Having trouble embossing with your Big Shot?

If you've been paper-crafting for a while and have a Big Shot but you have trouble getting your all your embossing folders to work, I have the answer for you. One solution would to be the Stampin' Up! Stampin' Cut 'n' Emboss, but you really don't need to! Let me explain what it is that you really need to get your Big Shot working for you. It's all about the 'sandwich'... and 'no', this isn't a food blog!...

Thank you for being a Friend.

I made this card using the colours from the colour combo, 10th June 2024.I've always liked blue and gold together, they just seem to 'go' so this was a combo that made me feel at home. A bit like an 'old friend'.I love how simple it is to create your own backgrounds with such a simple technique as stamping the same image in different colours, it worked really well here. Die-cutting the leaves and fanning them out with the word 'friend' sitting on top really worked too. Perhaps a bit too 'busy' (...

6 Gorgeous Cards using only 2 colours!

I thought I'd put these 6 cards together to show you that your don't need a big range of colours to get started! You just don't! I made all these cards using just 2 colours (plus white card and black ink - but they're kind of essential anyway).I've used some different bits with ribbon, embellishments and DSP (Designer Series Paper) but they are absolutely not essential!Can you believe that the yellow on these flowers is all done using only the Daffodil Delight inkpad and blending brushes. I am s...

Layers of Beauty Anniversary Card

I sat down yesterday to make a card with next week's colour combo and I had an Anniversary card to make. I looked through my stamp sets to see which set had and Anniversary sentiment and Layers of Beauty had everything I needed.I decided to couple this set with the Basket Weave 3D Embossing folder and I'm so happy with how it turned out....

A Little Latte Love

These 3 cards were made following a Messenger Group Chat we had on Monday where I set a template challenge for people to work on while we chatted.  I came up with these 3 cards using the same rough template. I have so many more ideas too! I love how the main colours of Pecan Pie, Balmy Blue and Petal Pink blended so well together. My overall favourite part though, was the 'glass' of this plunger being die-cut from a Clear Medium Envelope. It's not so easy to see in the picture....

Hot Air Balloon Card

I love how light and airy this card feels! I sat down to make 'a' card. You know that feeling when you have time to make a card but nothing inspires you? That was me yesterday afternoon. I glanced at the Lighter Than Air DSP and that was it! The colours are so soft and inviting I knew that they would be my inspiration. Stampin' Up! had done the hard work to show me which colours would go together, so the colour choice was simple and it just made sense to use the Hot Air Balloon stamps and dies.&...

3 Mother's Day Cards Using Gilded Leafing

With the new 'Retiring List' now out for everyone to see, I am setting myself the task of using as many of the retiring items as I can.  One of those (which I've had for a while... and never used) is Gilded Leafing.  I had a play yesterday and was really happy with the finished cards....

3 Quick Cards with the Translucent Florals Bundle

I find I'm so much more productive when I make a card and then 'tweak' the same card, to make another, and another.  I have the colours out (because, let's face it, sometimes choosing the colour is the hardest part), so it's relatively easy to just keep making a series of rolling changes, and before you know it, you have a nice little pack of cards to send when the occasion calls for it.  This set started with the 'Hello' version (which is actually my favourite) and went from there.&nb...

Painted Wishes Kit

I've always wanted to do everything from scratch. I never wanted a Thermomix because I didn't want it to take away the enjoyment I felt when I cooked. (Also, a Thermomix would struggle to provide a serving big enough for a family of 6). I have always felt that if I 'cut corners' I didn't really 'do the work'. Do you know what I mean?Well that's how I always felt about the Stampin' Up! Kits.  (Until now.) I've bought a few recently and have put them together as the box suggests, and sure, th...

Petal Pink 'Hello'

I'm not sure which of the elements of this card I love the most!  This was my first 'play' with the Thoughtful Moments Dies and Embossing Folder and it was super simple!  I'll definitely be demonstrating this tomorrow in my first ever Messenger Group chat online.  I started by wanting to create a card using the gorgeous Champagne Iridescent Dots.  I know everyone loves self-adhesive embellishments, so these may not be so popular.  But you know what?  I love the...

Darling Details Birthday Card

I wouldn't usually put these colours together like this but using my weekly colour 'tic-tac-toe' grid (you can get it from my facebook page each week) I just had to. And I'm pleased I did. (I did use some extra colours this time though.)Using the Basic 3D Embossing Folder to give the textured background worked a treat, as it gives some depth to the card, while still being a 'white space' which I personally like on cards.  (I think if they are too busy, you don't really know where to lo...

Three ways to use Artistic Decorative Masks in your Card Making

I have had these masks (and other discontinued ones) but hadn't really used them until recently and they are so effective as backgrounds to your cards and scrapbooking pages.  Keep reading to learn about 3 ways you can use them today!...

A Start-Up Guide for Cardmakers

When I started out on my card-making journey, I made mistakes buying things I didn't need and buying poor quality products that just didn't work. I don't want you to make the same mistakes. That's why I put this guide together for you, with everything I wish I knew before I got started....

Owl Hello

These owls from the January to February Sale-a-Bration (SAB) catalogues are just the cutest!  Perfect for this fun 'Hello' card.  I can see them working really well on baby cards too.  Never sure which colours to use, I let myself be guided by the colours on the Designer Series Paper (DSP) from the Dandy Designs (also from the SAB offerings.  Want to know all the products that went into this card?  Click on the button below for the complete list....

What do I need to start card-making?

If you are just thinking about taking up a new hobby, cardmaking is great because you can get started with just a few basic items and grow your supplies as your skills develop.   To get started, you really only need a few things: 1.) Cards and Envelopes  If you're just getting started, you could consider a Stampin' Up! pack of pre-cut and pre-scored base cards with envelopes.  You can get 20 card bases and 20 envelopes for $12.25 which is a very economical way to get started....

Not sure how to choose your colours?

How do you choose which card, ink and embellishment colours you should buy? If you are just starting to build out your stamping supplies, or if you have made a good start, but want to make sure buy only the products that will use, read on, because I know this will help you. I remember, it must have been about 2008, (because we were in our last house and I don’t think Carys had been born yet) when I sat down one evening, to make a card.  I sat and flicked through the Stampin’ Up! catalog...

Hues of Happiness Unboxing

A quick look at everything you will get in this beautiful suite....

Happiness Abounds

See the pictures below to see the result of my first 'play' with this truly gorgeous set....

Grateful Hippo Thank You Card

This Sale-a-Bration Set, Hippest Hippos, combined with Hippo Dies (both available for free with a $90 purchase) have been so popular!  Of course they are, who doesn't love a hippo? I had a bit of a play the other night and came up with this super simple design for you to try....

Wisteria Wishes Birthday Card

One of the best things about my Monthly Challenges is (when I make the time to do them, that is!) that it brings me back to creating.  The whole reason I'm here in the first place!  Sometimes I get so lost in the world of instagram, facebook and planning ALL THE THINGS that I forget to sit and create.Today, I made one of my own challenges, although I have to be honest, it's not really pushing me too far out of my comfort zone.  I really need to spend some good chunks of ...

My Stampin' Up! Journey

Ok, I have to be honest here...  When I was a child, I didn't dream that I'd make cards when I "grew up".  I mean, really, who does?  In fact, my childhood aspirations included being a Butcher (that is, until my Dad told me that I would have to cut the meat up, not just sell it), a Factory Worker (I still remember the picture on my wall of people working in a fruit cannery, because it just looked like so much fun!) or being a Teacher.  So, how did I end up making cards? ...

Artfully Layered Thank You Card

Up late at night with my husband away, kids in bed and I'm not ready to sleep... what do I do?  Make a card, of course!  But where to begin?  Well, I have devised a solution for just this problem... and tonight, it has totally paid off.  (I create monthly challenges to help get your creative juices flowing, just join my newsletter list or jump into my private group, Simone's Snippers for details.)  The challenge I went with this time was a colour challenge, using th...

Simple Rainbow Card

What better way to start off my blog than with this super-simple Rainbow Card using Stampin' Up! set, Rainbow of Happiness from the Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue, January to June 2022.  This gorgeous little set is perfect for the simplest of cards, with the potential to spice it up as much as you'd like, to make it, well, 'a little bit fancy'.  After all, from little things, little things grow.  And this is especially true when it comes to crafting ideas, right?  I often start ...