Hey Girlfriend

Hello,

 Does anyone else have the best friends in the world? I couldn’t do without mine.

This stamp set is so adorable. It’s perfect for practicing your colouring techniques. I find colouring images so relaxing.

Until next time.

Paula

Poinsettia Petals

 Hello,

My friends and I always get together for a holiday luncheon. Last year we didn't because of  Covid but this year we have set a date. I made some pins for my friends, you can see them here. I wanted a pin for myself but in pink. I couldn't find any pink felt so I made one out of paper.  But not just any paper. I use the White Velvet paper from Stampin' Up.

I coloured the velvet paper with Blushing Bride using blending brushes. Blending brushes let you add colour in stages, whether light or dark depending on the amount of ink used. 

For this flower I cut out 2 large, one medium and 2 small poinsettias from the Pointsettia Petals dies. I stacked them off centre from each other adhering the petals with hot glue. Once I added leaves and the snowflake behind the flower,  I hot glued it to a piece of cardboard for stability. The pin is hot glued to the cardboard. The pins can be purchased at craft stores like Michael's.

I love the way this one turned out. 

Until next time....

Paula

Encircled in Friendship

 Hello,

Often I look to challenge myself with card making. Sometimes it's making a fun fold or using Stampin Blends to colour an image or learn a new technique. Today I challenged myself to use a stamp set that I have not inked up yet (and believe me I have many of them🤣). Encircled in Friendship is one of those stamp sets. The sentiments are thoughtful and the font is beautiful. 

Today's card also happens to be a fun fold called a bay window card. I watched Lisa Curcio's presentation last night on how to make this card. It's very easy and can be made for any occasion. 

You can see why the fun fold is called a bay window. Alternatively, a 'window" can be cut out of the centre panel, insert a window sheet, to reveal an image on the inside. 

The "lip" of the card tucks under the sentiment which is adhered with dimensionals. 

And best of all, it lays flat for mailing. 

Here are the measurements for the card.

Base: 4 1/4 x 11 scored at 3/8", 1 7/8", 3 5/8", 5 1/8", 5 1/2"

FRONT: • Designer Series Paper: 1 3/8” x 4 1/8”, cut 2

 • Designer Series Paper: 1 5/8” x 4 1/8”, cut 1

 • Scraps to make your greeting and layering using any shape desired to fit the sentiment and image

• Optional: embellishments 

 INSIDE:

 • Designer Series Paper: 4 1/8” x 5” 

• Basic White: 3” x 3 7/8” 

For instructions on assembling the card, watch Lisa's tutorial HERE and check out her other samples for inspiration.

Until next time....

Paula

Let it Snow

 Let it snow but not just yet, although during those hot, humid days this summer I would have welcomed a bit of snow😂.

For today’s card I used the Snowman Season stamp set. I’ve added the shimmery snowflakes for some texture. 

The image layer was cut out using the Color and Contour dies. 

Lots of room inside the card for a personal message.

Until next time…

Paula

Sweet Pumpkins

 My favourite time of year is Autumn. I love the changing colours of the leaves and pumpkins. I have been searching for a nice pumpkin stamp set for a while....nothing cutesy or cartoonish. This year Stampin' Up has come out with the Pretty Pumpkins Bundle in the new Mini Catalogue available August 3, 2021. 

For this card I've used one of the pumpkin stamps and dies along with one of the sentiments from the set. The DSP is Harvest Meadow, also from the Mini Catalogue, which pairs nicely with the pumpkins. 

Until next time.

Paula

Alcohol Technique

Hi everyone,

Earlier this week I watched Lisa Curcio on a live YouTube event make these amazing cards using an alcohol technique. The results were beautiful and no two cards were the same. This technique can be done on vellum, foil card stock or shimmer vellum base. Each base will give you a different result.

I chose to use regular vellum with my alcohol markers. I coloured the vellum with Stampin' Up Stampin' Blends in dark Pumpkin Pie and dark Bermuda Bay. I spritzed rubbing alcohol (at least 90%) on the vellum then used my heat tool to "blow" the colours around. I was amazed at the effects. Beautiful.

The coloured vellum is really the focal point of the card. There is no need to add much, however I added an embossed flower from the Color and Contour stamp set. Add a sentiment and some gold thread and there's a card. 

Try the technique, it's so much fun. It will be addicting. Colour combinations are endless. Check out  Lisa's blog for inspiration.

Until next time....

Paula 

Doodling and presto- a card was born

 Hello,

Sitting at my desk with no plan in mind on a card to make, I began doodling and colouring on the True Love Designer Series paper from Stampin' Up. All the designs on the sheets of paper are black and white, some floral and some geometric and stripes. I picked a floral and thought I'd practice on my colouring and shading with the Stampin' Blends markers. Before I knew it, a card was born. I fussy cut the flowers and adhered them to the card underneath the sentiment strip.

The Stampin' Blends used were Seaside Spray, Daffodil Delight and Poppy Parade. 

Until next time.