Caramel & Cream

It's handy to have a little stock of cards made that can be used as thank you or note cards.  I often think 'i'll send a little card to someone' but then don't have one made and by the time i get round to making one the moment has passed to send it.  I used the 'Fruit Stand' dsp and 'Fresh Fruit' stamp set.  Taking a card blank measuring 4x4 inches i covered it in a piece of the dsp. Then on a piece of 'Whisper White' measuring 3x3 inches i stamped a pear from the stamp set in 'Pear Pizzazz' (of course) ink. The stem and leaves i used 'Old Olive' ink. On a piece of scrap i made another pear the exact same but cut this out to adhere using dimensionals to give some depth. I've not added a sentiment so that they can suit a variety of needs.  If you would like to order any Stampin Up products please shop HERE Rachael x

When you have lovely dsp (designer series papers) you don't need to do much else to make a really nice card for someone. The card below uses paper from the 'True Gentleman' set. The 'Night of Navy' combined with 'Crushed Curry' to really stand out. I simply layered some of the dsp over my card base then taking a panel of 'Crushed Curry' cardstock adhered this to the left of the card. Layering over that with a slightly thinner strip of 'Night of Navy' cardstock.  Taking 3 stamps from the 'Truly Tailored' stamp set i used 'Chocolate Chip' ink to stamp them onto some 'Crumb Cake' card. The perfectly matched 'Tailored Tag' punch cuts these out quickly and easily. Dimensionals are used to pop these onto the layered carstock.  I haven't used a specific sentiment on this card but there is room to the right of the panel if you wanted to add your own.  If you would like to order any of the pro...

Unicorns seem to be very popular at the moment and Stampin Up as always are on trend with this brilliant stamp set 'Magical Day' Available as a stamp set on it's own or with the matching framelits for easy cutting out. I stamped the unicorn on 'Whisper white' using the 'Fresh Fig' ink...i don't have any Stampin Up markers so i used some colouring pencils to jazz up the mane and tail. Running it through the big shot  with the die saves lots of time having to fussy cut the image.  The lovely paper is from 'Myths and Magic', not just for girls there are some great boy themed papers too (i will have a card to share using these very soon!) I used the 'Tree Builder' punch  to make the clouds mixing between plain 'Whisper White' and fabulous 'Glimmer Paper' for that sparkle.  The sentiment also comes in the same stamp set and i layered a piece of the 'Glimmer Paper' behind cut out with the dies to...

The sale-a-bration stamp set 'Heartfelt Blooms' is great for making super quick and easy cards. I combined it here with some retired dsp from the 'Blooms and Bliss' suite. The colours in the paper includes 'Sweet Sugarplum' so i chose this for my ribbon and ink too. Taking a piece of 'Whisper White' cardstock i stamped the lovely flower slightly to the right. The texture is within the stamp itself so no need to double stamp etc. Wrapping a length of ribbon around the bottom of the cardstock i then adhered this onto a strip of 'Sweet Sugarplum' card, allowing it just to peek out at the top. Lastly the sentiment is added at an angle before adding to the main card base. Super quick if you have a few to make or need a card in a hurry! If you would like to order any Stampin Up products please visit my online shop HERE Rachael x

The other day i showed you how to create some of the cards in the 'Perennial Birthday Project Kit', if you purchased the stamp set that coordinates i wanted to show you that you can create your own cards and that it isn't just something to be used with the kit.  I've chosen 3 ink colours, 'Wysteria Wonder', 'So Saffron' and 'Pear Pizzaz'. The splodge background is created using the sale-a-bration stamp set 'Eclectic Expressions'. Taking each of the ink colours in turn i inked up the stamp then stamped off onto some scrap paper first before applying to my 'Whisper White card to give a softer look.  Next taking flowers and leaves from the 'Perennial Birthday' stamp set i placed them in the bottom left corner using a punched out piece of card with the 'Tailored Tag' as a guide.  Stamping the sentiment and a couple of flowers around the edge of the punched out shape ready to layer over.   A length of ribbon ...

My love of cardmaking started with a very simple card kit that was given to me as a gift. I'd never tried or shown an interest in cardmaking before so when i received it i was a bit like 'well ok it looks pretty but i'll probably never use this'....one rainy day and two bored young children out came the kit! I loved how quick and easy it was to create beautiful cards, with no previous experience or art skills needed, so easy my then two young boys could join in too. Even though now i am more experienced in cardmaking and have enough Stampin Up products i could rival the Stampin Up headquarters, when i saw the gorgeous 'Perennial Birthday Project Kit' it took me right back to where i started and the box looked so pretty i decided to order it for myself. The box is super handy for storing your made cards in so you are always ready with a card when needed. It even has tab dividers to separate the months and a place where you can write down the birt...

'Going Places' was a really nice set of papers for men. The colours and masculine designs were really different from anything else at that time.  I've taken a piece of paper which has a world map on it, apt to coordinate with the 'Worlds Best Trophy' stamp set.  'Crushed Curry' is the ink colour used to stamp the trophy with a 'Basic Black' outline. The 'Stitched framelit' and 'Layering Oval' dies lift the trophy away from the background paper with a flash of ribbon behind for added interest.  The banner on the trophy also comes from the same stamp set and i simply fussy cut this out and mounted onto dimensionals. 'DAD' comes from the 'Guy Greetings' stamp set. I stamped onto 'Lost Lagoon' card stock in 'Basic Black' ink but added a hint of 'Crushed Curry' cardstock behind to tie in the trophy. If you would like to order any current Stampin Up products please pop over to...

I ordered this stamp set and papers very recently and even though it is going to retire i think i am going to purchase more of the papers before they go because they do make fabulous cards for men. I've used the 'Wood Textures' dsp for the background to give a very masculine feel. Some 'Night Of Navy' cardstock with a strip of 'True Gentleman' dsp layered over the top and placed to the left of the card.  The wording comes from the 'Truly Tailored' stamp set, i thought it matched well with the bow ties on the dsp. I've used the 'Layering Circle' and 'Stitched Shapes' framelits to cut these out.  Perfect for a Birthday or Fathers Day card i think or even for someone starting a new job! If you would like to order any Stampin Up products please do so HERE Rachael x

The next main event in our house that requires cards is Fathers Day. I sometimes struggle with cards for men so it's good to get a head start. I was having a sort out of some of my papers and decided mixing and matching papers from the 'Eastern Palace' would make a cool background. I used the Hexagon punch which is sadly no longer available BUT any punch with even sides would work...the 'tailored tag' punch would be great but i hadn't got that punch at the time of making this card. I started off punching out lots of hexagon shapes in different papers, starting in the centre i then glued them to a piece of cardstock, like a puzzle working my way out putting the pieces edge to edge. Once at the outer sides of the cardstock i overlapped the edges then flipped the cardstock over to trim neatly along the paper hanging over. I layered this onto my card blank leaving a small border. From the 'Guy Greetings' stamp set i took the car and st...

Hello again, sorry to those of you who pop by regular to see my latest projects. It's been a very busy time the last couple of weeks, my eldest son turned 18, Mother's Day then Easter and children being off school etc the crafting took a bit of a back seat.  I just thought i'd show you some of the cards i made but hadn't got around to blogging about. Using my old favourite 'Gorgeous Grunge' for the splatter and track print i chose a mix of 'Dapper Denim' and 'Lemon Lime Twist' inks. The 'large number framelits' cut out the perfect 18 to take centre stage in sparkling gold glimmer paper.  For Mother's day i picked the lovely combination of floral and butterflies.  Picking inks that match the gorgeous paper really gives a professional look. A tiny pearl gem on the body of the butterflies adds an extra bit of detail to a simple card.  Easter cards i pulled out an old 'sale-a-bration' stamp set. For FR...