Better late than never

Better late than never

Thursday, 17 March 2016

I'm posting a couple of days late this week, apologies for that.  I'm away on a business trip to Regina, SK.  Last week I posted that spring had arrived and it felt that way in Regina on Monday, but yesterday I woke up to snow and it's turned cold here.  Boy the wind sure is cold when you walk to work!  I've been in Regina a lot this winter and it has been a very mild winter here - very little snow and not too many days of really cold weather.

I wanted to share a fancy fold card with you.  I really like the soft colours on this card.  I used the Balloon Celebration Stampset from the Occasions Catalogue. I stamped the stem and "dandelion fluff" image (not sure what it is actually called) multiple times using versa mark and then embossed using White Embossing Powder.  I then watercolored over it using Pool Party.

I'll post the template and more instructions for this cards on my next post.

Here's the Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!

These deals are available until next Tuesday or while supplies last.  

Happy Stamping!

Melva

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Spring seems to have arrived!

Spring seems to have arrived!

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

It's hard to believe that it's March already.  On the West Coast, Spring seems to have arrived.  When the cherry blossoms come out, it's my sign of Spring.  It's my favourite time of the year.

I wanted to share some cards made from the Botanical Gardens Bundle.  I love all of the cards I see made with the stamp set, framelits and DSP.  Not quite cherry blossoms but definitely tropical!

The first card is a card I made for a swap I'm in with amazing stampers from across Canada.  I used the Botanical Gardens DSP as the inside of the card - did you know that on some of the papers you can actually stamp on it?  In this case I stamped the insides of many of the flowers using the stamp set.  For the flower in Cajun Craze I added some gold Wink of Stella to the inner petals and also coloured a large pearl for the middle in gold.  I stamped a few flower images using a small flower stamp from Botanicals For You from the Sale-a-Bration Catalogue.  Looking at it now, I should have added a few more :)

Here's another card using very similar colours to mine above.

This set using Lost Lagoon and Cajun Craze along with the DSP.

This set uses the Botanicals For You Stampset from Sale-a-Bration along with the Botanical Gardens DSP and Framelits.  The Botanicals For You stampset is only available until the end of March during Sale-a-Bration.  You can get it for free with a $60 order - a perfect time to order the Botanical Gardens Bundle.  The bundle includes the Botanical Blooms Stamp Set, Botanical Gardens DSP and the Botanical Builder Framelit Dies - all for $64.75.  Plus you will earn 1 free Sale-A-Bration item!

Do these cards inspire you?  Interested in learning more or in placing an order before Sale-a-Bration is over, email me!

Don't forget to check out the Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!  

Happy Stamping

Melva

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Caseing - what does it mean and how do you do it?

Caseing - what does it mean and how do you do it?

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Have you heard of the term CASEing?  Caseing is an acronym for "Copy and Share Everything".  When it comes to CASEing stamping - it can mean creating an exact copy of a card or project that you saw or received or it can mean using a card or project as an inspiration.  What ever it means to you, CASEing is a great tool to have in your craft kit!

When I case a card or a project, I sometimes create an exact copy and sometimes I'll change up the colour, layout, stamps, or the project.  For example, I may not have the same colour palette or I'm in love with a different colour palette.  Often I'll switch up the stamp set because I don't have the one that was used.  I may also use the idea of a card on a project such as a mini album.  In all of these I've CASEd the idea from that original card or project.

CASEing is a great way to learn new techniques or just get inspired when you sit down at your craft table and don't know where to start.  One of my favourite places to go to look for ideas to CASE is the Stampin' Up! catalogues.  Did you know that SU! has a whole team of amazing Concept Artists that create the samples and ideas that you see in the catalogue!  Feel free to CASE away!

Here's a card that I case'd from a card I received in a swap from my friend Alison Solven.  I've loved this card from the moment I received it and I have 4 birthdays coming up in March - what a great chance to CASE it.  My birthdays are for both men and women and I thought this card was masculine enough to work for both.

What do you think?

First the card I was caseing from Alison Solven.

And now my card.

Can you spot the differences?  

Alison used:

• 3 different stamp sets (An Open Heart, Birthday Blossoms and Brushstrokes)
• Tempting Turquoise paper and ink
• Vellum Paper
• Water Colour paper
• a framelit from the Project Life Cards and Labels set
• Bermuda Bay sequins
• White embossing powder

My card used:

• Bermuda Bay ink and reinker
• What I Love stamp set (from Sale-a-Bration) and the Remembering your Birthday stamp set
• Bermuda Bay Paper and Tip Top Taupe paper
• Vellum paper
• Water Colour paper
• Curvy Corner Trio Punch
• White embossing powder

I'm really happy with how the card turned out and I hope my friends and family that receive the cards are happy too!

Next time you need an inspiration look around you for ideas and CASE away!

Check out the Weekly Deals from Stampin' Up!

Have you received the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue and Sale-A-Bration Catalogue yet? It's not too late to get some of the amazing deals - 1 month left in Sale-a-Bration - for every $60 you spend you choose 1 free item from the Sale-a-Bration catalogue.  Check them out online or email me to get yours. You can shop in my Online Store!

Happy Stamping!

Melva

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