Thanks Ever So Much

Morning all!  Another real quickie of a card today.  It showcases another of the Stamps to Die For line which I really like called Posy Lace.  I stamped it on Blush card with a grey pad.  I didn't want it to be too dark so I decided not to use black this time.  I used coloured pencils to lightly colour the flowers, leaves and swirls.  I used a black pencil and outlined the flowers and leaves so they stood out a bit more.  I cut it out with Labels 30.  I picked a deep peach for my background colour and cut the Grateful Lattice die out of black card to mat against it.  This background die, by the way, is quite easy to cut as compared to the other lattice dies since the design is larger.  I mounted my labels 30 die in the centre on mounting foam.  I stamped a sentiment and cut it out with the small die in the Opulent Oval set.  I used some Tattered Rose distress ink to highlight it while in the die.  I tied some flesh coloured seam binding around the card and added a messy bow.  I used one of the black ribbon roses for the centre of my bow.  Two black pearl stick pins and some black rhinestone swirls added the accents for the card.  I added a matting layer of blush to lift it a bit before my final black mats which I pierced.  Three small pearls finished the sentiment and card for me.  Again, pretty and quick, my favourite kind of card!  Finished dimensions are 6" x 8" in size. 
  Just a quick note to let you know that Julia Watts will be doing the POTD shows starting Tuesday evening.  It is Justrite and Heartfelt Creations.  Be sure to tune in, the times are on Julia's blog (Inkyfingerzone).
All for now, Sue x

Thanks So Much

 Good Sunday morning all!  I started today's card by stamping my sentiment in the lower corner with a black Archival ink pad.  Next I embossed the background with my Tapestry A4 embossing folder for texture.  I matted it with blue card and ran a piece of thin redline tape across the bottom above my sentiment.  I peeled off the liner backing and used white seam binding to ruch across the tape.  I added a messy bow, Dazzler and crystal stick pins to the right side.  Next I began work on my focal element.  I stamped my Stamp to Die For design called Kaleidoscope  using a clear Perfect Medium pad and heat embossed it with Cosmic Shimmer True White embossing powder.  I cut it out with the Decorative Labels 22 die.  I cut an Elegant Labels Four out of Coconut white card.  I cut it in half and taped it to the back so the decorative edge was just peeking out from behind my blue die cut.  Next I cut two of the smaller size of the Stately Circles.  Using a scoring board, I scored across it so there were score lines every 1/4".  I cut to the centre of both of them, then folded them concertina style.  I glued the two pieces together to form my rosette.  I cut the smaller size of the Stately Circles in blue and added an 8mm pearl to the centre.  I mounted it the centre of my rosette to complete my focal element.  I added a double white mat with a pierced inner mat to finish the card.  Finished dimensions are 6 3/4" x 8" in size.

Time for the weekly comment game winners.  We have two sets of winners this week due to an extra qualifying post.  The first winners are:
Crafty Lark!!!
Sandy's Crafty bits!!!
Hazel G!!!

For the extra qualifying post of May 14th, the winners are:
Phi!!!
Nanny Jo!!!
Bosquie!!!

Congratulations all!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  Just a little note, I am heading out on a road trip to Miami this morning to pick up some relatives returning from a cruise (no, I'm not jealous at all, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!) LOL  I won't be back until Monday evening so I won't be able to answer emails until I return.  I am leaving the blog in Bloggers hands, everything is scheduled.  Just keep your fingers crossed!  All for now, Sue x

Just For You

Hi bloggers!  I love this card, so simple, but you know when you finish a card and just want to look at it?  That is how I felt about this one!  I stamped my Floral Lace Stamp (Stamps To Die For Range) and coloured it with a combination of Distress markers and coloured pencils.  I used the Elegant Labels Four to cut it out so I had that pretty decorative edge around it.  Next I cut the larger die from that set out of our sky blue card.  I applied some foam mounting pieces to the back of it and mounted it in the middle of my double coconut white mat that had been pierced on the inner layer.  I stamped my sentiment using a Black Archival ink pad and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I cut it out with one of the smaller dies from the Opulent Oval set and mounted it in the centre of my stamped image using mounting foam.  I added some flat back white pearls as accents to the sentiment and the corners on my blue die cut as accents.  I finished the card off with a messy bow tied from white seam binding and one of the ribbon roses (already sold finished as roses) in the middle of the bow.  Seriously quick card, but so pretty I think!  Finished dimensions are 6" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

It's A Rare Sight

 Hi guys!  It's a card, an actual card!  Not just a front like I usually do, but a folded card with the ability to open.  I am not sure what possessed me, but I just thought these borders were so pretty that I wanted to show them off in a true card fashion.  I started by scoring a line down the centre of my white panel so it would fold in half.  On the top edge I used the lattice insert to the Bracket Borders with one of the cutting edges.  This cut a pretty top edge that was now shorted than the bottom edge.  I cut a piece of red card to go on the inside of the bottom flap.  I cut it just shorter so I had a pretty white edge peeking out.  On this red piece, I used my border to simply emboss the design into the card so that it shows when the card is completely closed.  I opened up the folded white card and used one of the dies from the Radiant Rectangles to emboss the design in the top half of the card next to my cut border edge.  I used the smaller piece in that set to cut a pretty red die to fit inside of the embossed area.  Next I stamped my sentiment and used the oval to cut it out.  Once cut, I added in the next smaller die and embossed the pattern over the top of the sentiment for a textural look.  I mounted it with foam so it was centred on my decorative red piece on the front of the card.  I added a few flat back pearls as accents to finish my "card."  The finished dimensions are 5" x 6" in size (so tiny for me!)  All for now, Sue x

Friends Make Every Day Special

 Hello my crafty friends!  A bit of die cut cutting fun.  You know me, no die is ever safe from being quartered (that sounds really bad! LOL)  Today's card uses the Ornate Squares for the basis of the card.  I started by giving my background some texture using the Garden Lattice A4 embossibility folder on my coconut white card.  Next I cut out two of the large Ornate Square also in coconut white.  I cut both of them in half and glued the cut edge in line with the edge of my embossed background. I stamped two of the coordinating stamps from the JustRite Ornate Happiness stamp set and heat embossed them in true white embossing powder. I cut both of them out using the coordinating size die from the set and cut them in half as well.  I used mounting foam for dimension and placed them atop the larger Ornate Square pieces.  I used the next size in the set and once again cut two and cut them in half.  I glued these atop the last piece to create a die cut and embossed background.  Next I stamped another stamp from the set in black.  I cut it out and coloured it with markers (from my stash).  I stamped it again and this time added my sentiment in the middle.  I cut out the inside square by hand and mounted it on an angle in the centre of my focal element.  I added some flatback pearls to the sentiment area and to the tips of the Ornate Square pieces as accents.  I matted the entire piece in a matching pale lavender card double mat and pierced the inner mat as a frame.  Remember to cut your die pieces sometimes to give you different options for your cards.  It is hard to see that this die started life as a square!  Finished dimensions are 8" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x

 

You Are Amazing

Morning all!  This is my favourite kind of card to do when I only have a few minutes and want to get the most Wow out of that time.  When I am working, I try to keep to a schedule so I know I can get all my samples done for upcoming shows.  Sometimes I take too long working on very detailed cards, but want to stay on target for the number of samples I make for shows.  This is one of those real easy, quick cards for just those occasions.  I selected a favourite Graphic 45 backing paper.  I covered it with a sticky adhesive sheet, peeled the backing paper off and covered it with clear micro beads.  I don't know why, but it instantly makes me happy!  I am a very textural loving person and these just hit the spot for me.  I wrapped a length of cream silky crush around the left side of the card and taped the ends to the back.  I tied a double bow and attached it with a sticky glue dot.  I made a pretty rose out of lavender card and covered it with Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue.  I then dipped it into my container of Rock Candy dry glitter to "sugar" it.  I have some gorgeous stick pins that were made for me by Linda Burrows and this card was just calling out for one of them so I added it to my bow.  I stamped my sentiment using Blue-Violet Archival ink and cut it out with the Stately Circle die.  I inked it lightly while in the die with the same ink.  I cut one of the tags from the Filigree Delight set and inked it also, then mounted my sentiment atop it so you can just see the ends peeking out.  I mounted it in the lower corner of my card with mounting foam.  I finished the card off with a double milk coloured card mat and pierced the inner mat.  I spray of swirly pearls was all that was needed to complete this one.  Quick and easy!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 7 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Thanks ever so much

Hi bloggers!  An all milk coloured card today.  This card showcases the extra corner die from the Filigree Delight set.  I always try to find some uses aside from the obvious for these types of dies.  Basically, when is a corner die not a corner die?  When you can use it to create a pretty focal element!  I started by creating the embossed background, but wanted to add a bit extra to it so I used the Whimsical Flora embossibility folder and inked it with Antique Linen Distress ink.  I placed my milk coloured card inside the folder and ran it through the GC to produce a faux letterpress effect.  This allowed the ink to transfer to the floor of the design.  It is very subtle, but it gives a bit of an antiqued look to it.  Next I started in on my focal element by cutting eight of the corners.  I arranged them with four on the bottom layer, then offset the following four on the upper layer.  I also added some foam mounting pieces so the pointed end was slightly raised upwards.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with the tag.  I inked it with Antique Linen while in the die, then tucked the very tips into a slot on the corner die piece, giving it a slightly rounded look.  I mounted my background on an extra piece of milk card that I used Cosmic Shimmer pearl PVA glue to make dots around the edges.  I finished the card with a double mat of milk card with a pierced inner mat.  Good for any occasion or in any colour choice, but at least you have some options for your corner die!  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" in size.  All for now, Sue x

Best Friends Forever

 Morning everyone!  Opulent Ovals and Scalloped Borders are the die sets that created today's offering.  I started with a piece of coconut white card that I embossed with the Whimsical Flora embossibility folder.  I need to make the background larger so I moved it and embossed it again.  Next I used the Scallop borders to cut two matching borders for the sides of my  card.  I cut the blue one using one of the decorative inserts and one of the cutting edges.  Then I cut a slightly larger matching black border using just the same cutting edge.  I taped them together so the black shows through the decorative insert are and mounted both borders facing each other on the edges of the card using mounting foam.  I glued flat back black pearls down the edges.  For the focal element, I used the largest size of the Opulent Oval die set to cut out my back layer in black.  My blue layer used the next size in the set for the cut edge, then I added in smaller dies during the embossing stage for a pretty effect.  I stamped my sentiment and then cut the smaller sizes to create a frame for my sentiment.  I mounted it with foam above my stamped phrase and trimmed away the excess card.  I mounted it in the middle of my focal element.  I added a final double white mat with my usual pierced inner layer to complete the card.  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8" in size.  All for now, Sue x