Yellow Daisies

I don't buy a lot of stamps or dies that are from companies other than JustRite, IO, and Spellbinders, actually hardly any at all, but I recently became enamoured with Simon Says Stamp and their signature products. So I was thrilled when my order arrived with the SSS Fresh Daisies die in it. The minute I saw that die on the website, I knew it would become one of my favourites. Now that the Olympics are over and we have Hockey golds ( I am Canadian, after all ), I can play with my newest toys.

I used the SSS Fresh Daisies die and cut it multiple times, so I could add a third bloom ( the die has two ), and also have multiple layers. The top flower has two, the middle three, and the bottom is just one. I used Faber-Castell Big Brush pens to colour them. No reason, except they were in front of me and the yellow is pretty. I cut a piece of 110lb Neenah paper ( something new to me I got at SSS), used a scoring board to make a border, masked it off with painter's tape and sprayed Caribbean Blue Glimmer Mist over the SSS Moroccan Stencil. I used a MS punch on some white card stock and an embossing folder to make the card front. The front of the card is smaller than the back, so that strip of blue is on the inside of the card. The back of the card base is 51/2 x 5 inches, scored at 41/4 inches. The card front is attached to the 3/4 in. fold.

The inside of the front is covered with blue CS, and I used the MS punch on the blue strip. The sentiment is another new to me SSS product, Handwritten Sentiments. I love that these stamps have a more personal look.
Simon Says Stamp has a new feature on their blog called Work It Wednesday, and the challenge was to use something new. Seeing as I'm playing with my new SSS things, I'm going to link up to that.
You can find it here : http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/blog/work-it-wednesday-january-2014

On A Cheerful Note !

These are two of the three little note cards I made with some cheerful Echo Park Beautiful Life paper. The colours are so pretty, and it was about time that I stopped hoarding it ! There is another one, complete with a colourful envelope, but it chose to remain in hiding. I think I'll make even more and package them together for a little gift.

I used two JustRite stamp sets to do these cards, the flowers are from the Botanical Medallions and Banners set. I stamped them three times for each card, fussy cut and layered them. The sentiments are from the Grand Sentiments set. These sets will probably always be my favourites, I use them a lot ! I used the very cute Spellbinders Captivating Squares dies and Kraft cardstock to make the cards, and a large scalloped punch to cut the top layer of patterned paper. I dressed up the flowers with Wink of Stella in clear, and used two different brown flockings for the centres.
I am entering these in the JustRite Friday Botanical Bliss Challenge

Update: I found the third one! It was under the desk, but unfortunately also under the dog!!

JR's Botanical Bliss

JustRite's Botanical Bliss challenge requires you to "create your project using at least one JustRite flower or butterfly stamp OR a butterfly or flower die in your project." I had started a totally different card for this last week, but forgot where I put the components for it! D'OH!!

So I did this card using a background I did with Dreamweaver's Pearlescent Embossing Paste, a titch of Peeled Paint distress re-inker, a KaiserCraft Leaves stencil and a sheet of KaiserCraft paper. I also used Spellbinders Botanical Swirls and Accents to cut the gold metallic corner piece.
The stamp is from the JustRite Grateful Hearts set. I stamped it a couple of times so I could layer the flowers. I coloured the stamp with Copics and put Wink of Stella on them for some subtle sparkle.
I used an embossing pen to edge the stamped image and put gold embossing powder on it. I also backed the Spellbinders Majestic Labels Twenty-Five piece I cut with gold metallic paper.
The ribbon is wired, so It looks a bit wonky, especially because the paper under it is heavily textured, BUT it's an illusion. It is fine IRL. There is a little gold butterfly charm hanging from the bow.

I have some little cards I made recently that will fit this challenge, but I can't remember where I put them either :(  I'm not sure if it's the stupid migraines or all the nasty migraine drugs that leave me in such a state, or it could be that I need to clean off my desk!

Go check out the JustRite Inspiration Blog see the amazing work by the DT with the new releases, and see the beautiful entries at the JR Friday challenge here:http://justritestampers.typepad.com/justrite-inspiration/2014/02/justrite-friday-challenge-114-botanical-bliss.html

IO Happy Birthday

Impression Obsession's challenge is to do a Birthday card. I'm lucky to have gotten anything done, this up and down weather is wreaking havoc on my head. This winter has my normal three day migraines sometimes stretching to seven and eight days, but I still love winter, especially since we have had snow on the ground most of the winter, and it's beautiful. I actually love to shovel snow !! Yes, I am a crazy person!
I had a background I made with Dreamweaver's Pearlescent Embossing paste ( this stuff is GORGEOUS!!). I had added a tiny little bit of Peeled Paint Distress re-inker and applied the paste to a KaiserCraft Leaves Stencil. It's a tad bit greener than it looks in the photo and it has a lovely sheen. I made a panel with an IO C-A-C Greenery stamp (CC018), lace and ribbon. I coloured the IO Open Rose (E6014) with Copics and added glitter around the edges. I don't have an IO birthday sentiment stamp, I already have at least a dozen others that say that, but I thought the Warmest Wishes sentiment from the IO All Occasion II (CL307) would be appropriate.

You can find the Impression Obsession challenge here : http://mitrafriant.typepad.com/impression_obsession_news/2014/02/impression-obsession-challenge-happy-birthday.html

Ombre Valentine

I recently made a card using a distressed ink b'ground, I didn't care much for that card, but it did give me an idea for the JustRite Friday challenge #113 -In The Background. The idea for this challenge is to make your own b'ground using stamps, or try a new way to use b'ground stamps. I had just received the new JR Sweet Hearts (Thank-you JR!) stamp set and while I was looking at it, the design around one of the hearts reminded me of the border stamp from the JR Doilies and Lace stamp set. WooHoo! I had a plan!
I started my card by using TH Distress Inks, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry and Festive Berries, blending from light to dark down a piece of Bazzill Marshmallow 110lb CS. I cut a piece of copy paper with Spellbinders Edgeabilities to make a mask for stamping rows of the border stamp. Each row was heat embossed with white EP before moving to the next. I coloured the front of the card base to match the b'ground design.

I used the gorgeous SB Lace Hearts set to cut hearts, one of which I coloured with TH Festive Berries distress ink and stamped with the JR heart outline and a sentiment from the Sweet Hearts set. I also sewed a red and white twine around the edge. The larger die-cut heart, I coloured with the same mix of inks from light to dark. I coloured the corner flourish with just the red.
I am thrilled with how the b'ground turned out and I LOVE the design. That border stamp was the reason I bought that stamp set and now I can't wait to play with it as a background again!
I added a few more bits and pieces to get that classic hearts and flowers Valentine look, but tried not to cover too much of the b'ground I worked so hard on.

Simon Says Stamp is running two challenges perfect for Valentine's Day cards and they can be found here :
Monday Challenge Blog : http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/challenge-love-notes/
Wednesday Challenge Blog : http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/simon-says-have-a-heart/
Allsorts is also having a "Love" Challenge : http://allsortschallenge.blogspot.ca/2014/02/week-244-love-is-in-air_1.html