Snow Day - Winter Wonderland

Well there have been no flurries of winter snow just yet, but I thought I would share a cute card with you today made with the snowman dress up set Snow Day. I have to admit as much as I love the idea of making a snowman in the snow with my little one, my poor car does not like the snow and we are usually left housebound until the snow clears so the prospect of a wintery shower comes with mixed feelings for me.

This snowman though requires no cold outings and just some fun with some sparkle and ribbon.  He is stamped and embossed with the Iridescent Ice emboss powder (101930) to give him a lovely glistening snow effect.  You can almost imagine he is outside taking in the winter sunshine!  The layers of snow mounds are cut (free-hand with scissors, you can probably tell) out of the Shimmery White Cardstock (121717) for the added sparkly snow effect.

The Snow Day stamp set (131892) comes with all the little accessories of the hat, scarf and other little additions to make your winter scenes with.  I bought the set in wood as I wanted to use it with my little one and the wood blocks are easy to hold and robust for little hands.  The set does have a scarf stamp in it, but I wanted to add some embellishment so I tied a length of the stitched grosgrain round my snowman for a 3-D element to the card.

Tip: To line everything up with a wood set each time I have cut some window sheets into squares and then used the Stamp-a-ma-jig and staz on ink to stamp the images in each corner of the window sheet squares to use as templates each time. I just pop them inside the case and they are there ready to use each time.

I made my winter sky on this card with a mixture of Pool Party, Pistachio Pudding and Crumb Cake colours using a sponging effect and then stamped the little snowflakes in the co-ordinated colours.  I also added little daubing round the edges of the background  and on the edges of the snow mounds.

Like my little snowman in my ice emboss, but want a quick stamped version?  Here he is again on my sweetie cones (mine were made with the retired Petal Cone die).

A lovely frosty Pool Party snowman with accessories.  I have even given him a little sash with the wavy 'warm wishes' wording from the stamp set.  The photo does not show it so well, but the snowflake from the set is stamped in the Craft White Ink for a snowy background.  I have filled my cone with big fluffy marshmallows and made a hanging with the Organza Ribbon from the annual catalogue so he can be hung in pride of place on the Christmas Tree.

To place an order, book a workshop in your home or come to a class, just drop me an email at craftyinkbuds@sky.com. Remember you can now order online at anytime too by just clicking on the link from my main blog page.

Somethings Have To Be Believed To Be Seen - Last Retiring and Sneek Peek

I think possibly today's flurry of crafting is going to be some of the last of the retiring products you will see from me.  One of the first stamp sets I bought from Stampin' Up! was the Just Believe set.  It has simple 'Thank You', 'Friends' and 'Just for You' sentiments, but also has the great saying 'Somethings have to be believed to be seen'.  I have been inspired for the cards here by so many designs I have seen with the  larger stamp and how this can be framed on the front of the cards.

This first card is a combination of the In Colours 2013-2014 Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals. There is also some Regal Rose for the Boho Blossoms flowers which is a retiring colour with the new colour refresh.  The green on the card is Always Artichoke which has a darker shade which I think works really well in contrast with the other colours.

I just love the frame shape for this card.  This was cut using the Framelits Label Collection for the Big Shot.  I just imagined this card layout in my head and built it up from cutting and framing the stamped image.  The Boho Blossoms and Embosslits Beautiful Wings on the card are just the right size to go with the background image to dress it. 

The stamp set also contains two stamps which can be used to create instant label.  There is the decorative label I have added to this card and another larger label which can be used.  These are great for layering on cards or tags and are sized for the sentiments to fit with ease. 

You cannot see it too well on the photo, but there are embossing designs on the middle section and also on the edges of the white insert piece.  I used a product I have not mentioned too much up until now, the Simply Borders plate for the Simply Scored Tool, which is in the Spring/Summer mini.  This is fabulous for a subtle embossed design to your cards and co-ordinates with other products such as the Framelits dies. 

Tip:  The Simply Borders plate comes with a top template for easy alignment with your project when embossing.  To keep everything in place when embossing use some low tack masking tape to keep placement and to stop any slips.

The second card in neutral tones of Crumb Cake and Soft Suede is another use of the framelits die.  This card is created by first stamping in Crumb Cake and then using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up and create a shadow image, stamping with Versamark and then embossing with white.  The embossing was then sponged over with Crumb Cake.

This first photo is the initial version with the Flower Trim from the Spring/Summer catalogue and the Crumb Cake Seam Binding ribbon.  I then decided to step-up the card a little and added a few pearls.  I think the pearls lift it and make for a much better looking card.   Just a simple change can make such a difference!

The Flower Trim, as it is in the Spring/Summer catalogue will no longer be available after June 30th.  The other retiring products on the cards are, the Just Believe stamps and also the First Edition designer papers.  The papers are such a staple for any craft room; they work so well for a background, for vintage looks, or for masculine cards.

Lastly, all these retiring products posts have meant I have had to keep my twitching hands off my new catalogue products, but as we are now in the last few days of the current catalogues I thought it only right to give you a little tease of what is coming.  We have been talking about all the colour changes and retiring colours, well here are the yummy new In Colours 2013-2014 for the new catalogue (well 4 of them anyway!). 

 

Still with a retiring products, this card has monochrome Just Believe flower circles and I have then decorated them with the Floral Fusion Sizzlits in the new colours.  The photo does not show it, but I have also used the 'Friends' saying from the stamps down the right hand side strip.  The white card is also embossed with the Simply Borders plate as once I had played with it once I got carried away and wanted to play some more - as often the way with all the products!

To place your order, order your new catalogue, book a party or come to a workshop email me at craftyinkbuds@sky.com