Freaking Fantastic!

A couple of brands had tiny new releases this week - and we have them in store at the same time as in the USA (this is something I'm working to try to do - its not always possible as some of the brands won't release to me early enough but I am trying to get as close to release dates as I can so you can join in on all the excitement as it happens on their blogs).   For these releases we have - 2 stamps from Newton's Nook and dies to match the On the Corner stamp sets from Neat and Tangled and I decided to play with the latter for my sample today.

I stamped the background with delicate blue stars using the just back in stock confetti set from Winnie and Walter and then layered up 3 die cuts using the cityscape creative cut from Mama Elephant.  I used the die and stamp from Neat and Tangled to make the sign post and added my sentiment to it - I'm dedicating to our DT member Keren who, although she didn't get all the way, did freaking fantastic to make it to the Top 10 of this year's Gallery Idol.  I wanted to thank all our customers who voted for her cards - we really appreciated your support.  I love the new dies as you can add some dimension to your cards - I can also see myself using these signposts for parties when I want to identify food for people - you could write on the signposts!

I also had a play with Fresh Cut Florals this weekend which are back in stock along with the dies and all the floral sets from Wplus9.

I used the watercolour technique that Dawn demonstrated a few weeks ago on the Wplus9 blog of 2nd generation stamping with distress inks on watercolour paper and then using plain water to move the ink around to get a watercolour look.  I arranged my flowers in trug (Joanna Sheen die) which I embossed into the card before I started stamping and then I just used distress inks and water to "paint" it - the embossed lines "hold" the ink so it's easy to do ;-)

Hope you enjoy the sunshine today.
Happy Crafting
Tara

Throwback Thursday

Hello

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Todays card is made using what can only be described as a stamp phenomenon-the set that drove everyone into a complete frenzy- WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals. Holy moly,we all went nuts for this set! If you do not have it,grab one now to have the original set that sparked a ton of 'copy' stamps.

Ok,so,I have used it on a 60 years young card for my awesome Godmother.

No fusty musty florals on THIS card! No way. 

There are some great accent pieces in this set-I stamped and cut until I had a big pile next to me,then just tried them out in various places over the card until they looked right.

I hope you like it as much as she did ;-)

Happy shopping!

Lou x

When wood isn't wood.....

....it's metal!   Today's card was inspired by this week's Less is More challenge - the last one of our month long sponsorship and the theme is metal.

I started with the super-cute owl from Papersmooches Hooties set - you get 3 in different sizes and there are dies to match so there's always an owl to fit your branch!   I die cut him from kraft, coloured him with polychromos pencils and blended with paper stumps and then redrew the lines in a shiny black pen for a comic book look.

For my branch I die cut a branch using a Clearly Besotted die as sadly PS didn't do dies to match the branches only the owl from some thin copper sheet and embossed it with a woodgrain folder.  The leaves are die cut from green metal sheet using leaves from WPlus9's Fresh Cut Florals (currently oos but more are en-route) and then the detail hand embossed with a ball tool.

I created a background for the branch with a die cut circle of striped blue vellum and added my traditional dotted line finish around it before adhering the metal with glossy accents.

Now, if there is one thing I think every crafter needs it's sentiment stamps and that's why I couldn't wait to get my hands on this new Happy Birthday set from Papersmooches - it's jam packed full of lots of lovely, interesting and unusual sentiments perfect for birthday cards for young and old, male and female.  I finished my card with one from the set which had the right shape and size to add balance to my CAS design.

There will be lots of new arrivals in store in the next couple of weeks - Mama Elephant, Newton's Nook, Lawn Fawn (including your pre-orders) followed shortly by Wplus9 and Avery Elle - phew the postie is going to need a very big sack!

Just a heads up - we're going to be away from the Store for a couple of days next week, so any orders received after 9pm on Monday evening won't ship until Thursday.  Apologies for the short delay - normal next day service will resume from Thursday onwards.

Tara

Festive Tag And Card

Happy Friday one and all!!! .

So I'm posting today and card and tags set inspired by the Monday Mood Board over at Stamp Away With Me and using some not so Christmassy stamps but using festive colours.

I also need to thank Kate from Just Kate Crafting for inspiring me to use this as a festive set. 

I have used to of sets from Wplus9 on these- Fresh Cut Florals and also Heartfelt Holidays. 

How good does that lilac look stamped in red?!?!? I really need to start playing with this set again..... the colour combos are endless.

So happy you popped by !

Check ya later, Lydia xxx