Thursday, 28 November 2024

Nests of Winter for Ink & Inspiration blog hop

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today I am delighted to be taking part in the Ink and Inspiration blog hop for November 2024.

This month we can choose to be inspired by the colour palette, the picture or both.

I was drawn to the adorable robin and immediately thought of the robins featured in the Nests of Winter DSP. I made a card several weeks ago with this hop and a recipient in mind. I was being organised for once. However, I posted the card before I'd taken the photos. Not so organised after all! So, this is take two.

I love it when you have a card that allows you to show off the Designer Series Paper - after all pretty paper needs to be admired! This panelled card is the perfect way to do that and needs little else adding to it. I was happy to make another card (or two!) for this hop and although I focussed on the image the neutral colours from the suggested palette work really well with this paper pack.

The first card features a Gray Granite card base with Cherry Cobbler layers (to echo the robin's red breast), Essential Baker's twine and iridescent faceted gems. They really twinkle in the light. The sentiment, which is stamped in Pebbled Path, comes from the Best Family Ever stamp set and is cropped out with a thin banner from the Stylish Shapes set. A stamp/die match made in heaven that I've used umpteen times!

The alternative card has only one robin but it elegantly forms the focal point flying out from behind the first panel. This time the card base is Crumb Cake with Early Espresso layers which really make the DSP pop. Again, the sentiment (from the equally useful Simply Said set) is stamped onto DSP but, instead of die cutting it, the edges are torn and laid over a crumpled scrap of Early Espresso card. To add a little sparkle the card is embellished with some gold twisted thread and iridescent foil gems.

Of course, there is somewhere to write a message, and that is hidden behind the middle panel!

I hope that you are inspired by my cards today and that you will continue along the hop to see what the others have created too - click on the names below to enjoy their projects. We would love to hear from you and so if you have been inspired, please leave a comment.

Do you need any of the products used on today's cards? If you live in the UK please take a look in my online Stampin' Up! shop. You can follow the link or click on the pictures below of the products I have used today.

Stay safe and as always, happy crafting,

If you would like to order any supplies, and you live in the UK, I would love to be your demonstrator. Use the current hostess code (November 2024 code: AUFT992X) to get some free product (it will follow in the post after the end of the month). If your order is over £150 do not use the code as you become the hostess and get the rewards. To place an order please visit my online shop HERE. The products I have used on today's project are linked from the images shown below.

All Star Video Class Bundles

The Video Class Bundles have 12 AMAZING video tutorials to inspire you each month. This month we are featuring the Nests of Winter Suite from the September - December Mini Catalogue.

Click HERE to purchase.

FREE with a purchase from my online store

Click on the images of the products I have used today to purchase them in my online shop:

Rembember to use the current hostess code.

October 2024 code: AUFT992X

Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Decorative Trees for the New at SU! Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today, I am participating in the New at SU! blog hop. We are a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from around the world who are full of creative papercrafting ideas to share with you to get you crafting. This month we are each using the same selection of colours - follow along the hop to see how many different ways they can be used.

I honed in on the lovely green shades and then decided to pick the equally lovely Decorative Trees Bundle to work with. I gathered together a few other supplies; the Snowflake Sky embossing folder, Greeting of the Season dies and some adhesive sheets.

My top-folding card base is Bubble Bath, which I've topped with a couple of layers of Mossy Meadow card. The top matting layer is embossed using the Snowflake Sky folder which provides some gorgeous texture. I used the same folder on a Basic Beige tag cut using the Greetings of the Season dies, to which I have added Wink of Stella sparkle! (Wink of Stella mixed with rubbing alcohol in a spritzer bottle - a little goes a long way, but unfortunately is very tricky to photograph.)

I cut two solid trees from Old Olive cardstock and topped them with Mossy Meadow detailing. I applied adhesive sheet to the reverse of the Mossy Meadow card before die cutting for ease of application to the Old Olive layers (the trunk and lower bough is trimmed off to fit the smaller of the two detailed layers). I think the simplicity of the trees is stunning.

I tried stamping the skinny sentiment in Mossy Meadow, but Moody Mauve looked much better and completed the colour palette challenge! To accessorise my card there is a length of Basic Beige ribbon tied with a loose Linen Thread bow and, for some more sparkle, a scattering of Iridescent Foil Gems.

Initially, I was worried how these colours would sit together but I am pleased with how they have married up. I hope that you have been inspired by my project today. Continuing along the hop to the others will provide you with even more inspiration using this colour palette - you are currently with me, Furry Cat Designs by Karen Henderson - but before you hop on to the next post, please take a moment to leave a comment. We love reading your comments!