So Many Stars

Hello and welcome to my blog. I am thrilled to be taking part in a blog hop with fellow demonstrators, from around the world, who are part of Kylie Bertucci's training program. There is no theme for the hop, but there is sure to be a wealth of inspiration.

I am using a new bundle from the Autumn Winter catalogue called So Many Stars, but I am using it for a card that has all year round appeal. The bundle has stamps and coordinating dies. I was so happy when I saw these dies in the new catalogue...the star dies have stitched edges! I love the stitched edged dies we already have, and the stars complement the existing selection perfectly.

When I saw them I knew that I wanted to create a card that says 'You're a Star'. Sending a card like that would be such a boost to the recipient and it's a bit like an award we have where I work.
I work in my local primary school, and one of the highlights of my week is seeing who is awarded the Star of the Week. Recognition is given for all sorts of things, and not just academic achievements. It can also be given for kindness, sportsmanship and anything where someone has gone the extra mile and shone. Privileges include sitting on the Star of the Week cushion for a week (which I revamped last night ready for the first award of the new academic year!), a sweet from the treat tin and a certificate. It is wonderful to see characters blossom from the award.

So, onto my card. With the theme picked, all I needed was a colour scheme, and I have a recent order to thank for that. As I unpacked a delivery from Stampin' Up! the card stock came out in the following order; Pretty Peacock, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Pool Party. They looked gorgeous lined up next to each other. It was meant to be and I was all set to go. Colours, stars and stitches!

I cut strips of card in my chosen colours and stuck them to a piece of Shimmery White card (shimmer and shine is perfect for stars) before cutting out a rectangle using the Stitched Rectangle dies so that there is a lovely stitched edge all around the shape. The words 'You're a Classic' come from the Geared Up Garage set of stamps, and with some clever masking, using a post it note before inking it with Pretty Peacock ink, it becomes 'You're a' instead. A second Shimmery White rectangle, embossed with the Subtle embossing folder, was cut to sit next to the striped layers. The star is obviously the star of the show, nestled just below the words.

Using the Stitched Stars dies I cut out a selection of stars in different sizes and colours to decorate the centre panel.  The Stitched Rectangle dies came into their own to create the layered look. The frames were stamped with ditsy stars using tone on tone colours.

Who would you send praise in the post to? Thank you for visiting my blog today - you are currently visiting Karen Henderson. Please visit the other blogs on the list too. I'm sure you will find lots of ideas and inspiration on your journey around the hop. Make sure you don't miss any!

Blog Hop List:
 
If you want to purchase the items used for this card, or any other supplies, 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.

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 hostess code YS92ESJG 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 rewards.  To place an order please visit my online shop HERE.

If you would like to join my team, you can choose your starter kit HERE and if you have any questions, please contact me at furrycatdesigns@gmail.com

Click on the images below to purchase them in my online shop:

Tropical Chic, you are the greatest!

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today, I have another Tropical Chic card with an ombré background to share with you. I don't know about you, but sometimes ideas and opportunities to craft don't come along at the same time. I make sketches and write notes ready for when a window of opportunity opens up to craft. This crafty session was a little different and I tried lots of different things with the same products. Again, this card uses the Basic Pattern Decoraive Masks together with the Tropical Chic stamps and dies. You can see the first card using this combo here. 

This time I started with a quarter sheet of Very Vanilla card. It was covered with the mask and the ink transferred using the sponge brayer, starting with the lightest colour at the top and getting darker down the sheet. To avoid harsh lines and joins the colours were overlapped to give a smooth graduated look. The colours are Petal Pink, Grapefruit Grove and Calypso Coral. I love how these colours work together.

Again, I have used the Stitched Rectangle dies to crop out the layers and the sentiment - they are so good for creating crisp, clean lines and they layer so well. As we are entering the Autumnal phase of the year I am pleased to be showcasing lush tropical plants and warm colours, to remind us of this year's balmy summer. The sentiments in this set can be used for many occasions...celebrating triumphs and successes, thanks and a whole lot more. 

Gold metallic pearls and Scalloped Lace Trim are the only added extras to the stamped and die cut elements. I am really pleased with how this has turned out - the background is the star of the show and echoes the shape of the tropical leaves. I must admit that the symmetry of the background makes me happy! 

If you want to purchase the items used for this card, or any other supplies, 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.

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 hostess code YS92ESJG 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 rewards.  To place an order please visit my online shop HERE.

If you would like to join my team, you can choose your starter kit HERE and if you have any questions, please contact me at furrycatdesigns@gmail.com

Click on the images below to purchase them in my online shop:

Creativity Is Calling - the new Autumn Winter Catalogue

Hello and welcome to my blog. Today's post is short and sweet because all you'll want to to is browse throught the new Autumn Winter catalogue. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous new stamps, dies and papers.  Ooh, the papers are wonderful. But, there is more! There are new inks, ribbons and sequins...

So far, my favourite things are the Let It Snow Suite and the Christmas Countdown Project kit. In fact, these are the only things that I have allowed myself to use before the catalogue started! I have an adorable set of cards with snowmen on and an Advent Calendar all ready to fill. I have lots of ideas of how to fill the little boxes.

Now that the catalogue has launched, I will allow myself to experiment with some of the other goodies that I have already bought. Did you know that Demonstrators are able to purchase from the catalouge before it launches? It is one of the many perks of being a Demonstrator!
 
Go on, grab yourself a drink, sit in a comfy chair and drool over the beautiful designs and samples. You can view the catalogue here. I am full of ideas and can't wait to start creating with these awesome new products. I wonder, what will be at the top of your list? 

If you want to purchase any supplies, please take a look in my online Stampin' Up! shop. 

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 hostess code YS92ESJG 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 rewards.  To place an order please visit my online shop HERE.

If you would like to become a demonstrator and join my team, you can choose your starter kit HERE and if you have any questions, please contact me at furrycatdesigns@gmail.com

Tropical Chic, ombré style

Hello and welcome to my blog. My crafting over the weekend was influenced by Kylie Bertucci and Patty Bennett. I saw projects that they had made and that set me thinking and inspired to try my own projects using their ideas as a starting point. I had a wonderful time! Thank you to Patty for sewing the seed for an ombré background and to Kylie for reminding me to use the decorative masks. It seems appropriate to share one of these projects today because I am excited to be taking part in Kylie Bertucci's Blog Highlights for September.

The idea is to create a card for someone who needs a little encouragement and to let them know that you are thinking about them. Making and sending a card is such a pleasure and it really can make the world of difference to the person on the receiving end.  

The fun bit about this Highlight is that you can vote for your favourite five projects in the gallery. At the end of the voting the top ten winners will get the chance to be part of an international blog hop that will happen at the end of September. I would love to take part in the hop, so I would really appreciate it if you would visit the gallery and vote for my card.

My sentiment is simple; with much love, but that says it all really. Together with the personal note on the inside you are sending a hug in the post as a reminder that you are keeping them in your thoughts. 

The ombré background is created using a sponge brayer over the Basic Pattern Decorative Masks (available in the Autumn Winter Catalogue from 4th September). I used three shades to create the gradual change in colour; Petal Pink, Grapefruit Grove and Calypso Coral. I placed the mask over a quarter sheet of Petal Pink card and used a sponge brayer to add the lightest colour of ink to the top third. The colour was built up, overlapping the progressively darker shades to completely fill the sheet. When the mask is lifted a beautifully graduated backgroung is revealed.

I used the Stitched Rectangle dies to cut the ombré background and a rectangular frame from Grapefruit Grove card. The added extras are quite minimal because I wanted to leave plenty of the background on show, allowing it and the sentiment to shine. I used the Tropical Chic stamps and coordinating Tropical dies to add the extra details. This set is new to me, and I'm not sure why it has taken so long for me to use it because it is such fun to use!

I have a couple of tips and tricks for how I altered the appearance of the sentiment. The changes were achieved with the aide of my Stamparatus and some post it notes. The whole sentiment in the set says 'with much love and thanks', so I covered up the 'and thanks' with a post it note before applying the Grapefruit Grove ink. When the post it note is removed, the only portion of  the stamp to have ink on it is the 'with much love'. Next, I used my Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker to add a darker shade to the word 'love' before stamping it on to Petal Pink card. Since the stamp was attached to my Stamparatus I could re-ink the word 'love' with the marker and repeat the stamping to deepen the colour. Voila! A two tone sentiment which was then cropped out using the Stitched Rectangle dies, underneath which I added a small piece of Scalloped Lace Trim.

Finally, I couldn't resist using a couple of the Happiness Blooms enamel dots to add to the centre of the flowers.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. I hope you approve of my card and that you'll visit the gallery and vote for me! Perhaps I have inspired you to make a card, send a card. Go on make someone's day a little brighter and show them that you are thinking of them.

If you want to purchase the items used for this card, or any other supplies, 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.

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 hostess code YS92ESJG 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 rewards.  To place an order please visit my online shop HERE.

If you would like to join my team, you can choose your starter kit HERE and if you have any questions, please contact me at furrycatdesigns@gmail.com

Click on the images below to purchase them in my online shop: