Butterfly - Just for You

This stamp set (Watercolor Wings) is not on the Retirement List but the White Jute ribbon is!

I decided to share this card today as it is a favourite of mine and I rediscovered it while looking back over my favourite cards that I have kept.  I  am planning to make my favourites into kits and have them available to purchase during my Scrappers Club or on request. This will be one of those kits.
The colour combination uses Mint Macaron, Lost Lagoon and Crumb Cake.
The butterfly was stamped twice with the same combination. One butterfly was cut with the Bold Butterfly framelit and the second with the Butterfly thinlits and double mounted for extra dimension. Pearl Basic Jewels completed the butterfly.

Summer Silhouette - With Sympathy

As I have said previously, I am sad to see the Summer Silhouette stamp set being on the retirement list.
Here is one of my favourite cards made with list stamp set.
The colour scheme is in Crumb Cake, Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green and Very Vanilla. It uses Crumb Cake ribbon,
Pearl Basic Jewels and Dazzling Details. I love using Dazzling Detail to give bling to my projects.

Saying Goodbye to Some of My Favourites

I hope you have checked out the Stampin' Up Retirement List and made those last minute purchases before you miss out.
Don't forget to purchase ink and cardstock for the 2015-2016 In-Colours.  Lost Lagoon is one of my favourites. I purchased ink and cardstock to keep me going for awhile.  It teams so well with Mint Macaron.
I am so glad that I just purchased the Itty Bitty punch set, as it's on the retirement list as well. I used the flower punch on my last card made and I will sure be reaching for it for many years to come. It is much easier and less fuss to punch than to get out the Big Shot for a couple of little flowers.
I am very sad that the Summer Silhouette stamp set is on the Stampin' UP Retiring List too. It is one of my all time favourite flower sets. It might be retiring but I will keep it on my shelf. I know that I will keep using it! No wonder I have problems with storage - just can't part with some things!

Birthday Wreathe

Another birthday card! And a very pretty one too! It seems like it is birthday season.
I have been itching to make this card for awhile.
The layout is one that I use over and over again.  It featured earlier in my series using the easter Little Lamb stamp set.

In my classes last week we looked at how easy it is to use the same basic layout/sketch but could get a new look by substituting the shape layer.  In this case we have a circle shape but  we could change it up by using a square or star for example.  Also, the card could be either portrait or landscape
design.

The colour scheme in this card is white, Pink Pirouette and Pear Pizzazz.
I did stamp the sentiment using Blushing Bride.  It also came from the Circle of Spring stamp set.
The DSP is from the Subtles Colour Collection.
The wreathe was cut using the Wonderful Wreathe Framelits Dies. The wreathe stamp came from the Wonderous Wreathe stamp set.  It was stamped in Pear Pizzazz. I stamped off first to obtain a lighter shade and completed the two step stamping with full strength.
The little flowers were punched using flower punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack and decorated with some Pearl Basic Jewels.  Throw in a doily and bow to complete.

Bouquet Designer Series Paper Birthday Card

I absolutely love this paper!  The ribbon band is the reverse of the same dsp sheet.

The only stamping was with the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments.
The flowers and leaves were cut using the Botanical Builder Framelits Dies.  
I sponged the edges of the large flower and leaves to match the images as in the paper.
The flowers were cut from Garden Green and sponged with Garden Green.
Three of the little flowers were cut from Blushing Bride. The remaining flowers were cut from Mint Macaron but sponged with Lost Lagoon.
Half of a doily and some Candy Dots finished the card.

Stampin' Up Retiring List On Sale

We are getting ready for a new annual catalogue release in June and that means lots of new product! It also means that some items will be retiring. That retiring list is out today! Some of these items will be discounted. All items on the retiring list will be available while stocks last. So I’d recommend not waiting if you see something you like.
You can find the retiring list here on my online store :
Helen’s Online Store

Number of Years & Goregous Grunge - Male 21st Card

Hmm, need to improve my photography!

I really liked this card. The black, grey, white and silver glimmer looked real classy in real life!

The inside was stamped too!

Balloon Celebration

Another birthday to celebrate!  This time for a dear friend.

I love my bling! Can't stop using my Metallics Glitter tape. This time the white.  Brights Sequin Assortsments plus Dazzling Details completed the bling!


The inside of the card was stamped too.  I really liked the inside.  I think with a little modification it could make the front of a card.

Watercolour Wash Backgrounds

This week I have continued with the watercolour theme. I am having fun with watercolour wash backgrounds.

Here are four cards which have used the watercolour wash. The card on the far right I have shown before.  Its background was washed with ink using an aqua painter onto  watercolour paper.  The other three cards were washed the same way, except I used  an aqua painter on Shimmery White Cardstock.  Our Shimmery White cardstock is great to use with water colour as long as you don't saturate it with too much water. It is fine to use with washes.

Loved the colours in this wash background - Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight. To make the balloons.  I also washed the same colours onto Shimmery White cardstock and then punched them out with the Balloon Bouquet Punch.  The Metallics white tape and the Metallics Sequins gave the card its bling!

This card uses a trio of colours, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight and Bermuda Bay, with the inks slightly overlapping and blending together on Shimmery White cardstock. I made sure it was completely dried before stamping the balloons from the Balloon Celebration stamp set with Versa Mark ink and embossing with white embossing powder. The balloons were brushed with a Wink of Stella.  Sequins from the Brights Assortments, Silver thread and Silver from the Metallics Glitter Tape completed the bling! The strip of DSP came from the Nuetrals Colour Collection. The sentiment was white embossed onto black cardstock.

The background of this card was washed with Pool Party ink onto Shimmery White cardstock. The stamped images are all from Sky is the Limit stamp set. The card had a Black cardstock base. The card layer used Pool Party cardstock.  The striped paper came from the Neutrals Collection DSP.  The Decorative Label punch was used. Sliver Glimmer Paper and some Rhinestones completed the card.

Flowering Fields - Watercolour and Emboss Resist 5

This is the last in this series and the prettiest.  The stamped layout is different with Rose Red being more prominent. Again the images were stamped on watercolour paper and ink applied with an Aqua Painter.  The ink is painted over the embossed image with the background washed. Lost lagoon cardstock and co-ordinating DSP was used to make up the card. A Lost Lagoon ribbon bow completed it.

Flowering Fields - Watercolour and Emboss Resist 4

This card uses Lost Lagoon, Old Olive, Rose Red, Crushed Curry and Pool Party inks.  Lost Lagoon and Pool Party was washed for the background. The images were stamped with Versa Mark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The inks were applied using an Aqua Painter. Lost Lagoon cardstock and ribbon were also used.

Flowering Fields - Watercolour and Emboss Resist 3

This is the third card in this series and uses the same colour scheme as the previous card, except the stamped layout is different and the background is washed with Pool Party ink.

Flowering Fields - Watercolour with Emboss Resist 2

This is the second card using this technique.


 Lost Lagoon and Old Olive inks were used.
The colour was applied with an Aqua Painter.
 I used a paint brush to add undiluted ink to some of the leaves and flowers. Lost Lagoon cardstock was used for the cardbase and mat and I do not know the name of the co-ordinating DSP. The ribbon is also Lost Lagoon.