Soft florals

Well, I was out of my comfort zone with both the soft colours (So Saffron, Pool Party and Petal Pink) of Global Design Project's challenge #233, and all the elements of Paper Craft Crew's sketch challenge #375:

However, I was pleased with the result - not least because I finally, after many false starts, successfully used the Forever Blossoms Bundle. I think that seeing my friend and teacher Jan Clothier  use it superbly  put me off! 

Ingredients:

Stampin' Up card, (Whisper White, Smoky Slate, So Saffron), ink, (Basic Grey, Petal Pink, Pool Party, stamps, (Forever Blossoms, Butterfly Gala) dies, (Needlepoint Elements, Cherry Blossoms, Stiched So Sweetly), and sequins.

Vanilla thanks

I'm determined to use more Very Vanilla card, since I accidentally double ordered it a while ago. The trouble is, my inclination is always to turn to white. So thanks, Global Design Project 205, for having a colour combination that made me think vanilla instead. And thanks, Freshly Made Sketches FMS401, for a sketch that got me creating!

Ingredients:
Stampin' Up! card, (Whisper White, Mint Macaron, Rococo Rose), vellum, ink (int Macaron, Rococo Rose, Memento Tuxedo Black), stamps, (Lovely is the Day, Mixed Borders), dies, (Lovely Leaves, Layering Circles, Stitched Shapes, Needlepoint Elements)
Other: francheville rhinestones

Needlepoint thank you

Subtlety is definitely not my strong suit, so Less Is More's #393 - Subtle Colours - was definitely a challenge! I used the clean sketch from Stampin' Up! Only Challenge's SUOC221 as inspiration for my response. I was pleased with how the border turned out - I experimented by using this die from Flourish Thinlits on this DSP from Needlepoint Nook:

The card: 

Ingredients: Stampin' Up! stamps, dies and DSP from Needlepoint Nook Suite, card (Whisper White, Thick Whisper White), Flourish Thinlits, epoxy dots, Balmy Blue ink, Memento Black ink.

Hello 2019!

It's great to come back to making cards after a break, where guests needed to sleep in the craft room. My first 2019 cards were inspired by CAS(E) this Sketch's challenge #303. I'm just loving the Needlepoint Nook Suite and so turned to it with glee. I particularly like playing with the loved stitched patterned die. My first card pretty much stuck to the sketch, but I thought I'd also post the more off-piste 2nd version as well (same basic principal, but the central shapes much bigger).
The first card:

and the second:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up! stamps (Needle and Thread), dies (Needlepoint Elements, Stitched Shapes, Layering Circles), DSP (Needlepoint Nook), vellum, card (Whisper White, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride), ink (Balmy Blue, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Basic Black) embossing powder (white), pearls, glitter enamel dots.

New Favourite

Well, there's no question what my new favourite is from Stampin' Up - the utterly delicious Needlepoint Nook suite - so it was great to see Paper Craft Crew's invitation, in challenge #316, to showcase it. I recently went to a card class run by the marvelous Jan Clothier (check her out here!) where we made screen cards, so the first thing I did when I got home (who needs dinner, anyway?) was make one using this new favourite.

Ingredients:
Stampin' Up card (Petal Pink, Old Olive, Whisper White), ink (Berry Burst, Granny Apple Green, Basic Black), Needlepoint Nook,DSP, stamps and framelits, Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp (for sentiment), banner punch (for base).

Sneak Peak #2 of Needlepoint Nook

I'm just loving this new set, which I was lucky enough to order early through attending OnStage. I've used it here for Sunday Stamps' Challenge SSC192. I love the colours in the DSP so have chosen to use the same colourways here, with just a little of one of the reverse-sides as a base. I also used another recent acquisition, Stampin' Up's 'Corrugated' Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. It makes a great base when used with coloured card, I think.

 

Ingredients:
Stampin' Up! card (Berry Burst, Whisper White, Night of Navy)  ink (Berry Burst, Balmy Blude, Old Olive, Night of Navy), Corrugated Embossing Folder, Needlepoint Nook Suite (stamps, dies, DSP)
Other: Rosie's lace trim.

Sneak Preview: Stampin' Up!'s Needlepoint Nook

I'm so glad I went to OnStage in Auckland - and the chance to acquire the completely gorgeous Needlepoint Nook suite early is high among the reasons why!
I used a little of the DSP and some stamps and dies from the suite to make this card for Paper Craft Crew's gorgeous sketch challenge PCC315.
I can see lots and lots of fun ahead experimenting with the suite's different permutations. The closeup shows the lovely stitched-effect die and the delicacy of both the stamps and the DSP.