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.

Thanks 4

For this challenge, Paper Craft Crew's PPC348, I've used the Above the Clouds stamps and punch to play a little with perspective. I think my favourite stamp in the set is the little seagulls! I love frames on cards, so was delighted by the sketch.

Ingredients: Stampin' Up! card, (Pretty Peacock, Whisper White), ink, (Crumb Cake, Balmy Blue, Pretty Peacock, Soft Sea Foam, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party), stamps, (Itty Bitty Greetings, Above the Clouds), Above the Clouds punch, Peacock faceted jewels, Subtle embossing folder
Other: Dienamics stitched rectangle frame, francheville rhinestones

Cloud Nine Birthday

A lovely sketch from CAS Colours and Sketch's as their challenge #318 led me back to an old favourite, the 'Lift Me Up' Suite from Stampin' Up! I used two of the colours from Paper Craft Crew's 'Mystery Colour' challenge PPC334 - Coastal Cabana and Poppy Parade - and added Balmy Blue.
There's something about making a card with the sky in it that makes me feel good!

Ingredients: Stampin' Up card, (Balmy Blue, Whisper White), ink (Stazon Black, Memento Black), Lift Me Up stamps, dies (Rectangle Stitched, Up & Away), watercolour pencils (Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue), blender pen, Lift Me Up DSP.
Other: Derwent Inktense watercolour pencil in Poppy Red.

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.

Daisies & Lace

One thing I love about the Retro Rubber Challenge blog is that it makes me reconsider and reuse old favourites - and for the latest sketch challenge:

 I turned back to one of my 'best of the best' stamp sets - Grateful Bunch - one of the very first stamps I bought when I discovered the wonderful world of card making (from the 2016- 2017 catalogue). Paper Craft Crew provided me with a lovely set of very spring-like colours:

 - entirely suitable down here in New Zealand, where we're seeing daffodil plants edge their way above the cold ground's surface - a promise that spring will be here soon!

Ingredients:
Stampin' Up card, (Thick Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist, Whisper White), ink (Tempting Turquoise, Lemon Lime Twist, Basic Black), Stamp set (Grateful Bunch and Mixed Borders for sentiment), Daisy punch, Glitter enamel dots
Other products: francheville diamantes and Sizzix Tattered Floral thinlits.