Bright balloons

Looks like I spoke too soon about the weather, it's cold and miserable again today - oh the joys of an English spring! Recovering from a night shift with a 4 year old in the house doesn't add to my sense of well-being either, roll on September and full time school! Here's a card that would be suitable for a child made using the balloon from Crazy for Cupcakes.

The card base is saffron which has been stamped with the blower stamp using saffon ink. The balloon has been stamped twice on watercolour paper using black Stazon, coloured with re-inkers and an aquapainter then this layer matted onto green cardstock. A turquoise scallop circle with green and white layers provides a mat for the sentiment, stamped in black on green cardstock. Two little 'tabs' have been added to the top left of the panel using saffron striped grosgrain ribbon.

The colour inspiration for this card is the Rainbow Sherbert designer paper, combining turquoise, saffron and two shades of green. I don't have this paper as the colours are out of my comfort zone, but seeing them together on this card may change my mind - they look very bright and 'zingy'! And now is the ideal time to stock up on your designer papers, as they are the subject of the May Stampin' Up promotion - buy any three packs of Designer Series paper and get one FREE!

Products used (Stampin’ Up! unless stated otherwise) :

• Stamps – Crazy for Cupcakes, Sincere Salutations
• Ink – black Stazon, So Saffron, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise
• Cardstock – Watercolour paper (non -SU), So Saffron, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise
• Other – Aquapainter, circle punches (1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", scallop), So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon

Spring has sprung!

It actually feels like spring has finally arrived in the North East, so I was inspired to make a card using spring-like colours. Very simple card, ideal for mass production if you've got a few birthdays (or other occasions) coming up. The gorgeous Tea Party designer paper (available in the new mini) has been added to an amethyst card base, after creating a scalloped edge on both layers. The sentiment has been stamped in black Stazon on white cardstock with a pink mat, and the striped ribbon wrapped round the cardstock and tied in a knot. The striped ribbon is also from the new mini, and is lovely and soft - perfect for tying. It's available in So Saffron, Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue.

The flower has been stamped in black Stazon, coloured with re-inkers and a watercolour brush, then cut out. A small pink brad has been added to the centre and the flower petals curled slightly, then added to the white panel using dimensionals.

Products used (Stampin' Up! unless stated otherwise):

• Stamps - Playful Petals, sincere Salutations
  
• Ink - Black Stazon, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron
  
• Cardstock - Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink
  
• Other - Tea Party designer paper, So Saffron 1/2" striped grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, brad (non-SU), dimensionals.

New mini catalogue!

Don't forget that you can now order from the new mini catalogue! These products are only available until 30th September, unless they make it into the new catalogue (out on 1st October) so if you like something then buy it now! To see the mini, please use the link on the right hand side. Please get in touch if you have any questions, or if you would like to place an order from the main or mini catalogues.

My demo pre-order from the mini has been sitting un-inked as we've been decorating - hopefully DS2 won't draw on the walls again (I wouldn't mind if he stamped on them!) He's got a session at the school nursery this afternoon, so I may get a chance to get those stamps inked after all. Fingers crossed!