Cute as a Button!

Every now and again I remember to take a tour around some of the challenge blogs and yesterday I came across the sketch (top left) over at House of Cards. Each month a different challenge is set such as colours, sketches or photo inspirations and then each week in that month the main challenge is kept but a different style is chosen. So this week's challenge for the sketch is Clean & Simple and they don't come any more simple than this card!
I used the Gingham Wheel (which I have taken off the wheel to use as a flat stamp) to make the criss-cross and stamped this in Pistachio Pudding. The label in the middle is a stamp from Label Love punched with the co-ordinating Artisan Label Punch, again in Pistachio Pudding. To finish the card I added a small button cut from the Sweet Buttons Embosslits die with a bow of Bakers Twine

Margaret x

Case'd Baby Card

My card today was inspired by a very talented demonstrator, Dawn Olchefske, you can see her card and a video here. Although this is not strictly 'CASE'd', without seeing Dawn's card/video this card would not have been made!!
I started by stamping the Gingham Wheel (which, incidentally, I have taken apart!) in Soft Sky, down one side of a piece of Whisper White and then matted this onto Soft Sky and a white card bank. Two of the balloons are also made with Soft Sky and the third from Silver Glimmer Paper. The sentiment is from Label Love punched with the Artisan Label Punch.
I have to go back to work tomorrow and I have a feeling that I won't be getting a lot of crafting done so, until I settle back into the 'work' routine, I'll be scheduling some posts showing things I have been making over the past few weeks!! Until next time thanks for popping by and I'll be back soon :0)

Margaret x

Pop'n'Cuts Post-it Note Holder

Well here is the third project using the Pop'n'Cuts die, this time a litle post-it note holder. Again an idea from Diane Dimich (link to video on Tuesday's post).

I have used Early Espresso cardstock for the actual case and decorated inside and out with Crumb Cake DSP (retired). I put a small pencil in mine but this hinders the case closing as well as I would like, so I may adapt the score lines for the next one I make. The label is from Label Love punched with the Artisan Label Punch and 2 punched circles added on top. I have left this blank as I thought it would look nice with a diecut initial added.
That's it for my Pop'n'Cuts projects and a big thank you to Diane for sharing her ideas

LIM on Simples Sunday

I was unable to take part in the Less is More challenge yesterday as I was involved in the ILWS new catalogue Blog Hop (see previous post for the hop). However, it didn't stop me making a simple card which would double up for my 'Simples Sunday' and one which I could post today! 

This week's challenge is Colour Inspiration using the picture top left. As soon as I saw the picture it shouted Crushed Curry at me, that being one of the new shades in the SU colour refresh programme. I have to admit that, despite having bought all the new colours a few weeks ago, this is one that hadn't even been opened until I made this card! Anyway onto the card! 

A panel of Whisper White was stamped, with images from Summer Silhouettes in Basic Gray and Crushed Curry, before matting onto a wider panel of Crushed Curry and then onto a Sahara Sand card blank. The sentiment from Label Love was punched out with the Artisan Label punch and matted onto a Crushed Curry label which had been cut in half, giving a narrow border top and bottom. To finish the card I dotted a few of the tiniest Basic Pearls here and there - job done!

I have a busy week ahead but, hopefully, I will find some blogging time to show you lots of things I've been making. Until then take care and have a good week  

Margaret x

ILWS Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to the ILWS 'New Catalogue' Blog Hop.
There are 21 demonstrators taking part so grab yourself a cup of tea, and start hopping!

If you are following the hop you will have come to me from Katie - http://stamping-katie.blogspot.com/ all the way from France and the next stop is Christa at http://serendipity-stamping.blogspot.co.uk/ who I'm sure will have some fabulous creations to inspire you.

For my project I have chosen the new 2013-15 In Colours to make a set of 4" square cards and a gift bag to put them in. These make great stand-by's to give as thank you, birthday or even 'just because' gifts and are always appreciated by non-crafters! Anyway on to business - here they are

Pistachio Pudding
Flower Shop (and co-ordinating Pansy Punch)
Four You (sentiment)
DSP from the In Colour Paper Stack














Strawberry Slush
Flower Shop (and co-ordinating Pansy Punch)
Four You (sentiment)
DSP from the In Colour Paper Stack

Crisp Cantaloupe
Flower Shop (and co-ordinating Pansy Punch)
Four You (sentiment)
DSP from the In Colour Paper Stack

Coastal Cabana
Flower Shop (and co-ordinating Pansy Punch)
Four You (sentiment)
DSP from the In Colour Paper Stack

And finally the gift bag. made with the 5th In Colour - Baked Brown Sugar DSP.
The flowers are again from Flower Shop and co-ordinating Pansy Punch and the label is a stamp from Label Love punched with the Artisan Label Punch. The handles are made with circles from the Circles Collection Framelits.

Both the Flower Shop/Pansy Punch and the Label Love/Artisan Label Punch are available to buy as bundles with a saving of 15% so, why not go and raid the piggy bank and treat yourself :0)

I would be happy to order any of the above supplies (or any others) for you so, if you would liek to get in touch my details can be found on the tab at the top of the page.

Just to remind you the next stop is HERE

Happy Hopping and have a great weekend 

       Margaret x

Simples Sunday meets LIM (on a Saturday!)

If you saw my post yesterday you will know that the picture on the left was the inspiration for this week's LIM challenge.

I needed to make a card for my Simples Sunday post so I decided to combine it with another card for the challenge.

This time I used the bow on the shoes for my inspiration and replicated it with some Basic Black Taffeta ribbon and some strategically placed glue dots!

The panel down the side of the card is simply a piece of Very Vanilla with some narrow strips of Basic Black cardstock fixed on with sticky strip (you could use DSP to make it even quicker but this is an alternative if you don't have the right paper!) The sentiment from Label Love was stamped in Basic Black and punched out with the co-ordinating Artisan Label punch then fixed to the card with dimensionals.
My apologies for posting Simple Sunday a little early but, where I would normally schedule the post, I needed to link it to the LIM site - hence Saturday night!!

Shades of Grey - LIM

The LIM challenge this week is 'Shades of Grey' - and, thankfully, a minimum of 2 not 50 :0)
The two greys I have used here are Basic Gray and Smoky Slate, a brand new colour from Stampin'Up! I started with a Basic Gray card blank and added a panel of Smoky Slate which had been punched twice with another new product - the Artisan Label punch. I added a few score lines at the top and bottom of the panel before fixing into place. The 'Mr & Mrs' is a stamp from a new set (co-ordinating with the punch) called Label Love and the sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments - both stamped in Basic Gray. A splash of Whisper White was added to the sentiments and two flowers, punched with an Itty Bitty Shapes punch, were added to the apertures. A couple of Basic Rhinestones finished the card.
I hope you have a lovely, what promises to be, a very hot weekend and I'll be back soon x
Edited to add: I have just looked at Lizy's, a fellow team member, entry to LIM this week, and read that tomorrow she is doing the Race for Life. If, like me, you would like to support this worthwhile charity but have not had the chance to do so why not pop over to Lizy's blog where she gives a link to her JustGiving page and sponsor her. Even if it's just £1, as the famous supermarket says - Every little helps!!! Lizy's blog can be found here http://www.creatinandstampin.blogspot.co.uk/