Project Tuesday: Hinged Card

Happy Tuesday everyone! I've been looking forward to sharing my first Project Tuesday creation with you - it's such a fun card style, I hope you'll give it a try.

This week we've made a Hinged Card, rather than opening as usual, your top layer swivels using a brad. Interactive cards like this are so fun for the recipient!

The basic construction of this card is simple - your top layer lies behind the bottom layer and is held in place by a brad, allowing it to swivel. Wendy has a wonderful video on how she creates hinged cards. You can view it here.

I knew I wanted to use Baja Breeze and Pink Pirouette on my card - I added Real Red to my combo for some pop. Isn't that ribbon gorgeous? It's only available for the rest of the month in the Summer Mini Catalogue. I've used Soft Summer - perhaps my favourite two-step stamping set, it always looks great.


Here's what my card looks like open. You can see that my oval focal layer is only attached to the top layer of my card - using dimensionals helps it slide over the border layer easily. You can write your message in this space, or do what I did, and also decorate the back of your card.

I just love that eyelet border punch - I haven't used mine a lot, but I think I will from now on. For this back layer I only stamped the top part of the branch image for a pretty, clean look.

I hope you'll play along and create your own hinged card. Make sure to link your creation at Project Tuesday and see what the rest of the design team has come up with!




Stamps: Soft Summer, Circle of Friendship
Paper & Card: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette & Real Red Card.
Parisian Breeze and Candy Lane Designer Paper.
Ink: Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze
Punches: 1" Circle, 1/2" Circle, Large Corner & Eyelet Border Punches
Other: Pink Pirouette Grosgrain Ribbon, Piercing Tool & Mat Pack
Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Baja Breeze Corduroy Brad, White Gel Pen, Crop-a-dile
E-mail me to purchase.

Other: Oval Nestabilities

Birthday Creations

Hi everyone! I thought it was finally time to share Michelle's birthday present with you - I haven't done a lot of creating this weekend, Shan is off work sick, and I have the beginnings of what he has, so that's not nice! In fact I've been up since 3am this morning, so it may be time for a nap once I get this posted.

I think this is the first time I've shared one of my jewellery pieces on here. I've loved beading for a long time, I had a little business I started when I was 19 making jewellery sets for brides and bridal parties - it was so much fun outfitting groups for such a special day. I loved it, but over time, beading became a job instead of a passion. I love colour - and working entirely in pearl tones got a little tiresome!

During my time off from beading I discovered stamping (along with a bunch of other hobbies!) I think I'm a much better jewellery designer now because of my love for papercraft. I'm more in tune with colour - and love just going for it and trying new designs.

For Michelle I created this pendant - she can wear it with something dressy or with jeans for a more casual look. It's a long, earthy pendant, that can be knotted if she'd like to wear it shorter.

I've used a mix of tibetian silver, frosted czech flower beads (lighter in colour than they appear here), matt black glass and silver findings. I like this one so much I think I might have to make one for myself!
Here's the card I made to match the necklace display card I created. I embossed the Upsy Daisy image and sentiment with black embossing powder. More Mustard and Old Olive matched the pendant colours perfectly! A little bit of hardware, ribbon and dotting with a black marker finishes the card off.

I've repeated the focal image on the inside layer - and inked the sentiment with markers. I'm so happy to report she loved it - and I was really pleased to hear Michelle keeps everything I make her (watch out sweetie - your mailbox will be inundated now!)

I'm off to find something for my throat and to lay down with a book. I give it five minutes before I'm asleep! See you tomorrow with my Project Tuesday creation!




Stamps: Upsy Daisy, On Your Birthday
Paper & Card: Old Olive, More Mustard & Basic Black Card.
Old Olive and Spring Break Designer Paper.
Ink: Versamark, Basic Black, Stazon
Punches: Large & Scalloped Oval, Scalloped Edge Punches
Other: Basic Small Grommets, Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Brads
Stampin' Write Markers, Black Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy
Circle Scissor Plus, Medium Cello Bags, Crop-a-Dile, Jumbo Eyelets
E-mail me to purchase.

Other: Assorted Beading Supplies, Jumbo Brads

Saturday Stamping

Happy Saturday (or Friday) everyone! We had a great start to our weekend, having a wonderful dinner and catch-up with my sister Michelle and her fiance Terry last night. It was great to see them as they travelled to their new life in Auckland. Shanan and I are so happy we made the big move north, we're sure they'll feel the same!
I have a clean and simple card for you this morning following the Spring Fling challenge to use a flower on a CAS card - and the FTL80. This is right about as busy as a card can be before it isn't Clean and Simple (for me at least!) It was super simple to make though. A bit of sponging on the designer paper, cutting the flower out, stamping the gorrrrrrrrrgeous sentiment and it was done.

This card is already addressed, the stamps are stuck on and it's ready to go to a wonderful friend.



Paper & Card: Ruby Red, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Other: Ruby Red Brad, Sponge Dauber
E-mail me to purchase.

Stamps: Floral Whimsy, Fairy Tales & Abundant Blessings - Verve
Paper & Card: Blush - Basic Grey

Masculine Moments

I'm big-time into square cards lately. I had forgotten how much I enjoy finishing the card off completely by making my own envelopes. I have a template for square cards that fits on a piece of A4 cardstock - making envies out of card is a great way to ensure your wonderful creation arrives safely!
This was yesterday afternoon's project. I really like how it came out - especially because I never have enough masculine cards in my stash, and I think this one is ok for a guy, even with the flowers! I used the Card Patterns sketch for this week, and the Color Throwdown colours.

I inked the birdcage with a Basic Gray marker, then went over the bird with Not Quite Navy. I really love this Happy Moments set (free for Sale-A-Bration this month only).
I inked the sentiment with markers too and I've repeated the stamped elements on the envelope to tie it all together.

Stamps: Happy Moments, On your Birthday
Paper & Card: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy.
Urban Garden, Old Olive & Ginger Blossom Designer Paper.
Punches: Small Oval & Scalloped Edge Punches
Other: Earth Elements Buttons & Brads, Linen Thread,
Stampin' Write Markers, Dimensionals
E-mail me to purchase.

Other: Square Nestabilities, Prima Flowers, Envelope Template

Fun is Good

Have you ever made something and gone away thinking, "eh, it's ok" but then come back to it with fresh eyes and really liked it? That's how I feel about this card. I made it last night - under the harsh glare of a halogen bulb I just wasn't digging it - but this morning, I love these colours! I've used the first Mojo sketch of the month. I like grouping focal elements like this sometimes, it's a fun look. I'm definitely loving anything with circles right now too! I also kept the Crazy 4 Challenges (which I am) challenge in mind, and used three or more textures on my card. I have the smooth texture of the chipboard, the embossed polka dot texture, the ric rac, the soft feel of the flower petals....it goes on and on.

I had a distinct look I wanted for the flower behind the circle. Folding the flower in half looked weird, so I cut and adhered each petal separately.
I thought this should probably be a birthday card as it seems so bright and cheerful. I wish I had bought the On Your Birthday set sooner - it has to be my most used set so far this year.

I've decided to go back to my original "recipe" style of listing supplies. So from now on, everything I've used will be listed at the end of the blog post - just scroll to find the info you need. I'm also going to add a new category - Marvelous Markers - for those cards where I use multiple markers on one stamp for that cool multi colour look.



Stamps: On Your Birthday
Paper & Card: Rose Red, Green Galore, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Punches: Scallop Edge punch
Other: Basic Small Grommets, Stampin' Write Markers,
Circle Scissor Plus
E-mail me to purchase.

Stamps: Beautiful You - Verve
Paper & Card: Euphoria - Basic Grey
Other: American Crafts Chipboard & Ric Rac, Franchville Brads,
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Prima Flower

Clean and Simple Gift Ensemble

Hi everyone, I hope Wednesday (or Tuesday for a lot of you!) is treating you well. I have a cute cute cute project for you today - and some fun news!

Not only is my gift card holder featured on Project Tuesday - but I've been picked for the design team! Project Tuesday is a great challenge blog - you use YOUR favourite supplies (and everyone knows mine are Stampin' Up!) on fantastic challenges - there are so many amazing 3d projects and templates available already, with more to come!

Today's challenge was this adorable birdhouse template from Brenda Quintana. Brenda comes up with the most wonderful templates! I created a little ensemble, complete with a square clean and simple card for CAS56.

Seriously, this template couldn't be easier. Print it, cut it out, score and it folds together perfectly. I used circle punches and acetate to put a window in the front of mine. I also created a little tile roof detail with my threading water punch (or use the scallop edge punch and punch holes in each scallop).

Here's what it looks like open. You can also glue it all together to make an ornament. It's a perfect size for a small gift or sweet treats.

Here's my matching card. I love this Rustic Rooster stamp set (hostess only) - it's so different from anything else in my collection. The colour scheme is a classic - Kraft, Real Red, Black and White. I just love that gingham ribbon, and it works so perfectly with this set.

Here's the inside. That swirl stamp is really unique - it has such a gorgeous printed texture - enlarge the photo to see what I mean. The sentiment is from an old hostess set - Warmest Regards.

I had to finish off my ensemble with an envelope - again made of Kraft. I love the gorgeous simplicity of Mr Rooster on the Kraft background, it's so effective. I hope you'll give this fun challenge a try soon!



Some supplies available from Stampin' Up! Email me for purchasing details.

It's time to Sale-A-Brate! Earn your free stamp set today!

Summery Thanks

Alrighty, dinner is in the crock pot, brownies are baking slowly, and the dishes are done - so here's the card I made last night! I needed a thank you card for Shan's parents and using a sketch and colour challenge meant this one came together super quick while I listened to my ipod.

I've been meaning to do Mercy's sketch all week - I love this one! The colour combo of Ruby Red, Bashful Blue, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White came from Color Dare 57.

I stamped the girl from Summer by the Sea in Stazon and watercoloured her VERY quickly with inkpads. You can't go over and over normal cardstock the way you can with watercolour paper - it pills. So this quick colour wash probably took all of 60 seconds. The circle layers were cut with the Circle Scissor Plus. I used some retired designer paper for my background and the Trio Flower punch flowers. I gently shape these using the thick end of my piercing tool and the foam mat from the mat pack.

For the inside I used a sentiment from the SAB Whimsical Words set and repeated some elements from the front of the card. This is the last month to earn this, or any other Sale-A-Bration set for free!


Some supplies available from Stampin' Up! Email me for purchasing details.

It's time to Sale-A-Brate! Earn your free stamp set today!

March Calender Page

Hey there creative peeps! I was up bright and early this morning so I thought I'd quickly share something pretty before getting dinner in the crock pot. I'll probably be back later on with a card I made last night - I have so much creative energy at the moment, I'm not even blogging everything I'm making! It's great to be enjoying my craft room.

So here's my calender page for this month....

I went with quite a different design from last month, elongating the entire panel so I could use some of my favourite Raspberry Tart designer paper. The colour combo is pulled from the paper - Real Red, Cameo Coral, Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red. I love this Butterfly Prints stamp set and punch!

To get the graduated effect on the butterfly, I inked with Cameo Coral, then sponged directly on the rubber with Rose Red before stamping. I used the gorgeous swirl from Baroque Motifs as a background. I love the Calender sets already - it's so relaxing stamping the grid, then all the numbers, it's a fun way to spend some time!

Happy Stamping,


Some supplies available from Stampin' Up! Email me for purchasing details.

It's time to Sale-A-Brate! Earn your free stamp set today!

March Madness

Hi everyone. Can you believe it's March already? February just ends so abruptly! Happy Birthday to my Dad!!! I can't show you his card yet either (we have a lot of birthdays this time of year) but I love how it turned out, so will show you later in the week. We have a busy couple of months coming up, I feel like I might blink and it will be Winter already!

I just got done making this gift card holder for Project Tuesday, a little bit of a different style from last time. I've used the colours from CCEE1008, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red and Basic Black.

I felt like pulling out a lot of inks, so no designer paper on this one! I've used the Stem Silhouettes and Basic Phrases stamp sets. I've done lots of sponging, sanding, distressing the edges and piercing to create an aged look. The hardware is Antique Brass.

The Word Window and a Circle punch are used to create the opening to slip in a gift card. Quick, simple and a great way to spruce up a gift!

I'll be back tomorrow, and I'll probably share the calendar I made for this month.

Have a great week,


Some supplies available from Stampin' Up! Email me for purchasing details.

It's time to Sale-A-Brate! Earn your free stamp set today!