Festive Sunday Inspiration Week 16 - Final Installment!

Hi crafters,

We've made it!  This is the final installment in my Festive Sunday Inspiration series.  You can still catch up on the previous posts, take a look back at the first post.  I've posted every Sunday for the last 16 weeks sharing festive projects to spark your creativity.  Projects featured Stampin' Up! products from the August-December 2020 Mini Catalogue and the Annual Catalogue, using a variety of techniques.  If you would like to purchase any of the products for yourself, please visit my online shop which is open 24/7. 

This is the card I've designed for my Mam and Dad this year.  I've only seen them a handful of times and we only live about 30 minutes apart.  Hoping for many more face-to-face visits next year.  

I've had the idea for this card in my mind for about two years!  It turned out exactly as I planned and that rarely happens.  I started with a Thick Whisper White card base and then cut a panel of Whisper White cardstock for the stamping.  I used the Peaceful Boughs stamp set and Stampin' Write Markers in Shaded Spruce and Soft Suede.  I stamped first and second generation images using the Stampin' Write Markers to colour the stamps and then remembering to huff before stamping.  This just keeps the ink wetter for longer so you get a better impression.  I added the sentiment in gold heat embossing and adhered the panel using Multipurpose Liquid Glue.   There are a few Rhinestone Basic Jewels dotted through the branches but these are not showing up in the photo.  

As this is the last week of the Festive Sunday Inspiration series, I'd love to know your favourite project.  I hope you've been inspired.  

Happy crafting, Rachel x

Product List

Peaceful Boughs Cling Stamp Set (En) [150541]	Peaceful Boughs Bundle (En) [153033]	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]
Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [147158]	Regals Stampin' Write Markers [147155]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129]
Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [154974]

Amazing You!

Hi Crafters,

I'm back with an entry for this week's challenge over at the Global Design Project.  I always love checking out the weekly theme there.  I just wish there was an extra day of the week called Craftday!  The theme for GDP121 this week is a colour challenge and it's bright and beautiful!

I had so many ideas for this combo and it took quite a few attempts to decide on my favourite design.  I purchased the Hello Friend stamp set when the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue launched in June last year but I've only just inked it up this week and I'm so glad I did.  It paired perfectly with the new Celebrate You Thinlits dies and Amazing You stamp set available for free with a qualifying order during Sale-A-Bration (SAB).  

I actually used Stampin' Markers to colour my wreath image, starting with Peekaboo Peach, then Sweet Sugarplum and finally Bermuda Bay, in a random pattern.  If you use Sweet Sugarplum as the final colour, you will get a muddy result.  I know this from experience!  Don't forget to breath on your image too before stamping - this keeps the ink from drying too quickly.  I also stamped a subtle second generation image which I plan to use on another card.

I stamped the "YOU" sentiment in Smoky Slate to match my die cut which has been sparkled with a wash of the Wink of Stella glitter pen.  This doesn't show up well in photos but looks lovely in real life.  I really recommend using the Multipurpose Liquid Glue for your intricate die cuts - simply follow the shape and keep the flow to a minimum.  Tweezers are also a must-have if you have chubby fingers like me!

If you are new to Stampin' Up! this might be your first Sale-A-Bration.  You're really in for a treat!  If you spend £45, you automatically qualify for a free Level 1 SAB item.  There are several to choose from including stamp sets, ribbon and Designer Series Paper.  However, if your order reaches £90, you can choose a Level 2 item for free.  The items used to make this card (shown in the Supply List at the bottom of this post) will allow you to add both the Amazing You stamp set (Level 1) and the Celebrate You Thinlits dies (Level 2) to your order for free.  If you have any SAB questions or would like to receive free copies of the new Spring/Summer and SAB catalogues, please get in touch via email.  I can send catalogues to France, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands and the UK.  

Happy crafting,
Rachel x



Product List

Hello Friend Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144059]	Amazing You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147215]	Celebrate You Thinlit Dies [146840]	Brights Stampin' Write Markers [131259]	2016-2018 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [141393]
Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [131179]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate [131291]	Stampin' Trimmer [129722]
Simply Scored [122334]	Clear Block A [118487]	Clear Block E [118484]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]

Global Stamping Friends Blog Hop 12 - Kids' Cards

Hi Crafters,

I have a treat in store for you today!  I am joining in with the wonderful people at Global Stamping Friends for their 12th Blog Hop.  The theme is kids' cards and I know there will be lots of fun projects for you to hop.

I decided to play with the Cool Treats stamp set and Frozen Treats Framelits to create my card for a kid.  I recently watched a video by Jennifer McGuire where she added embossing paste to create ice cream!  I thought this was a great idea so I have done my version for the blog hop.  

I created a 4.5" card blank in Melon Mambo cardstock  (my favourite SU! colour) and layered a piece of Whisper White cardstock on top which had been embossed using the Polka Dot Basic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  This is a great generic pattern for so many occasions.  The sentiment is from the Ready to Pop stamp set which features popcorn images.  Maybe I was a bit hungry when I made this card!  I cut a panel and stamped the sprinkles in Melon Mambo and Lemon Lime Twist and raised up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  

I cut the largest of the circle Stitched Shapes in Whisper White and then created a frame from the same dies using the largest and second largest in Melon Mambo.  The ice cream bowl was cut from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock and I have shaped it to make it look rounded.  I cut the round ice cream with the scalloped bottom and then added the embossing paste on top which had been coloured with Melon Mambo (strawberry), Chocolate Chip (chocolate) and a tiny hint of Sahara Sand for the vanilla.  This was a fun technique to try and the embossing paste dries so quickly which is great for impatient crafters just like me!

I hope this has inspired you to have a go with the embossing paste in a different way.  Don't forget to visit all the blogs in the hop for more inspiration.  We would love to see your comments too.  Thanks for hopping with us.  Simply click the Next Arrow to keep hopping!

1. Sarah McDermott 
2. Lisa Hardie 
3. Kristie Neal Walthall 
4. Courtenay Heuston 
5. Rebecca Urban
6. Rachel Macleod ***You are here***
7. Georgia Missy Gaydos 
8. Jenn Curtis Charles 
9. Christine Wrede 
10. Lisa Ann Bernard 
11. Angélique Stempelkeuken 
12. Sharon Dalton 
13. Lou Kitzelman 
14. Kimberley Anne Morris 
15. Vicky Wright 
16. Anastasia Radloff 
17. Susan Vilar 
18. Christina Walker 
19. Ellen Woodbridge 
20. Amanda Bates
21. Cary Buckham
22. Sharleen Luciano 
23. Jan Musselman 
24. Anita Wifladt 
25. Karie Beglau 
26. Marieke Bart 
27. Donna Gray 
28. Mary Ann Kay Rossiter 
29. Erica Jones

Happy hopping, 

Rachel x

Product List

Cool Treats Photopolymer Stamp Set [142982]	Frozen Treats Framelits Dies [142756]	Ready To Pop Photopolymer Stamp Set [141513]	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372]	Big Shot [143263]
Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock [119980]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Lemon Lime Twist A4 Cardstock [144250]	Embossing Paste [141979]	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [115662]
Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [101065]	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [105220]	Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad [144086]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]

Ruffled Bouquet Bunch

Hi Crafters,

I have had my first play with the Bouquet Bunch dies and they are gorgeous!  A must have for any crafty stash.  I paired the dies with the Jar of Love stamp set and the Everyday Jars dies.

I have used a ton of cool stuff on this card!  I created a card blank from Whisper White thick cardstock and then added a layer of Night of Navy cardstock which I had embossed with the Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I used a sponge to ink over the navy cardstock in Whisper White.  I think this almost looks a bit like denim.

I  stamped in Versamark and heat embossed my jar in white onto vellum.  I coloured the jar from the back to look like water but I'm not sure I achieved the right effect.  The bunch of flowers were cut from the Bouquet Bunch Framelits and I also added a touch of Wink of Stella which hasn't photographed well.  I only adhered the centres of each flower cluster to give some dimension.  Finally I added the copper sequins from the Metallics Assortment with liquid multipurpose glue.

I have chosen to leave this card without a sentiment for the moment.  I will probably add one later before sending it out.

Happy crafting,
Rachel x



Product List

Bouquet Bunch Framelits Dies [143659]	Jar Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set [141587]	Everyday Jars Framelits Dies [141490]	Ruffled Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143699]	Big Shot [143263]
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]	Flirty Flamingo A4 Cardstock [141421]	Old Olive A4 Card Stock [106576]	White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584]
Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad [101731]	Stamping Sponges [141337]	Versamark Pad [102283]	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132]	Heat Tool - Uk Plug [129054]
Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]	Metallics Sequin Assortment [144214]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]