Birthday Butterflies & Two Challenges

Yes I know - a card with more butterflies!  I do love them.  However, this time it was compulsory for me to use them as this is the theme for the latest Less is More challenge!  I have been following this blog since it started, but it is the first time I have entered one of their challenges.  I am also entering the card in the latest CAS-ual Fridays challenge where you must use "bling" - which I have done with the different colour pearls.

I visited my local garden centre over the weekend - just to buy a tomato plant which was a bargain at 99p (particularly as it is a hard to find variety and was quite well grown already).  However, it turned out to be a bit more expensive than that as I also bought ... some lilies, a pot to put them in as well as some gorgeous wrapping paper! So it was not quite such a bargain tomato plant in the end!  Does that ever happen to you?  Anyway I am sure you are wondering where I am going with all this - there is a connection (honest!).  Besides selling plants and anything horticultural, this particular garden centre also has a fabulous homewares department.  One of their latest additions is a range of gorgeous ecru cushions with pastel images appliqued on.  They were rather pricey so I didn't buy one but they did give me the inspiration for this card instead.

Card Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Crumb Cake, SU DSP Springtime Vintage
Ink: SU Whisper White Craft, SU Basic Grey Marker
Stamps: WMS Frame-It
Tools/Accessories: SU Embosslits Beautiful Wings, SU Basic Pearls, Assorted coloured pearls from stash, Signo White Gel pen (available from SU), SU Sponge Daubers, SU dimensionals

As you can see I have once again used the SU Embosslits Beautiful Wings die.  To create the 4th butterfly, I drew dotted lines around a spare die cut with the white gel pen (available in the SU catalogue) and then I used the negative of the die to make a mask which I then sponged with white craft ink (I did it that way round to ensure it lined up correctly with the other butterflies).  In order to ensure the butterfly wings stay slightly raised when I post this card, I have stuck small pieces of SU dimensionals under the butterfly wings.  One other tip - I have lightly curled the top edge of the wings using my "pokey tool" (officially known as a paper-piercing tool).

Did you know the Beautiful Wings die is exclusive to Stampin' Up?  Also it both cuts and embosses at the same time - how cool is that!  If you would like to own this gorgeous die please email me to find out more.

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Wedding Day

My cousin got married at the weekend, so of course I had to make her and her new husband (by the way this is her first and (hopefully) only husband!) a card to celebrate their wonderful day!

Recipe
Card/Paper: SU Shimmery White cardstock, Silver satin card from stash, Printed vellum from stash
Stamps: PTI YOF: Roses
Ink: Versamark
Tools/Accessories: SU Beautiful Wings Embossilits, SU Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, SU Basic Pearls, Silver embossing power, SU Dimensionals

Hope they have a long & happy future together!

I am submitting this card for the latest challenge at the Lily Pad, which is to make a card using embossing (heat or dry or both - (I managed both!)).

EDITED TO ADD: A photo of the happy couple and the amazing cake made by my aunt!

Amitiés! A la prochaine!

Nicole

Hello Fred!

Meet Fred - my new "dog", who my Mum got for me at Christmas!

Ok, so he isn't quite like Kirsty Wiseman's Eddy or my SU Mummy's Pippi who I both absolutely adore, but for a working girl my dachshund is maintenance free!  No walkies are required, nor are there any problems about being left home alone (well I certainly hope not!) and he is practical in that he doubles as a door stopper too (LOL)!

Desolée - just couldn't resist this silly post!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Acceptance Card

My last post showcased an engagement card for my cousin and her fiancé.  This card shows an acceptance card I made for the wedding invitation I received for her sister's wedding that takes place a week from today (yes - my poor aunt has her two daughters' weddings in the space of 2 months - how stressful - which means I HAVE to buy TWO different wedding outfits (which has proved to be equally stressful!) - LOL!)

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Certainly Celery, SU Very Vanilla, SU Pink Pirouette
Stamps: SU SAB Bliss, Acceptance greeting stamp from stash (manufacturer unknown)
Ink: SU Certainly Celery
Tools/Accessories: SU Basic Pearls, SU Stampin' Dimensionals, Gold embossing powder

One thing (actually two things!) I have noticed is that there is a lack of engagement and acceptance stamps for use for weddings/other occasions.  So this is a plea to all stamp manufacturers - can you include these sentiments in your stamp sets please - merci!

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Engagement Card

Just a quick post to highlight a recent card I (belatedly) made for one of my close cousins on her engagement earlier this year.

She loves red I (this is in fact going to be her colour theme for the wedding) so I felt I just HAD TO include this on her card.  I used SU's gorgeously named Cherry Cobbler cardstock  (which apparently turns out to be a perfect match to the bridesmaids' dresses!).

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Whisper White, SU Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: PTI Enjoy the Ride
Ink: Encore Silver
Tools/Accessories: SU Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, SU Basic Pearls, SU Organza Whisper White ribbon

I have been commissioned to do the place cards for the wedding (which is in July) so will show you those at a later date (still in the design phase at the moment).

The main element of the card is the sublime SU exclusive Manhattan Flower embossing folder (which is included in the current UK mini catalogue).

If you would like to order any item from the mini (or main) catalogue, please contact me (see to the right for details).

A la prochaine! Amitiés!

Nicole

Royal Wedding

The UK celebrated the Royal Wedding last Friday and this is a card that I designed in celebration of this event (didn't you just LOVE her dress?).  I made this card as a project for a design competition run by my lovely SU Mummy (aka upline) - Michelle Last - for her team. We had to use at least one item from the UK mini catalogue (which you can browse through on-line by clicking the picture on the right-hand side of this blog).  EDITED TO ADD - I won the competition and my prize is a (money can't buy) SU Tote!! I am SO excited!

Recipe
Cardstock/Paper: SU Pear Pizzazz, SU Very Vanilla, SU Baja Breeze, SU Springtime Vintage DSP, 
Stamps: SU Clearly for You
Ink: Versamark
Tools/Accessories: SU Top Note Die, Gold embossing powder, Signo white gel pen


I watched the wedding at home (my Mum came round) and we celebrated with a glass of sparkling (like you do!) and then afterwards went to a street party just round the corner where one of my work colleague lives.   There was so much food that I didn't need to eat dinner!  In the early evening there was a game of street cricket and it got quite competitive between fathers and sons (& daughters in some cases!).


A la prochaine!  Amitiés!


Nicole