Anniversary Cards

Over the summer I have had quite a few commissions to make anniversary cards - particularly for 70th (platinum) anniversary as the shops don't seem to stock cards for this particular anniversary.  By the way they were not all for the same couple!  Apologies in advance for the quality of some of the photos but some were taken with my mobile phone as I didn't have my camera to hand.  I think the first card is my favourite (it was actually the last one I did, so probably an amalgation of all the others!).

Hopefully in this close up you can see the colours better and how I've used a Quickutz retro diamonds patterned embossing folder on the card background.

This is another card for the same couple:

This is another 70th anniversary card, but this time for a different couple.  I like the simplicity of the design, but was told it was a bit too subtle for the previous couple (whose eye sight are bad), so didn't replicate it:

And finally a 60th anniversary card:

Recipe

Stamps: PTI Anniversary Set Round & Round, PTI All Booked Up, Hero Arts Dots & Flowers

Cardstock/Paper: PTI Stamper's Select White, PTI Enchanted Evening

Ink: Encore Silver, Encore Blue, PTI Enchanted Evening

Tools/Accessories: SU Whisper White satin ribbon, Blue organza ribbon from stash, PTI Mat Stack, Cuttlebug, Quickutz Retro Diamonds Embossing Folder, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, Light blue adhesive gems from stash, Express Yourself DIY number toppers with stars

A la prochaine! Amitiés

Nicole

Too Late!

Story of my life!  Suddenly saw the Embellish Birds Colour Challenge - however, I was too late and the deadline had already passed to submit an entry!  Anyway, even though it is too late here is my card!

Recipe

Stamps: Hero Arts Birds n Butterflies, Hero Arts Bird Branch Alphabet, WMS Asian Gardens
Cardstock/Paper: SU Very Vanilla, SU Old Olive, PTI Raspberry Fizz
Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, PTI Vintage Cream
Tools/Accessories: Cuttlebug Circle Frame die, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, SU Old Olive satin ribbon, Stickles Cinnamon

A la prochaine! Amitiés.

Nicole

Forever Friends - A Passion for Papertrey's Challenge

Just a quick (edited to add: not quite so quick in the end!) post to share my entry for A Passion for Papertrey's current challenge - Forever Friends. Typically it's a bit of a last minute entry but hopefully just in time!

I took the idea for the combination of colours and stamp set from an original post by Nichole Heady but after that went my own way and decided to use my Copics for the first time ever!  I bought them from PTI a few months ago and have been nervous about using them - I keep meaning to go on a course so I can ensure I get the best from them (probably still will at some point).  I was a bit worried about going "outside" the lines of the stamped image, but had read somewhere (apologies can't remember which blog now) that if you are nervous (yes I am - did I already mention that?!) about this to stamp and heat emboss your image - brill idea and it worked - well I think so! 

I also used for the first time the white Filigree embossing powder which I purchased from PTI recently - and I am SO impressed as it is miles better than my previous white embossing powder.  Wish I'd bought this sooner as it's ab fab!  The old one is now going straight in the bin!  I've used one of my favourite crafty stash staples - Craftwork Cards Back2Basics white 5x5 square card blank.  I love this size and use it a lot - although from looking at my blog you wouldn't think so as this is the first time I have shown a card using this!  Of course I had to finish the card off using my We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper.  I so agree with Kristina Werner, when the Corner Chomper came out I so thought I wouldn't need one as I already had some corner rounders that seemed to do the job ok - but this one is far superior and super easy to use!  I now use it on most (but not all!) my projects - and my blog does confirm this!

Anyway well done if you have read through all my ramblings above, now on to the important bit - the CARD in full!

Recipe
Stamps: PTI Flutterby Friend
Cardstock/Paper: Craftwork Cards Back2Basics white 5x5 square card blank, PTI Enchanted Evening, PTI Hawaiian Shores
Ink: Versamark, PTI Enchanted Evening
Tools/Accessories: Cuttlebug Circle Frame die, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, White Filigree detail embossing powder, Copic Sketch (PTI Enchanted Evening set)

I have designed this for a very good friend of mine and will be sending it to her shortly - I want her to know that I have appreciated her support over the years and that I can do the same for her :)

A la prochaine! Amitiés.

Nicole

Kristina Werner's Readers' Choice Colour Inspiration No 3

Gosh, I am spoiling you - my 3rd post in less than a week! Unlikely that I can promise to keep this up though!

I decided to do a variation on the card in my previous post, take part in the current colour inpsiration challenge on Kristina Werner's blog and also use my first PTI anniversary set for the first time (just shows I have spent far too much money on PTI products in the last 12 months!) all at the same time.  Enjoy!

Recipe
Stamps: Hero Arts Raindrop Background, PTI Round & Round (2009 anniversary set)
Cardstock/Paper: SU Elegant Eggplant, SU Very Vanilla, SU Certainly Celery
Ink: PTI Vintage Cream, PTI Ripe Avocado, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate
Tools/Accessories: PTI  Mat Stack 1 die, SU circle punch, SU Old Olive satin ribbon, lilac self-adhesive gems from stash, SU stampin dimensionals

And here are some close-ups.

Also just to let you know I will be having a stall at Bedford's REC Midsummer Fayre on Saturday 26 June, 2 pm to 4 pm.  Let's hope the English weather is good that day!  Hope to see you there! (Now I had better get making some more cards as my stock is a bit low...)

A la prochaine!  Amitiés.

Nicole

Rich Razzleberry

Bonjour!  Just a quick post to show a card I cased from Emma's Devotion to the Dream blog which I stumbled across on one of my recent web surfing sessions.  My take on the card has been done using the new SU products which I got from my lovely SU demonstrator Michelle Last.  I just LOVE the Rich Razzleberry colour - I am so pleased we have it in the UK now as I have been coveting it since it came out in the US towards the end of last year!

Recipe
Stamp: SU Sincere Salutations, Hero Arts Raindrop Background
Cardstock/Paper: SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Cottage Wall
Ink: PTI Fresh Snow
Tools/Accessories: SU scallop circle punch, SU Old Olive satin ribbon, Adhesive gems from Hobby House, SU stampin dimensionals

A la prochaine!  Amitiés.

Nicole