The Creative Flow Blog Hop – Hello Spring

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – The Creative Flow Blog Hop – Hello Spring

Thank you for joining us on our Creative Flow Blog Hop. Each month we are set a challenge to creatively stretch our imaginations. The products we have used are all available in the current Annual and/or seasonal Stampin’ Up!® catalogues. To hop along, please use the buttons at the bottom of the post to keep hopping. And this month’s theme is ‘Spring is sprung’.

I don’t know about you, but for me, nothing says ‘spring’ more than flowers. So today I’ve got for you a set of super cute, 4 x 4″ notecards.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Set of Notecards 2.JPG

Spring notecards dimensions:

  • In Colour cardstock: five pieces, one of each colour, 4″ x 8 ” scored in half at 4″ (20,3cm x 10,1cm scored in half at 10,1cm) + scraps for die cutting
  • Whisper White cardstock: five panels 3″ x 3″ (7cm x 7cm)
  • Linen Thread five pieces, 20″ length each
  • Pearls: 15 mini pearls, 3 for each notecard

For the base of my little notecards I decided to use, soon retiring, 2015-2017 In Colours. I stamped each card base with a ‘dotty’ stamp from Number Of Years Stamp Set in Versamark.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Tip Top Taupe Notecard

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Cucumber Crush Notecard

I stamped each 3 x3″ Whisper White panel using Writing Notes background stamp. I’ve used Cucumber Crush, Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride and So Saffron x2. Next, in the middle of each panel, I stamped a little bouquet of flowers, from Number Of Years Stamp Set. This is a two-step stamping set, so I first stamped the foliage using Pear Pizzazz and Wild Wasabi ink pads, and next I added the flowers in So Saffron, Pool Party, Watermelon Wonder, Blushing Bride and Wisteria Wonder.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Watermelon Wonder Notecard

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Delightful Dijon Notecard.JPG

I die-cut my bouquets with stitched circle die and adhered a leftover piece to the card base. I also die-cut five scalloped circles: one in each In Colour. Next, I layered each bouquet with a scalloped circle and adhered them to the card base with dimensionals.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Mint Macaron Notecard

Sentiments come from Crazy About You Stamp Set and I stamped them in coordinating colours once my cards were assembled. For the final touch, I added mini pearls to some of the flowers. I also created cute little bows using Linen Thread and added them to the cards using glue dots.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Number Of Years Stamp Set - Hello Spring Set of Notecards 3.JPG

I’m really pleased with my little notecards and I think they fit the theme perfectly. But just a little reminder that In Colours 2015-2017 will retire soon (end of May) so if you love them I would really advise you to stock up on cardstock, Designer Series Paper, and ink refills as they surely will be sold out way before the end of May. Click the picture below to check the entire collection.

In Colours 2015-2017

Now be sure to hop along to see more inspiring projects. Your next stop is lovely and talented Jerim.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day

One Wild Ride For GDP078

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – One Wild Ride for GDP078

GDP078

Hello, everyone! Today I’m playing along with Global Design Project’s Sketch Challenge. And oh how cool this sketch is – endless possibilities, honestly. It looks so soft and feminine to me yet I decided to go on the ‘dark side’ as there are always shortages in masculine cards.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! One Wild Ride - masculine congratulations card for GDP078

One Wild Ride card dimensions:

  • Crumb Cake cardstock: 8-1/4″ x 5-7/8″ scored in half at 4-1/8″ (21cm x 14.8 cm scored in half at 10.5 cm)
  • Basic Black cardstock: 2-1/4″ x 5-7/8 and 3-6/8 x 2-1/8″ (5.7 cm x 14.8 cm and 9.5 cm x 5.4 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 2″ x 3-5/8″ and 1-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ (5 cm x 9.2 cm and 3.8 cm x 6.3 cm) + a strip for a sentiment

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! One Wild Ride - masculine congratulations card for GDP sketch challenge

I started with stamping card front with this gravel-splatter kinda stamp from One Wild Ride stamp set, in Crumb Cake for soft, tone on tone effect. Next, I embossed it with Brick Wall Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

I took 2-1/4″ x 5-7/8 piece of Basic Black cardstock and distressed it by tearing the edge of the panel. Using the same ‘gravel’ stamp I stamped the whole panel in Versamark, heat embossed it in silver and adhered it to the card base.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! One Wild Ride - masculine congratulations card for GDP

Next, I stamped motorcycle in Basic Black on a piece of Whisper White cardstock. It looked too ‘clean’ so once again I’ve used the gravel stamp. This time I stamped it in Basic Grey. I also distressed the edges of the panel using scissors.

I matted my Harley image with Basic Black cardstock and a smaller piece of Whisper White and adhered it flat to the base.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! One Wild Ride - masculine congratulations card for GDP#078

I kept sentiment simple, just Basic Black ‘congratulations’ on a strip of Whisper White popped out with dimensionals.

I hope you like my card and that maybe, just maybe, it inspired you and gave you some ideas for a surprisingly tough subject called ‘masculine cards’.

As always, I really want to encourage you to visit the Global Design Project challenge blog to see other beautiful projects from all around the world. Just click on their logo below to visit the website

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

You Are Amazing – Kylie Bertucci’s International Stampin’ Up! Blog Highlights

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – You Are Amazing – Kylie Bertucci’s International Stampin’ Up! Blog Highlights

International-Highlights-header-vote-fav

Thanks for coming to my blog today! We are being highlighted internationally by Kylie Bertucci and you are able to VOTE on my project. The top ten winners will get to be part of an international blog hop so please vote for my project. You can do it here or use button at the end of my post.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! All Things Thanks Stamp Set CAS Card You Are Amazing

Our theme for this highlight is using the stamp set All Things Thanks! This is a Wonderful stamp set with so many gorgeous sentiments. We wanted to highlight how versatile it really is.

This is my first time taking part in Kylie Bertucci’s International Stampin’ Up! Blog Highlight so I’m a little bit nervous. For my card, I went with monochromatic clean and simple design.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! All Things Thanks Stamp Set Monochromatic CAS Card You Are Amazing.JPG

You Are Amazing Card dimensions:

  • Whisper White cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Basic Grey DSP from Neutrals DSP Stack: two pieces 3″x 3″ each (7.6 cm x 7.6 cm)
  • Basic Grey cardstock: 1/2″ x 3-3/6″ (1.2 cm x 9.5 cm)
  • for sentiment piece of Whisper White cardstock
  • Whisper White Thick Baker’s Twine: 12″

First, I stamped my sentiment in Basic Grey on a piece of Whisper White cardstock and die cut it using 2nd smallest oval from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies. Next, I took my card base and adhered my squares of Designer Series Paper in the middle, offsetting them slightly.

I took Basic Gray strip of cardstock and created a fun banner using a dotted strip die from Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies.

I adhered the banner in in the centre of my card front and popped up the sentiment on top using dimensionals. I wrapped bakers twine around my card and tied a simple knot on the front. For the final touch, I added a rhinestone to the ‘i’ in the sentiment.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - All Things Thanks Stamp Set by Stampin' Up! Monochromatic CAS Card You Are Amazing.JPG

Thanks for visiting my blog today and make sure you head over to Kylie’s blog to check all lovely projects and vote for your favourites. Hope my project will be among them as I would love to be chosen to do an international blog hop.

Vote for me Kylie's Highlights Badge

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set & Coordinating Dies

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set & coordinating dies

anna-stampin-cave-ink-smooshing-technique-with-dragonfly-dreams-stamp-set-coordinating-dies

For today’s project, I have used once again Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set and Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies. I love this bundle and either together or separate, I just can’t get enough of it. This time though I decided to revisit two of my favourite techniques: watercolour and ink smooching. Bright colours, Cucumber Crush and Island Indigo, seemed perfect combination for a dragonfly card.

anna-stampin-cave-ink-smooshing-technique-with-dragonfly-dreams-stamp-set-detailed-dragonfly-thinlits-dies

Watercolour Dragonfly card dimensions:

  • Cucumber Crush cardstock: 8-1/4″ x 5-7/8″ scored in half at 4-1/8″ (21 x 14.8 cm scored in half at 10.5 cm)
  • Island Indigo cardstock: 4″x 5-6/8″(10,2 x 14,5 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 3-7/8″ x 5-5/8″ (9.8 x 14.2 cm) and 2-7/8″ x 1/2″(7.4 x 1.3 cm) for a sentiment
  • Scraps of Whisper White, Shimmery White and White Vellum cardstock for die-cutting

First thing first I had to prepare my watercolour panel. And to be honest I risked a bit using regular Whisper White cardstock here.

If you are not confident with water colouring and don’t want to risk, please always use watercolour paper with ink smooshing technique.

I pressed Cucumber Crush ink pad on a craft mat, spritz it with water (not too much) and took a piece of acetate to lift some of this puddle of colour. I smooshed it on my panel and dried it with a heat gun. I repeat this process couple of times, every time drying my panel in-between until I was happy with layers of colour. Next, I switched to Island Indigo but I only added one layer of colour. The last touch was to add few splotches of ink to my panel with help of aqua painter.

anna-stampin-cave-ink-smooshing-technique-with-dragonfly-dreams-stamp-set-detailed-dragonfly-dies

I die cut two dragonflies, one from Whisper White cardstock and one from vellum (without the head) for 3D effect. To colour in cardstock dragonfly I used a very similar technique as previously. I pressed some more of Island Indigo ink on the craft mat, spritz it with water and dabbed the dragonfly straight in the puddle, dried and repeat until I was happy with the colour.

I wanted to add more depth and ‘life’ to my dragonfly, so I sponged the edges of wings and the body with Island Indigo ink. I also added few speckles with bronze metallic Sharpie marker.

While sponging I’ve noticed that the dragonfly was bit ‘flimsy’ (note to myself: if you plan to dab your intricate die-cuts in the puddles of coloured water, use paper with the higher grammage, like watercolour perhaps(!?) lol. So I die-cut just the body of a dragonfly from Shimmery White cardstock, watercolour it, sponged the edges and adhered on top of the dragonfly with liquid adhesive. Next, I adhered the vellum dragonfly underneath, offsetting slightly.

anna-stampin-cave-ink-smooshing-technique-with-dragonfly-dreams-stamp-set-detailed-dragonfly-thinlits

The sentiment I chose comes from the same Dragonfly Dreams stamp set. I stamped it in Versamark on the strip of Whisper White, heat embossed it using Copper Embossing Powder and trimmed it diagonally. The sentiment alone seemed a bit dull so I took a very narrow strip of Whisper White (around 1/8″), dabbed it in Versamark and heat embossed in copper as well. Next, I trimmed it and adhered it to the sentiment, underneath the top edge, so it peeks out slightly.

anna-stampin-cave-ink-smooshing-technique-with-dragonfly-dreams-bundle

To assemble the card I’ve used my favourite Tombow liquid adhesive. I love it because it gives you some wiggle room before it sets. Also, it’s the best for those slightly warped watercolour panels. Next, I’ve added my sentiment in the top right corner using dimensionals. For dragonfly, I’ve used Tombow again. The last touch was to add some extra shimmer to the dragonfly with Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush. You can’t go wrong with this stuff right?!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my project and that it will give some extra ideas of how to use this beautiful Dragonfly Dreams Bundle. I would love to hear what you think in comments below. As always, if you wish to purchase any of products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online shop.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Bundle

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Bundle
[144728]
£42.25

Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies

Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies
[142749]
£28.00

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set
[142924]
£19.00

Cucumber Crush A4 Cardstock

Cucumber Crush A4 Cardstock
[138342]
£7.25

Island Indigo A4 Card Stock

Island Indigo A4 Card Stock
[124390]
£7.25

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

Whisper White A4 Card Stock
[106549]
£8.25

White Vellum A4 Card Stock

White Vellum A4 Card Stock
[106584]
£6.00

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock
[121717]
£7.25

Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Pad

Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin’ Pad
[138324]
£6.00

Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad

Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Pad
[126986]
£6.00

Versamark Pad

Versamark Pad
[102283]
£7.75

Embossing Buddy

Embossing Buddy
[103083]
£5.50

Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder

Copper Stampin’ Emboss Powder
[141636]
£4.50

Aqua Painters

Aqua Painters
[103954]
£15.50

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush
[141897]
£7.25

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

Liquid Multipurpose Glue
[110755]
£3.75

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin’ Dimensionals
[104430]
£3.75

Paper Snips Scissors

Paper Snips Scissors
[103579]
£9.00

Stampin' Trimmer

Stampin’ Trimmer
[129722]
£27.00

Big Shot

Big Shot
[143263]
£99.00

Dragonfly Dreams Clean & Simple For GDP#069 Colour Challenge

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Dragonfly Dreams Clean & Simple For GDP#069 Colour Challenge

gdp069

Hello and welcome everyone! Something new from me today as it’s the first time when I bite the bullet and decided to take a part in Colour Challenge over at Global Design Project.

I’ve been following this blog for some time now, just never felt confident enough to join in the fun. But hey! It’s just for fun, right?! And when I saw Delightful Dijon (I really, really love this colour) amongst other colours in this week’s challenge, I just knew: now or never. It’s a great colour combination and as my free choice, I simply used Whisper White.

I didn’t craft much lately due to health issues, but I was eager to use a new stamp set from Stampin’ Up! Spring Summer 2017 Catalogue, called Dragonfly Dreams. It comes with coordinating Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies, as a bundle, and is just beautiful. It seemed perfect for the idea I had in my head.

Just forgive me poor photos. I don’t have any fancy equipment and take my photos in the daylight. But the weather is so miserable since few days down here in Midlands, UK, that it was just impossible to take any decent picture.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-dragonfly-dreams-stamp-set-and-dies-bundle-clean-and-simple-card

‘Nearly Inlay’ Dragonfly Dreams card dimensions:

  • Delightful Dijon cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 2 panels 4″x 5-5/8″(10,2 x 14,3 cm)

First, I stamped the card base with the polka dot (kinda) background stamp from Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set until it was all covered. I’ve used Delightful Dijon ink for a tone on tone effect.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-dragonfly-dreams-bundle-clean-and-simple-card

Next, I die-cut the largest detailed dragonfly, using Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies, from one of the  Whisper White panels and adhered that panel (without dragonfly) to the card base. Of course, I forgot to stamp my sentiment before adhering the panel to the card front.  Typical, right?! LOL But nothing was lost yet. I picked the beautiful ‘You sure know how to make someone happy’ sentiment from Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set (I love sentiments and the fonts in in this set) and heat embossed it on my card base with silver embossing powder. Seemed easy, but while heat embossing it, the base ‘curled up’ a bit. So I run it through my Big Shot to straighten it up. Bear in mind if you’ve got worn out plates they will leave an impression on your cardstock – ask how do I know.

For the inside panel, I stamped few dragonflies in Delightful Dijon in the corners before adhered it with liquid adhesive.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-dragonfly-dreams-bundle-clean-and-simple-card-inside

I wanted for my dragonfly to carry some silver detail too, so I stamped tiny splotches/dots from Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set all over the die-cut, using Versamark ink, and heat embossed it with silver embossing powder.

Anna' Stampin' Cave Dragonfly Dreams Bundle Clean and Simple Card.JPG

My original idea was to inlay the dragonfly die-cut back to the negative on the card base. But I’ve changed my mind along the way as the stamped detail on the card base wouldn’t be really visible through the die cut. So I decided to adhere my dragonfly only on the body length but it didn’t look good either. At the end, I’ve used tiny pieces of dimensionals to pop the dragonfly up.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-dragonfly-dreams-bundle-cas

I’m really pleased how this card turned out and I hope you like it too.

I really want to encourage you to check the Global Design Project challenge blog. They have a new challenge every week with various themes and extremely talented Design Team – they will simply blow your mind with their creativity! Just click on their logo below to visit the website

gdp_blog_header

As always, if you wish to purchase any of the products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online shop.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Bundle

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Bundle
[144728]
£42.25

Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies

Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies
[142749]
£28.00

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set

Dragonfly Dreams Photopolymer Stamp Set
[142924]
£19.00

Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set

Gorgeous Grunge Clear Stamp Set
[130517]
£18.00

Delightful Dijon A4 Cardstock

Delightful Dijon A4 Cardstock
[138345]
£7.25

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

Whisper White A4 Card Stock
[106549]
£8.25

Delightful Dijon Classic Stampin' Pad

Delightful Dijon Classic Stampin’ Pad
[138327]
£6.00

Embossing Buddy

Embossing Buddy
[103083]
£5.50

Versamark Pad

Versamark Pad
[102283]
£7.75

Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder

Silver Stampin’ Emboss Powder
[109131]
£4.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin’ Dimensionals
[104430]
£3.75

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

Liquid Multipurpose Glue
[110755]
£3.75

Stampin' Trimmer

Stampin’ Trimmer
[129722]
£27.00

Big Shot

Big Shot
[143263]
£99.00