Stampin’ Up! Daisy Delight Sneak Peek

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Stampin’ Up! Daisy Delight Sneak Peek

Hello, everyone! What a beautiful day we had today down here in Coventry, Warwickshire. Even though I can’t fully enjoy the weather (yet) I managed to spend few minutes in the garden. And oh, boy, what a wonderful feeling it was.

Today I’m back with a lovely card I created for this week’s sketch over at Global Design Project Challenge Blog. I truly enjoy their challenges as each week they have a new challenge based on either a colour combination, a sketch, theme and CASE-ing the Designer. Lot’s of fun!

For my card today I decided to use some old favourites, as well as a sneak peek of new, coming soon bundle: Daisy Delight Stamp Set and coordinating Daisy Punch.

Dear Friend 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)
  • Crumb Cake cardstock: 5-6/8″ x 4″ (14.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Pear Pizzazz cardstock: 5″ x 4″ (12.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • White Vellum cardstock: 1-1/8″ x 5-1/2″ strip
  • White Vellum and Whisper White cardstock scraps to stamp and punch daisies

First, I created the bottom half of my panel using the border die from retiring Botanical Builder Framelits Dies. I die-cut it at a slight angle, so it creates a diagonal ‘line’, and adhered it to the Crumb Cake panel. I also randomly stamped a couple of images from Daisy Delight Stamp Set: centre of the flowers and outline of the leaves, on the Crumb Cake panel.

Next, I took a Crumb Cake ink pad and a scrap of Whisper White cardstock. I stamped two flowers from Daisy Delight Stamp Set and punched them out using coordinating Daisy Punch.

I also stamped one daisy and daisy centre onto vellum with Versamark ink, heat embossed it in gold and punched out as well. I layered all flowers together with vellum as a top layer, offsetting them slightly for extra dimension. I adhered them to my panel, just above Pear Pizzazz piece, using liquid adhesive.

The sentiment comes from Birthday Blooms Stamp Set and I heat embossed it in gold on a strip of White Vellum. Because my vellum strip was wider than the Crumb Cake piece I was able to adhere the ends to the back of my panel. This way I didn’t have to worry how to hide the adhesive. I mounted my panel to the card base.

And that’s my card for today. I hope you like it. I also hope you’ve enjoyed seeing a sneak peek of Daisy Delight Stamp Set and Daisy Punch. These both will be available in my shop on 1 June 2017. But if you don’t want to wait, and want to be able to order new products earlier, it’s as easy as 1…2…3… -> simply join the fun and order your Starter Kit. If you have more questions why don’t you drop me a message?

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

If you wish to purchase any of products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store and don’t forget to enter the hostess code for the month of May SS3AK62K to receive a gift from me.

Just a reminder: Botanical Builder Framelits Dies are still available at a fraction of a price! But only until the end of May. After that date, you won’t be able to purchase them. So if you waited for a better moment to buy them – this moment is now.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

   

Don’t forget to check:

Stampin’ Up! Spring Summer & Annual Catalogue 2016 2017 Retiring List

Anna' Stampin' Cave Stampin' Up! Retiring Products 2017

It’s that time of the year again, when Stampin’ Up! is getting ready to retire stamps and accessories from both the Annual and Spring Summer catalogues. As sad as it is to see these products go, there’s still time for you to get them before they’re gone. Retiring products will only be available until 31 May, or while supplies last. So if there’s something from retiring products on your wishlist, don’t wait until last day – once they’re gone, they’re gone. And they are selling fast! Click here for more details ->

Colourful Striped Background For Global Design Project – I am Guest Designer

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Colourful Striped Background For Global Design Project – I am Guest Designer

Hello, my friends! I am so excited as today I am a Guest Designer for Global Design Project. How amazing is that?! I’m so humbled and honoured that GDP team has chosen me to join them for this week’s Colour Challenge. And boy, what a great colours we have to play with!

Choose your fav three wasn’t an option for me because I love all of these and wouldn’t know which to choose, to be honest. So I decided to be a rebel and for my project today I’ve used all five. Let’s say this post is a farewell to these beautiful In Colours.

Colourful Striped Background card dimensions:

  • Mint Macaron 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)
  • Very Vanilla cardstock: two panels, one for the card front, one for the inside of the card 5-7/8″ x 4″ (14.8 cm x 10.2 cm) each
  • cardstock for building the background: 5-7/8″ x 3-1/2″ (14.8 cm x 8.9 cm)
  • scraps of cardstock in colours: Mint Macaron, Delightful Dijon, Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush and Tip Top Taupe
  • White Vellum for stamping and die-cutting

I started my card by creating this fun and colourful striped background. I took my scraps of cardstock of 2015-2017 In Colours and I cut it into strips of different widths. Next, I took a piece of cardstock (random colour as it won’t be seen anyway), covered it in glue,  using snail adhesive, and adhered my strips diagonally, mixing colours and widths, making sure there’s no space left in-between the strips. When the whole panel was covered, I trimmed any overhanging stripes.

Can you see the shimmer on this panel? I took empty spritzer bottle and fill it with water. Next, I took Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush and squeezed pretty few drops of it into the spritzer. I shake it really well, spritz my entire panel with this glittery mist and let it dry.

I took the Very Vanilla panel and die-cut this intricate butterfly from Butterflies Framelits Dies in the middle of it. I also die-cut solid butterfly from vellum using Bold Butterfly Framelit Dies.

Using t-ruler, I draw two diagonal (and parallel) lines at the back of my panel. Using these lines as guides, I cut my panel into three and discarded the middle piece. Next, I stamped this lovely chicken wire (kinda) pattern from Butterfly Basics Stamp Set all over the other two pieces. I stamped it in Mint Macaron and to create this faded look I stamp off twice before I stamped on the cardstock.

I adhered my Very Vanilla pieces to the background panel, with butterflies inlaid between them: vellum butterfly at the bottom and vanilla one on the top, and added the whole panel to the card base with liquid adhesive.

For the sentiment, I chose “Sending Wishes Your Way”, also from Butterfly Basics Stamp Set. I prepared vellum with embossing buddy, dabbed my stamp in Versamark and straight away in Basic Black Archival ink, and stamped it onto vellum. Sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it.  Adhered it to the card with few tiny drops of Fine-Tip Glue Pen. All that’s left was to add second Very Vanilla panel inside of the card. Done!

Once again I wanted to thank amazing GDP team for this opportunity and privilege, that I could showcase my project alongside such wonderful artists. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As always, I really want to encourage you to visit the Global Design Project challenge and play along. You too have a chance to be the next Guest Designer

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Rustic Best Birds For Global Design Project #084 Challenge

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Rustic Best Birds For Global Design Project #084 Challenge

Hello and welcome everyone! Today I’m back with my entry for Global Design Project. This week is Case The Designer Challenge over at GDP and we’re casing wonderful Michelle Last. I have to admit I absolutely love Michelle’s style. She’s an incredible artist and amazing person too (I had the privilege to meet her in person a few years back).

It’s a beautiful card to CASE: clean & simple with lots of yummy texture. But I didn’t really want to follow the colour combination or the layout of Michelle’s card (but as you will see I failed miserably as I ‘accidentally’ cased the layout anyway haha ). For my card, I decided to focus on a couple of products she used instead: Best Birds Stamp Set and coordinating Birds & Blooms Thinlits Dies.

Rustic Best Birds 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)
  • Crumb Cake cardstock: 4-1/8″ x 5-6/8″ (10.2 cm x 14.6 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock for stamping & die cutting
  • Pool Party cardstock: 3/8″ x 4-3/8″
  • Burlap Ribbon: approx 5-6/8″ (14.6 cm)

I don’t know about you, but when I first saw this stamp set it has called countryside to me. I only bought this bundle a few weeks ago and was really eager to have a play. So this week’s challenge was perfect for inking up my stamp for the first time.

First, I created the background for my ‘idyllic’ scene. I took Crumb Cake panel and stamped it with Hardwood background stamp in Soft Suede. I also sponged the edges of the panel with Soft Suede ink to add to the ‘rustic feel’.

Next, I stamped and die cut all the elements of my scene. The bird is stamped using Crumb Cake ink. Flowers – Pool Party. For little berries/fruits, I’ve used Pear Pizzazz. Branch is stamped in Soft Suede ink and coloured in with markers: Crumb Cake for the branch and Pear Pizzazz for leaves.

I love this sentiment “It’s a good day” from Best Birds Stamp Set. I stamped it in Soft Suede on a piece of Whisper White cardstock and die cut using an oval die from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies. I think stitched edge suit rustic ‘feel’ of this card just perfectly.

Before I assembled my card I played a little with a placement of all the elements. To add some ‘natural’ texture I decided to use Burlap Ribbon as a banner. I also cut a thin strip of Pool Party cardstock to ‘break’ all the browns. When I was happy with the placement, I took a photo and started the assembly.

Tip: If you have a layout, either a card or a scrapbook page, that consist of lots of small elements, play with the placement first, before glueing things down. Once you’re happy, take a photo of your test layout with your phone ( we all have it on hand, don’t we?). Next, assemble your card/scrapbook page piece by piece by piece with a help of your reference photo. No more guessing ‘where was this or that element supposed to go.

I truly hope you like my little, rustic card. It reminds me of my childhood in Poland and summer holidays we spent in the countryside with our great-grandmother. Wonderful memories.

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,

Stampin’ Up! Watercolour Wings – Good Things Come In Threes

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Stampin’ Up! Watercolour Wings – Good Things Come In Threes

GDP83

Hello, everyone! I hope you have an amazing Saturday so far. We have such a beautiful weather today down here in Midlands – it doesn’t feel like I live in the UK at all ? And I really hope this weather will stay for a little while. Even just to cheer me up. This past week was one of the toughest in last few months, as the pain is back and it ain’t go anywhere in near future. It laughs at painkillers too. So my days are filled with enormous pain that truly makes my brain freeze and I find it hard to concentrate, let alone create. But I had such a great idea for this week’s challenge over at Global Design Project that I just HAD TO make it happen! Do you have it sometimes? An idea that feels that if you won’t try it you will POP!? hahaha So a couple of nights back, I hid in my cave, despite the pain, and … five hours later I came out not with one but three cards! How that even happen?! As I was creating my initial card, more ideas popped into my head and obviously, I HAD TO TRY them all, haha So just a warning:  this post is long and picture (glitter) heavy ?

So I will start with my first card where it all started: lovely, clean & simple and … pink-ish. Not really something you’ve seen here often. But I actually like it:

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Stampin' Up! Watercolour Wings Stamp Set - Good Things Come In Three CAS Card - GDP #083 - Flirty Flamingo_Whisper White_Dazzling Diamonds Glitter_heat&stick

Flirty Flamingo card dimensions:

  • Whisper White Thick cardstock card base: 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)
  • Flirty Flamingo cardstock: 3-6/8″ x 4″ (9.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 3-1/2″ x 3-6/8″ (9 cm x 9.6 cm)
  • Flirty Flamingo Ruched Ribbon: 12″ approx, to tie a bow

This beautiful butterfly from Watercolour Wings Stamp Set is a three step stamping image as you have three stamps to create the look.  I’ve used three different shades of pink: Pink Pirouette for the base, Blushing Bride for the details on the wings and Flirty Flamingo for wings’ edges and the body of the butterfly.

Savvy tip: if you’re just starting your papercraft adventure and don’t have many ink colours (been there, done that) you can use the same ink pad to stamp all the layers. If it’s a light colour ink, you can stamp each layer on top on previous one and it will get slightly darker each time. You can repeat more detailed layers couple of times to get the shade you are happy with. If you have dark colour ink, you can use stamping off technique (also called ghost stamping or second/third generation stamping). You simply stamp off your image couple of times before stamp it on your piece. The rule is: the larger the image like the base here, the lighter the shade.

I also stamped this polka-dot-kind-of image in two opposed corners of my panel. You are probably wondering: OK, but where all that glitter come from? And no, I didn’t use glue for that.

When the image was stamped, I prepared the card with embossing buddy and I stamped the edges of the wings of the butterfly, the body and polka dots once again, but this time using Versamark ink. I sprinkled it with Heat & Stick Powder, heat it till it melts, add Dazzling Diamonds glitter and heat set it again. Heat & Stick Powder once re-heated it melts again, making all that glitter to soak in, so when I send this card out the recipient can enjoy beautiful card and won’t be covered in glitter.

I adhered my panel to a Flirty Flaming mat and next to the card base. Firstly, I wanted to create the banner or a strip of cardstock for a sentiment, but it didn’t look good. So using Stamp-A-Ma-Jig I decided where I want my sentiment to go and stamped it in Flirty Flamingo. Next, to jazz it up a little I stamped it twice more, without re-inking my stamp. It’s called ghost stamping or stampin’ off. A little, dinky bow finish off my card.

Card number 2 (Jazz it up babe ?)

Bermuda Bay & Crumb Cake card dimensions:

  • Crumb Cake cardstock card base: 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)
  • Bermuda Bay cardstock: 3-6/8″ x 4″ (9.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Crumb Cake cardstock: 3-1/2″ x 3-6/8″ (9 cm x 9.6 cm)
  • Bermuda Bay cardstock strip for a sentiment
  • Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’s Twine two lengths: 16″ and 4″ (approx)

I this card for the butterfly I’ve used Soft Sky for the base, Pool Party for all the details on the wings and Bermuda Bay for the body and edges of its wings. And again I stamped polka dots in the corners. I’ve added gold glitter to my images same way as with my first card, using Heat & Stick Powder.

Using two lengths of Bermuda Bay Thick Baker’s Twine I created simple sailor knot. I added mini glue dot behind the knot and adhered it to the Crumb Cake panel. I secured the twine at the back using Fast Fuse. Next, I mounted my panel to the Bermuda Bay mat using thin (1 mm) foam adhesive tape and adhered them both to the card base.

The sentiment is stamped on a strip of Bermuda Bay cardstock and in Bermuda Bay ink for the subtle, tone on tone effect. I also added a strip of DIY gold glimmer paper behind it. I popped it up with dimensionals but before I adhered it to the card base I stamped few rows of polka dot piece on the card base in Versamark.

Card number 3 (the more the fancier ?)

Elegant Eggplant & Basic Black card dimensions:

  • Basic Black cardstock card base: 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)
  • White Vellum cardstock: 3″ x 3-6/8″ (7.7 cm x 9.6 cm) + extra for die-cutting
  • Elegant Eggplant Paper From Regals Designer Series Paper Stack: 5-1/2″ x 3-6/8″ (14 cm x 9.6 cm)
  • Basic Black cardstock for butterfly
  • Whisper White cardstock for sentiment
  • Gold Metallic Thread

To be able to stamp the butterfly in various colours on black cardstock I stamped the base of my butterfly in Whisper White Craft Ink first. When it dried I stamped the base again, but this time in Perfect Plum. For the details on the centre of the wings, I’ve used Rich Razzleberry. The edges of the wings and body of the butterfly are stamped with Elegant Eggplant ink – I could totally skip this step as honestly, you can’t see that even in person, not only on photos. I added glitter as before and die-cut my butterfly using a coordinating die from Bold Butterfly Framelits Dies.

I took a piece of Elegant Eggplant DSP and I tore two strips of paper from the top and from the bottom. I didn’t measure it, just eyeball it, briefly about 1″. I also tore in half the strip of White Vellum cardstock. I adhered both strips of torn DSP behind the main piece, but showing the reverse design and so the torn edges were showing. I also

I adhered both strips of torn DSP behind the main piece with reverse design up and both strips of vellum behind it with jagged edges showing for extra dimension. I rolled up the edges of my DSP slightly and adhered the whole panel to the card base.

I die-cut a circle from White Vellum using the largest circle die from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies. Before I added my butterfly on top I stamped the butterfly antenna in Basic Black on the vellum. I adhered few lengths of Gold Metallic Thread behind the butterfly, glued it to the vellum circle with Fast Fuse and next add it to the card base. The sentiment is stamped in Elegant Eggplant n piece of Whisper White cardstock and adhered to the base with glue dots.

And here are all of the cards together:

I hope you like my cards and that I didn’t bore you with my mouthful-sort-of-directions, haha But this is me: love it or hate it ? Please let me know in comments below which one, which style is your favourite. I would love to hear from you!

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,

Roses & Dragonfly No°2 – Inlaid & Partial Die-cutting Birthday Card

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Roses & Dragonfly No°2 – Inlaid & Partial Die-cutting Birthday Card

And here I am again with Rose Wonder and Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies!

My little sister (well not that little, she’s nearly 22 y.o. But hey! she will always be my little sister) came to last week and said she and her friends wanted me to make a birthday card for their girlfriend.

They really liked this card I’ve made a few weeks back…

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-dragonfly-dreams-bundle-and-rose-garden-thinlits-dies-inlaid-partial-die-cutting-technique

…and wanted something similar hence No°2 in the title 🙂

The base colour they wanted was orange with silver details, as these are the colours their friend loves. So fun and challenging as I don’t create much in orange! But I love challenges. I love to sit down and design, create something unusual; not just grab a card, two or three colours one stamp and bah! – five minutes later the card is done! I do clean & simple sometimes but that’s not my concept of creativity 🙂 I am an artist at heart. It have to be a process, it have to be messy and a little bit crazy too; so when I’m done my soul sings…

…and this is exactly how this card came to life

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Roses And Dragonfly Birthday Card using Inlaid Partial Die Cutting_Stampin' Up! Rose Garden Thinlits Dies_Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies

Roses & Dragonfly No°2 card dimensions:

  • Calypso Coral cardstock card base: 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: 5-6/8″ x 4″ (14.6 cm x 10.2 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 2 panels 5-5/8″ x 3-7/8″ each (14.3 cm x 9.8 cm); one for blending and one for die-cutting
  • strips of Calypso Coral and Whisper White cardstock for sentiment

First I adhered panel of Whisper White cardstock to the card base using snail adhesive. Next, I took one of the smaller panels and using ink pads and sponges I created a backing panel for the die-cut piece.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Roses And Dragonfly Birthday Card using Inlaid Partial Die Cutting_Stampin' Up! Rose Garden Thinlits Dies_Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies 4

As first, I blended in my darkest colour, Calypso Coral, followed by Pumpkin Pie and Peekaboo Peach. But you can start with the lightest shade first, it doesn’t really matter. I continued adding more colour until I was happy with the depth. To add more interest I flicked few droplets of water to my panel.

Water react with ink creating this beautiful, distressed look. Bear in mind that for the best results you have to do it when the ink is freshly blended.

I took the second Whisper White panel and arranged the dies how I wanted them to go. Next, I die-cut all elements, one at a time and put them away on a flat surface so I don’t lose any of the small pieces. Once everything been die-cut I adhered what’s left of the panel to the orange background. I’ve added some splatters of ink all over it and inlaid all my die-cut pieces back in. More detailed explanation can be found here ->

I added this panel to the card base with Foam Adhesive Strips for extra dimension.

Anna' Stampin' Cave - Roses And Dragonfly Birthday Card using Inlaid Partial Die Cutting_Stampin' Up! Rose Garden Thinlits Dies_Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies 3

The sentiment I’ve used comes from Rose Wonder Stamp Set. I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock with Versamark ink. I heat embossed it in silver, mounted on a slightly wider piece of Calypso Coral cardstock and add it to the card.

To make the card looks even more pretty, I scattered rhinestones all over the panel. To wrap it up, I stamped dragonfly image inside the card and on the envelope. It’s hard to see but I’ve used all three colours of ink on this little creature.

The card has been given already and I know the girl loved it to bits. That is my biggest reward 🙂 But I hope you like it too. Would love to hear your opinion it the comments below.

If you wish to purchase any of products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online store and don’t forget to enter the hostess code for the month of April XMAJ4CYX to receive a gift from me.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Just a note: the Dragonfly Dreams as a Bundle at 10% discount is available only until 31 May. After that date, you will be able to purchase Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set and Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies only separately, not as a bundle.

Don’t forget to check:

Stampin’ Up! Spring Summer & Annual Catalogue 2016 2017 Retiring List

Anna' Stampin' Cave Stampin' Up! Retiring Products 2017

It’s that time of the year again, when Stampin’ Up! is getting ready to retire stamps and accessories from both the Annual and Spring Summer catalogues. As sad as it is to see these products go, there’s still time for you to get them before they’re gone. Retiring products will only be available until 31 May, or while supplies last. So if there’s something from retiring products on your wishlist, don’t wait until last day – once they’re gone, they’re gone. And they are selling fast! Click here for more details ->