Simply Beautiful for As You See It Challenge #368

When I saw the floral images in the Simply Beautiful stamp set, I thought one would be perfect for the sketch challenge we're featuring at As You See It Challenges this week, and I was also keen to do some watercolouring, as I hadn't done any for quite a while. Here's the Challenge Banner:

And here's a closer look at my project, followed by some directions for making it:

• I started with a piece of Peach Pie cardstock for a base cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", and scored and folded at 4 1/4" along the long edge.
• I added a piece of Lovely & Beautiful Specialty DSP cut at 5 1/4" x 4".
• The next layer is a 3" x 4 1/4" piece of Basic Black cardstock centered.
• On top of that is a 2 7/8" x 4" piece of the opposite side's pattern of the Lovely & Beautiful Specialty DSP.
• Do you remember the old Shimmery White cardstock? It was useful because it was the weight of the regular cardstock, but the Shimmery White finish meant that you could do some limited watercolour without the paper pilling or disintegrating. I happened to still have a few pieces, so I used a small piece to heat emboss in gold, the large floral image from the Simply Beautiful stamp set.
• I then used Peach Pie ink and a water painter to add some colour to the image and it worked very well.
• I used the coordinating die from the Simply Beautiful dies to die cut the image and added it to the card front using Dimensionals.
• The sentiment is also from the Simply Beautiful stamp set and I embossed it in gold on a strip of Basic White cardstock and added it to the front using Stampin' Seal and a couple of Dimensionals at the ends.
• I tied a double finger bow using the Gold Open Weave Trim and added it to the bottom right using a glue dot and finished off the card with some Peach Pie 2024 - 2026 In Colour Shimmer Gems.

If you live in Canada, and don't have a ®Stampin' Up!© demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the right side bar at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in Canada by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the top menu or clicking on any of products below from my Online Store.

Product List

Simply Beautiful Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [166958]	Simply Beautiful Bundle (English) [166965]	Lovely & Beautiful 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper [166957]	Peach Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [163799]	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [121045]
*Shimmery White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101910]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Peach Pie Classic Stampin Pad [163810]	Embossing Additions Tool Kit [159971]
Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder [165678]	Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053]	*Gold 1 1/2" (3.8 Cm) Open Weave Trim [165715]	*2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems [163781]	Simply Beautiful Dies [166964]
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]	Stampin' Seal [152813]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]	Mini Glue Dots [103683]

*Retired Products - no longer available to buy

Delicate Whispers for As You See It Challenge #367 - Lickety Split Lavender

 As you can perhaps tell from the title, this is another speed stamping challenge from As You See It Challenges, involving the theme of Purple!

The idea is to make a card or other papercrafting project using purple as the theme, in 10 min. or less. You can plan your project ahead of time, gather your materials, but as soon as you ink up a stamp, or cut a piece of paper, you must start your timer. 

Here's the Challenge Banner:

I have been doing a lot of last minute squeakers the last few Speed Stamping Challenges I've done, so I wanted to be really prepared. I planned this one meticulously. I had my stamp pads out and opened, my stamps mounted, my dies at the ready, etc. and here's how it turned out:

• I started with a regular base of Gorgeous Grape, 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored and folded at 4 1/4".
• I cut a piece of Everyday Happiness DSP, 5 1/4" x 4" and adhered it to the card front.
• I die cut a piece of Basic White card stock using the Deckled Rectangles Die of 4 3/8" x 3 1/8".
• I stamped the Happy Birthday script sentiment from the Fabulous Sayings stamp set after cutting the two words apart, and inking them up in Gorgeous Grape. That way they fit between the two sprays of grasses better.
• I stamped the grass image from Delicate Whispers stamp set by colouring the grassy top in Highland Heather Stampin' Write Marker and the stems and leaves in Mossy Meadow Stampin' Write Marker and stamping the image twice on a scrap of Basic White card stock.
• I die cut them with the coordinating Delicate Whispers die. I added them to the card front as shown, using Mini Dimensionals for the grassy tops and Tombo glue for the bottoms.
• To finish off, I tied a bow using the Fresh Freesia Faux Velvet Ribbon and added it to one shock of grass, and added some retired Purple Fine Shimmer Gems.

When I turned off the timer, there was 18 seconds left from the 10 min.

So I completed my card in 9 minutes and 42 seconds. Slightly better than last time! Can't seem to break that 9 minute barrier.

I was trying to duplicate Russian Sage with the grasses. We used to grow it on our property before moving to a condo. I love the look of it and it's great for dry climates.

Image - Doreen Winja

Image: Doreen Wynja

It's the last two days to earn a free  Stamp Positioning Tool from Stampin' Up! by purchasing the Starter Kit and joining my team at least for a few months!

If you live in Canada, and don't have a ®Stampin' Up!© demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the right side bar at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in Canada by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the top menu or clicking on any of products below from my Online Store.

Product List

Fabulous Sayings Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [167972]	*Everyday Happiness 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper [166632]	Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146987]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099]
*Subtles Stampin' Write Markers [161698]	*Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers [161697]	*Deckled Rectangles Dies [159173]	*Fresh Freesia 1/8" (3.2 Mm) Faux Velvet Ribbon [165540]	Purple Fine Shimmer Gems [162611]
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals [144108]	Mini Glue Dots [103683]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]	Stampin' Seal [152813]

*Retired items - no longer available

** Delicate Whispers Stamp Set and Dies - available Mar. 3

Filled with Sweetness for As You See It Challenge #366

We have a Theme Challenge over at As You See It Challenges this week, and the theme is CANDY! How appropriate for the closest challenge to Valentine's Day! We can all thank the ever-creative Heather H. for that! Initially, I had a hard time finding something that worked for the candy theme, because I had no candy stamps, but then I found some retired Vintage Bottle Shaker Domes that I thought I could combine with the Loose Valentines Assortment of Valentine pieces and make a shaker card. First, take a look at the challenge banner:

And here's a closer look at my card, with quick instructions:

• Card base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" of Thick Basic White cardstock, scored at 4 1/4".
• Adhered a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of Beautiful Bokeh DSP in Berry Burst. Saved a small piece of the slice I cut off the 6" x 6" piece to be used as the backing on the shaker dome.
• I used the Joined Together 3D embossing folder to dry emboss a piece of Basic White cardstock 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" in size.
• I used the Vintage Jar punch to make the opening for the Vintage Jar Shaker Dome. After removing the protective film from the top rim of the dome, I inserted the dome up through the hole and sealed it to the back of the cardstock.
• I turned the whole thing over and filled the dome with the Loose Valentine's Assortment hearts and "sticks", but kept out any envelopes because they didn't look like candy. I filled it about 1/3 full.
• I removed the protective film on the bottom rim of the dome and used a piece of the left-over Bokeh paper, Berry Burst pattern down to seal off the shaker dome. I used Tombo glue to secure the rest of the DSP to the cardstock and added glue over all the back of the white cardstock as well and adhered it to the card front, centering it.
• I stamped the sentiment, from the Filled with Sweetness stamp set, in Berry Burst ink, on Basic White, then die cut it using the Filled with Sweetness dies. I added the sentiment using Stampin' Dimensionals. 
• I used a Three Colour Pack of Baker's Twine that I had in my stash, to tie a double finger bow and attach it to the neck of the vintage bottle.
• I added 3 Frosted Iridescent Dots to finish off.

I hope it looks enough like candy!

To Join my Team, click HERE!

If you live in Canada, and don't have a ®Stampin' Up!© demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the right side bar at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in Canada by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the top menu or clicking on any of products below from my Online Store.

Product List

Beautiful Bokeh 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164607]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [166780]	*Frosted Iridescent Dots [165766]	*Baker's Twine Three Color Pack [162759]
*Vintage Bottle Punch [158689]	*Vintage Bottle Shaker Domes [158788]	Loose Valentine's Assortment [167074]	Joined Together 3 D Embossing Folder [165170]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]
Stampin' Seal [152813]	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755]	Mini Glue Dots [103683]	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430]

*Retired Products - No longer available for sale

**Filled with Sweetness Stamp Set and Dies - Available for sale Mar. 3