Helping Me Grow Notecards

Love these... so simple... so quick and so effective... so I had to share... But hold on... I didn't actually make the first one pictured....

This was the gorgeous thank you card from Kelly in the Stampin' Up! UK office... that I picked up at registration at On Stage Telford... and then rushed immediately over to Kelly to say thank you! Now admittedly Kelly didn't make this herself either!!!

Which reminds me of the days I first started cardmaking... I used to find that many friends and relatives rang me up to thank me for their hand made christmas card... used to tickle me pink... got to love this creative world and the special feelings it gives to us and the recipients of our makes... Sorry I digress....

But I did make the second one... and so did my ladies at classes last month... can you spot the difference!! The Washi Label punch used on the first had retired and all stocks had gone!

So I used the Decorative Label punch instead... we stamped on a narrow strip of Sahara Sand card... and then punched using the central part of the punch... works a treat and will be used again this way... As they say ... from adversity... comes a great idea!!

And then I had a play with a Crumb Cake note card... embossing the flowers in white this time - and Aqua-Winking with my Gold Wink of Stella again

 

Though (oops) I have only just spotted that I grabbed the washi punch for this one.... Silly me... And BTW... the 1/2 " Circle Punch punches that notch on the left hand side... 

And finally an admittance... this is not what I was planning on posting today... I had rushed around with new stash... made a few lovely projects... took the photos... was eager to share... and then yes... you guessed it... technology decided to do its own thing... and I can't access the photos on my PC for now.... hey ho!! Manana...

Aqua Winking...and Birthday Blooms

Remember this card... well seeing as it was SO popular both here in the flesh and on Pinterest... I decided to re-make all the cards in the set for my class using the Aqua-painter and the Gold Wink of Stella....

And as I demonstrated the technique at class...a  new expression came to mind...  aqua-winking... lot easier to say than the following....

1. Scribble your Gold Wink of Stella on a clear block (or piece of plastic or ceramic plate or something smooth and slippy...)

2. Pick up your Gold from the block using your Aqua Painter and aqua-wink (watercolour) as required ... note just add a drop of water if you want the colour to be even more subtle!!

3. Go over with your Clear Wink of Stella if you want even more shine...

4. Use Staz On cleaner to clean your clear block when you have finished (as the gold stains!!)

Don't forget to paper tole the flowers too... makes a huge difference to these cards... though unfortunately somewhat too subtle to see on the photos!! So you will have to trust me...

SU! Supplies
Stamps - Birthday Blooms
Inks - Gold Wink of Stella, Always Artichoke, Mint Macaron, Pool Party, Archival/Staz On Black, Versamark & White embossing powder, Gold embossing powder
Tools - Aquapainters, Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Heat Gun
Papers - Birthday Blooms
Embellishments - Gold Bow Clips, Striped Mossy Meadow Cotton Ribbon
Card - Always Artichoke, Pool Party, Hello Honey, Shimmery White, Watercolor Paper, Thin Whisper White

Go here for the lowdown on which white card was used on which card... I am definitely still loving the Shimmery White card best for watercolouring and aqua-winking...