Hope you’re having a good weekend. My poor doggie had a bad time last night with all the fireworks. She trembled at every bang, poor thing. She wouldn’t let me do any crafting – my job was full time comforting her.

Made up for it today though – I’ve had a great day playing with a few new stamps.

The French Foliage stamp set was calling out to me for distressing – and so I gave in to the urge 

Recipe
Stamp set: French Foliage (W120845 or C121166), Petite Pairs (W122495 or C122497)
Cardstock: Cajun Craze (121683), Always Artichoke (108610), More Mustard (106569), Very Vanilla (106550)
Ink: Cajun Craze (119671), More Mustard (103162), SU Markers (119806)
Punches: 1-1/4″ Square (119865), 1-3/8″ Square (119877), Modern Label (119849)
Striped Grosgrain Ribbon: Cajun Craze (125055)
Other: Antique Brads (117273)
Tools: Sponge Daubers (102892), Cutter Kit (106958), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Mat Pack (105826), Paper-Piercing Tool (116631), Paper Snips (103579)

The base card is a DL size in Always Artichoke. Using the rock ‘n’ roll technique, the leaves were stamped in More Mustard and Cajun Craze inks onto Very Vanilla card and portions of them were punched out with 1-1/4″ Square. These were matted onto 1-3/8″ Squares of Cajun Craze. A large mat of Very Vanilla was stamped repeatedly with the ink spot stamp in Cajun Craze and More Mustard, stamping off first each time. Using the Color Spritzer Tool, Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip and More Mustard inks were spritzed over the mat. This mat and a mat of More Mustard card were distressed around the edges using the Cutter Kit and the layers adhered together. The Petite Pairs birthday sentiment was stamped onto Very Vanilla card with Cajun Craze ink and punched out with the Modern Label. A sponge dauber was used to sponge the edges of the sentiment lightly with Cajun Craze ink. Two pieces of Cajun Craze Striped Grosgrain Ribbon were frayed on both edges (I’ll post the technique tomorrow). One piece was wrapped around the mats and the other shaped into a faux box. An Antique Brad was used to secure the sentiment to the ribbon, to the mats. All the layers were then adhered direct to the card blank.

Recipe
Stamp set: French Foliage (W120845 or C121166), Happiest Birthday Wishes (W122615 or C122617 – hostess set)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla (106550)
Ink: Cajun Craze (119671), More Mustard (103162)

The sentiment was stamped in Cajun Craze ink in the centre of a Very Vanilla card insert. The leaves were stamped again using the rock ‘n’ roll technique with More Mustard and Cajun Craze inks.

Now I need to get on with planning my swaps. Just 11 days until I head off to Disneyland Paris for the Stampin’ Up! annual convention! Woohoo!

Sara xx