I was in a crafting groove this week! I made quite a few cards and this envelope album.

Some of the details like embossed backgrounds and glitter are difficult to see in the pics, if you want a closer look just click on them to see a larger version.

I got the idea of this album from the last Secret Sister round on Splitcoast. My "Big Sis" sent me one so I decided to make another one but make a more fancy one that could be used as a gift for a wedding or a birthday. Each envelope has cardstock that could hold a picture on each side.

Stamp Set: Swirly Jumbo Wheel

Colours: Basic Grey, Basic Black and Whisper White

Stamp Set from the Greeting Farm: My Guy Ian.
Colours: Kiwi Kiss (retired) Muirfield Designer Patterned Paper Stampin' Up! clearance rack.
I used the top note die and then embossed the cut out with an Argyle embossing folder.

Stamp Set from The Greeting Farm: Miss Anya.
Colours: Pacific Point and Muirfield Designer Paper both retired from Stampin' Up!
Again I used the top note die for the background and then embossed with a really pretty swirl Stampin' Up! texture plate.

Stamp Set: Birthday Monsters from Stamping Bella, Teeny Tiny Wishes from Stampin' Up!
Colours: Brilliant Blue, Tempting Tuquoise, Bashful Blue and Whisper White.
I used the Star die and the tiny dots texture plate from Stampin' Up! for the accents on the bottom of the card.

Stamp Set: Robot from Stamping Bella and Teeny Tiny wishes from Stampin' Up!
Colours: Real Red, Silver, Basic Black.
I embossed the silver piece with the large dot Stampin' Up! texture plate.

Stamp Set: Stampin' Up! Classic Trucks (retired) and Teeny Tiny Wishes.
Colours: Real Red, Silver and Basic Black.
I used the diamond embossing folder for the silver paper and I'm so happy to have it since it can be such a challenge to do guy cards!

Stamp Set: Gorjuss Girl fox from Sugar Nellie.
Colours: Stampin' Up! Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Rust, Whisper White.
The patterned paper is from a Stampin' Up! paper pack, antique brass eyelets and alpine ribbon (clearance rack)

Stamp Set: Sitting Gorjuss Girl by Sugar Nellie
Colours: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Ruby Red and Close to Cocoa.
Stampin' Up Patterned Paper Pack, Alpine ribbon pack (clearance rack) and I embossed half of the kraft base and then sponged it. Large brads to finish it off.

This card is a really easy fun folded card. When together it makes a little square with the cupcake centered in the middle.

Cut base card from an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock by cutting it at the 4 1/4 inch mark. Score your paper at 2, 3 3/4, 7 1/4, 9

Stamp Set: Stampin' Up! Crazy for Cupcakes.

Colours: Whisper White, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink

Another paper pack from Stampin' Up! used Apricot Appeal for the background.

The beginning of October cards to my Secret Sister.

Card inspired by one i've seen on Splitcoast Stampers. Used the top note die, oval punch and sponging to make the pumpkin. Part of a flower punch for the green leaves and I cut the stem free handed.

Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs (swirls on the green background)

Colours: Kraft, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip

My turkey card turned out pretty well, a bit bigger than I anticipated.

Stamp Set: Pick a Petal

Colours: Kraft, Garden Gree, Real Ruse, Pumpkin Pie and Ruby Red.

These are the cards that I have sent along to my Secret Sister during September.

Stamp Sets: Trendy Trees and Woodgrain.

Colours: Whisper White, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Real Rust, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa.

I got a great Thank-you card from my Secret Sister last round and she did ribbon weaving. I thought this would be a perfect idea to make a basket for the fall to use with leaves or pumpkins. I liked using the large and small ribbon in different colours. I think that the leaves would have looked really neat if I had used texture plates to give them a little extra.

Stamp Set: Jumbo Wheel Blessings
Colours: Ruby Red, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Dusty Durango, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this card! It may be my favorite one EVER! As you know I heart Sunflowers so when this card came together as well as it did I was beyond thrilled. I stamped the petals in Summer Sun ink on Summer Sun paper and just cut them out. Maybe next time I will try heat embossing with the same images using clear embossing powder to raise it up a bit. I used the small dot texture plate and sponged Chocolate Chip ink around the edges. This card was very hard to part with but I really have fun doing the Secret Sister and I hope that she likes it almost as much as I do :)

Stamp Set:Circle Circus and Pick a Petal

Colours: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Garden Green

Another "me" card. I used a flower punch and layered them and used corduory buttons for the centers.

Stamp: Jumbo Wheel Friendly Words.

Colours: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun.

These cards were cased and altered from a card that I did at my upline's house during one of her card nights.

Stamp Sets: Nature Silhouettes and Its your Birthday

Cardstock Colours: Baja Breeze, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink Colours: Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip and Basic Black

I HEART these cards! Its all the rage on Splitcoast stampers right now and some of the cards i've seen done up are stunning! Its incredible the art these women produce.

This card is going to a recent graduate and the stamped quote in the middle says "Be the Change you want to see in the World"- Ghandi

On the far right of each card I cut an additional coloured cardstock piece so that I could write to, from etc.


I made this card for friend's that just got married and the stamped words say

Once in a while RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of an ORDINARY life LOVE gives us a FAIRYTALE.

Awww!

Directions for the Tri Fold Card

- cut cardstock 5 ½ X 12 inches
- score at 2, 4, 8 and 10 inches
- at 1 ½ inch mark on each end of the paper draw a line horizontally between the 2 inch and 10 inch score marks with a pencil and ruler (there will be only 2 lines)
- cut along these drawn lines.
- Fold along each score mark so one back and one front so that the card will fold in on itself.

- trace the “T” out of patterned paper twice for your front and end card piece, trim as you prefer.

- cut 2 pieces 3 ¾ X 1 ¼ for the long strips in the middle top and bottom

- cut 4 pieces 1 ¾ x 1 ¼ for the short strips on the top and bottom

- cut 1 piece 2 ¼ x 3 ¾ for the middle piece.

The first time you try this card you may want to go and check out the video tutorial they have available on Splitcoast stampers- the link is on the right hand side- and under Resources they have oodles of tutorials teaching all kinds of really cool projects. But I suggest using my measurements for the patterned paper as I found the dimensions given on the site totally wonky :) Looking at the card you may think its complicated but really they're not, give it a try!

Of course I have been neglecting the blog, life is busy. I also have another excuse- I was participating in a Secret Sister card exchange for 3 months. Its hosted online through Splitcoaststampers and was a lot of fun! I anonymously sent cards and stamp/scrapbooking goodies to a fellow SCSer and she just received my reveal package which contained some of the very cards below. I didn't want her to accidentaly stumble upon my blog and have the surprise blown by having cards I sent her posted here. I plan are doing it for another round Sept-Nov and I promise that I will be making more cards then just those I send to that Secret Sis so I have something to post and don't look like a pathetic blogger- which I am when it comes to the craft side- i'm working to change that :)

Stampin' Up! Stamp Set: Glorious and Free

Stampin' Up! Colours: Real Red, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa

This card was CASE'd from the new Stampin' Up! catty pg 67 using more Canadian colours :)

I am so happy that we have such a great Canadian set! If I can find the time I would really like to send cards to some of the Canadian athletes competing in the 2010 Olympics to wish them luck!

Would also be a great set to make cards for the Canadian troops. I know I ask this a lot of my friends but is there any way we can add an 8th day to the week so that Mom's can get cleaning and crafting done with no interuptions?!

Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Thank-you Kindly

Stampin' Up! Colours: Black, Basic Grey, Going Grey, Whisper White

Stampin' Up Stamp Set: Circle Circus, Hugs & Wishes (retired)
Stampin' Up! Colours: Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede and Old Olive.

I really like this set and how it can go from monocramatic and elegant to bright vibrant fun.

Stampin' Up! Stamp Set: Medallion (background)

I HEART this stamp, it is so beautiful and I can't wait to play around with it using silver and gold inks, so versatile!

Stampin' Up! Stamp Set: Cheep Talk

Retired Stampin' Up! patterned paper

Stampin' Up! Stamp Set: Forest Friends

Stampin' Up! Colours: Kraft, Soft Suede and Old Olive

Stampin' Up! Stamp Sets: Under the Stars, Scratched (background)

Stampin' Up! Colours: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green Patterned Paper