Giving Thanks

Morning all.

If you are anywhere around the east coast of Australia, I hope you are tolerating the heat. Saturday (1st day of Summer here) did not fail to impress with the mercury hitting 36.9 degs C (which for those who are Fahrenheit fluent is 98 degs F!!!)

As you may have read, I was lucky enough to attend the recent SU Heartfelt convention in Sydney with Angela Sargeant. She drove me in, showed me around and in general was the perfect hostess. Angela also generously lent me the stamp set that helped create my Diwali cards here and here.

Now I am the kind of gal who believes in saying the 2 small words "thank you" when needed and often. So I made a little something to thank Angela for her generosity and kindness. Now as most of you know, I love to tinker with all things 3D, so this is where I started. I was inspired by a fab tutorial here to make these gorjus wee beauties.

This is what I made Angela, they are lumieres for her Christmas table......

 

They hold a faux (or flameless) teal light candle and the light flickers through the vellum stamped windows. I got mine from the Reject Shop and I am guessing that they are a little easier to get than they have been in previous years. This is it lit up......

 

 

The "holly" was achieved by using the leaf from the XL Bird Punch and 1/4" circle.

 

 

I fashioned a "matching" card by keeping the same colour scheme and using one of the flowers from the Mixed bunch set.

 

 

Here is the lot together.....

 

 

Thanks for popping by. I have more Christmas fun and 3D items to share soon.

 

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green, vellum from Alice's

Ink: (SU) Cherry Cobbler, Gumball Green

Stamps: (SU) Daydream Medallions, Mixed Bunch, Curly Cute, Build-A-Blossom

Dies and Punches: (SU) Window Framelit Dies, XL Bird Punch, Blossom Punch, Blossom petals Builder Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Carla Craft 1/4 inch circle punch

Other bits: SU Chevron EF, Dimensionals, Double sided tape, Dk red 1/2 pearls fm stash, flameless tea light candle

 

Lynda xx

 

 

 

Expanding My Cultural Horizons - Diwali II

Morning all.

Today I am sharing the 2nd design of cards I made for Diwali. Again, they use a lot of bright colours, but this time these cards are based around the small candles and the beautiful shapes they come in.

The first cards - well...sometimes it pays to be a hoarder!!! Many years ago (2009 I think) SU had a DSP called Bali Breeze. One of the designs reminded me of the wisps of smoke coming off a flame, so I went with it. So glad I did.....

 

 

The bases are Wide Oval Punches and then the DSP is punched with a Butterfly Punch to make the curves!! The flames were another "accidental" find. I used the "flame" shaped die from the Holiday Ornaments Die set and then double die cut it...does that make sense? The red part of the flame is the heel from the Stocking Builder Punch. Aren't punches wonderful?? I also sponged all the flame edges.







The 2nd card was based around the same layout, but one was in portrait and the other in landscape. I also had another light bulb "flame" idea. For these I used the Daydream Medallion stamp set and Floral Frames Framelits. I cut the stamped and die cut images in half. On the Poppy one, it reminds me of a chandelier.

 

They are so pretty layered all together.

 

 

 

 

Now for that light bulb....the flames were this time done with the Blossom Petals Builder Punch. The end result was a beautiful elongated flame with a delicate tip.

 

 

 

The candle bases were basically the same as the ones above, except this time I tried to do one with the top of a heart punch and the other was part of 2 circles cut into the oval.

 

            Heart                                                                                                                     Circles

 

 

Here are the last batch of cards all together.

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this out-of-my-comfort zone Diwali cards. I learnt so much whilst reaching these cards. Both ladies that these cards were for were over the moon with the cards and have sent them home to India to their families to let them know they are also celebrating here in Australia.

 

Also...I must also say a BIG thank you to Angela Sargeant again for lending me this wonderful stamp set!!

 

Thanks again for popping by.

 

Stuff Used:

CS: (SU) Tempting Turquoise, Poppy Parade (ret), Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Rose Red, So Saffron,  Bali Breeze DSP (LONG ret....LOL!!)

Ink: (SU) Tempting Turquoise, Summer Starfruit, Poppy Parade (ret), Wild Wasabi, So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie (sponging flame)

Stamps: (SU) Daydream Medallions

Punches and Dies: (SU) Holiday Ornament Die Set, Floral Frames Framelits, Window Framelits,Blossom Petals Builder Punch, Stocking Builder Punch, Butterfly Punch (ret), Carla Craft CP2 1" Circle Punch, Carla Craft CP21 Heart Punch

Embossing Folder: SU Fancy Fan Folder

Other Bits: Dimensionals, Sponging, Clear Rhinestones fm stash

 

Lynda xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expanding My Cultural Horizons - Diwali I

Morning all.

I am always stunned and amazed as to where the world of crafting takes you. I am blessed through this blog and my blog friends/followers to have come into contact with fellow crafters from all over the world. The next couple of posts is an example of crafting cultural expansions.

The school that my children go to (like most) is a vast melting pot of cultures, religions and faces. It is wonderful. I was approached by one of the Mums in the playground not so long ago and asked if I could make some cards for her and her friends that they could send back home to India for Diwali. (Insert thought......who or what is Diwali???......see here for the answer). Of course I could not turn down a card making opportunity, so I said yes.

Needless to say, Google copped quite a beating that morning. I was given the brief of bright colours, flowers and candles. Cogs began to clunk!! I found some images here and here of candles. I also recalled a tutorial by Mary Fish here on flower shaped cards. I set to work.

I had seen some magical cards around blog land done with the Fancy Floral Framelits and the co-ordinationg set Daydream Medallions. One small problem.....I did not own the stamp set. Slightly crest-fallen, I sent a "distress" e mail to the GORJUS Angela Sargeant. Low and behold...she had it and was prepared to lend it to me....yippee!!!!

I sort inspiration from these cards here and here and this is the result......

 

 

 

As you can see, they are not exactly the same, but are bright and colourful. My SU brights palate really copped a beating!! Here they are close up....(click on the image to make it larger).

The detail in the Daydream Medallions stamp set is stunning. For me anyhow, it fitted a slightly Indian feel. I also embossed the Tangerine cards.

Thanks for popping by. Yes, there were a lot of pictures today, but I hope you enjoyed them. To those readers out there who celebrate Diwali, I hope you have a magical festival.

Stuff used:
CS: (SU) Old Olive, Summer Starfruit, Poppy Parade (ret), Tangerine Tango, Rose Red, Whisper White
Ink: (SU) Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Rose Red, Tangerine Tango, Poppy Parade (ret), Summer Starfruit
Stamps: (SU) Daydream Medallions
Dies: (SU) Fancy Floral Framelits
Other Bits: (lots of) dimensionals, 12mm faceted 1/2 rhinestones fm stash, Floral Fusion Felt Flowers (SU ret), Clear rhinestones fm stash.

Lynda xx