Lillybet's Papers

Well it's that time of the year again, and we are only a few days from saying farewell to this group of 5 colours. I will definitely miss STARRY SKY - it's been such a pleasure to work with. But that means there are 5 NEW colours coming - and they are just beautiful. So for this colour challenge we are asking you to use one or more. I managed to use 3 on each card, using the 3D Sweet Citrus Hybrid folder  and dies and the Sweet Citrus Stampset . I am sad that these too are retiring. They make such a fun card. Be sure and check out the inspiration on our Facebook page to see all the projects created by the team. We'd love to see what you create. The first version uses Tranquil Tide and Parakeet Party. The 3D Embossing folder creates a stunning embossed background. I had applied the base ink using a Blending Brush prior to embossing but added more ink once embossed to the raised leaves and citrus for a deeper effect. I did this for both versions. A few of the larger flowers a

Well what a lovely colour combination this turned out to be!  I wasn't sure how the bright pink and the muted pink would go together but I love it. And can you spot the new stampset - Simply Zinnias is an online exclusive product which just became available. It's such an easy set to work with. The embossing folder is just so detailed it's a real pleasure to use. of course I always decorate the inside too. Our inspiration pic this week is from    Picture credit -  https://pin.it/Akz43HX so bright and cheerful. I was having such a great time creating with these colours that I made 2 cards. For this one I stamped in Moody Mauve and coloured over some of the petals with Melon Mambo . The Flowering Zinnias suite is so beautiful, and so easy to use I can highly recommend it. I love to decorate the inside too. I hope you get a chance to join in with this week's colour combination. It's a beauty. Then share your card with us at our Facebook group. It's a big week thi

It's the launch of another Challenge at Colour INKspiration -#160 is a beautiful palette of pastels. I have not used all 5 - that was too much of a challenge for me but I did manage 4 of the 5. Highland Heather is the only one that's missing. This card uses the stunning Enduring Beauty products - There is a stampset, Dies and the amazing blending masks. ( we'll be using the masks in the next card class, they are so much fun ) I heat embossed the single large flower image with gold powder on Basic White card, then I added  colour using the blending brushes and gradually building up the layers of colour. I do find that I get better effects using the Soft Sea Foam with blending tone on tone rather than simple stamping from the inkpad. I green sponged oner the matching green cardstock. The inspriation picture is so soft and subtle. I have to confess I struggle with pastels but I really wanted to try blending some of the colours together with the masks. It is a lovely effect bl

 The Softly Stipple DSP has gorgeous colours and textures. I loved using the Notes of Nature to create and abstract central circle for my feature panel. It was quite strong in colour so I simply added a layer of Vellum cut to the same size to soften it. Instructions are as for the Perennial Lavender sample. I hope you have a creative week and remember,  "don't just post online,  post something pretty!" cheers, Liz

 The last of my samples using the Twisted Easel fold ( well for now anyway!) This one uses some of the other bright and beautiful paper from Sale A Bration. After I stamped and fussy cut the typewriter, I covered the whole piece with Versamark and Clear Embossing Powder. Heat embossing it made the whole piece glossy which looks really fun in real life. I decorated the card with some of the tiny daisies from the Loose Daisy Embellishments - fiddly but cute.  I hope you give this card fold a try. The instructions can be found here. I hope you have a creative week and remember,  "don't just post online,  post something pretty!" cheers, Liz

 When you find a fun fold that is easy to make, has a big Wow factor and can be created quite quickly you know you are on a winner. The squash fold card is one that I have done quite a lot in recent times. It's especially good to show off all of our gorgeous papers. This is the version we made at February class. Some were made using Berry Burst as the base card. and some were made using Lost Lagoon as the base card. The DSP was the same for both.  You can find the instructions here .  Be sure to check the Fancy Folds Page on this blog ( click on the tab at the far right at the top of this page ) for a complete list of the different types of Fancy folds I have done over the years. There are links to all the instructions. I hope you have a creative week and remember,  "don't just post online,  post something pretty!" cheers, Liz

February class focused on 2 different stampsets.  We used both Notes of Nature and Artistically Inked . We created several different folds including a repeat of the Acetate Tent Fold card. It's a favourite of mine! I first made this in 2020, and there are a number of different examples over the years on this blog. You can find the instructions here Here's the Notes of Nature version.  For both we used Gray Granite, Pebbled Path, Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, Daffodil Delight & the gorgeous Paper Butterfly Accents. For those who had the Artistically Inked stamp this was their version. Notes of Nature Artistically Inked. I hope you have a creative week and remember,  "don't just post online,  post something pretty!" cheers, Liz

Since I was working on a theme, I created a few more samples of the  Split Front Card. These two used Starry Sky and Berry Burst as my two lead colours. We applied ink to wet watercolour paper to create the centre panel. You have to leave these to dry completely before stamping on them. Once it was dry I did some random stamping with some of the texture stamps from Notes of Nature to give a little more depth. Tone on tone stamping was used to give depth to both the end panels of the card front.  This is a good trick so that I didn't use DSP to cover these pieces. The leaves were stamped in Pretty Peacock and coloured with Lost Lagoon then fussy cut. The Roses were stamped in Berry Burst for one of these cards and Starry Sky for the other. I love the richness and depth of these strong colours. The alternative colour roses, and the textrue stamping is done with the small rose stamp rather than the Notes of Nature stamps. Which one is your favourite?? Of course I blinged them up a bi

At my recent Card Class for February 2024, we used the gorgeous papers from the Perennial Lavender suite. The papers are so pretty. They really lend themselves to being the star of the show, with minimal embellishment needed. And with this large (5 1/2" square) card you get to see a large piece of the beautiful designs. This square Easel card is a real eye catcher. I had the incorrect measurements on the slide at the class (oops!) - but I've corrected it now to the above. Sorry for those people who photographed the slide with the error Cardstock is                          5 1/2" x 11, scored at 5 1/2", and the diagonal fold line DSP x2 patterned pieces cut at 5 1/4" square  ( not 5 7/8" - that was the squash fold card ) White cardstock x1           cut at 5 1/4" square. Once I had made one I did get on a bit of a roll and so there are more samples coming in the next few days! It is a fun and easy fold. Be sure and check my Fancy Folds page ( at the t

I have been using the Split Front Card design quite a bit lately and I love how simple it is.  This sample is one we made at Card Classes recently and uses some of the beautiful papers from Sale-a-Bration. I love the birds from the Flight of Fancy papers. The inside is decorated using the Notes of Nature stampset, and the leaves are also cut using those dies. You can use any measurements that work for you but this is how I do it. This is a top folding card which fits in a standard C6 envelope. Cut one piece of Cardstock 10.5cm x 18.5cm, trim a piece 4cm from one end and score at 14.5cm ( slightly smaller than conventional 14.8cm, but easier maths ) Cut two pieces of DSP to sit neatly in the two top and bottom panels of the card front - 10.2 x 3.7cm  ( 4" x 1" - great dimensions to neatly cut a 12x12 piece of DSP ) Diecut a large piece to be the card front and create the bridge between the top and bottom panel. Also cut a second piece in basic white the same size for the insid