It's a Boy:

Recently, one of my lovely downline gave birth to a little baby boy. Although I managed to give her a gift on time for her new son, for reasons too numerous to list, I've only just now had a chance to make the card.

To apply different colours to different parts of the stamp, I've used SU Markers and coloured directly onto the rubber with the brush point. The ocean I've made by tearing a piece of left over cardstock for that slightly 'choppy' effect. The main image has also been mounted on Stampin' Dimensionals to 'lift' it from the card. In keeping with my current trend of late, I've also only used one stamp set to make this card. I hope she likes it, and that it was worth the wait :)

Supplies:
* Nursery Necessities Stamp Set.
* Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal and Whisper White Cardstock. Pool Party DSP (retired, but I thought it suited this card perfectly).
* White Craft Ink, Close to Cocoa, Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal and Certainly Celery Markers.
* Mat Pack, Piercing tool, SAMJ, Stampin' Dimensionals, Glue Dots & Whisper White Grossgrain Ribbon.

Compliment & Co-ordinate Colours:

One of the hardest things to do (in my opinion) is co-ordinating and complimenting different colours I want to use in a card. It's amazing how a truly wonderful layout can be spoiled by colours that clash with one and other.

I've always had trouble being able to mix and match colours so that they look great together. I'm one of 'those' people who feel no shame when they wear red and pink together, or...dare I say it...blue and green, with nothing in between - as the poem goes. So, for me, Stampin' Up!s colour coach was a must have. I use it for every project I do, as it clearly shows with the spin of a wheel, which colours compliment and co-ordinate with all of Stampin' Up!s 48 main colours plus neutrals.

The colour coach retails for $18.95 (plus P&H) and I personally count it as one of my must have 'tools of the trade'. However, if your a little more colour savvy than I am, all you need do is look to nature for fantastic colour combinations that inspire beyond the imagination. For example, a Northern Territory sunset, a flower, butterfly or bird, or even the fantastic colours that play on water when the light hits it just right.

Tonight I've created another simple card, with the colour scheme coming from Stampin' Up!s colour coach. To incorporate ribbon I had, I have substituted the cameo coral for my favourite SU colour GROOVY GUAVA. Both colours are similar which allowed me to do this, without any ghastly results. I've also included the tearing technique on this card which is a fantastic embellishment that's not only easy to do, but is also very cost effective. I hope you like tonight's card.

Supplies:

* Wild About You, Bold Butterfly, Riveting (Level 1 Hostess Set retired) Stamp Sets. Watercolour Vine Jumbo Wheel.

* Gable Green, Bashful Blue, Groovy Guava & Whisper White Cardstock.

* VersaMark, Bashful Blue & Groovy Guava Stamp Pads.

* Groovy Guava Double Stitched Ribbon.

* Stampin' Dimensionals.

For Sparklegirl:

As most of you know, Jas has been away now for almost a month. He returns home on Wednesday night (thank God!), so tonight, I decided to take some time out for myself - something I've not been able to really do since he left. I put the kids to bed early, had the kitchen clean, dishwasher on, lunches made and uniforms ironed so, by 7.30pm, was able to sit down and stamp.

I found my inspiration from a fantastic stamper - Silke Ledlow who was yesterday's featured stamper on SCS. Thank you Silke for your wonderful card which enabled me to make the above. I hope you all like this as much as I do. I've been itching to use this stamp set for a few weeks now, and tonight I hope I did it as well as Silke, proud.

Supplies:

* Nursery Necessities Stamp Set.

* Groovy Guava, Whisper White Cardstock and Fall Flowers DSP.

* Groovy Guava Stamp Pad.

* 3/16" Corner Rounder, 1/3/8" Circle Punch & Scallop Punch.

* Groovy Guava Double Stitched ribbon.