Tuesday 12 July 2016

Come with me to the Kasbah!

There is a fabulous new set of stamps in the new Stampin'Up catalogue called Moroccan Nights. It is paired with a great Designer Paper Pack to continue the Moroccan theme, and I used some of the paper from it in my last blog.

This time I have used not only the paper but also the stamps and it is fast becoming one of my favourite sets in the new catalogue.

First of all, unusual for me, a "man card" made for my husband's birthday.  I always find cards for men difficult because I don't like lots of the stereotypical "man" themes - golf, fishing, cars - you know what I mean.

These geometric patterns and the mosaic type stamp seem suitable for both men and women to me.


So, using Early Espresso card stock as a base, I mounted a sheet of the Moroccan Nights DSP. This paper is grey and black diamonds and take my word for it, it is even more striking in reality. I can imagine using it for lots of cards or gift wrapping tags, bags,  boxes, etc. 

I embossed a piece of very vanilla card with the gorgeous new copper embossing powder. The greeting is from the Cottage Garden stamp set. The two lanterns were cut out by hand - not difficult shapes - and attached with foam dimensionals. I pasted a piece of vanilla cardstock inside the card (not shown here) stamped with the sentiment "you light up my life" and a couple of star shapes from the set. Finished! Simple and strong.


The second card I made with this stamp set couldn't be more different. Again, unusual for me, it is quite fussy but I think the geometric pattern can take it.



The card base is made with Sugar Plum card stock, one of the new In Colours. Again, my photos do not do the colour justice. I stamped the large mosaic design in the coordinating ink on Whisper White card and added a few ink spatters from the fabulous Timeless Textures stamp set.

I used a piece of sugar plum ruched ribbon across the centre and attached a matching scalloped oval decorated with star shapes from the Moroccan Nights set and embossed in gold with a sentiment from the Suit Sayings stamp set.

The whole thing finished off with two butterflies stamped with patterns from Papillon Potpourri and punched out with the Bitty Butterfly punch and the Elegant Butterfly punch.  I highlighted a few spots on the butterflies with a gold pen to link them to the other gold details, and arranged a small twist of gold metallic thread to peep from behind.

Last but not least, and you can't say I don't give you value for money, another card using the same set.


These Moroccan stamps have a very exotic and sumptuous feel to them and I think they suit the strong jewel colours on offer this year.  So, a Very Vanilla card base, with a mount of Emerald Envy - another of this year's In Colours.  I printed the mosaic pattern in a similar fashion to the previous card but this time I printed it with Versamark and embossed it using the transparent embossing powder. In real life, this gives a gorgeous super shiny effect - subtle but very eye catching.  Again a few ink spatters from Timeless Textures (what would we do without this fantastic set?) and a few gold embossed stars.

Next a strip of stunning gold glitter washi tape - sadly unavailable at the moment but I am very hopeful they may reintroduce it for Christmas.  Then a small strip of Very Vanilla card, printed with the tile motif in Delightful Dijon.  This mustardy yellow is not to everyone's taste but it goes great against the emerald colour and is used in the coordinating Designer Paper Pack.  All topped off with a small strip of Emerald Envy, gold embossed with a sentiment from the Made with Love stamp set. Both the cream and green strips are raised with foam dimensionals.

If ever you are in doubt about colour combinations, you cannot go wrong if you look at the catalogue or the matching DSP paper and see the colours that have been put together by the Stampin'Up designers.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like the cards. If you would like to purchase any of the products, please visit my online shop.

Jane

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