Just Add Bows

Just Add Ink 184

"Always the Bridesmaid, never the Bride"

The Just Add Ink challenge this week is from Nikki, 'Just Add Bows' and as you know, I always love adding bows to my cards, but this time, for me, it had to be an 'amazing' bow - a stand out bow! 

As for the quote, for me it's different. I have never been a bridesmaid. I have been blessed by being a bride and I loved it, but never a bridesmaid. Until now! So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked and of course I needed to create the most amazing engagement card for my best-friend and her fiancé! I can't wait for them to 'tie the knot.' ;)

 

This is a tri-fold card, so it needed to be on an easle!

The card was so thick that I made a box for it!

I am loving the new Modern Medley Designer Series Paper on page 154. 

I have seen so many beautiful cards made using this paper, great for Christmas and male cards too! I used it >HERE< a few months ago.

Another favoutite stamp - Hello, Doily on page 122.

$30.95 wood / $24.95 clear

 Stamp Sets: Hello Doily, Love & Laughter

Accessories: Black Satin Ribbon (my own stash), Large Scallop Edgelits, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Versa Mark Pad, Black Embossing Powder, Large Rhinestone, Sqaure Envelope,

Simply Scored was used to create the box.

Designer Series Paper: Modern Medley (pg154)

 Colour Combination: Whisper White, Basic Black 

 Thanks for stopping by,

Lou X

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A 'Lou' Moment!

Admission Time

Surely I am not the only one who has those 'moments' where a good intention goes horribly wrong due to being overwhelmed or excited, or both! 

Ok, so for those of you who know me really well, I have 'moments' all.the.time. I have the greatest of intensions, however I'm just .not. that great at pulling them off. I'm slack when it comes to posting birthday cards, finishing cards (I literally have tonnes of un-finished cards and projects,) or I make them and the intended person doesn't get them. To all those who love me anyway, I'm sorry and I really do still love you! 

My 'moment' in Utah. (Well one of them!)

If you can remember back to the USA Stampin' Up! Convention, there was a World Record Challenge. Here's the post >World Record Attempt<

 

 I made my card for my friend Nicole, who had helped me make cards, taken cardstock and ribbon home to cut, helped me pack orders before I left and has just been a great freind. (Note that my mum and best-friend also helped me, however, because if all my 'great intensions that I never pull off', Nicole had never received a handmade card from me!)

So, here's the thing. I made the card, packed it safely in my suitcase and took it with me. I sat down at the hotel and wrote on the hotel notepad what I was going to say in Nicole's card. It was heartwarming and lovely. It had all the things I wanted to thank Nicole for.

I sent my card that night, after lining up with my friend, Mehgan, for hours and hours. I was even a little proud of myself for having it organised! Nicole received her card a few days later and opened it up to NOTHING! No lovely heartwarming words of how grateful I was or how much I appreciated her help. Nothing. Just a card! I can only imagine the look on her face! 

So another card has been made, with heartwarming words in it this time, to saying thank you, not only for helping me, but for loving me with all my faults!

Thanks for listening and I would love to hear from others who might also be like me!

Lots of Love
Lou X

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Just Add Ink - Sketch Challenge

Just Add Ink183

The Just Add Ink challenge this week is a sketch challenge and as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do! I don't always know what to do and often ponder for quite a while before coming up with something, but this time I knew. I like it when that happens! Big Smiles :)

This weeks sketch:

 

 Yes, you got it! I just went straight to my new stamp set 'Six-Sided Sampler' on page 125.
$46.95 wood / $36.95 clear
OR  Bundle and Save $65.25 wood / $56.75 clear

Stamp Set: Six Sided Sampler

Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Small Heart Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits

Designer Series Paper: In-Color Paper Stack

Colour Combination: Whisper White, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana, Brown Baked Sugar

On a side note, did you notice I didn't use any ribbon? I use ribbon or twine on nearly every card and I was asked recently if I could ever make a card without it!!!! Yes, yes I can! LOL

Thanks for stopping by,
Lou X

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Just Add Ink - Frames

Just Add Ink 182

For those of you who may not know I am a Design Team Member over at Just Add Ink however I recently have missed the past couple of weeks. Please forgive me!

I made this card to participate in this weeks challenge, 'Just Add Frames' and if I'm not quick I will miss tomorrows cut off. Better get a 'shake' on! LOL

 I love the new Chalk Talk stamp set and I am so happy that the Shaker Frames are now available in the main catalogue on page 175, because they go so well together to make a shaker card. I loved Deb Fearns take on using this combination and thought I would give it a go myself for my bestfriends birthday card. Her favourite colour is Real Red and thought I'd add a bit of 'class' by adding the Gold Glass Glitter inside the shaker frame. 

I quite like how it turned out!

Stamp Set: Chalk Talk

Accessories:Taffeta Ribbon, Gold Cotton (my own), Stampin' Glass Glitter, Beautifull Baroque Embossing Folder, Shaker Frames, Versa Mark Ink, White Embossing Powder

Colour Combination: Real Red, Whisper White

Thanks for stopping by,
Lou X

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You're Just My Cup of Tea!

When I recieved my copy of the new 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! Catalogue, there was a part of me that was scared to see all the new, beautiful products, because I knew my wishlist would double. And it did! I wrote a list of what I wanted needed to have in my first order. 'Tea Party' on page 35 was one of them!

This card would have to be my own personal favourite and I loved pairing the stamp set with the new in-colours, Crisp Cantaloupe and Pistachio Pudding.

I'm sure you will agree it's a very 'Louise' card! 

Tea Party Stamp Set - Page 35

$39.95 wood / $31.95 clear

In Colour Designer Paper Stack - Page 152 (Love this!)

40 sheets, 4 of each colour $37.95

Ruffled Stretch Trim - Page 173 (Swoon!)

 $15.95

Stamp Set: Tea Party

Accessories: Ruffled Trim, Crochet Trim, Seam Binding Ribbon, Baker's Twine

Designer Series Paper: 2013-2015 In-Color Paper Stack

Colour Combination: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding

Buy these items at my online shop now!

www.louisesharp.stampinup.net

Thanks for stopping by,

Lou X

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Product Club!

Can you see something new on my tabs? Yes, all new Product Club!

I am so excited to be able to bring this new way of ordering to my customers. Well, actually it's not all that new, however with online ordering and the new Hostess Code system that Stampin' Up! offers, you can take advantage of earning the Hostess Benefits without breaking your budget! 

Details of the Club

Spend $25 per month for 6 months - receive $25 free one month

Spend $50 per month for 6 months - receive $50 free one month

 Spend $75 per month for 6 months - receive $80 free one month

 Register now to take advantage of this great Product Club offer and start saving! 

Please email me if you have any questions

louise@sharpcooling.com.au

Lou X

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Happy Father's Day!

Yesterday was Father's Day and I pondered for a long time on what type of card I was going to make my husband. He has a few different hobbies, which include music and playing guitar, vintage dodge trucks, hot rods and buying and selling vintage bits and pieces. 

Until a couple of months ago there was never any talk of motorbikes and I have to say that I was happy with that! Then he discovered a 'cool' group of guys called the Sydney Cafe Racers. The hunt was on for a vintage bike. He sold one toy to buy another one!

I'm sure boys never grow up, their toys get more expensive!

I remembered the new stamp set, 'Rev Up the Fun' on page 51. I originally puchased this stamp set as it's a great set for young boys and I'm always making cards for my sons friends and nephews birthdays. Seems it's also a great set for big boys as well! ;)

My style is usually more clean and I'm certainly no sponging queen like my upline Teneale Williams and I think she would be proud of me for using the Gorgeous Grunge set stamped together in layers! However this card needed to look vintage and it had an oil leak when he first got it, so I think the splotches look like great oil leaks.

Inside:

'Every day can be a Joy Ride' - In this house, like most, every day is a joy ride! It has it's ups and downs, it's generally pretty fast and busy, but I love it and I love enjoying it with my husband and best-friend. 

Stamp Sets: Rev Up the Fun ; Gorgeous Grunge

Accessories: Linen Thread

Designer Series Paper: 'Sweater Weather' from Holiday Catalogue (pg18)

Colour Combination: Very Vanilla ; Crumb Cake ; Chocolate Chip ; Midnight Muse ; Cherry Cobbler

Happy Father's Day to all the other amazing Dads and Husbands.

Lou X

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