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Wednesday 28 April 2010

...Say hello to Fancy Phrases


ED - the textured paper used in the last couple of cards is a cream texture I got from papermillshop, it's a UK store but I believe the term for this style of paper is 'hammered" no don't laugh, lol, Here is a link.

ED - The tag set that co-ordinates with these stamps is called Fancy Tags and for you US folks it is available Here. For folks who maybe can't get their hands on a set so easily, I am hoping to have a small quantity of these tag sets for sale in the store on Saturday. Just to spill the beans properly I was hoping to start carrying a limited stock of Spellbinders dies to match my stampsets but they are so popular that my suppliers are out of stock! lol, hopefully soon!

Good morning and welcome to the second day of samples for the May release. WOW, didn't the DT ladies blow us away yesterday! I wonder what they have up their sleeves for today!! Pop over to see: Julia, Belinda, Anya, Laurie, Jennifer, Lynn and Bonnie.

Just in case you're new here I'll be releasing 8 new photopolymer stamp sets on May1st!! AND there will be a shipping promotion going on, orders over £50 sterling will ship for free as part of out first birthday celebrations!!

Do pop back later today for details of the BIGGIE contest...get your thinking caps on and set aside some crafting time...it's gonna be a challenge!

Today I'm previewing a little stamp set that is perfect on it's own but, by happy coincidence (wink, you know it's not a coincidence right?? LOL), fits perfectly with the Spellbinders die set Fancy Tags. This set is called Fancy Phrases.

My first card is what I'm fondly calling my Opera card, yep I can just see me giving this to Ms Becky Oehlers after one of her fantastic performances!! lol! I LOVE that wee sentiment and it's going to be suitable in so many occasions!

Now, see that wee burgundy colored frame stamped around the Bravo? that's one of the 5 separate frames included in this set. It was designed for the larger rectangle die but there are frames also for the oval and small rectangular tag dies.

There are 27 sentiments in Fancy Phrases in a couple of different styles to cover a multitude of everyday situations. Added to that are 3 decorative motifs giving a total of 35 separate stamps, yep this is one jam packed set!!

I used Versacolour Burgundy ink, the coverage is really excellent for detail stamps.



I have 4 cards in today's post and I feel like I am just scratching the surface of all of the potentially fabulous things you could do with this set.


Of course the first thing that comes to mind is to make tags, easy, the sentiments fit beautifully into the tag they were designed for, but what if you want to do something a little different? Try using the tag dies as an aperture cutter, I think they make beautifully shaped windows! and now I have some fabby sentiments to stamp in those windows!! The next couple of cards will show you what I mean. Simple and yet just a little different.

The little flourish accent comes from another new May set, Vintage Labels 10, more on that in a later post!!



I love this Hurrah! card, I could get loads of mileage out of this for baby cards, wedding congratulations, any sort of achievement celebrations. The old fashioned font is just tongue-in-cheek enough to be used in any situation!

OOh and if you're gonna try one of these wee aperture cards, don't throw out the wee negative bits that fall out of your die after you cut the aperture, pop them in their place on the card to accentuate the design, see below!!


In today's final card I stamped the sentiment "Happy Foreverness" onto a tag shape and sponged a little ink, gorgeous Distress velvet ink! yum! I then stamped 3 panels onto the card base using another of the frames from Fancy Phrases and some Memento Rich cocoa ink. I colored the panels in by making a mask, see the following photos for directions, it is super simple with this frame shape. I added a dotty oval frame (also from Fancy Phrases) and some bling before mounting the tag front and centre. I think it makes a decent wedding/anniversary card!


I love the slightly 30's styling on this font combined with the decorative panel, makes me think of the Orient Express...not that I've ever actually even seen it! LOL.





Hope they tickle!!

43 comments:

  1. Wow....gorgeous cards, Claire. The 'You are missed' card is my favorite. Stunning design. Can't wait to see more.

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  2. I can sooooooo see why you're excited! I am too! Your cards are simply gorgeous and I love the 'thinkin outside the box' things you do. I would NEVER think of this. Gettin that £50 free p&p is NOT gonna be a problem this release - I can tell. Love, love, love what we're seeing. Roll on 1st May!

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  3. Oh yes, I like it! Actually I love them all...

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  4. Well Claire I think these are amongst your most beautiful cards to date! I can't wait to see your new sets next week.

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  5. Oh Claire....You do it every single time!! These are stunning samples of what the stamps sets have in store for us!! Cannot wait until release day is here!! Another few sleeps to go. xx

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  6. Oh My Goodness!! These are absolutely exquisite - I am so excited about everything you've posted on this release, but especially the Fancy Phrases stamps that will fit my Fancy Tags dies!! So looking forward to seeing what's coming up in the rest of countdown x x

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  7. Claire the cards are stunning so simple and so beautiful.

    Holly.

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  8. Don't know what is more amazing, Claire- the stamps or what you do with them! Can't wait!

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  9. SQUEAL....how did I miss that these sentiments fit perfectly in the labels?! Brilliant!!!

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  10. FABULOUS CARDS Claire!!! The cut out lables look awesome!!! Hugs ~S~

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  11. I am loving everything you and the team are making. Love the Asian set and I really really love the sentiments for the labels and the stamps that coordinate with the nesties! Thank you for such creative products.

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  12. Acckkkk! so we now know why you are the designer and we are the stampers - you are SO clever with your designs Claire! I LOVE how you punched out the label and stamped beneath it - and how you stamped the frame 3 times as a background - just gorgeous! I'll sure be using these designs on future wedding/anniversary cards!

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  13. That is my VERY favorite spellbinders die so i HAVE to have this set, can't wait!

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  14. Oh yeah, you are brilliant b the way!

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  15. This set is Fabulous! Your cards are gorgeous. I have marked my calendar for May 1st and will be ordering for the first time. Just love what I'm seeing!

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  16. Wonderful Claire! You have such a great way to "see" things - Love everything!! - the stamps are just gorgeous to work with and I am so VERY proud to be a part of this team!!

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  17. Beautiful sets, Claire! "Bravo!" :)And your designs and layouts are superb!

    Bonnie said you needed hugs, so I'm sending one your way: O

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  18. Omg Claire,
    I am so excited!!!

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  19. These are so classy, Claire! I love what you've done - the aperture style card is really fantastic. Love them all! *hugs* Hope you're feeling better!

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  20. Stunning!! Ive never even seen those Fancy Tag nestabilities before - theyre gorgeous and work perfect with this set!!

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  21. Looks like an absolutely gorgeous set, Claire!! Beautiful cards, too!

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  22. Ok, Claire, you got me on this one! Hurrah for a baby card, yessiree!! Now please just tell me what Nestabilities to order today!!

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  23. What a wonderful set of stamps. your cards are beautiful and you even gave us a tutorial. Lovely!

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  24. great tutorial and the cards are stunning. love the texture of the paper and the images/frames for the sentiments. Can't wait to see the whole set :)

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  25. Claire you have done it again! I was speechless after yesterday so not sure what you'd call it today! :) I have this die set and haven't ever use it! (I know!!) Thank you for the inspiration and I can't wait to see more!!

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  26. Simple cards, yet oh so lovely! I think this set is a must have. I love saying "Hurrah" instead of "Hurray".

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  27. Wow! Has it been one year already?! Congratulations!!

    Love that fabric flower on your first card, the colors on the second, and just adore the aperature cards...........and of course, even better that you have created the perfect stamps for those dies!! :>

    Hope you have been having a fantastic day! :>

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  28. Wow. Just gorgeous - what a lovely gift set these would make! What tag set do you usse to cut your apertures?

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  29. Fabulous, Claire! Lovin' the new sets, esp the Nestie friendly ones!!

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  30. Gorgeous! You are brilliant, absolutely! Every time you have a release not only does my WMS wish list grow but my Nestie list grows too, LOL!

    I was wondering, what kind of paper did you use on two of today's cards? It is so rich and beautiful looking! I never would have guessed that you would get such great impressions on such a textured paper. Is it some kind of watercolor paper, and is it hot press, cold press or whatever? The pads at the store are often sealed in plastic so you can't see the actual paper, so please be detailed!

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  31. This is EXACTLY what I asked for in the Waltzingmouse Forum! I suspect it was already on the drawing board at the time - and Claire - you never let on! You are such a tease! Thank you so much - cannot wait for the chance to order this set!

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  32. What brilliant cards, Claire! I love how you used the dies to cut out the card itself. I wouldn't have ever thought of that, but you think of everything!

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  33. Claire, these are absolutely awesome! Love all your wonderful designs--beautiful touches and the aperture designs are stunning!

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  34. Claire, these samples are gorgeous! Can't wait for these stamps - a match made in my stamping Heaven :)

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  35. Ok that Happy Foreverness card totally was a "duh" moment for me! Love how you used the frames on the back like that! I'll have to give it a try!

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  36. I, too would love to know what paper you used. Aside from that, I can barely wait to get my hands on these yummies. I can see this month is going to be a biggie. In fact, I predict it will be your biggest ever :)
    I love (!) using the negatives as openings and I think it just adds the most wonderful touch. You've taken them a step further with the use of your own designs. So sweet, so elegant and oh so right!
    Brava, Claire!!

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  37. GASP!! Your cards are GORGEOUS! The images look AMAZING!! I so can't WAIT for these sets to be in-store!!!!

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  38. Really , really beautiful Claire! Love this set and yes it would get lots of use! Congratulations think you're going to be very busy!!!!!

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  39. Gorgeous cards, Claire. The sentiment designs are amazing and I am so wishing that I had picked those for my win on the WMS forum...but I'm thinking that about all of the sneaky peaky's. LOL Still waiting by my mailbox.

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  40. Oh my, these cards just take my breath away they are so pretty! Fabulous Claire!

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  41. These are some of the most beautiful cards I've ever seen. I am so glad that you are obsessed with the label dies, have created amazing stamps that work with them and share such fabulous creations using them. Thank you!

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  42. I love this Technique tutorial you have shared!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment, :) I read them all and I appreciate you taking time to visit!