CASEing the Catty #555 CASE a Template

CASE Mini Catalogue's Templates meets Fragrant Layers

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea & #555 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from Rebecca Scurr, as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps arrived directly here; either way I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog I have linked to Monique Fielder so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use the samples from the Stampin' Up! Catalogues & Online Exclusives as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". This week we are CASE-ing the sketches found on page 17 of the 2026 Stampin' Up! January - April Mini Catalogue.

For my CASE this week I chose a scrapbook page layout - the one in the lower RHS. I converted it into a landscape card and am featuring the gorgeous On-line Exclusive Fragrant Layers bundle. Check my card out below:

The larger stamp from the bundle was gold heat embossed onto Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper before being water-coloured with the fine Water Painter using Strawberry Slush, Pretty Peacock, Basic Beige Classic inks and a touch of Pool Party ink around the image.

When dry, the image was fussy cut out and layered over a similar arrangement that was die cut with the coordinating Fragrant Layers dies. A few little leaves were also die cut. The watercolored image and die cuts were arranged over a Branching Out Basic White label that had been mounted on a slightly larger piece of Pretty Peacock card-stock.

The Basic White background panel was 3/4 covered with small Basic White card-stock die cuts, including little double leaves, little flowers and a detailed flower outline. I used these die cuts to mimic the different sized circles on the Scrapbook page background. 

A bow tied with retired Gold twine was tucked under a flower. A sentiment from the Fragrant Layers stamps was white heat embossed on Pretty Peacock card-stock. This was die cut with a label die from the bundle. The final touch was a sprinkling of a few of the Valentines Assortment embellishments.

The card inner and envelope were partially stamped and gold heat embossed using the floral arrangement used as the focal water-coloured design on the card front.

Thank you so so much for calling in on your way around the Blog Hop for Challenge #555 CASEing the Catty Sunday Challenge. Do keep hopping around all the participants from this creative CASEing The Catty Crew.  You won't want to miss the many creative ideas that will inspire.

The next blog in the hop is by the wonderful Monique Fielder. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I wonder which template she has CASEd - I am sure her project will be special.

Join In The Challenge: We would love you to share a project that you have created for this Challenge which has been inspired by the templates on page 17 of the January-April Mini Catalogue. To share, all you need to do is go to the CASEing The Catty Challenge Group on Facebook. If you aren't a member, it’s easy to request to join and once anpproved all you need to do is upload a photo of your project to the main section. You can click on the graphic below to be taken to the group on Facebook. We would so love to see your creation.

 

#ctc555 #stampinup #stampinupofficial #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #valleyinspirations  #fragrantlayers  #branchingout  #caseingthecatty #artisandesignteam2026  #artisandesignteam

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #42 Pretty Peacock

Pretty Peacock with Lifetime of Love & Forever Love

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order, focussing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a deep blue-green called Pretty Peacock. Pretty Peacock is part of the Regals Colour Family and is a gorgeous deep green that leans toward blue on the colour wheel. This colour is beautiful for leaves and so much more, working brilliantly with Lost Lagoon - a lighter green.

Pretty Peacock is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Stampin’ Blends Combo; Regals Designer Series Paper and Earthen Elegance, Hello Irresistible, Glorious Gingham, Delightful Floral, Perennial Lavender, Winter Meadow, Bright & Beautiful, Fresh as a Daisy, Delightfully Eclectic, Masterfully Made, Just Kiddin’ Designer Series Paper, plus Forever Love, Speciality DSP, Three Color Glimmer Speciality Paper, Oxidized Speciality DSP , Soft Shimmer Speciality Paper as well as Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems, Adhesive-backed Sequins Trio, Blooming Pearls, Loose Frosted Dots, Tinsel Gems Four-pack, Sweet Thoughts Memories & More Card Pack and Cards & Envelopes, Bright & Beautiful Memories & More Card Pack and Cards & Envelopes, Christmas Everywhere Kit, Painted Wishes Kit, The Best Destination kit. That is a huge list and demonstrates the versatility of this wonderful colour. 

Pretty Peacock card-stock, ink, Stampin’ Blends, Forever Love designer series paper, Pretty Peacock & Gold ribbon and Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems have been used in the creation of these projects plus a range of non-Pretty Peacock bits and pieces.

I recently saw Mikaela Titheridge, UK SU Demonstrator, Artisan and wonderful person create a beautiful card using the Nature’s Sweetness Suite as one of the Crafty Carrot Co sessions for February. #thecraftycarrotco  It was gorgeous and inspired me to re-create the fold using Pretty Peacock and part of the Forever Love Suite. This suite can be found in the January-April Mini Catalogue.  A Pretty Peacock card base was scored and folded then decorated with 3 different designs from the Forever Love Speciality Designer Series Paper. It is gorgeous DSP with one side of each of the 12x12 sheets including touches of gold.

Roses from the Lifetime of Love stamp set were gold heat embossed onto Very Vanilla card-stock using Versamark ink, gold Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool as well as the Embossing Tool kit. The roses and leaves were coloured with Stampin’ Blends, including Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink and a touch of Moody Mauve combos with my trusty Colour Lifter to add highlights. See a close up of the flowers below.

The largest roundish die from the Thoughtful Expressions dies was used to cut out 2 Pretty Peacock labels. One label was adhered to the top layer of the folded card front.  The leafy single wreath die from the Lifetime of Love dies was cut from Gold Foil together with some leafy sprigs. As you can see once the flowers were die cut and an extra large centre rose was fussy cut. The single fussy cut rose was layered over the 3 roses with a Dimensional. The foil single wreath was adhered to one of the labels and the flowers were arranged over it. The “Love You” sentiment was fussy cut and a strip of Gold Foil layered underneath.

A section of the Pretty Peacock Metallic Ribbon was tied around the card and adhered to the bottom label. The decorated label was adhered directly over the bottom label holding the ribbon in place. A few beautiful Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems give a touch of shimmer around the sentiment.

To open the fun fold, untie the ribbon bow and open the top panel to the left.

Just pull the middle pink layer to the right to fully open the card.

The inner panels are Very Vanilla card-stock stamped with roses stamped in Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ ink. A Very Vanilla C6 Envelope was similarly stamped.

Card 2:

This card was actually started first, but it was one where so many aspects went wrong - one way or the other. I abandoned it part way through when glue from the label stuck to a bit of the DSP on a lower panel and tore when I tried to rectify things - it was the last straw. However, once I had created the card above, I thought I should take a breath and finish the card rather than waste it.

As you can see the card is similar with a few differences. Different DSP designs were used from the same packet of Speciality DSP. As the middle panel highlights Moody Mauve different flowers from the same stamp set were gold heat embossed and Moody Mauve Blends were used to colour the flowers with touches of Petal Pink. Tiny flowers and leafy twigs were die cut from Gold Foil.

A sentiment from the Sweetly Scripted stamp set - this is a sneak peak of a stamp set that will be launched as an on-line exclusive next month. Apart from some Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems some delightful Adhesive-backed Dragonflies were added.

As you can see above, some single coloured roses were added on the mid and lower DSP layers to hide some taring and glue marks. I think this is an example where trying to hide an error became a creative opportunity.

Thank you so much for dropping by on you way around the 42nd Colour Creations Blog Hop for 2023-24.

There is so much Pretty Peacock inspiration so do continue on around the Blog Hop.  To continue with the Pretty Peacock blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a lovely and talented lady, Rachel Woollard. I am looking forward to checking out Rachel’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Pumpkin Pie as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our brilliant Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a wonderful lady. Check out her delightful creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#colourcreationsbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #lifetimeoflove  #thoughtfulexpressions  #sweetlyscripted. #thecraftycarrotco

Colour Inkspiration Challenge #159

I am so excited to have joined the Colour Inkspiration Crew. Colour Inkspiration Challenge #159 is a gorgeous colour combination and here is my project featuring this combo:

To showcase these colours I stamped the Stippled Roses images in 2nd generation Smoky Slate ink and then coloured them with Berry Burst and Pretty Peacock Alcohol Blends Combos, with the Colour Lifter to reinforce the highlights on the petals and leaves.

The Stippled Roses die cut the coloured images and 2 different dies were used to cut leaves from Basic White card-stock. A gorgeous label was cut from Thick Basic White card-stock using the Thoughtful Moments dies.

The Thick Basic White card-base was cut to create a fun fold card where the top front panel fold down from above and the white embossed lower panel folds in from the right side with the pieces meeting diagonally from top right down to bottom left.  The Smoky Slate panel was coloured with Smoky Slate Classic Stampin ink and the new Stampin’ Brayer onto Basic White cardstock. The brayer added the ink at different angles and strengths. Some water was misted over to enable the shading to blend and soften. The Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder was used on a Basic White panel that was adhered to the bottom diagonal section.

Some Pretty Peacock splatters were added with a Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Write Marker. The central floral arrangement was adhered to the gorgeous label that had been partially adhered to the top Smoky Slate Panel. The white die cut leaves were tucked under the coloured flowers and leaves. A little bit of blending added some Smoky Slate to a couple of leaves. Some leaves needed a little pruning to remove a few tiny leaves.

A sentiment from the Stippled Roses stamps was stamped in Smoky Slate and fussy cut. A double White Bakers Twine bow was tucked under the sentiment and a few Iridescent Pearls were sprinkled around the sentiment. Finally a little Wink of Stella was splattered over the card.

The card inner was created with a Basic White panel stamped with part of the Stippled Roses in Smoky Slate. It was mounted on a slightly larger Smoky Slate panel. A Basic White C6 Envelope was also stamped with part of the Stippled Roses stamp in Smoky Slate ink. (not pictured)

Thank you so much for dropping in. 

Art with Heart Colour Creations Showcase - #37 Pretty Peacock

Pretty Peacock with Arrange a Wreath and Today's Tiles

Hi. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the 37th 2020/2021 Colour Creations Showcase by members of the Art with Heart Team.

I am so please you have called by.

This week we are focussing on a a deep teal blue green called Pretty Peacock. Pretty Peacock is one of Stampin' Up! 2019-2021 In Colour collection. It is a beautiful deep rich colour that is a delight to use. Pretty Peacock can be found in Stampin' Up!s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads, re-inkers); Stampin' Write Markers; Stampin' Blends, some Designer Series Papers, including the Forever Greenery and Whale of a Time DSP, Pretty Peacock Scalloped Linen Ribbon, the delightful Pretty Peacock/Old Olive Reversible Ribbon, Woven Threads Sequin Assortment and Butterfly Gems.

I've created two different cards this week, both featuring Pretty Peacock, however, the colour schemes and techniques are different. The first card includes water-coloured die cuts with minimal stamping, while the second card uses layered 2-step stamping and heat embossing.

CARD 1:

The oh so gorgeous Pretty Peacock/Old Olive Reversible Ribbon was the inspiration for this first card. The ribbon features Pretty Peacock with an Old Olive tinge on one side and the reverse on the other side, both with a metallic sheen. Also, I recently saw a video creating different styles of easel cards and was intrigued to try an upright wreath easel card. This is my version using quality Stampin' Up! products.

The Pretty Peacock cardstock card base was scored in half, folded and burnished - as normal.  Approximately 5cm was trimmed off the front flap of the card base. A card front was prepared in Basic White card-stock and cut in two at the same point as the front of the base. Both pieces of the card front were dry embossed using the Tin Tile 3D embossing folder. The bigger piece was directly adhered to the top section of the card and the other piece adhered to the card base, ensuring that when the card is closed flat embossed white card-stock is fully seen. 

Two strips of Soft Sea Foam card-stock were cut to sit across the card at the edges of the embossed card-stock. A sentiment was stamped in the centre of one strip using Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin' ink. I chose "Happy Easter" from the Arrange a Wreath stamp set as I was creating an Easter Wreath. (I'm getting in early with preparations for Easter.) This is such a versatile set as it can be used for a range of celebrations. The two light green strips were adhered to abutting edges of the embossed white card, ensuring the sentiment would be seen on the base. A thin strip of Brass Foil was adhered to the bottom edge of the Soft Sea Foam strip on the top section of the card. Another thin strip of Brass Foil was adhered to the top section of the Soft Sea Foam strip on the base of the card. Two more strips of foil were layered on top of this strip, thereby forming a lip that will hold the wreath as an easel. 

Using the two different wreath dies from the Wreath Builder dies, one of each was cut from Shimmery White card-stock and a third from Brass Foil using the leafy wreath die. The leaf Shimmery White wreath was water-coloured with Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin' ink refill adding touched of Old Olive ink and the spriggy wreath was water-coloured with Old Olive with touches of Pretty Peacock. Extra wreaths were cut from Basic White card-stock and they were adhered directly to the underneath of the water-coloured wreaths to add extra strength. The wreaths were layered and adhered together.

A strip of Shimmery White card-stock was water-coloured with Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' ink, ensuring some variation of depth of colour. Once dry, Easter eggs from the Arrange a Wreath stamp set were stamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed using Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder. The eggs and some little flowers were die cut from the water-coloured strip using the coordinating Wreath Builder dies. Little flowers were also die cut from  Brass Foil. Each water-coloured flower was layered with a brass flower. Also cut from the Cherry Cobbler water-coloured strip (that had been mounted on a piece of Foam Adhesive Sheet) was a heart with letters spelling "LOVE" cut out.

The eggs and flowers were arranged around the wreath, with a bow of the Reversible Ribbon being adhered at the top with a couple of Glue Dots. Small white Elegant Faceted Gems were added to the centre of each flower. A Soft Sea Spray die cut circle (cut using the Layering Circle Dies) was adhered to the back of the wreath. A smaller circle, die cut from Pretty Peacock card-stock was folded in half and with one half adhered to the underneath side of the card front. The other half of the circle was adhered to the upper centre of the back of the wreath - thus forming the hinge for the wreath. The cut out water-coloured lettering was adhered to the centre of the wreath.

An extra piece of Basic White card-stock was adhered above the embossed section on the inner section of the card. This is for writing a message to the recipient. A white heart was die cut (using the same set of dies) and adhered directly to the card inner together with a left over water-coloured flower with an Elegant Faceted Gem adhered at the centre.

A wreath (from the same stamp set) was partially stamped on a Basic White C6 envelope to provide an inkling of what may be inside.

I loved creating a different version of an easel card. I learnt along the way, so will make changes to my next card, including moving the layered section further down so the easel wreath sits at an angle rather than at right angles to the card base. This has spiked my creativity and I am looking forward to further exploration of ideas.

CARD 2:

As I pondered the other project to create showing Pretty Peacock, my mind went to an uninked stamp set, Today's Tiles. I decided to combine Pretty Peacock with Pool Party and silver embossing.

Using my trusty Stamparatus, I set it up with a stamp from the Today's Tiles stamp set that would stamp 2 rows of 4 tiles in one go. Wanting alternate tiles of Pretty Peacock and Pool Party, I had planned to use Stampin' Spots to ink the tiles. In preparing, I wondered if there would be more control using the Marker to Stamp technique ... I tried this option. 

I stamped the full stamp in Pool Party Classic Stampin' ink knowing that Pretty Peacock was a strong colour and could cover the lighter Pool Party. As this was my first use of the stamp set, I needed to stamp, re-ink and stamp again to attain good ink coverage. I then coloured each alternate tile using a Pretty Peacock Stampin' Write Marker - stamping one tile at a time. The stamping plate was moved 2 notches to stamp another set of 8 tiles adjacent to the first. You have to love Stampin' Up's attention to detail that ensured the tile width matched the Stamparatus width of 2 notches. 

As the stamp had significant area that touched the paper, the Basic White card-stock moved each time I lifted the stamp, even though it was held with 3 bar magnets. I tried to re-align it back into the same spot, but as you can see in the close-ups, it wasn't exact all the time and led to a little shadowing on some of the Pretty Peacock tiles. I wasn't happy with my first attempt so started afresh, adding an extra bar magnet. It still wasn't perfect, but I needed to progress the card - forgetting that there would be close-up photos. Ah well, in sharing the imperfections it is showing areas to watch out for, if you give this a go. I'm certainly looking forward to playing again with this set and working out how to ensure the card-stock doesn't move.

I set up the second stamp designed to highlight certain aspects of the tile design. I stamped it in Versamark ink and then heat embossed the tiles using Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder. I then moved the stamp plate 2 steps along and added Versamark ink to the adjoining set of 8 tiles. Wow, I was so excited with the effect (I know, it doesn't take much for me to get excited.)

The stamped square of 4 by 4 tiles was trimmed close to the tiles. I mounted it directly on a slightly larger square of Basic White card-stock and then mounted it on larger square of Pool Party card-stock using Dimensionals. It was then adhered directly to the Pretty Peacock card-stock base. A sentiment from the same Today's Tiles stamp set was stamped in Versamark on Pool Party card-stock and heat embossed with Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder. It was trimmed to a strip that spanned the tile design and mounted onto a wider piece of Basic White card-stock. Some white twine from the Snail Mail Combo Pack was tied around the sentiment strip ending in a bow. This was popped up with Dimensionals over a strip of 4 tiles. The final touch was the addition of 3 clear Elegant Faceted Gems.

A piece of Basic White card-stock, mounted on Pool Party card-stock was adhered to the inside of the card. Three tiles from the discarded stamped tiles was added to carry the focal design through to the inside. As the card was not a standard size at about 12.5 x 12.5cm I custom-made an envelope using a piece of the Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper. A Basic White die cut oval was adhered to the front of the envelope for writing name & address.

I am looking forward to playing with this stamp set again and working to eliminate the imperfections. The coordinating dies are gorgeous and I have numerous ideas to include them on a project. So stay tuned ...

Thank you so much for spending time with me. 😘

Catherine Proctor is the fantastic host of the Art with Heart Colour Creations Showcase. If you haven't finished visiting all of the team's colour creations, you can visit/revisit Catherine's page at What Cathy Made, where she hosts all the links to the participating blogs so you can find everyone's Pretty Peacock creations. Checking out everyone's creations and their interpretation of the amazing Stampin' Up! colours is always inspiring. 

I hope to see you again next week when members of the team share projects that hero Pumpkin Pie, a strong orange. 

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others as these strange times continue.  

Andrea 💕🐾

#colourcreationsshowcase