Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday!
When you get a present, say for Christmas or your birthday, do you like to know what it is before you open it? Or do you like the surprise? Me personally, I like the surprise. I *love* the surprise. It makes the tearing off the wrapping* and revealing the gift all the more exciting.
*okay, I don’t tear off the wrapping. My OCD wouldn’t allow it. But I carefully and neatly peel the tape away one piece at a time and carefully unwrap the package, and then fold the paper neatly away. What can I say. I party on the wild side.
Aaanyway.
The reason I’m prattling on about how you like your gifts is because the Stamp of Approval Collections from Catherine Pooler evoke that Christmas Morning/surprise gift feeling. Every. Single. Time.
If you’ve not heard of Catherine Pooler’s Stamp of Approval then you are in for a treat. It is a completely curated box of exclusive supplies delivered right to your doorstep! Amidst the gorgeous box and hidden in that pretty wrapping is an *awesome* collection of not-yet-on-the-market stamps, dies, and maybe even a couple of other surprise goodies too – all expertly designed and selected for each box to match, coordinate and amaze. The products in each box are only available as an entire collection and won’t be offered for individual sale until several months from the Collection’s release date, so they’ve got that whole exclusivity thing going on. AND just like that Christmas Morning/surprise gift, the first time you see the entire contents of the box is when you unwrap it for yourself! How fun is that?!
Oh, and one more thing. These babies sell like hot cakes. Fresh from the oven. That’s right. If you want to be the first to the cake aisle then I recommend subscribing to the Waiting List at Catherine Pooler’s Stamp of Approval site so that you’re notified when the collections go on sale, and so you won’t be left staring at empty cake shelves. No-one wants that.
And now I want cake.
Right. Before I digress into some kind of Christmas Morning Cake Fantasy, I better tell you the reason you’re here! The latest Stamp of Approval Collection is being released TOMORROW and it’s called The Perfect Reason. And man, is it one perfect collection. Catherine has been sneaking peeks of the contents of The Perfect Reason Collection on her blog last week, and the past couple of days have seen the amazing Design Team (and some special guests!) show off just what some of the items in the collection can do! I’m helping to bring up the rear for Day 3 of 3 Blog Hops (saving the best ’til last? Or am I an awkward embarrassment? Let’s go with ‘best ’til last’. I’m jesting either way, of course) to show off this *truly* amazing box of goodies with a couple of cards, and of course there’s a fantastic giveaway as well where you can win a box of your own too!
Let’s get to the cake. I mean, cards.
For this beauty I played around with the stamps from the Perfect Reason stamp set, stamping the blooms with Tutti Frutti and Midnight inks. I snuck in a couple of stamps from the Paisley Peacock set too!
I love the sense of movement in the card. It really feels like the blooms and leaves are blowing in the wind.
I added a sentiment from the You Did It stamp set, nestled nicely in amongst the foliage so it doesn’t break with the flow. Little design details like that make me happy.
For my second card, I could not have departed more from the clean and simple look:
I can’t lie. I am seriously, completely, totally and utterly, head over heels in love with this. LOVE!
This was a complete labour of love but so, so worth it. I used 34 individual stamps on this card, and they were all stamped multiple times! It took pretty much all day. But, just look at it!! Doesn’t it look just like a store-bought notecard that you might find at a high-end stationers?! Swoon!!
So, some details.
I laid out all my stamps (from the Perfect Reason and Paisley Peacock sets) roughly on my panel of cardstock to work out where they’d more or less go. I then disassembled it all and started with the peacock body, as that’s the focus of the card. I stamped the body using white pigment ink (about 3 times to get an even and opaque coverage. Thank you, MISTI!) then overstamped it with the Party Dress ink, a couple of times. I continued, patiently, building up my overall image in the same way, one stamp at a time.
Each stamp stamped around five times. Many, many stamped images. If you want to do the maths then you’ll be here a while.
Instead, how about some detail shots.
Perfection.
Apart from the white ink every single ink is one of the Catherine Pooler ones. Just look at how vibrantly they’ve stamped, even on white ink on dark cardstock!! I could not be more in love.
Giveaway!
So I bet you’d like to win one of these amazing collections for yourself, right? Read on!
All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is leave me a comment – and then make sure you visit the other hop destinations too to check out the amazing inspiration and increase your chances of winning by commenting there too!
Here’s your Hop line-up for today!
Catherine Pooler
Lisa Harrolle
Lydia Evans
Chrissie Tobas
Ingrid Blackburn
Taheerah Atchia
As I mentioned, this is the third of three Blog Hops – and each day’s Hop has a box to give away! That’s three boxes up for grabs for three very lucky winners – and the more you comment the better your chances, so be sure to comment on every single stop of every single hop! You can head back to Catherine’s blog to get the list for the other two days!
You have until 9am EST on Thursday 9th February to enter. Good luck!
And don’t forget that The Perfect Reason Stamp of Approval Collection goes on sale tomorrow! In fact, I’ll be back with another post tomorrow to remind you!
Thanks for stopping by!
Supplies
You Can Do This Floral Card
Peacock Notecard
Great color combinations, and so different. Love them!
Amazing cards. If I thought the first one was stunning, the second one just blew me away.
Love your use of color in your cards. Just beautiful!
Love the peacock of black!!!!!
Both cards are fabulous!!! Love them!!
Your black background card is absolutely beautiful. Great job! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for sharing.
Goodness me Taherrah what beautiful cards. That black card with the peacock is just amazing.
Beautiful beautiful cards! Just lovely.
Beautiful creations! Seriously love the the black card it is AMAZING!
I am loving this collection. The peacock is great. I love your color combinations.
Love how the Tutti Frutti and Black look together. So modern looking. The peacock is so unique, love how you used it.
Fabulous cards!! The peacock truly is a labor of love, but so beautiful!!! I’ll have to try the white ink on dark card stock over stamped with color, just wonderful!!!
Two fabulous cards, but I am blown away by the peacock one! So gorgeous!
WOW Taheerha, just WOW!!!! Your cards are amazing! Especially the second one! YOU should keep that one for yourself!Not too many would/could do that appreciate the time and love put into that card. It is truly a labor of love!! So beautiful!!!
I love these cards. The black and red ones are so clean and simple. I especially love the peacock card. Such great ideas, thanks for sharing.
very gorgeous cards!!
OMG!!!! Such stunning cards!!! Wow! Your peacock…. Absolutely breathless!!! <3
Love the peacock and how the colours turned out on the black card stock. It’s a beauty!
Your cards are stunning and I love how different these cards are, I love your peacock card, I’m so glad you took the time to make these cards for the blog hop.
Great card designs! Love them all.
Gorgeous cards Taheerah . That peacock!
OMG gorgeous cards. The peacock is amazing.
Gorgeous cards Taheerah . That peacock!!
Love the simplicity of the first card, but I must say the peacock card is stunning. I don’t know that I could give it away!
I really love the peacock card…so pretty! Thanks for the inspiration!
Taheerah, your cards are amazing! I love the black background–I would not have thought to do that! Thank you for sharing these beauties!
More beautiful cards Taheerah!! Thank you for always inspiring!
Your cards look so elegant. Very pretty colors and can’t wait for the box to come out!!
I absolutely love your black magic card!
WOW! I can probably recreate that first one but the second one? It’s to die for. So beautiful, such a labor of love. I am bad at math, so I’ll just leave it as LOTS of stamping!
But since I do have a Misti maybe I can try it?! Thanks for sharing.
The peacock card is a work of art you should put that one in a frame.
Love your beautiful cards!
Really like the black flowers with the one-tone highlight accent. Cool way of changing up the look.
Stunning cards! Love the colors on the first card…so peaceful!
Oh my, you totally rocked these stamps, Taheerah! Seriously!
I also totally agree with Ingrid’s comment!
Oh my Gosh !! I too absolutely love your cards. I really do like the one on the smokey shadow cardstock. Fabulous job. Thanks for sharing 😉
Two great cards, and both totally unique! Keeping my fingers crossed that I win a box.
Wow!! Love your cards. Those colors give the stamps such a classy look. Great joy!
I love the simple colors of the first card and the black background of your second one! Stunning for sure.
Very lovely.
Love this peacock done on dark paper. Think I will try this one!!
I will definitely be trying the peacock card. That is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
Stunning on the black background!
Nice to see such different colours!! Stunning cards.
Love your Peacock card!
Wonderful background
stamping.
Carla from Utah
OH. MY. GOODNESS! I really liked your first card,it does look like the elements are flowing in the wind. But your Peacock Note card!!!! I could look at that all day long!! That card is so absolutely stunning!! Talk about saving the best for last! Thank you for all the time you put into that card, it is SO worth it!
You are so entertaining! I don’t often read, just look at pics but you are so cute!!? Your cards, oh my! Love clean and simple and just one color with black. Your peacock card is a masterpiece!!! It sure does make me want to make one?
Simply stunning cards. I love the peacock on the black cardstock, fabulous.
Love both of your cards, but that peacock – wow – what a great technique. Gorgeous!
Wow! Your peacock card is amazing! Thank you for the detailed description of how you did it. The first card is pretty amazing too!