EASTER BLOG HOP

Today I'm taking part in the "Art With Heart" team blog hop, that has an Easter theme.  Before you go any further, you might want to make yourself a cuppa!

The Art with Heart team, lead by Claire Daly, is a friendly team of over 80 Stampin' Up! demonstrators, Australia-wide.  We have an online team forum, which is a source of great support and friendship amongst like-minded demonstrators.  If you're interested in joining our group, please email me!

Our team blog hop is a monthly event, appearing on the blogs of team members on the last day of every month.  This is my first blog hop ever, which is pretty exciting; I look forward to taking part in many more, and gaining and sharing inspiration.  I hope you'll join me for the ride!

You may have just come from the blog of the gorgeous and talented Erica Boxall , but if not, don't worry! There are 14 stops along the way on today's blog hop, so you have plenty of cards, layouts and 3-D projects to check out.  Please look at all the lovely creations; we'll make it worth your while!  If you leave a comment on every one of the blogs along the way, then email Nikki Sadler at nikki@inkyart.com.au, you will go into the draw to win some beautiful 'blog candy'.  There is a deadline of 6.00am (AEST) 3rd March, to leave your comments and email Nikki.  We'd love to hear from all of you, but please note that the blog candy will be awarded only to an entrant who is not a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Right, enough of the 'formalities', and on with my "creation of the day".  I've chosen to make an Easter card (which, to regular visitors to my blog, will come as no surprise - it HAD to be a card, because that's my passion!).  Even though Easter falls in Autumn in Australia,  I think most of us have Spring colours in mind when we think of Easter (it's all that northern-hemisphere influence in our lives!!).  I've chosen to use pastel colours in my card - all details are below:



Stamps: Occasionally, Occasional Greetings

Card: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery

DSP: Pink Pirouette Patterns

Ink: Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery and Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: Sponge daubers, Wide Oval Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Certainly Celery 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, mat pack and paper piercing tool, Scallop Edge Punch, paper snips


Right, now it's time to visit the next blog on our tour.  You'll find a link at the bottom of each post, letting you know who to visit next.  Please go on to have a look at the lovely creation that Kathryn Lowe  has come up with.  Enjoy the rest of 'the tour', and don't forget to show us all a bit of comment love!  Thanks for visiting :)


Just in case you are starting here, and would like to visit each and every blog on the 'tour', here's a list of the other 13 participants:

Ros Davidson
http://rosdavidson.typepad.com/ros_davi%20...%20g-hop.html

Kristine Thompson
http://inkspotcreations.typepad.com/ink%20...%20g-hop.html

Sue Madex
http://www.madexcreations.com/madex_creations/2010/02/easter-blog-hop.html

Di Dunk
http://stampartbydi.typepad.com/my-blog/2010/02/....html

Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au/inkyart/2010/%20...%20g-hop.html

Judy May
http://judymay.typepad.com/just_judy_designs/2010/02/february-blog-hop.html

Erica Boxall
http://www.ericaboxall.com/2010/02/east ... .html.html

Kathryn Lowe
http://www.katlodesigns.com/stamping_with_kathryn_low/2010/02/easter-blog-hop.html

Kim Meiklejohn
http://www.paperenchantment.com.au/

Gayatri Murali
http://scrapawayg3.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-with-heart-team-blog-hop-and-blog.html

Kathryn Mangelsdorf
http://klm55.blogspot.com/2010/02/art-with-heart-blog-hop.html

Tanja Westwood
http://tanjawestwood.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/art-with-heart-easter-blog-hop/

Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/2%20...%20g-hop.html


Have fun, and don't forget to leave comments!

EASTER BLOG HOP COMING!!!

Hi friends,

Just a quick post today, to let you know that you MUST come back to visit this Sunday, February 28th.  The Art With Heart team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators has a blog hop a-happening, and my 'inaugural' entry into the fun and games happens this Sunday.

There will be 13 or more demonstrators involved, so make sure on Sunday you make yourself a coffee or tea, get comfy, then visit all our blogs!

Thanks,

Christine :)

PARTY HEARTY, YOUNG MAN!

My nephew turns 13 this week - he is already nearly 6 feet tall, and has huge feet, and long, long legs, so makes his aunties feel very short!  When it came to making this special young man a birthday card, I decided to challenge myself to use Pacific Point - one of this year's "in colours" from Stampin' Up!  It is not a colour I normally use, but I am really rather pleased with what I've come up with.

I have combined three of this year's "in colours" - Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Tangerine Tango.  These colours are available in Stampin' Up!'s range of cardstock, ink and embellishments only until September of this year.  I've based Sean's card on these cards that I made a few months ago; just tried to make this one a bit more 'boyish'.  What do you think?



Stamps: Party Hearty, On Your Birthday

Card: Pacific Point, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine Tango

Ink: Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss and Tangerine Tango stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, 3/4" circle punch, Pacific Point striped grosgrain ribbon, Kiwi Kiss corduroy button (retired), paper snips, mini glue dot
 

HAPPY MOMENTS .... AND ANOTHER BIRTHDAY!

This coming week is a busy time for birthdays, in both Andrew's and my families.  Today is my brother-in-law's birthday ... I'm a little late making his card, but figured that would be okay because we'll be seeing him in a couple of days for his Mum's birthday (we don't all get together too often, so it'll be a great catch-up).  Yes, my mother-in-law is turning 70 this week, as mentioned in my earlier post.  In between the two, my nephew is celebrating his birthday.  So, I will have yet another birthday card to share with you tomorrow!

For now, I'd like to share with you the card I made (for my brother-in-law) using my favourite retired Designer Series Paper, called Parisian Breeze.  I've been holding onto it, not wanting to use it (since I won't easily be able to get my hands on more) ... but, really, I think it might take me a while to work my way through two whole packs, so I may as well get some enjoyment out of it!  The focal point of this card is the stack of presents, from the Sale-A-Bration set (that you can get for FREE if you purchase $100 of Stampin' Up! product) called Happy Moments.  I love the versatility of this image.  I've white-embossed it on kraft (oh, come on, it's DAYS since I did that!), coloured the top present with a Chocolate Chip marker, and paper-pieced the other two presents.  The middle one is cut out of Baja Breeze card, that has been stamped with the Sanded background stamp (in Baja Breeze ink), and the bottom present is paper-pieced from Parisian Breeze DSP.

I stamped a small piece of Chocolate Chip card, with the Sanded background stamp inked in Chocolate Chip, and punched out two 1/2" circles, to make Build-A-Brads.  I liked the look of them with a matte surface, so didn't use the epoxy sticker that normally completes a Build-A-Brad. 





Here's a close-up of the presents, and the brads:



I am loving the Sanded stamp, especially for masculine cards.

Here are all the ingredients I used for this card:

Stamps: Sanded, Happy Moments (Sale-A-Bration set), On Your Birthday

Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze

DSP: Parisian Breeze (retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, 1/2" circle punch, Build-A-Brads, 5/8" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, sponge dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals, rectangle nestabilities, edge distresser

LOVE SPARKLES ..FOR A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIRL

I think the recipient of this card would be happy to be called a 'girl', as she's celebrating a milestone (70th!) birthday :)

Having just taken delivery this week of the "Love Sparkles" Simply Scrappin' Kit, from Stampin' Up!, I was keen to use it to make a card.  The Simply Scrappin' Kits are not just for scrapbookers, y'know - with textured 12" x 12" card in 3 colours, co-ordinating Designer Series Papers (designed especially for the kits), die-cut stickers, and 12" long border stickers, they are a feast for the eyes for cardmakers!! The possibilities are endless!  Great value, too - at $36.95, there are enough elements in each kit to make dozens of cards.

The Love Sparkles kit incorporates the colours So Saffron, Regal Rose and Chocolate Chip - yum.

This is the card I made for my mother-in-law (who I know doesn't visit my blog, so I'm safe putting a photo up before she receives the card!):



I realised after I'd uploaded the photo that there were 'straggly bits' along the bottom of the Chocolate Chip layer (and I didn't want to photograph it again - just humour me!).  I've tidied those up now!

Here's a close-up of the crocheted flower, just because I was pretty darn happy with the way it turned out.  I like the irregularity of the colour, as I think it ties in with the Regal Rose paper, and the Pretty in Pink words all over the paper.  What do you think?



The Fleurettes II, in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue, are white crocheted flowers in three different sizes.  They can be used 'as is', or easily dyed (using ink refill diluted with water) to match your project.  Because I don't have a re-inker in the colour I needed for this flower, I sponged some Regal Rose ink direct from my stampin' pad, then added colour with my Regal Rose marker.  The colour was pretty intense, so I rinsed the flower under cold water, then allowed it to dry.  A rather nice end result (for a first attempt), don't you think?!

The "ingredients" for this card are as follows:

Stamps: Party Hearty

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Regal Rose

Ink: Chocolate Chip and So Saffron stampin' pads, Regal Rose stampin' pad and marker, Versamark marker (for the pattern on the So Saffron panel at the top)

Other: Love Sparkles Simply Scrappin' Kit, Scallop Circle Punch, 3/4" circle punch, Circle Nestabilities, sponge dauber, edge distresser, Fleurette II, Latte button, So Saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (retired), mini glue dots, dimensionals

ANOTHER FLOWERY COLOUR CHALLENGE CARD

Remarkably, I'm back to post for the second time in a matter of only hours!  While I had out my products in the colours for this week's Just Add Ink challenge, I decided to make a second card (also using white as the 'added' bit).

I thought it was about time I gave my Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set a bit of love, so I 'cased' one of my own cards that I made a while ago (pre-blog days, so you haven't seen it - just pretend this is a fresh idea!).  I'm not sure that the ribbon tied at the bottom of this card is the right touch; looks a bit out of balance, I think.  However, I'll show you anyway, because I'm not going to get any more stamping time tonight,and this will be my only opportunity to use the computer, since Jack will be on Facebook until he goes to bed .. you know, talking to all his friends who he sees all day ... teenagers!! :)



Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Best Yet (hostess set), Vintage Labels (Sale-a-bration set)

Card: Kraft, Rose Red, Whisper White, Sage Shadow

Ink: Rose Red, More Mustard, Sage Shadow stampin' pads

Other:  Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon, Curly Label punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, white gel pen, sponge dauber, corner rounder punch, paper snips, dimensionals

HAPPY MOMENTS ... AND A COLOUR CHALLENGE

All week I've been meaning to participate in the colour challenge over at Just Add Ink, and have just realised that the deadline for entries is midnight tonight!!  My boys are at cricket, so I've thrown some food in the oven, and created a card with "Happy Moments" - one of the gorgeous Stampin' Up! stamp sets on offer for FREE during Sale-A-Bration (which runs to the end of March).

The 'challenge' is to use Kraft, Rose Red, More Mustard and Sage Shadow together.  I have to say, this was more of a pleasure than a challenge, because this colour combo looks GREAT!  I use kraft at every opportunity, although I must admit More Mustard is not a go-to colour for me.  The challenge rules allow for the inclusion of a neutral with these colours ... since I'm on a bit of a white-embossing-on-kraft kick, I've included some white.  Here is the card I've come up with:



Stamps: Happy Moments, Polka dot

Card: Kraft, Sage Shadow, More Mustard, Rose Red

Ink: Whisper White craft stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad, Sage Shadow, Rose Red and More Mustard markers

Other: White embossing powder, sponge dauber, Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon, Word Window punch, Scallop Edge punch, 3/4" circle punch, Playground designer button, mini glue dot, mat pack and paper piercing tool


 

SWEET VALENTINE

Just a quick one today - Happy Valentine's Day, friends!  Here is a cute, simple card I made for a young friend to give his Valentine:



Stamps: Pun Fun

Card: Whisper White, Real Red, watercolour paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Going Gray stampin' pad, Real Red stampin' pad, Basic Gray stampin' pad, Old Olive marker

Other: Basic Gray DSP (from hostess pack), Word Window punch, aquapainter, sponge dauber, Real Red polka dot grosgrain (from Summer Mini catalogue).

I hope it brings a smile to your face, and hope that wherever you are you're having a happy day, and feeling the love!

I {HEART} HEARTS, AND CIRCLES!

Today I held a card-making class for some of my lovely customers and friends, to show them a few ways to use the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set, in the Summer Mini catalogue.  This stamp set is $42.95; until the end of February, Stampin' Up! will donate $2.00, from every one of these sets sold, to the Red Cross Relief Fund for Haiti.

We had a really nice afternoon, making four cards and talking a lot :)  I'd like to show you a couple of the cards we made, so you can see how beautifully the stamp set co-ordinates with Stampin' Up!'s two heart punches (Full Heart, and Heart to Heart, $30.95 each).

This first card is in Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla (the colours look somewhat icecreamy, don't you think?!):





Another card we made was inspired by the very talented Ilina Crouse.  This card makes great use of all those little scraps of Designer Series Paper that I, and suspect you may, have!  How cute is this??




We used papers from Stampin' Up!'s Candy Lane pack; nice, 'lovey' colours!  This style of card could be adapted to any number of Stampin' Up!'s punches (I'm thinking Trio Flower, Butterfly, Star punches .. hmm, might have to plan some more classes using this technique, I think!).


Now, even though we are on the verge of Valentine's Day, I don't want to saturate you with images of 'love' cards, so I thought I'd share with you my second card created with six circles on the front, a la this one.  Again, I've used Sahara Sand, Confetti White and Basic Black - but this time have injected a bit of Real Red. 

Here is the card front:



and a little stamped detail, and sponged edges, inside:



Stamps: En Francais, Fifth Avenue Floral, Life Definitions, Organic Grace (hostess set), Sincere Salutations

Card: Sahara Sand and Basic Black textured, Confetti White

Ink: Sahara Sand and Basic Black stampin' pads, Real Red marker

Other: Sponge dauber, 1 3/8" circle punch, Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Real Red brad (from Bold Brights brad selection), Crystal Effects, dimensionals



 

A BRIGHT AND CHEERY DOUBLE-WHAMMY!

Today I'd like to show you a card I made, with two challenges in mind.  Our Art with Heart team forum colour challenge for this month is a great, bright, one, and once again I'm playing along with the Just Add Ink challenge - this week it's a sketch challenge.

This is what I came up with, which I hope will cheer up the recipient:



Stamps: Organic Outlines, One of A Kind, Sincere Salutations

Card: Rose Red, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Versamark (clear) inkpad, Basic Black, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss stampin' pads

Other: Pink rhinestones (popped out of Fire Circles rhinestone brads), Pigtails Ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, mini glue dots, sponge dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Circle Nestabilities



I've enjoyed making this flowery card this afternoon; my house has been over-run by males, uproariously reacting to the Super Bowl on tv.  Husband and two friends are here, youngest son got the afternoon off school (his father's idea) to watch it, and eldest son arrived home with two of his mates.  It's at times like this, that I TRULY appreciate the sanctuary that is my craft room!!

I hope that wherever you are in the world, you are surrounded by loved ones (although hopefully quieter ones than mine, hee hee).  Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires that changed the lives of Australians forever.  It has been a very emotional time, leading up to the anniversary (Australia's worst-ever natural disaster, that claimed 173 lives and wiped out entire communities).  Now that that hurdle has been overcome, I hope a 'new beginning' is in sight for all the survivors.  I am proud to say that my brother was our family's hero that day - he managed to get himself and his two children out of their house only minutes before their home was engulfed by a wall of fire.  We are truly blessed.


 

"FLOWERY" CARD FOR A MAN ????

The team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators I belong to has an online forum, that is a great source of inspiration, support and laughter for all of us.  (Get in touch with me if you'd like to sign up as a demonstrator, and join in on the fun - you won't be disappointed!)

One of several challenges set on our forum this month is to make a card for a male, incorporating flowers.  This is one of the cards I came up with:





Stamps: One Of A Kind (sentiment), Boho Backgrounds, Fifth Avenue Floral, Life Definitions, Lovely As A Tree, Weathered

Card: Sahara Sand textured and smooth, Basic Black textured, Confetti White

Ink: Sahara Sand and Basic Black stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, sponge daubers, dimensionals, paper snips, black brad (from vintage selection), black Jumbo Grommet, linen thread

I love these neutral colours together - what do you think?

HELLO AGAIN ...ON YOUR BIRTHDAY

Yes, I think I'm pretty clever, coming up with that post title ... you see, in the card I have to show you today, I've used two stamp sets: Hello Again (from the Summer Mini catalogue), and On Your Birthday (from the main Idea Book & Catalogue).  Doesn't get much cornier than that, people.

Hopefully my card will appeal to you more than the stupid title I came up with!  I made this cute (if I may say so myself) little flowery card for a sweet friend who likes pink.  It's the first time I've really used the Hello Again set, and I just love the little flowers, to colour in with markers.  I've stamped each flower twice, and cut and 'popped up' one of each (offset slightly) on the base image.  The 'grass' was created by cutting a scrap of Designer Series Paper; I love that look.



Stamps: Hello Again, On Your Birthday

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette

Ink: Old Olive, Ruby Red and Pretty in Pink markers, Basic Black stampin' pad

DSP: Bella Rose, scrap of Ski Slope (retired)

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, dimensionals, Bouquet Designer Buttons, edge distresser, Old Olive ribbon - both 1/4" and 5/8" grosgrain, Stamp-a-ma-jig, mini glue dots

"JUST ADD HEARTS"

I know, 2 posts in one day - incredible!  See what happens when I get time away from work?  I love it!  (Hubby chastises me for 'wasting' time on the computer - what does he know??!)

I've decided to play along with a challenge on the new Just Add Ink site; established by, and for, Stampin' Up! demonstrators in Australia and New Zealand.  The challenge for this week is to "just add hearts" to a papercraft project.  Given that card-making is my true love, a card it has to be.



My stamping friends and regular blog followers will know that I am a little, ah, obsessed with brads.  I've been resting the old Build-A-Brads a bit lately, so decided to go all-out on this card!  The design on the brads is actually the filigree heart stamp (how beautiful is it?), stamped onto Very Vanilla card and punched out with a 1/2" circle punch.  Nicely matched to the main images, don't you think?

Here are the details of the card:

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts, Sweet Little Sentiments

Card: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla

Ink: Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads

DSP: Candy Lane

Other: Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, Build-A-Brads, 1/2" circle punch, edge distresser, stamp-a-ma-jig, paper snips (I cut the hearts out by hand).



Make sure you visit the Just Add Ink blog, and show the girls some love!


 

A BIT OF BABY "PINKNESS"

I don't have much need for baby cards these days (showing my age, aren't I?!), but love to make them, and should have some for my 'stash'.  I've just recently bought a pack of Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper in Pink Pirouette Patterns - try saying that 5 times quickly. :)  Anyway, I love the softness of Pink Pirouette, and, prompted by the testosterone overload in my household, decided to sit down and make a baby girl card today.

I love pink and brown together, and was inspired to use this colour combination when I saw my friend Claire's card here.  How cute is that??

Here is my card:





To ink up the sentiment, I first used a Pink Pirouette stampin' pad, wiped off the second line of the wording using a cotton bud, then coloured in the {welcome home!} with a Close to Cocoa marker.  See how beautifully all of Stampin' Up!'s products co-ordinate?



The products used to make this card are as follows:

Stamps: Good Neighbors (Sale-A-Bration set, that you can get for FREE), Sweet Little Sentiments (hostess set)

Card: Pink Pirouette textured, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Pirouette stampin' pad, Close to Cocoa stampin' pad and marker

DSP: Pink Pirouette Patterns

Other: Square punches - 1 1/4", 1 3/8" and Scallop Square, dimensionals, mini glue dots, Scallop Edge punch, Button Bouquet button, Pink Pirouette 1 1/4" grosgrain ribbon.



Stampin' Up!'s square punches make it so easy to frame a cute little image - minimal effort, with a really 'finished' result.  Because the Scallop Square punch is designed to fit around the smallest square, and I wanted to mat an extra layer, I created the Close to Cocoa scalloped square by punching out 4 scallop squares, snipping 'bits' off, and layering them to make one big square.

Hope you like!