SC 005/11 - SKETCH CHALLENGE

In between running errands, and preparing for my class this weekend, I managed to fit in a bit of play time today.  I've made a card for this week's challenge over at Sunny Challenges & Creations.

The starting point for challenge entries, is to use the following sketch, and incorporate Marina Mist (one of Stampin' Up!'s beautiful blues) in your project.

I have in my hot little hands some of the beautiful Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper that will be on sale from 1st September, when Stampin' Up!'s new catalogue goes live.  I was lucky to receive some as a gift a little while ago, but I've held off using it until now.  My card is rather simple and understated; I thought it'd be suitable for a sympathy card, or (as the sentiment says) just a "thinking of you" card.

Stamps: Trendy Trees

Card: Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Whisper White

DSP: Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper (out 1st September!)

Ink: Early Espresso stampin' pad

Other: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, sponge dauber, Marina Mist satin ribbon, Basic Pearls, Lace Border punch (available 1st September), mini glue dots

JAI #82 : JUST ADD SOMETHING FROM YOUR STASH!

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to use something from your stash of papercrafting supplies, that has sat unloved for some time.

I've managed to incorporate several "why did I even buy those?" items on my card.  In all honesty, I do know why I bought them ..... I have a compulsion to buy just about everything in the Stampin' Up! catalogue.  I have bought, but neglected:

• Cottage Garden stamp set
• Heard From the Heart stamp set
• Sunny Garden Designer Series Paper
• Paper Daisies
• Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon

...... and, here they are, all sitting harmoniously together on a card:

Stamps: Cottage Garden, Heard From the Heart

Card: Poppy Parade, Whisper White

DSP: Sunny Garden Designer Series Paper

Ink: Poppy Parade stampin' pad

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Brights brads, mini glue dots

BLOG HOP - RETIRING STAMPIN' UP! PRODUCT

Today I am taking part, with six other Stampin' Up! demonstrators, in a little blog hop.  We want to share with you some projects using products that will retire when our current Idea Book & Catalogue finishes on 31st August.

You may have come to my blog after visiting my creative friend Alisha Watson.  If you haven't, no problem - just follow the link at the end of my blog post, onto the next stop on the circuit.  You can hop from one blog to the next, until you've visited all seven.  Hopefully you'll get some great ideas, will NEED to order some of the retiring products before they are gone forever, and will leave us some comments to let us know you've been to visit!  Enjoy!

On my first card I've used the fabulous Occasional Greetings stamp set - a firm favourite in my collection, that I will be very sad to see go.  It's a great all-occasion stamp set.  I have also used Woodland Walk Designer Series Paper (love the earthy tones in that paper).  All the "DSP" packs in the current Stampin' Up! catalogue will retire on 31st August, to make way for new selections.  (NB:  The Patterns stacks, that contain 40 sheets of 12" x 12" paper, will not be retiring.)

Stamps: Occasional Greetings, Lovely As A Tree

Card: Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand

DSP: Sahara Sand and Certainly Celery Patterns Designer Series Papers, Woodland Walk DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip stampin' pad, Certainly Celery stampin' pad, Sahara Sand stampin' pad and marker, Not Quite Navy stampin' pad

Other: Metallic brads, Square Lattice embossing folder, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Mat Pack and Paper-Piercing tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Aquapainter, sponge daubers, paper snips, mini glue dots

Another great stamp set that is retiring shortly is Pun Fun.  This set is full of fun images, and sentiments.  I've paired it with some retiring Designer Series Papers, to show you how cute it can look using the paper-piecing technique.  Here are a couple of simple little 10cm square cards:

Stamps: Pun Fun, Short & Sweet, Confetti

Card: So Saffron, Peach Parfait, Whisper White

DSP: Sunny Garden Designer Series Paper

Ink: So Saffron stampin' pad, Peach Parfait stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Peach Parfait stitched-poly ribbon, Word Window punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, sponge daubers, Scallop Square Duo Bigz die, paper snips, mini glue dots

Stamps: Pun Fun, Tiny Tags

Card: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Whisper White

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-on inkpad, Real Red stampin' pad, Chocolate Chip marker

Other: 1 3/4" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Circles #2 die, Jewelry Tag punch, paper snips

That's it from me today, so it's now time to check out what Ros Davidson has to share.

Here's a list of all participants in today's blog hop:

Ros Davidson

http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au

Kathryn Ruddick
http://www.katlodesigns.com

Di Dunk
http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com

Judy May
http://www.judymay.typepad.com

Alisha Watson
http://www.ratherbstampin.typepad.com

Christine Blain (that's me)
http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com

STAMPIN' UP!'S "FRENCH FOLIAGE" - ISLAND INDIGO

I am LOVING that a teal colour (Island Indigo) will be added back into Stampin' Up!'s colour range, come 1st September.  I was a big fan of the old Taken With Teal, so this colour makes my heart happy.

Browsing through a linen catalogue the other day, I was inspired by a colour combination that looked like River Rock, Island Indigo and Pear Pizzazz in Stampin' Up!-speak.  You know we demonstrators don't think in terms of red, blue, yellow, orange, green, brown, etc., don't you??!!

Out came my trusty French Foliage set, that creates fabulous collage panels, no matter what colours you combine, and here is the end result (with splashes of Basic Gray).  Disclaimer:  my head appears to have been on crooked when I took the photo!

Stamps: French Foliage, Clearly For You, Perfect Punches, En Francais

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Island Indigo, River Rock

Ink: Island Indigo, River Rock, Pear Pizzazz and Basic Gray stampin' pads

Other: Round Tab punch, Basic Gray corduroy buttons and Designer button (both retired), sponge daubers, Square Lattice embossing folder, stampin' dimensionals, baker's twine (not SU!)

JAI #81 : MORNING CUP GIFT CARD SET

This week's colour challenge at Just Add Ink had me stumped for a bit, until I made the decision to finally ink up the Morning Cup stamp set I have had for a while, and hadn't used.  I had a lot of fun 'watercolouring' (using a blender pen, and inkpads) with these colours:

I decided to also show some love to my neglected Scallop Envelope die; so cute, but seldom used in my household.  I cut out two envelopes, from Bashful Blue card, and trimmed the bottom flap on each.  I then joined the two envelopes to make a tiny box, and cut off the scalloped flap from the front. 

This sweet little box is the perfect size to hold 6 gift or note cards, 7.5cm x 7 cm in size.  Here's a top view (with the cards arranged in a pretty pattern of colour - Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue and Peach Parfait) ....

Sorry about the less-than-fabulous lighting in these photos.  It was TOO sunny on our front deck (I am happy to report that Spring is on its way!), so I set up around the side of the house, in the shade.  I had to very hurriedly photograph the little cards, as gusts of wind seemed to pick up every time I tried to stand them up.  They look pretty cute in real life, if I may say so!

Stamps: Morning Cup, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Tiny Tags, Bring on the Cake

Card: Bashful Blue smooth & textured, Cajun Craze, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla, Watercolour paper

DSP: Cajun Craze and Bashful Blue Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Bashful Blue stampin' pad and marker, Peach Parfait stampin' pad and marker, Cajun Craze stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: Word Window punch, Medium Jewelry Tag punch, Decorative Label punch, Large Oval punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Circles #2 die, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, stampin' sponges, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Two-Step Owl Punch, Frost White shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray), blender pens, Neutrals brad

CREATIVE ELEMENTS - POPPY AND CORAL

Reading the title of this post, you could be forgiven for thinking I'm referring to two females.  However, I have combined a couple of Stampin' Up!'s colours to feature in my post today.  What a duo I've found in  Poppy Parade and Calypso Coral!  Calypso Coral is one of five new "in colors" that is being added to Stampin' Up!'s range on 1st September, when our new catalogue goes 'live'.  Creative Elements is one of my favourite new stamp sets from the new catalogue.

I am always inspired by the bold, clean, graphic creations of Dawn McVey - she has such a way with colour.  My starting point for this card was feeling inspired by Dawn's first card that you'll see if you click on her name. 

Most of the colour you see on my card is Poppy Parade.  I have stamped the flourishy frame, and a few little 'bits' (I think they're buds) from Style Beautiful, in Calypso Coral.  The other stamped images are Poppy Parade, and I used a blender pen with Poppy Parade ink to colour the outline stamp.

Stamps: Creative Elements and Four Frames (out 1st September), Clearly For You, Style Beautiful

Card: Crumb Cake, Confetti White

DSP: Poppy Parade Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade and Calypso Coral stampin' pads

Other: Sponge dauber, Decorative Label punch, Poppy Parade stitched-poly ribbon, Designer Frames embossing folder (out 1st September), Basic Pearls, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, blender pen

SNEAK PEEK OF DELICATE DOILIES AND POOL PARTY

I have in my possession several new goodies, pre-ordered in readiness for the 1st September launch of Stampin' Up!'s new Idea Book & Catalogue.  Feeling a bit overwhelmed, and not sure where to start with some of my products, I decided a good old blog surf was in order.  When I stumbled across this stunning card by Lucy Abrams, I was instantly inspired.

I started out with a card base of Soft Suede, which I stamped using the smallest doily stamp from the new Delicate Doilies set.  I've used a couple of the other doily stamps, and Whisper White craft ink, on the main panel of Pool Party card (isn't it a gorgeous colour?).  I've used a new embossing folder, some new paper, and a new butterfly stamp, for my central image.   LOVE how this card turned out.

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Creative Elements (both available from 1st Sept.), Sincere Salutations

Card: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Pool Party

DSP: Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper (available from 1st Sept.), Soft Suede Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Soft Suede and Pool Party stampin' pads, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Victoria crochet trim, Beautiful Wings embosslits die, Wide Oval punch, Designer Frames embossing folder (available 1st Sept.), Antique brad, sponge dauber, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

JUST ADD INK CHALLENGE #80

After teaching a class yesterday, focussing on the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers that will be retiring at the end of this month, I was inspired to get out my Play Date papers that I haven't used enough.  I love the fun, cheery patterns in this pack.  I'm just a prime example of someone who buys far too much stuff, and doesn't get to using it all!  (Hands up those of you who share this affliction!)

I decided that this week's sketch at Just Add Ink would be a great one to use with my newly-acquired Petite Pocket Bigz die (for the Big Shot).  This gorgeous die is one of the select number of new products, available from 1st September, that I was able to pre-order (one of the many perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator).

Here's the card I made:

...... and here is the little tag that has been tucked inside the Petite Pocket:

Isn't that just such a cute, fun, thing????  I'm in love with this new die.  It will fit a standard-sized Australian gift card, but is a bit of a tight squeeze.

These are the products I used to make the card:

Stamps: Funky Four, Bring on the Cake

Card: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Whisper White, Bashful Blue

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Papers

Ink: Chocolate Chip stampin' pad and marker, Old Olive stampin' pad and marker, Real Red marker, Bashful Blue marker

Other: Sponge daubers, Round Tab punch, Wide Oval punch, Scallop Edge border punch,  Beautiful Wings embosslits, Real Red corduroy brads (retired), Petite Pocket Bigx XL die, baker's twine (not SU!), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Top Note die (inside card), sticky strip

BUTTON BUDDIES FOR LYNDA

I used my new Button Buddies stamp set (in the new catalogue, out 1st September), from Stampin' Up!, to make a birthday card for my sis, who rather likes 'cute'.  The pig stamp in this set definitely qualifies as cute!

My trusty Color Coach suggested the colour combo of Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso and Baja Breeze.  Gorgeous.  Forgive the rather blown-out colours in the photo, but I got all excited about a rare burst of sunshine and photographed it outside before giving the card to the birthday girl.  I stamped both the base card, and the white panel across the middle, with tiny hearts in Pink Pirouette.  After stamping and crimping the sentiment, I spritzed it with Pink Pirouette as well.

Here's the card I came up with, for Lynda:

Stamps: Button Buddies (available 1st September), Curly Cute, Confetti

Card: Pink Pirouette textured, Whisper White

DSP: Baja Breeze and Early Espresso Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Pink Pirouette stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad

Other: Crimper, Basic Rhinestones, 1/16" hole punch, spone dauber, stampin' dimensionals, pink button from stash, embroidery thread, Color Spritzer tool

COLOUR Q #97 COLOUR CHALLENGE

After many days of waiting very impatiently, I have in my hot little hands some cardstock and inks in the new "in colors" that Stampin' Up! is adding to our range from 1st September.  As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I get the opportunity to pre-order some of the new goodies, and I can tell you now ...... they are GORGEOUS!!

Here is this week's colour challenge over at the fabulous ColourQ site:

I've made a card that I think would be just right for a girl's birthday:

Stamps: Party This Way, Bring On the Cake

Card: Pool Party (out 1st Sept.), Basic Black, Whisper White smooth and textured, Melon Mambo

DSP: Tangerine Tango and Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series papers

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad, Pool Party stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad an marker, Melon Mambo marker

Other: Blender pen, Neutrals buttons, Crystal Effects, Scallop Edge border punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Mini Glue Dots, stampin' dimensionals

I am off to have lunch with my sister today, to celebrate our birthdays (that fall within a day of each other).  I hope you, too, have a lovely day!

SC002/11 & CTD #154

I used to get a bit confused when I saw abbreviations like those I've used in my post title ..... thought it was some kind of secret code.  That is, until I entered the world of online challenges with my cardmaking - now it makes perfect sense!  Read on, and you too will understand (if you're a little confounded).

I have made a card for a very special friend of mine, who turned 80 a little while ago.  I only just found out that she'd passed this milestone birthday (I thought she was 5 years younger!), and couldn't let it go without marking the occasion.

There is a new Australian challenge site that has caught my eye - Sunny Challenges & Creations.  The challenges are a 'double-edged sword', in that a sketch is provided ...... but you also have to use a certain Stampin' Up! stamp set when making your creation.  I'd planned to take part in their inaugural challenge, but completely forgot the second part of the challenge (really, two things is not that hard to remember?!), and the card I made didn't fit the bill.  This time I've been more careful!

Here's this week's sketch, that is to be used with the Friends 24-7 stamp set - a favourite of mine, that I'm sad to see retire from Stampin' Up!'s range at the end of this month.

This challenge relates to the SC002/11 in my title - Sunny Challenges' 2nd challenge for 2011.

When I saw this week's colour combo at The Color Throwdown, I knew it'd work perfectly for the card I had in mind.  Here's challenge #154 at The Color Throwdown (hence the reference to CTD #154 - makes perfect sense now, doesn't it?!).

..... and here is the card I made tonight (and photographed late, so apologies for the colours - in real life it looks so much nicer!):

Stamps: Friends 24-7

Card: So Saffron smooth and textured, Basic Gray, Whisper White

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Gray, So Saffron, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive stampin' pads

Other: Blender pen, Boho Blossoms punch, Curly Label punch, Neutrals brads, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, Timeless Type alphabet sizzlits die, oval Nestabilities

A SNEAK PEEK, WITH CREDIT TO MY COLOR COACH!

I decided last night to have a play with my Button Buddies stamp set - a gorgeous new set debuting in Australia/NZ at the beginning of September.  One of the great perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the ability to earn some sets for free, and to pre-order others before their official release.  Button Buddies is one of the sets I came home from Convention with in May, and I have exercised incredible restraint (if I may say so myself!) and only just inked it up now!

My starting point for these cards was some Daffodil Delight buttons, that I got for free with last month's Stampin' Up! promotion.  I checked my Color Coach, and decided to go with the suggestion to use Daffodil Delight, Night of Navy and Old Olive together.  I never would've come up with this combo on my own, but I love the look.

I'm entering these cards in this month's So Shelli Creative Challenge.


This first card also uses another little stamp set (containing a couple of sweet sentiments) that will be out 1st September:

Stamps: Button Buddies, It's Your Day (both available 1st Sept.)

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Night of Navy

DSP: Old Olive and Night of Navy Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Night of Navy stampin' pad and marker, Old Olive stampin' pad and marker, Daffodil Delight marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Ice Cream Parlor buttons, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Circles #2 die, Scallop Squares Duo die, sponge daubers, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots

I've used the same colours on my second card, but changed things around a bit.  I am rather partial to the little scalloped mat I put behind the sentiment (can you see it?).  I used my SU! Scallop Envelope die to cut a Crumb Cake envelope, then cut off the envelope flap and just used that portion.  Don't you think it looks cute?!

Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White smooth & textured, Old Olive textured

DSP: Night of Navy Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Night of Navy stampin' pad & marker, Old Olive marker, Daffodil Delight marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Ice Cream Parlor buttons, Word Window punch, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Scallop Envelope die, Scallop Squares Duo die, sponge daubers, mini glue dots

JUST ADD INK #79 : JUST ADD TEARING OR DISTRESSING

Ethan has been invited to a friend's 12th birthday party next weekend.  He came to me with a very specific brief, on what sort of card he'd like me to make for the birthday girl (seems he's a bit too busy immersing himself in his Harry Potter books, to make the card himself .....).  Using Extreme Elements, I was to come up with something in pink, purple and white.

I haven't given my Extreme Elements set any love for a while, so I was up for the challenge!  It's such a fun set to play with.

Because I've distressed the edges of the main panel with a paper distressing tool (ie my Stampin' Up! paper snips, opened!), and I've torn a layer of card, I think this card qualifies as an entry in this week's Just Add Ink challenge.   Oh, plus I've used my Color Spritzer tool, to grunge it up a bit. 

Ethan's happy with the end result, so my job is done!

Stamps: Extreme Elements, On Your Birthday

Card: Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Melon Mambo stampin' pad and marker, Regal Rose, Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant stampin' pads

Other: Crimper, Basic Rhinestones, paper snips, sponge dauber, Color Spritzer tool

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #80

For the past few days, I've been a bit intimidated by this week's Inkspirations colour challenge!!  I decided to bite the bullet and have a go, after being inspired by a masking technique my friend Helen showed me on one of her gorgeous cards.

I've come up with a very simple little note card, using just splashes of colour on a mostly white 'canvas'.  Because I've made, and photographed, this card at night, I apologise that you really have to squint to see the details!  I added a Whisper White scalloped border to the bottom of the card.  The central panel was masked off with a Post-it Note, and stamped with Pocket Silhouettes.  Sweet little Itty Bitty Flower punchies add a bit of embellishment.  The edges of the Pear Pizzazz mat have been distressed a little.

Stamps: Sincere Salutations, Pocket Silhouettes

Card: Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, SU! Note card in Whisper White, Peach Parfait

DSP: Concord Crush Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz and Peach Parfait stampin' pads

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Edge border punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Basic Pearls