STAMPIN' UP! SECRET GARDEN IN CALYPSO CORAL

I recently attended Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Inspire.Create.Share.2014 event in Melbourne; as always, our annual Convention was A-MA-ZING. I was lucky enough, along with about 690 others, to receive some of the new Blendabilities alcohol markers!!  We received a pack of the Calypso Coral Blendabilities, along with a gorgeous stamp, as an all-attendee giveaway.   LOVE Stampin' Up!'s generosity.  As a result of this gesture on their part, it's entirely possible that the Australian/New Zealand blog world, of Stampin' Up! demonstrators, will in coming weeks be saturated with images coloured in Calypso Coral!  I have new colours on the way, so will try to mix it up a bit.

I'm a bit sad to see the lovely Secret Garden stamp set and framelits on the Retired List this year; they are available to buy only until the end of this month.  Our new catalogue, which launches 1st July, does however have a new, gorgeous, floral stamp set and matching framelits, so I won't be bereft for long!

One of my FAVOURITE things about now having alcohol-based markers in our range, is that I'll be able to custom-colour rhinestones, pearls, buttons, and other embellishments.  Check out how pretty these rhinestones look, coloured with the darkest of the three markers in the Calypso Coral Blendabilities pack:

I used the Blendabilities to colour both the flowers and the rhinestones.  Here's my card, in its entirety:

 

Stamps: Secret Garden, Blooming With Kindness

Card: Calypso Coral, Whisper White

DSP: Epic Day This & That Designer Series Paper

Ink: Memento Black inkpad, Calypso Coral and Basic Gray stampin' pads, Calypso Coral Blendabilities

Other: Adorning Accents Edgelits and embossing folder, Chalk Talk framelits, Secret Garden framelits, Delicate Details Lace Tape, Epic Day This & That washi tape, Calypso Coral baker's twine, Basic Gray stitched grosgrain ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, sponge dauber, Neutrals button (retired), glue dots

 

 

 

 

FINALLY, A CARD!

Since returning from our holiday in the sun, I have really struggled to feel creative.  However, after sharing some time with friends, in my first class I've taught this month, I am ready and raring to go with my stamping again.  Oh, how I've missed it!

July is a very busy birthday month in my circle of family and friends.  (Truth be told, not many months aren't busy!)  It was my pleasure to make a birthday card for my very special friend, Chris, this week. 

Here is the card, which unfortunately I've had to photograph at night, as I had to get it posted the next morning.  The base card has been stamped with En Francais, and I'm not sure if you can see on the main panel the pale stamped images (from my Funky Four and Apple Blossoms stamp sets) in Blushing Bride.  I'm very happy with the 'soft' look of the card.  I was tempted to add lots more pearls, but decided against it so I could post the card and be confident it'd arrive in one piece.

Stamps: En Francais, Clearly For You, Funky Four, Apple Blossoms, Afterthoughts

Card: Blushing Bride, Shimmery White

Ink: Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Blushing Bride ribbon, Decorative Label punch, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, mini glue dots, butterfly punch and border punch (not SU!)

COLOUR Q CHALLENGE #85

Love, love, love the colour challenge over at ColourQ this week.  Take a look:

I must admit that the combination of greys, with brown, threw me a little, but I am pleased with how my little (10cm square) card turned out:

Stamps: Apple Blossoms (hostess set), En Francais

Card: Peach Parfait, Sahara Sand textured, Basic Gray, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Peach Parfait Patterns Designer Series Paper (hostess pack)

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Peach Parfait, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads

Other: Beautiful Wings embosslits, Jumbo brad, Spiral punch, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon (retired), sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig