CALYPSO CORAL SECRET GARDEN - #2 IN THE SERIES

The other night when I had my first play with the new Calypso Coral Blendabilities, from Stampin' Up!, I coloured several flowers from the Secret Garden stamp set.

Here's a card I made, after stamping the gorgeous flowers onto a die cut piece I had lying around on my desk.  I've used Crystal Effects in the flower centres, and love how it gives depth to the ink colour.

Stamps: Secret Garden, Bring On the Cake

Card: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: Calypso Coral Designer Series Paper

Ink: Memento Black inkpad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Calypso Coral Blendabilities

Other: Subtles Candy Dots, Apothecary Accents framelits, Beautiful Wings embosslits, 7/16" Natural Trim, Basic Pearls, Crystal Effects, Sponge Dauber, Essentials Paper-Piercing pack

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately,  the Secret Garden stamps and framelits, and Bring On the Cake stamp set, are all retiring at the end of this month.  If you want to check out the retiring products, and perhaps even grab yourself a bargain, please visit my online store.

 

 

 

 



STAMPIN' UP!'S MOSAIC MADNESS AND EASTERN ELEGANCE

I'd like to share with you a card I made for my dear friend, using two fabulous new product lines from Stampin' Up!

The Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper is just "to die for".  I love the intricate, beautifully-coloured, designs.  Mosaic Madness is such a great stamp set, and was the starting point for this card.  I was totally inspired by Beth McAlexander's stunning card; I just made a few little changes.

Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Bring On the Cake

Card: Coastal Cabana, Smoky Slate, Whisper White

DSP: Eastern Elegance Designer Series Paper

Ink: Smoky Slate and Coastal Cabana stampin' pads

Other: Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Mosaic punch, Artisan Label punch, Whisper White organza ribbon, Coastal Cabana ruffle trim, Basic Rhinestones large, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, mini silver brads

 

 



STAMPIN' UP! CONVENTION SWAP

I've scheduled this post to publish while I am at Stampin' Up!'s Convention in Brisbane.  It's three days of full-on fun, hype and information .... and, best of all, catching up with friends from all around Australia and New Zealand.

I was disinclined to make swaps this year, as I have been feeling even more time-poor (and less organized) than I usually do .... and felt a bit overwhelmed by the fact that there will be close to 700 people attending Convention!!  However, I knew I'd regret it if I didn't take part in the process of swapping with other demonstrators, so I managed to make 50 swaps before leaving Melbourne.  I've gone with a simple (easily replicated) design, using a colour combo suggested by Stampin' Up!s Color Coach - and with a masculine theme, as I know a lot of people like ideas for male cards (and they're my favourite kind to make).  Here's my swap for this year:

 

Stamps: Blue Ribbon, Bring On The Cake, Netting, Candle Crazy Builder Wheel

Card: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Marina Mist

DSP: Tangerine Tango Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Marina Mist stampin' pads

Other: Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Bitty Banners framelits, sponge daubers

 

 

 

STAMPIN' UP! STIPPLED BLOSSOMS - CLASS CARDS PART 1

This month I've run a couple of classes focussing on the beautiful Stippled Blossoms stamp set.  This two-step stamp set provides a real "wow" result, when you stamp the overlay image over the solid base image.

I am sharing with you today the first two cards we made in class.

The first card was inspired by the work of a German SU! demonstrator, Nadine - here is her card.  I love the tiny flags created with the Bitty Banners framelits.  My chosen colour scheme for this card is River Rock and Bravo Burgundy - two of the colours that will retire from Stampin' Up!'s range at the beginning of July.

 

 

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Bring on the Cake

Card: Very Vanilla River Rock, Bravo Burgundy

Ink: River Rock and Bravo Burgundy stampin' pads

Other: Bitty Banners Framelits, Scallop Edge border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber

 

 

 

 

 

The next card we made was using the colour combo of Summer Starfruit and Basic Gray.  This card has a much less 'formal' look about it, and uses the smaller flower from the set.

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Perfect Punches

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper

DSP: Summer Starfruit Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Summer Starfruit and Basic Gray stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Pewter embossing powder, XL Oval punch, Bitty Butterfly and Elegant Butterfly punches, Borders Scoring Plate and Simply Scored tool, Neutrals brad, sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, stampin' dimensionals

 

 

Tomorrow I'll post the other two cards we made in the Stippled Blossoms classes.  I hope I inspire you to get out this gorgeous stamp set (and buy it, if you don't own it already!), and have a play.

 

 

 



JAI #164: STAMPIN' UP! BLUE RIBBON BIRTHDAY

The challenge at Just Add Ink this week, courtesy of Mae (our sketch queen!), is to make a papercraft project based on this sketch:

I pulled out my trusty Color Coach from Stampin' Up!, and went with the suggested colour combo of Marina Mist, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake.  I've just bought the Blue Ribbon stamp set, and decided these colours would work really well with it ..... here's what I came up with:

Stamps: Blue Ribbon, Bring on the Cake

Card: Marina Mist, Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake

DSP: Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper

Ink: Marina Mist stampin' pad and marker, Cajun Craze and Crumb Cake stampin' pads, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: 2 3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Bitty Banners framelits, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Brights Glimmer brads, Essentials Paper Piercing Kit, Stampin' Pierce Mat and Paper-Piercing tool, 1 1/4" Square punch, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals

 

 

 

The rest of the Design Team have come up with some beautiful creations using this sketch - make sure you check them out!  We hope you will join in the fun at Just Add Ink this week.

 

 

 



SHAVING CREAM TECHNIQUE - PART 2

While playing with the Shaving Cream Technique last week, for the Just Add Ink challenge, I toyed with a few colour combinations ... and have another to share with you today.

I swirled Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake ink in shaving cream for this card.  I think this is my favourite of the three colour combinations I've used.

Stamps: Very Vintage jumbo Stampin' Around wheel, Bring on the Cake

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Early Espresso Core'dinations

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and ink refill, Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad and ink refill, Early Espresso marker and ink refill

Other: Ovals framelits, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die, Occasions Paper Piercing pack, Paper-Piercing tool and Stampin' Pierce mat, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Elegant butterfly punch, Bitty Butterfly punch, Regals brads, 5/16" Neutrals brad, sponge dauber, shaving cream, glue dots

 

 

 



STAMPIN' UP'S "TEA FOR TWO" FOR STB #7

This week's challenge at Seize the Birthday is to make a feminine birthday card based on this sketch:

 

 

 

I wanted to have a play with Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Tea For Two Designer Series Paper, so that formed the basis of my card, and determined my colour choices.  I like the fact that the sketch looks to be a square; I don't often make square cards, but today have created one that's 13cm square.

 

How cool is it that the flower in Stampin' Up!'s "Oh, Hello" stamp set matches the flower on the sheet of paper I've used?  Take a look:

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Oh, Hello; Bring On the Cake

Card: Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, So Saffron

DSP: Tea For Two Designer Series Paper

Ink: So Saffron and Sahara Sand stampin' pads, Island Indigo and Old Olive markers

Other: Ovals framelits, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Artisan Embellishment kit, 7/8" Natural Cotton ribbon, Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, Old Olive Scallop Dots ribbon, sponge dauber, paper snips, stampin' dimensionals

 

 



JAI #154 ... JUST ADD : A POP-UP CARD

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink provided me with the opportunity to make my first EVER pop-up card.  I am a little "3-D challenged" and tend to play it fairly conservatively with my card folds, so I was definitely outside my comfort zone with this one!  Thanks, Delys, for the challenge.  No, really!

The card I ended up making was quite different to what I originally had in mind, but it is perfect to give my brother-in-law for his birthday this week.  I made my "pop-up" following the instructions in this tutorial:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WnKCNoGzUc


Here's the front of the card:

.... and when you open it up, this is what pops up:

...... and a side-view:

I used two little paper buttons to cover up the "Word Windows" punched in the white inside panel of the card.  It probably would've been cleaner to use a craft knife to cut some slits in the card lining, but my craft knife and I are not friends!

I'd originally planned to stamp the sentiment on the front of the card, and have the cluster of presents pop up when the card is open, but the reality wasn't anywhere near as great as the picture I had in my head!  Reversing the placement of these two things worked much better.


Here's a list of products used to make this card:

Stamps: Non-SU! presents stamp, Bring On the Cake

Card: Early Espresso, Whisper White

DSP: Parker's Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Basic Black craft stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler markers, Sahara Sand stampin' pad

Other: Clear embossing powder, Early Espresso embossing powder, Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon, Early Espresso 1/4" stitched grosgrain, Neutrals brads, sponge dauber, Ovals framelits, Sweet Buttons embosslits, Word Window punch, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots

 

 

 

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples over at Just Add Ink - as always, some gorgeous cards.  We'd love for you to make your own pop-up creation, and join in the fun.  If you don't have your own blog, you can email a photo of your creation (instructions on the Just Add Ink website), and we'll link it up for you.

 

 



STAMPIN' UP!'S THE OPEN SEA FOR STB #4

Over at Seize the Birthday, this week it's all about male birthday cards, using this sketch:

 

 

 

I've used one of my all-time favourite masculine stamp sets from Stampin' Up! to make this card:

 

 

 

Stamps: The Open Sea; Bring on the Cake; Up, Up & Away

Card: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Island Indigo

DSP: Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper stack (retired)

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Island Indigo stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Bashful Blue marker

Other: Apothecary Accents framelits, 1 1/4" Circle punch, Argyle embossing folder, sponge daubers, Linen Thread,  Naturals Designer Buttons, Natural Trim ribbon, glue dots, Stampin' Dimensionals, banner die (not SU!),, Color Spritzer tool

 

 

 

 

STAMPIN' UP!'S "UP, UP & AWAY" IN GIRLY IN-COLORS

Today I have a sneak peek for you of a super-cute Stampin' Up! embossing folder, and a new framelits die, available to buy from 1st February .... only 2 days away!!  We have a fabulous new Seasonal Catalogue coming out on Friday, and it is chock-full of gorgeous new products.

Here's a card I recently made for my niece, for her birthday.  I've kept it pretty simple, because I just love how perfect a backdrop the clouds are for those bright balloons!

 

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Bring on the Cake

Card: Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals, Whisper White

DSP: Birds of a Feather Designer Series Paper

Ink: Primrose Petals and Crumb Cake stampin' pads, Summer Starfruit stampin' pad and marker

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Hearts a Flutter framelits die (available 1st Feb.), Itty Bitty shapes punch, Paper-Piercing mat and tool, sponge dauber, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbons, Cloudy Day embossing folder (out 1st Feb.), glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

JAI #145 : A SKETCH CHALLENGE

Mae has come up with yet another great sketch for us, at Just Add Ink, this week.

 

 

 

 

I've kept my card simple, to let the texture and patterns on the base card, and scalloped embossed strip, do the talking.

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Bring on the Cake

Card: Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, Whisper White

DSP: Natural Composition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Midnight Muse, Island Indigo, Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Floral Frames framelits dies, Large Scallop Edgelits, Delicate Designs Embossing folder, Midnight Muse stitched satin ribbon, Island Indigo ruffled ribbon, Brushed Bronze designer button, Midnight Muse dahlia, Paper Daisy, Corner Rounder punch, sponge dauber, glue dots, sticky strip

 

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples over at Just Add Ink.  We'd love to have you play along with us - show us how you've used this sketch, to create a card or other papercraft project.

JAI #142 : STAMPIN' UP!'S THE OPEN SEA

It has been a while since I've used The Open Sea, one of my favourite masculine stamp sets, so decided to use it for this week's Just Add Ink challenge.

Mae has come up with this great sketch for us to use as a starting point for a card/scrapbook page:

I have used for my card base the fabulous new Natural Composition Specialty paper from Stampin' Up! - can you see the embossed horizontal lines on the card front?  LOVE this heavyweight paper.

Stamps: The Open Sea, Bring on the Cake

Card: Very Vanilla

DSP: Natural Composition Specialty DSP, Comfort Cafe and Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Papers

Ink: Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads

Other: Corner rounder punch, 3/4" circle punch, sponge daubers, Linen Thread, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, Midnight Muse stitched satin ribbon, Antique brad, blender pen, glue dot

 

 

 

The rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team have come up with some amazing cards using this sketch - you'll love the variety.  Be sure to check them out here, and play along with us, if you can!  We'd love to see your card based on this sketch.

 

 

 



SC 062/12 : STAMPIN' UP!'S PATIO PARTY DSP

Friday has snuck up on me!  All week I've been meaning to make a card for this week's challenge at Sunny Challenges & Creations, but the days have disappeared.  I received a delivery today of some Patio Party Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up!, so have quickly whipped up a card following the Sunny Challenges & Creations sketch, and theme of "One for the Girls":

Here's my card, showcasing a couple of the gorgeous patterned papers:

 

 

Stamps: Bring On the Cake, Creative Elements, Papillon Potpourri

Card: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit

DSP: Patio Party Designer Series Paper

Ink: Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse and Primrose Petals stampin' pads

Other: Floral Frames framelits, 2 1/2" Circle punch, Finishing Touches edgelits die, Elegant Butterfly punch, sponge daubers, Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbon, Vintage faceted button, glue dots

JAI #138: A COLOUR CHALLENGE

This week at Just Add Ink, Kim has set us a GREAT colour challenge:

Summer Starfruit is one of Stampin' Up!'s new In Colors, and it is my favourite, because it's significantly different to any other colours in the core range. 

Somewhat predictably, I've made a masculine card.  I was inspired by last week's sketch challenge that we had, with divided panels across the front of a card.  My vertical panels were stamped with stamps from The Open Sea and Clockworks, in ink that matches the card.  Even though it doesn't show up clearly, the Whisper White mat has been embossed with Stampin' Up!'s Argyle embossing folder.  I did cheat a little with the colour combo, by knotting a piece of Basic Black taffeta ribbon around the white baker's twine; I think the colour looks closer to Basic Gray, so gave myself permission to use it!


Here's the end result of my play with these colours:

Stamps: Clockworks, The Open Sea, Bring on the Cake

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit

Ink: Basic Gray stampin' pad, Summer Starfruit stampin' pad and marker

Other: Labels Collection Framelits die, XL Oval punch, Basics Glimmer brad, sponge daubers, Argyle embossing folder, white baker's twine, Basic Black taffeta ribbon, glue dots

 

 

 

 

 

While I had these colours out, I had a little play, and came up with another card that I really love.  This one is for my nephew, who is a beautiful young man; very proud to be his aunty!

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Clockworks, Memorable Moments

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit

Ink: Basic Gray and Summer Starfruit stampin' pads

Other: Chevron embossing folder, Finishing Touches edgelits die, Labels Collection Framelits die

 

 

 

The rest of the Design Team have come up with some gorgeous creations with this colour combo - please take a look, and play along with us!

 

 





BLOG HOP: STAMPIN' UP! DESIGNER SERIES PAPER

Today I am taking part, with seven friends who are also Stampin' Up! demonstrators, in a little blog hop, showcasing the gorgeous Designer Series Papers that we have in our range.

You may have come here from Nikki Sadler's blog.  If you haven't yet seen Nikki's gorgeous work, you can catch up with it as you go around the circuit today.  A blog hop is a loop, so just follow the link at the end of each blog post, and you'll be taken on to the next blog - there are 8 all up to visit today.

I have made two cards using the gorgeous Attic Boutique papers from the current Autumn-Winter Mini catalogue.  This selection of Designer Series Paper contains such a wide variety of patterns and colours; I just love it.

First up is a card that my class attendees made in this month's classes.  They all promised not to post it on their blogs prior to my participation in the blog hop ..... actually, it wasn't a hard promise to keep, because none of my ladies have their own blogs (lucky!).  I designed this card with the paper as the starting point.  It contains the colours Poppy Parade, Pool Party and Early Espresso (with touches of Daffodil Delight).  The bird's wing is punched from another sheet of paper from this pack - beautiful, isn't it?

Stamps: Elegance stampin' around wheel, Bring On the Cake

Card: Pool Party, Whisper White, Early Espresso, Poppy Parade

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pool Party stampin' pad, Early Espresso marker, Versamark inkpad

Other: White embossing powder, XL Oval punch, Labels Collection Framelits die, Adorning Accents Edgelits die, Adorning Accents embossing folders, Bird Builder punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, sponge dauber, Tombow liquid glue

 

My second card uses a piece of Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper as the feature.  I've stamped some of the vine image from Vintage Vogue around the edges of the paper (using Crumb Cake ink), and just added some ribbon, brads and a sentiment label.  I spritzed a bit of Pretty in Pink ink over the bottom of the main panel, to finish it off.



Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Pretty in Pink stampin' pads, Pretty in Pink marker

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Pretty in Pink satin ribbon, Brights brads, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Pearl, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, sponge dauber, mini glue dots

The next stop on today's blog hop is the home of Amanda Hill, a Western Australian friend.  Go see what beautiful work Amanda does.  Please leave us all comments, so we know you've been to visit today!

In case you lose your way, here's a comprehensive list of all the participants in our little blog hop:

Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

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

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

Christine Blain www.christineblain.blogspot.com  (you're here!)

Amanda Hill http://amandasscrapandcraft.blogspot.com.au

Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com.au

Sue Madex http://www.madexcreations.com

Kathryn Mangelsdorf http://klm55.blogspot.com.au/

We hope you get lots of inspiration for using your Stampin' Up! papers.  This month Stampin' Up! has a Paper Party happening ..... until the end of May, if you buy 3 packs of DSP, you get one pack for FREE! 

An even more exciting initiative this month is that if you sign up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator (which now costs only $169, and you can choose EVERY item in your starter kit - how great's that?!), you will receive a FREE pack of Designer Series Paper every month, from June until December!  Contact me if you'd like to join my team, and get totally consumed by the excitement of Stampin' Up! with me!



DELICATE DOILIES ONE SHEET WONDER

Recently I shared with you a card I'd made using Stampin' Up!'s Delicate Doilies stamps.  I mentioned I'd made a "one sheet wonder".  I had stamped the doilies all over an A5 piece of Whisper White card, and was able to make three cards out of my handmade patterned paper.  Today I'm sharing with you the other two cards that resulted from the doily panel.


I made one card with a Certainly Celery focus.  I enjoyed making this one, because it's not a green I normally favour.  It pairs beautifully with Elegant Eggplant, though.  I used a purple Sharpie to colour some of Stampin' Up!'s Basic Pearls; such a sweet embellishment to use as flower centres, I think.  Here's my card, using my trusty Top Note die:

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Trendy Trees

Card: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant

Ink: Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant, Pool Party, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads

Other: Top Note die, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Whisper White 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Pearls, sponge daubers, mini glue dots

My third card is a bit more 'regal' looking, with Elegant Eggplant (such a rich purple) taking centre stage.  I stamped one of the doily images repeatedly on the base card, in Elegant Eggplant ink, and used a white gel pen to lighten the overall look a little.

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Bring on the Cake

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Pool Party, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads

Other: XL Oval punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Basic Rhinestones, stampin' dimensionals, Whisper White satin ribbon, White organza ribbon, mini glue dots, sponge daubers, white gel pen, sticky strip

  Which is your favourite?   Out of all three cards, I think I like the last one the best.  Let me know what you think!  I love the different looks achieved by using the one piece of card.



DD#2: STAMPIN' UP!'S ESTABLISHED ELEGANCE

Tonight my darling boys teamed up and washed and dried the dishes, without undue argument (virtually unheard of in our house), so I could spend some Mother's Day time in my craft room.

I have made a card for Dynamic Duos #2 challenge, which is to use these two soft colours together:

I started off by inking up my Established Elegance stamp set - one of those sets I just HAD to buy, but which has sat largely unloved on my shelf.  I really like the images stamped in these colours, and teamed with Very Vanilla. 

After I'd finished stamping, and assembling the layers, I sprayed the entire front panel with Frost White shimmer paint.  Here's a close-up shot:

Stamps: Established Elegance, Bring On The Cake, En Francais

Card: Very Vanilla, Pool Party

DSP: Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper

Ink: So Saffron and Pool Party stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-on inkpad

Other: Pool Party seam binding, Frost White shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray), Labels Collection Framelits, Neutrals brad, 1/2 " circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, sponge daubers, Basic Pearls, Eyelet border punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, mini glue dots

ETA:  Lovely news - I was awarded an Honourable Mention over at Dynamic Duos for this card!