FOX & FRIENDS BIRTHDAY FOR SUO CHALLENGE #16

The current challenge running at SUO Challenges, is to make a card or other papercraft project with animals on it.

It's well past time for me to bring out my rather neglected Fox & Friends stamp set; do animal images come any cuter?

I've made a little birthday 'set', of a card and a favour box, using Fox & Friends, and three of this year's In Colours - Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, and Concord Crush.

Here are my creations together:

.... and individually ....

Stamps: Fox & Friends, Seeing Stars, Party This Way

Card: Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White

DSP: Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz Patterns Designer Series Paper

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

Other: Pear Pizzazz stitched-poly ribbon, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Fancy Favor Die, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Spiral punch, Circle Fire rhinestone brad, Stampin' dimensionals, Stamping sponges

"TECHNIQUE" BLOG HOP

Today I am taking part, with 4 fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators, in a "Technique" blog hop (just a "mini blog hop this time!).  Each of us is showcasing a different technique to use in your stamping and/or scrapbooking, so hopefully you'll get some new ideas!

You may have come from the gorgeous Nikki Sadler's blog, but if not, don't worry!  You can start here, and do a 'loop' by clicking on the link at the end of each participant's post, until you've covered all 5 stops.

The technique I have chosen to focus on today is PAPER PIECING.  This technique is ideal for using with line image (rather than solid) stamps.  It's an alternative to colouring in an image, and is a cute way to highlight a portion of a stamped image, to co-ordinate with patterned papers used on your project.

It's very easy to do.  Simply stamp your desired image onto cardstock, and stamp it again on patterned paper.  (Alternatively, you could stamp it onto other coloured card - either plain, or that you've stamped with a design.)  Cut the paper image out, and stick it over the top of the base image; voila - instant colouring!


For my first card, I have stamped several of one of the "Fifth Avenue Floral" flowers on a Whisper White panel.  I've chosen to highlight just one of the flowers in red (I do love red, and polka dots - did you know?!), using "Play Date" Designer Series Paper.  This is a very simple design, but the paper piecing makes the flower really "pop", don't you agree?

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Bella Toile, Upsy Daisy

Card: Whisper White, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Basic Black

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Real Red and Basic Black markers

Other: Sponge dauber, Basic Black brads (from Neutrals assortment), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Mat Pack & paper-piercing tool (for placement of brads)

Next up is a Christmas card, using Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.  I stamped the Christmas tree (from the ever-versatile "Fun & Fast Notes" set) on Very Vanilla card.  I stamped it again on the Old Olive spotty paper, and cut around just the foliage before adhering it to my card.  I coloured the trunk, pot and star with markers.

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, Contempo Christmas, En Francais

Card: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Chocolate Chip marker, Daffodil Delight marker

Other: Wide Oval punch, Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch, mini glue dot

Lastly, I'd like to share with you a birthday card I made with a young boy in mind.  Again I've used "Play Date" Designer Series Paper - this time, the striped "boyish" paper.  I love that each pack of Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper contains such a variety of designs, that complement one another so well.  The nose of the rocket is paper-pieced with Real Red cardstock on which I had stamped a star.  Pretty cute little rocket, don't you think?

Stamps: Seeing Stars, Pun Fun, Party Hearty

Card: Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise (textured), Real Red, Crumb Cake

DSP: Play Date Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Tempting Turquoise, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron and Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Top Note die, sponge daubers, Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, Scallop Circle punch, 3/4" circle punch, 5/16" silver brad, Crystal Effects

Next stop on today's blog hop is the blog of the super-creative Amy Buchanan.  This girl blows me away with her ideas!

Here's a list of all of us taking part today:

Judy May

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

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

Christine Blain
http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com/

Amy Buchanan
http://www.fashioninggreatimpressions.com/

Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/


Have fun checking out everyone's creations, and please leave us comments so we know you've been to 'visit'!

"EXTREME ELEMENTS" Earthy Series - part 2

I love my recently-used colour combo of Tangerine Tango, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Very Vanilla, so decided to apply it to some cards using "Extreme Elements".  Are you sick of seeing this stamp set yet??  Hubby is - he says "I really don't like this set as much as you do, you know".  Hmph.  I am still having a heap of fun with it, so I'll continue to share what I make!

Here are two 'boy' cards that I came up with, to make use of a panel that I'd stamped with several stamps from  Extreme Elements.  I cut the panel in half, so I could make two different designs. 

Stamps: Extreme Elements, On Your Birthday, Wonderfully Worn

Card: Tangerine Tango, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker

Other: Colour Spritzer tool, Buttons #5 die, Jumbo brads neutral, Linen Thread, Modern Label punch, sponge dauber, edge distresser

Stamps: Extreme Elements, On Your Birthday

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla

DSP: Crumb Cake Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker

Other: Mat Pack and paper-piercing tool, Neutrals brad, Modern Label Punch, sponge daubers,         1 3/8" circle punch, Scallop Circle Punch, stampin' dimensionals

"CHEEP TALK" .... IN RETIRING COLOURS

This month's promotion, from Stampin' Up!, is a sale on eight fabulous Two-Step Stampin' sets.  I decided to get out my "Cheep Talk" stamps, and share with you a couple of simple cards that I think are pretty cute and happy.

"Cheep Talk" is a set of 11 stamps, and is on sale this month for only $38.36!!  That's incredible value, especially considering how versatile the set is - birds, heart, flowers and a branch that lend themselves to all sorts of possibilities.  If you don't own this set, I can help you out - just email me, and I can order it for you, and have it delivered straight to you, anywhere in Australia.

As the title of my post suggests, I've made my cards in colours that are available only until the end of August.  With Stampin' Up!'s exciting Colour Renovation, happening at the beginning of September for us in Australia (when the new catalogue comes out), 30 'old favourite' colours will be retiring.

Here's the first card I made, using Mellow Moss and Pale Plum:







.... and a close-up of the brads I made, just because I have a bit of a love affair going on with Build-A-Brads:





Stamps: Cheep Talk

Card: Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Pale Plum

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Mellow Moss, Pale Plum and Perfect Plum stampin' pads

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers, Build-A-Brads, 1/2" circle punch, Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder



I decided that for my second card I wanted to use Close to Cocoa.  This beautiful brown has already been way more popular than anticipated, in the wake of the 'retirement' announcement, and unfortunately cardstock is no longer available in this colour.  You can, however, still buy Close to Cocoa inkpads and refills.  I've teamed the cardstock with some gorgeous Candy Lane Designer Series Papers, and a bit of stamping in Close to Cocoa and Riding Hood Red.





Stamps: Cheep Talk

Card: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette stampin' pads

DSP: Candy Lane Designer Series Paper

Other: Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, Close to Cocoa marker (for faux stitching), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Ruby Red brads, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, sponge daubers, Circle Punches - 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", Scallop Circle



 

MANHATTAN FLOWER CARD in Vanilla and Blue

I've been having a play with the Manhattan Flower embossing folder in my Big Shot, and wanted to make another card like this one.  Such a simple style of card, but really pretty, don't you think?  I can say that humbly, because it wasn't my idea!

I dug out my Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper for this one.  LOVE this paper, but I don't use it very often; you know how you keep some things in a special spot because they're too pretty to use?  Well, it was time for this paper to get some love.  I have been trying to use more blue in my cards lately, because it's not one of my "go to" colours, but I always love how it looks in papercraft.

Firstly, I'll show you my card (and all the 'ingredients'), then I'll tell you some of the techniques I used.  Please be impressed that I photographed this during the daytime, so it's nice and clear, ha ha!




Stamps: All A Flutter, Sweet Little Sentiments, Fifth Avenue Floral

Card: Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue, Kraft

Ink: Brocade Blue and Night of Navy stampin' pads, Very Vanilla craft stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: Bella Bleu DSP, Sizzlits Buttons #5 die, Sizzlits Lots of Tags die, Manhattan Flower embossing folder, sponge daubers, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds (glitter), Night of Navy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, mini glue dot, Stamp-a-ma-jig


I think this is the first time I have ever used my Night of Navy ink and ribbon, and I love it!  (Who knew?!)  To make the tag, I first stamped the rose from Fifth Avenue Floral on the pre-cut kraft tag; once in Very Vanilla ink, and again in Brocade Blue ink (both times stamped off first, just to give a faint impression).  I over-stamped the sentiment, using my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig, in Night of Navy ink, and sponged the edges of the tag with Brocade Blue ink.

The butterfly was stamped in Night of Navy ink on a piece of kraft-coloured Bella Bleu DSP.  I then used the Stamp-a-ma-jig, to stamp the butterfly again, over the top, in Versamark ink.  Heat & Stick powder was sprinkled over the top, heated until sticky, and Dazzling Diamonds applied.  A quick burst of heat with my heat gun 'set' the glitter, so it stays put.  It's a day of 'firsts' today, as this was also the first time I've used Heat & Stick powder to apply Dazzling Diamonds - it's so easy!  Much neater than using liquid glue, too.  My pretty butterfly is raised up on dimensionals, to show it off a bit more!

The little button was cut out using the Buttons #5 Sizzlits die, using Very Vanilla card.  I sponged it Brocade Blue (only because I changed my mind - should've just used Brocade Blue cardstock, shouldn't I?!), then sponged the edges in Night of Navy ink.  A thin strip of kraft card was threaded through the button holes to finish off.

I really like this card, probably because it has flowers, a butterfly, ribbon and a button - some of my favourite things!  I hope it brings a smile to your face too.

"JUST ADD INK" CHALLENGE #9

I have some new Stampin' Up! goodies to play with, so I turned to the Just Add Ink Challenge for this week, for a bit of inspiration.  The girls at JAI have come up with a sketch this week; a great starting point for those of us who are a bit cloudy-headed, and don't know what to make!  Here is my interpretation of the sketch - I wanted the card to look a bit like a present.  I ALMOST managed to make a whole card without adding Kraft, but it just needed that little 'something', LOL.





Stamps: Polka Dot background, On Your Birthday

Card: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Kraft

DSP: *NEW* pretty paper, available from 1st April :)

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red stampin' pads

Other: Sponge daubers, *NEW* button die (available 1st April), Scallop Edge punch, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Valet Ribbon Originals, mini glue dots
 

"JUST ADD EASTER" - Just Add Ink Challenge #8

It's been WEEKS since I have played along with a challenge, and I've missed making a card 'just for the fun of it' (not that all those special birthday and baby cards haven't been fun, if any of my loved ones are reading this, LOL).  So, I've whipped up a card for the Just Add Ink challenge - this week, the challenge has an Easter focus.  If you'd been reading carefully, you may already have figured that out by my post title.  Subtle, aren't I?!

Because my supply of Stampin' Up! Easter stamps is VERY limited, I've used a very old "Egg Heart" stamp from my stash. Apart from that, and the pink adhesive hearts (oh, and the Nestabilities!), everything else on my card is Stampin' Up!, including a very cute embellishment that is NEW to Stampin' Up!, come April.  Can you spot it?





Stamps: Egg Heart (not SU!), Occasional Greetings

Card: Whisper White, Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink

DSP: Tea Party

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Close to Cocoa stampin' pad and marker, Pretty in Pink marker, Pink Pirouette stampin' pad

Other: Large oval punch, sponge dauber, Oval Nestabilities, NEW button die (coming April!!), dimensionals, Valet Ribbon originals, pink heart Rain Dots