"IN COLOUR" CARD AND A CATALOGUE CASE....

Hi friends

I am still on the Circle Circus bandwagon, having madly stamped out some extra images before returning the set to its rightful owner.  Last night I spent a little time in my craft room, and this is the card I came up with.  It's a little out of my comfort zone (a good thing for us creative types, right?), and I'm not entirely convinced that it looks okay, but it gets the 'thumbs up' from my darling son (who didn't like one of the cards that I thought was good!).  I love this year's "in colours" from Stampin' Up!, so they formed the focus of this card ......



Stamps: Circle Circus, ABC Alphabet Lower

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point

DSP: Bella Rose (the red medallion is stamped on this paper)

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Versamark, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig (for the greeting), scallop circle punch, Riding Hood Red 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, black brads, clear and red rhinestone brads, Labels One nestabilities, dimensionals



On Thursday night I went to our monthly get-together at Claire's house;  our 'stamp group', but for me it's emotional support/girl time/chocolate-eating/split-your-sides-laughing group!  It is absolutely a highlight of my life; the friendships I have made, and continue to develop, are so special and important to me.  Kerry is our most prolific stamper, usually churning out about a dozen gorgeous cards in quick succession (although one she made on Thursday was a bit dubious!); Leanne is the 'quiet achiever' who makes stunning cards, but is a little unsure of her own abilities (and of my wear-my-heart-on-my-sleeve personality); Judy is very exact and precise, needing everything to be straight (LOVE that she whips out a ruler), and it ALWAYS is just perfect!; and Claire, our 'fearless leader' (well, it's her fault we all got together in the first place), whose cards have a very distinct, beautiful style, and who purposely 'parks' herself in a tight spot so we all have to pass her supplies all evening!  I can't even tell you how much I love these girls (sorry to embarrass you, Leanne).  Anyway, in the 5 hours I was at 'stamp group' on Thursday, I managed to make one card. It wasn't even original.  I am always under-prepared with supplies, and totally lack creativity, when I go to Claire's; I just get so much value out of the companionship, and sharing of ideas and stories. 

This card was inspired by one on page 111 of the Idea Book & Catalogue.  I love the white-embossed flower, on Kiwi Kiss card, so that was my starting point.  Here is the lonely little card that was the sum total of my 'creating' from Thursday night:



Stamps: Bella's Bloom, Best Yet

Card: Naturals Ivory, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine

Ink: Versamark, Pink Pirouette

Other: White embossing powder, heat tool, spiral punch, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, edge distresser, sponge dauber, brads (not SU).

Two very different cards, stemming from a distinct lack of inspiration this week.  I hope to get some more creating time over the weekend - we have a long weekend, but much of it will be taken up watching my son's football games (in the rain, no doubt!).  I plan to squeeze some card-making in somewhere (perhaps late at night), so come back to visit soon!

Christine xx

MORE CIRCLE CIRCUS ....Red and Blue this time ....

Hi folks, back for the second time in one day - woo hoo!  I didn't go to work today, and as a result am feeling much happier and 'in control' of things.  Several hours were spent attacking my mountain of ironing, and I have had the washing machine going for what seems like the entire day, but I have also managed to enjoy some 'down' time. 

This afternoon I stamped a panel of Circle Circus images in Real Red and Brilliant Blue, on Whisper White card.  I started off stamping a couple of images in a very neat, structured, repetitive pattern, then added a bit here and a bit there - before I knew it, things had got a little out of control, and I had an unstructured, cluttered, very full piece!  I like it, but it's not quite what I had in mind when I started.  This is what I had to work with:



The bold, primary colours made me steer towards cards that could be suitable for men/boys.  I initially thought of making a child's card, but because I incorporated almost all the patterns from the stamp set, it became a little more 'grown up' looking.  (Perhaps I should've kept it simpler??)  Anyway, here is the first card I made - really pleased with it, actually!  Very simple, clean lines and bold colours (even though the photography is a bit fuzzy, it's crisp-looking in real life!).



Stamps: Circle Circus, Occasional Greetings

Card: Whisper White, Kraft, Brilliant Blue, Real Red

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, small circle brad, edge distresser, circle punches - 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig



This next card is brighter and 'busier', since I didn't tone it down with kraft card.  Rather than punching out the circles, I used the stamped panel as the main focus of the card, and added a few embellishments.  Because of the detail in the stamped piece, I didn't want anything fussy - just a couple of lovely new brads, small scraps of ribbon, and some paper piercing.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Occasional Greetings

Card: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Real Red

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Large circle brads, Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, edge distresser, paper piercer, corner rounder punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

And that's it, for today's Circle Circus round-up!  I think I need a break; haven't been this prolific in my card-making for a while.  I do plan to post yet more Circle Circus cards on here before the week's up, so stay tuned!!

Thanks for looking!

CIRCLE CIRCUS ......"In the Pink"!

Last night I whiled away a few (alright, several) hours in my lovely craft room, and made a few decidedly pink cards.  I do love pink, but I will warn you that the following pictures could constitute a sensory overload....

I started off with a piece of Regal Rose card (must admit I've not used this colour before - now, I have very little left!), and repeatedly stamped what I like to call the 'bubble' image from the Circle Circus stamp set.  I stamped all over the card in Regal Rose ink, then overstamped in Whisper White.  This is a small sample of what I ended up with:



I then cut panels of the 'patterned paper' I had created, and used them on some cards.  This is the first one I made.  I really like the intensity of the pattern on the square panel.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly (how cute is that tiny butterfly?!), On Your Birthday

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose

Ink: Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose stampin' pads

Other: White embossing powder (and heat tool), Stamp-a-ma-jig, corner rounder punch, Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, circle punches - 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", scallop circle, sponge daubers, edge distresser



Before I assembled this next card, I added a few Chocolate Chip stamped images, from Circle Circus, to the 'bubbly' background.  This stamp co-ordinates with the new Filigree Brads from Stampin' Up!, so I found a place to add one of those (although rather than using the silver brad centre, I popped in a pink brad from my stash - thought there wasn't quite enough pink on the card, you see).  The main panel has images stamped in the colours to match the background.  Although I've angled it so it looks like the little bird is going to slide right down the branch, I like the simple stamping!  Some rather blobby dots with a white gel pen, and a knotted piece of divine taffeta ribbon, finishes off this card.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Cheep Talk

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose

Ink:  Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink stampin' pads, Chocolate Chip stampin' write marker (see the tiny dot?)

Other: Filigree brad (with non-SU pink centre), white gel pen, corner rounder punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon



Okay, on we go to more luscious pinkness.  This next one is my personal favourite, but I would love to hear which one you like the best.  I have used a larger panel of the bubble-patterned card, matted on some Chocolate Chip card.  The owl has been stamped on watercolour paper with Staz-On ink, then watercoloured using my stampin' pads and an aquapainter (love this little invention - no more pots of water to tip all over my desk!).  I masked the owl and branch, and stamped little pink hearts in the background.  These cute hearts, along with sentiment, also come from the Owl Together Now set.  I sponged the edges of the owl panel in Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose.  I used my Cuttlebug to create the tiny tag, and again stamped the hearts in Pretty in Pink. My wonderful Stamp-a-ma-jig allowed me to stamp the image exactly where I wanted it - yep, yet another of my favourite crafting tools. 



Stamps: Circle Circus, Owl Together Now

Card: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Whisper White craft, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-On, Old Olive and Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write markers

Other: watercolour paper, aquapainter, white eyelet (from my stash), Cuttlebug mini tag, Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, sponge daubers, foam dots


Now for the last card in this pink series.  Having already said that the owl card is my personal favourite, I must say this one comes a close second.  I'm a big fan of the Flight of the Butterfly set.  I broke out and used Basic Gray instead of Chocolate Chip with this one.  Lots of scallops (thanks to my Nestabilities, through the Cuttlebug, and my scalloped square punch from Stampin' Up!), and simple stamping with gray/blingy highlights.



Stamps: Circle Circus, Flight of the Butterfly, Best Yet

Card: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Whisper White craft, Basic Gray, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink stampin' pads

Other: Nestabilites, scallop square punch, sponge dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig, rhinestones (Kaiser), Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, foam dots, Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen (dotted in the flower centres on the butterfly's wings)



Right, I think that's about enough pink for one day!  I hope to try out a few more things with Circle Circus before I (reluctantly) return the set to Claire, so please come back to visit over the next few days.  Happy Monday, everyone!

CIRCLE CIRCUS

Hi folks

This great stamp set was given to demonstrators who attended this year's Stampin' Up! convention in Canberra earlier this month.  Those of us 'left behind' (sniff) could only look on as the lucky ones stamped their hearts out with their new sets!  There have been lots of great ideas, for using Circle Circus, floating around blogland; it is a super-versatile set that I have added to my rather extensive wish list.  Today I was at my friend Claire's house, and she graciously offered to part with her stamps for a few days, so I could have a play.  Yippee! So tonight I have been in my craft room, and have come up with a couple of cards, that I'd like to share with you.  I stamped out the focal image four times (twice each in So Saffron and Riding Hood Red), so once I'd composed my first card, I was able to make a second one in 'reverse' colours.  As my cyber-friend Sue says, why make just one card when you have all the supplies out?!  I tend to spread my supplies EVERYWHERE, make one card, then spend ages putting away all the scraps.  I like my cards to be individual, but it is great to mix the colours up a bit and create something a little different from the same papers and embellishments.  Anyway, enough of my rambling .... I just LOVE the way this first card turned out; I think the colours look really regal, don't you?



Stamps: Circle Circus, Upsy Daisy (sentiment)

Card: Whisper White

DSP: Sweet Slumber, So Saffron Prints

Ink: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red stampin' pads

Other: Riding Hood Red 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, yellow rhinestone brad, mini glue dots, foam dots, sponge dauber, circle punches - 3/4", 1", 1 3/8", scallop circle



I had stamped the sentiment and main image in the reverse colour combination, so changed things up a bit, and 'went to town' with my white gel pen (I'm rather partial to dots). This is what I came up with:



Stamps: Circle Circus, Upsy Daisy

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red

DSP: Sweet Slumber, So Saffron Prints, Bella Rose

Ink: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red stampin' pads

Other: Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, Riding Hood Red button (from Button Bouquet selection), white gel pen, sponge daubers, mini glue dots, foam dots, yellow brads (from my stash), circle punches - 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8", scallop circle punch (boy, I went to town with the punches too, didn't I?!)

I plan to play some more with this set while I have it in my hot little hands, so you might see some more circle-y (sounds much nicer than 'circular', don't you think?  I know, Kerry, it's not grammatically correct - my Mum was a teacher too, but I like to make up my own rules now that I'm grown up!) creations.  Make sure you check out Claire's cool cards while you're waiting! 

Thanks for visiting :)