STB #8: STAMPIN' UP!'S PARKER'S PATTERNS BIRTHDAY

It's masculine birthday card week over at Seize the Birthday.  Here's the sketch to work from:

I've pulled out my Parker's Patterns papers again, as I'm finding they're great for cards for the men and boys in our lives.   This is the first play I've had with Stampin' Up!'s Canvas Creations.  I stamped the houndstooth pattern from Beyond Plaid onto a canvas square, using Versamark ink.  After white-embossing it, I sponged Early Espresso ink all over it to bring out the pattern.  A little fraying of the edges completed my focal square.

Might I say I am rather pleased with the button on this card?!  After punching out a 3/4" circle of Parker's Patterns paper, I adhered it with Crystal Effects to a Silver Designer Button, then covered it in Crystal Effects to create a gloss finish.

This card was made for my nephew who recently turned 16 .... I was a bit worried that it might be a bit "old man-ish" for his age, but it met with the approval of my 17-yr-old, so in the post it went!

Stamps: Beyond Plaid, For My Family, Memorable Moments

Card: Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso, Naturals White, Cherry Cobbler

DSP: Parker's Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Canvas Creations, Houndstooth embossing folder, Silver Designer button, Crystal Effects, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Naturals Trim ribbon, Stampin' Distress tool, 1 1/4" Circle punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, 3/4" Circle punch, sponge dauber, glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

STB #3 & SC 071/13: STAMPIN' UP!'S STIPPLED BLOSSOMS

It's week 3 over at Seize the Birthday, and here is the great sketch we have, to use when creating a feminine birthday card:

Sunny Challenges & Creations is also back, with a new year of challenges, so I'm entering this in the first challenge for 2013 - to make a birthday card.

I had to make a card for a lovely friend of mine who recently celebrated a milestone birthday.  The card is a bit late, but hopefully she'll still love it!

I have inked up my new Stippled Blossoms stamp set for the first time, and love it even more now that it has seen ink!  I used Tangerine Tango ink (stamped off once on scrap paper first) for the bold rose images, and overstamped the stippled patterns in full-strength Tangerine Tango ink.

Stamps: Stippled Blossoms, Memorable Moments, For My Family

Card: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

DSP: Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Old Olive and Crumb Cake stampin' pads

Other: Chevron embossing folder, Labels Collection framelits die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, Old Olive button, White baker's twine, Tangerine Tango 1/4" ribbon (Sycamore Street - SAB), sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots, banner die (not SU!)

JAI #134 : JUST ADD .... POLKA DOTS

This week Trish has set a fun challenge for us at Just Add Ink ...... to add polka dots to our project.


It's entirely possible that my card contains "polka dot overkill", but I'm okay with that - love dots, and I had a lot of fun making this!  I chose my colours from the new Summer Smooches Designer Series Papers - bright and happy.

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, For My Family

Card: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Island Indigo

DSP: Tangerine Tango Patterns Designer Series Paper and Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper

Ink: Island Indigo stampin' pad and marker, Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker, Rich Razzleberry stampin' pad and marker, Lucky Limeade and Daffodil Delight markers

Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Daffodil Delight stitched grosgrain ribbon, Modern Label punch, In Color Designer brad, Mat Pack & Paper Piercing Tool, mini glue dots, Adorning Accents Edgelits die and embossing folder

Make sure you check out the gorgeous samples made by the rest of the Design Team for this week's challenge.  Who doesn't LOVE polka dots?!

JAI #131 : HENRY THE OWL FOR DAD

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink, set by Tina, is a colour challenge incorporating my LEAST used colour in the Stampin' Up! family. 

Although my image is blurry, you can probably guess (given my love of Neutrals) that Garden Green is the challenging colour!  I'm surprised how good it can look, now that I've ventured to use it, though. 

I was astounded to find recently that I had completely missed a couple of items in our Stampin' Up! catalogue (that we've had for almost a year!).  I was envious that Vicky Hayes had used a stamp called Henry, in the UK catalogue ...... and delighted when I found that we actually have it too!  Oh dear; I'm not quite as eagle-eyed as I thought I was!  "Henry" is a builder wheel, but I have unmounted the rubber, and converted it so I can use it as a long stamp, on an acrylic block - much more user-friendly to my mind.  Henry allowed me to create the fabulous argyle pattern on my card, and on the owl's vest - too cute, don't you think?!

Stamps: Woodgrain, Henry Builder wheel, Texture jumbo wheel, For My Family

Card: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Garden Green

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip and Garden Green stampin' pads

Other: Clear embossing powder, Owl Builder punch, Large Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL die,  Mat Pack & Paper Piercing tool, 5/16" Neutrals brads, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, sponge dauber

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's gorgeous samples for this colour challenge.  We'd love to have you play along with us!

SC #052/12 : STAMPIN' UP!'S UP, UP & AWAY

I am really pleased to announce that, for the month of August, I have a guest spot on the Design Team at Sunny Challenges & Creations!!  I've been following, and playing along with a number of the challenges on, this site since it started a year ago, so I am honoured to be a Guest Designer this month.

This week's challenge is to use the sketch below as a starting point, for a masculine project.  This is the first sketch I have ever designed, and I must say I'm pretty happy with myself! LOL.  With Father's Day coming up (at least in the Southern Hemisphere) next month, it's a good time to think about card/s needed for that day.  Or, you might just like to make a card for another special male in your life.  Here's the sketch:

..... and here is my card, using Up, Up & Away (a great stamp set for 'the boys'):

Stamps: Up, Up & Away, For My Family, Texture jumbo stampin' around wheel

Card: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Marina Mist

DSP: Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso, Marina Mist and Real Red stampin' pads

Other: Color Spritzer tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Jewelry Tag punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Linen Thread, Brights brads, Mat Pack & Paper-piercing tool, stampin' dimensionals, jumbo brad (Very Vanilla), flag dies (not SU!), sponge daubers, edge distressing tool

Make sure you check out the rest of the samples from the Design Team, and we hope you play along this week!



MERRY MONDAY CHALLENGE #21: STAMPIN' UP!'S SNOW SWIRLED

**  This is my second post for today ..... if you're following the blog hop, please scroll down to the next post.  Thanks!**



I am loving Lesley's sketches for the Merry Monday challenge, to kickstart my creative juices when it comes to Christmas cards.  Here's this week's sketch:

I have opted for a bit of an unusual colour combination, including black on this Christmas card.  I black-embossed the gorgeous Christmas tree from Snow Swirled onto the oval panel, and adhered some Cherry Cobbler Itty Bitty punched flowers as accents.  The sentiment was stamped in Always Artichoke (satisfies my husband's idea that there must be green on a Christmas card!), as I felt there was enough black already!

Stamps: Snow Swirled, For My Family

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke and Whisper White stampin' pads

Other: Scallop Trim border punch, Whisper White satin ribbon, Modern Label punch, sponge daubers, Oval dies (not SU!), Itty Bitty shapes punch, Basic Rhinestones, mini glue dots

Thanks, Lesley, for such a great sketch - love it!

JAI #119: A SKETCH CHALLENGE

This week at Just Add Ink, Mae has provided us with a great sketch for a card/scrapbook page:

It was my brother's birthday this week, so I used this sketch to make his card.

It's a little hard to see the detail of the background papers I've used, because I've embossed and sponged them to death, but I do like the 'grungy' look that resulted.  I've used three different pieces of Stampin' Up!'s Well Worn Designer Series Paper.  I have in my stash some Crumb Cake corduroy buttons, that are long since retired from Stampin' Up!'s range, but which come in handy for masculine cards.  The smaller buttons have been sponged with Not Quite Navy ink; I love that they can be customised!

(I'm not quite sure what's happened to the background, in the editing process - just ignore that!)

  Stamps: For My Family, Extreme Elements

Card: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy

DSP: Well Worn Designer Series Paper

Ink: Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy and Crumb Cake stampin' pads, Not Quite Navy marker

Other: 2 1/2" Circle punch, Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Square Lattice embossing folder, sponge dauber, Color Spritzer tool, Corduroy buttons, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples, for this week's challenge.  It's great to see the different ways we all interpret a sketch, and you're sure to be inspired by those talented women!

HAPPY HALF-CENTURY, MUM AND DAD!

I'd like to share with you today the card I made for my parents, who on the weekend celebrated 50 years of marriage.  What a milestone, hey? 

I have only recently bought Stampin' Up!'s Baroque Motifs stamp set (yes, I do think I'm one of the last demonstrators in the known universe to own it!) .... so I inked that up for this special occasion.  First I stamped, in Crumb Cake ink (stamped off, to give a subtle effect), an En Francais background on Very Vanilla Card.  The Baroque Motifs flourish was stamped over the script, and the whole panel run through the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, before being sponged around the edges.

I love how the Crumb Cake ink on the main sentiment panel co-ordinates so well with Stampin' Up!'s Brushed Gold cardstock.  I used my aquapainter, and Crumb Cake ink refill, to colour the flowers, and the outer frame of the Framelits die cut.

Here's a closer look at the background, which I finished off with some Champagne Mist shimmer spray:

Stamps: Apothecary Art, En Francais, Baroque Motifs, For My Family

Card: Naturals Ivory, Brushed Gold, Very Vanilla

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Crumb Cake ink refill

Other: Gold embossing powder, Labels Collection Framelits die, Basic Pearls, Cherry Cobbler seam binding, aquapainter, stamping sponge, stampin' dimensionals, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Champagne Mist shimmer paint (mixed with Isocol to make shimmer spray), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet sizzlits dies

CARD FOR MY DAD

This month's So Shelli Creative Challenge is focussed on Father's Day, which is observed in the US and Canada next month.  Down here in the southern hemisphere, Dads have to wait until September for this celebration of them ..... but I figured I could be super-organised, and get a card ready for my father!

I pulled out my favourite masculine papers, Stampin' Up!'s Well Worn collection, and chose one of the sheets that I hadn't even cut into yet.  I tend to favour the earthy, brown-toned papers, but decided to show some love to the blue piece that has some River Rock and Cajun Craze touches.  I then reached for my "go to" male stamp set of the moment - Up, Up & Away.

Here's what I came up with:

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; Wonderfully Worn; For My Family; Texture stampin' around wheel

Card: River Rock textured and smooth, Early Espresso, Not Quite Navy

DSP: Well Worn Designer Series Paper

Ink: River Rock, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Not Quite Navy stampin' pads

Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, stamp-a-ma-jig, Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon, Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder, Regals brads, stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, sponge daubers

JUST ADD INK #116: JUST ADD MOTHER'S DAY

With Mother's Day being celebrated in Australia and New Zealand on 13th May we at Just Add Ink challenge you to create a Mother's Day card or other papercraft item, and share it with us.  Please visit Just Add Ink to see the beautiful work of the Design Team - I'm privileged to be part of an amazingly creative team!

I am a huge fan of red, but haven't been using it a lot on my cards lately, so I decided to make a bold, elegant Mother's Day card, using Stampin' Up!'s beautiful Apothecary Art stamp set.  I used my Stampin' Write markers to colour the image, and combined two sentiments from the fabulous For My Family stamp set, to stamp on the banner. 

Stamps: Apothecary Art, For My Family

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

DSP: Real Red Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Real Red stampin' pad and marker, Cherry Cobbler marker, Old Olive and Always Artichoke markers

Other: Basic Black satin ribbon, Pinking Hearts border punch, Labels Collection Framelits dies, sponge daubers, Basic Rhinestones (coloured with a black permanent marker), stampin' dimensionals, mini glue dots

SC 0035/12: SUNNY CHALLENGES CARD FOR MUM

I am thrilled to be a Guest Designer at Sunny Challenges and Creations this week!

This week's sketch is shown below - and the second part of the challenge is to incorporate a "mothers" theme into your project.  With Mother's Day coming up next month, in the southern hemisphere, this is a good time to be thinking of cards for that occasion.  Alternatively, a birthday card or other project made especially for a Mum would fit this challenge nicely.

I've made a card using the beautiful Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper that was one of Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous freebies during Sale-a-Bration this year.

Stamps: Elizabeth, For My Family

Card: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory

DSP: Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake stampin' pad and marker, Poppy Parade stampin' pad, Basic Black stampin' pad, Soft Suede stampin' pad

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Corner Rounder punch, Victoria crochet trim, Crumb Cake seam binding, Everyday Enchantment brad, sponge daubers, Color Spritzer tool, Fun Flowers die, Modern Label punch, Basic Pearl, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, sticky strip

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples for inspiration.  We all have different styles, so you're sure to get some great ideas.

C4C #131: A COLOUR CHALLENGE

Tonight I discovered a new (to me) challenge site, called Crazy 4 Challenges.  I love colour challenges, and this week's challenge is to make a papercraft project using blue, white and one other colour.  I've chosen black (which technically is a shade, but hopefully it fits the criteria!).

On a rare visit to a local scrapbooking store the other day, I picked up some delicious paper from Pink Paislee.  I am pretty much all-Stampin' Up! in my projects, but this paper just called to me.  Besides, I thought it'd be a nice match with SU!s Pool Party, a sweet, soft blue.  It turns out the paper is a little darker, but I think it works.

Here's my card:

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Short & Sweet, For My Family

Card: Pool Party, Basic Black, Whisper White

DSP: Parisian Anthology (Pink Paislee)

Ink: Basic Black and Crumb Cake stampin' pads, Pool Party stampin' pad and marker

Other: Bird Builder punch, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Basic Rhinestones (coloured with permanent markers), Pool Party baker's twine, Stamp-a-ma-jig, edge distressing tool, sponge daubers

JUST ADD INK #105

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink, brought to us by Kim, is to use these gorgeous colours together:

I have a personal challenge that I've laid down for myself - to USE some of my stamp sets that don't see a lot of ink.  I needed to make a card for my mother-in-law's upcoming birthday, and chose to use the beautiful My Friend stamp set.  I'm playing along at JAI 'just for fun' this week; I need to reclaim some of the mojo that seems to have deserted me since Christmas.

It's a little hard to see in my shady (in more than one sense of the word!) photo, but I stamped the card base with the circular snowburst image; I also stamped the same pattern on the right-hand side of the main panel, before spritzing with markers over the top.  The floral stamp was inked up with markers, and I used a blender pen to pick up more colour from inkpads, to add a bit of depth to the colours of the flowers.

Stamps: My Friend, For My Family

Card: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, So Saffron, Pool Party

Ink: Certainly Celery stampin' pad and marker, Wisteria Wonder stampin' pad and marker, So Saffron stampin' pad and marker, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad

Other: Lace Ribbon border punch, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Basic Rhinestones, Color Spritzer tool, blender pen, sponge daubers, Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon, edge distressing tool, mini glue dots

JAI # 104 : BACK TO SCHOOL

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is to make a papercraft project with a "back to school" theme.  Here in Australia (and in New Zealand), the summer holidays are over, and a new school year has just begun.  Speaking of new beginnings, this is my very first submission as part of the Design Team at Just Add Ink!

My eldest son is commencing his VCE this year.  It's the last two years of his secondary schooling, and both Years 11 and 12 count towards the final assessment that determines entry to university/tertiary studies.  I wanted to encourage Jack to do the best he can do (I always tell him that, but I reckon he thinks I'm nagging!), so came up with this card for him, as he enters this important stage of his schooling.

I created the large star, on which the sentiment is mounted, by punching out five 'pennants' with my Petite Pennants Builder punch.  I sponged the edges of each pennant, and adhered them to the reverse side of the Riding Hood Red circle.

Stamps: Extreme Elements; For My Family; Up, Up & Away

Card: Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White

DSP: Well Worn

Ink: Crumb Cake, Riding Hood Red, Not Quite Navy stampin' pads

Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Blue Denim ribbon, Linen Thread, Subtles Glimmer brad, 1 3/4" circle punch, Circles #2 die, Petite Pennants Builder punch, sponge daubers, MFT Die-Namics star die

Be sure to check out the other Design Team members' samples .... there are some fabulous ideas, to inspire you with your own papercraft projects.  Have fun!

STAMPIN' UP!'S "THE OPEN SEA" FOR PAPER PLAYERS #73

Jaydee has set this week's challenge over at The Paper Players, to make a clean and simple card using this colour combination:

I don't use Night of Navy very often, so this was a little outside my comfort zone, but I had a lot of fun with this challenge! 

I have inked up my new "The Open Sea" stamp set, that is being released in Australia and New Zealand on 1st December.  I know I will get a LOT of use out of this fabulous stamp set. 

 I silver-embossed the anchor on Brushed Silver cardstock, before cutting it out.  The background DSP (that started off with a polka dot pattern) has been run through my Square Lattice embossing folder.  The exposure of the paper's white core is perfect for this colour challenge; that was a happy discovery!

Stamps: The Open Sea (out 1st December), For My Family

Card: Night of Navy, Brushed Silver, Whisper White

DSP: Night of Navy Patterns Designer Series Paper

Ink: Night of Navy stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad

Other: Silver embossing powder, White baker's twine (*new* - out 1st December), silver mini brads, silver jumbo brad, Word Window punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, rectangle & scalloped rectangle Nestabilities, sponge dauber

JUST ADD INK #89

This week at Just Add Ink, the girls have challenged us to use this photo as inspiration:

Now that I look closely at the photo, I can see that the backdrop is water.  However, what I first thought of when I saw this, was the Serengeti!  I pictured hot air balloons over African plains at sunset.

I came across some papers in my extensive stash of unloved non-Stampin' Up! products on the weekend, so decided to put a few pieces to use on my card for this week's challenge.

My eldest boy is about to learn to drive, and in anticipation of him successfully obtaining his Learner's Permit, I made a card (which I'm pretty sure is safe from his sight, 'cos checking Mum's blog is not on his radar).  I love the new For My Family stamp set, with numerous combinations of sentiments and fonts; I can see it fast becoming a go-to set for me.  I've inked up my new Up, Up & Away stamps for the first time.  What a fun set to play with!  Here's what I made:

Stamps: Up, Up & Away; For My Family

Card: Basic Black, Peach Parfait

DSP: Kaisercraft Rewind papers

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Basic Black, So Saffron and Peach Parfait stampin' pads

Other: Black embossing powder, Tangerine Tango embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch

STAMPIN' UP! TICKETS & TAGS SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT

As a cardmaker, I usually skim past the section of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue that contains supplies intended for scrapbookers.  Well, I have to bring your attention to a GORGEOUS Simply Scrappin' kit that I bought, and just love.  Might just have to buy some of the others now!  Check out pages 132 and 133 of the new catalogue; you're in for a treat.  Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scrappin' kits contain exclusive Designer Series Papers that are not in the 'main' offerings, along with textured cardstock to co-ordinate, and 6 sheets of gorgeous self-adhesive die-cuts. 

I have had a play with the "Tickets & Tags" kit.   Firstly I made a Christmas card, because I was stoked to realise that the colours in the kit perfectly match those on a stamped image I had sitting on my desk.  The other night I tried the Stained Glass technique, by stamping ornaments from Merry & Type on some vellum, using Versamark ink.  I white-embossed the image, and used markers in three colours (Baja Breeze, Poppy Parade and Basic Gray) to colour on the reverse side.  LOVED the result, but wasn't sure what to do with that panel.  Well, whaddya know - the Simply Scrappin' kit came to my rescue.  Enough words; here's a photo:

Stamps: Merry & Type, For My Family

Card: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Baja Breeze marker, Poppy Parade stampin' pad and marker, Basic Gray marker

Other: Vellum, Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit, Silver Mini Brads, White embossing powder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Whisper White satin ribbon, mini glue dots

I just love the glorious patterned paper and cardstock stickers that have Poppy Parade in them.  I used mostly die-cuts, and just a stamped sentiment, to create this next card:

Stamps: For My Family, Oval All

Card: Crumb Cake, Basic Gray, Confetti White

Ink: Poppy Parade stampin' pad, Basic Gray stampin' pad and marker, Baja Breeze stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Tickets & Tags Simply Scrappin' Kit, Lots of Tags sizzlits die, Itty Bitty Shapes punch, Subtles Glimmer brad, Basic pearl, sponge daubers, Crumb Cake seam binding, Pinking Hearts border punch, mini glue dots

I've made one more card with this kit, but you'll have to come back tomorrow to see it (don't want to overload you now!).  You might like it if you're looking for inspiration for a card for a guy.

BLACK AND WHITE FAREWELL CARD

One of Ethan's mates from school is about to return to New Zealand to live, and Ethan asked me to make a farewell card.  My brief was to use black and white.

It's a simple card, but I love it, and hope the young man (who will be sorely missed) does too.  I've used Stampin' Up!'s new silver mini brads on this card, and they are FABULOUS - they're not much bigger than pin heads, and are great, low-profile, embellishments for cards.  I can see I'll be using lots of these!

Stamps: Extreme Elements, For My Family

Card: Basic Black and Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black stampin' pad

Other: Stripes embossing folder, Timeless Type Alphabet sizzlits dies, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Silver Mini Brads, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing tool, Tombow multi liquid glue