"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'!

"JUST ADD INK" CHALLENGE #33

The girls over at Just Add Ink have posted a sketch challenge this week.  I LOVE taking part in the challenges, but I must say I have a really hard time with sketch challenges; I'm so much more of a "colour challenge" girl!  Here's the sketch, to base a papercraft challenge on:

.... and, here's my (rather loose) interpretation, of the sketch.  Couldn't resist using more of the gorgeous new Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Papers.  I can see I'm going to have to order me another pack of these papers very soon!

Stamps: Great Friend, Friends Never Fade

Card: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Rose Red

Ink: Basic Black, Certainly Celery and Rose Red stampin' pads

Other: Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Paper, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, White jumbo brad 5/16", Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, sponge dauber, Mat Pack and Paper Piercing Tool, white gel pen, paper snips

We've had a lovely family day so far (and still a few hours to go ...), to celebrate Father's Day.  This morning, after letting Andrew (and the teenager who doesn't 'do' mornings) have a bit of a sleep-in, we visited the fabulous Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne.  LOVE the deli and fresh food section .... what a great place to visit.  We've paid a visit to Andrew's Dad (mine's in Western Australia, as he usually is at this time of year, enjoying the warm weather on Father's Day), and are now home in time to be sheltered from the miserable weather that's just come over!  I hope that all the Dads in your lives are enjoying their special day, too.

BABY BOY CARDS

I have been asked by a friend to make two cards for newborn little Eli.  I've really enjoyed making them; I don't have cause to make many baby cards these days.



Here's my first (and favourite) card, that hubby, the wonder-judge, has deemed 'imbalanced' - hmm, that seems to be his favourite criticism of my cards!





Stamps: Nursery Letters jumbo wheel, Starring You, Short & Sweet

Card: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Bashful Blue stampin' pad, Barely Banana stampin' pad

Other: Scallop Edge punch, Star punch and Large Star punch, Word Window punch, Lots of Tags sizzlits die (cut using Big Shot), sponge daubers, silver 5/16" brads, mat pack and paper piercing tool, dimensionals





I'm also pretty pleased with my other card (especially because it's personalised with an "E", and anything with an initial or monogram - are they one and the same?? - is right up my alley).  Because I made it tonight, I had to photograph it inside .... still, it's come up okay:





Stamps: Pun Fun, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Defining Alphabet

Card: Whisper White, Barely Banana

DSP: Sweet Slumber Specialty Designer Series Paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-on inkpad, Versamark inkpad, Baja Breeze stampin' pad, Barely Banana stampin' pad

Other: Valet Ribbon Originals, sponge daubers, 1" circle punch, 2mm circle punch, Word Window punch, Scallop Edge punch, Baja Breeze corduroy buttons (retired), paper piercing tool, edge distressing tool, dimensionals



Having said that I don't have much cause for baby cards these days, happily I have also to make a little girl baby one!  Congratulations to my friend Renee, and her husband Andrew (although I'm not sure that anyone calls him by his given name!), on the safe arrival of darling little Addison.  Too exciting!!

YAY FOR THE BUTTERFLY PUNCH (and JUMBO BRADS)!

With the 'expiry' of the recent Summer Mini catalogue, from Stampin' Up!, I was most concerned that the Butterfly punch would be no longer available.  This long-awaited, versatile, punch has been available in Australia for only a few short months, and has proven very popular - it co-ordinates not only with the Butterfly Prints stamp set from the Summer Mini, but with the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue (which is current through until the end of August).  I LOVE it.

Great news, people!  Stampin' Up! has several products, from both the Summer Mini catalogue, and the earlier Spring Mini catalogue, that will carry over into our new catalogue coming out in September.  Even though these products don't appear in a current catalogue, they are still available to purchase.  So, if you haven't yet bought the Scallop Oval punch (that mats beautifully behind the Large Oval punch), or the Butterfly Punch, or Jumbo brads, to name a few, don't despair!

I thought I'd share with you today a few cards on which I've used these products, so you can see what a nice touch they add to a card.  Settle in for a little trip down Memory Lane!


First up, the BUTTERFLY PUNCH:












On this next card I've used both the Butterfly Punch and the SCALLOP OVAL PUNCH:



... and another card (using a retired stamp set), showing how well the Large Oval Punch fits inside the Scallop Oval Punch:




Stampin' Up!'s punches co-ordinate so beautifully with the stamp sets, and make it very easy to achieve a beautiful result with your card-making and scrapbooking.

Being a huge fan of brads (split pins) as an embellishment, I've made a number of cards with both the 'giant' 5/8" size, and the smaller 5/16" brads, both of which come in a Neutrals Assortment (Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip and Silver).  Unfortunately, I seem to have given away most of the cards, without photographing them first.  Here are a few photos of cards that have the 5/8" JUMBO BRADS on them:










I love how flat these brads are. The smaller size (5/16") is great to add to flower centres.


So, as well as feeling the excitement of all the gorgeous new products just released in Australia, I'm really happy to be able to share this news about some 'not so new' favourites.

If I can help you with a Stampin' Up! order (no need to hold a workshop, if you'd just like to order direct), please email me.  I am happy to answer any questions I can!

SCALLOP NOTES II, POLKA DOTS, AND A BIT OF PUN FUN

Yes, folks, I'm back, for the second time in one evening!  After signing off earlier, with a promise of making cards in the coming days, I checked the 'family planner' on our bench and realised that the next few days are pretty full-on for our family.  So, I've taken advantage of a bit of time this evening with only one son home (he being the son who is not particularly interested in talking to his mother).  I went into my craft room and had a little play with some products that are about to be 'retired' from our range of Stampin' Up! goodies.  With less than two weeks left of the current Summer Mini catalogue, I decided I should focus on showcasing some of the products.

Back in this post I showed a few of the pretty things that are available only until the end of March.  I love the little Scallop Notes II, which are the sweetest 'love note', or gift card, size.  They are on page 7 of the Summer Mini catalogue, and at $23.95 for 30 cards and envelopes, are great value.  The Scallop Notes come in a selection of Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip (10 cards of each colour); all of the envelopes are Very Vanilla.

I have a few photos to show you of the results of my play session this evening.

First up is a 'group shot' of the three colours of cards, so you can visualise them, if you're not familiar with Stampin' Up!'s colours.





Now I'll show them to you, one by one, so I can include a list of all the products used to make each card.

Behind this first card is a blank, standard-sized card, so you can see how little and cute the Scallop Notes are!  I'm a very 'visual' person, so find it much easier to see something than have it described to me.



Stamps: Pun Fun

Card: Pink Pirouette Scallop Note II, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray

DSP: Bella Rose

Ink: Basic Gray and Pink Pirouette stampin' pads, Pretty in Pink marker

Other: 1 3/4" circle punch, Word Window punch, sponge dauber,Trio Flower punch, white gel pen, dimensionals



On this next card, I've used an adorable little stamp set and punch that will be available to purchase from next month.  They're TINY (and that's all I'm saying for now)!





Stamps: Pun Fun, Polka Dot background, plus new, exciting little stamp set...

Card: Baja Breeze Scallop Note II, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette stampin' pads, Pretty in Pink marker

DSP: Pink Pirouette Patterns Designer Series Paper

Other: Sponge dauber, Flower Fusion Too, Pretty in Pink brad, glue dots, exciting little punch... :)



The little house stamped on this last card is from one of this year's Sale-a-Bration stamp sets, called Good Neighbors.  The stamps can be earned for FREE if you spend $100 on Stampin' Up! products before the end of March.  A stamp-a-ma-jig comes in very handy if you're using this stamp set!  See the cute little envelope underneath the card?





Stamps: Good Neighbors, Short & Sweet

Card: Chocolate Chip Scallop Note II, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip cardstock

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss stampin' pads

DSP: Kiwi Kiss Patterns Designer Series Paper

Other: Sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Word Window Punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Scallop Circle Punch, dimensionals, Pumpkin Pie 1/4" grosgrain ribbon



I hope you've enjoyed my little Scallop Notes II 'showcase'.  Let me know which one is your favourite!

Christine :)

SWEET VALENTINE

Just a quick one today - Happy Valentine's Day, friends!  Here is a cute, simple card I made for a young friend to give his Valentine:



Stamps: Pun Fun

Card: Whisper White, Real Red, watercolour paper

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Going Gray stampin' pad, Real Red stampin' pad, Basic Gray stampin' pad, Old Olive marker

Other: Basic Gray DSP (from hostess pack), Word Window punch, aquapainter, sponge dauber, Real Red polka dot grosgrain (from Summer Mini catalogue).

I hope it brings a smile to your face, and hope that wherever you are you're having a happy day, and feeling the love!

CHRISTMAS CLASSICS

I am having a HEAP of trouble with Typepad, and have tried numerous times over the last few days to post, only to be thrown out repeatedly.  I had a rather lengthy post saved, and it has disappeared into oblivion, so today I am feeling just a bit grumpy!!  (Alright, a lot grumpy.)

I've been playing with my gorgeous new Christmas Classics stamp set (LOVE the crisp images it produces), and have a couple of cards to share, if only the uploading of images is successful, on my 247th attempt.  Here goes ..... 

Oh, wait, I just remembered I promised my sister, Lynda, that I'd post a photo of the birthday cards she and I made for Ethan recently.  Lynda and I are twins on one day of the year (she was born the day before my first birthday); for the other 364 days we do share thoughts, ideas and colour-choices in clothing.  It's a bit uncanny sometimes.  This year Lynda was super-organised and had made my little man a birthday card early.  Foolishly, I didn't think to check with her as to what colours and stamp set she used (you'd think that after 40+ years of 'twin-like' behaviour, I'd know better).  This was the result - Lynda's card on the left, mine on the right:



Now for the Christmas cards I have to show you - both using Christmas Classics stamp set and Ski Slope Designer Series Paper, from Stampin' Up!  I have tried several times to upload these photos, and add all the 'ingredients' used, and such is my frustration at failing repeatedly that I am going to try ONE MORE TIME to just get the pictures up.  I'll skip all the extra explanations - if you need any details, just email me!  Here's what I came up with:


How cute are those baubles?  Here's the next one (my favourite) - let me know which one you prefer!  I know some of my friends need no prompting to let me know, but I'm interested to see your feedback :)




Well, hallelujah, I've successfully uploaded 3 photos, and even managed to add some text -what progress!  I'm going to sign off here (don't want to push my luck).  Fingers crossed my next post will be smooth sailing, and will take less than 4 days to complete!  

Tomorrow my littlest love turns 9.  Can any other Mum out there relate to the slightly-sad feeling of their youngest growing up??  I LOVE seeing my boys grow and develop, and feel enormously proud of the beautiful human beings they are, but I can't help but see that shortly my cuddly little man will not be too keen to cuddle his Mum. Hopefully that will be a passing phase! (Jack, 13, has come back around and, amazingly, even lets me kiss and cuddle him in public.)

My boys are working at the Royal Melbourne Show tonight, which has afforded me some crafting time.  Just as well, because I have been totally under-prepared for Ethan's birthday tomorrow.  I have made my boy a card using one of his favourite stamp sets, Pun Fun (have to love that rocket for boys, especially!).  I was inspired by this card made by Sue Madex; love the look of stars punched out of cardstock, and adhered to the same coloured card.  Here is the end result:

Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You

Card: Kraft, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Ink: Pacific Point & Riding Hood Red stampin' pads, Versamark ink pad

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine and Candy Lane (for paper-pieced rocket parts)

Other: Small star punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, scallop edge punch, rectangle & scalloped rectangle nestabilities

Despite the blurry photography, I hope you like it!  I think my boy will be happy with it - mind you, he may not pay much attention to the card, since there's cake and presents to be enjoyed.  May you all have as happy a Sunday as my boy is bound to have.

OH, BABY BABY....

Hi friends,

I'M BACK!!  We had a wonderful 2 weeks away (4 days in L.A., then a 7-day cruise down the west coast of Mexico, plus 2 days of flying added on!), and a week later I am still recovering.  It was a great, if busy, holiday - seems I may have an inner-ear virus that is affecting my balance, and I am still feeling very tired.  Awaiting blood test results, but it's not all bad; I don't feel too unwell.

I am happy to be back amongst my beloved craft supplies, and I have been quite busy creating these last couple of nights.  I decided I need to make some baby cards.  I don't actually know anyone who is expecting, but I don't have any in my vast collection - time to rectify that situation, don't you think?   For these few cards I have used cute creatures from the Pun Fun stamp set.  Hope you like them!



Stamps: Pun Fun, Short & Sweet

Ink: Staz-On Jet Black, Baja Breeze stampin' pad

Card: Whisper White, Baja Breeze

DSP: Sweet Slumber

Other: Circle nestabilities, word window punch, dimensionals, buttons from Button Bouquet, baja breeze ribbon from Valet Ribbon Originals, mini glue dots, sponge dauber





Stamps: Pun Fun, Say it with Scallops

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Baja Breeze stampin' pad

Card: Kraft, Whisper White, Baja Breeze

DSP: Sweet Slumber

Other: Kraft taffeta ribbon, circle and scalloped circle nestabilities, dimensionals, sponge dauber, scallop square punch, scallop edge punch





Stamps: Pun Fun, ABC Alphabet Lower, Cheep Talk (tiny heart)

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Riding Hood Red stampin' pads, Close to Cocoa marker

Card: Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa

DSP: Candy Lane

Other: Riding Hood Red and Very Vanilla taffeta ribbons, Pink Pirouette striped grosgrain ribbon, sponge dauber, stamp-a-ma-jig



I had a lot of fun making these cards; a good start to my baby collection.  I am loving the Sweet Slumber and Candy Lane designer series papers; how cute are they??!

Now, I have a little sneak peek for you, of some GORGEOUS new products that will be available from 1st August.  Stampin' Up! has a mini-catalogue coming out, and it is full of the most beautiful stamps, papers, and accessories - as if we didn't already have too many to choose from!!

Here is a card I put together with some of my favourites.  Let me know if you, too, would like to order some!



I can't wait until the mini-catalogue launches in a couple of weeks; you'll see lots more creations then. 

If you live in the outer-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and would like to come to my place in Mt Evelyn, I'd love to show you different ways of using Stampin' Up!'s products.  Send me an email if you and some friends would like to attend one of my classes - I'd love to hear from you.

Christine :)

Introducing "PUN FUN"

Hi friends

I'm happy to be able to squeeze in one more post before jetting off into the sunset.  Over the weekend I have had the chance to play with Stampin' Up!'s very cute stamp set called Pun Fun.  I have used a couple of the images, but none of the matching sentiments, on my cards.  It's a great set, with a million different uses; unfortunately I was a little limited in the amount of time I had in which to create, so I'll give you just a small sample.

My favourite image from this set is the cup - it really tickles my fancy.  I have unashamedly 'CASE'd (copied and selectively edited) this first card from some gorgeous creations I found on Splitcoaststampers - a really inspirational online community.  The stand-out features on this card are the yummy papers from the Sweet Slumber collection; heavy weight double-sided papers, with gorgeous co-ordinating and complementary designs.  I simply stamped the cup onto 3 different papers, cut them out and mounted them on another piece of paper - so easy, but a cute, cute result.  Here it is:



Stamps: Pun Fun, Short & Sweet

Card: So Saffron

DSP: Sweet Slumber

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Baja Breeze stampin' pad

Other: Sponge dauber, Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain, Riding Hood Red taffeta ribbon, scallop edge punch, craft knife, mini glue dots

I could happily have just made dozens of 'cup' cards whilst I have this set on loan, but branched out and used my next-favourite image, which is the rocket.  This is such a great stamp for boys' cards in particular.  I was inspired by my friend Claire to use Riding Hood Red and Pacific Point together - these are two of this year's "in colours", and whilst I LOVE the red, I am taking a little longer to warm to the blue.  I think I just need to use it more.  I've used a little, little bit of paper piecing, and used some of my fab-o star brads from Stampin' Up!  After I'd photographed the card, I actually raised up the scalloped sentiment on dimensionals (I made this card while we were away at our cabin on the weekend, and I took only double-sided tape with me), so just use your imagination a little with that!



Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You

Card: Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, star brads, Riding Hood Red striped grosgrain, dimensionals (added later!)

I mentioned above that I'd used Washington Apple DSP on my card.  This paper is really lovely, and inspires me to combine colours that I wouldn't have thought to put together.  A very simple card, jazzed up with my favourite Build-A-Brads, that I created by punching out 1/2" circles of Washington Apple DSP.  I really like how well the Starring You stamps go with this rocket image.



Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You

Card: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

DSP: Washington Apple

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue stampin' pads

Other: 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, sponge dauber, Build-A-Brad, scissors to 'rough up' card edge (since I forgot to take my edge distresser away with me!)

Now I'm off to finalise washing and other bits and pieces before we finish packing for our big trip.  Please come back to visit after mid-July - I'll be back!

Christine :)