SC 042: STAMPIN' UP! KINDNESS MATTERS

With all the nervous energy I have to burn, in the lead-up to Stampin' Up! Convention in a few short sleeps, I've made another card today.  This one is for Sunny Challenges & Creations.

As you can see, there is a sketch to follow, as well as a technique - the Baby Wipe technique.  I LOVE this technique, but haven't played with it for a while.

I have used Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red and Crumb Cake ink refills to create a palette on a baby wipe.  I inked up the gorgeous butterfly stamp from Kindness Matters, on the baby wipe, and stamped it repeatedly on Very Vanilla card, to create a background. 

Using my Color Spritzer Tool, I added some splatters of Blushing Bride and Crumb Cake ink to the stamped panel.  Here's my card (warning: I got a little carried away with baker's twine bows!):

Stamps: Kindness Matters, Trendy Trees

Card: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red re-inkers, Crumb Cake re-inker and marker, Blushing Bride marker

Other: Labels Collection Framelits dies, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso baker's twine, Color Spritzer tool, Basic Pearls, Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, Riding Hood Red pleated satin ribbon, sponge dauber, stampin' dimensionals, Tombow liquid glue

Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow, so I can't guarantee another card will make it onto my blog before I go away.  Watch this space!



FM#60: STAMPIN' UP'S AUTUMN DAYS AND LOVELY AS A TREE

This week's challenge at The Friday Mashup is MY kind of challenge:

1. Make a project for " That special Man in your life ".
2. Or Make a project with the " Sketch ".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Masculine card using the above Sketch ".

I started off with some paper from Stampin' Up!'s Well Worn selection; I just love this pack, and it's my "go to" paper for masculine cards.  I was trying to challenge myself to use the papers with River Rock and Cajun Craze patterns on, but really disliked what I came up with - that ended up in the bin!  I chose instead to use River Rock, Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke (but no Designer Series Paper), on a card for my Dad.  Here's the end result:

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Autumn Days, For My Family

Card: River Rock textured and smooth, Always Artichoke textured, Cajun Craze

Ink: Always Artichoke stampin' pad and marker, River Rock stampin' pad, Cajun Craze stampin' pad and marker

Other: Artichoke denim ribbon, Regals brads, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, Labels Collection Framelits die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, Color Spritzer tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers, edge distressing tool, mini glue dots, stampin' dimensionals

I'm hoping to spend some time in my craft room tonight, after my boys' hours of cricket commitments (yes, it is off-season, but cricket dominates our lives all-year-round!), so stay tuned for a new card or two in the coming days!

DD ##4: MONOCHROMATIC BLUES

This week's challenge at Dynamic Duos is a monochromatic one, and a little outside my comfort zone!

Blue is a colour that I don't often reach for, but I must say I really enjoyed this challenge.  I've used Very Vanilla as the complementary neutral, and toned down the 'blueness' with a touch of Crumb Cake.

I started off with a scalloped rectangle chipboard piece, from Stampin' Up!'s On Board Merry Medley assortment.  Chipboard is not something I've used much, so this was an extra challenge for me!  I covered the scalloped rectangle with glue, and adhered strips of Designer Series Paper, embossed cardstock, and a punched border or three.  Crumb Cake ink sponged around the edges helps to make this piece look finished.  I have used one of my favourite sentiments, that I think is suitable for a range of occasions.  A couple of pearls, and some gorgeous satin ribbon, finish the card.

Stamps: Very Vintage jumbo stampin' around wheel, Thoughts & Prayers

Card: Bashful Blue

DSP: Beau Chateau, Paisley Petals,  and Marina Mist Patterns Designer Series Papers

Ink: Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake and Marina Mist stampin' pads

Other: On Board Merry Medley chipboard, Lace Ribbon border punch, Scallop Edge border punch, Eyelet border punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, sponge dauber, Basic Pearls, Labels Collection Framelits die, Very Vanilla satin ribbon, mini glue dots, Tombow liquid glue

In a few short days, I'll be flying up to Canberra to attend Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention.  It is a highlight of my year!  The old blog will go quiet for a few days, but I'll be back to participating in challenges after next weekend.  I do have a bit of nervous energy, with the build-up of excitement leading up to Convention, so I may well get a few more cards made and blogged before I go!



FESTIVE FRIDAY #20 CHALLENGE: STAMPIN' UP!'S WELCOME CHRISTMAS

This week's Festive Friday Challenge is based around this inspiration picture:

The Festive Friday Design Team have come up with some gorgeous Christmas cards, inspired by this photo.  Our challenge is to now create something inspired by one (or more) of the DT members.

I really like how Kirsty used Real Red satin ribbon, the Stripes embossing folder, and Soft Suede, on her card.  I've used Soft Suede as the feature colour on my card.  I opted to use Confetti White cardstock, for a slightly rustic look.  I brayered Real Red ink onto my Stripes embossing folder, and obviously not very carefully, because the result was a little 'rustic' in itself!  I spritzed Real Red and Soft Suede ink on that panel to add to the look.

Here's my entry for this challenge:

Do you like how I've created the die cut sentiment panel and mat?  I was telling my friend Helen the other day about making a large 'dog tag' shaped die cut, using Stampin' Up!s Labels Collection Framelits.  I must credit Helen with the idea of using that sized panel for the "Joy" stamp from Welcome Christmas - it fits perfectly.

I started off by stamping (using Real Red ink, and the edges "rock and rolled" in Soft Suede ink) the sentiment on Confetti white cardstock.  I used a Framelits die to cut it out, then I cut off the top and bottom of the Framelits die cut, as shown by the dotted lines in this photo:

I sponged around the die cut once I had the shape I wanted, but I needed a Real Red mat behind it.  So, I cut a second (same sized) Framelits die cut in Real Red, and cut only the top and bottom peaks off, cutting where I've drawn dotted lines on this sample:

I love these dies - they're so versatile!


Here is the list of products I used to make this card:

Stamps: Welcome Christmas, Elegance stampin' around wheel

Card: Soft Suede, Real Red, Confetti White

Ink: Real Red stampin' pad and marker, Soft Suede stampin' pad and marker

Other: Labels Collection Framelits die, Mat Pack and paper-piercing tool, Real Red satin ribbon, Scallop Trim border punch, Stripes embossing folder, brayer, Color Spritzer tool, sponge dauber, mini glue dots, paper snips



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!

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!



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!