Sunday 27 May 2012

Merry Monday Challenge #21

The idea of the Merry Monday Challenge is to get a head start on your Christmas Cards.  The sketch this week I really liked and the card I have made is quite simple, using Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Very Vanilla. 


Stamps used are from the Winter Post and Curly Cute stamp sets by Stampin' Up.   I have embossed the reindeer with gold embossing powder to give him a little bit of Christmas glitz.



Saturday 26 May 2012

Stampin' Collage

Believe it or not, the inspiration for this card came from my scrap mat.  I was starting to clean up this morning after my cardmaking last night, and the pattern created on my scrap mat with the Music Wheel, En Francais and Elements of Style stamps caught my eye.  I recreated it adding a few other stamps from Artistic Etchings and Creative Elements.  I had a dress left over from yesterday, made with the Rue Des Fleurs so just added this to the card base with a scalloped circle and embossed circle and some other embelishments and a ribbon bow.  Voila finished card.


Simply Stampin' Challenge Sketch Week - For the Newlyweds

Crumb Cake and Whisper White are the colours that I have used on this card for the Simply Stampin' Challenge based on this sketch:

Stamp sets used are from Stampin' Up, I [Heart} Hearts, French Filigree and Teeny Tiny Sentiments.  The punches used are the Heart to Heart, Modern Label, Word Window, Lace Ribbon Border and Blossoms Petals Builder.  The middle piece of Whisper White was stamped with the French Filigree and embossed with white Stampin' Emboss Powder. I does not show very well in the photo, but it has a shimmery finish.  The leaves from the Blossom Petals Builder Punch were folded in half and put through the crimper on the diagonal to create the ridges in the leaves. Organza ribbon used in bow and Crumb Cake Seam Binding ribbon used to make the ribbon flowers. 


Closer view of the middle embossed piece, the embossing just shows in this picture.


Simply Stampin' Challenge Top 3

Great start to the weekend, I made the Top 3 at the Simply Stampin' Challenge this week with my Fabulous Florets monochromatic card with a splash of colour. I must admit that I was pretty please on how this card turned out.




Friday 25 May 2012

Mojo Monday Challenge #242

The Mojo Monday Challenge this week is based on the following sketch:


I just could not help myself, I have used the Elements of Style stamp set again.  I had already coloured the dress, made using the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set (cased from Ruthy Clarke), with Real Red and I needed a background paper to match.  So I stamped the Elements of Style image on the First Edition Specialty DSP and coloured it with Real Red and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers. 

The Basic Black and Very Vanilla pieces have been embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, but the embossing on the Basic Black piece does not show up very well in the photo.

Angela Sargent had a great idea of making the rhinestone buckle using Window Sheets, the 3/4" and 1/2" ircle punches and basic jewel rhinestones.  The finishing touch, a piece of Very Vanilla Velvet Designer ribbon threaded though the rhinestone buckle.

Thursday 24 May 2012

Elements of Style

Lately I just keep on using the Elements of Style stamp from Stampin' Up on my cards.  I love the image when it has been coloured with the Stampin' Write Markers.  I made this card just for the fun of it, to see what I could create using the Music Wheel on the DSP and the Elements of Style stamp set.

I have used a piece of First Edition Specialty DSP and put the music notes diagonally across the top and bottom of the card.  All the other embelishments have been made using Stampin' Up products, the little Black Bird has been embossed but it does not show up very well in the photo.

The colours used are Bravo Burgundy, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Old Olive and Always Artichoke. 

Monday 21 May 2012

Cardabilities - Sketch #55

I just love the colouring and embossing resist technique that I have cased from Sandy McIver.  This is the second card I have made in as many days using the stamp set Elements of Style coloured with Stampin' Write Markers Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry stamped with Soft Suede ink.

I have entered this card in the challenge at Cardabilities based on the following sketch:

I have created an embossed resist piece that is situated across the card, but as it is very similar to the base piece it has got a bit lost.  I have put the ribbon on the bottom of the piece to try and define it.

Stamps - Elements of Style, Tea Shoppe and Kindness Matters from Stampin' Up
Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Soft Suede and Pretty in Pink
Other - Blushing Bride and Pretty in Pink ribbon, Victoria Crochet Trim, Antique Brad,
Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit Die, Little Leaves and Swirls Scribbles Sizzlit Dies,
and Curly Label Punch




Sunday 20 May 2012

Dynamic Duos Colour Challenge Week 3 - Black Tie-one colour plus black and a dessert option

The colour challenge at Dynamic Duos is Week 3-Black Tie-one colour plus black and a dessert option.  The colours are Daffodil Delight and Basic Black and the Desert Option is Dry Embossing.


My card for this challenge is very simple, I don't usually use yellow in a lot of my cards but the yellow with the black is very striking and gives a great contrast.  I got the circle punches out for this card, punching circles of Basic Black and Daffodil Delight DSP.  The black edge was made using the Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die.

All products used on this card are from Stampin' Up and the stamp set used is "Happiest Birthday Wishes".  





4 You & Whoopie Cakes

I have been experimenting making Whoopie Cakes this afternoon (yes they are legal) in between making cards.  Mum and I saw an article in The West Australian newspaper last week about Whoopie Pies or Cakes.  We were intrigued so I Googled to find out what they were as I had never heard of them before.  As a result of this we ventured off to the Kitchen Witch yesterday at Edgewater and purchased our Whoopie Pans and also found a great recipe book.  For my first attempt I made Chocolate Gluten Free Whoopies (Mum and I have had a great laugh over the name of them), they look like the picture in the book so I think this is a great start..  I am just waiting for them to cool completely before I put the filling in, make a cup of coffee and sample the wares.

The card for this post is for the challenge at Freshly Made Sketches, based on the following sketch:


We are supposed to keep out card fresh and clean lined for the challenge but my card ended up a bit antiquified (not sure if that is a word) for the challenge but I thought I would still enter it as I was quite pleased with the finished card.

The inspiration for the colouring of the Elements of Style stamp I cased  from the very talented Sandy McIver.  I made the flower using the Victoria Crochet Trim and an Antique Brad as the centre.

Simply Stampin' Challenge #60 - Monochrome With a Spash of Colour

The challenge this week at Simply Stampin' Challenge is Monochrome - With a Spash of Colour.


I have use the colour of Perfect Plum and my splash of colour is Always Artichoke.  The base card is made using the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  I found a fantastic tutorial by France Martin on how to do this.  I just love the finished effect and what a great use of the punch.

Fabulous Florets is the stamp set  I have use for my flower and stem, and Tiny Tags stamp set for the little tags.  I had a slight problem in that I did not have any Perfect Plum ribbon or other co-ordinating ribbon.  So on went my thinking cap, I tried using reinkers to change the colour of some Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, but I was not happy with finished piece of ribbon.  So I tried sponging Perfect Plum onto the Whisper White Organza Ribbon,  perfect (excuse the pun) I got the effect that I was looking for.  I did not use the reinkers on the Whisper White Organza Ribbon, I used a sponge dauber and the Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad to colour the ribbon.

The base card was a piece of A4 Perfect Plum cut long ways at 4 1/4" width, this piece is then folded in half to create the base card that is punched with the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  The centre piece was made by cutting an Always Artichoke mat at 1 5/8" x 4 5/8" and a Whisper White piece, that was stamped, at 1 1/2" x 4 1/2".

Sunday 13 May 2012

JAI 117 Colour Challenge

The colour challenge this week at Just Add Ink is based on the following colours:


The card I have made has used the colours of Daffodil Delight, So Saffron and Whisper White, but I used Always Artichoke for the leaves on my flower, I tried using Whisper White but they got lost on the card (hopefully I am still within the rules of the challenge, but if not that is okay as I was quite pleased with the finished card).  I do not usually use yellow much in my card making but when trying to design my card for the challenge a realised I like the colours together with a touch of brown ink.


The carnation flower is made using Daffodil Delight cardstock lightly inked on the edges with Soft Suede.  To make the flower I used the 1 3/4" Scalloped Punch, punching out 8 scallops, inked the edges with Soft Suede, misted with water and layered them together using a small brad to anchor them.  I then scrunched each layer individually into the centre of the flower until all the layers were scrunched into the centre.  Gently tease the layers apart until you are satisfied with the final look of the flower.  I found that if you lightly teased the lower layers out first the top layers just form into a nice looking flower naturally without much further teasing apart.  Let the flower dry before use (I found this works best, I got impatient and warped my base card with the moisture so had to make another).

The So Saffron strip was punched using the Eyelet Border Punch and lines scored (you cannot see this very well in the picture) to make the frame for the flower strip I made using the Bordering on Romance stamp set from Stampin' Up.  I coloured the flowers with the Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write Marker. 

Finishing touches of Daffodil Delight Swirls and Scribbles, Whisper White butterflies with pearls and Whisper White ribbon.




Thursday 10 May 2012

Fabulous Florets - Gift Box Set

I have been making some gift box sets with four co-ordinating cards for "The Big Morning Tea" that the Wanneroo Country Woman's Association Branch are holding on the 12 June, 2012 at the Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre.  The proceeds of the day go to Breast Cancer Care WA, a WA Charity that provides personalised emotional, practical and financial support and care to people affected by breast cancer.

I have used the colours of Whisper White, Crumb Cake and Always Artichoke with some Soft Suede ink as an addition for contrast.  This is the first set that I made, using the Fabulous Florets stamp set from Stampin' Up.  All the products used on this project are from Stampin' Up.

I was very pleased with how the finished project turned out.


Close up of the cards in the set.





The box base was made from Crumb Cake cardstock and the lid was made from a piece of Neutrals DSP and stuck down on Crumb Cake cardstock.  The sides of the lid were punch using the Eyelet Border punch to give a decorative edge.  I made some more paper roses with the Fancy Flower punch to decorate the lid, I just could not resist.


Top of Box


Side View of Box showing the decorative punched edge.

Sunday 6 May 2012

Autumn Days - Mojo Monday #239

The challenge at Mojo Monday  this week is based on the following sketch, to either make a round or square card.


All products on my card are from Stampin' Up, using the colour scheme of Early Espresso, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla and the stamp set "Autumn Days".  The Simply Scored Score Pal is a recent addition to my gadget stash and I have used it to make the diagonal lines on the Cajun Craze background which were then sponged lightly with Cajun Craze ink to highlight the gridlines.

Simply Stampin' Challenge Top 3

My "More Roses" card I entered into the Simpy Stampin' Challenge was in the Top 3 this week, what a great start to the week to have a little feel good surprise like this.


Wednesday 2 May 2012

More Roses

I have used the last of my stash of roses on this card which I am entering into the Simply Stampin' Challenge and The Paper Players Challenge #93.


The challenge at Simply Stampin' Challenge is "Perfect Pairs".  I have several "Perfect Pairs" on my card, the rose buds, small roses and the hearts.

Tic Tac Toe is the challenge at The Paper Players Challenge this week.  I have decided on Flowers, Dry or Wet Embossing and Square Card.  I made the roses using the Stampin' Up Fancy Flower punch, the rose buds from the Bird Builder Punch and I have embossed the whisper white cardstock with the Perfect Polka Dots and the Finial Press embossing folders and of course the card is square.




Tuesday 1 May 2012

For the Newlyweds

A recent purchase for my gadget stash is the Simply Scored Scoring Tool from Stampin' Up.  I was having a play with my new gadget and created the scored background for this card.  I am going to give scoring the lines on a diagonal a go next.

I sponged over the scored lines with Crumb Cake to highlight the grid pattern.  I had my base card, but what to use as a card topper?  Into my stash I went and found some of the lovely paper roses that I created about four weeks ago.   I used these to design the rest of  the card around. 

Having been asked by a work colleague to make some Wedding Cards for her, I turned this card into an appropriate card for a Wedding.  I have used the colours of Natural Ivory, Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler and Basic Black.

Flowers always fit any occasion.