Wednesday 31 October 2007

Watercolour Vine



So...I sit down to create, and of course, that Summer Sun stuff is still strewn all over the table. Not happy to let it get the best of me...I try again! I'm thinking head, brick wall, pain....you get the picture.

Anyway, while DS (1.5 yrs) is chewing on the handle of one of my Fiskars circle punches (they make awesome teethers) and making generally helpful grunting noises, I throw this card together. I'm feeling really pleased with myself until I step back and look at the overall product.

It says two things to me, and it didn't say them quietly either. First, AUTUMN, and second HALLOWEEN! Now, this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, unless of course you a/ live in Australia, like me...where it is currently SPRING!, and b/ don't do Halloween...which we don't!

Back to the drawing board.......oh, and BTW...the Summer Sun has been removed form the craft table vicinity ;-).

Cuttlebug Dies





Okay, so this colour scheme was approved by he who checks ;-). I've used the Cuttlebug Asterisks Dies for the embellishments. They are so cute. I wish that I had used a darker yellow, perhaps Marigold Morning, to do the background stamping on the Summer Sun cardstock. The Summer Sun ink almost disappears completely. The rest is all Gel Pen. I'm going to need a new one soon. This one is getting a real workout :-).

Scribble Wheel



Hubby's comment on this was....it's black! Well yes, yes it is. What can you say? He is right after all! But, it is not ONLY black. The rest is Summer Sun, Old Olive, Whisper White and Rose Red.

I smudged the White Craft Ink on the background, when I was putting it together.......but I photoshopped that out in a jiffy ;-)! Ahhhh, if only there was Photoshop for life eh?

Hubby is right though. It is an...odd combination. I had decided I was going to use some of my Summer Sun......it was a trickier task than I had expected. My other largish issue with this card was that I was mean't to be thinking of a swap design for our upcoming Regionals, to be held in Sydney. The sets I used here (Scribble Wheel and Office Accoutrements) are, however, not on sale after November 30th this year......so what good is that? They may come back in next year's Idea Book and Catalogue, but there are no guarantees....so back to the drawing board for me!!!!

Sunday 28 October 2007

Festive Favourites



This card was inspired by a beautiful one I saw on Andrea Walford's blog. Andrea has used some beautiful patterned paper that we do not have over here (yet ;-), so I made my own using Snow Flurries on Confetti White, in Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss and Sage Shadow (all stamped off first). When our November promotion starts here......Holiday Thyme Patterned paper for $14.95...Yipppppeeeeeeeee....I will try it again, using some of that...and a different colour scheme.

My base card is Always Artichoke, then there is some Mellow Moss with the corners punched. The next layer is the stamped Confetti White, with silver brads in the corners, and the 'Season's Greetings' sentiment from Many Merry Messages stamped in Always Artichoke. The next layer is Always Artichoke, and it is mounted on dimensionals. The line of trees is from Festive Favourites and it is stamped on Confetti White. It is actually part of a much larger stamp, which I have cut into three pieces. I haven't mounted it yet...as I only have the one large block to mount it on. So I stamped it here, using Stazon, while it was unmounted. The hardest part was cleaning it afterwards! I have coloured it using Water Colour Wonder Crayons and an Aquapainter. The whole piece and the underlying layer have then been wrapped with silver cord (and lots of sticky tape on the back to hold it in place), et voila!

Have a great weekend.
Sam.

Wednesday 24 October 2007

A little more silliness...



The flower and swirly bits are from Bodacious Bouquet, and the colours are Elegant Eggplant, Summer Sun and Real Red. There is some stamping off, some Real Red brads, some doodling with the white gel pen, some paper piercing and some red Grosgrain ribbon...what more could a card want?

Sam.

Yule Bits & Borders



I had never considered buying this set until a customer recently purchased it, and then showed me what she had done with it. It really is a very pretty and versatile set! This card doesn't really do it justice. Being way too tired while card-making probably didn't help. I even deconstructed it this morning to change the brads I used in the corners. It pulled up fairly well after that major operation...I was surprised.

The colours are Vintage Violet (making the most of it before it goes off the market next April), Marigold Morning and Cranberry Crisp. There is crystal effects on the star on the centre strip, and I have sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds on it before drying. The whole centre strip is mounted on dimensioanls. The 'happy' and 'Christmas' are from Everyday Flexible Phrases...I've eyeballed them in...hence their wobbliness ;-).

I'm thinking of this card as a prototype. There are some changes to be made...I just can't tell what they are right now. Will ponder that today :-).

See you!
Sam.

Saturday 20 October 2007

Stampin' and Doodlin'



I love my Gel Pen! So I was looking for some doodling to do...and I found it :-). LOTS OF IT!

The colours are Elegant Eggplant, Real Red, Summer Sun, Old Olive and Whisper White. The stamps are all from Bodacious Bouquet. There's some distressing, some inked edges, some dots, some line and some dimensionals......see if you can find them all ;-). The card is 1/3 of A4, folded...so just a wee bitty thing. I was considering applying some Dimensional Magic (oooops, Crystal Effects ;-) to the central flower.....but forgot. Double Ooops :-).

Have a good weekend.
Sam.

Tuesday 16 October 2007

Camouflage Lion ;-)



I had to wait to post this fun card.....I wanted the recipient to receive it before it went online. I hope you like it....:-).

The colours are Elegant Eggplant, Real Red, Summer Sun and Whisper White. I was tidying my cardstock scraps into individual clear sleeves on the weekend, and those four ended up next to each other...at which point I thought...hey, that looks...bright! So I wacked them together this morning. I had the Lion floating around in the odd-bits pile, so I went with the flowered lion on Elegant Eggplant...as you do!!!! The base layer has been Faux Stitched around the edge. I love Faux Stitching ALMOST as much as I love ribbon and flowers. The Real Red layer has some Gel Pen Doodle dots on all around it. There is some background stamping in Summer Sun on the Summer Sun layer. The edges of the smaller Elegant Eggplant layer have been sponged with Elegant Eggplant and has Doodled Flowers around the edges. The next layer is Real Red and finally the 'Kissed' Lion has been stamped on Whisper White (possibly in Vintage Violet ink......but I don't think that's such a big deal.
The ribbon is Red Grosgrain and the 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from the Eat Cake set. It made me feel cheery making it.

Ciao,
Sam.

PS. Looking back at the image...the yellow is possibly Marigold Morning!! I might have to label those scrap bags eh? DOH!!!!!

Sunday 14 October 2007

Carried Away Again!!




...I'm feeling a bit like a slacker at the moment, and want to get this on before Rain Shadow starts ;-), so I won't go into detail about how I made these. I'm probably boring you all to tears with my descriptions anyway. The colours are Choc Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White.

Can you tell I am getting a bit of a kick out of photographing my cards these days? Also, do you like the Gazania? Miss 3.5 brought it back for me after a walk she took with Dad this morning! It matched my cards PERFECTLY...who knew flowers came in Choc Chip and Pumpkin Pie ;-).

Thank You Card



These are the very first Stampin' Up! colours I fell in love with! Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive...all great foods too...except I prefer my olives on the newer side, rather than old ;-).

The background is Choc Chip and has Faux Stitching around the edges. The next layer is half Old Olive stamped in Old Olive with one of the flowers from Bodacious Bouquet, and half Pumpkin Pie...which has been crimped :-).

I've wrapped White and Chocolate Grosgrain around the card. Stamped the 'Thanks' from Everyday Flexible Phrases along the top. The circular embellishment is crimped Whisper White cardstock, then stamped Old Olive, then a flower from the Spring Flowers Punch attached with a brass brad from the Vintage set. The whole thing is mounted on dimensionals, and topped with a Choc Chip bow.

I'm off to make Lucky Door Prizes in this colour scheme now!

Saturday 13 October 2007

Another Christmas Make n' Take



First of all, I just want to say that contrary to what your eyes might be telling you, I have coloured those three Christmas Trees with Stampin' Pastel - Certainly celery...I don't know where it went in the photo....I guess I'll blame it on photographing indoors, at night, with dodgy lighting ;-). Rest assured though..it is there!

I needed a seconded make n' take for an upcoming workshop. Yesterday's Birthday Card, based on Kristina Werner's fabulous design, being the first.

This one is Real Red, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. The background stamp is the stars from Holiday Spirit. The Whisper White layer has been crimpered (I liked that better than crimped!!!!!). The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment is from Many Merry Messages. The silver brads are from the Vintage set. The Christmas tree is also from Holiday Spirit, it is stamped in Basic Black on the Whisper White layer, coloured with the pastels and punched with the tag punch. The ribbon is the Red Gingham and stuck on with Glue Dots.......I LOVE Glue Dots!!

Ahhhhhhh, that about covers it. I hope the attendees like it. It got the thumbs up from Miss 3.5 ;-).

MORE Cake ;-)..Second Take!



I changed which stamp I used for the background this time, and I like the candles better! Less busy.

I have used Pretty in Pink marker for the top layer of the cake this time, and it is the one to use! I think I was having a late night minute last night..when I chose Blush Blossom (I typed Blush Bottom last night..odd name for a colour eh?).

I have add the Dazzling Diamonds directly over the candle flame this time, and left the Grosgrain knot ends a bit longer too (I could have run a spot the difference competition, couldn't I?).

I hope you don't mind the rambling. Have a great day.

Sam.

Friday 12 October 2007

EAT CAKE!!!!!



This lovely card is largely designed by Kristina Werner, see it on her blog kwernerdesign blog. I have made a few minor changes. I LOVE her work. The colours are fabulous, and her designs are really striking.

The base card is 5 inches square, and in my version is choc chip cardstock. I have stamped it in choc chip classic ink, using the background stamp from the Eat Cake set. The next layer is Regal Rose, and has a row of Faux Stitching around the edges. The next layer is a piece of the Petals and Paisleys Designer Series Paper. A piece of white Grosgrain is knotted and wrapped around this layer (and anchored under the knot with a glue dot). The 'Eat Cake' sentiment from the Eat Cake set has been stamped in Choc Chip.

I have stamped the cake and candles on a piece of Whisper White cardstock, using Choc Chip, Regal Rose and Blush Blossom Markers (huffing on it before stamping). I possibly should have used Pretty in Pink instead of Blush Blossom. I might try that combo tomorrow. I have dabbled some glue pen above the candles and sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds. The Whisper White cardstock has been mounted on foam offcuts (saved after trimming my stamps). It gives a higher relief than the dimensionals.

I am considering using this design for an upcoming workshop, with due ackowledgement to Kristina, but I am concerned about the logistics of using Dazzling Diamonds during a workshop...will the hostess really want her home covered in glitter? Might have a chat to her about that ;-). It is a step that can be left out, at any rate.

See you!

Thursday 11 October 2007

Faux Postage Stamps



Last night I had a play with this faux postage stamp template which I downloaded from Splitcoaststampers. Fellow Demonstrators Nikki and Lisa helped me modify the template to show Australian postage rates rather than US rates.

The background cardstock is Rose Red. The next layer is Kraft, and I have sponged the edge with Sahara Sand ink...easier to see IRL. The edges have been distressed, there is also Faux Stitching around the edges, and black brads in the corners. The 'POSTED' stamp is from the Office Accoutrements stamp set. There is a small, distressed square of Vintage Violet, which has been stamped with 'Love' from the Wonderful Words set, in white craft ink.

The stamp sheet has been sponged with Pretty in Pink ink (using the masking technique). Then stamped with a heart from the Happy Hearts stamp set, in Rose Red ink. The heart in the bottom left hand corner has been stamped again on a separate piece of cardstock, embossed with clear EP, cut out and mounted above the original stamp on a dimensional. The 'For You With Love' stamp is from the Level One hostess set, Riveting. The whole Faux Stamp sheet has been 'weathered' - by curling edges, and ripping some joints a little way - and is mounted on dimensionals. A piece of Hemp Twine has been knotted and tied around the Kraft layer.

It is different to my usual, flowery style...but I was pleased with the end result.

Thanks for looking :-).
Sam.

Wednesday 10 October 2007

More Spring Flowers



This is last night's effort, my daughter said she loves it....and that's what counts :-).

The base card is Chocolate Chip, which has been sponged with Choc Chip Classic ink around the edges...but you'd be hard pressed to see that on this image. The next layer, Blush Blossom, is mounted on dimensionals. Then there is a distressed layer of Mellow Moss. Then I have Barely Banana, which you can barely see. Then the flip side of the beautiful stripey paper from Spring Flowers. I have stamped some Spring Flowers on it using Vanilla Craft Ink. It was the first time I have used the pad...and it was PERFECT! The stem is from a Level One Hostess set whose name escapes me right now. The flowers are punched in Barely Banana and Blush Blossom and mounted together with a brass coloured brad (from the mixed metallics set), on a dimensional. The corners are Choc Chip and have been poked! They are also mounted on dimensionals. The tape is Twill, the thinnest one....and, as Bugs would say...bedee-bedee-bedee that's all folks!

Tuesday 9 October 2007

Kwerky Kolours



HA HA...that title is never going to come up in anyone's Google search, now..is it?

I was mucking about in my accordion file of cardstock the other night...just randomly pulling out cardstock...and this is what I pulled out! Only Orange, YoYo Yellow, Tempting Turquoise, Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink...now that is a scheme I don't think you'll find on your Colour Coach ;-). But I think it pulled up ok. It is only tiny, shame I didn't put a scale in the photo, but it is only 3 x 3 inches.

The background is Cuttlebugged...:-) (now THAT is a groovy word!). The stamped (Little Pieces) and punched circles are mounted on dimensionals..and that is basically all there is to it!

Origami Box

I saw a GORGEOUS origami box on Tracy Dening's blog Enchantasy the other day. There is an excellent video tutorial on how to make it on Kristina Werner's blog kwernerdesign blog (thanks for that Kristina!).





For the box I have used Spring Flowers patterned papers. The base of the box is So Saffron. The strip over the top of the box is Chocolate Chip, the tag is So Saffron and Chocolate Chip. The brad is So Saffron and the ribbon is Twill Tape. Can anyone see where I made a mistake? I folded the paper incorrectly (yeah...I know...it was pretty darn straightforward...but you know..). So my So Saffron 'box botton' has fold lines down the sides, which you will note the lid does not. You get that!!

The card also has Spring Flowers patterned paper. The background card is Chocolate Chip, with the Print Pattern background stamped in Chocolate Chip too. Then there is a layer of Mellow Moss and it is torn, and has been spritzered (is that a word ;-)...with Almost Artichoke. Then there is a layer of Barely Banans, and it is distressed (it didn't say why). The ribbons are Chocolate Chip and Taupe Grosgrain. The flower is rock n' rolled in Mellow Moss then Almost Artichoke and stamped on Barely Banana. The brads are So Saffron. The flower has been mounted on a dimensional.

I did not know where I was going with this card. It was a piecemeal affair. I do something, then I put it somewhere I can see it and carry on with life...then as I think of something else to do, I go back to it. I did think that there was an excess of speckles (with the speckles on the Spring Showers striped paper and then the speckles I spritzered on)...but you know...I think speckles are going to be really hip soon.......so remember..you read it here first ;-).

Sam.

PS. Take some time in Kristina's blog...it is FANTASTIC. She has skill by the bucketload :-)...I can't believe I have only just found her blog!!

Monday 8 October 2007

My New Banner....

I made the banner up above myself...I'll include it here for those of you who check out my blog using a reader....is there anyone who does this? I don't think that I can tell if people are looking using a reader or not...anyway, where was I?

Oh yeah...the banner...



I don't really know what I am doing when it comes to Blogger....so I didn't know how big to make the banner etc...I am embarrassed to say that I simply measured the size of the old banner on the screen using a ruler...(Hmmmmmm..tricky eh?) then I made a canvas that big in Photoshop and chopped one of my more recent cards into digital bits and stuck them on there, then wrote the title over the top. There are probably more technical ways of doing it...but it appears to have worked. I made the photoshop file as small as I poss could without having the whole thing pixelate completely on me...then saved it as .PNG.

My question to anyone who may read my blog (esp. anyone on dial up or slow connections)......is: Does it take too long to load for you now? There are some blogs out there that take FOREVER to load, and I am mindful that people may just give up in these circumstances...so any feedback would help solve my dilemma! Pretty banner or lots of readers? I'd appreciate your feedback.

Sam.

Sunday 7 October 2007

Happy Birthday.....

This is my latest creation. I really wanted to use some of the Sweet Shop Ribbon Originals (which I adore) for this card...but I found those colours quite tricky to work with. They are not actually 'ME' colours. I'm an Earth Elements girl at heart.

Anyway, after a lot of umming and ahhing, this is the final product...



The background card is Almost Amethyst, and has faux stitching around the edges. Then there is a Rose Red layer, then Apricot Appeal. The Apricot Appeal layer is stamped with the floral background stamp and has Certainly Celery brads in the corners. Then its another layer of the Almost Amythest and then Rose Red, followed by watercolour paper stamped with Sassy Stems and coloured with blender pen and Watercolour Wonder Crayons. The lower Rose Red layer, and the upper Almost Amythest layer are mounted on dimensionals and the card is finished with Sweet Shop Ribbon Originals. The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from Favourite Teddy Bear and is stamped in Versamark then Rose Red and then clear embossed.

Thursday 4 October 2007

My little Stampin' helper!

Bet you'd like to know how to get 18 swap cards done quick stixs...;-)

With a little bit of help from my boy :-). He is a GREAT little Stampin' Helper.

Tuesday 2 October 2007

Okay...so I did a teensy bit of tinkering....

I'm not sure if you will even be able to see my changes in this photo...but I added some Cameo Coral flower stamps to the Cameo Coral layer...to give it a bit of depth there. I also distressed the edge of the Mellow Moss layer...because I felt like it.

Monday 1 October 2007

That picture in my head.......

.....does not look a whole lot like the card below ;-).



But I still like it a lot. I wish I had stamped on the Cameo Coral layer before I mounted the paper flowers on it...maybe a large flower (the one from Looks Like Spring) in Cameo Coral ink...or something? It looks a little blank back there. I might work on it and have another to show you later. I may also change the colour of the circle behind the large paper flower...maybe Mellow Moss...so the Barely Banana punched flower stands out a little more.

Thanks for looking.