Tuesday 27 November 2007

Au Chocolat Pinwheel

Sounds yummy eh?

You may have noticed that in addition to my appreciation of all things ribbony (add that one to your dictionaries girls ;-), I also love all things floral and Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Designer Series Papers to boot!!! Here they are together in a simple gift tag that I made...also made while watching Torchwood the other night.



Colours...again think Neopolitan Ice Cream: Chocolate Chip, Rose Red and Regal Rose...who needs Vanilla Ice Cream anyway? I've used the Big Blooms stamp set (in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink on the Chocolate Chip cardstock), as well as the Linen Background stamp (in Regal Rose Classic Ink on the Regal Rose layer). The 'petals' are large square punched pieces, folded in half then back again.

The button is a ring-in...and it doesn't look too bad IMHO. I didn't have any of the appropriate colour, so I've used a Pretty in Pink one from the Soft Subtles selection. The string is Linen Thread, coloured using a Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker. I've attached the button using a Glue Dot. Glue dots are THE BEST! So easy to use, no mess and I've not had anything come unstuck while using them. 10 out of 10 from me!

Hasta Luego,
Sam.

Monday 26 November 2007

Summer Mini Secrets...

You may have noticed a few stamps and accessories in my latest posts that are not familiar to you (if you live in Australia that is, if you live in the US, you have probably been there done that :-).

The new stamps and accessories will be available in our Summer Mini Catalogue...due for release on the 1st December...FIVE DAYS, not that I'm counting! There are some beautiful things in it...especially ribbons. And you will have noticed that I LOVE ribbon!

This next card has been made using some of the new ribbons, designer series paper and a new stamp set too! I made it last night while watching episodes 5 - 7 of Torchwood (a GREAT show...thanks Veronica!).



The ribbons are Ribbon Originals called Flirty. The paper is Au Chocolat and the stamps are Big Blooms. The colours are Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Rose Red. It makes me think of Neopolitan Ice Cream...YUM!

Enjoy!
Sam.

Saturday 24 November 2007

Christmas Criss Cross Card

I have a Stampin' Up! workshop coming up where the hostess has asked for a Christmas-themed Criss Cross card as one of the make n' takes. This is going to be it! Beate's excellent (as always) tutorial for the Criss Cross card is on Splitcoaststampers here.



The colours are Cranberry Crisp, True Thyme and Confetti Cream. I've used some Holiday Thyme paper...of course! I love it, and have accumulated a little stash. The ribbon is Cream Grosgrain and Copper Cord. The brads are copper, from the Vintage set....I never seem to use the copper ones, so I will be glad to put them to good use here.

The large snow flake embellishment is from Yule Bits & Borders, and is stamped in Cranberry Crisp on Confetti Cream and punched out using the 1 1/4" circle punch. This piece is mounted on a 1 3/8" circle of True Thyme and the whole lot is mounted on dimensionals over the top of some Copper Cord tied in bows.

The tab on the inner card is a Round Tab punched piece of Cranberry Crisp. The snow flake is from Snow Flurries (get it before the Spring Mini catalogue finishes in LESS THAN A WEEK....Eeeeeeeek!!). 'Season's Greetings' is stamped in Cranberry Crisp, and is from the Many Merry Messages set...a very useful set, if I may say so myself!

And another one....basically the same stuff. I've used Burgundy Grosgrain and Gold Cord on this one. I tried the stitched Cranberry Crisp ribbon, but it didn't work for me.



I guess it is worth mentioning that the two pieces of Holiday Thyme double-sided Designer Series paper are not from the same sheet. I have just used my two favourite patterns...because I can!

Have a great weekend,
Sam.

Wednesday 21 November 2007

Sydney Regionals 2007 - Make n' Takes

You will probably have seen these projects on at least 20 other blogs by now...but you know what?...They won't be EXACTLY the same as mine :-). My sentiments are decidedly crooked (who didn't have their Stamp-a-ma-Jig handy??), and I was rushing, rushing, rushing to finish...AND making it with written instructions (the example card was often too hard to find)...so I'm feeling pretty darn pleased with myself that I got them finished at all!




I know I used the wrong piece of ribbon for at least one card, and I finished up with one piece of cardstock left over, still don't know what that bit was from...but you know, there are NO mistakes in cardmaking...just a different way to do it :-).

The colours, as you can see, are: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean, More Mustard, Marigold Morning, Certainly Celery and Old Olive. The stamp set is Simply Said....which I now have two of. One for each hand!

Have a great day,
Sam.

Tuesday 20 November 2007

Christmas Cracker in Holiday Thyme



So, I was going for the David Jones Christmas Catalogue look with my photos here. Unfortunately I didn't have any napkins that looked remotely respectable with this dinner setting (think lady bugs, pirates, clowns, fish etc...but nothing refined Christmas :-).

You get the idea though. Make your own Christmas Crackers this year using Stampin' Up!'s beautiful Holiday Thyme Designer Series (double-sided) paper (12 sheets for $14.50 - available through me until 15th December, 2007). I think they look stunning (the crackers and the paper :-).

I'm going to make my own Christmas Crackers this year....I'll even endeavour to find some silly jokes online and some ridiculous looking hats in the $2 shop (what cracker would be complete without a ridiculous hat inside?).

This one took all of 15 minutes to make. I have used sticky strip to join it together...don't want it falling apart on a 40 degree Christmas Day now, do we? The ribbons are Olive Organdy and Gold Cord. Don't tie them too tight.....I've heard the cracker can rip if you tie them too tight (or if you cut the diamonds at the ends too thin).

Have Fun!
Sam.

Wednesday 14 November 2007

Sydney Regionals 2007 - Swap ATC



I thought I'd make a couple of Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) to swap in Sydney...just in case anyone else was swapping them too.

This one uses: True Thyme, Cranberry Crisp and Confetti Cream Cardstock. The flower 'petals' have been punched from Holiday Thyme paper using the Word Window punch. The stem is gold cord, and the leaves and the background stamp are all from the Level Three Hostess set 'Flowers For a Friend'.

Sydney Regionals 2007 - Second Swap Card





So here is my second Sydney Regional swap card. I went with the first design in the end, and made 24 of them. The colours are, Ruby Red, Kraft, Whisper White and Chocolate Chip. The stamps are Stem Silhouttes, and have been stamped in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink and Whisper White Craft Ink.

Sunday 11 November 2007

Sydney Regionals 2007 - Swap Card


I know that the blog value of this post is questionable, and it may even be considered a bit of a spolier, as the Sydney Regionals are not until next Saturday (17th November), but I'm putting it up here anyway because:

a) not many potential recipients look at my blog,
b) this will give those few who do look, the chance to decide whether they like my swap or not, and if they don't - duck for cover if they see me coming their way on Saturday, and last but not least,
c) I just felt like it :-).

As you can see I went for the all blue version of the card, and am pleased with it (although completely over it after having made 24 of them). I am in the process of making another 24 cards (it'll be a late night tonight) but in a different design. I'll post a picture of those next weekend (so now you won't know whether to run in the opposite direction or not...you never know, the other swap may be be simply FABULOUS ;-).

Saturday 10 November 2007

Christmas Triangle Trifold Card...



This is one of the things we will be making at a workshop I am demonstrating at tonight. I had not tried making a trifold card until now, but they are so cute, and I thought it would be nice to try something different. I followed a tutorial by Beate Johns, which you can find on Splitcoaststampers.

The colours are Brocade Blue (gee I need to get myself some more of that!!) and Night of Navy. I have used some Holiday Thyme Designer Series Paper, some Confetti White (inside) and some watercolour paper too. The Reindeer stamp is from the....? What set is that from...will check and get back to you later ;-). I have watercoloured them using an aquapainter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons (Ruby Red and Night of Navy). The ribbon is Navy Organdy.

I think that about sums it up.
Have a good weekend.
Sam.

Friday 9 November 2007

Christmas Bows and Gift Tags




These little goodies are made using the fabulous new Holiday Thyme Double-Sided Designer Series Papers, amongst other things.

There is a video tutorial for the Origami Box on Kristina Werner's fabulous blog. The tutorial in in October 2007...for some reason I couldn't link to the specific post.

There is a photo tutorial for the paper bows by Jessica Crawford on Splitcoaststampers.

And last but certainly not least, there is a tutorial for the Gift Tags by the very talented Andrea Walford.

I have used the Holiday Thyme papers, Cranberry Crisp, True Thyme and Very Vanilla cardstock. I stamped various images on the Very Vanilla cardstock in Sahara Sand ink (after stamping off once first). As we do not have the Stampin' Up! scalloped circle punch here in Australia yest I searched my local craft shops high and low for another scalloped punch. Who would have thought they would be so darn hard to find. I eventually found a Carla Craft Mega Punch which does the job nicely. If you can't find a scalloped circle punch either, and are feeling up to it, there is a great video tutorial for making your own by Julie at Paper Pleasing Ideas.

Tuesday 6 November 2007

Big Bloom



I found a card remotely similar to this on the Stampin' Up! UK website here. I did say 'remotely' similar ;-). We don't have Bashful Blue Grosgrain, and we don't have whatever stamp set has been used in the original....well, I don't own it if we do. I have made my own judgment as to what colours were used (although my judgment on colour is NOT renowned for its accuracy ;-). I have used one of my newly acquired Big Blooms, and I love them! I do have one colour issue with this card. One possible error of judgment...but maybe if I don't tell you, you won't notice ;-) (I should be so lucky).

Sam.

Holiday Thyme



These cards are also based on Andrea's beautiful card as seen here. I have used the recently released Holiday Thyme papers this time, and I think they look pretty nice.

The colours on the first card are Old Olive and Cranberry Crips. The second card is Brocade Blue and Night of Navy. The central stamped design is from Festive Favorites and is stamped in Black Stazon on watercolour paper, then coloured using an Aquapainter and Watercolor Wonder Crayons. The Christmas sentiments are from Many Merry Messages, and I've stamped with the Snow Flurries snow flakes in the background.

I am undecided as to which I like best. If you want to share your opinion, I'd be very grateful.

Thanks,
Sam.

Sunday 4 November 2007

Snow Flurries



Do you see a theme here? More blue! I love blue!! I am also still having that seasonal confusion going on (snowflakes and all ;-), but still, a viable swap candidate nonetheless!

The colours are Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Whisper White and a piece of Four Seasons Designer Series Paper. The background layer is stamped with Brocade Blue using the snow flake in Yule Bits and Borders...that set is getting a work out right now. The Night of Navy layer is mounted on dimensionals. The three snow flakes are from Snow Flurries (get it while you can.....it is in the Spring Mini which is only available until the end of November...it may come back in next year's Idea Book and Catalogue, but there are no guarantees). I have embossed those three snow flakes in white and they are also mounted on dimensionals. The ribbon is navy organdy and the brads, silver.

Hey Presto!
Ciao.

Saturday 3 November 2007

Possible Sydney Regionals Swap Card



This card is a front runner for my Sydney Regionals swap card. I am PMSL at my use of the words 'front runner'.......it is the ONLY card in the race at the moment.

I am working on the colours at the moment. I find it a tad....blue. Might change the ribbon colour from the navy to the wine organdy. At the moment the colours are Brocade Blue, Night of Navy and Whisper White. The Christmas carols stamp is from the Yule Bits & Borders set. The 'noel' is from Many Merry Messages and the dots..(AKA snow [for those of us Aussies who don't know what snow is ;-]) is from the Itty Bitty Backgrounds set. I have inked the edges of the Brocade Blue and Whisper White layers, using a sponge and Classic ink. I am always amazed at how much this technique can do for a card. It really takes it from being flat, boring and dimension-less...to having great depth and appeal (for me at any rate).

Hope you like it.
Sam.

PS. Some variations on the theme. What do you think?


Spring Bouquet Flower Punch


I am really pleased with this card. It says Spring....so we are in the correct hemisphere at least ;-).

Colours are Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Whisper White. I have used the Watercolour Vine wheel in Old Olive. There are Pretty in Pink and Rose Red brads, and a piece of Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon. The Certainly Celery cardstock has been crimped. The 'thanks' sentiment is stamped in Whisper White Craft ink on the 'Round Tab' punched piece (in Rose Red).

Petals and Paisleys Gift Certificate



I got the idea for this Gift Certificate from the very talented Tanya, and the design instructions for the criss cross card at Splitcoaststampers.

I am still working on the design of the actual certificate inside the envelope, maybe some stamping up the top...but it looked so pretty I couldn't wait to share it!


You found it ;-).

Have a good day,
Sam.

Yule Bits and Borders MkII.



My wonderful sideline Veronica made some great suggestions to me about a card I was feeling pretty ...blah!... about. I finally got my act together enough the other night to have a go at implementing them, and I think she is right. It is a vast improvement on the MkI version. Thanks Veronica!

The 'happy Christmas' sentiment stands out much better on the Marigold Morning layer.....all the better for you to see how crooked I stamp freehand ;-). A Stamp-a-ma-jig would be the solution there...but time was not my friend...it was already about 11pm when I stamped this. So crooked it is!

Have a great weekend!