Christmas Projects class

Last Wednesday I held a Christmas projects class at my house, and these are two of the three projects that we made:


A boxy bag....the idea and instructions for which I got from Jody...thank you! The one on the left is essentially the same as Jody's boxy bag, but instead of sticking the side flaps at right angles, I have let them sit out at about 45 degrees to give a more baskety-bag look.

I've used Real Red cardstock, and decorated it with stamps from the Snow Burst stamp set, inked in Real Red Classic Ink. The DSP around the bottom of the boxy_bag is from the Dashing pack (LOVE this paper :-).

The feature embellishment on the front is a circular piece of chipboard which has been covered in Old Olive textured cardstock. Then there is a scalloped circle of Real red cardstock, then a large circle of Old Olive, then a small circle of Very Vanilla. The 'May you merry be very' sentiment is from the Merry, Merry stamp set.

I've punched small double holes across the top of the bag in the front and back, inserted eyelets and tied the bag with Gold Cord.

The second project we made was a bow. The instructions for making these bows can be found on Splitcoaststampers:



Again, we used Dashing DSP. These bows looks so effective, and really are not that time consuming to make.

We did make a third project, but I haven't photographed it yet as I got sidetracked today...sorry! First we went along to the Canberra Airport Open Day (GREAT fun), and then spent HOURS walking around the Camping, Outdoors and Leisure show at EPIC.

The best part of the whole day was the free ride we got in the RAAF hot air balloon. We were on the first ride up, and as it only operated for about 5 rides (due to the wind) we were very fortunate!




We also got to tour the Virgin Blue aircraft you can see in the photo above. Mr 2 was MOST impressed with the little window shutters, tray tables, hostess buzzer and light switches...he could have played in there for HOURS...small things eh?

Hope your day was fun too!
Sam.

More Dashing Pressies

This is the second project we made yesterday. They are pretty much the same as my earlier version of Dashing Christmas pressies:




The background cardstock is Real Red. In the first example I have decorated the background cardstock using the Gifts Galore wheel in Real Red classic ink. In the second example I have used the Christmas tree from Fun and Fast Notes. The second layer is Whisper White and is mounted up on dimensionals. In the second example I have distressed the edges. Then there is a layer of Real Red, and finally a layer of Whisper White.

The gifts have been punched out of Dashing DSP using the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" square punches. The ribbons on the gifts are thin strips of Real Red cardstock. The bows are stamped in Real Red ink using the bow from the Big Bold Birthday set.

The Merry Christmas greetings have been stamped in Basic Black ink. The first is from the Occasional Greetings stamp set and the second is from the Season of Joy stamp set.

And that's it! I still have some photos of the things we made at my class here on Wednesday night to show you, but we are about to go off to the Canberra Airport open day with the kids, so it will have to wait for this afternoon!

Chat later,
Sam.

Dashing Christmas Trees

I just wanted to show you one of the cards we made at a workshop today:


The background cardstock is Real Red. The next layer is Old Olive textured cardstock. The next layer is Real Red and is mounted up on dimensionals. Then there is a layer of Confetti White.

The Christmas Trees are made using the Dashing DSP, and I have sponged Old Olive ink along their edges to give some depth. The 'feature' tree is mounted up on dimensionals. This tree is decorated with a star punched from Brushed Gold cardstock, and three baubles also punched from Brushed Gold carstock using a 1/4 inch circle punch. The star is mounted using dimensionals and the baubles are mounted with glue dots.

The tree trunks are Chocolate Chip cardstock that I have distressed using the tips of scissors. The 'Merry Christmas' greeting is stamped in Real Red classic ink and is from the Season of Joy stamp set.

I'll take a photo of the second card tomorrow!

Have a great weekend.
Sam.

Have a Dashingly Merry Christmas

I've been tinkering again this morning. I have a class and a workshop to prepare for this week...but I managed to squeeze this little blog offering in too ;-).


The colours are Real Red..yes really!..and Whisper White (the bottom WW layer is textured). The pressies are punched from the Dashing DSP using the small and large square punches. The 'bow' is from the 'Big Bold Birthday' stamp set, and the 'Merry Christmas' greeting is from Occasional Greetings stamp set. And that's it! I've done a bit of paper piercing around the main frame, and that layer is mounted up on dimensionals. A simple card.

While I was taking the pic, I was admiring my vege patch...so I thought I'd share it with you. We have lots of strawberries on the way...YUMMY!


...and enough continental parsley, thyme, marjoram, chives and oregano to keep me in Spag Bol for the next 12 months. You can't see them all here, but doesn't it look so green and tasty?


While I'm off the craft track...we went to the beach yesterday for a bit of sunny, sandy, salty, Saturday fun:




I was playing with my polarising filter and my 50 mm lens. I had some success...a significant number of blurries...but you get that.

Hope your weekend has been fun too!
Ciao, Sam.

A Tricky Color Inspiration!

I'm not afraid to say that I found Kristina's latest Colour Inspiration REALLY HARD! REALLY, REALLY HARD!!


I measure 'HARD' by the state of my workspace at the end of creating...and suffice to say this was one of the hardest...


WOT A MESSY SAMMY!

Anyhoo....I got it done, and I think it is even within deadline.


The background cardstock is Whisper White. The next layer is textured Wild Wasabi (still loving textured ;-). The Rose Red ribbon is from the Fairy Tale ribbon originals set. The 'You make me SMILE' sentiment is from the 'Anchored' Rub-Ons pack. I've then mounted a large square aluminium edged tag up on dimensionals. The next layer is Bashful Blue cardstock which has been punched out with the scallop punch and pierced around the petals. Then there is a piece of So Saffron cardstock which has been crimped and punched out using the 1 3/8" circle punch, then there is a layer of Rose Red cardstock, punched out using 3/4" circle punch and mounted up on dimensionals, and last...but certainly NOT least, is the smiley face Rub-On, from the 'A Perfect Day' pack in the current Spring Mini Catalogue.

Have a great day.....we are going to have a top of 25 degrees celcius here...BLISS!

Sam.

Three Black Cats

We don't celebrate Halloween in Australia...well, no one in my neighbourhood seems to at any rate...but I really wanted to participate in Shelli's Creative Challenge. Because it is not widely celebrated we don't have much in the way of Halloween-type stamps and embellishments...so I've been pondering this problem for some time. Then, as I was browsing through my Google Reader the other day I came across this amazing card by Karen Thomas....where she has used punch-art to get the Halloween theme happening. Such a clever girl she is!!!

Soooooo, to cut a long story short, I have spent this afternoon mucking about with my punches and have come up with this card. I am really pleased with the end product...and I don't think you can get much spookier than three black cats...can you?




All products used are from Stampin' Up! The background cardstock is Basic Black Textured Cardstock (I have a 'thing' for textured cardstock at the moment...LOVE IT). The next layer is Lavender Lace, and has been mounted up on dimensionals. Then there is a Pumpkin Pie layer that has been crimped.

The black fiber is from Stampin' Up!'s retired Neutrals Fancy Fibers pack. The 'Happy Halloween' sentiment is from the Occasional Greetings stamp set, and has been stamped in Basic Black ink, in two parts (using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to align), so that it will fit inside the Designer Label punch. The Hodgepodge frame is from the Styled Silver set, currently available in the Australian Spring Mini Catalogue.

The three square boxes are made using Lavender Lace and textured Whisper White cardstock, and are punched out using the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" square punches. These squares are also mounted up on dimensionals.

My three black cats are made using a variety of Stampin' Up!'s punches. Their heads are a combination of the 3/4" circle, and the small oval punches. Their eyes are made using the 1/16" circle punch. The cats' bodies and tails are made using just the small oval punch. It is all in the placement of the punch! The cats are mounted up on dimensionals too.

and PRESTO...Halloween......by punches!

Thanks for looking,
Sam.

More Textured Boats

I'm kinda hung up on these colours right now....and little boats....but that's a whole other story:


The background cardstock is Ruby Red, and I have stamped it with the Canvas background stamp. There is then a layer of Pumpkin Pie, which is mounted up on Dimensionals. The next layer is Soft Sky and it has been crimped.

The ribbon is from the retired Rustic Retreat Ribbon Originals pack. The two squares consist of a layer of Ruby Red then Whisper White and they are mounted up on Dimensionals.

The boat is from the 'Nursery Necessities' stamp set and is inked in Old Olive. I have stamped it off once on a scrap piece of textured cardstock before stamping it onto the Whisper White square. This results in a nice textured effect. I have also clear embossed both little boats.

Thanks for looking. Nighty night!
Sam.

Boats for Baby Boys

I was tinkering around last night, and came up with this little card:


The colours are Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky and Whisper White. The Soft Sky and Whisper White layers are textured cardstock and I have stamped the Nursery Necessities boat onto them giving the following groovy effect:


I used the Crop-a-dile to set the silver eyelets which act as portholes for the boats. The Crop-a-dile wouldn't reach the portholes on the middle boat, so I had to get out my trusty Crafter's Toolkit and set them with my hammer and punches. I had to wait until this morning to do this as I find I need to go out and do this on the concrete slab outside. When I try this inside (on a wooden floor) I seem to have 'issues' which I put down to the flexing of the floor....or perhaps I just don't hit as hard inside because I worried about the noise ;-).

The Pumpkin Pie layer has been crimped and the upper three layers are mounted up on dimensionals. The hardware is Styled Silver from the current Stampin' Up! Spring mini catalogue.

Have a great day stampers!
Sam.

I WANT A CUPCAKE!!!

I went to bed thinking about cupcakes...and I woke up thinking about cupcakes...and in the absence of any real cupcakes, I made another cupcake card using Ashley's card as inspiration again!


I used the Ruby Red and So Saffron colours with the Choc Chip this time...because they were still hanging about after Kristina's challenge!

The So Saffron DSP is from the Palette O' Prints pack that was available as part of a Stampin' Up! promotion earlier this year. The cupcake is from the Big Bold Birthday set...currently available at 20% off the retail price. I crimped the patty pan to make it look like a real patty pan.

I made some tiny choc chip sprinkles on the cupcake icing using a template and the 1/16" circle punch, then I dabbed Crystal Effects on these. There is also Crystal Effects on the candle flame, although it's pretty hard to see in the photo.


The background cardstock has been stamped using the Happy, Happy Birthday Jumbo wheel. The Choc Chip ribbon is from the Flirty Ribbon Originals pack and the 'Birthdays are the BEST' sentiment is from the 'It's Your Birthday' stamp set.

The plate is made using Stampin' Up!'s two oval punches. I needed to put the cupcake on a plate because I stuck the patty pan too far up the card...so there was this blank space between the patty pan and the ribbon. A plate filled in the space nicely IMO ;-).

Have a lovely day!
Sam.

CASEing Cupcakes...

I have a category in my Google Reader that is for cards I want to CASE. Then, when I'm feeling a bit low on imagination I go to this list and choose one that jumps out at me! The card I made tonight is a CASE of a beautiful card by Ashley at Design With Ink.


The colours are Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. The stamp set is Big Bold Birthday. I've crimped the cupcake patty pan which I think adds authenticity. The cupcake icing is inked in Pretty in Pink and rock n' rolled in Regal Rose, then clear embossed. The two candles have Dazzling Diamonds on their flames. The ribbon is from the retired Flirty ribbon originals pack.

I'm positively stoked with how this card turned out. Thanks Ashley!

Sam.