Craft Room Challenge Top 3!

Just a shout out to the Craft Room Challenge ladies - THANK YOU for choosing me as your top 3 on the Clean & Simple challenge!! Yay! The project I entered is here.

With sympathy

Card: rich razzleberry, early expresso, whisper white

DSP: rich razzleberry patterned paper
Ink: rich razzleberry, early expresso
Stamp set(s): just believe, bliss, silloutte sentiments

Accessories: rich razzleberry satin ribbon, silver brad, pearls, sponges

I learnt today that the father of a good friend passed away at the weekend. I just had to create a homemade card for her today to let her know I'm thinking of her. Hopefully it'll put a smile on her face, and cheer her up a little.

I took a sketch from Mojo Monday for this one, and did the vintage stamping and sponging to create a wistful, dreamy look. I decided to stamp an inside panel, and I'm glad I did as it makes the card look elegant and professional, and it'll be the perfect place for a special message.

All natural

Card: crumb cake, soft suede, whisper white
Ink: crumb cake marker, soft suede
Stamp set(s): just believe, bliss, silhoutte sentiments

Accessories: beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, linen thread, pearls, sponge, glue dot

I wanted to try a natural, soft, elegant look today, and this card does that pretty well! I've sponged the edges of the butterflies and the panels to create a soft, whispy look, and I've inked up my stamps, then stamped 2 or 3 times on scrap paper before stamping on the whisper white without re-inking the stamp. Love the effect this creates. I've also torn one corner and layered underneath it with soft suede. I love this look! I also love the inside - just as pretty as the front :-)

Lots of hearts!

Card: basic black, real red, whisper white
Ink: real red, cherry cobbler, basic black
Stamp set(s): well scripted, so happy for you, create a cupcake

Accessories: brayer, pearls

As Valentines Day is coming up, I thought I would get my hearts inked up - I only have two so far, so it wasn't too difficult! I wanted to create a classy, romantic card, and I think this card "fits the bill"! The photos are bad, so I might re-do them tomorrow... Enjoy!

Thank you card

Card: cherry cobbler, riding hood red, whisper white
Ink: cherry cobbler, early expresso, old olive
Stamp set: lovely as a tree

Accessories: scallop border punch, riding hood red taffeta ribbon

Whew! I've almost run out of time for my post of the day...! This was a quick, easy card I've pulled together this evening. Not very exciting, but love the old olive and early expresso with the cherry cobbler and riding hood red. I'll try and get more creative tomorrow...! This one will probably go into my stash to sell at the market :-)

JAI - CASE Challenge

Card: night of navy, whisper white
Ink: night of navy, cherry cobblery, pumpkin pie
Stamp sets: lovely as a tree, contempo christmas, dasher

Accessories: brayer, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, big shot, rhinestones, red riding hood taffeta ribbon

I could wait to have a go at this week's JAI Challenge, which was put up just today! Just add Kathy Turner! I love her work, and couldn't wait to CASE one of her projects. Here, I brayered the tag with night of navy on the bottom, and cherry cobbler and pumpkin pie on the top. Dasher was stamped as the main image, and rhinestones were added for extra pop. Hope you like it!

Color throwdown challenge #176

Card: pool party, chocolate chip, crumb cake, whisper white, confetti white

Ink: pool party, chocolate chip

Stamp set(s): lovely as a tree, curly cute

Accessories: scallop border punch, clear block c, white bakers twine, melon mambo button - ice cream palor button pack

Over at Color Throwdown, they have an amazing colour challenge this week! I decided to play along and came up with a special thank you card (the sentiment is inside). I'm loving my new stamp set, lovely as a tree, and how effective stamping with my clear block is - love! The splash of colour with the melon mambo button just makes this card pop :-)

Faith in nature

Card: crumb cake, early expresso, confetti white, very vanilla
Ink: pear piazzazz, early expresso
Stamp set: faith in nature
Accessories: size c clear block, early expresso bakers twine, rhinestones

A quick, simple card. I wanted (and needed!) something simple to create today, and I came up with this one. I couldn't decide if it needed something inside, so I've left it blank for now, but may add an inside panel... What do you think?

Don't forget the annual Sale-a-bration - the perfect time to order, host a workshop or join Stampin Up!

Male birthday

Card: early expresso, pear piazzazz, very vanilla
Ink: early expresso, pear piazzazz
Stamp set(s): lovely as a tree, create a cupcake

Accessories: brayer, perfect polk dots embossing folder, big shot, rhinestones, sponges

I whipped this one up tonight using some scraps I had lying around...a great way to use up all those pesky little pieces of carstock! I didn't want anything with too much bling, but I know some men-folk that actually do like some bling, so I opted for a few rhinestones. My brayer finished off the scene, and the sponging toned down the edges just a little bit.

Sale-a-bration is here!! Contact me for more information, or to book a workshop highlighting the free products on offer until the end of March. These could be yours for every $120 you spend!!

Beautiful CASE

Card: early expresso, rich razzleberry, whisper white
DSP: rich razzleberry
Ink: early expresso, rich razzleberry, old olive

Stamp set(s): because i care, bliss

Today, I decided to CASE a card from the amazing Teneale Williams. I've only recently discovered her, but her work is incredible, and I thought I would challenge myself to create a vintage, layered, amazing card like hers! This one is from one of my favourites from Teneale that I wanted to see if I could actually re-create. The photos are badly lit, but I hope you like it!

Only one more sleep 'till Sale-a-bration!!

Team swap

Card: soft suede, pool party
DSP: spice cake patterned paper
Ink: soft suede, pool party
Stamp set: just believe
Accessories: pillow box die, big shot, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, linen thread, hemp twine, pearls, pool party ruffled ribbon

A few weeks back, we had a team meeting with a voluntary team swap. While I wasn't able to make it, I managed to put together these swaps. My upline, the lovely Paula, challenged us to use something from either the current summer mini catalogue or the upcoming Sale-a-bration catalogue.

These cute pilow boxes had smarties inside, but used the new DSP spice cake range from the mini. I teamed up the patterned paper with soft suede and pool party for a rustic, natural look. I'll problably use this 3D idea again as I love how the pillow box can be used by folding in one end and keeping the other end open but tied together. You could make the hemp twine longer and make tree decorations, for example... The sky is really the limit with Stampin' Up! products!

JAI challenge - no.101

Card: cherry cobbler, blushing bride, whisper white
Ink: cherry cobbler, blushing bride
Stamp set(s): delicate doilies, well scripted

Accessories: cherry cobbler polka dot scallop ribbon, pearls, perfect polka dots embossing folder, big shot, scallop trim border punch

This week's sketch challenge at JAI was one that I really wanted to have a go at when I first saw it. The projects from the design team are all well worth checking out, so head on over to JAI and have a look for yourself! This was my take on the sketch. I don't really love it, but the ruffled ribbon I adore! There is some "rock n' rolling" happening, and pearls, and the sentiment is gorgeous, so this may be growing on me after all!

Just because

Card: concord crush, whisper white
DSP: concord crush DSP patterned paper

Ink: concord crush, pear pizazz

Stamp set: because I care

Accessories: sponges, dazzling diamonds, concord crush 1/2" stitched-poly ribbon, top note die cut, big shot

I wasn't sure where I was headed as I played along with the sketch callenge over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday, but I knew I wanted to make a sympathy card - you just never know when you'll need one... So, using my colour coach, I teamed up concord crush with pear pizazz, and finished this off with some dazzling diamonds. I'm sure it'll be appreciated when the time comes!

Masculine birthday card

Card: old olive, crumb cake, very vanilla
Ink: old oliver, crumb cake marker
Stamp set(s): lovely as a tree, so happy for you

Accessories: linen thread, dazzling diamonds

Today, I wanted to stretch myself to make a masculine birthday card. This was quite simple and straightforward to put together, but quite effective. You can't see the dazzling diamonds very well, but the ground by the trees are sparkling a little...after all, everyone loves a little bling, right?! I'm pleasantly surprised how this has come out, and I'll be very proud to give this away (or sell it, whichever happens first!).

Spice cake thanks

Card: pool party, soft suede, very vanilla
DSP: spice cake
Ink: pool party, soft suede
Stamp set(s): so happy for you, pocket sillouttes
Accessories: brayer, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, big shot, very vanilla seam binding, pearls, sanding block

I had some scraps on my desk, so today I decided to challenge myself to use what was already in front of me, which was the gorgeous spice cake DSP - yay! The colours are really growing on me, and they work so well with the embossing folder, seam binding and string of pearls under the sentiment. This project looks better in real life!

All natural

Card: early expresso, very vanilla, cherry cobbler
Ink: early expresso, cherry cobbler
Stamp set(s): just believe, sandy speckles wheel
Accessories: cherry cobbler polka dot scalloped ribbon, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, linen thread, pearls, sponge

I decided to make an easel card today for a change. Loving how the cherry cobbler has worked so well with all the natural colours and textures here. The bow and pearls just finish it off!

Only 1 more week 'till Sale-a-bration! Contact me for more information, or to book a workshop so you can enjoy some benefits from Stampin' Up! You only need to spend $120, and you'll get something free up to the value of $39 - You won't want to miss it!

Cherry birthday

Card: cherry cobbler, whisper white, confetti white

Stamp set(s): just believe, curly cute

Ink: cherry cobbler, early expresso

Accessories: cherry cobbler polka dot ruffled ribbon, sponge, pearls

This was a quick card I made up tonight... Nothing spectacular, but I like the confetti white with the cherry cobbler. There is a little hint of early expresso sponged around the edges, and the pearls give it a little "wow". I think I'm more used to my brayer than sponging, so I'm not liking this card all that much, but still, a home-made card can put a smile on anyones' face :-) A card to put into my stash for the right occasion...! Apologies for the awful photography - this time of night is not a good time for lighting etc!

Thanks rosette

Card: pool party, soft suede, very vanilla
DSP: spice cake
Ink: pool party, soft suede
Stamp sets: delicate doilies, so happy for you
Accessories: scallop trim border punch, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, big shot, pool party ruffled ribbon

Over at Try Stampin on Tuesdays, they have a sketch challenge and I decided to use what I had on my desk to make this thank you card using the sketch they provided. This came together so fast I was a little blown away! My new love is rosettes, and this one looks gorgeous as the focal point. The photo is poor because of the poor lighting, but hope you like it!

Card: cherry cobbler, whisper white

Ink: cherry cobbler, night of navy, pumpkin pie

Stamp sets: delicate doilies, well scripted

Accessories: scallop trim border punch, decorative label punch, rhinestone

Just a quick card to show you tonight... This was a card I put together for my mother's tin of cards (a christmas present). I also included a whisper white panel inside with a little doily in the bottom right corner. It just looked pretty, and Mum was tickled that it was in her tin!

Thinking of you

Card: basic black, cherry cobbler, whisper white
Ink: cherry cobbler
Stamp set: just believe, so happy for you

Accessories: brayer, rhinestones

As I was walking home from work today, I decided I wanted to make a card with red and black, and where I sliced the main artwork into squares for a moasic, "window" look. Well, this didn't take too long to put together, and I'm really chuffed with the results!

Over at Stampin' Up! Only Challenges, their current challenge is to pick a technique that you don't use very often, or haven't used at all, and this is one I haven't used before... It may not be a technique as such, but the thought of slicing up your art work just freaks me out! But I've done it here, and I think it looks stunning :-) Perfect for a sympathy or "get well' card.

So happy for you

Card: concord crush, whisper white
Ink: concord crush

Stamp set: pocket sillouttes, so happy for you

Accessories: brayer, perfect polka dots embossing folder, big shot, beautiful wings embosslit, concord crush 1/2" stitched poly ribbon, rhinestone

I wanted to try doing something clean and simple for the challenge over at Craft Room Challenge, and I'm pretty happy with how this card evolved and went 'wow' at me! Loving the clean and simple look at the moment...as you can probably tell!

I'm probably going to send this to my brother and his partner as they are now expecting their first little one this coming winter!! Yep, I'm going to be an Aunt :-)

Pink rosette

Card: blushing bride, whisper white, blushing bride DSP patterned paper

Ink: blushing bride

Stamp set: just believe

Accessories: perfect polka dots embossing folder, big shot, top note die, scallop trip border punch, pearls, blushing bride 1/2" stitched poly ribbon

This week's challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments is pleats or ruffles. I wanted to have a go at making a paper rosette, which I have added to this birthday card. I also wanted to fold my card differently than usual, so I opted for a gate-fold card. I've added a panel inside with a border punched on two sides. All in all, I think this looks just simply pretty!

Believe

Card: poppy parade, whisper white, poppy parade DSP patterned paper
Ink: poppy parade, basic black
Stamp set: just believe
Accessories: brayer, poppy parade 1/2" stitched poly ribbon, pearls

The challenge over at Try Stamping on Tuesday this week was a sketch which I thought I would try. I went for a monochromatic colour scheme, which I quite like. I'd like to use this scheme lots more as it has stunning results. My brayer, some ribbon, a few pearls, paired with some DSP and a stamped panel of whisper white, and it was done.

Cupcakes, cupcakes!

Card: pool party, melon mambo, melon mambo DSP patterned paper, whisper white
Ink: pool party
Stamp set: create a cupcake
Accessories: petal cone die, big shot, hemp twine, ice cream parlor buttons (melon mambo), dazzling diamonds, perfect polka dot embossing folder

Over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, I've entered this card for a challenge to create a project using a picture as inspiration - cupcakes! Love the dazzling diamonds and buttons as sprinkles on the enlarged cupcake, and I think pool party works really well with melon mambo. Some embossing and a sentiment finish this card off nicely - sweetness all 'round!

Petal cone gift

Card: calypso coral, island indigo, whisper white
Ink: calypso coral, island indigo
Stamp set: delicate doilies
Accessories: petal cone die, big shot, whisper white organza ribbon, rhinestone, scallop border punch, sponge, 1-3/8 circle punch, scallop circle punch

I was too late to enter this over at SUO (Stampin-Up Only Challenges), but thought it was fun to share anyway. I was having another play with my petal cone die, and my current favourite stamp set (if you hadn't noticed already!) and came up with this cute gift-box/cone. I'm not sure if it's finished or not... I couldn't decide if it needed something else - what do you think? I'll probably make a matching gift-card and add some chocolates for a gift for someone.

And, for something exciting, the annual Sale-a-bration starts 24th Jan!! You won't want to miss it - a special range of gorgeous paper, stamp sets, and embellishments are free on any order of $120. More details to come!

Colour inspiration challenge

Card: pool party, confetti white, island indigo, whisper white
Ink: island indigo, pool party, calypso coral, lucky limeade
Stamp sets: delicate doilies, so happy for you
Accessories: lucky limeade ruffled ribbon, top note die, big shot, beautiful wings embosslit, pearls, paper piercing tool

Over at 411 Stamping, they have a colour inspiration challenge, and I've entered this project. It took ages to come together, but I love how the colours work so well together. Gotta love the butterfly, and the pearls that set this off!

Just add packaging!

Card: pool party

DSP: spice cake

Ink: soft suede

Stamp set: eat chocolate

Accessories: spice cake button, hemp twine, linen thread, pool party ruffled ribbon, sponge, petal cone die, big shot.

Over at JAI, they have a challenge to just add fancy wrapping or packaging. This is my take on the challenge... The colour combo of the spice cake DSP is amazing and I think this project has come together pretty well. The 'belly band' includes everything on top, so it can all pull off to open up the box. So cute! And it can be re-purposed - how cool is that?!

A recent purchase of mine has been the petal cone die, which is my current love. This is another project that you can create using the die - a take-out box. I've made several of these as christmas pressies with chocolates in them, but you could include anything - soap, tea-light candles, jewelery... If you would like to learn how to make a take-out box yourself, contact me!

Doily easel card

Card: wisteria wonder, rich razzleberry, whisper white
Ink: wisteria wonder, rich razzleberry
Stamp set: delicate doilies, bliss
Accessories: scallop trim border punch, wisteria wonder ruffled ribbon, pearl

This card was also included in the card tin I gave mum for christmas... It matched the altered tin perfectly, and the easel card design was a big hit! I love how pretty this is, with an elegant and "girly' feel.

Christmas card 2011

Card: riding hood red, cherry cobbler, whisper white
Ink: cherry cobbler
Stamp set: contempo christmas
Accessories: ornament punch, 2-way glue gun, dazzling diamonds, riding hood red ribbon

This was my christmas card for 2011, CASED from the lovely Paula. I loved the design, and felt it was really ok to use someone else's idea - why re-invent the wheel?? So, thank you, again, Paula, for the inspiration and clean, crisp designs that you come up with!

This was a very easy and relative quick card to make. I ended up making 25 of these - the important thing was, I enjoyed the process, and loved the end result. The dazzling diamonds really sparkle, and I included an inside panel in whisper white with the ornament stamped in one bottom corner, which looked very classy. Can't wait 'till next Christmas!

Card tin

Card: whisper white, rich razzleberry, rich razzleberry patterned DSP, wisteria wonder

Ink: rich razzleberry

Stamp set: just believe

Accessories: wisteria wonder ruffled ribbon, rich razzleberry satin ribbon, beautiful wings embosslit, big shot, vintage wallpaper embossing folder, rhinestones, sponge

As promised, here are some pics of the card tin I made my mum (she loved it!). She's a purple kind of gal, so I thought my favourite colour combo would work nicely here. I've actually taken Paula's idea, and used a recent Dilmah tea promotion tin, which worked a treat. Thank Paula!

I have inlaid embossed two of the butterflies, and dimensionalised the big butterfly, which has come up really nicely here. I embossed part of the whisper white (the folder wasn't quite big enough!), and I added some ribbon over the 'join' to add some colour and dimension. Decorating a tin like this took some creativity, but I'm really pleased I made the effort to do something like this for my mum and sister. Now, all I need to do for gifts is to give them a stack of cards to put into the tin! Definitely a gift that can keep on giving!

Pretty in purple

Card: rich razzleberry, wisteria wonder, whisper white
Ink: rish razzleberry, wisteria wonder
Stamp sets: delicate doilies, curly, well scripted
Accessories: butterfly wings embosslit, big shot, pearls, brayer

For Christmas, I gave my mother and sister a tin of home-made cards each, and I'll be sharing some of the projects that I put together for the tins over the next few weeks. Tomorrow, I'll post a pic of the actual tin I altered for Mum...stay tuned! In the meantime, here is one of the cards I included in the tin for her.

This card came together really quickly, but it's so effective with masked off brayering and a sentiment. The pearls on the butterfly just 'make' it for me. I love this colour combo, too, and I'm sure you'll be seeing lots more of these colours!

Happy New Year!

Card: old olive, rich razzleberry, whisper white
Ink: old olive, rich razzleberry
Stamp set: season of joy
Accessories: white embossing powder, heat gun, versamark, big shot, petal cone die, scallop trim border punch, sponge

Happy New Year! I can't believe where 2011 has gone, but here is 2012! To start the year, I thought I would share a special project that I gave to a good friend for Christmas. I filled the petal cone with tea-light candles that I had stamped (tissue paper and a heat gun work a treat!) and she loved it!

On the card, I used the embossing resist technique and a sponge to make the square stamp "pop" in front of the trees. Really like the effect. The petal cone die was well-used this past Christmas, and I love how this one come out. The finished cone is actually quite big - I think I managed to put 5 tea-light candles into it, and the die-cut is very versatile, as you'll see in future posts that I'm planning... You could also put chocolates into one of these cones for a very cute and special gift.

Ok, so, this year, I would like to try and post every day. I know this may seem like a chore and very unrealistic, but I've been thinking about resolutions and I would like to try and create a card (or layout or project) a day for a year, and post them here for an amazing record of what I've done throughout the year. I'm not too sure how I'm going to go, but I know you'll keep me on track - that's your mission for the year! So, as this is Jan 1st, this is my first post. Yay!