Sketch Challenge – CYCI#162

Another fun sketch is on over at Can You Case It? this week [CYCI#162]. Take a look.

For my design team inspiration, I have created a window scene to fit the sketch.

I created the window and planter box using the Hearth & Home framelits. I created the curtains and background by simply freehand drawing and cutting.

But I’m really excited about quite a few little things I’ve used here. Firstly, that gorgeous leafy trim is the new Boxwood Wreath embellishments, they come in a tightly wrapped circle, which works beautifully as a Christmas wreath. But here, I have unwrapped it and used it in my window planter box, so super cute.

Another cutie included is the copper trim used as tie backs for the curtains. That trim is the most gorgeous and versatile element. I’m sure you’ll be seeing it loads more. Oh and don’t miss that cute little scallop trim at the top of the curtains. This was made using the new Decorative Ribbon Border punch. I love how you can use both edges of the design.

The cute little stamped flower pot in the window is from the At Home with You stamp set, which comes in a bundle too with coordinating framelits, tying in beautifully with the Wreaths.

Lastly, another exciting element on this card is that amazing Pinewood Plank 3D embossing folder which I used on my base cardstock. The impression is amazing and so life-like. Here I have sponged on some Soft Suede ink, mainly aiming for the joins between the planks, to add some character.

Adding a simple congratulations sentiment, which is from the Special Celebrations stamp set, to finish it off, is all that was needed.

Be sure to head over to the Challenge group on facebook where you can check out the design teams inspiration and enter your creation. Be sure to do this by midday next Saturday, July 1^st (AEST).

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

Product List

At Home With You Photopolymer Stamp Set [143681]	At Home With You Photopolymer Bundle [145351]	Special Celebrations Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143885]	Hearth & Home Thinlits Dies [139666]	Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143708]	Bunch Of Banners Framelits Dies [141488]
Big Shot [143263]	Decorative Ribbon Border Punch [143721]	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685]	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock [106550]	Powder Pink A4 Cardstock [144251]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]
Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad [126978]	Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin’ Pad [141398]	Garden Green Classic Stampin’ Pad [126973]	Boxwood Wreaths Embellishments [144176]	1/4″ Copper Trim [144179]	Stamping Sponges [141337]
Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430]	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332]	Glue Dots [103683]	Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Wood Textures thank you

This week, I needed to make a Thank You card and to make things extra challenging, this was to go to a guy. Birthday cards for guys are challenging enough, but a thank you card….

Drawing inspiration from page 94 of the Annual Catalogue. It’s the Fresh Florals Suites. Now I know what you’re thinking… Florals for a guy?!

It’s from the Love and Sympathy section of the catalogue, which is showbased by the CASE-ing The Catty team this week.

I used the design from the Berry Burst card in the top right as a basic sketch. What first caught my eye on this card was the sentiment, it was just right for the purpose of this card. I then set about adapting this design to fit my guy theme.

Here is what I came up with.

My card base is Early Espresso cardstock and I used one of the Wood Textures paper stack designs as my layering piece. The punched elements use the Lots of Label framelits. Here, I have punched the background layer from Old Olive cardstock in a smaller frame, and a larger one in Whisper White.

I punched these first, then set about finding a replacement for the floral image. I decided on the leaves from the Birthday Blossoms stamp set. They have that lovely artistic brushstroke look. I stamped two on the base in Old Olive ink and another one on some scrap. I also stamped two more on scrap in Garden Green ink. I fussy cut the stamped images from the scrap cardstock and arranged them over the images stamped directly onto the Label shape.

I cut the Olive label in half and cut the stamped White label down to the size that worked. Adhered the Olive half behind the white and adhered both to the cardbase.

I created the sentiment by stamping it in Old Olive ink to match and trimming down the Whisper White cardstock to a line strip and added in flags to both ends. I layered this onto a shorter flag strip from Early Espresso cardstock.

At this point, I decided to vary from the design, leaving off the additional ribbon layered beneath the sentiment and the white layer of the label. Just opting to include the bottom half of the Olive label and then popped the sentiment over the top.

I finished off the card with some copper trim – okay, I know it’s a bow, but I think it still works. I just love how the shape of the trim works to make the bow sit flat. It’s looks really nice and still manly!

I stamped a coordinating envelope to match to finish it off.

I hope this project inspires you for your next manly project!

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to make this:

Floral Phrases Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141767]	Birthday Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139471]	Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies [138281]	Big Shot [143263]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Whisper White C6 Envelopes [106588]
Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [126974]	Early Espresso A4 Card Stock [121686]	Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad [126953]	Old Olive A4 Card Stock [106576]	Garden Green Classic Stampin’ Pad [126973]	1/4″ Copper Trim [144179]
Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals [144108]	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430]	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332]	Glue Dots [103683]
Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Colour Challenge – CYCI#161

At Can You Case It? #161 this week is our next colour combination to play along with. Love these colours, I don’t often opt for Purples, but I do enjoy them. Here we have two shades of purple, light green and white.

Here is my inspiration.

I am really enjoying the Happy Birthday thinlit die, it’s awesome. So here it is in Lemon Lime Twist. Love this colour teamed up with Elegant Eggplant and Wisteria Wonder.

The card base is Wisteria Wonder and I stamped the background with the circles from the Backgound Bits stamp set, which is a hostess exclusive. I layered some Lemon Lime Twist and Elegant Eggplant cardstock so that the Lemon Lime Twist pops off the page.

I tied some Whisper White bakers twine around the card into a bow and topped it with the Happy Birthday thinlit.

Simple but dramatic. I can’t wait to see what you create with these colours. Pop on over to the Challenge group on facebook where you can check out the design teams inspiration and enter your creation. Be sure to do this by midday next Saturday, June 24^th (AEST).

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to create this:

Background Bits Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144029]	Happy Birthday Thinlits Die [143700]	Big Shot [143263]	Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Bundle [145301]	Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin’ Pad [126969]	Wisteria Wonder A4 Card Stock [124389]
Elegant Eggplant A4 Card Stock [108614]	Lemon Lime Twist A4 Cardstock [144250]	Twine Baker’s Whisper White [124262]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	SNAIL Permanent Adhesive [104332]	Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Happy Foil Birthday

The feature over at Case-ing The Catty this week, is the Birthday section of the catalogue. Which is really great as I know I’m always making birthday cards, so I feel like I’m often in this section.

I used the Foil Frenzy Suite as my Inspiration, I just loved that foil paper as soon as I saw it. I love the shine effect it creates, it commands attention. I was only ever able to use Foil print a couple of times in my work as a Graphic Designer. It was an expensive treatment to add during the print process in those days, so very rarely had a print budget to include it.

But here I have paper to play with now! Yay! So in the main image, that beautiful gift box keep calling me. I love the ribbon and that huge bow, I love the tag and of course that amazing paper.

I decided to make a birthday card with the same design elements. I changed up the colours a little but I think it still works really well.

That lime green foil is just amazing, so I featured that as my main colour and used the Berry Burst in the ribbon and background flag element.

As the space on the card front was considerably smaller and the Happy Birthday thinlit die is quite large, I kept the stamping simple and to one end of the tag, which allowed the ribbon to be the feature at the top. I didn’t add any of the other embellishments as it felt like too much was happening and I was starting to loose the feature of the foil.

Anyway, I hope this inspires you to create using the catalogue for ideas too.

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to make this:

Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Stamp Set [143662]	Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Bundle [145301]	Happy Birthday Thinlits Die [143700]	Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies [138281]	Big Shot [143263]	Berry Burst Classic Stampin’ Pad [144083]
Powder Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad [144084]	Blushing Bride Classic Stampin’ Pad [131172]	Foil Frenzy Specialty Designer Series Paper [144125]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Lemon Lime Twist A4 Cardstock [144250]	Berry Burst A4 Cardstock [144249]
White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584]	Berry Burst 1/2″ Finely Woven Ribbon [144133]	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995]	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309]	Glue Dots [103683]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]
Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Colour INKspiration CI11

Welcome to the next Colour INKspiration Blog hop, whether you are starting here or hopping your way around already, I hope you enjoy what the team has on display for you. We have a wonderful set of colours this next challenge for you here  – they are Early Espresso, Soft Suede and Marina Mist.

Here is my inspiration for you…

So this card is quite simple and designed for you to be able to add to your card magic book and we all need some of those in our books!

I’ve been playing with more new toys this week, but at the same time, I really felt for all my stamps sitting quietly on the shelf waiting for their turn for some love again. Here I set about incorporating new sets in with my existing loves.

Playing with the Lovely Words thinlit dies, I chose to feature this one… the Lovely heart. Here I have punched it out of Marina Mist cardstock. What I did here, was use the Sweet & Sassy layering framelits to cut it out of the cardstock so that I had a free element to adhere to my Whisper White cardstock. This was on top of a Marina Mist cardstock layer and then onto Thick Whisper White card base.

Using my favourite spray-paint stamp from the Touches of Texture stamp set, I stamped this in Soft Suede to form the background behind my blue heart. I adhered the heart over the top, using the amazing fine tip glue pen –a fantastic tool for such precision work.

I created the rest of my sentiment using the Thoughtful Banners stamp set, stamping the words in Early Espresso and trimming them by hand with paper snips, creating flags to the ends of the Birthday. I adhered these in place with the new Mini Dimensionals – OMG best invention ever!! More on those in a minute!

I wanted to add a small graphic element and the gorgeous little flowers from the new Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set was the perfect addition. Here I have stamped some directly on the card and some I have stamped and punched out using the ½” circle punch. The punched ones also uses the coordinating background stamp which colours it in for you – love how quick that makes creating! Here I have stamped off some Soft Suede to colour them.

I attached them using some of those amazing new Mini Dimensionals – they are tiny and perfect for this kind of work. Say goodbye to trimming down regular sized ones and cleaning your scissors afterward!

I added some Gold Metallic thread to the back and adhere them in place. I finished off with those tiny little pearls – so cute.

Next on the hop is the amazing Jacqui Williams. Keep hoping through the design teams inspiration. Then jump across to our Facebook Challenge Group and load up your entry. This challenge will be open until Monday, XXXX. I can’t wait to see what you create with these awesome colours.

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to make this:

Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Stamp Set [143662]	Happy Birthday Gorgeous Photopolymer Bundle [145301]	Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set [141614]	Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Bundle [142330]	Sweet & Sassy Framelits Dies [141707]	Lovely Words Thinlits Dies [143733]
Lovely Inside & Out Clear-Mount Bundle [145324]	Big Shot [143263]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490]	Marina Mist A4 Card Stock [121682]	Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [126974]
Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad [126978]	Gold Metallic Thread [138401]	Pearl Basic Jewels [144219]	Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals [144108]	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]
Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Coffee anyone?

This week I’m playing along with Case-ing the Catty challenges. CTC131

I’ve been meaning to play along with them a lot more as I believe Stampin’ Up! catalogues are an amazing resource for project ideas and inspiration. There are so many gorgeous ideas packed in on every page, it will keep you going for a long time.

This week it’s all about the Everyday Occasions section which is a huge section and has generic themed stamps and papers which can be adapted for many different occasions.

Today, I used the Coffee Break suite on page 30 and 31 of the 2017-18 Annual Catalogue. The main image is where I drew my inspiration from. There are so many ideas here, but today I focussed on the coffee cup.

We always have coffee cups here and I thought one of those would make a great housewarming gift. Here is what I made.

I put some coffee capsules in the cup to give to my parents for their new coffee machine they bought for their new home. I thought this would be nicer packaging than wrapping the box.

I specifically used this sentiment in the Coffee Cafe stamp set “Life happens, coffee helps” as it makes smile – and coffee always helps me feel a little better, particularly in the morning when I have to get up… I rather like a good sleep in!

Moving is a part of life isn’t it… whether you move house alot or only a couple of times. My parent have moved this week, after 49 years in the same house. So needless to say they have been busy packing, sorting, clearing out and cleaning up for weeks. It’s been a little stressful so I thought some coffee to relax with at the other end was just what the doctor ordered.

I heat embossed the sentiment with Copper embossing powder and punched it out using one of the hearts from the Sweet & Sassy layering framelit set.

I echoed the copper with a copper foil banner behind the heart and some of that yummy new Copper trim. This I looped and tied off with some solid Basic Black Bakers Twine. The striped belly band and the leaves are from the Coffee break Designer Series Paper pack. I trimmed some leaves from one sheet to accent.

We’ll be visiting them soon, I’m sure they will like it.

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to make this:

Coffee Café Photopolymer Stamp Set [143677]	Coffee Cups Framelits Dies [143745]	Coffee Café Photopolymer Bundle [145331]	Big Shot [143263]	Sweet & Sassy Framelits Dies [141707]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]
Coffee Break Designer Series Paper [144155]	Copper Foil Sheets [142020]	Heat Tool [129056]	Embossing Buddy [103083]	Copper Stampin’ Emboss Powder [141636]	Versamark Pad [102283]
1/4″ Copper Trim [144179]	Basic Black Solid Baker’s Twine [141682]	Corrugated Elements [144158]	Paper Snips Scissors [103579]	Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995]	Glue Dots [103683]
Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Colour Challenge – CYCI#160

This week we have a another great combination of colours to challenge you, created by Eva. We have blue, purple, silver and neutrals.

I went for a combination of subtle and bold colours, using Soft Sky for the light blue and Elegant Eggplant for the purple. T Here is is my inspiration.

Today’s card is simple. I love a quick and simple card just as much as more layered or intricate ones. I think it’s good to have a combination of designs you can create to match in with lifes demands… don’t you agree?

Using the Delightful Daisy stamp set, I stamped the background stems and small flower in Soft Sky ink on Soft Sky cardstock to create a subtle background element.

Over the top I created a medallion with stamps from Label Me Pretty and Eastern Beauty stamps sets. I used the Pretty Label punch which coordinates with the Label Me Pretty stamp set. I adhered this with dimensionals over the top of some silver ribbon and topped off with some silver metallic shapes.

I hope you like this inspiration. I can’t wait to see what you create with these colours. Head on over to our Facebook challenge group and check out the design team inspiration. This challenge is open for two weeks so closes Midday Saturday, 17 June (AEST).

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to make this:

Daisy Delight Photopolymer Stamp Set [143669]	Eastern Beauty Photopolymer Stamp Set [143675]	Eastern Beauty Photopolymer Bundle [145308]	Label Me Pretty Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143861]	Pretty Label Punch [143715]	Label Me Pretty Clear-Mount Bundle [145305]
Card Stock A4 Soft Sky [131292]	Soft Sky Classic Stampin’ Pad [131181]	Elegant Eggplant A4 Card Stock [108614]	Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin’ Pad [126969]	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Metallic Enamel Shapes [141678]
Silver 1/8″ Ribbon [132137]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430]	Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Oh Happy Day!!

… and what a happy day it is…

It’s new Annual Catalogue Day!

Check out the catalogue and download a PDF copy here or check out it online at my store.

If you live in Melbourne (Australia) and would like to pick up a hard copy, come to my catalogue launch party on Saturday, 17 June. Email me for the details.

This catalogue is packed full of wonderful new stamps in numerous styles and themes, amazing embellishments, yummy Designer Series Paper packs and lovely ribbons.

Personally I can’t wait to get my hand on our new Embossing Paste… yep.. mixed media here we come!!

There is just so much to love about what’s on offer. Thankfully we have another 364 days ahead of us to enjoy it.

Plus we have five new yummy In Colours.

You may have seen them already splashed around online. They are just so on trend and if you stop and take note of fashions and home decor coming through stores, you’ll notice them everywhere! They are just the most lovely colours, it’s pretty hard not to fall in love with them.

We have a great range of accessories in these colours, it will be easy to create professional and stylish looking projects really quickly too.

I have been playing with them for a few weeks now and I have two clear favourites – I am in love with Berry Burst and Lemon Lime Twist.

 

June Host Promotion

To help celebrate this wonderful day – Stampin’ Up! have extra Free host $$ on offer for the month of June.

Host a party with me during the month of June and you could earn an additional $45 in host reward when total party sales reach $450. I have some free dates to party with you and your friends – check them out here.

Don’t have time to get together for a party? Shame…. but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Simply gather yours and your friends orders and you can still earn your Free Stampin’ Up! products too.

Plus, this will give you access to all the wonderful new Host Exclusive stamp set too. Tranquil Tulips is a favourite of mine already, but there are so many more gorgeous ones on offer.

So what are you waiting for – email me to book in your date today!

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

Is it a bottle? Is it a balloon?

Just a quick little share for today, I saw a few crafters post this idea and I just loved it.

So when we had a big a birthday celebration come up within our family friends, I knew this would suit her perfectly. Ok so I may have coordinated this card to match in with the gift but it was perfect none the less.

I love the drama black creates and it coordinates so well with Copper foil, so that’s where I started. I made my perfume atomiser first, punching the intricate balloon from basic black cardstock and layering behind with copper foil, I love how the Up and Away thinlit die set has the die pieces to punch out the shapes needed to “colour” in the balloon – so very clever.

I stamped the smaller balloon with black Archival ink and made a tassel from solid black twine for the handle. I set those aside and moved onto the rest of the card.

I went for a square card this time (125mm), the shape just seemed to suit. I was able to work out the size of the inner square panels from my perfume bottle elements. I embossed the background with the Large Polka Dots embossing folder – sadly retiring tonight…

I cut a square panel from copper foil (95mm) and a whisper white layer piece (90mm). I tend to layer my pieces together to get a rough idea of how it’s going to come together before I permanently adhere anything in place. This worked really well for this design, as it allowed me to work out where the perfume elements will go and what white space was left.

I masked off triangle with post-it notes and used the spray paint splatter stamp from the Touches of Texture stamp set and Sahara Sand ink to create the perfume mist. I stamped a 40 in the top left corner, also in Sahara Sand ink.

At this point I began assembling my card, the whisper white panel to the copper foil (I like to use Liquid glue for this as I know it will stick to the shiny surface of the foil), then attached that layer to the base card with dimensionals.

I used dimensionals to adhere my hot air balloons, oops I mean perfume bottle, and then a few strategically placed glue dots to hold the tassel handle in place.

A simple happy birthday sentiment (this one is from the Party with Cake stamp set), placed in the bottom right to balance with the large 40, worked well.

So glad most of these products will be carrying over, I look forward to blending in my catalogue toys with these great ones.

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,

What I used to make this:

Number Of Years Photopolymer Stamp Set [140653]	Touches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143251]	Party With Cake Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140672]	Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Stamp Set [142896]	Lift Me Up Clear-Mount Bundle [144712]	Up & Away Thinlits Dies [142748]
Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [133739]	Big Shot [143263]	Precision Base Plate [139684]	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin’ Pad [126976]	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931]	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Copper Foil Sheets [142020]	Basic Black Solid Baker’s Twine [141682]	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755]	Glue Dots [103683]	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430]
Stampin’ Trimmer [129722]

Sketch Challenge – CYCI#159

It’s sketch challenge week at Can You Case It #159. We have another great little sketch, check it out:

Here is my design team inspiration.

My card features a new host exclusive set, that is launching later this week called Tranquil Tulips. Here I have stamped the stems in Old Olive and the tulip flowers are in Berry Burst. It’s one of those stamp sets that has a lovely watercoloured look. I added in two buds aswell, stamping the background in Berry Burst and the seeds in Fresh Fig.

Over the top is a couple more new products coming later this week, with the launch of the 2017-18 Annual Catalogue. That lovely ribbon is Woven ribbon in Berry Burst and over the top is the Label Me Pretty stamp set and coordinating Pretty Label punch.

I stamped the Happy Birthday label stamp twice, once in fresh fig and once in Old Olive. I fussy cut the sentiment from the Olive version and adhered it over the top for some interest.

I hope you like this sneak peak of inspiration. I can’t wait to see what you create with this sketch. Head on over to our Facebook challenge group and check out the design team inspiration. Don’t forget to load your entry up by Midday Saturday, 3 June (AEST).

Until next time… Stamp Creatively,