Jolly Dasher, or A Dashing Holiday?

Hi!

I must admit, it's been a while, but I'm having a go at the latest Stampin' Royalty Challenge.  But before I show you my card, congratulations to Gardenia at A Little Less Useless for becoming the first Australian to have a place on the Design Team!

This week the challenge is to use this sketch:

Here's what I came up with:

I couldn't get the flowers in the top left of the sketch to work, so I replaced them with rhinestones.

I crimped a straight section of DSP to get the scalloped border around the oval panel - a handy little trick to know!

Stamps: Dasher, Perfect Punches
Ink: Old Olive
DSP/Card Stock: Jolly Holiday DSP, Very Vanilla, Old Olive
Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punches, Paper Crimper, Sponge Daubers, 1/4" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Oval Cutter, Dimensionals, Rhinestones

Catch you later,

Tina

A New Catalogue Blog Hop

Hi!

A group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators have decided to do a blog hop to showcase some of the products in the new Idea Book and Catalogue.  You can view this catalogue online by clicking on the image of the cover on the right of my page.  Hopefully you've arrived here from Christine Blain's blog, but if you've started here just keep hopping til you get back.

Anyway, for my project I decided to do a layout about my son Hudson.  In the last week he's fallen asleep in the oddest places.  He's just crashed in the middle of playing and I've managed to get a photo each time.  It's exhausting being a 3 year old!

I love the way he sleeps in the top 2 photos - bum in the air and his head resting on his hands.

Here's a close up of the mushrooms I stamped along the bottom of the page.  I used the new In Colour Poppy Parade ink and the Funky Four stamp set.  It's such a cute set!

Here's a close up of the title.  I used the Big Shot and the Timeless Type Alphabet die, except I cut off all the serifs (curly bits) on the alphabet to give it a different look.  I saw this idea on Ros Davidson's blog, which is another one of the stops in this hop. 

I also covered the letters in Crystal Effects to give the glossy look.  Each of the little mushrooms in the title is raised on dimensionals.  It's a good way to use up the left over bits around the sheet of dimensionals.  I cut them up into tiny pieces small enough to use on the stems of the mushrooms.

Finally, a close up of the journalling box.  I used the ledger paper from the new In Colour Hostess DSP pack, cut out with the Top Note die.  The journalling reads:

It's happened a few times lately - you've gone quiet and I've wondered "What's Hudson up to?"  You've conked out and fallen asleep on the spot - the laundry floor, my bedroom, and even in the chaos of the craft group creche!

So that's my project - I hope it inspires you!  There are 9 other demonstrators on this hop, and next is Amy Buchanan.  Please take the time to leave a comment on each of our blogs - we'd love to know what you think of our projects. Here are the links in case one is broken along the way.

Ros Davidson

Nikki Sadler

Christine Blain

 Tina Gillespie

Amy Buchanan

Erica Boxall

Kathryn Mangelsdorf

Kristine Thompson

Alisha Watson

Judy May

Stamps: Funky Four
Ink: Poppy Parade, Basic Black Stampin' Write Journaller
DSP/Card Stock: Poppy Parade Hostess DSP, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake
Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Round Tab XL Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Stamp Positioner, Big Shot, Top Note Die, Timeless Type Alphabet Die, Crystal Effects

Catch you later,

Tina

A Dashing Christmas

Hi!

I have been hoping that we'd get this stamp in Australia for a long time.  I'd seen Dasher on a lot of the blogs of US Demonstrators and it was love at first sight!  When it appeared in the new IB&C I just HAD to have it!

I used the retired Ski Slope DSP on this card.  I have the new and wonderful Jolly Holiday DSP, but sadly not the matching new card stock and inks.  Hopefully that will change soon though, and then I'll  be back with some more Christmas cards featuring Dasher.  I clear embossed some randomly stamped snowflakes on the Chocolate Chip layer for a little added interest.

Stamps: Dasher, Snow Swirled

Ink: Versamark, Baja Breeze

DSP/Card Stock: Ski Slope DSP (retired), Real Red, Whisper White

Other: 1/4" Read Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Embossing Powder, Chit Chat Rub Ons (retired)

Catch you later,

Tina

Just Add Ink 35

Hi!

Once again I am just scraping in on time for the JAI challenge.  This week the challenge was to just add sympathy.  I decided on a monochromatic scheme for my card using the new In Colour Pear Pizzazz teamed with Old Olive.

Here's a side view of the card which shows the raised section and the little rhinestones a bit more clearly.

Stamps: Thoughts And Prayers

Ink: Pear Pizzazz

DSP/Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz Hostess DSP, Very Vanilla, Old Olive

Other: Old Olive 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals, Stamp Positioner, Small Clear Rhinestones

Catch you later,

Tina

A Special Card

Hi!

I was asked to make this card by a friend who was sending it to another friend.  She asked only for it to be 'something special'.  When I showed her what I'd come up with she was very happy.

Here's the card closed.  I've never made a card this shape, so it was fun to try a new idea!

Here is the inside of the card:

I used a mix of retired and new products on the card.  I love the retired Cottage Wall DSP and the matching (still current) Cottage Garden Stamp Set.  I also used the lovely new Organza ribbon to tie the card shut.

Stamps: Cottage Garden, Baroque Motifs

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

DSP/Card Stock: Cottage Wall DSP (retired), Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Old Olive textured

Other: Pretties Kit flowers, large clear rhinestone brad and half pearls (retired), Organza Ribbon, sponge daubers

Catch you later,

Tina

Another Father's Day Card

Hi!

I thought it was about time I showed you the card I made for my father-in-law for Father's Day.  He's getting it late because he was in Hawaii for a combined work trip/holiday with my mother-in-law and has only just got back.  Lucky them!

I asked Rob what he wanted me to make, and after a few interesting suggestions from him I suggested he flick through the Idea Book and Catalogue for inspiration.  We finally settled on a CASE of a card on page 97.

Rob liked the idea of torn edges and I liked the colour scheme from the new Elegant Soiree DSP, so this is the card we came up with to combine our ideas.  We both ended up happy with the results - I just hope the recipient does too!  Happy (belated) Father's Day Neil!

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree

Ink: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze

Card Stock: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla

Other: Chit Chat Rub On (retired), 1 3/8" x 7/8" Oval Large Punch, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Stamp Positioner, String (recycled from a clothing tag)

Catch you later,

Tina

Simple Thanks

Hi!

Last night I needed to make a thank you card in a bit of a hurry.  I'm totally loving the new In Colours, so I got them out again to have a play.  The matching Hostess DSP pack is fabulous - I used a sheet of Blushing Bride as the background on the card.

I punched the bird out of Blushing Bride card stock and then stamped the flower trio from Cottage Garden over the body only in Blushing Bride ink.  Quick and simple!

Stamps: Cottage Garden

Ink: Blushing Bride

DSP/Card Stock: In Colour Hostess DSP, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla

Other: Two-Step Bird XL Punch, Very Vanilla 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Catch you later,

Tina

For Everything in Pear Pizzazz

Hi!

I thought I'd try out the sketch challenge at Unscripted Sketches.  I hadn't ever seen their blog before, but my friend Gardenia has just joined their DT, so I wandered over to take a look.  Here's their current sketch:

And here's my card.  I used the new Hostess DSP pack as the basis of the card.  I love that Stampin' Up! have used the new In Colours for this paper, and the patterns they have used this year are super cute.

 I've also used the new Organza ribbon - which is just lovely!

Stamps: For Everything
Ink: Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz
DSP/ Card Stock: In Colour DSP Pack (Hostess), Concord Crush, Whisper White
Other: 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Stamp Positioner

Catch you later,

Tina

New In Colours

Hi!

Each year Stampin' Up! introduce a handful of brand new, trendy colours to complement their core colour range.  For the current catalogue and the future, the In Colours will be current for 2 years instead of 1 year, making them much better value!

Today's card was made using three of the new In Colours - Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and Concord Crush.  I have been asked to make some sample cards for a potential commission, and this was one of the cards I came up with.

The sentiment is not a stamp, I used Photoshop to play with the text and then printed it out onto Whisper White card stock.

Card Stock: Concord Crush, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Circle Cutter, 1 3/4 Circle XL Punch, Two-Step Bird XL Punch, Paper Snips

Catch you later,

Tina

Stampin' Up! Markers

Hi!

I had a bit of fun yesterday doing some colouring in - yes, even adults can colour in!  I had to make 2 birthday cards for the boys of some friends who both turned 7 recently.  I decided to make them the same cards, but reverse the colours.

Quick and easy cards that hopefully the boys will like!

Here's the cards separately:

Stamps: Pun Fun

Ink: Versamark, Stazon Black, Not Quite Navy (Marker) and Real Red (Marker), So Saffron (Marker)

Card Stock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Real Red

Other: Dimensionals

Catch you later,

Tina

Just Add Ink 33

Hi!

I've just managed to get this card posted in time for the current Just Add Ink challenge.  This week the girls have given us a beautifully elegant sketch for inspiration.

Isn't it lovely?  I hope I've done it justice with my card.

I've used the new Greenhouse Gala DSP on the card.  I'm not such a fan of the big floral designs of the paper, but I'm totally loving the brocade-type patterns in the pack.  The colour combinations are lovely too, and with 6 colours it's easy to pick just 2 or 3 to work with.

Here's a closer look at the sentiment panel:

I used the En Francais Background stamp on the bottom layer, and the Thanks stamp from Perfect Punches for the sentiment, which was raised on dimensionals.  The Chocolate Chip oval was added for a little extra interest.

Stamps: En Francais Background, Perfect Punches

Ink: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

DSP/Card Stock: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Other: Chocolate Chip ribbon (retired), Scallop Oval and Wide Oval Punches, Paper Snips, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals.

Catch you later,

Tina

Happy Father's Day!

Hi!

The card I made for today's post was created using the latest sketch over at Card Patterns.  Sadly I missed their deadline by a couple of days.  Oh well, maybe next time!

I used a narrow strip of Baja Breeze cardstock and pleated it across the bottom of the square panel.  The sketch had ribbon across the bottom, but I thought the pleated cardstock was a good substitute on a male card.  The Greenhouse Gala DSP screams 70's wallpaper to me, so I tried to compliment it with the offset circles down the left side.  Groovy Baby!

DSP/Card Stock: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip

Other: Circle Cutter and Punches, Chit Chat Rub Ons (retired)

While I'm celebrating one of the most important men in my life, I thought I'd also show you the card I made him for his birthday last month.

Here's the inside:

I used a left over section from the front to add interest to the inside.  It's something I really should focus on a bit more - making the inside just as special as the outside.

Stamps: Circle Circus, Always

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie

DSP/Card Stock: Washington Apple DSP (retired), So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White

Other: Dimensionals, Stamp Positioner, Sponge Dauber

Catch you later,

Tina

Stampin' Up! has bling!

Hi!

How exciting - the new Ideas Book and Catalogue is up and running and is the best one yet!  So many new products and stamp sets.  I really hope I win lotto soon!

Today's card was a long time coming.  After the big fundraiser I lost my mojo a little, but I think I am beginning to find it again.  I decided to start off with a simple card to ease myself back into things.

I only received my new embossing folder in the mail yesterday, so I put it straight to use on this card.  My hubby Rob was a bit 'meh' when I showed him the folder, but once I'd embossed the cardstock he had to agree that it was pretty nice.  He was amazed at the crisp lines it produces.  I sponged lightly over the panel with a sponge dauber to give a softer look.

And, most exciting, Stampin' Up! are now selling bling!  Expect to see a lot more on my cards!

Stamps: Perfect Punches

Ink: Regal Rose

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Other: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Rhinestones, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

Catch you later,

Tina