Last Days For The Sweet Shop

Hi!

Can you believe that tomorrow is the last day to get your hands on the products in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue?  If you haven't got the things you want, you'd better get in quick, as no one can be sure what will make it into the upcoming Annual Catalogue and what will disappear forever.  Don't miss out!

Today's card was made for my son to give to one of his best friends for her birthday. I used the very cute Sweet Shop Specialty DSP on the card.  The bottom layer of hearts is textured - each of the hearts is embossed for an extra special touch.

Such bright, happy colours in the card.  I used some more of the DSP and some of the coordinating Pool Party Baker's Twine on the inside.

Don't forget to get your order in before tomorrow midnight if you want to get your hands on some of this DSP.

Stamps: A Word For You, Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess)
Ink: Calypso Coral
DSP/Cardstock: Sweet Shop SDSP, Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Whisper White
Other: Designer Printed Brad, Pool Party Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

Male Themed Blog Hop

Hi!

I hope you're having a wonderful start to your weekend - a blog hop's a fabulous way to get the creative energy happening, so I hope we inspire you to get inky and get stampin! You've either come here from the clever Alisha Watson's blog or you're starting here.  Either way just keep hoppin' 'til you get back to where you started!

I have created a layout about my husband Rob to fit with the male theme.  I hardly every scrap about Rob on his own so it was about time I did!

When I make a male themed project there are always a few things I like to use: twine, brads and sanding. I have used a  three on this layout.  I sanded the edges of all of the DSP layers and then mounted them on Early Espresso cardstock for more of a lift.  I also sanded the flags before gluing them onto the twine to create some bunting, which was held down using brads.  I attached the left hand side and just let the twine sit where it wanted to naturally.  It created a pleasing curve so I just adhered the flags to the page and then attached the right side using a second brad.  Easy!  Here's a closer look at the bunting.

I also went for a sanded look on my title.  I adhered some Well Worn DSP to some chipboard and when it was dry I ran it through the Big Shot with my Simple Letters Dies.  I then sanded the edges before adhering the letters to my layout.  The smaller files in the Distressing Kit came in very handy when I was trying to sand these letters!

I hope I inspired you to scrap about the men in your life.  Now you're off to see the fantastic projects Ros Davidson has created.  Thanks for stopping by!

Ink: Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker
DSP/Cardstock: Well Worn DSP, Early Espresso, River Rock
Other: Big Shot, Simple Letters Alphabet Dies, Chipboard, Sanding Block, Distressing Essentials Kit, Owl Builder Punch, Crystal Effects, Hemp Twine, Early Espresso Brads, Glue Dots, Tombow Adhesive Glue

Bye for now,

Tina

List of Blog Hop Participants:
Ros Davidson http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com
Sue Madex http://www.madexcreations.com
Christine Blain http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com
Kathryn Mangelsdorf: http://klm55.blogspot.com
Nikki Sadler http://www.inkyart.com.au
Di Dunk http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com
Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstamping.blogspot.com

Just Add Ink #128: Just Add Inspiration

Hi!

It's Friday!  Are you ready for some Just Add Ink fun to start your weekend?  Well, let's get cracking then.  This week Jodene has found a gorgeous inspiration picture to get the mojo flowing.

Who wouldn't love to see that beautiful bunch of flowers in their house?  I can almost smell how good they'd smell.  I took my inspiration from the colours of the flowers to create this frame for my daughter.  She turned 7 last week and is a real girly-girl, so this is something I knew she'd love for her room.

I was lucky enough to find the frame in an op shop for $3.00.  I had planned to paint it black for another project I had in mind, but the colour was so perfect for this project that I just had to use it.  I painted the matt using some Platinum Shimmer Paint - it came up so beautifully!

Each of the butterflies is stamped with the matching ink using the flourish from Creative Elements and sponged for definition.  A few Rhinestones complete each butterfly.

To finish it all off I spritzed the whole thing with some Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint/Isocol mix.  You can see the shimmer on the butterfly above.

I hope you can play along this week at Just Add Ink.

Stamps: Creative Elements
Ink: Rose Red, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango
Cardstock: Rose Red, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White Textured
Other: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Timeless Type Alphabet Dies, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint, Platinum Shimmer Paint, Op Shop Frame

Bye for now,

Tina

Bordering On Romance

Hi!

One of my favourite stamp sets from the current Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue is the Bordering On Romance set.  Such a pretty set!  Here are a couple of cards I made as samples for my stamping ladies.

The ladies got a choice of either the Twitterpated DSP above, or the Flirtatious DSP below.  You may notice that the ribbon is a little different in each sample too.

I used Confetti White cardstock for the main parts of the card.  It's a lovely weight and look for clean and simple cards like these ones.

The flowers were stamped in Stazon ink and coloured directly with the markers that coordinated with the selected DSP.  They were then fussy cut and mounted on dimensionals, with Rhinestones added as a final touch.

A little more stamping and colouring to finish off the inside.  I used the Field Flowers Stamp set for the sentiments on the inside and front. Such sweet sentiments.

Finally, a little reminder about our male themed blog hop on Saturday.  It's sure to be inspiring!

Bye for now,

Tina

Attic Boutique Card

Hi!

There's not long left to purchase items from the current Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, as it finishes at the end of the month.  There's some things I'll really miss from it, but I won't find out for a little while yet if they will find their way into the next Annual Catalogue.  If you don't want to miss out, you'd best get in quick!  Today's card uses quite a few products from the Mini Catalogue.

This was a card I made as a sample for my monthly ladies when the Mini first came out.  There are quite a few runs through the Big Shot with this one!

I quite like the doily paper in the pack, and it provided a pretty background for the sentiment panel.

Stamps: Perfect Punches
Ink: Pool Party
DSP/Cardstock: Attic Boutique DSP, Pool Party, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits, Adorning Accents Embossing Folder, Designer Frames Embossing Folder, Large Oval Punch, Victorian Crochet Trim, Basic Jewels Pearls, Dimensionals

Don't forget our masculine themed blog hop on Saturday, you're sure to be inspired!

Bye for now,

Tina

Festive Friday # 28

Hi!

Festive Friday time again!  This week Nicole has given us this gorgeous picture to use as inspiration for our cards.

Lol, if you look really closely you can see the photographer in the shiny bauble!  Am I the only one who notices things like that? Anyway, here's the card I made that was inspired by the picture.

I am really loving the Letters for Santa DSP for my Christmas cards.  I think it's one of those DSP's that grows on you over time.  I cut the large bauble from the DSP and used a scrap for the panel down the side.  I also used some red Glimmer Paper down the side to represent the string of beads in the photo.  I carried this over to the inside of the card too.

What a gorgeous inspiration picture we have to work with this week.  I hope it inspires you to get out your Christmas supplies and get stampin'! See you over at Festive Friday.

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Baroque Motifs
Ink: Old Olive
DSP/Cardstock: Letters To Santa DSP, Red Glimmer Paper, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: 1" Circle Punch, 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Sponge Dauber, Paper Snips

Bye for now,

Tina

Making Evil Cards

Hi!

Yes, you did read the post title correctly - this post is about making evil cards!  Well, not really!  I recently headed back to McLaren Vale to deliver a bunch of fabulous Stampin' Up! goodies to a lovely group of ladies and stayed to show them how to make Easel cards using their new Labels Framelits.  One of the ladies misheard what I said and thought I was showing them how to make evil cards!  Oh boy, did we get a laugh out of that one!

Here's the evil card that I demonstrated for them:

Not so evil after all!  The ladies found the easel cards quite easy to make once they got the hang of it.  Lots of Framelits were cut in lots of lovely colour combinations.  Can't wait 'til I see the group again to see the cards they made using the technique.

Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
Other: Big Shot, Labels Framelits, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon

Don't forget our male themed blog hop on Saturday! EDIT: I'm a week early!  The blog hop will be NEXT Saturday, 28th July!

Bye for now,

Tina

Happy Birthday Ada!

Hi!

Last week it was my daughter's 7th Birthday.  She's a very pretty girly little girl so I wanted to make a card to match her personality.

She's not a big fan of the colour pink anymore so I made the blue more the focus of the card.  The background was stamped using the babywipe technique in Pretty In Pink, Marina Mist and Wild Wasabi.

I used the same stamping on the inside to finish off the card.

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, Happiest Birthday Wishes (hostess)
Ink: Pretty In Pink, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Pretty Ink Pink, Very Vanilla
Other: Marina Mist Dotted Scallop Ribbon, Pretty In Pink Designer Buttons, Pretty In Pink and Marina Mist Brads, White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

I'm participating in a male themed blog hop on Saturday.  I hope you can check it out and find some inspiration for making some fabulous male projects - they can be soooo difficult!  EDIT: I'm a week early!  The blog hop is NEXT Saturday, the 28th July!

Bye for now,

Tina

Just Add Ink #126: Just Add A Sketch

Hi!

Yes, it's Friday again!

Time for another Just Add Ink challenge.  This time the lovely Mae has designed a sketch for us.

I was a bit lateral with my interpretation of the shapes in the sketch, but I think I was still quite true to the original.

I love how the Cheerful Treat hostess DSP provides a bright, happy background to the flowers.  I love the Field Flowers stamp set and I think it worked really well on this card.

I just had to use some more on the inside of the card to brighten it up.  I sent the card to my Aunt and Uncle as a Thank You for all the hard work they put into organising my Grandma's 100th birthday recently.

I hope you can play along this week with us at Just Add Ink.

Stamps: Field Flowers, Curly Cute
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo
DSP/Cardstock: Cheerful Treat DSP (hostess), Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Labels Framelits Dies, Scallop Border Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

Christmas In July

Hi!

It's my 'off' week for Festive Friday, but I thought I'd post a Christmas card anyway.  This was a card I made for my regular stamping ladies as a sample on the very first time we stamped together in December 2011.  Hmm, it's been in my 'To Blog' folder for far too long!

This is the only photo I have of the card - no inside shot!  Even though the punch is retired I thought I'd still blog the card as it also features the gorgeous Glimmer Paper.  I love this paper, but I tend to hoard it rather than use it.  Bit silly really, it's to pretty to stay in my DSP box!

Stamps: Snow Swirled, Stitched Stockings (retired)

Ink: Real Red, Wild Wasabi

Cardstock: Silver Glimmer Paper, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White

Other: Big Shot, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Large Oval Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Stocking Builder Punch (retired), White Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

Bye for now,

Tina

Workshop Make and Take Card

Hi!

Last week I showed you a card I demonstrated for a lovely group of ladies in McLaren Vale.  Today I have the card we made as the Make and Take.  The ladies were keen to see the punches we carry so I designed a card that used a few.

I had been hoarding my stash of Twitterpated Buttons, so I decided it was time to use them. 

Here's a closer look at the  main panel.

And the inside.

Stamps: Clearly For You
Ink: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: Postage Stamp Punch, 1" Square Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Whisper White Satin Ribbon, White Baker's Twine, Twitterpated Buttons

Bye for now,

Tina

Festive Friday #26

Hi!

How are you going on your Christmas card stash?  How about a colour combination to inspire you to make some more?  Nicole has challenged us to make a card using these gorgeous colours.

They aren't colours that immediately scream "Christmas", but I guess that's sometimes a good thing!  Here's my card.

I decided to focus on the browns and create a natural looking Christmas card.  Isn't this tree from Lovely As A Tree perfect as a Christmas tree?  After I stamped it I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the image using my Two-Way Glue Pen.  It adds a lovely shimmer that I hoped looked a little like snow.  Here's a closer look.

Hmm, a bit hard to capture the shimmer in a photo!

Nice and simple stamping on the inside to finish off the card.

Stamps: Lovely As A Tree, Snow Swirled, Season of Joy
Ink: Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
DSP/Cardstock: Letters To Santa DSP, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake
Other: Dazzling Diamonds, Paper Snips, Two-Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals

I hope you can play along this week at Festive Friday Challenges - it's a lovely colour combination for Christmas cards!
Bye for now,
Tina

Workshop Demonstration Card

Hi!

Last week I had the pleasure of running a cardmaking session in the gorgeous McLaren Vale.  I met a lovely group of ladies there and we had a lovely morning stamping.  The card I have for you today was a card I demonstrated using the Decorative Label punch.

I took the photo on my iPhone during the party as it was one I partially made at home and finished at the workshop.  I was demonstrating how to punch the frame, as the ladies had told me they were keen to find out about Stampin' Up! punches. 

The card was based on one I'd made as a swap for last year's Convention.  You can see my original card here, along with a link to directions for punching the frame.

Stamps: Just Believe
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green, Very Vanilla
Other: Decorative Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch

Bye for now,

Tina

JAI Scrapbooking Challenge #7: Hidden Journalling or Memorabilia

Hi!

It's the start of another month, so it's time for a Just Add Ink Scrapbooking Challenge.

This month we are challenging you to scrap a layout that has either hidden journalling or hidden memorabilia.  I decided to scrap a layout of the MeatLoaf concert Rob and I went to last year.

Here's a closer look at the photos I used.  We had nosebleed seats, and the photos were taken on our phones so they aren't the best photos.  For me though, this doesn't matter, as in this case the story is more important than the photos.

When you untie the Baker's Twine bow you uncover a little booklet.  The first thing you see when you flip back the photos is the tickets to the concert, and my hidden memorabilia.

Then you flip over the tickets to find the hidden journalling.

I included a second lot of hidden journalling in the layout in the form of lyrics of my favourite MeatLoaf song.  The base cardstock is white, and I die cut the lyrics "I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday" in white and adhered them to the base cardstock.  I used a mix of Timeless Type and Simple Letters dies.  It is a lovely subtle subway poster effect.  I then sprayed some Smooch spray over the top to distract the eye from the lyrics so the focus is on the title and the photos.

This final picture is a bit of a tip for you.  I kept the box my Simply Scored scoring tool came in and cut off the top of the box so I could use it as a spray booth for my layouts.  I have the Colour Catcher but it is not quite big enough for a 12x12 layout.  Problem solved with my Simply Scored box!

I hope you can play along this month with the Just Add Ink Scrapbooking Challenge.  What do you think you could find to hide on your layout?
Ink: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Silver Foil Smooch spray
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black
Other: Big Shot, Timeless Type Alphabet Dies, Simple Letters Alphabet Dies, White Baker's Twine, Sanding Block
Bye for now,
Tina