Welcome to the New Annual Catalogue!

Hi!

Stampin' Up!'s new Annual Catalogue begins today!  Lots of yummy new stuff to play with.  Being a demonstrator I get to order some of the new products a month early and I have been able to have a play.

On this card I have used a new stamp set called Happy Day.  Don't you just love the medallion image?  I coloured it with my Basic Black and Riding Hood Red (now retired, sob) markers to get the two colours.  I finished it off with a Basic Black Glimmer Brad.

The DSP is also new to the Catalogue.  It's called Modern Medley and is a lovely mix of Basic Black and Very Vanilla patterns. Can't wait to play some more with it!

The flourish under the sentiment is also from the Happy Day stamp set - another pretty image.

Stamps: Happy Day, Curly Cute (retired)
Ink: Basic Black, Riding Hood Red (retired)
DSP/Cardstock: Modern Medley DSP, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red (retired), Very Vanilla
Other: Basic Black Glimmer Brad, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon (retired)

Bye for now,

Tina

Festive Friday #40

Hi!

Yes, it's Festive Friday time again!  This time Nicole has challenged us to use buttons on our creations.  BUT you aren't just allowed to put a button or two on your card, they must be used as a feature on your card.  I decided to make a telescoping card for my project.

Isn't he cute???  I didn't have two black buttons to use as eyes so I used two of the new Vintage Faceted Buttons and backed them with pieces of black cardstock.  Works well, I think!  Here's a closer look at the face.

I used a scrap of Pumpkin Pie for his carrot nose and some Basic Black punchies for his coal mouth.  All these pieces were coated in Crystal Effects for a bit of extra effect.

Here he is part way opened.  I used some more Crystal Effect covered punchies for his coal buttons.  His hands were made with some cropped small star punchies (retired) and some strips of Basik Balck cardstock.  You can see I've lightly sponged some Sahara Sand ink around the edges of each of the circles for a bit of definition.

Finally, here he is fully opened.  The last section is the largest, and is where I'll write my message to the recipient.

Stamps: Curly Cute
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Sliver Glimmer Paper
Other: Circle Cutter, Vintage Faceted Buttons, Pumpkin Pie Brads, Crystal Effects, Punches as listed, Sponge Dauber

I hope you can play along with us at Festive Friday Challenges this week!

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

Just Believe

Hi!

In my previous post I showed you a Christmas card I'd made as a sample for a workshop.  When I finished the workshop I had one kit left over and I just couldn't be bothered putting it away so I decided to make a card with it.  I didn't want to make the same card, so I had a bit of a play with the bits and pieces.  This is what I ended up with.

I kept the base the same, but instead of using the postage stamp punch I just stamped straight onto the DSP with the gorgeous stamp from Just Believe.  I also used different ribbon and the Decorative Label punch to frame my greeting.

I had some Concord Crush cardstock left over, so I ran some through the Big Shot in my Beautiful Wings Embosslit.

Stamps: Just Believe, Curly Cute
Ink: Concord Chrush
DSP/Cardstock: In Colour Patterns DSP, Concord Crush, Whisper White
Other: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Elegant Eggplant Scalloped Dots Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Basic Jewel Rhinestones, Paper Snips

Bye for now,

Tina

Festive Friday Challenge #3

Hi!

Welcome to the third of Nicole Derendorf's Festive Friday Challenges.  This week is our first round of Christmas Cards.  I'm so pleased to be on the Design Team because it gives me a kick start on my Christmas cards for the year.  No more mad rush in November (or December!).  If you play along too you could get a good head start on the task.

I love it when you can make a card and let the DSP to all the 'talking'.  Some days I just can't be bothered getting out my stamps and ink pads, and so cards like today's are perfect for such occasions.

In the end I did get out one stamp and one inkpad for the inside!

Stamps: Curly Cute
Ink: Old Olive
DSP/Cardstock: Letters to Santa, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Whisper White, Red Glimmer Paper
Other: Ornament Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Dimensionals

Why don't you pop on over to Nicole's blog and see what the rest of the Design Team have made to inspire you.  I hope you can play along with us.

Bye for now,

Tina

Soccer Ball Birthday Card

Hi!

Today's card is another male card, but this time for a 6 year old.  The card was a commission and my brief was a birthday card for a six year old soccer mad boy.  He is a big fan of the local Adelaide United team, so I was asked to include their colours.

I decided to make a soccer ball shaped card, and after a bit of googling to see how a soccer ball was constructed this is how it turned out.  I used a hexagon punch to recreate the ball, which is not strictly accurate but it is the only way to flatten a soccer ball for a card.  The word 'six' is popped up on some dimensionals.

I used the Adelaide United colours on the inside - white, red and blue.  Their logo is a group of stars that are in a soccer ball shape, so I added the stars as the best approximation I could do!

Stamps: Curly Cute
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Not Quite Navy
Other: Big Shot, Timeless Type Alphabet Dies, Small Star Punch (retired), Circle Cutter, Hexagon punch (non SU)

Catch you later,

Tina

Just Add Ink #93

Hi!

I managed to find some time over the weekend to have a go at the current Just Add Ink challenge.  It's another colour combination this week: Pool Party, Certainly Celery, Whisper White and Melon Mambo.

I white embossed the flower stamp on the Pool Party DSP and then used my blender pen to lightly colour the flowers.  It's a subtle effect, but quite pretty.  I snuck a little Certainly Celery at the top and bottom of the card by using my Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch to create a subtle little scalloped border.

I also stamped the same flower on the inside of the card, along with the sentiment.

Stamps: Simply Soft (Hostess), Curly Cute, Happiest Birthday Wishes (Hostess)
Ink: Versamark, Pool Party
DSP/Cardstock: Pool Party Patterns Stack DSP, Pool Party, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Other: Big Shot, Stripes Embossing Folder, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Whisper White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Blender Pen, Paper Snips, Dimensionals

Catch you later,

Tina

Chinese Whispers Stampin' Up! Style

Hi!

Today I have a blog hop for you, but a bit of a different blog hop.  A couple of months ago I was chopping up some DSP for a share and let my mind wander as I chopped.  It wandered to Sarah Klass's blog where she had blogged about how a group of her friends had all created cards one after the other, each inspired by the card before them.  She called it "Chinese Whispers of the Stampin' Up! kind". 

So as my mind wandered I thought it sounded like a great idea and proposed a game of Chinese Whispers to a group of Stampin' Up! friends.  They were keen to get on board and so I began the "whisper".

I made this card, and then emailed a photo to Kathryn Mangelsdorf.  She then made a card based on mine and emailed her photo to the next person on the list, and so on.  Each person only saw the card before theirs.  When the "whisper" reached the last person on the list I was able to reveal all the cards.  It was amazing to see how the "whisper" evolved as it went around the circle, and we wanted to share the fun and gorgeousness we all created.  There are 15 cards to show you, so please join in and hop around the blogs to see how the "whisper" progressed.

Here are the other blogs on the hop.  I recommend that you do the hop in order so that you can follow the evolution of the "whisper".  Some blogs feature more than one card as not all of the ladies who participated have blogs.

Kathryn Mangelsdorf
Sue Madex
Christine Blain
Ros Davidson
Nikki Sadler
Kathryn Ruddick
Di Gill
Alisha Watson

Stamps: Just Believe, Curly Cute
Ink: Basic Black
DSP/Cardstock: First Edition Specialty, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Other: Basic Black Satin Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Basic Jewels Pearls, Sponge Dauber

Happy Hopping!  Now you're off to Kathryn Mangelsdorf's blog where you'll find both Kathryn's card and Christine Henderson's card.  Don't forget to leave comments along the way - we'd love to know what you think of our game and our cards!

Catch you later,

Tina

A Very Cute CASE

Hi!

In the papercraft world CASE stands for Copy And Share Everything.  I love that papercrafters are so willing to share their wonderful creations - there are so many blogs out there with inspirational creations!  Today's card is a CASE of a card I found one night while blog surfing and I was so inspired by the card I made two.  One was for Hudson's birthday and the second was for one of Hudson's little friends who was also celebrating a birthday.  You can see the original card over at Add Ink and Stamp.

Here is the card I made for Hudson:

A different angle!

And the matching card I made for his little mate.

Another look!

I stamped the insides of both cards the same.

Aren't they cute cards!

Stamps: Fox and Friends, It's Your Day, Curly Cute

Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Early Espresso

DSP/Cardstock: Just Add Cake DSP, Baja Breeze, Early Espresso, Whisper White, So Saffron

Other: Curly Label Punch, Circle Punches, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, White Brads

Catch you later,

Tina

Timeless Portrait Birthday Card

Hi!

Today's card was a commission from a friend to make a card for a 30th she was going to.  I was asked to make the card extra special so I decided to make a side step card and use quite dramatic colours.

I went with the Timeless Portrait DSP and so used Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla and just a splash of Basic Black.  I guess it's a pretty classic example of the 60:30:10 rule, where 60% of the card uses one colour, 30% is a second colour and 10% is a third colour.  It keeps the card nicely balanced and easy on the eyes.

Just a view from the side showing how it sits.  I liked making this card, so I think I'll try more in the future.  I have to play with the measurements though, as this one was JUST too large for Stampin' Up!'s Medium Square envelopes.  Luckily I was able to find an envelope to fit the card.  There has to be some benefit from being an envelope hoarder!

I decided to go fairly simple on the inside, just a couple of strips of the DSP and a stamped greeting.

Stamps: Curly Cute, Great Friend (retired)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
DSP/Cardstock: Timeless Portrait DSP, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Other: Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Basic Jewels Rhinestones, Large Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Circle Cutter, Stamp Positioner

I'm participating in a blog hop next Saturday that features the Big Shot.  All projects on the Hop will be created using the Big Shot.  Please join us for some fabulous inspiration!

Catch you later,

Tina

Grungy Birthday Card

Hi!

Today's card was made for a workmate of Rob's.  A male workmate.  Which meant a male card. Sigh...  They are soooo hard to make.  Thankfully Stampin' Up! has released the Well Worn DSP, which makes male cards a lot easier.  And when you have a great sketch to work with, like the current challenge at Unscripted Sketches, it's even easier!

I wanted to emphasise the grungy look of the DSP and continue it through onto the plain cardstock.  To do this I used one of the 'filler' stamps from the Simply Soft stamp set as a background stamp.  I never would have thought to do this - thanks to Nikki Sadler for the idea!

Just a different angle of the front of the card.  The Motorcycle panel is popped up on Dimensionals.

And the inside of the card.  I carried through the look from the front by using more DSP and stars.

Stamps: Simply Soft, Curly Cute, Motorcycle (retired)

Ink: Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy

DSP/Cardstock: Well Worn DSP, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, River Rock

Other: Artichoke Denim Ribbon, Small Star Punch (retired), Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals

Catch you later,

Tina

Domestic Goddess using Delicate Doilies

Hi!

Today I have a card for the latest challenge at Just Add Ink.  They gave us a colour combination this week that I found quite tricky: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Whisper White and Crumb Cake.  Hmmm... my first step with a colour challenge is to look through my DSP to see if any of them have the colours to match.  In this case the Domestic Goddess DSP had all of the colours except Crumb Cake, so I decided to go with that.

I love the little floral patterned paper - it's so cute!  Here's a closer look at the main panel.

I stamped the smallest doily in Calypso Coral and Pool Party on a piece of Whisper White, trimmed it into three sections, layered them on some Crumb Cake cardstock and trimmed around it.  A couple of punchies for the greeting and some rhinestones and it's finished.

The card is actually an easel card, but I think I got a few of the dimensions wrong as it doesn't sit up enough.  Back to the drawing board!  Any hints or measurements gratefully accepted!

Stamps: Delicate Doilies, It's Your Day, Curly Cute

Ink: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake

DSP/Cardstock: Domestic Goddess DSP, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Crumb Cake

Other: Basic Jewel Rhinestones, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

Catch you later,

Tina

September Blog Hop: New Products!

Hi!

Today I am very excited to be a part of a blog hop that showcases not only some very talented Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, but also some gorgeous NEW products from the recently released Idea Book and Catalogue.  Another South Australian, Kathryn Mangelsdorf, was the blog before mine on the hop.  Didn't she have some great stuff to show you!

There are a HEAP of new products, but today I have decided to focus on some of the smallest, but also one of those products that can add a big bang to your papercraft projects: brads.

My first card uses the new Glimmer Brads, found on page 143 of the catalogue.  There are 4 different colour families you can purchase, and you get 40 brads in 5 different colours in each pack for just $9.95.

I used my Stampin' Write markers to colour the Hello Blossoms stamp and then used coordinating brads as the center of the flowers.  It's such a  simple card, but the Glimmer Brads give it a little bit of pizzazz.  Did you also check out some of the new Wisteria Wonder ruffled ribbon?  Gorgeous!  You can find the ribbon on page 138.

The brads are so glittery!  Perfect for a little girl's birthday card.

I just stamped one flower on the inside, and then used some Dazzling Diamonds for the center of the flower.  I didn't use a brad as I didn't want to damage the front of the card.

The other brads I want to highlight are the Designer Printed Brads.  They are also on page 143 of the catalogue, and for $14.95 you get 8 brads in each of the five 2011-2013 In Colours (40 total).  They are sooooo cute with a little polka dot pattern printed on them.  Here's my card, which is a CASE of this card.

This time I used the Funky Four stamp set, but as before I used the brads as the center of the flowers. (And some more of that gorgeous ribbon!)  I also used some of the new Domestic Goddess DSP, which you can find on page 128.

Just a closer look at the brads.  They are so sweet - I can see myself using a lot of these!

 As with the inside of the previous card, I used Dazzling Diamonds on the flowers instead of brads.

Glimmer Brad Card:
Stamps: Hello Blossoms, It's Your Day, Curly Cute
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Peach Parfait
Cardstock: Whisper White, Regal Rose
Other: Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Glimmer Brads, Dazzling Diamonds, Crystal Effects, Stamp Positioner

Designer Printed Brad Card:
Stamps: Funky Four, A Word For You, It's Your Day
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party
DSP/Cardstock: Domestic Goddess DSP, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Whisper White
Other: Designer Printed Brads, Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Modern Label Punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Crystal Effects, Stamp Positioner, Dimensionals, Paper Snips

Thanks for stopping by, you're now off to see the wonderful creations of Ros Davidson.

Catch you later

Tina

Here are the other blogs in case a link is broken:


Ros Davidson  http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com/
Christine Blain http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com/
Alisha Watson http://www.ratherbstampin.typepad.com/
Di Dunk http://www.stampartbydi.typepad.com/
Nikki Sadler http://www.inkyart.com.au/
Judy May http://www.judymay.typepad.com/
Kathryn Ruddick http://www.katlodesigns.com/
Kathryn Mangelsdorf http://klm55.blogspot.com/

Simply Soft Card

Hi!

Today I have a Thank You card, made using one of the brand new Hostess Sets called Simply Soft.  It's a gorgeous two-step set that has three floral outline images and three more images for easy colouring of the flowers.  It's called two-step because first you stamp the outline and then you stamp the solid image over the top which colours the flowers.  And if you buy the clear mount option like I did, you don't need a stamp positioner to line the stamps up.  How much easier can it be?

I used Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzazz to colour the flower.  The leaves were coloured by hand using my inkpad and a Blender Pen.  Here's a closer look at the flower image.

I also spritzed the panel with my Sahara Sand marker and my Colour Spritzer.  Isn't the flower a lovely soft image?

I also completed the inside of my card using the same stamp as on the front.  I stamped it in Blushing Bride, so it's little hard to see.  Here's a closer look.

The hostess benefits system has changed with the new Idea Book and Catalogue.  Now once your order or Workshop sales reaches $300 you receive $50 Hostess Dollars to spend on anything you'd like from the catalogue.  There are specially priced sets just for Hostesses that you can spend your Hostess Dollars on, or you can buy your choice of items.  I love the new system!

Stamps: Simply Soft, Curly Cute

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand, Basic Black

DSP/Cardstock: Hostess In Colour Patterns Stack (retired), First Edition, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride

Other: Big Shot, Circle Cutter, Blushing Bride Ribbon, Blender Pen, Sponge Dauber

Catch you later,

Tina

Big Top Birthday Cards

Hi!

Today I have not one, but two cards for you!  I surprised myself last night and managed to get both made.  Given that I'd spent 5 hours doing some pretty heavy gardening during the day I was amazed that I even had the energy to create.  I guess when the mojo strikes you just have to go with it!

I love how the DSP does all the work in this card.  I just had to stamp a sentiment at the bottom!

The inside was just as easy! I fussy cut a second balloon from the DSP, mounted it on dimensionals and stamped a sentiment.

The front of this card took a little longer, but only because I used my stamp positioner to line up all the 'Happy' stamps.

A couple more strips of the DSP on the inside to finish it off.  Easy!

Balloon Card:
Stamps: A Word For You, It's Your Day
Ink: Tempting Turquoise
DSP/Cardstock: Big Top Birthday, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Other: Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, Stamp Positioner

Happy Card:
Stamps: Curly Cute
Ink: Real Red
DSP/Cardstock: Big Top Birthday, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Stamp Positioner

Catch you later,

Tina