Designer Series Paper Blog Hop

Hi!

Welcome to our blog hop.  A small group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are hosting a blog hop to showcase some of the gorgeous Designer Series Paper we sell.  I'm sure you'll be very inspired by the projects you see as you hop around all the blogs.  There are 7 blogs on the hop, with the blog before mine being the very creative Di Dunk.

For my project I decided to scrap a layout inspired not only by the DSP I have in my stash, but also by some song lyrics.  Last week at playgroup we sang "You Are My Sunshine" with the children.  I got a bit teary remembering that it was the very first song I sang to my eldest child Alex just after he was born.  It was one of those moments where nothing else existed, just him and me and the song.  A very special moment.

The layout took me AGES, but I was really please with how it came together.  I started with Basic Grey 12x12 cardstock and built up from there.  The hills were cut from the Woodland Walk and Greenhouse Gala DSP packs.  I hand drew a line just inside each of the elements to give them some definition and also to give a bit of a whimsical look.

I hand drew the clouds on a piece of Basic Grey Patterns Stack DSP and then cut around each one.  I drew some in each direction for a bit of interest.  Each cloud is popped up on some Dimensionals and I used some Basic Jewel Rhinestones to represent the rain.  The sun uses Greenhouse Gala DSP.  I had a lot of thin scraps of the Daffodil Delight pattern, so it was great to use them up as the rays of the sun.

For the house I used Love Letter DSP and my scallop edge punch to make the roof.  I just punched a heap of thin strips and adhered them to a piece of cardstock cut to shape of the roof overlapping each layer.  The flowers in the flower box were punched with the smallest flower in the Boho Blossoms punch.  I drew around them too and added a black centre.  The middle flower is popped up on a Dimensional.

The apple tree is just a whole heap of punched circles of different sizes using the Woodland Walk, Greenhouse Gala and Love Letter DSP packs.  The tree trunk was hand drawn and cut from the Woodland Walk DSP.

Phew!  I think that's all the relevant details about how I completed my layout.  Now you're off to see what the wonderful Margaret Knoops has created to inspire you.

Catch you later,

Tina

Participating blogs:
Margaret Knoops
Judy May
Kathryn Ruddick
Ros Davidson
Alisha Watson
Di Dunk

Layout 11: January

Hi!

Today's layout is the first in a series - one for every month of the year.  Last year I did a weekly 8x8 album where I recorded what my family did and the funny things that they said.  I didn't want to take on such a big project again this year, so I decided to do a monthly double layout instead.

Here's the layout.  I decided to go with a summery theme as we spent a lot of time swimming or outdoors during January.

Here's the left hand page.  I used one 4x6 photo as the main focus of the page, and then used smaller wallet sized photos for the rest.  I took inspiration from a layout by Lori Anderson in Creating Keepsakes magazine (page 66 Nov/Dec 2010 issue).  I loved the linear, grid like feel of her layout and thought it suited my purpose wonderfully.

I love the way that even though there are 17 photos on this layout there is still plenty of white space and the layout doesn't look cluttered at all.

Once again I took inspiration from Creating Keepsakes magazine for the suns.  Megan Klauer used them on her layout on page 100 of the January 2011 issue.  The top circle is raised on Dimensionals for a little added interest.  Each section is sponged with Chocolate Chip ink to help it pop.

Ink: Peach Parfait Marker, Chocolate Chip
DSP/ Card Stock: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Peach Parfait Textured 12x12, Whisper White
Other: Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Circle Punches and Circle Cutter, Chipboard Alphabet

Catch you later,

Tina

Layout 10: Crazy Face

Hi!

I'm sure there are many parents out there that can relate to the inspiration behind this layout.  I can never manage to get a decent photo of my son Alex.  It is an incredibly frustrating experience - he either tilts his head, pulls a silly face or won't look at the camera.  Sometimes all three!

As you can see though, it is worth the frustration as when I get a good picture it's a really good picture.  He's one handsome little man!

Ink: Soft Suede Marker
DSP/Card Stock: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade
Other: Spiral Border Punch, Colour Spritzer, Big Shot, Timeless Type Alpha Dies

Catch you later,

Tina

My First ATC

Hi!

I don't have a card to show you today.  Instead I have the very first Artist Trading Card I ever made.  I actually made it a little while ago for a swap I was in which had a paper piecing theme.  I only had the Greenhouse Gala DSP at the time, so that's what I used.

I was so glad when I saw the For Everything stamp set in the new catalogue.  It was a set I loved and I was glad to be able to use it for at least another 12 months.  I stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip and then coloured it with my Real Red marker.  It was just too fiddly to paper piece the sentiment, especially as I had to make 8 ATCs for the swap.  The butterflies, bird and flower are all paper pieced though.

Stamps: For Everything
Ink: Chocolate Chip Inkpad and Stampin' Write Marker, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker.
DSP/Card Stock: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Chocolate Chip, Read Red, Whisper White
Other: Paper Snips, Stamp Positioner

Catch you later,

Tina

Greenhouse Gala Scrapbooking

Hi!

I managed to squeeze in some scrapping over the past few days, but I only completed 1 layout.  I had an idea of how I wanted it to work, but it just didn't quite come together in the way I'd hoped.  I still love the finished layout though.  In the end I decided that the DSP was busy enough and I didn't really need to add the embellishments.  Here it is.

The photo was taken on the last day of my mum's recent visit.  She lives in NSW so I only get to see her a few times a year.  She flew over for a week to help me celebrate my birthday.  Here's a close up of the journaling:

It reads: We all love it when Grandma comes to visit.  The kids love getting spoilt when she buys them little gifts and treats.  Rob and I get spoilt too - she does the dishes and ironing!  I kept mum so busy that I think she went home to have a break!

Stamps: Trendy Trees
Ink: Versamark, Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker
DSP/Card Stock: Greenhouse Gala DSP, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie
Other: 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon (retired), Clear Embossing Powder, 1" Circle M Punch, Big Shot, Timeless Type Alphabet Die, Paper Snips

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