Some More Cards for My Stash!

We are heading down to the beach soon for a little family camping trip and today we starting going through the process of making copious lists of things to take - hmmmm, must add some stamped images and colouring bits'n'pieces to that list!!!

I'm sure thoughts of the beach were on my mind when I decided to head off and do some more emergency cards for my stash! I pulled out the Sahara Sand CS and decided to use it as the base for these 3 very different cards. Sahara Sand is such a versatile colour as it can be a part of the main effect, or just fade into the background while adding depth.

This first card uses and all time classic favourite - Baroque Motifs - and very little colour. I just used the Sahara Sand, Basic Black and Whisper White. I was very pleased at how elegant the card looked all finished - even if the sections are a little off square - oops - guess that makes it a hand made card then!! LOL

I then decided to add in some colour - and out popped Pumpkin Pie - not quite sure why really!! This one needed to be a masculine card as I do tend to go floral and needed to challenge myself for the more macho members of my family. I ran the Pumpkin Pie throught the Cuttlebug and layered it onto some Whisper White. The leaf was stamped in Chocolate Chip and is from the Lovely as a Tree set. I then coloured it in using my Watercolour Crayons and Aqua Painter. Some Chocolate Chip details and Jumbo Eyelets added more interest.

This last card really is beach orientated. I CASE'd it from a cute Christmas card Karen Thomas made over at Luv to Stamp - check her original card here. Obviously I changed the colours and the occasion. I just adore this little guy from Crab and Co. Once again I popped on a little colour using the Watercolour Crayons and Aqua Painter, the effect can be very subtle. I also used my white gel pen to colour in his eyes and the icing on the cupcake.

The crabs were stamped onto Sky Blue using Chocolate Chip ink. This was then layered onto Old Olive CS, DP from the Fall Flowers set and finally Whisper White.

Sale-A-Bration!

It's nearly here - no I don't mean 2009, I mean Stampin Up's Sale-A-Bration!!!!! During the months of January and February 2009 you'll get 1 FREE stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue for every $100 you spend from the other catalogues - that means 2 sets if you spend $200 etc..... To view the limited release sets available for this special click here or ask me to send you a copy. So check it out!!

Some Birthday Cards

After making the birthday card for my niece the other day I decided to spend some time making some cards to store in my card box for those occasions when you need a quick card but don't have time to make one - I know you all know what I mean!!!!

This first card was inspired by one I saw on the lovely Kellie Winnell's site - I've linked it here. I really like the idea of stamping a background to make your own DP - and I used the Priceless set to do this one, just like Kellie! I also embossed the background in my Cuttlebug after stamping. The sentiment was from the For a Friend set. I stamped the background using Pretty in Pink, Lavender Lace and Rose Red. The card base is Pink Passion.

The second card came about because I received a Christmas gift wrapped in this beautiful teal and white ribbon - it was too gorgeous not to re-use! I used the flower from Eastern Blooms and stamped it in River Rock and Taken with Teal. The branch was stamped in Taken with Teal. I stamped the scalloped square using the birthday sentiment from Fun and Fast Notes. A couple of embossed strips in whisper White and Tempting Turquoise and some Rhinestones and it all came together. My daughter actually preferred this card to the pop-up one I made for my niece - so we are sending this one off to England instead.

Christmas Fun

I have finally downloaded my pictures from Christmas Day and wanted to share a couple with you - the first is of my gorgeous kids opening up their presents - by the end of the morning there was paper and smiles everywhere - just the way it should be! Soon after the excitement of checking out everyone's goodies the realisation that we'd had an early morning hit, and Sarah decided to crawl onto the trampoline and enjoy the gorgeous day we had - remember it is Summer here!

Unfortunately for her, Dad soon decided to join in - followed by young master Toby who decided to toss balls onto the trampoline from the deck - ensuring lots of squeals and mayhem. It was a great way to start the day before heading off to Grandpa's for Lobster and Prawns - and the odd drink or 2 for the adults!!!!!

Our poor dog Holly looks like she was looking forward to some well earned rest - it must have been tiring checking out all the new smells and trying to keep the kids in check in the backyard!

I hope you all had a great day too......

Pop-Up Fun

I just have to show you the gorgeous card my nephew and his new wife bought for me while they were on their honeymoon - it doesn't look that much from the outside but when you open it up - WOW. This card was all cut and put together by hand - I'm not sure if they found it in Thailand or Vietnam - but it was such a lovely way to send flowers to a card maker!!!

I decided to use this card as the inspiration for making a birthday card for my niece in England - she's turning 18! It's sooo scary when your nieces and nephews reach milestones. Anyway - here's what I came up with....
Firstly I must apologise that most of the SU products I used are currently unavailable as they are retired - but you can adapt the ideas to sets you have!
I cut the front of the Real Red card using the Boho Blossoms Punch and then stamped a piece of Very Vanilla with the flowers from Trees Three in Real Red, without re-inking - this gives you the variety of shades. The leaves are stamped in silver - again from the Trees Three set. The sentiment is from Short and Sweet. I added thin silver ribbon to finish the front off.
I won't bore you with my attempts to recreate the paper basket inside the card - I came close and may give it another go when I get the chance - or maybe not, LOL. I ended up doing a simple pop-up vase and adding some flowers from the One of a Kind set. The flowers were put on flat, popped up on dimensionals and wired for a fuller 3D effect. I also popped in some red ribbon to fill it out. A little red sentiment from Fun and Fast Notes and I think I'm done! Now I just have to write in it, wrap the present and post it all off!

Farewell Mini Album

A few months ago good friends of ours told us they would be moving to Dubai - we have spent time together nearly every week freezing our tooshies off at the ice rink while our daughters have figure skated together as solo artists and synchronised skating team mates. We have all become really close friends during this time and I now see a trip to Dubai appearing sometime in our future - although we may let our friends find a suitably large house for all their guests first - LOL!

It was not long after I heard they were leaving that I went to the SU Regionals in Melbourne with my new SU friend Ramona Michaluk. Ramona is a very talented stamper and had brought some beautiful things for "show & tell". One of these was a gorgeous Waterfall Card and Mini Album. She graciously helped me out so I could make this one for my friends - it was just THE perfect going away card as I could incorporate memories of all the fun we had together.

I also enjoy writing silly limericks and came up with one for each of them - but then I had to decide where to put them! I opted for a sleeve on the inside cover and made an opening with my Word Window punch and added a tab using my Round Tab punch.

Making this album really made me appreciate how SU products work so well together - I used several punches and stamp sets and was really happy with the result. In case you were wondering - the album HAD to be purple as this is the girls' team colours.

I was sooooo pleased to see how touched my friends were when I gave it to them - it's amazing how some card, stamps and photos can really bring out emotion - this is why I love to do it!

KWerner Color Challenge #35

Well it's time for another challenge from Kristina Werner. I must admit to thinking these colours would be easy - but I did struggle a little - maybe because I had a frustrating day out trying to finish up my Christmas shopping. Nothing seemed to go right for me today except for finding parking spots!! I had a list a mile long and went to 2 separate shopping centres before I started having some success - never mind - I thought having a go at the challenge would relax me - and it did.

Firstly I had to find a substitute for the Baja Breeze CS as we don't have it here in Australia - I went with Ballet Blue instead. The flower from the Embrace Life set was stamped onto So Saffron CS in Chocolate Chip, and then detailed with Dazzling Diamonds and my So Saffron marker. The branch was also stamped in Chocolate Chip and then the leaves were coloured in with So Saffron. I deliberately chose not to use Very Vanilla as the base for my stamping as I really felt like doing something different for the challenge. The actual card is Very Vanilla, I just took the photo on top of some Ballet Blue CS as a white background didn't seem to work. The Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon added some "strength" to the card. I'm not too sure of this card - but the therapy in producing it made it all worth while and it does look better IRL!!

Some quick Christmas cards

I was recently asked if I could make some ice skating based cards for my daughter's figure skating club as they run the little shop at the rink. Last week I sent down some cards using Glideabella from Stamping Bella - as shown in a recent post. Today is the club's Christmas show so this morning I also thought I'd whip up some Christmas cards using this little fella from Penny Black. I coloured him up using a mix of my SU markers and SU watercolour crayons. The star and the fur on his hat have been blinged up with Dazzling Diamonds. The Whisper White layer has been stamped using the snowflake from Snow Swirled in Real Red and then run through the Cuttlebug in the Swiss Dots folder. The sentiment is from Short and Sweet.

I was amazed how quickly they came together once the colouring was done - and I'm really happy with how they turned out.

KWerner Color Challenge #34

Just a simple card this week for Kristina's challenge. I love the soothing colours - especially as this time of the year can be sooooo hectic. I also wanted to do something easy this week as I have a really nasty head cold and the brain is a little gooped up!! All that being said - I really like the elegance of the colours and they tie in so well with the beautiful tree from Lovely as a Tree. This set has been on my desk a lot lately - it's such a great set for all occasions. I stamped the images in the order set by Kristina's challenge - the colours look sooo much better IRL - the differences really shine through. I stamped the sentiment from Short and Sweet in Perfect Plum before stamping the trees so I could mask it off and keep it "clean". I then mounted the card onto Perfect Plum CS and onto a Certainly Celery card. It will be a great back-up Christmas card - or can be used for another event down the track!

Playing with Colouring In

I have recently spent some time playing with different ways of colouring in my stamped images. I have used ink from the stamp pads, markers, watercolour crayons, water colour pencils, blender pens and aquapainters. I have done quite a bit of folk art in the past so colour and painting has always interested me. The different techniques I tried are all more subtle than the acrylic paints I'm used to using - but I have really enjoyed trying them out.

I spent a bit of time today cutting up my designs and turning them into cards - here are a few of my favourites - sssshhhhh non of the images are SU - but then I haven't really been into coloring before and these images have been great to play with. I've also used SU cardstock, ribbon and punches; nestabilities and my cuttlebug.

This lovely lady is Glideabella from Stamping Bella - as mentioned in a previous post I have a daughter who figure skates so this stamp was a "must have" - I think she's adorable! The silver ribbon is very sparkly in the light - I wish it would show up in the photos! It really complements the Dazzling Diamonds on her "fur" and ice trail.

This young girl is from Magnolia Rubberstamps - I actually coloured her in at a watercolouring class I did on Sunday - using aquapainters and watercolour crayons - it was great fun. I ruched the SU Taffeta ribbon to mirror the ruffles of her underskirt - it's a great way to add texture.

These little fellas are from Whipper Snapper Designs - I found this stamp in a Bargain Bin - how could I go home without them - LOL - look at those faces!!!

I'm not exactly sure who's design this is - it was another stamped image we were using at the class on Sunday. We used a "wet" technique to colour the butterfly - the image was embossed to create walls for each section.These were then gently "flooded" with water using the aquapainter to layer water into each section. Dots of colour were transferred from watercolour crayons to the puddle via the aquapainter. These dots used the water to "bleed"out and fill the area. It was a fascinating thing to try - apologies if it doesn't make sense - I think it's a more visual technique!

What can I say - these little guys just are just way too cute! I love owls and couldn't resist these little fellas who are from Stampavie. The soft pastel colours just added to the "cute factor" - I also added some Dazzling Diamonds on their little tummies. I'll certainly be doing these again but might see how they look in more vibrant colours!

Something for Liam

Well, this project ended up nothing like it was going to be when I started out last night!! A while ago I had found a tutorial for a "Carousel Notes Purse" at Jan Tink's website and had put it in my "to do" list - check out Jan's marvellous tutorial here. It's not only informative but it's amusing too - especially if you're a bit of a chocaholic!

The main problem with trying this out was that in Australia the Carousel Notes weren't available. I have seen a mini version one done with Love Notes - but can't remember where - please let me know if anyone out there has a link for this to add in here. Anyway - one of the first things I saw in the new Summer Mini was Carousel Notes - Yippeeeeee. I have finally dragged out the tutorial and have given it a go.

Now I know mine doesn't look like a bag as it doesn't have the ribbon strap - and that's because it ended up as more of a mini album - which is my favourite way of scrapbooking. I started off thinking I'd do a Christmas album for when I finally got around to taking pictures of my family - but this can't be done at the moment with dear hubby overseas for a month with work!

I started using the beautiful Wintergreen DP, which went so well with the Chocolate Chip envelopes. I very soon changed my mind about what I was going to use the "bag" for as the Sky Blue Carousel Notes became my focus - my nephew Liam has the most gorgeous blue eyes and I've been wanting to do something for my sister with the photo that really shows them off. Thus it very soon became "Liam's Book" - so I decided it had better not end up as a "handbag", rather it's a standing album! I've really enjoyed doing this as I often feel I don't put enough effort into things for Liam - he's a delightful little boy who I love dearly - but he also has autism so at birthdays and Christmas we tend to let my sister choose his presents as he has very definite likes, dislikes and needs.

I also used the Crab & Co. stamp set for a bit of light relief - most of my stamp sets are a bit too floral for boys - especially if I'm making them an album out of a handbag pattern - LOL. I used my Aquapainter and Watercolour Crayons to add a touch of colour. There are 2 more Carousel Notes tucked behind the covers for additional photos or journalling. The front flap is held down with a self-adhesive velcro dot - I actually added a bit of extra card to the underside of the Carousel Note for added strength in this "high traffic" area.

I really hope my sister likes it!

Christmas in Singapore

I meant to post these a few days ago - but time just seems to be getting away from me. I still have sooo much left to do before Christmas gets here - it really seems to have snuck up on me this year! Ah well.

I thought you might like to see the lights of Orchard Rd - the main city shopping strip. Every year the Singaporeans light up several kilometres of the road with lights, trees and other Christmas goodies. Mid year a section of Orchard Rd gets a "mini makeover" when the companies vying for the right to decorate the whole strip put up an example of their entries. The winner is then chosen and they get naming rights for that year. This years' winner was Hitachi.

There seemed to be a theme involving these little characters - we never did find out who they were! The archway above is at the central intersection, and this is where the other major pieces were too. All along the road the trees had lights in and swags stretched from one side of the road to the other - it looked stunning at night.

These next decorations were from the shopping mall right next to our hotel. Every mall had it's own decorations and theme - it was a bit of a sensory overload at times, but gorgeous. The tree was outside the main door and inside each part of the mall there were mini versions.

And as you can see the whole centre got the Christmas treatment!

I'd also like to take the time now to wish each and everyone of you all the very best for a safe and happy Christmas and a terrific 2009 full of good times, laughs and lots of stamping fun!!!

KWerner Color Challenge #33

Hmmmm - I really wasn't very sure about these colours - not my cup of tea at all!!! However, what is a challenge if it doesn't challenge you - LOL. I decided to add to the difficulty by making a non-traditional Christmas card - maybe because I'm working too many extra days at the moment and am running waaaaayyyyy behind with my own Christmas cards - how embarrassing!!!!!! I was sitting staring at the 5 cardstock colours trying to get inspired when my son walked up and together we put this card together - I think most of the enjoyment I got from finishing the challenge came from doing it with my son......and here it is.

I stamped the large tree from the Lovely as a Tree set (a major fave of mine) in Versamark onto Whisper White and then used clear EP. I then sponged Pumpkin Pie onto the top part after masking the bottom with a post-it note. The area at the bottom of the tree was then sponged in Chocolate Chip. I removed the mask and then repositioned to make some snow hills with a light sponging of Chocolate Chip. The sentiment is from Warm Words. I was really lucky to discover some Teal rhinestones in my bling box to decorate the tree - and a sneaky gold star finished off the top (my son kept telling me to take the star off as gold wasn't a challenge colour - oh well). The Certainly Celery layer was "Cuttlebugged" using the Swiss Dots folder, and then I ran the Chocolate Chip sponge gently over the raised spots to add definition. To finish off I roughened the edge of the stamped card, drew on some snow with my white gel pen, added a piece of Taken with Teal CS and a Chocolate Chip grosgrain bow.

Hope you like it!

Blog Award

Wow - thanx soo much to Robyn at "Rainbows by Robyn" for giving me this Blog Award. I was recently nominated for another blog award by Sam Post at Ryemilan's Stamping and Scrapbook but blogging was all new to me then and I wasn't sure what it meant - what a duffer I am!!! I feel very honoured to have been nominated for both of these by 2 of my own favorite bloggers!

Now the hard part - to pick some other great blogs to receive this award - Robyn has already nominated a few I would have chosen so make sure you check them out too - Ramona and Lisa (Digitalfox) are listed under "Blogs I Like".

Others I would choose are .....

- Sam Post at http://ryemilan.blogspot.com/ - she is an amazing talent and I could just spend my card making time CASEing her work!

- Donna at http://butternutsagedesigns.blogspot.com/ - another fabulous designer with some sensational ideas.

- Jean at http://jeanmckenzie.blogspot.com/ - a lady who's work is always outstanding.

and last but by no means least

- Petronella at http://www.keepstamping.com/ - someone who always inspires with different techniques.

Christmas Candles

I made these candles a little while ago but thought now would be a good time for them to appear on my blog as they are quite Christmassy. They were actually made because my daughter is a figure skater and I thought they would make great gifts for other skaters. Here in Melbourne we have been challenged in this sport with only 1 undersized rink for quite a while - but we have a great community who get a little obsessive about anything skating related!! These are made from a retired SU set that I bought on ebay called Snowy Play - I couldn't help it - it's ICE SKATING and cute too!!!! I coloured the snowman in using my son's pencils the snowflake on the tag is from the Season of Joy set. I have also found that time sitting at the rink is great for taking along some colouring in - when I'm not chatting with other mums - LOL.

Tying Up Christmas Promotion

Dates: 1-31 December 2008

Promotion Details: Spend $20 in catalogue merchandise and qualify to purchase select items at 20 percent off regular price.

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108790....27.......Festive Favorites stamp set............$45.95.......$36.76

108772....28.......Crazy for Christmas stamp set.........$39.95.......$31.96

110244....29.......Snow Flurries stamp set.................$20.95......$16.76

108930....43......Tag Time stamp set..........................$53.95......$43.16

108869....111.....Many Merry Messages stamp set..................$64.95.....$51.96

103604...133.....12" x 12" Days-to-Remember Calendar..........$20.95....$16.76

104144....133.....6" x 6" Days-to-Remember Calendar.............$18.95.....$15.16

109663....138.....Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'T..................$36.95.....$29.56

112670....143......Three for You Punch Box................$85.95.....$68.76

109055....146.....Very Vanilla 5/8" grosgrain ribbon..............$14.95....$11.96

109050....146.....Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon.........$14.95....$11.96

103372....147.....White Square Aluminum Metal Edge tags......$7.50....$6.00