Lovely as a Tree christmas

I must admit I half CASED this idea from the very talented Vicky Hayes from the UK, in as much as it was her idea to punch the word window and stamp the sentiment in the negative space left by the punch. I cut the Pacific Point cardstock so it was just a fit for the Tulip embossing folder, I then punched the strip for the sentiment using the word window punch and making the top of the punch just level to 2 1/2 tulips up the side. The sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments was stamped into the negative space. I then took Glossy White card stock and very lightly sponged the whole card with Champagne Glimmer Paint, I thin over sponged most of the area with Pacific Point Classic Stamping Pad. Them image was stamped using Black Stazon, and then I swiped the Versamark ink Pad over the bottom of the card stock, sprinkled Heat and Stick Powder to it, melted it then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds and heat set it once again. I think it gives a lovely snowy icy effect, dont you? I tied some 1/8" Silver Ribbon around the card and tied a nice bow in the centre. I absolutely adore the Frosted finishes Embellishments and added one to the top left hand side of the card for that little bit of extra bling. It looks so much "blingier" (is that even a word) in real life and I think the ladies are going to love making this card. Till next time, happy stamping!

Spongeing and watercolour paper

The other day I made this lovely card of which I was inspried by Beverly Pollen. Beverly lives on the Coast in the USA and quite a bit of her work comes about from inspiration she gets from her surroundings. Last week was no different, she came up with a beautiful creation using sponging and  the effects were beautiful. I 'cased' her card to a degree, but then added my own twist to it and this is the result. It was so quick and easy to do I couldnt believe how quick. I added the boat and the sun and clouds to my card just to add a bit of interest. Hope you like it as much as I do, Please let me know what you think. Bye for now

Another Telescopic Card, made by a Special Person

My grandson really loved the card I made for my friend for her birthday and said he would like to make one for his dad. Of course who am I to deny this request, so this morning we sat and made telescopic cards together. (I am certainly getting plenty of practice using the Circle Scissors Plus) Young Matthew was really taken with the Owl Punch and really wanted to use it on his card as well as the beer glass from Cheers to You stamp set. The sentiment was from Fifth Avenue Floral. All in all he used a mixture of  stamp sets and punches, but he  had a wonderful time making his card and it was all done with minimal help from his Nan. I was so proud of him for sitting there and keeping on with his project. He gave the card to his dad and it was lovely to see how pleased and happy he was to be given this special card from his son, Maybe I have another member of the family that is interested in Stampin' Up! In the words of his older brother and cousin. "This card is way sik". I found out that "way sik" is so much better than "sik", which really means its awesome!. Well I think he is an awesome young man for making this for his dad. Till next time bye for now....

Single Twisted Easel Card

Today's share is a single twisted easel, bit of a let down after the last couple of days isnt it? I still had fun making this card and the colours I used were Pacific Point, Poppy Parade and Whisper White. I ran the Square Lattice embossing folder through the Big Shot and stamped the ship in Early Espresso and coloured it quickly using my Aqua Painters and Poppy Parade. The Water I touched in a couple of places with Marina Mist and just a touch or two of Old Olive to add interest. I matted this onto Pacific Point and then onto the Poppy Parade using dimensionals. The Newsprint DSP added a bit of interest to the base of the card and the Birthday wishes was Stamped using the Early Espresso once again and punched out using the Oval Scallop Punch. I then ran the Oval Scallop from the Punch Windows Die Set in Pacific Point and mounted these on dimensionals. This is just a really quick card but looks so effective and is a great masculine 'all purpose' card. I hope you like it..............Bye for now

Natures Nest and Faux Mother of Pearl

April is Autism Awareness Month, and the colour for Autism is Blue and funnily enough Mitchell our grandson chose the cardstock for the card base.After having a play with the Faux Pearl Technique yesterday I decided to try a more 'male-ish' type of card using the same technique! This time I used Pacific Point Cardstock, swiped it over with my Classic Stampin Ink Pad of the same colour, then topped that with a strip of Sahara Sand that had been run through the Big Shot using the Tatsteful Trims die. I used Whisper White card stock for my technique and sponged it with the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and when that dried I sponged again all over using the Sahara Sand Classic Ink Pad. A quick rub with a tissue removed the excess from the Shimmer Paint and it was ready to stamp. Mitchell chose the turle from Natures Nest and stamped him with Stazon Brown. I matted the Whisper White onto Baja Breeze abd then onto Soft Suede just to lift it a little. You can see in this photo the 'pearl' effect. This was such an easy little card to make and voila! I have made yet another masculine card!  I really like the way this turned out, what do you think, I would love to know. Bye for now

Punch Bunch from Sale-a-bration!

Hi everyone, today I thought I would move away just a little from the Swee Summer set, but still staying with Sale-a-bration. How lucky are we that we can earn free top quality stamps, just for spending as little as $100. How many other places can you purchase goods you were going to get anyway and get such a fabulous bonus. They are very special because they are not for sale - ever. Wow! I feel so lucky to have been able to earn my stamp sets. Over the last couple of days I have shown you the Sweet Summer ser, today I am using the owl from the Punch Bunch set as well as the cute in flight butterfly from the Sale-a-bration set So Happy For you. Using Crumb Cake  ink I stamped the butterfly randomly over the Very Vanilla base card. I decided then to use the Scallop Border Trim Punch and punch both edges on the Crum Cake and the Pacific Point Cardstock. They were then layered with a piece of Blueberry Crisp Designer Paper. I love this paper, it has really taken a hold on me and I am tempted to use it all the time! Three owls were stamped on Very Vanilla  in Melon Mambo, and two in Pacific Point, then punched out using the XL 2 Step Owl punch, I attached these to the card front using Dimensionals. The colours are lovely, and I think the owls look super cute sitting on the Blueberry Crisp, dont you? Well thats if for today, come back tomorrow and see what I have to share for you then. Bye for now.

Comfort Folder Instructions

CARDSTOCK:
27.5 x 21cm - Score at 10.5, 11.5, 22 and 23cms on the longest edge. Cut out the section at 22cm to score line and to edge
2.5 x 14cm - Scallop Punch on short edge, then measure 4cm from the edge of the scallop and cut off.
8.5 x 13cm - Whisper White or Very Vanilla for insert
Scrap of Whisper White or Very Vanilla for front sentiment, and also scrap of contrasting cardstock to cut back label die in Big Shot.
 15 x 8cm Designer paper for front of folder
INCIDENTALS:
Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel, Sticky Strip, Snail, Scallop Border Edge Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Round Corner Tab Punch XL, Sponge for inking edge of card.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Score and cut cardstock where required. On the short edge that has the piece cut out of it, edge with the Scallop Edge Punch. Sponge this end with ink colour of choice. Punch one end of the 14 x 2.5cm cardstock using the same punch.
Using Jumbo So Swirly wheel and ink colour the same as cardstock, roll the whole sheet of cardstock, rolling the portion of the folder that folds up last so the imprint is very faint. Sticky strip the bottom portion that folds up at the ends, in the space that is measured at 10.5 and 11cm, and then at the edge where it has been cut away. This will form the pockets to hold the sachet and letter or insert.
On the right side attach Designer Paper, then the strip of contrasting card stock. Then attach the 4cm strip so it matches the other scallops.  Stamp sentiment and punch out using Wide Oval Punch, and then attach it to the largest label in the Lots of Labels sizzlet dies. Use snail on the portion of the tag that is going to sit on the main portion of the folder and have the balance of the tag sitting out over the small section of the folder. This small section of the folder will slip in under the tag to keep the folder closed.
Off stamp the So Swirly Wheel and then run it across the bottom of the insert. Punch a tab to pull the insert up (if using), fold tab over and attach to insert. Stamp sentiment of choice on insert or better still slip a letter in the pocket.

A Little More on Watercolours

Good Morning!

I thought today that I woud talk a little more abour Watercolours.Many people are afraid of watercolours, simply because they do not understand them or their versatility. Watercolours allow you to present the most delicate and subtle colour to your work, but by the same token also allow bold and vibrant colouring. It also gives you so many new shades of a colour as well. As you can see in the photo on the left I have used Pear Pizazz, Pacific Point an Cajun Craze just to demonstrate to you the range of colours that are achievable with just one Classic Stampin Pad and the Aqua Painter. I have made 21, but there are so many more!The Aqua Painter is a very innovative type of watercolour brush. It holds the water or other fluid (e.g. Bleach) in the chamber that is also the handle of the brush. You have complete control as to how much or little water is released from the chamber and with a little practice you will learn to love the Aqua Painter as I do. At only $19.95 for a packet of two it is excellent value! When I stop and think that I was paying $70-80 for a single watercolour brush, I definitely wish I knew about Aqua Painters then!  When using the watercolouring technique, always ensure that your image is stamped using Stazon Ink. The colour will not bleed out of this ink as it would using a Classic Stampin' pad. Also remember that normal cardstock is ok to watercolour on, if it is only a small area. The best results will always be obtained using Watercolour Paper which is specifically designed to withstand water without warping or the surface becoming 'chaffed'.Over the next weeks I will post items on watercolouring and how you can use this wonderful technique to make the most of your stamp sets and your inks. I will also talk about watercolour washes and the difference they too can make to your projects.