Sneek Peek - 4 Ever Anniversary Card

This was a card I made for a wedding anniversary and it contained a voucher for Stampin' Up! stuff (did this husband know what to get his wife or what!). Any way I first saw this made by Linda C. and had to CASE the idea and use some new stamps with it which were just perfect for the occasion. The centre is a mask of the full heart punch stamped with En Francais and then the sentiment is stamped on the vellum overlaid not in the heart giving it a very muted look.

Stamps: En Francais, So Happy For You, You're A Gem
Ink: Blushing Bride & Soft Suede
Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Designer Series Pack - In Color (hostess level 1), Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Vellum, paper piercer, mat pack, SNAIL, stamping sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Punch Bunch Owl Trio

I love Punch Bunch from the Sale-a-bration catalogue - mainly as I love the owl stamp (especially when you can use the punch to cut him out rather than scissors!). Here's a quick and easy layered card inspired by Mary F. (her's was a lot more complex, so this is my brighter streamlined version!) I also added a little piece of the soon to be released pompom trim!

Stamps: Punch Bunch, So Happy For You & Party Hearty
Ink: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango
Card stock: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point, So Saffron
Accessories: Two Step Owl Punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, scallop border punch, Tangerine Tango pompom trim, paper snips, Dimensionals, SNAIL

Eat Chocolate Sneek Peek!

The Summer mini & Sale-a-bration are almost over and this heralds the imminent arrival of a new Autumn-Winter mini catalogue - it is so yummy (email me if you want me to send you a copy on April 1st)! This is one card I've made using one of the new stamp sets - told you it was yummy!

It also uses one of the new textured impressions embossing folder - don't you just want to take a bite out of the bar of chocolate? I scored the Chocolate Chip card stock to make it resemble squares of chocolate and then punched out one corner with the circle scallop punch.

Stamps: Eat Chocolate

Ink: Elegant Eggplant & Craft White

Card stock: Whisper White &Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: aluminium foil (non SU), scoring blade, Framed Tulips textured impressions folder, Dimensionals, scallop circle punch, SNAIL.

Two Punched Birthday Posies

Here are two really fun cards made with the Punched Posies level 2 hostess set. With almost all the flowers fitting a punch it's also quick to make and the rhinestone brads & glitter - well they are just for sparkle!

The sentiment from the free Sale-a-bration set So Happy For You also worked well with these cards. The below was a CASE directly from the Summer mini catalogue - copying ideas from the catalogues is always good for when you have a mental block or time anemia!

Stamps: Punched Posies, So Happy For You
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Pacific Point
Card Stock: Old Olive, Real Red, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Pacific Point, So Saffron.
Accessories: Fancy flower punch, scallop circle punch, 5 petal flower punch, butterfly punch, paper snips, Dimensionals, scallop trim punch, rhinestone brads, gold brad, paper piercer & mat pack, 2 way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

Punched Red Daisies

Want a super fast card? I was having a play with Punched Posies this week and the below card was super fast to make. Punched Posies is a level 2 hostess set that is only available until the end of March in the Summer mini catalogue. It's as quick as stamp, punch and layer, the centre daisy is popped up on Dimensionals........

Stamps: Punched Posies & So Happy For You

Ink: Real Red

Card Stock: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Clear Rhinestone brads, Dimensionals, paper piercer, Real Red 3/4" polka dot ribbon (retired), scallop trim border punch, SNAIL.

Sweet Summer Cards

Well there is only two weeks left of Sale-a-bration and the Summer mini catalogue! I love earning stamps for free and during Sale-a-bration a lot of people have been able to do just that, if you would like to do the same, contact me now! I've been playing with the Sweet Summer set and got inspired by Jenny M. and came up with these:

The central flower head was stamped again on scrap Whisper White card stock and then popped up on Dimensionals, as were all three of the flower panels. Paper piercing along the bottom added some detail and some Basic Pearls added some class to this card - and the bees well they are just cute!

This one was very similar to the above card except the bottom pink paper piece was put through a crimper to add some texture, the bird was stamped, coloured and cut (I know what was I thinking?). All the pieces were coloured with Water Colour Pencils which were perfect for getting into the small leaf and petal spaces.

Stamps: Sweet Summer
Ink: Basic Black
Card Stock: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, In Color DSP Hostess level 1 & Whisper White
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Water Colour Pencils, paper snips, crimper, Tombow glue, SNAIL, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, paper piercer & mat pack.

Summer Fun Progressive Scrap Page

How do you turn a stamper into a scrapbooker? Very slowly is the answer! Big spaces to fill is very daunting for a lot of papercrafters - but here's a nice gentle way to ease people into the process. It's a progressive scrap page - first off you make a 6"x6" page and decorate it (incorporating a photo - which I'll eventually add) which really is just a bit bigger and squarer than a normal card......

I used circles and layers and jazzed it up a bit with sponging, embossing folder and Dimensionals. Then I took this 6"x6" page and popped it onto an A4 page and added a few more elements to get this:

I continued the circle theme down the page to link it together and then added two more photo mats. This whole page was then layered up onto a 12"x12" page and ohh my goodness a square card has just turned into a scrapbook page!

The circles continued down the page and off to the right a bit as well, then I added a layered Top Note die for journaling. The So Saffron 12"x12" page was looking a bit bland so I jazzed it up a bit with stamping some circles from the stamp set in the same colour and then sponged all the edges as well. So what do you think of the result? 

Stamps: Circle Circus

Ink: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Baja Breeze

Card Stock: Tangerine Tango, So Saffron, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

Accessories: Dimensionals, Timeless Type alphabet, Big Shot, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Simple Letters alphabet, Top Note die, Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Stamping Sponge, SNAIL, Tombow glue, Jumbo roller wheel & Spot On.

Toy Story Buzz Light Year Punch Art

I saw this idea on a blog hop about 6 months ago on Ellen K's blog, but it has taken me this long to find the time and reason to make it up. My son was invited to a Toy Story themed 5th birthday party so of course I "had" to make this card and matching gift bag..............

Too cool aren't they? I was pleased with how they turned out and made a bit of a change when placed amidst all the commercial Toy Story stuff - not entirely sure if is was a welcome change or not as some people don't 'get' handmade, but you get that! The bag contained a squirter duck on a soap pond that had some money coins immersed in it as well - with the idea being you discover the money when you are washing your hands or self in the bath. I've made several of these over the years and generally the kids love them as they don't realise there is money in it until they are part way through using it. For the parents the best part is that it is useful & will eventually vanish leaving no mess and the packaging is recyclable either via re-gifting or in the normal weekly recycling collection - I love gifts that don't take up any space or break!

These two Buzz's contained more punches than I care to remember using last night, but the result was totally worth it and although a bit fiddly cutting it all out was surprisingly simple and fast to assemble. I did have to alter the width of the arms slightly for the card as it just wouldn't fit on otherwise. Apologies that is does also contain two retired items, but you could always substitute those.

Card Stock: Blush Blossom (retired), Real Red, Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Basic Grey, Vellum, Bashful Blue.

Accessories: Circle Scissors Plus, Itty Bitty Punch Pack,  standard hole punch, Heart to Heart punch, Word window punch, Owl punch,  Small oval punch, Large oval punch, Wide oval punch, Full Heart punch, Corner Rounder Punch,

slot punch (retired), 3/4" circle punch, 1/2" circle punch, 1" circle punch, Modern label punch,  Round Tab Punch, Crimper, paper snips, SNAIL, Tombow glue.

Sweetheart For You Flower

Here's a quick creation made with the Sweetheart and For You Flower stamps (I love the a la carte stamps Stampin' Up! has brought into the range - so versatile), this one in particular is terrific layered up with different circles or highlight one word using the direct marker to rubber technique.

Stamps: Sweetheart, For You Flower

Card Stock: Real Red, Basic Black & Whisper White

Ink: Basic Black & Real Red

Accessories: Basic Black 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Fancy Flower XL punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Dimensionals, SNAIL.

Poppy Parade

I've been having fun with my FREE Sale-a-bration sets of late - who doesn't love to get freebies? There are only 3 weeks left to get yours - so if there is something you like or fancy hosting a party to not only earn free Sale-a-bration sets, but also other exclusive hostess rewards and free merchandise - in addition to spending some creative time with friends. Here is a quick card made as customer thank you's recently with a removeable insert.

Stamps: Punch Bunch, So Happy For You

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green & Basic Black

Card stock: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Woodland Walk DSP, Very Vanilla.

Accessories: Scallop edge punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop circle punch, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Because I Care

I always make a card or small 3D items for each person that places an order from me, of late I have been making cards with removable inserts (the insert has my written thank you on it) basically the recipient can remove the insert and either use the card for inspiration or write in it and give it away. This was one card I made recently as a thank you - the photograph is overexposed - sorry, it doesn't look as insipid in real life!

The leaves and the little individual flower in the set I stamped repeatedly, then cut, shaped and sponged, before attaching to the flower to add real dimension to it. A simple colour scheme and layout, but really effective I thought.

Stamps: Because I Care

Ink: Pear Pizazz & Blushing Bride

Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Whisper White & Pear Pizazz

Accessories: Scallop oval punch, Large oval punch, Dinemsionals, Old Olive Taffeta ribbon, paper snips, Stampin sponge, SNAIL, 

IB&C CASE Scrap DSP birthday

I love the Ideas Book & Catalogue when I get in a blah head space and can't think of what to make, I flick through and get inspired by the samples on every page! The below card was part of my using up scraps workshop challenge from earlier in the year. I changed the colours and made the border punched strip a different colour as I prefer having more contrast, but essentially it's the same card as on page 93 of the Australian Ideas Book & Catalogue for 2010-11!

Stamps: Perfect Punches

Ink: Basic Black

Card Stock: Love Letter DSP, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Boho Blossom punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punches, Scallop Trim Border, Paper piercer, white gel pen, Wide Oval punch, Paper snips, SNAIL, Tombow glue.

Elements of Style Tri-fold Card

I recently cut the base of a tri-fold card in Real Red card stock, then got time anemic and the base got put to one side and is currently buried under a pile of stuff with other UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) awaiting my attention. Then I saw a gorgeous tri-fold card Belinda N. made on an online SU demo site and in the same internet surfing session saw the latest Inkspiration colour challenge and got re-inspired to make one, (although I just went back to the site and realised whilst writing up the recipe for this card I used Regal Rose not Rose Red as my colour combination - dolt - can you tell I'm not a pink person and get easily confused!). Ohh well mistakes aside this was the result:

I really love this stamp set, Elements of Style, probably because I also love water colouring and Aqua Painters make this a really fast process to do. The circle scissors allows the perfect cutting of the centre piece for the die cut scallop circle as well, I thought about adding a second yellow layer in between the white and pink, but decided against it - was this a good thought?

I also love the distressed edges of the fancy flower (I just did this with my fingers not the distressing tool), the coloured card stock almost peels into layers to add extra depth and dimension to the card, the sponged edges also help though! Anyway the card has already been written in and is awaiting the post box in the morning - hope she likes it!

Stamps: Elements of Style

Ink: Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron

Card Stock: Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Whisper White, Newsprint DSP

Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle die. Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Little Leaves Embosslit, Basic Pearlsm Wild Wasabi double stitched 1/4" grosgrain ribbon (retired), fancy flower XL punch, Boho Blossom punch, Stampin' Sponges, Tombow glue, SNAIL, corer rounder punch, 1" circle punch, linen thread, 1 1/4" circle punch, 1/16" hole punch, paper snips. 

Punched Potpourri Easel Card

Easel cards are lots of fun, there are several variations in templates for them, but I preference the single 4" x 12" piece folded, rather than separate pieces stuck together. A good tutorial with measurements on my preference is here and I love it mainly because I can get 3 cards from one sheet of 12"x12" card stock and also because the base piece is all in one section rather than having to join bits together.

It uses several different techniques and was one I used as a make and take at a party workshop with moderately experienced stampers, it used stamping, punching, sponging, embossing with the Big Shot and markers direct to rubber. Want to make something like this for free with your friends? Contact me today about hosting a party workshop and in addition to a terrific make and take item, you can earn free stamps and other rewards.

Stamps: Punch Potpourri, Teeny Tiny Sentiments and Tiny Tags

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Basic Black & Pretty in Pink.

Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Whisper White

Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Scallop Boarder Punch, Scallop oval punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, SNAIL, Stampin' Sponges, Full Heart Stamp, Boho Blossoms, Two-Step Bird Punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Hemp twine, 1/16" hole punch, 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon.

Shimmer Paint Reinkers

Last month I spent a bit of time playing with shimmer paints. I made some cards using the re-inker technique where you simply mix a couple of drops of re-inker with shimmer paint and use a sponge dauber to apply it to the stamped image. One thing I did learn was that even when the paint palette well looks empty or re-inker and shimmer paint, there is still a LOT of ink left on the dauber - one image I managed to get over 20 more images after I thought I had run out of ink! So a little shimmer paint really does go a long way.

I love the textured embossing on the base card stock of this card, gave it a very subtle dimension. This is an awesome stamp set though as you can punch out so many of the images from it. I used a lot of layering, embossing, sponging and Dimensionals to really give this card some depth. I used a lot of layering, embossing, sponging and Dimensionals to really give this card some depth.

Stamps: Punched Posies, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Ink: Mix of Frost White shimmer paint and either Real Red re-inker or Not Quite Navy

Card Stock: Real Red, Very Vanilla & Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Dimensionals, Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Textured Embossing Folder, Fancy Flower Punch XL, 3/4" circle punch, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Rhinestones.