Bandana Technique Baroque Motifs

Well one set that I will be sad to see go in the retirement list is Baroque Motifs, but I know that Stampin' Up! are going to bring out lots of lovely new stamp sets so I refuse to be sad about it! I did this technique a while ago at one of my classes and it's a simple combination emboss resist and detail work with the white gel pen.

So I started off by embossing whisper white card stock with Versamark and black embossing powder

Then using stamping sponges cut into wedges I sponged a third of the area with Poppy Parade

I repeated this with Peach Parfait to get even more coverage of the card stock

And then I added the final colour Daffodil Delight

Generally once I've finished sponging I wipe over the embossed areas with a dry tissue to remove any ink from the embossed areas to complete the emboss resist technique. Now to take it one step further to look like an indigenous bandana design I used the white gel pen to highlight the design by doodling over it - the pen goes over the embossed areas just fine as well as onto the sponged card stock.

Isn't that cute???? I love this as it's a combination of a few techniques to give a great result and no two cards are ever exactly the same! Here's a finished card with it - if they ever retire Teeny Tiny Sentiments I am going to be in trouble!!!

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Versamark, Poppy Parade, Peach Parfait & Daffodil Delight
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Poppy Parade
Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy, Modern Label punch, Word Window Punch, Dimensionals, White gel pen, stamping sponges.

Just Believe Mothers Day

Another card that made the cut for the Mother's Day class was this one, using the beautiful stamp set Just Believe - which I can't believe I haven't used in months! I CASEd the idea from a  Stampin' Up! demonstrator only forum card which was made by Corrina B. I changed the layout, colours & used the new pleated satin ribbon rather then the poly stitched in-colour ribbon that she had ruffled. I love the butterfly embosslits and little pearl centres in the flowers which she didn't have, but I thought look cute! If you want to get the DSP and pleated ribbon for this without a massive outlay, you can get from the Twitterpated product share that is running.

Stamps: Just Believe & Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock: Twitterpated DSP, Baja Breeze, Whisper White & Blushing Bride
Ink: Blushing Bride & Pear Pizzazz
Accessories: Basic Pearls, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Pleated Satin Ribbon Blushing Bride, Big Shot, Butterfly Embosslits, Dimensionals.

Birthday Cards........

Well amidst the Easter festivities, school holidays and work I had a birthday *grin* yep they do sneak up on me each year! Anyway this year I thought I would share with you some of the beautiful cards that friends gave me.

A gorgeous panelled card using Elements of Style from Catherine:

A fishy affair from Charmaine:

A Load of Love from Annette:

An amazing gift and card from Marsha using the Fun Flowers die & Happiest Birthday Wishes:

That even had a matching envelope - how cute is that!

A wonderful gift card from Myleigh and the Stampin' Sistas:

And inside a vellum embellishment:

Thanks girls - you all helped make my day very special!

Joy Fold Open Sea

Another card made with the lovely Open Sea stamp set (I am so crossing my fingers and toes this one makes it from the mini into the main catalogue in September!)

and open it looks like

Stamps: Open Sea, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Early Expresso & Cherry Cobbler

Card stock: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Early Expresso, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: 1 1/4" circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Dimensionals, mini silver brads, 1/16" handheld punch, modern label punch, word window punch, stamping sponge.

Fun Side Spring Card & FREE postage offer

I am loving the Sale-a-bration items that you can get for FREE this year.........we made a side spring card that fits a standard C6 envelope in class this week using the designer series paper Everyday Enchantment. If you are interested in getting any of the Sale-a-bration items for free with the added bonus of FREE postage if you place the order with me before midnight on Saturday the 24th - so contact me now to place your order as once Sale-a-bration finishes they are gone forever!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card stock: Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Whisper White & Everyday Enchantment

Ink: Pool Party, Basic Black, Crumb Cake & Poppy Parade

Accessories: Antique brads, Fun Flower Die, Big Shot, paper piercing tool, mat pack, modern label punch, word window punch, scallop border punch, stamping sponge, bone folder.

Need for Speed in Blues

I saw a card using the polar bear from Zoo Review here and loved the squares & colours and CASEd it to create this card. The squares are a great way to use up scraps of DSP. The card can be changed to give a very different look depending upon the image and a lot of images will fit in the massive 2 1/2"circle. I'm thinking of remaking this card in different colours for different genders as its a great way of using up scrap DSP and it really is simple as they cut with the square punches.

Stamps: Need for Speed, Teeny TinySentiments, Extreme Elements & Grunge Rock.
Ink: Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy
Card stock: Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Regals Pattern Stack DSP, Nautical Expedition DSP.
Accessories: 1 1/4"square punch, 1 3/8" square punch, 2 1/2: circle punch, stamping sponges, Dimensionals, cutter kit.

Ships Wheel

I love it when Stampin' Up! release a new suite of items and in the Summer mini the Nautical suite is awesome - a masculine suite of DSP, stamps & Bakers Twine - what's not to love?? This is my version of a card I saw online, but I modified it to fit a standard card size and used masking and sponging to get the background around the ship. The circles were cut with the Circle Scissors Plus and the wheel spokes with a punch, the dots didn't show up very well, but they are mini silver brads.

Stamps: Open Sea & Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Ink: Not Quite Navy, Daffodil, Pumpkin Pie

Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Modern label punch, Word Window Punch, white gel pen, mini silver brands, 1/16" handheld punch, Dimensionals, Circle Scissors Plus, stamping sponge, 1 1/4" circle punch

Fathers Day Wallet

I am running a bit behind in my blog posts (as you can see) This was a card wallet made from an A5 size piece of card stock and designed to hold a gift card on one side and a greeting card on the other. These were made for Father's Day, but they can be made for any occasion.

Most of the embellishing on this one was via sponging and the hand drawn stitching with a stamp 'n write marker pen. It was held shut via a small piece of velcro.

Stamps: Word Play & Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card Stock: Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: 1" circle punch, corner rounder punch, metallic brad, 

Non SU! velcro

Embossed Wedding Card

This card is the result of getting a phone call from a friend in distress who was in the car, driving to a wedding who had forgotten to make a card! I had less than 10 minutes to create something (after I finished laughing) - amazing what happens when you are on the clock - it isn't fancy but it fits the bill and there is no way I could have done it without my Big Shot - for this months super special on the machine and dies check out the post here! You can't see from the photography as I didn't have long to take the pic, but each of the flower centres' has a basic rhinestone in the centre of it so the card had lots of sparkle!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Baja Breeze
Card Stock: Baja Breeze & Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, modern label punch, Dimensionals, organza ribbon, rhinestone brad, basic rhinestones & stamping sponge.

Delicate Doilies Friend

Here's another card I made using the new Delicate Doilies & Four Frames stamp sets. Very simple and suitable for any occasion (just add the sentiment when it's time to send it) - it could be made up in any colours and look lovely, I added a few basic rhinestones in the doily centres to glam it up a bit.

Stamps: Four Frames, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Delicate Doilies
Ink: Crumb cake, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
Card Stock: Whisper White, Crumb cake, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Word Window Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals, SNAIL.

Fathers Day Chocolate

It's Father's Day here in Australia today! I'm in the dog house though as I've been sick for a week as have my boys and between taking time off work, the new catalogue launch and everything else since my husband was away for a week as well I forgot to mail my own Dad's card - opps! Anyway here's something I made a couple of weeks ago - a modified chocolate slider.........

The shirt pulls out to reveal the greeting on the back of it

and then the top lifts up to get to the good part................

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Elegant Soiree DSP, Soft Suede
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Neutrals designer buttons, corner rounder punch, Sticky Strip, mini glue dots
Non SU!: Chocolate bar

Moving Motorbike

Creating movement on a flat surface can be a challenge, often it can be done with colour, hightlights or layers and Dimensionals. You can also create it by stamping off, that is ink up your stamp, stamp once, then re-stamp without re-inking to get a fainter image. Most stamps when inked can be stamped off three to four times and still produce a complete image. When stamped off in series it can create the illusion of movement.

Pretty cool effect isn't it? What other images do you think would work well with this technique??

Stamps: Motorbike, You're A Gem
Ink: Basic Black
Card Stock: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Love Letter DSP, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Accessories: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Big Shot, Square Lattice die (carry over from summer mini catalogue), Dimensionals.

Colour Challenge Folding Flat Box

This is another of the challenges from the virtual Breast Cancer Workshop day - I made it as my colour challenge piece. It's a box that also folds flat, which is good for storage and posting, the other bonus is that they are super cool and easy to make!

The flower is a lovely daisy made with the two size scallop circle punches and held in place with a rhinestone brad. The box closure is a brad from the Antique brads bordered with a 3/4" circle. As with all my 3D items, I used Sticky Strip to put the box together as it's absolutely the best adhesive for this type of project!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point.

Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point & Whisper White

Accessories: Dimensionals, paper snips, Large Scallop circle punch, 2 3/8" scallop Circle punch, Antique brad, Circle Ice Rhinestone brad, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Organza Ribbon, 3/4" circle punch, Sticky Strip, Stamping Sponges.

Happy Mothers Day - Voucher Cards

Happy Mothers Day!!!! I saw this awesome card on the Inkspirations website a few weeks ago by Carrie and I just had to make one for myself...........but I didn't have a reason to until I was asked to make some gift vouchers up for Mothers Day presents! So here was my CASE of it...........

Done in blues with the Love you a Latte stamp from Pun Fun as per the request - the centre panel lifts out 

and the voucher is on the back of it. I had a custom voucher on the back for Stampin' Up! products (was that a spoilt Mum or what??), but you could easily use SNAIL and adhere a commercially bought plastic voucher card to the back of the panel. How awesome is that layout design - thanks Carrie!!! Depending upon  the sentiment you could make this up for any occasion. I also made up a couple couple more up in different colours - here's one in pink & purple - pretty cute hey!!!

  

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Pun Fun, Tiny Tags

Ink:  Not Quite Navy, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Whisper White, Very Vanilla.

Card Stock: Pale Plum, Not Quite Navy, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze, Bella Bleu DSP (retired), In Color DSP Pack - hostess level 1.

Accessories: Designer buttons (Pretty in Pink & Pumpkin Pie), 1/4" Pretty in Pink grosgrain ribbon, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, scallop border punch, jewelry tag punch, Very Vanilla 3/8" taffeta ribbon, round tab punch, hemp twine,  SNAIL, Aqua painter,  water colour pencils, 1/16" hole punch, crimper, stamping sponge.

Mini Candle Cake & Card

I found some little battery operated candles in our cheap store last year and used them to make a lantern with the gorgeous Asian Artistry stamp set (don't think I blogged it - it was one of those creations that was so fraught with frustration that even though the end result was gorgeous I didn't want to see it again for a while!) But I digress, mini candle cakes are SO cute and calorie free. I did this one using up some retired DSP scraps for a birthday, but you could easily make them for any occasion (This DSP was from Washington Apple, but you could easily substitute it for the So Saffron page in the Subtles DSP Patterns Pack).

Too cute isn't it! The sentiment was stamped and cut out with the modern label punch, before I fish tail cut the ends of it. I also made a matching card with the same papers using the new Build  A Cupcake punch.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Create A Cupcake

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue (marker), Wild Wasabi (marker).

Card stock: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Washington Apple DSP (retired), Whisper White, Wild Wasabi

Accessories: Two Step Bird Punch, Build A Cupcake Punch, 2 3/8" scallop circle punch, White gel pen, Dimensionals, Modern Label Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes flower punch, SNAIL, Basic Pearls, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, paper snips.

Happy Easter - Scrapbook Layout

Happy Easter Everyone, I hope that you are enjoying time with your family & friends or just chilling out enjoying the break and maybe getting the time to get some stamping or scrapbooking done! This is the double layout that we did last month for my scrapbook class - for details of any upcoming classes head over to my calendar of events here, subscribe to my newsletter or check out my business Facebook page. 

The white panel is obviously for journaling which I haven't done yet! I am loving the new Tasteful Trim die - makes such lovely borders for cards and scrap pages and combined with the new multi adhesive sheets makes my life SO much easier! Although I also pulled out one of my roller wheels for this page and when I do I always wonder why I don't use them more often.

I love this chocolate bunny (retired) I know naughty of me to use retired items, but my Easter stamp set was on loan to a friend so I had to improvise!

Here's the same chicken from my Easter treat bag, but sitting on a wooden crate. The other Trendy Trees for carrots and bunny punch art I CASEd from someone, but for the life of me now I can't find it again on the internet - awesome idea and if it's yours let me know so I can credit you! The bunny on top of the journaling was the same I used last year on my 6" x 6" Easter baskets.

Stamps: Retro Remix roller wheel, Trendy Trees, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Woodgrain, Chocolate bunny
Card stock: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black (marker)
Accessories: roller wheel handle, paper snips, SNAIL, Dimensionals, Ovals die, Big Shot, Textured Impressions finial press, polka dots & vintage wallpaper, small oval punch, large oval punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 3/4" circle punch, Stamping Sponges, Boho Blossom punch, scallop circle punch, Tasteful Trim die
Non SU: google eyes

Easter Chicks

It never ceases to amaze me how versatile the two-step bird punch is........it makes it far more affordable for any item if you can use it for a multitude of different applications. I made these a few weeks ago ready for the Easter rush, so I did use a now retired Sale-a-bration set in the background, but I am sure you could use any one of a multitude of different stamps to create a lovely background effect.

I do love that single stamp All A Flutter - looks lovely done in multiple colours, I only stuck one wing down to give it more dimension.

Stamps: All A Flutter, Inspired By Nature, Sweet Summer, So Happy For You, Teeny Tiny Sentiments & roller wheel Sandy Speckles
Ink: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red
Card Stock: Whisper WHite, Rose Red, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron
Accessories, Paper snips, Dimensionals, Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Stamping sponges.

Big Shot Easter Eggs

Here's a quick and colourful Easter card made using the Big Shot Ovals die and some textured impressions folders, great for using left over pieces of card stock or DSP.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Bugs & Kisses

Ink: Basic Black

Card Stock: Peach Parfait, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Daffodil Yellow, Concord Crush, DSP Hostess level 1 – In Colour

Big Shot Accessories: Textured Impressions Embossing Folders Finial Press & Petals-a-Plenty, Original Ovals die.

Other Accessories: SNAIL, Bitty Bits Punch Pack, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, paper snips, Basic Pearls, 2-way glue pen.

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.