Kylie's Challenge

So, at our Inklings Christmas gathering, I was having a bit of a whinge about how the phrase "Always time for you" didn't really seem to fit with the bicycle (which I love, by the way). I said, at least if it were a tandem bike, it would make a little more sense! So fellow Inkling Kylie challenged me to create a tandem bike (with a frog on it, but I haven't got that far yet!!). Here's the result:
Took loads of trials with various techniques, including masking which just didn't work well. Ended up just inking the parts of the image I wanted with a Stampin' Write brush, used my Stamp-a-majig to line everything up, then used the fine tip to connect the bits that needed connecting. I'm pretty pleased with the result!

Next step will be one with frogs. ;) Hopefully before new year!

obsession: scallop edge punch

"Time for you" stamp set was always on the top of my list when I received my copy of the summer mini. But when it came time to use it, I was stumped at how the "Always Time for You" phrase worked with the bicycle? So this is my solution - the "friend" bit from "For a Friend".
As you can see there's a theme to my cards of late - most of them have a scallop edge! I'm totally obsessed with the scallop edge punch and have had countless applications of it over the last weeks including trimming the top and bottom of chocolate slider covers. Must take some photos! Anyway this next card is another set from the Summer mini - "Embrace Life" which is also delicious water coloured. My upline, Angela Sargeant , created an embossed version of this flower which is simply divine.
Hope you feel as inspired as I do!

New: Summer Mini

A new Summer Stampin' Up! Mini Catalogue started today! Here's one of my favourite stamps out of the lot - "A happy heart". Its meant for Valentine's Day, and typically I've jumped to the last pages and used these stamps first! But this little dandelion fluff with flying hearts is just darling! I felt so inspired! So here's two variations of the same stamp. Also I've used the Scallop Edge punch and a touch of the 1" Double Stitched Grosgrain in Chocolate Chip for the first card with Earth Elements colours.
For the second, I've used an offcut of card to make a scallop shape to glue around and then sprinkled loads of Dazzling Diamonds over the edges of a very simple Purely Pommegranate card with a vellum window. I've also used a little Crystal Effects in the centre of the puff and used a pin to tease out lines before it dried, also dusted with Crystal Effects. Isn't it divine? I've touched the bottom corner of the window with Orchid Opulance cardstock stamped in Purely Pommegranate with a Faux Rhinestone in the middle (made using a drop of Crystal Effects in the middle of an eyelet. Brilliant idea I've stolen from another SU demo - will update with who it was when I have a moment to ferret through!).

I've experimented with a few of the other stamps - I'll post more over the next few days.

Christmas Pop-out & Elite Challenge

One of the three designs I've made for Christmas Cards to sell at Normanhurst West Public School Christmas Markets... Simple template which I found here decorated with Season of Joy Stampin' Up set. Printed out two on a page and folded the template around my folded card, cut, followed the instructions and Voila!
This one combines 2 of 3 of the Elite Challenges for November - I don't have the stamp set for the third challenge! So I combined the colour and sketch challenges to make one card. Easy-peasy!

some more cards I've played with...

The first image is a card for a challenge at Elite Stampers, part of Angela Sargeant's group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators. I think it was the September challenge, so I'm a bit late, but having never done any of the challenges before, I wanted to give it a try!
Card: So Saffron, Old Olive, Blue Bayou, white scrap
Stamps: Priceless, One of a Kind
Inks: So Saffron, Old Olive, Blue Bayou
Accessories: silver hodgepodge and Rhinestone brads

So this next card combines the colour and sketch challenges for Elite Stampers for October. The challenge was set by Carol Dunston, who does some fabulous work!
Card: Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Stamps: Garden Whimsy
Inks: Wild Wasabi, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White
Accessories: scallop circle punch, horizontal slot punch, circle punch, watercolour brush, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, silver hodgepodge, chalks

This last one has been burning in my brain after seeing the results of Alana Galagher's participation in the Kwerner Design colour challenges. My inspiration is a Sheridan sheet pattern from a pillowcase of my grandmother's. It's got to be over 40 years old and loads of swirly floral shapes:
I matched the colours from the pillowcase to the cardstock in the SU range and then pieced this card together using the Boho Blossom's punch, Scallop Circle punch and various circle punches. Added some pearls and there you are... Pleased with the result and may have to scale it up!
Card: Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal, Blush Blossom, Sage Shadow, Groovy Guava, Naturals Ivory
Stamps: One of a Kind, Expressive Flexible Phrases
Inks: Apricot Appeal, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Pretties Pearls, Boho Blossoms punch, Scallop Circle punch, Circle punches.

Super quick cards

Okay - the thing that took the longest time for these cards was choosing the colours - the top one was a no-brainer - just went with colours from the Stampin' Up! Apple Cider Designer Series Patterned Paper...
This one wasn't too hard either - started with the Night of Navy cardstock and used the "chalk board" technique to dab chalk on a Season of Joy stamp in white craft ink. Then punched it out and punched the middles out of the double layer of cardstock which is actually Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst even though it looks quite blue. The Groovy Guava acted as a bit of a pick me up to give a contrast - love this colour combination! The Priceless word is from the Priceless stamp set in the main idea book and catalogue.
And this one was too easy in terms of making, but I had the devil of a time figuring out colour combos until I found this website: www.scraptitude.com/colorcombo/ which is an amazing way to get Stampin' Up! colours that go together!! This is Pale Plum with Bravo Burgundy ink using the It's Beautiful wheel from the SU! Spring Mini. It is just a divine wheel and looks so amazing like this on a card. The strip is a Purely Pomegranate scrap I had in lieu of ribbon. The flower is from "One of a Kind" Perfectly Plum cardstock and ink with Perfectly Plum daubed in the centre of the flower (which I think makes it look all fuzzy and so touchable!). Bloom is from "Bloomin' with beauty" my latest indulgence. Some of my ladies used the "for You" from "One of a Kind" instead.
So that's my contributions to the world of stamping for the moment. I need to do a serious tidy-up of my scrap/card space to be able to find everything and have a spot to actually make cards!! Looks like a whirly-whirly has gone to town on it at the moment!

under a rock

Well, I've been under a rock for some weeks now - life is always busy in September - leaving not much time for blogging, scrapping or card-making! Father's Day followed very quickly by hubby's birthday followed by Caitlyn's birthday make it a busy month. So nothing to show at the moment.

There's a couple of promotions current for Stampin' Up! - one is the Spring Mini Catalogue (last orders by 30 November) and the other is Free Wheelin' where you receive a free matching jumbo wheel with selected stamp sets (finishes 30 September). Check out the Stampin' Up! website for details.

another workshop!

Big workshop on Saturday - this one had 10 people!! So I did a colour variation on one of the cards and demonstrated "kissing".

Workshop cards

Next workshop is now all packed up for tomorrow - these are the cards we'll be making. Using a couple of sets from the Stampin' Up! Spring Mini:

Playing with Polymer Clay

This had to be the highlight of my weekend at the Stampin' Up! INKlings weekend away... Photo by my upline Michelle and with my Stampin' Sister Clare:

Did loads of stuff and I still haven't managed to photograph it all - time in front of the 'puter is scarce at the moment. Here's the jewellery I created courtesy of Clare. Yet another thing I can do with stamps!!! LOL

Cybercrop at EB

I actually scrapped! For the Green with Envy cybercrop happening over at EB. Love this tin - so simple but elegant!

And based on a sketch - too easy!

a few cards!

Having a play around with some of my sets - getting geared up for a number of father's day cards for our school stall in September:



Playing with some new cardstock and stamps I recently bought:


Set myself the challenge of doing SUMMER type Christmas cards. Like how they've turned out! :)

Layout in Scrapbooking Memories Vol10 Issue4

Finally!! This was my second ever layout accepted for publication. Just love it!

Caitlyn has a new lamp-shade

Gotta love the new low-energy light bulbs! This is Caitlyn's repaired and girl-ified. So pleased I want to do something similar for the boys!

Final guest design team page

Title to this bit says it all really... Here it is!

Card Album

Album to hold my card samples for display at workshops. Wanted something heavy duty that would withstand loads of knocks and bumps. Painted, sanded, white ink with clear embossing over the top. I'm really pleased with it!

Toby you can drive my car...

Basic Grey Corderoy papers on a Kaisercraft car album for Design Team OTP at 3 Angels Scrapping:

Couple more DT things

Altered CD - tough to do as the kids were being ratbags the day I did it!!

Saw this wording on a "welcome" door-hanger and thought it was a bit appropriate for our place!

Guest Design Team at 3 Angels Scrapping!

Layout and sketch for my May Guest DT gig at 3 Angels Scrapping - Thanks so much for the invitation Jo & Rosy!

Recent-ish photo request

Had a request for a recent-ish photo of the kids. Caitlyn in the foreground, Toby and Ryan behind. Ryan is so tall now - Caitlyn is almost the same height! Cousin Lily is the short one facing away. Anyway, my very beautiful babies all hunting Easter eggs!

itching to start

Oh Wailey Wailey Wailey!!! I've been hovering around my front door all day and visiting my post office box every day hanging out for a variety of packages due to arrive. And NOTHING! :(
Very annoying when the old brain is buzzing with ideas and the fingers are itching to DO!

Guest Design Team gig!

You'll have to wait and find out where! ;) Though its not hard to guess with the very few sites I frequent!

New stamps and papers from Stampin' Up!

My bulk purchase of papers and stamps arrived from Stampin' Up! So I've been busy creating...
For my hubby tomorrow - we've been married 9 years. Artfully Asian blossom branch in versamark, chalks applied in colour with a soft brush, lightly sanded back. Ribbon was a scrap on my desk - linked everything with the black gel-pen line around each section.
Trying out different techniques with the stamps - this one was a mistake covered up by the dimensional flowers, but love how its worked!

Using a stain-glass window type technique, this is the Illuminated wheel in Stazon ink on vellum with Bold Brights crayons behind.
More Artfully Asian (my one indulgence for myself in my order). Chalks over Pure Pomegranate inked stamp with papers from the current In Color(tm) Stampin' Up!(r) range. Little chalking around the torn edge and some raffia behind.

blue-bottom fly

Still crazy around my place - but finally hoping it will slow down a bit. Mother's Day cards for selling at the school with envelopes made out of packing material.

(images removed from photobucket)

more cards

A few more cards... This one has been stuck in my brain since I did the first free-standing pop-up card...

Like how its turned out! :) Slider-card follows - magic slides out both ends when you pull on the ribbon bit. Took me three goes to get this right!!


Loads of love - just tried the little truck with different colours! :)
And a Dahlia fold card which has turned out beautifully - little bit of inking around the edges and I made it all stick out a bit.