Friday challenge over at Keryn's Cards

It's not to late to join in Keryn's challenge for this week - here is my take on her challenge, to use Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight and Whisper White.

Bird Punch Christmas tree

I went a bit mad with the bling today - I love lots of sparkle on my cards and Christmas is the one time of the year you can go really indulge these 'secret passions' without all the guilt - a bit like Christmas dinner really: the diet goes out the window and you go for it!

It's another card from the Australian Papercraft and Cardmaking mag, a companion to the bird card.

My interpretation of the card [click for a larger view]

Card in magazine

What I used:

Card:  Chocolate Chip, White, Old Olive, Play Date DSP [retired]

Ink:  Chocolate Chip

Stamp Set:  Sincere Salutations

Tools and other fun stuff:  Square Lattice EF, Bird punch, Small Star punch [retired], Lots of Tags Sizzlets die, Spellbinders Label 1 die, rhinestones and glitter paper, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stitched Stockings bundle is this months' promotion.

The Summer Mini Catalogue is due out on the first of December but Stampin' Up! is giving you the chance to purchase/earn a couple of it's products early - how fantastic is that?!

You can purchase the stamp set (clear mount $51.95/wood mount $64.95) and the punch ($41.50) or you can earn it for free, as well as the usual hostess benefits, if you host a workshop or place an order of $500 or more.

At first glance you may think this set is only for Christmas, but I have seem some darling baby cards made with the stocking , and if the punched stocking is turned upside down you can turn it into a delightful 'hobby horse' by added facial features, ears, reins, etc - such a lot of fun to make.

And the notebook I'm showing you today, designed by Keryn for last months team meeting is certainly not restricted to Christmas, just change the 'red and green' for any other colour combo and you have a totally new feel.  [If you want to see more cards made with this set, head over to Keryn's blog!]

What we used:

Card:  Old Olive, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Brights DSP stack.

Ink:  Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Stamp Set:  Stitched Stockings, Woodgrain background stamp

Tools and other fun stuff: Stocking Tag punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, mini silver brads, Scallop Trim border punch.

Vintage Vogue for a friend

For once I've been organized and made this card for a friend who is having a birthday soon - I'm sure I'm pretty safe showing it to you now as she's not a blog visiter - at least I hope not :>

I've always liked that big F (nothing to do with the fact that my name begins with that letter of course!) but don't think I'd used it until now, and now I've used it I like it all the more.

It's a smallish card - not full A6 - so simple added some punched flowers, leaves, pearls and embossed the background for some texture - I've even written the message in it already - now to put it somewhere 'safe' so I don't lose it!

What I used:

Card:  Pretty in Pink, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Melon Mambo.

Ink: Rich Razzleberry

Stamp set:  Vintage Vogue

Tools and other fun stuff: Boho Blossoms punch, Bird punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Square Lattice embossing folder, Basic pearls.

Hello, hello, hello!

Here is a card I made using the sketch from the Stamping 411 blog, featuring a couple of stamp sets which retire very soon!

I must be in a 'spring' frame of mind as I choose really cheerful colours today, it is a beautiful (windy) day here in Wellington and it was lovely to be able to sit in the sun for a couple of minutes, without feeling cold, while my little boy played on the slide after kindy this morning.

I stamped the flower image randomly on white card with three ink colours, then punched them out and arranged them on an embossed green card.  I lined up the 'hello' greeting using the Stamp-a-Majig - invaluable for this sort of stamping, when you want things neatly in rows.

What I used:

Card:  Tempting Turquoise, White, green

Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Tempting Turquoise

Stamp sets:  Petal Pizazz, Basic Phrases

Tools and other fun stuff:  Scalloped Square punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Stamp-a-Majig.

Loads of Love Birthday

Hi there, here is a very simple card I made a couple of days ago - simple because some time ago I'd made the striped, embossed and die cut background when I was experimenting with this technique so all I had to do was glue it down and add the Loads of Love Truck to it and it was almost done.  This little truck is really useful as you can 'load' lots of different things on the back of it to suit almost any occasion.

A much simpler card than I usually make, but we all need a change now and then!

What I used:

Card:  Crumb Cake, scraps of Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, So Saffron and Soft Suede

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler

Stamp Sets:  Loads of Love, Punch Bunch (retired).

Tools and other fun stuff:  Top Note die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Scalloped Square punch, Paper Piercer and mat pack.

Samples of soon-to-retire products - Petal Pizazz

Just thought I'd show you some samples of cards I made with the Petal Pizazz set which retires at the end of the month.


If you love bold coloured images this set is for you!  I've loved using it and am sad it is retiring, but on the bright side there will be lots of new sets to fall in love with in the new catalogue due out on 1st September.


Another update on sold out products from the Last Chance list:

1. Stamp: Sanded
2. Stamp: Full Calendar
3. Stamp set: Garden Whimsy
4. Stamp set: Choo choo 
5. 12"x12" Card:  Bashful Blue
6. 12"x12" Card:  Rich Razzleberry
7. 12"x12" Card:  Chocolate Chip
8. 12"x12" Card:  Crumb Cake
9. 12"x12" Card:  Very Vanilla
10. 12"x12" Card:  Early Espresso
11. 12"x12" Card:  Night of Navy
12. 12"x12" Card: Marina Mist
13. Punch:  Spiral
14. Punch: Corner
15. Punch: Large Star
16. Punch: 1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval
17. Embellishments:  Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
18. Embellishments: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets
19. Embellishments: Metallic Eyelets

If there is anything you need to purchase before the retire/sell out please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

Nature Walk and an update on the Last Chance list

At the last minute I decided to make a card for a Clean and Simple challenge which involved a banner - and there is a matching card that I'll show you tomorrow.

I used the Nature Walk stamp set which I love but have not used nearly enough as I should have, and coloured my image with markers to get the multicoloured image.  I also used the butterfly to stamp a 'ghost' image behind the greeting, I think I need to take some better photos tomorrow morning in daylight though.

Following is an update on sold out products from the Last Chance list:

1. Stamp: Sanded
2. Stamp: Full Calendar
3. Stamp set: Garden Whimsy
4. Stamp set: Choo choo 
5. 12"x12" Card:  Bashful Blue
6. 12"x12" Card:  Early Espresso
7. 12"x12" Card:  Night of Navy
8. 12"x12" Card: Marina Mist
9. Punch:  Spiral
10. Punch: Corner
11. Punch: Large Star
12. Punch: 1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval
13. Embellishments:  Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
14. Embellishments: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets
15. Embellishments: Metallic Eyelets

If there is anything you need to purchase before the retire/sell out please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

What I used:

Card:  Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Rose Red, White.

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Regal Rose and Old Olive Stampin' Write markers.

Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk, Sincere Salutations

Tools and other fun stuff:  Scallop Border punch, Wide Oval punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (retired), Stampin' dimensionals.

A new phone list

What I really like about papercrafting is that it's not only for cards and scrapbooks but you can make lots of other useful and beautiful items for your home as well.

We've had an assortment of papers stuck on a cupboard for years with phone numbers, most unsightly I must add but put in the the haste of the moment years ago and there it stayed...

Today I've remedied that problem!  Some lovely card, a couple of punches, a smidgen of texture here and there and I have a new list - now I'll have to repaint the kitchen to match LOL!

Now, an update on the Last Chance list - the following products are sold out:

1. Stamp: Sanded
2. Stamp: Full Calendar
3. 12"x12" Card:  Bashful Blue
4. 12"x12" Card:  Early Espresso
5. Punch:  Spiral
6. Punch: Corner
7. Punch: Large Star
8. Punch: 1 3/8" x 5/8" Oval
9. Embellishments:  Pewter Jumbo Eyelets
10. Embellishments: Antique Brass Jumbo Eyelets
11. Embellishments: Metallic Eyelets

If there is anything you need to purchase before the retire/sell out please get in touch with me as soon as possible.

My mum will be really pleased when she hears about the new list!

What is no more - finally!!

What I used:

Card:  Bashful Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss (retired), Basic Grey.

Tools and other fun stuff:  Large Star punch (retiring this month but already sold out I'm afraid - but lots of new punches for sale from 1st September), Small Star (retired last year), Square Lattice embossing folder, non SU alphabet dies, lined page from my diary.

Mojo Monday Rich Razzleberry

I've finally been inspired to play along with a challenge and seeing as this week marks the 200th challenge for Mojo Monday I thought I'd give it a go!

It took me ages to make it work, but I am pleased with the end result, I was quite worried there for a while LOL!

I think these colours work really well together, why don't you go visit their site and play along this week as well?

What I used:

Card:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink and a snippet of Regal Rose

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Certainly Celery

Stamp Sets:  Vintage Vogue, Sincere Salutations

Tools and other fun stuff:  Boho Blossoms Punch, Wide Oval punch, Lots of tags Sizzlits dies, Scallop Border punch, 1/8" Old Olive tafetta ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder, Stampin' dimensionals, rhinestones

Find me on Facebook here.

Autumn Days Christmas

A card in traditional Christmas colours using the conifer stamp from the Autumn Days stamp set, using Stampin' Write markers to colour in the stamp this time.  Kept it quite simple with a spot of embossing, a little piercing and that's about it.

What I used:

Card:  Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers.

Stamps sets:  Autumn Days, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Tools and other fun stuff:  1 3/4" circle punch, Word Window punch, piercing tool and template, Scallop Border punch, Square Lattice embossing folder.

'Upcycling' works for cards too!

I went to a craft fair at the weekend and it was all about 'upcycling' - taking something old and with a little crafting making it into something new and useful.  So: old woollen blankets become trendy cushion covers, teeshirts become baby leggings, broken crockery becomes brooches, vintage buttons become jewellery, the list goes on and on - it was great seeing so many different ideas under the one roof.

Anyway, remember my post from yesterday?  I told you my sour cream container contained a chocolate bar - so I got hungry!  Rather than simply removing the bar and disposing of the container I decided to have a go at 'upcycling' myself and this is the result!  The DSP was of course double sided, so now I'm featuring the other side of it, a lovely Regal Rose print, which I ran through with the Top Note die to give me a background for the tag and a couple of leaves.

What I used:

Card:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Rose Red, Old Olive, Sew Suite DSP, Kiwi Kiss (retired)

Ink:  Regal Rose, Old Olive

Stamp Set:  You're a Gem

Tools and other fun stuff:  Top Note die, Little Leaves Embosslits die, Fancy Flower Extra Large punch, 1" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, button (sneak peak for July Special).

Driving by to say hi - trying my hand at interactive cards

Well, what a lot of fun this was to make!  Definitely not a 'make and take' option but made for the pure pleasure of it.

I had purchased a cardmaking magazine which advertised interactive cards and after much reading and re-reading the instructions here is the result.  I think I will put a small greeting somewhere down the bottom, but will leave as is for the moment.

What I used:

Card:  Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Soft Suede,Play Date DSP, Haiku DSP (retired)

Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black marker.

Stamp Sets:  Loads of Love, Fox and Friends

Tools and other fun stuff:  Scallop Oval punch, Square Lattice embossing folder, Scallop Border punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon (retired), stamping sponges and quite a lot of glue!

More from the challenge...CAS this time

You can tell this was the last card, can't you?!  All I had left by this stage were two flowers and was craving for something relatively 'clean and simple' - hope you like it!

I embossed the last Night of Navy flower with the Square Lattice embossing folder, added the cork flower and a rhinestone as a centre.  I did a 'partial embossing' on the Very Vanilla with the Framed Tulips folder (not sure of the proper name for that technique!) so I ended up with a smaller embossed square than I used for card number two,

I added a snipped of Old Olive Ribbon, sponged the edges with Night of Navy and used my Stamp-a-majig for perfect positioning of the greeting - and voilà!

{PS - did you notice the window in the background has finally been cleaned??  Which also explains the scaffolding outside that window - Carlos was doing some work which involved cutting quite a few branches off the neighbours' trees (shhhh... don't tell the neighbours!) and then cleaning the gutters in readiness for the winter - and it was too good an opportunity to pass up so he also cleaned that window - now I won't have to jump up and down with a wet broom trying to clean it this season and that's got to be a good thing LOL!}

What I used:

Card:  Night of Navy, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Night of Navy

Stamp Sets:  Sincere Salutations

Tools and other fun stuff:  Big Shot, Blossom Party Originals Die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Framed Tulips embossing folder, 1/8" Old Olive tafetta ribbon, sheet of cork, Stampin' dimensionals, rhinestone, Stampin' sponges, Stamp-a-majig.

Sweet little card

Was sitting tidying my desk the other day (it's the one part of the house I really enjoy tidying up - you come upon such treasures sometimes LOL!) when I found this stamped piece I made a couple of months ago when Sale-A-Bration was on, and just had to use it even though SAB has finished for this year.

I have used this colour combo many times but simply love it, so warm and earthy, the soft buttery yellow, warm green and orange - a classic.

What I used:

Card:  So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Whisper White

Ink:  Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie

Stamp sets:  Sweet Summer (retired), Fresh Cuts

Tools and other fun stuff:  Butterfly Embosslits die, Square Lattice embossing folder, Scallop Oval punch, Large Oval punch.

Challenge - part 3

Time for card number 3!

This time I used the negative shape from the Night of Navy cardstock after the shapes were cut out.  I ran it through the Square Lattice embossing folder to add some texture and placed it over a piece of Very Vanilla which I had stamped with the little bee image from Nature Walk.

Then... I layered three flowers from the 'challenge bag' and added a large pearl in the middle.  I also punched out four stems with leaves using the Bird Punch and assembled the card.  

As a finishing touch I added three more pearls to the bottom of the card.

I really like the layered flower with the leaves... not so sure about the bees in the background though!

What I used:

Card:  Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy

Ink:  Night of Navy

Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk

Tools and other fun stuff:  Big Shot, Blossom Party Original Die, Bird punch, basic pearls, Square Lattice embossing folder, sheet of cork

It all started with a challenge!

It was my turn to design a Make and Take for our monthly meeting and Keryn challenged me to do it using some cork and card flower we had cut with the Blossom Party Originals Die and the Big Shot.

We looked through the Color Coach to see what colours would work nicely with it and we came up with a combination of Cajun Craze, Night of Navy and Old Olive.  

The first photo shows what I arrived home with.....  as I don't to waste anything I ended up making 5 cards!  

The card you see today is the first one I made and the one we made last night during our meeting.  I used the inlaid embossing technique and really like how it turned out!

Over the next few days I'll reveal the other cards, I tried to make them in different styles so show the versatility of the materials.

What I used:

Card:  Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, Old Olive, Cajun Craze.

Ink: Nil

Stamp set:  Nil

Tools and other fun stuff:  Big Shot, Blossom Party Originals Die, Glue stick, Square Lattice embossing folder, sheet of cork.

Anzac Poppy

I bought an Anzac Poppy today in readiness for Monday and when I looked at it closely I thought I'd try to make my own version and here is the result.  I used a couple of punches for the two petals, and a snippet of Old Olive Ribbon was added to the stem for a little balance - it was quite fun to make, why don't you give it a go?  We don't really make Anzac Day cards in NZ, but maybe it could be the start of a new tradition?? (my daughter's boyfriend is in the army so I suggested she might like to give it to him!)

(For those of you not familiar with Anzac Day, it is the day we remember all those soldiers who have gone to war, and the poppy symbol comes from the poppy fields in Gallipolli (Turkey) where so many New Zealand and Australian soldiers lost their lives in the first world war.  My paternal grandfather was one of the lucky ones who fought at Gallipolli and come home safe and sound - my little boy is named after his great-grandfather Leo)

I'll try to post a photo of the poppy sold each year at this time so you can compare both of them.

What I used:

Card:  Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Red, non SU paper.

Ink:  a little Riding Hood Red was swiped around the poppy pieces.

Tools and other fun stuff:  Wide Oval Punch, Large Oval punch, black button, Old Olive 1/8" tafetta ribbon, Square Lattice embossing folder, non SU background shape dies.

Bright and Breezy

Not quite sure why that title sprung to mind, I just find this colour combination quite tropical with the turquoise, orange and pink.

I started making it yesterday with a vague idea of what I wanted to achieve but no definite purpose - like a lot of things in my life lately LOL!

This morning I popped into my old workplace for a 'pre-birthday' morning tea and the card took on a whole new purpose!   I came home with renewed enthusiasm and turned it into a thank you card for al my friends there, thanks for the lovely cake, biscuits (cookies) and finger food - it was delicious as usual!   (My birthday is actually tomorrow but as my parents are arriving then the morning tea was brought forward - thanks guys!)

So, back to the card....

Lots of fun stamping the flowers and punching them out, double-punched a border, punched a couple of flowers and here is the result.

What I used:

Card:  Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Regal Rose, White.

Ink:  Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black.

Stamp Sets:  Eastern Blooms, Sincere Salutations

Tools and other fun stuff:  1" Circle punch, Wide Oval punch, Scalloped Circle punch, Scalloped Border punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Basic Pearls, Square Lattice embossing folder, Stampin' dimensionals.

Trying out a new technique today

Hello again, nice to see you back here!

For ages I've been meaning to try the technique where you emboss a design with clear embossing powder and then sponge over the top with inks to reveal the design and today I had a chance to do so.  I wasn't too sure what would happen, I hadn't really seen any tutorials but sort of guessed what people had done and went from there!

This time I remembered to use the anti-static pad and it made a huge difference!  When I heat-embossed the last two butterflies I forgot to wipe the card with the afore mentioned pad and then I had to find a paintbrush to brush off all the stray black powder, not something I recommend having to do!

Randomly stamped with Versamark Watermark ink the daisy image from Petals Prints on the lower left corner of my white card and up and accross to form a half-frame, poured the embossing powder over it and set it with the heat gun.  It sort of creates your very own Presto Paper if you like!

I used a couple of colours for the sponging, I started with Regal Rose at the bottom of the white card and worked up one side and across the bottom edge too, then I used So Saffron to fill in the rest of the card.  It is a little pale, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

The three flowers were cut with the Floral Fusion die, and embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I also used the same embossing folder for the scallop border, I personally think it makes the border look a little like lace!

Close up of the dry-embossed Floral Fusion flowers.

Close up of the heat-embossed daisies.

What I used:

Card:  Rose Red, White, So Saffron

Ink:  Regal Rose, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Versamark Watermark ink

Stamp Set:  Sincere Salutations, Petal Prints

\Tools and other fun stuff:  Scalloped Border punch, Scalloped Oval punch, Wide Oval punch,
Square Lattice embossing folder, Floral Fusion die, Basic Pearls, anti-static pad, clear embossing powder, heat gun, Stampin' sponges.