Wednesday 20 September 2023

Lots of Birthdays This Month

 It's been such a long time since I posted anything on my blog, but that doesn't mean I haven't been creating, I've just been busy with other things in my life.

This includes taking refresher classes in wheel thrown pottery (after more than 40 years) and trying to improve my painting skills as well as continuing with in-person classes for card making. There also seems to be lots of grandma opportunities for me to be involved with my grandchildren's activities and as they are such fleeting times I'm taking every chance to spend time with them.

This week it is my middle daughter's birthday and she is one of those super mums who manages to do everything except relax enough. I made her a card and used the opportunity to relay my message that she needs to take more care of herself as well as wishing her a very happy birthday. 

For the base of the card I used one of the designs from one of the Stampin' Up! Kits - 

Saying Thanks Kit (162361)



To personalise the card I stamped an image from "In The Moment" stamp set (157987) onto Shimmery White card stock and roughly coloured with Watercolour pencils. These pencils are really good for a quick water colour technique as they transfer easily to the paper and have strong pigmentation for great colour. Add a little water with either a damp brush or the Water Painters (151298) to achieve  a nice watercolour effect. The w/c pencils come in 2 Assortments, giving you plenty of colours to choose from, and like paints they can be blended to create new colours. I'm a fan of the pencils and they are a really good way to start with water colouring.

Assortment 1 (161700)   Assortment 2 (149014)

The completed card. The hearts from the kit card provided the perfect backdrop, bright colour and dimension that I was looking for and I simply adhered a different greeting and the stamped image. (Along with a bit of bling!) 




The Stampin' Up! Kits range is perfect if you are looking for a quick card. They come in a variety of themes, and as I've shown you here, they can be used as lovely stand alone cards, or they can be personalised to display your own creativity. 

I hope you've enjoyed my take on this Kit and to see lots of Stampin' Up! products simply follow this link to my on-line store

If you are looking for a genuine bargain, the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack has been refreshed this week and there are lots of wonderful bargains to inspire your card making, and scrap booking. You will find this when viewing my On-Line store.

Ann C.

Saturday 29 October 2022

Christmas Card - Joyful Holly

Do you love to create quick cards? 

Quite often I find making a card or more in a short time, very satisfying, and while I love to create intricate and time-consuming cards, come Christmas time when we are all very busy, something like this card is just perfect. 

I created this card at Christmas time last year, and forgot to complete the post, so here it is for your inspiration!

 It is easy but has a strong graphic quality because of its simplicity. 

I've used the Joyful Holly stamp set by Stampin' Up! because of the strong lines and simple shapes - combined with traditional Christmas colours - Cherry Cobbler, Shaded Spruce and Gold. 

Images copyright 1990 - 2022 Stampin' Up!®

The holly image is stamped twice in Memento Black and the colours are placed using a Stamparatus. You can also do this by eye, as the stamps are photopolymer and easily lined up.


 Images copyright 1990 - 2022 Stampin' Up!®



Thursday 21 July 2022

Cute Punch Note Cards with Hello Ladybug

 Punches are wonderful tools that assist you to make quick and pretty cards of all sizes. 

Today I've chosen to create little note cards using a builder punch from the 2022 -23 Annual Catalogue

This little card uses images from the Hello Ladybug stamp set and the coordinating Ladybug Builder Punch. It also coordinates with the Medium Daisy Punch

 

The card size is 7 x 7centimeters. This will fit perfectly in the 3 x 3 inch envelopes available in the Annual Catalogue

I stamped the daisy directly onto the card, punched out the ladybug body in black and the wings in red. I then stamped the black dots onto the wings. The "Hello" greeting is also from this set. The border is hand drawn with a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker. The daisy centre is from the Glossy Dots Asssortment

It is so quick to make a set of these and they would be a lovely gift.



Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

You can see more ideas for using this punch on page 30 of the 2022-23 Annual Catalogue

Australian residents are welcome to use my on-line store for any supplies, or simply select one of the above links in the description to go directly to that product in store.

Sometimes it is really fun to create something that takes very little time, and is very useful to have on hand.

Until next time enjoy your crafting,


 

Monday 18 July 2022

Christmas Fun With The Sweet Gingerbread Bundle

The super cute Sweet Gingerbread Bundle consists of stamps and matching dies. 

You'll find these on page 20 of the July - December Mini Catalogue

There are so many cute accessories in the stamp set that you can make either complicated or simple projects, and because the stamps are photopolymer, it is easy to add in the windows, door and window frames and other accessories without using a stamp positioner. You can see right through the stamp!

I have 2 samples for you - one is a quick tag that takes very little time to create. I combined the stamped images with Embossed Treat Bags from the Annual Catalogue, and some of the gorgeous new In Color Ribbons, specifically Sweet Sorbet, Tahitian Tide and Orchid Oasis 3.2mm Metallic Woven Ribbon (p. 146 of the Annual Catalogue)


Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

Those little trees and lollipops are so cute.

I also made a card that demonstrates the wonderful coordinating dies. I chose a bright spotty background and used non traditional Christmas colours to stamp the images. One house is popped up with dimensionals as are some of the trees and the lollipop. I love how the different heights add so much to a card.


 
                                           Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

 I hope you've gained a little inspiration from my projects, and if you would like to shop on-line for the products, you can go to my on-line shop or select some of the links above.

thanks for joining me today


 

Wednesday 9 March 2022

Creating With Punches - Christmas Decoration


 I'm very excited to share this method of creating something with Stampin' Up!® punches. I love eveything to do with Christmas and for over 10 years have been participating in the Canberra Craft & Quilt Fair, where my friend and I sell lots of our creations.

Christmas is our specialty - each year we try to come up with a new papercraft ornament, but this is one of my all-time favourites. 

I've used the Gleaming Ornament Punch Pack that is bargain priced on the Clearance Rack right now, so if you hurry you will be able to get it. 

  
  Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

 We all have lots of Designer Series Papers that remain unused, don't we?

I certainly do and this is a really pretty way of using those papers up. These ornaments are designed for Christmas, but you could use them for any occasion by simply changing the papers.

I find it beneficial to choose a light and a darker patterned paper so that I achieve some  variety and maybe a little drama in the finished ornament. 

I need to give credit to Stampin' Up! for the original idea on a catalogue many years ago. I have simply adapted and simplified it to suit these punches.


 This sample is not particularly Christmassy and I love the colours. You can see how, by choosing a light and darker patterned paper that you achieve a good contrast in the ornament.

You need to cut out 20 of each shape to make 5 sections of each shape. Fold 3 of them in half, glue them together and then glue to the remaining flat piece using Multipurpose glue.

I've used lots of hot glue to assemble the ornament. Use a silicone mat to work on so the glue will easily peel off. Place a circle of hot glue, about the size of a 20 cent piece onto the silicone mat, then arrange the 5 shapes around the glue. The shapes will be almost touching.

Next cut and fold some tulle and glue into the spaces between the shapes, then add more hot glue and arrange the smaller shapes over the tulle. Find a nice button or jewel to use as a centre and glue it in place.

I've used olive coloured tulle under the smaller shapes and finished the ornament with one of the retired brass buttons and linen thread. 

 You can get different results by placing the shapes in a different direction - so the outer tip will become the inner tip. 

I've made these with  other retired ornament shapes - this will give you larger and different shaped ornaments. They are lots of fun to make.

Here are some made over the years using different dies from Stampin' Up!®.

   
 
 

 

Punches can be used to create complicated items or simple fun cards. They are particularly good for children's cards.
 

Choose any Designer Series Paper that you love and combine it with the following items available in my store.
I suggest Tidings of Christmas from the Annual Catalogue
 
 


Wednesday 2 March 2022

Heat Embossing Backgrounds

 Heat Embossing is one of the most dramatic and fun techniques in stamping. 

I'm thrilled to participate in this weeks Freshly Brewed Projects Blog Hop that will show you some different ways to heat emboss. One of my favourite things to do is create interesting backgrounds with an embossing folder and heat embossing.

This is quite simple and gives some wonderfully creative results.

I started by dabbing Versamark ink to the inside of the Parisian Flourish 3D embossing folder. Because I wanted some options I did this twice, once on each surface of the inside of the folder so I could have both the positive and negative images embossed.

This is what I achieved after sprinkling with gold embossing powder and heating with the Heat Tool.


 You can see that the effect is quite different even though I've used the same folder. I decided to use the sample on the left for my card today. I'll keep the other one for another time!

Next, using the lovely soft Blending Brushes, I applied Mango Melody, Pool Party and Magenta Madness inks in that order, to the card. I love the variety of other colours that come by combining these colours, and I like to include a good strong yellow to liven up the other colours.

 


The completed card is highlighted with black card stock and black silhouettes cut with Natures Harvest Dies and the Stampin Cut & Emboss machine. The greeting is heat embossed with gold on black and is from the Artfully Layered stamp set. The card base is Very Vanilla Thick Cardstock. 

 

                                                 Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022 

 


 A quick reminder to those of you who love free product - Saleabration has another 2 weeks here in the South Pacific and you can choose free product from the brochure for qualifying orders.

See the products in the sidebar.

I hope you've enjoyed this alternate method of heat embossing and I'm sure my fellow demonstrators will have some lovely inspiration for you, so hop along using the link below.



Product List

Wednesday 9 February 2022

Hearts/Love

 After a big break over the summer holidays here in Australia, I'm back participating in the Freshly Brewed Projects Blog Hops.


It's good to be back, getting some projects completed using some of the beautiful products from the January - June Mini Catalogue and combining them with some of my favourite techniques and other products.

The theme this month is Hearts/Love inspired by Valentines day. I don't really celebrate Valentines Day so my card can be used for any occasion where I want to send love to someone. 


 The hearts component on my card comes from the Sweet Conversations Bundle and the background and large flower are stamped using the large floral shape from Artistically Inked stamp set. The greeting is from the Pansy Patch stamp set.


 I created the background by spritzing some Shimmery White card stock before randomly stamping with Blushing Bride, Soft Succulent, Pool Party and Mango Melody. Some of the images are stamped full strength and others are stamped off to achieve lighter tones of the colour. While still damp I ran the background through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine. Having the card stock slightly damp gives more definition to the embossing folder design. 


  Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

 Some of the hearts are raised on dimensionals and the large flower is loosely attached to the background.

This is an unusual palette of colours for me to use, but I quite like the end result. It's always fun to experiment. 

Please excuse the slightly wavy card. I stuck it down crooked using Fast Fuse, and could not stand it, so out came the heat gun ( a perfect tool to soften glue so you can un-stick items)  A little patience while heating from the back and the stamped area peeled off without a problem. 

 It's now time to see what the other ladies have created.


 

Follow the link and enjoy.... 


Wednesday 29 December 2021

Love & Happiness Book Fold Card - Freshly Brewed Projects Blog Hop

Hello

It's time to preview the new January to June Mini Catalogue and it has so many wonderful new products that it was hard to choose  just one.

I decided on the Love & Happiness bundle and the Bouquet of Love Hybrid Embossing folder - you can find these on page 11 of the catalogue.


 I combined this bundle with the Gold Shimmer Vellum from the July - December Mini as I was thinking this would be suitable for either Valentines Day or an Anniversary card.

Have you tried the Stampin' Up!® Hybrid Embossing Folders yet?  They are amazing as you can cut and emboss at the same time. This makes it easy to achieve a layered look. 


       Look at the pretty design from the Bouquet of Love Hybrid embossing folder.

When purchasing this you also get 9 coordinating dies. I've used 3 of them. One to die cut the heart, one for the flowers and one for the greeting.


  Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

 I raised the heart on dimensionals and cut a piece of white card stock to place behind the heart to give it strength and opacity. The little flowers were cut from Blushing Bride card stock and then sponged lightly with Blushing Bride ink.


 

 

 


 

Wednesday 1 December 2021

It's in the Bag - Gingerbread & Peppermint - Freshly Brewed Projects


 Hello and a warm welcome to another Freshly Brewed Projects Blog Hop.

Today we are showing you some creative ways to use packaging available from Stampin' Up! or in my case, I'll show you a quick and easy little gift bag to create using Designer Series Papers.

I decided to use the very cute Gingerbread and Peppermint 6 x 6 inch DSP as it is already cut to the size I wanted and it has such a wonderful variety of patterns and designs. The really great news is if you live in Australia, and you are quick, you can get this set of papers for 30% discount from December 1, 2021.


  Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

You can see the lovely patterns and the images fit with some of the dies, making them quick and easy to use as decorations. 
This little bag folds flat for convenient storage too, so it is possible to make a few at a time so you have them ready for all occasions.
 
 I made the first bag very simply. 
Trim an A4 piece of card stock down to 11 x 8 inches. I used inches as that is how the DSP measures. Then cut another piece in the same colour - 6 x 21/2 inches.
Score this at 1/2 inch. See photo for all other measurements.
 

 Fold on all score lines.
Add DSP to the 1/2 inch scored area on the 6 x 2/12  piece, with the front of the DSP facing towards you. This forms the front of the bag plus the reinforced base of the bag. 
Check out this quick video to see the remainder of the construction. 

 

 I used the Gingerbread & Peppermint Memories & More Card Pack for the greeting and embellished it with a die cut from one of the DSP pieces. No stamping in this one!
Here are a couple of stepped up samples showing some different designs from the DSP.
 

 
  Images copyright Stampin' Up!® 1990 -2022

These little bags are perfect for many occasions and have plenty of space to hold gifts. 
Making your own packaging is fun and rewarding and you can be sure it will be unique to your style. You can find a list of all the products I used below, but first you should take a look at what the other ladies have done for their packaging projects.
 
 

·       Narelle Fasulo

·       Ann Craig

·       Leonie Schroder

 
Remember we have a Last Chance sale starting on December 1. Check out the bargains and be ready to order quickly as many things will sell out fast.

Product List