BEEN & GONE!

Christmas that is!!  Over for another year - PHEW!!  But other events still happen, so I thought I would share a couple of my latest CAS creations with you.

First up - Birthday for a Guy!  I have finally got the set I have had my eye on since the catalogue came out last September - Need for Speed!  I love the "sketchy" kind of feel to these images.  The plane was made for a sponged sky background, and Ispritzed a contrail to give the impression of movement and speed.

The second is a Sympathy card, made all the more sadder (is that a word?) at this time of the year when we should all be laughing and having fun.  Again, I have used the Confetti White card stock to sponge on.  I love the textured and moody colour the sponging turns out on this less than smooth card stock.  I cut a rectangular mask out, laid it on my card stock and just picked random colours to sponge.  Removed the mask and stamped an image from the hostess set "Up in the Air".  It is a line art image, so I used my markers to colour it in and make it a silhouette.  Add a pearl and sentiment - done.

Once again, both of these cards can be created in under 10 minutes.  I can see I will be doing a lot more cards with this CAS style in the New Year.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.  Wishing you all a very Prosperous 2012!

JAI #99 - JUST ADD WRAPPING

How do you dress up those gifts to give?  At Just Add Ink this week, there are some gorgeous ideas to give you a start, and just in time for Christmas! While my project is not strictly "wrapping", it is a great way to dress up a gift!

I quite often get Maccona Coffee, mainly because the jar is pretty cool!  It has a great shape and lends itself to be "altered".  I have filled this jar with Christmas coloured Jelly Beans and used the same colours to decorate the jar.

Using the wide grosgrain ribbon, I have wrapped it around the top of the jar and added Jingle Bells to the bow.

I have made a Poinsettia flower, using the 5 Petal Flower Punch and added plenty of glitz to it too!  Add a label and it is all ready to gift to someone special.

This is just one way you can dress up your gifts though, so be sure to pop over to Just Add Ink to see all the other gorgeous projects the Design Team have come up with for you!  We would love to see how you use your crafting skills to dress up your gifts too!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE ♥

CHRISTMAS NOTECARD

How's this for a super cute and really quick 3" x 3" notecard?  I like these notecards in place of tags for a gift.  I have used a cute stamp set called "Every Litte Bit".  You can find it on page 46 of the main Idea Book & Catalogue.  It has 28 images for every occassion you can think of and is just perfect for these notecards.  I made a bunch of these to put with gifts this year.

I stamped the image in Staz On Black, then used my Stampin' Write markers to colour it in.  I then punched the image using  the 1 1/4" Square punch.  I punched another coordinating piece of cardstock (Old Olive) with the 1 3/8" Square punch, layered them with Dimensionals and stuck to the card front.  I then tied a mini bow, using THIS tutorial, with the new Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine from the Summer Mini Catalogue, and stuck that above the ornament using a spot of Tombow Multi.

Another nice, quick project, although not when you are making multiples, like I was!  I also stamped the front of the Mini Envelopes, although, opted not to colour the image in this time.

CAS - CONFETTI CARD

Taking another look at the "You Are Loved" stamp set today, from the Summer Mini Catalgoue.  This time as a Thinking of You/Sympathy type card.  I have gone with clean and simple with this image, by using a method called "thumping".  I have inked my flower image with markers, starting with the lightest colours first, so I don't contaminate them with a dark colour.  I have then "thumped" (gently) a darker marker over portions of the image, to give it a more dimensional look.  "Huff" on the stamp to remoisten the ink, then stamp as normal.  How easy!

I have used Confetti White as my base card.  It suits the image I have used perfectly, with all the little bits of petals inlaid in the card stock.
To lift it just a bit more visually, I have added random pearls around the image and rounded the opposite corners of the base card to soften the edges.
A clean and simple card which can be created in under ten minutes!  Gotta like that.

FANCY FOOTWORK

Something a little different from me today!  Another CAS card using the Emboss resist technique I haven't used for quite sometime.  The stamp set is called "You are Loved" from the new Summer  mini catalogue.  If you haven't seen this catalogue yet, you can check it out HERE. There are so many grogeous new products to play with!!

I have used Naturals Ivory card stock as my card base.  I love the petals inlaid in this card.  Stamped my image in Versamark, sprinkled Clear Embossing Powder over the image and heat set it.  I have then masked off a portion of my card across the width and sponged Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder and Blushing Bride ink in a random pattern.  This really makes the embossed image "pop".  I have then used one gorgeous Jewel brad thats helps draw your eye to the sentiment.

The "Fancy Footwork" I was referring to in my blog title is along the bottom of the card.  I used the Decorative Label punch to cut away about 1cm of the base, then layered Wisteria Wonder card stock underneath.  A simple, but pretty Valentine's Day card.

GOING NAUTICAL

One of the new stamps in the Summer Mini Catalogue is called "Open Seas" and is just a pefect stamp set for guys!  Especially if they love boating or anything Nautical.  It has been sitting on my shelf uninked for the past two weeks, but I FINALLY had a chance to play with it yesterday!

I kept the stamping fairly simple, but just added lots of mats to the card front for interest.  I used mini brads for a wee bit of hardware.  How cute are they?!  I also added the cool knot you see along the front.  You can find the super tutorial for this knot HERE, thanks to a fabuoulous blog called Paper Pursuits. 

If you belong to Pinterest, you can access all my links to other tutorials and the other great ideas I use!  There are so many great tutorials out there and Pinterest helps me to remember them all, by pinning them on boards and providing links.  A really valuable resource!

Don't forget to get your order in for Christmas.  Stampin' Up!'s fabulous December Frenzy promotion has lots of things for you to select at up to 50% off normal retail price!  I love a bargain!!  My last order will be submitted on the 12th of December, so please get your order to me early, so you will have it for Christmas!

FOR THE WOMAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING

Birthday's can be so hard to cater for, can't they?  Especially for Mum!  What do you get for the Woman who has everything she needs?  My Mother is celebrating her Birthday on the 8th of December, and this year I have been making the women in my Family gift card tins, fill to overflowing with cards for all occassions, for their Birthday's.  While there is hours of work invlolved in this gift - it is completely handmade and personalised for that particular person. 

I wanted to go with a vintage theme for Mum.  Not saying she is old though!  Just wanted something a bit nostalgic.  It also took me out of my own comfort zone, as I don't normally do vintage!  I loved using the Hat Pin (retired), and I have also used the Velvet Ribbon available in the new Summer Mini Catalogue.  I didn't want cream though and dyed this ribbon, using my Night of Navy ink pad.  I was surprised how beautifully this ribbon dyed up!  Not at all patchy as I thought it would.

For the card, I CASE'd a design from an old Stampin' Up! Catalogue.  I used the design as a basic template and then added the DSP, ribbon and stamps I used on the tin.  I told you I don't throw anything out and for good reason - there are so many fab designs to recreate!

Mum doesn't have a computer, so I am not spoiling the surprise for her by showing you early!  I wanted to share with you a great gift to give that "hard to buy for" person in your life, made especially with them in mind.

"GO TO" BOOK

It is my good friend Rhonda's birthday today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY RHONDA!  I needed to make a Birthday card for her, but time hasn't been my own for a few weeks now that the silly season is upon us.  I desperately needed some help to get a card made in time for her special day, and what better tool do I have for inspiration than the Stampin' Up! catalogue!

I have CASE'd this card directly from the catalogue and you can see the original on page 10.  Of course I didn't have all the same items or colours available in my own stash, so changed things up a bit and made do with what I had.  Thats the great thing about the Stampin' Up! catalogue!  You don't have to have exactly the same items, but the basic ideas are all there to use.

Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Simply Soft
Inks: Craft White, Old Olive, More Mustard, Early Espresso
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, More Mustard
Accessories: Very Vanilla Seam Binding, Old Olive Brad, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Extra large Oval Punch, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaer Embossing Folder, Scoring Tool, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals

LETS GET COZY!!

I promised another fabric project I have been working on, and here it is!

If you are anything like me, you LOVE fresh made Coffee and often stop for one on a trip into town.  The thing I hate most, is HOT Latte.  It should always be made to drink straight away and not scalding, but some Barrista's have not learnt that yet!  I get sick of burning my fingers, so have made a Coffe Cozy that I can pop in my handbag!  No more burnt fingers - woohoo!

This is another pattern I stumbled across while surfing the net.  It is by the very talented Jeni Baker, who has kindly done a free tutorial.  You can see her tutorial at Skip To My Lou.  Again, I have used Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Designer Fabrics to make them.  Add elastic and a button and you are good to go.

I have a stall at the Artisan's Christmas Market in the Mall on the 3rd of December.  Be sure to pop by and say "Hi" as I have been making tonnes of Christmas goodies for you to give!

NEVER SAY NEVER!

Hope you are all sitting down!!  I have been playing with my SEWING MACHINE!!  OMG!  I didn't think I would see the day that I would be hunched over that piece of equipment for hours at a time - but I have been!  Here's what I have been making:

Little Tissue holders for your handbag!  These are super cute and so handy to have.  Just pop a small packet of tissues inside and you are good to go.  Of course, that meant I had to get super friendly with my Iron as well.  I normally consider that piece of equipment a four letter word of the worst kind, lol.  But if you are going to go to all this effort, an iron is your best friend and so worth the chore!

Stampin' Up! have a wonderful selection of fabrics (of which my prototype is not).  But once I knew what I was doing I just had to use them!  The photo above is a  sneak peek of the fabric available in the soon to be released Summer Mini catalogue.  Aren't the colours divine?!

These two are made using the Deck the Halls designer fabric, which is available in the main IB & C.

I must say the fabrics have set me a new challenge - learn to sew properly!  It also meant I needed to know a bit more about my sewing machine than just "plug in and go!!"  Thank you Vicki, for taking the time to show me how to service my machine and that it actually needs oil!  You ROCK!!

I found a great tutorial on Pinterest that got me started on this sewing lark.  If you haven't checked out this site - you should!  So many wonderful ideas on there.  Be prepared to spend hours just looking!  I will be back soon with another project I have been working on too!

SURPRISE!!

For me or for you - I am not too sure!  I can't believe I have not blogged for TWO weeks!  I have so much going on that I just have not been able to create for myself recently.  It is such a busy time of year with Christmas just 6 weeks away!  Lots of Craft fairs, Stamp Clubs and workshops to prepare for.  I am so lucky I get to do something I truly love!

I thought I would share just a quick post this morning.  This is the Thank You card I whipped up yesterday morning for my Stamp Club Ladies, to pop in their orders.  Nothing like leaving something to the last minute!
A very simple sponged card, just what the Doctor ordered!

FRIGHT NIGHT

I know as a country we don't go much for Halloween, but it is growing.  It is a shame we don't carry more Halloween stamps in our Idea Book & Catalogue, like the US does.  Luckily for me, I have a super friend in the States (waving at you Diana!!) who sent me a set called "House of Haunts", which I have drawled over for quite sometime!  Tonight being Halloween, I thought I would share the quick card I made yesterday, while having a play with this delicious stamp set!

Of course, I pulled out my trusty sponges to give my background the real moodiness and atmosphere a spooky Halloween scene needs!

Happy Halloween to you all!  ♥

Stamps:  House of Haunts
Cardstock:  Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black, Perfect Plum, Bluching Bride, So Saffron, Old Olive, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Sponges, Dimensionals, Stamp-a-ma-jig, post-it-notes, Regals Brads, Piercing Tool

JAI #91 - A COLOUR CHALLENGE

I have been away from JUST ADD INK on a wee break for a while, but have actually been able to participate in this weeks gorgeous challenge brought to you by Bron Eastley!

 How do you like these colours?!! Aren't they GORGEOUS!  This is the wee cutie I came up with:

Of course, I had to decorate the inside as well. I left the sentiment off the front of the card, but I think it makes a nice touch on the inside instead. What do you think?

I hope you will play along with us at JUST ADD INK this week.  I look forward to seeing your creations!  Make sure you visit what the other JAI designers have come up with too, you won't be disappointed!

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!

To take advantage of the Stampin' Up! October special, if you haven't already done so. For more details, click HERE.  Contact ME to place your order or book a workshop!

 I love the Stitched Stocking promotion and while I haven't had much time to play, I do have a teaser for you!

Stamp Set:  Stitched Stockings, Contempo Christmas
Cardstock:  Old Olive, Whisper White
Inks: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Regals DSP, Mat Pack & Piercing Tool, Dazzling Diamonds, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals

CHRISTMAS POP-UP

As most of you already know, I am primarily a card maker.  I tend to stick to the typical flat card, but this week I thought I would share a super cool Pop-Up card with you.  These cards are actually very easy to make and you can find the fantastic tutorial for this card HERE.

Keeping with the Christmas theme, I chose to use the set "Snow Swirled" for this card.  I really love the filgree tree!  I have also teamed it with the Soft Holly wheel, along the card base.

The best thing about this card?  It folds flat!!  So you can still pop this in the post.

 If you have never made one of these free standing Pop-Up cards, why not have a go?!  I promise you won't be disappointed with how easy they actually are!

THE TIME HAS COME.....

To start working on making those Christmas cards if you want the recipients to get them in time!  I always promise myself that I will get a head start every year and make them early!  Every year, October rolls around and, YIKES!!!  I haven't even begun to plan for Christmas.

With that in mind, and limited time to actually craft,  I came up with these wee cuties.  You can easily knock off a one of these simple Christmas cards in under ten minutes.    Swap colours and ribbons, add some bling, and Viola!  A cute, clean, simple Christmas card to add to your stash!

I have stamped a clear block in my chosen ink colour (to match the ribbon of choice) and stamped on Very Vanilla or Whisper White.  This creates a fast background and gives the impression of texture.  I then stamped Dasher and the sentiment in a contrasting, colour.  Add a few Basic Rhinestones to the antlers and it is done.  I coloured the Rhinetsones with a permanent marker to match the background colour also.

So there is another use for Clear Blocks Ladies!  Don't just use them for mounting your clear stamps, stamp with them too!  They come in a variety of sizes and prices, and are ergonomically designed with fingers grips on all four sides.

The best thing is that Stampin' Up! Have now added a storage case for you to store them all in one place!  It also opens out flat and has a foam core to protect your blocks and is only $35.95! 

Contact ME today to place your orders for this handy storage case and the verstatile clear bocks!

SEPIA SILHOUETTE

I just want to say Thanks to everyone who has contacted me or left comments on my last blog post.  I really enjoyed making that card and a few of you have asked for a tutorial.  So here it is!

I decided to do this CAS, sponged card in sepia tones and also make it a sympathy type card too.  Never seem to have one on hand when I need one!

Because I do so much sponging and brayering, I make my templates out of acetate, so I can use them over and over again.  Simply hand draw your hills/clouds across the acetate and cut out.  I also put a sticker on the acetate, so I don't lose it!!  It is all but invisible otherwise *grin*

Mask off the sides of your card with post-it-notes.  I didn't worry about covering the bottom part, since I wanted to taper out the colour before I got to the bottom.

Place your cloud template on you card and gently sponge your clouds in small circular motions, starting at the top of your card and moving your acetate down the card as you go.

I also move the acetate across the page, so the clouds don't look uniform.  (See the sticker position).  The other reason I like acetate, is that you can see exaclty how much colour you are putting on the card.

Swap templates and sponge in the hills, letting the ink run out before you get to the bottom of the card.

Use your Stamp-a-ma-jig to place your sentiment where you want it.  I have used Word Play.

Using a marker, ink up the silhouette image of your choice.  For me, it was the single flower from Inspired by Nature.  Stamp your image.  Card done!

The colours I have used are: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, and Crumb Cake.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial.  I would love your feedback!

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

I can't believe I have been away so long from my blog!!  I like to be able to put up work on a regular basis, but just haven't been able to get a thing done over the past few weeks.  I decided to take a leaf out of my friend Kim's book and create a Clean and Simple card (CAS).

I went back to my first love - sponging!  Using Kim's idea of masking a portion of the card, I went to work and created my background.  It really suited the new Hostess stamp set "Simply Soft", so I got a chance to ink it up!  This was originally a line art stamp, but I decided to create the silhouette again, by colouring in the stamped images in the same marker - in this case, Chocolate Chip.  Not a single embellishment in sight!  Be sure to check out Kim's site, Joyful Creations with Kim, too.  She does the most amasing CAS cards!  Tell her I sent you, won't you?

Thanks Kim for giving me the kick start I needed *mwah*

FOR THE COFFEE FREAK!

I admit it, I am a total Coffee nut.  I even have my own Coffee Machine - I just love it so much!  I recently helped a friends daughter (answering questions) with her studies and as a Thank you, she gave me a box of Robert Timms Coffee Bags.  Well, what can I say?  I was pretty thrilled, but the box was pretty ugly!  So I made one up to keep them in - much prettier!

This is a just a basic box template I made to fit the packets and once you understand how boxes go together you can make ANY size you want.  Such a handy thing to know though - think personalised gifts!

Of course, you can also decorate them any way you want.  Obviously, I didn't want to forget what was in this box!  I think the bold font gives it away, lol.  I also think the sentiment is soooooo TRUE!

Anyway, I have sat down and put THIS particular template into a basic tutorial for you and it is FREE!  I hope you make plenty of delightful boxes with it!

WELL WORN AND GRUNGY!

Is kinda how I am feeling at the moment!!  But I feel good enough to turn out this card using the new DSP "Well Worn".  Teamed with the "Grunge Rock" stamp set, I am really pleased with the lived in feel of this card!

I love the new Well Worn DSP, with all the earthy tones and images in the paper.  It really lends itself to the torn look too, which most of you know, is totally against my nature!  I also used twine as an accent, which I ran thorugh my ink pad to add colour.  Lots of sponging on the stamped sentiment and guitar images to tone down the stark Very Vanilla base.  This is going into my box of cards for when a "manly" card is needed!

Make sure you check back in a couple of days to see the latest project I am working on using this gorgeous new DSP.  I am hoping to have a tutorial for you too, since I haven't done one in a while!  But my lips are sealed for now, shhhhhh...............

HEY BABY - CAS

I haven't made a Baby card in so long!  To be honest, I had to keep it clean and simple because I really struggled to come up with an idea!  It happens to the best of us *grin*. 

I made this for a friend of a friend who have just adopted their first long awaited Baby.  How cool is that?!  In case you can't tell, it's a Girl!!  I thought we would start things off right with a bit of bling and a pretty wee bow - what more could a Girl want - right?!

ALL WRAPPED UP

I have been a little slack in the posting department, but I have been working very hard towards a Launch workshop I am holding today.  It really has been nose to the grindstone!  I have been playing with new product (and old) so I could showcase gorgeous samples to inspire. 

This wee box is made with the Big Shot Mini Milk Carton Die.  Instead of making a standard Milk carton, I have cut two die templates, cut one side off each and put together to form this cute hexagonal Gift Box.  Teamed with the new Mocha Morning DSP and the fabulous lace Ribbon Border Punch, it really makes an elegant little gift box.  Of course, Pearls are elegant too and I have added one to each flower centre.

There are soooo many new and beautiful products in the 2011/2012 Stampin' Up! catalogue, along with all of our old favourites.  The Hostess benefit scheme has also changed and is so much more flexible now, allowing you to receive both FREE and heavily discounted product.  If you haven't got a copy yet, why not contact me today and order one?  Better yet, book a workshop with me and get it for FREE!

ONE LUMP OR TWO?

Anyone for Tea?  I have seen some gorgeous Tea Caddy's during my blog travels recently, and being a good Tea and Coffee drinker myself, wanted one I could put on my bench or give as a gift.  In the end, I had to play around myself to whip up this little beauty - but I love how this came together.

I have used the glorious new Designer Paper called Mocha Morning and the colours of the Caddy itself are Soft Suede and Crumb Cake.  I have also used lots of subtle sponging to add a more vintage feel to the stark DSP.
While I have a fabulous stamp set called "Morning Sip", the images were a little small for my needs, so I drew my own teabag for the front panel.  I put the bag and tag together with twine and popped them on the front panel with dimensionals.

I also wanted to be able to refill this when the last teabag is used, so I added a flip top lid!

I can't wait to make some more of these cuties as something "extra" for friends and family at Christmas.  Now I want to make some in different sizes too that I can take to my monthly Craft fair.  I know I certainly can't resist a good Cuppa!