MEASURE OF A MAN

A good friend of mine recently celebrated a Birthday and I had to make a card special to him, as his trade is an Electrician.  I didn't have a stamp set applicable, but found some cute little embellishments I could use instead!

"Extreme Elements" is a stamp set which is a great "go to" for backgrounds, especially for the men in our lives!  It is the first time it has seen ink since I got it!!  Instead of a ribbon accent, I used Twill Tape and "made" a tape measure - much more manly!  The sentiment is from "Grunge Rock".

Stamps:  Extreme Elements, Grunge Rock
Cardstock: Basic Gray, More Mustard, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake
Inks: Soft Suede, Basic Grey, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Versmark, White Embossing Powder, embellishments, Cutter Kit, Adhesives

JUST ADD A BURST OF COLOUR!

Well, we Just Add Ink designers were set a real challenge this week!!  Just add......A burst of colour!!  A broad description of the challenge and anything goes!  You can use the picture as inspiration, the colours, or simply (as I did), what a burst of colour means to YOU!  Here is the inspirational picture to guide you!

I opted to use the flower as a starting point and dug out my "Because I care" stamp set.  I love the Hydrangea image!  I also wanted "bright", so chose Pumkpin Pie as my main colour.

I used the flower to stamp the background of my card base in Choclate Chip.  I then stamped the same flower on Whisper White for my focal image and embossed it too.  This makes colouring so much easier, especially if colouring is just not your thing and you don't have a steady hand!  I coloured the main image using my blender pens and simply picked up the colour from my ink pad lid to apply.

I love the big fat ribbon!!  Even though this ribbon is so wide, it is also so soft, making bow tying a breeze!

I have carried part of the flower image to the inside of my card as well and added a sentiment here, rather than on the front of the card.  I think there was enough going on there with out adding a sentiment too, lol

I have also entered another challenge with this card, Pals Paper Arts - PPA78 Element of Style - BOWS! I haven't entered other challenges for quite some time, so was really excited to see this one!  Go check it out and enter too :-)

Be sure to check out the other designers work when you pay JAI a visit this week.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

BAJA WEDDING

One thing I never have enough of is cards celebrating Weddings.  I was palying around with this card quite a while ago, and thought it about time I showed it!

 I have used a gorgoeus stamp set called "Just Believe".  I like the non traditional wedding colours and you could change it to suit a colour theme easlily enough.  I have stamped the card base in Versamark and clear embossed the inmage to give it a slightly raised effect.  I like the simplicity of it with just a tag and pearls for embellishment.

SWAP AROUND THE WORLD

Have you singed up for the next round of Ustamp with Dawn and Friends?  There are so many reasons to do so if you haven't!  Forty great tutorial downloads from Designers all over the world using only Stampin' Up products, a place to showcase your recreations of those projects, a chance to win prize draws, not to mention, meeting and befriending fellow crafters from around the globe!

As a designer for Ustamp, I had the great pleasure of joining in a swap recently with another member of the Design Team ROSEMARIE DIEHL.We each had to make three swaps.  One went to a fellow team member, in this case, Rose, and the other two we sent on to Dawn.  Once Dawn has all the swaps, she is going to make a random draw and one lucky designer and one guest will receive a pack with ALL the swaps!!  How cool is that!

This is the lovely Swap I received from Rose.  It is really quite a tease, because we NZ'ers don't have these Rubons, DSP or Glitz Paper.  I am extremely grateful for sample, because I hope we will get these products in the future!!  A lovely Swap Rose, thanks for playing with me!!

JUST ADD A SKETCH #52

I haven't done a sketch challenge for a while, so I really enjoyed doing this one for my JUST ADD INK design this week:

 I thought it lent itself to a wee bag instead of a card - although you could use it for a card!  I just could'nt get a bag out of my head.  Gotta go with these things!

 I have used a Kraft Paperbag as my lining, and pulled out my trusty Big Shot to create the top.  I am in the middle of creating a tutorial for this project, because I was really pleased with how it turned out.  Be sure to check out my "Tutorials for Sale" page, because it will be available for purchase real soon :-)  I have put a few goodies in here for a friend of mine and plan to give it to her when I see her in February.

Be sure to pop over to the JAI site to see the other gorgeous projects the Design Team have come up with this week and enter your take on this challenge too!

ON THAT NOTE - USTAMP PROJECT

I would like to share another Ustamp inspired project with you today.  The orginal project was created by my good friend, Bron Heslop, who like me, is a Guest Designer for the current Ustamp with Dawn and Friends round - Year End Blow Out.  I am thrilled she is returning for the next round too!!

I haven't changed too much about Brons project, because I really loved it just the way it is.  Clean, crisp and fresh!!  I always have a tendancy to want to add "more".  I have changed one colour only - and used Blushing Bride from the In Colour range.

The little Tote Bag is not only cute, but a great place to store the little 3" x 3" cards that go with it.  I used coloured Rhinestone brads to secure the handles.  The Stamp set is Silhouette Sentiments.  I love the layered tag on the front!

 The note cards are lovely too and you can whip these up in no time at all!  Such a neat project if you feel inspired to keep a set on hand!

Thanks Bron - YOU ROCK!

CLUTCH PURSE & CARD

At Ustamp with Dawn and Friends, you get over 40 projects to download and receate at your own leisure.  If you are like me, you also like to recreate them and post them on the Ustamp Gallery for others to enjoy. 

This is my take on a project made by Danielle Daws.  You can see Danielle's desgin HERE.  I chose Pretty in Pink and Elegant Eggplant to do my project.  This was a relatively simple project to put together and is a great way to package that perfect Birthday Gift for someone special.

The Clutch Purse is made out of one 12x12 peice of Designer paper - no cutting involved at all!  I ran the Pretty in Pink flap for the top of the bag through my Bigshot using the Dots embossing folder and added a matching ribbon to close my Clutch bag.  I then added the wee tag, which I have water coloured, using an Aqua Painter.

I have then teamed up my purse with a matching card and envelope.  The card is made using the Spotlight technique.  I don't use this often enough!  It is a great way to add interest to a large stamp, because you only have to colour a portion of it and then layer on top of the black and white image.  I really like the effect!

Have you joined Ustamp for a round of inspiration and fun yet?  No?  Then why not join "Oh My Word" and see what you think.  The next round begins in Mid February and it is not too late to join in.  Simply click on the "Oh My Word" button on the right of this post to register!

JUST ADD MONOCHROME!

I enjoy doing projects in Black and White, so I was really excited to do my Design for this weeks JUST ADD INK challenge - Just Add Monochrome!  Do pop over to the site to see the other Designer entries - you are in for a treat!  Each week from now on, you will get to enjoy a Design from every DT member, not just fortnightly anymore!  Amanda and Danielle have been working behind the scenes to make JAI bigger and better than before!

I wanted to get away from my stock standard card design, even though I am primarily a card maker.  I decided to have a go at my first ever Grown up scrapbook page - a 12x12!  I find these so hard to do, such a lot of space to fill!!  That is normally what stops me from attempting them.  I dont have a clue what the "rules" for scrapbooking are, so please forgive me if I have broken many!!

This is a tribute to my Sister and BIL's Wedding day.  My BIL is a Plane and car nut.  The car belonged to his Dad, who has since passed away, so it had a lot of meaning to them on their special day.  Barry should have been a pilot - so what better title for my page than "Flying High".

I have hand made all the embellishments on this page.  Each flower is different.  The big black one is a scalloped punched, faux Suede flower, the little black flower is made from organza, and the cream ones, from Satin Ribbon.  I love how each one has turned out.  Of course, I had to add BLING!

I have also broken out a new product called Smooch Spritz and used it to add glimmer to my background page.  It is hard to photograph, but it sure looks pretty in real life.

Instead of using chipboard for my title, I got to break out my Big Shot and Timeless Type Alphabet dies.  This is such a cost effective way to add letters to your work.  Buy the die once, and you have it to use over and over and you will always have the right letters to use!  I have also stamped part of the title and just cut out block letters.

I would love to know what you think of this page.  I appreciate all feedback I get, so please leave me a comment and then go leave the rest of the Design Team some comment love too!

USTAMP- "Oh My Word" Edition

Don't miss a day of the LIVE FUN!! Opening Day Invites go out February 11, 2011
Last Project posted March 3, 2011
*****

EARLY BIRDS ARE AWESOME!!

Early Birds SAVE $5

PLUS

a chance to win a

$100 Stampin' Up! Shopping Spree!!

Early Bird Pricing ends January 14th.

Click HERE to join us now for only $19.99

Join us for UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! Oh My Word!! Edition 2011!! Every project will have something to say and you will want to be there to hear all about it!!

UStamp with Dawn and Friends!! will be showcasing every single project with at least one word. Sometimes a single word says it all and sometimes several words are the right fit. Big words, little words and everything in between...come and be inspired by projects that speak to all of us and get your creativity soaring!!  The Oh My Word!! Edition 2011 event will include a different Color Combo with every project and by the end of the event, ALL 40+ of the SU! colors will have been used in a project. 40+ different projects with at least one word, with 40+ coordinating cards & envelopes, with PDF's, in 20 days...you will be bursting with inspiration!! This is a tremendous value that you CAN'T pass up!!

Here is what you can expect when you join us...

* 40+ Projects...every single one with at least one word!!

* 40+ unique Color Combos...using every single SU! Color...no color gets left behind
* 40+ co-ordinating cards with co-ordinating stamped/embellished envelopes

* ALL 40+ Projects include downloadable PDF with Photo's

* Designer hosted chats with LOTS of prizes

* Open Chat Room 24x7

* Gallery to share your re-creations

* A totally cool blinkie for your website/blog

You can register today by going to the UStamp website HERE to take advantage of this special price and I look forward to sharing with you my creations as a new memember of the Creative Crew!!

The Summer Mini Catalogue has some beautiful new stamp sets available for purchase and one of them is this gorgeous wee set called "Aviary".  I actually held off getting this at first, even though I really liked it, but had to "cave" when I kept seeing so many gorgeous cards done with it.  Here is my first attempt at ink:

 

Card

Gable Box

I would love to show you how to make this gorgeous set too!  Why not book a class for you and your friends?  You will get two hours of tutoring, the writtten tutorial to keep, not to mention this snazzy porject to give someone special (or keep for yourself!!).  Drop me  line!

BUTTERFLY WISHES - Stamping on Multiple Layers

I never have enough Birthday cards on hand to send to friends celebrating their special days.  You would like to think I would be more organised than that, eh?!!  One of my resolutions this year is to make sure I don't miss any of my friends Birthdays, but this one will be belated by the time it arrives!

I am not normally a "pink" girl, but thought I try and make a really feminine "PINK" card this time!  I also wanted to try a technique out - stamping on multiple layers, in this case, three! It really is quite simple, just adhere your layers, then stamp!  The only thing is, you will end up with parts of the image missing!  This is where are Stampin' Up! Markers come in handy!  The same ink is used in the markers that is used to create our ink pads, so of course, you will have a perfect colour match.  Simply "colour in" the parts of the image that have not transfered on to your card stock.  You can't tell the difference between the stamped part and the hand drawn part - MAGIC!  While you can buy the SU Markers in colour families at $66.50, you can also buy them seperately too at only $6.95.  So whether you want many or a few, I can help you!  Just drop me a line if you would like to place an order and try this technique today!

HOW LUCKY AM I??

To have wonderful blogging friends such as Patrice and Tania! I love the award you have passed on to me Girls and would love to give it to friends who inspire me too!  But first, I have to tell you eight things about myself you may not know.  Hmmm, where to start?

1.  My sister and I share the same Birthday, but I am two years older - go Mum and Dad!
2.  I am seriously allergic to ironing!
3.  I am left handed, but play all ball sports with my right - go figure!
4.  I work as a Personal Assistant to an Accountant.
5.  I am seriously addicted to coffee!
6.  My favourite cake is BANANA - just so you know!
7.  I am the proud Senior Supervisor to five wonderful friends and very crafty ladies!
8.  I have just designed my first project for UStamp with Dawn and Friends and have been asked to join the Creative Crew!!

Okay, enough about me.  I now need to pass this award on to eight Bloggers who inspire me!  The first three are my own wonderful downline who have blogs:

1.  Debi Ryan
2.  Rhonda Imrie
3.  Julie Butler

The following bloggers I regularly visit and now is my chance to say thanks!  They are:

4.  Alison Lintern
5.  Bron Heslop
6.  Keryn Campbell
7.  Sharlene Meyer
8.  Diane Taylor

Be sure to go and check out their blogs and leave some comment love to let them know how fantastic they are!

NOTES FROM YESTERYEAR

I have had the huge honour and pleasure of desgining a project for Ustamp with Dawn and Friends.  I have joined this site many times to get inspiration and, not to mention, free tutorials from amazing Designers around the world.  You can join in the fun too right HERE

This is my first ever design for Ustamp, but I hope I get asked to do more.  It has been such a lot of fun, and the cybers friends I have made!  Wow!  You girls all rock!  Here are my projects:

Jotter Pad and Card Holder

Front Cover

Card Holder Open

ESPRESSO BIRTHDAY

I LOVE coffee, so I was always going to love the new SU colour Early Espresso!!  I have been asked to participate in an International Swap and now have my cards ready to send away, but I thought I would share this one with you all, as I love how it has turned out!

I had to get my brayer out again and create a silhouette card, which would have to be my favourite type of card to make.  I also challenged myself to stick a button on there somewhere, hehe.  I have all these gorgeous coordinating buttons sitting in my draw and I always forget to use them!  Anyway, these cards will be winging their way to the United States just as soon as I can get them in the mail today!

Stamps: Just Believe, Well Scripted
Card Stock:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Inks:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Brayer, Jewelry Tag Punch, Coordinating 1/8" Taffeta ribbon and button, Stamp-a-ma-jig, adhessive