Stampinantics: October 2017

Friday, October 27, 2017

PAINTED AUTUMN INSPIRATION - FANCY FRIDAY BLOG HOP

Welcome to this months Fancy Friday blog hop! The theme is Painted Autumn Inspiration, where we are encouraged to use the colours from the Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper and also to use the watercolour technique.

I used the right colours, I used the right Designer Series Paper, but I didn't quite use the right technique! Oops! You see, I have been so busy playing with the new Stampin Blends, available to customers November 1st, that I forgot all about the "water" part of the colouring!

But he is just too cute not to share with you, right? I love all the rich colours in this DSP so choosing few colours to use is easy. There are so many in this pack that at least some are bound to appeal to you. I went with a rather busy piece, rich with oranges, but with a lovely, subtle, contrasting blue.

Initially I was a bit stuck for ideas, happens to us all, I know! I got word that a very special lady I know was in CCU and I wanted to cheer her on and up, so these cutie patootie pigs came to mind and the card came together pretty quickly once I had someone in mind to receive it. I think it will make her smile, don't you?

Next up on the hop is Erica Cerwin of Pink Buckaroo Designs. She creates the most amazing projects and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us this time! I bet she remembered to watercolour!

Sue Plote
Cathy Caines
Paula Dobson - You are Here
Erica Cerwin
Marissa Gunn
Cindy Schuster
Susan Wong
Connie Collins
Krista Frattin

All products used in these projects are listed below. Click on the pictures below to shop 24/7!

If you live New Zealand, I would love to be your Demonstrator! When you shop Online with me, please the current host code (in my side bar) and allow Demonstrator contact, so I can invite you to my exclusive VIP Facebook Group and thank you properly with the gift of a card when you place an order.

Sunday, October 22, 2017

GLASS HALF FULL

I like to think of myself as a "glass half full" kind of person and as we head toward the end of 2017, I realised that there are many occasions approaching that are cause for celebration and a chance to gather with friends and loved ones. I can’t think of a better stamp set that can help celebrate all of them than Half Full #144996. This is also a “Million Sales Achiever” set, inspired by Linda Bauwin.

The line art images in this set lend themselves perfectly to colouring. The sentiments are fun and the fonts perfectly mixed! I wanted to create a little something that could sit at a place setting on any celebratory table. Name place holders are always a good idea for a large group and to personalise this one I used the Labeler Alphabet Stamp Set #141936. Rather than sharing a large bottle of wine, I love the idea of a mini gift of bubbles for each person presented with a sweet tag! It doesn’t matter if it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, a wedding or birthday party, this set works perfectly for any occasion.

I have used the same techniques on all three of my projects. Since the subject is wine (bubbles count) I have incorporated the gorgeous new Champagne Foil Sheets #144748 as an accent on all projects, it seemed only fitting! I have used Watercolor Paper #122959 and an Aqua Painter #103954 to create my artwork. I first stamped in Archival Black Ink #140931, before using my Heat Tool #129046 to heat set it to ensure it wouldn’t run. I then applied a light wash of ink over each image in Soft Sky #131292, Always Artichoke #108610, So Saffron #108611 and just a touch of Peekaboo Peach #141422 thrown in for good measure. I have found the trick to good watercolour is to let each layer dry before adding more. It helps to add depth and not have all the colours blend into one. Don't be tempted to hurry.

A card to go along with the gift of wine is a must and keeping with the colour theme of green, yellow and blue, I used Soft Sky Cardstock #131292 for my card base and Always Artichoke Cardstock #108610 for my sentiment panel. I heat embossed the card sentiment in White Emboss Powder #109132 and used the Heat Tool #129056 to heat set it. After wrapping the watercolour panel with the Crushed Curry 3/8" (1cm) Stitched Satin Ribbon # 144182 and tying off in a side bow, I added the sentiment panel over the top with Dimensionals #104430. I then completed all three projects with a few gold sequins from the Metallics Sequin Assortment #144214. I personally favour the Fine Tip Glue Pen #138309 to adhere sequins to my projects, but Multipurpose Liquid Glue #110755 is also a good choice.

If you are thinking of adding a bit of pizzazz to an occasions table yourself then I think the Half Full Stamp Set ##144996 is a great choice! You can certainly tailor it to any occasion and colour scheme that you wish.

All products used in these projects are listed below. Click on the pictures below to shop 24/7!

Half Full Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[144999]

Labeler Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141936]

Always Artichoke A4 Card Stock

[108610]

Card Stock A4 Soft Sky

[131292]

Champagne Foil Sheets

[144748]

Watercolor Paper

[122959]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad

[126972]

Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad

[131181]

So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad

[126957]

Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad

[141398]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Heat Tool

[129056]

Embossing Buddy

[103083]

White Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109132]

Aqua Painters

[103954]

Crushed Curry 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon

[144182]

Metallics Sequin Assortment

[144214]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Fine-Tip Glue Pen

[138309]

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

[110755]

Friday, October 20, 2017

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS - STAMPIN' UP! ARTISAN BLOG HOP

Welcome to the Stampin' Up! Artisan blog hop as we feature the Count My Blessings or Gourd Goodness this month. You have probably just arrived from Miriam van Eyden's beautiful blog. I just love everything Miriam makes! If you are just starting here, hit the "Next" button at the end of this post to continue on the hop. You won't want to miss a thing!

I am using the Count My Blessings stamp set this month and have created a set of cards. I just love the beautiful big fonts in this set. I like to make multiples of either the same card or use the same stamps sets while everything is out on my desk. I have found that if it is in front of me, I will use it!

Every card is completely different, but one thing that ties them all together is the beautiful Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper and the Count My Blessings stamp set. I either used the DSP on the card or used the colours from it as inspiration.

Each card has different levels of difficulty. My first card is relatively simple, with the DSP being the major focus, a layered sentiment panel and a little bit of ribbon and we were done. My second card would have to be the most time consuming, especially if you don't like colouring in! Lots of stamping, colouring with the wonderful Stampin' Write Markers and then finished with minimal embellishments.

My last card uses that gorgeous DSP again and lots of layers! Repeat stamping and sponging on the base card, bow tying (again, not everyone's cuppa) and then a few subtle Glitter Enamel Dots to finish with.

I love that each of these cards is so different and yet I have used the same stamp set, the same DSP and the same colour combinations to create each one. Stampin' Up! products are just so versatile when put together, and yet no two projects will look alike.

Next on the hop this month is the lovely Rochelle Blok in Australia.