Saturday 29 November 2008

Something Old, Something New

Here is a card I made for one of my best friends for her birthday tomorrow. I really hope she likes it because I had so much fun making it. I have used the heart from the Always Stamp Set (It is retiring tomorrow from the Spring Mini) and stamped it with chocolate chip ink on soft sky textured cardstock. I then added some highlights and faux stitching with the white gel pen and went over some of the design with the fine tip end of my chocolate chip marker. The sentiment is actually one of the new rub ons from the summer mini catalogue and it comes in chocolate chip and white, how good is that! (they are normally black and white). The designer paper and chocolate chip ribbon is also new from the Summer Mini. I have embossed the butterfly from the Touch of Nature stamp set in white EP onto vellum cardstock and cut it out with my SU Paper Snips. It has been attached with a dimensional.
Only 2 more sleeps to go!

Wednesday 26 November 2008

Gotta Love New Designer Papers

The colours for these cards come straight from some of the new designer paper that you will be able to buy very soon. The colours are Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Groovy Guava, River Rock and Ruby Red. I have used "Urban West" and "A Perfect Day" Rub Ons for the sentiments on these cards. Remember you only have a couple more days to purchase from the spring mini catalogue and to take advantage of 20% off Rub Ons once you spend $20 on catalogue products. I have used SU markers to colour directly onto the flower stamp to get a two colour image. The Single Marker Promotion has been so popular that Stampin' Up! have extended the promotion till the 14th of December so you still have a little bit more time to order your favourite colours. Some of the accessories I have used are: White Gel Pen, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Earth Element brads, Fire Rhinestone Brads, lots of different circle punches, snail adhesive and dimensionals.

Christmas Decorations

I found a great tutorial on how to make these gorgeous christmas decorations here at Stampin' Academy and I just had to have a go.
I have used some of the lovely Holiday Harmony DSP that will soon be gone with the end of the Spring Mini Catalogue on the 30th of November. The pearls and beads are from the pretties kit and can you see another sneak peek from the Summer Mini Catalogue, cough, cough *scallop square punch* cough cough. The silver cord is retired from SU.

Monday 24 November 2008

1 Week to go (Summer Mini Peek)

As you probably know there is one more week till the spring mini catalogue retires and also one more week till the start of the new summer mini catalogue. I cannot contain my excitement any longer so here is a card I made a couple of weeks ago using some summer mini items. I can't say much more than that so here it is (Love it).

Remember if you want me to send you a copy of the new summer mini when it is released just let me know via my email address digitalfox1975@hotmail.com with the subject line as Summer Mini.

Sunday 23 November 2008

My Entry for Challenge #4

I know I am late with my entry for the 4th Challenge at the Cardinal Stampers blog but I was away for most of last week so this is the first chance I have had to play along. I don't know if I would class this as a masculine page but it was the closest I could do with the photo's that I had to choose from (no time to get any more printed). At least I have sort of stuck to the layout. Thanks Chenoa for giving me an excuse to scrapbook again. I had a lot of fun. I think I still need to add some journaling to the page but I am not sure what I will do yet.
The colours I have used here are Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Purely Pomegranate and Whisper White. I have used SU 12 X 12 textured cardstock for everything except the photo mat. The word "Proud" has been stamped on the Holiday Harmony DSP in Chocolate Chip ink using the Big Deal Alphabet. The word Dad is the same except it was stamped on whisper white CS and cut out.
The small circle in the middle of the page and the word "NEW" is chipboard from the from the On Board Lots of Letters Pack. The circle has been covered in Holiday Harmony DSP with Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue (coming soon in the new mini) and I have applied a rub on from the Cherished Memories Pack (20% off in November). For the word "new" I sponged the letters in whisper white craft ink and embossed them with clear EP. I have used the white gel pen for some faux stitching and to write the date at the bottom of the page. The line and No1 at the top of the page is from the Urban West Rub On pack.
The non SU tools I have used for this page are the creative memories Circle Cutting System and 12 inch Decorative Trimmer for the wavy lines at the bottom of the page.
Remember that the Spring Mini Catalogue is coming to an end in 8 days so if there is something in there you love now is the time to order. We also have the 20% off Rub Ons and the single marker promotion finishing at the same time so get in quick!

Saturday 22 November 2008

Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink

Ever since I set the challenge at the Cardinal Stampers Blog to use Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink and Whisper white I just can't stop making cards with those colours. Here are some cards that I made a couple of weeks ago.
This one uses the stamp set that comes in the Simple Delights Card kit (love it) stamped on SU Textured card stock and punched out using the square punch. I have then mounted it on Textured Pretty in Pink card stock and pierced round the squares using the paper piercing tool and mat pack in the Crafters Tool kit and used my white gel pen to make it look like stitching.
The score lines around the card base and at the bottom near the sentiment we done using the Paper Cutter and scoring blade. The ribbon is Pretty in Pink Taffeta. The Welcome Baby is from the Short and Sweet set and I have used the oval and word window punch. The use of the Textured Card stock really adds a lovely soft element to the card.
This next one was for my Aunty Robyn's birthday. She is also a SU demonstrator and you can check out her blog here - Rainbows by Robyn.
I have embossed the heart stamp from the Always stamp set (retiring soon) in white EP onto Vellum card stock mounted it on some whisper white CS and cut it out. I then used my pretty in pink and certainly celery markers to colour the vellum. I used the Certainly Celery Prints DSP to almost cover the card base and embossed the Happy Birthday sentiment (from Darkroom Door, yes I know I have committed Rubb-adultery) in white EP. The ribbon is from a retired ribbon originals pack. I have had so much fun with this colour combination and I can see myself using it again and again.
We are so close to the start of the new Summer Mini Catalogue so watch this space for some cards using the new products. I have been working on a few and I will post them soon.

Friday 21 November 2008

Another Christmas Card

This is a card I will be making at a workshop I am holding on the weekend.
There have been quite a few of these Christmas Bauble cards about in the blogging world so I thought I would have a go at making one myself. I have seen them done a few different ways but I don't think anyone has done them this way. What I have done is make a template by taking a piece of CS the same size as my card front and then punching out the three circles using the 1 inch, 1 1/4 inch and 1 3/4 inch circle punches exactly where I wanted them.
Here is a picture of my template. I then position it over my confetti white card base and sponge on purely pomegranate ink in a circular motion using a sponge dauber making one side of the circle darker than the other. I then stamped the swirly image from the Season of Joy stamp set (soon to be retired in the spring mini catalogue) onto the baubles while the template is still in place.
Below is a second template I made. To do the top of the bauble I used the word window punch on the edge of some scrap and the string was made using my scissors two cut two straight lines next to each other and removing the card stock in between.
I then remove the first template and mask off the baubles with the circles I created when I punched the first template. I place the second template at the top of each bauble and sponge in Encore Gold ink with a sponge dauber to make the bauble top and then do the same with the string template. You can then remove all your masks and finish off your card.
I have used a strip of the Holiday harmony DSP (spring mini) and stamped the sentiment from the Many Merry Messages stamp set in Purely Pomegranate and your done. The great thing about this card is you can re-use the templates to recreate the design over and over and they all come out the same.
If you live in the Dubbo area and would like to book a workshop or a stamp-a-stack and have a go at making this card please email me at digitalfox1975@hotmail.com to book.

Sunday 16 November 2008

Christmas Stamp-a-stack

I held a Christmas Stamp-a-stack a couple of weeks ago so I guess it is about time I put the cards we made up on here. We made 2 of each of these cards and also made mayching envelopes.
This first one uses Markers and a blender pen to colour the presents from the Crazy about Christmas stamp set. I have layered it on some real red CS and then on some summer picnic DSP (soon to be retired from the Spring mini Catalogue). I have used my real red marker to omit the Merry from the Merry Christmas stamp. Don't forget that you can order single real red and old olive markers till the 30th of November.This second one uses the So Swirly Jumbo wheel in Old Olive. The pine tree from the Lovely as a Tree set is then inked up in Old Olive then I took my chocolate chip marker and coloured the tree trunk directly on the rubber before I stamped it.
It doesn't show up very well but I used my two way glue pen to draw on some tinsel and then poured some dazzling diamonds glitter for some sparkle. The sentiment is from the Seasonal Wishes stamp set and has been embossed with Gold EP.

The last one uses the Solemn Stillness two step stamp set. I have used Always Artichoke for the tree and then the decorations have been embossed using Gold EP. The Sentiment is from the Many Merry Messages stamp set and it has also been embossed straight onto the Holiday Harmony DSP (soon to be retired from the Spring Mini Catalogue). The ribbon is Purely Pomegranate double stitched grosgrain ribbon. The card base on the last two cards is Confetti White CS which I found makes a great strong card base for my christmas cards. On the inside of the cards I used the different christmas messages from Many Merry Messages.

If you have a group of about 5 people, live in Dubbo or the surrounding area and want to have a stamp-a-stack please send me an email at digitalfox1975@hotmail.com. The cost is approx $20 per head and you will get to make 6-10 cards depending on the type of card you want to do.

Sunday 9 November 2008

Stampin' Up! Promotions for November

There are some exciting promotions and specials this month that start on Monday the 10th of November and run through until the 30th of November. Firstly you will be able to purchase single Stampin’ Write™ markers for only $4.95. This is fantastic news; Demonstrator’s all over Australia have been hounding the Stampin’ Up! head office to get individual markers like they have in the US. Well they have finally taken notice. Stampin’ Up!’s® versatile, dual-tip markers have never been offered individually before, so be sure to take advantage of this special, limited-time offer. Use this opportunity to replace your favourite colours or to get colours that you need for specific projects without having to get the whole colour family. For the list of colours and their item codes follow this link; http://www3.stampinup.com/au/ena/6186.asp.

Secondly, Stampin’ Up! is still celebrating it’s 20th year with a Rub-On’s Promotion. Spend $20 on regular catalogue merchandise and qualify to purchase any Rub-On’s assortment at 20% off ($15.96 per package; regularly $19.95):
110285 - p141 Urban West Rub-Ons
110281 - p141 Cherished Memories Rub-Ons
110282 - p141 Anchored Rub-Ons
110284 - p6* Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
111277 - p11* A Perfect Day Rub-Ons
*From Spring 2008 Mini Catalogue
It is the perfect time to try out these fantastic Rub-On’s that can be used on cards, scrapbook pages, crafting projects, and more! You can even use them on glass and ribbon.

I would also like to remind you that the Spring Mini will be coming to an end on November 30th so if there are things that you still need to get from it now is the time to do so.
One positive to the Spring Mini Catalogue ending is that means we are drawing ever closer to the start of the new Summer Mini Catalogue!!!!!!
If you want to get a copy of this amazing Summer Mini Catalogue be sure to email me at digitalfox1975@hotmail.com and I will send one out to you. I have put in an order for them so that I will have them ready for December 1st. I will have lots of samples for you to see so watch this space in the coming weeks.

Card Catch Up

Here are some of the cards I have made lately. This first one was for my niece who turned 6 in October. I have used the Summer Picnic DSP and the Tart and Tangy stamp set from the Spring Mini that will be ending at the end of November. The ribbon is Real Red Striped Grosgrain and I used my Old Olive and Real Red Markers to colour the strawberry image. The idea for this card came from this tutorial by Dawn at Dawns Stamping Thoughts This card was for my friends son. The colours are Really Rust, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip. The Lion is from "Wild About You" and has been coloured with markers and stamped on glossy cardstock and punched out with the scallop circle punch and then mounted on another scallop circle. The chocolate chip layer has been crimped using the crimper. The DSP I have used is Spring Showers.
This last card uses Summer Picnic DSP (If you like this you will need to order it this month because it will soon retire when the spring mini ends Nov 30). The ribbon is Real Red Striped Grosgrain and I used my Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red Markers to colour the image from "Boho Backgrounds" and the sentiment. (You will be able to order single SU markers from Nov 10th till Nov 30th). I have made a custom envelope using whisper white CS and stamped it to match the card.
Well I hope you like these cards. I have heaps more to show you, I just have to get the time to write them all up.
I have a new little feature on the right hand side of my blog where you can follow my blog. So click on the link so I am able to see who is reading my ramblings. It will let you know when I have put up a new post.
Well bye for now. I am going back to playing with all my pre-order goodies from the new Summer Mini catalogue that starts December 1st, (I loved it so much I ordered one of everything except 3 things.....oops lucky my husband doesn't follow my blog).

Wednesday 5 November 2008

My Son is 4!

It was my son's 4th Birthday today so I thought I would show you the card I made. I used some non SU items on this card because he is a mad Spiderman fan. I made the wall using Brilliant Blue CS that was scored to look like bricks with my Cutter and scoring blade and then sponged on some Brilliant Blue ink and Basic black ink with my sponge daubers. The "Happy Birthday to You!" is from the SU Rub-Ons pack "A Perfect Day" and I have to say they are the easiest Rub-Ons I have ever used. Keep a look out for a fantastic Rub-On Special coming soon. I have used Basic Black CS for the road and the card base is Real Red. His name has been written with my Basic Black Marker.

We wrapped his present in brown paper and my husband drew a cool web on the top and I made a cute little spider out of SU punches. I saw this idea on this blog here by Jenni Oliver. I changed it slightly because I wanted my spider to have 8 legs. It uses the scallop circle, photo corner, 1/2 inch circle and the 1/4 inch circle punches. I used two black scallop circles and attached the legs in between them so they wouldn't fall off.

I have been making so many cards in the last couple of weeks but haven't put them on my blog so hopefully over the next few days I will be posting them on here, so stay tuned.