Sunday 30 September 2012

Mojo Monday #260

The challenge this week at Mojo Monday is based on the following sketch:


I have decided to make a square card for this challenge using the stamp sets "Stippled Blossoms", "Papillon Potpourri" and "Petite Pairs" with a colour scheme of Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Whisper White and a touch of Old Olive in the leaves of the flowers.  



The Paper Players #112 - Mini Bag

I am a bit behind with catching up with my blog this last week.   I finally got around to checking out my entry in The Paper Players #112 Challenge and was excited to find out I was one of the challenge winners.



Tuesday 25 September 2012

Nature's Pace

It is the monochromatic challenge at Dynamic Duos this week.  The colours in the challege are Always Artichoke and Certainly Celery.  Only the two colours, otherwise known as "The Dynamic Duo", may be used.  Neutrals such as black, white, vanilla, skin colours and kraft are also welcome. 


I must admit to having some difficulty with this challenge. 

The stamp sets used are Nature's Pace, En Francais and Teeny Tiny Sentiments.  I have coloured the image with Always Artichoke on the leaves and Certainly Celery on the grapes.  



Sunday 23 September 2012

MOJO Monday #259

The post this week at Mojo Monday is based on the following sketch:


The stamp sets used on this card are Stippled Blossoms, Papillon Potpourri and Teeny Tiny Sentiments with a colour scheme of Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Early Espresso and Old Olive.

Monday 17 September 2012

Stippled Blossoms

The inspiration for this card is from a card made by Suzanne Kohler.  I loved the sketch of the card, so I just put the Stampin' Up touch to it.


The stamp sets used are "Stippled Blossom" and "Petite Pairs" with a colour scheme of Whisper White, Primrose Petals, Old Olive and Crumb Cake.

The "Stippled Blossoms" stamp set is a two step stamp set.  Ink up the base stamp with Primrose Petals and off stamp before stamping on the Whisper White cardstock, next ink up the overlay stamp with Primrose Petals and stamp over the top of the base stamp.  It gives the beautiful finish of the two tones in the blossom.  The same is done for the leaves using Old Olive. Cut out all the pieces and put to one side.

Create a card base 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" Whisper White, 5 3/8" 5 3/8" Primrose Petals mat, 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" Whisper White mat which has been embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Build up the base card and the mats.

Cut a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock 5 1/4" x 1 3/8".  Put one end in the Decorative Labels Punch to give the scalloped edge, cut a slit in this piece about 1/4" in from end to thread the ribbon through.  Stamp the small stippled flower from the set with Versmark Ink over this piece.  Cut a piece of Crumb Cake DSP from the Neutrals Designer Paper Stack 4 3/4" by 5/8".   Stick the DSP to the Crumb Cake cardstock piece.  Cut a 6 " piece of Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon and thread through the slit and across the DSP, stick down on back of the card piece.  Put to one side for the moment.

Cut a piece of Crumb Cake DSP 4 1/4" x 5" and create the scallop edge on the bottom using the Large Scallop Edgelits.  Adhere this to the base card and mats.

Using Whisper White and the Paper Doily Sizzlits cut out a doily.  Stick this to the Crumb Cake DSP piece.

Stick the Crumb Cake cardstock/ribbon piece down across the card just above the scalloped edge but covering the bottom of the doily.  You may need to trim the bottom of the doily so it does not show at the bottom.  Create a ribbon bow using the Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon and stick down with glue dots over the slit where the ribbon was threaded through.  Add 3 rhinestones to the ribbon near the bow.

Arrange the Stippled Blossom flowers and leaves until you are happy with the look and stick down.

Create a sentiment by punching out a Crumb Cake circle using the 1 3/8" circle punch, stamping the sentiment on a piece of Whisper White in Primrose Petals ink and punching out with the 1 1/4" circle punch.  Mat these, attach rhinestones just under the sentiment and adhere with dimensionals.



Saturday 15 September 2012

Dynamic Duos - Honourable Mention

I received an Honourable Mention this week at Dynamic Duos for my "Get Well Kit" entry in the colour challenge of Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke.  I had fun making this little get well pressie and I am very excited to have received an Honourable Mention.




Thursday 13 September 2012

Simply Stampin' Challenge - Rustic Ute

The challenge this week at Simply Stampin' Challenge is based on the following sketch:


I was very excited when I got home from work today as I had received a parcel from Stampin' Up.  Naturally I had to have a play.

The rustic ute is from the stamp set "Countryside" which I have coloured with coloured pencils.


 

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Christmas Wrapper Box

I found this tutorial in a recent magazine on how to make this Christmas Wrapper box which is perfect for a small gift or some yummies for the tummy.

Naturally I had to try to make one Stampin' Up style.  I have used the Scentsational Season stamp set and the Holiday Collection Framelits Dies.  DSP is Be of Good Cheer and cardstock is Very Vanilla, ribbon is Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding.

I the instructions on how I made it at the end of this post.



How I Made It

Start with a 12" x 12" piece of cardstock.

Score the cardstock at 2 1/2", 5", 7 1/2" and 10".

Fold the cardstock concertina style (valley fold, mountain fold, valley fold etc)

Measure in 1/2" from each end on both sides and put a small pencil mark.  Measure 2 1/2" from this point.  Find the centre of the 2 1/2" measurement at 1 1/4" again put a small pencil mark.  Measure towards the centre 1" and put a small pencil mark.  Draw a triangle (See diagram 1 for an example of the measurements)

 Diagram 1


Cut the triangle out, cutting through all layers.  This forms the diamond shape on the end of the wrapper.  See Diagram 2.

Diagram 2


Cut a piece of DSP 12" x 5 3/4" and adhere to the centre of the cardstock piece.  It should look like Diagram 3.  At this stage you can ink the edges if you wish.

Diagram 3



Join the sides together to form a box.  See Diagram 4.

Diagram 4


Tye ribbon around the end pieces, this pulls the ends together to.  Finally you can decorate the box.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

The Paper Players #PP112 - Mini Bag

I found a great tutorial by Silvey Shim on how to make a mini bag using a 11" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock.

I have adapted the measurements to use an A4 piece of cardstock with measurements of 11" x 8 1/4".  I followed Silvey's tutorial on how to fold the basic mini bag.  I have given the measurements that I used and details on how I decorated my mini bag at the end of this post.

The challenge this week at  The Paper Players  is to create a paper project using the colours of Basic Gray, Baja Breeze and Basic Black.  My first thought as usual was to make a card, but then I wanted to try to make the mini bag, so here it is.



Bag closed.


Bag open, showing the inside of the handles.
Measurements for basic mini bag

11" x 8 1/4" piece of Basic Black cardstock
Score on the 11" edge at 3/4", 4 1/2", 6 1/2" and 10 1/4".
Score on the 8 1/4" edge at 1 7/8" and 6 3/8"

Follow Silvey's tutorial on how to fold and put the mini bag together.

Embellishments

Base Mat and DSP

4 1/4" x 3 1/2" Basic Gray cardstock - 2 pieces (one for each side)
4 1/8" x 3 3/8" Basic Gray Strip DSP from Neutrals Designer Sieries Paper Stack - 2 pieces

Adhere to sides of mini bag.

Centre Piece on Base Mat and DSP

3 5/8" x 2 1/8" Basic Gray cardstock
3 1/2" x 2" Basic Black cardstock - this is embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

Adhere to base mat and DSP.

Top of Purse

4 1/2" x 1 1/2" Baja Breeze cardstock - 2 pieces, scored at 3/4", border punch with Scallop Trim Border Punch and emboss with Pefect Polka Dots embossing folder.  Fold on score line and adhere to top of purse sides.

Handles

8 1/2" x 3/4" Basic Black cardstock - 2 pieces

Measure in 1/2" from purse top sides to position the outside edge of the purse handle.  Adhere to the inside of the top of the purse with sticky strip, making sure that the handles are the same length.  I lined mine up with the bottom edge of the piece of Baja Breeze.   For extra strength I put a brad through each of the handles as well.  The brads are hidden on the inside by flowers made using the Floral Fusions Die.  The brads on the outside of the purse are hidden by Basic Gray buttons from the Neutrals Designer Buttons, a piece of Linen Thread is threaded though the buttons before adhering down.

Ribbon

Cut 2 pieces of Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon 9 3/4".  Adhere this to the top of the bag just under the top fold and the Baja Breeze top piece.  Make a ribbon bow and adhere using a glue dot.  Make sure that the ribbon join is at the front in the middle as the bow hides the join.

Flowers

The flowers are made using the Floral Fusions Sizzlits die, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray cardstock and the four petal punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and Basic Black cardstock and Basic Jewel Rhinestones.

You need to make six flowers for the outside of the mini bag and four flowers for the inside handles.  I did not put rhinestones on the inside handle flowers.

To finish

To close the mini bag I have used a black velcro dot.

Sunday 9 September 2012

Get Well Kit

I found a picture in a recent magazine for a "Get Well Kit".  I really liked the concept but alas there were no instructions, so I have spent the afternoon measuring and cutting to make this "Get Well Kit" Stampin' Up style.  I put the measurements on the bottom of this post so I hope you can understand my scratchings on how I made it.

I have made it to enter into the challenge this week at Dynamic Duos using the colours of Cajun Craze and Always Artichoke.



Front of Kit


Inside of Kit

Measurements for Kit

Main Cover

4 1/2" x 10" Cardstock, score at 4 1/2" and 5 1/2"
Punch edges with border punch of choice
4 1/8" x 4 5/8" Cardstock
4" x 4 1/2" DSP
Other decorations and embellishments of your choice

Inside Covers

4 3/8" x 3 7/8" Cardstock x 2 pieces (for left and right inside covers)
4 1/4" x 3 3/4" DSP x 2 pieces
4 3/8" x 7/8" Cardstock (for inside spine cover)
4 1/4" x 3/4" DSP

Tissue Holder

2" x 5" Cardstock, scored at 3/8", 1 3/8", 3 5/8" and 4 5/8"
1 3/4" x 5" DSP

Lozenge Holder

1 3/8" x 3 1/8" Cardstock, scored at 3/8", 1 1/8", 2" and 2 3/4"
1 1/8" x 3 1/8 DSP

Lip Balm Holder

3/4" x 2 1/2" Cardstock
1/2" x 2 1/2" DSP

Curve with bone folder as this piece needs to wrap around the Lip Balm.

Tea Bag Holder

3 3/4" x 2" Cardstock
3 1/2" x 1 3/4" DSP

When adhering this piece only put sticky strip on three sides as you need the top open to slip the tea bag into.

To Put Together

Adhere the cardstock and DSP to front cover.  Decorate and embellish as desired.

Adhere the cardstock and DSP to the inside covers and inside spine.

Wrap Lip Balm Holder around Lip Balm and stick together.  Adhere to middle panel in the kit.

Adhere Lozenge Holder 3/4" in from right hand side of DSP on the left inside cover.  This is to allow room for the Lip Balm to sit when the cover is closed.  It is best to check before adhering this piece down to make sure that it will all fit.  To do this close the cover when the Lip Balm has been stuck down to check the measurement that you will need to allow.

Adhere Tissue Holder 1/8" in from left hand side of DSP on the left inside cover, making sure that this piece is centred and the tissues fit inside.

Adhere Tea Bag Holder to bottom of right inside cover, decorate as desired and slip in the tea bag.

Saturday 8 September 2012

JAI#134 - Just Add - Polka Dots

The challenge this week at Just Add Ink is to Just Add Polka Dots.

For this card I got out my fav stamp set for this week "Clockworks".  Still on the vintage theme as well, using a colour scheme of Primrose Petals, Crumb Cake and Naturals Ivory. 



Wednesday 5 September 2012

Distressed News Print Technique

I seem to be on a vintage theme this week.  I tried a technique I found on Youtube, Distressed News Print, on these two cards.  I started with a piece of "First Edition Specialty" DSP and sponged it with Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake and Soft Suede.  I got a bit carried away with my sponging and the piece ended up a little darker than I would have liked, but it still worked okay on a vintage style card.

Stamp sets used are "Established Elegance" and "Petite Pairs" with a colour scheme of Soft Suede, Blushing Bride, Naturals Ivory and Crumb Cake.





Tuesday 4 September 2012

Clockworks Trio

At the recent Perth Heartfelt Stampin' Event we received a free stamp set "Clockworks".  When I saw this in our Annual Catalogue I was very excited, oh the possibilities. I was even more excited when I found out that it was the free stamp set that we would be receiving at the Stampin' Event.

I have made a trio of vintage cards using the colour scheme of Midnight Muse, Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso.


The first card I made to enter into the Mojo Monday Challenge #257 based on the following sketch (I just love this sketch):


I have used the new Comfort Cafe DSP and the Neutrals DSP Stack for this card. 


Peak of the inside of the card.


The second card I made using the stamp set "En Francais" as a background stamp, this is my favourite go to stamp set for background stamping.  I added some bakers twine which I inked with the Early Espresso to tone it into the same shades as the card.

This card has been featured on My Crafty Picks here.



Peak of the inside of the card.


The third card was made by stamping on Naturals Ivory in Crumb Cake, Early Espresso and Midnight Muse and then inking with Crumb Cake over the piece and then Early Espresso around the edges.  I used the Bitty Banners Framelits for the sentiment.



Sunday 2 September 2012

Summer Afternoon

As you can tell I have had a day of playing with my new gadgets and goodies from the new Holiday Catalogue and Annual Catalogue.

One of my new gadgets is the Paper-Piercing Pack that co-ordinates with the Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies, Holiday Ornaments Framelits Dies and Labels Collection Framelits Dies.   It is perfect for creating the pierced edge around the frame.

Stamp set is the "Summer Afternoon" which is one of the Hostess stamps sets in the new Annual Catalogue.  I have coloured the image using the Blender Pen and the Classic Stampin' Pads.  DSP is the new Comfort Cafe with Soft Suede and Cajun Craze cardstock, Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon and Designer Ribbon Slides.


Illuminate Glimmer Watermark Stampin' Pad

I have been playing with the new Iluminate Glimmer Watermark Stampin' Pad that is in the new Holiday Catalogue.  I just love the finish of the ink on the Midnight Muse cardstock.

I have used the Fabulous Florets stamp set, Comfort Cafe DSP, Naturals Ivory and Midnight Muse cardstock.  From my playing I found that the Illuminate Ink looks better on the darker cardstock and with a more solid stamp image.  This is just my preference and what I like the look of but I suppose it depends upon the effect that you are trying to achieve.




Dazzlin' Lights

Charmaine Black demonstrated her fabulous technique "Dazzlin' Lights" at the recent Perth Heartfelt Stampin' Event.  The "WOW" sample card that Charmaine displayed on the day can be found on her blog here.  All I can say is "WOW" and a big thank you to Charmaine on sharing her creativity.

I found the trick to this techique is patience.  You know that little saying

"Have patience if you can
Seldom in a woman
Never in a man"

Well take it from me you need to allow at least 4 days for it to dry, the pink card I made after 4 days and it was not quite dry and the finish on the petals became distorted. The blue card I made after 6 days and the finish was better.  Ask me how I know, impatience and I ruined the first piece I cut up as it was not dry.

Here are my cards I made using the "Dazzling Lights" technique.

The first card used the colours of Pretty In Pink and Sahara Sand in the technique, Fabulous Florets stamp set, Primrose Petals, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla cardstock and Comfort Cafe DSP.



The second card used the colours of Pretty In Pink and Marina Mist in the technique, Fabulous Florets stamp set, Midnight Muse, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla cardstock and Comfort Cafe DSP.