My new Colour Chart

Over the weekend while I was staying with my sister, we decided to make a colour chart showing all the colours available in the Stampin' Up range.  This was one of the many ideas we picked up while we were at the Stampin' Up convention in Melbourne.

We used a "Foldout Scrapbook Page" design and then punched out samples of each of the colours in the Stampin' Up colour families - Subtles, Regals, Brights & Neutrals.  On the front cover we displayed the current "In" colours which will still be with us for another 12 months.  We have left room for the 5 new "In" colours which will be launched with the new catalogue in August.

It is an easy way to see exactly what all the cardstock looks like and works well with the Colour Coach which provides ideas for mixing and matching the various colours. 

Stamping with bleach

Last weekend I visited my sister, Denise and her family on the Central Coast. 

While I was there we spent a lot of time playing with our cardmaking gear.  One of the techniques I wanted to learn about was using bleach to change the colour of cardstock.

Denise showed me how to use an aqua painter filled with bleach to paint over parts of a stamp.  First you stamp and emboss the image and then you just paint over the parts you want to change.  In this card I used the leaf from the stamp set Lovely As a Tree.  I embossed with black embossing powder on Bravo Burgundy cardstock and then painted randomly.

I love the effect and will have to try this method with other stamp sets.

Denise's birthday card

Last week was my sister, Denise's birthday so that called for a card!!!!

I decided that I would base the card around a stamp set she loves but had never bought, Fifth Ave Floral.  Now there was an idea for a gift.  Once I got the card design sorted I needed some DS paper so gift idea number 2 came about - Elegant Soiree DS paper (she really wanted that too but hadn't bought for herself).

The card is a tri-fold design which was inspired by a design made by Christie Wallace.  I used Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla and Basic Grey cardstock and the same stamp pads.  The large rose on the first fold was embossed and raised to sit over the background images.

The gift and card were delivered on the weekend and were gladly received.

JULY STAMP-A-STACK - HIS & HERS

Our Stamp-a-Stack (SAS) for July will be held on Saturday 9 July from 2.00 pm -5.00 pm. 

The theme for our 8 cards will be "His & Hers".  We will be making 4 cards for HIM using the Motorcycle stamp and 4 cards for HER using the Eat Chocolate stamp set.  Both the Motorcycle stamp and the Eat Chocolate stamp set are available until the end of July in the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue.

If you are interested in joining me to do this workshop please contact me either by phone or email to book you seat.  Cost $20.00 (cash) which includes the makings for 8 cards with matching envelopes.

Artistic Etchings - a reminder of Paris

I just love using this stamp set because it brings back fond memories of time spent in Paris.  I have CASed this card from an unknown Stampin' Up card maker here in Canberra.  A friend of mine bought a very similar card to this one at a local fete and I couldn't resist using the ideas.

I have used cardstock in Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler.  The background is embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and I have used a small piece of DS paper from the Newsprint collection.  Of course the stamp set is Artistic Etchings.

So many elegant designs can be created from this stamp set, definitely one of my favourites.

June Stamp Club

At our next Stamp Club gathering on Saturday 4 June at 2.00 pm we will be looking at a variety of ways to use the Big Shot.  The Big Shot is a tool that can emboss, cut and score cardstock, window sheets, fabric, chipboard and more.

We will be make 3 different projects shown here using different techniques and tools to create various effects to enhance our card making.

The first is a card using embossed vellum.  The vellum is placed in the "Vintage Wallpaper" embossing folder and run through the Big Shot to give a raised and embossed image on the vellum overlay.



The second project is a note card and envelope.   The envelope is cut and scored using the "Scallop Envelope" cutting die.




The third project is another card that has combined the use of the "Top Note" cutting die, the "Perfect Polka Dot" embossing folder and the "Beautiful Wings" embosslits cutting die which cuts and embosses at the same time.


Although this workshop is for my regular Stamp Club girls, if you are interested in finding out more about the Big Shot and it many uses please contact me and we can arrange another time for a repeat of this workshop for those who are interested.

Convention - Make & Takes

One of the sessions at the Stampin' Up Convention gave us time to play with some new stamp sets we were given as part of our Convention pack.  The new stamp sets are called "Creative Elements" and "It's Your Day" and will be available in the new catalogue due out later this year.

The first card is a simple elongated card that uses the "Small Open-End Envelopes", an item I have decided I must have.  The butterfly on the card has been stamped using 3 different markers, a technique I hadn't tried before but one I will be using regularly from now on.

The second card uses a combination of cardstock that has been "distressed", a new style of ribbon that will become available with the new catalogue and has a touch of Shimmer Paint brushed over the stamped image.

The third item is a small scrapbooking page using various stamps from the "Creative Elements" set and shows a photo of my sister, Denise and my niece, Olivia all dressed up to go off to a wedding last month.

It was great having some time to play with our new stamps and sit and learn some different techniques at the same time.

My first "Bonnie Box"

You will be pleased to know that I have returned from Melbourne and my first Stampin' Up Convention full of great new ideas to try and share.

The first of these is, what I have christened, the "Bonnie Box".  A Stampin' Up demonstrator from the US, Bonnie Thurber showed us this as a part of one of her demonstrations.  She showed us many other great creations (including a fascinator fit for a royal wedding) and her presentation had us all laughing so much that it was hard to remember everything she showed us.

This box is made using the Big Shot and the scallop envelope die.  You cut 4 little envelopes and then stick them together using Sticky Strip.  I have made this model in Baja Breeze with some Elegant Soiree Designer Series paper for trim.  It is the perfect size to hold a cupcake or could be used to hold any number of other small gifts.

If you are interested in learning how to use the Big Shot to create cards and boxes just contact me and I will put together a workshop for you.

As I create more of the samples and ideas from Convention I will post them here.  I have over 50 swaps from other demonstrators with so many great ideas I am sure it will take me all year to share them with you.

Vintage Vogue wallpaper

I have cased this card from Melinda Rowe.  It is another patchwork style card with a wallpaper background made with stamps from the Vintage Vogue stamp set.

The colour theme is Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler and So Saffron.  This is a great layout and can be used for all kinds of cards.

If you are interested in other patchwork designs my next Stamp-A-Stack on May 21 features a set of 4 designs using various patchwork layouts.  There are still a couple of places available so contact me if you are interested in joining that workshop.

Printed Petals with Shimmer

This weekend I have been playing with the Stampin' Up Shimmer Paints.  They really give a "wow" factor to the cards. 

Here is one of the cards I made - really simple design but the Shimmer Paint in Frost White just gives it that bit of zing!!!!!

Stamp set - Printed Petals
Colours - Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant with Concord Crush ribbon.