Clean & Simple Thank You Card

 

For inspiration, I used this card from Pinterest which has been pinned many times from my board!

 

Scrapbooking Sale-A-Bration Style

This is the only scrapbook page which I managed to complete in the school holidays.  Am loving the new FREE Designer Series Paper called Sweet Sorbet, that hint of Basic Black just makes it pop!

Stamps: One of a Kind, Remember This and That Rotary Stamp
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Basic Black, Sweet Sorbet DSP
Ink: Soft Suede, Pool Party
Accessories, Big Shot, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Expressions Thinlits Dies, Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Sponge Dauber, Basic Rhinestones, Word Window Punch

Another Stampin' Up! Christmas Tree!

This was my second entry in the Paeroa Christmas Tree Competition.  It sits on a round base made with chipboard and Very Vanilla cardstock, heat-embossed with Baroque Motifs in gold.

I started making rosettes using the Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die, starting with 12" strips 6" wide, and decreased these by 1/4" each layer down to 1/2" wide.

The end of each strip of rosette was scrunched up with versamark ink applied directly from the bottle, then dipped in gold embossing powder and heated.  This was quite time-consuming but very effective!

4 strips of cardstock or DSP were needed to made a whole rosette for the wider layers at the bottom which was decreased to 2-3 layers as I got closer to the top.  I used Tombow (which glue like PVA) to join strips together.

The trusty glue-gun was my adhesive of choice, both for holding rosettes together in the middle, then for attaching layers together.  It was such a strong adhesive that the hole "tree" could be turned upsidedown when finished!

The retired Elegant Bird die became the dove on the top of the tree.  I cut 3 circles with my 1 1/4" punch to attach bird to tree.

Last touches were made with a snowflake punch and glimmer paper.  The whole tree took about 1 day to make and sits about 40cm tall.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Old Olive, Newsprint/First Edition DSP, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: Big Shot, Designer Rosette Bigz XL Die, Elegant Bird Die, Chipboard, Snowflake Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Sympathy Card for a Friend

My dear friend Tina lost her Mum recently so I made this card for her.  She just loved the card and wanted to know all about how I made it as she is getting into cardmaking more and more.  I cased this card on Pinterest for inspiration.

Stamps: Sassy Salutations, God's Blessings, Creative Elements
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Crisp Cantaloupe
Ink: Soft Suede, Crisp Cantaloupe
Accessories: Big Shot, Lattice Bigz Die, Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Boho Blossoms Punch, Spritzer Tool, Basic Pearls

Just Add Ink Scrapbooking Challenge #22 - Sketch

Just in time again for the monthly JAI Scrapbooking Challenge with only a few hours to spare!  I flipped over and mirrored the sketch so that my tractor photo was facing towards the middle of the page instead of off it.  :)

This was a fun layout using the only Designer Series Paper I had left that had some red (Poppy Parade) in it.  The title was make using My Digital Studio which was fast and easy with the exact colours I needed.

Stamps: I Dig You, Gorgeous Grunge (Background)
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Everyday Enchantment DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake (Spritzer), Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Large & Small Star Punches, Sponge Dauber, Very Vanilla Ribbon, Spritzing Tool, My Digital Studio

In-Colour Scrapbooking

The five new in-colours that were introduced this year have such yummy colourful names; Baked Brown Sugar, Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Coastal Cabana!

I have used three of them on this double layout along with their slightly darker, corresponding colours which are in the current Stampin' Up! colour families.

Stamps: Lovely Letters Alphabet, The Great Outdoors
Cardstock: Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cataloupe, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Calypso Coral, Bermuda Bay
Accessories: Big Shot, Scribbles Swirls Sizzlit Die, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die, Scallop Square Punch, 1 1/4" Square Punch, Toothpicks

Hubby's 40th - Card & Cake

 My hubby turned 40 recently and asked for a guitar for his birthday as he had always wanted to learn one.  We found a lovely blue left-handed one so I knew I had to make a card to match!  I used the beautiful card here for my inspiration.  I used a needle and thread to make the strings, and the black patch next to the "hole" is the wing from the XL Bird Punch.

Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners, Patterned Party, Woodgrain
Cardstock: Basic Black, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Pacific Point, Gold Glimmer Paper
Ink: Basic Black, Soft Suede
Accessories: Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Bitty Banners Framelits, 1" Circle Punch, Slit Punch, XL Bird Punch, Sponge Dauber, Gold Brads, Needle & Thread

Just wanted to share too, here's the cake I made for him to match his guitar as well.

 

I got my inspiration from here for this project.  Of course the cake was a hit too!

JAI Scrap #19: Monochromatic Challenge

Now I have to say, I do struggle with monochromatic layouts, although I did manage to make good use of my latest stamp sets of Six-Sided Sampler and Creative Elements again.

Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler, Creative Elements
Cardstock: Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky, Pool Party, Island Indigo
Accessories: Big Shot,  Simple Letters Alphabet Bigz Dies, Paper Doily Sizzlit Die, Hexagon Punch, Stampin' Spritzer, Sprintzer Tool, Sponge Dauber

Hexagon Layout

 

Hexagons would have to be one of the most "in" shapes at the moment.  I was so pleased that Stampin' Up! was bringing out a hexagon punch, along with matching stamp set, it was the first thing I put on my wishlist!

Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, Pool Party
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy, Pool Party
Accessories: Hexagon Punch, Word Window Punch, Big Shot, Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlit Dies

Lego Layout

Here's me loving rainbows AGAIN!  I can't take any credit for this cool layout though, see here for the original.  It just seemed to go really well with lego!

Stamps: Word Play
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black ink & marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Simple Letters Alphabet Bigz Dies, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Brights Buttons

Who Doesn't Like Rainbows?

No one I hope!

This double layout is pretty much a straight case from this layout and it was perfect to showcase the last litter of puppies my springer had last June.

 

 

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Chipboard, Big Shot, Blossom Party, Boho Blossoms Punch, Black Stampin' Write Marker

JAI Scrap #17 Challenge

The JAI Scrap Challenge Team has asked us to use this photo as our inspiration:

And here's my take on it:

I just happened to have some photos ready to scrap that matched the colours of the inspiration photo perfectly!

Cardstock: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Pink Pirouette, Lucky Limeade, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: White Craft, Silver Marker
Accessories: Big Shot, Blossom Party Originals Die, Little Leaves Sizzlits Die, Timeless Type Alphabet Dies, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch

A Cloudy Pinwheel Card

A friend of mine turned 50 recently so it was time to have a play with some new product and make her a pretty card!

 The new pinwheel die is a little fiddly to start with but gets easier the more you do.  It's only $10.95 which is a fantastic price too!

I'm currently working on a double scrapbook layout with the same products so will share that soon.  Inspiration for this card came from here.  The Designer Series Paper and ribbon are from the Sale-a-bration catalogue so are only available until 22 March so get your orders in quick!

Stamps: Patterned Party, Word Play
Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Sycamore Street DSP
Ink: Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Tangerine Tango.
Accessories: Sycamore Street Ribbon, Big Shot, Cloudy Day Embossing Folder, Pinwheel Sizzlits S Die, Lots of Tags Sizzlits, Curly Label Punch, Silver Brads

JAI Challenge 151 - Shaped Card

 I've seen a few piano cards on Pinterest and decided to have a go at a Piano Easel Card with Music Notes under the 'hood'.

Once I had cut out the right grand piano shape, it was really easy making the 'keys' with the Word Window punch.

Stamps: Music Notes Wheel
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Garden Green DSP
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Word Window/Boho Blossoms/Bird Builder Punches, Silver Brads

First Ballet Lesson Scrapbook Layout

 

I did this layout last year but never got around to sharing it!

I gained my inspiration from this gorgeous layout from Arlene Mantle.

 

Stamps: Word Play, French Foliage
Cardstock: Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Pink Pirouette, Sahara Sand
Ink: Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Big Shot, Designer Frames Embossing Folders Set, Lace Punch, Word Window Punch, Scallop Trim Corner/Border Punches, Pink Ribbon

Doily Birthday Card

Our Minister at Church recently had a "significant" birthday so I had to make a pretty card for her!

I've kept the colours the same as the original I found on Pinterest but added in the "60" of course.

Stamps: Word Play, Sincere Salutations
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Accessories: Big Shot, Paper Doily Sizzlits Die, Simple Numbers Bigz Dies, Little Leaves Sizzlit Die, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folders, Boho Blossoms Punch, Rhinestone Brad, Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details

Teacher Gifts

The kids have started back at school today and I'm enjoying the day with only Mr 2 at home, and having a tidy house again!

For the teacher's gifts last year I decided to recycle two lovely shaped coffee packet boxes into works of art, from this:

 To this:

 I filled them up with Cadbury favourites chocolates, yum!

My Christmas Cards!

These little babies have recently been sent out to my nearest and dearest so I hope that they enjoy them because they were a labour of love!

I have a "thing" for the Pool Party colour and knew I wanted to use the new tulle ribbon, champagne glimmer paper and Heart of Christmas stamp so the design just grew from there.

I'm still not sure if I like the Early Espresso or Crumb Cake tulle better ...

... or the background trees stamped in Crumb Cake spritzed with Pool Party or stamped in Pool Party spritzed with Crumb Cake - these are difficult choices!

I have to show you the difference that the new Stampin' Spritzer tool makes too.  It's definately different to the Color Spritzer Tool which attaches to a marker.  The new tool actually holds water and a few drops of whatever coloured ink you like (in this case Early Espresso) then sprays it on!  How cool is that?  Better yet, it's only $NZ5.95 for 2!

 

While I was playing with designs I had my first go at a step card which I thought I'd share too:

Stamps: Heart of Christmas, Lovely As A Tree, Woodgrain Background, God's Blessings
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Island Indigo, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits, Jewelry Tag Punch, Sponge Daubers, Color Spritzer Tool, Stampin' Spritzer, Pearl Basic Jewels, Linen Thread, Crumb Cake/Early Espresso 3 1/2" Scalloped Tulle Ribbon