Surf's Up for Christmas!

Oh, how good it is to have time to play with my stamp sets! I love having them but it really is a waste of money if they just sit on the shelf - even if they do look pretty.

Last night I had a night to myself so I played with one of the new Christmas sets in the Spring 09 Mini Catalogue - Season's Surfin'. I just had to buy this set - I love the images - they are perfect for watercolouring. The first card is very non-traditional Christmas colours - Real Red and Brilliant Blue. I didn't set out to use these colours, they just came out of my watercolouring. I stamped the image on watercolour paper using Black Staz-On ink. I coloured the images using an Aquapainter and Watercolour Wonder crayons. The line of gold brads along the bottom was inspired by the yellow Christmas lights around the jet-ski.

This palm tree Christmas tree is just so cute! I coloured it very simply with Gorgeous Green leaves and Close to Cocoa trunk (Aquapainter and Watercolour Wonder crayons as above). I decided this one should be more traditional colours so the base is Gorgeous Green and the images are mounted on Real Red. I just had to put the greeting on an angle - it didn't look right straight!


I hope that this inspires you to get a start on your Christmas cards too. It is never too early, you know.

PS Sorry about the fuzzy photos - I couldn't get them any clearer than this.

Technique Class

I ran a techniques' class last Sunday afternoon. We made the following cards:

This one was requested by one of attendees. She wanted to learn how to fold the Origami Shirt. This is a great male card - whether for a birthday as I have made it or for Father's Day. I took the colour scheme from the DSP (Washington pack) - Bashful Blue, So Saffron and Pumpkin Pie - but I substituted Riding Hood Red for Real Red as I love using the In Colours.

This one uses the Sense of Time stamp set from our Spring Mini Catalogue. I love this set as it really works well for male cards (do you see a theme developing here?). We used the Cracked Glass technique on the clock face to give it a fabulous aged look. Again, the colours came from the DSP (Parisian Breeze Specialty) - Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Kraft. We stamped the clock face on Confetti Cream to accentuate the aged look and I aged it further by sponging Chocolate Chip ink over the Cracked Glass face.

Our bonus card got us started on making Christmas Cards. It is a tri-fold card with a difference. You can get the instructions here. I just love making these cards - they are so much easier than they look. I have kept this one simple using just 2 colours - Riding Hood Red for the card base and the same DSP paired with Kiwi Kiss for the tree image (which is embossed in gold). I have the cardstock cut for a few more of these all ready to go so I think that is what I'll do tomorrow night (I was going to do it tonight but Blogger has been very slow to load my photos).

Sorry I've been away so long

I have been frantically busy at work - bringing work home most nights and sometimes over the weekend too - for the last month but I haven't been totally neglecting my stamping. I ran a workshop a couple of weeks ago and, at the host's request, we played with the Shaving Cream technique. This technique is a lot of fun and produces a great result but it is quite messy so be prepared for some clean up if you try it. Below are the 2 cards we made.

These cards use the background created with the Shaving Cream technique (ink colours Baja Breeze and Pacific Point) and the stamp set - Unchartered Territory. As Father's Day in Australia is this coming Sunday I challenged myself to use the Shaving Cream technique on cards for men. The top card adds texture to the edges of the Pacific Point mats using the distressing tool from the SU Cutter Kit. I used Paper Piecing for the lighthouse and cliff on the second card. I was really pleased with these two cards and so were the ladies at the workshop.

Stamp Camp Creations

I ran a Stamp Camp with a sister SU Demo, Natasha Murray, in June. We each presented 3 projects - a card, a 6"x6" scrapbook page and a 3-d item. Our theme was Paper, Ribbon and Punches. Here are mine (the first 2 are CASE'd from the current SU Idea Book and Catalogue here in Australia):

This card used a technique I had wanted to use for a while - bleaching. The Hippo was black embossed on Kiwi Kiss cardstock and then bleached was applied using a paintbrush. I was thrilled with the effect - the Kiwi Kiss turned to So Saffron. The "balloon" has Dazzlin' Diamonds over the Pumpkin Pie heart for some bling.

On this scrapbook page I managed to use all three of our theme items (DSP, Ribbon and a Punch (Crop-a-dile). The base is Certainly Celery textured cardstock (I love the textured cardstock). I used the Big Bold Birthday set to create the cupcake, using the Stamp-a-ma-jigto make sure everything was correctly aligned. The Crop-a-dile was used to emboss the dots down the right-hand side.

I have been wanting to make one of these Coaster boxes ever since I saw one on the blog of one of my SBS sisters, Karen Rogers. I sourced the coasters through Karen (thanks so much) and used a tutorial from SCS for the instructions. The stamp set is A Rose is A Rose, a 2-step set which I adore. The DSP comes from the Bella Rose pack (another favourite).

For the projects that Natasha contributed go to her blog Natasha's Creations.

I have been playing with the new sets from the Australia/NZ Spring Mini Catalogue so I'll have some more creations to show you soon.

Bye for now.

2 in 1!

I am having so much fun now I am stamping again!

I decided to play along with Janet's Corrosive Challenge this week. It was an inspiration challenge.

This is the inspiration picture. I just love the colours in the clothes and hair of these dolls. However, I was having trouble with a layout so I decided to use Janet's Corrosive Challenge 21 which was a sketch challenge.

This got my mojo going again! And here is the result.

The colours are Elegant Eggplant for the base card, Ballet Blue, Pixie Pink, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink. The image and sentiment are from Crazy for Cupcakes. I really love this card! I hope Janet doesn't mind that I moved the sentiment.

Stay tuned for more creations from a Stamp Camp I helped with in July.

Yes, I'm Still Alive!

Hi everyone!

Yes, I am still alive! No, I didn't catch the swine flu, although we did have 7 days in home quarantine after our return from the USA.

Life has been very hectic since my return, hence I haven't posted until now. In fact, I haven't done much stamping until now.

I have a friend who is having twins in a month or so and I managed to sit down and make her a set of birth announcements last week. However, the batteries in my camera died and I didn't have a spare set so no photo!

I did sit down after dinner tonight and make my own version of the Flower Pot Card that was published in the SCS Weekly Inkling newsletter this week. I'm really happy with it.

The "pot" is Tangerine Tango. The insert is Whisper White on Tangerine Tango. The "flowers" are made using a scallop circle punch with Flower Fusion felt flowers adhered on the top and attached with brads. It really is quite a simple card. This one is on it's way to my sister as a very belated birthday card. I used Curvy Verses for the sentiment inside and Cute & Curly for the tag.

Sorry about being MIA

Hi everyone,

Please accept my apologies for not posting during April (I can't believe it has been a whole month). I have been very busy with work and getting ready for our US holdiay - which begins tonight! I will definitely be off-line for the next 3 weeks but pleased check back at the end of the month when I return - hopefully full of energy and suffering withdrawals after 3 weeks without stamping!

Bye for now.

Mel's Challenge # 13

Mel's Challenge this week is to make a Trifold card, like her sample. It is a triangular trifold card. I first made one these the day I met Mel at a Stamp Camp. Mine is pictured below:

I used one of the new sets from the new catalogue with this card too. I used some retiring colours in this project, just for one last look. The base cardstock is Ruby Red. I layered the inside with Groovy Guava and River Rock (2 of the In Colours that finish up today). The DSP is from the Ginger Blossom pack (also retiring today). The image on the outside was stamped on Watercolour Paper and coloured with a Cameo Coral Stampin' Write marker, blended with an Aquapainter. This was layered the same as the inside piece. The ribbon is the double-stitched grosgrain in Groovy Guava (yes, also finishing up today).

A very cute, different card. I hope you like it.

Nerine's Layout Challenge

I actually had time to make a card for Nerine's Layout Challenge this week. What a great layout!

I have used one of the new sets from the new catalogue. The card base is Mellow Moss. I stamped this image on Watercolour Paper and coloured it using an Aquapainter and Classic Ink pads (Bravo Burgundy and Handsome Hunter). It is layered on a piece of Handsome Hunter which was then torn along one side. The 3 brads are from the Rich Regals pack. The ribbon is Bravo Burgundy wide grosgrain.

This card is now on its way to my Aunt who turns 70 this week. Happy Birthday Aunty Dorothy!

Is it really Christmas already?

Well, no, it's not but Janet's Corrosive Challenge this week is to make a Christmas card with an animal on it. I don't have many Christmas sets which include animals so this was a real challenge for me. I decided to use Crab and Co (retiring in 2 days!) and this is my card:

The base is Real Red, layered with Whisper White and then Real Red again (original heh?). I stamped the images on Whisper White with Black Staz-On and coloured then using a Blender Pen and Stampin' Pastels. I then cut out all the images and mounted them using Stampin' Dimensionals. A very simple card but effective.

Come back and visit tonight for a sneak peak at one of the sets in the new catalogue.

A Small Gift

I made this small gift for a friend of mine. On the left is a little box I covered with a sleeve and on the right is the card to go with the gift.

The gift sleeve is made from Rose Red cardstock with a Regal Rose wide grosgrain ribbon tied around it. The heart is from the Priceless set and is stamped in Rose Red on Blush Blossom textured cardstock. I cut it out and mounted it on Basic Black before using Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere it to the sleeve.

The card is a Whisper White love note. I stamped the swirl from Priceless twice in Rose Red. The heart is as per the gift.

I know my friend really liked this little gift. What do you think?

Corrosive Challenges No 4

This week's challenge theme at Corrosive Challenges was Under the Sea. Not a very easy one for me. I used Ocean Commotion, stamped the angelfish (?) image in Brilliant Blue on Yoyo Yellow. I then stamped the seaweed image in Glorious Green on Bashful Blue. To get the image of the fish facing the other way I inked the stamp then ran my brayer over it to pick up the image and then ran the brayer over the cardstock - an effective way to reverse an image (as long as it fits around the brayer circumference). The base of the card is Brillian Blue, layered with Rose Red. The ribbons are Whisper White grosgrain I dyed Rose Red using a Stampin' Write marker. I have actually layered a sheet of acetate over the Bashful Blue before I added the ribbons to give a fish tank effect (unfortunately, this is not picked up by the camera).

We attended a Fortieth Birthday Party on Saturday for 2 members of my husband's gold club, one of whom is also a friend of our family. We had a great night. Above are the cards I made for the 2 gentlemen in question. The Back Nine is a retired SU set but it is the only golf related set I have so I had to use it. It do love - it colours so well.


This card was for Hank. I really love how easy it is to colour this image.


I had the design for this card in my head all last week so it went together really easily. I just had to stamp 4 golf bags as the recipient (Stu) was turning forty. I made the inside of each card the same :
My husband appreciated both these cards as much as the recipients.

Corrosive Challenges No 3

This was my sample for Janet's latest challenge over at Corrosive Challenges - going green! I tried really hard to make an all green card but it just didn't work for me. Instead, I decided to make these gorgeous little handbags - the idea came to me from Karen Robinson on a card I received in a swap. They are made using various SU punches - aren't they just too cute! If you came to my March techniques class you were lucky enough to learn how to make them too.

The main colour in this card is green - Certainly Celery. The accent colours are Apricot Appeal, Lavendar Lace and Blush Blossom - courteousy of the Colour Coach, of course.

I really enjoy making these little handbags - so great for embellishments on cards or scrapbook pages.

I have just placed my Demonstrator pre-order for the new Idea Book and Catalogue and some of the new products! I'm getting very excited as the launch is only 2 weeks away! I can't wait to get that lovely new catalogue in my hands.

If you would like to get a copy of the new IBC as soon as it is released, all you need to do is register for my April Techniqes Class. We will be playing with stamp sets from the new IBC, along with the new In-Colours, using some "Faux" techniques - faux linen, faux stitching and faux silk. These techniques will add a special touch to all your projects so I'm sure you won't want to miss out. The class is on Sunday 5th April at 1.30pm. The cost is only $20 and includes a copy of the new IBC! What a bargain. Registration is essential so just click on the email link on the right to send me an email if you want to use one of the limited places.

That's it for now. See you next time.

A Journey

Good morning everyone.

I have just 2 quick comments this morning:

1. I have reached my first weightloss goal - to weigh less than 90 kgs. As of this morning my weight is 89.1 kgs. This is the first time I have weighed less than 90 kgs in a lot of years.

2. I am posting early this morning as at 7am I get on a small plane to fly to an Aboriginal Community on the Gulf of Carpentaria. I will be there until Friday afternoon. Please accept my apologies for not posting until next weekend - I know that there is mobile phone covereage and internet access but I can't take a lot of luggage with me on the plane so no stamping equipment can go! :( How will I survive?

When I get home on Friday I know I'll have to stamp so look out for some projects next weekend.

Another box

I just had to make another little box, this time with a matching Thank you card. This box contained a small hand cream as a Thank you gift for the host of a Mary Kay cosmetics class on Sunday.

The box was made using Groovy Guava, Blush Blossom and Cameo Coral cardstock. The stamp is from the Polka Dot Punches from the soon-to-finish Summer Mini Catalogue. I used a Very Vanilla Love Note for the card.

Thanks for visiting. See you next time.

Corrosive Challenges Design Team

I'm part of it! I still have to pinch myself a bit to make sure it is true. Janet, from Niagara Falls, Canada, asked me to be part of the Design Team for a new challenge blog she has started, Corrosive Challenges. The first challenge was loaded yesterday. It is a sketch challenge.

My contribution is below.

I'm not sure why I chose to make it a masculine card except I don't make them very often and I love the set from our Summer Mini, For Father. I stamped the toolbox image using Black Stazon on Watercolour paper and coloured it using and Aquapainter and Watercolour Wonder crayons. It was mounted on So Saffron and then Old Olive. The base card is Bordering Blue, stamped with the Lots of Dots Jumbo Wheel. The sentiment is from Congratluations, stamped in Close to Cocoa on a scrap of Watercolour paper. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. I made the faux brads to be like nails on either side of the sentiment by punching circles of Close to Cocoa cardstock, adhering them in place with a glue pen and covering them with Crystal Effects.

Why don't you go an visit Corrosive Challenges and check out what the rest of team have done.

Brocade Basics Box

I have actually been stamping this week but my creations were for a swap (the time isn't over yet so I can't reveal the card) and a new challenge blog (which is a secret until 1st March) so I thought I had better do something I could show you.

The design of this box is by Michelle, an SU demo in NZ who was part of the Design Team for the latest UStamp. Isn't it cute? The stamp is from the Brocade Basics set. I used Wild Wasabi cardstock and ink, Whisper White cardstock and Close to Cocoa DSP. The ribbon is striped grosgrain in Wild Wasabi. This whole project went together in about 20 minutes. Gotta luv that!

Well, I hope I'll be back with another project tomorrow.

"Thank You" Boxed Set

I attended a wedding last Saturday afternoon. I told the bride that my gift to her and her new husband would be to make her Thank You card. This is what I came up with. The box is based on the one in my previous post - I increased the dimensions so it was large enough for 16 cards and envelopes. The bride and groom are both Sri Lankan by birth and the bride's dress was a stunning red sari. I took my inspiration from that sari. The image and the sentiment are from the Artfully Asian set. I stamped the blossom branch in Basic Black on Real Red cardstock and coloured the blossoms with a Gold gel pen (non-SU). I mounted the image on metallic gold cardstock. The base card is also Real Red that I stamped using the Sanded background stamp for some texture. The sentiment is gold embossed.

I hope that they like this set.

Wild About UStamp

I have joined UStamp 09 SAB - what fantastic projects they have. This is one of them - 5 cards with a matching box. It uses all product that we have here in Australia. The stamp set is Wild ABout You. The DSP is Bali Breeze - love it!!! This was really easy to make using just basic techniques.

I will be planning a Stamp Camp later in the year (maybe April) and we will be completing projects like this one so if you are in Katherine NT and would like to be kept informed of details, just let me know.

Iris Twist Card

This card is based on one from the current UStamp. It was designed by the German member of the UStamp team, Irene. I used Old Olive for the base cardstock and Rose Red DSP for the "Twist". The flower is 3 felt flowers held together with a Rhinestone brad. The sentiment comes from the set G'Day Mate. It is white embossed. I nearly made this card using no stamps but I didn't have a rub-on sentiment that I was happy to use.

Just a short post today but it is time to leave for work. See you next time.

Three Challenges

The SBS Challenge for this week was to use ovals on your card. What a great excuse to get out my CM Custom Cutting System again. (I really do think this is the best cutting system you can get.) When I saw that Nerine's Layout challenge for this week also included an oval I was tempted to make one card to cover both challenges but I got on a roll this afternoon so I have two separate ones. All these cards use watercolouring techniques. I have used Watercolour paper from SU for my watercolouring. I find it is far superior to other watercolour papers I can buy in our limited shopping centre and Whisper White cardstock just doesn't work half as well.

The first card (below) is for the SBS challenge. The stamp is from Big on Spring. I was practicing watercolouring using the Stampin' Write markers. I'm afraid I didn't do a very good job of staying within the lines! The main colour is Real Red. I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card but it took ages to choose a background. This DSP is from East Coast Prep. I was worried that it was too bright but my husband assures me that it isn't.

After that card I did stick to Nerine's layout. I only recently purchased Sassy Stems and I am loving it! It is fabulous to watercolour - using Watercolour Wonder crayons or Stampin' Write markers with an Aquapainter. The colours here are Always Artichoke, So Saffron and Regal Rose, all from my favourite SU colour family - Rich Regals. I usually mix up my colour families but today I felt like sticking within the one family. The DSP is from the Le Jardin pack. I roughed up the edges of the ovals using the Cutter Kit.

Now for a third card I made this afternoon. This one used the Friday Sketchers sketch # 37. Again I stuck with colours from one colour family - this time Earth Elements. I used Sassy Stems again! The flowers are coloured using Watercolour Wonder crayons and an Aquapainter with Summer Sun, More Mustard and Pumpkin Pie. I traced the flower stems with Old Olive and then coloured the vase very lightly with Not Quite Navy. The base cardstock is Not Quite Navy. I used Pumpkin Pie DSP from the Bali Breeze pack for the bottom half. Over that is More Mustard textured cardstock. The ribbon is Old Olive 5/8' grosgrain. The image is mounted on Old Olive cardstock with Stampin' Dimensionals. The buttons are from the SU Earth Elements buttons mix. I tied a small piece of Linen thread through them before adhering them with Crystal Effects.

Whew, what a productive afternoon! You know, I might just keep going into the night. I cooked a very good steak for dinner tonight and becuase I cooked I don't have to wash up! Look out for more creations tomorrow!

12 Months of Christmas

My SBS sister Janet has started a challenge called 12 Months of Christmas. Each month she will give us a simple layout and we are challenged to make multiple copies (as many as we wish) of the layout as a Christmas card. This way, we won't be in a rush to make all our Christmas cards at the end of the year.

This is the sketch from Leslie for January. Below is the card I made.

The base cardstock is Mellow Moss. I used the Christmas trees from "Figures of Speech", coloured direct to rubber with Stampin' Write markers - So Saffron, Mellow Moss and Close to Cocoa. I punched out the image with a 1 inch punch and mounted it on a Square Scallop punch. The sentiment is from Occasional Greetings, gold embossed on So Saffron. This is mounted on Regal Rose and then Close to Cocoa. The ribbon is Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain and Mellow Moss Taffeta.

I was looking for an un-traditional colour combination as I'm really over Red and Green for Christmas all the time.

I hope you like this one.

Debby's Challenge

There is a challenge in blogland at the moment and I have been tagged!



The challenge is to go to your My Pictures folder, select the 6th folder and then the 6th photo within that folder. You are then to post that photo on your blog and give the story behind it.

This is the photo:

Yes, that is me, belly dancing! Not much of a story really - this was our end of year "dance". I really enjoyed belly dancing but haven't been able to keep it up since we moved as there is no teacher here. By the way, the top I am wearing was hand-beaded by me! Pretty clever aren't I! It took ages and I haven't done any more beadwork like it since.

I am supposed to pass this challenge on to 6 other people:

1. Nerine

2. Mel

3. Karen

4. Natasha

and there I run out of people I know in blogland who haven't already participated so 4 it will have to be.

SBS25 Challenge 10 - Candy

This is the fabulous candy that my SBS sister Janet sent me for winning our CASE Challenge over Christmas. It arrived yesterday.

There are some great embellishments, 2 oversize clothes pegs just begging to be decorated, a pack of alphabet on chipboard and another of alphabet brads, a scallop rectangle punch and an SU stamp set which I didn't previously have! How lucky am I!?! Thank you Janet so much. You are awesome!

Below is the card that came in the box with the candy. Just beautiful. Once again, thank you Janet for all the hard work you do with our group. I really appreciate it.

Bubble Bath Jan 2007

I have finally completed a scrapbook page!

Today is a public holiday here in Australia so I had lots of time to play with the Sale-A-Bration stamp sets. If I am lost for inspiration I use our SU catalogues as a starting point. This 12x12 scrapbook page is based on a 6x6 one in the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.

I had to use Sahara Sand for the base instead of Kraft. The letter "C" comes from the On Board Simon Lower set. It is covered with Certainly Celery DSP. The stamped heart is from the SAB set Polka Dot Punches. The other hearts come from On Board Accents and they are covered with So Saffron. The blue is Bashful Blue. This is such a peaceful colour combination! I love it.

I used the scallop border punch for the Certainly Celery border along the bottom.

These are some of my favourite photos of my daughter. They were taken at my Mum's house 2 years ago when we discovered that you don't need to use much bubble bath mix when the spa jets are on!

Gable Thanks

I made this little box using the tutorial from SCS this week in Weekly Inkling. It is a perfect size for a little thank you gift I had to give.

The base cardstock is Pink Passion. I wheeled it in Whisper White with the Bodacious wheel.

The image on the front is the larger flower image from Bodacious Bouquet inked in Pixie Pink and then rolled in Pink Passion. It was stamped on Whisper White, cut our and Dazzlin Diamonds applied in the centre using the Tombow Multi-purpose adhesive.

I then stamped the flower a second time on another piece of Whisper White. This time I added the 3 leaves which were stamped in Green Galore. I adhered the cut out image over this, but offset the petals it make a "fuller" flower. I mounted this on Green Galore for a final, bright touch.

The sentiment is from Short and Sweet and is attached with Silver Cord (retired, sorry). I finished it up with Taffeta ribbon in Whisper White. I love this bright little box.

I hope this little gift is well received.

Sketch and Stash Challenge #2

I had to make a card for a wedding acceptance this week. I was at a total loss as to what to do. Usually I take the colours from the wedding colours but this bride is not having any bridesmaids! Anyway, I decided to start with the image and work from there. I have only just purchased Sassy Stems after admiring many creations made using it for months. When I chose this image I knew that the flowers had to be red (Rose Red), the vase blue (Brilliant Blue) and the stems green (Garden Green) - of course. The rest just flowed from there.


I used this weeks Sketch and Stash Challenge card layout - I just made a mirror image.

I didn't have an appropriate sentiment for an acceptance but decided that Thanks (this one from Live Your Dreams) was close enough.

I hope that my friends like this card. I'm not really sure. What do you think?

Two Cards, Three Challenges

I made this card last weekend for the Friday Sketchers #34 sketch challenge. I know, it is a little late. Oh well.

The base cardstock is Soft Sky textured. I used Afternoon Tea DSP (my favourite) mounted on Chocolate Chip for the horizontal panels. The image is stamped on Whisper White textured cardstock and mounted on Chocolate Chip.

I got over excited with setting the eyelets using my Crop-a-dile (what would I do without it?) and set eight when the sketch only called for 4. Oh well. The horizontal panels are connected with Copper thread (retired).

The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White textured cardstock and punched with the large oval punch. I then mounted it on Groovy Guava textured cardstock and handcut around it.

The flowers are punched from Groovy Guava textured cardstock using the Three for You punch. The centres are brads from the Soft Subtles set.

I really like this card. But then, I love anything made with the Afternoon Tea DSP.

The card is for 2 challenges - my SBS group challenge to use an unusual colour combination and a Sale-A-Bration challenge for a swap I am part of.

The colour combination is Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi and Pumpkin Pie! Very unusual.

I used the Polka Dot Punches set - one of the free sets you can choose from when you spend $100 or more with me in January or Febraury. I also used Congrats which can only be obtained the same way.

The base cardstock is Bashful Blue. I stamped the heart from Polka Dot Punches in Pumpkin Pie classic ink on Whisper White. For the sponged heart, I used the waste rubber left when I was mounting the stamp set as a stencil and sponged with Wild Wasabi classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. The sentiment is stamped in Pumpkin Pie and Bashbul Blue on Whisper White.

The DSP is, what else, from the Afternoon Tea pack. Everything was adhered with SNAIL except the Pumpkin Pie heart for which I used Stampin' Dimensionals.

I really like this card too. It will probably go to friends whose wedding is on February 14 - yes, Valentine's Day.

Mel's Weekly Challenge #4

My sister demo Mel sets great challenges every week. This is week it was a triple challenge:

1. Colours - Whisper White, Orchid Opulence, Barely Banana and Certainly Celery. She took this colours from a fabulous photo (see it here).

2. Technique - Kissing.

3. Accessory - Stampin' Dimensional or 3D Glue Dots

Mel doesn't do anything the simple way!

Here is my contribution:

The base card is Barely Banana textured cardstock. I used the Kissing technique to make the scallop border - I inked up the Paisley background stamp with Orchid Opulence ink and kissed it with the large scallop border stamp from All Scallops. The tulip is from Garden Whimsy - I used the Direct to Rubber technique with my Stampin' Write Markers (Orchid Opulence and Certainly Celery). The main image is mounted on Certainly Celery DSP. Both the main image and the tag are adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.

This Thank You card is going off to my Mary Kay Director. She organised a fantastic retreat and workshop for the unit this weekend.

That's it for now. I hope you have a great week.

Thank you Vanya!

My fabulous blogging sister Vanja has given me this award. Isn't she sweet! All I have to do is pass it on to 7 other lovely blogs. Well, it wasn't an easy choice but here they are:

Janet

Leslie

Mel

Natasha

Debby

Deby

Susie

These ladies all have fantastic blogs. I love to visit them. Why don't you?

Sketch and Stash Challenge 1

I found out about this new challenge site from one of my SBS sisters (I'm sorry, I can't remember which one).

The Sketch and Stash Challenge provides you with a sketch and challenges you to use just what you have in your stash (new or old). What a great idea!

I pulled out the I Like it a Latte stamp set. I have had it for a while but haven't used it much. Once I had decided what the image was going to be the rest was easy.

I just had to use warm colours so I chose Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla (for the ribbon) and Confetti Cream. Such warm, yummy colours!

I clear embossed the cup in Close to Cocoa. The steam was stamped in Creamy Caramel on top. The foam/cream on top of the cup was stamped in Creamy Caramel on Whisper White and then cut out and adhered on top of the cup.

The small heart was stamped in Ruby Red (another yummy, warm colour) on Whisper White, cut out and then layered on a Creamy Caramel circle.

I layered the main image on Creamy Caramel and then adhered it with Stampin' Dimensionals onto the Close to Cocoa textured base card.

The sentiment was stamped in Close to Cocoa on Confetti Cream and punched out with the Designer Label punch (I wanted to use the tab punch but it was just a little bit small).

This card makes me want to curl up in front of an open fire with my hands warming around a steaming mug of cocoa or coffee. Unfortunately, I don't live in the right climate for that! Oh well, I just have to dream!

ETA: Thanks Debby for asking about Crystal Effects. Yes, I did use it over the cream on the coffee and the red heart. I clean forgot to mention it.

Sketch Saturday 32

I'm on a challenge kick at the moment. This one is the Sketch Saturday Challenge. This was a great sketch that I just had to give a try.

I used Certainly Celery textured cardstock for the base. the quarter circles are Rose Red cardstock on Rose Red DSP. They were cut as circles with my CM templates then cut into quarters.

The central image is from Pretty Princess set. I stamped it using Staz-On Black on Whisper White cardstock and coloured it using my SU Markers (Rose Red, Cameo Coral, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery). This was layered on the Rose Red DSP.

The flowers are from the SU Pretties Kit. They all come white but I coloured these with an SU Marker in Barely Banana. Some bling was needed so I added the pink rhinestone brads.

I think that this card would be perfect for any little Princesses birthday.