What’s going on? 🙂
I liked the Just Add Ink sketch so much, and had some die cut butterflies left over from my previous card, so I just had to use them.  I’m really not sure if I like this card or not, but again, more new things to play with, so what more of an excuse does a girl need? 🙂

So, I have once again used the Sizzlits Beautiful Wings Die in the Big Shot, with some of the half backed Rhinestones this time.  I have run the white background through the Big Shot with the Finial Press Embossing Folder, then I have used my new Distressing kit to distress the edges and put the colour onto the top of the raised parts.  The patterned paper is from the Regals Designer Series Paper Packs, and the lovely lace is from my own stash.  I haven’t added a greeting to this card because I just didn’t know what to put on it, so left it blank for now. 
Let me know if you like it or not!
Chris

I love the challenges that the talented girls over on Just Add Ink come up with, but just haven’t had much time in the past to do many of them, but I think it’s time that changed, don’t you? 🙂  Their challenge this week is to use the colour combination of So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Crumb Cake (previously known as Kraft).  Well, these colours didn’t really inspired me very much, I am just not into the feminine, girly stuff at the moment (that could change at any given moment! 🙂 ). And after three or four attempts, none of which really seemed to be working the way I wanted them to, well, if in doubt, resort to knitting!  So I did.
But after I while I decided to use one of the failed attempts, changed it around somewhat, and here is the end result.

I have used the new Elegant Bouquet embossing folder for the flowers, and then coloured the raised parts using pastels (this was not the original idea, but seems to have worked out ok).  And I wanted to use the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder for the Crumb Cake layer, but it hasn’t arrived yet, so had to use Perfect Polka Dots instead (but you can use your imagination and pretend). The butterfly is a stamp from the set For Everything.  The beautiful ribbon is unfortunately retired, but again, I am waiting for all my new ribbons to arrive.  The  little pink roses are just made from cardstock, and on the tag is the word “friends” from the Tiny Tags Stamp Set, and using the Jewellery Tag punch. Oh, and I nearly forgot the important part, Dazzling Diamonds (which is probably hard to see in the photo) on the butterfly and in the centre of the flowers and roses.
In the end, it was good fun to put it all together, and I hope you like it.
Happy stamping,
Chris

Today’s card uses one of the new embossing folders, called Elegant Lines.  Using embossing folders makes card making so quick and easy, and the new ones are, like everything else Stampin’ Up, absolutely gorgeous!
The cardstock colours I have used are Pear Pizzazz , then Concord Crush(both new In Colours), and Baja Breeze for the embossed layer.  Butterfly is stamped with Stazon and then coloured using Concord Crush and Blushing Bride markers, and again, more of those lovely pearls.

And don’t forget to book in for my Ink Embossing Class, if you would like to experiment with a different way of using the embossing folders.  Details are on my Classes page.

Hope you have all had a crafty weekend.
Happy stamping,
Chris

Now that’s something a bit different!  I had to take part in this challenge as soon as I saw it – to use fabric in a project.  This particular challenge is from Shelli Gardner, the Co-founder and CEO of Stampin’ Up! who is such an amazing and inspiring person.  You can find Shelli’s challenges here, and make sure you click on some of the entries for lots of inspiration and ideas.
So, to the challenge.  We don’t have Stampin’ Up! fabrics here in Australia (yet!) so I have used some that was in my (rather large) stash of material.  Then I have used the Scallop Circle Die through the Big Shot with the layer of material, to cut it out.  I have then cut an arc out of each side to create the waist line of the dress, and some retired lace for the belt.

Now we get to some of the absolutely gorgeous new stuff from the new catalogue, which is full to overflowing with irresistable things.
I have used some of the new In Colours and DSP, namely Blushing Bride and Concorde Crush Cardstock and the Lap of Luxury DSP.  I have used the Happiness Shared Stamp Set (Page 80) for the greeting and the rose bud, which is watercoloured using Blushing Bride ink with a little Regal Rose to add to some depth, and Pear Pizzazz (another In Colour) for the leaves.  You will also notice some of the half back pearls, which are now available in packs of 150 (50 of three different sizes), much to my delight! (See Page 140 of the catalogue).  But what you can’t really see in the photo is the little bit of shimmer that I have added to the centre of the rose and the roses on the dress.  I have used our new Shimmer Paint, applied with a paint brush, just to highlight a few areas.
Lots of lovely new things, and lots of inspiration!
If you don’t have one of the new catalogues and would like one, please feel free to contact me (if you are in Australia) and I will send one out to you.
Hope you have a creative weekend.  Happy stamping,
Chris