Remembrance Day Challenge

This week’s Crafty Boots Challenge is to make a project for Remembrance Day.
I wanted to do something a little different for this challenge, so decided on a masculine sympathy card.

I have used some “camouflage” patterned paper, which I discovered amongst my stash of papers, and layered this over some Early Espresso cardstock.  Then I have done some of my favourite “faux stitching” around the edge of the patterned paper.  The words come from the Bloom With Hope stamp set, and the frame has been run through the Big Shot with one of the Fun Frames embossing folders.  Some Linen Thread knotted in the centre, and some small silver brads in the corners of the frame for some finishing touches.

I have a very busy week ahead of me, but after this week, I will be back with more craft.  Promise!
Happy stamping!
Chris

CASE-ing The Catalogue

This week’s challenge at CASE-ing The Catty Challenges is to use the Memory Keeping Section (Pages 24-41) of the catalogue to inspire a project.
While I was tempted to share some Project Life pages for this challenge, I liked the idea of creating a masculine card based on the picture at the bottom right of Page 31.

I have used the Post Card stamp for my background, which is a stamp that I love but which has not had enough use!  I have done some faux stitching around the edge of the postcard in Early Espresso, and done some off-set layers to make it a little different.  The main image is from the Traveler stamp set, along with a few left over bits and pieces of the Typeset Specialty papers (Page 184), some Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum (Page 193), some Chevron ribbon and Linen Thread (Pages 206-7).

**Quick update:  Feeling special, thanks to the ladies at CASE-ing The Catty Challenges, who chose my card as their Top Case! 🙂

Hope you are having a crafty day!
Happy stamping!
Chris

Be The Star

Such a useful, versatile and fun stamp set, Be The Star is my focus stamp set for this month, and therefore the stamp set you will receive if you are taking part in Stamps in Your Letterbox in July.  It’s a great stamp set for cardmaking and scrapbooking, for children of all ages, boys and girls, masculine cards, and definitely Christmas cards.

I have combined Be The Star stamp set with the Stars Framelit dies, the zigzag stamp out of  the Work of Art stamp set, splatters from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, some of the great new black and white Baker’s Twine and some Washi Tape out of the Everyday Adventure Project Life kit, but you could just as easily use one of the other Washi tapes available (page 190 of the catalogue).  The colour combo I have used for this card is Basic Black, Whisper White and Bermuda Bay.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Stamps in Your Letterbox!

The first month of Stamps in Your Letterbox is ready to go!
For those of you who have already signed up, yours are in the mail on the way to you, and I will be emailing a PDF to you in the next couple of days.  I am running a little behind this month, but be sure that you will still get heaps of ideas and inspiration for using your new stamps.
And for those of you who are wondering what I am talking about, you can get all the details here.

This months feature stamp set of Stamps in Your Letterbox is the “Be The Star” stamp set (Page 93 of the catalogue), and I am going to be showing you lots of ideas during the month to use this stamp set.

Today’s card uses the colours Crumb Cake (Kraft), Very Vanilla, Night of Navy and Pistachio Pudding.  The Pistachio Pudding layer has been stamped with the Hardwood Background stamp with Crumb Cake ink, then stamped with the little stars in Night of Navy ink.  The Happy Birthday stamp comes from the Everyday Occasions Cardmaking Kit, and I have inked it using markers in the two colours.  Then tie some Linen thread around the small panel before adhering it the front of the card. The stars have been hand cut and popped on with some dimensionals.

If you haven’t yet signed up for this months Stamps in Your Letterbox, there is still time to do so, just leave a message or comment and I will get back to you.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Maritime Birthday

Here is the card I made for a lovely young friend of ours who recently turned 9.  And of course, I wanted to use some of my new goodies, and show you another sneak peek.  Who can resist new Stampin’ Up! goodies….. I know I can’t 🙂

 

 

Isn’t the paper just gorgeous?  I adore this colour combination, it’s wonderful for masculine cards, so bright and cheery.  And the only stamping this one has, is for the sentiment, which is from the Label Love stamp set and matching punch.  The DSP is called Maritime.
Hope you are having a crafty weekend.  And for those of you in Australia, a crafty long weekend! 🙂
Happy stamping!
Chris

Freshly Made Sketches #127

Another cool sketch again this week at Freshly Made Sketches…….

I thought this one would be great for a masculine card, and since I haven’t played much with the Harvest Blessings stamp set, I decided this would be the perfect opportunity.


My background paper comes from the Soho Subway DSP and I only noticed after the card was complete that there is a little blob of blue at the bottom.  No, not an ink blog, it is definitely part of the paper, I just didn’t quite manage to get the paper cut so that it was off the edge.  I’m not sure if my faux stitching around the edge hides the blob, or actually highlights it, but never mind!
The tractor from Harvest Blessings is stamped in Pumpkin Pie, the flag in Early Espresso run through the Big Shot using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and then sanded to get that lovely effect with the Coordinations cardstock, and I have used a retired paperclip with a knot of twine at the top.  Nice and simple!
Make sure you check out all the talent at Freshly Made Sketches!
Happy Stamping!
Chris

More Envelope Punch Board

Yes, ok, I admit it, I am addicted……. to my Envelope Punch Board!
I have had a few people asking for some basic instructions on how to use this fantastic tool, so I thought I would share with you a video made by Mary Fish, which explains the process very clearly and simply.  Thanks Mary.
Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq23wwHPeZM

And here is my card in the same size as the one in the video with matching lined envelope.  This time I have used standard cardstock to make my envelope (in Pumpkin Pie), and while it is a lot heavier than a standard envelope, it will still go through standard mail ok, and protect your wonderful handmade creation a lot better too!  Of course, you can also use patterned papers for the envelopes if you prefer.


I have used the Witches Brew Designer Series Paper (#132185) for this card.  Halloween is not something that we celebrate much here in Australia, but I loved the colours of these papers and thought they would be great for some masculine cards!  And the stamped image is again from the Love You More stamp set (#131853) available until the 27th January 2014.
So make sure you get your order in for these items before they go, by clicking here.  And feel free to leave a comment or send me an email if you have any questions.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Soho Subway

This is one of my favourite patterned papers from this year’s Annual Catalogue, it’s great for those masculine projects.
So with Father’s Day fast approaching us here in Australia (1st September), I thought I would offer a class using the Soho Subway DSP, and we will make a card plus a holder for those store Gift Cards, or some other small gift.

Of course, you could use it for a birthday gift or any other special occasion.

You need to contact me to book into the class, which will be held at my place (hopefully with most of the major renovations completed by then!!) on Wed 28th August at 7.30pm, or Saturday 31st August at 2pm.  Please send me an email if you would like to come as places are limited.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Convention Swaps

This year’s Stampin’ Up! Convention was just amazing and an experience that had to be seen to be believed.  They are such a special company to be part of.
I have just so much to share, I took over 500 photos – don’t worry I won’t post them all, but I will try to pop a few up over the coming days.  I also have rather a lot of things I want to try out and share with you, but firstly I will show you the swaps that I made.  These are simply card fronts using Stampin’ Up! products that we make in order to exchange or “swap” with the other demonstrators at convention.  I only made 25 this year and had swapped all of mine before the first hour was even over.

My swap uses the Clockworks stamp set in the background and features my favourite “Faux Stitching” along with the Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper.   This fabulous paper is part of the This and That Bundle which is available at a 15% discount, but only until this coming Friday – 31st May 2013.   Feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about this bundle and how you can get hold of it, or if you would like to know how you can come along to next year’s Stampin’ Up! convention.
Off to do some stamping and creating now 🙂
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Dynamic Duos #49

More fun again this week from Dynamic Duos, with an unusual colour combination and the option of making a masculine card with Basic Black and Basic Grey.

I enjoyed this challenge, but then I also enjoy making masculine cards!
Nothing too exciting about my card, I have used the Woodgrain Embossing folder for the black background, the Serene Silhouettes stamp set, lots of paper piercing (of course!) and the the patterned paper comes from the Twitterpated DSP.
Lots of gorgeous inspiration from the Design Team can be seen here.
Hope you are having a crafty weekend. Happy Stamping!
Chris