Category Archives: Cards

OCC Sketch Challenge

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This week it is my turn to set and host the challenge at Our Creative Corner, and I have chosen a sketch challenge for you for this week.  I would like you to make a card for a male using the sketch, and an extra but optional challenge for you, if you choose to accept it, is to use a Monochromatic colour scheme.
The zebras on my card are from the Zoo Review stamp set and have been watercoloured, then one has been cut out and raised and layered over the other.  I have used a masking technique for the sun – I punched out a circle of Post-It Note and then sponged around the circle using a sponge dauber.  The tree has been double stamped with two different colours of ink to give it that shimmery look.
The background paper is from the Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP (patterned papers), and the strips of Cajun Craze card stock have been run through the Big Shot using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.
The colours I have used are So Saffron, More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso.

So, here is the sketch for you to use for your own card.

 Make it as simple or as complicated as you want, we would love to see what you come up with. And make sure you check out the inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Another Blog Hop!!

Posted in 3D, Big Shot, Boxes, Cards, Uncategorized by

Hope that you’ve all been enjoying the gorgeousness of the Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue.  The Holiday Catalogue also went live on the 1st of September, but we thought we’d give you a couple of weeks to get into it before we bombarded you with the beautiful things the Holiday Catalogue brings!!!

So another Artful Stampers Hop ~ this time to celebrate the Holiday Catalogue Launch!

You may have hopped here from Melissa at Bee Devine Designs, but if you are just starting here, keep hopping on through.  I’m stop 4 on the Hop and I’m glad you’re here sharing in the fun!!There are lots of gorgeous Christmas goodies in the Holiday Catalogue, but I thought I would showcase something different.  So, my projects for today all use the Orchard Harvest suite on pages 28-30 of the Holiday

Catalogue.  I am making these for my sister, who has a property with heaps of apple trees.  Eventually they want to open a cidery, so I thought I should keep her inspired with these gifts.  She doesn’t spend much time on her computer, so here’s hoping she won’t check out my blog and see them before she gets them!!I have used the Orchard Harvest patterned papers and the Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set for the card and the cute little box.  The box also uses the Cannery Set Framelits Dies which match the Perfectly Preserved stamp set.  Love how Stampin’ Up! match everything up.  These also come as a bundle to save you even more money!  Love it!
And I have made a Lavender Bag and Coaster, both of which use the Orchard Harvest Designer Fabric. Unfortunately the fabrics didn’t have apples on them, so I had to use pears instead!
I have a few other things to make to add to this collection, but I have been away for the last few days so haven’t had a chance to get it all done.  But I’ll share them all with you before I send them off to my sister.

Now it’s time to visit Anna for the next stop on our Hop. I am sure you will find lots of wonderful ideas to inspire you. And in case you get lost or there are broken links just pop back here for the full list of stampers taking part in this hop.

Don’t forget to leave comment love as you trip along the hop from blog to blog. We like to know what you think about the things we’ve been doing!!  And if you have any questions please feel free to send me an email.

Happy stamping, and I hope you find lots to inspire you!
Chris

Blog Hop links:

Alisa Tilsner
Madonna Dunn
Melissa Davies
Christina Barnes (you’re here!)
Anna from My Little Creative Nook
Alison Barclay
Nicole Derendorf
Kay Koufalakis
Karlie from Stamping with Karlie
Tina Hewett
Michelle Bartholomaeus
Kathryn Carr

Kiss The Card Challenge & Twist

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Yep you have to kiss the card!  No not really…..  This week’s challenge from Our Creative Corner comes from Lisa Minckler from You Made Me Ink, she wants us to use the kissing technique (stamp to stamp) somewhere on a card or project.
And the twist is to use the letters X and O somewhere on your project.
My X and O are a little hard to see in this photo, but they are on the red heart that is on the tag that is hanging down.

For the blue background, I have put ink directly onto a clear block, then I have used the Music Notes wheel with Raspberry Ripple ink over the top, and stamped it straight onto Whisper White card stock.  Be careful if you are using this technique that you stamp straight up and straight down, it is very easy for it to slide around and smudge everything (speaking from experience!!).  Those pretty flowers from Field Flowers stamp set have been inked in Pretty in Pink and then stamped again using the word stamp from French Foliage in Raspberry Ripple stamp to stamp.  Add some twine and one of the new Bushed Bronze Designer Buttons and of course some of my favourite…. faux stitching! 🙂
Check out what the rest of the Design Team have done for this challenge, and make sure you join us with your own creation this week – we love to see what you have come up with.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Spring is here!

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And I have made a card to celebrate spring!  This one uses the gorgeous Betsy’s Blossom stamp set along with a new set of patterned papers called Floral District.  The main image uses the “kissing” technique and has then been punched out using the Postage Stamp punch.
If you would like instructions on how to make this card, along with all of the bits and pieces needed to make it, just join my Stamp of the Month Club.  All the details can be found here and feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Orchard Harvest

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Spring is here 🙂 but I am such a sucker for Autumn Colours!  I loved the Orchard Harvest Suite as soon as I saw it in the Holiday Catalogue.
This card is based on the current sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.
I have used the Orchard Harvest DSP (patterned papers) and the Perfectly Preserved Stamp Set and matching Framelits Dies.
The “vases” are the corn framelit, which I have cut the top off to change the shape.  I have then run them through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, and tied some Linen Thread around them.  The gorgeous little flowers have been stamped in Raspberry Ripple and More Mustard and also cut out using the die from the set.

Here is the sketch.  I like this one, think I might have to use it for another card!
Happy Stamping!  And happy Labor Day for all of you in the US.
Chris

 

 

Resist Techniques

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In this post here, I shared with you this week’s challenge at Our Creative Corner, which is to create a project using a Resist Technique, so today I am going to share with you a YouTube link, which will show you some different Resist Techniques and how to do them.

 

I have used the Emboss Resist technique for my card, and you can see some other techniques used in the fabulous creations from the rest of the Design Team.  So check out the YouTube, and lets see your creations too 🙂

Happy Stamping!
Chris

 

Artful Stampers Blog Hop

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It’s time for the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue!!!  To celebrate, some of our Team – The Artful Stampers – are sharing fabulous projects showcasing a selection of the gorgeous new products available in the 2012-2013 Catalogue!!

You may have hopped here from Melissa at Bee Devine Designs Blog.  I’m stop 4 on the Hop and I’m glad you “hopped” in. 🙂  But if you started here, that’s ok too, just keep on hopping and you’ll eventually get all the way around!

Today I am going to share with you a set of three cards made with a gorgeous new Hostess Set called Summer Afternoon (Page 201 of the new Catalogue).
The cards also feature a  new set of framelits dies called Bitty Banners (Page 191) and some of the new ribbons available, the Stitched Satin Ribbon and Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (Page 172), and some of the new In Colours.

I have used inks and Aqua brush for the water colouring on each card, on watercolour paper, and have also used a combination of the Adorning Accents Embossing Folders, and the Adorning Accents Edgelits dies.

I will give you a closer look at each card individually, so that you can see them in more detail.

The colours for this first card are Gumball Green (new In Colour) and  Soft Suede, along with a touch of Cajun Craze for the pot.  The Houndstooth Embossing Folder along the top section adds some texture and I have wrapped some Linen Thread around a few times.

The second card has a layer of Raspberry Ripple (another new In Colour) card stock with some Daffodil Delight Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon.

And the third card…. ah… here is something for you to discover… a bit of a challenge…  this particular card uses the layout of a card from the new Annual Catalogue.  The first person (only  people who are not SU demonstrators please) to correctly tell me which page the card is on that inspired my card, and the stamp set and colours used in the card in the catalogue, will receive a small gift from me.  So leave me a message with your answers 🙂

As for my card, it uses Gumball Green and Summer Starfruit.  I am still not sure if I like Summer Starfruit, but I suspect it will grow on me, and if not, it will one of the very few SU colours that doesn’t appeal to me!
The card also uses Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon.  The ribbons are lovely to work with!

Now click on the link to Kathryn Carr for the next stop on our Hop. I am sure you will find lots of wonderful ideas to inspire you. And in case you get lost or there are broken links just pop back here for the full list of stampers taking part in this hop.

 Thank you for visiting and if you’d like to leave a comment I’d be very pleased to hear what you think of the new catalogue and products 🙂

Happy Stamping!
Chris

  1. Alisa Tilsner
  2. Madonna Dunn
  3. Melissa Davies –  Bee Devine Designs
  4. Christina Barnes (oh, that’s me!)
  5. Kathryn Carr
  6. Anna – My Little Creative Nook
  7. Alison Barclay
  8. Michelle Bartholomaeus
  9. Nicole Derendorf 
  10.  Kay Koufalakis
  11.  Stamping With Karlie
  12.  Carolyn Bennie
  13. Tamsin Adams
  14. Tina Hewett

Resist Challenge

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I haven’t used a resist technique for a while, so it was good to get into a different technique this week.
This week’s Our Creative Corner Challenge is to use some form of resist technique, whether that is Heat Emboss Resist, which I have used here, or crayon resist, and there are a number of others as well, and they are all fun to do.  The only other thing required on your creation is a pair of wings – animal, bug, butterfly, angel….  🙂
I have used some Glossy White card stock and embossed the large flower type design from the new stamp set Betsy’s Blossom, which is available…. now….. today 🙂 … with white embossing powder.  I have then used inks and daubers to sponge on the colour in the background – the colours are Wisteria Wonder, Pretty in Pink and a new In Colour called Primrose Petals.
Feel free to send me an email if you would like more information about this card.
And have a go at something different, it doesn’t have to be complicated, but do check out the amazing inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Layered Labels

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Only two more days until the new Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue goes live to you.  And today I am going to give you a look at some more gorgeous goodies that will soon be available.  The colours I have used are Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette and Very Vanilla, and a new stamp set called Layered Labels.  I have stamped in Early Espresso and then coloured inside using a Pink Pirouette marker.  The image has been cut out using the new Apothecary Accents Framelits, and the brown layer with the Top Note Die.  The vanilla and brown layers have both been run through the Big Shot using a new Embossing Folder called Lacy Brocade.  Very lovely and lacey! 🙂
That layer of brown card stock is another new product being introduced into the catalogue, it is called Core’dinations Card Stock, and it is a sandable card stock, great for distressing, sanding or tearing.  Looks great, don’t you think?  It is available in Early Espresso (used here), Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green (a new In Colour).  It also comes with a sanding system and dust buddy.
Now, this card was CASEd from another demonstrator… somewhere…. again, I apologise, but I can’t remember where I saw it.  I often do a quick blog hop and have a look at a few sites to get some inspiration, but I usually get ideas and then go and do something else.  So, please let me know if you recognise it, but as always, I imaging mine has ended up being fairly different.  Anyway, I hope you like it.
And talking about Blog Hops, make sure you come back here on the morning of the 1st Sept for a Blog Hop through some fellow Stampin’ Up! demonstrators blogs, to see lots of new ideas from the catalogue.  In the meantime,
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Need for Speed

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Need For Speed is such a fabulous stamp set for male cards for the men in our lives, and you will be happy to know that there are some more good male stamp sets coming in the new catalogue (only a week to wait now!).  So with Father’s Day coming up, I thought I would share some cards made with this set.
Not sure if I am entirely happy with the colours of these cards, a little too “army” for my liking. What do you think?
I kept the first one fairly simple, and used some of the brads from the Vintage Trinkets on the corners, and wound the Linen Thread around the outside a few times.  I think it frames the image nicely.

 

 

 

The second card uses the Triple Time technique which I showed you here, along with some Artichoke Denim Jean Ribbon.
The colours in these cards are Always Artichoke, River Rock and Very Vanilla.

I have quite a bit to share with you over the coming week or so, so stay tuned.  And make sure you sign up for my newsletter to get all the latest news along with ideas and stamping tips and techniques!
Happy stamping!
Chris