Still AddINKtive Challenge #3

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This week’s challenge from Still AddINKtive is to use the colours River Rock, Pink Pirouette and Soft Suede.

Not quite sure how I feel about this combination, that is until I saw all the beautiful samples using these colours – lots of gorgeousness…. 🙂
So my card uses the Framed Tulips Embossing Folder on the Soft Suede layer, and then the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder on the white layer.  The stamp set is the Everything Eleanor set, the swirls stamped in River Rock and the flowers in Pink Pirouette, and then hand cut.  To add a little shimmer and interest, I have used a dab of Frost White Shimmer Paint, which I have added using a paint brush, and looks much prettier in real life.

I’ll be back with more soon!
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Dynamic Duos #38

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I found these colours a bit of a challenge this week…

so I have added quite a lot of neutral to it, but of course, once I had made my card, I had a whole heap of other ideas.  I will just have to share those with you another time! 🙂

My card this week uses one of the gorgeous Doilies from the Seasonal Catalogue that have just been released.  I have stamped straight onto the doily using the swirl from the Everything Eleanor stamp set, in Pretty in Pink and Sahara Sand. It may be a little hard to see in the photo but there are also some of the swirls stamped onto the Sahara Sand background, which I then ran through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  The flowers have been inked and then hand cut, and the red flower has been coated with Crystal Effects to give it a nice shiny finish.
Heaps of inspiration again from the Design Team this week, so make sure you have a look.

I am a little late with posting this today, I had a bit of an incident with some glass and my thumb.  No serious damage done but it was a pretty nasty cut and slowed me up a little yesterday for a while.  Won’t stop me from stamping, or blogging! 🙂

Happy stamping!
Chris

An exciting day!!

Posted in Business, New Catalogue, Sale-a-bration by

I have been so excited about today, the 1st February seems to have been a long time in coming, but finally it has arrived, with so many exciting things happening.
The most exciting news, for me anyway, is that I have once again signed up as a demonstrator with Stampin’ Up!  Such a wonderful company, and I have missed being part of it very much.

Today is also the day when you can start ordering from the gorgeous 2013 Seasonal Catalogue – sooooo much beautiful stuff in there!  Here is a link to it if you would like to browse.  If you would like a hard copy of the catalogue, just drop me an email with your address and I will get one out to you.

So, in honour of the new goodies available, and my new status as a demonstrator, I am offering free shipping  on any order over $40 placed between today (1st Feb 2013) and 5pm on Wed 6th Feb 2013 (within Australia only, please).  All orders also receive a free gift from me, and of course, if your order is over $100 you will also get to choose free product from this year’s Sale-a-Bration catalogue.

That’s enough of my excitement for one day, but I will be back to share some creativity with you really soon.  Happy stamping!
Chris

Bright Blossoms

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This is one of “those” stamp sets… you know the ones, you see it, imagine all the great things you could do with it, and then don’t use it!  Yes, for me Bright Blossoms has sat on the shelf for quite some time, unused and unloved.
But… I received a package in the mail during the week with some bits and pieces for a challenge, and amongst it, some patterned paper from the Summer Smooches DSP – one that I don’t yet own.  So, perfect opportunity to get Bright Blossoms off the shelf and use it!


Ok, so my challenge was to use the colours in the card stock I had been sent, which were Real Red, Tempting Turquoise and Island Indigo, add some whisper White card stock if needed, use only the ribbon included along with one other type of embellishment, which in this case is the rhinestones (must have bling!).
I have some the patterned paper left over now, so I might just have to work out how to use it for another card.  You never know, Bright Blossoms might get a bit more of a work out! 🙂
Hope you are having a crafty weekend.  Happy stamping!
Chris

 

Dynamic Duos #37

Posted in Cards, Masculine by

More Masculine cards from me again today!  I thought the colours would lend themselves nicely to masculine cards, but then I have seen all the beautiful flowery cards from some of the other Design Team members…… just gorgeous!  Make sure you check them out here.

I started off just making one card, using the Dapper Dad stamp set, (which will be available from the 1st Feb ), and then thought I may as well make a set of matching cards.

Here they are individually, so that you can see them in more detail.

 

 

 

 

In my previous post, I started on some tips for making masculine cards.  So here is another one… I guess this might be obvious from the cards I have made here, dry embossing (using Textured Impressions Embossing folders) make great backgrounds for masculine cards, giving lots of texture and interest.  Great ones to keep in mind are the one I have used here, which is the Argyle, Square Lattice, Houndstooth, Perfect Polka Dots, Woodgrain (one of my favourites!), Chevron, Stripes, and definitely Spider Web.  You can change the entire look of a card just by using a different embossing folder in the background.  Give it a try and see what you like best.
You’ll be pleased to hear that there are more great embossing folders coming in the new Seasonal Catalogue – Cloudy Day, and Honeycomb, both of which would work just fine on a masculine card (available from Feb 1st).

I do hope you will join us this week with this gorgeous colour challenge, we love to see what you have come up with, so make sure you share your work with us 🙂
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Feeling Sentimental

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I’ll be the first to admit that I love making cards that are girly – pinks, purples, ribbons, lace and vintage in style, but I also really enjoy making masculine cards.
A lot of people have commented that they struggle with making cards for the men in their lives, so this year I plan to share with you lots of tips and ideas for male cards, and hopefully some inspiration too 🙂

This particular card uses the new Sale-a-Bration stamp set called Feeling Sentimental, and it is great for masculine cards.  I am also going to enter this card in this week’s Paper Players challenge #129, which is a sketch challenge.  Pop on over to their site, lots of inspiration for you!

So, my first tip for making masculine cards is, don’t be afraid to use patterned papers, as I have done in this card.  I have used the Howlstooth & Scaringbone DSP here, which is perfect, but don’t forget to look at the packs of papers you already have.  Stampin’ Up! are fabulous when it comes to incorporating all sorts of possibilities, so have a look through those flowery papers and look for stripes, spots, even what may seem like a girlish pattern, could be cut so that it changes it’s look. How about some of those Christmas papers?  Red or green stripes or spots or patterns could easily be turned into a background for a tree or other masculine image.
Let’s see if I can give you an example…. The Twitterpated DSP is a lovely flowery, pretty pack of papers, but have a look at the reverse side of each paper.  Green and blue checks… stripes…. geometric designs in grey, and a red geometric pattern that could easily be cut to look masculine.

For my card, I have die cut the patterned paper using the Window Frames Collection, and then layered that over my stamped image.  This particular patterned paper is only available for a few more days, so make sure you get in quick if you want to get hold of some!

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Bright Birds

Posted in Cards, Classes by

I love this technique, and how bright and cheery these cards have turned out!

These are really easy to make and so quick that you can easily make up a batch as a gift for someone.

These ones use the International Bizarre patterned papers and the For the Birds stamp set, and I have highlighted the colours Pacific Point and Tangerine Tango.  Of course, they would look great using any of the gorgeous Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Papers.

And because they are so quick and simple, I have had a request to run a class on this set of cards.  So instead of my Card Kit night on the 1st Feb, we will be making this cute set of cards.  Cost will be $15 and includes all materials, but do contact me asap to book your place as seats are limited.

Happy stamping!
Chris

Still AddInktive Colour Challenge

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I had the great pleasure of spending a few hours stamping yesterday with my lovely friend Deb Fearns.  She was kind enough to let me have a bit of play with some stamp sets that will be available from the 1st of Feb, so I thought I would give you a little sneak peek at one of the cards I have made using this set called Dapper Dad.

This card is also a very last minute entry for this week’s colour challenge over on Still AddINKtive.

Summer Starfruit is still not a colour I like very much, and as such, this was a good challenge for me.

Hope you are having a crafty week!  Happy Stamping!
Chris

Dynamic Duos #36

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Time for another colour challenge at the Dynamic Duos blog, and this week is Real Red and Basic Black with the option of a Valentine Theme.

I have to admit that my Mojo is well and truly MIA at present, so nothing is easy when it comes to creating!  Lets hope it returns real soon….

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I also struggled with trying to make this photo work – I have used the flocked window sheet out of the Candlelight Christmas Specialty papers, and of course it reflected everything that was behind me…
The card didn’t really turn out how I had intended it and then I didn’t know what to do with it, so I hope you will find some inspiration in the fact that I am human and have my “off” days too  🙂  I would love to see what you can do with this challenge, so please share with us at Dynamic Duos, and while you are there, check out the gorgeous work from the rest of the Design Team.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

Owly Thanks

Posted in 3D, Cards by

I’m not entirely sure that “Owly” is a word, but you get the idea!  Hopefully all of the recipients of these little thank you cards have received them by now, so it’s ok to post them here.

I love this gorgeous Owl punch but it has been very much neglected.  So he got a work out making some thank you cards, and while I was at it, I thought I would make a book mark for my son, who always has numerous books on the go at once, so we can never have too many book marks in our house!

Happy stamping!
Chris