The Tango

Posted in Big Shot, Cards by

There are some colours within the Stampin’ Up! colour families that I don’t often use, most of them seem to be yellows and oranges, so I took this week’s Dynamic Duos Challenge of using the colours Tangerine Tango and Old Olive.  Now, Old Olive is a long time favourite, but combining it with Tangerine  Tango, hmmmm.
But I am glad I had a go at this one, I am pleased with how it turned out and think I may be using this colour a little more from now on.
The image is from the Serene Silhouettes stamp set, which has been coloured with markers.  And I have used the Two Tags die and the Apothecary Accents Framelits, both very useful and versatile.


I hope this inspires you to have a go at using a different colour combination.
Happy stamping!
Chris

October Stamp of the Month

Posted in Stamp of the Month Club by

I do apologise that this month I am running a little late, so Stamp of the Month for October will run until the end of November, so that you get extra projects to make with your stamp set.  This month’s stamp set is the very cute Bug Me (Page 66 of the Annual Catalogue).  This month’s cost will just be for the stamp set plus postage, so $22.95 plus $6.50 postage.  You will also get the kit to make up this cute card set, along with other ideas throughout the next month and a half.

If you wish to make the most of the Stampin’ Up! promotion for October, and wish to add  more to your order, then I can certainly help you with some suggestions so that you can get a free spool of gorgeous ribbon.

Be sure to send me an email so that I can get your goodies to you asap.  And I look forward to sharing some really cute ideas with you.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Freshly Made Sketches #55

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Uncategorized by

I took some time out this afternoon to do some creating just for the fun of it, and thought I would have a go at this week’s sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I also thought it was time I got on and made some Christmas cards, since it won’t  be long before Christmas is here.

I have used a few new goodies for this card, the patterned papers come from the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, they are gorgeous and great for card making (Page 20 of the Holiday Catalogue). The embossing folder is also new and is called Northern Flurry (Page 189 Annual Catalogue).  The stamp set is For the Birds (Page 34 of the Annual catalogue) – a fabulously versatile set with something for just about every occasion.  And the Cotton Ribbon and Slide are from the Holiday Catalogue.
Here is the sketch that I have used:
If you have any questions about how I have made this card, or if you would like to place an or

Hope you had a crafty weekend.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Cute Caterpillar

Posted in Bookmarks, Cards by

Just a short post today, but I wanted to share the cute little punch art caterpillar. Or is he a worm – perhaps a book worm 🙂

I have been incredibly busy just recently, with a lot of cards and gift tags going out to various charities for fundraising events.  I have one more lot of these to get done, but only a small one so that should be done this week.
I then have to focus on getting some things done for a display that I will be having at the Brighton Library in November.  So busy times for me, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t been crafting, just not doing much blogging.  I will do my best to keep you up to date though.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Let’s Be Royal

Posted in Cards by

Our Creative Corner challenge for this week is a royal theme, and I had a real struggle with this one!

The requirements are:
– Create a card or project with a royal look using a crown, castle or a princess.
– Use the photo to inspire you.
– Your project must have something yellow or gold embossed.

Well, I don’t have any castle or princess stamps and the only crown stamp I have looks more like a jester’s hat than a crown!
So, I did a google search on princess images and decided to do some paper piecing, not something that I have done much of before.  Actually, truthfully, I have never done anything like this before so it really was a challenge!

Personally, I think she looks a bit evil, or angry, what do you think?
I have used patterned paper from the Floral District paper pack, and the Delicate Designs Embossing Folders to create the lacy underskirts, along with lots of fussy cutting and faux stitching.
I am not all that happy with the final result, but I guess for a first attempt it’s ok.
There is plenty of wonderful inspiration for this challenge from the rest of the Design Team though, so make sure you check it out, and lets see what you come up with – we would love it if you would share your creations.
Well, that’s it for now, but I will be back with some more real soon.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Spool Time

Posted in Stampin' Up! promotion by

Happy 1st day of October, and happy Spool Time!
Just contact me about placing an order of $60 or more and you will receive a FREE spool of the gorgeous 3/8″ (1 cm) Stitched Satin Ribbon with every $60 purchase. Choose from any of our 2012-2014 In Colours – or earn all five!

Click here for more details.

Available in Gumball Green, Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Summer Starfruit.
Get in quick though, before they go on back order!!  These ribbons are lovely to work with, soft and pliable and the colours are fantastic.  Why not get some Gumball Green and Raspberry Ripple as a great combo for your Christmas cards, packaging and decorations?
So get in quick, send me an email, and lets get creating!
Happy Stamping!
Chris

It’s a “Howdy” Challenge

Posted in Cards by

This week’s Our Creative Corner Challenge comes from the lovely Liliana, who has picked a photo of a country scene as inspiration, with the following requirements:

-Create a card or project with a country or western look. Use the photo to inspire you.
-Your project must have something plaid or gingham (checkered/tartan is acceptable too!), such as in a ribbon, or designer paper.
-Most of all, have fun!

And here is the photo:

It took me some time to figure out what to do with this challenge, since I don’t really have anything “country or western” but ended up choosing this cute little cart image from the stamp set For the Birds (Page 34 of the Annual Catalogue).  I decided this could easily be something you would see in the country.  Well, anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
I just adore this stamp set, it was on my “absolutely need to have it” list when the new catalogue came out.
The image has been water coloured in colours to match the stripey mount, which is made with the Orchard Harvest Fabric (Page 30 of the Holiday Catalogue).  The dark background layer has been embossed using the Woodgrain embossing folder, then just add some twine and one of the gorgeous new wooden buttons.
I do hope you will play along with us this week, so make sure you check out what the rest of the Design Team came up with here.
And if you have any questions about my card or the challenge, just send me an email.

I promise to return in the next day or so with some new projects, so stay tuned!
Happy stamping!
Chris

Photo Inspiration Challenge

Posted in Cards, Uncategorized by

My turn to set the challenge again this week at Our Creative Corner, and I have chosen a photo to inspire you!

What I would like you to do is, create a project of your choice which:

1. Uses something from the photo that inspires you, it can be colours, shapes, anything at all.
2. Use 2 or more buttons on your project, they can be real buttons, fabric buttons, covered buttons, die cut buttons, any sort of buttons!
3. And, use polka dots somewhere.

And here is my card.

I have taken the colours from the photo and also the cake stand, as inspiration.

I have used the polka dot papers from the Stampin’ Up! Designer Series Paper packs in Soft Subtles, punched them out using the Blossom Punch and Boho Blossoms Punch, and then done some free-hand paper piercing around each one, and then markers to create the stitched look. (For those of you who are regular visitors to my blog or my classes, you will know that I love my faux stitching!!)
The “vase” is from A Cherry on Top stamp set, which is a cute new hostess set (Page 197 of the Annual Catalogue) and the leaves from Betsy’s Blossom have been stamped in Gumball Green and hand cut.  And just to make sure it was really “polka dotty” 🙂 I have used the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder for the white background.
Have a look at what the fabulous Design Team have created for this challenge, and I do hope you will be inspired to create something and share it with us.
For those of you on Facebook, we now have a new Our Creative Corner Facebook page, so why not drop in and give us a “like”.  🙂

Please feel free to email if you have any questions.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

OCC Sketch Challenge

Posted in Big Shot, Cards by

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