Annual Catalogue Sketches – Sketch #11

Welcome back to the Stampin’ Up! Annual catalogue Sketch inspiration, we are halfway at Sketch #11.

I do apologise, I haven’t done a very good job with putting this sketch onto Canva, and it doesn’t quite work here because the background is white and I don’t think I can change. You will see what I have done with the cards though, and it will all make sense. I hope.

Today I have two cards to show you using this sketch, both featuring the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper.

Both cards use Crumb Cake cardstock for the card base (21cm x 14.5cm, which is then scored at 10.5cm on the long side and folded, so when it’s folded, your card front will be 10.5cm x 14.5cm), and the layer of Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper is cut at 14cm x 10cm.
I have then cut the DSP down the centre (lengthwise) at 5cm, then taken each of those strips and cut a 5cm x 5cm square off either the top or the bottom. Those smaller squares are then turned over so that you see the reverse side pattern.
All of the DSP pieces have been sponged around the edges using some Crumb Cake ink and a Sponge Dauber.
For the first card above, I have then placed each piece of DSP so that the sides are pushed up against each other, leaving a larger amount of cardstock around the outside edge.

And for the second card I have moved the pieces of DSP more towards the outside edges, leaving a gap between each piece of DSP.
Which one do you like better?
The leaf elements from both cards are from the Changing Leaves Bundle, and I have also used the Nested Essentials Dies, some Linen Thread, Loose Frosted Dots on the first card, and some Iridescent Faceted Gems on the second.

Happy stamping, and hope you have a crafty Sunday,
Chris

A Summer Scene

The idea for my card today was to create a summer scene. It’s the middle of a cold winter here in Australia, and I needed a reminder that summer will be here before we know it, and with that, time at the beach and swimming in our beautiful ocean.
Does anyone else love swimming in the ocean? It’s something I love to do, it makes me feel so energised and refreshed.

I have used a piece of Fluid 100 Watercolor paper and a Water Painter to create my background, first applying a lot of water to the paper, and then adding some Pecan Pie ink at the bottom, then Pool Party, Summer Splash, Azure Afternoon and Blueberry Bushel inks.

The truck with the surf board in the back, and the palm trees are from the Trucking Along bundle, which is an Online Exclusive from a while back but still available here in Australia.

If you would like to share a project with us at Craftin Round the World Challenges, please join us here, we love to see what you have been creating.

Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

CASE = Copy And Selectively Edit

Welcome back to all of my crafty friends. We had our first frost of the winter this morning, and even though the sun is out, the next door neighbour’s roof is still glistening in the sunlight.
I am so grateful for the lovely fire that is keeping me warm and cosy.


When I first joined as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator in 2008, I had done very little stamping or cardmaking, and my wonderful mentor, Larissa, told me to find cards I liked online, and copy them as best I could, with the items I had available. At that stage, I didn’t have much in the way of a papercrafting stash (oh my, how things have changed!), so I had to be inventive and creative, look at the card I was copying, and change it to suit what I had available.
That process is what we now term CASE-ing, (CASE = Copy and Selectively Edit) and I will be forever grateful for Larissa’s advice to do this, it started me out on this journey, and to me, this is still a fun way to get really creative but also a great way to find inspiration, especially when your Mojo has gone out the window! It is important though to make sure we credit whoever made the original card.
And so, onto my card today, and yes, it does once again feature the Stippled Roses stamp set and matching Dies. I may be a little obsessed with this stamp set.

The card that I have CASE-d is the one that goes across the spine on pages 122/123 of the Annual Catalogue. I loved the look of that card but wanted to add the gorgeous roses.
The roses have been stamped in Pecan Pie ink, and then coloured (of course! it wouldn’t be me without a little colouring) using Peach Pie ink and a Blender Pen, very gently dabbing the colour onto the shaded areas.
In the background, the leaves in Old Olive and Basic Beige are also from the Stippled Roses Dies, the Designer Series Paper is my new favourite, Country Woods DSP, the circle is cut from the Spotlight On Nature Dies, and the sentiment comes from the Stamped With Love set. Then to finish off I’ve added a few of the Peach Pie Shimmer Gems from the 2024-2026 In Color Shimmer Gems.

Make the most of the fantastic 10% discount on stamp set and die bundles through until the end of June. Bundles are already cheaper than buying the stamps and dies separately, so now you get that discount plus another 10% off. Great deal. You can shop online here.

Hoping you have a crafty day.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Card Sketch Ideas

Hello and welcome back.
Did you know that on Page 22 of the Annual Catalogue, at the bottom of the page, there are 22 sketch ideas for making cards?
I have used one of these sketches for my inspiration today, the sketch on the top row, 5th along from the right hand side, and I have used this to create a clean and simple masculine card.

My card features the bird from the Inspirational Sketches stamp set. The image has been stamped with Black Memento ink onto Crumb Cake cardstock, and then coloured with watercolour pencils in Basic Black, Basic White and Early Espresso.
I also created a reel on my Facebook page, showing how I coloured the image, which you can find here.
While you are on my Facebook page, make sure you follow me so that you can get updates when I post there, which is generally more often than I do here, at least at the moment.
I have then modified the sketch a little, extended the panel with the main image and added a layer behind it, to create a different look altogether.

I hope you are enjoying a crafty Sunday wherever you might be.
It’s a chilly day here, the start of winter, and we have the fire going, so I will be enjoying staying warm in front of the fire today, and perhaps creating something different.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List
Inspirational Sketches Cling Stamp Set (English)
$44.00
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
$14.00
Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1
$32.00
Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock
$20.25
Early Espresso A4 Card Stock
$20.25

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Stampin’ Up! Let’s Set Sail

My card today features both retiring items, some that are staying on, and some that are in the new Annual Catalogue and not available until May.

My son is an avid sailor so the Let’s Set Sail stamp set with the matching Sailboat Builder punch was a bundle I had to have! But I am sad that it is retiring. It will be staying in my own personal stash though.

I’ve watercoloured the background behind the boat and used some of the new In Colors, Shy Shamrock, Summer Splash and just a touch of Peach Pie. The boat has been stamped in Shy Shamrock and some of the new Basic Beige. I’ve also used some Balmy Blue and Azure Afternoon ink for the watercolouring, along with a tiny touch of Starry Sky ink.

And behind the watercoloured panel is some of the new Lily Pond Lane Designer Series Paper which is also available in May in the new Catalogue – just one of many perks of being a demonstrator, we get to play with new goodies before they are released publicly.

I do hope it’s your best day ever!!

Happy stamping!

Chris

Delightfully Eclectic Covered Notebooks

It’s been a very busy few days in our house with two different markets in different towns, along with all the preparation and travel that goes along with that, it makes for quite an exhausting few days.
We began doing market stalls as a way to sell my son’s beautiful woodturned items, and since I had to be there (as designated driver, since he hasn’t got his driver’s licence yet), and like to be there to support him, I thought I would try selling some of my own items.
And these covered notebooks have been the most popular items.

These notebooks have been covered with the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper, the large flowers fussy cut from it using my trusy Paper Snips, and that has been paired with some retired Dainty Flowers Designer Series Paper.
They are a great way to use up retired DSP as well as bits and pieces of all sorts of things, and they make lovely and useful gifts – great for customer gifts, there’s plenty of room for a long Wish List!

I hope you are having a lovely relaxing weekend, and getting some crafting time.
Happy stamping,
Chris

Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper is on sale right now, and you can find it in my online store here.
You can browse the rest of the store here.
And don’t forget the fantastic special available if you would like to join Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator.

If you prefer to scan a QR Code with your device, here they are……



Bouquet of Pink Flowers

I’ve been finding different ways to use my Stampin’ Up! supplies recently, and different ways to help keep my business alive and thriving. And that has involved a lot of thinking, playing and experimenting, which is always fun!

I made this bouquet of pink Flowers as a gift, and uses mostly retired or retiring items.

The Gerberas are 5 layers of Polished Pink cardstock punched out using the retired set of Daisy punches. The small flowers were die cut from a small flower die out of the Pretty Pillowbox Dies, and rose is white cardstock which has been sponged with Polished Pink ink, and the petals all hand cut using a pattern of my own. Some Opal Rounds were used for the centres providing a touch of bling.

And I’m going to say ‘Happy Stamping’, even though there was no stamping at all.

Chris

Technique Blog Hop – Masking

I am starting to get back into some group crafting and sharing, which is exciting, and a bit confronting, after such a long time of crafting on my own.
My first Blog Hop today, is with the Crafty Collaborations group, and we are focusing on the technique of Masking, one of my all time favourite techniques because it can be done in so many ways.
Today, I have decided to keep my card very simple, and I’ve featured the leaf stamp from the Sale-a-Bration set Beautifully Happy.

I have used my Stamparatus to keep everything lined up, and used a one inch strip of scrap paper across a piece of Basic White cardstock, as a mask.

I’ve then inked up my stamps with Soft Seafoam Ink, and using a Sponge Dauber, added some Shaded Spruce and a tiny touch of Cajun Craze ink around the edge of the leaves.

Once I felt I was happy with the leaves, I removed the mask, and stamped a sentiment from the Wildlife Wonder stamp set.

This is such a simple technique, but so effective. I’ve layered this onto some Shaded Spruce to frame the main layer, and then onto a Soft Seafoam card base.

Here is where you will find the other’s taking part in the Blog Hop.
Happy Hopping, and Happy Stamping!
Chris

Stampin’ Up! On The Horizon Masculine Card

I am loving experimenting with the Layering Designs Vellum right now. Have you seen it? It’s one of those items in the Mini Catalogue that is kind of hiding in plain sight, on Page 33, and which is a gorgeous addition to all sorts of projects.
My card today is a simple masculine card, featuring the trees from the On The Horizon Stamp set, paired with the Beauty of the Earth Designer Series Paper.

That strip of Vellum changes the entire look of the card but is such a simple addition.
Vellum can be difficult to stick down, you can see tape or glue through the Vellum, but in this case, I have used the tiniest dab of glue in the corners, just behind some of the pattern, as well as some glue in the area behind the main image. And that is enough to keep it in place.
You could always add some brads, or twine to hide glue, but this has worked really well.

Happy stamping
Chris

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Stampin’ Up! Wildlife Wonder Quick Card

Sometimes I just need to make a quick and easy card, that allows me to create without too much thought, or stress or time. And that’s what today’s card is. Quick, simple and easy.

The owl, a sentiment and a few sprays of flowers stamped directly onto the Beauty of the Earth Designer Series Paper, which is then mounted straight onto a card base of Merry Merlot Cardstock.
Done!
Now I need to get on with cooking and getting food prepared for the next few days.

Happy stamping!
Chris

Product List

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com