Tag Archives: cardmaking

Let’s Be Royal

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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

It’s a “Howdy” Challenge

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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

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

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

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

“Stamp of the Month” Club

Posted in Stamp of the Month Club by

 

Did you ever buy a stamp set that you just loved, but then once you got it home you didn’t know what to make with it?
“Stamp of the Month” Club is about giving you ideas, inspiration and projects that will help you make the most of the stamp sets you buy.

How does it work?
Every month I will choose a stamp set from the Stampin’ Up! catalogue (either current Annual catalogue, or current mini catalogue), but I am open to suggestions 🙂
You will purchase the stamp set plus 2 lots of embellishments.  I will send you your stamp set, the full packs of your embellishments and instructions for at least three projects to make using them.  You might just get a small gift from me as well 🙂
You can take part in “Stamp of the Month” Club from anywhere in Australia.
I will also post on my blog, a variety of samples and ideas using the stamp of the month set, throughout the month, to give you even more ideas that you can use!

Cost for each month will vary according to which stamp set and embellishments we are using, however I will be trying to keep the cost to below $50 per month.  I will also allow for “by the metre” ribbon costs, rather than expecting you to buy the entire roll of ribbon.

Stamp sets will be clear mount, however if you really prefer the wood mount version, then please contact me and we will work out a deal.  Keep in mind that they do cost more for me to send to you.

If you already have the stamp set that I have chosen for that month, but would still like to take part in the club, again, just contact me and we can work out an alternative stamp set for you to buy at an equivalent price.

In celebration of the new Annual Stampin’ Up! catalogue, being released on the 1st of September, the first stamp set we will be using, for the month of September, will be Betsy’s Blossom.  It is not available until the 1st of Sept but you might just get a few sneak peeks before that.  So stay tuned.

More details coming soon too 🙂

Dynamic Duos

Posted in Big Shot, Cards, Field Flowers by

Uh oh, I found a new challenge to take part in!!  Dynamic Duos challenge #7 this week, is to use the colours Melon Mambo and Basic Black – yummo, what a sensational combination!  I’ve combined this with this week’s sketch challenge from Freshly Made Sketches. And here is the result:

I have used Field Flowers stamp set, and embossed the flower image with white embossing powder, directly onto the Melon Mambo Cardstock.  The black layer has been dry embossed using the Big Shot and the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  The greeting is from the Perfect Punches stamp set, with some pink half-backed pearls (non- Stampin’ Up!).  Some strips of white card stock punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, and some of my favourite faux stitching in black, as a finishing touch.
Loving this colour combo!

Happy stamping!
Chris