Colour Creations – Smokey Slate

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This week’s Colour Creations colour is Smokey Slate.

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I haven’t made a masculine card for a while, so thought this was the perfect colour for it.
For those of you have been following along for a while, you will probably remember that I really enjoy making masculine cards.  I know many people find them difficult but I enjoy designing and making them, and inspiring you to as well.
I have combined the Smokey Slate with Basic Black, Basic Grey and some of the Graceful Glass Designer Vellum which I have layered over the top of the Smokey Slate.  This Vellum is another of the retiring products which I am sad to see go – it is gorgeous!
Smokey Slate Masculine

The Basic Grey has been run through the Big Shot in the Cable Knit embossing folder which gives such a lovely texture to the card.
I am not entirely happy with the word panel, it’s not quite what I would like but I had limited options.  I may still take it off and change that part when I have a few more stamps and supplies.
For some more inspiration on using this great colour in your projects, just click here.
Happy stamping!
Chris

The Blues

It’s been a pretty traumatic and full on few days for my little family.
On the Thursday before Easter, my son injured his finger quite badly, while using a bench grinder in his workshop.
Needless to say, most of our Easter has been spent either in one hospital or another or travelling interstate so that he could have surgery on it.
But we are home and he is doing really well.
And I really needed some time to wind down, so……
I did some stamping, of course!
Monochromatic Butteflies

I made my card using a monochromatic colour scheme for the current Global Design Project challenge.
The photo isn’t great because it is a very cloudy day here, but the base card is Night of Navy and I have used the gorgeous Balmy Blue for everything else.  The white layer also features the Subtle Embossing Folder, although it’s a little hard to see it in the photo.
And of course those gorgeous butterflies from Butterfly Gala, along with the coordinating punch, which I am very happy to say, is carrying over to the next Annual Catalogue.
The butterflies have been coloured using Balmy Blue ink and Blender Pens.

Hope you are having a crafty Easter.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Colour Creations – Real Red

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I am joining in with the Art With Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop this week, and we are using Real Red on our projects.
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My ink colour pallete is rather limited at this stage, so I am having to rely on the cardstock I have on hand, and some bits and pieces that my lovely upline, Judy May, has sent to me, so that I can keep the creativity going.
Judy sent me this gorgeous heart and the “Happy” word, both in Real Red, so they were perfect to use for this Blog Hop.
Real Red 2019

The heart is Die cut using the absolutely gorgeous Be Mine Stitched Framelits dies, which I just love!!  So gorgeous.  Definitely on the Wish List!

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Isn’t it pretty?
So many beautiful die available, I want them all.
I also love Embossing Folders and this one is another particularly lovely one, it’s called Layered Leaves.   Another one on my Wish List!

If you would like to see what the rest of the Blog Hop team have made using Real Red this week, you can find the list here.

Happy Stamping!
Chris

 

Country Floral

I had heaps of fun over the weekend with some lovely ladies who came to my home for a class, and we made this set of cards.
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I wanted to show them how it is possible to use the same items and similar layout and create three very different cards.
The cards feature the gorgeous Country Floral Embossing Folder, which is just so beautiful.
I have combined this with some different patterned papers, the Gingham Gala and also the Garden Impressions.
So pretty.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Crafty Boots Butterfly Challenge

The current challenge at Crafty Boots Challenges is to use a Butterfly on your project.
Anyone else love Butterflies?

I do.  And I certainly love using them on my cards and papercraft projects.
This card was fairly quick and easy to make up, and again, uses some of the gorgeous new Stampin’ Up! products about to be released.
The lovely embossing folder which is framing the sentiment is called Floral Affection, and comes as a set of two folders.  I just happen to love my embossing folders, so they are always top of my wish list!
This card also uses my favourite of the new In Colours, called Sweet Sugarplum, and the butterfly is die cut from the new Playful Palette paper stack.
Happy Stamping!
Chris

Monochromatic

We have a Monochromatic challenge at The Male Room for the next fortnight.  You can choose any colour your like, just make it all blues, or all neutrals, and of course, all masculine!

My brick wall embossing folder has been a little neglected, so I thought I should get it out and use it for the background of my card.  I have then sponged the raised areas.

 

I have used a combination of Crumb Cake and Soft Suede for my colours, with white, which has been sponged –
a lot!
The train image is from the Traveler stamp set, and I have gone through my stash of old buttons and brads to find the hardware!
We do love seeing your wonderful projects, so please share them with us at The Male Room.
Happy stamping!
Chris

A Month of Christmas Cards

That is my plan, to post up a Christmas card each day of December – whether or not the silly season takes over, is yet to be seen, however I will give it my best shot, to give you some inspiration for your own Christmas cards.
And since today is the first day of December, here is my first Christmas card for you! 🙂

 

I have made a few in this style, so you might see a couple of these (is that cheating?). It is basically a one layer card, apart from the bauble.  I have embossed the card front with the Boughs and Berries textured embossing folder, then cut a plain bauble out of the gorgeous Red Foil, then one of more elaborate baubles to go over the top in the Very Vanilla cardstock.  Both baubles are from the Delicate Ornaments Thinlits dies.    The Merry Christmas sentiment comes from a retired stamp set called More Merry Messages, however you could use one of your own favourites.  You could also stamp it directly on to the card front if you are game (or like using stamp positioners), for this one though, I chose to use a separate flag the layer above the embossing.
Stay tuned for more Christmas inspiration.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Dragonfly Dreams Ribbons and Bows

For this month’s challenge at Dragonfly Dreams, we  have all been adding gorgeous Ribbons and Bows!
Our sponsor is A Day for Daisies, and I chose the gorgeous “Music” image to work with.

Isn’t she just gorgeous? I love the pretty layers of her dress and the old fashioned Pianoforte she is playing.
Come and join us for the Ribbons and Bows challenge at Dragonfly Dreams, we love to see what you have been creating.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Black and White Challenge Reminder

A quick reminder tonight, to share your Black and White projects with us at Crafty Boots Challenges.
My card this week uses this wonderful digital image from Imagine That!

I have used a music notes embossing folder for the background with some gorgeous shiny black and silver ribbon.

I am entering my card in the current challenge at Crafty Cardmakers – the challenge is to use a sentiment.
Happy crafting!
Chris

Add some Texture!

One of my favourite ways of adding texture and interest to cards, and other projects is with Embossing Folders.  I think I am addicted to them!
This week’s Just Add Ink challenge is to add some texture to a project, so I did! 🙂

This card was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest recently (it didn’t have a name on it, so unfortunately I can’t give the person credit for their idea), and since I am also currently addicted to my Blendabilities, I thought I should combine the two.
The background was embossed with the Beautifully Baroque embossing folder, and the butterflies from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set were masked, stamped in Black Memento Ink and then coloured with the Blendabilities.
I am also going to enter this one into the SUO Challenges, where the current challenge is to use Markers or Blendabilities 🙂

Happy stamping!
Chris