The salvaged card

Another short post tonight, I wanted to share a card that I started a week or so ago, but put aside because it just wasn’t going together.

Yes, we all have those, sometimes things just don’t feel right and don’t go the way we think they are going to.

My solution has always been to put it aside and do something different. My challenge has been, going back to those projects that weren’t working out, to try to finish them. And it’s one of the things I am determined to continue to do – complete those projects, and use the scraps and little pieces that are left over.

So my card was originally one that I was making to feature on the Wild Wheat Colour Creations blog hop, and it does have some Wild Wheat, but not very much.

My card features the Color and Contour stamp set along with the Elegant Eucalyptus embossing folder.

Don’t forget the fantastic joining deal that’s on during June. Reach out if you have any queries. In the meantime, happy stamping.

Chris

Wedding Fair Flowers

We had a crazy busy weekend, getting everything ready, then set up for, and then the Wedding Fair at Oakland’s, Pambula on Sunday. But I thought I would share some photos of our set up, my son’s gorgeous woodturned pieces, and of course, some paper flowers.

The Wood Warrior

The focus of our set up was, of course, my son’s work, his beautiful woodturned cake plates, and so much more that he worked incredibly hard to get ready for the day.

However it was a real privilege to be able to compliment his work with some of my own. So here are some photos of the flowers, all handmade by me from cardstock, Designer Series Paper and some florists wire and a hot glue gun!

Oh, and I forgot the sheet music I used for the bouquet above.

It was a huge effort by both of us, and we are both taking some time out to rest for a couple of days but I’m sure we’ll be back in creative mode very soon.

Happy stamping!

Chris

Colour Creations Stampin’ Up! Copper Clay

This week’s Art With Heart Team blog hop features the new In Color, Copper Clay, another versatile colour, which I have combined with several of the other new In Colors for my project today.

I have made a standard Z Fold Card, with some Copper Clay cardstock as my large piece at the back, and Basic White cardstock for the front Z. And I have featured the adorable Happy Hedgehogs stamp set for my card today.

For those of us who a financially challenged in the current climate, along with a colour reset plus a new catalogue, brings the question of how to make the most of the new colours without breaking the bank, and I have chosen to buy the pack of Stampin’ Write markers, and use these to colour the images.

The trees have been coloured with Copper Clay for the trunk and branches, Old Olive for the leaves, Moody Mauve for the flowers and Wild Wheat for the buds. And the bird is coloured with Pebbled Path.

I hope my card today makes you smile, I just love these gorgeous little hedgehogs, with their friends.

And for some more inspiration, it’s time to hop along to see what Tina Gillespie has made using Copper Clay.

If at any time you find a broken link, please head to the blog of this week’s host of the AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop Cathy Proctor, who will have a list of all the participants in the Blog Hop.

Happy Stamping, and Happy Hopping!
Chris

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Stampin’ Up! Colour Creations Boho Blue

Boho Blue is one of my favourite of the new Stampin’ Up! In Colors, and what better way to showcase it than to take part in a Blog Hop, with other members of the Art With Heart team.

My card features the Sending Smiles stamp set which I have coloured using Boho Blue for the flowers, Old Olive for the leaves and the new Wild Wheat for the flower centres. Add some Night of Navy as a dark contrast and some of my favourite Fresh Freesia as a pop of different colour. And I decided it was time to have a go at making one of the Vase Fun Fold cards, so here is what’s on the inside.

A vase of gorgeous Boho Blue and Fresh Freesia flowers!

As you can see from the first image, the card folds flat for sending, and the Vase pops out using a simple but clever mechanism.

And now it’s time to continue hopping along to the next inspiring Boho Blue project with Di Furniss.
We enjoy your comments so please leave us some love along the way.

If at any time you find a broken link, please head to the blog of this week’s host of the AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop Cathy Proctor, who will have a list of all the participants in the Blog Hop.

Happy Stamping, and Happy Hopping!
Chris

#colourcreationsbloghop

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Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Colourful Technique with Embossing Folders

My card today features a great technique using embossing folders and sponging shared by US Demonstrator Lisa Freeman, which you can find on here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/live/sPBk3ozLTSI?feature=share

I have no idea what the name of the technique is, but it was a lot of fun!

My card features the Elegant Eucalyptus Embossing Folder and I’m enjoying playing with the returning colour Berry Burst, which is just soooo yummy!

Here’s the inside of my card…

And below are some other embossed panels that haven’t been used yet but you can see how the technique shows up. Check out Lisa’s vid, it’s a lot of fun playing with this technique.

Happy stamping!

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

A Special Thank You

Today’s card is a Birthday Card, made for a very special lady, who single handedly allowed my Stampin’ Up! business to stay afloat in 2022.

Not only did she consistently place orders with me, but she collected them from a neighbour as well. Enough orders so that I could continue as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator into 2023 and beyond.

So, Anne, thank you is not enough, thank you with all my heart, for all that you have done to help me in the last year. And Happy Birthday.

Every demonstrator needs an Anne!!

The card I made for Anne uses the Abigail Rose Designer Series paper, this time coloured with Watercolour pencils.

The stamped panel uses stamps from the Sentimental Rose kit. And one of the things I most love about Stampin’ Blends is being able to change the colour of the pearls.

The inside of the card features a fold over of the DSP with a separate pull out card underneath for words.

Happy Stamping everyone,

Chris

Sit Stay Relax

Today’s card is inspired by the current colour challenge at TGIF.

I’ve used the Sit Stay Relax Host set and kept the layout nice and simple.

Little kitty has been stamped separately with Memento ink and coloured with blenders, then fussy cut and adhere to the chair. It reminds me of just how one of our own kitties often sits, with one leg hanging over the edge. So cute!

It’s quite a hot day here in my part of Australia, so with all the curtains and blinds drawn against the heat and glare, the Early Espresso looks almost black.

Hope you are having a crafty day. And staying cool!! Happy stamping,

Chris

Join the Team

Do you love crafting?
Would you like a discount on your craft supplies?
Do you regularly restock your craft supplies, or have friends who do?
Are you new to papercrafting and would love to know where to start?
Are you a former demonstrator who would love to get back into stamping and papercrafting?
Are you a crafter who would like all the early information, discounts and perks that go with being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator?
Would you like to find a strong and supportive family of other papercrafters to engage with and get inspiration and help from?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, then this is an amazing opportunity for you!

The Start with Savings Promotions ends on the 30th November 2021, and is a wonderful opportunity to start your own business, in any capacity, whether that’s a full time business or a hobby, or anything in between. At just $130 (normally $169), you can choose $235 worth of your choice of Stampin’ Up! products. Now that’s a good deal!
On top of this amazing deal you will also get:
A minimum 20% discount off retail prices
Free catalogues to share with family & friends
Access to demonstrator only events
See new product releases & access to new products early, through exclusive pre-order opportunities.
And plenty more!!!
If you live in Australia, and you are interested in what is currently on offer, please feel free to reach out to me, I am happy to answer any questions you have, you can find my contact details here, or leave a comment below with your email, and I will contact you.
You can also find more information and a link to sign up here.

I am looking to work one on one with more team members, to support you in whatever it is that you would like your Stampin’ Up! business to look like, and also have a supportive and active larger community that you would be part of.

So I hope you will start by just asking me the questions you might have, who know where it might lead you.
Happy stamping!
Chris

Darth Vader Technique

When I first started stamping in 2008, this was one of the first techniques I was taught . I’m sure there are other names for it but that’s what we called it, the Darth Vader (from Star Wars, for those that don’t know) Technique.

The reason this was one of the first techniques I was taught is because it uses Stampin’ Write markers to ink the stamp, and at the time, you could buy these markers individually, making it a cheaper way to get more colours in my stash.

Both the stamps were inked with markers on this card. So why is it called the Darth Vader Technique? Once the ink is on the stamp, it’s important to “huff” onto the stamp, the humidity from your breath keeps the ink damp enough to create a nice clear image.

I did a video of making this card on my Facebook page this morning – you can find a link to the page on the sidebar, so please drop in and say hi and leave a comment.

The card used the Elegantly Said stamp set, Scalloped Contours Dies and the Hand-Penned Designer Series Papers.

Happy stamping

Chris 💜