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

Hello, Irresistible

As soon as I saw this divine Designer Series Paper, it became a “must have”. Actually a “must have immediately!!” Such beautiful colours and designs.

My set of cards is inspired by one made by a US demonstrator, Amy Koenders from stampwithamyk.com.

The only stamping on these cards are the sentiments, everything else is from the DSP pack. This first card is similar to the one Amy made, and then I’ve used different colours from the DSP.

Which one do you like best? Originally I thought the first was my favourite but today it’s the middle one. Maybe tomorrow I will like a different one best.

If you love this paper as much as I do, and you live in Australia, you can order this through me. It’s not in any of the catalogues though, this is only available for a short time.

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

Tea and Cards

I hoping to make a regular time to go live on my Facebook page, and eventually to link it up to my YouTube channel as well, but one step at a time.

And I’m calling it Tea and Cards. I’m hoping you will make yourself a cup of tea and join me. Here’s what I will be making live on my Facebook business page.

I plan to go Live tomorrow morning, Monday 30th January at 10am Sydney time, for the first of my version of Tea and Cards.
Make yourself a cup of tea (or coffee) and join me for some crafting fun. You can choose to just sit back and watch, or have all your materials ready, and create along with me. Here are the measurements and materials you will need to create this easy fun fold card.
I hope I have the Imperial conversion correct.
The card I am making tomorrow will be in different colours to the one pictured.
I would love to have you join me for some crafting time together.
See you then,
Chris

One piece of Designer Series Paper or other patterned paper of your choice: 30cm x 14.4cm (12 in x 5 3/4in) – I’ll be using the Dandy Designs DSP from the Sale-aBration catalogue.

One piece of matching cardstock: 14.9 x 10.5cm. (5.5 x 4.25 inches),
plus two more pieces of cardctock in the same colour: 11.5 X 8.5cm (4.5 X 3 3/8 inch), these two pieces are to layer under the white Die cut pieces.

Two pieces of white cardstock diecut using the Scallop Contours Dies, using the second largest of those Dies.
Plus some large scraps of white cardstock to fussy cut the flowers.

Beautifully Happy Stamp Set (from the Sale-aBration catalogue, or stamp set of your choice.

Ink pads in colours of your choice, to match or contrast with your patterned paper.

Glue, Dimensionals, scissors, clear blocks and other tools as needed.

Embellishments if your choice.

I hope you will come and join me, so that we can craft together. Here’s the link to my Facebook page, and there’s also a link in the side bar.

https://www.facebook.com/dotdotstamping?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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

It’s been 10 months…??

I can’t believe it has been ten months since I last blogged. Ten months or more really, of being without the slightest bit of inspiration, totally mojo-less, and really struggling with everything creative.

Thankfully the urge to create started returning a few weeks ago, yesterday I started de-stashing my crafting space with the intention of sending out a heap of cards to people, and finally, finally getting back into stamping and creating again.

So, without further ado, here it is….

I started with a piece of the Abigail Rose Designer Series paper from the current Annual catalogue, which I have coloured using Stampin’ Blends, the flowers in Mango Melody. The centres of the flowers were coloured with Real Red and Mango Melody blended over the top to change the colour.

I fussy cut two of the flowers, one raised on Dimensionals on the front, the other on the inside of the card.

I love how vibrant these colours have turned out.

If you are still here, and have been patiently waiting for me to return, thank you, I am very grateful.

Let’s hope this year is one of creativity, love, laughter and fun.

Happy stamping,

Chris

Try Stampin on Tuesday Sketch # 547

This week at Try Stampin on Tuesday, we are using this sketch for our projects, with the option of adding some Metallics.

For the background of my card I have used some of the Symbols of Fortune Designer Series Paper which has the gold foil embedded in it.
The circle element is a die cut from the Encircled in Beauty Dies, with a strip of the Layering Designs Vellum to the right.

The main stamped image I have kept soft and subtle by using Stampin’ Write Markers to colour the stamp from the Elegantly Said stamp set. The colours I have used are Fresh Freesia for the flower, Soft Succulent for the leaves, and then some Basic Grey and Smokey Slate.
Make sure you come over to Try Stampin on Tuesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have created with this sketch, and please join in, we love to see your creations.
Happy stamping!
Chris

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Stampin’ Up! Crane of Fortune – Kylie’s Demonstrator Training Blog Hop March 2022

Thank you for joining us for our Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrator Training Program Monthly Blog Hop! We are so happy that you could join us today for this blog hop for ideas and creative inspiration. We are a group of Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrators from around the world that are taking part in training that is helping us to build a successful Stampin’ Up!® business and reach some goals we have set. We really appreciate your support.

You may be starting here or have come from another blog – either way you can find the link list at the bottom of this post so that you can see every blog post today.

For my card today, I have chosen to feature the Crane of Fortune Stamp Set paired with the New Horizons Designer Series Paper in a Book Fold Card.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
As mentioned at the top, this is a blog hop so make sure you ‘hop’ around to all the amazing projects on this hop! Click on the links below to visit them.

1. Kylie Bertucci – Australia  
2. Beth McCullough – Stamping Mom – USA  
3. S. Kelli McConkey – InkyHandsWarmHearts – USA  
4. Angie McKenzie – USA  
5. Julia Zimmer – Germany  
6. Rachel Aziamadi – Scrapinium – France / Germany  
7. Jessica Hart – Australia  
8. Dawn Bourgette – Dawn’s Creative Chalet – USA  
9. Beverley Evans – Australia  
10. Nancy Reynolds – USA  
11. Diane Evans – Stampin With Diane (Canada)  
12. Angela Meiritz-Reid – Stamping Beauty NZ  
13. Anne Marie Jakubiec-Canada  
14. Robbie Rubala – USA  
15. Rookaya Parak – Canada  
16. Theresa McEntee-Theresa’s Treasures-USA  
17. Mo Rootes – UK  
18. Tracy Held – Trace Of Creativity, Australia  
19. Cheryl Hurst – Australia  
20. Christy Gridley – Christy’s Stamping Spot – USA  
21. Sandie – stampwithsandie.blogspot.com – UK  
22. Trish Soliman – Australia  
23. Diane Gardner – DeeDeesDazzles.com – USA  
24. Melva Peters – Stamping With Melva – Canada  
25. Janice Piechowiak – USA  
26. Kelly Taranto – The Late Night Stamper – USA  
27. Judith Patterson – USA  
28. Candace Birch, Knotty Birch Studios, Idaho, USA  
29. Jenna Moore – Jenna’s Crafting Studio – Canada  
30. Denise Cox – Birdsnest Designs – Canada  
31. Laurie Bellard – Lauriebstamping – USA  
32. Rebecca Nutley – Australia  
33. Leonie François – Prulleke – the Netherlands  
34. Verna Mullen – StampinNotes – USA  
35. Mandy Witherby – Australia  
36. Laurie Bradshaw  
37. Julie Brown – USA  
38. Jessica Brigden -JessBCreativeCardiology – USA  
39. Sue Sanders, USA  
40. Bonnie Sanche – Bonnie Creates – Canada  
41. Teah Woodward – Stamp with Teah – US  
42. Jan Bassett – USA  
43. Theresa Conway-Hayes – USA  
44. Lesley Seabrook Canada  
45. Heidi Collins, On Y Go! Stamping – USA  
46. Marilyn Pearen-Creating Art With Marilyn -Canada  
47. Robyn Lawton – Australia  
48. Kate Bolt U K  
49. Jennifer Blaschak-Card Zen by Jen- USA  
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The Male Room Animals Challenge

For the month of March at The Male Room Craft Challenges, the focus is on projects featuring Animals.
The Stampin’ Up! Wildlife Wonder stamp set fits the bill perfectly!
And I have gone a little different with my card, and used the Book Fold design, which is quite easy but a little different to a standard card.

The Wolf is stamped directly onto some of the New Horizons Designer Series Paper, along with some very soft and subtle images of the flower spikes. The strip of wood-look paper on the left is from the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper.
If you have been following along with my projects recently, you will know that I have started stamping the reverse side of the card:

And decorated the inside of the card with some strips of the same Designer Series Papers but left quite a lot of room for writing a message to the recipient.

I have left my card without a sentiment. For some reason I am feeling the need to create blank cards, cards that can be sent without a specific reason or sentiment attached, but more as a way of staying in touch.

Happy stamping
Chris.

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