Fresh Cuts Polished Stone

 

This is a new technique I have been playing with.

I have wanted to do this since I saw one of my fellow Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators, show it earlier this year at the Stitches and Craft show.

The background is called “Polished Stone”.

You get a cotton wool ball, soak it in rubbing alcohol, add a couple of drops of ink from the ink refills, and then dab it all over the glossy card stock. Wait until it has dried and add a stamped image in black.

When you use three different colours, it is easy to change the way a card looks, just by changing the base card. Another way to change things, is to rotate your image from vertical to horizontal.

 

 

 

I just love the way the Stampin’ Up! colours mix together. On the polished stone I have used Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. I have layered this onto Certainly Celery base and it blends wonderfully.

Twins

I was asked to make a card for a lady who was having twins. They didn’t know the sex of the babies, so it had to be in neutral colours. They also asked to feature a pram, somehow.

When I was doing a bit of research, a lot of the cards were either pink or blue or a combination of both.

Here I have used Certainly Celery and Barely Banana. Alternate the colours so that it blends well, then layer that against Very Vanilla and it becomes very soft indeed.

 

 

I couldn’t stop at one card.

I have just purchased glossy card stock and a brayer. So I was eager to try a new technique.

I found some small baby images and stamped them in versamark on the glossy card stock. You then ink up your brayer and roll over the card stock. This leaves you with a subtle image in the background.

Again, I have alternated  the two colours, attempting to blend and  bring the two separate parts to the card together.

Embossed Tree Swirled

Well we are certainly on the countdown to Christmas.

This is my first Christmas card for this year.

From the moment I saw Snow Swirled in the Catalogue, I just knew I had to have it. I am a big fan of flourishes. And considering I only saw snow for the first time ever last month, I just couldn’t resist.

I embossed the Xmas tree in silver, punched out a star and added some glitter. I don’t know whether the shape of the card has a special name, but the front is only half the size of the rest of the card.

 

I recreated the same layout using a normal card front. I must admit that the embossed silver stands out more against the black background. I also used the spritzer on the front as well.

Pomegranate Sorrow

 I had to make my first sympathy card a few weeks ago.

Oh…where to start?

Oh…how do I express the emotion?

Oh…how do I make it sound heartfelt, but not tacky?

I decided to head over to SplitCoastStampers. I already had the set Thoughts and Prayers, so that part was done. So I found this layout and changed the colours.

I had kept some Purely Pomegranate card stock and satin ribbon… (how I miss that colour), and teamed it up with Pink pirouette DSP and card stock. Ink it up with Sage Shadow, and top it off with Pretty in pink Brads.

I really like how this image isn’t over the top “flowery”, but has a nice gentle flow to it. Just change the sentiment and you could use this creation for a range of situations.

Fathers Day

Late. Not late in making Father’s Day cards. Not late in giving Father’s Day cards. Just late in posting Father’s Day cards.

This year I made two cards, as both my children wanted to give their own card to their father.

This first card uses a combination of stamp sets. Wanted, All Scallops, Oval All and Occasional Greetings.

Team this up with Old Olive, Ridinghood Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla card stock and some retired DSP.

Throw in Photo corner, Oval and Scallop Oval Punch. And lastly don’t forget to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig. That is how all of this has come together. The Stamp-a-ma-jig is the best purchase I have made. I don’t even put it away, it sits on my desk, waiting to be used again.

 

 

 

 

I have been waiting for over 6 months to use this ‘Lovely as a Tree”set on a Father’s Day card.

The technique used to add colour to the tree was taught to me by the talented Simone Bartrum. Firstly you stamp the image in Sahara Sand ink, then add colour with Pastels and re-stamp the image with Close to Cocoa. You definitely need a Stamp-a-ma-jig for this one. It makes the colour appear to be “within” the image, not just sitting on top.

I also wanted to try a Gatefold card as well, so this is how it looks on the inside.

Blue Forest

One of the other Stampin’ Up! demonstrators at the Quilt and craft show was demonstrating how to use the brayer. She made the image in the middle of the card using Versamark and masking and the Brayer and then restamping the image over the top.

I just loved it so much, that I could go past using it for my Dads birthday card last month.

I teamed it with Baja Breeze, Night of Navy and Basic Grey cardstock. The Weathered background stamp comes in very handy for making things very rustic. I couldn’t go past teaming it with one of the new stamp sets from the current mini catalogue – Oval All. And the scallop oval punch is getting a work out as well.

TriShutter 50th

 One of my Uncles turned 50 last month, so to celebrate the monumentous occassion, I decide to try my hand at the TriShutter card. I wanted to make it extra special, as there is only 8 years difference in our ages and he has always been like an older brother to me.

 Once you get the cuts and folds organised, it is just the limits of your imagination that help you decorate it. There is such a variety of techniques that I have used, but they have all bonded well.

There is watercolouring on the front cover, embossing and two step stamping in the middle, punches, glitter, markers and accessories at the back.

 

Card stock: Chocolate chip, Very Vanilla, Watercolour paper, Bella Rose DSP.

Stamps: Autumn Flair, Fifth Avenue Floral, Baroque Motifs, Lovely as a tree, Thoughts and Prayers.

September Special

 

As you can see, this is a great special from Stampin’ Up!

All you need to do is contact me to place your order and your free ribbon is on its way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baroque Matchbox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a card a did for a class a few months ago. I cased the inspiration from the matchbox card we were shown how to do at last years Regionals for Stampin’ Up! (another perk for being a demonstrator- being given ideas and tutorials).

I just love Raspberry tart DSP. Here I have teamed it up with Very Vanilla and Rose Red cardstock and Kiwi Kiss ink. Stampin’ Up! colours are great because you can mix and match with what you have and it will blend with more than one colour. I have used Old Olive ribbon and it looks right at home.

Crimped Crickets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a card I made for my nephew who turned 12. I must admit, I had a hard time making it feel age appropriate. (Or is that just me because I have a hard time making male cards?)

Anyway, the In Colours certainly helped overcome that. This is the first time I have used my Crimper. Using it for a male card almost gives it a “corrugated iron” feel. Just remember to stamp your image before you put the card stock thru the crimper. I also cut out and layered parts of the cricket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stamps- Bugs and Kisses

Card stock- Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa