Monday, July 31, 2017

Stamp Review Crew | Carols of Christmas Bonus Hop

Hello and welcome to a special Bonus Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop using the Carols of Christmas Stamp Set. This a a fabulous new Christmas Set with a co-ordinating Thinlit Die Set. Such a fun set to get started with your Christmas cards and creations.

https://stampreviewcrew.blogspot.com/2017/07/carols-of-christmas-bonus-hop.html

Today is the last day for Stampin' Up! demonstrator pre-order of this set and you as the customer can order it from TOMORROW!! YAY! So while you are waiting for the clock to tick over to 1st August here are a few ideas for you to get your creative brain thinking on what you can do with this fabulous stamp set.

Carols of Christmas set

Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies

So it's time to get into some early festive fun with some packaging creations using the stamp set and thinlit dies.

I'm really loving packaging ideas at the moment. I usually stick to cards but I keep getting these gift packaging ideas and my creations for today are no exception.

I've made some sweet pillow boxes and then embellished them with that big, bold 'Peace on Earth' stamp  and some of the other elements from the Carols stamp set and the Card Front Builder Thinlits Dies. I didn't realise that Pillow Boxes are so easy to make and before you know it you'll be pumping them out they are that easy. They are perfect for those smaller gifts like jewellery, gift cards, money, smaller cosmetics... What every you want really. I found this tutorial HERE on Pinterest on how to make these fun Pillow Boxes. So easy!



Both of the boxes have a belly band using the Be Merry DSP. I thought this cute Reindeer print went perfectly with the Reindeer from the Thinlit set. So fun. And then on both the Pillow boxes I've heat embossed the 'Peace on Earth' using White Stampin' Emboss Powder. This one is embossed on Vellum with a piece of Cherry Cobbler card stock behind it.


The Peace on Earth Panel on this box has been treated with the Chalk Board technique. I love this look and I think it teams up so well with that fun font of the words from this stamp. Give the cardstock that chalkboard look just heat emboss your image with White Stampin' Emboss Powder, wait a minute for it to cool and set and then swipe Whisper White Craft Ink over the back cardstock so it looks like it has been dusted with chalk. So easy yet it gives such a fun look.


All finished off with some gorgeous trims and embellishments for that fun Christmas look. 


I hope that I've given you another idea on using this set. Just something a little fun and cute.

Now on to Mickey Roberts with here fabulous creation using this awesome set! I'm sure she will give you some more inspiration.

http://www.paperconversation.com/2017/07/stamp-review-crew-bonus-hop-carols-of-christmas.html
Mickey Roberts

http://www.stampingwithval.com/2017/07/31/carols-christmas-stamp-review-crew-blog-hop/
Valerie Moody

If you are after some more Carols of Christmas ideas check out these creations HERE.

Purchase the Carols of Christmas stamp set and the Card Front Builder Dies separately or get them together in a bundle and Save 10%. Ask me how you can get these fun products.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Live in Australia?
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Recreate these gift boxes at home using the following Stamin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see the product information and to shop from my online store.
 

Friday, July 28, 2017

Just Add Ink #370 | Just Add a Sketch

Hello, Hello. It's sketch challenge week over at Just Add Ink. Yay! Love a fun sketch! And this week do we have one for you!
I've really wanted to have a play with this DSP since I first got it a couple of weeks ago. Especially this striped sheet. Isn't it so pretty! Love, love, love it. It's from the Whole Lot of Lovely DSP pack from Stampin' Up! and it sure is a whole lot of lovely that's for sure.


So basically I picked some of the colours out of the DSP pack to team up with the striped DSP piece and then built on the card from there.

 Click on the colour name to see all the Stampin' Up! products in that colour


Once I had decided to use the striped DSP I built the card with some products that were sitting around me at my desk. My desk is so messy at the moment, I had a lot to choose from! 😬 Ha! Time for a clean up and a bit of and overhaul.


How gorgeous is the Layered Leaves embossed circle?? This is one if the newer 3-D Dynamic Texture Impressions Embossing Folder. They create deep, dimensional embossed impressions and really make for a beautiful and very textural embossed panel.


Love the layers of the ribbon, trim and thinlits on each side of the circle. Did you see the Touches of Nature Wooden Elements. These are so cute. You can have them with the wood texture facing up or they have a white finish on the other side. Just a matter of preference and the look that you are going for as to which side you want facing up.


Lots of layers, lots of elements and texture and a little bit of fun all the things that I love in a card and my take on this weeks sketch.

Make sure you head on over to the Just Add Ink Blog for all the Design Team Creations and to say hi to some of the new Design team members. While you are there check out all the details on this weeks challenge and I can't wait to see your take on this weeks sketch.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Live in Australia?
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 Recreate this card at home using the following Stamin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see the product information and to shop from my online store.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Stamp to Share International Design Team Blog Hop | Colour Theory Suite

Hello and welcome to this months Stamp to Share International Blog Hop. We are hopping a little later than normal this month due to a lot of the DT fortunate enough to go on the Stampin' Up! Incentive Trip to Thailand. I hope you all had a fabulous time. I saw lots of photos from other demonstrators and it looked like the most amazing time.



This month our focus is on the Color Theory Suite. Lots of amazing products in this suite and lots of versatility. There is the most amazing stamp set, Colorful Season, with something for every season and the co-ordinating Seasonal Layers Thinlits. Also in the suite, which I haven't used today is the Color Theory DSP 6"x6" stack, Glitter enamel dots and even a Memories and More Card Pack for your memory keeping. Lots of amazing products. LOTS!


While the stamp set and thinlit dies is not typically made for your Christmas crafting, I've gone down the Christmas theme today for more Christmas in July fun. It's never too early to start I say!

I've made my very first shaker card and some gift tags as well to pretty up all those gifts under the tree. Although it's not winter here in Australia at Christmas time I do love the magical feel of a 'White Christmas'. My husband and I both have quite a few relatives in the Netherlands so we might have to take the kids O.S. to experience all that is for a Christmas in Winter. One day.

My shaker card isn't the usual shaker card with the foam adhesive between the two acetate sheets. I've just put double sided tape (Tear & Tape) between the two Window sheets so as all the 'shaker' goodies don't all fall to the bottom of the card.  All the shaker bits can still move and shake but it does make for a different shaker card look.


To cut out the rectangle shape I used the Layering Squares Framelits and first cut out a square and then slid the square framelit down to cut again making a rectangle shape. When cutting with the square shape for the second time make sure that the framelit is lined up perfectly so that the lines of the rectangle are perfectly straight.


I've die cut the snow flakes in Dapper Denim, Marina Mist, Soft Sky and Silver Glimmer Paper. The shaker pretties are the smallest snowflake in Silver Glimmer Paper, Silver Glitter and the Iridescent and Silver Sequins from the Metallics Sequin Assortment.


Because the two Window Sheets are quite tight together, the shaker goodies don't all fall to the bottom when you stand the card up. And because the card isn't so thick, it makes it easier to send this shaker card in the mail.

The Merry Christmas comes from the Star of Light Stamp Set. I first inked it up with Versamark and then straight on to the Dapper Denim Classic Ink, stamped it straight on to Vellum and then quickly poured over Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder for extra dimension and texture to the sentiment. Also if you clear emboss any ink that you stamp onto vellum you will have less of a chance of smudging the ink and you don't have to wait for it to dry.


My gift tag is quite simple in its execution but that is what I think makes it beautiful. Sometimes less is more. I had forgotten about the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch but it really does make for super quick tags. I cut the tags out of Soft Sky cardstock and then stamped the snowflake image on to the cardstock with Soft Sky Classic Ink for that tone on tone look. After that I then flicked the Soft Sky Stampin' Write Marker for some fun tone on tone splatters and another fun look to the cardstock.


Over the stamped snowflake I die cut the smallest snowflake die out over vellum and layered it over the stamped snowflake image. Next on the white panel adhered the largest snowflake onto it. It looks like it had been embossed by and embossing folder thus creating a faux embossed look. I did brush Clear Wink of Stella over this larger snowflake but my camera just couldn't pick it up.

Because I used Shimmery White cardstock for these white pieces and then brushed over Clear Wink of Stella it really does have a beautiful sparkly look adding to that Christmas/Festive/Winter look.


All finished off with the smallest snowflake die cut with Silver Glimmer paper, Silver Metallic Thread, Merry Wishes stamped and clear embossed on to vellum and Silver Metallic-Edge Ribbon.

I love the Soft Sky and White colour combo. Its a gorgeous look and perfect for that Christmas/Wintry feel.

I do hope that I've given you some more and different ideas using this fabulous Color Theory Suite and I'm sure that you can use some of the other images from the stamp set and the thinlits dies to create a different look and feel for a different season.

Now on to Sandi MacIver all the way over in Canada for her fabulous creations.

http://wp.me/p6OinC-2wU

If you do get lost along the hop, here is a list of the Design Team members - Just click on their name to get you going again.


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Live in Australia?
 Shop for Stampin' Up! with me 24/7

 Recreate these creations at home using the following Stamin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see the product information and to shop from my online store.

Friday, July 21, 2017

#tgifc117 Theme Week - Summertime Blues

It's that time again for a new  and fun challenge over at TGIF Challenges #117. Its a fun Summery Theme. With us here in Australia still in the middle of Winter, this weeks theme is making me wish desperatly that it was Summer.


The brief of this weeks theme is to let this theme inspire you however you see fit, but get at least a touch of blue in there though!!!

 The 'Summertime Blues' that I like to go to in Summer is to have a day at the beach swimming in the coolness of that beautiful water on a hot summers day! Here in Melbourne where I live we are about 20 minutes from the beach. That makes it a bit easier for a fun day out at the beach. With that I've created a beach scene using varying shades of blue from the Stampin' Up! colour families and accented it with the Color Theory Suite and the clouds from the Up & Away Thinlits Dies.

I started by die cutting the larges cloud from the Up & Away Thinlits dies out of a scrap of card stock and then used that cloud as my template for my sponged cloud background.  I just used the Stamping Sponges and the Soft Sky Ink and then dabbed some ink around the edge of the cloud template to sponge the cloud outline. You keep moving the cloud template across the card and put it in a random pattern so it looks more life like.


The next part of the beach scene and to create the water is to rip some strips of different shades of blue cardstock to create the varying colours of the water. The tears across the cardstock also look like the waves or ripples in the water and the way that the light reflects the different colours. I did sponge the edge of each piece of 'water' to with Whisper White cardstock to create the whitecaps that come to the water at the top of the wave.

Because tearing the cardstock breaks the fibres in the cardstock this also gives a more realistic look to the water and the waves across the ocean.


Its all finished off with that fabulous Adirondack deck chair and a gorgeous bright sun in the sky on a fabulous stretch of sand. And you can't have a day out at the beach out on a gorgeous deck chair and a fabulous drink in hand. That looks like pure bliss to me.  Can't wait for Summer and spending some time at the beach. Bring it! 

 Click on the colour name to see all the Stampin' Up! products in that colour

I do hope that you will check out all the other creations from the rest of the TGIF design team and their fabulous Summertime Blues. There is lots of inspiration for you to admire. Make sure you check out all the details on how to enter your creation and I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Live in Australia?
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 Recreate this card at home using the following Stamin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see the product information and to shop from my online store.

Stampin' Up! Artisan Blog Hop | Colourful Seasons

Hello there stamping friends. Welcome, welcome to another Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop. We are bringing you lots of different ideas using the Colourful Seasons stamp set.

You may have come from my wonderful friend Paula Dobson in New Zealand or you may be starting here with me. Either way I'm sure you will get lots of different ideas using this set and hopefully something that you haven't seen before.

Here in Australia we are coming up to my favourite time of the year when all the spring blossom starts to come out and are in full bloom. Here in Melbourne it usually starts at the end of July, beginning of August, in the last weeks of Winter. I just love all those soft, pretty gorgeous blooms in all their pinks and whites. I would love to get to Japan one day when all the Cherry Blossom are in bloom. That would be amazing!!!

 I think another reason why I love to see the blossom come out is that it means that Winter is nearly over and the warmer weather will be coming back very soon. I'm not a winter person at all. I suck it up and not really complain about it cause I think that there isn't much you can do about it but I don't have to like it.

So with all that rambling on I wanted my card today to represent those fabulous spring blossoms in all their prettiness.

To make this card I started with making a template the same size as the Shimmery White cardstock front layer and then used the Layering Circle Framelits to position and die cut out the circle to where I wanted it to be on my card.


The next step was to position, stamp and clear emboss the branches and the smaller blossom images to where I wanted them to be on the card. I laid my template over the shimmery white layer and then lined up the branch stamp to stamp it down. The same was done for the blossom stamp with the template still in place, creating the perfect mask. Here's a tip - If you don't want your template to move when stamping, stick it to your cardstock base with some washi tape. Its really easy to peel off and won't ruin your card.


The next part, with the template in place was to sponge the Pool Party Circle. I just used a Stamping Sponge and sponged the Pool Party Ink in a circular motion until I achieved the desired coverage. This is the reason why I embossed the branches and the blossoms in clear embossing powder so as not to ruin the colour of them and so as not to blend all the colours together.


Again still with the template in place I used the Berry Burst Stampin' Write marker to flick some fine ink splatters. Such a fun look those ink splatters and its fun to do to. Just make sure that you don't have other projects close by as they may get covered in ink splatters too!


To finish off this spring card I added a spray of blossoms down the side die cut from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits. I did paint on some Clear Wink of Stella over these but its really hard to photograph. I think you can see a slight shimmer. It looks so gorgeous and shimmery in real life!

Click on the colour name to see all the Stampin' Up! products in that colour

I hope I've given you some seasonal inspiration using this set. I'm now really looking forward to those blossoms coming out!!

Now on to the super amazing Shannon Lane in Canada. Now that's another place I would love to go to too!! For now it will have to be vicariously through others or through the virtual world.
Live in Australia?
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Recreate this card at home using the following Stamin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see the product information and to shop from my online store.

Sunday, July 16, 2017

Ribbon Photo Mobile

This post originally appeared on the Stampin' Up! Corporate Blog on 14th July, 2017.

I'm so very excited to be showing you my creation today and the love (obsession) that I have with the ribbons that Stampin' Up! has to offer this year in the new annual catalogue.

If you've been following me on Instagram or Facebook, you'll know that my first order from the annual catalogue was pretty much all Stampin' Up!'s new ribbons. Swoon!!! They're just stunning and I for one am a very happy girl with what they're offering. There's something for everyone and every occasion. So with that I've made two ribbon photo mobiles and accented them with the Daisy Delight Stamp Set (item 143669) and the Daisy Punch (item 143713).
I made the blue version first and then thought: Why not make a pink one, too? My original idea when I first started thinking about this mobile was to create a blue one and accent it with the Daisy Delight Bundle (item 145361).

 Making the mobile is pretty straight forward. Find a stick from your backyard, cut it to the desired length, and sand it down with some sandpaper until you get your desired look and feel. Cut the ribbon to the desired length. I just measured three times the Stampin' Up! Grid Paper (item 130148) for the length of each ribbon. This ended up being 1.2m or 3.9 feet for each length. I then found the middle of each length and tied the ribbon on to the stick.


 Once all the ribbon is on, you then decorate and embellish it how you want. I cut some Designer Series Paper and cardstock to the size of a Polaroid photo so I could clip it to the ribbons later with the new Gold Library Clips (item 144130)—or you could use the Gold Binder Clips (item 141673).


The blue version was inspired by the colors in the Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper (item 144137). The ribbon colors for the pink version came from a picture of a baby blanket that I saved on Pinterest because I love the color combination so much. I did try to use this color combination for another creation a while back but I just couldn't get it quite right. I think it looks stunning in this instance, though. I may be a bit biased, however!


The ribbons used here from left to right: Daffodil Delight 1/4" Double-Stitched Ribbon (item 144116); Night of Navy 1/2" Gingham Ribbon (item 144232); Pool Party 3/8" Shimmer Ribbon (item 144152); Whisper White 3/8" Classic Weave Ribbon (item 144159); Old Olive 3/8" Mini Chevron Ribbon (item 144196); Linen Thread (item 104199); and Night of Navy 5/8" Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon (item 144189). I just love the array of color!!


On some of the “Polaroids” I added some Gold Glimmer Paper (item 133719) hearts to make it a bit more pretty. The heart comes from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies (item 137547). When making this project I realized that I don't have any heart Framelits except that one. Time to rectify that!


I stamped four of the daisy images from the Daisy Delight Stamp Set in Daffodil Delight ink (item 126944) on Shimmery White Cardstock (item 101910). I then punched them out using the Daisy Punch. Tip: To give each daisy a fuller, more realistic look, bend each petal back by running the side of the Bone Folder (item 102300) along the back of the petal. (This breaks up the fibers in the cardstock a little.)

 Once the petals are curled, adhere two of the daisies together with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755) to make a fuller daisy. For the daisy centers, I stamped on Daffodil Delight Cardstock (item 119683) with Daffodil Delight ink, punched them out using the 1/2" Circle Punch (item 119869), then glued the punched circles to the flower centers. So that the “white” parts of the petal didn't look so stark, I used a Blender Pen (item 126185) to pull a light wash of ink over the petal.


Don't you just love the colors in the pink version? This one I thought I might give to my daughter to hang in her room and then she can add photos of her friends as she wants. I used the following ribbons from left to right: Calypso Coral 1/4" Ombre Ribbon (item 144235); Basic Black 3/8" Shimmer Ribbon (item 144129); Powder Pink 1/2" Finely Woven Ribbon (item 144134); Peekaboo Peach 5/8" Crinkle Seam Binding Ribbon (item 144192); Basic Black Solid Baker's Twine (item 141682); Flirty Flamingo 3/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (item 144227); and Silver 3/8" Metallic Edge Ribbon (item 144213).


I wanted the daisies for this one to look a little bit more like Gerberas. I stamped Powder Pink Classic ink (item 144084) on Powder Pink Cardstock (item 144244), again making sure that I curled the petals with the Bone Folder. I love the soft, pretty look of the tone-on-tone ink and cardstock. The centers this time are the new Clear Faceted Gems (item 144142). They're super gorgeous and are available in gold, as well.


 To make this one a bit more fun I stamped the letters for the word “Friends” using the Letters for You Stamp Set (item 141968) and Flirty Flamingo Classic ink (item 141398), then die cut them using the Large Letters Framelits Dies (item 141712). You can change the letters or leave them off altogether as I did with the first mobile.



Again, I used cardstock to make some “Polaroids” and then (when my daughter is ready) she can add the photos she wants. This time I used Smoky Slate Cardstock (item 131202) for the “Polaroid” backing and flicked the Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker (item 131261) over it for some fun splatters. The hearts are again from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies, this time die cut from Flirty Flamingo Cardstock (item 141416). So fun and so pretty!
Thanks so much for joining me today. If you have a love for the Stampin' Up! ribbon and trims but hoard them away in a drawer because they're too gorgeous to use...don't! Get them out and use them!! I'm sure they'll be that thing that you were looking for that your creation was missing and they'll give it a lift. Or get them out to make some sort of mobile. Its superfun to do and you'll be surprised by how quickly it comes together.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
 
Live in Australia?
 Shop for Stampin' Up! with me 24/7

Recreate these projects at home using the following Stamin' Up! products. Click on the images below to see the product information and to shop from my online store.