June Stampin' Up promotion

Stampin' Up have a new promotion coming up in June where you can get a free stamp set.  The set is called "Reason to Smile" and there are 7 stamps in the set.  I think it's a gerbera (but have heard others call it a daisy) and there is a side-on view (as used on the card below), a top view (which you will see on Friday hopefully) and then a smaller flower.  The set is a two step one, which means you stamp the main image and then there is a shadow or outline image which goes over the top, or underneath, whichever way you choose to use.  The last stamp is for the centre of the flower, which I googled and can't find the word for, ? stigma.  

Anyway, to get this set for free all* you have to do is spend $125 and you can choose either wood mounted or clear.  Maybe get a few of you to order together and then share the set around.  For two step stamping, or images where you definitely need to use a stamp position, I prefer to get the wood mounted.

If you don't want to spend that amount of money, but still want the set, you can also purchase it during the month of June, $35-95 for wood or $28-95 for clear.  Am happy to help if you wish to purchase. 

Have made a card using the set and this is not at all how I planned it.  I wasn't entirely happy with how it turned out, but needed to send the card off. 

Have used the Stripes embossing folder, First Edition papers and the ruffled ribbon from the current mini.  The butterfly from Nature Walk also makes an appearance on the greeting.  The circles are done with non-SU Nestabilities - Lacey Circles.

* A little bit of sarcasm - I know $125 is a lot of money to spend on crafty stuff in one go!

An unintentional watermark

Catching up on all my favourite websites I found this card by Sandi MacIver that I thought I would try to copy.  I don't have all the bright papers that she has, so decided to use some of the ruffled ribbon instead.  This is my first version.

Then I thought it looked a little plain and realised I had forgotten the butterfly she had in the top right hand corner, so stamped a dragonfly but it looked flat, so stamped another, cut it out and mounted it on top.  Also put a greeting on the bottom and used a circle behind to make it stand out better.  Then had to photograph again and decided to put the card on the water feature instead of the ground to save bending down.  Of course the wind would have to come up just then and the card dropped into the water, fully submerged.  So now I have my own watermark on my card, only it's not quite the watermark I wanted.  

Apart from the ribbon sagging slightly, I think it the second version looks better.

Stamps are from Simply Soft, one of my favourite hostess sets, French script and postmark from Foilage Foilage and dragonfly from Asian Artistry, a retired hostess set. 

Nature Walk

There's something relaxing about butterflies and hopefully the colours in this card also convey the sense of calm.  These are the 2011-2013 In Colours; Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Island Indigo.  The butterfly is from the Nature Walk set, stamped in VersaMark on the Indigo background and then Black on the cut outs.  Anyone who knows me know that I enjoy cutting out small and challenging pieces.  These butterflies have been popped up on Dimensionals to help them stand out.  

You can't really see it, but the butterflies also have a layer of Glossy Accents on them to make them sparkle and shine. 

A little Vintage Vogue

Vintage Vogue was another stamp set that I had to have when it came out.  It was originally in a mini catalogue, but I was pleased to see it then made it to the main one as well.  To me the small flowers look like Lazy Susan, but I didn't really want an orange card, so pink it is.  Actually Melon Mambo and Pink Pirouette.  Have also used the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder and Edgelits Dies on here as well.  

When you cut out flowers a neat trick is to "shape" the petals by bending them over a skewer or pen to add a little depth to their shape.  I only remembered to do this on the last two I stuck down, too late to pull them back up.  Shame cause they look so much better I think.  

Grunge Rock

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and spent some time doing what you enjoy.  I had the chance to have a play with my stamps on Saturday after a busy week.  Was feeling a little overwhelmed at first, so decided to try to copy a card from the catalogue.  This is my version of the card on page 60 using the Grunge Rock set.  

Teenage kids are hard to make cards for, but this set works well even if they are not really into music.  Not sure I like the green guitar, will have a play around with colours to find something better.  

Cupcakes anyone?

This having a job is interfering with my stamping life.  Instead of having everyday off to do what I want, and before that only working 2 days a week, I now have to work three days and then fit all that boring stuff in too like housework, washing, shopping, etc. I guess it will take a while to get used to this new schedule.  So, apologies for lack of a Wednesday post.  The last thing I wanted to do Tuesday night was get on a computer!

Above without flash, below with flash, neither accurate colours.

The card was extra long to accommodate the cupcakes

The lighting in these is disgusting but I was in a hurry to get going.  The cupcakes were made with the Cupcake Builder punch from Stampin' Up.  Each piece punches out separately; the base, topping, candle and flame, so they were a little fiddly but I love the look. The background of the card is Very Vanilla with Vanilla, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue icing.  The icing has been embossed to add a little dimension and the corners of the card are also embossed.  It looks much better in real life.

A bit of Stampin' Up news - In May you can join Stampin' Up for $169-00 instead of $285-00.  The starter kit has been dropped, so you can spend your $169-00 on whatever you like from the catalogue.  It can be stamps, papers, tools or embellishments, whatever you want.  As an added bonus in May you will receive a free paper pack every month until December.  Would love to hear from you if you are interested. 

Mother's Day card

Hope you had a relaxing weekend and all the mum were spoilt on Sunday.  This is the card made for my mother in law.  It is a duplicate of the one made previously but with a colour change.  Lots of embossing, sponging, distressing and water colouring.  And even the inside as well.  

I've never really liked the technique of distressing - why ruin perfectly good cardstock, but it suits this style of card.  


By the time you read this I will have started a new job in Blacktown.  Hope we both like each other and work out.  

 

Mid week trip and a card

Greg and I returned home yesterday from a night away at Echoes in Katoomba.  I was given a voucher when I left work earlier this year, and we finally got away to use it.  Echoes is a Boutigue Hotel perched on the edge of the escarpment in Katoomba and has great views over the valley below.  Our room was very luxurious with a door onto the balcony, and then through the garden to a lovely sunny grassy area, just great for lazing about, dreaming and reading.  Dinner was included, and for dessert I had a delicious rhubarb tartlet with a strip of white chocolate with colourful patterns in it.  Looked pretty spectacular.  Thursday morning after a leisurely breakfast looking out over the valley we took a trip around the area to the scenic railway, skyway and cableway, and then we took a walk to the Leura Cascades.  I remember our family used to holiday up in Katoomba quite a bit so it was a nostalgic walk down to the Cascades.  After an icecream in Leura and a visit to the lolly shop where we found different flavours of Skittles, we travelled back to reality. 

The front entrance to Echoes.  The MX5 looked quite good parked out the front.  At least the car fit in, even if we didn't

Beautiful room, with views to the garden and beyond

The gardens, with a dorky tourist enjoying the sun

The view at breakfast

Leura Cascades

Echoes is a beautiful place and I am so pleased we had the opportunity to enjoy it.  Thank you to my old work.  

And where's the card?  This one has minimal stamping and a few rub ons.  Sounds simple, but as you can see I didn't line the stamping up very well.  

 

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums.  Hope your children look after you well.  We are off to Glenbrook for lunch with the family.  Enjoy your weekend.

Another Rue Des Fleurs birthday

Hope you're not groaning at another card using this set.  This corset really was the stamp that sold me on buying it, not sure why.  I don't think I am a frilly girl, much rather jeans and boots kind of person. 

Have used my favourite First Edition Newsprint DSP as background, stamped the corset in VersaMark, embossed in clear and then sponged the stamp, darker in the middle and  gradually lessening on the outside.  I was really happy with this one, loved the colours too. Sometimes cards are hard to give away after the time that goes into them, but at least now I remember to take photos of them. 

Countryside

Don't you love the old ute in this card.  It's from a set only available in America, and a friend recently let me borrow it for a while.  My Dad had his birthday on Saturday, and this is the card I sent up for him. 

Only a little bit of colouring, but I didn't want to stuff it up with the wrong colour.  

Also made another card, masked the image and shaded around the edges.  Not quite even, but still effective. 

Two more new products from the mini

It was such a beautiful day yesterday that I thought I would try some outdoor photography.  Have been looking at the layouts in a couple of magazines and decided I should try something a little different than sitting cards on the desk.  Stay tuned! 

Have found another set that I "have to have".  These cards use the Apothecary Art set and Framelits Labels Collection from the latest mini catalogue.  There are four different stamps of varying sizes and two greetings (the other one So Grateful) and they are designed to coordinate with the Framelets dies.  So you simply stamp the image and then use the die to cut out the shape, and then choose a slightly larger frame to back it.  So easy, and also very elegant.  I don't actually have these YET, but was able to borrow for a trial.  

If you double click on the photo I think you can make it larger if you want.  These cards also use a few more products from the mini; some of the new papers and also seam binding ribbon, which initially I didn't like, but it's very easy to tie into a bow. 

More variations on a theme

This is another card we made on Saturday.  Once again, the original was Regal Rose and then because I know that some people don't like pink, I given them a choice of colour.  

 

My favourite is the middle one - Wisteria Wonder.  

The card below was the one I enjoyed making the most.  Have used the "rock and roll" technique to ink up the leaves from the French Foliage set.  No idea what I'm talking about?  You stamp the image in the lightest colour, and then roll your stamp around a darker colour ink pad to give it the two colours.  Just make sure you use the lightest one first or else your ink pad will change to a colour not of your choosing.  You also need to clean off the stamp every time you stamp - a bit annoying, but well worth the effort. 

Oops, it's a bit dark.