Zig Zag male card

This was the easier option of card to make on Saturday.  I have used the new Chevron embossing folder but before embossing the folder has been swiped with an ink pad, so that when put through the Big Shot it inks up the colour into the unraised sections.  The technique is a little random so you can never really be sure whether you will get a good coverage of ink.  Guess that's part of the charm of this idea.  The stamp is from Serene Silhouettes and has just been inked in Staz On with the edges of the black done using the paper piercer also.  A lot easier than the previous card but still good. 

 

Another Framelits card

You can tell I love my framelit dies by the number of times I use them.  This is another card from Saturday.  People had a choice of this card, which was a little more involved, and the next one I will post.  Even now I think this one needs something more, but I ran out of ideas and time.  

The image is from one of the new stamp sets that I absolutely had to have.  The set is called Serene Silhouettes and has four stamps, this one, Friday's design,  a solid circle with a branch of flowers and a butterfly, and lastly a set of three trees, all obviously in silhouette.   

The stamp was coloured in with markers first and then cut out with the framelits.  A piece of Cherry Cobbler was also cut out with the next biggest  framelit and we used the new Paper Piercing Pack around the edge.  You can't see very well in the photos but there is a tiny line of pinholes all around the edges of the red framelit shape.  Next we used the Edgelits Dies on the white with the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder.  And finally the Stripes Embossing folder for the final piece of Cherry Cobber.  

One of the ladies changed the design slightly and hers is below.  I think that maybe that's what was needed - a sentiment of some sort and the white backed with Cherry Cobbler.  

 

Apothecary Double Fold Gate Card

We had a great time at our card class on Saturday, and this is one of the cards we made.  I had seen this card on the internet and wanted to try it, but of course when I went looking for it again it took ages to find.  Note to self:  Next time you see something you like, add it to your bookmarks!  

This card is one of those clever folds called a Double Fold Gate Card.  Pretty self explanatory really.  I have used the 2012-2013 In Colour DSP in Calypso Coral.

 

To make you need a sheet of DSP 12 x 5 1/2 inch.  Score at 2, 4, 8 and 10 inches and then mark on both sides at 2 3/4 inches.  Cut from this mark to top of 4 and 8 inch and then the triangle that you cut from the top is turned over and glued to the opposite corner.  You do need to be pretty accurate with your cutting points so that it all lines up.  The insert is 5 x 3 1/2 inches for the backing mask and 4 3/4 x 3 1/4 for the white.  Stamp and colour one of the images from Apothecary Art set and cut with the framelits and this is stuck down on one side only between the points.

And the inside ..  

On Saturday they were able to choose whichever colour they liked; Calypso Coral, Indigo Island, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade or Pool Party, and these are the final results.  The Limeade version was for someone who did not attend but will complete it later.  Which do you prefer?

 

A set of cards

Apologies for all the old and retired products used on these cards.  I promise there will be some new things soon.  

Actually, this set is still current.  Delicate Doilies has a set of four stamps all designed to look a little like lace doilies that your grandmother used to have.  The card was part of a set of 10cm cards I made a while ago to give away as a gift.  

Can you see where I stuffed up on the flower card?  I managed to get a little bit of ink on the side of the stamp which ruined the whole thing.    Isn't it the way that when you do stuff up it's usually about the last thing you had to do.  

 

 I thought I had more in the set, but can't find the others.  Mustn't have photographed them.  

A baby card

Another beautiful weekend.  Summer is certainly on its way!

This is another card from the archives.  Sorry, but everything lately is for the class next Saturday.  Have used the now retired Stitched Stocking set, but instead of a male orientated card this one is obviously for a newborn.  The sock has been cut down at the top slightly to make it more like a baby sock.  I have also used the French writing from French Foliage again on the edges.  Can you guess which is my favourite stamp?  The Congratulations was from the Baby Steps stamp with the little elephants. 

 

Craft Sale

Just passing on the info.  This is a great craft sale to attend.  They have about 10-15 demonstrators selling of their retired products at bargain prices.  Not to be missed.  See you there.  

 

GIANT Craft Sale!

It’s on again!!! We’re having our 5th Annual Giant Craft Sale.

We have cleaned out our cupboards again and have lots of items that need to find new homes. There will be stamps, scrapbook supplies, ribbons, embellishments, hand-made cards, gifts (perfect for Christmas) and lots, lots more. Everything will be priced to sell, so come along and grab a bargain!

When: Saturday 13th October

Time: 9am - 12pm

Where: Blacktown East Presbyterian Church

Corner Heffron Rd and Gallop Grove, Lalor Park

We’ll also have morning tea (gold coin donation), plus Lucky Door Prizes to be won.
Please spread the word!

Another birthday

This is another of those card that I couldn't post on here until the person's birthday had arrived.  I have made this card almost identical to a previous one on here, but this time in Calypso Coral.  

I'm not sure which one I prefer.  What about you?  Calypso Coral or Indigo Island/Lucky Limeade.   

Going out for dinner tonight to celebrate my friend's 60th birthday.  Happy birthday Beth.  

A couple of oldies

I haven't anything new to show again, so have had to search back into the archives.  I have a class coming up in two weeks and am working on that, but nothing I can show you yet.  

This first card was made using the flower from the Asian Artistry Hostess set.  I have just stamped it randomly, even though someone told me there is no such thing as stamping randomly - we always place it where it would look best apparently.  So, this has just been stamped and then coloured with the blender pen and then a greeting added. 

 And the elephant from this card was in a previous mini catalogue and is called Baby Steps.  The diagonal stamp was not a SU one.  The card was made for a friend who just had a baby.  Green for a baby girl?  You know I don't like traditional colours.

Hope to have something new to show you on Friday. 

A little vintage

What a great weekend. We had a family BBQ lunch on Saturday, and a lazy day on Sunday.  Just what was needed.  Hope you enjoyed your weekend.  

I also had a little clean up of my stuff on Friday afternoon.  You know all those little bits and pieces you seem to collect on the way.  Like when you go to someone's house and use their stamp sets and stamp random images with the idea in your head to make something with later.  And then you never remember what you were going to use them for!  Well I went through all that and packaged the bits in a cute little box for my neice Lily to use.  Took them up on Saturday and she wanted to start creating right away.  

This is the card I made for my mother in law's birthday.  The lady is not a Stampin' Up image, but I think she is just so elegant and needed a simple old world type card. The card is a gate fold card and I have used Crumb Cake and and Early Expresso inks.  

And the inside ...

 

A 6 year old card

No, I don't mean the card is 6 years old, I meant the card is for a six year old.  

This is for my niece, the one who came and played crafty with me last weekend.  The card needed to be bright and colourful and something suitable for a girly girl.  My options were owls, butterflies or cupcakes.  Lily really is more of a princess/shopper type kid, but you have to work with what you got!

I know it's the same layout as one before, but ...

And the inside ....

By the time I had finished, it was after 8.00 so no natural light for photography, only flash. 

And the chaos left behind ....

 

Indigo Birthday

At last something I really liked and enjoyed working on.  In an earlier post where I was saying I had so much stuff on my desk and so many ideas of what I wanted to do and needed to have it looking just right, this was one of the cards I was working on.  This was for one of my friends who makes the most amazing things, cards, scrapbooking and off the page stuff, so I needed this one to be good.  

I bought some of the 12 x 12 textured cardstock (see the grainy lines through it) and Island Indigo is one of my favourites at the moment.  Teamed with Lucky Limeade and the look is very crisp (in my opinion - you may think otherwise).  All edges have been sponged and inked up with the french script and water droplets from French Foliage and the butterfly is on vellum with white embossing powder.  Add one of the stamps from Apothecary Art, coloured with a blender pen and then cut with Framelits.  

As you can see, I even did an inside for it. 
 

Two more extra special ones coming up soon.

Male birthday

This one was made for Greg's birthday.  Not one of my better ones, but once again I was in a bit of a hurry.  

The stamp set here is Stitched Stocking and there were five different types of socks and you could also get a punch to cut them out.  Great for male cards.

Greg usually thinks of something clever for me for Mother's Day and my birthday, but when his time comes around I am usually stuck for an idea.  Mind you, everything he wants or needs is either soooo expensive or it's something he needs to pick out, so unfortunately this year for his birthday we gave him T shirts, boxers and a book called Velocity.  The others were a necessity, but he is really enjoying the book.   

We had our almost 6 year old niece stay with us on Saturday night.  She came down so she could spend time with the kids and us and also "craft" with her aunt.  It was lovely having a little person interested in all my stuff.  Lily made a card for her Dad for Father's Day and a little petal cone die basket for herself.  It had so much stuck to it, but it actually looked quite good.  I hope she comes again soon.    

Introducing the New 2012-2014 Stampin' Up! In Colors

Today is the first day of the new Stampin' Up catalogues; both the annual catalogue, which will be current until the end of June 2013, and the smaller mini, now called Holiday catalogue, which will be with us until the end of January.

As usual, with every new annual catalogue we get a new set of In Colours which stay with us for two years now.  This year's colours once again have lovely names to complement them; Raspberry Ripple (reddish), Summer Starfruit (yellow), Midnight Muse (deep blue), Primrose Petal (pinkish) and Gumball Green (guess).  These five colours are all designed to coordinate and compliment each other.  I haven't actually seen them in real life yet, mine are yet to come, but if you would like to see a comparison of these colours with some of Stampin' Up's other colours, Mary Fish, a demonstrator from America, has posted a few cards on her site to show you.  You will also see a few of the new products from the catalogue as well.  

Here is the link.  Her site is well worth a visit - she has some great ideas.