Easy Easel

At last, I got around to trying one of these Easel Cards out the other night ... and it was "easel"y one of the "easel"iest cards I've made in a long time.

Sorry. Got a bit carried away there, but I'm over it now *g*.

Anyway, this is the card which inspired me to finally make an easel card ... I love how she has used the little flowers from the Trio Flower punch to hold the card up - so clever - so I snaffled the idea for my card.

I put each little flower onto the the foam pad out of the Mat Pack and pressed down in the centre with the end of a pen - this was to shape the flowers a little so they would sit up around the edges and catch the front of the card when it is open.

My version is very much on the "simple" side - I was a bit short on time and space when I made it, so had to stick to the basics, but it was a very easy card to make with a high degree of "wow" in the presentation - my favourite kind of project!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Inspired by Nature
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Other: Trio Flower Punch, Vintage Brads, Mat Pack

Warning - Sunglass Alert!

So this came out a little, um, brighter than I had anticipated (and in real life, it's even more startling). You can't say you weren't warned. And it could have been a lot worse - imagine if I had slipped some Summer Sun in there as well!

Having said that, I really love these colours together. Just have a look at this, the card on the left here and this (well, there's no red in that last one, but just imagine if there was!). You wouldn't think that a pale orange, a bright pink and a lush red would work so well, but *shrug* who am I to argue?

This card was made using something called a "serigraph" technique (you can view a tutorial here). I chose not to use embossing in this piece, as you can see. Ran out of space, really. And I like it without.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Heartfelt Thanks
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pixie Pink, Real Red
Cardstock: Pixie Pink, Apricot Appeal, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Sneak Peek - New Stuff (part 3)!

The third of my sneak peeks to share with you just a few of the goodies soon to be available from the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue (official release April 1).

This is just so cool! If you (like me) love the stamp set "Fifth Avenue Floral", which among other things contains a gorgeous rose stamp, you're going to love this embossing folder!

Here I have taken a tip from Patty's Stamping Spot (wow, what an awesome talent!) and looked at the flower from a whole different angle, so to speak. The result is stunning and so easy when you know how it's done.

And have you noticed? I have been a little adventurous in my colour choices for the last few cards. Here we have Apricot Appeal teamed with Chocolate Chip and Tempting Turquoise (thanks Gail for the suggestions!), with a little Real Red sponged on the flowers.

You will also notice the Scallop Oval Punch - don't forget that while this punch does not appear in a current Stampin' Up! publication, it is still available for order (the code is 114889) along with a select few other items (refer to this post for full details).

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Best Yet (Hostess Set)
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal, Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Apricot Appeal, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Other: Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Tempting Turquoise 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch

Sneak Peek - New Stuff (part 2)!

More new stuff for you to admire *g*.

Last time I showed you a card made with the Top Note die and a new set called Vintage Vogue.

Today, it's the die again and this awesome punch (which includes the bird, wing and branch, all in one). And a new colour combination (Old Olive, Apricot Appeal and Chocolate Chip - who would have thought they would look so good together?).

If you would like to see more of the Autumn / Winter Mini Catalogue, email me and I will mail you out a copy.

There is a lot of new stuff in the Mini Catalogue, in fact it's a little larger than usual to fit it all in! And a lot of new innovations as well which I can't wait to share with you!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Cottage Garden
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive
Cardstock: Old Olive, Apricot Appeal, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Other: Top Note Die, Extra-Large Two Step Bird Punch

Sneak Peek - New Stuff (part 1)!

My next few posts will be dedicated to providing you all with a little taste of what is coming up in the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue next month.

Because Stampin' Up! have decided to change the "catalogue year" to September-August (rather than April-March as it has been since they started out in Australia in 2006), they have decided to bring out a kind of "super-mini" catalogue to get us through the next few months.

And as a demonstrator I am lucky enough to be allowed to pre-order some of the goodies contained therein!

So what do we have coming up? Can't say too much, but perhaps this card will give you a clue ...

See that gorgeous vanilla layer? Wanna know how that was done?

Email me for a copy of the new Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue and find out!

(or I could just tell you it's an exclusive die made for Stampin' Up! by the lovely people at Sizzix) (but email me for a copy of the Mini Catalogue anyway *g*).

And did you see the colours I used? I have to say, I didn't realise just how good Very Vanilla, Old Olive and Perfect Plum looked together until now. They really suit the vintage look of the stamps, too.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Vintage Vogue
Ink: Perfect Plum, Old Olive
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Other: Top Note Die

Happy Birthday Gail!

A few days ago, my friend and upline Gail celebrated her birthday. As is traditional, this card was made on her actual birthday and posted the next day - nothing unusual there *g*.

I CASEd the design from the talented Ilina Crouse (although I see my CASE is a CASE of a CASE she CASEd ... did you follow that? Anyway, the design is awesome so I borrowed it).

I remembered that I bought some of the Fine Supernova glitter a while back, so added the pink glitter to the butterfly to act as a body.

Love this butterfly stamp set and punch ... and if you do too, remember that it's in the Summer Mini Catalogue, so there is only a couple more weeks to grab it!

Contact me for more details!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Inspired by Nature, Butterfly Prints, Short & Sweet
Ink: Old Olive, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Old Olive, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Other: Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Butterfly Punch, Fine Supernova Glitter

CASEing cards

I wanted to make a card. I had no inspiration. What to do?

CASE someone, that's what.

The lovely and talented Simone recently posted a cute card on her blog, and I just had to make something similar (as it turns out, very similar *g*). I changed out the colours and added an extra layer or two, but how easy is it to make?!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: I {Heart} Hearts, Best Yet (Hostess Level 1)
Ink: Real Red, Going Gray, Basic Gray, Basic Black
Cardstock: Kraft, Real Red, Whisper White
Other: Heart to Heart Punch