Going shopping?

Aren't these little handbags so cute? I have seen them around the internet, even made a couple in the past, but this is the first time I've put them on a card.

They are pretty easy to make - you punch out a shape with your Round Tab punch and snip in in half. The handles are made using both the Small and Large Oval punches, and the flaps are just a variety of different punches trimmed down to suit. I have used brads for the clasp.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Ink: Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Night of Navy
Other: So Swirly Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Patterns Pack II Designer Series Paper (Level 1 Hostess gift), Round Tab Punch, Small Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Square Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Vintage Brads

Another challenge card

We're on a bit of a roll over at Gail Force Stampers ... this time Jo has challenged us to create a card using one of four sketches.

Here I've used the little birdie from the Summer Mini Catalogue set "For Everything", stamped in Chocolate Chip and coloured in with a Pretty In Pink Stampin' Write marker.

I sponged the edges of the Pink Pirouette strip, as well as the edges of the scalloped circle, just to add a little depth to the card.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: For Everything
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer

Little boxes

I was blog-hopping recently, and stopped by Jackie Topa's blog (she is amazing). One of her projects seemed so simple yet effective I had to try it straight away, and here is the result (yes, I know the photo is a bit dark - I was sick when I took the photo and didn't have the energy to sort it out).

The box is a little bit smaller than her version, at only 3-1/2 inches square rather than 4. This made it a good fit for the little 3 inch square gift cards I whipped up to put inside. As you can see, I've used my current favourite colour combination of Apricot Appeal and Pixie Pink here (I tried to get some Real Red in, but it just didn't want to happen).

After I took the photos, I decided to bling it up a little by adding glitter to the butterfly's body and the tiny flower on the wing - so cute!

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Priceless
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pixie Pink
Cardstock: Apricot Appeal, Pixie Pink, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Apricot Appeal 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Here's close ups of each element of this little gift set.

A Christmas card

I seem to be obsessing about this a bit lately, probably because making your own Christmas cards, while a noble pursuit which makes you feel awfully proud of yourself when it's all done, is a lot of work and can take quite some time to do (depending on how many you've got to make).

So with that in mind the last couple of workshops I have done have had a Christmas card theme throughout - trying to get everyone started early *g*.

This is a card I demonstrated at a workshop on Saturday (waves to Sue & friends!) which is super easy and very effective. Here I have used 2 Way Glue to add some sparkle to the baubles, because doesn't glitter just say Christmas?

How do you achieve this effect? Easy! Just punch some random circles in a scrap of cardstock, lay it onto your white piece and run a Stampin' Around Wheel over the top, then sponge a little co-ordinating ink around the edges. Chuck out your mask and add lines freehanded with the narrow end of a Stampin' Write marker for strings and there you have it - Christmas baubles!

I used the little "very merry" stamp from the Short & Sweet set (one of the ones on special this month) - a handy little set to have as it has six phrases for different occasions, and little images to match each one. It's so cute!

Here's a closer picture of the baubles. I love how it came out!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Short & Sweet
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Other: 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel, Jumbo Stampin ' Around Handle, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Sponge Daubers

I am in the process of making Christmas cards for our customers at my "real" job ... luckily it's a relatively small business, but that's still about 80 cards - *argh* what was I thinking? When I get them all done I will take a photo to share. I hope the customers appreciate them ...

Just messing about ...

... with Priceless yet again. I will have to make myself use other stamps soon. I picked up a couple of little shelving units on the weekend to store my Stampin' Up! sets in, so they are a little more accessible - hopefully this will cure me of using the same stamps over and over.

Then again, this kind of thing has never worked in the past, I can see no reason for it to start now *g*.

I know that this card was inspired by one seen ... somewhere ... whoever you are, I apologise for not attaching credit, but it was a great idea and ended up being a very nice card.

Sadly you probably can't see the sparkly glitter I stuck to some parts of the swirl ... take my word for it, it does look pretty.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Priceless
Ink: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Cardstock: More Mustard, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponges

Pretty Priceless

I just love this stamp set. And these colours (you've probably already noticed that). The pale Pretty in Pink contrasts really well with the strong Not Quite Navy and Purely Pomegranate. It's pretty hard to make a dud card with this set, although I have managed it *g*. Not that I will be posting any of my failures, you don't need to see those!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Priceless
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Purely Pomegranate
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Other: Word Window Punch, So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel, Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle, Stampin' Dimensionals

Wedding Card

A member of my upline's group was recently married (congratulations Flick!) so of course I had to attempt to make a card for the happy couple. Naturally I didn't get it made before the wedding, but I did manage to catch up with her a couple of weeks later.

Now Felicity is a big lover of the colour pink - even her stamp room is pink! - so of course that's the colour I used. I had no idea just how pink it was going to come out, but sometimes that's how it happens when you're working on something - it takes a direction you didn't expect. Which is often a good thing!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Always
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Versamark
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel So Swirly, Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle, Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder, Stampin' Pastels, Stampin' Sponges

Pretty Butterflies

I have to admit ... this one is not an original idea of mine :-( but I wish it was! The layout was so pretty I just had to make one of my own with similar colours, because the soft blue, green and purple combination was too lovely to resist.

You can see the original here - I liked the white on white look but ended up going with Bashful Blue as a base colour instead.

I am so glad I finally got around to buying this stamp set for myself - it's just so pretty and swirly *g*. I can see myself getting a lot of use out of this one!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Priceless
Ink: Sage Shadow, Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Wheel, Stampin' Around Jumbo Handle, Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Waterfall card

I learnt how to make these a few years back, then promptly forgot how to ... my very first effort is still kicking about somewhere, I think. Anyway, I thought it was time to make another one, as they're fun to play with *g*.

You pull the tab at the bottom and the pictures flip over. Rather than using pictures as shown here, you could use words in to reveal a message as the tab is pulled. A message can also be stamped/written on the tab itself.

How fortunate for me that this set (Priceless) comes with four images just the right size for this kind of treatment *g*. And (warning: shameless plug ahead) if you buy Priceless this month you can get the matching So Swirly wheel absolutely free! Contact me today!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Priceless
Ink: Rose Red, So Saffron
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, So Saffron, Rose Red, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Jumbo Handle, Cropadile, eyelets

Catching up

With one thing and another, I've not really found time for stamping or writing this week ... just stuff getting in the way, but that's how it is I guess *shrug*.

To make up for the lack of posts lately, here are pictures of the cards we made at a workshop I ran over the weekend (waves to Melita and her friends - thanks for a fun afternoon!).

Firstly a Christmas card ... well, after all it's only 3 and a bit months away, so now is the best time to start! I forgot to include a brad in the workshop sample (oops, sorry guys) but otherwise it's as seen here.

We used my favourite Purely Pomegranate and another of SU's 2007/08 In Colors, Wild Wasabi. The green of Wild Wasabi is a little more vibrant than seen here, and between this and the Pomegranate, they take the traditional red/green Christmas colour combination and give it a bit of oomph *g*!

Do the sponged edges of the green layer show up? We did that to give the card a little more depth.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Season of Joy
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi
Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel & Handle, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Sponges

The other card we made was similar to the one posted here, except that I didn't have the butterfly from Priceless (because I didn't get the stamp set for my very own until today - at last, I finally got around to buying it for myself!), so we used the side-on butterfly from Garden Whimsy instead.

I also substituted the Regal Rose cardstock and ink for Cameo Coral (not enough of the original colour cardstock on hand - also now rectified with the order I received today *g*). The colours are similar enough to be interchangable here, but when you have them side by side they are very different (if that makes sense ...?). Perhaps you need to see them to compare.

This card is quick and easy but also has a Wow factor to it. Well, that's what I think, anyway *g*.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Baroque Motifs, Garden Whimsy, Warm Words
Ink: Cameo Coral, Old Olive
Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker

River Rock

I'm rediscovering this great colour ... by itself it doesn't look like much but once you pair it with different colours it really grows on you!

First up is a card using one of the stamp set/wheel combinations you could buy with this month's promotion - the set is Priceless and the wheel is called So Swirly. Buy Priceless and get So Swirly for free, but only for September! Contact me today! (sorry, just had to get a plug in there *g*).

I loooove this set and this wheel.

I've combined River Rock with Purely Pomegranate just because I love these two together. Sorry the pic is a little dark, I was in a hurry.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Priceless
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock
Cardstock: River Rock, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel & Handle, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

The second card was mostly made to see what River Rock looked like with Perfect Plum and Pale Plum - I think it works. I wish you could see this card in person - it is a spinner card and so much fun to play with! You hold the card almost upright then tilt it from side to side and watch the circular element spin down the slot and back again.

Once you get the hang of making spinner cards, they take about 10 minutes to put together, then you get an hour of fun playing with them LOL.

Just a quick note ... if you are going to make one of these, I would suggest using a Word Window punch rather than cutting the slot yourself as shown in the instructions in the link. Much quicker and less frustration for all concerned. Simply push the punch in as far as it will go, punch once about an inch in from one side, then slide along and punch again. Also, use two Dimensionals on top of each other to lift the main layer away from the backing, in order to give the spinner plenty of room at the back to do its thing.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Always
Ink: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, River Rock
Cardstock: River Rock, Perfect Plum, Whisper White
Other: Word Window Punch, Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Paper Piercing tool

Season of Joy

That's the name of the stamp set that these images come from, and while it might seem a little early to be thinking of Christmas, the truth is it's only four months away (*yikes*).

It's always a good idea to get a head start if you're planning on making your own Christmas cards - what seemed like a simple enough task early in the year suddenly becomes a last minute nightmare (well, it does if you're somewhat disorganised like myself *g*). So if you were thinking about making your cards this year, now would be a perfect time to start planning your design. If you would like to purchase this stamp set or any of the other lovely Christmas sets in the Idea Book & Catalogue or Summer Mini Catalogue, please contact me today to place your order!

I love a red & green Christmas card as much as anyone, but I rarely make them in that colour combination - perhaps it's because that's what people "expect" and I'd rather not do what people expect me to do *g*. So with that in mind, I played around with a blue theme for this one - I like it.

I've torn the right hand side of the front so that the wheeled inside edge shows through - this is So Swirly, one of my favourite wheels which happens to match this set perfectly!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Season of Joy
Ink: Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel & Handle, Cutter Kit, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Stampin' Dimensionals

And just to compare, here's a very "non traditional" version of this layout - just for fun!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Season of Joy
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Whisper White
Other: So Swirly Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel & Handle, Cutter Kit, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, Stampin' Dimensionals

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Okay, so it's not really, although it's cold enough outside *g* ... apparently it snowed yesterday in parts of Victoria, and it's not exactly tropical outside today either. Ah well, this is what you get for a Melbourne winter.

And I know Christmas is still more than five months away, but I'm excited because I got a new stamp set - one that I have been eyeing off since I saw it in the US Stampin' Up! mini catalogue last year (actually, I got more than one new stamp set, but I will talk more about the others at a later date).

This set, Season of Joy, will be available to purchase from next month (August) through to November, through Stampin' Up!s mini catalogue promotion.

Anyway, this is my first card from it. In fact, I haven't even had a chance to ink up the other stamps in the set - too much actual paid work to do, and it's also school holidays which means I'm also trying to spend a bit of time with the kids. It was inspired by this one from Splitcoast Stampers ... I liked the simplicity and the effect of smooshing the stamp pad onto white cardstock. You can't tell from the photo, but actually looks kind of like a chalk finish.

And I used my new So Swirly wheel down the right hand side ... this is in the current catalogue, and co-ordinates with the Priceless set, but also with this Season of Joy as well. I love it when sets match together. The wheel was inked up with Versamark because I wanted a really subtle finish, but the effect was a little too subtle - so I dusted over it the Pretty in Pink chalks (matching the Pretty in Pink cardstock and ink).

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Season of Joy stamp set, So Swirly Stampin' Around wheel, Pretty In Pink and Whisper White cardstock, Pretty In Pink, Basic Black and Versamark ink, Stampin' Pastels, Pretty in Pink ribbon.

Stay posted ... I hope to put up more samples from not only this set but the other two I ordered sometime over the next few days. I love new stuff!

Oh, and did I mention that all stamps from the upcoming Mini Catalogue are (drumroll please) DIE CUT! Yup, no messy trimming, just pop the stamps out and stick 'em on. So easy, so quick.