Summery Garden

Here's the share card I came up with for our Demo Day today.  It was such fun to be together again. Creativity abounded and it was fun to share and get new ideas.  Thanks Sharlene for organising this event. 

I have been playing with the colour combo of green and orange recently, being inspired by some of our Designer Series Papers.  Our Designer Series Papers use colour combinations that I would not think to use, so when I lay the paper out and then put the cardstock out that matches, (don't you just love how SU have this so sorted) I feel new MOJO emerging.

I love the Elegant Lines folder, and have been experimenting using ink on the raised embossed image, and I love the finished effect of the raised image being inked.  To achieve this effect, lay an inkpad gently on the raised image and work until image is inked.  

When I held this card at a distance it looked like a garden with flowers in it.  I hadn't intended that when I started this design. I must say, it felt very summery and fresh!

Use some Crystal Effects to attract the bees, they are always so busy on a summers day collecting nectar. 

The butterflies finish the setting, fluttering about and making us smile.

Stampin' Up! supplies

Cardstock: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Whisper White

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait & Old Olive

Stampset: Flower Fancy

Embossing Folders: Elegant Lines and Beautiful Wings

Other: Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Tombow Glue

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Birthday 2You

Here's a wee card I made for a special boy who just turned two.  This card made a slow development, my MOJO was flagging, but necessity urged me on to complete this project that didn't seem to go anywhere. I ended up turning my circles into balloons.  Then I thought the dogs should be carrying them. The play on words will really only benefit the adults, but then they are the ones reading cards for two year olds.

I am really loving using Pear Pizzazz as a colour, it works so well with so many colours.  So now that the dogs have safely delivered the balloons to our budding two year old, they can get on with playing together.  I hope this inspires you to use simple supplies to maximum effect.  What do you think?

SU supplies

Cardstock:  Pacific Point, Real Red,  Pear Pizzazz

Dies: Circles #2, 1/2" circle punch
Inks: Versamark, Early Espresso
Stampset: D is for Dog
Designer Series Paper: Celebrations

Thanks for stopping by

Larry Boy

I received this wonderful 'Thank You' card from my newest downline Jo.  I know her personally, but was not aware just how talented she is.  She has created "Larry Boy" using punches and I just love the colour and personality that this card has.  Thank you Jo for letting me share.

Jo has captured "Larry Boy's" character very well in his eye's.  His collar is soooo cute! He looks ready to get dirty getting up to some mischief.  I really need to beef up on the latest children's book characters.  This lack of knowledge is reminding me that I am decidedly middle aged as my children aren't at this stage anymore. I was rather ignorant of "Larry Boy's" existence until Jo gave me this card. 

Stampin' Up!  have colour coordination so perfectly sorted.  What a wonderful way to make your own DSP, using ink that matches your cardstock.  I think Larry Boy is superb! All the best embarking on your NEW Stampin' Up! career Jo, it's lovely to have you in the team. 

Stampin' Up supplies:

Cardstock: Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Summer Sun (retired)

Ink: Summer Sun (retired), Elegant Eggplant, Real Red & Garden Green
Stampset: Family Phrases

If you would like to order your set of 'Family Phrases' for $40.95NZD + postage, email me your order today.

Thanks for stopping by

Craft with Anita

Join in for a 'Craft with Anita' in Hastings

Would you like to see the rest of this project, then come along this Friday evening.  You will get to make this project and another and have opportunity to share with other crafters.  To find out more, email me today.  I'd love you to join in.

Thanks for dropping by.

Razzle Dazzle in Blue

When I got my Designer Series Paper shares and saw "Blueberry Crisp" my first thought was, 'these are my sisters colours'.   I knew she had the Razzle Dazzle stamp set, which matches the DSP design perfectly, and she  has kindly loaned her stamps to me.  Thanks sis.  Here's what I came up with. It reminds me of Europe, where our family originally came from, the lace edge etc.  The ladies in our family sew and so I can just imagine a bodice with an embroidered design like the stamped image and a lace shirt underneath with a lovely lace edge.  I must admit, a card is quicker to make.

 I have second and third generation stamped on the white cardstock.

I was feeling a European flavour flowing after enjoying a visit with my sister and sharing her stories and photo's of a recent trip to Europe.  She even visited a bag museum, now that's really something down my alley.  

Here's the inside of the card.  Not Quite Navy is a good ink colour to use 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation stamping with, it has such depth and body. 

Card's look so finished with an inside, especially when the cardstock you are using is dark.  It's hard to write in them.  Paper liners are less bulky than using cardstock on the inside.  It's a great idea to take something of your card front design to the inside of your card.  Rubber stamping is OOOOHH so perfect for this.

Stampin' Up! supplies -

Razzle Dazzle stamp set

Cardstock - Pacific Blue, Not Quite Navy & Whisper White

Ink - Not Quite Navy, Versamark, Whisper White pigment ink

Other - White embossing powder, Eyelet Border Punch, DSP Blueberry Crisp, Heat tool

Thanks for stopping by.  

Hope this adds some dazzle to your day.

Email me if you'd like to have your own Razzle Dazzle stampset for $40.95 + postage

Embossed Top Note

Here's a remake of a card I had done in Close to Cocoa and Whisper White, but as I am building on my display booklet of cards for workshops, I wanted to use the same design using the new colours.  I have replaced Close to Cocoa with Soft Suede and Whisper White with Very Vanilla.  I like this combo. The photo is showing Soft Suede to be quite dark, sorry can't take another pic as it's already on it's way to Wellington. 

I have cut out my Top Note and then embossed it using Manhatten Flower embossing folder.  The rose in the stamp set "Growing Green" is a perfect match.

These buds are made using the Two Step Bird punch, I love how this punch has so many uses. A touch of Garden Green and a sentiment and wallah, another finished card.
Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend, we have beautiful warm sunny weather in the Bay to enjoy and catching up with some of my Wellington friends this weekend has been very special.
Thanks for stopping by.

Stampin' Up! Supplies-

Cardstock - Soft Suede, Very Vanilla & Garden Green, DSP - Woodland Walk

Stamp set - Growing Green and Sentiment from Basic Phrases

Punch - Two Step Bird Punch

Embossing Folder - Manhatten Flower

Top Note

I made this card a while ago, when I first got my big shot and top note die.  I love how the top note has so many ways it can be used. Here I have cut the cardstock on the serated line and then mounted it on a full top note cut out of DSP, it gives it that extra dimension.  These brads are also so lovely, they never fail to be eye pleasing. This flower is made using several layers of the scallop circle punch, cut through to make petals.  

The background has been stamped with our SU background stamp "Sanded",  in Soft Suede ink.

The many layers have given this card interesting focuses.  When you are spoilt for choice with dies and punches and stamps and ink, it's a challenge to use them well together without over doing it. Stampin' Up! have such wonderful products, I feel spoilt for choice.  

Supplies

Stampsets:- Very Vintage Wheel, Sanded, Flower Fancy

Cardstock:- Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Certainly Celery and Old Olive

Designer Brads:- Flower

Dies: Top Note, Little Leaves and Scallop Circle Punch

Daisy in a Tango

 I surprised myself with this card, again.  I wanted to include a card in some mail going to my new downline, and had a very short time frame to work with.  I wanted my new downline to have another display card for her display book, so think, think!!  She likes bright colours.
I find to my surprise that I had taken the time to watercolour this daisy at another time, but not had time to do anything with it.  Here's my card.  I hope you like it.  It is very simple, but effective, something necessary when the time demands.  The photo doesn't really do it justice.

Supplies:

Stampset: Every Moment

Cardstock:- Tangarine Tango, Early Espresso and Watercolour Paper

Ribbon:-  Early Espresson 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Dress up Christmas

From 16 October to 30 November, 2010

Earn Free Ribbon by buying Christmas Bundles or hosting a $600 workshop

To download your copy of Dress up Christmas click on this link

To place your order or book to have a workshop contact me

Bright and Cheery

I started making this card after I bought a packet of M&M's on special.  I didn't realise they were such a bright orange. Wow what a reason for inspiration.  I really wanted to do a sweet treat cup with them and ended up using retired cardstock for this one.  The colour combo was inspired by a cute wee teddy at the chemist.  I would not have thought to put orange, green and pink together, but here you have it and I really quite liked the outcome.  It is not my usual style, so what do you think?  I know when my good friend Lynda received it in the post for her Birthday card, she liked it, she even ate some of the lollies.  It suits her cheery and bright personality.  I had to make her a bright coloured card.

I

My wee embosslits 'Beautiful Wings' are getting well used.  I just love how easy they are to use, they emboss and cut out all in the one action.  They are certainly worthy of a little attention.

 I used a white gel pen to add the detail on the flowers.  This made them pop a little. 

Supplies:-
Stamp Set - Flower Fancy
Cardstock - Naturals Ivory, Only Orange (retired), Green Galore (Retired), & Pixie Pink (Retired)
Embosslits Dies - Beautiful Wings $26.50 & Sizzlits dies - Little Leaves
Detail on flowers made with White uni-ball Signo Gel Pen

Email me if you would like to order the Embosslits die for $26.50 + postage.

Juicy Fruit

When I saw the fruit clear embossed in the new IBC, I just had to case the idea.  These fruit look so juicy, and oh, so edible!  I hope this makes you feel all summery, despite the fact that I have the fire on and the wind is blowing in Hawke's Bay like it does in Wellington:  I am finally feeling a little at home. I really enjoyed making this card.  The colours were such fun to bring together; they are not colours I would usually put together, but I really like them.  What do you think?

'

Oops, my cutting is not so good on this corner, but the sun's gone for another pic. I always love to discover another way to use this stamp set; these images always cheer the heart.

All supplies are Stampin' Up!
Stamp set: Tart & Tangy
Card stock: Real Red, Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight & Peach Parfait & Regal Rose 
Clear Embossing and Scallop Edge Punch with 2mm circle punch outs.  Matt pack for faux stitching line.

If you would like to own this lovely stamp set "Tart & Tangy" and discover more ways to use it, then it's available from me for $26.95 plus shipping. 

Easel Card with Butterflies

Today I would like to share with you an easel card.  I got the instructions how to put it together from Splitcoast Stampers.  I also was inspired by a share card by the very talented Judith Hutchinson for the design.  I had never used Apricot Appeal and seeing as it was retiring and I also had the DSP to match I thought I would give it a go.  I just love the butterflies in "All a Flutter".  I have used them a lot. I hope you like how this has come together, I must admit, the colours have grown on me.

I love using Crystal Effects.  This is one of those must have products that add dimension and variety to your projects. It can also be used as a glue.

Stamp sets: All a Flutter, Flower Fancy and Simply Said
Card stock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Soft Suede and (retired) Apricot Appeal
Inks: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery 
Flower Coloured in with Pastels

Crystal Effects is available for $14.25 plus shipping.  Contact me to place your order.

Strong like the Oak

Today's creation I want to share with you is my son's 21st invitation.  We needed to make a few, so we wanted the design to be simple, but needless to say, it still took time.  That's what's great about having helpers though.  Guys can use punches too, and so between us we got them all made.  My son loves the "Lovely as a Tree" stamps so we stuck to the theme of oaks.  I enjoyed the opportunity of designing this together with Anthony.  We had recently shifted and left our maturing oak behind, which we all felt sad about.  I have used the "Top Note" die through the Big Shot and punched the red leaves with the "Two-step bird punch".  The large oak leaf is cut out using the "Leaves #2" die.  I have stamped the large oak leaf  with grey ink on to grey card stock. We brought the oak tree stamp into the foreground using Old Olive ink on Kiwi Kiss card stock. The greeting is from the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, also stamped in Old Olive ink.

You can see how a little sponging adds that extra bit of detail and effect.  All those dimensions make handmade cards so special and unique.  I hope you like this, we feel it came together well.  What do you think? There are some double themes here regarding the oak, we want all young men to be oaks and take up there place in society to be strong leaders and citizens.

"Lovely as a Tree" stamp set made it into the catalogue again and it's available for $58.95 plus shipping.  Get your order to me and start stamping.

 

More Butterflies

I just had to have a play with my new Embosslits die.  When you look through the catalogue, you don't fully appreciate the extent of the products available.  I was somewhat curious about these embosslits, but for such a small item, it's quite an impressive result.  On this card I used a dry embossing technique that was in our monthly magazine called Impressions.  When you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator you are given amazing ongoing tools from Stampin' Up! and the Impressions magazine is one of these.  I have then cut out the cream circle using my Circle #2 die.  I made the tag by trimming the card stock.  The is a simple card but none the less effective in it's simplicity.  KISS (keep it simply silly) is a good technique.

You can see close up here how intricate the Embosslit die is and how effective a few pearls are for that extra accent. The embosslit not only embosses the shape but also cuts it out.  Notice the different butterfly patterns and sizes.  How super easy is that.

Card stock: Old Olive, Not Quite Navy and Naturals Ivory
Dies: Embosslits Beautiful wings and Circle  #2
Other: Jewels Basic Pearls  

Bird's of a Feather

I made this card for a cousin living in Holland who got married on Friday.  It was personally delivered by my sister who was there to celebrate with him.  I cased this card from the IBC. When I have a project that needs to be made NOW, casing from the IBC is always a great option.  I liked how these colours were cheerful and came together the way they did.  Wedding cards are usually more subtle in colour, but I thought this fitted the occasion well. As this couple certainly are birds of a feather, I hope that they have many happy years together. 
Card stock: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White
Punches:  Two-step Bird and Heart to Heart
Ribbon: 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain

My box of goodies arrived this morning.  The sun is out so it's great for getting my spray varnish blocks dry so I can mount my new stamp set.  I am always rather overwhelmed with so many amazing tools and colours to work with.  I earned the new In Colours stamp pads and card stock pack last month with my new recruit.  I will share later what I come up with.

Caught Monarch

I thought I would share a card that went in my newsletter and that I made for my girlfriends birthday.  Having just moved to Hawkes Bay I knew I would miss out saying 'Happy Birthday' in person, so I wanted to make a card that expressed my love just the same. My girlfriend is a gardener, flowers are always a hit, but of course there's nothing like seeing a monarch in the garden, and then catching it.  I have seen this idea somewhere, but can't remember, so if this is your idea, please let me know.  

The stamp sets that are used here are "All a Flutter" and "Flower Fancy".  I have used the Sizzlits die "Little Leaves" using Old Olive card stock.  The flowers have been coloured with an aqua painter and Not Quite Navy ink.  The butterfly has been watercoloured on water colour paper and popped inside a "Sweet Treat Cup". To fit the "Sweet Treat Cup" you need the 1 3/4" circle punch for cutting the card stock for a perfect fit.  I hope you like this as much as I enjoyed making it. 

Pearl Necklace for a Butterfly

This card was inspired by the scrapbook page layout we were given at our Regional Training.  I unpacked that project today as I still hadn't made it up yet.  I still haven't, as I got distracted and made this card instead. I love how the large scallop edge is made using punched circles from the 1 3/4" circle punch.  I used the colours Baja Breeze and Soft Subtle card stock.  The image is from the stamp set "Enjoy Every Moment".  I have water coloured the image and sponged the edges with Pumpkin Pie and Soft Subtle inks.

I have made this butterfly with the butterfly punch and attached selected words from the "Enjoy Every Moment" stamp set.  I have sponged the edges and then turned them up using a bone folder.  Don't you just love the wee pearls in the centre.  This pretty butterfly is fully dressed with her necklace on.