Saturday, February 28, 2009

Mojo Monday Week 75 + Kwernerdesign Color Inspiration #43

 

Can you believe I actually managed 2 cards for Kristina’s Color Inspiration this week and I did them both the same day, just decided to spread the posts out.

This is the Mojo Monday Sketch Week 75

Mojo75Sketch

and here is the kwernerdesign color inspiration #43 in case you missed it yesterday

022609-colors

and here is my creation using both of these.

Priceless 7

I really liked this sketch and can see me making some more cards using it. Hopefully I’ll also start participating in the Mojo Monday Sketches more often.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Priceless
Card: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Old Olive & Pumpkin Pie Prints DSP
Ink: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Rich Regal brads, Paper Piercing template & tool (Tool Kit), Stampin’ Dimensionals.



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Friday, February 27, 2009

A Sketch Challenge and Kwernerdesign Color Inspiration #43

I’ve managed to combine a recent Sketch Challenge I posted to Stampin’ Up in Oz this week

Sketch #1

along with the latest Kwernerdesign Color Inspiration challenge #43

022609-colors

and this was only posted today. This must be a first for me.

So here is my creation using this sketch and colour combination.

Brocade Basics 12 

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Brocade Basics, Warm Words
Card: Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie Prints DSP
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red
Accessories: Earth Elements buttons, Hemp Twine, Nestabilities (non-SU)



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Monday, February 23, 2009

Sketch Challenge

Here is the Sketch we were given this week by Makeesha on our demo group.

clip_image002

I’ve managed to make 2 cards with this sketch so far.

This first one is using the Eastern Blooms stamp set.

Eastern Blooms 2

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Eastern Blooms, Sincere Salutations, Sanded
Card: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Very Vanilla
Ink: Blue Bayou inkpad, Blue Bayou & Soft Sky Markers*
Accessories: Round Tab Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, District Ribbon Originals, Chunky Sprinkles, Mono Multi Purpose Adhesive, Paper Piercing Template & Tool (Tool Kit), Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For the second card I just had to use Embrace Life stamp set.

Embrace Life 6

With this card I decided to scallop edge the bottom piece of layering. I also added a thin strip of dsp instead of ribbon on the second layer and I just left the flower on it’s own rather than layering it onto a circle. The flower has been stamped onto a piece of Ginger Blossom DSP using Ruby Red ink and a Very Vanilla 1/2 backed pearl added.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Embrace Life, Curvy Verses
Card: Groovy Guava, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Ginger Blossom DSP
Ink: Ruby Red
Accessories: Very Vanilla 1/2 backed pearl (Pretties Kit), Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Piercing template & tool (Tool Kit), Mini Glue Dots, Stampin’ Dimensionals.



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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Blue Embrace Life

I’ve made this card before (or something very similar) in red shades so this time I thought I’d see how it looked in Blues. I’m also trying to use more In Colours before they retire to remind you to purchase them if you like them before they are gone and also so I don’t end up with loads of retired supplies when they are gone. I tell myself I’ll still use them but I know from past experience that I won’t use them all that often and if I have too much still around it just ends up taking up space and is forgotten about. Well enough rambling here is my card.

Embrace Life 7

Supplies:
Stamp set: Embrace Life
Card: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Watercolor Paper, Spring Break DSP
Ink: Stazon Black, Blue Bayou, Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker
Accessories: Eastern Elegance Rub-ons (Spring Mini), White Gel Pen, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Whisper White 1/2 backed pearl (Pretties Kit), Stampin’ Dimensionals.



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Saturday, February 14, 2009

kwernerdesign Colour Inspiration #41

I have not participate in one of Kristina’s Colour Challenges in ages but I needed something to get me going again. In my last post I used one of Taylored Expressions Sketches and Kristina’s colour challenge was another on my list to help kick start me again.

Here is the Colour Inspiration Challenge:

Color Inspiration #41

We don’t yet have Riding Hood Red available in Australia so I went with Ruby Red instead. I wasn’t sure what I was going to create with these colours at first and then decided I would CASE a card I created previously back in this post and incorporate the colours into it and of course make a few minor changes along the way.

This is what I came up with.

Embrace Life 5

I’ve stamped the leaves in Stazon Black onto the Ruby Red cardstock and then coloured them in with my Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker and then mounted to a Basic Black Card.  I then randomly stamped the small flower branch using Basic Gray ink onto a piece of Basic Gray cardstock which I’ve layered onto a scallop edged piece of Whisper White card. This is then mounted to the card. The large flower has been stamped using Stazon Black onto Watercolor Paper. I’ve coloured using Watercolor Crayons. This is mounted to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals and a Whisper White 1/2 back pearl has been added. Lastly I’ve added a Whisper White Rub-on from the Hidden Garden pack.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Embrace Life
Card: Basic Black, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Watercolor paper
Ink: Stazon Black, Basic Gray, Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker
Accessories: Hidden Garden Rub-ons, Pretties Kit, Scallop Edge Punch.



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Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge #54

My mojo has been missing most of this week. I think my heart was elsewhere in Australia but today I finally managed to pick up some stamps again and decided to play with Taylor’s Cupcake Challenge sketch.

Here is the sketch:

TECC54(sketch)

Even though it’s called a Cupcake Challenge you are not required to use cupcakes. Of course if you have them it’s nice to use them but I don’t have many so I just used the sketch to create my cards.

For this first one I decided to use some more of the lovely Spring Silhouettes paper I used in my Stationery Box earlier this week.

Brocade Basics 10 

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Brocade Basics
Card: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Spring Silhouettes DSP
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky
Accessories: Wild Wasabi Striped Ribbon, 1 1/4” & 1 3/8” Circle Punches, Ice Rhinestones Brads.

The second card I kept with the same stamp set but used the Brocade Background DSP instead.

Brocade Basics 11

Supplies:
Stamp set: Brocade Basics
Card: Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla, Brocade Background DSP
Ink: Old Olive, River Rock, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 5/8” grosgrain ribbon, 1 1/4” & 1 3/8” Circle Punches, Pretties Kit.

For the last card using this sketch I decided to use Fabulous Flowers stamp set.

Fabulous Flowers 1

I’ve added a bit of sparkle to this card on the large flower and also the centre of the circle punch piece.

Fabulous Flowers 1 close up             Fabulous Flowers 1 close up 2

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Fabulous Flowers
Card: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Pretty In Pink, Rose Red Prints DSP
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Pretty In Pink
Accessories: Fairy Tale Ribbon Originals, 2-Way Glue Pen, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds.



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Thursday, February 12, 2009

Bushfire Appeal

 

Stampin’ Up have just announced a Bushfire Appeal. Details are below. Why not take advantage of this along with my Catalogue Party and really help contribute to this Appeal as I’m donating my commissions to the Appeal also. Don’t forget if you take advantage of my Catalogue Workshop you will receive a FREE Hostess set for each $100 order + you are entitled to 1 FREE Sale-A-bration set for every $100 order too. (Hostess sets are available to the first 10 $100 orders placed). As I am donating my commission to the appeal I will not be discounting the stamps as I have done in the past that way the Appeal will receive more.

 

Join with Stampin’ Up! demonstrators from around Australia and New Zealand in helping the victims of the Bushfire Tragedy.

You can help by purchasing select stamp sets from 12th February through 31st March, 2009 and Stampin’ Up! will donate 50% of the sales of these sets to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfires 2009 Appeal.

ITEM # PAGE # STAMP SET PRICE
108864 76 Looks Like Spring* $58.95AUD
108934 27 The Snowflake Spot* $39.95AUD
108756 80 Bodacious Bouquet* $58.95AUD
110247 46 Polka Dots & Paisley* $35.95AUD
111973 115 G’Day Mate* $35.95AUD
108744 51 Be Happy* $39.95AUD
112312 105 Priceless $48.95AUD
108909 89 Seeing Spots $29.95AUD
112380 98 Baroque Motifs $39.95AUD
114261 3** Live Your Dreams $55.95AUD

* These sets will appear on the upcoming list of retiring products, so they’ll only be available while supplies last.

**From the Summer Mini Catalogue.

To place an order with me via email nicole@nicolestalker.com.au or phone. Home: 02 96209092 or Mobile: 0418 218 467. Orders can be shipped directly to you anywhere in Australia. Payment can be made by Credit Card, Paypal, direct credit to my bank account or Cash.



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Wednesday, February 11, 2009

$1000 Catalogue Workshop Bonanza

Originally I was holding this for my newsletter subscribers but I’ve decided to open it up to my Blog viewers too. I will be donating all my commission from this Bonanza along with any further orders for February to the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal. 

What I need is 10 people to place a $100 (before S&H) order each. This $100 order can be made up by one individual or a group of friends/family. You can also place a larger order and take up more places if you wish.

Now I'm sure you all know it's Sale-A-Bration time (unless you didn't read last month's Newsletter) so for your $100 order you can select 1 FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp set (that's 1 FREE SAB set for every $100 order) but on top of this I have my own offer.    

Each person that participates in my Catalogue Workshop Bonanza will go into a draw for one of the following: 

Level 2 Hostess set - Spring Solitude Bundle x 2
Level 2 Hostess set - In The Spotlight x 2
Level 1 Hostess set of your choice x 2
Level 1 Hostess set - A Little Bit of Happiness
Level 1 Hostess set - From the Garden
Level 1 Hostess set - Oh, So Lovely.
Level 1 Hostess set - Party Punch

That's 10 Hostess sets on offer.

So not only will you receive a FREE Sale-A-Bration set but also a FREE Hostess set. Names will be drawn before I place the order so those that need to select the Level 1 Hostess set of their choice can do so.

How do you participate? 

  1. You need to phone or email your order to me no later than 9pm Monday 16th February. If I don’t receive 10 orders (or $1000 in sales) I will still be processing orders received by the due date and any orders after this date for $100 or more will be entitled to a remaining hostess set until the 28th February. All commission will still be donated to the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal.
  2. Payment needs to be made upon placing your order. Payment can be made by cash, direct deposit or credit card. If paying by direct deposit funds will need to hit my bank account by Monday 16thFebruary (or before order is placed).

That's it. So now all that's left to do is for you to let me know you would like to participate and then select your items from the Idea Book & Catalogue 2008|2009 and/or Summer Mini Catalogue and place your order. Don't forget to let me know which Sale-A-Bration set you would like too.

To phone your order you can call me on either H: 02 9620 9092 or Mobile: 0418 218 467. To email your order send to nicole@nicolestalker.com.au

MY COMMISSION (20% OF SALES) FROM THIS CATALOGUE PARTLY AND ALL FURTHER ORDERS PLACED DURING FEBRUARY WILL BE DONATED TO THE VICTORIAN FIRE APPEAL.



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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Who said “Blue and Green” should never been seen……

I remember being told as a child that “Blue and Green should never be seen unless there’s a colour in between” but that must have changed now or whoever said it hadn’t seen Wild Wasabi with Soft Sky.

I’ve been wanting to make one of Jackie Topa’s Stationery Boxes for a while so on Sunday night and Monday I finally did it. I wanted to adapted the measurements to fit Australian C6 envelopes & cards inside rather than the US size so this added to the time it took for me to complete the project but now that it’s done the next one will be a lot quicker. In the process I have also proven that Blue and Green can be seen together without having to have a colour in between. Well I think I have as I love the colour combination and even though there is Very Vanilla the Blue and Green are next to each other.

 

100_1449

I’ve chosen to use the Spring Silhouettes DSP which coordinates with Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla.  This picture doesn’t really show the true colours of Wild Wasabi and Soft Sky unfortunately. It’s a little brighter in real life.

Seeing how the lid is made using a lovely patterned paper I decided to leave the base plain.

100_1451

Inside you will find cards and envelopes, love notes and envelopes, gift tags, pen, postage stamps and an address/note book.

100_1452

  There are 4 cards (2 of each sentiment), 4 love notes (2 of each sentiment) and 4 gift tags all with the same sentiment.

100_1454

I’m sure I’ll be making some more of these. They will make great gifts for some of my non-stamping family members and friends.



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Monday, February 9, 2009

Inkspiration Colour Challenge #4

Yes it’s another of Makeesha’s Challenges. Here are the colours she gave us this week:

makeesha-colour-challenge-4

I’ve made 2 cards using this colour combination (well actually I made 4 but the last 2 are very similar to the 2nd one so I’m only going to show 2). I picked out some stamp sets I haven’t used in a while (flowers of course…) and here is what I came up with.

The first one I’ve used the Wild Rose stamp set.

Wild Roses 1

Supplies:
Stamp set: Wild Rose
Card: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Rose Red Prints DSP
Ink: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Photo Corner Punch, White Gel Pen, Cherished Memories Rub-ons, Paper Piercing template and tool (Tool Kit), Stampin’ Dimensionals.

For the second card I pulled out the Brocade Basics stamp set and created this.

Brocade Basics 7

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Brocade Basics, Warm Words
Card: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Sage Shadow, Whisper White
Ink: Sage Shadow, Regal Rose, Rose Red
Accessories: Photo Corner Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Paper Piercing template & tool (Tool Kit), Stampin’ Dimensionals.



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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Wanted…

I pulled out my “Wanted” stamp set a few weeks back when Leonie & Carol came over with their children for the day as I was still yet to use it but didn’t make anything with it. Finally last night when I was stamping with another friend I did put it to use and this is what I created.

Wanted 1

I think the struggle with this set is that I had no purpose to make a horse card. I love horses but haven’t been on one in donkey’s years, but none of the males in my family or that I know are horse people and to me this set and my creation is more masculine. I find any masculine card difficult as I don’t need to make many of them. There are definitely loads more girls in my family than boys. We have 8 males against 17 females and that’s just immediate family (parents, siblings, nieces & nephews). This probably explains why a lot of my creations are more feminine and I use lots of flower stamp sets. 

I guess I need to give myself a few challenges. One would be to make some more masculine cards and the other would be to make something using the Wanted stamp set that I feel is more feminine or at least suitable for a female so I don’t upset anyone who things this set isn’t just a masculine set.

It might just be the darker/boyish colours and as I’m typing this I’ve just had an idea for a girly card so hopefully I’ll have another post soon with a girly horse card…….

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Wanted
Card: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Outlaw DSP
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Metallic Brads, Stampin’ Dimensionals.



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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Polka Dot Valentine

I finally had some time to give last weeks “Make It Monday” Tutorial by Makeesha a go. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before but not only does Makeesha share these great tutorials with other Australian Demonstrators via our demo group but she also shares them on her website for anyone that visits. If you would like to check out the Tutorial for this project I’m sharing with you today then you can view it here.

The first thing I decided I wanted to use to make my Rectangle Box was the Spring Break DSP. Can’t use new stuff all the time now can I? The coordinating colours for Spring Break are Blue Bayou, Old Olive, Soft Sky and Pumpkin Pie. I choose to use Blue Bayou as my main colour for the box so I followed the tutorial and did that.

Now when it came to selecting which print to use from the Spring Break DSP I ended up deciding to do something totally different to my initial idea, which I won’t tell you about as I may still make one up like that. I love the stripe print in the Spring Break pack and thought it would work great along with the Polka Dot Punches SAB set to create a masculine Valentine Gift Box.

So this is how it turned out.

Polka Dot Punches Rectangle Box

 

This is the inside which will be filled with one of my hubby’s favourite choccies (either Bertie Bettles or those liquer bottle chocolates) closer to Valentine’s Day as it’s just way too hot to keep them around for another 10 days.

Polka Dot Punches Rectangle Box open

So do you think I pulled off a Masculine look??? 



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Monday, February 2, 2009

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #4

This is the sketch challenge that Makeesha gave us for this week on our Demo group and she also posts it on her blog for anyone else interested in giving it a go.

 

makeesha-sketch-004

 

This week I’ve created 2 cards using this sketch.

The first one is using the Summer By The Sea stamp set.

Summer By The Sea 2

I’ve colour the image using Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, River Rock, Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise and Blush Blossom markers with my aqua painter after stamping it onto watercolor paper using Stazon Black ink. The image has been layered onto a piece of Blue Bayou and then onto So Saffron. I’ve tied some Black Hemp Twine around the So Saffron and added 3 x 1/2” circles of Blue Bayou cardstock with Black brads in the centres using Stampin’ Dimensionals. This is all layered onto a Basic Black card.

For the next card I’ve used the Crab & Co stamp set. I purchased this when the Birthday Promotion was on but hadn’t used it yet. Now I have. One of my nieces has her 10th Birthday this month so this card will be ready for her.

Crab & Co 1

The image has been stamped onto watercolor paper using Stazon Black in. I have then coloured using Real Red, Wild Wasabi & Sahara Sand inkpads and an aqua painter. I’ve also used my So Saffron marker for the circles & bow on the party hat.  This is then layered onto some Real Read Cardstock and then onto So Saffron cardstock. The presents have been stamped onto watercolor paper using Stazon Black ink and punched out with the 1” Circle Punch. I have then coloured them using the Blue Bayou inkpad and an aqua painter along with Real Red, Wild Wasabi and So Saffron markers for the finer details. I have also sponged around the edges of the circles using a sponge dauber and Real Red inkpad. ‘Snappy Birthday’ is stamped onto watercolor paper using Stazon Black also and layered onto some Real Red cardstock. I have used the Speckled Jumbo Wheel and Blue Bayou inkpad over the Blue Bayou base card. Tied some Wild Wasabi double-stitched ribbon around the So Saffron and mounted to the card. The presents are adhered using Stampin’ Dimensionals and also the ‘snappy birthday!’



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Sunday, February 1, 2009

In Color Summer

This continuous hot weather (not as bad in Sydney as it is in some other Australian States) is making me just want to sit inside in the cool. Yesterday I had to catch up on the ironing but today I’m creating. I have a few things on my agenda that I am hoping to get done so there should be some more posts this week.

Seeing how we are almost at the end of another Stampin’ Up Catalogue year, I’m planning on using some of my stamp sets that haven’t see ink in a while (or at all) along with lots of In Colour items, so I’m not as disappointed if/when they retire. Of course we all have our favourites that we wish would never retire but we also realize we need new things too.

Today’s card I’ve made using the Summer By The Sea stamp set. This is a wonderful set to Watercolour with.

Summer By The Sea 1

For this card I have a Wild Wasabi base. I’ve then layered a piece of Soft Sky cardstock which has been stamped using Soft Sky ink and Sanded Background stamp. The edges have also been sponged with Soft Sky ink. I have a Groovy Guava photo corner which I’ve paper pierced using the template & tool from the Tool Kit. The main image and verse are both stamped on watercolor paper using Stazon Black. For the main image I’ve used Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava, Almost Amethyst and Blush Blossom markers with my aqua painter.



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