And the winner is.....

I have finally found some time and remembered to draw the winner of my Blog Competition after our house was hit by the hail storm on Sunday, and so without further delay the luck winner is.......






Ann Lawton.




Congratulations Ann. Please let me know which set you would like and I will post it out to you asap. You can select between Blooming with Happiness or Reason to Smile which are both Level 1 Hostess sets.

And today's share is....

Today's card is another made using the Carte Postale set. This set is so versatile it's a must for anyones collection.

To make this card I randomly stamped the leaves image onto the lower portion of the Brocade Blue card. I then did the same on the Very Vanilla cardstock using the Night of Navy inkpad stamping a second image before reinking. I then mounted the Very Vanilla to the Night of Navy piece of card. 3 Silver Eyelets were added to the right hand side and Silver cord was also wrapped around the card. This was then mounted to the main card as shown. Next comes the tag. I have stamped the flower image and 'Merci' using Night of Navy onto a piece of Very Vanilla and punched out with Tag Punch. This is then layered onto a piece of Brocade Blue and trimmed to match the Tag shape with a nice border. Using the handheld rectangle punch, I have punched a slit in the top of the tags and then added some silver cord to embellish. Finally the tag is mounted to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Carte Postale
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Inks: Night of Navy, Brocade Blue
Accessories: Silver Eyelets, Silver Cord, Tool Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Cover CASE

I just love the cover of the new Summer Mini so decided I would case both the card and pouch.


Making the card made me use my designer papers. I love all the Stampin' Up! designer papers and have quite a few but often don't think about using them in my cards. It's something I'm planning on doing more of so keep watch if it's something you struggle with too. Mind you I think some of us just struggle with the idea of cutting them up not actually using them.

Here is my card CASE.



and here is the pouch.

I haven't made these pouches before but they where so quick I think I'll be doing them more often. The wide Celery grosgrain ribbon availabe in the Summer Mini help add that extra touch to the finished item. The extra width makes tying the ribbon around the pouch so much easier and can add a nice touch to a card as well.

Even though these are CASED items there will always be something different. CASING is a great way to build up your own samples quickly and is wonderful when your inspiration has gone on holidays.

Moss Stems

I've created another Monochromatic card to share with you all today. I have used the Stem Silhouettes stamp set again but this time used Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke.

The silhouette images in the Stem Silhouettes stamp set can be used on their own or you can combine them. You can use contrasting or coordinating colours to create different looks. In this card I've used only Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke to create a soft peaceful card.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Stem Silhouettes, Fine Lace.
Cardstock: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla.
Inks: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke.
Accessories: Moss gingham ribbon, Rich Regal Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Mon Amie

One of the best things I like about Stampin' Up! are that their stamps do come in sets. It makes the whole process of what will go with what so much easier as any stamp in the set coordinates and compliments the others. Another added bonus is when they bring out a coordinating wheel. Now this said it doesn't mean that you can't use any of their other stamps to complete your card but if you could only afford one stamp set there is still plenty you can make with that set. Your imagination is all that is holding you back.

The Carte Postale and coordinating Leaves a la Carte wheel are a perfect example of this. I have already posted some cards made using this set and here is another today. This card was inspired by tashers on SplitCoastStampers.

I have used the Leaves a la Carte wheel on the main card using the same colour inkpad and cardstock. There are only certain colours available in the wheel cartridges but don't let that stop you. If a colour isn't available in a cartridge then use the inkpad instead to ink your wheel. A tone on tone effect can give a card a subtle touch where using a deeper colour may have overpowered and drawn attention to the wrong area.

If you have checked out the card that inspired me to create this you will notice they used patterned paper behind the main image. I like to use materials that I can purchase and also supply you with from Stampin' Up! in my samples so I decided to create my own as I did think it needed something. I've used Cameo Coral card, Background Sampler stamp set and Ruby Red ink. Always keep in mind how versatile your stamps can be. They are wonderful to use to make backgrounds or accents for Scrapbook pages too. My background strip is mounted to some Very Vanilla cardstock which I have paper pierced the top edge and scalloped the bottom. The scallop edge has been made using our Small Corner Rounder punch by removing the guard.

The main image has been created using a combination of 3 stamps from the Carte Postale stamp set. First I stamped the flower images onto Very Vanilla cardstock, which I coloured direct to stamp using our Stampin' Write Markers, and then I have stamped the leaf images using Chocolate Chip ink to fill in some areas. I have then sponged the edges of the Very Vanilla cardstock using Ruby Red and then Chocolate Chip. This is then mounted onto Chocolate Chip cardstock. Next, the bird was stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock using Chocolate Chip ink, cut out and then mounted using Stampin' Dimensionals. Main image is then mounted onto card as shown. I added 3 Antique Brass eyelets to the background piece and finally stamped 'Mon Amie' (also from the Carte Postale stamp set) in Chocolate Chip ink onto bottom right of card.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Background Sampler, Carte Postale, Leave a la Carte jumbo wheel.
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla.
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red (Markers & Inkpads)
Accessories: Metallic Eyelets, Small Corner Rounder Punch, Tool Kit, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Buds Resist

Here's another card using Bud Basics but this time I've done a little resist. This is a very easy and quick technique to do. You need a few simple supplies - gloss cardstock, Stazon Black Ink, Daubers, 2 - 3 coordinating Classic Inkpads and last but by no means least a white crayon. Now this crayon is just one from your childrens crayon pack (or if you don't have children you can pick up a pack anywhere that sells colouring materials such as supermarket or variety stores). All other materials can be purchased through me.

First you stamp the outline images from Bud Basics onto the Gloss cardstock using Stazon Black. Now using the white crayon highlight some areas inside the stamped images. You can highlight as much or as little as you like. Experiment as that's what stamping is all about.

Next, using a dauber and the lightest of your Classic Inks rub over selected stamped images in a circular motion. Repeat with remaining colours going from lightest to darkest. You should now be done and can finish your card as required.

To finish my card I've layered my resist piece onto Apricot Appeal and then onto a piece of Certainly Celery which I have scalloped the bottom edge of using the Small Corner Rounder punch. This is then adhered to the main card. I've then tied some white organdy ribbon to the lower edge of the card. Next I've stamped 'may your day bloom with happiness' from the Level 1 Hostess set Blooming with Happiness (which is part one of the selections in my current promotion ending on 9th December 2007) and punched out using the large oval punch. This is them mounted over the ribbon using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Bud Basics, Blooming with Happiness
Cardstock: White Gloss, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal.
Inks: Stazon Black, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal.
Accessories: White Organdy ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Small Corner Rounder, Punch, White Crayon, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Blessings...

Todays card was inspired by Cambria Turnbow's card on SplitCoastStampers. I loved the colour combination Cambria used so I have improvised and made changes using materials that I have and you can purchase through our current Idea Book & Catalogue in Australia.

Here is my finished card.

Supplies:
Stamp sets: Stem Silhouettes, Fine Lace.

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White.
Inks: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip (Markers & Inkpads)
Accessories: Wide Chocolate grosgrain ribbon, Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware, Tool Kit (paper piercing), Stampin' Dimensionals, sponges.

Merci

Todays card is another made using the wonderful Carte Postale stamp set and Enchante Designer Series double-sided papers.

To make this card I cut a strip of the Enchante Designer Series paper 148mm x 40mm and adhered to the right side of Sage Shadow card. I then stamped the Fleur-de-Lis image using Sage Shadow ink onto the Sage Shadow cardstock. Using Chocolate Chip ink I've sponged around edges of card.

Using Close to Cocoa ink I've them stamped the main image onto Very Vanilla Cardstock. I've used the slit punch to create the corners (this is not done in the usual way so if you need to know how I've done this just ask) and then sponged the edges using Chocolate Chip ink. This is then layered onto Sage Shadow and I've used Aged Copper brads from the Hodgepodge Hardware. I've then mounted onto some Chocolate Chip cardstock.

To finish the card I've added some Chocolate grosgrain ribbon down the front of the card over the edge of the Enchante designer series paper. Using the Close to Cocoa inkpad I've stamped 'Merci' to fill in some of the larger areas on the Sage Shadow cardstock. Finally I've mounted the main image using Stampin' Dimensionals.

Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Carte Postale
Cardstock/Papers: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Enchante designer series paper.
Inks: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa.
Accessories: Chocolate grosgrain ribbon, Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware, sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Friend

I'm really loving the new stamp sets in the Summer Mini Catalogue but then again what's not to love about any Stampin' Up! product. This card is made using the Bud Basics Stamp set and the word stamp is from Lexicon of Love set from the Idea Book & Catalogue. The 'friend' image has the solid stamps from Bud Basics stamped also but I've stamped off once onto scrap paper first to give a more subtle image. I've also used the Colour Spritzer Tool with coordinating markers to fill in some of the white space on the main stamped peice and then tied some white organdy ribbon.

Stamp Sets: Bud Basics, Lexicon of Love
Cardstock: Rose Red, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White.
Inks: Rose Red, Apricot Appeal, Old Olive, Basic Black.
Accessories: White Organdy Ribbon, Rose Red Brads, Colour Spritzer Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Thank You Stems....

I may have to retract my recent comment about not using Bold Brights often as here's another card using some, but it is only one colour.

I have to say that in the world of cardmaking, being able to CASE (Copy and Share Everything) a card is great. SplitCoastStampers is full of wonderful ideas and inspiration and it's wonderful that fellow stampers are happy to post their creations on there and allow others to CASE their cards or get inspiration from them.

The above card is a CASE inspired by this card on SCS which again I made a few adaptations too. The basic layout is the same and colours are similar but I've created my own background paper on the Bashful Blue by using a stamp set and used ribbon that is readily available to us in our current Idea Book & Catalogue.

My Summer Mini Launch came at a hectic time for me, with Regional training and Stamp-A-Stack classes to attend and organise, so being able to get inspiration and CASE others creations made having enough samples available to show at my launch that much easier. Now with that said you can quite easily get sidetracked and spend hours browsing the lovely creations on SCS.

Stamp sets: Stem Silhouettes, Eclectic Backgrounds.
Cardstock: Going Gray, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White.
Inks: Going Gray, Real Red, Bashful Blue.
Accessories: White & Red Grosgrain ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Summer Mini Catalogue is open for business...

Yes that's right, it's finally the 1st December so you can now purchase your own lovely stamp sets and papers from the Summer Mini Catalogue and create some of your own wonderful creations.



If I can be of assistance with any purchases please don't hesitate to email me or you can contact me by phone on 0418 218 467. Credit Card facilities are available or you can direct credit my bank account (details supplied on order).



Or maybe you would like to host a Workshop for a few friends in your home and see some of the Summer Mini sets demonstrated and everyone will also get to make a card? If you're within reasonable driving distance from me (Lalor Park, NSW) then contact me to arrange a convenient date. I'm taking booking for Sale-A-Bration in January & February also. Not sure what Sale-A-Bration is? It's your chance to receive *FREE stamp sets and you don't have to be a hostess. Normal Hostess benefits still apply. Contact me for further details.



*Certain criteria apply.