Well, another year has begun! I’m still a little bit in holiday mode, but began getting a little organised today, sending out my first email newsletter of the year, and putting my Technique Tuesday classes on my Demonstrator Website.

I’m going to be offering a few new things for customers this year – I’m really hoping you’ll like them!

For those that live close to me in the Sydney area, I’ll be hosting a Paper Playdate on the last Saturday of every month – you can read all the details here on my Demonstrator Website.

For those that are unable to attend my classes and events, I’m starting stamp by mail classes in February. I should have all the details organised soon, so be sure to keep an eye out for that post if you’re interested.

My ’Snail Mail Stamper’ program will give you everything you need to create 12 high quality cards, and is a great way to play and learn with lots of new Stampin’ Up! products without having to place a large order.

The program will run across 4 months, beginning in February. In order to take part, you need to commit to subscribing to all 4 months. Each month, you will receive a delivery straight from the warehouse containing stamps, ink pads and accessories. You will also receive a project kit with pre-cut cardstock, technique guides and detailed photo-instructions from me to complete three cards each month.

Hopefully I’ll have a chance to play myself over the weekend, and will be sharing some more creations with you soon!

Happy stamping, and thanks for taking a peek!

Cheers,

• Stamp Set: Jolly Bingo Bits
• Cardstock: Crumbcake, Whisper White
• Ink: Riding Hood Red
• DSP: Letters to Santa
• Accessories: 1″ Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

This is not my usual style – it’s very restrained for me! I was just itching to sponge it somewhere, or add some twine or a few more bits and pieces, but for a stamp a stack, restrained and simple is best. And I have seen someone else spell out the word ‘joy’ with these particular stamps somewhere else – I just forgot to write down that person’s name in my ideas journal. If it’s you, please email me so I can give credit where it’s due!

I’m having so much fun with the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set – I’ve been making lots of christmas gift tags, a bingo game, and patterned wrapping paper – it really is a very versatile Christmas set.

If you like the look of this card, and have been thinking about buying the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set, for an extra $10.00, I’ll send you enough precut cardstock and DSP, plus envelopes, to make 12 of these cards (please note that I’ve used red tartan dsp above for my scallop edge – in the pack it will be Riding Hood Red cardstock to keep your costs down). If you don’t have a Clear Block A (which is the smallest block, and just the right size for this stamp set) or the Riding Hood Red Ink Pad, I’ll add those to your order for another $15.00. I’m only offering these combos for purchase in conjunction with the Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set, until Saturday 10th December. Email me at inkypinkystamps@gmail if you’re interested.

Jolly Bingo Bits Stamp Set (Clear Block) $57.95

Jolly Bingo Joy Card Pack: $10.00

1. 12 x C6 Whisper White Envelopes
2. 12 x Crumb Cake card bases
3. 12 x Letters to Santa Tartan strips
4. 12 x Riding Hood Red Scallop Edge strips
5. 12 x 1″ circles in Whisper White
6. 12 x 1 1/4″ circles in Riding Hood Red

Jolly Bingo Ink and Block Pack: $15.00

1. 1 x Acrylic Block A (usually $5.95)
2. 1 x Riding Hood Red Classic Stampin’ Pad (usually $11.95)

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

The main reason that I had to purchase this set is that I just love to colour! And this image looks lovely watercoloured, coloured with blender pens, even done in tones of the same colour. It can be made as simple or as detailed as you wish.

Here’s a card we made at a recent technique class, that was coloured with blender pens. Those with keen eyes will note that the colour scheme is almost exactly the same as the example on page 23 of the main catalogue (it’s not called an ‘idea book’ for nothing you know!) The main difference is the ‘stable’ that we’ve made for our little family.

• Stamp set: Tidings of Joy
• Ink: StazOn Black, Crumbcake, So Saffron, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Real Red, Pool Party, Blush Blossom
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party
• Accessories: Stampin’ Dimensionals, Distressing Essentials Kit, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun
  
• Non SU! Supplies: Masking Tape

Yes, you read that correctly, masking tape. To make the textured area for the stable, I’ve used a technique called Faux Leather. Stick small pieces of ripped masking tape all over a piece of cardstock, covering it entirely, and then rub and press ink all over it. Once you’re happy with the colour, sprinkle embossing powder over it, and give it a blast with your heat gun. You don’t have to use Versamark ink like you usually would before embossing – the powder will stick to the roughness of the masking tape. Why not give it a try? It’s also a great technique for masculine cards to give them a bit of ‘macho texture’.

The other thing I like about this set is that one of the sentiments is just long enough to curve slightly, before adhering it to your clear block and stamping. When you’re using a clear block set, just because a sentiment is straight doesn’t mean it needs to stay that way – experiment with bending your sentiments slightly, to create a little whimsy in your cards.

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

If you haven’t come across it before, and have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a simple explanation, taken from the Omiyage blog:

To put it simply, washi tape is a high quality masking tape made of rice paper.

But more than that, washi tape is a material which is beautiful yet useful at the same time. You can tear it, stick it, reposition it, write on it… The low tack adhesive makes it extremely easy to use (and reuse). I think it is so popular because it is so easy to use – and looks good while doing it!

• Stamp set: Jolly Bingo Bits, Season of Joy
  
• Ink: Versamark, Riding Hood Red
• Cardstock: Crumbcake, Whisper White, Pool Party
• Accessories: White Gel Pen, Stampin’ Dimensionals, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, 1″ Circle Punch
• Non SU! Items: Washi Tape

This card literally took me only minutes to make. I tore the edge off the washi tape and adhered it to the card base, then punched a hole with my 1 1/4″ circle punch – because the washi tape is so thin, the punch has no trouble getting through all the layers.

I stamped the Santa on Whisper White, and then punched it with the 1″ circle punch.

The little sentiment flag was actually made for an earlier card, but I didn’t like it, so I stashed it away to be used later. It was simply a case of writing ‘Merry Christmas’ with my white gel pen (slow and steady to get the best results) on the Pool Party cardstock, and drawing a ‘faux stitching’ dashed line around the edge of the flag.

I have to admit, I’ve been inspired by watching Kristina Kwerner’s recent holiday card tutorials to use my own handwriting more often on cards (it’s not quite as beautiful as hers though!) The snowflake image on the background of the flag was stamped in Versamark. Easy Peasy (Japanesey)!

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

Here it is closed. (Many apologies for the photo quality – I can’t find my camera cord, so these were taken with my phone – I’ll add the better images later.)

And here it is opened – just write on the centre of the ‘card’, pop the treats in, and put the lid back on – easy peasy, cheap and cheerful.

• Stamp Set: Jolly Bingo Bits, Short and Sweet
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive
• DSP: Letters to Santa
• Ink: Early Espresso, Old Olive Inkpads and Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade and Poppy Parade Stampin’ Write Pens
• Accessories: 1″ Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch, 1 3/4″ Scallop Circle

Now, let me say right at the very beginning – I didn’t come up with this idea. I’ve seen so many different examples of these boxes, and I have no way of knowing who made them ‘first’, but this version is simple and easy, and if you choose you can dress them up to look amazing (I tend to go for simple myself though, especially if I’m making more than one).

You can do a search on YouTube for Explosion Boxes, and get lots of different types of video tutorials; I think SplitCoastStampers has one similar to mine, or I’m happy to send you a simple pdf tutorial on how I make my boxes.

We made this version of the box at one of my recent Technique Tuesday classes, and the ladies who attended were impressed at how incredibly easy these were to make! Once you’ve learned how to make one, you’ll be able to make them in all different sizes – as long as your cardstock measurements are divisible by three, they can be as big or as small as you like.

Because it’s a box and card in one, you don’t have to worry about tying on tags, or making time to wrap the gift – it is the gift! Just have some pre-wrapped christmas treats handy, and a pen, so you can surreptitiously write inside the box before you hand it over.

I love giving ‘consumables’ as Christmas gifts to neighbours and friends – you don’t have to worry if they already have one, or if it’s the right size, or if they have someplace to store it. They’re also very nice for teacher gifts too. And, they’re easy on the wallet – one piece of cardstock, a few scraps, and a quarter piece of DSP later, you have the perfect treasure box for treats!

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

I wish I could have attended her party! Because my sister and brother-in-law work in the hospitality industry, they had access to a huge screen to show the first Harry Potter movie on, complete with a cart of treats with Honeydukes inspired lollies, and a long Hogwarts inspired banquet table for the birthday feast.

I did help with a bit of decorating while we where there in Canberra – drawing the Hogwarts school crest on a huge piece of card, and helping ‘stamp’ the brick wall onto paper (with a car washing sponge!) so that the guests could ‘magically’ go through Platform 9 3/4 to the party area. I’m waiting to see some photos from the party, and I’ve told my sister to hang on to all the props, just in case Claire Bear or Bella Boo become Harry Potter fans like their obsessed mother

Hannah loves Hermione and was getting dressed up as her for the party, so we bought her a hand-carved ivy wooden wand (with ‘essence of dragon heartstring’)  from Alivans in the USA, and a copy of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ for her birthday – essential items that Hermione wouldn’t be seen without! She was given those gifts while we were visiting Canberra so they would be ready for the party, but I did send her a card in the post last week (not Owl Post unfortunately) that she could open on her actual birthday.

• Stamp Set: Pony Party
• Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Blush Blossom, Versamark
• Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
• Big Shot: Top Note Die
• Accessories: XL Two Step Owl Punch, Embossing Buddy, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Sponge Dauber, Tombow Glue

Sorry about the quality of this photo – I just remembered to take a quick pic with my Iphone before I popped it into the envelope! This Hermione Card has been cased from a US Demonstrator who used My Digital Studio to create them – you can see them here on her blog Creative Aubservations. My Hermione card is pretty much the same – I’ve used the same elements I think – the Top Note die for her hair outline, and the largest circle from the owl punch for her eyes. I’ve made some slight modifications, by sponging in her cheeks using a sponge dauber and my Blush Blossom marker, drawing in her hairline with a Soft Suede marker, and adding some sponging here and there to provide definition. I thought the sentiment from Pony Party was perfect for a Harry Potter card!

I’ve finally got new batteries for my camera, so you’ll be getting posts on a more regular basis this week. I’m lining up a whole heap of Christmas inspired projects to share with you, so we can do a countdown to Christmas!

I’ve still got a few places left at my Christmas Stamp a Stack – here are the details, in case you’ve missed them! You can email me at inkypinkystamps@gmail.com to book your spot – I will need to know by 1st November at the latest so I can have all the cardstock pre-cut and decide on what Christmassy treats to bake!

At my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack, you’ll make 12 cards, 6 each in two different designs, and a set of 12 gift tags. All you need is provided – pre-cut cardstock, all materials and embellishments, adhesive and envelopes for the cards, along with a cuppa and Christmas themed light refreshments, to get us in a Christmassy mood.

The class will be set up so you can construct the cards in an assembly-line format, with full instructions and a list of materials to create more later if you wish.

You can choose to come to either the morning session – 10am to 12 noon, or the afternoon – 2pm to 4pm. Please let me know which session you prefer when you make your booking.

The cost of each session is $25 and places are limited to ensure individual attention. Warning – Christmas Carols will be playing, so if you don’t like ‘em, bring your ear plugs!

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

So my girls and I will be heading off on the train to Canberra tomorrow for a week with Nanny and Poppy (poor Daddy Bear will have to stay at home for work, but at least he’ll have Daisy the wondercat and Speedy Red the goldfish to keep him company).

I do need to get packing, which will include a trip to the dryer at the local laundromat (curse you spring rain!), but I thought I’d share two very different cards which I made at the Inklings weekend. (I have heaps of newer cards, but have only just got around to buying new camera batteries – apparently batteries run down if you accidentally leave your camera on when you’ve finished transferring photos to the computer – oops!)

• Stamp Set: Faith in Nature (Hostess Set, available using Hostess Dollars only)
• Ink: So Saffron, Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Versamark, Early Espresso
• Cardstock: Early Espresso, Naturals Ivory, Very Vanilla
• Accessories: Linen Thread, Clear Embossing Powder, Brayer, Heat Tool

I love the sentiment in this set. To get this look, first stamp your image on your neutral cardstock using Versamark, and emboss using Clear Embossing Powder. Then gradually layer your inks using your brayer, starting with your lighter colour, and working down to the darker one. It takes a bit of practice to get the blending of colours right, but once you have it down pat, it’s lots of fun.

• Stamp Sets: Word Play, For Everything, Dot Dot Dot
• Inks: Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Wild Wasabi
• Big Shot: Originals Blossom Party Die, Originals Ovals Die, Bigz Beautiful Butterflies Die
• Accessories: Sponge Daubers, Tombow Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin’ Dimensionals

This was a colour challenge, based on the new Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper – I think I got all of them, except for the Early Espresso! I was going for a feel of riotous spring abandon.

I was also trying to accept a challenge from my upline, Karen Oliver, to try and make a simple, one layer card. Fail! I really have trouble making simple cards – it was almost a one layer card, but then I stamped my sentiment crooked at the very last minute – d’oh! I know what you’re thinking – ‘why didn’t she use her stamp-a-majig?‘ Simple – I was being lazy! So, in time honoured Dani-whoops, I didn’t mean for that to happen, how can I cover it up so it looks like I had this plan all along-type of way, I re-stamped my sentiment on an oval, re-did my large butterfly and cut it out, and layered the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

How did I do the flowers and butterflies you ask? With stencils of course! Use the Big Shot and your favourite dies to cut some stencils from Window Sheets, and then even if you don’t actually own the dies, (for example because you’re away on a craft weekend) you’ll always have stencils to use when you get home.

Don’t throw away the positives either (the bits from the middle) as you can create great effects by sponging around them too, especially letter ones.

Ok, got to go, I’ve been informed by Claire Bear and Bella Boo that it’s morning tea time. Didn’t we just have breakfast? What is it about school holidays that makes children hungry all the time! Back into the kitchen I go.

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

I made this card on the Inklings Retreat as a colour challenge set by Jayne Mercer. The challenge colours were taken from one of the new Designer Series Paper packs called Cheerful Treat, only available by spending your Hostess Dollars when you submit a Workshop Order. There’s none of that particular paper on this card, but don’t these colours look ‘zingy’ together! This is definitely a ‘look at me’ card!

• Stamp Sets: Creative Elements, Elizabeth (both available 1st September)
• Inks: Whisper White Craft Ink, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Concord Crush, Bashful Blue
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Concord Crush
• DSP: Subtles Collection Paper Stack in Bashful Blue
• Big Shot: Ovals Die, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder
• Accessories: Frost White Shimmer Paint (mixed with rubbing alcohol), Clear Embossing Powder, Blender Pen

All the stamps used are from the new (and already one of my favourites) Creative Elements set, except for the frame around the word ‘create’. That’s one of the new A la Carte stamp sets (single stamps) called Elizabeth, and I can see that I’ll be ordering it – it creates such a beautiful frame for a special sentiment!

Today is the very last day of the 2010-2011 Catalogue, so you’ve got until the end of business today to email me any last minute orders from the retiring list!

Thanks for taking a peek today.

Cheers,

• Stamp Sets: Forever Young (available 1st Sept), Style Beautiful
• Inks: StazOn Black, Basic Grey, Pool Party Re-inker, Calypso Coral Re-inker, Island Indigo Re-inker
• Cardstock: Gloss White, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo
• Non-SU: Baby Wipes

It’s a very simple little card, and a very easy technique to do – cut your glossy cardstock to size, then put a few drops of your chosen colour from the reinker bottle onto a baby wipe, then swipe across the cardstock. The trick to it is, you can’t hesitate – if you stop in the middle, you’ll get a definite line. I like to put my drips of ink in a ‘rainbow’ on the baby wipe and swipe them all at once – others like to do one colour at a time. If you think the colour is too intense, you can use a clean baby wipe to tone it down a notch. Give it a little while to dry, then stamp your image over the top in StazOn ink.

Because I wanted a soft ‘foggy’ look for this card, I’ve sponged the edges in Basic Grey ink. Do you like the new In-Colours? These are three of the five new colours, and they look beautiful together, don’t you think?

Thanks for taking a peek today.

Cheers,