Autumn Easter Wishes

I’ve bucked the trend this year with my Easter cards for family. Usually I would do bunnies, florals, something pretty. But, because Sydney is beginning to feel the Autumn chill this Easter, my cards definitely reflect the season. (And, I’d just bought the gorgeous set French Foliage from the new Autumn/Winter mini, and I couldn’t wait to try it out!)

Here’s my first card. I was really pleased with it.

• Stamp Set: French Foliage, Easter Blossoms
  
• Ink: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
• CS: Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

I can see I’ll be using this set a lot. The leaves layer so well – we may even do this card for my Masking Technique class, coming up on 4th May. It’s very simple to create that distressed look around the edge of the cardstock with either your fingernail (not good if you’re doing lots of cards, as you’ll get a little ridge in your nail!), the edge of your paper snips or SU!’s distressing tool.

Because I liked this card so much, I decided why stop at one? But, because I get bored making the same thing over and over, I made one small change.

Colour! From left to right, here’s the card in Rich Razzleberry, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Peach Parfait, So Saffron and Old Olive.  Which one would you choose?

It’s one more sleep until Easter – I hope you’ll be spending it with people you love.

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

Put some sparkle in your Easter

Good morning all! It’s a beautiful sunny Autumn morning here in Sydney. The air is a little bit crisp, but by mid morning it will be a glorious day. So nice in fact, that my girls and I have decided to go on a picnic to take advantage of the sunshine.

But, before I get cracking and start making sandwiches and cupcakes to take with us, I thought I’d share a card I made last night, for an Inklings Cyberstamp. The directions for this challenge were simple – make an Easter card with some ‘bling’!

As soon as I saw the challenge, I remembered an online tutorial I’d seen and wanted to try by the amazing Valita. She makes such beautiful cards, and is so creative with punch art, and so generous too, as she shares her ideas and tutorials for free on YouTube for others to enjoy. Here’s a link to her tutorial on Easter Egg Flowers that inspired me!

And, here’s my card.

• Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
• Ink: Basic Black, Daffodill Delight, Rose Red, Old Olive, Bashful Blue
• CS: Whisper White, Old Olive, Daffodill Delight, Melon Mambo, Rose Red, Regal Rose
• DSP: Island Oasis
• Accessories: Word Window Punch, Owl Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestone Circle Ice Brad, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Wouldn’t you love to get a real pot of flowers like this on Easter morning? I love the Easter Egg Flowers that Valita has designed – I think my card has achieved the ‘bling’ requirement of the challenge, it definitely looks very sparkly in real life! To get the even coverage of sparkle, I used a spray adhesive on my ‘eggs’ and gently sprinkled the Dazzling Diamonds on top of them; I wanted them to look ‘frosted’. Another change from Valita’s design is I used the Small Oval Punch, because that’s what I had!

Not sure if this card will make it to the person I’d like to send it to in time for Easter, but I don’t think they’ll mind. Hope your Easter preparations are coming along too!

Thanks for taking a peek today.

Cheers,

By the light, of the silvery moon…

It was a wet old afternoon in Sydney today – perfect for doing some cardmaking!

I thought I’d try and make a card do triple duty by making one that used the Mother of Pearl technique that we’ll be learning in my class on Tuesday this week, along with satisfying the requirements of Shelli Gardner’s Creative Challenge to make a springtime project, and the current Inkspirations Challenge Sketch. I’m not quite sure if it worked. I love my ‘silvery moon’ but I’m just not sure if the card around it is busy competing with it rather than helping it shine. I think I may have to go back to the drawing board on my colour selections. Let me know what you think!

 

• Stamp Set: Easter Blossoms
• Ink: Marina Mist, StazOn Black, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Frost White Shimmer Paint
• CS: Glossy White, Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Whisper White
• Big Shot: Circles No.2 Die
• Accessories: Basic Pearls, Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds, Spray Adhesive (not SU!)
  

Does it look like a shimmery, shiny, springtime moon in a starry sky? I love doing the Mother of Pearl technique – it turns out different every time. Using Glossy White cardstock and Frost White Shimmer Paint mean you get a beautiful finish, and varying your distressing inks (I used both Crumb Cake and Early Espresso this time) help you to acheive a shadowing effect. If you’d like to learn how to do this technique, do an internet search, or ask your friendly local Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator – they’d be happy to help you learn how.

I got the layer of ‘stars’ in the background by spraying the Night of Navy cardstock with spray adhesive, and then sprinkling Dazzling Diamonds on it gently like fairy dust. Just remember to put down a scrap sheet of paper first – my dining room table is now looking very glam!

Thanks for taking a peek today – I’ll be back later in the week with some Easter projects.

Cheers,

Inklings BlogHop – you’ll think all your birthdays have come at once!

It’s the first of April, which means new stamps to play with – huzzah! Welcome to the INKlings’ Team’s Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue blog hop. You may have arrived here from Liz Halbisch’s blog, or just be visiting me, but whichever way once you’ve checked out my creations you can continue the hop through the link at the end of this post to the next team member.

With a new Mini Catalogue out today, we thought it would be a great time to showcase the gorgeous new products to all our blog readers. You can check out the new mini catalogue online here, or if you’d like your very own copy (and you know you do) please email me today and I’ll pop one in the mail for you.

Want to win some Blog Candy? Simply leave a comment on each blog before midnight AEST 3rd April, and then email Kari and let her know you’ve done so and you’ll be in the running for some fantastic handmade cards plus other goodies. (Sorry, Blog Candy prize is only available to Australian residents, and is not available to SU! Demonstrators, but you’re more than welcome to leave us some love!)

Now, when I first opened the new mini, the very first stamp set I put on my ‘really truly must have that one’ list was Bring on the Cake. Now, you may be thinking ‘how boring’, as it’s only a sentiment set, but I get so excited about building a card around the style of a sentiment. Based on the font and layout, they have a personality all their own.

So, for your viewing pleasure, I now have five – count them, five! – birthday cards to share with you, each with their own distinct personality!

Card No. 1 – Fun and Funky

• Stamp Set: Bring Out the Cake
• Ink: Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Poppy Parade
  
• CS: Early Espresso, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
  
• DSP: Greenhouse Gala
• Big Shot: Circles No.2 Die
• Accessories: XL Bird Punch, Stampin Dimensionals

Wish I could find funky striped candles like that for my birthday cake!

Card No. 2 – Bright and Cheery

• Stamp Set: Bring Out the Cake
• Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, StazOn Black
• CS: Peach Parfait, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
• DSP: In Colour Stack using Poppy Parade
• Accessories: Brights Button Collection, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Do you like my ‘double decker’ pinwheel? I knew I wanted to do a pinwheel for this card, but sometimes it’s hard to stick a button in the middle of them, due to the height of the centre panels. I was taking a peek around the internet, looking for some inspiration, and came across this tutorial by LisaEDesign on YouTube – these are so easy!

Card No. 3 – Old School

• Stamp Set: Bring on the Cake
• Ink: StazOn Black, Riding Hood Red
• CS: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black
• DSP: Love Letter
• Accessories: 1 1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Brights Button Collection, Linen Thread, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Don’t you love that ‘old school’ pointing hand image? I’ve got so many ideas for this stamp!

Card No. 4 – Shabby Chic Mother of Pearl

• Stamp Set: Bring on the Cake, Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel
  
• Ink: StazOn Black, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Crumbcake
  
• CS: Glossy White, Blushing Bride, Soft Suede
  
• Accessories: Frost White Shimmer Paint

I love making cards using the mother of pearl technique, but they’re so hard to photograph! This has a beautiful sheen in real life, and I think it matches the tone of the birthday sentiment really well.

Card No. 5 – Classic Good Looks

• Stamp Set: Bring on the Cake
• Ink: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
  
• CS: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso
  
• DSP: Greenhouse Gala
• Big Shot: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
• Accessories: Antique Brad, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Scallop Circle Punch, Frost White Shimmer Paint (mixed with rubbing alcohol to make shimmer spray), 1 1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

I love using Daffodil Delight and Early Espresso together – a perfect partnership.

I hope I’ve convinced you how absolutely vital this stamp set is to your collection – and I’ve only used six of the stamps in the set – there are thirteen lovely birthday sentiment stamps for you to play with in this set! If you have any questions about the techniques I’ve used to make my cards please don’t hesitate to email me!

Well, that’s all from me. Next stop on the INKlings’ Team Blog Hop is Kari Hughes – I know she’ll have something fabulous to show you. Have fun and don’t forget to leave a comment on each blog to win some great Blog Candy.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Cheers,

Life is Beautiful

I’m about to pop this card in the post, but thought I’d quickly take a shot of it to share with you before I send it on its merry way. It’s a wedding card for one of my customers, and I’m hoping she’s waaay too busy with wedding stuff to check what I’m doing on my little blog, so she won’t see it before she receives it in the mail.

I made it at my Tuesday Techniques Class – the ladies wanted to try doing a CASE study (Copy And Share Everything) and asked me to make them a challenge card that they could be inspired by. I did the challenge too, so this is my CASE card, not the original. I’ll share that one tomorrow, because I’ve used a stamp set from the new Autumn Mini!

 

• Stamp Set: Life is Beautiful
• Ink: Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake
• CS: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist
• DSP: Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Accessories: Whisper White Organza Ribbon, Neutrals Button, Linen Thread, Basic Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Do you like it? I hope the happy couple like it too. I wanted to post it on here today as today is the VERY LAST DAY that you can order that gorgeous Presto Patterns Specialty Designer Series Paper. It is so pretty, and because it’s clear embossed with the pattern on a white background, you can make it any colour you want! Here I’ve used a sponge to layer Baja Breeze and Marina Mist ink, but you could also use a Brayer, or even Smooch Spritz.

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

My inky fingers are back online, just in time for tea!

Whew! It feels so good to be typing on a full sized keyboard again. I did try posting once with my Ipod, but I’m afraid it was just all too frustrating. I’ve missed my little blog!

Anyhow, I thought I’d share some photos of the Farewell Tea Party I held for the end of the Summer Mini on 20th March – remember, there’s only one day left to order, and then those stamps won’t be available unless they make it into the main Catalogue for 2011-2012. And before you ask, no, I don’t know which one’s will make it – it’s always a surprise. That’s why new Idea Book and Catalogue time is such fun!

Ok, back to what I was talking about. Here’s a photo of our scrummy afternoon tea.

On the menu were vanilla cakes with orange, lemon, rosewater and vanilla bean icing, and rosewater flavoured Parisian macarons (eat your heart out Adriano Zumbo!). Not perfect I’ll admit (a few cracked shells here and there) but they tasted delicious! Please note the trés chic ‘goodbye to summer’ handbags each guest got to take home, using the Island Oasis DSP (which were, of course, filled with yummy chocolate!)

I’m going to share two of the cards we made at our tea party, using my two favourite stamp sets from the Summer Mini.

• Stamp Sets: Aviary, Party this Way
• Ink: Poppy Parade, Basic Grey
• CS: Whisper White
• Big Shot: Square Lattice Embossing Folder
• Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

These little birds are so cute! I’ve made a whole heap of gift cards with these recently, most of which I’ve given away. I know I’ll be using this set a lot over the next few months. And the lattice embossing makes it just that little bit more interesting. It’s also fun to play around with which bird fits in which cage!

For our second card, we made an Easter themed one. It’s already less than a month away, can you believe that! And if you like making Easter cards, please don’t miss out on this beautiful set. Even if you don’t, the blossom branch stamp in this set is soooo beautiful – I already have so many ideas for cards using this one.

• Stamp Set: Easter Blossoms
• Ink: StazOn Black, Blushing Bride, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze
  
• CS: Whisper White, Basic Black
• Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch

I love making clouds with the Scallop Circle punch – it’s so easy! Punch a circle out of scrap cardstock, and then use it to mask sections of your image while you sponge around the edges. Much easier than cutting out actual clouds! I’m afraid the photo doesn’t do that blossom branch justice – it’s so detailed and beautiful, and very easy to colour using your markers or blender pens.

Thanks for taking a peek today! And don’t forget, if there’s something you want to order from the Summer mini, there’s only one day to go!

Cheers,

 

Wishing you Happpiness Always…

Happy New Year! Do you like my new banner? I couldn’t resist putting in a picture of Sydney Harbour and the NYE fireworks – I can’t wait until my girls are a little bit older so we can all go down to the harbour to enjoy them.

I can’t believe it’s 2011 already! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful holiday season filled with jollity and good cheer. I’ve been away on holiday visiting family, where there was a lot of jollity (and a little too much good cheer by the feel of the waistband on my favourite pair of jeans) and only arrived back home a few days ago – today was the first chance I’ve had since Christmas to sit and make a card. I’ve made this card for a very dear friend who is moving away, and whom I’ll miss very much.

• Stamp Sets: Heard from the Heart, Every Moment
• Inks: StazOn Black, Riding Hood Red, Cherry Cobbler, Peach Parfait, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron, Frost White
• CS: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla

It’s a bit hard to tell from the photo, but I’ve also highlighted the butterfly in Frost White Paint, after watercolouring it and letting it dry. The watercolouring did take a while to do, because you need to let each colour dry before adding the shadowing – I’m getting more patient than I used to be!

I’ll be updating my Sunday Stamping Summer Class list shortly – I’ll send everyone on my newsletter list times and dates a little later this week. I’m also toying with the idea of offering an evening weeknight class, so if you have a preference, please contact me! Watercolouring will definitely be one of the topics we’ll cover!

I hope you’ll also keep in your thoughts all the families in Queensland who have had such a shocking time over the Christmas break with the current floods – I heard on the news this evening that the current flood affected area is as large as France and Germany combined! I was born in Cairns, and lived around Maryborough and Biggenden in SE Queensland until I turned 10, so everyone up there is very much in my thoughts.

A national appeal has been launched to help Queensland’s flood victims. Premier Anna Bligh initiated the fund after viewing the devastation at Rockhampton and Bundaberg.

Donations can be made here at or by calling 1800 219 028 or at a branch of:

• Bank of Queensland,
• Commonwealth Bank,
• Westpac,
• ANZ,
• NAB, or
• Suncorp

and cheques can also be made out to the Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal. I’m sure every little bit will help.

Thanks for taking a peek today, and Happy New Year!

Cheers,

Dani

Dashing through the snow…

I know, I know, we don’t have snow at Christmas here in Australia. I generally try to avoid the whole ‘winter’ Christmas theme, because I’ve never experienced one, although I would love to, at least once. But I thought Dasher would look so cute in the snow.

Here’s the gorgeous Dasher again, frolicking in some Dazzling Diamond snow.

• Stamp Sets: Dasher, Christmas Greetings
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
• CS: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip
• Big Shot: Circle No.2 Die
• Accessories: Early Espresso Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Tombow adhesive, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Doesn’t he look handsome, prancing through the snow? I think I might go back and add a bit or Riding Hood Red to his antlers. Or maybe even some pearls!

If you like this card, why not come to my Stampin’ Sunday class this weekend. All the details are here on my Class and Events page. We’ll also be making this card, and another one featuring the Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper. I’d love to see you there. Remember, you have to email me to book your spot.

I’ll be posting the final card we’re making at the class tomorrow. There are only three classes left for this year!

On another note, I’d love to thank all those who made it to our Girl’s Night In Stamping Fundraiser on Sunday. In total, we raised a whopping $461.50 for the Cancer Council. I’m was very proud to be a part of it, along with my super upline Karen Oliver, and my lovely downline, Amanda Gwalter. Excellent work ladies! Can’t wait for next years!

For those who are wondering, yes, I did dress up for our ‘Think Pink’ quiz. And there is photographic evidence. My dress was very, very, pink (think Melon Mambo), very, very, taffeta and very, very, 80’s. Molly Ringwald, eat your heart out! I don’t have a copy of the photo yet, because Mandy took it on her camera, but I may post it on my blog. And then again, I might not. Halloween is over – I don’t want to give you nightmares!

Thanks for taking a peek today!

Cheers,

Dani

Dash away all…

This morning, while I was checking my calendar, I came to a rather scary realisation. Well, not scary exactly, but it did surprise me a little. This Saturday, it will be exactly 10 weeks until Christmas. I don’t know why that came as a surprise. Myer and Target have their Christmas Trees on display, even the supermarkets have their Christmas treats out for purchase. It’s that ‘getting ready for Christmas’ time of year.

So, until Christmas, you’ll see at least one Christmas project on my blog each week. All my upcoming Sunday Stamping classes for this year also have a Christmas theme.

I just recently purchased the ‘Dasher’ stamp from the new catalogue, and I love it. On Friday night a customer of mine hosted a ‘stamp a stack’ (Hi Kate!) and one of the cards we made used this stamp.

• Stamp Sets: Dasher, Christmas Greetings
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler
• CS: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
• DSP: Jolly Holiday

Isn’t Dasher handsome? It’s quite a simple little card, with a bit of layering making sure that Dasher is the star of the show. It would also be easy to post.  I really liked the layout of it, so as an extra hostess gift for Kate, I decided to ‘accessorize’ it a little.

• Stamp Sets: Dasher, Christmas Greetings
• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
  
• CS: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
• DSP: Jolly Holiday
• Big Shot: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
• Accessories: Basic Pearls, Neutrals Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, 1 1/4″ Early Espresso Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds

Bling! I just love those pearls. And that ribbon. I don’t think this would be a good card to put in the post, but I’m sure it would make an impression on someone who you gave it to in person!

Stay tuned, because I’ll be posting details of a few Christmas card kits this week, and the first Dasher card above will be one of them. I’m sure between us we’ll be able to get all your Christmas cards done and dusted before 1st December this year!

Thanks for taking a peek today.

Cheers!

Dani

On the right track for a Happy Birthday

Just a quick post today to share a card that I made for my nephew’s 2nd birthday. He really likes Chuggington at the moment, so when I was at the Inklings craft retreat and saw the Choo Choo stamp set and the On the Right Track wheel in the stamp library, I knew exactly what I was going to use to make his birthday card!

I’ve used the Family Fun colour coordination suggestions for the colour scheme on my card. You can find them on page 5 of your catalogue.

• Stamp Sets: Choo Choo, On the Right Track Wheel
• Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip
• CS: Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
• Big Shot: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits
• Accessories: XL Star Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

The sun was easy peasy to make, using two stars, a circle and dimensionals, then sponging the edges with a bit of So Saffron ink. I’ve torn a piece of Old Olive cardstock to make the hill, and I cut the clouds out freehand. The Tempting Turquoise sky was made by dragging the ink pad across a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

I think it looks pretty cute. I hope it reminds the birthday boy of ol’ Puffer Pete from Chuggington!

Just a quick reminder too, that I’ll be running my ‘Go Vintage’ class again this Sunday – same bat time, same bat station. Email me to book your spot.

Thanks for taking a peek today.

Cheers,

Dani