It’s the little things…

Hidey Ho Happy Stampers!

Did you ever have one of those days when things just seemed to flow on from one another? I designed the card we made at last night’s Technique Tuesday class (which was Collage Stamping, by the way – one of my favourites!) with someone special in mind. I wanted it to have a sort of Parisian shabby chic sensibility to it, because I know she’s counting down the days to going on another special trip, and I wanted to send a card this week that sort of went with that feeling – a ‘you’ll get there’ type of card.

Then, this morning when I checked out Shelli Gardner’s blog, her challenge this month was for ‘Thinking of You’ type cards. I think this card fits the bill perfectly – it was made using all my favourite SU! Stamp sets, and I was definitely thinking about the person when I made it. I’m quite pleased with the way it turned out – I hope you like it too!

• Stamp Sets: Style Beautiful, Nature Walk, Vintage Vogue, French Foliage, You’re a Gem
• Inks: Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry, Early Espresso
• Cardstock: Whisper White, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry
• DSP: Subtles Stack
• Accessories: Crochet Trim, 1″ Circle Punch, Sticky Strip, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Distressing Essentials Kit
• Non-SU items: teabag

What did I do with the teabag you ask? I decided my crochet trim looked a little bit ‘pure’ next to the rest of the card, so I plopped it into a good strong cup of black tea and let it soak for a while, and then dried it off with my heat tool. The girls at my Technique Class used Rose with French Vanilla tea to dye their trim, so their cards smelt as fabulous as they looked!

The little rosette is quite easy to make – punch a 1″ circle, and cover it with Sticky Strip, then begin pleating your DSP around the edge of it. When you get back to the beginning, use your Tombow Glue to tuck the end underneath the first pleat. Then cover up the middle of your rosette with another stamped circle. I find it easier to work with the DSP if it’s damp, so I sprayed it with a mixture of Frost White Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol that I’d mixed together in a spray bottle. When it dries, it’s more likely to stay in the pleated shape, and it has a lovely subtle sheen to it.

Thanks for taking a peek today – I’m off to take my card to the post office! Remember, a hand made card is like a hug with a fold in the middle – why don’t you send one off to a friend today!

Cheers,

Baby Wipes – is there anything they can’t do?!?

We love baby wipes in this house. Our babies might not be teeny tiny any more, but that doesn’t mean they still don’t make mess. I still carry some around in my handbag, and have them stashed around the house for quick clean ups. But, did you know you should also have some in with your crafty tools – not only for cleaning up those inky fingers, but for stamping with?

Here’s a card that we made at last Tuesday’s Technique Class; it uses two baby wipe techniques – Baby Wipe Background, and Baby Wipe Ink Pad (or that’s what I call them – do a search on Google, and you may come up with some slightly different names, but they’re the same technique!)

• Stamp Set: French Foliage, Afterthoughts (Level 1 Hostess Set)
• Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler and Re-inkers in Cherry Cobbler and So Saffron
  
• CS: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Glossy White
• Accessories: Cropodile, Metallic Eyelets, Baby Wipes

The tartan background was inspired by this Gina K. card – I already knew how to do a striped background, but it had never occurred to me to turn the cardstock around and swipe away again! Thanks for the inspiration Gina!

I was trying to create a more ‘masculine’ look for this one – it’s always handy to have a few cards stashed away so you can look organised for people’s birthdays (my problem is not the card making – it’s getting them to the post office on time!) I think French Foliage may be one of those rare stamp sets that you’ll be able to use for both masculine and feminine cards, so if you love the look of it as much as I do, don’t miss out – it’s only available until 31st July (unless it makes it into the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalogue, and I can’t guarantee that).

If you’d like to learn how to make this card, I’ll be running this class again on Wednesday 15 June – just email or call to make your booking!

Thanks for taking a peek today.

Cheers,

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,