Freshly Made Sketches #22

By | February 19, 2012
8 Comments

Hi there

What a beautiful weekend – two sunny hot days in a row!  We had a lovely family picnic up in Cornwall Park today – so nice to be outdoors.

This is the final wedding anniversary card I needed to make for February.  I’ve combined the Freshly Made sketch with the colours from Color Throwdown.

I had a bit of an issue in that I don’t own any ink or markers in Blushing Bride or Poppy Parade – only card stock and DSP but I’m pleased with the final outcome.  Once I’d laid it out I needed something on the side panels so used my new SAB set Fresh Vintage with VersMark and Clear Embossing powder.

For the centrepiece I used the Heart to Heart punch on the DSP then matted it with Poppy Parade so that the card stock showed through for the hearts.

Supplies:
Stamp – Fresh Vintage, A Word for You
Card Stock – Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink – Crumb Cake
DSP – Everyday Enchantment (SAB)
Other – Heart to Heart Punch, VersaMark, Clear Embossing Powder

Let’s hope this weather continues.
Have a great week.
Paula

Stamping411

By | February 16, 2012
3 Comments

Hi there

Wow two posts in one evening!

I’ve had this sketch sitting on my desk to complete for a few days then realised it closed in a few hours so had to create this quickly.  I just received a new order on Tuesday that had the Postage Punch and Fresh Vintage stamp so thought I’d use them.  I didn’t have a colour challenge so used the Colour lab for help.  I knew I wanted to use the Sale-A-Bration ribbon so entered Calypso Coral & Lucky Limeade.  It came up with Marina Mist & Soft Suede – so here’s my card.

I love this new stamp and punch.  It’s hard to see but I’ve used the Strips Embossing Folder on the background card stock.  I had a bit of trouble trying to tie the two ribbons together but got there after my third or fourth attempt!  I decided to place it vertically so the ends & bow stayed inside the card.
Supplies:
Stamp – Fresh Vintage
Card Stock – Soft Suede, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist, Very Vanilla
Ink – Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Marina Mist
Punches – Designer Label Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, 1″ Square Punch
Other – Calypso Coral & Lucky Limeade Organza Ribbon, Stripes Embossing Folder, Glue Dot
Well I’m off to bed.
Catch you tomorrow.
Paula

You Are Loved

By | February 16, 2012
6 Comments

Hi there

When I became a demo back in September last year I received an additional free stamp – You Are Loved.  I have used it so much and was glad when it came out in the Summer Mini.  Sometimes I find the quotes in sets just aren’t ones that I would use and it puts me off buying the set but the quote I have used below is perfect.  The recipient of this card just needs a little lift and I couldn’t have put it better myself.

The layout is from Mojo Monday and the colours are from the Paper Players challenge.
Supplies:
Stamp – You Are Loved
Card Stock – Soft Suede, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla
DSP – Everyday Enchantment (SAB)
Ink – Soft Suede
It’s almost the weekend and we have survived a full week at work!
Paula

Stampin Fun & Friends – Colour Challenge

By | February 13, 2012
0 Comment

Hi there

As promised here is my take on the colour challenge from SFF – Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue, So Saffron and Wisteria Wonder.


The gift box is a creation from one of my favourite overseas crafters Dawn Griffiths – check out her video.  I made two of each colour scheme using DSP from the Patterned DSP Stacks.  The colour combo for the flowers is from the Colour Coach.  The flower on the outside of the box is a combination of the So Saffron, Bashful Blue & Pink Pirouette.  Thanks Dawn for a great tutorial.
Paula

Sweet Spring Project – Stampin Fun & Friends

By | February 13, 2012
0 Comment

Hi there

This is the project that I created for the current session of Stampin Fun & Friends.  The theme is Spring so I created a Garden Tote but you could use it for anything.  I love the brightness of this DSP which is available till 31 March.

To secure the ribbon handle I attached it with a button and then made another insert for the inside to hide the sewing!
I had fun creating this and will make it again and fill with chocolates 🙂
If you would like to make this and the other great projects I’ve shown it’s still not too late to join and get all the instructions.
I’ll be back later with my colour challenge project from SFF.
Paula

Blog Award

By | February 12, 2012
2 Comments

Hi there

The other day I received a lovely email from Sharna Russell which contained the below award for me – thanks Sharna.  Sharna has just hit 5000 blog views 🙂

Here is the award:
image001.jpg

The rules for this award
* Thank the person who gave you this award
* paste the award to your blog
* Link the person who nominated you for this award
* Nominate as many other bloggers for this wonderful award as you like
* Post links to their blogs

Since I started my own blog just over a year ago I have ‘met’ many wonderful people who have inspired me.  So in keeping with this award here are my nominees:

Have a great week everyone.
Paula

Freshly Made Sketches – #21

By | February 11, 2012
10 Comments

Hi there

The weather here in Auckland can not make up it’s mind what season it should be.  It’s meant to be summer but was raining AGAIN this morning.  So what else can a girl do but make a card 🙂

Today’s card is for a very good family friend who is celebrating his birthday today – I know I’m a bit late but will drop it off shortly.

The sketch from Freshly Made Sketches is perfect for what I had in mind – using a Sweet Treats Cup.  The sketch has a circle (or any shape) for an image so I used my Movers & Shapers Die to cut the hole where I wanted it.  I think that this die is the most under rated die.  I use it heaps and it’s great for Sweet Treat Cups.  It allows you to position your hole where you want with the magnetic plate and the circle die.  If you use a punch you are limited to where you can position the hole.  It also has the heart die which fits the Heart Treats Cup.  I’ll try and show you one of those next week.

So that you don’t have to damage the card to get at the M&M’s I have created a ‘trap door’ on the inside.  I teamed this up with the colour challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I love the clean and simple look of this card.
Supplies:
Stamp – On your Birthday
Card Stock – Crumb Cake, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
DSP – Marina Mist Patterned DSP Stack
Other – Movers & Shapers Die, Holiday Windows (Circle Die), Circle Treat Cup, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Round Tab Punch, M&M’s
Well I’m off to do some scrapbooking this afternoon (haven’t done any since December!).  Hope the rest of your weekend is good.
Paula

Stamping 411

By | February 9, 2012
2 Comments

Hi there

This card combines two challenges from Stamping 411 – the sketch is from the weekly challenge and the colour combo is from the monthly challenge.

Rather than use DSP for the background I randomly stamped the images from one of my favourite sets.  This is a great set for guys and has so many uses.

Supplies:
Stamp – Totally Tools, On Your Birthday
Card Stock – Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze (textured), Whisper White

Ink – Real Red, Baja Breeze, Island Indigo
DSP – Real Red Patterned DSP Stack
Other – Pear Pizzaz Stitched Poly Ribbon
Well the weekend is almost here and it looks like some nice weather has finally arrived 🙂
Paula

Try Stampin on Tuesday #52 – Happy Birthday

By | February 8, 2012
4 Comments

Hi there

Try Stampin on Tuesday has just turned one!  Congratulations to CherylAnn and the amazing team of designers  who have given us great sketches for the past year.

In addition to this weeks sketch the challenge is to include a birthday theme.

This worked well as I needed a masculine birthday card for tomorrow.

Supplies:
Stamp – Bring on the Cake
Card Stock – Wild Wasabi, Whisper White
DSP – Just Add Cake
Ink – Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango
Paula 

Sweet Spring – Stampin Fun & Friends

By | February 7, 2012
2 Comments

Hi there

Thought I’d do a quick post while eating my lunch.

Sweet Spring has started over at Stampin Fun & Friends.  We’ve had six great projects so far plus an Inspirational Challenge.  I managed to recreate 3 of them over the weekend.

The first is a gift box and card created by  Amy Fleming.  I’ve used the new SAB DSP – Everyday Enchantment

The second is a cool pocket card from another Kiwi – Tracey Old.  Again I’ve showcased the DSP you can get FREE with every order placed until 31 March that is over $120.  This is the first time I’ve used DSP to make a flower and I like the look.
The third project is a card created by Kristen Conant.  This time I’ve used the Hostess DSP – Cheerful Treat.
One of the techniques featured in this month’s demonstrators magazine ‘Impressions’ was to cut a slit in the corner of the Curly Label punch to create a corner frame – very easy to do and looks great.
This is the picture we were given for the Inspirational Challenge

and this is what I made – cute little briefcases filled with chocolate

It’s not too late to join us at Stampin Fun and Friends.  Click here if you would like to join.
Well lunchtime is over and it’s back to work.
Catch you later.
Paula

Wedding Anniversary Card #7

By | February 5, 2012
7 Comments

Hi

Only one more wedding anniversary card to make then I can have a break till the end of March 🙂

When I saw the sketch over at Try Stampin on Tuesday I knew exactly what I would do – love that.  It came together so quickly with the help of the colour comb from Color Throwdown.  It was nice to have a combo that didn’t include some shade of red instead this had Melon Mambo – a new favourite of mine.

This is the first time I have heat embossed on DSP – and I like it.  I have also heat embossed the image.  I have yet to do the inside of the card but will stamp the Happy Anniversary from ‘A Word for You’ and the filigree from Season of Joy (I hope this set stays in the next catty).
Supplies:
Stamp – You are Loved, Season of Joy
Card Stock – Basic Black, Whisper White
DSP – Melon Mambo Patterned DSP Stack
Other – Black & Melon Mambo Embossing Powder, VersaMark, 5/8″ Whisper White Satin Ribbon, Glue Dot
Tomorrow is Waitangi Day here in NZ – our national day – which means we get a day off work!
Catch you back soon.
Paula

Wedding Card #6 – Freshly Made Sketches & ColourQ

By | February 5, 2012
7 Comments

Hi there

I’m almost there with making all my wedding anniversary cards 🙂  February is obviously the month to get married.

This weeks sketch from Freshly Made Sketches  was to create a ‘long’ card.  This was perfect as a few years ago I bought some long envelopes and have never used them.  I combined it with the colour combo from ColourQ.

I had planned on having just the crimped piece of Regal Rose at the bottom but as I was trying to get to sleep last night I thought of putting an overlay using the Heart to Heart punch.  So this morning I did just that and I must say I’m pleased with the effect.
In my last order I finally bought the Brights Watercolour Crayons so was able to use them to colour in the hearts.  I think the other 3 families will be in the next order!  Here’s a close up of it.
Supplies:
Stamp – Loads of Love, A Word for You
Card Stock – Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Regal Rose, Whisper White
DSP – Real Red Patterned DSP Stack
Other – 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4″ Circle Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Brights Watercolour Crayons, Crimper, Dimensionals
Hope you have a great day.
Paula

Wedding Card #5

By | February 4, 2012
9 Comments

Hi there

This weeks challenge at JAI is to just use Red & White.  Man did I find this hard!  I don’t know how many combo’s I tried before settling on the below.  I teamed it up with the square layout from Mojo Monday.

I’m really pleased with this card.  This stamp is great for anniversary cards & I am so pleased I bought the Teeny Tiny Sentiments set – it has been invaluable.  I’ve seen others attach little hearts at the end of ribbon so thought I’d give it a go with this card.  It just finishes it off I think.
Supplies:
Stamps – Loads of Love, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Real Red, Whisper White
DSP – Real Red Patterned DSP Stack
Ribbon – 5/8″ Whisper White Satin Ribbon, 3/8″ Real Red Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine
Other – Real Red Button, Heart to Heart Punch, Stick Strip
Sweet Dreams has started over at Stampin Fun and Friends and there are some great projects posted already.  If you would like to join it’s not too late so click here to sign up.  I’ll be back tomorrow with a recreation I made this afternoon.
I hope those of you in NZ are enjoying your long weekend.
Paula

Wedding Card #4 – Stamping411 – SSC 240

By | February 2, 2012
4 Comments

Hi there

Just a quick post tonight – I need to get this loaded before the challenge closes! I love this layout and have combined it with a colour challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.

Here is the layout:

and this is what I have created using two Sale-A-Bration products.

Supplies:
Stamps – Loads of Love, You are Loved, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card Stock – Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
DSP – Everyday Enchantment DSP (SAB)
Ink – Calypso Coral, Pool Party
Other – Heart to Heart Punch, Everyday Enchantment Ribbon (SAB)
Looking forward to another long weekend here in NZ.  I hope to recreate some of the projects over at Stampin Fun & Friends.  If you would like to join us click here to sign up.
Catch you later.
Paula

JAI #102 – Just case Kathy Tanner

By | January 31, 2012
8 Comments

Hi there

This week at Just Add Ink the challenge was to Just Add Kathy Tanner.  I had never seen Kathy’s blog so my first task was to check it out – Kathy’s blog is now on my list :).  After checking through her posts for 2011, I had a list of favourites then I had to narrow it down and settled on two.

The first is for my nephews 21st next month:

I instantly fell in love with the bright colours Kathy had used.  I’m sure this card will be made again.  It’s a great way to use up the offcuts we all seem to accrue.  I’ve used a retired stamp set Starring You with white embossing powder.
Supplies:
Stamp – Starring You (retired)
Card Stock – Rich Razzleberry, Real Red, Concord Crush, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Old Olive, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Other – White Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Die
My second card is a sympathy card – had to make 3 this past weekend 🙁  I find it hard to get the right layout that reflects the tone of the card but I think this layout has worked well.  Check to see Kathy’s original.
Supplies:
Stamp – Pocket Silhouettes, Thoughts & Prayers
Card Stock – Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla
Ink – Elegant Eggplant
Other – Perfect Plum Taffeta Ribbon, Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder
Thanks Kathy for giving us so many ideas.
Paula