Brief Case Gift Box

By | April 9, 2011
2 Comments

Hi

It’s been a lovely day in Auckland, NZ.  I have spent the morning & early afternoon in the garden trimming the hedge & weeding before the cold weather arrives.  My arms are now covered in scratches & my back is a bit stiff.  So a great way to relax after that is to come inside, have a shower and then do some crafting – and look what you can make!

As promised I have made a gift for the card I posted yesterday.  It’s a project by Jackie Topa on the latest round of U Stamp with Dawn & Friends.  When I saw this project I knew I had to recreate it.  I have carried the colours I used in the card to the gift.  I will definitely be making this again!  It was really easy to make.  The buckle is held down with Velcro dots.

Isn’t it cute?  I’ve filled this one with Whittakers chocolate squares but any type of chocolate or lollies would do.
Supplies:
Cardstock – More Mustard, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
Other – Box #2 bigz xl die, 2mm circle handheld punch, Sticky Tape, Velcro Dots
TFL

Paula

Inkspiration

By | April 8, 2011
0 Comment

Hi there

I finally got round to making a card using the colour combination from Inkspiration.  I loved the autumn tones of the challenge and as I have a few male cards to do this month  it worked in well.  I’m a bit late though for the challenge – never mind the receiver of the card won’t know that!  I combined the colour challenge with a layout challenge from Sketch Frenzy Friday.  I wasn’t a big fan of the Regal colours but I think I’m warming to them!  I don’t have anything in the Poppy Parade range so changed it for Riding Hood Red (this was allowed) and this is what I came up with.

I really like the effect colouring in gives and have yet to try aqua painting.  Maybe that needs to be my next challenge – try a different technique.  I have sponged round the edge of the sentiment as I feel this softens the starkness of Whisper White or Very Vanilla against a dark mat.
This was the sketch:
I hope to try and make a gift to go with the card from the latest round of Ustampwithdawnandfriends.  If you haven’t joined in yet take a look and sign up for the next round.

Supplies
Stamp – Happy Moments
Cardstock – Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Markers – Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Cajun Craze
Punches – 1 3/8″, 1 1/4″ circle punch, Scallop Edge Border

Have a great weekend.
Paula

Try Stampin On Tuesday #9

By | April 7, 2011
5 Comments

Hi there

Well here’s my next Try Stampin On Tuesday card.  I decided to use this weeks layout for a masculine card.  I have three male birthdays this month so thought I’d better make a start.  I used DSP for my four squares – I’m trying to use up retired papers before I buy the new ones.  I’ve done pretty well and my supplies are now reducing.  I still had some Kiwi Kiss paper so looked in last years catalogue for some colour match inspiration.  I found a combination of Kiwi Kiss, Going Gray, Bashful Blue & Not Quite Navy – all good masculine colours.  Here’s my take on the sketch:

and this is what we were given:
Supplies:
Stamps – Loads of Love, Loads of Accessories, Happy Moments
Cardstock – Going Gray, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
DSP – Urban Oasis
Markers – Going Gray, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Real Read, Old Olive
Punches – Word Window, Modern Label
TFL
Paula

Stationery Box

By | April 4, 2011
5 Comments

Hi

When I saw this weeks challenge at Just Add Ink I knew exactly what to enter.  This is a stationery set I made for my friend in England.  I got the tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers.

It’s amazing how much it holds – I added a notepad and a short pen I found at PaperPlus.  The envelopes for the big cards don’t fit so I wrapped a piece of DSP around them.
Supplies:
Stamps – Fifth Avenue Floral, Upsy Daisy, Totally Tools, A Word for You, Vintage Labels
Cardstock – Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, River Rock, Whisper White
Ink – Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze
DSP – Urban Garden (retired)
Other – Watercolour pencils, Embossing Powder, Beautful Wings, Various punches
TFL
Paula

Easter Boxes

By | April 3, 2011
0 Comment

Hi

With Easter just round the corner I thought I’d better get the work Easter gifts done – I enlisted the help of my 14yr niece to help me.  Thanks Hanna.  Take a look at what we’ve made – 60 of them!

I used the ‘Bright’ card stock (sorry the colours haven’t come out that clearly) which carries on the theme that I’m using for work gifts this year.  (I must remember to blog what I’ve done for birthday gifts for staff).  I started doing the New Year / Birthday / Easter gifts for work when we hit the GFC & didn’t feel we could justify the $50 gift baskets we were buying.  Each year I’ve gone with a different theme – Crab & Co, Bugs & Kisses and this year it’s Fox & Friends.  It’s been great as work has bought the cardstock, dies etc and I get to do my crafting.
Supplies:
Stamp – Egg Hunt Roller (retired)
Cardstock – Brights
Ink – Black, Rich Razzleberry
Other – Box #2 die
Well it’s back to work tomorrow (to earn more money to fund my addiction!).
Have a great week.
Paula

Totally Tess

By | April 2, 2011
0 Comment

Hi

My girlfriend rang me last night & asked me if I could make her a card for a kitchen tea she was going to.  The theme was Desperate Housewives!  What stamp set do you use?  Then I thought of Totally Tess and this is what I came up with.

To make the apron I stamped the image onto a piece of cardstock, cut it out, then traced around it on a bit of DSP then stuck it over the already stamped image of Tess.
I used my good old colour coach for the combination -Rich Razzleberry, Pretty In Pink & Early Espresso.  I added Crumb Cake for her hair colour.
I think I will have to do a bit more exploring on ways to use Tess as she’s actually quite versatile.
Supplies:
Stamps – Totally Tess, Loads of Love Accessories
Cardstock – Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White
Markers – Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Pretty In Pink
DSP – Cottage Wall (retired)
TFL
Paula

Try Stampin On Tuesday #8

By | March 31, 2011
4 Comments

Hi there

It’s that time of the week to post my card for http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com/.

I’m really pleased with how my card turned out.  For my colour combination I used ColourQ – not sure how I found this site.  As I didn’t have any DSP in the colour range I made my own background with one of the stamps from Flower Fancy.  I usually use the big or the little flower from this set but thought I’d give this one an airing.  I have stamped the flower on a separate piece of cardstock then cut it out and added it with a dimensional so that it stands out more.

This was the sketch we were given.
Supplies:
Stamp Set – Flower Fancy,On Your Birthday
Cardstock – Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Ink – Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery
Other – Certainly Celery Brads & Ribbon, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Scallop Circle, Dimensionals
Paula

Another Wedding Anniversary

By | March 25, 2011
0 Comment

Hi

The beginning of the year really seems to be a popular time for getting married.  Friends of mine are celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary today – well done guys! so I thought I’d make them a card.  Wedding Anniversaries and birthdays are very special occasions to be celebrated.

I’ve again turned to my Colour Coach for inspiration.  I love how it all falls together.  I embossed the flower with embossing powder I got from Spotlight.  It’s called ‘Denim’ and is almost the same colour as Not Quite Navy.  The flowers are stuck on with dimensionals.

I forgot to take a photo of the inside before I wrote in it!  I had stamped one flower in the bottom left hand corner (in Not Quite Navy) and then coloured in the centre of the flower with More Mustard – the same as the front.
Supplies:
Stamp:  Fifth Avenue Floral
Cardstock:  Old Olive, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Ink/Markers:  Not Quite Navy, More Mustard
Punches:  Modern Label Extra Large &  Moveable Pieces
Other:  Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Embossintg Powder, Dimensionals
Have a good weekend
Paula

Try Stampin On Tuesday #7

By | March 24, 2011
3 Comments

Hi

Here’s my next entry for http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com/.  I’ve used Totally Tess this week – slowly working through the sets the don’t see much ink.  It’s very easy to go to the favourites (Vintage Vogue).
Here is this weeks sketch:

and here is what I did:

I’m really into using the markers at the moment.  I haven’t done much aqua painting so maybe I’ll try that technique next.
I used the Colour Coach for my colour inspiration – it really helps to get a good combination and often one I wouldn’t have thought of using.
Supplies:
Stamps:  Totally Tess, On Your Birthday
Cardstock:  Baja Breeze (textured), Rose Red, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Markers:  Early Espresso, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Not Quite Navy
DSP:  Urban Garden (retired)
TFL
Paula

Totally Tools

By | March 20, 2011
1 Comment

Hi

I always find it hard to come up with ideas for masculine cards.  Last year Jacquelyn held a masculine card class and so I have used one of those ideas for some ‘boy’ cards I need for this week.

I stamped the tool images on polyshrink, coloured them & then used the heat gun to shrink them.  I’ve adhered them to the tool belt with sticky strip and then stuck the belt onto the card with dimensions.

 I always like to give a little gift with the card so thought I’d try one of the creations from UStamp with Dawn & Friends current round – Big Shot Brillance.
It’is like an explosion box – the sides aren’t stuck together & when you take the lid off it lies flat.  I’ve filled this with chocolates – always a winner!

Supplies:
Card
Stamps:  Totally Tools, Woodgrain
Cardstock:  Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Not Quite Navy
Punches:  Curly Label, Word Window
Other:  Brads, Dimensionals, Mat Pack, Polyshrink, Watercolour pencils, heat gun
Box
Stamp:  Perfect Punches
Cardstock:  Not Quite Navy, Crumb Cake, Choc Chip, Very Vanilla
Other:  Scallop Circle die, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot
Paula

Two for One

By | March 20, 2011
2 Comments

Hi

I’m really enjoying the different blog sites with challenges.  This is my first entry for both challenges and decided that I could combine the two:  Mojo Monday http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ and Just Add Ink colour challenge http://just-add-ink.blogspot.com/
Here is the sketchand the colours were Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Whisper White and Crumb Cake – here is my combination.  I embossed the image & then used markers to colour it in.

 I made a little gift to go with the card after seeing Paula Dobsons post.  I used a tutorial I had seen on Splitcoast Stampers and have filled it with a tea bag & a square chocolate.

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Fun & Fast Notes, Share A Cup
Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Crumb Cake
DSP:  Cottage Wall (retired)
Markers/Ink:   Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Crumb Cake
Other:  Black Embossing Powder, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon (retired), Old Olive Ribbon, 2 3/8 Scallop, 1 3/4 Circle & 1 1/4 Circle punches
TFL
Paula

Birthday Bakery

By | March 19, 2011
0 Comment

Hi

Thought I’d do a quick post before heading off to the Craft Expo.

Our neighbour had her birthday last Sunday so I made her a card & little gift.  For the card layout I used a sketch from Splitcoast Stampers http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/card-sketches-f41/ number SC251.

For the gift I used the pillow box die & an idea from Julia http://juliascards.blogspot.com/2011/03/making-pillow-die-longer.html for making it longer.  Thanks for this Julia it worked really well.  I filled it with Roses chocolates!

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Birthday Bakery, A Word for You
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Pretty In Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Markers: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Choc Chip, Real Red, Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green, Sahara Sand, Yoyo Yellow, So Saffron, Lovely Lilac, Rose Red, Regal Rose
Embossing Folder:  Square Lattice, Polka Dots

Paula

Try Stampin Tuesday Challenge #6

By | March 17, 2011
5 Comments

Hi

I love these Try Stampin Tuesday challenges! http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com/  For this weeks challenge I used a stamp set that I haven’t inked up much – Simply Said and a colour that seems to get left behind – Riding Hood Red.  To give it a 3D effect I added pearls to the flowers.

Here is the sketch:

and here is my take:

and the inside
I also made a gift to go with the card – a tissue box cover – using the same supplies as the card plus the Beautiful Wings Embosslits die (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tissueboxcover/)
Supplies
Stamps: Simply Said, On Your Birthday
Cardstock:  Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
DSP:  Washington Apple (retired)
Markers:  Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red
Ink:  So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Black Stazon
Ribbon:  Riding Hood Red (retired)
Thanks for looking
Paula

Try Stampin On Tuesday Challenge

By | March 13, 2011
5 Comments

Hi

On Friday night I tried my first ‘Try Stampin On Tuesday’ challenge http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com/ (I have now added this link to my ever increasing ‘favourites’!)
This was the sketch:
 
and this is what I came up with:

I had a few trials for the blank squares.  I started off with a plain white square but this looked too stark, then I tried a square of Choc Chip but this became the focal point of the card.  Then I looked through my DSP and found this – perfect colour match.  I was really happy with my final result.
For the colour combination I used colour inspiration from www.kwernerdesign.com/. 
Supplies used:
Stamp Set – Fox & Friends, Perfect Punches
Cardstock – So Saffron, Whisper White
DSP – Washington Apple (retired)
Ink – Choc Chip, Old Olive, Pumkin Pie, Ruby Red and Brocade Blue (the last two are retired colours)
Punches – 1 1/4″ square, Wide Oval
I look forward to next weeks challenge.
Have a great week.
Paula

Wedding #5

By | February 27, 2011
0 Comment

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Christchurch.  My cousins in Christchurch are all safe but there house has been damaged.  We returned from Christchurch last Sunday and while we were there experienced a small earthquake.  As we drove around the city and over to Lyttleton it was really moving seeing the devastation from the two previous quakes.  One shop we went into had survived the September quake but had been damaged by the Boxing Day quake. It is hard to imagine what they are all going through at this time. 

I haven’t felt like blogging this past week but thought I’d better get back into it.  Here is the last wedding anniversary card for February.  When I got back from holiday my order had arrived with my Sale-A-Bration sets so I thought I’d use the owl stamp from the Punch Bunch.  I finally get to use my Woodgrain stamp which I got for Christmas!  I stuck the owls on with dimensionals for a 3D effect.


Supplies:
Stamps:  Punch Bunch, Woodgrain, Inspired by Nature
Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Old Olive
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Old Olive
Punches:  Two Step Bird, Two Step Owl, Heart to Heart
Other:  Crystal Effects, Stampin Dimensionals

Paula