Friday, July 31, 2009

An unhurried sense of Time for another bookmark...

"An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth" - Bonnie Friedman.
A thought provoking quote, I think, for someone who likes to read ...
This is another bookmark or pagekeeper. It would make a lovely gift don't you think.
I have used a brand new stampset from stampin' up called: Sense of Time.
This was made up very quickly so the stamping is quite simple in close to cocoa, chocolate chip and swiped around the edges with my creamy caramel ink pad.This is the other side: I have stamped the smaller clock onto a very vanilla circle, layered it with a scallop circle (in kiwi kiss) and attached it to the book mark with a silver brad.
There are four stamps in this set - I've only used two of them, so I will have to make up a card to show you the other ones.
I can see this will be a great set for scrapbooking both vintage style and for anything relating to time: play time, family time, school time, learning the time, time for me, male pages and cards, grandfathers, baby time ...I have edged the bookmark with a strip of kiwi kiss cardstock using the eyelet border punch.
So many stamps and so little time...
On Saturday 1st of August the new mini catalogue is available to view on the stampin' up customer's website. Look for it tomorrow -
And, if you would like a hardcopy of the new mini please email me with your address and phone number (if I dont already have it) and I will post, or deliver one to your door.
Email me at: nerida_carter@hotmail.com

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Best wishes and raspberry tarts...

This was the card I ended up with after Tuesday night's evening of stamping with a couple of friends. It is nothing like the original card I was intending to make, but none of my "creations" ever do I'm afraid, so I will stop apologising for that now.
To enjoy what you do you have to make what you like, what pleases your sense of creativity. Occasionally others like what I do, or they just like parts of what I do... its an individual thing and thats what I like about it - no two cards are ever the same, depending on the style and taste of the person who makes it.So the card is fairly simple only a few layers ... but I wanted to use one of my wheels: the baroque wheel in versamark ink, and then I decide to clear emboss it to make it dark and glossy. The patterned paper is from the Raspberry tart pack of papers. It is rose red, real red, cameo coral, kiwi kiss and pretty in pink. I love buttlerflies, and the wings kind of mirror the shape of the flowers in the background paper. I have rock and rolled the butterflies in regal rose and rose red ink. The Centre butterfly has a velum layer and is attached with a silver brad. If you look closely you will see I have used some versamark and clear embossing powder to accentuate the wings. I think my clear embossing powder has some dazzling diamonds in it, too. This greeting "Best wishes" is from the Oval All stampset, which becomes available on 1st of August in the new mini catalogue.
I have stamped it in regal rose and touched it up with rose red. Did I mention how useful the oval scallop punch is?

Materials used:
S
tampset: Oval all, Dreams du Jour, Baroque Border wheel.
Cardstock: Rose red, Pink pirouette, whisper white, kiwi kiss, vellum.
Ink: Regal rose, rose red, versamark.
Designer series paper - Raspberry tart.
Accessories: Eyelet border punch, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, clear embossing powder, silver brad, half pearl, snail adhesive and dimensionals.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Filigree flowers - En francais !!!

Well the holidays are over and family is back at school - I didnt get much stamping done in the last two weeks but had a great time with my daughter at home and with friends.
Today's card started out as a CASE from Claire Daly (her response to an image challenge) so I shared her idea of the Enfrancais background stamp on velum as a layer and the strip of Designer series paper beneath then did my own thing from there.
I chose the Pacific Point blue card base as it would contrast nicely with the white stazon ink on the velum. The patterned paper is in baja breeze from the Urban Garden DSP pack.
I have used the Best wishes sentiment from the "oval all" stampset in the new mini catalogue (out on 1st of August) as it fits beautifully into the large oval and the new oval scallop punch - this is a must have punch I promise you....
I have made this gorgous little flower with two layers of kiwi kiss cardstock and one of velum punched out with the 5 petal flower punch. The centre is made with the gorgous filigree metal brad set. The whole flower is raised up with a dimensional.
Oh and the ribbons are Pacific point wide grosgrain and Old olive grosgrain.
Enjoy!

Monday, July 27, 2009

Great friends in pink pirouette and chocolate.

The chocolate chip cardstock is clear embossed for the background using versamark and clear embossing powder and the forever flowers wheel.
I have then stamped the wheel in rose red up the right handside of the pink pirouette cardstock.

Do you love this little butterfly? I could put it on every card I make .... it is lovely with a piece of vellum attached on top with a pink brad.

The ribbon is striped grosgrain in pink pirouette and just tied in a loose knot before wrapping arond the raised (on dimensionals) card.I have stamped the leaves on the left hand side with Regal rose and the sentiment in rose red, also raised on dimensionals.My daughter (still home on holidays) said she liked the butterfly but it wasnt sparkly enough so offered to get the additional sparkly bits for me.
Stampset: Great friend, Forever flowers wheel.
Cardstock: Chocolate chip, pink pirouette, whisper white.
Ink: Rose red, regal rose, versamark.
Ribbon: pink pirouette wide striped grosgrain.
Other: pink brad and diamontes.
Inspiration for card layout: Kwernerdesign.blog

Friday, July 17, 2009

Elite challenges - sketch and colour challenge for July

It is school holidays when you don't have to rush off to the school gates twice a day. Time to create while child plays with her toys and draws pictures for me and we chat together. A browse over at Elite challenges blog inspired me to try Sketch challenge 23. If you have a copy of the stampin' up catalogue the original card design is on page 31.
A challenge can be just an inspiration - you don't have to follow it too closely, so I added a few more layers (as you do).
And, the colour challenge for July was called Naval Kraft and included using: Not quite navy, kraft, and Vanilla. The cardstock I used was very vanilla and Not quite navy. For the third colour "kraft" I used the Bella bleu Designer series papers which feature printed flowers in kraft and cream. The very basic stamping is using only one stampset - Bella's bloom.Above is the little flower stamp which I have accented with a half pearl, layered on a scallop punched square of DSP paper, layered over a square of the not quite navy cardstock. A colour challenge is exactly what you need when you have too many colours to choose from or find colour choices difficult.The sentiment stamp is from the same Bella's bloom set. This is lovely for a special birthday, or a card for a friend who is going through a transitional stage of their life, and lets face it aren't we all at one time or another. We all need a reminder sometimes that now is our time to bloom.

* Would you like a copy of the current Idea book and catalogue? email me and I will deliver or post one to you. Book a workshop this month and receive a ring bound copy for free.
Enjoy!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

A fresh cut for a fabulous friend

I have to say this was a very quick card to make. The fresh cut cards with a pre - punched flower in the centre coordinate with the flower punch.
The flower is cut out of a spare piece of velum left over from another project. If you look very closely you will see it has the en francais stamp in white stazon ink stamped on it.The small purple flower was punched using the one of a kind punch. I have attached the flower to the card with a small white eyelet and a dot of crystal effects with a clear rhinestone ont the top. Behind the flower cut is a piece of lovely lilac cardstock stamped with the Enfrancais background stamp in elegant eggplant.
On the top layer of white, it is not your computer screen or your eyesight playing up ... I have stamped the background stamp in almost amethyst and eggplant ink.
Recipe:
Stampset: Oval all, En francais background stamp.
Cardstock: Fresh cut note card, velum, Lovely lilac, whisper white.
Ink: Almost amethyst, Elegant eggplant.
Tools and accessories: Eyelet border punch, scallop oval punch, large oval punch, flower punch, one of a kind punch, crop a dile (for hole punching and eyelet setting). Small white eyelet, clear rhinestone and crystal effects, dimensional adhesives.

Scrapbooking page - Dressed to Cook and great friend butterflies.

She is dressed to cook!
Who says girl's photos can't be scrapbooked in blue? This beautiful Pacific point blue matches my daughters eyes (well almost) and baja blue is pretty close to the Tshirt colour she is wearing. Page colours - sorted!
For me after colour, scrapbooking is about the embellishments and textures. I use textured cardstock, velum, ribbon, clear buttons, dimensionals to lift the elements off the page and metal brads and frames in styled silver, with cut out and punched shapes for layering. Fortunately by sticking with blue tones and white it holds together and isn't too busy. I have cut and layered this butterfly with white cardstock then a layer of velum (stamped with baja breeze ink) and held the two layers together with a silver brad. The enjoy stamp is with white stazon ink on velum and framed with styled silver.
The clear button is also stamped with white stazon ink and threaded with a very thin strip of cardstock. It makes it much easier to match with your cardstock. I am not big on journalling, so this small frame is just right. Usually the date and names,what we are doing is sufficient for my pages. This apron is particularly special because it was hand made by a very talented friend in Jessica's favourite Dora the Explorer pattern. We are making Anzac biscuits and talking about the origin of words like Anzac and biscuit and cookie ... cooking is an educational activity - Jess should be very good with measurements.
More butterflies, rock and rolled in baja breeze ink then Pacific point. The word stamp has been inked with markers so that only some of the words are stamped that best suits the occasion. The small white button is threaded with a thin strip of blue cardstock.
The completed Pages:
The title is stamped in "Lovely letters" with Not Quite Navy ink and the ribbon is also Pacific point striped grosgrain. Punches used are the new Oval Scallop punch and the large oval punch.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

A stampin' up party in July?

Were you planning a workshop at your place with your friends this month? Would you like to?
In the cold winter months it is sometimes a bit tricky to motivate yourself to go out so, why not party in? I have lots of ideas for cards, gift boxes, scrapbook pages and 3D items that we can demonstrate at your place.
*************************************************
You might like to try a new technique, learn a new way to colour your stamps, test a stampset or tool that you have been wanting to try, or have your friends over to earn a few extra stamping dollars.
*************************************************
July is the last month that you can still get $110 worth of free product plus a free hostess gift stampset, when your party sales reach $600.
*************************************************
I have a surprise gift for the first two party bookings I receive, let me know your preference:
A free coloured marker (of your choice),
a bound copy of the 2009-10 stampin' up catalogue,
or, a sample of 6x6 scrapbooking papers.
Email me at nerida_carter@hotmail.com if you would like to book your party for July, I can drop over your new catalogue and invitations pack, to send to your friends and family.
Enjoy!

Shadow box - ing... with my new Forest Friends

I have always liked the way Shadow boxes let you play with the three dimensional space within a box frame, displaying a little piece of memory and imagination that can be hung on the wall ... And a 3D card like this one is a shadow box in miniature. The idea for this one came after making the Always bird card in an earlier post. Though the card is 3D, it can still fold flat to post in an envelope. I enjoyed making this simple little scene with my forest friends stamps. You can see how I have simply stamped and cut out the tree and animals in white cardstock and arranged them on the front of the card.
When I was happy with the arrangement I took a second piece of card (10.5cm x 12.5cm) and scored both the ends at 0.5cm and 1.5cm to make the fold over bits that make the frame.
Next I decided how I wanted the cut outs to frame the animals and used circle punches to cut out the top layer. Doesn't this little bunny look cute ( to me he resembles Thumper from Bambi fame)?The animals are raised with dimensional adhesive to give them more shadow and I used some crystal effects on their tails and eyes before sprinkling some Dazzling diamond glitter over the top for sparkle.

Sticky strip is used to hold the frame in place on the front of the card. A few embellishments later: like ribbon, Best wishes on a scallop oval punch and faux stitching with my white gel pen and we have the completed card.Materials:

  • Stampsets - Forest friends, All ovals.
  • Cardstock: Close to cocoa, kiwi kiss and whisper white.
  • Ink: close to cocoa, Really rust, kiwi kiss
  • Markers: almost artichoke, really rust, close to cocoa.
  • Kiwi Kiss and vanilla ribbon, Large oval and scallop oval punches, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches, Word window punch, corner rounder, White gel pen, Sticky strip, dimensionals, crystal effects, Dazzling diamonds, Half Pearl.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Tutorial for White Stazon water colour resist.

What you need:
  • White Stazon opaque Ink pad
  • Glossy white paper
  • Stamp set: Fifth avenue floral
  • Re inker or classic ink pads - Rose red, Tangerine Tango and kiwi kiss
  • Aquapainter or water colour brush
  • spray bottle
  • Perfect plum and whisper white cardstock
  • Wide oval punch.
  • Sharp scissors.

    Step 1. Stamp the Fifth avenue flower onto glossy white cardstock with the white stazon ink. Spray with water. You can just see how the ink resists the water on the paper.

Step 2. Add a drop of rose red ink onto a plastic lid and use your aquapainter or water colour brush to colour the flowers. I did some in rose red and a few I touched the centres with tangerine tango ink for some variation in colour.Step 3. The paper is quite wet and the water runs everywhere so you can tip the paper to one side or blot it with paper towell, or do both, then set it aside to dry. You could speed it up with the heat gun I suppose.Step 4. Next we cut out the individual flower images with sharp scissors. Remember, for a clean neat cut, turn the paper not the scissors.Step 5. Cut half an A4 page of cardstock on the diagonal - I measured 80mm on one short edge of the A4 and 155cm on the other and drew a line between them. Cutting it will give you two cards from the same piece of cardstock. Score and Fold one of the pieces into 3rds - 9.8 and 19.6cm to make up your zig zag card. Step 6. Adhere your flowers to the card. I've used seven flowers. Some are up on dimensionals.Step 7. Stamp some stems for the flowers and the sentiment from fifth avenue floral onto whisper white cardstock and then layer it onto a wide oval punched piece of rose red cardstock.
Here it is showing the zig zag fold of the card.
And open to see where you can write your message ... the only other thing I might add is a ribbon to hold it closed if you have used dimensionals.
Enjoy!

Thursday, July 09, 2009

A sneak New Product peek - shhh!

White stazon ink? I didn't know Stazon came in anything other than black ... shows how much I know. Stampin' Up are going to be selling it in the next new mini catalogue and I just had to try it out to see what you can do with white permanent ink. The instructions say it is designed for use on plastic, metal, glass ceramic, and glossy cardstock. Appropriate for all surfaces. But use on porous surfaces such as leather, wood and fabric may not result in fully opaque impressions.
Warnings over, play begins: Starting with stamping on a cellophane bag - cool! It seems to work OK on cardstock, perhaps not as opaque as white craft ink ...
And it is especially effective on gloss white cardstock ... when sponged with Rose Red Classic ink.
It works beautifully for watercolouring - stazon resist with reinker watercolouring -Verdict: A versatile and fun new product ... you will see it on many of my new projects I think.

Might even hazard another tutorial on watercolouring - what do you think?