Card in a box day!

Cards by Nerida C, Linda H, Felicity H.

It seems like ages ago, so much happens in a week,

 we had a Team stamping day at Niagara Park Guide hall.

The Inksomniacs team got together to make cards in a box.

Here are some of the cards we made on the day.

 This one is both a sneak peek of a stampset and new white ribbon coming out in the Anunual catalogue in September, which I received at Convention (I love butterflies and just can't wait to order the matching butterfly punch). It also shows the gorgeous lace ribbon border punch, which I have just found out is retiring very soon...  (how can that be?) The scallop ribbon border punch (under the butterfly) is continuing through.

The next card in a box was made by Felicity Hawkins, I just love the white texture on white, loving those butterflies, and the patterned paper stack (purple is still my favourite colour).

 In the afternoon we kept ourselves busy with our own projects and so I stamped away with my Crumb cake and Soft suede inks on Very Vanilla cardstock. Using my Blossom punch and Mixed bunch stampset.

Another retiring stampset used here ... the Medallion is on sale (while stocks last) for $25.46

Linda showed us how it makes a lovely Christmas wreath in Always Artichoke ink and Cherry cobbler.

Or a Thinking of you card on any occasion.

Shimmer strong and subtle

As a Stampin' up demonstrator every month I receive a newsletter called impressions.

 It is full of ideas to use our stamps, inks and new products. There's almost always a new technique to try
or an old technique done in a new way and I look forward to receiving the inspiration every month.

 For the month of June there are 6 projects to create ... this is my version of the one above.

Shimmer can be Strong . . .
Everyone likes a little shimmer on a card - its like adding jewellery to an outfit.
To create a strong shimmer look you start with a bold image such as the Medallion stamp.
I've stamped it first in Soft Suede,  then inked the stamp in Platinum Shimmer paint using a sponge dauber on to the rubber, and stamped it again.

When ever I CASE a card (that's Copy And Share Everything), I tend to change a few things, and this one I have put velum butterflies flittering across the card. They have been cut and embossed with the big shot machine and the embosslit die: Beautiful wings.

 The sentiment is actually inside the card.
Happy Birtthday from the teeny tiny sentiments set fits perfectly on a cut down label made with the Decorative label punch.

 It opens up to show the stamped label and sentiment, raised on dimensionals so that it locks the card closed when shut.

You get a bold and shimmery effect depending on what angle you look at the card... it gives you so many options for a shimmery look, you can even create your own shimmer spray, to sparkle on anything you want, like ribbons, card, paper, fabric ...
Our shimmer paint comes in three different colours:
Platinum, Champagne and Frost white.

Would you like to receive the impressions magazine every month too?

To find out more, or place an order you can Contact me by email or phone 0468 877 125.

Season of Joy Medallion

I've combined three stampsets on this card: the medallion, Season of Joy and Heard from the Heart.

The technique used is "rock and roll".

I like it because you can use two colours to get depth and variation in both images.

 I like also how the tree shape and the medallion have the same shapes and dots repeated.
I have only used two ink colours: Pear pizazz and Old olive Classic ink.

 And then for some bling and sparkle I have added a few stick on Rhinestone jewels on the tree.

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Season of Joy, Medallion, Heard from the Heart.

Cardstock: Whisper white, Early Espresso

Ink: Pear Pizazz, Old Olive.

Accessories: Sharp scissors, Clear Rhinestone Jewels, dimensionals.

Kissed En Francais Medallion

Here is the second workshop card we made last weekend.

It features the wonderful "Medallion" stamp AND the technique of Kissing stamps.

The medallion stamp was inked with baja breeze then "kissed", that means touched lightly, with the en francais stamp that was inked in Old olive ink.

The stamp is now ready to apply to your very vanilla card front.

The sentiment is stamped below the medallion.

We used "Heard from the Heart" stamp that says "May all your wishes come true"!

Lastly we tied a strip of Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon around the whole card and that was it.

Quick and fun!

Here is a similar version in Red with a Christmas spin to it.

Send me an email nerida_carter@hotmail.com if you'd like to have a workshop at your place.

We can make one or two cards, and I can demonstrate the BIG SHOT machine.

Or perhaps you're thinking its time to start on those Christmas cards?

We can do a Stamp A Stack of cards which is where for $15 you can make 6 cards of 2 different designs.

Begin your Christmas cards now to avoid the mad rush later.

The sun was out for a moment... Two step stamping tags

The second week of school holidays and I am back to show you a better photo of the tiny tag and medallion card I posted about previously. The colours are a bit brighter due to my using my mobile phone camera and a contrasting coloured cardstock behind it.
The tricks of lighting and colour are quite a challenge in low lighting.

Tiny tags are one of the Two step stamping sets that are on sale during the month of July.

What makes it two step stamping you ask?

Well, some of the stamps can be used together in two steps ...

If you look closely at the "hello" tag - I've used two stamps together!!!

First I stamped the hello in orchid opulence and then the dotted outline in pink passion ink.

I love these little tags they are so cute! Check out the little heart, princess crown and the handcrafted tag!
Then, the best part about tiny tags is it goes with the gorgous little jewellery tag punch. (Not $30 but only $20.95!)
Stampsets: Tiny tags ($38.95 wood mounted - on sale during July for:
* Tiny Tags (wood-mount) $31.16 or 
* Tiny Tags (clear-mount) $23.16
Medallion ($33.95), En francais ($33.95).
Tools: Jewellery tag punch $20.95, mat pack.
Accessories: circle ice rhinestone brad, filigree brad.
Cardstock: Lovely Lilac and whisper white.
Ink: White craft ink, Orchid opulence and Pink Passion.
Enjoy!!!!

July Challenge

Well another cold and wintery Saturday in July ... what else is there to do, but make a card.
In between playing "shops" and Monopoly on the lounge room floor (as you do) I answered the challenge though the photos are a bit dull due to the overcast light outside, I did my best with many interuptions.
The challenge (set by Felicity this month) is to use expiring Stampin' Up colours that you will miss once retired and  stampsets you want to see stay in the new catalogue.

I've chosen Lovely Lilac cardstock as a card base. Why doesn't it look so bold and bright in the photos?  Staying with the bold bright colour theme I chose Orchid opulence and Pink passion for my ink colours.

The stampsets are: Tiny Tags and The medallion stamp from the Autumn - Winter mini catalogue, and En francais background stamp from the main Idea book and catalogue.

I think I will cry if these stamps don't continue on. The tiny tag set has its own new style "jewellery tag" punch, so it just has to stay!!!

It was a bit of a chaotic layout - so I saved it with the strings attaching behind the circle ice rhinestone (my favourite colour is the purple) and the gorgous silver filigree brad combination in the centre.

Card Recipe:

Stampsets: Medallion, tiny tags, En francais

Cardstock: Lovely lilac, whisper white.

Ink: Lovely lilac, Orchid Opulence, Pink passion, White craft (for the medallion).

Tools and accessories: Jewellery Tag punch, Circle Ice rhinestone brad, Filigree brad.

Embroidery cotton.

Medallions in Close to Cocoa and Creamy caramel

The Medallion stamp is a new stamp from the Autumn min catalogue that I just can not do without now. There are lots of techniqaues you can do with it.

This is a version of the Kissing technique. To me it looks a bit like carved wood work. Not that I intended it to look like that. In stamping there are always happy surprises.

Here is a close up of the caramel coloured impression with the close to cocoa wheeled image over the top of it. Thats all I did. Inked the rubber up with caramel ink then wheeled my "very vintage" wheel over the rubber in close to cocoa ink and stamped it on whisper white cardstock.

The sentiment is stamped on a Big shot Lots of Tags die cut, sponged around the edges and raised on dimensional adhesive. The sumptuous ribbon is chocolate chip tafetta.

I made a second version of this card:

(as you do when you are enjoying yourself).

With the happy birthday from Teeny Tiny sentiments stampset.

And attached it to another of the "lots of tags" die cut shapes.

Card Recipe:

Stampsets: Medallion ($33.95)

Teeny tiny sentiments ($46.95 in clear mount)

Cardstock: Whisper white, close to cocoa.

Ink: Creamy caramel, close to cocoa.

Tools: Big shot machine, Sizzlits - Lots of tags die cut ($39.95)

Word window punch, sponge, Tafetta ribbon and chocolate chip textured cardstock, cotton thread.

Elite Challenges for May ....

I have completed another challenge set by the Carol from over at the Elite Challenges site.
If you are at all like me you love a challenge. Sometimes it does you good to be pushed into a task that makes you uncomfortable, just so that you can feel proud of yourself when you finish a project that you set out to do.
This months stamp set challenge is to use the Medallion stamp.

The second challenge is to use the colours:
Rich Razzleberry, Baja breeze, Not quite Navy and Almost artichoke- eek!!

And, the third challenge is to CASE the card layout on page 18 of the Autumn Winter Mini.

My apologies the photo is a little dark on the Rich Razzleberry cardstock ... but you get the idea.

And I didn't complete the second part of the challenge because I just couldn't think how to add Almost Artichoke to the card without making it look like an add on, or a sore thumb.

The technique used on the medallion stamp is the kissing technique. Pretty effect with these coluours don't you think?

Card Recipe:

Stampsets: Medallion $33.95

Teeeny Tiny sentiments $46.95

Tiny Tags $28.95

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Not quite Navy

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper white, Not quite Navy.

Accessories: Polka Dot ribbon - razzleberry.

Corner rounder and Medium jewellery tag punch.

Medallion Background and ruffled flowers.

Happy National Mothering Week - the Theme for this year is: Mothering together we do better.

I have been making mother's day cards for the last few weeks and since I don't actually have a mother to give one to. I thought I'd make this one as a "just for you" card.

Then I can use it later for a birthday or whatever occasion style card.

Or give it to a mother-friend to say "you're doing a great job!"

We really don't tell each other that enough do we?

I am still loving these ruffled scallop circle flowers. This one is punched out of about 6 or maybe 7 circles and layered one on top of the other, pinned with a silver brad then...

 ruffled, distressed and flattened, then ruffled again.

These Tags are punched with my new style tag punch. I stamped the tiny tag sentiments onto some printed patterned paper and then punched them and layered them beside the white taffetta ribbon.

What you need to make this card:
Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Whisper white cardstock,
Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink pad, rich razzleberry polka dot Ribbon.
Tafetta ribbon. Silver brad.
Scallop Circle punch,($30.95)
Medium jewellery tag punch ($20.95)
Medallion Background stamp ($33.95)
Stampsets: Tiny tags and Teeny Tiny sentiments.
Eyelet border punch.

The simple easy medallion card ...

This card is one that we made at the Autumn Winter Mini launch. It is a CASE (that is Copy And Share Everything) from the front cover of the new Mini.
You really dont need to be creative in this game: just have an eye for what you like and using the stampsets that you love, substitute what doesn't work for you into something that does.
Take one Melon Mambo card front for instance:

The medallion stamp is so big it covers almost the whole card front so two stamps and its done.
With a strip of the gorgous Designer Series Paper "Cottage Garden", layered on a strip of the new in-colour Rich Razzleberry.

 How pretty are these two colours together and they go with Orchid Opulence, Pale plum and lavender lace as well.... Now I do hope you like butterflies because this one comes as an a la carte single stamp (on the last page of the new mini catalogue) - if you don't like butterflies just  think of it as a great big purple moth.
But, seriously who doesn't like a fluttering butterfly?
Lastly we added the tiny tags that say "hello friend" - they are so sweet: 17 stamps for justs $28.95!
We have punched them out with the new Jewelry tag punch. The accents are held on with a silver brad.
Card Recipe:  (what you need to make this card)
Stampsets used:
Medallion (wood mounted stamp) $33.95
All a flutter (wood mounted stamp) $12.95
Tiny Tags (17 Clear mounted stamps) $28.95
Cardstock:
Rich Razzle Berry, Melon Mambo, whisper white.
Cottage Garden DS Paper $16.95 per pack of 12 sheets.
Ink: Rich Razzle berry and Orchid Opulence.
Tools: Medium Jewelry punch ($20.95), Silver brads, mat pack and taylors awl.