Organic Grace Sketch challenge SC20

I have just completed one of the latest Elite challenges and posted it on the site.

You can see others here: Sketch Challenge 20 Posted in SC 20 based on p11 of the 09/10 IB&C

The sketch (layout) is from the card on page 11 of the current 2009/10 Idea book and catalogue. Mine looks nothing like the original card but that is half the fun of a sketch challenge -you start out with the original sketch idea and use your own colours and a different stampset and base your ideas loosely around the starter card. Not really difficult this one I just flipped forward to page 17 and used the organic grace stampset and tried some soft light colours instead of the bright ones used.I am not sure if vanilla and white should be seen together, but I have always liked pink and cocoa together so there you go. A bit like a hot cocoa with cream and capuccino froth. (I am so glad that hardly anybody ever reads my blog).

The dragon flies and close to cocoa flower are raised up on dimensional adhesive and the frilly edge is from my new eyelet Border punch. The Pocket Silhouettes stampset provided the sentiment in regal rose ink.

Fresh cuts

These Fresh cut note cards have to be one of the quickest simplest ways to make a card for a gift, a birthday, thank you or even invitations.
With this one I have cut a piece of sahara sand cardstock and stamped the fresh cuts stamp in close to cocoa, and then attached it with double sided tape so that the image is showing through the die cut flower on the front.
I have punched a stylish edge to my card with the eyelet scallop edge punch, then distressed the edge of the white cardstock by tearing and roughing it up with my finger nail.
And then I added a ribbon. At first, (top photo) I have tried the satin cream and kiwi kiss ribbon (because I love how satiny smooth it is ) then tried a piece of choc chip grosgrain ... I like them both.
The centre flower is the fresh cut stamp on textured choc chip cardstock cut out and attached with a silver brad to the centre of the die cut flower.
The sentiment is from the stampset: A little birthday cheer.
Open the card and I have used the stem sayings happy birthday to decorate the inside and there is that gorgous vanilla satin silk ribbon showing.


I have another one that I made with patterned paper but I am thinking of keeping it for a special birthday card next month so I will keep it under wraps until then.

Onesie Baby card Tutorial.

By request I have posted a tutorial of the Baby card (that has been around for awhile) I first saw it on Yvonne Campbell's website/blog. But the original idea and instructions came from Lauren Meader her much more detailed instructions can be found HERE. She has some great ideas and projects.
Keep in mind that the actual size of the card needs to be 4 1/4″ x 11″.
This is a new format for my tutorials - I am not sure it works as well as the still photos on the blog, not much space on the slide show to give detailed instructions but it's a visual thing...

Thursday night's Launch party slide show.

Here is the slideshow I have put together of the photos taken at Thursday night's New catalogue launch. Everyone looked to be enjoying the night out...

Pocket Silhouettes in an urban garden!

Third in the Urban garden, pocket silhouette, bloom collection is: Thanks so much.
The six square punched pieces are from the Urban garden designer series paper pack, punched out with the smaller of the square punches. The colours are Baja breeze, Not quite Navy, going grey, and craft.
My cardstock is sahara Sand and Not quite Navy .
I have inked the Pocket silhouette flower and words in Not quite navy and stamped directly onto the sahara sand cardstock.
The bottom edge of the card was punched with the Eyelet border punch. I find this punch easier to use even than the scallop edge punch, it lines up beautifully and makes a very elegant edge.
I am enjoying the clean simple look of these cards ...
Ok, it is Easter, and I promised to play with my family during the long weekend. I am on egg duty which means each time my daughter goes outside or is well behaved for a few hours I put another small egg (0r two) into her easter egg box. She is only six and hasn't cottoned on to how the Easter bunny (or chicken) keeps putting the eggs into the box. I said I left the upstairs window open for him to get in when ever she is behaving beautifully. It is a lot more fun than giving her the whole packet of eggs in one go.
Ok, I promise to come back, with some pictures of our Idea Book and catalogue launch party, in the next few days.

Bella's bloom and border wheel

Here is the second card I made with my new stampset: Bella's bloom, the Bella border wheel, and I have matched it to the Urban Garden paper pack. The squares of paper look like a row of prints hung on the wall, with a window open, above a patterned floor.... No? I've used my imagination.

Materials used:

Stampset: Bella's Bloom, words are from Pocket silhouettes. Stamping Wheel: Bella's border. Cardstock: Sahara sand, Not quite Navy, Baja Breeze. Ink: Not quite navy.
Paper: Urban Garden Designer Series.
Accessories: Large Square punch, word window punch, Eyelet border punch. Later I will find the third card in this series. I cant seem to make two the same...

Tangerine tango Thank you card.

Do you ever make a card and just love how it turned out ... this one just says bold bold bold.
I have used the ever lovely fresh cut stampset - how many cards have I made with this one set?
The little branch of flowers makes a lovely border and also a feature if you line it up nicely, get it perfect with the stamp-a-ma-jig, or do it by eye.




The four scallop squares were punched out from the one stamp image with the scallop punch and arranged in a line across the black cardstock ... raised on dimensionals.
I love the detail in this stamp, layered images over the scripted writing: thinking of you,thinking of you, thinking of you... like a subliminal message, or white noise in the background ...

Thank you for taking a look at my cards ... inspired? All products used to make this card are from Stampin' Up and can be purchased through me!!!

Bella's Border blooms in an Urban garden.

We made cards again on Tuesday night ... well, most every body else made 4 or more cards and I cut out for three! I do like to socialise but sticking down and getting everything straight takes focus and concentration ... which I have a lot more of in the cold light of day.

So here is my finished card that I started last night.

It uses almost all new product. The Wheel is Bella's border, the words are from Pocket silhouettes, the brad is from the filigree pack of metal embellishments ( They are just gorgous ).

The Papers are from Urban garden Designer series (double sided patterns ...)

The cardstock is Sahara sand and Not Quite Navy.

Ink is also Not Quite Navy.

I will post some more details and the other card later .

Kiwi kiss and baja breeze rock and roll

I found a kiwi kiss coloured candle while shopping the other day ... So nice to be able to find a gift to match your card, or should that be a card the right colour to match your gift?
The technique used is my tried and true rock and roll stamping. Pressed the large freshcut stamp into the baja breeze then rolled the edges into the kiwi kiss ink pad, huffed on it, and stamped the image on whisper white cardstock. You never know how it will come out exactly, thats why I like it, a bit of a surprise what parts of the stamp are green or blue or a combination of both. Perhaps the base is a little fiddly but I had cut out those three flowers and the frame, so wove the ribbon through the holes and secured it behind the eyelets.

Materials:
Cardstock is: kiwi kiss, baja breeze, basic black and whisper white.
Ink: baja breeze, kiwi kiss and black.
Punches: 1" circle, scallop square.
Accessories: Crop a dile, soft subtle small eyelets, bashful blue tafetta ribbon, Dimensional adhesive.

Fresh cuts black and white with Riding hood red

You can do so much with this stampset ... white ink on black cardstock, mounted on some bright riding hood red for a colour lift and placed on a sahara sand cardstock base.

I wanted to calm down the sahara sand with a little close to cocoa background stamp of the linen texture kind. I even glanced the white craft ink pad over the edges of the card to give a kind of stone wash look.

Fun and Elegant bra card

Simple but effective and very easy to make - this is what we made here, last Friday at my place. Two punches to cut out the bra and lace, ribbon for the straps and a half pearl for the centre bling. I have a bra like this purple one but I'd love it with baroque swirls on it.

And on the inside I popped up the greeting on a bit of folded card using the flower from the new stampset three little words and the stem sayings "Happy birthday". My little princess loves the bra cards ... too.

Materials:

Stampset: baroque motifs

Vanila, elegant eggplant and orchid opulence cardstock.

Elegant eggplant ink.

Elegant eggplant grosgrain ribbon.

Punches: 2" circle and scallop circle.

Half pearl, rhinestone, or diamante to decorate.

Fresh cuts in riding hood red and tangerine tango ...

This stampset is a favourite of mine ... and I have only had it for two weeks ... Riding hood red replaces Purely pomegranate in my heart and tangerine tango is a whole lot nicer than the very questionable pinky colour of last year.
I have been experimenting endlessly with this stampset and colour combinations ... perhaps I could do ten quick cards with the fresh cut stampset over the next week (or ten days).
You will either love it or hate it by then.
I am hoping you still love it because it goes so well with the fresh cut note cards ... and I havent even put ink to paper on those yet.

Nerida's Bargain Collection !!!

Are you looking for a new or used stampset at a bargain price? Here is my Personal list of retiring stampsets that have to find new homes.
Most are at 30% off the Retail price, or more. I will be selling all of these sets as soon as they officially retire on April 1st.

CATALOGUE SETS :
p.47 Polka Dots and Petals $24
p.51 Be Happy $28
p.78 Bud Basics $25
p.112 Its all Good $20

p.74 Petal Prints $38
p.80 Bodacious Bouquet $40
p.110 Genuine Articles $20

Standard WHEELS :
p28 Star (as new) $9


BACKGROUND STAMPS:

2007 - French script $22 (retired in 2007-08)


p107 Floral Background $24


p108 Fine lace Background $24




HOSTESS SETS :
p17 Oh So lovely $25 (new - unassembled)
p19 A Little Bit Of Happiness $25 (new - unassembled)
Both way blossoms (mounted -new condition) $35



Previous Catalogue Stampsets:
Favourite Teddy Bear $45
Wishing You (peace, hope, love) $30
Beyond the basics (4 small backgrounds) $16

If you have your eye on any of these sets then please email me at Nerida_carter@hotmail.com to reserve your set(s).

I will edit this list with (RESERVED) to indicate that your chosen set is no longer available,when you contact me.

All stamps are in good condition but as the price indicates some stamp(s) may have dis-colouration or inkstaining of the woodblocks which does not affect the stamping.
Stamps will be Posted within Australia only, at the standard postage rate (please indicate if you want your stamps to be sent by registered mail). No postage for local area customers .... Payment in full is required by cash or direct deposit before your parcel will be shipped. Thank you!
Like to have your own copy of the new catalogue on 1st of April? Send me an email nerida_carter@hotmail.com

Fresh cuts of Kiwi Kiss, Tangerine, Riding hood red and Old Olive

How lovely do these colours go together?

It is Autumn and I think a little chocolate chip and close to cocoa might give it more depth.

But I wanted to show you how our old Olive ribbon tones in so beautifully with the new kiwi kiss green, riding hood red and tangerine tango. Materials:

Stamp set: Fresh cuts.

Kiwi kiss, tangerine tango and whisper white cardstock.

Riding hood red, tangerine tango and Kiwi kiss ink pads.

Old Olive grosgrain wide ribbon.

Punches: square scallop punch, round scallop punch, scallop edge punch.

Circle punches.

Happy New Catalogue Year!

I am always ready to celebrate something! A sunny day after rain! A birthday, a new baby, the postman at the door, getting all your homework done, any excuse and Today is ....

The Stampin' Up New year, NEW Catalogue is out day!

It is a big day for the stamper, crafter, scrapbooker in my home - she has her own little chocolate and coffee party with an Idea Book and Catalogue balanced on her knee with pen, calculator and wish-list poised to order her favourite stamps and accessories.

Because at mid day I can put in my first order of the stampin' up year and then wait patiently for the courier to bring me presents!!!
How good is that...?

"What's to celebrate?" you ask. There are the new In Colors, stamp sets, accessories, ribbon... ! Did I mention that all new stamp sets are die cut (means you don't have to cut the rubber out with scissors) and I am so looking forward to sharing the new products with you at the Launch night on 9th April, I still have some places left at my table....
Can't wait that long? Click here to see the new catalogue online.

Riding Hood Red does the tango with Sahara Sand challenge

Another late night, burning the candle at both ends...

A challenge to complete and here it is!

These were the colours I decided to challenge myself to use: Riding hood red, tangerine tango and sahara sand.

I have largely ignored the sahara sand in my neutral colour palette, but I have decided that it will tone down those wild bright colours in the new Catalogue.

This sketch challenge (I will come back and edit when i remember where I found this sketch) was one I found recently and thought it gave me a good excuse to experiment with my background stamping.

Three separate panels and a circular medallion to decorate: just screams Boho backgrounds and now that the One of a kind Boho blossoms and punch are back in the new catalogue I intended to give them a whirl together.

I Love how you can layer the circle punches on this design. The first panel was done with the little flowers from Boho backgrounds, and the middle (red panel) with the Boho background circle stamp and the third panel I have used my Baroque wheel for a swirly effect.The last embellishment is my "faux" brads - that is french for fake brads! now brads are cheap but you never seem to have the right colour for the card you are making ... unless you plan it that way. And brads, unfortunately, do not come in the new in-colours, so apart from buying a build a brad kit ... you can fake it with card stock, crystal effects and dimensionals.

These little flower "brads" are made from a punched out circle of pink cardstock.

The dimensional lifts the brad off the card surface to make it look real.

I have tried to take a photo close enough, in this low grey rainy overcast light, to show you the shine on the flower centre.
Want a real demonstration of this effect? Give me a call and book a party with some friends ...