Hope & Strength

I've read this before - and said it before - but Sympathy cards rank among the most difficult cards to make.  Even harder when it's for a loved one of your own.  Thanks to some inspiration from U.S. demonstrator Linda Gutierrez, I found a beautiful idea using the Hope & Strength set.   I've replaced the "Hope" stamp with one from Teeny Tiny Sentiments and I think it's lovely.  The words are perfect - believe, unity, love, together, strength, blessed & courage;  all things that we wish for those left behind.  And the faux mother of pearl technique gives the card an elegance while the butterfly reminds us that life goes on.

I love to read your comments, so let me know if you like it.......but remember the credit goes to Linda Gutierrez in California. 

Thanks for stopping by.
Karen

Dry Embossing

Emboss simply means to raise something.  In craft we emboss in several different ways.  The term dry embossing refers to using a stylus and a stencil, a scoring tool & ruler or an embossing system like the Big Shot with various patterned embossing folders.   The latter being the simplest - and the most effective.

We make the distinction of "dry" embossing because in papercraft, heat embossing is very widely used so to simply say "emboss" can be confusing.

I was using up scraps last night from the leftovers of a creative session and here's what I made;

The size of this first card was determined by the dry embossed piece I had leftover.  I used the Petals a Plenty die with the Big Shot.   Can you see how the DSP is embossed as well?   I stuck it to the cardstock before running it through the Big Shot so that both ends have that lovely raised finish.   Because there's a pinch point in the embossing folders - and it doesn't matter which end of the folder, you basically get a little ridge around the edges - I used the ribbon to cover it up.....cheeky, eh?    To add some glam, the Dazzling Diamonds were adhered using a glue pen. 

Here's another angle that may show the glitter a little better.

Supplies:  Stamp Set: Well Scripted.
Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Pacific Point
DSP: Blueberry Crisp
Ink:  Night of Navy
Wide oval punch, Petals a Plenty EBF & Big Shot, Colour Spritzer & Sponge
Dazzing Diamonds


This next card has two types of dry embossing.

Can you pick them?   The DSP was embossed as was the flower using the Big Shot.  It may be hard to see on the paper because I've used the negative, or the side that is pushed in.   The second type of dry embossing was done with a scoring system - I can't name it because it's not SU and we don't currently have them (I wish we did, it's great!). 

I didn't have any brads or buttons in the right red and it really needed the colour introduced a second time to look balanced.  So, I used my Crop-a-dile to punch 3 small circles of cardstock 3/8" each and carefully stuck them to the card with a glue pen.   Then I topped each one with Crystal Effects.  I had intended for them to look shiny, but then I sprayed it all with the spritzer so my CE has a matt finish.

Supplies Used: 
Cardstock: Riding Hood Red, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand
DSP: Blueberry Crisp
Ink:  Not Quite Navy - in the Colour Spritzer tool
Petals a Plenty, Flower Burst Embosslit & Big Shot
Linen Thread, Crystal Effects.
Ribbon is not available in Not Quite Navy so I pleated a piece of cardstock instead.


Happy crafting.  Leave me a comment - I love reading them!
Karen

Mojo Monday 200

This is actually last week's Mojo Monday.  I had it started before the weekend but just couldn't get it together - I guess I lost my mojo.....giggle. 

Supplies used:

Stamps:  Punch Bunch
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red
DSP: Sweet & Sour Specialty
Punches:  Scallop Circle - 2 3/8", Scallop Square, Double hole, Scallop border, Boho Blossoms
Very Vanilla ribbon, Jewels Pearls, Flower Brads
Big Shot with Polka Dots embossing folder

If you're wondering about the scallop circles in Rose Red & Elegant Eggplant, I punched them out once,

then stuck each one onto a post-it note at the sticky bit. 

Next you slide the post-it note with the punched scallop back into the punch and adjust it so the scallops punch again in the centre of the original scallops. 

It's a lovely shape don't you think?

Thanks for looking.
Enjoy your week.
Karen

A quick case before bed

I've spent hours making christmas cards for the troops tonight, so just before I decided to call it a night, I cased a card from the IB&C.  This was a quickie - do you know which page it's from?  

The colours are Baja Breeze, Whisper White & Soft Suede.  The greeting is one of my favourites from Word Play.  And how effective is that embossing with the Elegant Lines folder and the Big Shot?  Not to mention the tone on tone flowers - Floral Fusion Sizzlit.   The ribbon is Certainly Celery twill....from a promotion last year maybe??

Leave me a comment if you know the page.  And tell me your favourite embossing folder. 

G'night
Karen

Christmas In July

We went Ice Skating yesterday at our Christmas In July event in Balmain.  It was a fun morning and got me thinking a little Christmassy - well, it is cold and the year is marching on.  Before long, we'll be planning our Christmas cards again!

Here's a cute card I made this morning, still feeling festive, from a stamp set that Tracy bought me last year.  I've used Very Vanilla cardstock with Real Red and the DSP is Love Letter (it's retiring soon so don't miss out if you want to get your own!).

The little elves are the Swedish Tomte - aren't they cute?   They're not SU so I can't name the brand here. 

Thanks for looking.   Go create something!
Karen

More distressed cards!

Last night's class was another success with the ladies really getting into the stick and giggle!   Even those outside of their comfort zone!!!  That said, I didn't get a couple of pics, but here are the one's I did get:

Gloria's card

Liz's card

Vicki's card

I should point out that when you do a PaperLady class you have options.   I prepare projects in a way that showcases a technique or a particular product.  However, I encourage creativity at whatever level people are comfortable with.  That means that you can shake up the project to customise it for your own needs, likes and preferences.   I do however make no apology for stretching your skills and in fact I hope that happens regularly so you can explore the many possibilities that our paper crafts have to offer.

That said, my own preference when attending a class is to copy the original project - why?   Well, I really like to make sure I get it.  That way, I can take it home and will remember what I learned more easily.  I also struggle to develop my own ideas when I'm in a group.  That could be because I'm a bit of a chatty crafter so it's harder to multi-task! 

Bottom line?  Come to a class, learn a bit, do a bit, chat a bit and have tons of fun!  But take home the project you want - the copied version or your version.

Happy distressing....kit, that is!
Karen

Bookmark - Last one

Just had to share Wendys cute bookmark from the challenge.   What a cute little robot/space dude!

Cheers
Karen

Ribbon Weaving

This is a cool idea for using ribbon - although it does use quite a lot.  

Oops!  Got a lovely oval in crystal effects there!  Yes, two of the little ball-ee things joined up to make an oval.....awwwww how sweet!!

You cut a square of cardstock to the size you want - base it on how many pieces of ribbon you want to weave and how wide the ribbon is.  I did 5 strips on each side (10 all up) and they are each 10 cm long.  The card is just over 7cm square.  You need the extra length so you can work with the ribbon and have enough to fasten on the back of the cardstock.

Attach each piece of ribbon to the back of the cardstock using sticky strip i.e. 5 pieces along the top and 5 down one side.    Then start weaving at the corner where the two pieces of ribbon meet.  Use a bit of snail adhesive to secure ribbon to the cardstock as you go.  Finish up by securing all the ends to the back of the cardstock.     Mine became a Christmas card because of the ribbon - yes, I know, it's only July!!

Supplies:
Old Olive carstock & ink
Red extra thick card - I've used bainbridge board offcuts from a picture framing project.
Holiday Print stamp - retired
Ribbon - this is one of SU's from last Christmas I think. 
Gold cord
Crystal Effects
Ornament Punch

Thanks for looking!
Karen

Love Gifts?

Well,  how would you like these as a gift from me? Oh, and Stampin' Up!

Ice Cream Parlor Bundle Promotion 1 - 31 July 2011

This month, when you place an order for $100 you will receive this gorgeous coordinating set of ribbon (over 13m) and buttons (48 in 3 colours) absolutely free.   That's a $31.95 value for........nothing!

Here's a couple of projects I made with my set:

Email or phone your order through today!

Cheers
Karen

Distressing Essentials (DE)

No, I'm not talking about what you need to be distressed!  There's no distress while we're crafting thank you - or at least there shouldn't be!  However, if you have the kit from SU called Distressing Essentials, you will have all you need to create beautiful aged projects that lend themselves to all sorts of occasions.

With the masculine card presenting a constant challenge for me (sorry boys, I mean that in a nice way), this weeks class was an opportunity to see how to get a grown up male look without a lot of fuss but also without it being "boring" and plain.  Cue the DE kit.  There's the fantastic colour spots - 4 of them in mahogany, tea, charcoal & blue; a flat rubber stamp for blending and smudging colour; a large sanding block & an emery board with different grades of roughness from fine to gritty to give texture and soften stamped images or paper patterns; and 3 shaped metal files for sanding in tight spots like chipboard letters and around the inside edges of punched holes.    

So after a demo of the possibilities I threw the challenge to the ladies to create a distressed card for a special male.   Heres what they did:

Avril's card

Avril used the rubber stamp to smoosh ink onto the envelope.

Joey stamped onto the DSP.  The vintage trinkets are perfect on the crimped piece.

Laurel made the most of the pattern on the DSP and it goes really well with the sponging on around the stamped image.

Sadie's inked, torn and sponged to get this gorgeous effect.   The raspberries just speak for themselves.

Susie has layer upon layer to add texture.  She has stamped onto twill tape and used the ink spots to "dirty" up the clean twill so it fits nicely with the other elements. The chipboard letter has been covered in paper, stamped & filed - genius!

Tracy's card has nice texture created by the tearing of the layers, scrunching the paper and using the files to rough up the edges.

Isn't it lovely to see how you can all take the same materials and turn out a bunch of different stuff?  Everyone used the same tools, same DSP (Botanical Gazette) and same stamps.  We did have a lot of greeting stamps available though because I think it's really important that my customers can make a card that suits their needs.  The use of twill tape in place of ribbon & jumbo eyelets with Hemp instead of linen thread also give the end result a more masculine feel.   

Hope you are inspired to go make something!
Cheers
Karen

And the Winner is.......(today, anyway!)

Tracy Farmer!!!!

Congratulations Tracy, your name was picked in the raffle to win the gorgeous Stampin' Up! bag full of crafting goodies.

Now, the draw took place during our class today, so Tracy already knows she won.  She very graciously took a stamp set and a punch out of the bag and decided to re-gift them.  So, we pulled two more tickets out of the bowl.......and the winners are.........

Gloria Fong - drew the punch    

Michelle Hughes - drew the stamp set.

I will be calling you both to arrange drop off of your goodies!   Thanks Tracy for that kind gesture.

Congratulations everyone and thank you to everyone who entered the draw.

Happy Friday
Karen