Tuesday 29 January 2013

Mojo Monday 278

There's a lot of layers in this weeks sketch so I decided to let the paper do the talking.


Supplies used:
Stamp Set: Fabulous Phrases
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip & So Saffron
DSP: International Bazaar
Big Shot, Edgelits Finishing Touches
1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle & 1 3/4" scallop circle punches
I made the banner by cutting a strip of DSP 3/4" wide, then used the 1 1/4" square to snip out the end.
Adornments Dahlia's & white organza ribbon.

Thanks for looking!  Hope your week is off to a good start.
Cheers
Karen

Tuesday 22 January 2013

Sale-A-Bration 2013 is here!

We have a new brochure format this year which shows a lot more ideas for our Sale-a-bration offerings than ever before!

And as an added extra, you can also choose certain items from the current annual catalogue for free.
I made this card using the Sycamore Street DSP from the SAB brochure.  Gojus!  I'm loving the bright colours and pattern combinations so much that I had to add some of the paper to my envelope as well....giggle.

Anyway, hop over to my website to see what you can get for FREE.

Happy Sale-a-bration everyone!
Karen

Monday 21 January 2013

Note Card Holder

I have it on good authority that note cards & stationery are on trend items in the craft world this year.  Yay!  Don't you love receiving a little note, just because?  Very few of us - me included - actually hand write notes these days, but it is such a personal and special touch that I think we should bring it back! 

Anyway, who doesn't need a few little note cards stashed away for a quick thank you, a coffee invite, or just to make someone smile who needs a cheery hello?  It's like sending a hug through the mail.

This would make a lovely gift.  And it's a great way to re purpose the boxes that the Stampin' Spots come in.  It fits our note cards and envelopes perfectly.   I put 5 inside but you could probably fit a few more.
I used a paper piecing technique with the Top Note die and the Big Shot for the top of the box.  You can do this a couple of ways, but basically I cut a piece of scrap cardstock slightly bigger than the Top Note.  Cover that in adhesive like our Multi Purpose Adhesive sheets.  Peel off the backing and stick your precut squares of DSP on top.  Make sure you get the edges lined up so there are no gaps.  The easiest way to do this is to punch out your DSP with a square punch.  Once it's all stuck, run it through the Big Shot with your die and you have a quilted accent piece.

The trick to making a set like this is to choose a pack of coordinating paper and stick with the colours.  That also makes the task quicker, and if you choose something with a good variety of patterns, you can showcase that allowing you to minimise decorations and embellishments.
Each notecard uses a different pattern of the same DSP.  They all have the same embellishments, just stamped in different colours and the placement varies slightly.


Supplies:
Stamps: Apothecary Art, Collage Curios,
Cardstock: Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes (item 107311 page 160), Marina Mist
Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango
DSP: Paisley Petals
Big Shot, Framelits Labels Collection, Top Note Die & Honeycomb embossing folder
1" circle punch, Itty Bitty Punch pack - the flower, Modern Label Punch
Marina Mist Satin Ribbon (R) and Antique Brad
Spritzer bottle with ink & rubbing alcohol solution - I used Marina Mist.
White gel pen.
Re positionable adhesive.
Stamp-a-majig,  stamp positioner.

Thanks for popping by!
Cheers
Karen

Friday 18 January 2013

Mixing it up

I think this started out as a Valentine's card but since I'm always needing thank you's, I decided on a quick change of greeting at the last minute!
I've added a little bit of stitching on a couple of the ribbons.   This is something I love to do, but I don't sew well and have only recently had access to a machine that's permanently set up (my daughter got one for her birthday), which makes it sew easy when it's on the desk and ready!

Supplies
Stamps - You Are Loved - stamped on the book paper; the greeting is from Fresh Cuts (R), I just love it's old worldy look.
Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, the page of an old book and the heart was cut out of a brown lunch bag left over from another project.
Ink:  Soft Suede & Razzberry Ripple
Punches - Designer Label, 1 1/4" scallop circle & large oval.
Big Shot & the Hearts a Flutter framelits
Dahlia & Antique Brad
Very Vanilla & Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Crochet Trim & Raspberry Ripple Double Stitched Ribbon.
Sewing machine and thread

Have a super weekend.  Hopefully it won't be as scorchingly hot as it was today!
Cheers
Karen

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Insomniacs Team January 2013 Challenge

I made this card for a team challenge.  It uses products from the upcoming mini catalogue and Sale-a-bration   brochure.


Supplies used:
Stamps: Tiny Tags
Ink: Island Indigo
Cardstock: Whisper White, Coordinations Primrose Petals, Island Indigo & Pool Party
Framelits - Hearts a Flutter, Adorning Accents & Honeycomb embossing folders
Jewelry Tag Punch & small heart punch
Sycamore Street Ribbon & buttons from Sale-a-bration.
Rhinestone jewels.

The honeycomb embossing folder was used on the Coordination cardstock which is a special paper with a white core.  This means that when it's dry embossed you can sand it to reveal the lovely centre.  It's great for achieving depth and texture at the same time!  Love that!

Goodness, it's mid week already!   Quick, go make something!
Cheers
Karen

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Best of Everything

This is a cheery little card for a summer thank you!



Supplies:
Stamps - Best of Everything & Itty Bitty Banners
Cardstock - Whisper White & Lucky Limeade
DSP - Bashful Blue basics
Ink - Pumpkin Pie, Perfect Plum & Rich Razzleberry
Itty Bitty Banners Framelits and Delicate Designs Embossing Folder
Two Step Bird Punch
Rhinestones jewels

I hand cut the flower stems and the leaves are from the branch in the Two Step Bird Punch.  I just punched one branch and cut off the individual leaves.

Hope you like it!
Cheers
Karen

Saturday 12 January 2013

SAB & Autumn Mini Sneak Peek

One of the perks of being a manager with SU is earning freebies when each new catty is issued.  And who doesn't love freebies, right?! 

This time I got a bundle of stuff that included 2 stamp sets, the most gorgeous natural ribbon and some 'soda pop tops'.   And it didn't cost me a cent.  Gotta love that.  I should also add that I'm only a manager because I've got a lovely team of crafters with me, so thanks girls for helping me along my SU journey ;)

We're also about to enjoy Sale-a-bration; a very exciting time of year where Stampin' Up! offers all their demonstrators & customers exclusive free products.  So, this project uses the DSP, Sycamore Street that you can get for free from 22 January.



Supplies
Stamp Set: Collage Curios (upcoming mini) & Short & Sweet (R)
Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade & Whisper White
DSP: Sycamore Street
Ink: Bashful Blue, Pacific Point, Lucky Limeade & Tangerine Tango
Itty Bitty Framelits, Medallion from the Pennant Die & Chevron embossing folder
Soda Pop Tops
2 3/4" Scallop Circle punch & 1" circle punch
Stamp-a-majig

Have a super weekend, and try to stay cool.
Cheers
Karen



Friday 11 January 2013

Clearance Rack Today!

Here's my pic for what's on the list this week........






Hurry, some of my other favourite items (Heard from the Heart, Short & Simple) are already sold out!

Cheers
Karen

Thursday 10 January 2013

Quick Card to get your Mojo going.

Want to make a quick card?  Get out your catty and CASE something.  It works every time.  Sometimes I just can't be bothered searching through my supplies (.....there's a lot of stuff in here!) for the 'perfect' thing, so I trust the catalogue and am never disappointed.
 This card was cased from page 114.   It uses a different stamp set and greeting, but essentially it's the same.


To get the different colours on the stamped image, simply use markers to colour each area.  Tip - start with the lightest one first so you don't get the tips all dirtied up.   Breathe on the stamp before stamping to moisten the areas that were coloured first.

And yes, I decorated the inside too.  I've actually cut a mat in Whisper White and added some Wild Wasabi dsp and a stamp.  The mat helps to anchor the card, literally, because our current white cs is little flimsy as a one layer card.

Supplies used:
Stamp Set:  Button Buddies & Curly Cute.  The strawberry is from Best of Everything.
Cardstock:  Whisper White, So Saffron
Ink:  Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip
Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch & Baker's Twine in Chocolate Chip.

So, get your Mojo going for 2013 - stop looking for the 'perfect' thing and just make something.  You will be rewarded as you spark your creativity for the new year.
Cheers
Karen

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Little Birdhouse

After all those Christmas projects (which I LOVED making!), it was time for a change of pace.  And I wanted to make a special gift for my friend who loves to collect birds nests.  

Rather than rushing out and shaking the tree in my garden and tossing some poor bird out of it's home.....giggle.....it's ok, I would never do that, I too am a lover of all creatures great and small so I made this:



The actual house comes in kit form and you glue it all together.  Very simple.  However, it's good to cover the main pieces with cardstock or DSP first so you can use them as templates.   I also painted the base with a mixture of white paint to which I added Soft Suede & Early Espresso ink.


I love the roof.  It was made using the eyelet border punch and layering each piece with mounting tape on top of the last, starting from the bottom.  The front and rear gable ends were done with the large Scallop Edgelit (127019).  


The little birds were glued on with Tombow Liquid Glue.   The flowers are not SU.  They come in a bunch so I snipped them off the stems and added them wherever I felt like it!  I do wish SU would bring out some flowers.  I really wanted a vintage look and wasn't satisfied with the ones I made from cardstock so I bought these but they were a bit silky and wedding-y, mmmmmm nevermind.  I cut the grass by hand with scissors.  Just snip little wedges out till you get 'the look'.


The DSP is Parisien Breeze.  Long retired, still a fav of mine.  The leaves are from the Two Step Bird Punch in Gumball Green.


You can't have a vine growing up the side of your birdhouse without a ladybug.  So there it is!


 I stamped over the DSP with stamps from Elements of Style, Creative Elements & Tiny Tags.

I do hope this inspires you to whip out your craft supplies for a nice 3D project.  There's lots to choose from and when you decorate with SU, you have a gorgeous end result.

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers
Karen


Tuesday 8 January 2013

Blog Candy Winner

Back in December I offered my customers the chance to win some goodies from my craft stash.  All they had to do was leave a comment (or lots of them!) about any of the projects in my 12 Days of Christmas posts.

And now's the most exciting time where I announce the winner! 

Drum roll please...........


oooooh, it's very tiny.......

                               

Yay!  Way to go Alicia.  Your determination pays off (the odds were definitely in her favour!).

For her prize, Alicia will receive these.....


I will pop over with them tomorrow so you have something to look out for when you get home from work.  Congratulations!

Happy Crafting!
Karen