Everything Eleanor and Mocha Morning Specialty

I have a stash of Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper because I love it so much and couldn't bear to let it go when it retired!

And when I saw this weeks challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches, I actually "saw" the paper in my mind's eye....giggle!  Oh dear, I'm a craftaholic!

Everything Eleanor is becoming a much loved stamp set for me, and I think it goes beautifully with the paper. Of course I've only used the bird and label stamps mainly because the paper already offered so much in terms of pattern, but the stamp set has gorgeous flowers and a stunning flourish as well; plenty of stamping opportunities really!

Tip:  When cutting squares of paper that you want to be of equal size, and equal distance apart, it's a good idea to use a guilotine or cutter that has a guide on it that you can set to the correct dimensions.  That way, you'll know all your pieces are the same size.  Even a millimetre difference can look really out of balance especially when you're using papers and cardstock with a lot of contrast, like these patterns on black.

Everything Eleanor available in wood mount #131987 $63.95 or clear mount #124164 $50.95.  The medallion coordinates with the 2 1/2"circle punch.  

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Everything Eleanor & Curly Cute (R)
Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla
Paper: Mocha Morning Specialty (R)
Ink: Black Staz On, Crumb Cake
2 1/2" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Flower Punch, 3/4" square punch (any sized square will work).
Pearl Jewels

Thanks for looking!  I hope you find time to craft today.
Cheers
Karen

CAS Challenge #40

Today's card is a challenge from the CAS - Colours & Sketches blog.  It's a double challenge which means it combines a sketch

and a colour combination

Here's my card:

I've used the Daydream Medallion stamp set with a greeting from Sweet Essentials.  There's a little bit of sponging around the edges of the greeting and also the white card layer.

The greeting was cut out using a framelit from Apothecary Accents. It was a little big so I trimmed the top and bottom of the label after I'd cut it out.  A paper clay flower finished it off, coloured with Marina Mist ink and a sponge.

Thanks for looking!
Karen

Canvas, Washi & Sparkles

This was my creation for the 52 CCT August Embellishment Challenge #20 ; to use canvas.

Canvas stamping is quite simple but you do need to be comfortable with a softer image because the canvas tends to soak up the ink and it can bleed a little.  I've used a snowflake in Soft Sky that I stamped off first so the effect is quite muted behind the greeting.

I'm enjoying washi tape sooooo much!  It gives a fabulous look and it's application is seemingly endless.  I've been wrapping jars with it, attaching it to banners and flags......what do you do with your washi?  Leave me a comment below and let's see what amazing suggestions you have!

And since one embellishment wasn't enough I just had to add a sparkly one - these are our new Frosted Finishes.  They are STUNNING!  Hurry up and order yours today!  Everyone's going to want them!

Thanks for stopping by!
Cheers
Karen

CAS Colours & Sketches Challenge #38

It's a colour challenge this week over on CAS Colours & Sketches blog - I like these because it makes me try new colour combo's.

Bashful Blue has retired but I did find an old pad and a scrap of cardstock so I could be true to the challenge.  It's perfectly fine to substitute similar colours though if you have already passed yours on.

I don't make many baby cards and I absolutely love this so someone will have to have a baby soon that I can give it to!

Lovin' the banners?  These are a stamp & framelit from Hearts a Flutter.  The sentiment is from Bitty Banners & also has a framelit.

These tiny bows were easy to tie, you start bigger and keep adjusting till they're tiny.  Attach them with glue dots.

I hope you like it too!  Leave me a comment if you do!
Cheers
Karen

Another Christmas Card for our Troops and a CSAYL Challenge 28 Colour Combos

This week's colour challenge at Christmas Stampin' All Year Long provided lots of choices and gave me an opportunity to try another mini catalogue product ;)

I chose the colours blue, silver, white and red.  There are several different blues including Night of Navy, Bermuda Bay and Pool Party.  I've embossed the snow flakes using Bermuda Bay with clear embossing powder (work quick, it's a dye ink!) and Silver embossing powder on Versamark.  The greeting is Versamark with Pool Party embossing powder.

The stamps and Designer Series Paper are a sneak peek.....and how did I manage to cut out that snowflake so perfectly?  Come to the launch on 31 August to find out!

I love to read your comments, so show me some love!
Cheers
Karen

Sneak Peek with a Challenge for FMS 98

Good morning crafters!  It's a beautiful Monday in Sydney and we are being treated to unseasonably warm weather so today's card is full of warmth.  It's also a little sneak peek at a couple of new products coming in the Holiday Catalogue (out 1 Sept).   Email me if you'd like to attend the launch on 31 August.

My card is in response to a Freshly Made Sketches challenge.

The Designer Series Paper & maple leaf stamp are both in the upcoming mini catty.  I've done a shadow or ghosting technique on the leaf and I love the way it's turned out.  

Combined with those cute naturals buttons, it's quite a nice result.

Have a crafty day!
Karen

PPA167, Masking & Bordered Sentiment Techniques

This week's challenge at Pals Paper Arts is all about colour:

And here's what I did:

I've combined a couple of techniques here; the bordered sentiment, and masking.  If you'd like to learn how to do them, come along to next week's classes.  Find out more here.

Supplies Used:  

Stamp sets: Creative Elements & Sweet Sentiments

Cardstock: Whisper White & Coastal Cabana

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding & Basic Black

Rhinestone Jewels & the Bitty Butterfly punch

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown August Sketch Challenge

The deadline for Christmas Cards for Australian Armed Forces is just a few months away, so I'm really pleased to have found this site, 52{Christmas}Card Throwdown,  to keep me on the move towards my goal.  No, I don't have a set number that I like to make, I just want to have a good sized stash when the time comes :).

Here's the design team sketch:

And here's my offering:

I like how this one turned out, especially as I've used a non-Christmas stamp set, which speaks to it's usefulness year-round :)

Stampin' Up! Rhinestones are so easy to use.  How did I line up those 7 little ones on that ornament?  Easy, they come in a long strip with a continuous line of glue dots attached so all you need to do is cut the length you want and stick them to your project.  There are also 3 other sizes that are individual, again with glue dots so they're super quick to stick wherever you want.

My main embellishment is a Soda Pop Top from our last seasonal catalogue.  I've flattened it in the Big Shot - really easy, just put it between the two cutting surfaces and run it though.  I did mine on Tab 1 of the Multi-Purpose Platform but you should check yours first to see which "sandwich" layer works best.  The centre was made by stamping a snowflake and punching out with a 1/2" circle punch.  I stuck it down using glue dots.  Be careful with your choice of adhesive when working with metal because PVA or craft glue usually doesn't give a strong permanent bond.

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Mosaic Madness & Greetings of the Season, Snowflake from Snow Swirled (R)
Cardstock; Old Olive, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Silver Glimmer Paper
Mosaic Punch
Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder
Rhinestones, Bakers Twine & Soda Pop Tops (R)

Right, I hope you've had a crafty day, or maybe get some time this evening to make something.
Cheers
Karen

Christmas Stampin All Year Round Challenge 26 Inspiration

I stumbled on this challenge blog and thought how perfect it is to keep me on track year long for Christmas Cards for Australian Armed Forces!

The inspiration for this challenge was a photograph:

 I decided to stick with the red/white colour combo, so here's my card:

While there's a lot of stamping on it, it's still quite a clean looking card.  And I've used the Gorgeous Grunge set.....again....which means it's versatility is ever-increasing.

Supplies Used:
Stamp Set:  Gorgeous Grunge, Snow Swirled (R), Easy Events (R)
Cardstock: Whisper White
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Staz On Black
Adorning Accents embossing folder and Big Shot
Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding.

I love to read your comments, so please leave one below.
Cheers
Karen

Southern Girls Challenge 74 - Animal Antics

I found this challenge over on the Southern Girls Challenge blog and it really exposed my lack of animal stamps!  Hence, a very modest lizard/gecko offering ;)  

The stamp was coloured using markers to highlight the different areas, then I re-stamped the balloons and cut them out, using dimensionals to pop them up.

Supplies used;
Stamp Set: Tag It
Cardstock: Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Paper: Basics Patterned Stacks in Rich Razzleberry, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Labels Framelits & Big Shot
Paper Piercer & Mat
Sponge

Thanks for looking!
Cheers
Karen