Core'dinations & Artistic Etchings

There's good news and bad news.  The good news is that Core'dinations sandable cardstock is soon to be available in EVERY Stampin' Up! colour.  Woo hoo!  How's that?!     

Here's a look at a card I c.a.s.e.d. (copy & share everything) from one of our demo-only resources.

This is Primrose Petals with Chocolate Chip.  The Choc Chip is our regular standard textured card stock, but the Primrose Petals is Core'dinations sandable.  See the difference?  Kind of cool huh?  You can sand or tear it (or both) to reveal it's lighter core.  Why bother? Well, distressed projects are on trend right now, and getting texture into your stuff adds interest!  So why not give it a try?

Go ahead, make something!
Cheers
Karen

P.S.  the bad news is that Artistic Etchings Stamp Set is retiring.  Hurry up and order it or you'll be sad forever more.

Sneak Peek

Well the new caty launch is fast approaching and I'm so excited!!  I've been playing with products from my preorder and I can't wait to share them, but in the spirit of surprises, I don't want to give too much away, so here's a little sneaky peaky!

This card uses some new DSP, a new punch and yes...the new co-ordinating fabric.   I've actually used a lot of fabric in my launch projects and it's so thrilling because I don't sew but I love the textures that using material can add to a design.

Like the dots?    That was an accident!!  I used the flat rubber stamp from the Distressing Essentials and a combination of dabbing and swiping to get the ink over the embossed polka dots.  I love the way the little circles appeared as if by magic!

Hope you're signed up for my launch on the 28th, but if not see the side bar at the top of my blog........ooohhhhh there's a lot to look forward to!

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

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