Thinking Stamping

Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Simply Elegant for Retro Rubber 158

Welcome to a new challenge at Retro Rubber! It's Tic Tac Toe week and this week, I've had the pleasure of designing the challenge for you. I must have been in a romantic frame of mind when I did it because the elements lend themselves to special occasions.

In addition to choosing a line of the grid to inspire your design, don't forget that as this is Retro Rubber, we ask you to use at least on stamp that's a year or more old and to give us an approximate age for it.

One way to get more use out of your older stamps is to mix them up with new products. With the 2021-22 Annual Catalogue now open, I've got my hands on the Simply Elegant Specialty DSP. The elegant colours and oodles of metallic foiling make this paper perfect for any special occasion. Best of all, it's so pretty in itself that it needs very little doing to it to make an impression.

For this card, I've used the centre column: Patterned Paper - Heat embossing - Ribbon.

I've treated it very simply by adding a bold, gold embossed sentiment from the recently retired So Sentimental, which first appeared in January 2020's Occasions catalogue. The Stitched So Sweetly dies, which originally bundled with it, are still available - and isn't this one super!

To finish off, I've added in some ribbon. Picking up the gold and silver from the paper, I've used Simply Elegant trim, which pairs up the two metallic cords in one pack.

You can see what the rest of the team have done and link up your entry by visiting the Retro Rubber Challenge site.

If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below.

Product List

Note: The So Sentimental stamp set has recently retired.

Basic Gray A4 Card Stock

[121689]

$18.50

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

$20.50

Simply Elegant 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[155761]

$32.00

Versamark Pad

[102283]

$20.00

Metallics Embossing Powders

[155555]

$38.00

Heat Tool

[129056]

$60.00

Simply Elegant Trim

[155766]

$15.75

Stitched So Sweetly Dies

[151690]

$67.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$10.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$7.25

Celebrate Sunflowers for PP540

I really should have been doing other things this afternoon but the colour challenge at The Paper Players was just too tempting!

One of the things I like about going through my shelves to move retired items to a different zone is that it reminds me of lovely sets that I've got. Celebrate Sunflowers is one of these and I gave myself a mental kick for not having used it more - which led to putting it out on the desk so I couldn't forget it again!

Using it for a red, black and grey challenge wasn't the obvious choice but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

I started by stamping the sunflower in Tuxedo Black and colouring it with Stampin' Blends in Cherry Cobbler and Gray Granite. I fussy cut it out and sponged the edges.

I white-embossed the image again on Basic Gray card, added some die-cut leaves and popped the Cherry Cobbler sunflower up on dimensionals.

Originally, I'd been going to use 'Wishing you brighter days ahead' as the sentiment but the more I worked on the card, the more celebratory it became - at least in my mind. 😀

So I took the 'Let's celebrate you' sentiment from the set and masked it down to 'Let's celebrate'. I felt that way it could be for a birthday, an anniversary, an engagement or just because.

Product List

Celebrate Sunflowers Cling Stamp Set (English)

[152517]

$50.00

Sunflowers Dies

[152704]

$69.00

Basic Gray A4 Card Stock

[121689]

$18.50

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

$20.50

Basic Black A4 Card Stock

[121688]

$18.50

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$12.00

Versamark Pad

[102283]

$20.00

Basics Embossing Powders

[155554]

$38.00

Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154880]

$19.00

Gray Granite Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154886]

$19.00

Heat Tool

[129056]

$60.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$7.25

Sunday, 2 May 2021

Quiet Meadow for JAI 552

While indulging myself with some free craft time after completing the cutting of next week's class kits, and completing a card for another challenge, I rolled with the flow and turned to Just Add Ink for further inspiration.

When I looked at the image, I saw one of the new In-Colours, Pale Papaya, and ran with that along with a touch of Bumblebee. I've also included two of the other new In-Colours, Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen. I reached for what is fast becoming a new go-to set for me: the Quiet Meadow bundle, which is available from 3 May.

As the photo had strong vertical lines, I used a strip of Pale Papaya DSP along the edge. I used the 2021-23 In-Colour Stampin' Write markers, and Bumblebee from the 2020-22 collection, to colour the floral image from Quiet Meadow and stamped that. I added some extra tiny flowers in Bumblebee and Pale Papaya, as well as the script stamp, then some splatters in Soft Succulent.

The other part of the bundle is the Meadow dies and they are the most amazing floral dies, rather like large silhouettes. I've cut two cornflowers and the fern foliage and sponged them in Bumblebee, Pale Papaya and Soft Succulent and arranged them over the stamped imagery.

The sentiment, and sentiment label, are also from the same bundle. To finish, I've added in three of the new In-Colour gems, these ones in Evening Evergreen.

All of these products: DSP, stamps, dies and inks, and embellishments will be available from 3 May. If you live in New Zealand, please message me - or visit my online store by clicking SHOP NOW in the sidebar - if you want to get some. You can contact me through any of the methods in the Contacts tab at the top of the page. If you don't live in New Zealand, contact your local Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Butterfly Brilliance for FMS and GDP

After cutting all the projects for next week's classes and tidying up the craft room, I gave myself some free crafting time. For inspiration, I turned to the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and the summery colour combination at Global Design Project.

Since I've been playing around with the Butterfly Brilliance bundle this week, I kept with it. This lovely bundle is part of the 2021-22 Annual Catalogue, open for sales on 3 May. Of course, you may have already purchased it as part of the special pre-release offer and if you did, you'll know there's no regrets on getting this one!

Here's where it all ended up.

The butterfly was die-cut from Basic White and sponged, using the wonderful new blending brushes, with Magenta Madness and Bumblebee. The under-butterfly that the wings lift up from is cut from Coastal Cabana. I also used Coastal Cabana to lightly sponge the foliage, cut from the Meadow Dies. The Meadow dies, part of the Quiet Meadow bundle, will be available from 3 May.

To make the splatters in the sketch, I used one of the dies from the Brilliant Wings dies several times to make the holes in the card front that show off the Magenta Madness layer beneath.

The sentiment is from Timeless Tulips and the circle that grounds the cluster is embossed with the Painted Textures embossing folder.

Update: Delighted to be a Perfect Princess at FMS.

Product List

Note: The Meadow Dies will be available from 3 May.

Butterfly Brilliance Bundle

[155821]

$115.00

Timeless Tulips Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[151534]

$38.00

Card Stock A4 Coastal Cabana

[131302]

$18.50

Magenta Madness A4 Cardstock

[153085]

$18.50

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

$20.50

Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad

[147097]

$15.75

Magenta Madness Classic Stampin' Pad

[153117]

$15.75

Bumblebee Classic Stampin' Pad

[153116]

$15.75

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$25.25

Stitched Rectangles Dies

[151820]

$74.00

Painted Texture 3 D Embossing Folder

[154317]

$19.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$7.25

Friday, 30 April 2021

Positive Thoughts for AYSI 249

We've got a wonderful colour challenge for you this week - such a delicious looking combination!

I knew that I wanted to make a card that was delicate with a lot of open space but beyond that, wasn't quite sure. I stood in front of my stamp shelves and hoped for inspiration. Out popped a set I've not used in a while, Positive Thoughts.

I totally love the maidenhair fern stamp. It's just so satisfying to stamp with and so pretty! I started by repeat stamping it in Mint Macaron, then lightly sponged over it with So Saffron and a blending brush. If you haven't tried using a blending brush yet, I'm sure you'll also find that to be a relaxing and satisfying experience.

The butterfly was stamped in Soft Suede and coloured using Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends. I did cut it out using the corresponding die from Nature's Thoughts but as I didn't want the border around the edges, I fussy cut them off. I layered on the tiny die-cut butterfly, cut from So Saffron.

I thought it was looking a little plain at this point, so I used the wonky-stitched edge rectangle die from Nature's Thoughts to cut out the centre of the card front, then placed it back in again. This had the effect of framing both the butterfly and the sentiment. You could try this with any decorative edged rectangle die.

We'd love to have you join us with this colour challenge and have you show us how you see it. You can see what the rest of the Design Team have done and link up your entry by visiting the As You See It Challenge site.

Product List