Thinking Stamping: May 2021

Friday, 28 May 2021

Artistically Inked for AYSI 251

It's recipe week at As You See It Challenge. All you have to do is create something that uses all five of the recipe ingredients.

My favourite new DSP from the 2021 Annual Catalogue is the Expressions in Ink Specialty DSP, so I started with that.

Then of course, there's the gorgeous floral die cut from the Artistic dies, part of the Artistically Inked bundle, which I've cut in gold foil and in Basic White.

The 'Happy Birthday' sentiment is from the Artistically Inked stamp set and the ribbon element is the gold cord tie. The cord is from the Simply Elegant trim combo.

The heat embossing is a little less obvious. I resisted the urge to use gold embossing powder for the sentiment. Instead I stamped it in Shaded Spruce, then immediately stamped it again in Versamark and applied clear embossing powder to give it a shine. You can see this in the close up photo. I also did the same thing with the small Pear Pizzazz rose in the centre of the cluster.

A few Gilded Gems finished off the package.

We'd love to see what you can cook up with these ingredients. 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.

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.

Product List

Artistically Inked Bundle (English)

[155456]

$111.50

Expressions In Ink 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper

[155464]

$32.00

Shaded Spruce A4 Cardstock

[147006]

$18.50

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

$20.50

Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad

[147088]

$15.75

Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad

[147104]

$15.75

Versamark Pad

[102283]

$20.00

Basics Embossing Powders

[155554]

$38.00

Stitched Rectangles Dies

[151820]

$74.00

Gilded Gems

[152478]

$14.75

Simply Elegant Trim

[155766]

$15.75

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$7.25

Wednesday, 26 May 2021

Blossoms in Bloom for Colour INKspiration 100

Welcome to the latest challenge at Colour Inkspiration. This one is a bit special because it's our 100th Challenge. The challenge was started by Tasmanian Demonstrator, Bronwyn Eastley in 2017. She put together a crew of 25 and eight of those are still with the challenge.

This challenge photo was chosen by Bronwyn and is of Bridestowe Lavender Farm in Tasmania. Lovely, isn't it?

If you haven't played with us before, we are a group of Stampin' Up Demonstrators from the South Pacific. Challenges are shown and entered via our Facebook Group page. If you don't belong, and would like to, click here. Don't forget to answer the two easy questions you'll be asked when you ask to join the group.

Each challenge, Top Picks and a winner are chosen by the crew and the winner offered a chance to Guest Design with us for a future challenge.

If you don't have an exact challenge colour, feel free to replace it with whatever you have that's closest. Black, White, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand and metallics are free colours, as are flesh toned Stampin' Blends.

I was trying to be subtle with these vibrant colours. I'm not sure I succeeded but I think I tamed them a little!

Isn't the new Stitched Greenery die wonderful? It gives such a leafy backdrop. I'm loving it. To give a bit of breathing space for the sentiment, I layered up two labels: one from Painted Labels and then one from Stitched So Sweetly.

I used an acrylic block to smoosh together some Gorgeous Grape and Magenta Madness on Shimmery White cardstock and cut the second layer of the flower dies from it. Then I stamped the flower images on it and fussy cut them as a base for the flowers.

I ink smooshed Bermuda Bay onto Shimmery White cardstock and cut the foliage with a die from the Meadow dies, then cut it down to make a bed for the flowers. I added in some rhinestones to finish off.

You can add your project, see the other entries and look at the Design Team inspiration by clicking here. We'd love to have you help celebrate our 100th Challenge and to see what you do with these vibrant colours.

Product List

Blossoms In Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[158283]

$46.00

Many Layered Blossoms Dies

[153582]

$95.00

Gorgeous Grape A4 Cardstock

[147011]

$18.50

Magenta Madness A4 Cardstock

[153085]

$18.50

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

$20.50

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock

[121717]

$21.00

Stampin' Spritzer

[126185]

$6.00

Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad

[147099]

$15.75

Magenta Madness Classic Stampin' Pad

[153117]

$15.75

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

[147096]

$15.75

Meadow Dies

[155852]

$80.00

Painted Labels Dies

[151605]

$74.00

Stitched Greenery Die

[155451]

$67.00

Stitched So Sweetly Dies

[151690]

$67.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$10.50

Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Blossoms in Bloom for Retro Rubber 159

This week at Retro Rubber Challenge, it's Anything Goes week. Of course, since this is Retro Rubber, it's not quite anything goes. You still must use at least one stamp that's more than a year old and give us an approximate age for it.

Anything Goes can be a problem for me - too many choices. So in looking around my craft room, I saw a card sent to me last year by my then Artisan Team mate, Leah Fedynak. It uses the Blossoms in Bloom stamp set and Many Layered Blooms dies from the 2020-21 Annual Catalogue.

I loved it and decided to CASE it. If I was making this card, what would I do that was different?

Here's my version...

I watercoloured a whole rainbow of colours and cut the top layer of the flower die from it. Unlike Leah, I used both layers of the die and glued them together, then glued them to the base, embossed with Tasteful Textiles. I did not use staples, sequins or silver metallic thread and I used, as I often do, one angled end for the sentiment.

Thank you, Leah, for such a great card and for the inspiration to make my own version of it.

What's your Anything Goes? You can see what the rest of the team have done and link up your entry by visiting the Retro Rubber Challenge site.

Product List

Blossoms In Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[158283]

$46.00

Many Layered Blossoms Dies

[153582]

$95.00

Basic White A4 Cardstock

[159228]

$20.50