Saturday 30 October 2021

Friends are Like Seashells for CAS Colours and Sketches 443

I've always enjoyed CAS Colours and Sketches as a challenge, with the alternation of colour and sketch challenges, all with a clean-and-simple overtone. As I was writing the title, I had a thought back to entering when there were under 100 challenges and then playing along for Challenge 100! This challenge is an interesting one too. 


It's been a while since I used Friends are Like Seashells but it's one of my favourites from the annual catalogue.


I stamped the sand dollar, then masked it and stamped in the sea weed and sand splats. I should have thought about it more because I had to add the scallop by stamping it and then fussy cutting it. It worked in my favour in the end because the cut shape adds a smidgeon of depth to the cluster. 😀

Originally, I stamped and die cut the birthday sentiment from Friends are Like Seashells, "Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Friend" but then it occurred to me that a less cursive, less sentimental sentiment would turn this card into a masculine-friendly card. So I changed it to the greeting you see from Handsomely Suited and I'm happy with the result.

The final design dilemma was whether or not to add the Opal Rounds but I so love the way they reflect the light ,and look like bubbles, that I just couldn't resist them.

Update: Delighted to be chosen a Weekly Winner at CAS Colours and Sketches.

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 on any of the products below.


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Friday 29 October 2021

Merriest Moments for AYSI 262

I can't believe that it's time for a new challenge at As You See It! This time up it's our 'Fill in the Blank' Challenge. What one thing sums up Christmas for you?

 


Tricky question that one! In the end, for me Christmas is about getting together with family and spending some relaxed time with them all. Sometimes, it's people you haven't seen in a while. Sometimes it's the ones you see all the time. Mostly, you just don't get to see everyone all at once very often. I love the shared meals, the games, swimming in the pool, lazing by the barbecue and the chance to talk and laugh together. 

The Merriest Moments bundle has just the sentiment for that feeling: 'together is the merriest place to be.'


This set, with its hybrid embossing folder, makes creating really striking cards incredibly easy - and quick.  Using opulent ingredients, such as specialty gold or silver foil or gold shimmer vellum, adds an extra wow factor.


To make this card is very easy. Here's the steps:
1. Emboss a piece of Basic White with the Merriest Frames Hybrid embossing folder.
2. Adhere this to the front of a Thick Basic White card base.
3. Use the die shown in the first photograph on the foil or vellum of your choice. This card uses standard gold foil.
4. Take that die cut and fit it back into the embossing folder and run it through the machine. This gives the die cut all the gorgeous detailing.
5. Layer this onto the Basic White card front. 
6. Stamp the sentiment in Versamark and gold heat emboss it. 
7. Die cut the sentiment using the stitched rectangle die from the set.
8. Adhere the sentiment on dimensionals.
9. Add embellishments. I've used Gilded Gems. 

So easy, you could make multiple of this card really quickly. 

Here's a variation made using some of the almost-blue-Specialty Silver Foil,  a different sentiment, rhinestones and Night of Navy ink (although Silver embossing works too).



What's your one-word summary of Christmas? You can see what the rest of the team have done and link up your entry at 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 or on any of the products below.



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Thursday 28 October 2021

Queen Anne's Lace for PP564

 A quick post today as I loved the sketch this week at The Paper Players and found time to play with it.


Isn't it a great sketch? Sketches are my favourite challenge.


I started with a panel of Shimmery White Card and blended it, using Blending Brushes, with Soft Succulent, Pale Papaya and Fresh Freesia. Queen Anne's Lace is a sweet set from the Annual Catalogue and I enjoy the two step large floral image. I've stamped it in Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent, then cut the panel into three. 


The background is embossed with the Ornate Floral folder and is matted on Fresh Freesia on a base of Evening Evergreen,

The die cut butterfly is from Brilliant Wings and the ribbon is cut down from the 1cm Open Weave Ribbon. I like that the tiny frayed strands add airiness to the bow. The sentiment is from Art Gallery and the sentiment strip punched with the Lovely Labels Pick A Punch.

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 on any of the products below.

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Wednesday 27 October 2021

Celebrate Sunflowers for CI110


It's already time for a new challenge at Colour INKspiration! The crew are loving seeing the wonderful entries that are rolling in. We can't wait to see what you make of these colours, chosen by Crew Member, Liz Gross.



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 three 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. This time, we have Annie Alexander joining us as Guest Designer.

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.

The colours suggested florals to me, so I dug out Celebrate Sunflowers to use. The flower is coloured with Pale Papaya, Cajun Craze and Black Stampin' Blends. A touch of black helps build the shadows and so adds to the sense of depth. 


The background is embossed with the Bark 3D Embossing folder. Now that I have it, I'm not sure how I lasted so long without it!

The sentiment is from Art Gallery and is cut using the Floral Gallery die.

Viisit the Colour INKspiration site to check out the album of Crew Cards for inspiration. You can alos add your entry to the wall there.

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 on any of the products below.


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