Retro Rubber 97 - Design Team Card

I'm very pleased to be joining you in this week at Retro Rubber, since Jane let me make up the challenge! I don't know about you, but I like to play Tic-Tac-Toe challenges. There's such a lot of scope. Just like the last time I did this, though, I had some trouble deciding which line to play: I liked them all!

I went for the top line: neutrals, texture and ribbon. Remember that since it's Retro Rubber Challenge you do have to use at least one stamp that's older than a year and give us the approximate age.

The two stamp sets that I've used here are the retired Botanical Blooms (2016 Occasions) and the still current Thoughtful Banners (2016-17 Annual).  I really miss Botanical Blooms and the Botanical Builder framelits so was very pleased to be able to play with them again for this.

I created the wreath by cutting three scribbly circles using Swirly Scribbles thinlits and layering them. I used Botanical Blooms stamps to add in the markings on the leaves and flowers -  Early Espresso on Very Vanilla. I sponged them lightly to add more definition.

The pearls were coloured with light and dark Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends - although looking at this photo, I wonder if I didn't pick up the Bronze Stampin' Blend by mistake!

Have a look at what the rest of the Design Team have done with my Tic-Tac-Toe challenge then dig out your old stamps and see what you make....

If you live anywhere in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I'd love to help you with ideas and Stampin' Up products. Please message me through my Facebook page, linked in the sidebar of this blog or leave a comment below. 

And, of course, you can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking any of the products pictured below or the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar of this blog or you can message me.

Product List (NB Botanical Blooms and Botanical Builder are retired.)

Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141614]

$44.00

Botanical Blooms Photopolymer Stamp Set

[140757]

$36.00

Botanical Builder Framelits Dies

[140625]

$67.00

Swirly Scribbles Thinlits Dies

[141497]

$54.00

Classic Label Punch

[141491]

$38.00

Early Espresso A4 Card Stock

[121686]

$17.75

Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock

[121685]

$17.75

Soft Suede A4 Card Stock

[119982]

$17.75

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

[106550]

$20.50

Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad

[147114]

$15.75

Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[143704]

$19.00

5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon

[141487]

$14.75

Stamping Sponges

[141337]

$7.25

Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack

[144601]

$19.00

Pearl Basic Jewels

[144219]

$10.50

Retro Rubber 92 - Design Team Card

Welcome to theme week at Retro Rubber, the challenge that loves you to give some love to your old stamps.  When you play with us, you have to remember to use at least one stamp that is more than a year old. Don't forget to tell us an approximate age for those retro stamps too. Please don't link up to more than ten challenges in total either.

This week's theme gave me a hiccup because I didn't properly pay attention to Jane's lovely graphic. In my head, the theme was 'beach'. I had a lovely piece of vintage looking sea-shell DSP that led me to making a sea-inspired sympathy card. Feeling quite pleased with myself, I went to post the card and read the finer print - use a summer theme on your card. Since summer is generally fun, I felt the sympathy card was not a go-er for this and went back to the drawing board.

Exactly a year ago, my husband and I spent two weeks on a tropical island. We went to Tahiti and the beautiful island of Moorea. The glorious beach, the sea, the sun, the coral reef, the fish, the lush vegetation, brilliant flowers .... a perfect summer spot. Botanical Blooms, from the 2016 Occasions catalogue, made me think of that perfect summer experience. To also capture that summer feel, I chose really bright, vibrant colours - four new colours from the Stampin' Up colour revamp: Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green and a touch of Shaded Spruce. Endless Birthday Wishes, from 2015, provided the sweet sentiment.

I think that the flowers, the foliage and the bright colours add up to a re-creation of that glorious tropical experience. The marriage of old stamps and new colours has worked well.

The crew at Retro Rubber would love to see your summer themed card. You can visit the rest of the team and see what they've done here. You have until 10 August to join in with us.

If you live anywhere in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I'd love to help you with ideas and Stampin' Up products. Please message me through my Facebook page, linked in the sidebar of this blog or leave a comment below. 

And, of course, you can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar of this blog or clicking on any of the products listed below.

Product List 
NB - both stamp sets and the framelits are retired

Botanical Blooms Photopolymer Bundle

[140819]

$105.75

Endless Birthday Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set

[140273]

$33.00

Poppy Parade A4 Cardstock

[121694]

$17.75

Mango Melody A4 Cardstock

[147013]

$17.75

Granny Apple Green A4 Cardstock

[147014]

$17.75

Shaded Spruce A4 Cardstock

[147006]

$17.75

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

$20.50

Rhinestone Basic Jewels

[144220]

$10.50

Sponge Daubers

[133773]

$11.00

Freshly Made Sketches 288

The sketch at Freshly Made Sketches was very appealing to me. There were SO many possibilities but I decided to use it to say a farewell to Botanical Blooms, a set that will retire at the end of the month. I feel bad that I've neglected it in the last few months as it really is a beauty.
Here's the sketch.

So, a last turn before retirement...

Ingredients

Card: Flirty Flamingo, Basic Black, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Thoughtful Banners

Inks: Tuxedo Black

Other: Botanical Builder framelits, dimensionals, enamel dot, Pretty Petals embossing folder.

Just Add Ink 341

There's a very smart colour challenge this week at Just Add Ink.

In the act of tidying up my desk after Christmas cards and my December classes, I came across a set that was a favourite of mine earlier in the year but haven't used much lately. Botanical Blooms is a lovely set and Timeless Textures is another favourite of mine so taking them in hand with those lovely challenge colours, this is where I ended up.

The sentiment is from a set that will be available in the new Occasions catalogue, released on 4 January, called Big on Birthdays.

The central flower was cut from white card. Originally, I was just going to sponge the edges in Old Olive but I ended up softly sponging all of it with the edges darker. I like the little vellum fern leaf slipped into the bouquet. The background stamps is a mix of elements from Timeless Textures and the little flower cluster from Botanical Blooms. Then there's a few rhinestones scattered to finish off.

I like the freshness and elegance of this colour combination. Thanks for a great challenge!

Update: Very happy to get an Honourable Mention at Just Add Ink for this card.

Ingredients

Card: Basic Gray, Old Olive, Whisper White, vellum

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Timeless Textures, Big on Birthdays

Inks: Basic Gray, Old Olive, Tuxedo Black

Other: Botanical Builder framelits, Rhinestones, dimensional, sponges

Stampin' Royalty 337 and Inkspire Me 257

This week's challenge at Stampin' Royalty is to use a fancy fold. This was good luck for me, as a couple of weeks ago I discovered the teepee card on a video by Kim Fee and I had a go at it. I wanted another reason to play with it again, so thanks Stampin' Royalty for the impetus to do so!

I was also enchanted with the colour combination at Inkspire Me.

I made some changes from my prototype such as leaving the third side of the teepee free of design so that there was room to write a message. I do like the effect of stamping Timeless Textures in Smoky Slate onto Smoky Slate. It provided a more interesting backdrop for the bouquet of flowers and leaves.

The really nice thing about this very 3-d card is that it folds flat to fit into an envelope easily.

Update: Happy to be a Top Pick at Stampin' Royalty

Ingredients

Card: Smoky Slate, Flirty Flamingo, Emerald Envy, Whisper White

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Endless Birthday Wishes, Timless Textures

Inks: Smoky Slate, Tuxedo Black

Other: Botanical Builders framelits, Lots of Labels framelits, dimensionals, Flirty Flamingo marker, Emerald Envy enamel shape

As You See It 135 - DT card

If the number and quality of cards we got for our last challenge at As You See It is anything to go by, then it was a good move to make our challenges run for two weeks. SO hard to pick winners!

This time round we have another sketch for you.

Here's what I've come up with.

We'd love to see what you make of it too, so join us at As You See It during the next fortnight.

Ingredients

Card: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Timeless Elegance DSP

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Endless Birthday Wishes

Inks: Tuxedo Black, Watermelon Wonder

Other: Botanical Builders thinlits, Lots of Labels framelits, Lucky Stars embossing folder, Cucumber Crush dotty lace ribbon, Itty Bitty punch, rhinestone, dimensionals

As You See It 129 - DT

This week at As You See It, we have an interesting sketch challenge for you.

I was fascinated with the vertical lines of the sketch and came up with this:

I wanted a "One of a Kind" but only had the one from A Dozen Thoughts, so I stamped and masked it on Hello Honey to make the sentiment strip, then masked it again so the other half " For a one-of-a-kind person" is in the inside.

I'd love to see what you do, so join us this week.

Ingredients

Card: Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, DSP from Botanical Blooms, Whisper White (inside)

Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Timeless Textures, A Dozen Thoughts.

Inks: Tuxedo Black (Mossy Meadow and Cajun Craze inside)

Other: Botanical Builders thinlit dies, Dimensionals