Friday, 9 August 2019

Just Add Ink 469

I was delighted yesterday afternoon when my pre-order of Christmas Catalogue goodies arrived. I was as surprised as anyone that the item that got the first play was not anything from the Christmas Catalogue. Yes, you read that correctly!

One of the advantages of saving up your order until it gets to $300 is that you can earn Stampin' Rewards - an immediate bonus to add to your order. I'd used mine to get a set from the Annual Catalogue that I'd had my eye on - Beautiful Friendship.

The colour challenge at Just Add Ink gave me the perfect opportunity to try out the pretty soft florals of this set.



This is not the kind of set I'm normally drawn to but I like the idea of a set that makes it looks as though you've done some amazing water-colouring when really, you've done some stamping. 😀


I've used the Stitched Rectangle dies to cut out the centre of the stamped panel. Isn't it lovely the way the dies give a stitched line on both sides of the cut? By placing them together like this, the see-through to the card base leads the eye straight to the sentiment.


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Friday, 2 August 2019

As You See It 206 - Design Team Card

This week at As You See It, we have the last of the style of challenges in our new roster: speed stamping. I really look forward to the speed stamping challenge as there's no other challenge I know of that's quite like it. It's something you really have to get your head around, that's for sure!



If you've never played along with us before on this, here's how it works. The challenge is to create a card using only shades of purple and complete it in under ten minutes.

As I said, something to get your head around. The secret is simple: planning and preparation. Have a clear idea in your head of what you're going to create. Have an idea of what step could be missed out if the clock is ticking too quickly. Have your gear to hand. For instance, I had my embossing folder out and the die cutting machine all set up for embossing and not cutting.

However, once you make a cut or ink something up, then the clock has started. It's the equivalent of, "Start your engines!"

This one uses three shades of purple: Purple Posy, Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape.



I love the new Scripty embossing folder and have long had an affection for Dandelion Wishes. Don't those dandelion heads conjure up sunny afternoons on the lawn when everything seemed possible as you blew tangible wishes into the breeze?


This card took me 8 minutes and 22 seconds from first cut to putting on the faceted dots... as the chaos of my work table will attest.


We'd love to see what you do with this challenge. Visit the As You See It Challenge blog to see what the rest of the team have done and to link up your entry.

If you live in New Zealand and don't have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours and help you with ideas and to supply you with Stampin' Up! products. You can message me by leaving a comment or going to my Facebook page, linked in the side bar of this blog. Or you can click on the SHOP NOW icon in the sidebar, or any of the pictures below, if you'd like to purchase any Stampin' Up! products.

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Thursday, 1 August 2019

Inspire. Create. 48 - A Goth-inspired card

The challenge this week at Inspire. Create is sure to be popular, because who doesn't need birthday cards?


Last week was my elder daughter's birthday and I made this card for her. She has very particular aesthetic, seen in her clothing and makeup. As she's grown older, and moved back to a small town from a big city, she's toned it down but she is a Goth. Although she can admire the concept and techniques of a floral, subtly coloured card that just isn't her.

One of the best things about making your own cards is that you can make just what you want to suit the recipient. This card picks up on her love of things black and silver, her liking for lace and texture and includes her next favourite colour - purple.


I used Melissa Kerman's Black Ice technique because of the beautiful texture of the cracked embossing and also the distressed look it creates. The recently retired Very Vintage gave beautiful lacy, antique style images, just perfect for my daughter and for this style.


The only thing I regret about this card is that I didn't have any black tattered lace to make the bow from but the black twine doubled up worked just fine.

If you live in New Zealand and don't have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours and help you with ideas and to supply you with Stampin' Up! products. You can message me by leaving a comment or going to my Facebook page, linked in the side bar of this blog. Or you can click on the SHOP NOW icon in the sidebar, or any of the pictures below, if you'd like to purchase any Stampin' Up! products.


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Note: Very Vintage stamp set and solid black baker's twine are retired items.

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

The Paper Players 452

There's a great sketch at The Paper Players this week.


It seemed perfect to play around some more with Very Versailles, which is one of my favourite sets from the 2019-20 Annual Catalogue. I love the collage elements in this set. I can't decide whether the foliage or the script is my favourite image. It doesn't really matter, because I can use them both!


I found some old silver metallic ink when I was doing a tidy up of my room and used it for the script. Bad decision, as it's really hard to photograph well, although you can see it better in the closeup.
It did tie in nicely with the silver foil accents though.


If you live in New Zealand and don't have a demonstrator, I'd love to be yours and help you with ideas and to supply you with Stampin' Up! products. You can message me by leaving a comment or going to my Facebook page, linked in the side bar of this blog. Or you can click on the SHOP NOW icon in the sidebar, or any of the pictures below, if you'd like to purchase any Stampin' Up! products.

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Note: Silver ink is a non-SU product