Sunday Scraps

Sounds funny doesn't it?  Sunday Scraps!  Well, I've been inspired by one of the blogs I follow: Stamping Mathilda.  Every Sunday she makes a card or two using some of her paper scraps of the week.  Considering how much scraps I have lying around, I thought it would be a good idea if I did too!

My first card is a birthday card I made for my husband's sister.  This card uses one of my favourite stamp sets: Vintage Vogue and I decided to jazz it up with a different colour combination from the usual!

I have used the current in colour range - Blushing Bride, Concord Crush and Peach Parfait.  Speaking of In Colours, we're getting a new range very soon ...... Only a few more sleeps!!

I've used:
Stamps: Vintage Vogue & Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Inks: Basic Black,Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Concord Crush and Peach Parfait
Papers: Whisper White, Blushing Bride & Soft Suede CS
Other: Word Window & Modern Label punch, Big Shot & Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder

This second card uses up a focal tree image.  I'm not sure what stamp it is, it was one of the examples I picked up at the Craft & Quilt Fair here in Canberra the other week.  The image was too cute not to use up!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments & Tree (unknown)
Inks: Basic Black
Papers: Baja Breeze CS & Green house Gala DSP
Other: Word Window & Modern Label punch

Anyway, these cards are a great way of using up your scraps.  They may not be your most artisan or masterpiece creations, but they use up the bits left lying around.  Why don't you give it a go!

More!

So how's your day going?  It's a sunshiney day here in Canberra (Spring is in the air, I can feel it).  I'm home today with my almost-4 yr old little man who's recovering from a bug, and I'm taking a break from my uni assignment which is due later tonight.  2359 hours to be exact (yep that's what it says on the subject guide!!).  So I thought I would show you what we did with our leftovers from the demo I did the other week.  We had a few pieces of the embossed layers left over and the ladies wanted to see the card with some green added (Christmas colours of course).  So here's what we did, with a little explanation here and there!

The first card (on the left) shows the Poppy Parade embossed layer matted onto Soft Suede and then Kiwi Kiss.  These colours are rather contemporary Christmas colours don't you think?  I'm pleased how the colour combo turned out, although I would think it's pretty much a Christmas combination only.  Of course I added some bling!!

The second card (on the right), shows our experiment of brayering with ink on the wrong side of the embossed layer.  The technique we used really relies on the the embossing of large surface/raised areas and if you ink the wrong side, effectively you only ink up the outlines.  Of course the piece still looked good and we layered it with some Old Olive, Poppy Parade and Crumb Cake CS.  A bit of bling and that was that!

This card shows that you can save a disaster!!  This embossed layer demonstrates two problems with the technique - inking the wrong side and being much too heavy handed with the ink.  So to fix up the card (save it from the scrap pile), we used a strip of DSP (I think it was Bella Rose - long since retired) and added a Christmas bauble from the Contempo Christmas card set.  It looks like the card is how it should be, which is a great outcome!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Contempo Christmas
Inks: Poppy Parade, Kiwi Kiss & Basic Black
Papers: Whisper White & Glossy White, Poppy Parade, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Suede and Crumb Cake
Other: Scallop Border Punch, rhinestone jewels and Ornament punch.

So if you would like to learn some techniques, why don't you host a workshop.  You might even catch up on all your Christmas cards too!

Demo Part 2

As promised (and yay, I kept the promise!!) - here is part two of the Demonstration Workshop I held the other day.  This card was our first project and a nice simple one to get everyone going, especially for stamping beginners. 

This card used one of my favourite sets, Elements of Style, and I'm very pleased to sneak you with this info... it's in the new Catalogue!!  With background stamping in the same colour as the cardstock (Pretty in Pink) and focal interest with the bird, a soft suede border and a carefully chosen sentiment - the first project was complete.  And of course, everyone's cards looked different!  I love how cards are your own,  no matter how much you follow directions!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Elements of Style & Well Scripted
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink & Soft Suede
Inks: Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink & Marina Mist
Other: Scallop Trim border punchy & Stampin' Dimensionals

OK, my study break is over!  Back to the books!

'scuse my absence

Aaarrgghhh!!  That's the sound of me shrieking when I realised all my blog posts had gone missing :(

If you haven't met me, let me introduce myself.  In no particular order (in case I get in trouble for prioritising one over the other!!), my name is Carolyn and I am a wife, a mother of 3, a daughter & sister, a friend, a part-time employee, a Committee member x 2, craft-a-holic, a CPA, a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and now a student (again!).  I'm sure that I've left a lot off that list, but the one thing that's causing chaos and stress in my life is the student part.  I'm studying my very final unit in my Masters, and in the last 3 weeks have had 3 days of university residential intensives, one closed book exam and this week, a three part assessment to be repeated again next week!

So I thought I would be clever and prepare some blog posts in advance, but not to be, they're gone and I'm wishing I had saved a copy!!  So instead, I want to show you one of the projects we made at the Stampin' Up! demonstration last week.  I met a lovely group of ladies, that wanted to learn something new.  As it's the last month of the current catalogue, I combined some new techniques with some old (well retiring really) stamp sets.  My hostess loves all things Christmas, so this was the theme of our first project:

 

This card used the very clever technique of embossing AND brayering!!  To give you an idea, here's what we used:

Stamps: Many Merry Messages
Inks: Poppy Parade Classic Ink & Whisper White Craft Ink
Papers: Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Chocolate Chip & Glossy White CS
Other: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Scallop Border Edge Punch & White Taffeta ribbon

If you would like to make a card like this, be sure to contact me for a demonstration or workshop!

You'll also want to keep an eye on the retired list.  Items are selling out fast now.  You can click on my link here at any time to view the most up to date list of retired available & unavailable items or join my facebook page (link is on the right).

Tomorrow I'll show you our second project (well we made that one first actually) and you can see how simple can be so clever.  Today's project was a case of this, (although I used a different technique) so be sure to have a look!

Asian inspired Stamp Class

Earlier this week, I had to design a Stamp Class for a group of friends using the Sunny Garden papers which will retire by the end of this month.  Instead of using the Cottage Garden stamp set which coordinates with the papers, I gave the Class a bit of a twist with an Asian inspired theme.  Two sets (also about to retire) made the class complete - Kimono Kids and Eastern Blooms.  It was a fun class to design (also based on inspiration from blogworld) with lots of bright colours and water-colouring of the little Kimono kids.

There were four cards and a little box perfect for holding chocolates inside.  It's still not too late to do this class, if you are interested - especially as a Stamp @ Home kit.  Just contact me :0)

This Month's Stamp @ Home Kits

I've just put up this month's Stamp @ Home kits featuring the Flower never Fade stamp set and coordinating Greenhouse Gala papers.  I love the colour combinations of these papers, so bright and cheerful!  And perfectly matched to the stamps!

August 2011 - Friends Never Fade Card Kit

Make four cards and a matching box using the Friends Never Fade stamp set and the Coordinating Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Papers.  Use colour combinations you might not have tried before!  The Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folders (used with the Big Shot) gives these cards a beautiful touch of class!

August 2011 - Friends never Fade Scrap Kit

Use the Friends never Fade stamp set and the coordinating Greenhouse Gala Designer Series Papers to make a double scrap layout.  Follow the design provided or make your own!!  You'll receive enough papers to make a double page layout, embellishments and ribbons!

Sneak Peek of the 2011-2012 Catalogue

Have you had a sneak peek yet of the NEW 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue?  It's gorgeous.  Full of lovely new products and some familiar ones too!

While the products are not available to purchase until 1 September 2011 (just one month if you're counting), you can still get hold of your very own copy now.  Just $10 each (plus postage if outside of Canberra). 

With new stamps, new papers, new colours and even new Hostess Benefits, you'll be wanting a copy of one now.  Just contact me to order yours now!

LAST CHANCE!!

LAST CHANCE OF 2010-2011 Products!

In order to make room for all the new products coming in September, hundreds of stamp sets and accessories are retiring!

These last-chance items are only available 1-31 August while supplies last, so view the retiring products PDF today to see your favourites, then contact me to place your order.