Graphic Medallions

Hi there

If you are after a Christmas card that is quick, simple and elegant, this one might be for you. It was inspired by this creation from the lovely Kristine Thompson. 

I have used the Medallion background stamp as the centrepiece of a 14cm square white textured card. It has been stamped in Versamark on Whisper White and then heat embossed with 'Rich Red' embossing powder which is also a perfect colour match for Real Red card stock. To give it a Christmas twist the centre has been covered with a Whisper White circle and then a Real Red circle cut slightly smaller with the Circle Scissor Plus. The sentiment has been white embossed and then covered with Versamark and Dazzling Diamonds glitter which I've set with some hairspray. I like the simplicity and graphic style of red and white and this one hits you in the eye! It is difficult to show the glitter in the photograph, but it looks great IRL! The details are below.   

Card Details
Stamps	Medallion Background, All-Year Cheer I (Retired)
Cardstock & Papers	Textured White, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink	Versamark
Accessories	Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Tools	Rich Red (not SU) and White embossing powder, Heat gun, Circle Scissor Plus, 1¾”Circle Punch, Dimensionals, Embossing Buddy

While away on our girls stamping weekend  last week we visited a papercraft shop (as you do J) and I found some embossing powder called 'Cabernet Sparkle'.  It is a perfect colour match for Rich Razzleberry so I couldn't resist trying it out on the Medallion.  I have tried to photograph this to show some of the sparkle, but with limited success as it is very gloomy in Melbourne today.  The sentiment is from Occasional Greetings which has been embossed in silver, punched out and popped up in the centre - it can't get simpler!

 

Have a great Friday!

Just Add Ink #27 - Sketch Challenge

Hi there

I'm counting down on the remaining days of my holidays and trying to squeeze out as much crafting time as possible. I can't believe how quickly it has gone. I had a fab time on the weekend stamping with friends. I was struck down by a nasty migraine on Sunday which put a dampener on it for me, but it was still lovely to share this time with stamping buddies. I focussed on Christmas cards, but as I have  posted quite a few of those lately I will spare you for a few days!

Today I have a card for the Just Add Ink #27 Sketch Challenge. This is a great sketch which lends itself to lots of possibilities.  I have gone for a clean and bright look this time using the Tart & Tangy stamp set, which reminds me of summer.

 

There is lots of texture from the Polka Dots embossing folder and the crimper to add interest to the clean images of the fruit, which have been inked direct to the rubber with Stampin' Write markers. The product I've used are listed below.

Card Details
Stamps	Tart & Tangy, Hello Again
Cardstock & Papers	Real Red Textured, Whisper White, Bashful Blue Textured
Ink	Real Red
Accessories	None
Tools	Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Crimper, Small Oval & Oval Punches, 11/2”Scallop Square Punch, 13/8” Circle Punch, Stampin’ Write Markers (Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Barely Banana), Dimensionals

We are expecting some rain later today in Melbourne, so I'm off for a walk up to Maling Road for a coffee J.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Christmas Bling

Hello

Just a quick visit today as I am preparing to load up the car and head off for a girls stamping weekend on the Mornington Peninsula - woohoo! A male-free, cooking-free, cleaning-free weekend, what more could you ask for except to share it with stamping buddies!

The card I have for you today adds some bling to the gorgeous tree from the Snow Swirled stamp set. This is surprising quick and simple to put together and is something you could make a few of to impress your friends and family. The colour scheme is pretty non-traditional, but I quite like it.

 

Unfortunately, it is difficult to show the full effect of the bling in the photo, but I hope you get the idea. The details of the products used are below:

Card Details
Stamps	Snow Swirled, Heard from the Heart
Cardstock & Papers	Rose Red, Whisper White, Night of Navy
Ink	Versamark
Accessories	Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon and brads, White brads (not SU), Filagree brad, Dazzling Diamonds glitter
Tools	Eyelet Border punch, White Embossing powder, Heat gun, Heat and Stick powder

I hope to have some creations to show you next week, which is my last week of holidays L.

Until then, enjoy your weekend.

Just Add....Embossing!

Hello again

Today I'm combining a few things in the card I have to share with you. Firstly, the Just Add Ink #26 challenge to Just Add...EMBOSSING! and to highlight one of the Two Step Stampin' stamp sets that are on sale this month. The A Rose is A Rose stamp set is one of my favourites and is currently on sale for 20% off the normal price for the month of July. It is also retiring on 1 September 2010, but I will be keeping this one for the long haul. Finally, I needed to have a 'pink' fix!

I have stamped the bottom layer of the rose with Regal Rose ink on Very Vanilla card stock and then the second layer with Versamark which I have clear embossed. This produces a subtle highlight to the flower and added depth. I used the stem from the Petal Pizzazz stamp set to create the leaf set which has also been highlighted with clear embossing. Two step stamping is made easy with the Stamp-a-ma-jig, which is also one of the best tools for the detail focussed (anal) person that I am! (Yes, I like rulers as well).

 

The base card is textured Close to Cocoa cardstock with one of my favourite DSP's Candy Lane layered over it. I'm looking forward to the Colour Renovation that is coming, but will be sad to see Close to Cocoa retire. I also enjoyed using three other stamp sets to add the details to the card. All the info is provided below.

Card Details
Stamps	A Rose is A Rose, Petal Pizzazz (Leaf Stem) Frames with a Flourish, En Francais (in frame), I {Heart} Hearts, Occasional Greetings
Cardstock & Papers	Close to Cocoa Textured, Very Vanilla, Candy Lane DSP
Ink	Regal Rose, Old Olive, Versamark, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Pink Pirouette
Accessories	5/8” Regal Rose Grosgrain ribbon, Small flat back pearls (Pretties Kit),
Tools	Clear embossing powder, Heat gun, Small Heart punch, Sponge Daubers,  Dimensionals

I hope to be back again with another challenge tomorrow.

 

Traditional Pines

Hello

I have a bit more Christmas inspiration for you today, in more traditional colours of red, green and white. I hope you have been getting some time to work on your Christmas card stash this month.  I've been doing a bit of a production line thing as I'm producing some Christmas cards that I sell to help fund my hobby (habit J).  After making six of the same design I'm over it and need to move onto something new!

I've used the pine cones from the Autumn Days stamp set again, this time in a wreath style centrepiece on a crisp white textured background. I used to use white card stock for the base card almost all the time, but less so since using SU! products. The pine cones have been inked with Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke markers and stamped onto Whisper White. I was intending to use Old Olive on the pine cones and this mistake then led me to the ultimate design and choice of card stock colours, which I'm really happy with. A mistake is just an opportunity to be creative! A bow in Riding Hood Red taffeta finishes off the wreath. I found this card tricky to photograph as I usually use a white background, which wasn't going to work.  

 

Card Details
Stamps	Autumn Days, Snow Swirled
Cardstock & Papers	Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Textured White
Ink	Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke
Accessories	Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon
Tools	Scallop Oval punch, Stampin’ Write Markers (Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke), Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Sponge Daubers, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Big Shot

Have a great day.

 

Edited to add:

Here is a Very Vanilla, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry version of the pine cone wreath.  I've dyed some White Taffeta ribbon with water and Rich Razzleberry reinker for the matching ribbon.

 

Card Details
Stamps	Autumn Days, Season of Joy
Cardstock & Papers	Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Very Vanilla Textured
Ink	Rich Razzleberry
Accessories	White Taffeta Ribbon (Dyed)
Tools	Scallop Oval punch, Stampin’ Write Markers (Chocolate Chip, Old Olive), Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Sponge Daubers, Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Big Shot, Rich Razzleberry Reinker

Cheers