Monkey Business

Hello

Firstly thank you to all the people who left me some 'comment love' for the Blog Hop and my Just Add Ink 'Top Pick'.  I was very chuffed to be chosen by the lovely ladies at Just Add Ink last week.

Today is a quick post with a card for a new arrival - baby Tom, the new son of a work colleague.  A few months ago you may remember that I designed some Birth Announcement cards.  I made a couple at the time with a view to finishing the rest in plenty of time before the baby arrived.  Well Tom arrived last week so I have scrambled to finish them off and get them posted before he turns 21!  Here is a picture of the Announcement Cards and matching box:

I decided to change the 'B' for Baby to 'T' for Tom, to personalise them a bit more.  This is the matching card I made today using the same colours and the now retired 'Washington Apple' DSP.  The monkey has been stamped in Versamark for the background which is a bit difficult to see. Another monkey has been stamped in Pumpkin Pie, cut out and popped up on top.

 

Card Details
Stamps	Fox & Friends, Punches Three (Retired)
Cardstock & Papers	Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Washington Apple DSP (Retired)
Ink	Brilliant Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories
Tools	Scallop edge punch, Big Shot, Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Wide Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Enjoy your week.

New Catalogue Blog Hop

Hello

Today I'm joining some fellow demonstrators in a casual Blog Hop showcasing some of the new products from the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogue.  You may have come from the blog of the lovely Alisha Watson, but if not, you can use the list at the bottom of the post to join the hop.

I have used some of the new Christmas stamp sets to give you some more inspiration for your cards and decorations as the festive season is definitely bearing down upon us rapidly.

The first items are some 3-D Christmas baubles made with the 'Delightful Decorations' stamp set and the matching extra-large Ornament punch.  I have stamped two baubles in the traditional Christmas colours using Cherry Cobbler and Olive Olive and then punched them out.  Two more baubles were punched out from the Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.  They were all scored down the centre so that they would bend slightly and then put together with the Anywhere Glue Stick. The hanger made with some gold or silver cord was added into the centre before the last piece was glued in. They have been variously decorated with Dazzling Diamonds glitter, tiny adhesive pearls and rhinestones and stamped sentiments. The variations are only limited by your imagination!

The second project is a card that also uses the baubles as the main focus with the Jolly Holiday DSP.  This time I have one flat bauble stamped and popped up on the card and the second 3-D bauble (on the left) that can be removed from the card and used as a decoration. It will fold flat for easy posting.

The final project uses the 'Holiday Hoopla' stamp set to create some cute Santa Christmas tags.  I have stamped the Santa face onto Whisper white using a marker on the stamp for his blue eyes and colouring his face with Stampin' Write markers. The hat was stamped onto double sided Jac paper and sprinkled with some of the lovely new red Fine Galaxy glitter before being stuck onto the main image.  I have then cut out the entire shape and added the hanger.  For a bit more interest, I have used some of the new Frost White Shimmer paint for his beard and glued a charcoal seed bead to each end of the moustache. The To/From from 'Winter Post' was stamped on the reverse side. These are surprisingly quick to make in a 'production line' process. Here are some photos:

Here is a close-up of Santa:

Project Details
Stamps	Delightful Decorations, Holiday Hoopla, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Winter Post
Cardstock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Jolly Holiday DSP
Ink	Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Basic Gray
Accessories	Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls and Rhinestones, Fine Galaxy & Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Seed beads (not SU), Fine gold and silver cord (not SU)
Tools	Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Scallop Trim Edge Punch, Dimensionals, Extra Large Ornament punch, Word Window punch, Crimper, Stampin' Write markers

I hope you check out the other wonderful creations we have for you.  The next stop is the talented Ros Davidson.

Here is a full list of people who are participating in the Blog Hop:

Ros Davidson
http://www.rosdavidson.typepad.com

Nikki Sadler
http://www.inkyart.com.au

Christine Blain
http://www.christineblain.blogspot.com

Tina Gillespie
http://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/

Amy Buchanan
http://www.fashioninggreatimpressions.com

Erica Boxall
http://www.ericaboxall.com

Kathryn Mangelsdorf
http://klm55.blogspot.com/

Kristine Thompson
http://www.inkspotcreations.com

Alisha Watson
http://www.ratherbstampin.typepad.com

Have a good weekend.

JAI35 - Theme Challenge

Hello

I can't believe how quickly the weekend goes by and then it is time for work again and I never seem to get through my To Do lists. However, I wanted to participate in this week's Just Add Ink Theme Challenge - 'Just Add Sympathy'. These are difficult cards to make and it is good to have something in your stash when these occasions arise.

I have used the Hydrangea bloom from the Level 1 Hostess stamp set 'Because I Care' as the focus of the card.  This was stamped in Basic Gray onto watercolour paper and then watercoloured with ink pads and Aquapainter.  The primary colour is the totally gorgeous Marina Mist with some Pear Pizzazz highlights. Initially I wasn't too keen on this image, but I've come around now after using it and hydrangeas come in lots of different colours. I've also used some of the Marina Mist Patterns DSP which is fabulous and now available in all of the core colours.  I keep thinking there is something missing from this card, but it is probably because it hasn't got any ribbon on it - must be withdrawal symptoms! Here it is:

 

Card Details
Stamps	Because I Care (Level 1 Hostess Set)
Cardstock & Papers	Textured White, Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Watercolour paper, Patterns DSP
Ink	Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray
Accessories	Basic Pearls
Tools	Scallop Oval Punch, Oval Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Sponge Dauber, Going Gray marker, Dimensionals

I will be participating with some friends in a Blog Hop this coming Saturday 25 September. We will be showcasing more of the products from the new Idea Book and Catalogue.  I hope you can join us and be inspired.

Have a good week.

Elegant Bella Toile

Hi there

Just a quick post today as I have limited access to the Internet during the week (don't ask!).  This card uses more of my goodies from the new Catalogue.  I wanted the gorgeous 'Bella Toile' background to be the focus of the card, so I've kept it really simple with a sentiment and a few embellishments. Don't you think those tiny pearls are really cute?  Here it is:

Card Details
Stamps	Bella Toile, Afterthoughts (Level 1 Hostess Set)
Cardstock & Papers	Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Crumb Cake
Ink	Versamark, Blushing Bride
Accessories	White Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Pearls (tiny), Vintage Brads
Tools	White embossing powder, Heat gun, Lots of Tags Die, Big Shot, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals

I'll be back later in the week.

 

Loving the New Colours

Hello

Well today I had my first play with the yummy new products that arrived on Friday (thankfully the male of the house was at work when I brought them home J).  Between the usual weekend chores and a lovely morning tea on Saturday with a bunch of stamping gals it took a while to unpack and sort everything out.  That led to sorting all my cardstock and DSP (which I was putting off) and it all takes longer than you think.

Anyway, almost everything on this card is new product from the yummy 'Blushing Bride' and 'Pear Pizzazz' cardstock to the 'Just Believe' stamp set and the Scallop Trim punch.  I've white embossed the large silhouette image from 'Just Believe' onto the Blushing Bride cardstock.  This is a lovely dusky pink colour and goes fabulously with Pear Pizzazz.  I've used a strip of Pear Pizzazz DSP from the 6 x 6 paper pack that is a fabulous Level 1 Hostess gift. It has been matted onto Whisper White and edged with the new Scallop Trim border punch. The sentiment is from 'Perfect Punches' stamp set and I've cut around the border so that it would fit onto the wide oval mat and added some bling with the new adhesive rhinestones. I really like the fresh 'spring' feel of these colours. 

Card Details
Stamps	Just Believe, Perfect Punches
Cardstock & Papers	Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, In Color DSP (Hostess Gift)
Ink	Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Versamark
Accessories	White Taffeta Ribbon, Adhesive Rhinestone
Tools	White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Sponge Daubers, Dimensionals

I'll be back soon with more of the new Catalogue goodies. 

Enjoy your week.