More Sweet Stitches

Hi there

I hope that the Easter bunny has visited and you are having a lovely long weekend. Unfortunately, no cholocate for me yesterday as I spent most of it in bed with a migraine.  Definitely not what I had in mind for Easter Sunday. I hope today is a better one and that we get some sunshine in Melbourne after this cold, foggy morning.

Onto to brighter things, today I have a another simple card for you using the Sweet Stitches DSP from the current Autumn/Winter mini catalogue.  This paper is quite busy in terms of colour and pattern, so one way to use it is in small amounts.  Although I have put the patterns close together it gives an overall impression of bright colour without one pattern being overwhelming.

The colours and patterns of these papers remind me of the 1930's quilting fabrics. I've paired it with the (now) rarely heard sentiment from the 'You're a Gem' stamp set, which goes perfectly, I think.  This card is for my Mum's friend who took the photos at her recent birthday event and sent me them to me on a disk.

 
For a change, I've used the Curly Label punch on the front of the card and then placed the sentiment on the inside, so you get to see it again. 

 

Project Details
Stamps	You're a Gem
Card stock & Papers	Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla, Sweet Stitches DSP
Ink	Melon Mambo
Accessories	1mm Rhinestones (not SU)
Tools	1" Circle punch, Curly Label punch, Decorative corner punch (not SU), Corner rounder punch

Happy stamping! 

 

April Blog Hop - Autumn/Winter Mini

Hi there

Welcome to our casual monthly  Blog Hop on this Easter weekend. This month we are showcasing the new products from the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. There is a great range on offer including stamps, accessories, Designer Series Papers, Big Shot dies and embossing folders and a super new punch as well. There has to be something there for everyone!

You may have come from the blog of the lovely and talented Christine Blain, but if not, you can join the Blog Hop from here using the link to the next blog at the end of the post.  This month we have 7 Stampin' Up! demonstrators sharing their inspiration and the full list of contributors is also at the end of the post.

I have 2 clean and simple cards for you this month.  The first card uses the zigzag strip from Tasteful Trim Bigz die to create a panel for this masculine card.  The sentiment is from the 'Bring on the Cake' stamp  set and the buttons on the star are from the Sweet Buttons embosslit die.

  

Project Details
Stamps	Bring on the Cake
Card stock & Papers	Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango (Textured), Tempting Turquoise (Texutred), Very Vanilla (Textured), Crumb Cake, Neutrals Patterns Stack
Ink	Early Espresso
Accessories
Tools	Tasteful Trim die, Sweet Buttons Embosslit, Big Shot, Star Punch, Dimensionals, Stampin' Write marker (Tangerine Tango)

The second card is based on Clean and Simple 136 sketch.  The floral panel is from the Sweet Stitches DSP. I've used another of the sentiments from the 'Bring on the Cake' stamp set and punched it out with the lovely Decorative Label punch. This one is already a favourite. 

 

Project Details
Stamps	Bring on the Cake
Card stock & Papers	Melon Mambo, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Brights Patterns Stack
Ink	Melon Mambo
Accessories	White Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls, Subtles Buttons
Tools	Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Decorative Label punch, Mat Pack, Paper piercer, Dimensionals

The next stop is the lovely Alisha Watson.  Below is a list of the contributors for this month's Blog Hop.

Ros Davidson
Di Dunk
Nikki Sadler
Christine Blain
Alisha Watson
Kathryn Ruddick

I hope you have a restful and safe long weekend. 

 

This and that...

Hi there

It was a gorgeous Autumn weekend in Melbourne and I enjoyed a spot of gardening, planting some cute purple violas and a new Gardenia that I struck from cuttings. Speaking of plants, I had to take a photo of my first Camellia of the season. This is a beautiful symmetrical white Japonica, called 'Early Pearly'. I have espaliered  two of these between the metal frame of my clothes line.  Sounds weird when you say it like that, but it does disguise this rather boring but necessary piece of equipment!

 

 If you are like me, you are always looking for new options for your craft storage.  I have tried a few different storage options for my sponge daubers as my collection has grown over the last few years, none of which have been entirely satisfactory . Finally, I came across this acrylic box that is specifically made for daubers and it is fantastic. It holds 40 daubers, which covers all of the main Stampin' Up! colour collections. It is easy to get them in and out of the box and they can't fall over, which sometimes caused the colours to be transferred. I made up a template for  the colour collections, that I've covered in contact as the daubers come in contact with the top of the box.

 

Of course, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to decorate the outward facing side with some of the retired Cottage Wall DSP and matching Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive cardstock.

 

Finally, I also have a card for you based on the Clean and Simple 135 sketch, which is shown below.

  

With Mother's Day coming soon, I have taken the opportunity to make this card for my MIL (she doesn't look at the Internet, so no chance she will get to see it).  I have used the lovely 'Strength and Hope' stamp set which raises funds for Cancer research.  This is very appropriate as she is also a breast cancer survivor.  The base card is my favourite Marina Mist with the lovely floral from 'Springtime Vintage' DSP.  I've sprayed this with Champagne shimmer mist before adding the embellishments. I love the sentiments expressed in the text behind the butterfly.  I hope she likes it.

  

Project Details
Stamps	Strength & Hope, Well Scripted
Card stock & Papers	Marina Mist, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP
Ink	Marina Mist
Accessories	Basic Pearls, Blue craft wire (antennae)
Tools	Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, 2 3/8" Scallop Cirlce Punch,  Dimensionals, Sponge Dauber, Champagne Shimmer Paint, stampamajig

Enjoy your week.

 

A little bit vintage

Hello

I'm very happy to see some blue sky and sunshine from my window this morning, after a wet and dreary week in Melbourne.  It really gives my spirits a lift.  It has been a very intense couple of weeks at work and I haven't had much time or energy to devote to stamping, unfortunately. I'm really looking forward to having some time over Easter to relax a bit.

The card I have for you today was made for a friend's birthday last week. I really love the vintage style, but I find it a bit of a challenge to my normally clean and simple style. I love the background wildflower stamp, which has been stamped in Always Artichoke on Very Vanilla.  I've used a small pom pom on an alligator clip and Elegant Eggplant ink to create the flowers and soften the background . Some stitching, distressing, sponging and tearing completes the picture.

 
I have used Joanne Leddy's flower tutorial to create the Elegant Eggplant and Perfect plum layered flower, which has been spritzed with Champage shimmer mist.  I curled the petals of the bottom layers over a skewer while they were damp. These are fun to make and can be made to match any project. Give it a try, you will be surprised at how easy it is.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Wildflower Background (not SU), Just Believe
Card stock & Papers	Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Regals Patterns Stack
Ink	Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Always Artichoke
Accessories	Crochet Trim, Basic Pearls
Tools	Fancy Flower punch, Large 5 Petal Flower punch, Small flower punch (not SU), Decorative Label punch, Distressing tool, Sponge Daubers, Sewing machine,  Dimensionals, Champage shimmer paint

Have a great weekend.

   

Baby Steps

Hi there

Well, the Autumn weather seems to have arrived with a vengeance in Melbourne.  The days have been decidedly chilly and grey, unfortunately.  I'm hoping that the weatherman is correct in forecasting slightly warmer days at the end of the week - I'm not ready for winter yet!

Before the end of the Summer Mini catalogue, I succumbed to the cute 'Baby Steps'  a la Carte stamp. Today I put it to use for the first time, to make a card for a former work colleague.  He and his wife recently celebrated the arrival of a little girl - Asher.  I decided on a simple, sweet colour scheme of pink and grey.  It matches the cute little outfit that I bought as well.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Baby Steps
Card stock & Papers	Pretty in Pink, Neutrals Patterns Stack,  Whisper White
Ink	Basic Gray, Pretty in Pink
Accessories	Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon (Retired), Basic Pearls
Tools	Swiss Dots embossing Folder, Big Shot, Doily Lace Border Punch (not SU), Owl Punch (heart), Dimensionals

I'm working 4 days at the moment, so back to the 'salt mine' tomorrow.

Enjoy your week.