July Blog Hop - Ribbon

Hi Everyone

Welcome to our casual monthly  Blog Hop for another month. This month we are showcasing  Stampin' Up! Ribbon. You may have come from the blog of  Ros Davidson, 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.

Stampin' Up! has a fabulous range of ribbon styles matching a selection of colours in each of the colour groups.  Hopefully we will also get some of the fabulous ribbon and twine options that are now available in the US,  in our new Idea Book & Catalogue that is released on 1 September.  I'm a huge fan of ribbon to add that special touch and differentiate hand made cards from the shop bought variety. 

Today, I thought I would show you some options for the 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon. My first thoughts when I saw this ribbon, was that the width would make it difficult to work with.  However, the ribbon is so soft and pliable, this is not a problem at all. My first project shows this ribbon used in the simplest way, as a border and base for layering other fibres, which in this case is Linen Thread but could be other ribbon, twine etc. This is a good option for masculine cards where you want something a bit bolder.

I've used watercolour crayons to create  a background wash for the sky and sea (masking the circle to be used for the sun). When it dried, the sun was created with a reverse mask and a sponge to apply the ink.  The 'Sail Away' image from the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue was stamped on the finished background and then die cut.  The sails were cut out from another image (lightly washed with Very Vanilla) and popped up for some dimension. The striped grosgrain ribbon grounds the image and the Linen Thread has been used to attach the sentiment 'flag'.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Sail Away, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card stock & Papers	Night of Navy, Real Red, Sahara Sand, Watercolour paper
Ink	Night of Navy, More Mustard, Real Red
Accessories	1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (Night of Navy), Linen Thread, Silver Eyelet (not SU), 5/16" Silver brads
Tools	Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Oval Nestabilities, Big Shot,  Dimensionals, Watercolour Crayons, Aqua Painter, Circle Punch, Cropadile, Sponge, Sponge Dauber

With the focus on Christmas in July at the moment, the next projects are Christmas cards. For this second card I've used the a la carte stamp 'Dasher' as the focus. I've stamped his body in Soft Suede and then gold embossed his antlers. The striped grosgrain has been used as a background with a knot as the main embellishment.   

 
 

Project Details
Stamps	Dasher, Delightful Decorations
Card stock & Papers	Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede, Brights Pattern Stack (Rich Razzleberry)
Ink	Soft Suede, Versamark, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories	1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (Rich Razzleberry), Basic Rhinestones
Tools	Circle Punches, Gold Embossing powder, Heat gun, Dimensionals

The final card uses  the flourish  from the new 'Creative Elements' stamp set, coming in the new Idea Book & Catalogue in September.  I've coloured in the open elements with a Stampin' Write  marker and added a luscious bow made with the 1 1/4" grosgrain Real Red. These are super easy to make with either a brad or a button in the centre, depending on how you want to attach it to your project. I always put a bit of Fray Stoppa on the edges of the ribbon  after I have cut the tails, so they don't fray. I have a simple tutorial on how to make this bows. Contact me if you are interested.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Creative Elements (new in the 2011/12 IBC), Four the Holidays
Card stock & Papers	Very Vanilla (Textured and Smooth), Real Red, Wild Wasabi
Ink	Wild Wasabi, Real Red
Accessories	1 1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (Real Red), Antique Brad, Basic Pearls
Tools	Scallop Border punch, Scallop Trim Corner punch, Itty Bitty Flower punch, Stampin' Write Markers (Wild Wasabi, Real Red), Dimensionals

The next stop is the lovely and talented Tina Gillespie.  Below is a list of the contributors for this month's Blog Hop.

Ros Davidson

Tina Gillespie

Nikki Sadler

Di Dunk

Alisha Watson

Kathryn Ruddick

Thanks for 'hopping' by!

 

Clean & Simple 149

Hello

Back to the cold, grey and damp weather in Melbourne today unfortunately, but good for being snug inside my craft room.  It's back to work for me tomorrow, but I've enjoyed relaxing for the last couple of weeks and I'm certainly feeling better for it.  I'm still doing my meditation course and I hope that I can put some of the techniques to good use in the coming weeks to better manage the demands of work.

My card today combines  this week's Clean & Simple 149 sketch with a sneak peak of a new stamp set and the Icecream Parlor buttons and ribbon. With a $100 purchase of Stampin' Up! products this month (to 31 July 2011) you will receive the 48 flower shaped buttons (in Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Pacific Point) and a roll of matching ribbon.  This is $31.95 of product for FREE!

This is the Clean & Simple sketch:

Here is my card.  I seem to be in a 'Brights' phase at the moment or maybe just in a Melon Mambo phase! Either way, it adds some brightness to a winters day. The vase of flowers image is from a stamp set called 'Button Buddies' that is coming in the new Idea Book & Catalogue in September.  I was fortunate to win this set in the 'Prize Patrol' at Convention this year.  The set has 8 images that are designed for use with buttons, but are equally cute just stamped. I'll show you a few more of the images in another post. Aren't those buttons gorgeous colours? The ribbon has the same colours, plus Old Olive.

  

Project Details
Stamps	Button Buddies (New in 2011/12 Catalogue), You're a Gem
Card stock & Papers	Bazzill Textured White, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Pacific Point Striped DSP
Ink	Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo
Accessories	Icecream Parlor Buttons & Ribbon, 1mm Rhinestone (not SU)
Tools	Circle Nestabilities, Big Shot, Small Oval Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Write Markers (Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point), Dimensionals, Glue Dots

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Sweet & Simple

Hi there

It is a very chilly, but sunny Saturday morning here in Melbourne.  There hasn't been much sun for the last week, so it is wonderful to see it.

Today I have a sweet and simple card for you.  I was playing around with the Decorative Label punch and came up with the shaped frame.  I punched twice horizontally and then putting the punch through the hole, punched vertically each side.  The resulting frame was trimmed and then embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I popped up the frame on the spotted Melon Mambo DSP that was layered on the cardstock base.   The sentiment is from the 'Your're a Gem' stamp set, punched out with the wide oval punch and also popped up on dimensionals. I've  embossed the crown from the 'Artistic Etchings' stamp set in silver for a bit of bling.  A very simple card for a girly birthday.

 

Project Details
Stamps	You're a Gem, Artistic Etchings
Card stock & Papers	Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Melon Mambo Patterns DSP
Ink	Melon Mambo, Versamark
Accessories	None
Tools	Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Decorative Label Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Gun,  Dimensionals

See you soon.

 

Edited to add:

I have done a short tutorial on how to create this shaped frame.  Please contact me if you are interested and I will email it to you.

Men & Motorcycles

Hi there

Cards for the men in our lives isn't one of my strong points.  However with a few male birthdays in the coming months, I have taken the opportunity to try out my recently acquired a la Carte stamp 'Motorcycle'.  This stamp is in the current Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue, that ends in a couple of weeks on 31 July.  It is a really detailed stamp, with options for colouring as well.  I found this great sketch over at the MFT Stamps blog while I was surfing and I think it is perfect for what I have in mind.  I also want to give it the girly treatment at some point too.

 

I have gone for a bold and masculine look  in this first card with lots of texture from my favourite Square Lattice embossing folder.  I was really disappointed to see Ruby Red retire last year, but  Cajun Craze is growing on me and I like it combined with Night of Navy and Sahara Sand.  I've created my own  striped cardstock using Versamark and the 'Solid Stripes'  stamp which is a great option for small areas.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Motorcycle, Solid Stripes, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Card stock & Papers	Sahara Sand, Night of Navy, Cajun Craze, Basic Black
Ink	Stazon Black, Versamark
Accessories	Black brads, Linen Thread
Tools	Square Lattice Embossing Folder,  Oval Nestabilities, Big Shot, Dotted Wave Border Punch (not SU), 1/2" 1", 1 1/8" Circle Punches, Small Star Punch (Retired), Watercolour Crayons, Going Gray Marker (Retired), Dimensionals

While I was on a roll I decided to make a second card with the same sketch.  My husband always says  of a any motorised device - 'the red ones go faster', so I've gone with a classic red and black colour scheme with a dash of silver for this one.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Motorcycle, Oval All
Card stock & Papers	Basic Black (Smooth & Textured), Cherry Cobbler (Smooth & Textured), Brushed Silver, Black Stripe DSP
Ink	Stazon Black, Versamark
Accessories	5/16" Silver Brads, Basic Gray Corduroy Button (retired), 1/8" Black Taffeta Ribbon
Tools	Diamond Plate Embossing Folder, Oval Nestabilities, Big Shot, Large Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Watercolour Crayons, Going Gray Marker (Retired), Aqua Painter, Black Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Distressing Tool, Dimensionals

Although I like both options, I think the red might be my might favourite - what do you think? 

Enjoy your week.

 

Candy Butterflies

Hello

The end of another week and it has been very wintry here in Melbourne - great for hearty soups and comfort food, but not great for the hips!  I'm feeling more refreshed and alive after my first week of holiday, the healing power of sleep is wonderful. I've been out in the garden today as there are lots of leaves and seed balls still coming off my Liquid-amber tree and the end is not yet in sight (sigh).  Not sure why our tree is always the last in the neighbourhood to fall; it must be too well looked after, I think.

My card today is enough to brighten up the dreariest day with candy coloured butterflies from the new 'Creative Elements'  stamp set. This set will be in the new 2011/12 Idea Book and Catalogue in September and was one of the fabulous stamp sets that we got at Convention this year.  Not another butterfly, I hear you say?  This is a really cute butterfly stamp and it is a good size (not too big or small) and it stamps beautifully to highlight the lovely lacy pattern.  This set has 7 other versatile stamps suitable for a variety of projects, which I'll give you a sneak peak of in the coming weeks.

I've used last week's versatile Clean & Simple 147 sketch for this card.  I've got heaps more ideas for this one.

 

Here is what I came up with.  Now aren't those butterflies cute?

 

Project Details
Stamps	Creative Elements (New in 2011/12 Catalogue), Best Yet (Retired, Hostess Set)
Card stock & Papers	Tempting Turquoise (Smooth & Textured), Whisper White, Pretty in Pink (Textured)
Ink	Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight
Accessories	Basic Pearls strip, White Taffeta Ribbon
Tools	Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die, Tasteful Trim Die Bigz XL Die (Autumn/Winter Mini), Big Shot, Circle Punches, Dimensionals

 I hope you enjoy your weekend!