November Blog Hop - It's Christmas!

Hi there

Welcome  crafters, to our last Blog Hop for the year! With Christmas barely a month away, we will be giving you some last minute inspiration for your cards and festive trimmings. I'm way behind in my preparations, so I'm looking for all the inspiration I can get!

You may have come from the blog of  the lovely Di Dunk 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 9 Stampin' Up! demonstrators sharing their projects and the full list of contributors is at the end of the post.

The first project I have for you is a Christmas card with lots of bling.  I've used one of the new products from the upcoming Summer Mini Catalogue (starts on 1 December)  - the red and silver Glimmer Paper.  This is fabulous to use as the glitter is gorgeous and it doesn't come off, even when using punches.  This is a simple card that can be made with many alternative colour schemes and you could replace some of the circles with photos for a different look. I've popped up some of the circles at different heights for interest . Next time I would make the tree slightly smaller, but overall I was pretty happy with the way it turned out.

Project Details
Stamps	Heard from the Heart, Pennant Parade
Card stock & Papers	Cherry Cobbler, Textured White, Baja Breeze (Smooth & Textured), Red & Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink	Versamark, Basic Black
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones
Tools	Cherry Cobbler Embossing powder, Heat gun, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, 1", 3/4", 1/2" and 3/8" Circle punches, XL Owl Punch (heart), Small Star punch (retired), Dimensionals, Foam pads of different heights (not SU)

The second project is a treat bag topper using my favourite Two Tags die. With the end of the school year coming up, these would make great gifts for the kid's teachers or their friends. They are a card and gift in one and can be filled with any manner of sweet treats.  I have a couple of different options to show you. The tag sits on a base that is cut to the same size as the tag with the corners rounded. You can attach the tag either way up, depending on your preference. I like the the rounded end facing down, so you open up the tag from the bottom. Here is the first one.

This is what the tag looks like inside.

Here is another option, using the spray from the 'Easy Events' stamp set. I coloured it with markers and added some ribbon for interest.  To provide more flexibility I cut the sentiment from the image, so it could be moved around. I can pop it back if I need to, which is really easy with clear mount stamps.

And the last one shows the alternative option, with the rounded side up. I've filled this one with some yummy bite size shortbread.

Project Details
Stamps	Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Easy Events, Winter Post, Confetti, Pennant Parade, Petite Pairs
Card stock & Papers	Very Vanilla, Kraft, Real Red, Early Espresso, Real Red & Lucky Limeade Patterns
Ink	Real Red, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Basic Black
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones, Silver Brads, Kraft Seam Binding ribbon, 1/8" Real Red Taffeta ribbon, Green Rhinestone brad, Basic Rhinestones, Linen thread
Tools	Square Lattice embossing folder, Two Tags die, Little Leaves Die, Big Shot, Large Oval punch, 1 3/8" Circle punch, Jewellry Tag punch, Stampin' Write markers, Itty Bitty Punch pack, Copics (to colour rhinestones), Sponge Daubers

I hope you have found something in these projects to inspire your Christmas crafting.

The next stop is Kathryn Mangelsdorf.  Below is a list of the contributors for this month's Blog Hop.

Tina Gillespie

Nikki Sadler

Sue Madex

Di Dunk

Kathryn Mangelsdorf

Alisha Watson

Christine Blain

Ros Davidson

Thanks for stopping by.

Nautical Birthday

Hi there

It is a wet and muggy day here in Melbourne after the heat of yesterday.  It will be a good afternoon to be in my craft room as it too wet for the usual Saturday chores (woohoo!). It is wonderful to be getting regular rain for the garden, though.  It is all so lush and green at the moment, but it won't be so good for my new roses that are already weighed down with flowers.  I have taken a few photos which I will share with you later.

A real change of pace now after the candy colours of my previous card.  I was chuffed to win the JAI challenge this week and thank you to everyone who left a lovely comment.  It is very uplifting! Today  I have a very textured and dimensional masculine card using the lovely 'Sail Away' a la carte stamp that is now retired, unfortunately. Red and blue are my automatic 'go to' colours for nautical projects, which I have teamed with Vanilla Vanilla and Sahara Sand. I've made the sails 3-D and sponged on some Sahara Sand for depth, distressed the edges and popped up both layers.  The striped Bakers Twine lifts the large panel of 'Night of Navy'.

Project Details
Stamps	Sail Away, Party This Way
Card stock & Papers	Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, Real Red, Very Vanilla
Ink	Night of Navy, Sahara Sand, Real Red
Accessories	Mini Silver brads, Brights & Regals brads, Red Bakers Twine (not SU)
Tools	Square Lattice Embossing folder, Big Shot, Modern Label punch, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, Carl Corner Punch, Distressing tool

 I will be back with some more Christmas inspiration soon.

Just Add Ink 93 - Colour Combo

Hello

In my previous post I mentioned that I wanted to do a Chistmas card in non-traditional colours and Just Add Ink have the perfect combo in their colour challenge this week.
I have also used the same sketch from Clean & Simple Stamping as in the previous card, but this time in a standard size.  For the centre embellishment I have stamped out 3 triangles (trees) from the 'Pennant Parade' stamp set and then glued the sides together and mounted it on the scalloped pennant to make a cute 3-D Christmas tree.  You can't really tell in the photo, but I used a Zig Glue pen to go over the garlands and edges and sprinkled them with Dazzling Diamonds glitter for a bit of sparkle.  It catches nicely in the light.  The great thing is that the tree folds flat for posting and then pops out again. I love Pool Party with Melon Mambo and Whisper White for a really fresh colour combo. 

Project Details
Stamps	Pennant Parade, Season of Joy
Card stock & Papers	Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Bazzill White, Pool Party Patterns DSP
Ink	Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Versamark
Accessories	Hot Pink Bakers Twine (not SU), Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Tools	White embossing powder, Heat gun, Sizzix Tags #3 Die, Big Shot, XL Pennant Builder punch, Scallop Ribbon border punch, Tombow glue, Zig Glue Pen, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Sponge dauber

 Thanks for stopping by.

ETA:  Thanks to the ladies at Just Add Ink for choosing my card as the winner this week!

 

Clean & Simple 166

Hi there

Despite my best intentions, I have failed again in my quest to be well organised for Christmas, so it's time to up the ante on my Christmas card production.  If you are also still trying to get your cards done, I hope I can give you some inspiration as well.

I love this week's sketch from Clean & Simple. The tag embellishment is very appealing and flexible. Here is the sketch -

 

As usual, I have taken a few liberties by changing the design into a DL shaped card, which suits the size of the tag I've used. I've gone with traditional colours on this one, but I have plans to make others in non traditional Christmas colours. For the main embellishment I have used my new Spellbinders Poinsettia die. I've sponged the edges of all the layers and popped them up on dimensionals. I love the contrast of the crisp white and the bright red and green.

Project Details
Stamps	Contempo Christmas
Card stock & Papers	Real Red, White (Textured & Smooth), Old Olive, More Mustard, Holiday Treasures DSP (Retired)
Ink	Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Tuxedo Black
Accessories	Basic Rhinestones, 5mm Striped ribbon (from stash), Small clear rhinestone brad
Tools	Sizzix Tags #3 Die, Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Die, Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia Die, Big Shot, Scallop Border punch, 1/8" & 1/2" Circle punches, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers

 See you soon.

 

JAI 90 Sketch Challenge

Hello

I hope you have had a good Tuesday. It was a public holiday here for the running of the Melbourne Cup. Having Tuesday off feels pretty strange, but I got a few things done in the garden and even better, got to spend a bit of time in my craft room.

The card I have for you today is based on last weeks sketch from Just Add Ink.  It is a simple sketch that has lots of possibilities.  The bow jumped out at me, as I had a sparkly, scrunched bow waiting to be used. My lovely friend Christine demonstrated how to make this bow during a recent stamping day with friends. This is the sketch.

I have inked up one of the images from my new 'Simply Soft' Hostess stamp set for the first time and coloured it with Copics.  For the edging detail I have partially stamped 'En Francais' in Versamark on white gloss cardstock and white embossed it. I have sponged ink over the embossed writing to achieve the graduated colour.  Christine's gorgeous bow makes a bold statement, so I have resisted any further embellishments.  I am happy with the way it turned out.

Project Details
Stamps	Simply Soft (Hostess), En Francais
Card stock & Papers	Rose Red, Basic Black, White Gloss, Wild Wasabi, Xpress-IT Blending card
Ink	Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red
Accessories	Rose Red Seam binding ribbon
Tools	White embossing powder, Heat gun, Oval Nestabilities, Big Shot, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, sponges, sponge daubers

 See you later in the week.