Timely Sketch Challenge

Time … well thats something that I dont have a lot of lately! DSC57

These past couple of weeks have been very busy for me and I’m grateful that after consulting my diary last night that I have a quiet week coming up. Maybe I’ll be able to find some time to do some Christmas Shopping or maybe I should just give everyone stamps??

Yesterday I attended Stampin’ Up! Regional Training in Sydney and I had the best time – I even managed to get all the make n takes made – the first time I’ve done this at a Stampin’ Up! event since joining. We used new stamps from the upcoming Summer Mini Catalogue and they are very cute to say the least and I’ll show you those projects during the next few days.

Here is this weeks sketch and here is my card …

DSC57I wanted to do a masculine card as I wanted a card to send my dad for his birthday.  Living over 1000 kilometres from my parents and sister make it hard to see them as often as I’d like so I like to make their cards a little more special.

I love the Sense of Time stamp set and havent used it as much as I’d like and I love collage stamping so I thought I’d combine the two for this Challenge. If you do like the Sense of Time stamp set then you’ll need to purchase it by the end of November as the Spring Mini Catalogue finishes  and this set will no longer be available after 30th November.

One of the requirements for this week’s sketch was to use window sheets but since we dont have them here in Australia I couldnt use them. Maybe we will get some in the Winter/Autumn Mini Catalogue due out in April 2010. I’ve seen lots of lovely things made with them and hope we get some too so we can play with them too!

This card has a few different techniques – Masking, Collage, Pastel (chalk) popping and sponging – all the things I love to do!

If you think you’d like a go at collage stamping then I would just love to show you how I do it so why not contact me for my Collage Class or Technique Class or I can come and do a demonstration for you and your friends. I guarantee you’ll all have a great time and enrich those friendships you already have.

Thanks for stoppin by

Diva Sketch Challenge 55

DSC55I hope you are well .. its been a busy week this week with preparing for a Stamp A Stack for last night that had 17 ladies coming! So yes that means lots of card stock being sliced and diced. Then it was up early today to go and pick up a friend from the airport – never a dull moment here!!

Its Saturday and time for another Sketch Challenge from The Utah Divas International group.

This is another of those sketches that just has so many possibilities. It could be used for any theme and any stamp set. As I said before I’ve been busy cutting lots of cardstock this past week and packing it all into kits I was happy when I remembered I had a few images I’d done at the team weekend at Leonie’s in Kiama Downs.

dsc55-brayeredtreesLeonie had showed us how to  make this image with embossing, brayering and sponging.

She’d been playing with her brayer a bit and it was great to have her share this technique with the girls there.

Recipe:

Stamps: Trendy Trees
Paper: Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Very Vanilla
Inks: Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Embossing powder, Sponges, Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Brayer
Techniques: Brayering, Sponging, Emboss Resist.

I do hope you like this card – it is a little involved but the end result is so worth it dont you think? This card could be used for any reason when you need to let someone know you’re thinking of them.

Now if you’d like me to show you how to create scenery using your inks, paper and stamps then I’d love to come show you! Ring or Email me today to book your demonstration in!

Thanks for stoppin by

Autumn Leaves

I know we have just got into Spring but I do love the colours of Autumn!

I started this card while I was down visiting Leonie Newman last weekend. I’ve loved seeing what all the ladies in the USA have been making with their new sets and thought I could do similar using the oak leaf from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set.  So after everyone had left on the Saturday and we’d polished off the pizza we headed back downstairs and I created the background piece. I didnt have extra cardstock with me so I left the construction until I got home and yesterday was the first day I’d had a chance to play with it.

autumnleavesI inked up the leaf in Mellow Moss then using daubers I daubered on some Really Ruse and More Mustard then stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock. Now I stamped that leaf randomly over the whole piece reinking for each leaf. After I had enough leaves on the Vanilla I sponged randomly over the leaves with Mellow Moss, Really Rust and More Mustard to blend the leaves.  I then sponged around the edge of the cardstock in Creamy Caramel – I find this is the best colour for edging and giving it an aged look.

On another piece of Vanilla I did the stamp with the leaf and stamped it just the once after stamping it off. Then stamped the sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers over the top in chocolate chip.

I used my markers to colour in the little acorn stamp and then punched it out and layered it on chocolate chip and finished the card off with some 5/8″ chocolate chip grosgrain.

I do hope you like my Autumn card and its just another use for the wonderful ‘Lovely as a Tree’ stamp set.

We are off visiting with friends today – its our regular ‘school holiday get together & catch up’ so hopefully all the girls will play nicely and quietly!! Like thats gunna happen!!

Thanks for stoppin by

Diva Sketch Challenge 45

I hope youre all having a wonderful Saturday!

You can tell summer is on its way to Sydney as we’ve had a few warmer days the last week or so and last friday I saw the sure sign of smoke from a bush fire.  Lets pray we have nothing like the fires that hit our country last year – it was heartbreaking to see so many not only with out homes but the loss of life as well.Sketch45

Onto this week’s sketch!

You will notice, as I did, that there are no circles in the sketch this week!  Thanks Carol ;)

Its another great sketch with many possibilities but I have been wanting to do a gate fold card for a week or so now – probably due to watching too many of Beate’s video tutorials!  I was also lent the Unchartered Territory stamp set by a customer as they wanted some ideas for using it after purchasing it.

uncharteredgatefoldclosedAs you can see I have moved the sketch elements around a little and interpreted that centre strip as a join. Thats what is so great about sketches that everyone that does the same sketch comes up with different ideas and no two card look the same.

I’ve used Kraft cardstock as the card base and attached strips of the stripe paper from Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper pack.

The boat stamp has been coloured using the Stampin’ Write markers direct to the rubber and then stamped onto very vanilla cardstock. I’ve then just chalked in the sails and water and put a little yellow around the sun to give it the hot summer hue.

The sentiment is stamped in Chocolate Chip onto Very Vanilla cardstock and both of these Very Vanilla layers have then been layered onto Baja Breeze and Chocolate  Chip Cardstocks. When I’ve attached these two panels I’ve put sticky strip just on the back right hand side of the boat panel so the left side is free to open up. I’ve then attached the sentiment panel using Stampin Dimensionals to give a little room for the top left corner of the boat to slide under to keep it closed – like a latch on a gate.

Here is whats inside …

unchartered gatefoldI’ve place a square panel of baja breeze in the centre of the inside of the card then attached a Very Vanilla piece on top. When I stamped the boat I inked it up with the markers again then stamped off once onto scratch paper and then again without reinking onto the bottom left. I’ve also done the same thing in the top right but just using the seagulls from the lighthouse stamp in this set. I’ve then daubered around the edge in Baja breeze.

This card was very quick and very easy to make and I hope the ladies like it on Monday at class. I think I might keep this one to give to my hubby for Father’s Day which is next weekend here in Australia.

Have a great night and remember its important for the whole family for you to have your own ‘me’ time and just do what you want to!

singlelattesig

Unchartered Territory

Morning All … yes its a lovely sunny morning here today and I wanted to share this card with you before I head out – going to Koorong and then meeting some friends for lunch.

I have a special class on monday with a few ladies and they like to do ‘special’ cards so here is one I created yesterday using Unchartered Territory from the Spring Mini Catalogue.

RecessedWindowFrontThis is a recessed window card and I followed the video tutorial done by the lovely Beate. She does such wonderful projects and makes everything look so easy and is such a giving lady and willing to share her knowledge with others.

This card is a little more involved than most but so worth the effort.

I’ve stamped the lighthouse image in jet black stazon onto water colour paper and then coloured the image in using my aqua painter and the ink from the lids of the ink pads.

I love colouring this was as you can control how little or how much ink/colour you want. If you want a lighter colour you just spread it out and the water from the aqua painter will water it down for you.

I’ve layered my lighthouse onto Brocade Blue then So Saffron. I’ve stamped the sanded background stamp onto the so saffron layer and daubered around the edges to give the shadow effect. The base card is Night of Navy and I’ve used Bella Bleu paper for the frame on the front. Now I was going to add a small boat on the front over the frame but I felt it was just too much so I left it off.

RecessedWindowInsideHere we have the opened card.

Due to the ‘recessed window’ at the front it left an area inside that needed covering on the left so I’ve just made a panel using the Night of Navy, Bella Bleu Paper and very vanilla for which I’ve stamped the boat image and the sentiment inside.

I’ve then also created a matching panel on the right side to even the card out when opened. I’ve only stamped the boat here so that you can write your message or greeting onto the vanilla  cardstock – would look great using the fine tip of your Night of Navy Stampin’ Write Marker!

As I said this card is a little more involved than what I usually do but I’m loving finding new projects for my customers. Some I do are ones I’ve done before and some are ones I’m now doing for the first time like this card. I am very happy with how this one turned out and think I’ll be sending it to my dad for Father’s Day so I hope he likes it when he gets it.

If you’d like to follow Beate’s video tutorial just click on the play button below.

I hope you liked this card too and it was done just using the Unchartered Territory Stamp Set and the Sanded background stamp.

Now I’m off as I need to get ready and go to my day out with a couple of friends.

Have a great day and dont forget to take some time out for you!

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Happy 50th!

Today is my husband’s 50th Birthday!

After seeing this week’s Mojo Monday sketch I decided I would use that sketch for his card and the little pocket on the sketch would be perfect for a gift card.

Mojo99-Neil50

Here is his card that I’ve literally just finished.

I started by selecting the Designer SEries Paper I wanted to use – I wanted something that wasnt overly ‘male’ yet could be used for a male card. I love the colours in the Urban Oasis DSP – its perfect for this card!

I wanted to use the silhouette of the flowers for the pieces behind the pocket and so I just used the reverse of the paper for the pocket.

The addition of the Twill and Twine it makes it earthy and manly. I’ve used the wide Twill for at the back of all the layers – this helps separate the base card from the layers. I’ve also frayed the bottom of the twill. I’ve used the thinner twill to wrap around the upper part of the pocket and then just a piece of twine to tie around this piece of twill.

The ‘dad’ stamp comes from the Greetings Eight stamp set. I stamped onto kraft cardstock in basic gray classic ink and then used the distressing tool from the cutter kit around the edges for a bit of texture and depth.

Now hubby decided to celebrate his birthday by taking today off so needless to say I havent got much done today!

While I was finishing off his card this arrived for him!

Neil50Balloons

Gotta love big sisters for making it known how ‘old’ he is today!

Well I hope you like the card I made and I’d better be off and go pick up a cake for him for his birthday – gotta sing happy birthday dont you? Not sure I can afford 50 candles tho!

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Diva Sketch Challenge 42

Here we are at yet another Saturday …. they just come around so quickly!

sketch42

We have had a change in the Sketch Challenge Coordinator at Utah Divas so please help me in welcoming Carol Marbach as our lovely new coordinator.

Carol has some awesome sketches in store plus a few twists!! As if I dont twist them enough!!

Now because this is Carol’s first sketch I thought I’d be a good girl and not play with the sketch – well not in the first card I made – thats right I made two cards today!

If I didnt have a Class on today I’d probably make some more! So I might get some more done during the week – so we’ll see how time permits.

DSC42-thumptree

I havent had much time this week with demonstrations and migraines so havent had as much time for me to stamp.

Now when I first went to do this sketch I pulled out my trusty Fifth Avenue Floral set and wanted to use this paper from the Urban Garden Designer Series Paper and as soon as I grabbed the paper I had a sudden urge for a male card and this tree from Le Jardin Botanique! Well it is hubbies birthday on Tuesday so had to make him a card anyway!

I’ve done a little thumping on the tree and I must say I really do like how it turned out – looks a bit like a Silver Birch I think!  Thumping is a technqiue to do using your Stampin’ Write markers. You colour your stamp in the lighter colours first – I coloured the trunk in in Always Artichoke and then coloured the leaves in Bordering Blue.

I then took my Not Quite Navy marker and tapped it on the leafy area a bit like a drum stick using the side of the brush marker tip. I hope that makes sense – if not then I am more than happy to show you how! If you want it more of a mutted or mixed effect then just spritz very lightly with water.

DSC42-PinkStemHere’s the second card I made using the sketch.

I’ve used the flower stem again from Le Jardin Botanqiue which I’ve coloured using the Stampin’ Write markers and using the ‘direct to rubber’ technique. This is when you use your markers to colour in the stamp directly onto the rubber and then stamp onto cardstock. I’ve used the Mellow Moss, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red markers on this one. The patterned paper is from the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper pack.

The flower is a little shorter than the tree image so needed to fill in the bottom a little so just stamped a greeting from Three Little Words onto some Pretty in Pink cardstock and then trimmed it to give a banner effect.

These are both very quick and easy cards which can be done as part of a Stamp A Stack so contact me today to arrange your Stamp A Stack for you and your friends.

Best be off to get ready for today’s Class and make sure I have everything I need in my beloved trolley and make time for a Latte before I go.

Have a great Saturday and make sure you make some time for you this weekend!

singlelattesig

Cyberstamp Weekend

Yesterday I shared the 3D item I presented for a challenge on the ESAD Cyberstamp  Weekend.

Well on Saturday my good friend Lisa gave us a colour challenge of Ridinghood Red, More Mustard and Bordering Blue – not her usual colours and not mine either for that matter!

ClassicStarsESADCCCC1I started off with this idea using the Classic Stars Jumbo Stampin Round.

I am not overly happy with the finished card – what do you think? Maybe it might have been better if I had used More Mustard as the base card? I was limited with the amount of More Mustard cardstock as I only had one A5 piece and a couple of off cuts. Must remember to order some More Mustard cardstock with my next order!

After making this card I decided to have another go and wanted to use a stamp set that hadnt been inked before – I still have sets from my April pre-order that I havent used! Just dont tell hubby ;)

So I grabbed the Le Jardin Botanique stamp set and started playing … and I came up with these two cards …

ESADCCCC1

I was soooo much happier with these cards. I quite like the Ridinghood Red and More Mustard together and managed to work these cards so I could make two from the one piece of More Mustard. The eyelet border punch gives these cards a little elegance as well.

I really enjoyed the weekend sharing and stamping with the girls from ESAD and it was great to get to know a few that I didnt already know apart from their name and email address.

If you are an Aussie Stampin Up! demonstrator and would like to either learn more about ESAD please feel free to email or ring me for more information.  Or maybe you’d like to  join the group then insert your email address and click on the join button below.

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singlelattesig

Time for Collage

I was going to call this post “Male Sense of Time” but then realised they dont have any! Jusssssssssst kidding … I mean we’d be lost without them right? well lets make them think so at least ;)

concertinacover2Today I’m sharing a concertina card made using the new Sense of Time stamp set – this set will be in the upcoming Spring Mini Catalogue which will start on 1st August and go through to 30th November.

The size of this little concertina card is 4×4 and I made it with Father’s Day in mind but didnt use the Father’s Day stamp in it so that those that wanted to give this card to another male other than their father then they can.

The ladies did this at last friday’s class and they all loved it and were rather happy with how the card turned out.

The striped paper I’ve used on the front is from the Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper pack. The stamps used in this card are all from the Sense of Time stamp set and the Organic Grace Hostess set (Level 1).

The card opens up with four panels in a concertina style.

concertinaInside

All images are stamped randomly and I started with stamping the clock faces first then filled in the gaps. There is room for writing on the back of the card and it all ties up with some Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon.

I really enjoyed creating this card and I enjoyed sharing it with my class last week.

Would you like to make this card?

Then contact me today and book your demonstration in and I will come to you and show you and your friends how to make this card and you’ll see just how easy it is to create something special for that special man.

Dont forget to ask about my “Stampin’ Up!® Birthday” specials for August – its my Stampin Up birthday in August and my customers and hostesses get the presents! So stay tuned for that one!

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Lovely double pocket bag

I’ve been busy creating today so I’ll have some cute things to show you in upcoming posts.

doublepocketbagwithcardI have a few workshops in the upcoming week so had to get busy preparing for them! One of my beautiful hostesses asked me to show them the CropADile and the jumbo eyelets so who am I to say no??  So this is what I’ve made ….

I have made these double pocket bags before but never in ‘dude’ or ‘autumn’ colours and since it is now Autumn here I thought I’d go with the Outlaw Designer Series Paper since I have a bit of this still and only a few days left till its retired.

I am VERY happy that Lovely as a Tree has not been retired (insert cartwheel) as I just love this set so much and its so very versatile! Although i do think this is the first time I’ve used the large oak leaf as the main image. rustoakleafcard4doublepocketbag

I’ve just randomly coloured the leaf with my markers (Really Rust, Mellow Moss and Pumpkin Pie) and stamped it onto Naturals Ivory I’ve then stamped it again on another piece of Naturals Ivory so this second image is a little faded and the sentiment I stamped over the leaf for the card is easier to see. The sentiment is from God’s Blessings stamp set which has great sayings for any occassion and although the set is called God’s blessings the sayings arent all overly religious so it makes a great all round sentiment set.

Here is a close up of the little gift card – which measures 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 and fits perfectly into our bag so it can be slotted into one pocket and you could pop a gift card, voucher, small chocolate bar or sachet of  coffee in the other pocket

Now have you noticed what ribbon I’ve used on this card??

Yes we will have 1/4″ Chocolate Chip Grosgrain ribbon back in the new Idea Book & Catalogue – how good is that?? I know a few of my customers have been asking for it to come back so their wish has been granted!

It is so wonderful to work with a company that actually listens to their demonstrators and customers!

Hope you like this litle duo and if you’d like me to show you how to make this bag then contact me to arrange your demonstration or put your name down for my upcoming Bags, Boxes & Bows class.

singlelattesig

Fine Sailing on Australia Day

Happy Australia Day everyone!!

Today us Aussies celebrate the arrival of the first fleet to Port Jackson, Sydney which consisted of 11 Tall Ships sailing into Sydney Cove and making it the first british colony here in Australia.

There are many celebrations all over this gorgeous country with free concerts, picnics, barbeques and what would a celebration be without fireworks?? yes tonight we will have more fireworks in the city and in other areas to celebrate.

You can read more about it here

Now onto the cards.

birthdayboatI wanted to share a couple of cards using the Seaworthy stamp set.

This card uses the East Coast Prep Designer series papers and the sentiment is from the Its your Birthday set. Its a nice simple card and I’ve just used the Stampin’ Pastels to colour the boat and water. The pastels are lovely to work with and you can shade so subtley with them.  Its a lovely day here today and not stinkin hot and just a mere 28°C (or 82°F for my American ‘mates’)

Now I’ve had this set for a while and it wasnt until I was stamping with this set recently that I noticed something on one of the stamps and then realised why it was not in the USA/Canada catalogue and probably would never be.

ozflagboatclose

Here’s a close up of the boat.

Now look closely at the flag at the rear of the boat – how cool is that? The designer of this stamp put an Aussie Flag on the back.

So thats why I doubt it will be in the other Stampin’ Up! Catalogues in the tealsailother markets.

Now this set is a great set for those ‘man’ cards everyone seems to have such difficulty in making. Here is another card using the yacht stamp from the Seaworthy set.

Its another quick and easy card with no colouring as I do have some that hate to colour in – personally I love to colour as its very therapeutic and if you do too much no matter – you just stamp and colour it again and you know then where to stop.

I’ve also used two background stamps on this card – weathered and sanded.  I’ve also used some twill and twine – appropriate for a nautical themed card dont you think?

I do hope you like these cards I’ve shared today and if you’d like to make these too then email me and book in for your demonstration.

Dont forget Sale-A-Bration is still on so for every $100 you spend you get a free stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue or when you join Stampin Up! you get a bonus free stamp set to the value of $79.95. You dont have to do demonstrations and workshops as a demonstrator – you can sign up just to get the discount for you, your family and friends if you wish – there is no pressure – you do as little or as much as you want! Contact me if you have any questions or want more information or just to place an order.

Have a great Australia Day!

singlelattesig

Man Cards

Monday I told you about a couple of my Stamp A Stack groups wanting “Man Cards” – I am still amazed at these cards and how they turned out.

This is the first one I made and had contemplated exchanging the set as I just didnt think I could do it justice until my good friend Nicki shared some of her creations with it.

I am pretty pleased with this and how it turned out to say the least. Its a very simple card and I even researched the knot on Wikipedia so I hope you’re all proud of me! It also makes a great card for a Stamp A Stack or swap.

Recipe:

Stamps: Sanded background, Seaworthy
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue, Very Vanilla
Inks: Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Basic Black
Accessories: Twine, Sponge Daubers


Here are a couple more ‘man cards’ I made on the weekend.

I really did enjoy creating with the Outlaw papers and the Wanted stamp set – one that I thought I’d never buy! The Priceless card on the right is a case of this card by Margaret Raburn.

I am pretty pleased with how these turned out too and just love how Stampin’ Up! make stamps to suit their punches … or is it that they have punches to suit the stamps?? Just another way the products all coordinate so well!

If you’d like to make these cards then contact me to book your “Manly” Stamp A Stack in today!

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