February – why are you leaving us so quick???

I know February is the shortest month of the year, but this one just zipped by me!  Things at Papercraft HQ went into serious overdrive – three kids to keep alive, three houses to look after, a birthday, some anniversaries, the start of school, resuming card making classes for the year and so much more meant every day was a whirlwind of activity!

With all that happening, it’s only in the final moment of February I’m marking some things off my to-do list – like posting birthday cards for friends!  They will arrive in March, but I posted them in February – so it still counts!!!

I’ve always appreciated having a birthday month, so hopefully the recipients will too!

I made these cards using some Occasions Catalogue favourites and also a new DSP available as a Level 2 Sale-A-Bration reward.  See the second release catalogue by clicking here.  The Painted Seasons DSP comes in a bundle with a floral stamp set – available to redeem when your order reaches $180.

I like to make multiples of cards with subtle differences.  Easy changes – like a different size butterfly in this case – give you a different card for minimal design effort.  Other easy changes are – changing the orientation or using different colours or DSP.

The second card used the same die set, but the large butterfly as the centrepiece.

Both cards have the same bokeh dots in Poppy Parade, Grapefruit Grove & Blushing Bride (to coordinate with the DSP) on a Rectangle Label (of course!), a Stitched Label die cut and a heat embossed sentiment.  The sentiment is cut down from the ‘FRIENDSHIP’ stamp in the Beauty Abounds set.  I always love it if I can get multiple uses from the words in a set.

And those dots – I’m still in love!  I originally bought the Beauty Abounds stamp set just for the dots.  And I have no regrets!

The stamp set also has a lovely flourish that I thought would look nice on the inside of the card.  Seems to be the month for extra decorating!  I love colouring with my Stampin’ Blends – they are so smooth and luxurious!

Here’s hoping that March is a little slower in pace but just as full of love, happiness and fun!

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Product List

Beauty Abounds Cling Stamp Set

$40.00

Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies

$68.00

Beauty Abounds Cling Bundle

$97.00

Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies

$61.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

$50.00

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

$17.00

Petal Pink A4 Cardstock

$14.75

Poppy Parade Classic Stampin’ Pad

$13.00

Grapefruit Grove Classic Stampin’ Pad

$13.00

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin’ Pad

$13.00

Versamark Pad

$15.75

White Stampin’ Emboss Powder

$8.75

Heat Tool

$50.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$10.00

Calypso Coral Light Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Pumpkin Pie Light Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Light Poppy Parade Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Light Call Me Clover Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Glue Dots

$8.00

Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals

$6.00

Just Add Ink #443 | Choose Two – Colouring & Sequins

Every time I design for Just Add Ink I think about how much I love the variety of challenges!  I can’t pin down a favourite but I always love the creativity that comes from a “Choose Two” challenge.

This week it’s a choice of embossing paste, colouring or sequins!

As always, I could have gone in so many different directions with this theme.  I was tempted to dig my unnecessarily unloved embossing paste out, but in the end decided on colouring and sequins for a shaker card.

When Stampin’ Up! added rectangle framelits, I knew I was going to love them!  They make everything pretty and shaker cards an absolute ‘piece of cake’.

I started by repeatedly stamping the candles across the bottom of the card base and coloured them with Stampin’ Blends – Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay & Granny Apple Green.  I chose these colours based on the DSP spots.

The frame was cut using two rectangle framelits (2 sizes apart) and backed with Window Sheet.  To create the depth ready for my shaker sequins, I lined the back with a border of Foam Adhesive Strips and adhered it to a piece of How Sweet It Is DSP cut 1/4″ bigger than the frame size.

And then finished it off with a pretty drip cake and more candles from the Piece of Cake bundle. I love the variety of cakes and embellishments in the stamp set.  And being able to cut it out with a punch is great for saving time and having a beautiful neat finish.  I don’t mind fussy cutting, but give me a punch any day!

This bundle is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!!  So amazing in fact that it’s almost sold out in Australia and once current stocks have been depleted, it won’t be orderable again til new stock arrives in mid-late March.  If you haven’t already added it to your collection, I suggest a quick little order!  Click here to view in my online store.

If you still haven’t ordered Rectangle Framelits (WHAT???), you can add those from the online store too.  Click here to visit.  Then you can make as many easy-peasy shaker cards as you’d like.  Full supply list at the end of this post in case you need other products too like foam adhesive strips & window sheets.

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We’d love to see what this challenge inspires you to make.  Head over to the Just Add Ink blog to upload your entry and see the full range of design team cards.

Thanks for being a fabulous part of Just Add Ink!  We appreciate having such a diverse following!

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Product List

Piece Of Cake Photopolymer Stamp Set

$30.00

Piece Of Cake Photopolymer Bundle

$54.75

Cake Builder Punch

$31.00

Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies

$61.00

Window Sheets

$8.75

How Sweet It Is 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

$19.25

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

$17.00

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

$13.50

Highland Heather A4 Cardstock

$14.75

Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay

$14.75

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$10.00

Versamark Pad

$15.75

White Stampin’ Emboss Powder

$8.75

Heat Tool

$50.00

Daffodil Delight Dark Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Mango Melody Light Stampin’ Blends

$7.75

Bermuda Bay Light Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Dark Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Light Flirty Flamingo Stampin’ Blends Marker

$7.75

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

$11.50

Fancy Frost Sequins

retired

Tranquil Textures Sprinkles

$10.50

Foam Adhesive Strips

$14.00

Embossing Buddy

$10.00

Paper Snips Scissors

$17.00

Ready For Christmas with Stampin’ Blends

Stampin’ Blends are a new design alcohol marker available to purchase from 1st November 2017.  They are so easy to use – the colour just floats on!

We’ve been having fun using them at classes this month – paired with the Ready for Christmas bundle.

These outlined images are perfect for colouring!  And with a variety of stamps to create your own Christmas scene, the options are endless!

We used the staircase & tree stamp for this card….

As well as colouring the presents & staircase, the new Blends are fantastic for colouring pearls.

I’m still a beginner when it comes to alcohol markers, but these truly are a dream to use!

The second card uses the super cute Daschund puppy from the stamp set – cute but mischievous!

I wouldn’t be far from the truth if I told you I mostly bought this stamp set for the Daschund!!!

I love mixing & matching my Stampin’ Up! supplies.  For this card, we used the Petal Garden DSP – not intended for Christmas but a gorgeous background for this card.

If you still need any supplies to create your own handmade Christmas cards this year – from inclusive kits to paper, stamps & ink, visit my online store for the full Stampin’ Up! range.

If you’d like to host a class in your home, or join in with one of the classes I run from my home, please let me know!

I’m always on the lookout for new stamping friends.  Handmade is the best kind of love to give!

Colour INKspiration #18

Hello!  It’s time for another colour INKspiration challenge.

For this fortnight, we’re crafting with these colours colours (and this totally amazing inspiration pic)…

Pink, gray and neutrals – plus, any green of your choice.

This card was made for our newest design team member – Jackie Aitken.  Check out her first project with us – it’s sensational!

I used quite a few features of the inspiration picture to try something totally different for me – a busy card with lots of texture!!!

My green of choice was Pear Pizzazz for some touches of ‘greenery’ in my planter boxes.

I added Sweet Sugarplum ink to the embossing paste to make a cute pink brick wall.

Have you tried this?  It’s easy and fun to colour the embossing paste!

The floral shapes come from the Bouquet Bunch Framelits – it’s a great set!

And the butterfly is cut from the new Champagne Foil – so pretty!!!

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This is a fabulous set of colours and the design team have an amazing range of projects to share with you!

You can continue the hop by visiting the delightful Lou Kitzelman and her cute pink project!

Don’t forget, you can add any green to the quartet – Powder Pink, Basic Gray, Sahara Sand & Sweet Sugarplum.

And any metallics!

Can’t wait to see what you upload to our Facebook Challenge page.  Click here to jump on over.

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Product List

Beautiful Bouquet Photopolymer Stamp Set [143666] $47.00	Bouquet Bunch Framelits Dies [143659] $50.00	Beautiful Bouquet Photopolymer Bundle [145297] $87.25	Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies [141489] $45.00
Bunch Of Banners Framelits Dies [141488] $45.00	Hearth & Home Thinlits Dies [139666] $35.00	Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $7.00	Shimmery White A4 Card Stock [121717] $14.00
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75	Basic Gray A4 Card Stock [121689] $14.00	Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock [121695] $14.00	Sweet Sugarplum A4 Cardstock [141423] $14.00
Powder Pink A4 Cardstock [144251] $14.00	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz [131290] $14.00	Versamark Pad [102283] $15.00	White Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109132] $8.75
Heat Tool [129056] $50.00	Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [141400] $6.50	Embossing Paste [141979] $11.50	Pattern Party Decorative Masks [144103] $10.00
Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $6.00

Quilted Christmas

Today, I wanted to share with your one of the bundles from the Holiday Catalogue that has been super popular as crafters start to make their Christmas cards for the season.

If you’re watching the date, we’re just three months out from the big day for 2017!!!

Introducing the Quilted Christmas Suite…

Christmas Quilt Photopolymer Stamp Set [144793] $37.00	Quilt Builder Framelits Dies [144673] $52.00	Christmas Quilt Photopolymer Bundle [146026] $80.00
Quilted Christmas 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [144617] $16.00	Quilt Top Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [144687] $15.00

 

The first card I’m sharing with you today is traditional Christmas….

I’ve used the stamp set, framelits & embossing folder to create a classic Christmas card in Cherry Cobbler & Garden Green.

The Stitched Shapes Framelits coordinate marvelously with this suite (and everything else!), as do the Foil Snowflakes.

I know lots of avid sewers that would love a sewing themed Christmas card.

The die set has lots of great sewing shapes including a needle & bobbin card.

In red & green, the Christmas connection is an easy card, but if you change up the colours and sentiment, this wonderful bundle easily creates a birthday card….

This card features the Petal Garden DSP, together with three layers of the stitched quilting die and a cute flower to finish (also in the Quilt Builder Framelits).

There’s so much more to this stamp & die set than just Christmas.

It gives lots of wonderful options all year round by simply coordinating with your other Stampin’ Up! supplies.

I get so excited when there’s so much potential in the stamps we buy!

If this sewing bundle is going to be a great option in your craft collection, head over to my online store to shop 24/7.

Stamping Sunday Blog Hop – Labels To Love

Welcome to another blog hop with the Stamping Sunday Design Team, including our guest designer – Mary Deatherage.

We hop every 4th Sunday of the month, all designing to a chosen theme, suite or Stampin’ Up! product.

You can see the full line up of participants this month by clicking on the cute blue frog.

You are currently hopping with Kelly Kent from Bunbury, in the south west of Australia.

Today we are featuring the Labels to Love stamp set from the 2017 Holiday Catalogue.

This is the second of the coordinating sets for the Everyday Label Punch.

The Merry Little Labels stamp set comes in a bundle with the punch (page 12 of the Holiday Catalogue).

I couldn’t resist buying Labels to Love for it’s fabulous range of sentiments.

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My first creation today uses the Merry Christmas stamp together with products from the Color Theory suite to create a snowy Christmas card in Dapper Denim.

I truly love a matching label & punch set – it makes it so easy to create pretty cards, tags and 3D items.

But, sometimes I like to get fancy and put a border around the punched shape…

It works for most of the symmetrical punch shapes.  Just a snip here and a snip there!

You need two punched out version in the same colour.  Snip through the middle one way on the first shape and the other way on the second.

Sometimes you need to snip a little extra from the sides of the second piece so it doesn’t show.  For this label, snip the ends off before cutting through the middle.

Then adhere to your stamped & punched shape, leaving a border around the outside.

Here’s the visual…

Borders and extra layers add a finishing touch to projects that you didn’t realise was missing til you added it!

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My second project to share with you today is not Christmas, Halloween or Thanksgiving, but using the stamps from this set to create an anniversary card for Mr Papercraft.

We are celebrating a fateful night of dinner swapping, dancing and the start of something special!

So, using Kristel Rimmer’s Mini Pop & Twist tutorial, I made this oh-so-cute card for his pillow….

It’s so cute, and so small – that’s the Everyday Label Punch on the front.  The outline stamp makes a great border and the ‘love’ stamp is perfect for my theme.

I used my Real Red marker to colour only the leafy part of the ‘give thanks’ stamp to create a border for the love letters on the inside.  These were stamped & fussy cut – all in the name of love!

If you love cute & small versions of things, make sure to visit Kristel’s site to get all the info to make your own Mini Pop & Twist Card.

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Thanks so much for hopping with me today!  It’s an abolute pleasure to have you visit.

Please keep hopping for see what the gorgeous Denita Wright-Smee made using this stamp set.

You can see the full line up of participants this month by clicking on the cute blue frog.

Have a wonderful week!

School holidays have just started here, so there’s sleep-ins, lazy mornings & crafting in my pjs!!  Oh, wait, that’s all me….. and playdates, junk food & parks!

Life is all about give & take! (Give me the craft supplies and I’ll happily take an hour making something!!!)

Colour INKspiration #17

Are you ready for another colour combination?

After some very dark and moody options over the past few challenges, today’s offering is bright and fun and promises that summer is just around the corner!

Stay on board for a fabulous blog hop with the Colour INKspiraiton team.  I am nestled between two amazing designers.  You may have already visited my beautiful friend Lou Kitzelman (if not make sure you get all the way back to her blog to complete the full circle).  Next up is the gorgeous Denita Wright-Smee – click on the next button below to visit her blog!

For all the challenge action, join us over on Facebook at the Colour INKspiration Challenges group.

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There’s lots of Lemon Lime Twist in the gorgeous inspiration photo, but I wanted to make Pool Party the focus of my card.

I just love the colours & patterns from the Petal Garden DSP stack – of which, Pool Party is one of the coordinating colours.

I added some interest to the background DSP panel by cutting the DSP into three strips.

The other colours in the challenge quartet became part of my bicycle & sentiment elements.

I love pink & blue together!  The Lemon Lime Twist books added another pop of colour!

I am totally loving the Bike Ride stamp set & coordinating Build A Bike Framelits.   They’d been on my maybe list for a while, and I got them recently thinking some of the additional stamps would make great teacher cards.

For some strange reason, I thought the bike would be really fussy to put together – but it’s so easy (totally a piece of cake with the framelits!).

So, as it turns out, I’ve used this stamp set non-stop since it arrived and love it!

Isn’t it funny how things translate from the catalogue to craft room favourites – sometimes in the most unexpected ways!

On the flip side, I’m sure we’ve all got stamp sets that we just ‘had to have’ and have barely touched inked since they arrived!!!

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To see what’s getting inky on Denita’s craft table, visit her blog for your next bright & fun Colour INKspiration project…

And don’t forget, you can join us on Facebook to play along with this challenge, or any Colour INKspiration palette that catches your eye!

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Product List

Bike Ride Photopolymer Stamp Set [143716] $37.00	Build A Bike Framelits Dies [143729] $45.00	Bike Ride Photopolymer Bundle [145314] $73.75	Sunshine Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141594] $40.00
Classic Label Punch [141491] $31.00	Petal Garden Designer Series Paper Stack [144168] $17.50	Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $7.00	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $12.25
Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] $14.00	Tempting Turquoise A4 Card Stock [108598] $14.00	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] $12.25	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin’ Pad [141397] $11.50
Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin’ Pad [144086] $11.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $15.00	White Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109132] $8.75	Heat Tool [129056] $50.00
Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $6.00	Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets [144106] $17.00

WWYS #127 Coffee Cafe Guest Designer

Hello!  I love challenges and try to play along with different ones as my time permits.

A couple of weeks ago, I joined in with What Will You Stamp for their Daisy Delight challenge.

I was ‘delighted’ to be chosen as the winner, and was asked to guest design for this week’s challenge.

The stamp set for this week is Coffee Cafe.

As you know, I love the DSP for this suite!!!

And that has given me a strong association for cards in the suite colours – browns, blues & greens!

So, for my WWYS #127 card, I wanted to go the total opposite and stamp using pinks, purples and greys!

And I love it!!!

I used the ‘frappe’ stamps and dies for this card – ones I hadn’t played with yet.

And remembered to stamp on DSP, using it for the coffee cup base!  How pretty is the Petal Garden DSP!?!

The sentiment is cut from the larger sentiment to just say ‘friend’ (white embossing on Rich Razzleberry).

The background is a mix of the coffee beans from the Coffee Cafe stamp set and the circle stamp from Timeless Textures – they are a great coffee stain pattern and similar to the one used in the DSP.

Thanks to What Will You Stamp for having me this week!

You can pop over to the What Will You Stamp blog to see all the cards from the design team and add your Coffee Cafe creation to the challenge.

You could be the next guest designer!!!

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Product List

Coffee Café Photopolymer Stamp Set [143677] $37.00	Coffee Cups Framelits Dies [143745] $50.00	Coffee Café Photopolymer Bundle [145331] $78.25	Timeless Textures Clear-Mount Stamp Set [140517] $35.00
Banner Triple Punch [138292] $38.00	Petal Garden Designer Series Paper Stack [144168] $17.50	Silver Glimmer Paper [135314] $8.75	White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584] $11.50
Shimmery White A4 Card Stock [121717] $14.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75	Sweet Sugarplum A4 Cardstock [141423] $14.00	Rich Razzleberry A4 Card Stock [119981] $14.00
Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate [131291] $14.00	Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin’ Pad [141395] $11.50	Rich Razzlebberry Classic Stampin’ Pad [126950] $11.50	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad [131179] $11.50
Versamark Pad [102283] $15.00	White Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109132] $8.75	Heat Tool [129056] $50.00	Fresh Fig 1/8″ Sheer Ribbon [144174] $10.50
Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $6.00

Stamp Review Crew – Coffee Cafe

Hello!  What does this lovely Monday hold for you?

It’s week one of the winter school holidays here, so we are having fun between showers, rugging up against the cold and spending some quality time inside!

Winter weather is always a great excuse to put on a movie and spend some time at the craft table as well – so there’s been some of that too!!!

I’ve been busy over the last week putting together not one, but four cards for today’s Stamp Review Crew blog hop featuring the Coffee Cafe stamp set, together with the coordinating Coffee Cups Framelits dies and wonderful Coffee Break DSP.  This suite is great for all occasions!

Prepare to be dazzled as you zoom around the world on a coffee filled adventure with some surprises along the way!

The hop goes around in a circle, so you may have already visited the gorgeous Twila Davis in the US!  The link at the end of this post continues the hop for you – to Bronwyn Eastley, a lovely demonstrator in Tasmania who I love to be able to call a friend!

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I initially had a difficult time brewing ideas for this hop (pun intended!) but once I got started, they just flowed!

I’ve kept with the suite colours & overall theme for these designs – I just love the DSP!!!

Here’s all the cards in more detail – warning, lots of photos to come!!!

The first card is a lovely generic sentiment card that would be perfect for any number of occasions.

It really highlights how awesome the DSP is!

And features one of the great sentiments in the stamp set.

I love that it fits in the belly band – which makes it easy to add!

Did you spy those cute little cups on either side of the main coffee image?  They are fussy cut from the DSP – endless possibilities!

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The next card has a hard-hitting statement… because you know if someone loves you  more than their coffee, it’s got to be a lot!

The “I Love You” is from the Happy Birthday Gorgeous stamp set – the font is a lovely compatible match for the “coffee” wording which I’ve stolen from the large sentiment in this stamp set.

I tried a few different lettering options for the ‘more than’ text and in the end I decided that my handwriting emulated when the cafe writes your name on the takeaway cup.

During my collating ideas process, I tried to come up with a card that used the name writing on the coffee cup idea in a funny way – you know, like “Stephen with a ph”… I’m still working on it!

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Card #3 is my favourite… I think!

I’ve seen this idea on coffee mugs and thought it went well with the ‘life happens’ sentiment.

We all have that friend who {does not} function until they’ve had their first coffee of the day?!?!  Maybe you live with one?

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And the final card is a cello bag shaker card – because those little coffee beans are too cute!!!

I love a good pun – so the ‘thanks a latte’ sentiment tickles my fancy!

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That completes my set of Coffee Cafe cards for today’s blog post.

For more inspiration, click the next button to visit the amazing Bronwyn Eastley in Tasmania – I know she has something wonderful to show you the possibilities this set holds!

If there’s any broken links, or you’d like to visit the main Stamp Review Crew blog – click here for a full participant list.

Thanks for joining us today!

Coffee Café Photopolymer Stamp Set [143677] $37.00

Coffee Cups Framelits Dies [143745] $50.00

Coffee Café Photopolymer Bundle [145331] $78.25

Coffee Break Designer Series Paper [144155] $19.25

A Whole Lot of Lovely Vertical Greetings

I had a few special thank yous to send after my launch event a couple of weeks ago.

The day was a huge success, but as with all major events, lots of work went in behind the scenes.

Which meant that three very special people deserved thank you cards!

My cards started by cutting up one of the sheets from the Whole Lot of Lovey DSP pack.  {psst – it really is a whole lot of lovely!}

This then guided the card base colours – Pool Party, Powder Pink & Daffodil Delight – all flower colours on the vine!

One of the things Stampin’ Up! love the most – and I love the most – is coordination!

So it’s no surprise that the flowers in the Whole Lot Of Lovely DSP very closely resemble the flowers in the Falling Flowers stamp set!!!

The greeting is from the Vertical Greetings stamp set.  This was one of the new sets I most excited about {last year} – and haven’t really used it enough!

Which stamp set did you think you’d love but it’s gathered dust on the shelf?

Make sure to get it out and give it some love this week!

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Product List

Vertical Greetings Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141876] $33.00	Falling Flowers Clear-Mount Stamp Set [139556] $35.00	May Flowers Framelits Dies [140276] $54.00	Whole Lot Of Lovely Designer Series Paper [144110] $19.25
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75	Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock [121680] $14.00	Powder Pink A4 Cardstock [144251] $14.00	Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] $14.00
Tranquil Tide A4 Cardstock [144252] $14.00	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] $12.25	Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad [126953] $11.50	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin’ Pad [126944] $11.50
Powder Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad [144084] $11.50	Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad [126982] $11.50	Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad [126978] $11.50	Aqua Painters [103954] $20.00
Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $11.50