Just Sayin' challenge

Well it's been a lovely Friday afternoon - a gorgeous sunny day so managed to get a bit of gardening done before a good friend arrived to help and then we planned to make a card or two together. What more could you want?  :-)

I have been thinking about the great sketch at The Paper Players this week

 And today finally had some time to make the card - and I've teamed it with a Splitcoast Stampers Clean and Simple challenge too - to make a clean card that has a colour (not a neutral) for a base card..

The chevron above the above the Word Bubble is supposed to look a bit like a raised eyebrow..:-) It is first punched with the chevron punch and then each end was shortened.

For the base card I've used some Tangerine Tango - something nice and bright :-)  - and goes with the Retro DSP. I've also used some Retro Washi tape and some So Saffron card stock embossed with the pretty Decorative Dots EF that's still available for FREE as part of Saleabration. 

Card stock: Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Designer Series Paper: Retro Fresh

Inks: Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar

Stamps: Just Sayin', Hardwood

Accessories: Big Shot, Stripes EF, Decorative Dots EF, Word Bubblle Framelits, Circle Framelits, Brown button, Chevron punch, Linen thread (in button), Retro Fresh This &That Washi tape

Well, its time now to take Sally the Lab out for a walk to meet her pal Monty in the parkwhile the weather is still good. Such a great day for the last day of Summer!

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Easter is coming

Welcome everyone to a wonderful Wednesday! It is the last week of summer and I will be sad to see it go for another year but in the meantime, today has brought some gentle sunshine after some cooling light rain overnight. And it is time for another sketch from the Paper Craft Crew!

This sketch has several layers and I'd love you to check out the wonderful examples the Design Team have created and feel inspired to join us this week :-)

For my card I decided to get ready for the next big season - Easter! And to use some of the gorgeous DSP available for Free as part of Saleabration until the end of next month.

The DSP is layered together - using the Scallop border punch on the River Rock layer - and added onto a piece of Whisper White card so that it can be added with dimensionals above another white layer.

Seeing as the  middle strip of paper here is so colourful it doesn't really need much added to it I think - just one flower from the lovely Simple Stems set and a gold sequin for the starfruit flower :-)

For the greeting I used a retired stamp set with the Banner Framelits - the greeting is actually cut with them too and then trimmed down using my paper cutter to sit within the Cantaloupe one. And the little banners are cut from the same DSP as used in the horizontal strips. 

Card stock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Sweet Sorbet *

Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe

Stamps: Simple Stems, Seasonal Wishes ( Retired)

Accessories: Big Shot, Banner Framelits, Crisp Cantaloupe Twine ( Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack*), Non SU Sequin

*Available during Saleabration

I actually made TWO Easter cards using this sketch this week!! So here is the other card too. It uses the same sketch of course and the same layout, just different designer series paper to create a different look

You can see the similarities here to the first card I am sure :-) 

The starting point here was the beautiful Watercolor Wonder (USA spelling) DSP with its subtle blues and greens. The middle strip uses the Hardwood background stamp and the lower card layer is embossed using the Decorative Dots EF.

Card stock: Island Indigo, Whisper White,

Designer Series Paper: Watercolor Wonder

Inks: Pool Party, Island Indigo, Summer Starfruit

Stamps: Simple Stems, Hardwood, Seasonal Wishes (retired)

Accessories: Big Shot, Decorative Dots EF*, Banner Framelits, Coastal Cabana Twine (Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack*)

*Available during Saleabration

So I hope you feel inspired  to check out the beautiful samples from the rest of the Team members and come and join us this week at the Paper Craft Crew!

Happy Stamping until next time,

Jan

Happy Birthday Cupcake

Well if anyone had thought that Summer was over we can all think again! A hot 34 in Melbourne today and it was 30 degrees (Celsiuis) by 10am so it was a short walk and playtime for the dogs.  And so it is also a good time to stay indoors and make a card using the sketch at Just Add Ink this week :-)

I decided to use the Chalk Talk Framelits for the tags - can you see them?

Yes, that's right :-) The large tag detail is hiding under the white tag layer!

The card base is Island Indigo and the White and Indigo layer is added with dimensionals onto another white layer with some White Bakers Twine to cover the card join and add another texture. Next the Chevron DSP is cut using the largest Chalk Talk tag framelit and it too is layered onto a White version to give it some strength so it can sit up on dimensionals :-) For the greeting, the Sassy Salutation is stamped and cut with another of the Chalk Talk framelits.  Silver Foil card stock is added with more Chevron embossing and some silver brads. And finally, the happy little cupcake with its little cherry on top :-)

Card stock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Silver Foil

Designer Series Paper: Watercolor Wonder

Inks: Island Indigo, Real Red, Baked Brown Sugar

Stamps: Sassy Salutations. Create a Cupcake

Accessories: Big Shot, Chalk Talk Framelits, Chevron EF, Whisper White Bakers Twine, Create a Cupcake punch, Silver Brads (retired), Earth Element brads (long retired!)

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Music Concert Birthday

Today's card is for a friend who is a seasoned music fan and concert goer  - and also uses the fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week.

This great sketch can lend itself to many themes I think - even this one!

And I know this card's recipient's favourite artist is Neil Finn who is a guitarist and  coming to Australia on tour next month so the sadly retired Extreme Guitar stamp was the obvious choice :-) 

The bright chevron stripes are supposed to represent some vibrant stage lighting….and what star wouldn't benefit from the odd sequin :-) And the tickets are hand cut  - although there is a punch available it hasn't made it's way here yet!

Card stock: Island Indigo, Whisper white

Designer Series Paper: Watercolor Wonder

Ink: Island Indigo, Crisp Cantaloupe, Gumball Green

Stamps: Extreme Guitar, Just Sayin', Take the Ticket

Accessories: Big Shot, Word Bubble Framelits, Crisp Cantaloupe Twine*, Sequins (non SU)

* Available as part of the freebie items during Saleabration

With the welcome cooler weather and touch of rain the dogs have enjoyed some good play time this week.

Lots of love amongst the rough and tumble

And young Monty will lie on his back and beg for Sally's attention who pretends to ignore him

Happy stamping until next time

Jan

Happy Watercolor

I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday wherever you are today! Here we are enjoying a short break from the hot weather of earlier in the month and are expecting our first decent rain of the year - hopefully!

Today's card is for the Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge. The Design Team have created some lovely and fun cards to inspire you so I hope you are encouraged to join us in the challenge this week!

I decided to use a new set from the Occasions Catalogue - Happy Watercolor - and for those Australians and NZ'rs no, its not a spelling mistake its just the stamp uses the American spelling :-)

The base of the card is Coastal Cabana and has been stamped with the Positively Chevron background stamp  in Versamark ink and then embossed with White EP. 

The next layer is actually a Calypso Coral Frame cut with the Square Framelits - yes , I know it is a  rectangle frame!! It is easy to turn the square into a rectangle and I will do a tutorial in my next post:-) I did leave the frame plain but it does sit over the white layer which is also backed on the same sized piece of Calypso Coral card.

The three background colours are all stamped off once onto scrap paper before stamped onto the white card. The flower image is stamped 3 times - once onto the card and twice where it is coloured using a Blender pen and cut and layered with Dimensionals.

The little Banner is made from the gorgeous Watercolor Wonder designer series paper and have added some Non SU sequins and also to the centre of the card. Yes! I have been converted :-) Sequins are definitely the IN thing!!

The greeting is from the Sassy Salutaions stamp set and is also stamped in Baked Brown Sugar onto Coastal Cabana card stock and cut out with the fabulous Word Bubble Framelits.

Card Stock: Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Whisper White

Designer Series paper: Watercolor Wonder

Inks: Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Baked Brown Sugar, Versamark

Stamps: Happy Watercolor, Sassy Salutations, Positively Chevron

Accessories: Big Shot, Word Bubble Framelits, White Embossing Powder, Blender Pens Non SU Sequins, 

I hope you feel inspired to join us over at the Paper Craft Crew this week!

In the meantime here is a fun photo taken during the dog friends play this morning - for those who aren't familiar, Sally is my black Labrador and she is 9 1/2years and Monty her young playmate is a 4 year old Golden Retriever. They met at the park three years ago and quickly became best mates and now if they don't see each other for play every day or so they get very depressed. They push and prod and jump all over each other and then follow it up with hugs and kisses :-)

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

First Christmas Card for 2014

At the end of last year with the Christmas card rush like many I decided that next (now this) year I'd try and make a Christmas card a week…..and yes I know its February already but here we are at last with one :-)
I saw the challenge over at Merry Monday to add an animal

 and my first thought was a Dasher Reindeer….but in the end went for a different look :-)

The Dove and greeting are both from the Calm Christmas stamp set that was available in the Seasonal Catalogue. I love the Dove but it is a bit tricky to cut out. Here he is layered onto some Silver Glimmer paper and his eye is a Basic rhinestone.

Card stock: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer

Inks: Island Indigo, Old Olive (marker)

Stamps: Calm Christmas

Accessories: Big Shot, Oval Framelits, Print Poetry EF,  Silver Ribbon, Frosted Finishes embellsihment, Basic Rhinestone, Dimensionals

This is the first time I've made a Christmas card outside the usual time frame of Oct- Dec and it does present some extra challenges I found - especially with no current Christmas DSP or stamps available but I am sure we will get used to that as the year goes on :-)

Happy Stamping until next time,

Jan

Baby Shower

Welcome everyone! Today's card is for some good friends who have announced they are expecting their first baby. It is always so special to be able to join in welcoming a new life into the world. This bub (and yes, is a boy!) is still coming so will do another card for his arrival :-)

In the meantime, it was also time to play with a new stamp set too LOL!!

Its called Happy Congratulations and is from the Occasions Catalogue. I love the little lanterns!! The greeting is also from the set and is cut out using the Word Bubble Framelits….loving those too! To create the green layer behind the Bubble I cut out two bubbles and layered them so the edges would show.

And do you see how well the little shirt lines up with the lanterns? So cool! AND total FLUKE by the way but I know you won't believe me :-)

Card stock: Marina Mist, Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White

Ink: Marina Mist, Island Indigo, Pistachio Pudding, So Saffron - incl markers for Tee

Stamps: Happy Congratulations, Baby Tees ( Jumbo Wheel)

Accessories: Big Shot, Word Bubble Framelits, Decorative Dots EF, Basic Rhinestones, Whisper White Bakers Twine

Now I just have to go shopping for a little Tee to go with the card :-)

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Have Fun with the Paper Craft Crew

Today is Wednesday so it is time for a new sketch at the Paper Craft Crew! I've had a busy day - off to the Dentist and a few errands but clean and happy teeth :-) And so it is nice to be able to sit down and make a card.

I think this sketch is a great one - it made me think outside my usual box which is something I love about Challenges. After several different card stock colours and umpteen stamp sets were tried I came back to this one - my second idea out of about 4-5!! And I do quite like it. So you see, we all need to be challenged a bit sometimes - it is good!!

I took inspiration from the colours in the beautiful DSP and used the Hardwood stamp as a background. The Tangerine Tango image is from the Starburst Framelits. It's  added with some dimensionals on top of the lovely Gold Foil card stock which has been cut with the Circle framelits. The "Thank You"greeting is from the Happy Watercolor stamp set.

 Two of the little banners are punched from the DSP and the middle one is stamped onto Pool Party card stock. All have a little Rhinestone and the ends have White Bakers twine bows added with Glue dots. And finally, a rhinestone is added to the flower in the DSP banner too :-)

Card Stock: Tangerine Tango, Pool Party,Whisper White, Gold Foil

Designer Series Paper: Sweet Sorbet*

Ink: Pool Party, Tangerine Tango

Stamps: Hardwood, Starburst Sayings, Happy Water, Banner Blast

Accessories: Big Shot, Starburst Framelits, Circle Framlits, Hexagon punch ( for banners), Banner Punch, Basic Rhinestones, White Bakers Twine.

I hope you too feel inspired to check out what the rest of the Design Team have shared for you and come and join in too! I so look forward to seeing what you create with this weeks's sketch at the Paper Craft Crew.

Happy Stamping until next time,

Jan

A Colour Challenge

Earlier in the week I ordered some new products including some inks that I have been meaning to get for sometime. Today, I decided I couldn't wait any longer for the Crisp Cantaloupe to arrive to attempt this gorgeous colour challenge at The Paper Players this week.

I knew I had some DSP and card and was searching through my oldest inks to see if anything might match and lo and behold the door bell rang! Yes, you guessed it! Australia Post with my delivery!! So a little happy dance we did :-)

So it didn't take long to unwrap the inks and make a start as I knew I wanted to make a Wedding card for a good friend getting married next month.

Of course the Twine came in the box today as well ( a lovely Freebie as part of Saleabration) so that "had" to be used too :-)

Underneath the Gold Vellum is some white card stock embossed with the Woodgrain EF although that detail is really hard to see.

I really love the Bundles in the new Occasions Catalogue - just makes it so easy to stamp and cut and look good! Although the flowers here are hand cut - no framelit for that one yet but maybe next year :-)

Card Stock: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Gold Foil

Designer Series Paper: Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum

Inks: Crisp Cantoloupe, Midnight Muse

Stamps: Starburst Sayings, Simple Stems

Accessories:Big Shot, Starburst Framelits,Woodgrain EF, Crisp Cantaloupe Twine*

*A FREE item available as part of Saleabration when you spend $90

Happy Stamping until next time,

Jan

Catching Fish

It's HOT in Melbourne yet again today - 41 degrees Celsius as I type. So its been the perfect day to spend inside card making sitting under the (new) Air Con :-)

Today's card is for a fishing lover….and combines the Sketch from Freshly Made Sketches

And the colours from Fab Friday

Its such a great colour combo and lends itself to a fresh look I think :-) And how much fun is it to make a card where the difficult decisions of colours and layout have been made for you LOL!!

So yes, this came together pretty quickly and was great fun to do so a big  "thank you" to both FMS and FF :-)

The crumb cake Frame is cut using the Square Framelits  and then embossed with the Lattice EF. The white square is sponged with some Coastal Cabana ink. I used some Linen thread for the fishing "line" and a Cocktail pick with the sharp end cut off for a fishing rod.

Card stock: Crumb cake, Real Red, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Retro Fresh

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Real Red

Stamps: By the Tide, Sassy Salutations

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Framelits, Lattice EF, Decorative Dots EF*, Linen Thread, Cocktail pick, Glue dots, Dimensionals, Snail

* Available as part of the Saleabration free products

I hope wherever you are today that "extreme weather" is not part of your forecast! Its hot here in Australia and freezing cold in the USA…..would be great to fly somewhere in between the two :-)

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Another Card in a Box

Today I have a special card to share with you - its a special one for my Sister-in-law…she has the best garden EVER so I thought I'd have a go at another of these Card in a Boxes with a flower and butterfly theme - but with NEW Products!!
You can see an excellent video tutorial by Tanya Bell with all the measurements here. But here is my version :-)

The Designer Series Paper is where i started and got my colour ideas from - its the gorgeous Watercolor Wonder pack. And the colours are great for a spring or summer theme! the base of the card is therefore Gumball Green, and the DSP is matted onto So Safron.

The flowers are all from the Simple Stems set and seeing as I as yet don't have Island Indigo ink, I stamped the spikier flowers with Midnight Muse - stamped off onto scrap paper once before stamping onto card stock.

The birthday banner is from the Hostess set, Banner Greetings and I cut the end leaving a little extra card to wrap around the toothpick  flag pole. The Love You is from the cute Just Sayin stamp set. And the heart is actually from a Saleabration set, Banner Bast. 

Do you recognise the butterflies? They are not so new!!And are from the Papillon Potpourri set - and finished with some rhinestones :-)

Card stock: Gumball Green, So Safron, Whisper White

Designer Series Paper: Watercolor Wonder

Ink:Tangerine Tango, So Safron, Midnight Muse, Real Red

Stamps: Simple Stems, Papillon Potpourri, Just Sayin, Banner Blast, Banner Greetings

Accessories: Big Shot, Word Bubble Framelits, Basic Rhinestones

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan

Oh Happy Day..

Well I must say it has been a busy and strange week for me. I had intended to enjoy making some cards and entering a few Challenges…but all hope of that faded when on Friday the Air Con died - just at the start of a 4 day heat wave - and threw normal life out the window! Amazingly I was able to rent an apartment for a few days at short notice until the replacement machine went in on Tuesday. And spent Sunday with a good friend crafting….so hopefully this week will be more normal!!

In the meantime, its already time for a new sketch at The Paper Craft Crew and a lovely one it is too! Do go and have a look at the wonderful cards the Design Team have made and hopefully you will be inspired to join in this week too!

My card was created during the stay in the Apartment where they had a little table…so I took my newly arrived order still in its big box to have a play…..so some limitations in supplies did exist :-)

The base of the card is Tangerine Tango to go with the orange in the DSP. The next layer is the wonderful Hardwood stamped in Smoky slate - doesn't it make you just want to touch it? I love this stamp :-)

For the Banners I used some Soft Sky card stock embossed with the Chevron EF and the gorgeous Sweet Sorbet DSP available as part of Saleabration.

The strip of Tangerine Tango is actually embossed with the Stripes EF and cut with the Adorning Accent framelits…but I know thats hard to see.

The main sentiment is from one of my favourite sets in the Occasions Catalogue - Starburst Sayings which comes with co-ordinating Framelits. I love that a Happy Day can be so versatile, from birthday to Wedding to encouraging….just fabulous!!

And the three little banners at the side are also Freebies as part of Saleabration (just love that :-) ) the Banner Blast stamp set and co-ordinating punch. And yes, I LOVE co-ordinating products!! The more that can be cut out without needing a pair of scissors the better I say :-)

Card stock: Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Soft Sky

Designer Series Paper: Sweet Sorbet

Ink: Smoky Slate, Tangerine Tango, Gumball Green

Accessories: Big Shot, Stripes EF, Chevron EF, Starburst Framelits,Adorning Accents Framelits Banner punch, Silver Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones

I do hope you feel inspired to come and check out The Paper Craft Crew and join in the fun - I can't wait to see what you create!

And in the meantime….here are some photos of the doggie best friends - my girl Sally and her big white friend  Monty. Its hot here today (again!) in Melbourne, Australia and so they are playing in the shade a bit. But I think you can see that they are still having fun….

A little cuddle for starters...

Followed by a little kiss and nibble of chin...

Oh someone's happy and relaxed!

And happily tired out, thanks Mum!

Happy stamping until next time.

Jan