Impressions Magazine Case

This is one of the cards we made at my last Stamp-a-Stack class - totally CASEd from a recent Impressions Magazine edition. I loved the look of the card when I saw it in print but didn't think more of it till I watched the tutorial on Stampin' Connection (a forum available to Demonstrators - seriously an AWESOME place to recieve inspiration - you are definitely not left to your own devices when you join the Stampin' Up! family - you should give it a try :) :) :) It looked super achievable and is truly stunning - I can't wait to try this same principle in different colours and stamps...

So what is it? Its a fabulous use of our Shimmer Paints and they are BEEEA-U-TI-FUL! You stamp the main image in the colour of your choice, clean your stamp, and then sponge on the Shimmer Paint of your choice, stamping it over your original image. Here I have used Champagne Mist and I LOVE the soft shimmery-ness of it.  Of course the photo's don't do it justice...:)

I LOVE that Crochet Trim as well - hopefully it will make a come back and we can have it all the time!

Thanks for stopping by - I have a couple more posts coming up so be sure to come back again in a few days and I'll have some more eye candy for you!

Smiles

Adele xxx

Picture Blocks

So this is my newest wood-working craze - photo blocks!!!! I saw the idea for these on a site I used to prepare my lessons for a class of young girls I teach at church and adapted it a little to suit my need for pretty flowers and accessories! :) We ended up doing this as an activity and all the girls got to make their own.



So I'm planning on adapting these to use a photo of Ystyn and I, or the kids or whatever photo I might like and do the same thing. I'll be back soon with new photo's later in the week...but I have to say, I love the things you can do to a boring lump of wood!

Smile smile smile,

Adele xxx



Cards for June Class

Just popping back to show you 2 of the cards we'll be making at my card class coming up on Tuesday 28th June...


This is the Faux Silk card we'll be doing - I've changed the colours from the brown version I did here - I really like these soft colours - I've used Naturals Ivory as the base and the retired Pale Plum (???) and Crumb Cake.

Next up is a card I've CASEd from the front cover of the catalogue - I've been wanting to make this card for forever and I have to say I LOVE it - of course these papers are my absolute favourite (Greenhouse Gala) and the Top Note of course looks fabulous any which way its used...

 So there you have it. I'll hopefully post the last two cards we'll be making later in the week.

If you'd like to come along and make these cards for yourself email me to reserve you place.

Tuesday 28th June
7.30pm start
$20 to make 8 cards (2 each of 4 designs)

RSVP - as soon as possible! :) :) :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Smiles

Adele xxx



Just Believe Faux Silk

I have another card to share with you today - I have actually been crafting madly prior to Mother's Day - my gifts to my mother and mother-in-law was a box full of cards and envelopes so it was a mad rush to get the box full enough. Photo's you say???? Well, I forgot, or ran out of time, or both! So sad because there were some cute ones in there - all mostly simple - I'll probably try and recreate some of them and share them with you then.

Anyway, this is a card I made for a friend who is moving using the Faux Silk. This is a technique I've been dying to try but I kept forgetting to buy white tissue paper! This was SOOOOO easy, and is definitely a FAVOURITE technique that I will use again and again and again - all you have to do is stamp your image on a light coloured base, then take a piece of light coloured tissue paper (I've only used white) and cut it slightly larger then the stamped piece of cardstock. Then you scrunch the tissue paper up in your hand into a tiny ball - unravel and use our Anywhere Glue stick to cover your cardstock with and spread out your tissue paper over the top. Trim the edges and its done! And how stunning does it look...

And yes, there's that damn ruffled ribbon again??? hehehehe. I am ALWAYS finding a reason to use it - hehehehe - I really need to come up with some new tricks! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, hopefully I'll have more to show soon!

Smiles, hugs and more smiles,

Adele xxx

Inkspiration Sketch Challenge #49 and Just Add Ink Colour Challenge #44



So sooooo annoyed at myself!!!! I've been struggling to upload photo's to my blog all day and have been trying on this blog and also my family blog and in the end gave it up in frustration! Have come back to it now to realise that I actually can upload so just started doing my thing without realising which blog I was on only to discover I have loaded all my craft stuff onto the family blog and have no idea how to get it over here without retyping the whole damn thing!!!!

So here I am retyping the whole damn thing!!!! :)

I'm going to keep it brief! hehehehe

Inkspiration and Just Add Ink Challenges  - combined - see below...

And here is my card...

The Sketch is flipped but otherwise fairly true to form. The colours however I had to do a little bit of 'making do'??? I don't actually own any Wild Wasabi or River Rock Cardstock yet - however - I was saved by the fact that I do own the inks (my very first set of inks when they were In Colours in 2007/2008). I was very impressed that they were still inky!!! So - I've used Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake as well as Very Vanilla and used Wild Wasabi to colour in my leaves, and River Rock with highlights of Blushing Bride to colour in my flowers. All in all a very vintagey looking card...





A close up of those flowers - I love these flowers...

Ok - so I can't be bothered writing out all my supplied AGAIN so, if you have any questions just shoot me a line! :) :) :)

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Smiles

Adele xxx

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #47 and BLOG CANDY

So as you can see I had a REALLY fun night last night - I made 2 cards which did mean I stayed up later than I should have but I enjoyed myself none the less!!! hehehe

This is the sketch for the Inkspiration Challenge...

And this is my card...



As you can see (I hope you can!!!!) I've flipped the sketch to suit my card, but I did try very hard to keep most of the components of the sketch present.

Once again I've used the lovely Dasher - he is just adorable I think, and I love to see his antlers all glittery! I've also embossed on vellum for the very first time and really like the effect. You might not be able to pick it up in the photo's but I have used the snowflake images from Snow Swirled to stamp on the background card behind the images - they're just not showing up to well?

All in all a very wintery Christmas card - so not an Australian christmas but gives the illusion of a white one!

Now - can you see that gorgeous little snowflake that creates my focal point just below Dasher??? If anyone can tell me where I've got it from I will send them a little BLOG CANDY!!!! Just leave a comment on this post - I will write the names of all correct answers and do a little draw next Wednesday! Happy guessing!!! :) :) :)

Thanks so much - you guys are AWESOME!!!

Lots and lots of smiles

Adele xxx

Stamps: Dasher, Snow Swirled, Best Yet
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Whisper White Craft
Other: Scallop Trim Edge, Vellum, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, White Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Dazzling Diamonds, Two Way Glue Pen

Just Add Ink Challenge Take Two

So - I made some Peg Magnets and a matching chipboard Top Note Bag to go along with the birthday card I made earlier this week. Thought I might add it to the Inkspiration Colour Challenge and the Just Add Ink 'Think Birthday' Challenge...this little bag and Peg Magnets are gifts for a friend's birthday (to go with the card) so that qualifies right??? :)

I'm really happy with how these all turned out - again not colours that I would necessarily choose by myself, but now I really like them!!! AND I have successfully used all 4 sheets (or however many) of Poppy Parade are in the In Colour Pack and am going to need to purchase a new pack, because YES I LOVE this colour! :) :) :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Smiles

Adele xxx

Just Add Ink Challenge

So I was off to find another challenge to try my hand at and realised my card could enter in to Just Add Ink challenge! I had a go at last weeks' challenge and loved it and can't wait for another sketch or colour challenge. In the meantime I thought I'd enter my birthday card in the Just Add Ink challenge too ;)

So here's the challenge...Just Add Birthday's!!!!

Sorry you have to see my card again!!!!!!

I promise to have something new for you again soon! :)

Smiles

Adele xxx

Inkspiration Colour Challenge #46

Yay!!!! I've had another go at an Inkspiration Challenge and its doing exactly what its meant to do - take you out of your comfort zone!!!! This card is nothing like my normal style but I like it nonetheless??? So nice and bright and cheery...Poppy Parade is set to become a definite favourite of mine I think - such a gorgeous, strong, vibrant colour! Love it!

So here's the Colour Challenge...

And here is my card...

All fairly self explanatory I hope - I've used only the colours in the challenge; some retired So Saffron DSP that I stole from Lisa :); some gorgeous retired So Saffron ribbon - ruffled AGAIN I know, but I do so love a good ruffle!!!; my favourite punch in the whole wide world - the Scallop Trim; the Top Note die (which incidentally Christaine Blaine - a fellow challenge participant has used so charmingly on her card and it reminded me that I own that gorgeous die too and should use it much more often!!!! Thanks Christine! :)); and the stamps sets 'Petal Pizzaz' (the Poppy Parade flower has been dipped in Dazzling Diamonds) and the current Level 1 Hostess Set 'Afterthoughts'.

And OH!!!! For the very first time I used my Versa Mark PEN!!! Did you even know there was such a thing in the catalogue?!?! I didn't till I read a post on Renee's blog where she's used one and I thought I'd have to scour local craft stores to find one - when I thought to just check our catalogue and there it was!!!! I've used it on the sentiment - I've stamped it in the Baja Breeze and then used my Versa Mark pen over the top and then sprinkled it with Clear Embossing Powder! Just an extra little detail. I was most annoyed with myself for not thinking to do it on the back panel as well, but oh well - next time I can! :)

And after all that effort (I AM finding it much much harder coming up with my own things rather than just CASEing someone else's work) I thankfully have a special someone in mind for this card!!! YAY!!!

On a personal note the weather here in Brisbane has really started warming up! We took the kids to the beach on our first, very very rare FREE Saturday morning and I thought I'd share some pics we snapped on the day...as you can see the boys had a BLAST, whereas little McKinley wasn't too sure about the whole thing! hehehehe. Apart from making cards and crafting spending time with my family fills me with the deepest joy...

Thanks for stopping by and come again soon!!! :)

Smiles

Adele xxx

More Challenges

I had so much fun with the last challenge that I thought I'd try a few more. I chose an old Inkspiration Sketch Challenge and coupled it with the last Just Add Ink Colour Challenge. I definitely found the colour challenge a little more difficult to wrap my head around - maybe it just depends on the day???

Anyway, I inked up my Just Believe set for the very first time and can see I will be using this one lots and lots and lots.

Sorry about the photo's - the colours ARE Pear Pizzaz  (along with Blushing Bride, Sahara Sand and Bashful Blue) but for some reason its looking a lot more like Kiwi Kiss. In real life the card is very soft and pastel-ey! Also, I don't own Bashful Blue (YET) so I had to use Baja Breeze ink - thankfully I did have a few scraps of the CS from an old Subtles Collection pack...

I'm not totally happy with this card - I'm feeling like the front main panel is missing something??? Can't think for the life of me what it is though - so it stays the way it is!!! :) I feel like I cheated a little as well - I couldn't find a way to incorporate the Blushing Bride, so cheated and just added a flower!! heheehe. A flower can go anywhere right????

Thanks for stopping by, come again soon

And if you're interested in coming to my Frames class tomorrow night I still have a few spots left!!!

Smiles

Adele xxx

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #45

Finally!!!! I got my butt into gear in time to participate in a challenge! And - I really enjoyed it!!! I've been finding for the last little while that creativity has been a little low and I've been doing lots of CASEing, but it was great to work with a sketch and come up with my own thing. It definitely took a little longer but I really enjoyed the process.

So here it is....

I LOVE Dasher!!!!!! He is just gorgeous. And I LOVE Cherry Cobbler!!!! And I LOVE the Scallop Trim Punch!!!! And I LOVE LOVE LOVE those Vintage Brads!!!! And how YUMMY is that ribbon!!!! I just love it! Its the Riding Hood Red Striped ribbon that you can select if you purchase one of the Christmas Bundles and I just love it!

Well, off to load it up to Makeesha's website - go and check out some of the incredible entries, particularly the Design Team themselves - they are some of my absolute favourites!

Have the best day ever and thanks for stopping by!

Smiles

Adele xxx

Some Yummy Cards

Just quickly posting some cards I made a couple of weeks ago - they were inspired by this card of Trish's - I loved its simplicity and elegance (which all of her cards are!!!) and thought I'd give it a go, and these are what I came up with...

I think I would definately like to have another go at these cards with a cleaner look (like Trish's 2nd card) but liked the rustic appeal of these? I have used my markers to ink up the branch, leaves and flowers and the Three Blossom Punch (retired) for the punched out flowers because I don't have the Boho Blossom Punch (YET!!:)).

The colours are Peach Parfait, Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride and Pear Pizzaz.

Anyway, hope you like!

Enjoy your week.

Come again soon.

Smiles

Adele xxx

A 'Marelle' CASE

This is a second card we made at our Technique Class last week and I have to say my ultimate favourite!!!! When I saw this card on Marelle Taylor's site it was one of the jaw-dropping moments - I thought it was STUNNING and have wanted to try it myself. I didn't have the same colours Marelle has used and my first attempt wasn't none to pretty (!!!!!) but then my sister (thank you!!!!) suggested trying it in Baja Breeze and it just flowed from there...

So you start with a piece of Whisper White cardstock onto which I've rolled the Very Vintage Jumbo wheel in Sahara Sand (would probably have used Crumb Cake but I don't have that ink pad yet. YET!!!!! :), then stamped the flourish from Vintage Vogue in Soft Suede twice before re-inking to get the softer brown as well as the darker image. Then, you stamp the GORGEOUS Medallion image in Versamark where you want it, cover in Clear Embossing powder and heat set. Once you've done this you use your brayer to smoosh the colour all over the piece of Whisper White making sure you go over the details of the Medallion so it really stands out. Then grab a tissue, or soft cloth or toilet paper as in my case :) and wipe the excess ink of your embossed image - and there you have it! Isn't it stunning! I think so! But then again so are most of Marelle's incredible idea's!

I've mounted the original piece of Whisper White onto another piece of Whisper White, mounted that onto a small mount of Crumb Cake and then have run that ruffled ribbon up the side.

And there you have it. A beautiful card for any occasion. I have already used this one and am anxious to make another so I can just look at it!!! hehehee

Thanks for stopping by, come again soon!

Smiles

Adele xxx

New Frames

I made a few new frames for the Launch party and was really happy with how they turned out, although the photo's leave a lot to be desired...

This frame uses the Butterfly Punch and the Butterfly Prints stamp set from the new catalogue and the GORGEOUS Greenhouse Gala papers!! How effective are all these papers together - I LOVE THEM!!! Seriously - I really really like all of the papers in this collection.

You can't see in the photo but the backing is a piece of Baja Breeze cardstock and I've inked the small damask image from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments set in a pattern all over the back in Versamark for a subtle hint of pattern...and the gorgeous saying in the middle says 'Love is like a butterfly, it goes where it pleases and pleases where it goes', which I think is really really sweet!

Sorry for the bad photo!!!! This frame is essentially exactly the same as the one I made for a friend in this post - although now that I'm looking at the two of them on the screen I can spot a few differences...

The colours in this frame are baja Breeze and Soft Suede - that delicious spotted ribbon is no longer available (so sad)?? These colours together are so soothing to me and I am in love with this style of frame - so vintage looking - I love it!

So I am more than happy to sell these frames to anyone that wants them. They will be $20 each plus P&H if you're not in the local area. Better yet, why not have a go and whipping up your own!!! If you need any help with purchasing supplies just let me know! (wink wink!!!!)

Thanks for stopping by, come again soon...

Smiles

Adele xxx

Greenhouse Gala

I am IN LOVE with this paper and its matching stamp set - Friends Never Fade! They are both so so gorgeous, and I'm having so much fun playing with them, albeit frustrated fun because I just want the new colours that co-ordinate with the paper!!!! But I shouldn't complain should I....:)

Anyway, here are a few cards I've made using these two favourites...I have to admit most of these are almost complete CASEes as the mojo has been running very low...

This is the first card I've made today - and it doesn't use any new paper or colours but some old favourites - Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry. I found this card here and really liked its simplicity AND the fact that it uses 2 carry over colours rather then new ones...that helped me out a lot! :)

This card I found here which again attracted me by its simplicity. I don't have the same colours (I've used Chocolate Chip instead of Early Espresso) but I think the effect is the same...

And while I was working with that layout I decided to try some different colours and patterns and created this...

Now Baja Breeze is STILL one of my favourite colours and I really like all these colours together. LOVE that patterned paper...(didn't realise how very SAD that stupid little blue knot looks - will be fixing that!!!)

I have a few more to show you but might save them for a rainy day, or just another day!

Hope you're having a fabulous Friday and that you're making space in your diary so you can come to our FREE Catalogue Launch tomorrow night - it will lots of fun and one of the make and takes may include one of these cards??? :)

Thanks for stopping by,

Smiles

Adele xxx

Cards by Order

So a little ago I had a request to make up some cards for a baby's christening which was fun and scary at the same time - normally I just create cards whenever the mood is upon me with no actual event in mind and they just go into my card stash, or I'm making up cards for a card class or such, but to be actually asked for a card specifically was so definitely somethine new and I really really enjoyed myself.

I started with the first card but thought it might have been just a little too dark for a baby's christening, so came up with the second card instead... 

My 'client' was happy with both of them and ended up buying them both so that was great - I really enjoyed making them...thanks Terri!!!! :)

If you need a card for a special occasion just drop me or Lisa a line and we'd LOVE to help you out! Or - if you see a card here on our blog that you'd like to purchase thats great too!!! Shoot us an email or a comment and we'll get right back to you!!!

Thanks for stopping by, come again soon!!!

Smiles

Adele xxx