August 12, 2009
Inspired by the Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalogue
One of a Kind
Here’s a card that I made after seeing an example card for the stamp set called One of a Kind in the current Idea Book & Catalogue. Have a look on page 95 and you’ll see a small square-cut card in green and blue… I used this example as inspiration for my card.
I used this card as a Make and Take for a couple of my workshops as it’s quite easy – just a bit of punching (ouch!! just kidding!!) and cutting and you’re pretty much done! One of the great things about Stampin’ Up!’s punches is that very often they co-ordinate with a particular stamp set. (How kind of Stampin’ Up!) The punch that matches the One of a Kind stamp set is the Boho Blossoms punch ($30.95 page 153) . You simply stamp the 3 flower image from the stamp set, slide it into the punch and line up the stamped image with the metal edges of the punch and punch out three perfect flowers that are already stamped in your favourite choice of colour. Of course, you can also just punch out the 3 flowers in Designer Series Paper or cardstock in your choice of colour to use as embellishments on cards and scrap-book layouts. It sure beats cutting around the tiny flower images!!!!
I love this colour combination – Almost Amethyst and Lovely Lilac.
Enjoy. :-)
July 19, 2009
Chipboard cutie
I made this card for my dear friend Kim some time ago. She’s amazing and *so* inspirational. Kim inspires me in so many ways – she’s my gym buddy, stampin’ buddy, parenting-advice buddy and all-around great friend! When I feel like I’m failing in any of the afformentioned areas she’ll lift me up and make me feel a heap better. *hugs*.
I loved making this birdie and so far it’s the only one I’ve made (note to self: make more cards with chipboard pieces!!).
Chipboard birdie
I covered the body, tail and beak with textured cardstock and DSP and because the birdie legs are so thin (and only slightly tricky to cover in cardstcok or DSP) I sponged Chocolate Chip ink over the top with Sponge Daubers – which I was pleasantly surprised to see that it gave EXCELENT coverage!
chipboard birdie detail
The original design inspiration came from the current Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalogue Page 116. If you look at the example card next to the Curvy Verses set, you’ll see a small square cut card with a small chipboard birdie… I just tweaked it a little and chose my own colours; I wanted to use Tangerine Tango from the current In Color range because it was a colour that I was not using frequently… and so this is the card I came up with. 
Enjoy.
May 14, 2009
Inspired by…
I’m often finding inspiration for my cards from many places such as clothes, nature, magazines, book covers, manchester and crockery… The inspiratiopn for the following cards comes from a very special mug – my Stamping Mug!
Julie gave me my very first “Stamping Mug“ quite some time ago as a random act of kindness right at the beginning of our Stampin’ Up! addictions, um, I mean, hobbies… and I fell in love with the design immediately! She knows me so well! I love the swirls and filligree images! It’s just “so me!!!”
Please note: **Coffee Mug must be full of coffee to reap maximum benefit from stampin’ session!!**
Can you imagine my surprise when I saw that the set “Friends 24-7″ from the NEW Stampin’ Up! Idea Book & Catalogue had a filligree image that is an almost perfect match for my mug? I’ve been wanting to make a card based on the mug for so long… and now I could!
This is for you Ju!!!!
Here are three cards that I made last night (within about one hour), and they were fairly simple and quick to make.
TIP: I’m finding that I’m often making three to four cards of the same general design in one sitting to make better use of my time – this is a handy tip if you’re short of spare time! You’ve already cut an A4 piece of paper in half to make one card, so why not make a second card at the same time with the other half? I simply double this and make four at a time. You’ve already got the inks, accessories and coloured cardstock out, so make use of it!
Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009
I think they look quite nice together. Tee hee, I’ve also taken my colour inspiration from the cover art to the Twilight series – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Twilight!!!!
Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009
Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009
Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009
I’m not sure if you can see the detail on the Real Red cardstock – I’ve stamped it with the background stamp ‘En Francais’ in Real Red ink and sponged the edges in Real Red ink too. I used black textured cardstock as I felt that it needed a little extra something as plain black cardstock would have been quite plain otherwise. I’ve used basic black 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon and Silver HodgePodge Hardware for the finishing touches! The saying stamps are from Baroque Motifs and Three Little Words.
I hope you enjoy!
