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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Tealight Christmas Card - TPP#225

I had another play around tonight with Nance's Black Tie Challenge at The Paper Players to create a holiday project that is fancy!  I figure this fits the bill:-


It looks quite unassuming until you pop a battery tealight inside & light up the moon!


I wanted to create something a little different & used the recent JAI sketch as a rough starting point for my design.

http://www.just-add-ink.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/just-add-ink-244-just-add-sketch.html
 (Click on the graphic to go to the JAI challenge)

The starry night sky was created by punching Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper with the Confetti Star Border Punch.  Each star was added using a teeny dob of Crystal Effects.  I used the large circle punch to create the moon aperture in the black cardstock layer, then used a slightly larger circle die to cut the corresponding openings in the white & cherry layers.  The sleigh image was stamped on the vellum with Staz On.  The house was stamped on whisper white cardstock with memento ink & coloured with Blendies.  Tiny pearls (coloured red) have been added to the fussy cut pine tree.  The banner end was cut with the hexagon punch & the house & tree are lifted up on dimensionals.

There are still a couple of days left to play in The Paper Players challenge which you can find by clicking on the graphic below:-


Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Card Components
All SU

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

A couple of Christmas Challenges!

With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I would play along in a couple of challenges to create this card:-


The layout is inspired by the Tina's Sketch Challenge at Just Add Ink:-

http://www.just-add-ink.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/just-add-ink-244-just-add-sketch.html

& Nance's Black Tie Challenge at The Paper Players to create a holiday project that is fancy!

http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com.au/2014/12/pp225-black-tie-theme-challenge-from.html

I've kept to a monochromatic palette of white, slate, brushed silver & shiny silver cardstock, with silver embossed details & sentiment.  An extra touch of bling comes from a retired rhinestone embellishment that I had been saving because it's sooo pretty!  :)

Both these challenges are running longer than usual, so you can play along by clicking on the respective graphics.  Make sure you check out the gorgeous samples from the Design Team members too!

Thanks for stopping by.  :)

Card Components
All Stampin' Up! as listed above, plus All Is Calm DSP, Versamark Ink, 
Bright & Beautiful S/Set, Many Merry Stars S/Set, Star Framelit Dies, 
Hexagon Punch & Dimensionals

Thursday, October 30, 2014

FLORAL CASCADE CARDS

Something that has been on my "to do" list for a while is a double cascade card, where you basically have two interlocking angled "z" fold cards.  I used the directions in Sonia's post, but altered the measurements so my base panels are 12" long x 3" at the front & 6" at the rear.  Here is my first card, made in SU blues:-


Here is a view from the top, so you can see the concertina effect:-


They flatten out, but still need a box rather than an envelope to accommodate them, so I made a custom box to match:-


This is what it looks like on opening:-


& here they both are together:-

 
& because these cards are so much fun to make, I made a purple one too:-


Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Card Components
All Stampin' Up!
Cardstock & Ink Colours
BLUE - Lost Lagoon, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Pear Pizzazz & Very Vanilla
PURPLE - Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Certainly Celery & Whisper White

Saturday, October 25, 2014

CASE-ing the Catty #13

This week the Team at CASE-ing the Catty are focusing on cards featured in the Holiday Catty.

Yesterday I had a wonderful day out with friends & bought a couple of sweet little dies.  I have used them on this card, which was inspired by the tree card at the top of page 24:-


I have curled each layer of the poinsettia blooms & added some gold glitter ink to the stamens.  A tiny rhinestone, coloured with the darkest daffodil blendability completes each flower.  I also coloured some white baker's twine with the lightest cherry blendability for the bow.  The brushed gold watering can is popped up on dimensionals & layered over a strip of striped sticker from the retired Season of Sweets Designer packaging kit, as well as a garden green strip.  A simple embossed border finishes off the card.


You can see all the fabulous inspiration pieces by the Design Team & play along in the challenge here (click on the graphic).



Card Components
Garden Watering Can by Memory Box
Small Blooming Poinsettia by Poppystamps
Zig Gold Wink of Stella Glitter Pen
everything else is Stampin' Up!

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Minion Pop n Cuts Card - Bee-Do, Bee-Do, Bee-Do!!!

Hithere!  I had fun last week designing & making this birthday card for my sister who absolutely loves the little "Bee-Do" minion from the Despicable Me movies.  If you don't know who Bee-Do (aka Carl) is, check out this you-tube video - you can't help but smile at the little fellow!  :)

I put together this card using the Sizzix Pop n Cuts die for the base & added a simple pop up mechanism to support my minion:-


The "floor" has been stamped with the hardwood stamp & sponged.  I added some retired DSP for wallpaper & sponged the edges of that as well to create some depth.

The minion is made from a LOT of little pieces that were hand cut using some sharp little scissors & a hobby blade where necessary.  I also used the owl & cupcake builder punches for some of the small circles, including his eye & buttons.  All the pieces were layered over & under the yellow base layer to create the minion.



Each section was sponged, with details such as the stitching on his overalls & the reflections on the hazard lights added with white gel pen.  The lights were also sponged with white ink to get some reflection happening!  He has an acetate lens in his goggle & an acetate layer on his hazard lights so they look more realistic.  I also added a little bit of silver embossing on his goggle to add some bolts & the fixing for the strap.

My sister was absolutely rapt with the card (which is definitely a one-off, lol) & was going to put him up on permanent display.  Hope he made you smile.  :)

If you like minions, you can find another minion pop up card I made here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Components
All Stampin' Up!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Lynne's Curvy Keepsake Box Die Projects

I am on a little holiday at the moment, staying with my crafting bestie, Lynne, & I brought a limited amount of crafting supplies with me, including the Curvy Keepsakes Box die.   This fortnight the team at CASE-ing the Catty are taking inspiration from boxes & bags in the Holiday Catalogue & Lynne made a super cute version of the inspiration piece on page 11, using a coloured image from the retired Greeting Card Kids stamp set as a feature panel:-



ETA - Lynne has added details to her blog now.  You can see her post here.  :)

You can see all the beautiful design team projects, as well as play along at the challenge here (click on the graphic):-


Lynne liked these little boxes so much that she has spent the afternoon cutting 36 more, complete with contrasting print panels, making an early start on her Christimas gift giving!  :)


Thanks for stopping by!  You can see my entry for this challenge here.  :)

Lynne's Project Components
Cardstock, Image, Twine, Dies & Blendabilities - Stampin' Up!
Sentiment Stamp - Inkadinkadoo
Printed Papers - Various, mostly Kaiser
Perfect Pearls, Glitter Pen

Curvy Keepsake Box Die

I am in love with the Curvy Keepsake Box Die from SU!  It makes an elegant little gift box & is such a perfect size.  

This fortnight the team at CASE-ing the Catty are taking inspiration from boxes & bags in the Holiday Catalogue, so I just had to make a box from the curvy keepsake box die.  :)  I used the red box on page 11 of the Holiday Catty as an inspiration for my project, as I think the print (washi tape) panel looks fabulous with the solid colour box.  I used a print (DSP) panel, then took it a step further by lining the underside of the other panels with crumbcake cardstock for further contrast. 

Here is my project:-


The tag dies that come with the box are really sweet & dainty.  I discovered the oval one was the perfect size for this image from the For the Birds stamp set.  It has been stamped in Versamark, then Black Memento Ink & heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  It's been coloured with Blendabilities markers.  A double espresso baker's twine bow completes the project.

I am on a little holiday at the moment, staying with my crafting bestie, Lynne.  You can see what Lynne created with the Curvy Keepsake Box die here.

You can see all the beautiful design team projects, as well as play along at the challenge here (click on the graphic):-


While I still had the cherry cobbler cardstock out (& Lynne was busy cutting LOTS of Christmas boxes), I decided to make another curvy keepsake box, just a little different from the one above, lol:-





This 3D toadstool was so much fun to create.

Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Project Components
All Stampin' Up!

Friday, September 26, 2014

More Mini Brads & Altered Little Letter Dies

Hithere! We have a big celebration coming up so I decided to have another play with the Little Letter Dies & silver mini brads to make a focal point on this card:-


I added a pierced pop up star to the inside of the card to highlight the simple sentiment & finished it off with some red candy dots:-


I have kept the layout very clean & used the design elements of the brad star outline & negative die-cut numbers to take centre stage.  I have added this card to the gallery at The Paper Players where Jaydee is currently hosting a masculine CAS challenge.  You can find the challenge here:-

http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/paper-players-challenge-214-jaydees.html 

To create the "8", I partially cut the letter "B", then flipped my panel over, re-aligned the die & partially cut the "B" again to create the "8" outline (eek, please excuse the horrible colour of the photo - I snapped it with a tablet!):-


To get the star outline, I used a piercing mat & then popped a mini brad in each opening:-


This is what the reverse side looks like:-


I added a simple scored border around the top navy layer, then layered it onto a panel of shimmery white with dimensionals & then layered that onto the navy card base with dimensionals.  Once it was complete, the empty numbers looked a bit sad, so I added the centre of the "O" from the die & punched two circles to add to my "8".  These pieces were all popped up on dimensionals too.

Hope the Birthday Boy likes it.  :) 

You can see my other mini brad & altered little letter die card here.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Card Components
All Stampin' Up! except for an office hole punch (used for the bottom circle in the "8") 

Thursday, September 25, 2014

CASE-ing the Catty #10 - Emboss Resist Feathers

Hithere!  I didn't think I would be able to play along with Bron & the Team at CASE-ing the Catty this week, but I just managed to squeeze in an entry, woohoo!


This week's challenge is to take inspiration from the "Artistic Expression" section of the Annual Catalogue, which runs from pages 154 to 175.  I have CASED the layout of the Wetlands Thank You card on page 173.  It certainly looks different though!  :)

I used the emboss resist technique to create the background by stamping the line art feather with Versamark ink on Very Vanilla cardstock & then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I brayered a layer of perfect plum ink & then sponged over my feathers with Rich Razzleberry & Elegant Eggplant inks.  Next I stamped some splotches from Gorgeous Grunge & flicked water droplets over the panel.  A quick buff with a tissue removed the excess ink from the embossing.

I used the Gold Baker's Twine for the trim, but stripped out the gold thread, making it a perfect match for the vanilla cardstock & vintage button.  Some die-cut banners complete the layout:-


The whole panel had a spritz of shimmer spray made from rubbing alcohol & frost white ink, which gave it a beautiful sheen (but I didn't quite pick up):-


Thanks to the Team at CASE-ing the Catty for another great challenge.  You can find it here:-

http://caseingthecatty.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/case-ing-catty-challenge-10-artistic.html

Card Components
All Stampin' Up!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Silver Mini Brads & Little Letter Framelits

The current challenge (#105) at SU Only, is to feature Embellishments (AC Pages 206-209 ). When I first saw the challenge I thought it would be fun to turn a simple embellishment into one of the main features of the card, rather than just using it as an enhancement, as they usually are.  This idea has been floating around in my head since then, so I decided to make it into a card before the challenge finished:-


I used the cute little silver mini brads to highlight my sentiment.  To get a nice neat circle of brads, I used a circular piercing mat & pierced every second hole.  The spacing was perfect!


As you are probably aware, there are no numbers in the Little Letters die set (I wish there were!), so to get the "4", I partially cut the "Z", then recut with the "I".  It worked like a treat!  :)



The whole black panel is popped up with lots of dimensionals & is covered with a scattering of black embossed stars.  I love how this card turned out IRL!  :)

You will find the challenge here:-

http://suochallenges.com/?p=4098

Edited to Add
A big thank you to the Team at SUO for choosing my card in their Top 3:-

 
Card Components
All Stampin' Up!
Basic Black, Tangelo Twist & Whisper White cardstock, Something to Say stamp set, Versamark & Tangelo Twist Inkpads, Black Embossing Powder, Little Letter Framelit Dies, Essentials Piercing Pack, Dimensionals 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

CASE-ing the Catty - A Second Attempt, this time with brayered tissue paper!

Hithere!

I discovered a big "oops!" with the card that I posted yesterday.  While flicking through the Annual Catty looking for inspiration for the CASE-ing the Catty challenge, I actually turned one page too far & slipped into the "Artistic Expression" section rather than the "Thanks" section.  You would have thought that I would realise that the page numbers in my post didn't correlate!  Sorry for the brain-freeze!  So I thought I would make another card &, this time, stick within the confines of Pages 144 - 153!!!  :)

You can never have too many thank you cards, so I made this little notecard, inspired by the spotty bag on Page 148.



The card is all SU, except for the flower petals, which are made from generic tissue paper that I had in my wrapping paper supplies.  I have brayered a piece with Coastal Cabana at one end & Bermuda Bay at the other end.  Then I layered the almost dry (Bermuda Bay inked) brayer over a section of Coastal Cabana to get a nice in-between colour.  I have used 4 different sized scallop punches, with one layer of each colour (so 12 layers in total).  I added a gold brad in the centre & scrunched up each layer individually & then unfurled them to create the bloom.

You will find the challenge here:-

http://caseingthecatty.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/case-ing-catty-challenge-9-thanks.html

& my "oopsie" entry here.

Luckily I am quite comfortable with having a good laugh at myself because I also discovered that the Yippee-Skippee MDS download that I thought wasn't available HAS been available for over 12 months!  :o  The upside of that is I can now do the wall art I was hoping to.  :)  Yay!

Thanks for stopping by.

Edited to add
Thank you to the Team at CTC for choosing my card this week.  :)


Card Components
Stampin' Up!
Notecard from the Hip Hip Hooray Card Kit, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana & Garden Green ink, Scallop Circle Punches, Gold Sequins, Gold Brad, Four You stamp set, Flower Patch stamp set, Flower Fair Dies, Versamark Ink, White Embossing Powder, Sticky Strip
Non SU
White Tissue Paper

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Vellum Brayered Balloons

Hithere!  This week I have a challenge card for both CASE-ing the Catty & Stamping Up Only:-


This week CASE-ing the Catty are exploring the "Thanks" section of the SU Annual Catty (Pages 144-153).  My layout was inspired by the tag in the centre of page 155.  The strong lines created by the flower stems & the vertical placement of the sentiment really caught my attention.

Stampin' Up! Only are featuring creations with Embellishments which you can find in the SU Annual Catalogue Pages 206-209.  Seeing as I have used baker's twine as a prominent design component & the sentiment is punctuated by little rhinestones, I thought this card fitted the criteria nicely. 


I wanted to create balloons with a transluscent quality, so I used vellum cardstock, which I brayered with the inks.  I brayered the Coastal Cabana on both sides of the sheet, to give it the same depth of colour as the black & curry.  I embossed my balloons with the Perfect Polka Dots folder for two reasons, firstly, because polkadot balloons are my absolute favourite and, secondly, the polkadots gave me some "cover" to hide my adhesive.  I used small, rolled up pieces of sticky dot placed strategically underneath a few polkadots on each balloon.  I love how you can still see the neck & the bow of the black balloon, even though it is covered by the curry balloon.  They're just like the real thing!  :)

You can play along in these challenges, & see what the Design Teams & challenge players have created by simply clicking on the respective graphic:-


Thanks for stopping by!  :)

Edited 18/9/14 to Add
Oops!  I realised today that I had skipped ahead one page too far for the CASE-ing the Catty challenge & ended up in the section after "Thanks", so I have created a new entry here.  Sorry about that!  :)

Card Components
All Stampin' Up!
Basic Black, Whisper White, Coastal Cabana & Crushed Curry cardstock, Basic Black, Coastal Cabana & Crushed Curry markers & inkpads, White Baker's Twine, Circle Framelit Dies, Itty Bitty Accents Punch (balloon necks), Remembering Your Birthday stamp set, Perfect Polkadots Embossing Folder & Glue Dots