Tuesday 27 October 2009

More Scrapbooking!

Here are some more pages I found recently but can't remember posting.
This is a 6 x 6 page which uses Cheep Talk,  3 Flower Punch, and Good Morning Sunshine DSP.
and


This is a 12 x 12 page using some leftover scraps of my Hoppy Days Simply Scrappin' Kit.  I love that alpha paper!  So cute.

Whale Wishes for a little boy

I had to send a get well soon card for a little boy with a broken leg last week, and it was so easy to slap together using scraps from the Hoppy Days Simply Scrappin' kit and Pun Fun.

I have been doing a lot of watercolouring lately, I love it!  I used Black Stazon ink for the outline on Watercolour Paper (it makes a big difference, trust me).  I then used my Aquapainter and markers to colour the image.  Voila!


Sunday 25 October 2009

Simple Christmas

Here is a recent Christmas Card I made using my latest purchase "Spotlight on Christmas."  I'm a sucker for a stamp that goes with a punch - this set has mutiple stamps that were made for SU punches.  Makes for a quick and easy project, especially if you are making a lot of them!  The base card is Kraft, which I stamped randoml with the swirl in Sahara Sand ink.  I crimped the chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red band (I'm on a Crimping kick lately!).  For the rest and I used Riding Hood Red ink on Very Vanilla card.  I punched out the Poinsettia with the 5 petal flower punch.  and the "joy" circle was punched out with the 11/4 circle punch and matted on a RHRed circle which was punched out with the 13/8 circle punch.   A couple of red brads finished the main flower, and I was done!  I utilised the "rule of three" here:  3 poinsettia, 3 brads, and the band is placed on roughly a third of the card.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out; simple enough to mass produce, but enough detail to keep it interesting.

Here is a beautiful Thank you card from my clever friend Barbara.  Isn't it gorgeous?  She's used the Polka Dot background stamp with Cheep Talk.  Love how she has cut out and popped up the pear.  So cute!

Wednesday 21 October 2009

Last reminder about WCMD 31 October 2009

Finished!  My prepping of 300 cards, that is!  Woo Hoo!

If anyone would like to come but hasn't paid their deposit yet, please email me ASAP or you will miss out, as there are limited spaces.

Hope to see you there!

Monday 19 October 2009

Card Box Step by Step Turorial



I've finally done up my tutorial!  This box is one I've seen around the blogs but I've never seen it made for Australian standard sized cards and envelopes, or using A4 cardstock.  Can I just take this moment to say that I admire every single blogger out there who regularly posts tutorials on techniques and projects.  It is quite difficult taking a photo while doing something!




What you will need:
2 sheets A4 cardstock
Paper trimmer with scoring blade (or bone folder and ruler)
Sticky strip or Tombow Mono multi glue
2 strips of ribbon, approximately 30 cm long
Contrasting cardstock for handles
Round Tab Punch
Horizontal Slot Punch
Scallop Edge Punch
Paper Snips
Brads

Template:



Step 1:
As shown in the template, take each A4 sheet and score on the short side at 14.5cm, then flip the card around and score both ends on the long side 6.4cm from each end.  Your A4 sheet will now look like this:
Then, taking your bone folder, fold all of the lines you just scored and snip where indicated up to the intersection of the lines.

 

Step 2:
If desired (this is optional) scallop the top edge of both pieces of cardstock using the scallop edge punch.

 
TIP:  I also removed one of the tabs on each piece (opposite sides) as shown in the photo above, as I felt it was easier to assemble this way.


Step 3:
Start assembling your box, adhering the bottom of the box first.  You can use either sticky strip or Tombow glue here; it is entirely personal preference.  Be aware that SNAIL or ordinary double-sided tape will not keep your box together for very long, which is why I recommend Sticky Strip.  I find it less messy than glue and I don't have to wait for it to dry.








See?  The actual box is very simple.







Step 4:
To make your handles you will need to punch out 4 round tabs from scrap cardstock in the colour of your choice.   Score them before folding, it will make it easier to get a nice flat fold.


Then, use your horizontal slot punch to make a hole for ribbon to slide through.  To do this, fold your tab, flip your punch over so you can see through the "window" until the folded edge is half way through.
Your tabs should now look like this:

Now put a little sticky strip on one side of the tabs to keep the ribbon in place, like so:

 
With a little more adhesive, attach the side with the ribbon to your box, but don't stick down the other flap, we aren't finished yet!

Using your Crop A Dile, punch a small hole through your box, the tab and ribbon (leaving other side of tab alone), and place a brad through the hole.  Then, (again, I used Sticky strip here to make sure these handles won't go anywhere) adhere the back of the tabs down over so the back of the brads are covered.
This is not essential, just a personal preference.


Step 5:

Now decorate your box as desired with DSP, cardstock, etc.  Of course, you could have stamped the box before adhering it together if you prefer.




I hope that was easy enough to understand.  Please let me know if you've tried it, or if you have further questions.


Cards for Michelle

My dear friend asks me to keep her stocked with cards so I whipped up 20 for her last night.  Simple, one layer cards using Upsy Daisy and the reverse masking technique (I used the negative from a Nestabilities die I'd used recently on another card).  The card is Kraft and the colours were kept monochromatic.  She likes them to be blank so she can use them for any occasion.  What do you think?  Too plain?



I also made a box to put them in and made a step by step tutorial while I was at it.  The tutorial will be posted a little later as today is a pupil-free day and the kids are bugging me to get off the computer!
Anyway,  here's the box:

Saturday 17 October 2009

My Darling Husband's 40th

Whoops, almost forgot to post a pic of the card I made my husband for his 40th birthday this week.  Not a brilliant pic, as I just took it now at night (so organised!).  The base card is Kraft, and I used chocolate chip and very vanilla cardstock there too.  The background woodgrain stamp is not SU - it is an old one from my stash, Hero Arts, I think.  The Beer mugs are from Cheers to You, and I coloured them with a More Mustard marker after stamping in Black Stazon.  See the "foam?"  That is liquid appliqué,  which you heat with a heat gun to make it all puffy.  Such a fun effect, and perfect for the beer!
The eyelets are again the retired Earth Elements eyelets by SU.    I used the Word Window punch for the Sentiment (On Your Birthday).

Inside the card was an iTunes Gift Card, and a Gift Voucher for.......3 laps in a Lotus Sports Car!  I find my husband very difficult to buy for, so I think this "Experience" gift was the perfect solution.

Some simple scrapbooking pages

Hello gentle readers!

I did a display at my sister's Breast Cancer Fundraiser this week, and while I was putting it together, I came across a few scrap pages that I may not have shown you on my blog.  If I have, I apologise (4 babies = brain rot).

This is a 6 x 6 page which I love, because it is so quick to do, economical because you can make 4 out of one 12 x 12 sheet, and little albums make a great "brag book" for doting Grandmothers as well!  I created the background by swiping a Brilliant Blue inkpad randomly across Brilliant Blue cardstock.  My embellishments are simply stars from Nursery Necessities and from Wanted, stamped in Real Red and punched with the co-ordinating Star Punches.  The title is also from Nursery Necessities and punched out with the Word Window Punch.  I distressed the edges of the Real Red mat as well.







Next is another 6 x6 page.  I rolled the So Swirly Jumbo Wheel along the left side, and sponged the edges of the white cardstock with Pretty in Pink ink.   The embellishment is again a stamped sentiment (from the Best Yet Hostess Set), punched out with the 13/8th inch circle punch and mounted on a pretty in pink scalloped circle also punched out.  I used the scallop edge punch on the bottom edge of the pink photo mat too.  Very easy.

I like doing simple pages because often I find I can get so worried about how I'm going to do my page that I end up not doing anything at all!  And this size page allows you to use standard sized photos (trimmed just a little) in which your subject can shine because of the lack of other distractions on the page.


Finally, here are some cheeky cards I made for the fundraiser.  Cute aren't they?  I've seen them all over the internet, and I made my own template and cut them out by hand.  They use Blush Blossom cardstock, kiwi kiss and whisper white cardstock, and some scraps of Raspberry Tart DSP.  I've also used my Eyelet Border punch and Crimper to made the "lace" and the Boho Blossoms punch with added pearls.






I'm still working on the box template; fear not!  Just had a crazy week.  Well, to be fair, nearly every week is crazy!

Thursday 8 October 2009

More One Sheet Wonders and oodles of cards!

I know it has been a little while since I've posted any projects, but I've been hard at work, honest!  First school holidays, then prepping for the Big World Cardmaking Day Event on the 31st, and prepping for the OSW class I did today.  We made 9 cards and a box to put them in.

Here is the first one I did (the OSW Template I used is by Mae Collins, click her name to go to her blog) using Petal Pizzaz and and unusual (for me) combo of colours.  I had a pack of Apricot Appeal cardstock and used the colour wheel to find more colours to use:  Gable Green, Pixie Pink and Cameo Coral.  Not my fave combo, but it ended up looking much better than I expected.  I like challenging myself like this!







I made up my own template for the box, and once I've prettied it up I'll post the instructions.

The second one I made was based on the colours in the Raspberry Tart DSP - Kiwi Kiss, Regal Rose, Rose Red and Pretty in Pink.  I used the Circle Circus stamp set again.





The ladies who did the class with me used Circle Circus in Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point and Baja Breeze, and their creations looked great!  Sadly I didn't think to photograph them until after everyone had left.

Friday 2 October 2009

October Promotions

In honour of World Cardmaking Day, Stampin' Up! has a fabulous promotion this month:  when you purchase the Rock Star or Flower Power Simply Sent Card Elements Kits (pg 140-141 IB&C), you'll get 20% off the co-ordinating stamp set!



Also, if you are thinking about coming along to my World Cardmaking Day Event on 31st October, better let me know ASAP because spaces are limited.  You will need to pay your deposit at time of booking to ensure your spot.


BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PROMOTION
Dates: 7 October-31 December 2009
For over 20 years, Stampin' Up! has helped women make a difference in the lives of others by simply doing what they love to do--sharing creativity.
Now you too can become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and make a difference! For every person who joins the Stampin' Up! family between 7 October and 31 December 2009, we will donate $5 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (AU) or The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
Plus, until 31 December 2009, we'll give you a FREE pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper and a Pretty in Pink Classic Stampin' Pad to help you get started!
Contact me today to learn how you can create a rewarding crafting business. 

Getting closer....

It's nearly that time of year, where the retirement list comes out.  That means the in-colours we've loved the past 2 years are leav...