Thursday 31 August 2017

square!

I just had to fit one more card in before taking off for 10 days to Samoa...
CASology's challenge 264, 'Square', seemed at first glance to be simple - but then when I thought a little more I realised I'm entirely used to working with rectangular card shapes. So it really was a challenge!
I kept it very simple with stitched frames and a little central image:

Made using:
Stampin' Up paper (Whisper White, So Saffron), stampin' write markers (Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Sweet Sugarplum, Dapper Denim)
Other Products: My Favorite Things stitched square framelit dies.

Wednesday 30 August 2017

Double Dipper

I couldn't resist having a go at CAS Colours and Sketches' Double Challenge #238, even though I'm new enough at stamping that I didn't have any of the colours - so had to substitute the closest ones I have.
I've been feeling like I wasn't getting maximum benefit from Stampin' Up's Eastern Suite, so when I saw the circle on the sketch, I thought, 'Right! Here's my chance.'  I also used I technique which is probably familiar to a lot of people but new to me - bukeh colouring.
Here's the result:

Made using:
Stampin' Up ink (Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White), paper (Whisper White, Shimmery White, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky), stamp sets (Eastern Beauty, Grateful Bunch), dies (Eastern Medallions, Layering Circles)
Other products: francheville rhinestones

Tiny House

I've been playing around with the Stampin' Up stamp set 'In the City' for a while now, but this is the first time I've used it for a challenge. I just love miniatures, and so love the doll's house feel of these stamps. I used Paper Player's challenge PP359 as a layout inspiration, and CASE'ed (that sounds so much better than stole!) the idea for the clouds from a card made by a friend of mine, (or perhaps I should call her my card addiction enabler), Jan Clothier (her blog is here - she is an inspiration).
Here's the result:

 Made Using:
Stampin' Up ink (Marina Mist, Watermelon Wonder, Lemon Lime Twist, Basic Black, Soft Sky); paper (Whisper White, Shimmery White, Lemon Lime Twist, Island Indigo, stampin' write markers (Island Indigo, Hello Honey), Mica Flakes Trio Pack, embossing paste,  In the City stamps, Layering Circles dies
Other products: My Favorite Things dies (Stitched Basic Edges)



Sunday 27 August 2017

Thanks for lifting me upUp and Away

I loved the colour combination in Colour Throwdown;s #457 and had intended to make a very subtly coloured card, full of delicate detail. So much for that idea - the colours got stronger the more I played around. I did, however, work hard to keep the clouds light, in keeping with As you See It's sketch #157 - I liked the idea of them gently supporting the rest of the image, rather than being an overwhelming part of it. To that end, I used vellum and the outline stamp in Whisper White, rather than a bolder die cut white.
Here's the card:

Made using: Stampin' Up paper (Daffodil Delight, Sweet Sugarplum, Melon Mambo, Smoky Slate, Basic Grey), ink (Basic Black, Whisper White, Smoky Slate), vellum (Botanical Gardens), Stamp sets (Lift Me Up), dies (Up and Away).
Other Products: francheville rhinestones, My Favourite Things Dies (a freebie) for the sentiment

Spring Flower birthday

I was immediately attracted to the colours in Global Design Project's #101 - a great combination, where the richness of the navy offsets the sweet Flirty Flamingo and is complemented by Bermuda Bay. I've been wanting to experiment further with two of my birthday stampsets (see below) so used this as an opportunity.
The result is colourful and bold! Here it is:
Made using:
Stampin' Up paper (Whisper White, Bermuda Bay), Ink (Night of Navy), stampin' write pens (Bermuda Bay, flirty Flamingo) stamp sets (Big on Birthdays, Happy Birthday Gorgeous), enamel shapes. 
Other products: francheville rhinestones, 



Subtle flowers

Inspiration struck late with this card - it wasn't until I saw the Just Add Ink's #374 inspiration photo  that I had an idea for Freshly Made Sketch's #302. I do struggle to use a subtle palette - I'm more inclined to splash colour all over the place - so I feel proud that I managed some restraint this time!
Here's the card:

Made using:
Stampin' Up paper (Whisper White, Chocolate Chip), ink (Chocolate Chip, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Whisper White) Stamp set (Pictogram Punches) and die (Circles Collection)
Other Products: ek mini flower punch, francheville rhinestones, washi tape (from a sale bin: I don't have details).

Saturday 19 August 2017

Father's Day

Father's Day is fast approaching in New Zealand, so I turned to two challenges as inspiration for a card for Dad. I returned to Global Design Project's 100th challenge and chose another designer to CASE - this time, Louise Sharp's crisp card. I combined her layout with the colours from CAS Colours and Sketches' Challenge #236: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry.
I hope Dad enjoys the result:


Made using: 
Stampin' Up:
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Basic Black and Smoky Slate
Paper: Whisper White and Bermuda Bay
Stamps: Totally Trees and Thoughtful Banners
Punch: Banners
Other products: MFT Horizontal Stitched Strips, Sizzix Tag Collection Framelits, American Crafts string

Monday 14 August 2017

Happy 30th!

Congratulations, Global Design Project, on your 100th challenge - and what a great idea to showcase your designers and invite us to CASE one or more - I suspect I'll be returning. I'd been working on how to use the colours from Just Add Ink's challenge #372: Tranquil Tide, Pool Party and Powder Pink, and when I saw Tanja Kolar's lovely card I had an 'aha!' moment.
Here's the result:


Made using:
Stampin' Up 
Ink: Tranquil Tide, Powder Pink, Pool Party
Card: Shimmery White, Tranquil Tide
Stamps: Happy Birthday Gorgeous
Other products: francheville pearls, Kaisercraft numbers decorative dies

Sunday 13 August 2017

Spring Tulips

Congratulations, Freshly Made Sketches, on your 300th Challenge - another of the great designs you come up with:


I've gone for CAS and springlike in response - since we're holding our breath for warmer weather and the daffodils are appearing, down here in the bottom corner of the world. This gave me the chance to use the colours in Fab Friday's Challenge #118: Melon Mambo, Lemon Lime Twist and Flirty Flamingo. 

Made using:
Stampin' Up: Whisper White and Melon Mambo Paper, Basic Black, Lemon Lime Twist, Flirty Flamingo, Melon Mambo inks, spotted embossing folder, Stitched Shapes dies, Big on Birthdays stamps (sentiment)
My Favourite Things: Spring Tulips stamps


Summer Salad

I liked the vibrancy of the colours in As You See It's 'Summer Salad' colour challenge:
I was initially skeptical about the new Lemon Lime Twist, but have been surprised by how many different colours it offsets nicely. 
For the flowers, I revisited a favourite: Simon Says Stamps 'Artsy Flower Parts' -I love how the strange and wonderful shapes still manage to look like flowers. 


Made using:
Stampin' Up Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Real Red, Lemon Lime Twist; Whisper White paper, Big on Birthdays Stampset (sentiment). 
Other:
My Favourite Things Horizontal Stitched Rectangles Dies
Simon Says Stamps 'Artsy Flower Parts' stamps and dies
Francheville Rhinestones