Helping Hudson Challenge 9 - Colour

The last challenge for the Helping Hudson fundraiser was a colour one. We could choose ANY colour we wanted, and could use as many shades as we wanted in that colour, but only ONE neutral. I didn't realised how little I worked with just one or two colours these days....

I really wanted to do a card in Pale Plum and Perfect Plum (especiall as Pale Plum is retiring in 9 days.....), but ended up with the pinks - Pretty in Pink and Pink Pirouette - with Whisper White as my neutral.

I used this sketch from Annabelle Stamps as a starting point (with a little bit of artistic licence), and also a card featured in this months Impressions.

I pulled out another couple of products in the new catalogue - the A La Carte stamp For You Flower with the coordinating Fancy Flower punch. I stamped the flower in Pink Pirouette 5 times and used the 1 3/8" Circle Punch to punch out the centres, then stamped the flower twice on Pretty in Pink and used the Fancy Flower punch. Four of the word circles were used for the base panel of Pink Pirouette mounted on Pretty in Pink. I added some Pretty in Pink brads in the corners. The petals of the flowers were curled a bit to add dimension and each layer was mounted with dimensionals. The little 'for you' was cut from one of the Pretty in Pink flowers and mounted in a little bit of Pretty in Pink card. To finish, I broke open (yes, it hasn't been used yet....) my wide Pink Pirouette ribbon (retired) and used a little bit of linen thread to tie it off at the side of the card.

This photo doesn't do the card justice - it really is quite sweet - so I'll try to take a better pic tomorrow.

Well done again the everyone and particularly the Helping Hudson team for helping Hudson get his KidWalker!!

Thanks for visiting.


Stamp: For You Flower
Card: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
Punches: 1 3/8" Circle, Fancy Flower
Other: Soft Subtles Brads, Pink Pirouette 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread

Helping Hudson Challenge 8 - Technique

Here we are, post #2 for tonight. Challenge 8 over at Helping Hudson is a technique one where we were challenged to use embossing AND sponging as they were the two most favourite techniques in response to a question posed earlier in the fundraiser.

I wasn't quite sure what to do with this challenge, but was inspired by this fabulous card by the very talented Kim Badelt. A good friend of mine announced her engagement a few weeks ago, and I hadn't yet made a card for the lovely couple, so decided to use this challenge to do so. What is more romantic than Paris?!

I pulled out my brand new Artistic Etchings set and paired it with Newsprint DSP - both are from the new Catalogue coming out 1st September! I clear embossed the Eiffel Tower and sponged Melon Mambo over it. I second and third generation stamped the round stamp around the edges and also lightly sponged them. This panel was mounted on an angle on a panel of Melon Mambo the same size which had the edges distressed. I also frayed the edges of some Melmon Mambo ribbon and attached it with staples to a Basic Black card base.

Thanks for visiting!


Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Card: Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Newsprint DSP
Ink: Melong Mambo
Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Helping Hudson Challenge 7 - Sketch

This week is the final week for the Helping Hudson fundraiser and I was so pleased to read today that Hudson will receive his KidWalker!!!

I've played along with all three challenges this week (and am putting my entries in by the skin of my teeth). This first one was a sketch challenge, which I paired with the current Just Add Ink Colour Challenge.

My very first thought when I saw these colours was Christmas, so I decided to run with it, but I did add a bit of Very Vanilla....

I have used the lovely Snow Swirled set, with the Real Red tree as the feature. I added some sparkle with Dazzling Diamonds, but that hasn't come up well in the photo (will try to take a better one tomorrow morning). I also stamped off some snowflakes after inking them up with Chocolate Chip ink for the background. The panel was edged with Chocolate Chip ink and mounted on the same cardstock, and a greeting and some Real Red wide grosgrain ribbon finished the job!

I have two more posts tonight, but well done the the Helping Hudson team!!

Thanks for visiting.


Stamps: Snow Swirled
Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Other: Real Red 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds

Helping Hudson and Just Add Ink

The girls over at Just Add Ink are supporting the Helping Hudson fundraiser and this week have set the weekly challenge theme of 'Wheels' to tie in with it.

I paired this with the sketch challenge from Helping Hudson to create this gorgeous (if I do say so myself!) pegasus card for a very special little girl. The circles and the So Swirly Jumbo Wheel as the background meet the JAI criteria!

I used a blender pen to add colour to the mane, tail, wings and hooves and lots of Dazzling Diamonds to make it that bit more magical!

Thanks for visiting and don't forget to head over to the Helping Hudson blog to lend your support.




Stamps: Pony Party (Autumn Winter Mini), So Swirly Jumbo Wheel
Card: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery
Other: Circle Scissors Plus, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

Helping Hudson

One of the things I love about being part of Stampin' Up! is the community spirit and support.

Helping Hudson is a fundraising project established to help the son of a fellow demonstrator.

Gorgeous Hudson has complex medical conditions and has had a challenging start to life. He has recently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and receives extensive physiotherapy. His parents have noticed his frustration with not being able to make his body do what he wants it to and have looked into purchasing a KidWalker. A KidWalker is a mobility aid that will help him learn to walk and take him another step further on the journey to independence.

Helping Hudson is a fundraising project put together by a group of stampers to help raise the funds needed to purchase this valuable piece of equipment. Hop on over to the Helping Hudson blog to make a donation and purchase fabulous tutorial packages, and there are blog challenges and giveaways too.

One of the challenges this week is a colour challenge, so I put together a welcome card for another wonderful little boy who has just joined the world - Jasper.

I used little images from Nursery Necessities to create a background, and pulled out my BigShot for the letters. It's such a cool machine!

Thanks for visiting and head on over to the Helping Hudson blog and make a donation!

Stamps: Nursery Necessities

Card: Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Baja Breeze, So Saffron

Other: Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain, Large Star Punch, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet

Curtain Call Colour Challenge 42

I'm slowly making my way through the backlog of cards I need to make, and tonight the Curtain Call Colour Challenge and the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge helped me make my sister's birthday card :)

This was a great colour combo to work with, but I substituted Pumpkin Pie for Peach Parfait, Certainly Celery for Pear Pizazz and Chocolate Chip for Early Espresso as we don't have these colours in Australia yet - and I'm really looking forward to playing with them soon!! Our new catalogue starts in 2 weeks!!

Karen provided another fabulous sketch this week too which is so versatile!

I pulled out a few retired bits and pieces for my sister's card, but also inked up Cottage Garden for the first time; I am quite pleased to see it staying in the new catalogue. I used a bit of masking and stamping off, and added a half pearl from the Pretties Kit to finish it off.

Thanks for visiting and I'm planning to get through a few more cards this weekend, so hopefully will have some more posts for you soon.

Stamps: Cottage Garden (Autumn-Winter Mini), Happy Moments (retired), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired)

Card: Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla

DSP: Au Chocolate (retired)

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip

Other: Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretties Kit

For Dad

Hiya All,

I'm so sorry it has been so long since my last post; with interstate courses, being sick, celebrating a little person's birthday, having visitors and reorganising lots of bits and pieces I haven't had much time to stamp (and if I have, I haven't had the time to photograph it then blog!). So, hopefully what I post tonight will be worth the wait....

I thought I'd missed out on last weeks Inkspirations Colour Challenge, but was quietly pleased to find out today it had been extended a week. I took Keesh's advice and made a Father's Day card for my Dad (even though I have a heap of July birthday cards and welcome baby cards that need to be made) - and he was sitting across the table from me while I was making it :)

I wove strips of faux suede cardstock in Close to Cocoa and Not Quite Navy for the base of the greeting from Greetings Eight, which was stamped in More Mustard and mounted on the same. The More Mustard panel at the bottom of the card was dampened, scrunched a bit and sponged to add texture before being paper pierced around the edge. I even decorated the inside of this one too!!

So, here are a few pics of what I have been up to over the last few weeks....

Luana celebrated her fourth birthday with a ladybug themed party (invites and card to come in a later post).

We took Mum and Dad out exploring the East MacDonnell Ranges and we had a great time at Emily Gap and Trephina Gorge:

Thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Greeting Eight

Card: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, More Mustard, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla

DSP: Urban Oasis

Ink: More Mustard

Other: Paper Piercer