Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 16

I'm not missing the submission cut off this week for Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenge :) Although I will try to take a better picture tomorrow when the sun is up instead of the moon. (ETA: done!!) I didn't realise until just now that the sweet pillow in the inspiration picture is very similar to my card... oops.

Being so close to Valentine's Day, and considering the colours included Real Red, I thought I'd go with a Heart card. I've already made Paul's Valentines Day card, but our anniversary is in a couple of weeks, so I'm getting in early. This card therefore also qualifies for this weeks Stampin' Royalty Challenge of Love/Valentines theme.

These colours made me think of the Bella Bleu DSP almost straight away, and I think the pattern in the heart from I {Heart} Hearts just compliments it beautifully. I've been playing with easel cards too - they're fantastic!! I'll post another I did for my latest workshop tomorrow. I didn't want to take the focus off the big heart with the 'stand' so have kept the red to an absolute minimum for that part.

Wishing you all a wonderful Valentines Day!! XXXXX

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts (Summer Mini)

Card: Kraft, Very Vanilla

DSP: Bella Bleu

Ink: Real Red

Other: Real Red Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Heart to Heart Punch

A Couple More Non-Card Projects

As promised, here are a couple more 'anything but a card' projects for this weeks Stampin' Royalty challenge.

'n' Address Book

Card: Pink Passion, Whisper White

DSP: Kaleidoscope (Summer Mini)

Ink: Pixie Pink

Punches: Scallop Edge

Other: It's a Loop Thing Rubons (Level 3 Hostess), Playground buttons (Summer Mini). Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain ribbon, Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon, On Board Simon Lower chipboard (retired)

Luana Calendar

Stamps: Perfect Princess

Card: Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White

DSP: Brocade Blue Patterns (Level 1 Hostess)

Ink: Pink Passion, Lovely Lilac

Punches: 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle, Scallop circle, Crop-o-dile

Other: Bluebird Grosgrain ribbon (retired)

Super Bright

You know how there are times when you think 'wow, those colours are bright'? Well, this is one of those times :) This weeks Scrapmaster's Paradise Colour Combo is SUPER bright!

I think kid's birthday cards are a great excuse to use bright colours, so put these ones to work on a card for a 4 year little girl using this weeks Taylored Expressions sketch. Pink Flamingo DSP was the obvious choice for me to pull out, and I paired it with a flower from Blooms Die Cuts - big, bold and beautiful!!

Stamps: A Little Birthdy Cheer, Best Friends Numbers (retired)

Card: Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun, Whisper White

DSP: Pink Flamingo

Ink: Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise

Punches: Word Window, 1 3/4" circle (Summer Mini)

Other: Blooms Die Cuts, Playground buttons (Summer Mini), Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon (Summer Mini), Circle Scissors Plus (Summer Mini)

Curtain Call Act 15.... Missed the Submission Time

I really enjoy Stacey's Curtain Call Colour Challenges, and even though I have missed a few, I try really hard to play along. However, this week I played along but missed the submission time (I didn't read the fine print....). Just thought I would share this anyway - it's a great colour combo and not one I would have chosen on my own.

I've used the fabulous set I {Heart} Hearts from the Summer Mini, which is also part of the Haiti Fundraiser running at the moment; Stampin' Up! will donate $2 to the American Red Cross for every set sold before February 28th. I also played with my new Heart to Heart punch and the ever so cute Sherbert Buttons, also in the Summer Mini. These are the first buttons I have bought (and the Playground ones) and I am loving having them!! Why did I wait so long to order them?!

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts (Summer Mini), Best Friends Alphabet (retired)

Card: Lovely Lilac, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

DSP: Garden Green Patterns (Level 1 Hostess Gift)

Punches: Scallop Edge, Heart to Heart

Other: Sherbert Buttons (Summer Mini)

Welcome Ella

My cousin welcomed a beautiful little girl, Ella, into the world a few weeks ago - a tad early so I wasn't quite expecting the text. My cousin isn't a girly-girl, so I didn't want to make a full-on pink card. Leah's latest Colour Wheel Challenge fit the bill: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, So Saffron and Mellow Moss. I also used the most recent Mojo Monday challenge as inspiration...

I stamped the adorable elephant from Animal Stories in Pretty in Pink, then rock'n rolled it in Perfect Plum before popping her up with dimensionals on layered Whisper White and Mellow Moss circles. I felt the square 'bit' on the sketch was a bit sharp for a baby card, so adapted it to a circle. The Whisper White scallop circle has been sponged in Pretty in Pink around the edges to soften it. A few Pretty in Pink brads added the finishing touch I was looking for.

I think my cousin will get a kick out of this! I'm looking forward to meeting darling Ella next visit home.

Stamps: Animal Stories (Summer Mini), Jumbo Bold Alphabet, Short & Sweet

Card: So Saffron, Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Whisper White

DSP: Afternoon Tea

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum

Punches: 1 3/4 " circle (Summer Mini), Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle

Other: So Saffron 3/8" Grosgrain ribbon (from Ribbon Bundle, retired), Prety in Pink Grosgrain ribbon, Soft Subtles brads

Christmas Decorations

I know Christmas is now a distant memory - Easter Eggs have been available for a month now - but I wanted to show you these Christmas decorations I made for our family this year. (11 all up). Plus, they fit the bill for this weeks Stampin' Royalty challenge - anything BUT a card :)

They are actually quite easy to put together (my plan was to finish them on the flight to Melbourne, but that didn't happen), and I will be including them in one of my Christmas workshops this year. These actually gave me the opportunity to use up a few bits and bobs I have accumulated , and by using DSP, coordinating colours was no problem at all. If you would like to know how to make these little origami wreaths, drop me a line.

I have a few more non-card projects I have been working on, so this won't be my last entry for this challenge :)

DSP: Ski Slope (Spring Mini - retired), Holiday Thyme (retired)

Other: Kaisercraft chipboard letters, Metallic eyelets (retired)

An Apple a Day....

Last week we were flat out at work promoting Australia's Healthy Weight Week - plus there was the Australia Day public holiday in there to make the week shorter... As part of our promotion, a few Come and Try group fitness sessions were organised at the local gym, so I put my hand up to make the thank you cards for the instructors who generously volunteered their time to show us their preferred fitness classes: Body Step, RPM and Body Pump. I braved all 3 and didn't pull up too sore!!! Maybe I'm fitter than I thought...

I thought Tart & Tangy coupled with Colour Throwdown 77 would do the trick, as what says 'dietitian' more than fruit? These colours together are just so gorgeous too!

Simple, sweet and straight to the point. I also popped a layer of Whisper White edged in Certainly Celery ink and stamped with the apple inside each card to make it easier to write on.

Part of Australia's Healthy Weight Week is the 10 week challenge, aimed to assist people with making changes to their lifestyle and to 'eat better, feel better, move more NOW'. If you would like more information, have a look at http://www.healthyweightweek.com.au/. Take the 10 Week Challenge and make those New Year weight loss/healthy lifestyle resolutions come true!!!

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Trendy Trees

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

DSP: Certainly Celery Prints (retired)

Ink: Certainly Celery, Elegant Eggplant

Punches: scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle, 1 1/4" circle

Other: Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon (from Ribbon Bundle)

Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 14

I've been on a bit of a role again this weekend - 4 cards so far, and a most of a scrapbook page!! I'm loving all the purple featured in recent colour challenges, and the latest Curtain Call Colour Challenge is no exception!!

I actually wanted to make a card for my cousin and her husband who welcomed little Ella into the world a couple of weeks ago using these colours, as Renee is not a girly-girl, but I thought I have to include a little pink in there somewhere, so instead made this card for a darling little friend who turns 2 in February - she's EXACTLY 18 months younger than Luana!!

This card is quite straight forward, but sweet. The only thing that may be a little difficult to see is the flower from Big Bold Birthday has been stamped behind the number in second generation Almost Amethyst.

Thanks for great inspiration Stacey :)






Stamps: Big Bold Birthday, Best Friends Numbers (retired)
Card: Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue, Orchid Opulence, Whisper White
DSP: Almost Amethyst Prints (retired)
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Bashful Blue, Orchid Opulence
Punches: 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" circle, scallop edge
Other: Pretties kit (clear rhinestone brad), paper piercer

For Grandad

My Grandad's birthday was a bit over a week ago, but it has taken me a while to find the inspiration to make his card. Luana and I spoke to him on the day (he adores Luana - his only great grand-daughter at present), and he was having an ok day, which is a really good thing as it was day 4 after his most recent chemo treatment. We're still keeping our fingers crossed that this was his last.....

My inspiration finally came from Samantha's latest Scrapmaster's Paradise Colour Combo and Makeesha's Inkspiration Inspiration challenges:

Keesh's picture made me think warm and rustic, so it worked well with the Creamy Caramel in the SPCC colours.

I thought I might try my hand at collage stamping, and I think the result has worked; I actually received a FANTASTIC response from Paul (more enthusiastic than 'that's really nice darling'!!), so I might have to try it again. I stamped a panel of Very Vanilla card with the Weathered background stamp inked in Creamy Caramel. On top of this I stamped the clock and cogs from Sense of Time in Basic Grey and Close to Cocoa respectively. After distressing the edges, I sponged them in Creamy Caramel and mounted the panel on distressed Creamy Caramel and Basic Grey panels. The background card was stamped with second-generation Weathered. The tag was created using the tag punch, just sliding the pre-cut tag in through the end, and was swiped with Creamy Caramel before adding a Jumbo Brad.

I can't wait to put this in the post now!

Stamps: Sense of Time (retired; Spring Mini), Cheer & Wishes, Weathered

Card: Close to Cocoa, Basic Grey, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Basic Grey, Creamy Caramel

Other: Tag Punch, Aged Brass Jumbo Brad

It's Simple.... Love You

Super simple card for the latest Scrapmaster's Paradise Colour Challenge. I'm actually trying to think ahead a bit and have been hiding this one from Paul as it is likely to end up being his Valentine's Day card!

I fuddled around a little bit with stamping the hearts (from Wagon Full of Fun) on Pretty in Pink and Apricot Appeal card in the respective colours, and then the centre part on Whisper White, but it just didn't work for me... hmmm. As you can see, I ended up stamping in those colours directly onto the Whisper White card base, having the focal heart in Real Red. I thought I'd try out using rub ons directly on to ribbon - very easy and a nice effect! For the folded part of the ribbon, I used glue dots and sticky strip in strategic locations to keep it all fastened!

What a challenge Samantha!! I really have to think with red and orange tones :)

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun (Summer Mini)

Card: Whisper White

Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pretty in Pink, Real Red

Other: Fashion District Rub ons (retired), Real Red Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 13

I just LOVE this duck!! It's one of the main reasons Wagon Full of Fun was the first set I ordered from the Summer Mini. This would have to be my favourite card of the moment, and it's one of those that I didn't have a firm idea of what direction I wanted to take when I started, just that I wanted to do paper piecing (you can sort of see in the photo that the wing is popped up too). The latest Curtain Call Colour Challenge was perfect for that:

The rest of the card is quite straight forward, but if you do want extra details let me know.

This card was made for an awesome friend of mine for her birthday, although I originally envisaged using blue as it's her favourite colour. She used to have a set of duck measuring cups sitting on her kitchen window sill, so ducks always make me think of her. I'm sure she'll forgive me for the lack of blue :)

Stamps: Wagon Full of Fun (Summer Mini)

Card: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion, Whisper White

DSP: Sweet Always

Ink: Basic Black

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, FairyTales Ribbon, Blooms Die Cuts, Jumbo Brad

Two Reasons to Smile

I have had a FANTASTIC time playing last night and this afternoon, and feel like I have achieved so much - don't you love it when that happens?! So, this is my first of 3 posts today (yes, was able to play with a lot of challenges!).

First up is the 6"x6" calendar page for Mum and Dad's calendar (yes, this is the first page I've done, and yes I know it's over half way through January). I thought the latest Colour Throwdown colours worked well with this gorgeous photo of Luana holding her cousin 'baby Max' (the first time she held him all on her own!!).

I have substituted Pixie Pink for Melon Mambo and I can't remember if non-card projects qualify, so my apologies if they don't.

I kept the page VERY simple. I kept thinking I need to add something, but I think it works as it is. The greeting hasn't come up well in the photo, but it's from the retired set Reason to Smile. I inked it in Old Olive first, then took the ink off 'you' and 'smile' with a blender pen, and inked those words with a Pixie Pink Stampin' Write marker. The rest is quite self explanatory.

I guess this is a good example of K.I.S.S!! (Keep it simple Sam!)






Stamps: Reason to Smile (retired), Burst into Bloom (retired)
Card: Old Olive, Pixie Pink, Whisper White, So Saffron
DSP: Walk in the Park (retired)
Ink: Old Olive, Pixie Pink

Stars for a 7 Year Old

You know I can't go past stars for boy cards - such a safe option - so I adjusted the circles in the Taylored Expression's latest sketch challenge to stars....

I really wanted to pull out Pacific Point for this card - such a great colour but I don't use it nearly enough - and the Good Morning Sunshine DSP provided the rest of the colour combo.

I must wrap this up and write in the card so I can pop it in the post tomorrow - this young man's birthday was last week - oops!!

Stamps: Big, Bold Birthday

Card: Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Summer Sun, Whisper White

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine

Ink: Pacific Point

Other: On Board Simon Lower (retired), Large Star Punch, Small Star Punch

Purple Rose

This week I've started playing with a new challenge blog - Stampin' Royalty; what better way to start off the colour challenges than with the regal colour of purple?! Those of you who have been following my blog for a while know I love purple, so of course I had to play along. As with previous recent colour challenges, I have substituted Perfect Plum for the Rich Razzleberry as we don't have it here in Australia :(

As usual, Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch is gorgeous, and (as she suggested) the perfect way to use up some DSP oddments (although I only used one piece).

This card ended up completely different to how I initially pictured it, which was a baby card for my cousin's brand new baby girl (I decided the Elegant Eggplant was a bit heavy for such a card). I rotated the sketch and instead of the square I have used the rose from Fifth Avenue Floral which was stamped 3 times and paper toled. I sponged the edge of the Enchante DSP (retired) with Pale Plum and the card base with Elegant Eggplant to soften the edges a tad, and pulled out the white organdy ribbon to provide the softer finish than grosgrain or ric-rac.

I'm not quite sure what occasion this card is for yet, but I'm sure it will find a home soon.

Don't forget to pop on over to these two talented blogs to check out the latest challenges.

Stamp: Fifth Avenue Floral

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Whisper White

DSP: Enchante (retired)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum

Other: White Organdy Ribbon (retired), Scallop Edge Punch

Friendship

This is going to be quick as I must be off to bed... It's been ages since I've played with a Colour Throwdown challenge, so this is my latest offering.

Once again, I've had to substitute Perfect Plum for Rich Razzleberry (as it's not available in Australia).

I've fallen back on a tried and true 'technique' for my last couple of cards that I've noticed myself using quite a bit recently when I'm either a) a bit tired or b) not ENTIRELY comfortable with the colour combo I'm working with - one sheet wonder stamping. Although I don't always stamp a whole A4 sheet, generally a much smaller panel. It hasn't failed me yet!!

Must be off, but hope you enjoy my recent postings.

Stamps: Organic Grace (Level 1 Hostess), Wagon Full of Fun (Summer Mini)

Card: Garden Green, Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, Whisper White

Ink: Garden Green, Prefect Plum, Mellow Moss

Other: Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware (retired)