A Couple of Colour Throwdown Cards

I didn't start out to make two cards for this weeks Colour Throwdown Challenge, but while I was on a role, I kept with it. I went with Sage Shadow, Really Rust and Bravo Burgandy.

This first one was made for Paul's Pop, so it also fills the requirements for Stampin' Royalty this week of a masculine card :) My initial thoughts were to pull out my Outlaw DSP, but I used that for his card last year.... So, I then thought about using 'white space' and just putting a smaller panel in the top half of the card with a birthday cake, but I couldn't find one to suit. Then I remembered seeing Pick-a-Petal used as a candle on a few blogs last year, so thought that could work (as he would have A LOT of candles on his cake), especially paired with the greeting from the SAB set Whimsical Words. I keep thinking the card needs something more, so I popped up the flame, but I'm still not quite sure... Paul keeps telling me it's perfect for Pop as he's a basic, simple man who doesn't like fuss, so here it is. Don't you love supportive husbands?!

I also wanted to make a little thank you for a colleague of mine who recently went to Sydney and brought me back some gorgeous tea from T2. She's an absolute gem!! (We don't have many shops here, so everyone is really cool with picking up bits and pieces when we visit big cities - another colleague is hitting Kikki K for me this coming weekend. I don't do internet shopping as it would be WAY too dangerous for my credit card). Like It a Latte (retired) was the obvious choice, and this was kept SUPER simple. I think the sponging just adds the right finishing touch. I suppose you could almost say this could pass for a masculine card too.... I'll let the Stampin' Royalty Goddesses decide....

Many Candles Card

Stamps: Pick-a-Petal, Whimiscal Words (SAB), Polka Dots & Paisley (retired)

Card: Bravo Burgandy, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bravo Burgandy, Really Rust

Other: Paper Piercer, Stampin' Write Journaler

Because Nice Matters Love Note

Stamps: Like It a Latte (retired), Sweet Little Sayings (Level 1 Hostess)

Card: Bravo Burgandy, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

Ink: Bravo Burgandy, Sage Shadow, Really Rust

Curtain Call Colour Challenge Act 17 with Mojo

This latest Curtain Call Colour Challenge really was a challenge for me. More Mustard is one of 'those' colours for me, if you get what I mean.... and I don't have any Going Grey ink, so was limited in what I could work with. My initial thoughts were to make a birthday card for Paul's Pop who turns 89 at the end of the month.

However, when I saw Mojo Monday sketch 129, I knew both challenges would work well together, and I don't think scallops and ribbons would have suited Pop. He's VERY traditional.

I'm not 100% happy with the stamped So Saffron background panel, but I felt it worked better than the So Saffron/More Mustard Haiku DSP I had there to begin with. The greeting from the SAB set Whimsical Words is mounted on a very thin border of So Saffron then on the More Mustard. I am happy with how the flowers from Eastern Blooms work with the Haiku DSP in the larger panel though.

This one may make its way down to Luana's godmother yet, I'm not quite sure. She's more of a blue person, so will see how I feel on Monday when the post office opens....

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Whimsical Words (SAB)

Card: More Mustard, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Going Grey

DSP: Haiku

Ink: So Saffron, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip

Other: Scallop Border punch, 5/16" Jumbo brad, Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, paper piercer

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 56

Yay! I haven't run out of time this week to play with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!! I tell you what, I don't like how much time I don't have to stamp now I'm working full time again :)

For a change, I decided not to use a colour challenge with a sketch challenge. I wanted to make a card for my 'Boss' who celebrates her 30th next week. Trying to figure out what colours to use for her was a bit of a challenge, so I decided to go with black as a starting point as she had black bridesmaids dresses for her wedding and wears a lot of black to work. I think this sketch is a great oppotunity to work with DSP, so chose Urban Oasis, which was also the basis for my additional colour choices. Without too much convincing, I reached for Fifth Avenue Floral, and just the right greeting was found in the current SAB set Vintage Labels.

Thanks for such a versatile sketch Karen. I have a few more ideas I'd like to play with using this one.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Vintage Labels (SAB)

Card: Basic Black, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Whisper White

DSP: Urban Oasis

Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss

Other: Circle Scissors Plus, 3/8" Jumbo Brads

Listen to the chorus of the Brontesaurus....

Remember that song? I sang it all week when I was making my cute little stegosaurus cards (see this post and this one), and I've been singing it all this week since I made this super cute brontesaurus card for my Godson's 1st birthday.

This weeks colour challenge from Makeesha worked really well with what I was wanting to do, and I paired it with Taylored Expressions 100th Sketch (Taylor's celebrating this week (and rightly so!), so go and check out her blog).

I had so much fun designing this dino, and he's not quite as fiddly as the stegosaurus. The hardest part was trying to get the small oval into the right place in the punch to trim it down a bit.

The circles in the sketch let me pull out my brand spanking new circle scissors plus - it's great!! I distressed and inked the edges of the 'hill', and popped up the dino circle as well as the dino with dimensionals.

Thanks girls for helping me make this special card. Our little man had a great birthday party on the weekend; Happy First Birthday buddy!!! XXXXX

Stamps: Family Phrases, Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired)

Card: Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla

DSP: Brocade Blue Prints (Level 1 Hostess)

Ink: Brocade Blue, Mellow Moss

Punches: Small Oval, Wide Oval, Word Window, Crop-o-Dile, Small Star

Other: Circle Scissors Plus, Paper Piercer, Vintage Brads, Lots of Letters On Board Chipboard, Journalling marker

Sale-A-Bration Workshop

Yesterday I had a great group of girls around for a Sale-A-Bration workshop. We made three projects, each one featuring a Sale-A-Bration set, and two of the projects using products from the current Summer Mini.

As this was the first time I had inked up any of my new SAB sets, these projects qualify for the current ABC Challenge - N is for New!!

For the card project, we made an easel card where I had used Colour Throwdown 79 for inspiration. I actually made two with different base card (as I didn't have enough Riding Hood Red for everyone... oops). Even though the Blush Blossom was my back up, I think I actually like that one better than the tone-on-tone one.... The technique demonstrated with this project (apart from the funky card) was paper piecing.

For the 3D project, we whipped up these very cute and very easy PostIt Note Holders. I am officially in LOVE with the Kaleidoscope DSP from the Summer Mini. It is just divine!!! I was working on a bit of an eclectic feel with this project - funky DSP and colours with more traditional stamps from Vintage Labels (or should I say Vintage stamps...)

Our third project was using the super cute Scallop Notes from the Summer Mini together with Tall Tales DSP and Animal Stories stamp set - such a great combo!! The greeting is from the oh-so-versatile SAB set Whimsical Words. I ran with the retro feel of the DSP and placed my little owl off centre. I also ADORE the buttons in the Summer Mini so had to include one from Playground on this card. For that little something extra on the card, the DSP on the inside of the card was punched with the scallop edge punch. I love the look of lined envelopes too and little cards with little envelopes are just perfect to demonstrate that on.

We had a lovely afternoon creating and chatting - thanks for joining me girls, we'll do it again soon!!

Happy Birthday Easel Card

Stamps: Happy Moments (SAB)

Card: Riding Hood Red, Blush Blossom, Sage Shadow, Very Vanilla

DSP: Candy Lane

Ink: Sage Shadow, Riding Hood Red

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Dress Ups Ribbon

For You PostIt Note Holder

Stamps: Vintage Labels (SAB)

Card: Pink Passion

DSP: Kaleidoscope (Summer Mini)

Ink: Pixie Pink, Tempting Turquoise

Other: Scallop Circle Punch, Tempting Turquoise Grosgrain Ribbon

Too Kind Scallop Note & Lined Envelope

Stamps: Whimsical Words (SAB), Animal Stories (Summer Mini)

Card: Very Vanilla, Rose Red, Old Olive

DSP: Tall Tales (Summer Mini)

Ink: Brilliant Blue, Rose Red

Punches: Scallop Edge, 1 1/4" Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Square, 1 3/8" Square

Other: Scallop Notes (Summer Mini), Playground Buttons (Summer Mini)

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