Andrea's Stampin' Moments

Tutorial Tuesday - Bag-a-lope

Sorry for the lateness of todays post, but we have been out suit shopping/hiring.  Yes, they now wear suits to Year 10 formals, and they learn all the dances, which is fantastic.

The bag-a-lope is a great little idea if you are stuck and need something put together quickly.  You can use just about any size envelope to make it, and I find it is handy to have the C6 for smaller items, and the C5 - I think the next size up is C5 - for larger gifts.

Now some of the shots were out of focus as it turnded out, so I have some gaps between each photo, but I shall do my best to explain.

In the main image I have used a stamp from the Inque Boutique set 'French Quarter', and coloured the stamp with Stampin' Up! waterbased markers.  The ribbon is from Papertrey Ink.

Today I have used a C6 envelope, and because the seam runs the length I have sealed it.  Trim the top by cutting about .5cm in, or use decorative scissors.

 

Score the three unopened ends - here it is 1.5cm in from the edge - but you can alter this depending on how wide you would like the sides to be.  Make sure you fold the score lines well in both directions to make the next step a little easier.

  

Put your hand inside the envelope and gently crease the score lines and push the bottom up.  You should end up with the bottom looking a bit like the photo with two triangles at each end.  Place a piece of double sided tape on each and seal underneath.

 

Finish by decorating and making two holes at the top for the ribbon.  I have left the top open on this one, but you can also fold it down and then tie off with ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Cupcake Challenge

 You will have to check out Taylored Expressions blog and try her weekly challenge.  I may be a little late for this one, but thought I would share the fun with you anyway.

This card has been simply put together using the 'Cabana' paper from Inque Boutique, and their mini set 'Party Cupcakes'.

I pierced some holes around the main image and threaded some gold through, just to try something a little different for me.  You can't see it in this photo, but the cupcake has been raised using dimensionals as well as the white card it is on.

I stamped the image with Palette Hybrid ink - Burnt Umber - and then coloured the cupcake with my Copic Sketch markers.  The flame of the candle has a couple of very small dots of Gold Pearl Liquid Pearls.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Monday Madness

Good morning everyone!  I hope the weekend was wonderful for you all.  Comments for this 'Freebie Friday' were down on last month, so your chances were up........everyone must have been watching the football...LOL...not me though sorry, I'm not much of a fan, although I love it when the under-dog wins.

I placed all your names in a bag, and Nathan once again picked a name out and it was ---- SHARON ---- If you could email me with your details I shall get these goodies out to you.

I will be back later with another card, I just have three appointments to get out of the way this morning.

See you then,

Freebie Friday - #2

  Good morning everyone, and happy Freebie Friday!  Can you tell it is school holidays?  I seem to be running behind this week.

Today I have a 6 x 6 pad of the Inque Boutique 'Memoirs' papers for you with matching brads and lengths of ribbons.  I love chocolates and blues!  This range is available from TLOCS.

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post from today and over the weekend, and this could be in the post to you on Monday.  Once again it is open to Australian residents only I'm sorry.

Have a great weekend!

O Holy Night

  The Nativity Scene is from the Lizzie Anne Designs set 'Silent Night'.  It was because of this set that I decided to stock some of her beautiful stamps.

I have made this a very simple card, using the different stamps to build a scene rather than using just one as the main image.  This set would look fantastic with a brayered background....maybe next time for that!

I stamped the images with Moulin Rouge Palette Ink, which I now have in stock, and simply sponged the edges.  The Spellbinders die is from the Double Ended Tags, and I left the cardstock in the die while I sponged the centre. 

It's a bit hard to tell, but the words are raised using dimensional tape.

The white cardstock is from AED and the Kraft cardstock and ribbon is from Stampin' Up!

See you tomorrow for 'Freebie Friday' number 2!

Golden Stars

  More Christmas Trees today using the same set from Kitchen Sink Stamps.

I have stamped them across a piece of Kraft cardstock and added 'Gold Pearl' Liquid Pearls for decoration.  The stars were stamped with Versamark and then AED gold ep was added and heat embossed.

I love this bright red polka dot ribbon and thought that it gave ithe card a real lift against the kraft card.  I used my JustRite to make the words and the outer border - looks like little Christmas Trees! - is from the Special Occasions Monogram Stamper Kit. 

The scallop circle is from the Petite Spellbinders Nestabilities.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies : Stamps - JustRite Monogram Stampers, Kitchen Sink Stamps;  Cardstock - Stampin' Up!;  Ink - Palette Hybrid Inks;  Accessories - Alison Ellis Design ep, FTI ribbon, Liquid Pearls all from The Little Online Card Shop 

Tutorial Tuesday - Pouncing

This is  a great little technique because you can use so many different mediums with it, and each will achieve a different result.

Today I am going to use Liquid Pearls, because it will also give some dimension, as well as colour and shine!

I have used two stamp sets here, the Christmas Tree is from Kitchen Sink Stamps, and the sentiment from Stampin' Up!

The ink is the Palette Hybrid colours Moulin Rouge and Giverney Green, both of which should be in stock any day now!

I paper pierced the red cardstock under the words and added a dollop of the Ruby Red Liquid Pearls above the trees.  The main cardstock colour is 'Kiwi Crush' from BBP.

I use an ice-cream container lid for these messy jobs, because I can take it away to clean and leave my work space ready to go on!  You will also need glossy cardstock cut to the finished size, and two pieces of scrunched up glad wrap.

Place a dollop of each colour Liquid Pearls you are going to use on your work surface.

Dipping your plastic wrap in the lighter shade you are going to use first, 'pounce' the colour on to the glossy cardstock in an up and down motion, getting more colour as needed.  Leave some white spaces for the second colour.

Repeat with your second colour and allow to dry.

 

The Ruby Red covered really easily, so next time I will use a little more of the Gold Pearl and see what that looks like.

Have a great day,

Embossed Simplicity

  I wanted to share this card with you that I made this morning, to show how beautiful the Spellbinders dies  are when used to just emboss, rather than cut and emboss.

The picture really doesn't show clearly enough how it looks,but I hope the close-up gives a better impression.

Once I embossed the cardstock, I then left the die in place and stamped my image, using the as a mask (especially good when you are wanting to sponge on the inner section).

Just as a reminder these dies are on sale this weekend only, at 10% off the purchase price.  I do not have them in stock but will place an order first thing Monday morning, and should have them posted out by the end of the week.

I am not sure that this picture is any better at all, it really is much nicer in the flesh - so to speak.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

  Supplies : Stamps - Stampin' Up!, Papertrey Ink;  Ink - Papertrey ink;  Cardstock - Alison Ellis Design;  Ribbon - Papertrey Ink

DH Birthday

  I had to sit myself down this afternoon to make Chris a birthday card, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  Male cards I always find difficult, and I always leave it to the last minute before I make them - not a good practice!

So for this one I started with the paper I was going to use which is from Stampin' Up and is one of my favourites, and then chose one of the few stamps sets I have that I can use for men.  This one is from Papertrey Ink - Father Knows Best.

I used my classic oval Spellbinders and brads from TLOCS, and Palette ink Burnt Umber for the trunk and words, and Stampin' Up!'s River Rock.

I added a little paper piercing with my BBP paper piercer and I was done.

Now all I have to do is find the right gift - not much time left for that and presents are even harder than cards, I wish he liked stamping!

See you tomorrow!

Tutorial Tuesday - Folded Gift Box

  I know I have probably said this before, but I love taking a piece of cardstock and turning it in to something more than just a piece of paper.

This box is the perfect size for little goodies, and with the Christmas theme I have used today you can see what I will be using it for.

The stars were cut using the star dies from Spellbinders, and yes this is the first time I have used them since I bought them at the beginning of the year - I knew they would come in handy!

The words and centre star are from the SU! set Wishing You, which was one of my favourites for last season.  The cardstock is Wild Wasabi, and I have stamped it with the Holiday Spirit set.

Start with an A4 piece of cardstock and decorate to suit the occasion.

 

I am using my Scor-Pal so I will be using inches.  I have scored 2 1/2" in from both of the long edges.

 

Turned my cardstock and scored in from both edges 4 7/8".

 

Using a bone scorer crease all of the score lines in both directions.  If you fold both ways you will find it much easier to assemble.

 

With the wrong side of the cardstock facing, fold the side across and line the centre crease up with the side crease ( hard to describe!!).  Hopefully the pictures will help.

 

Repeat with all corners.

 

To form the box, fold the sides flaps across, (a little piece of tape inside here to hold it together helps).

 

Using a hand held punch, punch two holes in the tops of both sides and thread ribbon through.

 

This side view may make it a little easier to see.

Thanks for stopping by today.  See you tomorrow!

Stamp Sale Updated

Good morning everyone!   I have been told to move the stamps off the floor of my office by my DH, so I have taken a further $5- off most items in the 'Discontinued Second Hand Stamp' section (except the brand new ones).  Let me know if there is anything there you would like.

This little item is not a new idea, but one I thought might be quick and easy for the school fete that is coming in November.  It's meant to be a photo holder, but I just couldn't put my finger on one, so this unfinished item came to hand.

All craft items are from SU!, double sided and foam tape from TLOCS, and the large clip is from Officeworks.

Have a great weekend,

And a Cherry on Top

  I have been eyeing off this mini set from Inque Boutique for a little while now, and am glad I decided on it.  As I have mentioned before, I love cherries, and this little set is just perfect for both birthdays and other occasions. The middle sized cake - not pictured - has a candle on top, but the largest and very cute smallest cakes have a cherry.

I stamped the image in Palette Burnt Umber ink, on a circle cut from the Spellbinders circles, as well as the petite scallop edged circle.  I stamped it again on the patterned paper I used, which I have had for years but is from Scrapbook Walls.  The words, from the same set, are also stamped in Burnt Umber.  The cherry needed a little something more so I added some AED glitter, and then Crystal Effects from SU!  At first I coloured the sprinkles using my white gel pen, but went with the scraps from my hand held punch - don't they look cute!

The bottom scalloped edge was made using a corner rounder punch, and is always a good trick to know.  If you haven't seen this done before let me know and I will include the instructions.

I coloured the images with copic markers, and cut the smaller ones out.  The ribbon is from Papertrey Ink, which is just beautiful, but today it simply wouldn't do as it was told, and sit where I wanted it to.

And have you counted the colours today?  I see four - not counting the white - just a little improvement.

Have a great weekend,

  Supplies :  Stamps - Inque Boutique;   Cardstock - Bazzill Basics, AED, SU!;   Ink - Palette 

Monochromatic Fun

  Monochromatic is a great word to use as a description of many of my cards.  I like to stick to less colours simply because I am not clever enough to put more than two or three colours together - it just rarely works for me.  So when I saw this card on the Verve blog - would love to stock their stamps-, I had to do a version of my own - I even had the dies they used! (A little secret here - I have never used these dies before and I have had them for well over 12mths) - so happiness all round.

The stamped flower is from the Inque Boutique set French Quarter, and the words from Papertrey Ink Shapes by design.  The black ink is Palette Hybrid ink which I hope to have in stock soon.  I like to try most things out before I stock them, but it isn't always possible, and I loved using this fast drying waterproof ink.

The black dies are from Cuttlebug, and the sentiment is on another Spellbinders die.  With the new JustRite collection about to leave the warehouse for Australia I have also included the Spellbinders collection in my catalogue.  Only some will be kept in stock at this stage, with the other designs available on order.

All the cardstock is from Stampin' Up!, and the edges around the design has been sponged with vanilla pigment ink from SU! - no longer available.

Shall be back tomorrow with something new, and I may even attempt to use more colours!

Happy stamping,

Tutorial Tuesday - Faux Stitching

  How time flies!  This was started yesterday ready for Tuesday morning, but I have only now completed it.

Todays very simple technique is called faux stitching, and if you have never tried it, you will love it.  You can have any colour thread for this because all you need is a marker and you are good to go.

I usually use this more often with a white gel pen (I love the white stitching on darker cardstock), but decided to give a coloured marker a go this time.

 

Stamp your image on the finished size piece of cardstock.

 

Using a ruler and paper piercer, as well as a piercing mat (to protect you work space), work your way along the edge of the cardstock, and repeat on all sides.

 

 

Using your marker, run along the holes to form the stitches.

 

With this card I have then lightly sponged around the edge,...

 

...and used a paper distresser along the edges.

 

If you like the Lizzie Anne Design stamp set drop me an email as I am about to do another order for this company!

Thanks for stopping by today,

 

Supplies :  Stamps - Lizzie Anne Design - The Little Online Card Shop;  Ink and designer paper- Inque Boutique;  sponge, paper distresser, piercing mat and tool - The Little Online Card Shop

Happy Father's Day

  Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's out there, I hope your day is filled with sunshine.

I did actually make this card a little while ago now, but I don't think I have posted it here before!?!  Well I hope not any way!

I have used the set from Papertrey Ink 'Father Knows Best', a set I love to play with for male cards.

The iamge was stamped onto AED Smooth white cardstock, and then I tore the top of a post-it-note  roughly, and then sponged the ground effect at the base of the tree.  I found that it did leave a 'mark' on the trunk, so I coloured it again using a marker.  The two corner pieces of cardstock were simply torn and sponged to add a bit of texture.

 Enjoy your day,