Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Never Ending Card

We are almost through February already. Right now I am thinking of the poor people in New Zealand who have been effected by the earthquake. There has been so much sad news this year. It makes one wonder what is coming next!
On a lighter note, our February workshop was rather productive. We made three cards and one of which is shown here. The Never Ending Card using Trendy Trees. This card is one of the easiest cards you can make. The decorating will take time though, especially if it is your first one. I have used the Stampin' Up! pattern which was illustrated in the February Impressions. The instructions did say that we may have to cut the card down a little. I have altered the measurements so that my ladies did not have to cut it down. I have included the url for the instructions for the Never Ending Card. (www3.stampinup.com/au/documents/folding_instructions_AU.pdf )

The changes I have made are as follows:- Instead of 13.5 x 10.5 I have made mine 12.7 x 10.5cm for each piece. On the bottom layer I have changed the scoring from 3.5cm to 3.1cm on each end. When cutting the two pieces in halves be sure to cut exactly in half and not by the measurement that is there. I do hope this makes sense. You can download the instructions or print them off.

Here is the card that I made. I used :-
Cardstock - Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
Stamp Pad - Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Not Quite Navy
Designer Series Paper Pack In Colour (level 1 hostess gift)
Stamp Sets - Trendy Trees, Afterthoughts
Your Stamp-a-ma-jig is a must for this project and I deliberately used it in my last workshop. The ladies certainly enjoyed using it and now realise how much of a valuable tool it can be to help them along with their projects. Sometimes just using the eye does not work and this is when the Stamp-a-ma-jig comes in handy. It has to be my favourite tool from the whole catalogue. If you have not tried one then maybe its time you did as you will love it just like I do.

For the clouds I used the Scallop Circle Punch to cut out the shape in a post it note and then sponged around it to get the cloud effect. I tore up a piece of paper for the outline in the hilly section and sponged the rest with Old Olive. I just love Trendy Trees. This stamp set is great for any gender and can be used in many ways.

The two blank whisper white sections are for your message in the card. You can change the position of this and put it wherever you like. The choice is yours.

I decided this time not to decorate the back of the card. I felt that what we did in our workshop was enough for the girls. I have heard that three of the girls have already gone home to make another Never Ending Card before the weekend was over. I do hope you will give it a try if you have not tried it before. It really is an easy

card to make. Let me know how you go.

Enjoy and thanks for popping by :)




Saturday, February 5, 2011

Just Believe

We are well into the new year. Hasn't it gone by quickly. I find the first three months especially just whiz by. We are feeling the effects from the cyclone here now although the breeze is beautiful and much appreciated I cant help but think of those poor people over east with the devastating weather patterns. I cant believe how much devastation those poor people have gone through. It is so widespread and so many people have been effected. I do hope they are able to pick up the pieces quickly and settle down to life in general soon. I guess we have to Just Believe that this will happen.



Speaking of Just Believe, that is what stamp set I am using to create todays card. I have made this one for a friend whose birthday it is today. I have used the new in colours as well which go lovely together.


For todays card I have used:-
Stamp Set - Just Believe
Cardstock - Very Vanilla, Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz
Ribbon - I did not have Pear Pizzazz ribbon so I used Old Olive
Accessories - Sponge Dauber, Rhinestone, Big Shot with the Top Note Die, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint directly onto the flowers.
I made up a little spray bottle of Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.
I put the Very Vanilla and Poppy Parade through the Top Note Die. I cut the Very Vanilla down to the stitch line so that Poppy Parade colour showed when place on top. I then distressed my pieces to give it an added touch. I am usually a clean cut card maker but I know the person I am giving this to likes a bit of the old look. I love the colours all put together, what do you think?


These are the directions for the Champagne Mist in the spray bottle. I bought some Isocol Rubbing Alcohol Antiseptic from the Pharmacy and poured some into a tiny mist bottle (about 7ml). I actually had a mist bottle laying spare in my craft room. I then took the nozzle out of the bottle and pressed down on the spray nozzle (it pushes out the air) and placed the end in the Shimmer Paint and drew up gradually half way up the straw part. I then put five drops of Shimmer Paint into the rubbing alcohol in the mist spray bottle. You can also use an eye dropper for this but I do not own one as yet. I popped the nozzle back on the bottle and gave it a shake and sprayed it onto my cardstock. This gave my card a shimmery look. You can also pop in five drops of your favourite colour for some added touch to your project. I have not as yet bought the Ink refill for Concord Crush or I would have used that one.

If you are having trouble finding some mist spray bottles I have found some in Woolworths. I looked high and low for some but was unable to find any empty bottles but found a two pack of Cleanspray Hand Sanitiser. It was actually cheaper than what I originally paid for the two bottles I had previously bought (cant remember where I got them from though). You will have to use the hand sanitiser before you can use them but they are the same size (7ml). Have a go. Its fun making up the different colours. I love using the Smooch Spritz also but if you want a fine mist then the mist bottle is the way to go. It also gives you the opportunity to use the other colours. A very cheap option.