It's Autumn!

Hello fellow stampers! We are well into Autumn now and aren't you just loving this weather? The mornings are fresh and invigorating. A little bit of rain and a taste of what is to come during winter. I can see you cringe with the mention of winter.
Well before Autumn is over I thought I would make a card that represents it. This was my design for the last Sketch Stamparoo Swap Challenge. The challenge was in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue on page 14, top left. The technique that is used in this card was from DarleneDesign.com. First of all you need to use your Embossing Buddy and rub over your cardstock (Confetti White) and using Versamark to stamp your image then Black Embossing Powder. Heat with heat gun but dont over do it as you will lose your shiny embossing if you heat too much.  The next step for this technique is to use four colour co-ordinating markers and colour in the area you wish to then spray some water into your hands and flick it onto the card that you have just coloured in. Leave it to dry.  It will depend on how much water you flick on as to how much your colouring will change. You will see further down another card I have made using this technique. The colours I have used for this card are Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard, Cajun Craze and Pumpkin Pie.
I have used Confetti White as it allows the water to soak in. Other cardstock used are Cajun Craze and More Mustard.  For the circles I have used Circles #2 Dies and distressed the edges. For the leaf on the circles I have used the Confettie White the same way as the original card. Its as easy as that. What a lovely effect. Thanks Darlene.  My first try with this technique was by using the same colours as Darlene but I wanted to do something different for the swaps so chose the autumn colours. I love the colours Darlene chose for her card. They are Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake and Marina Mist. I have also used the circle from Perfect Pennants.
My in home workshop was yesterday and we had a lovely bunch of ladies, 12 in fact.  It was like a beehive full of action and laughter as usual.  We even had a little rain at the end which didnt last long.  The first card I am about to show you I cased from Kathy from Stamping Still. Kathy I love this card. You are so talented and thanks so much for sharing. I decided to make this card smaller for my workshop as I found the dimensions only allowed me to get one card from an A4 piece of cardstock. My measurements for the base of the card are 21 x 10.5cm. Of course the images are a lot closer together but the idea is there. I love Not Quite Navy so I have used the same as Kathy. Hope you dont mind Kathy. For this card you need your Embossing Buddy and then using French Foliage (one of my very favourite stamp sets) with Versamark, White Embossing Powder and your heat gun. You can then use En Francais stamp and before stamping it onto your cardstock just using a tissue wipe away a bit here and there to give it the light and dark effect. You will then need a dauber and Not Quite Navy Stamp Pad and starting on your embossing areas gently rub in circles toward the edges and then to the rest of the card. You need the veins to show. You will also need a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock for the extra leaf and embossing the same. I have used the 4 You from Tiny Tags along with the Tag punch. I am sure if you pop onto Kathy's site you will agree that she is a very talented lady. Thanks again Kathy for a gorgeous card.
Our next card I decided to do a simple one just in time for Mother's Day. I have once again used Confetti White cardstock as it is a lot thicker than Whisper White and will stand up a lot better. Firstly I have used the Adorned Accents Edgelits Dies to cut the shape into the bottom of the front of the card.
A WORD OF WARNING!!! When using the Edgelits Dies be sure that both ends of the Dies are in line with the plates.  If not, when you run the plates through the Big Shot they will catch on the side and flick and bend the Dies out of shape.
I then used my Adorning Accents Embossing Folder for the embossed area above the cut. Both the Edgelits and Embossing Folders are in the new Autumn - Winter mini catalogue.
I have used Field Flowers Stamp Set.  For the outline of the image I have used Pumpkin Pie. For the fill in I have used Peach Parfait but stamped it off once and then onto my card. With the Confetti White you may need to do this three times to get the shade you want. I have finished off with Pumpkin Pie Satin Ribbon. Very simple but effective.
The last card was also cased from Catherine Pooler. Catherine used Mocha Morning Specialty DSP.  Catherines blog is so interesting so just pop on over and have a look.
I had three lots of kits done up for this card using Bashful Blue, Regal Rose and So Saffron. It all depended on who wanted which colour and who was quick enough to get the colour they chose.
For the card here I have used the following:-
Cardstock - Chocolate Chip, So Saffron
DSP - Love Sparkels (discontinued)
Stamp Set - Punches Three (discontinued)
Accessories - Crumb Cake ribbon, Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Two Tags Dies.
If you pop over to Catherines Blog she has a video presentation of this card as it gives a great new idea of how to use the Two Tags Dies. Once again thank you Catherine for sharing your lovely card.
The sentiment I used in this card was found over 21 years ago when a dear friend of mine had her first child. I have used this sentiment ever since in my homemade cards.
Here it is:-

CHILDBIRTH
Nobody tells you about childbirth
Sure they tell you about the pain
The Piles, the veins, the heartburn, the always full bladder,
the tender breasts, the stretch marks, the fatigue, the cravings, the backache, the tearing, the stitches,
the pain, the pain, the pain,
.......But not about the heart,
How it is captured forever,
by one small glimpse of a fuzzy head emerging.
How it is tied with silken, iron-strong bonds to a wrinkled pruny face, a tightly curled fist,
a nuzzling rosebud mouth, a periwinkle eye tear drenched.
Nobody tells you you're hooked for the next twenty years at least on the most powerful drug of all.
Love.
Nobody tells you at all.

The next card is a masculine slider card. I did a demo at one of our stamp camps and it is such a hit and so easy to do. If you wish to see my original card then go to August 29th 2011 on this blog.
For this card you will need the following items:-
Stamp Set - Lovely As A Tree, Perfect Punches
Cardstock - Basic Black, Confetti White (for leaf image)
Stamp Pad - Versamark, Basic Black
DSP - Well Worn
Markers - Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Cajun Craze
Accessories - Corner Rounder, 3/4" circle punch, Wide Oval Punch, Daubers, Black Embossing Powder, Water for flicking.
Use the same technique as mentioned earlier in this post for the leaf. 
Rather than giving you the instructions it might be better if you went to Beate Johns instructions on Splitcoast Stampers.  She gives a very good tutorial and easy to follow. If you wish to watch her video tutorial then scroll down to the bottom of her instructions.

Well thats about it for this time. I cant seem to get on here each week and have to cram it all in when I get the time. I have locked myself in my craft room while my grandchildren are in the lounge room watching Beaconsfield. 

I hope you like my selection of cards and would like to thank you for stopping by:)
See you next time!

2011 Perth Regionals

Hello fellow stampers!
What a day I have had.  We had our annual Stampin' Up! Regionals today in Perth.  The day was fun filled with many WOW demonstrations. The day went too quickly for my liking. Registration was from 8am.  It was so quiet walking through the big double doors of the resort but as we started heading up the stairs we could hear a beehive of activity going on upstairs. Demonstrators doing their swaps and catching up on old friends and fellow stampers. We had two new demonstrators on our table and it is always lovely to meet new friends. Thats what it is like with Stampin' Up! I have never been in a business that so many of us share the passion of the product we sell. I always think it must be wonderful being a singer as their job is to sing and that is what their passion is. This is how I feel about Stampin' Up! It is on my mind almost every minute of the day (in a good way). How many people get to experience that in their everyday life. Anyway back to the meeting we had today. We had the chance to watch and listen to some very talented people today who showed us some very interesting projects. I am sure each and everyone of us today learnt something new. Cate Lynch showed us various ways to use the Wheels. Sarah Klass dazzled us with her glitter and granny plastic lace ideas.  Andrea Buckland showed us her patchwork cards using the new fabric. Miriam Thomas gave us a lot of ideas on how to use the Petite Pockets. Ngaire Anderson gave us a fantastic demo on how to hold a workshop. Cathy Clark gave a fabulous demo on how to make various flowers with the punches. Gorgeous! Then we were shown how to make a bow using a huge garden fork by Amanda Maycock. The bigger the fork, the bigger the bow. Of course we had to use a normal dinner fork and it was very easy. The list goes on. Here are a few pics of the swaps that were doing the rounds today. I have also included my two swaps. The first one is using a few different techniques. I made this card with the following products:-
Stamp Sets: Oval All

Ink: Concord Crush, Old Olive, Whisper White
Cardstock: Concord Crush, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot & Framed Tulip folders, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Stamp Block, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Crystal Effects, 2 Step Bird Punch, Eyelet Border, Scallop Circle Punch, Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon, 1/2" Circle Punch.
The Whisper White cardstock is in one piece. To achieve the result of having the Polka Dot centred on the card you will need to cut some scrap cardstock approx 6cm x the width of the folder. You can use the backing of the DSP but you will need them to be stuck together to form a pad about 1/2" thick. Place your cardstock into the folder and lay the pad over the top of the folder centred and run it through your big shot. I used the Big Shot without the plates. Have a play and you will work out what is best for you. Once that was done I then used my Framed Tulip Folder and lined up one end with the pattern along the last row of dots and only put the card through at that particular point and wound it back again. (hope this makes sense). I then did it again on the other end.  For the flower I punched two pieces of card using the Scallop Circle Punch. I then scored from top to bottom all the way around between the petals and then cut to the centre only once. I then folded concertina style and joined the two together with tape and sponged with Whisper White Ink using a dauber. The rest looks pretty self explanatory.
The next card is shown in three different colours. I even tried Basic Grey and Sahara Sand but I didnt like that one. For this card I have used the following:-
Stamp Set: Creative Elements (one of my very favourites)
Ink: Pear Pizzaz, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scallop Circle Punch, Tempting Turquoise Marker, Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Pearls, Dauber, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with rubbing alcohol.

For the piece using the scallop circle punch I cut a piece of Very Vanilla 10.5 x 4.3cm. I put one end of the card into the actual cutting section of the punch using something sharp to lift up at the end so that it does not catch, punch. Do the same at the other end and you have a lovely double ended scallop. I rock n rolled with the butterfly. For those of you who do not how to Rock n Roll. I stamped the butterfly first witht he Pear Pizzaz and then rolled the edges of the stamp onto Tempting Turquoise. Always start with the lighter colour ink first as you dont want to ruin your stamps and it also gives the image that depth you need. I sprayed the butterfly with the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint mixed with Rubbing Alcohol (from the Chemist) and then placed some pearls on the body section. I used Pear Pizzaz and Tempting Turquoise to colour my Very Vanilla ribbon. This was done by putting the ribbon onto the stamp pad and using a dauber to hold it down and pulling on the ribbon.
The other two cards were made using Crumb Cake & Sahara Sand. Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight.
Well thats it for now as I am quite tired after a big day out and need my beauty sleep. I hope you have fun trying out these few techniques and I will be back soon with some more.
Thanks for popping by:)