OCTOBER WORKSHOP

Well summer is getting closer and with the weather over the weekend it truly felt like it was here. We had a nice break yesterday with thunder, lightening and some rain.  It didnt really cool down for long as it didn't rain enough. Watching the weather tonight looks like we are in for rain for the remainder of the week. We really need it.  Speaking of summer, that means its almost the end of the year which means only one more home workshop left before Christmas. Our October workshop has been and gone and I am busy preparing for the next one. I have a Stamp Camp before then though so I have a shoebox to think about.  Not sure what I will be doing.
Anyway here are the cards we made last week.
The first one is one I cased from a day at Ngaire's where we had a get together with some of the other SU! Demonstrators and we did a shoebox each.  Natalie (sorry I don't know her last name) had used a Nativity scene but I chose to use The Open Sea as I wanted a masculine card. The images were punched using the 1" punch then placed on a long piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock. I wanted to keep it clean and simple.

Cardstock - Not Quite Navy
Ink - Not Quite Navy
Stamp Sets - The Open Sea, Wordplay
Accessories - 1" Square Punch

The next card was also cased but I have made some alterations. This card was inspired by Jennifer Timko (Stampin on the fly blog). Jennifer had three vases in a row where she used the Large Oval Punch.  I wanted to alter it a bit and also make it a bit easier for the girls at the workshop.  I used the Extra-Large Oval Punch and only made one vase. I did use the original colours that Jennifer used but then changed it to something a bit brighter. Here it is:-

Cardstock - Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise
Stamp Set - Just Believe, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Markers - Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise
Stamp Pad - Tangerine Tango (vase)
Accessories - Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch
Small Oval Punch (discontinued)Daubers, Square Lattice Folder,
Crystal Effects (flower)

I have seen this design on a few blogs but recently saw one that Susan Joyce had shown us at a Stamparoo get together at Ngaire Andersons. This is a very simple project and once you have made one then they are quite quick to make. I made one for a friend recently for her birthday so I will put both up. The one we did at my workshop was a Christmas theme. The girls loved it and some of them were going home to make one again so they didnt forget how to do it. The tutorial for this pop up card can be found here

The front I left simple.
Stamp Set - Heart of Christmas
Cardstock - Real Red, Whisper White
Markers - Gumball Green, Real Red
Accessories - Rhinestone, Two Tags Dies, Petals A Plenty Folder

The inside using Candlelight Christmas Specialty DSP
 

Stamp Set - Birthday Whimsy (retired)
Cardstock - Basic Gray, Whisper White
Stamp Pad - Lucky Limeade
DSP - Twitterpated
Accessories - Window Punch

The inside using One In A Million Stamp Set

Well I will be off now as after the weekend I have had I really need my beauty sleep. I now have Fridays off so I am going to endeavour to try to blog on a Friday. I need to create a name dont I!  Until then its goodbye from me and again thanks for popping by :)

Easter & Mothers Day!

Hello again! I hope you are all enjoying the cooler weather. I was up at 1am this morning because there was a cat meowing outside my bedroom window. I went outside to check it out and had to come back in to get my dressing gown. It was sooooo cool out there. We are definately losing the summer. We still have temps though 32' to 35 so its not quite gone yet.

It was a much cooler weekend than it has been for my workshops this weekend which I enjoyed very much. As usual our lovley bunch of ladies had a lot of fun and laughter. This time I made Blueberry Yoghurt Loaf which was a hit with everyone. Its from the best of Womens Weekly Cake book and it was very moist and tasty. I had two workshops this weekend. I had the usual Saturday one and then another one on Sunday where a group of ladies caught the train and spent the day at my home. I had made some Blueberry Yoghurt muffins but on the ladies arrival I found two of them had brought some lovely slices and cakes. We had a feast after our card making. This workshop we made a rose out of the Fancy Flower Punch. I cased this idea from the lovely Pat Carr at our Stamparoo get together. Pat was kind enough to show us how to make it and then we had the chance to make it ourselves. I must say I was not too happy with mine but once I got it home and had nothing else to compare it to, it didnt look too bad. Remembering how to do it was the key. I looked online and found a site run by Julie Williams (Simi Stamper) which gave step by step instructions. Of course Pat has been making these roses for years and years and was her own design. There is a little difference between the two. One is that Pat uses an extra piece for the bottom layer of the rose. Julie has a different approach to the centre which I found quite easy. Anyway if you are interested please go to this site and have a go yourself. Its very easy and relaxing to do.

http://simistamper.blogspot.com/2010/02/instructions-for-paper-rose.html

Everyone loved making them and were pleased with their results.

One of the projects was to make a card to mount the rose onto. Here we have used Soft Suede cardstock, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla. The stamp set is Just Believe. I have splashed a little ink using the aqua pen and inking it up with Soft Suede and flicking it off my finger onto the very vanilla cardstock to give it some dimension. Rather than the stark, crisp look. The Soft Suede has been embossed with the Polka Dots Folder. It really makes a difference to your card to emboss it. The leaves were made using the Small Oval Punch and cut with scissors to a point at one end. I have used a bone scorer to break down the fibres and then peel apart the layers and added glue then placed some wire along the centre of the leaf and closed it back down. This gives you the vein in the leaf and also allows you to bend the leaf into a shape of your choice. I have added some Crystal Effects to give it some dew drops. With Mothers Day coming up this would be a lovely card to give to your special mum.

Speaking of Mothers Day. I had someone ask for a mothers day card with Gran on it. Of course I did not have one but had some old alphabet letters here and using my very favourite item in the whole catalogue, the Stamp-a-ma-jig I produced my mothers day card. Here it is below. I have used Vintage Vogue on Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler Cardstock. This is one of my favourite stamp sets. I have also used the Pinking Hearts Corner Punch on two corners and then sponged around with Cherry Cobbler. I have cut around the flowers from the Vintage Vogue set and gone around the edges with Champagne Shimmer Mist for an added touch. I then finished it off with the Pearls. Now what Gran wouldn't like this card.

The last project of the day was a simple one to finish it off. Easter is quickly approaching so I decided to do a theme of Easter. In this one I have used The Nicest Things stamp set and only used the cute little rabbit in the carrot pot. I guess he has eaten all the top cover of the plant, naughty little thing. There is not much to this card but it is still cute. I have used Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Very Vanilla cardstock. I stamped my image five time but colouring in only one of them with a blender pen using Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze and Old Olive Markers. I have used the Happy Easter stamp from the Teeny Tiny Stamp Set. I then went over the pot with Crystal Effects to give it a nice glazed finish. Isnt he cute?I made a few cards when trying to work out which one I was going to use for my workshop and here they are here. The first one is a Mothers Day card using the Punch Bunch stamp set from the Sale-a-bration mini catalogue. I have stamped my image and cut it out with the 1 3/8" circle punch and then using a dimensional I placed it on some Chocolate Chip CS after punching it out with the Scallop Circle Punch. With the actual stamp image when using the Scallop Circle punch it leaves part of the white card showing and I did not want this effect and that is why I cut it out using the circle punch. I went over the flowers with Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and added a pearl for the final touch. I have used Chocolate Chip, More Mustard and Very Vanilla Cardstock and distressed the edges and sponging giving it a distressed look. I have also gone over the cardstock with the lovely large stamp from the Bliss stamp set, also from the Sale-a-bration mini catalogue. If you find you like these stamp sets, you only have until the end of this month to put your order in. Remember you will need to place an order of $100 or more to receive a stamp set for free.

The other card I almost used for the workshop is this cute little Easter Card. The ladies loved this one. I decided not to use this one as when I finished I realised that I had used four different stamp sets. I have used The Nicest Things, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Punch Bunch (for border) and Bliss (for wallpaper effect) Stamp Sets. I have made exactly the same card as the last one but making it an Easter card. Next workshop we will be making three cards and here is one of the cards below that we will be making. I apologise that I have used a discontinued paper (Cottage Wall) which looks lovely. I am sure it will look just as nice with the current DSP which looks exactly the same except that the colours in that set are in the new In Colours. This card is a Double Easel card which is so simple to make. The only thing you have to keep in mind is that the front panels swivel and you need to have an image that will work in two positions. Usually a round image or like I have done by cutting out flowers which do not matter which way you place them. I love this card pattern and can see myself using it quite a bit. What do you think?

Well thats all for today. I must go and do some of that dreaded housework now.

Catch you next time and thanks for popping by:)

January Workshop Shimmer Mist

We had lots of fun and laughter at our January Workshop. I have shared my love for Shimmer Mist and Smooch Spritz to my lovely workshop ladies. It is amazing at just how different your project looks when you add a little Spritz or Shimmer Paint.

This is one of the cards we made. I have cased this card from Kristine McNickle using the kissing technique. I love the Medallion Stamp Set. There are so many uses for it.

I have used:
Stamp Sets: Medallion & Just Believe
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Chocolate Chip & So Saffron
Stamp Pads: Marina Mist & Chocolate Chip
Silver Foil Smooch Spritz & although you cant see it properly I have also used Champagne Shimmer Mist on the Medallion Stamp. First the Marina Mist on the Medallion Stamp then Shimmer Mist dabbed over the Marina Mist and then Just Believe (Chocolate Chip) stamp kissing the Medallion and placed onto cardstock.


The next card was using:
Stamp Set: Cottage Garden, Heard from the Heart
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White
I used the Spiral Border Punch to make a negative effect.
I also made another card in Basic Black, Whisper White & Brushed Silver.



I love the Classic look of this card. I have stamped with Basic Black ink onto the flower of the Cottage Garden Stamp Set and then using a dauber to lightly dab Platinum Shimmer Mist onto stamp. I love the light and dark it presents. I also used Silver Foil Smooch Spritz before putting the card together. I used the Heard from the Heart Stamp Set for the wording.

I did a trial run with the Platinum Shimmer Mist onto the Medallion Stamp and put directly onto Basic Black Cardstock. I then stamped another scrap piece of Basic Black CS with Platinum Shimmer Mist but this time I put more onto the stamp. Using a 1 3/4" Circle Punch I cut out the centre and placed onto the centre of the Medallion with a Stampin Dimensional. I then decorated it with a Basic Rhinestone. Using the Platinum Shimmer Mist I dabbed over some Basic Black Grossgrain ribbon. It came up quite nice dont you think!

We also did this Classic Black and White card but not with the card opening up in the centre. For this one I used Basic Black & Whisper White Cardstock. I used White & Black Embossing Powder on the Lovely As A Tree Stamp Set. Before putting the card together I spritzed with Silver Foil Smooch Spritz. The sentiment was from the Just Believe Stamp Set. This card would be great for Birthdays, Fathers Day, Achievements etc. That tree reminds me of the tree of life and so there are many thoughts that run through my head when I see a tree like this. It reminds me of growing, nurturing and the lessons learnt. The tiny buds that grow into full fledged leaves. I am a lover of nature so I stop and smell the roses basically. I love to look at the unseen world you might say. The tiny pieces of this tree that are almost naked to the eye without a microscope.

Its our Grandaughters 14th birthday today and she wanted a pink birthday card. This was my first choice using the Medallion and the Platinum Shimmer Mist. I love the way the Shimmer Mist shows up and still leaving the colour of the Melon Mambo. As you can see I have used a sentiment from Heard From the Heart as I simply love this set. I have also used some Basic Pearls for the bottom of the card. These Basic Pearls are gorgeous and they come in three sizes. The smallest ones are so tiny and very handy for different projects. Well I decided not to use this card but made another using Basic Black and Melon Mambo cardstock. I used Basic Black on the Medallion Stamp and then went over it with Platinum Shimmer Mist with a dauber and stamped straight onto the Melon Mambo cardstock. Again I have used the Heard From The Heart Stamp Set and some black pearls that I had laying around. Unfortunately Stampin' Up! do not have the black pearls. Maybe oneday soon! I chose this one to give to our Grandaughter for her birthday. We had a lovely time at the park with her friends. Her mum organised to make Hamburgers on the BBQ that was available. We had a huge shelter and I brought the little gas oven with the kettle for us oldies who wanted their cuppas. It was lovely. The weather was on the cool side, quite amazing for this time of year. Only 26' and a few showers. The playground was huge so even at 14 the girls were off to play. Tonight we are off to the movies to watch Burlesque. I still cant believe our darling grandaughter is 14. Its scary! Happy Birthday Meg!

Please have a look for the upcoming dates for workshops held at my home. The lovely ladies always leave with at least three cards or a project and of course some afternoon tea and cake. The cost of the workshops are $15 and we have a lot of fun. If you are interested please feel free to email me and I can send you the details.

Thanks for popping by! :)