Coloring with my SU markers

Coloring with my SU markers is not a thing I have done much of. I own the boxed set of markers (lucky me :-) but I havent really used them very much. I got the inspiration from watching a video on the Stampers Connection by Karen Barber.

SU recipe :
Stamp Set : Simply Soft, Itty Bitty Banners
Cardstock : Whisper white, pacific point
Makers : Bashful blue, marina mist, pacific point, wild wasabi, garden green, white gell pen
Accessories : ticket corner punch
Technique : Coloring, punching

Sympathy card

My first ever sympathy card !!!
Cards are for all occasions, not just the happy ones. Its touching to receive a hand made card at such a time.

The stamp set is from Just Rite Stamps, With Sympathy. The flowers are colored with copics, few dabs of white gel pen and cut out - yes it took quite a while, but I love how the roses sit on top of the frame and embossed cardstock.

Its Vivienne AGAIN !

Love this stamp from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps, she is a pleasure to colour with my copics and paperpiece :-) I came across this piece of reflective card amongst my craft supplies, and framed by the Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Square it made quite the ornate mirror. I would imagine Vivienne takes frequent glances at herself. lol

The last craft class

Gosh, I can hardly believe that 9 months has passed - could have grown another human being in that time, and in fact two of the group did ! Welcome Sophie and Marcus :-) The rest of us just managed a bit of crafting !!! lol

For the last class we made a male orientated card, suitable for Birthday or Fathers Day and there were a selection of sentiments available to the crafters.

The vanilla craft ink has been retired from the SU catalogue now, which is a shame. I loved embossing with it onto dark cardstock.

SU recipe :
Stamp set : Sincere Salutations, Natures Nest
Cardstock : Night of Navy, Very Vanilla
Ink : Vanilla craft ink, concord crush, sahara sand
Accessories : Scallop ribbon punch, large oval punch, corner rounder, clear embossing powder
Techniques : Stamping, punching, heat embossing

At the last class we also did some 'thinking on your feet'. I wanted the crafters to use their own supplies and imaginations. We did an Artist Trading Card Challenge. Everybody made two identical-ish trading cards, the title being 'Beauty' and then traded one. I thought it was a huge success and I loved seeing all of the individual and personal works of art that were produced.

If you dont know what Artist Trading Cards's are, here is a brief summary :

Artist Trading Cards (ATC's)

Is a 2.5 x 3.5 pocket size canvas. Originally designed to be an artists calling card, created in 16^th century Europe. They were considered the first pocket sized photo's – rich men often commissioned artists to do nude ATC's of their mistresses ! Also used during match making. Later used for advertising and for artists to study each others style.

They have gained momentum since 1997, when baseball and other sports cards were standardised, and were traded. A Swiss artist, Stirnemann, created and show cased 1,200 similarly sized cards, he told people who wanted one of his cards to come back and bring one of their own to trade.

Stirnemanns work spread through Canada through Calgary artist Don Mabie (aka Chuck Stake) who participated in the 1997 trade. In 2000 the two collaborated on an exhibition in Calgary, with 80 artists from 10 different countries. The concept spread across the globe like wildfire.

What is fun about ATC's :

You dont sell them, you cant buy them, you can only trade them.

Design, make and trade these tiny treasurers, using your imagination and all your craft supplies.

Join or start an ATC group, choose a title for each exchange.

Paper piecing a sofa !

What a lovely way to spend a few hours than stamping and paper piecing images..... ahhhh. This and my beloved copics must be my favourite crafty past time. I find it so relaxing and therapeutic. I find myself totally absorbed and the time just flies by.
I spent so long on the sofas, then when I had them I didn't know what to do with them ! lol Cards turned out ok, but not quite as I had planned.

Love the Clear & Simple Stamps set House Notes II and the Basic Grey Picadilly paper pad had papers in just the right scale for a sofa.
Thanks for looking :-)

First attempt at a swing card

I wanted to do something a little different so I decided to attempt a swing card. There are so many videos and instructions out there, but I decided to follow Dar McCallums directions on her video. I have to say it was quite the challenge to score and cut. Think next time I will try cutting with a die in my big shot and scoring afterwards. I did think to myself that I would do this for the last stampers group and did start the scoring - but abandoned the idea as ridiculous on my first card - even though I ONLY had 16 more to do !!! LOL

I love this dragon fly stamp from Local Rubber King Stamps, and the sentiment is from Waltzing Mouse Stamp. All other supplies Stampin' Up!

Liebster Blog Award

I would like to thank my fellow crafter and long time Secret Stash Strokers Team mate Jane for nominating me for a Liebster Blog award! Apparently the award is for those smaller blogs just starting out on their quest to become world super-powers :-)

Hero Arts Gift Pack

What a great set to make quick and yet very effective cards. I made this pack of cards for a friend. 6 cards in a nice matching handmade gift box - I'm sure she will be delighted.

Field Flowers

I love this Stampin' Up! Field Flowers set, especially with the 'rock 'n' roll' technique as shown in the yellow flower card. My Spellbinders came in handy once again, cutting the shaped card in the first card and edging the second.

More Stained Glass Effect with velum

I really enjoy the stained glass effect with my velum cardstock. On this hydrangea card I also used the velum as a colour in itself. By stamping and embossing, then rubbing on the back of certain flowers with a stylus, the velum turns white and becomes textured. Its pretty hard to photograph, but in real life it looks great - trust me :-) This stamp is a retired Stampin' Up! set.

Local King Rubber King Stamps

My friend Katrina let me play with this adorable dragon fly stamp set, I love how this card came out. The dragon fly is stamped on scripted paper, sponged in a couple of colours, distressed and heat embossed. The embossing really brought out the colours in the dragon fly - love it. This set is on my 'need' to buy list :-)

Waltzing Mouse Stamps xxx

I LOVE Waltzing Mouse Stamps xxx The spellbinders compatible dies are just great, an example :

Card making extravaganza

Wonderful craft retreat with my good friend Katrina at the weekend. Day 1 we were a little slow to start, Day 2 decidedly more productive, Day 3 we were focussed and hard at work. Wish I could just spend every day in my craftroom - its a lovely place to be :-)

Retiring list of SU stamp sets 2012

To make room for new stamp sets and accessories, SU are saying goodbye to many of their stamp sets, Check out the size of this list :

To look a the list more closely or print it, follow the link :

Loving that cupcake punch

The cupcake punch is soooooo much more than a cupcake punch ! Its really versatile, I've made handbags, ice cream cones, gum ball machines, clouds and more.... Here is one examples made for a Birthday Party today.

Su recipe : Stamp set : Happiest Birthday Wishes

Cardstock : 2011-13 incolors, SAB 2012 dsp

Accessories : Cupcake punch, white gel pen, alphabet die cut, 1.75 circle and scallop circle punch

Stained Glass Effect

I love the stained glass window effect and made a card for a friend recently, which she loved :-) You do have to be careful when working with vellum, any crease or fold in the cardstock and it is there permanently. But you can use this to your advantage as I have in the grass below my butterflies - can you see it ? Its scored using a stylus. My butterflies are stamped in versamark and heat embossed with black powder n the front of the vellum. The butterflies are then coloured in from behind - you cant really see the effect in this pic, I was more concerned with showing the light through it. It is subtle and yet very effective, maybe more so with vellum paper - might try that next ! Thanks for dropping in :-)

Happy Easter

You gotta love punch art and SU punches, so many possibilities - like this little Easter Bunny. Main techniques here were embossing with the big shot, and using the spritzer tool. Wording printed on my printer. Such a cute bunny, I love him :-)

SU recipe :

Cardstock : Bliss blue, Whisper white, crumb cake, old olive, pretty in pink.

Ink : Pretty in pink, soft suede.

Accessories : 2.5" circle punch, scallop oval, boho blossom, jewelry tag, owl builder. SU embossing folder.

Brayering

Such a surprise to turn very vanilla card stock into this brightly colored card - thanks to my beloved brayer. We brayered the background in tempting turquoise and spritzed with water to give an almost textured look.

SU recipe :

Cardstock : Very vanilla

Stamp set : Triple treat flower, Style beautiful, 3 little words

Ink : Tempting turquoise, rose red, chocolate chip

Accessories : Antique brad, taffeta ribbon

Cards for boys

Few boys cards I made

Quirky !

The first time I used my new rubber necker stamps. I love the paper piecing and of course the hours I lose when I colour with my copics.

Stampin' Up! Lattice die

I love this lattice die that SU sell, so versatile and lovely in pastels as well as in stronger tones - black and pink.

Raised doily card

My adorable WMS doily stamps - embossed and die cut.

Punch art baby card

I really enjoyed making this card, using my Stampin' Up! punches, Priceless stamp (retired) and a piece of vellum. A lovely card - if I say so myself :-)

March Angry Birds Card

I saw this card online, beautifully designed by a fellow SU demonstrator, Maria Cameron. I loved this card. Thank you to Maria. I tried to leave a comment on her blog, but somehow it wouldn't work :-( I designed a cheat-sheet to make reproducing this card a little easier.

SU recipe :

Stamp set : Happiest Birthday Wishes, woodgrain

Cardstock : Whisper white, old olive, poppy parade, daffodil delight, sahara sand, black

Ink : Poppy parade, chocolate chip for sponging, wild wasabi, bliss blue

Tools and accessories : 1.75 circle punch, heart to heart punch, owl punch, hemp twine

March card - spring inspired

The final time using the lovely sale-a-bration dsp, Everyday Enchantment. I got the inspiration for the butterfly on this card from the spring mini, but instead of stamping the image I used vellum cardstock. Spring is definately arriving here, so a nice spring inspired card.

SU recipe :

Stamp set : Mixed bunch, heard from the heart

Cardstock : Vellum , lucky limeade, pool party, calypso coral, whisper white, Everyday enchantment dsp

Ink :Versamark, Concord crush

Tools and accessories : Everyday enchantment ribbon and brad, Blossom punch, simply scored stylus (for tracing over the versamark stamped image on the vellum), corner rounder punch

Fabulous Florets stamp set

Orange and green - my current favourite combination :-)

Shake your Tailfeathers

Love this stamp, love my copics ..... Enough said !

WMS Blog Party - Spring theme

For the first time I am taking part in Waltzing Mouse Stamps Blog Party - the theme was spring, but I realise my stamp collection is definately lacking in the 'image' department - to be rectified asap ! Anyway, for my spring themed card I went for a lovely combination of spring colours, although I used the Vintage Ornaments set ! I intended my ovals to be egg-like for Easter, but maybe only I realise that. LOL
Here in my little corner of Canada is has been pretty cold for a while, we have a lot of snow, so I am really looking forward to the arrival of a colourful spring :-)

What is Edna trying to say ?

I love this 'Golden Oldies' stamp by Art Impressions, but as I was making this card I was wondering what Edna is trying to say ? If I could draw a word bubble from her mouth what do you think it would say ?

February crafts

Each month I demonstrate new techniques, colour combinations, tools, styles etc. The monthly craft groups are now officially half way through their 8-month commitment so I wanted to recap on how much we'd achieved so far. I was amazed at how long my list was getting ! Some members of the group are seasoned crafters, others are quite new to the hobby, so I try each month to satisfy both :-) To my knowledge everyone is having fun, it really is quite the social event, and I dont know about them, but I really look forward to it each month.

Februarys cards :

This card is inspired by the red bandanas that many of us have. My dragon boat team wore these one year for a festival and we all looked pretty dapper I have to say !

SU Recipe :
Stamp set : Fresh Vintage, thank you kindly
Cardstock : Basic black, poppy parade, whisper white
Ink : Black
Punches : Scallop oval
Other embelishments : White gel pen, crimper

For my second card, my upline was at the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference in January and brought back a selection of cards. I fell totally in love with one of them and decided to case it for my stampers groups. I loved how the colours worked so well together - I never would have thought to match up rich razzleberry with red, yellow and green ! I had to do some improvising as I didn't have some of the dies and punches, but then I added further embelishments, including the pins and tag. Hope you like it :-)



SU Recipe :
Stamp set : Mixed bunch, Fabulous phrases
Cardstock : Certain celery, rich razzleberry, whisper white, poppy parade, pocketful of posies designer series paper
Ink : Wild wasabi, poppy parade, daffodil delight
Punches : Decorative label, blossom, scallop circle, boho blossom, jewellry tag
Other embelishments : Daffodil delight 1/4" grossgrain ribbon, hat pin, brights button, hemp twine.