Stamps 4 Ree

Christmas Card Stamp-a-Stack

2010-12-28T19:43:00.001+11:00

Season's Greetings

Required a bit of skill to get the ornaments

to join up evenly, and the solid images

posed a slight issue with ink coverage.

Variations to card included alternating

ornament images, card in portrait & square

on an angle to make a diamond.

Stampset: Delightful Decorations, So Swirly

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler,

Jolly Holiday DSP

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Accessories: Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon

Snow Globe Card

Thanks to Roxy for the great tutorial & inspiration.

Was a fun card to make, keeping the water in the sweet treat cup posed an issue for a few. So many variations possible, including adding punched shapes or chunky glitter to the water.

Stampset: Welcome Christmas
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Very Vanilla & Jolly Holiday DSP.
Ink: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
Accessories: Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon, Sweet Treat Cup, Window Sheet, Dazzling Diamonds
Extras: Snail Adhesive, Dimensionals & Water.

Noel

The Stamp-a-ma-jig came in quite handy with this one. The trick was to place the ornaments on FIRST, then attach the strings. And of course the border along the top hides any wiggly bits made with the top of the string (which happens when you have such a skinny stamp and a little too-much pressure)

Stampset: Tree Trimming, So Swirly

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Scallop Border Punch

Joy

Stampset: Season of Joy, Welcome Christmas

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Jolly Holiday DSP

Ink: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle punch

Happy Holidays

Stampset: Welcome Christmas, Time for a tree

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive

Ink: Crumb Cake, Versermark

Accessories: White Gel Pen, Clear Emboss powder & Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon.

Inkspiration Inspiration Challenge #17

2010-02-04T11:01:00.000+11:00

Here is Makeesha's Inspiration Challenge that started last friday...

As you can see it's a 'dinning' setting, lots of neutral and earthy tones... at first I struggled to work out what I might do with this image, but after some very inspiring blogg hopping, I was able to look beyond just the picture and the 'actual' items in it. Unfortunately i have been unwell since Friday night so I haven't the energy to actually stamp out the image I had in mind, but I'd like to verbally share with you what I thought of and perhaps someone else might have the time to 'create' and put a link in the comments for us to view later.

When I started to think of dinning out, it made me think of some of the great times I've spent with family and friends around a table enjoying good food and good conversation. There have also been some lovely 'romantic' occasions that Jamey and I have enjoyed a meal out together just the two of us... and as we are getting closer to that day of celebrated love... Valentines Day, I thought why not a 'love note'.

A card that is not too fussy, as my man is not into all the frills, nice earthy tones in keeping with the image... Very Vanilla, Kraft, Creamy Caramel... perhaps even close to cocoa. Add a little bit of blinge to give it a lift... some crystal brads, or heat embossing? And an image to that speaks of the moment, one that expresses nurture, security and longevity... perhaps the big old tree from Lovely as a Tree... can you picture it yet? It needs a bit of texture... some DSP? or ribbon/brads?

Inkspiration Colour Challenge #17- Take 3

2010-01-28T18:39:00.003+11:00

I am having so much fun with these colours now I couldn't help doing one more card...
So I decided to do a Tri-Fold card.

From the front:

Stampset: A Kind Word

Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Raspberry Tart DSP (Cameo Coral)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Cameo Coral

Tools & Accessories: SU Water Colour Pencils, Blender pens, Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon.

Inside: I had thought about leaving the images colourless, just for an interesting contrast but it got the better of me and I got out my pencils.

playalong with Makeesha's challenge here

Inkspiration Colour Challenge #17- Take 2

2010-01-28T12:48:00.002+11:00

Had the morning off today, and this challenge has been totally bugging me... felt i could have done something a little bit more 'different' or not the norm for a card. so here is Take 2.

Stampsets: Three Little Words, Botanical Blooms(2008 sale-a-bration)

Paper: So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Cameo Coral

Ink: So Saffron, Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip

Tools & Accessories: Rhinestone Brad - Clear Circle, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Library Clips, Earth Elements Stampin' Write Markers.

Here's what it looks like outside of the 'pouch'. I could have made it like a litte card that slips out, but was thinking more along the lines of adding a magnetic strip to the back so you can put it on the fridge or something?

I loved the way the Three little words stampset came together in the colours, this is my first time using it.

What do you think?

You can check out the other entries here, I recommend you do there are some very talented ladies who played along.

Inkspiration Colour Challenge #17

2010-01-23T20:12:00.006+11:00

Well it's the FIRST colour challenge for the new year, and I've been sitting at home all day on my lonesome... I so thought I'd play along. Check out the colours...

Hmm... interesting combo... but the samples from the design team look great. Why not visit Makeesha's blog and check out other peoples designs.

Here's my creation

Cardstock: Cameo Coral; Chocolate Chip; Very Vanilla & So Saffron.

Ink: Chocolate Chip; Cameo Coral

Ribbon: So Saffron wide grosgrain; Very Vanilla Taffeta.

Stampsets: Baroque Motifs; Elegant Thank You.

Tools & Accessories: Vanilla half pearls; Paper Piercing; Scallop Oval Punch; Large Oval Punch; Scallop Edge Punch.

Let me know what you think...

A Helping Hand for Haiti

2010-01-23T13:14:00.008+11:00

If you've been watching the news lately you will know about the devastation that has befallen those who live on the island of Haiti. Many organisations are digging deep to assist with funds to help those who have survived the earthquakes to get emergency aid.

At Stampin' Up! they have devised a special offer in an effort to help... here are the details:

From now until 28 February, 2010, Stampin' Up!® will set aside $2 from the sale of every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set and donate it to the Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

Please pray for those who have been left behind, have been seriously injured or lost loved ones. Also for those who are trying to administer aid, and keep order in Haiti.

Thank-you for reading.

Stamping with Sarah

2010-01-22T23:47:00.001+11:00

My niece Sarah (6) loves to stamp when ever she comes over, and will keep bugging me until I get the ink & rubber out for her to 'make' something. So when her & her mum came over on Thursday night to have dinner, I was relieved when she pestered us to play the Wii... until it came time for someone else to have a turn, then she started... "can I do some stampin'... can I pleaasseee!" So off to the 'stamping room' we trotted and she picked out her ink colours and stamps, and I cut up the project... the Milk Carton box, as I had some left over from a previous workshop.

So here is Sarah with her Milk Carton... What do you think? Cute isn't she... how deceiving looks can be! *wink* She's that little girl we all used to sing a nursery rhyme about... you know the one with the curl in the middle of her forehead. *chuckle*

Anyway... Sarah's milk carton is made with Whisper White & Pixie Pink card stock, inks are Pixie Pink, Orchid Opulence & Green Galore, Stamp sets used are Petal Pizazz , Oval All & Think Happy Thoughts, ribbon is thin white satin (non SU). We paper pierced around the scallop oval to give a more delicate look.

It was actually Sarah's idea to use only the words from the Oval all stamp, and then use the bolder flower from Think Happy Thoughts, which I think really made it tie in well with the rest of the theme she had going on.

What do you think? Leave some comment love for Sarah.

Happy Birthday to... Sue!

2010-01-20T12:09:00.001+11:00

My friend Sue turned... ha ha ha... a women never reveals her age! Let's just say she's a year older than last year, but not as old as next year. Any way Sue celebrated her birthday on Monday and we all went out for a 'surprise' dinner, we were sure her daughter had blown our cover but a carefully scripted txt msg revealed that Sue was none the wiser.

It was a great night catching up with friends and the food was great... thanks La Porcetta!

Why are you telling us all this I hear you asking, well because I'm building up the setting behind my first ever easel card.

And here it is:

I used Bella Rose DSP, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White CS.

Inks used were Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss & Riding Hood Red.

Stamp sets used were Frames with a Flourish, Echoes of Kindness (Lvl 2 Hostess) & On your Birthday.

Accessories:Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon. Button from Button Bouquet Designer Buttons.

Scallops on the Riding Hood red circle were made using the Corner Rounder.

Flower coloured in using SU water colour pencils & Blender Pen (a trick I picked up off a few websites is to colour lightly in blue around the outside of the image, this gives a shadow type effect and makes your image pop out a bit)

The card folds down to fit nicely in a square envelope, and there is room on the underside to write a message... that will not be on display for everyone to read.

I got the instructions & dimensions for this card from the Score-pal website, other variations are also on Splitcoast Stampers. Click on the links to see the originals.

I'd love to see any Easel cards you've made, leave me a link in my comments.

Thanks for looking.

Workshop Time...

2010-01-16T11:06:00.005+11:00

Hi there, I have my first Stampin' Up! workshop for 2010 in a few hours time, so I'm just throwing together all my gear to get ready to go. And I wanted to share with you the projects I'll be demonstrating.

The Hostess has 6 kids, so with all the birthday parties she would throw in a year she was looking for an alternative to loot bags that you buy in the shops.

I've done 3 different but easily made 'loot bags' that can be altered to suit boy or girl.

1. Tri-box - used real red cs & ink, whisper white grosgrain ribbon, metal edged tag, stamp set is seeing spots.
I have this as a Door Prize, with tags made from the Best Yet Level 1 Hostess set.

2. Bag-a-lope - used C6 whisper white envelope, tangerine tango cs & ink, riding hood red ink, whisper white grosgrain ribbon, stamp sets are Petal Pizazz & Greetings Eight.

3. Milk Carton - used whisper white cs, pacific point & kiwi kiss ink, stamp set is Starring You.

So what do you think?
If you're after templates for any of these please feel free to drop me a line and I'll e-mail you my instructions. Alternatively you can check out Splitcoast Stampers they have a truck-load of tutorials in their resource section, then head on to their gallery for design inspiration!

Thanks for looking!

A New Year means a New Start

2010-01-09T15:40:00.006+11:00

Happy New Year! Ok, ok so I'm a little bit late for new years... but at least I'm trying to get a post up... a New Years resolution one might say.

After FINALLY locating my digital camera, and after much fiddling around to get it charged I've taken photos of some of the projects I was working on over the last 6 months. So as not to over load, I've decided against posting them all at once, but will do them in smaller lots.

So here's round 1!

Using Lynda's 12"x12" Scrap Map... here's just a few of the cards I've put together so far (yes it is a work in progress, but when you see you get 14! cards out of the one 12"x12" DS paper you might understand why I'm still going)

Here I used SU! Urban Garden DSP, and matched it with Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black and Not Quite Navy, the blue is NOT quite a match but compliments better than any other SU blue I had on hand.

I've also embellished with half pearls from the Pretties kit, Basic Grey Taffeta ribbon, and a silver ribbon slide/buckle from the Hodgepodge Hardware set.

The best part about Lynda's One Sheet wonder, is that you can design your OWN DS paper! Check out her blog for the full tutorial, click on the link above.

Hope this gives you some inspiration to get back in your stamping rooms...

Getting Organised

2010-01-03T11:27:00.000+11:00

Since we now have a desktop computer, courtesy of Jamey's parents (thanks!) a Christmas pressie. I've had to 'tidy' up my stamping room... well the computer/stamping/storage room (which is actually our 3rd bedroom) to allow room on the computer desk for the computer to actually live.

So I decided it was time for some better storage options, as I had run out of room to store my growing stamp collection at least 6 months ago... so check it out my new stamping cube shelf... I think if I'm going to get any more stamp sets I'll have to get another cube, or maybe *gasp* I'll have to get rid of some of the stamp sets I don't use as often!

I'm still working on sliding shelves for my desk, and some hanging rails or baskets for my punches. And there has been a few discussion with Jamey about the making of shelves for above the desk... well I need somewhere to display my creations! At present most are squirreled away in a drawer :(.

Would love to see what your storage solutions are... drop me a link if you're happy to share your stamping room!

MIA

2009-09-15T21:40:00.002+10:00

Well I guess it's fair to say I'm not totally organised. My apologies for the past... what 3 months? that I have been MIA from this blog... I hope to have things under control in the next week or so and have some new creations posted for your viewing pleasure.
Thank-you for your patience.
Ciao

... and the rest.

2009-06-17T17:47:00.004+10:00

This is Card number 1. for the day the layout is based on a card I saw on Splitcoast to see the original click on the link http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1353028?cat=5125

I used Whisper White & Soft sky cardstock; Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou & Purely Pomegranate inks; Groovy Guava Dbl-stitched ribbon; Stampsets used were Frames with a flourish, Cheer & Wishes & Heartfelt Thanks.

This was Card number 3. Ideas were a little light on the ground by now so just had a bit of a stamparound and see what happened.
For this card I used Whisper White & Groovy Guava cardstock; Gold cord, Eyelet border punch, SU watercolour pencils & blender pen; Inks used were Chocolate chip, Groovy Guava & Sky Blue. Stampsets used were Spring Solitude & On your Birthday.

Card number 2 kinda happened by accident. Although I'm happy with the outcome it certainly wasn't what I had originally planned.

This card uses Whisper White, Chocolate Chip & Kiwi Kiss cardstock as well as DS Bella Rose Paper. Ink used Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red & Kiwi Kiss; Stampsets used On your Birthday, Spring Solitude & frames with a flourish. Accents used Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain ribbon, metal edge tag and paper piercing.

Where to begin?

2009-06-17T17:28:00.008+10:00

I've been unwell for the past week or so, and my kindly doctor (who I saw on Monday) thought it best for me to take a few days off work and rest. So that's what I've been doing for the last three days... Sitting in bed, dozing off every now and again. When I finally woke up this morning I felt quite a bit better and decided I was up to sitting in the lounge room for a little while. After getting bored surfing the net I thought hmmm.. I reckon I could maybe manage a little stampin'

So with out further ado here are my creations for today: Card number 4. Inspired by a design I saw on Splitcoast to see the original click on the link http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1349063?cat=5125

For this card I used; Whisper White & Blue Bayou Cardstock, DS paper Afternoon Tea from the AU Summer mini 08; Stampsets used were Frames with a Flourish & On your Birthday; Ink used was Wild Wasabi & Blue Bayou; Earth Element brads in Not quite Navy.

Finally....!

2009-06-17T17:22:00.002+10:00

Well it's taken me a little while but I've finally managed to find the time, and the camera (thanks Jamey!) to upload some of the cards and stuff I've been working on. Not all items are 'Marie' creations, I have quite a few points of reference for ideas and I will attempt to acknowledge them wherever possible. Please if I have used your idea and forgotten to acknowledge you I am sincerely sorry as it was not intentional (just a fuzzy head) and will rectify it immediately should you notify. Now on with the show...