Challenges

Once again I had a go at doing some challenges. The first one is a scrap page from the layout pictured left. I used the Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper and the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp set. I added a Metal Rim Tag and some of the great new Designer Brads in the current catalogue. The colours are Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze.

The second challenge was a card challenge using the colours Rose Red, Perfect Plum and Old Olive. Now I like to use all of these colours but I would never have thought to put them together and I must say I really struggled with this challenge, but that is what they are all about, bringing us out of our usual style and stretching us. I'm pretty happy with the final result but it did not come easily to me. The cute little scallop buckle on the ribbon is from the Silver Hodgepodge Kit.

Faux Tile or Grid Technique for June Stamp Club

For this months stamp club we did the Faux Tile or Grid Technique. This is a really easy and effective technique and is simply created using a bone scorer or any other scoring tool and a ruler or cutter with a groove to help score straight. Once you have scored your card you can use either side and stamp, sponge or emboss it. The first card uses the Inspired by Nature stamp set and the colours are Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. The second card uses the Upsy Daisy stamp set. With this one I scored the card then stamped the Daisy's in Night of Navy then brayered over it with Ballet Blue. Then I covered the whole piece of card with versamark and clear embossing powder and heat embossed it. The greeting is from the Level 1 Hostess set Best Yet.

Finding your own style

When you have been making cards or scrapbooking for a while you may notice that your work has taken on a particular look or style. We each have our own style, mine as you will notice from my posts is quite simple. Dawn, one of the ladies in our social stamp and scrap group loves Bling and often adds lots of it to her cards. This card has been done by Helen in the style that we have come to know as a 'Dawn card'. I think it's a lovely card so thought you might all like to see it. Dawn uses double sided tape around the edge of the card and then sprinkles the glitter onto the tape, pressing down lightly to make sure it is attached. The stamp is from the Pretty Princess set form the 2008/09 catalogue.

Remember when it comes to papercrafting, there are no rules and even if you find yourself settling into a particular style, mix it up occasionally. If I see a card or scrap page that I really like I try to work out what it is about it that attracts me and then have a go at recreating something similar. Thanks to Helen Sucher for submitting this card to put on the blog.

Extra FREE products for Hostesses

That's right, Hostesses who hold a $600 or more workshop during the months of June or July will receive an additional $40.00 in hostess free dollars to be spent on any product from the current Stampin' Up! Ideas Book and Catalogue. This means not only does the hostess get to choose a level 1 or level 2 exclusive hostess stamp set for free and earn $70 worth of free product that they would normally earn for a $600 workshop, they get an additional $40 giving them $110 to spend. Gotta love that!

If you would like to host a workshop during June or July, please email me at anemarie@bigpond.net.au and we'll arrange a time. Remember it's school holidays in June, some of your friends might be looking for a night away from the kids and if you host the workshop at my place in Berwick you don't even need to worry about how tidy your house is.

Some Birthday Cards

Here are a few birthday cards that I've made over the last couple of weeks.

Andrea's Hedgehog Card:

While most of the products I use are current Stampin' Up! products I do use other products when I'm creating for myself, and the cute hedgehog stamp is one I borrowed from my friend Dawn and is not a Stampin' Up! stamp. The other items used on this card are from Stampin' Up! The colours are Cameo Coral and Very Vanilla. The 'so Glad we're friends' sentiment stamp is from the level 1 hostess set 'Best Yet', the ribbon is very vanilla 1.6cm Grosgrain, the cute little silver buckle is from the Silver Hodgepodge set and I used the Scallop Edge punch for the right hand side.

Cheers to you:

This card was made for my dear friend Mark. I have used some retired Designer Series Paper and matched the colours. I think these are great colours for a mens card. The beer and 'cheers to you' stamp are from the 'Cheers to you' set and the ribbon is Choc chip 1/4" Grosgrain. I used a sponge dauber and choc chip ink to sponge around the very vanilla card.

Six year old boy card:

I used quite a few different techniques on this card. The water was done using the baby swipe technique while the sand was sponged using three different colours. The lovely whale is from the 'Pun Fun' stamp set. When I put this stamp set together I cut the sentiments off the main picture and mounted them on the side of the stamp, that way you can use the picture and the sentiment separately or together. I stamped the whale on watercolour paper with Stazon, coloured him in then cut him out. The star fish is from the retired 'Fishy friends' set. I just couldn't part with this set when it retired and still use it often for childrens cards.