Kristina's CI #36

How good is it to start the New Year with a Kristina Colour challenge? The last time I participated was at #26, so I was determined to have a go this time...& what a joy to find that Kristina's inspiration colours were among my favourites!

So here's my first card for 2009 inspired by this card here.

Stamps: Eastern Blooms (current mini catalogue) Wonderful Favourites & Simply said (for the sentiment), linen background Card: Pretty in Pink, rose red, whisper white Ink:Rose red , pretty in pink, old olive, whisper white Other: Rose red DSP, hodgepodge hardware, paper piercer, pretties kit, Stampin' dimensionals

And here's Kristina's Colour Inspriation photo:

Thank you for looking,

Caroline

Cheers For Some Friends

Thanks to Mum's stamp set gift which she bought & then brought for me from the UK on her recent visit, I was able to make these cards yesterday using the SU Cheers to You stamp set which isn't in our catalogue, but is in the UK (& the US) one. I hope it makes it to our next catalogue in April, as it's a good one for male cards too...

I have a few friends with birthdays in January (who don't mind a glass of wine...!) so with these fitting stamps, I set out to make sure I got their cards made on time this year. They're not card makers (too busy drinking wine I expect!!) so I don't have to worry about them seeing them here first (or for that matter, reading my comment above!!) I made four cards & may remake a couple as I feel more creative today than when I made them yesterday...but thought I'd post them here anyway...besides it might be February by the time I get around to redoing them........

Stamps: Cheers to you, polka dot background

Card and ink: Taken with Teal, Rose red, black stazon, watercolour card

Other: Bali Breeze DSP, dazzling diamonds, tempting turquoise grosgrain ribbon

Be back soon

Caroline

My Favourite Handmade Christmas Card

Happy New Year!!!

I've finally made it back to my blog! Due to a couple of holidays, overseas visitors and all the usual stuff, I haven't posted anything since November, so I'm on a mission and have three postings planned for today. This first one is this card (inspired by Kristina Werner) made for me by my 'gorgeous' ;) friend & fellow Singstar Superstar (we're on our way!) Cheryl. What a great card AND she made LOADS of them...

Stamp set: Season of Joy Ink: Regal rose, purely pomegranate Card: Soft sky, regal rose, whisper white

Thanks Cheryl!

Caroline

Makeesha's challenge ...and other bits & bobs!

I have 3 cards for this post. The first one is for Makeesha's challenge here which, this week, is to use the colours of regal rose, certainly celery, chocolate chip and very vanilla. I like this combination! Here's my card: Stamps: Live Your Dream (in the Summer mini catalogue from 1 December!), It's Your Birthday & Polka Dot background. Other: Versamark ink, chocolate chip 5/8" grosgrain, corner rounder punch (soon to be using the scallop edge punch available 1 December too!! Woohoo!) paper piercer

This next card is almost an exact CASE of a card I saw in the Dec 2007 US demonstrators Stampin' Success publication. I really loved the original, particularly the use of alternative Christmas colours & I have a thing for squares at the moment (well it takes all sorts!). I made another very different card using the same very versatile layout for one of Kristina Werner's Colour Inspirations in a previous post here.

Stamps: Season of Joy, Short and Sweet, Polka Dots and Paisley, Snow Flurries. Ink: Versamark, Bashful Blue, Old Olive. Card: Bashful Blue (looks good with Soft Sky too), Real Red, Whisper White, Old Olive. Other: White taffeta ribbon, white embossing powder, small star punch, bashful blue button.

And finally another Christmas card I made today, inspired by a Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge SC74 that I've had tucked away for ages. It's a double fold card, that may or may not be the correct name!...but you can always check on Splitcoast. My card differs from the sketch in that I have used circles for the front panel design where the original had a square. Just quietly(!)...I have used nestabilities for the circles, but other circle templates would work well and you can use the Stampin' Up! corner rounder punch to create a great scalloped edge as I have in this post here and here. The part of this card that is CASED is Marelle's Christmas collage design here. I have only used in colours for this as I want to make the most of them before they are gone forever at the end of March next year! Here's the card:

Stamps: Season of Joy. Ink: River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate. Card: As for ink plus Whisper White. Other: Holiday harmony DSP, dazzling diamonds, dimensionals.

Whew finally!... if my computer & blogger were quicker I would have finished this post over half an hour ago & would have had another close up pic, but it just wasn't happening!

Have a good week!

Caroline

Sketch Challenge by Makeesha

I expect you already have, but if not and you are looking for an abundance of creativity check out Makeesha's blog where she always seems to be 'bursting' with great cards and ideas.

Anyway, she also sets weekly challenges and this week I have played along and had fun in the process! You can see her sketch challenge here. In fact it is such a versatile LO that I made two cards and have ideas for lots more...!

Stamp sets: Ahoy Matey, It's Your Birthday. Card: bashful blue, pumpkin pie, whisper white. Paper: Jersey shore DSP. Ink: Brilliant blue, black. Other: Bold brights brads, cutter kit, 1 1/4" circle punch.

And this is my other card:

Stamp sets: Voila!, Happy Everything. Card: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, More Mustard. Ink: Black stazon, real red, going grey, more mustard, tempting turquoise, wild wasabi. Paper: East Coast Prep. Other: Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, bold brights brads, wide oval punch, aquapainter.

Thanks for the inspiration Makeesha!

Caroline

Little Christmas gift box

This is the gift box I made whilst on a roll making my gift bags in the previous post. It was a bonus project on UStamp. However, you can see the video, get full instructions & the template from Alisa as it was her creation. These would make a sweet Christmas table/place setting gift.

Stamp sets: Season of Joy and short & sweet.
Card: Purely pomegranate. Paper: Holiday Harmony DSP Ribbon: River rock double stitched. Ink: Purely pomegranate, chocolate chip

Back soon!

Caroline

Gift bags & boxes galore!

I've got a thing for gift bags & boxes at the moment, although I'm sure I spend more time admiring them on other people's blogs & collecting templates than actually making them myself! Not good!.... However, I have joined UStamp & have found a particular gift bag that is soooo easy to make & can be so easily adapted for any occasion that my production line has been running hot!! You can find out more about this and many other projects by joining UStamp.

For the first gift bag I have used berry bliss DSP, coordinated with pretty in pink & close to cocoa cardstock and ink. The grosgrain ribbon is the 5/8" chocolate chip. I loved using my crop-a-dile to punch & set the jumbo eyelets.....so so so easy..a real joy to use!!! The stamp set is big bold birthday embellished with dazzling diamonds (you'll have to take my word for it!)

Below is another of the gift bags I have made for Christmas using the holiday harmony DSP...(be sure to stock up on this before it is no longer available when the Spring mini catalogue finishes at the end of November). The stamp set is Season of Joy and the ribbon is satin Purely Pomegranate (both also in the mini catalogue!)

I will post my other gift box creation tomorrow,

Thanks for looking!

Caroline

Regionals swap card

Despite the Perth SU regional being held ages ago, I have been intending to post the swap card I made since then! I got some great ideas from some of the swaps I received. I only made 20 cards and of course wished I had made more once I was there..... must plan to make more to swap next time!

I used the Always set from the current mini, only available until the end of November & the colours are blue bayou, soft sky & pumpkin pie (card & DSP).

And that's all for now!

Caroline

Kristina's Colour Inspiration #26

Back again with another card inspired by Kristina's Colour Inspiration. I've used the Big Bold Birthday set which is still on special at 20% OFF (after purchasing $20.00 worth of products)until the end of this month. The colours for this challenge look great together, particularly against the white. Anyway... here's my card:

And here is the Colour Inspiration design:Thanks for looking!

Caroline

Wild about Kristina's colour challenges!...#25

Hi!

Hold everything....time for another of Kristina's colour inspiration challenges! I CASED this layout from a wonderful Christmas card I saw on the cover of the US demonstrators' Stampin' Success magazine for December 2007. I made an almost copy of the Christmas card itself, which I will post later and loved the layout so much decided to use it again!

Stamps: Wild About you, linen background

Ink: Ballet blue, so saffron, ruby red, certainly celery

Card: Ballet blue, so saffron, ruby red, certainly celery

Accessories: celery wide grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals, ruby red button

Here's Kristina's inspiration design:Cheers!

Caroline

20th Birthday Celebration!

Spend $20 on regular catalogue merchandise and qualify to purchase any of the following preselected birthday/celebration stamp sets at a fabulous 20 percent off! for the month of October.
Big Bold Birthday pg 38
Regular price $53.95
20% off $43.16
Pretty Princess pg 51
Regular price $45.95
20% off $36.76
Birthday Best pg 55
Regular price $25.95
20% off $20.76
Crab & Company pg 118
Regular price $52.95
20% off $42.36
Short & Sweet pg 118
Regular price $29.95
20% off $23.96

Also, place an order from 4 - 11th October for any of the Simply Sent kits on pages 12 - 14 and get 20% off those too!! Woohoo!

And...here's a card I've made from the Big Bold Birthday set on special this month:

If you would like to place an order, please email me on ccaroline@y7mail.com and I will get your order posted to you anywhere in Australia.

Happy Birthday Stampin' Up!

Caroline

Kristina's Inspiration #24.....and a sneak peek!

Just a quick post for Kristina's Colour Inspiration challenge #24.
Kristina's Inspiration comes from this design:
I've substituted old olive for kiwi kiss which we don't have over here yet - lovely colours together & probably the colours I most use. The stamps are a set called Live Your Dream and are sneak peek of what's coming up in our next mini catalogue. This was our free set from this year's regionals - I like it very much! Once again I've created the scalloped edge using the corner rounder punch - so versatile!
Must dash - school hols here, so lots of lively little people to get out of the house!!
Caroline

Happy Birthday Little Miss One!

Here's a card I made recently using the 'All in the Family' set & the coordinating sentiment set 'Family Phrases'. The edge of the regal rose cardstock has been scalloped using none other than the humble corner rounder punch - very simple to do! The number One is from the 'Lots of Letters' chipboard pieces & I've used dazzling diamonds & the white gel pen to finish off.

Hope everyone in WA is enjoying their long w/e!
Cheers!
Caroline

Sam's Colour Challenge

I needed to make a birthday card today, so decided to use Sam's challenge for the colour inspiration & challenged myself to use the Time Well Spent set which has been gathering dust on my shelf! I have to admit I found it difficult getting it all to work & nearly gave up, but eventually stuck to a very simple design & well, here it is!
Stamp sets: Time well spent, It's your Birthday, paisley background (on the plum cardstock - difficult to see in this pic) Cardstock: Textured soft sky, pretty in pink, perfect plum. Ink: Perfect plum, rose red, soft sky. Other: corner rounder punch, paper piercer, pretties kit, white taffeta ribbon.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Sam creates as she makes beautiful cards!

Have a good week!
Caroline

K Werner Inspiration #21

I missed Kristina's last challenge but couldn't resist getting back on board for this one! I used the substitute colours of tempting turquoise and old olive as we don't yet have the new US 'in colours'. Altogether a striking combination against the white.

So, here's mine using the Always set:

and here's Kristina's Inspiration photo:

Cheers!

Caroline

Oh, Christmas Tree!

Here's a card I prepared for 'Christmas in July'. It's a card with a difference in that it can be sent flat & then simply assembled to stand up making it easy to display. The template is from a handmade card I received last year from a male friend & the design is CASED from the US Fall/Winter catalogue last year.

Above is the back of the card with space to write a message. The sentiment is from the occasional greetings set, the other set used is snow flurries. For the front of the card, I stamped in versamark, clear embossed & punched out the snowflakes with the 3/4" circle punch.
Cheers!
Caroline

Thank You card

Hi!

I'd just like to share a lovely card I've just received from a customer - it made my week! You do meet the loveliest people in this 'job'!

She has used the butterfly from the Priceless set and distressed the edge using the distressing tool from her cutter kit (the card maker's Swiss army knife!)

And in beautiful spring colours too!

Thanks Kerri!

Caroline

Kristina's Colour Inspiration #19

Kristina's back with another challenge!!! The colours are black, basic gray, white, plus a hint of a colour of your choice. I would love to have used the new US kiwi kiss or the tangerine tango as my colour...but alas we don't have them here yet! And to be fair I do love the current in colours too....

Anyway, I went with regal rose, dusted off my office accoutrement set, used the paisley background for the 'kissing technique' on the large flower, used black stazon, versamark (for paisley background - not clear in pic!) and regal rose ink. I distressed some edges with my cutter kit and added a few dabs of crystal effects....& here it is!

Here's a close up to try & show the crystal effects and the kissing technique with the paisley stamp:

And here's Kristina's inspiration photo:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Caroline

Cute Card Bag

Hey!

I had fun making Nicole Stalker's "Cute Little Card Bag". I gave the instructions alot of thought before ploughing into it!! I can be quite instructionally challenged at times!! I'm much better at having the finished 3D project in front of me & working it out that way. Anyway - I couldn't help but smile when it all came together as planned on my first attempt!!! So thanks to Nikki for a great tutorial!

I used the Holiday Harmony paper from the new Spring/Summer mini catalogue, beautiful paper for all year round not just for Christmas! The stamps are from Carte Postale. I've used the scallop & circle punches & the delicious (!) purely pomegranate satin ribbon also from the Spring/Summer mini & the rhinestones from the pretties kit.

And this is the view from the side showing how I attached the ribbon. I doubled the ribbon over & punched a hole with the hand held 1/16" circle punch which went through the ribbon easily so I could pop the brad through.

And now to make some cards to fill it!

Caroline

Card gift wallet

Well, I have several people to credit for this card wallet I have made. The first one is the blog where I originally got the template when I made one for a gift last Christmas - I can't remember where, but will have a look around & link to this later. I have to thank Carol who gave me a look at the template and card holder she made at a class recently, which inspired me to make another one. I also loved Sara Klass' card compendium which inspired me to make one as a hostess gift too. Using brocade background DSP (designer series paper) with the Oh, So Lovely set & groovy guava ink comes from a card tutorial from Claire Daly. I made 2 cards to go in the wallet, as you can see in the following photos and matching envelopes which you can't see in the photos! It is a great project to try & I can't wait to get stuck in to making more as gifts soon!Here's the first card: And here's the 2nd! And this is the inside, but without the envelopes:
The other stamp sets used for the greetings are Simply Said and Sincere Salutations. I used chocolate chip, old olive & groovy guava ink.
I'll be back tomorrow with a Christmas card with a twist and am going to try making a card box from the tutorial on Nikki Stalker's blog here.
Cheers!
Caroline

Welcome Little One!

Here's a card that I've seen on a few blogs recently & I've made to send off to welcome a new baby girl!

The giraffe is from the Wild About You set and the flowers are from the Simply Said set. I followed the instructions here from a link on Marelle's blog here It's very easy & pretty cute!!

I've also just discovered that Shelli Gardner, SU Co-founder & CEO, has started a blog....so exciting for us SU demos! Her blog is here if you would like to take a look!

Have fun!

Caroline

Colour Inspiration #18

Yeah, she's back!!! The colours in this week's inspiration photo look funky, cool and bright for bedroom decor - but I found it a tricky combination for my card. Having said that, I loved the challenge (even more challenging now the deadline is shorter), and am looking forward to seeing how others create with these colours.
Here's my card, using the From the Garden hostess set and a rub on for the sentiment. Only the ribbon is non SU - it was all I had!It appears that I took the photo at a bit of an odd angle though - can't change that now that it's dark...

This is Kristina's colour inspiration photo for this week

Off now to browse the other entries....

Caroline

Ballet Buddies!

Here's another card for a little girl using the All in the Family set. I've used the coordinating Family Favourites set for the ballet dresses, balloons and pressie. I cased the layout from a Christmas card by KWerner. I've stamped happy birthday repeatedly in regal rose on the regal rose card base and I've embellished with dazzling diamonds and regal rose wide grosgrain ribbon.

The card and ink are regal rose and certainly celery. Can't wait to make some christmas cards with these little stamp guys!

Happy weekend!

Caroline

Male Card Swap

I made this card for a recent male card swap with a group of fellow SU! demonstrators. It was a great way to get lots of new ideas, particularly for those hard to make for men!

I've used the Seaworthy, linen background, sanded background, itty bitty backgrounds and occasional greetings sets, hemp twine, jumbo eyelet and cutter kit to distress the edges of the cardstock. The card colours are kraft, blue bayou and whisper white. I've used chocolate chip, blue bayou and caramel ink to watercolour the images with an aquapainter.
See ya!
Caroline

Kristina's Colour Inspiration #17

Once again I love, love, loved making a card with this week's cool inspiration photo. I'm racing to get it online before the deadline as I've had to wait until daylight to take a photo that isn't mellow yellow!

I used the stamp set Baroque Motifs. I used the rock 'n roll technique to colour the flowers, which is where I inked up the stamps first in regal rose and then rolled the edges in rose red. The ribbon is the gorgeous regal rose wide grosgrain and the 'cherish' sentiment is from the set Warm Words, and of course, it wasn't complete without a white flat backed pearl from the pretties kit. By the way, watch out for those pearls if you're posting overseas, I had to fill out a customs declaration just because I had a pearl on a card I was sending today!!

Here's my card for this week:

And here's Kristina's photo:

Thanks also to everyone who has posted comments about my cards over the past few months - I really appreciate it! I also like that I then get links to lots of great blogs that I may have missed. Thanks also to those who would like to post a comment....but can't!! and email me anyway (Hi Cheryl!)

Put your best dress on and have a great weekend!

Caroline

From My Buddy!

Here's a card I've been intending to post for a couple of weeks. It's from my friend and downline Miranda. She has used the very popular stamp set Bud Basics (hence my heading!) to make this stylish card.

Thanks Miranda!

I was intending to also post the card I have just finished for this week's Kristina Werner colour inspiration, but as the challenge isn't to make a card coloured with a yellow hue (which is the attractive colour I am getting in all the photos I have tried tonight!!), I'll have to leave it until tomorrow morning to take a pic in the beautiful glow of daylight and hope I don't miss Kristina's deadline.

Good Night!

Caroline

Kristina's Colour Inspiration #16

Yippee! These challenges are so addictive and I love them!! Kristina does such a fantastic job checking out the hundreds of links to cards - of which so many are amazing! So before I become really gushy I'd better show my card. It's a very simple design using one of the NEW (Woohoo!) stamp sets from the NEW spring/summer mini catalogue which begins on 1 August. The stamp sets in this mini catalogue are delightful (naturally!) and to make it sooo much easier are all die cut ready to mount with no cutting required. Being a demonstrator I got to take advantage of the pre-order period for demos, which is why I have this set already. So don't just contemplate....sign up with SU and get all these wonderful benefits!!!

Here's my card using very vanilla, soft sky, pumpkin pie and certainly celery.

And this is Kristina's colour inspiration photo - aaaahh such cute booties......!

And now back to the pandemonium..... which is my house during the school hols when it's raining and blowing a gale (and hail & lightning earlier, if you don't mind!) and no one can go outside (not that they don't want to go out in their bathers mind you!)

Cheers

Caroline.....just going with the flow of the chaos!

#1 Colour Throwdown challenge

Here's the other colour challenge I've tried this week. The colours are lovely but I struggled to get it right - so this is as good as it got! However, if you go to the Colour Throwdown challenge site you'll get to see other beautiful designs where they did get it right!

Here's mine though:

I'll be back tomorrow with more!

Caroline

Resistance to CCs and chocolate is futile!

I CASEd Kristina's card layout here to make my card for Alisa's colour challenge (CC) today. The colours were chocolate chip (yum....shouldn't mention chocolate when I'm trying to stick to weightwatchers points!!), creamy caramel (ditto!), purely pomegranate (with ice cream?!) and whisper white (chocolate?). These colours look rich and luxurious (Mmm chocolate?!) together.


I used the baroque motifs and occasional greetings stamp sets....and here it is:

I couldn't resist one other colour challenge today, so will post that card and a couple of others in the next few days.

Off now to track down some lindt!

Caroline