BOKEH TAGS!

Last week at my Bokeh Technique class we made these tags.  I thought I would show you.

We started off with a piece of Whisper White cardstock 10.1 cm x 14.4cm) to create the sponged Bokeh effect.  This was cut in half.  One half they could keep as a sample of the technique with the instructions and the other half we made the tag from.  That was by simply punching the top with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and threading some ribbon and twine through.  The flower was stamped using the Flower Shop stamp set and then punched out and then another flower punched with the flower punch. I added a little flower with the Petite Petals stamps set. I added some Linen Thread loops.  These flowers and loopy Linen thread was inspired by my lovely friend Sam (Thanks Sam).  If you haven’t checked Sam’s blog out yet, then make sure you do.  She has some amazing creations. 🙂

I made a number of these for our team swaps last week too.  I think everyone is loving the Bokeh technique at the moment and if you haven’t tried it yet then you have to give it a go. There are a number of tutorials on line with a few different ways of doing them. On mine I didn’t go the spraying with reinkers, I sponged the colours and the white circles.

I realised I hadn’t shown you the card we made too.  Here is the card.

Thanks for looking in today.  Have a wonderful day wherever you may be.

Jenny

BLENDABILITIES + WHITE EMBOSSING = COOL EFFECT!!!!

I am loving using the new Blendabilities.  Have you had much of a play yet?? When they first came out I discovered this cool technique but I only got a chance to try it out a couple of weeks ago. Finally I can show you the cards PLUS I have a tutorial so you can try this out yourself.

For this card I used the Hostess Set “Hello There”.  I love how you can get the different coloured effect.  Isn’t it cool???  Once I coloured it (which you can read about in the tutorial below), I added it to my card.  For the card I wrapped some White Baker’s Twine around a piece of Sweet Taffy DSP and adhered this to a card base of Melon Mambo. I added the little flowers punched from the Itty Bitty Accents punch pack.  It is hard to see it clearly but I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the centre to add some sparkle.

So how do you create the effect?  I will show you.

COLOURING WHITE EMBOSSING WITH BLENDABILITIES

To show you how to create the technique I am making some little tags using the Scallop Tag Topper Punch.

1. White emboss your image. If you are not familiar with that then I will just explain this.  Swipe your cardstock with the Embossing Buddy (this reduces the static on your project in which stray specks of embossing powder will cling to).  Stamp your image in Versamark and then pour over your White embossing powder.  Tip off the excess then heat the image with your Heat Tool to melt the Embossing Powder.  (I love watching the embossing powder melt.  It is so magic.  I don’t think you ever get sick of watching it.)

Take just a minute to let this dry before you start colouring.

2.  Select your Blendabilites.  I used Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral and Daffodil Delight.  Colour over your image as you like.  I found using the fine tip more effective especially on the finer parts of the image.

 

3. Once you have finished colouring you can complete your project.

I made lots of these at the time to give out.

Now you can go and try this technique yourself and watch the magic happen.  ENJOY!!

Until next time 🙂

Jenny

 

2014 SOUTH PACIFIC CONVENTION SWAPS!

As promised, I finally have my swaps from last week’s Stampin’ Up! Convention all sorted to share with you.  I have tried to organise them into separate categories to make it easier.

So here they are ……

Vintage/Shabby Chic Style

Masculine type

Geometric and a few others

Technique Style 

Flowers of all types

Butterflies

3D (tags, notebooks, boxes)

Christmas

 

I hope some of these inspire you in your creating.  That’s why I like to share them.  If you have any questions on any of them or would like some close-ups then let me know.

Enjoy 🙂

SOUTH PACIFIC STAMPIN’ UP! CONVENTION IS STARTING!!!

YAY! I am a little excited.  By the time you read this I should be in Melbourne ready for the South Pacific Stampin’ Up! Convention.  There will be so many inspiring new ideas, some sneak peeks of new products and best of all meeting up with Demonstrators from Australia and New Zealand. It’s great to finally meet face to face after chatting and sharing comments online on various groups.  There are so many inspiring Demonstrators around here.

Another fun part of Convention is swapping.  It’s a great way of getting new ideas and seeing different ways of using a stamp set or other tool.  I thought I would share the swaps I made today.

The first one is CASED from a clever Demonstrator (Michelle) on a Facebook group I am on.  I loved the idea of it.

This is such a clever idea but so simple!!! Just cut the sheet of card length ways, score in half, then on one half cut it in half. Done!!  Decorate as you like.  I will show you photos of them individually.  Sorry about the lighting.  It was bad weather when I took the photos a couple of weeks ago and I have only just noticed, but it gives you an idea.

CARD: Crumb Cake with Whisper White, Fresh Prints DSP STAMPS: Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Perfectly Penned Plus Adhesive Pearls.

CARD: Coastal Cabana with Whisper White, Fresh Prints DSP STAMPS: Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Perfectly Penned Plus Adhesive Pearls.

CARD: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Modern Medley DSP STAMPS: Flower Shop, Petite Petals, Perfectly Penned. (I did add Adhesive Pearls to these ones, but  I had to grab the one that I missed to take a photo of it!!)

Here is a view with it open to give you an idea.

The next card was CASED from Dawn Olchefske. I can’t find the card on her blog.  I think I found it on Pinterest????  This is a clever way of using the Circles Thinlets Die.  A great retro card for the Birthday Boy???

CARD: Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White.  STAMPS: Music Notes Wheel, Gorgeous Grunge. PUNCHES: 1 3/4″ Circle, 1 1/4″ Circle, 2 step Owl Punch, Chevron Border Punch.

I will show you my swaps I receive back next week.  They are always great to check out.  Have a great week.  I know I will 🙂

Jenny

CARDS FOR MOTHER’S DAY!

I hope you have had a lovely Mother’s Day for those celebrating.  It’s a great day to spoil those Mum’s who do so much and many of those jobs go unnoticed.  I thought I would share my cards I made for Mother’s Day.

This one was for my Mum.  You would have seen the ‘Card in a Box’ type cards around.  They are everywhere in the blogosphere at the moment.  I had a class last Friday showing how to make the ‘Card in a Box’.  During the class I made this one up.  My Mum loves blue so thought she would love this.

 

I have used the ‘Watercolor Wonder’ DSP on the box.  I used the colours in the paper when I stamped the flowers.  This was in Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight and Island Indigo.  I used the ‘Flower Shop’ and ‘Petite Petals’ stamp sets for the flowers and threw in some butterflies from ‘Papillion Potpourri’.  The leaves were punched with the 2 step Bird Punch from Gumball Green.  The label was stamped from Chalk Talk and cut with the matching framelits – no cutting with scissors!!!!  I just finished it off with the large adhesive pearls.

EDITED:  The link to make your own long ‘Card in a Box’ is here at Diane’s blog.

This next card was for my Mother-in-Law.  She loves pinks and reds.  This is a lot simpler.  It had to be quick 🙂

I thought I would ink up ‘Oh Hello’ set.  There won’t be many more opportunities for it as it is on the retirement list.  This card was CASED from one on Pinterest.  I just changed it a little bit and it is different colours.  I thought I would drag out some retiring colours too using Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals and teamed them with Crumb Cake.  I used the markers on the flower and then cut it out using the Chalk Talk Framelits.  It is finished off with some Satin Stitched Ribbon and the greeting is from Teeny Tiny Sentiments.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Enjoy the rest of your day/evening.

Jenny 

 

FLOWER BOX-IN-A-CARD!

You have probably seen the ‘Card in a Box’ cards around the blogosphere?? Have you made one yet?  They are so fun to make and really are easy once you get the basic box together.  There are so many ways to “fill” them.  This is one we will be making this coming week in my ‘CARD FRIDAY’ class.  If you are around the Wollongong area I would love you to join us.  So much fun to be had!

Thanks to my friend Di Barnes for the inspiration.

Here are the deets for the class.

Come and learn to make a ‘Card in a Box’.  Give this to someone special or give it to Mum for Mother’s Day. 

WHEN: Friday May 9th 10am or 7.30pm at my studio in East Corrimal.

COST: $15

PLEASE RSVP: Wednesday 7th.

Email or phone me to book your place but hurry as places are limited.

PETITE PETALS WITH PUNCH!!!

This is a card I made last week using Petite Petals stamp set.  One thing I love about this set is how it co-ordinates so nicely with the other flower punches we have.  This card was CASED from Deb Valder on Pinterest .  I just changed things a little.

I stamped and punched one of the flowers from Petite Petals and layered it with a flower stamped from Flower Shop.  But then, see how they both layer nicely with the flower punched with the Blossom Punch.  Isn’t it great! I am sure that you would have at least one of these other stamps/punches in your collection.  (If you don’t, then you probably should have!!).

On this card I have also embossed a strip of Whisper White card using the Arrows Embossing Folder and layered it again on Whisper White. I added a Chevron strip of Elegant Eggplant and Wisteria Wonder using the Chevron Border Punch.  The greeting is from ‘Simply Sketched’.

Don’t forget to check in on Sunday.  I am showcasing the Petite Petals stamp set and punch in the ESAD Blog Hop.  Join us as we share projects using products from the current Occasions Catalogue.  There will be some awesome ideas.

PETITE PETALS MEETS FLOWER SHOP!!

One of the great features with the Stampin’ Up! products that I think many people love is how great they co-ordinate together.  Card, ink, ribbons co-ordinate.  Stamp sets co-ordinate with punches and dies.  What about stamp sets co-ordinating with other stamp sets??? Well, this new little stamp set available in the upcoming Occasions Catalogue looks great when used on it’s own but how great is it when you combine it with one of the other stamp sets!

The small flowers are from the new stamp set ‘Petite Petals’.  There are 6 little flower stamps in the set plus there is a matching punch.  They are very cute on their own BUT why not layer them! Here I have added them with a flower from the ‘Flower Shop’ set.  For this card I have used some of the new DSP ‘Watercolor Wonder’. Absolutely gorgeous paper. You must grab some of this.  The colours and images are just beautiful.  The problem is though that each side is so beautiful it seems a shame to cover up one side to use on a card!  On the card I have also used the new Embossing Folder – Decorative Dots.  You can grab one of these for Free during Sale-A-Bration with a $90 order.  You will need that Embossing Folder too.  The greeting on this card is from ‘Remembering Your Birthday’. This card was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.

Hope you like what you see!!!

Would you like your own copy of the upcoming Occasions Catalogue and the Sale-A-Bration Brochure?? Let me know and I can send one directly to you. I am mailing them out now. (Australian Residents only).  You will be able to check out these products I have used on this card PLUS so many more great products. Don’t forget the freebies you can get during Sale-A-Bration with your $90 order!

Thanks for stopping by,

Jenny

‘STAMP AT HOME’ KITS LAUNCHES!!!!

I am excited.  From today I am going to start offering ‘Stamp At Home’ Kits for you.  Life gets busy and I have had so many people say to me that they would love to come to classes but the times don’t suit, or they are just too busy, or  they would love to create at home but they don’t know where to start.  SO, let the class come to YOU!!!  

These “Stamp At Home’ kits contain all the card cut, the embellishments and step-by-step instructions to create 6 cards (2 each of 3 different designs).  You use your own stamps, ink and adhesives.  I suggest stamps and colours that you can order separately if you wish.

August ‘Stamp At Home’ Kit.

 

Includes card, ribbon and step-by-step instructions. to create 6 cards (2 each of 3 designs).   HINT:  Check out my last post and you will see a full view of one of the cards 😉

$15 + postage to mail out if you need me to.  

(Australian residents only)

Orders must be in by Friday 16^th August and will be posted just after that date.

I have used the ‘Flower Shop’ Stamp set.  You can use a similar flower stamp set.   The colours are the current new In Colors.  If you wish to order any of these additional items then let me know.

Flower Shop  Bundle – Stamp set and coordinating punch. These can be ordered separately.  Ask me for individual prices.  As a bundle you save 15%.

  $60.95                   (C) $54.25

In Colors  2013-2015.  Cardstock and Pad Kit  $47.95.  Or buy the colours individually.

Sentiment Stamps – A Dozen Thoughts   $46.95       (C)   $36.95.  Any sentiment set would be suitable.

Any questions, please ask but I am sure you will enjoy these card kits.

Jenny

FLOWER SHOP AND PANSY PUNCH!!

I loved the new set ‘Flower Shop’ in the catalogue.  Do I really need another flower stampset??? OH YES!!!! I love the flowers in this set AND to have a matching punch.  Awesome! No fussy cutting these pretty babies!  I have been playing around with this set recently.  Here is one of the cards with the gorgeous In Colors.

The sentiment is from ‘A Dozen Thoughts’ which I have been playing with.  I punched the sentiment out with the Curly Label Punch.   Don’t you love the ribbon?  This is the Ruffle Stretch Trim in Crisp Cantaloupe.

I will tell you though punching the flowers out can be a little frustrating as they are not symmetrical. It takes a little fiddling to line it up each time.  I found a couple of videos on my blog travels to help line up the stamps in the punch.  The one I saw was by Connie here.  You can stop by there and check it out but  I have done out a written tutorial for you if that helps.

USING THE FLOWER SHOP AND PANSY PUNCH TOGETHER

1) Make a mark at the bottom edge of your flower punch.  Punch a flower from scrap card.  When you take it out of the punch, don’t turn the punch-out around.  Lay it down and make a mark at the bottom of the punch.  You know that point will always be to the bottom.

2) Stamp a flower on White card.  Line the punched flower over the stamped flower until you get it to match up.  There are particular markings on the punch and flower that enable you to see where it fits best. You have an extra divet in the flower so look out for that. (By doing these steps it enables you to see where to line it up each time so you don’t have to try turning it and twisting it in all directions each time! Believe me I know!!).  Once you have the place then mark that on the stamped image.

Here I have just pulled the punched out flower up so you can see what I mean.

3) Place the stamped image over the stamp to line it up with that.  (You could probably just place the punch-out over the stamp but it can be a bit easier having the stamped image to go by).

Once you have it lined up, place a mark on the stamp with a permanent marker like I have shown.  You know this goes on the bottom of the punch each time.

From the top of the block.

From the side of the block: You can do this whether it is wood-mount or clear-mount.

4)  Now when you stamp the flower, stamp it with the mark on the rubber stamp closest to you ie at the bottom.  Pick up the stamped image and punch out straight away without turning it.

5)  You will need to mark each of the stamps in the same way.  This does take a little time initially but believe me, it saves a lot of time and frustration each time you stamp!!!!

ANOTHER TIP: I have marked the rubber insert in my clear case with marks so that when I put the stamps away I don’t have to turn and twist them each time to get them to fit the right way.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Just a note on the card above too.  This is a little sneak of one of the cards you can make in my card kits being released later this week.  Stay tuned for more details.  🙂

Have a good day,

Jenny