Monday, February 28, 2011

A card for Bailie

He has arrived! My very close friend, Lisa, finally became a Grandmother (Nonna) at 3.15 am on Sunday morning when her daughter Stacy gave birth to "Bailie James" at a healthy weight of 7 pounds 15oz. Both are doing well, although Mum had to spend the night without her new bub as he has quite low blood sugar levels and they just need to keep an eye on him. Anyway, as soon as I got the message I set to work on a card for Bailie.
I have had the Baby Bundle stamp set waiting for just this occasion, admittedly I haven't hardly used it before doing this card!! With all the delightful bits and pieces I just had to create a chest of draws to display them in/on.
As you can see there are lots of little elements going on with this card. The feet of the draws I created by using the Word Window Punch I then just layered draw fronts and a top to give it depth and a real 3D effect.
The top draw is popped on double mini glue dots whilst the bottom draw is mounted with dimensionals as I wanted this draw to be a little more 'open'. I stamped all of the bits and pieces on whisper white cardstock and then coloured and cut them out.
To give it as much 3D as I could I folded the little bib over the top of the draws and stuck teddy inside the bottom draw. The blanket is made by simply running a piece of the Pear Pizzazz hostess DSP through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice embossing folder. I really played with this to soften it up and give it a soft material feel! A few antique brass brads from the metallic set worked perfectly for knobs.
The pram was stamped directly onto the card front and then again onto whisper white with the carriage being coloured and cut out. Again to give 3D I popped that with dimensionals and added a silver brad to the hood pivot and also the center of the spokes. The picture frame on the wall was created by printing Bailie's name on the computer on normal white paper which I then mounted onto Crumb Cake. I added two hearts which I punched from the Two Step Owl punch, stuck and covered with window sheet.
Then I added the frame, cutting mitre joins to give it realism. Of course all of the Crumb Cake, including the draws, was given the sponge treatment. I really love how this card came up. I am defiantly going to make one for my Demo display board. Would make a great class.  hmmmm!! Leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

Supplies List:

Stamp Set:  Baby Bundle

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Marina Mist

Inks & Markers:  Black Stazon, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz,  Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede

Others:  Metallic Brads, Square Lattice embossing folder, Window Sheet, Word Window punch, Two Step Owl punch, Corner Punch, Dimensionals, Mini Glue dots

Monday, February 21, 2011

Red, Black & White

How dynamic do the colours Red, Black and White look together! I have wanted to do this colour combo ever since I got the Punch Bunch set with the For You stamp but just hadn't made time to create something. This weeks sketch at The Paper Players inspired me to sit down and do something in these colours.


The simple block layering of Real Red and Basic Black onto a Whisper White background has a very Dynamic effect with the help of this great sketch by Lesley from the Players crew. This is my very first entry into a Paper Players Challenge even though I have been checking out the creative art on this site for a while now, I get very inspired by the DT team!!

Here is my interpretation of the sketch, this card is on the way to an Artist Trading friend in Queensland. I hope she likes it.


TIP: Finish the border effect by ruling lines with your Stampin' Write marker. This helps tie the plain white area in with the rest of the design.
   
Supplies List  
Cardstock:      Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black, Real Red DSP

Inks:   Black Stazon, Real Red

Stampin' Write Markers: Real Red, Basic Black

Stamp set:  SAB Punch Bunch, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Other: Square Lattice Texture folder, Label Punch, White Silk Ribbon, Dimensional.

Cheers Dani xoxox
                                     

PPA challenge

  Hello,
 I decided to have a go at the sketch over at Pals Paper Arts this week.
I love what the DT come up with on this site so thought it was about time to play along too!
I made this card using the Bliss Set from the SAB promo from Stampin' Up! A few touches of clear embossing just gave the card a lift. I'm not completely happy with the DSP I used as it is a bit to whimsy for this distressed style but it's OK.

TIP: Don't shy away from using border DSP such as the one in the Hostess DSP pack, try cutting around the images like I have with the flower strip to add something different to you cards than plain straight edge cut papers.



 Supplies List 

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla. DSP (Hostess Level 1)

Stamp set: SAB Bliss

Inks: Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, Versa Mark

Other: Clear Emboss Powder, 1 3/4" circle punch. Heat Gun, Sponge Daubers

Happy Stampin'
Cheers Dani xoxo

Monday, February 14, 2011

Engagement Congrats

Well I have been putting my new space to good use. Today I have created this card for my friends son who has announced his engagement. I have seen some very cute owl cards about and decided I probably don't use this punch anywhere near enough, so enter Mr & Mrs owl! Normally I prefer to make square or standard sized cards but just wasn't happy with the dimensions if I used the "congratulations" stamp from the the Curly Cute set. I decided to do a DL sized card instead and must say I am very pleased with the result even though I realised after I finished that I had glue their wings on upside down.....dah.....oh well so they have fluffy wings, that's OK.


There a few steps on this card that I am not sure you will be able to see in the photographs, in the background behind the owls I have stamped the Be Mine heart, from the Sweetheart stamp set, in Versa mark and then clear embossed it. I then took a scrap of card and punched out the Heart using the Full Heart Punch and created a stencil which was then inked with a sponge in a circular motion with Poppy Parade ink.
The Owls clothing are from the Level 1 Hostess In Color Designer Series Paper pack. Mrs Owl (to be) has lovely eyelashes which are simply created by punching an extra large circle from the Two- step Owl Punch and then taking you Paper Snips cut the circle in half and then cut a fringe along each straight edge. I have added Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint for eyeshadow. What girl doesn't love a pretty flower to wear. This little one tucked in her ear was created using the Itty Bitty Shapes punches and a silver brad. here are a few quick instructions on how to make it.

 Using the Itty scallop circle punch one in Poppy Parade and One in Concord Crush, then using the owl punch, punch out a medium circle in  Poppy Parade.


 Take your scorer and rub over the pieces a few times to soften the fibres in the card. Now you should be able to gently pull each flower apart so you have two of each colour. This is called Faux Felting. Discard one poppy parade flower and circle so you are left with 1 each in poppy parade and two Concord crush flowers.
Layer all the pieces on top of each other in alternative colours finishing with the circle. Using your paper piercer, pierce through all pieces and insert a silver brad. Scrunch up all these pieces and then carefully pull each flower apart.  Add a little shimmer to the edges with your Shimmer Paint and a fine paint brush and if you like colour the brad as well.


Add a little shimmer to the edges with your Shimmer Paint and a fine paint brush and if you like colour the brad as well. Now you have a cute little flower to pop on your Owls Ear.

I am going to enter this card into this weeks  Just Add Ink challenge which is all about LOVE and this fits perfectly.

Supplies List:
Stamp Sets: Sweethearts 121576, Curly Cute 120510


Inks: Concord Crush , Poppy Parade  and Versa Mark

Cardstock;Concord Crush, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, In Colour mini DSP (Hostess)

Punches: Two-Step Owl Punch, Full Heart Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes, Scalloped Oval Punch, Scallop Trim Border

Other: Clear Embossing powder, Shimmer Paint- Champagne Mist, silver brad

Tools: Heat Gun, Paper piercer, Snail, Mini glue dots,

Cheers from Dani xoxox

Finally, my new craft space is complete.

Hi friends,
As I mentioned last time I popped in, my craft room has been under going a major reno. Well as major a reno that a new house needs!! Up until now my space has consisted of odd desks and tables. That situation had become more and more frustration as I added tools and gadgets to my craft stash, well not really stash as they are the tools I use all the time such as my score pal and my big shot. Even the simple things like my cutter had to live on the floor in between stamping and distressing and embossing and all those yummy techniques we like to use on our creations, as I just didn't have enough room on my little meter by meter or 3.5 foot by 3.5 foot square work table. One day I had had enough and decided to design a new work area for my room. After months at the cabinet makers (family member- I wasn't a priority!) it finally arrived. After a few hiccups (such as a flooded shed and draws not quite cut right) it is finally done and I can't tell you how very happy I am with the results.
 You can see one the old timber desks that  I had been using.


The carcass of the first cabinet. Handy Hubby put it all together.
 I now have a station for cutting, distressing, and the Big Shot.
The natural day light coming through the window is great.
I love Dymo labels...everything has one!
And check out those draws. I'm in organisation heaven!!!
A file for every colour.....Oh what joy

Now all that's left is to get in there and create, oh and a touch of decorating and a few shelves to display my work and that of my fabulous group friends. I hope you have enjoyed checking out my new space. Let's see if it helps my be more creative......... until next time.

Cheers from Dani xoxox

Monday, February 07, 2011

Quick Share

Hi there,
I hope that everyone around Australia has come through the natural disasters that we are experiencing relatively unscathed. Cyclones in Queensland only weeks after almost the entire state was flooded, bush fires in Perth and flash floods here in Victoria over the weekend have caused havoc. My sisters craft room was flooded so they have had to rip the flooring out, but luckily it didn't get too serious just enough to be annoying and have to call in the insurers. We had water come through the shed where my brand new (delivered Friday) workbench units for my craft room were sitting awaiting assembly. Our cabinet maker made them up in flat packs so handy hubby can put them together!! Only a few pieces got a little water on them so I was very lucky, I feel for the people who have had their homes flooded.

As my craft room is in disarray waiting for the new cabinets to go in, here's another quick share of a sample card I gave you a snippet of in the Sale-A-Brations announcement. Hopefully I can get back in there soon to do what I love ..................     .INSPIRE . CREATE . SHARE .





This fresh little card is done in Whisper White and Marina Mist with a touch of Pear Pizzazz and Blushing Bride on the flowers. I have used the delightful Scallop trim border and corner punches on the Marina Mist cardstock to add a lovely border. The flowers are from the Sweet Summer stamp set and the Happy Birthday 'planter' is from the Punch Bunch set both from the Sale-A-Brations flyer. A touch of Whisper White Satin Ribbon tied in a bow and the card is done.

Don't forget, now is the time to book a workshop to earn FREE products during 
SALE-A-BRATIONS at Stampin' Up!

Stay tuned for the pics of my new and improved crafting area!
Cheers Dani xoxo