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Thursday 31 October 2013

Halloween Banner


When I saw the new Build a Banner kits, I thought "this is pretty cool". And I happened to get one free from the convention, and had SO MANY great ideas - but so little time - so never got into making a banner.

So FINALLY I took the kit out and decided to make a small Halloween banner. I didn't want to spend too many banner sheets on this, since it would be up only for such a short time, and Halloween is a "strange" holiday for me to celebrate - so I wanted the banner to say "BOO"

Once I started - I could not believe how fast and easy it is to create the banner!!!

I used hot glue gun to make the rosettes (or lollies) and to glue them to the banners. I used Sponge Dobbers to ink the banners (the kit comes with templates) and it was very quick and easy.

The colours on this banner are Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry and Smoky Slate and the Designer Series Paper is Sweater Weather (from the Holiday Catalogue). The bats are done with larger butterfly punch  - first punch out your regular butterfly, then adhere it to a post-it note and punch part of the bottom off with the same punch.

And I created these really cute treat cups for my office colleagues - well guess if I remembered to take a picture of them - oh well.... Maybe it's better than I didn't, since they were done using last years halloween paper :-) and now they can be also a surprise for my future hostesses (well without the halloween decor ofcourse!)

I'm already creating the second banner. The backgrounds are done and the letters stamped - just need to cut the letters out and create some embellishments. Hoping to have some images by the weekend (well I'm hoping to display this thing at the Christmas Bazaar this weekend.

Which reminds me - come and visit my booth at the Ravines retirement place at the corner of Prince of Wales drive and Colonnade Road (Nepean)





Undefined VW beetle

I want to make some car stamps, mostly classics. I think those would make really neat cards. I just need my husband's help to find some great images if cars - easy enough to carve.

But I managed to find a fairly simple image of a Volkswagen Beetle. And even if I say so myself! I think this stamp turned out pretty good
Again, at the top is the printed image from internet, then there is a traced version on parchment paper and then the final result stamped in red on a post-it note

I have an image of a convertible 1969 Camaro, but it has a bit too many details. I'll have to simplify it quite a lot before I can carve it out.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Undefined @

This actually was my first attempt on the carving.

I thought this would be a great stamp to use in my scrapbooking.

You can see, how the water based ink smudges on the block, so I highly recommend stamping the image with Staz'On ink.

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Undefined - carving your own stamps!!!

My first initial reaction to this was "oh my, not sure if I'd be up for this challenge". But when I saw my fellow demonstrators carve their creations at the Convention, I figured! it cannot be THAT bad.

I didn't get to try them at the Convention, as the carving station had some crazy line-ups. So I ended up ordering the carving tools, but didn't have the time (read: courage) to test them out.
Well actually I was doing some research and trying to find some ideas and images to use - I can be a crafter, but I'm not good at drawing!!

So I figured I'd do a car, a Finnish saunavihta (birch tree branches, which we use in the Sauna to whip ourselves - yes, I know that sounds mid-eval and cruel, but it really is not - the branches have still leaves on :-)

So here is my take on the saunavihta 
You can see at the top left the inspiration printed out. Too bad it actually was too large, so I did end up drawing my own vihta (that would be the blue image at the bottom right (on paper). Then I traced it on parchment paper! as the regular paper was drying the ink too fast, so I didn't get to transfer the image on the rubber, but from parchment paper it worked perfectly.

Once the carving was done, I stamped the image on the back of the woodblock with Staz'On ink (tried the blue ink pen, but it smudges my fingers when I used the stamp, so I switched to Staz'On.

And then finally on the little post-it note, is my final image (gives you an idea of the real size)

What do you think? Ready to give this a try??

Sunday 27 October 2013

Yippee-Skippee meets Gorgeous Grunge

And both are now on sale!!!!

That actually is just pure luck :-) as I saw this card done by a fellow demonstrator some time ago. I used the same embossing folder, but changed the colours a bit and used a different framelit to cut out the sentiment and the mat for it

The colours are Pumpkin Pie, Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso with Whisper White.

I wanted to try various ways to create the stains on the background.
The first one was done by sponging ink directly on the front side of the embossing folder and then spritzing it with rubbing alcohol. This method makes more blended colours as it actually ends up mixing the colours together. Maybe partly because of my colour choises, this also looks very subtle.

The second was actually my first try and I almost scratched the whole piece! but decided finally to use it. This one, as you might have noticed, actually has the embossing reversed. That was not supposed to happen. I colours the raised part of the embossing folder, which actually is the back, and closed the folder, hoping that the ink would catch onto the intended part - well... Didn't work. So since most of the ink ended on the back side of the card, I chose to use the back side, hence the reverse :-) but I have to say! I like the look.... Just wish the letters were right way round

Then the las - and my favourite - version
This one I embossed plain and then sponged (with sponge daubers) on top of the raised letters.

All the cards are embellished with Epic Day This And That Washi tape and Witches Brew Washi tape, early espresso baker's twine and arrow paper clip 

The greeting has a stamp from Yippee-Skippee (I freakin' love you) and the "seriously" is from an older My Paper Pumpkin kit, but you could use another stamp or carv your own with the new U defined kits 

wait... You will see my creations this coming week!!!! (I have already carved 3 this weekend!!!!)



Saturday 26 October 2013

Lovely as a tree

This is one of those stamp sets, that work through out the year. You can make the trees green, yellow or orange or just bare. And it makes great - and super easy - masculine cards too!


This is cased from a fellow demonstrator, who's name I forgot to write down and guess how many cards there are when you search "lovely as a tree". So, the idea is not mine, but it was such a great idea, that I wanted to replicate it for my Father's Day card. 

I know, Father's Day isn't until June! but guess what .... In Finland we celebrate Father's Day mid November, so I'm making my Father's Day card right after Halloween and before Christmas (gives a nice break from those 'theme' cards) :-)

And the greeting is not Stampin'Up! since they don't make any in Finnish ;-)
Although I have been thinking of ordering some custome stamps (the ones you can use for return address), but have not yet come up with any great sayings.

Now I know I said this was easy. Well I thought it was until I started making those white pieces. See I stamped the image first and then started punching them out. Had to make sure I punch them all at the same hight and same distance apart. Afterwards I though I should have punched them out blank and then lined them in a row and stamp the image using stamp-a-majic. Well... too late :-)
But I managed to make it work (lost only couple of tree tops in the process).

And hey, don't forget the 25% off of 25 stamp sets!!! The sale ends Monday!!!



Thursday 24 October 2013

Coffee for 2

I saw this card on Heather Summer's blog and FELL IN LOVE!

I needed to replicate it! Sometimes I see designs and think "oh, that's pretty, I can use that idea on my own card" and some times I just feel that the colours and the design are already SO perfect and just don't want to change anything!

Usually I want to use a different stamp set, different coulour etc, but there are couple demonstrators who are just so brilliant, I don't want to improve their desings.

So this is a full on case from Heather Summer's card.


I just love the colours (DSP is from the Holiday Catalogue), and I love this stamp set! I ordered the burlap ribbon, but I'm having hard time using it - this was perfect project to get that included!

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Blooming with kindness

UPDATE: if you saw the title with "kondensaattori" that would be my wonderful iPad and using it with Finnish keyboard = spellcheck in Finnish :-)

I saw someone do this card with different colours and I thought it looked so easy and simple.

"I should do several of those and then I would have enough to giving away at Xmas time". Well.... All that time, and I finally got 2 made ;-)
Not that making these takes long - just didn't get to it - that's all.



Frankly, it would have been faster, if I would have used the same colours. It took me FOREVER to choose the colours!!!! I was determined to use Wisteria Wonder (not my normal choise). Then I thought "Sahara Sand would look great with this". Well, turns out I DON'T HAVE SAHARA SAND INK PAD!!!!! 
I know, I can already hear "WHAT????" from you ;-)



The Whisteria Wonder also has pink Pirouette and then in stead of Sahara Sand, I used Smoky Slate. You know what is going to be on my next order - right???

The other card is Blue Sky and Daffodill Delight (with blender pen)


Tuesday 22 October 2013

Get 25 percent off 25 stamp sets


Visit the online store for further details on the discounted sets 
 
and don't forget to check the weekly 
Tuesday deals while you at it!





Saturday 19 October 2013

PSSST.... Stampin'Up!'s 25th anniversary sale

Starting Tuesday October 22nd, Stampin'Up! is starting their 25th Anniversary sale.
 
25 stamp sets will be discounted with 25%!!!
 
 

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Dolls and Miniatures - displays

As I mentionned, I attended the "Ottawa New Dolls and Miniatures" show last Saturday. Quite an event and interesting to see what other people create too. Amazing people and amazing things they create - life sized (and looking) baby dolls, teddy bears and what not's - bunch of VERY creative and talented people!






I was VERY proud of my new display rack (pretty good job, even if I say myself).


I have to be honest too - I wish I would have had more time to create more spectacular cards - well... I guess I did HAVE the time - I just didn't use it properly :-)


But I was proud of all my Disney Princess cards and I got several positive comments about them. And everybody really loved the dress form dies.

I think I was most proud of my "doll house" cards. I had 2 cards, that could be used as paper doll rooms.


The first one is using "Soho Subway" Designer Series Paper as the back ground. The table is with Early Espresso Card stock, which was embossed with woodgrain embossing folder. On top (which you really cannot see) is a piece of Natural Trim with fringed ends. The flowers are done with Brights Blossoms stamp set (Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush and Pistachio Pudding). The base form is done with Baked Brown Sugar.

And the carpet?? That is a piece of Natural Composition Specialty paper inked with Crisp Cantaloupe and the fringe is Baked Brown Sugar Ruffle trim ribbon.

I really liked how this turned out.


The other one - the baby's room. I had most fun with this one.
The back ground again is from Soho Subway Designer Series Paper. All layed on top of Baked Brown Sugar background.

The carpet is Pool Party Core'dinations paper embossed with Square Lattice embossing folder and sanded. Then I snipped around the edges with my scissors to make the fringe - pretty nice - eh?

The stuffed animals are from "Zoo Babies" stamp set - I stamped them on whisper white card stock and then mounted the cs on a second layer of whisper white - then cut them out and mounted them on top of the dresser. The dresser is whisper white and the drawer fronts are mounted with Pop Dots. The handles are Wild Wasabi Candy Dots
The branch is done with Bird Builder Punch.



While I was there, I decorated couple of the extra dress form shapes I had with me. I did couple of "Scottish" ladies (the blue skirt actually has a small safety pin from the Vintage Trinkets. The blue and white dress has sleeves made from Delicate Details Lace tape (the narrow one).

This truly was a new experience for me - creating cards and display items in a particular theme - more challenging than I thought.


Sunday 6 October 2013

Happy and haunted - Halloween is here!!

As some of you know, Halloween is one of the toughest holiday for me. Reason being that back home in Finland we do not celebrate Halloween. Well, apparently it is creeping it's way in there as we speak, but way back when I was a kid - no Halloween.

1) Cased from Michele Reynolds

We did dress up and go from door to door hoping to get some treats, but this was during Easter and we dressed up as Easter Witches (even boys).
So for me to create Halloween cards, is always very strange, I'm okay with the pumpkins and all the cute stuff, but spooky and creepy things - yes, not my cup of tea 

But here goes - hope you enjoy them


2) Cased from Debra Lehigh







Couple of them have been cased from fellow demonstrators and quite a lot of them use "Best of Halloween" stamp set (one of the Best of 25 year special stamp sets)

I especially enjoy the very simple card from Debra Lehigh (2). So easy to make, but I guess it's just enough Halloween for me  - and not too scary !!!

3) Best of Halloween and Washi
Several of the cards use Washi Tape - why? I decided not to order the Witches Brew Designer Series Paper. Last year I orderd couple of sets, and hardly used them at all, so this year I figured that I'm trying NOT to order them and figure other ways to embellish my cards. One thing I really miss is the Spider Web Embossing folder - that was such a great background for Halloween cards and made great impressions on the die cut leafs also!









4) Gorgeous Grunge background


I also used stamps to create some background for my cards. One is using Gorgeous Grunge in Pumpkin Pie and Off the Grid in Smoky Slate. And since Stampin'Up! retired their bat punch, demonstrators have been either using the retired punch or trying to make bats with various different punches. I saw a bat done with the larger butterfly punch and thought - that is the best thing ever!

You punch the butterfly from black card stock and then adhere it to a piece of post-it note. Then you punch the same butterfly again - just the bottom of it so that you get the shape of the bat.



5) Off the Grid, Gorgeus Grunge and Butterfly punch


You can see the bat on the card #5
The moon is sponged to the back ground through a round hole on a piece of scrap paper.

Oh and most of my halloween cards are using Pumpkin Pie. I just like it a bit more than Tangerine Tango - which to me is a bit too dark and "dull" colour.








Label done with My Digital Studio. Background with Washi Tape

Then one of my favourites - this is a hybrid card. The label is done with My Digital Studio and printed on a piece of Whisper White Card Stock (took me couple of prints to get it matching the size of the Apocathery Accents Framelits - but got it pretty accurate.

Then I just used the Witches Brew Washi Tape to create the background.














Saturday 5 October 2013

Romantique dress Form

I saw similar card on Pinterest and liked the look, but since I didn't have all the supplies (WHAT!!! There is still some Stampin'Up! stuff I don't have??!!!) - well, I had to improvise a bit

The base is Whisper White and I embossed a Rose Red Card Stock with Modern Mosaic Embossing folder.

I then tapped it with Silver Encore Inl pad (since I DON'T have the golden, which I wanted to use!!!) and it got really messy. Oh well, I thought this for sure was a doomed card. I then dipped it in Silver Embossing Powder and it got even worse (almost threw it into the garbage at this point)

But I thought, maybe I just heat emboss it partially and rub off the non-heated parts. Well, changed my mind when it started looking MUCH better.

I then added some Delicate Details Lace Tape (I've had this product FOREVER, but NEVER used it!!)

The dress form is Whisper White and it has a Soft Suede stamp from Flowering Flourishes and Sahara Sand stamped text from Postage Due stamp

The Ribbon rosettes are rolled on sticky tape backing with Rose Red Seambinding, Whisper White Organza ribbon and Silver ribbon from the holiday catalogue

Friday 4 October 2013

Disney Princess cards

Here (finally) are the finished cards
Alice in Wonderland

Cinderella

Label from Etcetera Designer Series Paper

The birds body is done with Bird builder punch (wing from the punch) and the head is the small round punch from the mini punch set. The Wing is a leaf from Bird builder punch branch

Snow White


The 'mirror' is cut out with Chalk Talk framelits from silver Foil Sheet (Holiday Catalogue). I stamped the sentiment from  Really Good Greetings with Silver Encore ink (Holiday Catalogue). And since that ink does not dry - not even with heat - you have to treat it like versamark (well... That actually does dry). So once I had stamped it with Silver Encore ink, I covered it with Silver Embossing Powder and heat embossed it. LOVE the result!!!!





Thursday 3 October 2013

Backpacking - Stampin'Up! style

Oops... I just realized that I never posted the final cards with the Disney Princesses... Come to think of it - I didn't even take pictures of those cards. I guess I have to fix that tonight.

For the past 2 weeks I have been working on my display rack. Okay, it's not a huge project - but my hands can only handle a little sanding and filing and painting per day.
Here I have just started the project. Now I'm already painting it - still needs some paint and small assembly.

Once I have it all ready - you will get to see the final project.

Let me just say.. it would help to have a STURDY workbench, good light and proper tools (read: Drill) to work on wood :)



So for the past 2 nights I have worked more on my paper projects. Last night I finished 2 petite purse backpacks.

 They both are done with Wild Wasabi card stock and the ribbon is also Wild Wasabi. Both are done using Petite Purse Big Shot Die and the idea is cased from a fellow demonstrator Maryse Pelletier.

The "red" backpack has Whisper White scallop (done with medium Scallop Punch), Rose Red and So Saffron punched with Large Oval punch and then embossed with Square Lattice embossing folder (I guess you could emboss first, but I punched the ovals first and then embossed all the ovals for both backpacks at the same time.

So you need 2 ovals of each colour.
Then you just fold them partly, push the brad through the hole. I also pushed it through the backpack to secure it firmly - I did add 2 glue dots to the edges to hold them flat against the backpack.

The Rose Red/ So Saffron version has Candy Dot Brad Bases with Wild Wasabi Candy Dots from the Subtles pack, where as the Chocholate Chip / Pool Party version has 3/8" Glimmer brads (brown).

I still have to work on my picnic basket, tool box, Channel Purse and I think there were couple of other ones I wanted to do. Well.. I'll be busy for the next 2 nights.

And I should also post my Monday's Halloween card class samples soon too.... busy busy!!!