Bokeh technique

This is a technique that has been very popular for the past year. I never really liked it... I guess it was all about the background and seemed like a lot of work that could easily be achieved with designer series paper (patterned paper). But when I got this limited time Sale-a-bration (FREE) stamp set 'Hello' (available only until February 15th), I thought this would work perfectly on its own on a bokeh background. So I did my research and found an excellent tutorial by Diane Dimich.

So I won't go into details on how to make this card - you see it all on the video above.

The colours I used in my card were So Saffron, Calypso Coral and Crumb Cake, and the sentiment is stamped with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.

Sale-A-Bration stamp sets

I know, I know... it has been a while since I posted last, but this does not mean that I have not made any cards :-)

When I make cards for a party or a class, I don't like posting them on my blog ahead of time, and as I was not 100% sure which cards I actually end up using in my events, I could not post any of them

So now I decided to start with these Sale-A-Bration stamp sets, and you might ask 'why?'
well... let me tell you why:

One of them is made with 'The sky is the limit' stamp set, which is only available until February 15th as a Sale-a-bration exclusive (and FREE) stamp set.

I used Crumb Cake card stock and white corrugated paper as the base of this card. The clouds are stamped directly on the corrugated paper. The ribbon is Striped grosgrain in Crumb Cake colour. I cased this card from Dianne Sisneros. And I used Memento Black Ink on this (I think it would be safe to say that if I don't specifically mention using another black ink, you can assume I have used the Memento Black Ink). You can read more about my experiment on black inks on a December 2015 posting here.

I don't usually advertise other products, but I will mention here, that if you go on Pinterest and search for Dies by Dave, you can find different kind of frame lit dies made for Stampin'Up! stamps, I mean other than what Stampin'Up! makes. He for example has a die for this plane (I just got it in the mail today, so haven't had the time to use it yet).

This is my other card made using a Sale-a-bration stamp set 'Flowering fields'. Now this one will be around until the end of the event, which is March 31st 2016.

I stamped this with Memento Black Ink (every flower is it's own stamp) and coloured them using classic ink pads and blender pen.

I was inspired by a card made by Mary Fish. 

Sale-a-bration is a sale event, where you get to choose one FREE item from a sale-a-oration catalogue for every $60 you spend (before taxes and shipping).

New Sale-A-Bration product added

Stampin'Up! has added some more new items on to their Sale-A-Bration selection.

This is due to the blendabilities product line being cancelled.

Also note, that all the sale-a-bration items are available as long as they last. No backorders are available for these.

Here are the latest additions to the FREE items

Sale-A-Bration is here!!!! Sale-A-Bration is here!!!

Okay, did I mention, that it is time for

SALE-A-BRATION!!!!

click on the sale-a-bration image on the right navigation bar of my blog to view the brochure!

What exactly does it mean - you may ask....

 

well, this is THE best time to shop with Stampin'Up! For every 60 dollars you spent (before shipping and tax) you get one item free from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue - and let me tell you, this year the selection is great!

 

I just love the Banner Blast stamp set and the matching punch - banners are SUCH a big thing this year - it's banners everywhere!!!

 

Another favourite of mine is the Decorative Dots embossing folder.

 

Then there is the cutest Designer Series Paper "Sweet Sorbet" and the great banner pack "Heartfelt" - which you can customize for a birthday banner or just your everyday banner and dress it up with cute pictures, kids drawings... you name it!

 

SOMETHING NEW FROM STAMPIN'UP!!!

 

How about the news about the new Texture Boutique Embossing Machine that Stampin'Up! is now carrying!!!!

 

 

Some of you may remember, that they did a little test run about a year ago with this machine. It run out IMMEDIATELY!

 

Let me just remind you, that it is not replacing the BigShot - it is a simpler tool, just for embossing, but it allowes you to add some texture to your projects without breaking the bank. Just remember, it is not strong enough to use on any of the cutting elements, not for framelits or dies!

 

The great thing about this is that it is more affordable, it takes less space on your table and because of this, it is also easy to take with you!

 

And don't forget to check out this weeks "weekly deals" from the Stampin'Up! web-site / store!

 

 

 

 

 

New Year, new products - how much fun is that??!!!

It's been a while since I last posted here.
I was away for the holidays and once we got back (just before New Year's), I got sick - not just your average cold - but really a long lasting and nasty cold.

It just keeps going on and on. Some days I feel a bit better thinking - great, now I'm over it and then we take 2 steps back.


Last weekend I got this Heartfelt banner (from the up coming Sale-A-Bration catalogue) done, but didn't have the energy to hang it or choose pictures for it.

Today, suffering from a nasty cough (which does not allow me to speak), in between steam inhaling sessions, I was sitting on the couch and went through some pictures from our summer trip. And managed to hang it in our entry way - jeee!!!

The kit includes:

• 9 die-cut canvas banners
• 7 mini wooden clothespins
• 2 pieces of Natural Linen Thread
• 1 needle (for threading)
• 6 die-cut paper banners
• 5 doilies
• 9 felt balls

I followed the kit sample pretty much to the tee - didn't have any energy to go outside of the box. I did stamp some hearts and stars on some of the banners (from Perfect Pennants stamp set) and some splatters and stripes from the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, but they are very subtle. I threaded the felt balls on a separate thread - I think it might make the banner too heavy if you would thread them in between the canvas/paper pieces.

 

 

Spring is in the air....

Well... At least in my head. 

I have been creating SO many Xmas cards, I just had to do something else (and I also got my goodies from the Occasions Spring Catalogue a week ago and I really wanted to play with some of the new stuff.

I already used some of the framelits (on film) on couple if cards (one Xmas and the WOW card.)

Here is a card using the new retro Washi tape (occasions catty)  and a new banner stamp (and punch) from the Sale-a-bration catalogue 

The hot air balloon is from the annual catalogue hostess set (incl, the frame around it). This image was supposed to be in another card, but didn't work for that (the scale was wrong), so I decided to pile on top of all the other stuff ;-)

The colours on this are: Coastal Cabana, Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar and Daffodil Delight

Card Class on Monday February 11th

You can still sign up for my next card class, which will be on Monday February 11th at 7pm. Just RSVP by Saturday afternoon.

 

The cards work both for Birthday or Valentine's Day.

 

All cards use Sale-A-Bration stamp sets!

Sale-A-Bration 2013

It’s here! Sale-A-Bration 2013 has begun.

How will you party during Stampin’ Up!’s premiere event? There are three ways—choose all that apply!

1. Host

Have your friends over for a party and earn fantastic Sale-A-Bration freebies with a qualifying order! For a minimum $200 CAN party, you’ll get a FREE pack of Silver Glimmer Paper (silver paper for Stampin’ Up!’s silver anniversary!). Host a $525 CAN party, and you’ll get the free Glimmer Paper PLUS a FREE product bundle—and that’s in addition to the normal hostess benefits (including $90 CAN in FREE products of your choice)!

Contact me today to schedule your Sale-A-Bration party.

2. Shop

Shopaholics unite! For every $60 CAN you spend, you’ll get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product—there are nearly 20 to choose from! Visit my online store to start shopping!

3. Join

Party all the time when you become a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. Plus, when you join during Sale-A-Bration, you’ll get 25% more products for FREE in your Starter Kit! Click the Join link above to take advantage of this limited-time offer.

Sale-A-Bration is one of the most exciting times of the year at Stampin’ Up! How will you Sale-A-Brate?

My new Sale-A-Bration Blog header

I just love EVERYTHING about this header!
It's using the very current hexagon pattern which is from the My Digital Studio Lemonade Stand Digital disk - available only during sale-a-bration, and as a sale-a-bration item. The banner is just various banners from "Pinwheel Parade kit" and the "sale-a-bration" sign is from Travel Log -set.

I love My Digital Studio - why? you get to use so many retired products that are no longer available in regular paper and stamps, but are always available in digital format :)

If you want to see the newest digital downloads available from Stampin'Up!, just visit Stampin'Up! online store. They post new downloads EVERY Tuesday! This week my favourite must be the "Family History Photobook Template"

MOJO Monday 272

For this weeks Mojo Monday card I wanted to make a Valentine's Day card, but didn't want to use the hearts suggested in the sketch.
And I knew I wanted to use the new products from the Spring Catalogue and Sale-A-Bration brochure.

So the colours are Raspberry Ripple, Primerose Petals, Very Vanilla and Summer Starfruit.

The background paper is from the "Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack", the stamp set "Ciao Baby!" (both from the Spring Catalogue) and the punch is the "petite curly label punch" from the Sale-A-Bration.




MOJO Monday 271

Here is the sketch for this weeks MOJO Monday card >>>

In my card I again wanted to use some of the new products from the Spring Catalogue and Sale-A-Bration Catalogue.

colours:
Crumb Cake, Primrose Petals, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy

Ribbon: Primrose Petals
Tools:
- Window Frames Collection Framelits (Holiday Catalogue p. 30, still available as of January 3rd 2013)
- Festive Paper Piercing Pack (Holiday Catalogue, p. 30)
- Delicate Designs Folders (Annual Catalogue, p. 188)
- Large Scallop Edgelit (Annual Catalogue, p. 190)

Stamps: Vintage Verses (Sale-A-Bration Catalogue)
Pattern Paper: Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Pack (Spring Catalogue, p. 16)

SALE-A-BRATION IS COMING TO TOWN!

This is an early notice of the annual Stampin'Up! Sale-A-Bration event! Keep your eyes open - and book a party in your calendar between January 22nd and March 22nd and take advantage of the great sale-a-bration deals. And don't worry... the new spring catalogue is FULL of great fun stuff (more doilies, lace, new ribbons and trinkets, embossing folders and framelits,... well.. that's all I'm going to tell for now - keep following and I might tell you more)