Taken With Butterflies & CraftExpo

Yes I know, it's been another long break between posts. After days of thinking "I'll update my blog later" and it never happening, I've taken time out from preparing for CraftExpo to finally share something. This is a snippet of the card I have made for this months Elite Challenges colour challenge "Point Taken". While these colours just scream "peacock" to me, I thought they'd work well with butterflies. And I'm just a little obsessed with butterflies at the moment! Hope over to the Elite Challenge blog to read all the details.

What was that I said about CraftExpo? Fellow demonstrators and myself will be there with displays, demonstrations, a Make & Take and daily lucky door prizes. Drop by to check it out!

Where & When: Friday February 19th to Sunday February 21st at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre (a short walk from Broadmeadow train station).
Open: 10am - 4:30pm daily.
Tickets: Entry is $14 for adults, $12 for Seniors/Pensioners, $7 for Children (5-16yrs), Children under 5 are free. A family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) is available for $34.

Find us at stand F13

Thinking of Paris

Here's a detail shot of a card I've uploaded to the Elite Challenges blog for this month's sketch challenge. This card uses a few products from the Spring mini, however what stands out for me in this section is how I have used the Rock n Roll technique by stamping off and then re-inking the edges of the decorative motif with the same ink. To see the full card and the list of products used, head on over to the Elite Challenges blog.

Rock N Roll butterflies

Today I've uploaded another card over at the Elite Challenges blog, this time for the Sketch Challenge. This month's sketch is based on the second card on p29 of the Stampin' Up! catalogue.
I have made a card similar to this before, however for this incarnation I cut the antennae out with the rest of the butterfly. In the snippet above you get a better indication of the colours on the blue butterflies than you can see on the full card. Once again I have been Rock n Rolling, this time inking the butterflies with Pacific Point and then with Brilliant Blue.

KW Colour Inspiration #52

It feels like an age since I've been able to do one of Kristina's challenges. Now that things are finally settling down after Convention I took some time today to get to work on the current challenge, with such lovely colours it was hard to resist!

This card is somewhat similar to one I have been demonstrating at workshops this month. I think the Rock n Roll technique is so effective with these trees! I'm really loving this set, hope you don't get sick of seeing it on here!

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White
Stamp set: Trendy Trees
Inks: Sahara Sand, So Saffron, More Mustard, Baja Breeze
Accessories: dimensionals

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

And no, I don't have wedding cards to share with you!

I'm sharing these cards in reverse order of how I made them. The card above uses completely current SU items, among them are retiring chipboard, Designer Series Paper and two In Colors - Soft Sky and Blue Bayou. I made this one in part so you could see the difference between some of the old and new product, and just how nicely the old and new mix.
Here's my card as it was intended. Something old is Soft Sky, a retiring In Color; the chipboard flower which is from the retiring Onboard Accents; and the Berry Bliss DSP which is also retiring. Something new is Baja Breeze and Pink Pirouette, forthcoming In Color colours (the sentiment is also from a new set). Something borrowed is the layout, this is from Julee's Mojo Monday challenge. The blue is more for the first card that has Blue Bayou, but Soft Sky, Baja Breeze and Blue Bayou are all in the same vein of greenish blues. If you loved Soft Sky and Blue Bayou I'm sure you'll love Baja Breeze, look how nicely it coordinates!

I also love how Pink Pirouette is so different to Pretty In Pink. You think Pretty In Pink is rather pale until you see it beside Pirouette... I can see myself using the colour a lot. I also think it's rather cool that Pirouette is so close to the base colour of this Berry Bliss paper with Pretty In Pink being the colour of the motifs.

And it's only now that I have thought "I should have put a Pretty In Pink brad in the middle of the flower"! Oh well, I still like both cards and that's two more ready to grab when I am in a hurry!

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Soft Sky used on both cards. First card also uses Blue Bayou and Pretty In Pink. Second card uses Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze instead.
Stamp Sets: Priceless, Fresh Cuts
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky used on both cards. First card also uses Blue Bayou, second card uses Baja Breeze instead.
Accessories: Berry Bliss DSP, Onboard Accents chipboard, 1 3/8" circle punch, sponge dauber, Soft Subtles brads.
Show watched while creating: Heroes