Floral Prints

I've combined challenges for my card this morning (OK, so it'll be afternoon by the time it's posted, but it was made this morning), taking the colours from Keesh's Colour Challenge #3 and the layout from Taylor's Challenge #51. I've used colours very similar to this before, so this time I went with something a little more feminine. I had also forgotten to sketch or save the layout from Taylor's site and was having troubles with my net connection this morning and didn't get to double check before now... it doesn't surprise me that I haven't stuck to the sketch 100%, I like to use sketches for a jumping off point... I find that if I trying following a sketch exactly I fight with the card a lot more - it's better to let the card go where it will than try putting a square peg in a round roll . Anyway, I pulled out the old Petal Prints and Floral background for my card, inking the Prints flower with my markers and stamping it repeatedly without reinking. I also used my Bayou marker (which you can't order, but if you'd like to see how to make your own check this out) to ink the sentiment. Both Vanilla layers have been stamped with the Linen background over top using VersaMark ink, though this is hard to pick up in the photo.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Stamp Sets: Petal Prints, Linen, Floral, So Many Sayings
Ink: Chocolate Chip, VersaMark
Accessories: Ruby Red marker, Blue Bayou "marker" (washed out Not Quite Navy marker + refill), cutter kit, Blue Bayou double-stitched ribbon, Earth Elements brads, Word Window punch, dimensionals
Show watched while stampin: Aus v SAf ODI cricket

KW Colour Inspiration #35

Here's my card for this weeks colour challenge over on Kristina's blog. I based the layout on Lauren's sketch, though as always I have made changes. Initially I struggled with this colour combo as I had done something very similar before, and I didn't want it to seem like I was just re-hashing that card! Initially I intended using more stamps from the Petal Prints set, but in the end just went with the leaves and opted for flowers from the Pretties Kit so it was a bit more textural. Keeping with the textural theme I broke out an old favourite, the Linen background, and stamped it on Sofy Sky using the matching ink.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Close To Cocoa
Stamp Sets: Petal Prints, Linen
Inks: Close To Cocoa, Soft Sky
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 1" double-stitched ribbon, Soft Sky double-stitched ribbon, Theater Ribbon Originals, Pretties Kit, aquapainter, So Saffron marker, Soft Sky "marker" (washed out marker + refill), Sage Shadow marker, mini glue dots, dimensionals

KW Colour Inspiration #24

It's time for another Kristina Color Inspiration challenge. When this first popped up on my Google Reader I wasn't sure I was going to be taking part... I was in the middle of something else and I'm going out this morning so I didn't think I'd be able to squeeze it in. But I managed to finish the other thing and it was just before 11pm so I thought I'd give it a go. While the name of the style of plates had me first thinking of Baroque Motifs and wheel etc, part of the pattern made me think of this frame, and then this Simple Delights image that I knew would fit inside it. I went to bed still undecided about putting a sentiment on the card, but when I woke up this morning I felt that the card was too long and chopped the bottom off so it is now a 10.5cm square card. It's now much more in proportion and much cuter!

This morning I have also posted another card over on the Elite Challenges blog.

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Stamp Sets: Simple Delights, Frames With a Flourish, Linen
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, VersaMark
Accessories: clear embossing powder, brayer, 1 1/4" square punch, Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon, dimensionals, Earth Elements brads
Show watched while creating: Stargate Atlantis

Father's Day #1

Father's Day in Australia is just over 3 weeks away, which might sound like it is still a way off but these things have a way of sneaking up on you. I also have to mail my Dad's card, so like to get it done with a bit of breathing space as it could take a while to get to him in the mail. This year, thanks to the Occasional Greetings set, I actually have a stamp that says "Happy Father's Day" so it is getting quite a work out! For this card I have used one of my favourite "non feminine" colour combinations, and I'm sure I can get away with the twill because it's not really ribbon is it?

All supplies by Stampin' Up!
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky
Stamp Sets: Occasional Greetings, Linen
Ink: Blue Bayou, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Twill, Aged Copper Hodgepodge, dimensionals
Show watched while creating: Olympics

Frames with a Greeting

This was my card for the Inklings cyberstamp challenge number 2, a sketch challenge using a CPS sketch. For my card I used stamps from the Occasional Greetings and Frames With a Flourish sets, Linen background stamp, Old Olive and Always Artichoke ink, papers from the Secret Garden Simply Scrappin' kit, Sherbet and Theater Ribbon Originals, Always Artichoke brads and cardstock in Whisper White, Groovy Guava, River Rock and Always Artichoke and the Cutter Kit to rough up the edges on my top two layers. I really liked how this turned out, the only downside is that my central panel is so large it didn't leave much room to show off the papers!

Red Flourish

The first challenge for the Inklings cyberstamp was 'monochromatic'. Not such a challenge for me, I love monochromatic! I tried to pick some colours I haven't really used lately and went with Ruby Red and Cameo Coral. Normally I challenge myself to use no neutrals, but I took it easy last night and let the stitched ribbon in. The main image was inked with Coral and then I went over it haphazardly with the Ruby marker before stamping on Coral cardstock. I then sponged the edges with Coral ink. This was layered on a piece of Ruby that I had taken to with the distressing tool from the cutter kit. To highlight the edge further I ran the Ruby marker around it. I also used a couple of Ruby brads over the spots of the image. The Ruby cardbase was stamped with linen in VersaMark, and the panel of Coral on the right was stamped with another of the Finest Flourishes stamps that had been inked with Cameo Coral. The main image is mounted on dimensionals.

SU August Promotion

Stampin' Up! is saying a big "Thank you!" to it's hostesses. On top of the normal fabulous benefits for hosting a workshop, hostess can now recieve a free set to the value of $53.93 for workshops over $600. There are three sets to choose from: All About U, Nice & Easy Notes and my personal fave of the three - Petal Prints. If you are interested in hosting a workshop (or catalogue party), contact me for more details. Offer available until September 15th.

In light of the promotion, I thought I would share some Petal Print cards I have been working on. Colours for all are So Saffron, Marigold Morning, Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green and Chocolate Chip, flowers have all been stamped on watercolour paper.
So Saffron layer stamped with the linen background with Saffron ink, sentiment from All Year Cheer stamped in Chocolate Chip, leaves stamped on twill with Chocolate Chip ink, 2-step flowers ink with Marigold Morning ink pad and Earth Elements markers. Brads from Aged Copper hodge podge.
Pumpkin Pie background stamped with linen stamp in Pumpkin Pie ink, sentiment from Sincere Salutations inked with Chocolate Chip marker. Aquapainter lightly brushed over image after stamping. Chocolate and Tangerine ribbon; So Saffron, More Mustard and Aged Copper brads to finish off.
So Saffron long note cardbase, Marigold Morning layer stamped with linen background using Marigold Morning ink. Sentiment from Sincere Salutations inked with Basic Black marker. Cream organdy ribbon, gold cord and gold brads to finish off.