Card Making Made Easy

So far everyone I know is LOVING the Stamparatus!

A while ago I shared this post about the Stamparatus Slap technique.

Here's another sample I did using the same technique, but inking up the stamp direct to rubber with the Stampin' Write Markers instead of the Stampin' Spots.

How beautiful and soft and watercoloury do the flowers come up with this technique? I love this!

Did you know there are brand new Stamparatus accessories available in my online store?

Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the items in detail and order today.

  Product List

Stamparatus [148187] $85.00	Stamparatus® Accessories Pack [151050] $41.50	Stamparatus Magnets [148213] $21.00
Stamparatus® Foam Mat [150081] $5.25	Stamparatus® Plates [149700] $26.00	Small Grid Paper [149621] $10.25

Looking for super pretty, super simple ways to use your Stampin' Up! products?

Sometimes it's as easy as a few coordinating colours, a scrap of Designer Series Paper, a pretty border Framelit, some pre-cut bits and pieces out of your "unfinished project bucket" and a card base.

I'd be happy to get that in the mail!

Got any colour coordinated scraps lying around that you can make into a card today?

Colouring with Alcohol Markers

I was absolutely delighted that the self-contained Lots Of Happy Card Kit carried over into our Annual Catalogue this year, along with it's refill kit.

It truly is one of the most gorgeous card kits I have ever seen. And even though it comes with it's own beautiful Watercolour pencils in the kit, I just love, love, love that it can also be coloured with our Stampin' Blends - the alcohol markers.

The kit contains sheets of pre-printed, die-cut images ready for colouring, either with the pencils in the kit, or with your own favourite colouring tools.

I started with the dark Old Olive Stampin' Blend, then moved onto the lighter one. Here's a look at how I colour.

Step 1. Add a touch of the darkest colour into the corners of the image.

Step 2. Blend in the lighter colour to the dark.

Step 3. Keep going until you've coloured the whole sheet - or need to stop for coffee (or wine) . . .

Step 4. Change colours and start doing the flowers and berries! (okay, so maybe don't have wine . . . LOL).

Step 5. Just keep colouring, just keep colouring, just keep colouring!

It's amazing the variety you can create with just 7 of the Stampin' Blends.

Step 6. Get SERIOUS and change the colours up!

Step 7. Stand back and admire your colouring!

Step 8. Now it's time to pop them out of the sheet and assemble a stack of beautiful cards!

 Oh! and don't you just LOVE the lined envelopes and vellum leaves that come with the kit too?

You know you need this kit (and a refill) to start colouring right now, don't you?

 Click on any of the thmbnails below to order today - or come and see me at the kiosk at Chirnside Park Shopping Centre tomorrow to see the finished cards and the Stampin' Blends in person!

Product List

Lots Of Happy Card Kit [146388] $61.00	Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $15.50	Lots Of Happy Card Kit Refill [145605] $37.00
Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [147272] $15.50	Calypso Coral Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144045] $15.50	Rich Razzleberry Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144602] $15.50

We'll be at Chirnside from 9am until 5pm so call in and say "hi"!

Kathryn.

Stamping & Cardmaking ideas

Sometimes we forget that we don't have to just stamp on white card and colour in . . .

The Stampin' Up! colours make such gorgeous combinations, why not use blocks of coloured cardstock behind your stamped image?

These projects are Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" cards that fit into footy card swap folders, and I had fun playing around with different combinations to see which one I liked best.

On the right you can see the pretty colour combination I chose. The middle image I have inked the stamp using the Old Olive and Calypso Coral Stampin' Write markers direct to the rubber.

The left hand image is inked in black, then I've done a tiny light-handed touch of watercolour to the flowers and leaves to bring them out from the background.

For the left hand image here I chose a greeting stamp as the main image with the leaf sprig stamped in Mint Macaron behind the scallop circle. The 2nd card has the panel attached at an angle for variety and in these 3 cards I have used a black journalling pen to draw a fine outline around the main panel to lift it off the background piece.

Very small changes but giving you quite different looks.

And how did I do the colour blocks to start with?

I cut 1/2" strips of card stock and adhered them to heavy photocopy paper. I chose photocopy paper instead of Whisper White card just in case I decided to cut some of it out with Framelits - it would be easier with the thinner base layer, even though most Framelits will cut through 2 layers.

I then used my trimmer to trim them down to the size I required for the fronts of my ATC's.

Ready to stamp on and experiment with.

Why not try blocking some colour card behind your stamped images on your next project? And let me know how you go! I'd love to see your finished results too.

Card Making Ideas - Alcohol Markers

When the new range of Stampin' Up! Alcohol Markers - Stampin' Blends - came out in November last year, I couldn't wait to get my hands on them and give them a go.

I have a couple of favourite stamp sets for colouring with them, and one of those is Bella and Friends, the cute little puppy set in our Annual catalogue.

How adorable are these cute little guys?

This is a super simple card - the main item requiring more than a a couple of minutes was the colouring which is so therapeutic! 

You can easily see all the Blend combinations available online in my shop by clicking on the thumbnails below.

 Product List

Old Olive Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144597] $15.50	Bella & Friends Clear-Mount Stamp Sets [141870] $35.00	Smoky Slate Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [145058] $15.50
Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144599] $15.50	Crumb Cake Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144601] $15.50	Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends Markers Combo Pack [144598] $15.50

Have you tried the Stampin' Blends yet? Why not order a couple of different colours today and have a play with colouring your favourite outline stamped images with them?

These days we give (and receive) lots of gift cards or vouchers rather than physical presents.

In our house we like to top those gift cards up with some stocking filler type gifts too and for me, it seems really important to then go to some effort in packaging these tiny token gifts so the recipient can see that some effort has gone into it.

It's kind of the opposite of tying a bow around a new Masserati . . . and no, I'm not planning on doing that for anyone this Christmas LOL.

The packaging doesn't have to be complicated. These shiny gold striped treat bags from Stampin' Up! are perfect for adding a tag and a bow and creating a very elegant gift. There are 10 bags in a pack and they are food safe if you are into baking Christmas goodies!

The tag(s) in this case are so simple - layered squares of white cream and gold with the initial of the recipients name cut in gold foil card adhered to the top. Easy!

Why not give simple gift packaging a go next time you have a trinket or treat to give someone? 

Product List

Striped Treat Bags [144255] $9.50

Large Letters Framelits Dies [141712] $172.00

Gold Foil Sheets [132622] $7.00