Hang In There

I have an extra day to my weekend this week - Yay! Although we are officially into Autumn now, it is very hot outside. I gardened yesterday, when it also was rather hot, so today is an inside day.
I have been preparing for my April class, when we will use large background stamps and the Tag Topper Punch, so although this isn't exactly what I will be offering, I like to show different samples to my crew.

What better for these colours than Lovely As A Tree? This stamp set has been around for years, longer than I've been a demo certainly, but it still has something for everyone in it. Just as everlasting as a tree, I guess.

Firstly, I stamped Crumb Cake card with the same colour ink and the large background stamp, Hardwood. Its very authentic looking, available in the new Occasional Catalogue and I love it, especially stamped in out of the ordinary colours like blue. I'm making some of those too! I didn't want to make the usual Tag Topper Punch card this time, so I snipped the side and trimmed it up. I chose the single old oak tree from Lovely As A Tree and inked the greenery with Pear Pizzazz before thumping with different green Stampin' Write Markers. Also used an Early Espresso marker for the trunk and branches. This is a combination of Ink to Rubber technique and the Thumping technique. The variation in greens is perfect!

For the greeting I went to a very neglected stamp set, From My Heart. You'd really have to know the recipient of this card well, to know whether they would appreciate the sentiment. It says, {HANG IN THERE} and on the inside of the card  'They say "this too will pass" they just never say WHEN'. I was able to use an off-cut from the hardwood card front to trim the bottom of the card.

I'm thinking this card will fit the Clean & Layering section of the Card Concept Color Challenge. Check out the gallery there too.

See you again soon?

Thanks for visiting my blog

Rachel

Lovely As A Tree 128655

Hoping For a Calm Christmas

I'm sure we all hope for a calm, peaceful Christmas but how likely is it? We have been madly putting up the Christmas Tree, a live one, and the biggest we've ever had! I'm lucky because one of my sons goes each year to get trees for himself, his in-laws and us, so that is a big help. However, our lights weren't doing the tree justice, due to its increased height, and we have been out to purchase a larger set (and flashier too, I might add). We have added another bauble to the tree this year too, for our small grand-daughter, Alice, born March this year.

As promised, here are my Christmas Cards for this year. Both styles use Calm Christmas (132736) and the card on the right has World Map (130342) as the background. Petite Pairs (128706), on the left card says Merry Christmas on one stamp, while the other half of this pair says and a Happy, Joyful, Bright New Year. Petite Pairs is one of those "must have" stamp sets with greetings for all occasions. Instead of using my 12" by 12" pack of Winter Frost DSP, I used the Winter Frost Paper Stack (132183) because it contains 48 sheets of card-front-size double-sided paper in four of the designs, making it easier to mass-produce a quantity of cards. The items above are all directly linked to those items in my online store if you want to take a closer look. If you decide to shop there be assured that you are shopping on a secure, reputable site. It is recommended that you shop early, as Stampin' Up gears up for a clearance sale of retired stock, beginning early on Tuesday 10th December. Going by last year, stock will move very fast, some items were sold out within minutes, due to low numbers of stock items, and a heavy demand. This is the link to the online store.

The colours used are Smokey Slate, Bermuda Bay, Midnight Muse, Pool Party(World Map) Sky Blue and Marina Mist. The pale dove was inked with Sky Blue and then thumped with the three Stampin' Write Markers shown in the picture. The Thumping Technique is a BIG favourite of mine, I love the soft mottled effect this technique produces, but I'm equally fond of the bold appearance of the Midnight Muse dove. It shows up the patterned surface of the stamp so clearly. Do you like to craft your own cards, or Christmas decorations? I haven't any classes scheduled for the immediate future, because everyone seems to have a full calendar, but as I am away from my regular job from 20th December until Australia Day, let me know if there is a product you'd like to try out. or a technique you'd like to learn and we can see if it can be arranged as a workshop or party.

Thanks for passing by today,

Rachel

Retired items newly listed under For Sale tab at top of page.

Betsys Blossoms FMS114

I have taken a break from making Christmas Cards to play along with a sketch at Freshly Made Sketches. It's a great sketch by Linda S. and I could easily have used it to make a Christmas card, but just to ring the changes, I've pulled out Betsy's Blossoms and used the colours I have on the table for the Christmas card, and the very same "Thumping" Technique.
I have stamped the large blossom onto Very Vanilla. I'm a bit disappointed that it looks so 'white' next to the Etcetera Designer Patterned Paper. I would probably have preferred to use a fresher-looking DSP. Don't get me wrong, I DO love the Etcetera DSP, but it is a little bit vintage looking, perhaps.

Here is a sneak peek at my Christmas card!

Ingredients for Betsy's Blossoms Card

Card: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Bermuda Bay
Stamps: Betsy's Blossom, Express Yourself
Embossing Folder: Pretty Print (132175)
Framelits: Bitty Banners, Circle Thinlet Flip Card

Betsy's Blossoms (131955)

Back to more crafting now,

thanks for dropping by

Rachel

'Specially Momentous Birthday

Earlier this year, one of the team had a special birthday. You know, one of those that ends in zero?

Now I am far too polite to ask how old a lady is, so I decided not to make a big deal out of the number, and just concentrated on making a suitably "pretty" card for her special day. 

 I seem to go straight to Blooming With Kindness such a lot, just love that gorgeous bloom! I slipped in a leaf from French Foliage (retired) and the greeting is from the (retired) hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.


To give it a youthful feel, I used the Thumping Technique. Not as drastic as it sounds actually, you quite simply ink up the stamp with the lightest shade, and select a couple of Stampin' Write Markers in shades that either tone, or contrast like this one. Then you thump them onto the image and it gives a lovely mottled effect.

I've made the main card from Naturals white card, and then backed it with a piece of slightly larger Melon Mambo card. All the corners have been rounded off with my corner punch and a piece of Wild Wasabi ribbon tied under the label with the greeting.

Cheers for now,

Rachel

Item#126422 $31.95 AU (clear)

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Thumping Again with Betsy's Blossoms

I wasn't very satisfied with my last card. That sometimes happens when you create in the middle of the night when you really should be sleeping!!

It was nice enough, but the "Thumping" was a bit faint, so after a stimulating afternoon outdoors tending to my garden, I had another go at Betsy's Blossoms. This time you can definitely see the colours, can't you?
I've used exactly the same colours, Crushed Curry is the main colour again, but this time I stamped off once onto scrap paper before thumping with Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral and Tangerine Tango. Popped a couple of leaves from the stamp set this time too, and used the Lucky Limeade as the card base. I textured a strip of Crumb Cake by embossing with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder and used some Daffodil Delight stitched grosgrain ribbon across as well before placing the Stamped Square over.

I have to show you the inside of this card though. I modified the Thumping Technique for these tiny blossoms. I stamped into Crushed Curry, stamped off once, and then rather more methodically stroked the Lucky Limeade into the centres and Calypso Coral and Tangerine Tango around the edges of the petals. I really like this effect and think I will try that again with different flowers and colours.

I will link into Freshly Made Sketches challenge again, I don't know how to remove the one already there, but they don't limit the entries, so here goes....
Rachel
By the way, here is my first card, with much less distinct colours.

Betsy's Birthday Blossom FMS93

I have been wanting to use the Thumping Technique again, ever since I had such fun back in May with this creation, even though I was calling it bouncing back then! Bouncing sounds so much friendlier!

This time I've used the large bloom from Betsy's Blossoms and inked it up with Crushed Curry. What a hot shade of yellow this is! Teamed with Crumb Cake, the Crushed Curry really does take centre stage.


After the main image is inked up, you pick up some Stampin' Markers (Calypso Coral, Tangerine Tango and Lucky Limeade were my choices) and you thump them over the surface of the stamp.  I see that I appear to have been a bit light-handed with mine, maybe its because I'm bouncing not thumping - Oh dear!
I did some background stamping with some little leaves from a Sale-a-bration set (retired) and all of a sudden this card speaks to me of Autumn. Well, we are experiencing some very windy Winter days in Melbourne, so that might have been the inspiration!

The SU linen thread adds a nice 'earthy' touch to the card, as does the Naturals button.
Happy Birthday is from Sketched Birthday, a new set I received free at Stampin' Up! South Pacific Convention last May, but only mounted and inked up yesterday. I love the border surrounding the greeting, and of course, this is another stamp that can be cut with the Bitty Banners Framelits.
 The sketch by Allisa at Freshly Made Sketches is a great one for showcasing any image or technique, there's still time for you to have a go.

I stayed bunkered down yesterday, but I'll have to venture out today for a few supplies, so best I get on with that now.
Have a great weekend,
Rachel
Postscript: I made another card a few days after with more definite thumping! Which do you prefer?

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