A challenge set by EnchantINK!

Last month my friend Andrea set a challenge on her blog and I thought I'd make sure that I entered. The challenge was to take inspiration from her blog header. I wasn't feeling too creative. Actually getting a card out of me at all was a suprise as I have been sooooo busy!

Anyway I figured I'd try to case her header and add some of the elements that I have learned from being on her blog.

I got a scrap peice of paper and punched out two Full Hearts and keep both images. Using the punched image I layered them and then brayered over the top. I then took the other peice of cardstock that I had punched the cards out of and layered it over where I had previous had the actual punched shape and sponged the inside. This left me with the white line around the hearts. And since this was Andrea's challenge it wouldn't be right, without a bit of bling, so I mixed some chunky glitter and Crystal Effects together and painted the hearts. It looks much better IRL.

I also used the scrunchy ribbon, which is made by cutting down the centre of the ribbon about 1cm and then pulling on a thread. I did this until I had enough scrunchy ribbon to sit nicely on the card. It is a little slow, but so worth it. I then made the super easy bow that Andrea taught us as well.

Anyway I can't actually remember all the colours that I used on this card, but I do know that the cardstock was the newly returned River Rock. Isn't it fantastic?

Anyway no recipe today... sorry.... perhaps I'll get back on track soon

Till next time, happy stamping...

ESAD Summer Mini Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my blog.

Today you have either stumbled across or been informed about the Blog Hop that the ESAD group is having. So who is ESAD? We are a group of "Extremely Special Australian Demonstrators". We have our own yahoo group and we share ideas and provide support and friendship to other demonstrators. We have regular chats, challenges, swaps and tech talks.

If you are an Australian or NZ Stampin' Up! demonstrator you can join our group. Click here for more information. If you aren't a demonstrator and are worried about missing out, contact me and I'll can fill you in on many more benefits that you'll receive by being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

I am showcasing a card using the stamp set, Butterfly Prints, and co-ordinating punch from the Summer Mini. I just love that this punch also co-ordinates with Flight of the Butterfly from the Ideas Book and Catalogue.

I used the emboss resist technique to build this card. To do this, you need to emboss an image onto your cardstock using clear embossing powder. Then you go over it with ink. I used my brayer to ink this cardstock. I then used a tissue to wipe the excess ink off the embossed images. The best part is that the ink gets into the little cracks in the embossing and leaves a reverse image.



Card: Whisper White, So Saffron, Taken With Teal
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Taken With Teal, so Saffron, Versamark, Rose Red
Ribbon: So Saffron 5/8" grosgrain (retired), Elegant Eggplant 1/4" grosgrain
Punches: Butterfly, 1/2" Circle
Tools: Embossing Buddy, Embossing Pals, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder
Stamp Sets: Butterfly Prints, Short and Sweet

Be sure to remember to add a comment to every post that you visit on this blog hop as you may win some BLOG CANDY for your efforts! There are about 30 blogs in total to visit, so grab a cuppa, set the kids up something that will entertain them for a while and enjoy our blog hop. After you have visited every blog, you will end up back at the first. Once you are there and have commented on every blog, please email Leonie to be entered into the blog candy draw.

Alright the next blog to visit is the very clever Steph Pikes.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Twisted Christmas

Again I have decided to try and make a card for Marelle's July Christmas challenge. This time I haven't cased the card and have made it up all by myself.


Of course, this didn't turn out as I expected. I was planning on doing a night time christmas tree, but the background stamp ended up looking like snow instead of stars.

I don't seem to be posting as regularly as I would like. I am still making cards and doing workshops and the like, but either it's for my secret sister or you've seen it all before. I will try and make some more new creations soon for you.

Card: Whisper White, Ballet Blue, Sage Shadow, Riding Hood Red
Ink: Sage Shadow, Versamark, Ballet Blue, Not Quite Navy, Blue Bayou (retired)
Tools: Clear embossing powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy, Brayer, Sponge Daubers
Punch: 1" circle
Stamp sets: Lovely As A Tree, Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired), Snow Swirled

Till next time, Happy stamping

Totally Illuminated

Well it appears that I have found some more time, amazing as it may be. I saw a some cards on Michelle Le Bretons website and wanted to try something similar. The following cards have been a gradual process that I had decided to do and then every time I started on them I got disturbed or had more pressing projects to make. So they have been sitting in pieces on my desk calling to me to be finished.

I used the crayon resist technique and on the places that I missed I added white with my Signo Gel pen. What a great little pen to have.....


I tried to different ways of applying the ink for the crayon resist. On the Joy and Hope cards, I applied the ink by brayer and with the Cherish and Thanks card, I used my sponge daubers. I liked the brayer effect but found that it was taking the crayon off (which I needed to resist the ink). I guess it's all a learning curve...

Card: Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pale Plum
Ink: Staz on Black, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum
Ribbon: Black 1" satin (off the EOY gift from hubbys work) and 1/4" purple grosgrain - non SU
Embellishments: Pretties Kit, Making Memories 5th Avenue Blossoms - non SU
Stamp Set: Illuminations

Zindorf's Ocean

Well, as I stated in my previous post, I have been looking for something to try out my very limited brayer skills on.... and I found this little beauty on Michelle Zindorf's blog.



I attempted to follow Michelle's tutorial, however changed a couple of things to suit myself and the items I have in my craft room. I am very impressed with Michelle's work and find her tutorials very easy to follow. And if I can make something like this, as a beginner, then I am sure that you could too.

I will not put the ingredients up on this post as they are in Michelle's tutorial again. Perhaps my next entry will show something that I have designed, but I may be inspired again.....

Till next time, enjoy....

Emerging Colour Technique

Cathy Clark, who is one of our technical advisors on the Extremely Special Australian Demonstrators (ESAD) group has shown us this week how to do this emerging colour technique. It is really quite simple and the effects are fantastic. This is my first attempt and I am happy and will definitely use this technique again in future.

Today I have used some retired and non-SU equipment to spice things up a bit. As much as I try, I still love the retired stamps sets and am not ready to give them up yet. I am sure that you understand. This was my first attempt with a brayer and it is suprisingly easy to use.

Card: Orchid Opulance, Pink Pirouhette, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Orchid Opulance, Pink Pirouhette, Tempting Turquoise, Perfect Plum
Ribbon: Purple - non-SU - I think I got it from my friend Julie.
Tools: Brayer, clear embossing powder and heat gun
Embellishments: Kaiser Rhinestones
Stamp Sets: In the Spotlight (retired), Most Appreciated (retired)