Chalkboard Technique

I really love the technique "Chalkboard" where you use White Craft Ink and Stampin' Pastels on dark coloured card stock.
Here are two cards i have created using the technique. The first card is using the Eastern Blooms stamp set (which is only available till the end of March in the Summer Mini Catalogue) on Tempting Turquoise Card Stock.
The second card (sorry its not a great photo) is using the Garden Whimsy stamp set. I CASED this card from Splitcoast but don't know who the designer was (so if you know please let me know and i will add it). This was a card we used in a Chalking Techniques class i held last year. If you are interested in a Chalking Techniques class, let me know i might run one in a couple of months time.

If you would like any more details on these cards, please let me know. You can email me at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au

Cupcake Birthday Invite

Well my little girl is turning one soon and time has just flown by so quickly.
I have been racking my brain to think of something nice to make for her birthday invites and just couldnt come up with anything i was happy with. I settled on something that i wasn't thrilled with and then i saw some bags made with a cupcake on the outside and though that i can do something similar for an invitation. (Check out Andrea Walfords blog for my inspiration).
So i designed my own cupcake. I used Pretty in Pink ink to stamp the swirl from the Season of Joy (yes a christmas stamp set) set on the Pretty in Pink coloured icing. I then used Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds to give the same effect as Kindyglitz does. I crimped the Choc Chip cardstock for the patty tin and added a bow of Pink Tafetta ribbon with some rhinestones for decoration.

Now i just have to decide on what i will do for the party bags!

Watercolouring with Embrace Life

Last week i was privileged enough to be able to do some watercolouring with my very talented Creative Stampers team member Michelle Le Breton. This is a card i completed using the embrace life set. I used the Watercolour Pencils and the Aqua Pen and finished it off with Navy Grosgrain Ribbon and Styled Silver Hodgepodge.

I am also pleased to let everyone know in little over a week Stampin' Up's Bushfire Appeal has raised over $15000 for the Red Cross Appeal. The Bushfire Appeal promotion will go through till the 31st March.

6x6 Scrapbook Make and Take

6x6 Scrapbooking pages are an option for make and takes at workshops (most people aren't aware of this). Sometimes it is nice to do something different and get away from cards for a day.

This is a page we did at a recent workshop (thanks Jocelyn!). We used the Seeing Spots set which is one of the sets for which Stampin' Up! are donating 50% of the rrp to the Bushfire Appeal. I also used Fishy Friends which is a cute set especially for those water themed projects.

If you would like to make a 6x6 page at your next workshop you just need to let me know!

Recipe
Cardstock: Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Yo Yo Yellow
Ink: Yoyo Yellow, Brilliant Blue, Staz On Blck
Stamp Sets: Seeing Spots, Fishy Friends, Expressive Flexible Phrases
Navy Grosgrain Ribbon
Watercolour Pencils
Sponge Daubers
Corner Punch

Ahoy Matey 12x12 Scrapbooking Page

As promised in an earlier post here is the 12x12 scrapbooking page i made of my son's 2nd Birthday. As you can see i have used the Matey's Map wheel across the bottom of the page (as i did with the invitations) and i have used watercolour pencils and an aqua pen to colour it in. I have then stamped various images from the Ahoy Matey stamp set and cut them out and adhered them to the page. I really love the brads, pearls and rhinestone brads that i have used as treasure coming out fo the treasure chest. I saw this idea on a page done by my wonderful upline Merryl. I have used a stamp from the Itty Bitty Background stamp set to give the background a bit of a grainy look. If you would like any further details you can email me at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au

DON'T FORGET the Creative Stampers Bon Voyage Pary on the 6th March. Places are filling quick. $20 for 10 cards plus lots of prizes and specials on the night and the best part is you will be helping to raise money for the Cancer Council. EMAIL ME to reserve your place!!!

A Winner!! and Loads of Love Housewarming Card

Well the time has come to announce the winner of "Sign up to my blog Competition". Yesterday was the last day to sign up and i used the www.random.org to generate a random number. People were numbered in the order to which they signed up and the lucky winner is Liz Hawkins! I will get your prize to you this week Liz. Congratulations. I like competitions so i might have to think up another one!

Loads of Love. This set along with the accessories set is so versatile. I got it out to make an easter card and i realised it was just perfect for a housewarming card that i wanted to make. I have two couples in my life that are moving house so i wanted to make a card for them.
In this card i have used Not Quite Navy (never used this colour before but i quite like it now) and More Mustard. I have used the Canvas Background stamp which is one of my favourites. I saw the idea of using the jumbo eyelets for wheels on Splitcoast Stampers and i thought it was great so i cased that!

I really like the way it turned out.

I have been making some easter creations so make sure you check back cause i'll be posting those ideas soon.

A Shoe or Two!

I love these shoes! There are a few different designs floating around on the internet of these shoes and i'm not sure where the template for this one originally came from. But we will be making this shoe at my March 13 stamp club meeting. All of my stamp club members will need to email me with their favourite Stampin' Up! colour and i will prepare everything for them to make their shoe.

I had been making these shoes using double sided tape and i wasn't happy with the sticking power so this time i used Tombow Adhesive available in the Summer Mini Catalogue ($7.95) and i love it! It is so much better for making 3D projects so i have just stocked up my supply with it.

The shoes feature some embossed flowers (Eastern Elegance stamp set), white grosgrain ribbon and some pearls from the Pretties Kit (i seem to be using that alot lately!). I have also used the So Swirly jumb wheel on the inside of the shoe.

Birthday Card (A Challenge!)

I have been feeling VERY uninspired this week and although i have made a couple of things i'm finding it very hard to get in the zone.
Makeesha had a challenge this week and although i loved the colours and thought that i would really like to use them in a birthday card for Alyssa i just couldn't find anything that i thought would be just right.
I sat down yesterday and made this card. I do like it, i like the amount of bling in it but i am not 100% happy with it. This card took me hours to make! I was playing around and procrastinating so much with it, i dont think any card has even taken me half the amount of time that this one has. Anyway here it is. What do you think?
I must say that i am enjoying playing with all of the pretties!

Stampin' Up! Raise Money for Bushfire Vicitms

Stampin' Up! have announced a list of 10 stamp sets for which they will donate 50% of the RRP to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. Stamp sets are valid for sale between 12th February and 31st March 2009.

I will also donate any commission made from the sale of these items (So that will be a donation of almost 70% from the sale of these stamp sets!)

Stamp Set	Item Number	Page Number in Catalogue	Retail Price
Priceless	112312	105	48.95 AUD/57.95 NZD
Seeing Spots	108909	89	29.95 AUD /35.95 NZD
Baroque Motifs	112380	98	39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD
Live Your Dream	114261	3 (Summer Mini Catalogue)	55.95 AUD /66/95 NZD
Looks Like Spring*	108864	76	58.95 AUD /68.95 NZD
The Snowflake Spot*	108934	27	39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD
Bodacious Boquet*	108756	80	58.95 AUD /68.95 NZD
Polka Dots & Paisley*	110247	46	35.95 AUD /42.95 NZD
G'day Mate*	111973	115	35.95 AUD /42.95 NZD
Be Happy*	108744	51	39.95 AUD /46.95 NZD

*These sets will appear on the upcoming list of retiring products, so they will only be available for the Bushfire Appeal--while supplies last.

Email me at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au to place your order

The Bushfire Tradgedy

I had a scrapping post already scheduled to appear tomorrow but it really didnt seem appropriate and i wanted to take some time to acknowledge the tradgedy that is currently foremost on everyones mind and that is the bushfires that have destroyed entire communities and taken 173 lives with many still missing. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected and it warms my heart to see how Australia is really pulling together to help with the red cross raising upwards of $15 million and many others raising money too. I want to do my part too so i will be donating all proceeds of my workshop this weekend and there will be some other ways that we all can help which will be worked out in the coming days. So check back soon.
And in the meantime, give extra hugs to those you hold close to your heart and dont forget to tell anyone how much they mean to you and how lucky you are.

I'll put off my scheduled posts till friday.
Take care everyone
Christie

Faux Silk Embrace Life

I really love how this card turned out. After seeing some Faux Silk cards at training last week i thought i'd give it a try. I used the blossoms from the Embrace Life set with Staz On Ink. I kept the black and white theme and added a hat pin, flowers and pears from the Pretties Kit and it turned out to be a very "Pretty" card!

If you would like to learn how to make Faux Silk you can email me at Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au

BON VOYAGE PARTY

Friday 6th March 2009 7:30 pm

Hambledon Primary School, Quakers Hill

$20 includes entry, 10 cards to make using retired products, donation to the
Cancer Council and supper.
On the night there will be lucky door prizes, raffles (to raise money for Cancer Council),
specials on retiring products and much more.

The retirement list will be announced on the 1st March 2009.
RSVP Essential to Christies_stamps@yahoo.com.au or 041 111 0348
Reserve your spot so you dont miss out on this fun filled night!

Valentines Cards

Well its only a week till Valentines Day so i thought i would show you some cards that i used as make and Takes last weekend. The first one could be easily changed into an engagement or anniversary card and is super easy and super quick to make. It was made using the Short and Sweet set and two circle punches. It was inspired by a card made by Jayne Mercer a while ago, but i have used the Baroque Motifs or Baroque Wheel in the background.
The second card has been made using the ever so versatile Loads of Love set. Im going to use this set soon to make a couple of housewarming cards - it juts has so many uses, especially with the Loads of Love Accessories set.

Don't forget to book in for the Birthday Card Class, i only have 3 spots left!

Eastern Blooms Challenge Cards

I participated in another challenge this week. I like the sketch challenges they give you something to work with.
These cards were both made using the Eastern Blooms set from the Summer Mini Catalogue. I used a bit of bling this week with Pearls from the Pretties Kit and Felt Fusion and Styled Silver Hodgepodge from the Summer Mini. I think the added accessories bring some warmth to the cards.

I have also used Purely Pomegranate card stock and ink. Did you know that all of the including In Colours including Purely Pomegranate are only availabe for another 8 weeks. That is right! All In Colour products including Designer Series Papers, Ribbons, Card Stocks and Ink Pads all retire on the 1st of April 2009. Last year the products, especially the Ink Refills sold out within days of the retirement list being announced so if you want to ensure you can keep using your In Colour Ink Pads for years to come be quick to order your refills and email me now.

Same Set - Different Look

The Eastern Blooms is one of my favourite stamp sets from the Summer Mini Catalogue. I especially like the branch and flower stamp that i have used here. I love how you can use your markers to colour it in. It adds flair to any card or layout and i have used it on so many different things. On the two cards i have shown here i have used different elements to give the cards a different look. On the chocolate chip card i have added some punched out flowers from the three for you punch set (thanks Annette for letting me borrow it!) and i have used my sponge daubers (another favourite item) on the edges of the So Saffron card stock to give it a warm feel.
On the second card i have used some felt fusion flowers, also available in the Summer Mini Catalogue, which are all the rage at the moment. The second card is a case of a card made by Nicki Tibold one of the moderators on a special forum for demonstrators. She put together a tutorial to show us all how to make it (see what the perks of being a demonstrator are). I especially love how you can add a brad to the centre of the felt fusion flowers and it adds a touch of class.
Which card do you like the best?