A Froggy Birthday
Today is my grandson Ethan’s birthday. He is mad about frogs so I thought that I would create a froggy birthday card for him. It is a CASE of a card I had saved by Jackie Topa using the heart shaped treat cup. Unfortunately we do not have this treat cup in Australia so I adapted her design just slightly.
I stamped the “reeds” from Inspired by Nature using Close to Cocoa ink on Confetti Cream card. I then sponged Garden Green ink lightly across the bottom third of the card and Not Quite Navy ink across the top two-thirds of the card. I cut my stump freehand (not quite as attractively as Jackie) from Close to Cocoa card and stamped it with the Weathered Background using Close to Cocoa ink. I sponged it slightly down the right hand side. The main pieces for the frog were punched from Garden Green card using the Large Oval Punch (face), ¾” circle punch (eyes), Wide Oval Punch (body), Small Oval Punch (legs) and the Boho Blossoms Punch (feet). A Small oval was punched from Confetti Cream card for the “tummy” and two ½” circles from Whisper White card (eyes) and two ¼” circles (retired) from Basic Black. I sponged all of the pieces (except for the Whisper White and Basic Black pieces) using Garden Green ink. I decided to add some butterflies. So I used the butterfly from Dreams Du Jour, which Istamped 3 times using Close to Cocoa ink onto Barely Banana card and cut them out. I attached them around the frog using a piece of dimensional under each wing. I drew the frog’s mouth freehand (not very well) using a Basic Black marker. The base card is Close to Cocoa.
I am pretty happy with the way this has turned out and I hope that Ethan likes it when I give it to him later today.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Punchy Birthday
My grandson Noah celebrated his 3rd birthday recently and I made him a card using some punch art which I found a long time ago on Lynn Pratt’s blog. Noah is mad about cars, trucks, planes, in fact just about anything that moves.
I used Bordering Blue as my base card and Garden Green for the “grass” in the foreground. I made my road using a strip of Basic Grey and then made my lines using Whisper White card and the Horizontal Slot Punch. The trucks are made using assorted punches and Ballet Blue, Basic Grey, Basic Black and a little Bordering Blue cardstock. To create a sky I randomly sponged Bordering Blue ink over the Bordering Blue card. I also sponged some Garden Green on the grass to give some depth.
Lynn had directions for the two trucks and a car so I used the car on the inside of the card. Noah was very happy with his trucks and car and I am very happy with the way they turned out. I recommend that you visit Lynn’s blog, she has some great ideas and does amazing work.
Let me know what you think.
Bye for now, Kris.
PS. Used my new “framing” technique but I think I went overboard with the blue.
Something to Share and….
……some exciting news.
Firstly I wanted to share these two cards with you. I was asked to “do some craft” at a recent Fishing Week event Ron and I attended. Since Ron won’t let me take lots of “craft stuff” with me I had to do a bit of the work at home and keep the cards fairly simple. The card on the left is done with the Top Note Die and the Big Shot. The base card is Close to Cocoa which was cut so that it folds and the then a Top Note layer of Cameo Coral was added. This layer is actually cut down and then run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Dots Embossing Folder and wrapped with Whisper White grosgrain before attaching to the Close to Cocoa layer. An image from Pocket Silhouettes was stampped onto Whisper White card using Cameo Coral ink and punched out with the Scallop Oval Punch. A Close to Cocoa Wide oval was added underneath. A greeting was stamped from Tiny Tags was stamped onto Whisper White card using Cameo Coral ink, punched out with the Medium Jewellery Tag punch and attached to the Scallop Oval using a silver brad. This piece was then attached to the card front using dimensionals. The card on the right has a Whisper White card base. On top of this is a piece of Ruby Red card which has been run through the Big Shot using the Manhatten Embossing Folder, again this is wrapped with some Whisper White grosgrain ribbon. The greeting is some Sincere Salutations and has been stamped onto Whisper White card using Ruby Red ink, punched out with the Small Oval, layered onto a Ruby Red Large Oval and then a Whisper White Scallop Oval.
All of the Big Shot work was done at home and so the ladies only had a small amount of stamping and assembling to do and I only needed to bring one small box of supplies.
Now onto some very exciting news from Stampin’ Up!. From now until the 31st of July you can purchase the Starter Kit for an amazing price of $259.00. Now this is a 20% discount on the current purchase price, but is a truly amazing price when you think you are actually getting $560.00 worth of product virtually half price.
Those of you who know me know that I love being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. One of the first benefits is the instant 20% discount on anything that I buy (who doesn’t love a bargain) but equally important are the friends that I have made, not only my fantastic customers, but all the other demonstrators I have had the privilege of getting to know.
If you decide to take advantage of this great offer and discover that being a demonstrator is not for you, then you can leave Stampin’ Up! without any penalty as you have already paid for your kit.
If you would like any more information on this fantastic offer, please contact me and we can discuss all the fabulous advantages of being your own boss.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Glassy Flower
Yesterday I had a Technique Class where we learned to make Cracked Glass and also Paper Buttons. There were 12 ladies and we all had a great time, so I thought I would share the card we made. Since I haven’t completed any challenges for a while I thought I would play along with the Just Add Ink Challenge this week. Just Add Ink has just hosted a blog hop showcasing 9 different techniques and one of these was how to “frame” your photos for uploading by Tania Gould. As my photography is not usually very good I thought I would try this technique.
It took a little playing but I actually like this effect. I created a little light box and used Only Orange cardstock behind and under my card. Then I followed the tutorial and added a blurred white frame. What do you think. I think it looks a whole lot better than some of my previous photos.
Anyway on with the details. The base of the card is Kiwi Kiss and it has been stamped with the “reeds” from the Inspired by Nature Stampset using Kiwi Kiss ink and then the edges were sponged with the same ink. The Only Orange piece has had the edges paper pierced. The main image, also from Inspired by Nature, has been coloured using Summer Sun, Only Orange and Kiwi Kiss markers and then stamped onto Confetti Cream cardstock. Then we created our Cracked Glass over the image by embossing with clear embossing powder and versamark 6 times. Once we “cracked” the glass we sponged on some Kiwi Kiss ink and then rubbed off the excess. The greeting layer was created by running Summer Sun and Kiwi Kiss card through the Big Shot using one of the dies from the Lots of Tags set. The Kiwi Kiss was trimmed down to nest on the Summer Sun tag. The greeting is from Three Little Words and was stamped onto Confetti Cream card using Only Orange ink and punched out with the Large Oval Punch. Lastly we added a Paper Button which we created with the Buttons #5 die, Kiwi Kiss card and Kiwi Kiss Designer Series Paper. The image piece was attached to the card using dimensionals.
What do you think? I think it turned out very nicely and I think the “frame” just adds to the look of the card.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Hostess Gift
I wanted to show you the gift that I made for Lynda and Sharron, my most recent Hostesses.
I purchased the instructions for this Mix & Match box of cards from Lee Anne Greff. At the moment I could purchase 4 Tutorials for the price of 3 and I am absolutely thrilled with the two that I have already received. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.
I have used the Pink Pirouette Roses from the Bella Blue Designer Series paper to cover the outside of the box. I then made a focal strip using A Rose is a Rose Stampset and Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss inks. This piece was wrapped with Red Riding Hood Tafetta Ribbon.
I used Brocade Blue, Apricot Appeal, Mellow Moss and Kiwi Kiss Card and matching ribbons. The wide Brocade Blue ribbon and the striped Kiwi Kiss ribbon also have a Clear Rhinestone brad in the centre of the bow. The card fronts were made by running Whisper White card through the Big Shot using the Manhatten Flower Embossing Folder. I stamped matching envelopes using the Manhatten Flower Stampset and co-ordinating inks. I stamped a variety of sentiments using inks and cardstock in each of the four colours and attached dimensionals to the back. Now all that has to be done is add the sentiment required to the top right hand side of the card. I love the way it turned out and so did Lynda and Sharron.
If you would like to see more information regarding this then I recommend that you visit Lee Ann’s blog. She is amazingly talented and I am sure you will be inspired when you see all her beautiful projects. I will post my project when I have completed the other tutorial.
Bye for now, Kris.
COASTER GIFT BOX
On Friday night I did a workshop for Lynda and Sharron. These ladies have a special place in my heart as they hosted my very first workshop. Sharron wanted me to design a box to hold a single wooden coaster. She has four of these she wants to give as special gifts to some classmates of hers.
Designing boxes need not be something to shy away from. I have found that the Grid paper Stampin’ Up! sells is fantastic for just this purpose. All you need to know is the dimensions of what it is you are going to house in the box. In this case a coaster 9cm x 9cm and less than 1cm deep.
I started with a 16cm square of Handsome Hunter card for the base and scored it at 1.5cm and 3cm from each. I cut away most of the corner sections, leaving a tab on one side. Then it was a simple matter of folding the outer scored section into the inside of the box, enclosing the tabs. This makes a very strong box.
This diagram is not to scale and is to be used as a guideline only.
I made the lid of the box in the same way but using a 15.8cm square of Blush Blossom Cardstock. This was scored at 1.4cm and 2.8cm on each side. I stamped the top of the cardstock with the Medallion Background stamp using Blush Blossom ink and making sure that it left a clear margin on the right hand side of the top of the box. The box is assembled in the same way as the base.
I stamped a 9.7cm square of Ruby Red cardstock with the Medallion Background and attached this to the inside of the Handsome Hunter base.
I stamped the large flower from the Vintage Vogue stampset onto Whisper White card using Ruby Red ink three times and cut them out. I stamped the small flower from Vintage Vogue onto Whisper White card using Blush Blossom ink three times and cut them out. I also stamped six leaves from the Vintage Vogue stampset onto Whisper White card using Handsome Hunter ink and cut them out.
After I cut the flowers out I scrunched them up into a ball and carefully opened them up. I layered a small flower onto a large flower and inserted a Ruby Red brad into the centre. I once again scrunched each flower up and around the brad, opening them carefully. I attached two leaves behind each flower and then attached the flowers to the right hand side of the box around the medallion using dimensionals.
I love the way the box turned out and so did Sharron and Lynda. I believe they will be busy this weekend making several more boxes.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact me k.mcintosh1@optusnet.com.au and I will be only too happy to help.
Bye for now, Kris.
Inspirational Mother’s Day
Well this is my third post for today. I hope you are as impressed as I am. This card is for the Inspiration in Action Weekend Sketch Challenge on Gretchen Barron’s blog. The colours are a little bright so you might need your sunnies.
The base card is Lovely Lilac and I have layered it with a piece of Pink Passion card which I stamped using the small 3 flower stamp from the Cottage Garden set using Versamark ink. I then added a piece of Lovely Lilac, punched along one side with the Eyelet Edge punch (are you sick of this punch yet?). I wrapped this piece with Tempting Turquoise ribbon and added a bow with a Clear Rhinestone centre using a mini glue dot. I ran a piece of Whisper White through my Big Shot using my favourite Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder and layered it onto more Lovely Lilac. I stamped “Happy Mother’s Day” from the Occasional Greetings Set using Pink Passion Ink onto Whisper White card. This was layered onto Pink Passion card. I stamped the two-step single flower from the Cottage Garden set 3 times, using Pink Passion ink, Tempting Turquoise ink and Lovely Lilac ink. I used a third generation impression for the “solid” flower and a first generation impression for the “outline” flower. I cut these flowers out, added a small Clear Rhinestone brad to the centre and attached them to the card using dimensionals. I love how “happy” this card turned out.
Bye for now, Kris.
Party Hearty
This card was created following this weeks Saturday Sketch at Stamping 411.
This sketch has very clean lines, something that appeals to me, so I was happy to play along. I used Kiwi Kiss for my base Cardstock and added a piece of Whisper White which I ran through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. I wraped the bottom of the card with Kiwi Kiss 5/8″ striped Grosgain and attached it to the Kiwi Kiss card. The cupcake image from the Party Hearty stampset was inked up using Kiwi Kiss and Summer Sun ink. I stamped the cupcake and then masked it before stamping the candle 3 times also using Kiwi Kiss and Summer Sun ink. I mounted the Whisper White piece onto Summer Sun and then Kiwi Kiss card. This was attached to the top right hand corner of the card using dimensionals. I inked “party” and “hearty” individually with Kiwi Kiss ink and stamped them onto a scrap of Whisper White card which I punched out using the small oval punch. I sponged the edges with Kiwi Kiss ink, used my Crop-A-Dile to punch a small hole in one end and then used Linen Thread to attach it to the Kiwi Kiss grosgrain ribbon. I also placed a mini glue dot on the back of the oval so that I could position it on my card front. It is my sister-in-law’s birthday soon and I am going to give her this card. I am pretty sure she will like it.
I would love to hear what you think of this one.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Vintage Medallion
This weeks challenge for Just Add Ink is to Just Add Vintage. I am a bit of a fan of the vintage look. I am not sure that I always bring it off but I love to “play” with this style.
I started with Close to Cocoa card. I stamped it with the Sanded Background using Versamark ink. Then I stamped it with the En Francais Background using Close to Cocoa ink which I stamped off once first. Then I sponged the edges using Close to Cocoa ink. Next I stamped onto Very Vanilla card using the Sanded Background and Versamark ink and then overstamped with the En Francais Background using Close to Cocoa but only finger walking the impression so that it was faint and haphazard onto the card. I stamped the Medallion Background stamp over the top using Close to Cocoa ink and making sure that I had stamped off the left hand side of the card. Then I tore around the Medallion shape, inked the edges with Close to Cocoa ink and distressed the edges using the distressing tool from the Cutters Kit. This piece was then attached to the base Close to Cocoa card. I stamped the Medallion again onto scrap Very Vanilla Card and punched out the centre using the 1 3/4″ circle punch. I scrunched the circle up and distressed the edges before inserting a 5/16″ Chocolate Chip Jumbo brad into the centre. I attached this to the centre of the medallion using a dimensional. I stamped the large flower from the Vintage Vogue stampset onto Very Vanilla card 3 times using Close to Cocoa ink and cut them out. I also stamped the small flower from Vintage Vogue onto Very Vanilla card using Chocolate Chip ink 3 times and cut them out. I shaped the flowers slightly and then scrunched them all up into tight balls before flattening them out, layering then together and adding 5/16″ Jumbo Chocolate Chip brads through the centre of the 3 flowers. These were attached to the top right hand corner, one with a Mini Glue Dot one with a Dimensional and one with a Pop-Up Glue dot.
I think it has turned out rather nicely. Do you agree?
Bye for now, Kris.
A Birthday Birdie
I decided to play along with the Just Add Ink colour challenge this week. I love Chocolate Chip/Kiwi Kiss but hadn’t thought to use these colours with Barely Banana, however, I think they work great together.
I started with a base of Kiwi Kiss card and then decided to use my Big Shot and Top Note Die to create the focal piece. The first layer is Chocolate Chip and the second layer is Barely Banana card with Kiwi Kiss Designer Series Paper and also a Chocolate Chip strip of card with one edge punched with the Scallop Edge Punch. This layer was trimmed to fit on top of the Chocolate Chip layer. I wrapped this piece with Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon before attaching to the card base. I tied the bow separately and attached it with a mini glue dot (these are just fantastic). I used my new Two Step Bird Punch to create the focal image at the top, using Kiwi Kiss cardstock for the branch, Kiwi Kiss DSP for the wing and Chocolate Chip card for the body. I stamped my greeting (from Sincere Salutations) onto Barely Banana card using Chocolate Chip ink and punched it out with the Scallop Oval. I layered this onto a Wide Oval punched out of Chocolate Chip card.
I really liked the way this has come together. What do you think?
Bye for now, Kris.
Stamping with Kris 