Saturday, January 30, 2010

Bloomin’ Lovely

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Wow it is hot!  I have just been to the Warehouse to buy a tiny desk so I could put my computer in my bedroom as it has an air-conditioner so I can actually do some work.  It’s not really big enough for crafting, but we’ll see.

Today's card was inspired by a wonderful Dunedin Demonstrator, Megan McDonald.  If you would like to try making these flowers, Megan has created a brilliant Tutorial.

su 046 (Small) 

su 045 (Small)

I was really pleased with the way the flowers came out and although a bit fiddly, they are quite easy.  The dark flower is made from Rose Red Card Stock & the 2 pink ones are made using Very Vanilla CS that I have coloured with Regal Rose ink, sponges & sponge daubers. I have concentrated the colour in the centre of the lightest one & on the outside of the darkest one. They were all sprayed with water, as it definitely gives them a better appearance. I used the Crimper and 5-Petal Flower Punch to make the leaves.

The card itself is made from Very Vanilla & Always Artichoke CS.  The background is stamp with the script stamp from the Rustic Rooster Hostess Set.   I have also used Sincere Salutations, Frames with a Flourish, Very Vanilla Ribbon, Large Grommets & Rhinestone Brads.

You couldn’t post this card unless you made a box for it to go in, but it is lovely card to give someone for a special occasion.

Happy Stamping!

Ann Wills

 

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Friday, January 29, 2010

Gone Fishin’

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One of my fantastic fellow demonstrators, Patrice Halliday-Larsen has got us all excited about making Circle Cards.  Have a look at her sample on her blog Create With Stamps.  The original idea came from Jackie Topa, one of my favourite US demonstrators.  Have a look at her Tutorial on how to make these cards.
This is my first attempt, so it is not exactly as I envisioned it, but it is still quite cute.  I have used the C is For Cat, Pocket Silhouettes & Bird on a Branch Stamp Sets.

su 048 (Small)
su 047 (Small)














su 049 (Small)su 050 (Small)
This is such a fun card to make & one we will be doing in up coming classes.
Happy Stamping
Ann Wills
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Monday, January 25, 2010

Just Add Ink Challenge

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Just add Ink is a fantastic new challenge site run by a group of Australian & New Zealand Stampin’ Up!  Demonstrators, with challenges open only to Kiwis & Australians.

Be sure to have a look at there blog and why not challenge yourself and enter!

The first challenge is a colour challenge using the following colours:

Now these are not normally colours I would choose to use together, but that is what a challenge is all about – to get you out of your comfort zone & to start thinking creatively.

Here is my entry, it is an Easel Card.  We will be using this fold technique to make a card in classes later this year.

colour challenge 002 (Small) The Stamp sets I used are Pun Fun ($68.95) & Starring You ($28.95).  I also used the following punches: Star ($24.95), Wide & Scallop Oval ($35.95).

colour challenge (Small)

 

Of course nothing says stars like Dazzling Diamonds!

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Stamping

Ann Wills

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Friday, January 22, 2010

I {Heart} Hearts for Haiti

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One thing that really makes me proud to be a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, is how they always help out with good causes.  Last year we raised funds for the bush fires in Australia and for breast cancer, now we are raising funds for American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

If you have a look at our Founder Shelli's Blog, you will see that SU! in the USA have already made up and distributed 5,000 Hygiene Kits.

It is so sad watching the news every night and seeing all Haitians who’s lives have been disrupted or taken due magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti on 12 January, 2010.

If you would like to lend a helping hand, here’s what you can do:

From now until 28 February 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set you sell will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

I {Heart} Heart 001

I love this set.  I haven’t had a play with it yet, but when I do, I will put up some samples.  The great thing is, that it co-ordinates with the Full Heart and Heart to Heart Punches ($35.95 each).

If you would like to purchase this set and help out with Haiti Disaster Relief, please Contact Me.

Happy Stamping

Ann Wills

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Fresh-Cut Frenzy!

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This month for Stamp Club we used the Fresh-Cuts Stamp Set ($45.95) and Fresh-Cut Notes ($20.95).  The note cards are such fun to play with.  You can just let your imagination run wild – you don’t even have to use the Fresh-Cuts stamp set if don’t want to.  They are a great idea to make up as a gift, in fact as each pack comes with 15 note cards and 15 matching envelopes, you could make a few gifts sets from each pack!

Each card has a die-cut flower in the middle with little petals that you can push out.  It also matches the 5-Petal Flower Punch ($35.95) so you can have lots of fun embellishing them.   We also decorated the inside of the cards and the envelopes too.  Below are some of the samples I made.

fresh cuts 008 (Small)

fresh cuts 013 (Small)In this black and white example, I have used the punched out petals and a black 5-Petal Flower punch-out to make the spiral flower on the card.  Black & white is always so effective.

fresh cuts 012 (Small)fresh cuts 011 (Small) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

fresh cuts 010 (Small)

 

This card was a bit of fun.  I used the colours from the Tall Tales DSP ($19.95/pack) for inspiration and the giraffe stamp from the matching Animal Stories Stamp Set ($28.95).  I used Crystal Effects ($13.95) to “pop” the spots on the giraffe and the centres of the flowers.  I also punched a giraffe head from the DSP and used it in the Build-a-Brad ($22.95/pack) in the centre of the flower.

The following are some examples made by my club girls – didn’t they do a great job!

Barbara                       

fresh cuts 002 (Small)   Shafresh cuts 004 (Small)

Julia                                           Sha’s Sister fresh cuts 005 (Small)fresh cuts 006 (Small)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Stamping

Ann Wills

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Monday, January 11, 2010

A Rescued Disaster!

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Don’t you just hate it when things don’t go according to the plan you had in your head.  I thought I had really mucked this card up.  I was planning on embossing the feather in clear and then brayering over the top, however I forgot to put the Versamark on the stamp before I coloured it in!

su 033 (Small)

This is one of the lovely new stamps from Nature’s Nest.  I used Stampin’ Write Markers to colour the feather in in a variety of blues, greens & yellows.  I then VERY carefully sponged over the feather in Barely Banana trying not to smudge the feather as it wasn’t embossed. I then lightly sponged around the banana in Tempting Turquoise.

The stamped image was then mounted on Silver, So Saffron & Taken With Teal.  Finally I embellished the card with a strip of Silver card stock, Turquoise Square Ice Rhinestone Brads & of course Dazzling Diamonds.

Thanks For Looking

Ann Wills

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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Birthday Drive-By

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I just can’t get enough of Water Colour Paper!  Stampin’ Up!’s water colour paper is made from 100% cold pressed cotton & you just can’t get the same result with cheaper products – I’ve tried!
This paper gives you plenty of time for blending & you can just add some more water to spread out or lighten your colours.  I’ve also found that if you make a big boo boo, you can saturate it & mop it up with a paper towel.  It is great for your creativity as you never know what the end result will be.  On the card below, I have only used one colour for the hills – Always Artichoke – but as it has spread & I’ve added water to some areas & more ink to others, the colour has separated & I’ve ended up with some browns in there too.
I used Blender Pens for the truck and Aqua Painters for the rest.  Highlighting has been done with my trusty White Gel Pen & of course some Dazzling Diamonds.  I’ve added the final touch with a frame from our Hodgepodge Hardware Kit.

su 037 (Small)
Thanks for Looking
Ann Wills
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Oh Lovely Pussycat, How Lovely am I?

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My C is For Cat stamp set has had a bit of a work out lately.  It is great for reflection stamping on Glossy Cardstock.

sweet treats 018 (Small)I’ve used Elegant Eggplant for the border and then mounted the card on So Saffron CS.  I’ve also added some black ribbon for the cat to sit on like a wharf.  The background has all been sponged with multiple colours and then a White Gel Pen has been used to add highlights.

I have had a number of requests about how I make these reflection cards, so I will be putting a tutorial together over the next week – stay tuned!

su 039 (Small)This is a birthday card I made for a friend.  I’ve also used the Thoughts & Prayers stamp set and Chit Chat Rub-Ons from the Summer Mini.

Thanks for Looking

Ann Wills

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Monday, January 4, 2010

It’s a Man Thing!

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su 002 (Small) (2)

I always find it harder to make cards for men, however with the Totally Tools set, it is simple.  I’ve stamped the tools twice with Black Staz-on – once on silver card & once on Summer Sun cardstock.  The background is Chocolate Chip cardstock which has been stamped with the Weathered background stamp & then run through the Crimper for texture.  I’ve used a Sweet Treat Cup to put the nuts & bolts in.

I made this card for a friends birthday and one the same but with the stamp “Love beyond measure” on the front for my Husband’s birthday.

 

Thanks for Looking!

Ann

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