Split Love

I know it's a terribly bad heading, but the technique I'm showing you today is called 'Split Negative' and I just happen to have displayed it on a love heart. I'm not exactly how to describe this technique in words - especially when the picture shows it so well.

Basically, what I've done is stamped two images. On the first image, I've chosen one colour cardstock and another colour ink. Then, with the second stamped image, I've simply reversed those colours. The stamped images are then cut in half, and lined up perfectly to create the whole image again using half of the first stamped image and half of the second stamped image.

Supplies:

* Always & So Many Sayings Stamp Sets.

* Whisper White Craft Stamp Pad & Purely Pomegranate Stamp Pad.

* Whisper White & Purely Pomegranate Cardstock. Love Note in Whisper White.

* Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon.

Together Forever

I hope everyone enjoyed last week's impromptu break from my layout challenges. This week, I have another layout challenge for you and I hope you like it. I've taken - and partly CASEd a card from a lady I know as catwingtwing. Unfortunately she doesn't have a blog but I wanted to give her credit for her lovely card and today's layout inspiration.

Here's today's layout:

And here's my example:

Supplies:

* Summer by the Sea Stamp Set.

* Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White & Water Colour Cardstock.

* StazOn Black, Mellow Moss, Bashful Blue, River Rock, Perfect Plum, Not Quite Navy, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel & Blush Blossom Stamp Pads.

* 1/1/4", 1/3/8" & Photo Corner Punches. Aqua Painter, Piercing tool & Piercing Matt.

We also had a few cards made for the last layout challenge, and I'd like to take the time to show you all the creations these lovely ladies have made. They each deserve a hearty 'Well Done' as their cards are so different yet so sweet. As usual, if you click on each picture a hyperlink will take you through to the artists blog if they have one.

Karen:

Leah

Please come visit my blog tomorrow as I'd like to show you the creations that were made as part of my virtual night. I'm also going to show you the blog candy that's been won by the 'winner' of my virtual night draw.

A Wedding Acceptance

Hello everyone. I'm afraid I don't have it in me to ask if you all had a good weekend. Or perhaps, I'm afraid to ask considering the horrible weekend Australia has had. First with the continuing flooding (and now crocodile attack/s) in Queensland, and now with the death and destruction reaped by bush fires in Victoria.

I know in my lifetime, I can't remember a disaster on such a devastating scale in Australia, as what we've just experienced. My heart is heavy, and I begin crying each time I watch the news, and think about those who've been affected so completely.

I find that today, I'm undecided as to whether to post my Monday Madness creation. I'm torn wanting to not post in a show of sorrow and mourning. On the other hand, a friend reminded me on the weekend, that she loves visiting my blog as it's a place where she can 'escape and unwind' especially when times get tough.

So, on that thought, I hesitantly decided to post the creation I made for today. It's a wedding acceptance card which I recently sent to my little sister. I've used the colour scheme that we used in her invitations (which I'll show you another day). The entire card was made in about 15 minutes and I've gold heat embossed the entire focal points. The main card is then set on Brushed Gold Metallics Cardstock.

Supplies:
* Baroque Motifs Stamp Set.
* Gold Encore Stamp Pad.
* Very Vanilla & Metallics (Gold) Cardstock.
* Gold EP, Heat Tool & SAMJ.

Virtual Night Project One

Good evening everyone, and welcome to another Virtual Night. The first project we'll be making is a Valentines Day Card and this is the 'themed' project of the night. I thought it would be a good idea so that you would all be ready a week before Valentines Day and thus, wouldn't need to panic at the last minute. Aren't I thoughtful!

There are absolutely no restrictions as to what you can and can't do, so long as the finished project revolves around Love. Above is my example, and I've used the SAB set Polka Dot Punches. This is easily my favourite SAB set this year as it's just so versatile.

I will be online for the next two hours. Please email me if you have any queries and I'll return your email ASAP. My email address is jasner5@bigpond.net.au. Please make sure in the narrative of your email, you leave me your reply email address if using the above link, otherwise I will not be able to reply to you. Until next hour and our next project, have fun!

Supplies:

* Polka Dot Punches and Baroque Motifs Stamp Set.

* Craft White Stamp Pad.

* Pretty In Pink & Vellum Cardstock. Berry Bliss DSP.

* Pretty In Pink Gingham Ribbon, White EP, Mat Pack & Piercing Tool.

Love You

Today I wanted to show you this cute little focal medallion made using a 2/3/4" square piece of cardstock and Stampin' Up!'s new Scallop Edge Punch. It's so easy and I'll be showing you how to make this for our February Virtual Stamping Night...so stay tuned for that!

To colour the main image, I've used Stampin' Write Markers, and I've placed this same image on the inside of the card to give the creation that little something extra since there's no other sentiment other than "Love You". I hope you like today's simple card.

Supplies:
* Carte Postale Stamp Set.
* Close to Cocoa & Very Vanilla Cardstock. Berry Bliss DSP.
* Close to Cocoa & Pretty in Pink Stampin Write Markers, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, 1/1/4" & 1/3/8" Circle Punches, Scallop Edge Punch and Cherished Memories Rub Ons.

Love of a Lifetime

Well, it's Tuesday which means it's time for another layout challenge. I'm still keeping the layout's simple, but I have to admit, this layout is the next step up from what I have been posting lately. I hope you enjoy the layout, here it is:

Feel free to rotate any of the elements with the card as you see fit. You may also change the shape slightly if you wish. To show you what I mean, below is my example. Before you have a look, I'd like to apologise for two posts in a row using the same colour scheme. I made yesterdays and today's cards at the same time using scrap pieces of paper. I loved the idea of layering the hearts together like this, which I confess I gained from a swap my upline sent me a while back. Thank you Karen!

Supplies:

* Always (Spring Mini) & So Many Sayings Stamp Sets.

* Whisper White & Purely Pomegranate Cardstock.

* Purely Pomegranate Stamp Pad.

* Purely Pole granite Satin Ribbon (Spring Mini), Word Window Punch, Glue Dots (Mini) & Stampin' Dimensionals.

* Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Birds and Swirls).

And now to last weeks challenge. Below are a few cards I know about which were made by you...my readers. They are all fantastic and it's amazing to see the different types of cards you can make from one simple layout. For those wishing to know more about each card, simply click on the picture and a hyperlink will move you across to the artists blog if they have one.

Karen:

Kathryn:

Leah:

Natasha:

Leesa:

Until tomorrow...Nerine.

Polka Dot Love

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I spent mine mainly scrapbooking and although I REALLY tried to clean up after each page, my living room looks abominable. So, I'm going to keep this post short so I can clean up my mess - otherwise we'll be having lunch and dinner 'alfresco' again.

The above card I've created quickly with a background stamp, some cutting out and a little satin ribbon from the Spring Mini. I've also tried to incorporate a faux bow with the love heart actually on the front of the bow. My inspiration (and your going to laugh at me for this) was Sir Percival Blakeney's Cravat in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" which I watched over the weekend! I've securely adhered the heart and bow in place by a brad from my pretties kit which I don't use often enough. I wished the photo captured how the rhinestone brad catches the light and transforms the card, but I'm afraid you'll have to take my word for it and 'imagine' the sparkle.

Supplies:

* Polka Dot Background & Polka Dot Punches Stamp Sets.

* Purely Pomegranate Stamp Pad.

* Whisper White & Purely Pomegranate Cardstock.

* Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Brayer, Crop-a-dile & Piercing Tool.

Now & Forever

Well, it's time for another layout challenge. This week, I've kept it simple again so everyone can join in and not feel intimidated. This time however, I thought it would be nice to incorporate a circle as a layout - just to spice things up a little for my beginner stampers.

Here's the Layout:

Here's my Example:

Supplies:

* Occasional Greetings & Canvas Stamp Sets.

* So Saffron, Sky Blue & Very Vanilla Cardstock. Le Jardin DSP.

* So Saffron & Sky Blue Stamp Pads.

* Brayer, 1/3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch & White Gel Pen.

Now, usually I'd sign off here, but I wanted to share with you what some ladies made with last week's layout. Every one's done such a great job I hope you all had fun making these and can find time to join in this weeks layout challenge.

Kathryn:

Leesa:

Karen:

Live, Laugh & Love

It's Monday Madness time, and today I've created a simple geometric card using a little DSP a few stamps and a white A6 Greeting Card. Basically, I've punched out four squares all exactly the same size from two different but co-ordinating pieces of DSP (Designer Series Paper). To align them perfectly I've eye-balled the top left hand square, and then used a ruler and that square as a guide to position the others perfectly.

The sentiment has been stamped on another piece of cardstock. I've then punched it out using a lightly larger punch than I used for the DSP. This allowed me to have a boarder around the sentiment so it wouldn't get 'lost' on the DSP once positioned. I've then adhered the sentiment in the centre of the square tiles. I've then trimmed this, adhered this piece of cardstock onto the main card front which has created a faux dry embossed frame.

To position the flowers down the bottom, I've used Stampin' Up!'s AMAZING Stamp-a-ma-jig. This little tool not only allows me to position things exactly where I want them, but by stamping on the clear perspex I can play around with not only where to position my stamp but also the colours and a whole heap of other things. Honestly (and this isn't so much a sales pitch as it is a pitch to your sanity and craft supplies), if you don't have a Stamp-a-ma-jig, please invest in one. You won't regret it! I hope you like today's simple and quick card.

Supplies:
* It's All Good & For a Friend Stamp Sets.
* Whisper White C6 Greeting Card, Whisper White Cardstock & Fall Flowers DSP.
* Really Rust Stamp Pad & Marker.
* SAMJ, Fiskers 12" Trimmer & Scoring Blade.

Kissed by Flowers

Thursday is my 'technique' day, and today I decided to kill two birds with one stone - figuratively speaking of course. My sister demo Mel posts a challenge each fortnight and today's incorporated a technique, colour and accessory challenge. So, after giving it some thought, I decided to hi-jack her idea and show you the 'kissing' technique so I could also play along in Mel's challenge. The inspiration was:

Unfortunately, I completely forgot that the 'Always' stamp set was from the Spring Mini and I've used it for the sentiment. For Mel's challenges everything has to be 'current' Stampin' Up! product. I'm not sure if it counts that I'm 99.9% positive we'll see 'Always' again in our next catty. After all, it's just too pretty not to make a re-appearance. Of course, this is only my own speculation and 'premonition' rather than actual fact. Although, perhaps I'm just looking for some justification for using currently unavailable (as it's not yet officially retired) merchandise :).

Anyhow, moving on, I've kissed the large flower from 'Looks Like Spring' onto the 'Canvas' background stamp to give the flower a cloth like effect. I've then used the 'masking' and 'stamping off' techniques to stamp the leaves and have crystal effected my flower centres and faux brads. Then, I have broken up the background cardstock with a few white Rub On's. Last but not least, I've added a colour to Mel's criteria as I also saw Rose Red in the above orchid which was to be our inspiration for Mel's challenge. I hope you like today's creation.

Supplies:

* Looks Like Spring, Canvas, Blossoms Abound and Always Stamp Sets.

* Orchid Opulence, Barely Banana, Certainly Celery and Whisper White Cardstock.

* Orchid Opulence, Certainly Celery and Rose Red Stamp Pads.

* Certainly Celery DSP, Cherished Memories Rub-Ons, Scallop Edge Punch, Crop-A-Dile, 1/2" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals & Crystal Effects.

Wishing You Love

Last week, I treated myself to two new cuttlebug embossing folders. Then, while I was in Darwin I popped into Spotlight (as you do) and saw some cute polka dot red grosgrain ribbon...well, I couldn't resist buying that either.

So, today, with my new Swiss Dot's embossing folder and polka dot ribbon, I decided to make a card using each of these things. I only had a little time (I still had to make our Chrissie present tags from the retired 'Tags for All') so this basic card is what I came up with. Although it definitely suits a Valentines card, I think it could also pass for Christmas. But then, perhaps I'm just being too optimistic!

Supplies:
* For a Friend Level 1 Hostess Stamp Set.
* Real Red Stamp Pad.
* Real Red & Whisper White Cardstock.
* Corner Rounder.
* Swiss Dot's Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (dare I say 'purchased online') & Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon from Spotlight. Red Kindy Glitz to colour in the heart.

An Invitation Reject:

Ok, so the title's lacking tact, but, that's exactly what this card is. My lovely sister asked me to help her with some wedding invite idea's - which of course I'm honoured to help her with. I wanted to keep things basic though as my sister has to make HEAPS of the chosen invites and is very busy with 2 x part time jobs and Uni.

I was requested to use certain colours, and this is one of the cards I came up with. Although I think it's really pretty, it is one of the cards that wasn't chosen as a finalist for Bron's wedding invites...which is another reason I can post it here for you all to look at. I hope you all like it.

Supplies:
* Happy Occasions (retired) and So Swirly SA Stamp Sets.
* Perfect Plum, Metallic (gold) and Very Vanilla Cardstock.
* Gold Encore Pad & Gold Embossing Powder.
* 1/16" Corner Punch (I tell you what, I can't wait until the new Summer Mini Comes out with regards to the scalloping I had to do laboriously here) and Crop-A-Dile.

SUPER-Stampers Virtual Night
Project 1:

Hello SUPER-Stampers & dedicated readers. Tonight I have planned a Virtual Stampin' Night for the ladies in my Stampin' Up! down line. As a team, were known as the SUPER-Stampers, and for the next three hours, were going to dazzle you with three fantastic projects.

The ladies have no idea what I've planned for them to make, but each hour (7pm, 8pm and 9pm) I'm going to post a project revolving around a 'theme'. The girls will have an hour to create their project, photograph it and post it on their blog (or email it to me and I'll post here for them). SUPER-Stamper team blog links can be found to the right of my blog and are named Mel S and Sharon W.

Naturally there are little prizes etc to be won through out the night for my down line independent demonstrators. I also have a few give aways for readers, so make sure you blog surf the links and post a message for your entry into the draw to win some blog candy.

Ok, lets get down to business. This is the first project for the SUPER-Stampers Virtual Stamp Night, and it is a colour challenge.

Please make a card (any size and design) using the colours Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive and Taken with Teal. You may also choose one neutral to add to this combination.

Here's my example:

Good Luck, and Happy Stampin'.

Supplies:
* Always Stamp Set.
* Very Vanilla, Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal and Old Olive Cardstock.
* Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal & Old Olive Stamp Pads.
* Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Antique Brass Hodge Podge. Scissors to Distress.
* 1/1/4" & 1/3/8" Circle Punches.

Everything:

It's been a couple of nights since I stamped anything, so to get back into the 'zone' I played with this creation. I started it, knowing which colours I wanted to use, and knowing that I wanted the heart to be my main focus. Finally, I knew that I only wanted to use one stamp set to show how easy and affordable it is to make cards for any occasion with just a few colours and a stamp set. I hope you like tonight's card.

Supplies:
* Always Stamp Set.
* Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Cardstock.
* Soft Sky & Chocolate Chip Stamp Pads.
* White Gel Pen, 3/16" Corner Rounder, Antique Brass Hodge Podge and Soft Sky Double Stitched Ribbon.

You Float My Boat...Jas!

Finally, the count down is on and with only 22 hours left, the children and I are getting VERY excited about Jas coming home. Not because he's been away for weeks, but because he's bringing presents!!! Just kidding. We've all missed him like crazy, and over the weekend the kids each made him a card to welcome him back home.

Not wanting to be left out, last night I decided to make a card for him too and just had to use this set! The above is my second attempt as I wasn't happy with my first design. So, not being able to fix it, I started again and had lots of fun coming up with the above tonight. I also made use of some scrap pieces of retired 12x12 DSP which I can no longer use in demonstrations but won't waste.

Supplies:

* Boatloads of Love Stamp Set.

* Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Brocade Blue and Watercolour Cardstock. 12x12 Pool Party DSP (retired).

* StazOn Black, Brocade Blue Stamp Pads.

* Neutral, Rich Regal and Earth Elements Watercolour Wonder Crayons.

* Aqua Painter, Vintage Brads, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Word Window Punch and 2-Way Glue Pen.

* Miscellaneous Item was some cotton wool for the smoke.