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 Two

I hope you all enjoyed making your Valentines Day cards. Now we get to move onto project two. For project two, you have the choice of making either a card, scrapbook page or gift tag using the scallop edge medallion technique. My example is above, and I have to admit, it is rather bright for my usual 'style' of stamping, but I'm really happy with the end result.

If you'd like to play but don't have a scallop edge punch, please don't be discouraged. Simply make use of any punch you may have or even some decorative scissors or tearing to make your medallion.

Ok, first thing I need to do is show you how to make your medallion with the scallop edge punch. So, here goes:

1. Cut a 2/3/4" (7cm) square from your desired piece of cardstock.

2. Taking your Scallop Edge Punch and place your cut square into the centre of the punch. You should have about 1/8" (0.5cm) over hang on each side of the actual punching section. See below photo. Punch exactly like this around each edge of your square.

3. Decorate the centre of your Scallop Punch Medallion anyway you wish.

As I said before, for those of you who don't own this punch, feel free to make a medallion from anything you have at hand to be the focal point of your card. For those of you just joining us for the night, I am currently online to answer any of your questions. Please email me at jasner5@bigpond.net.au should you have any queries. I will need you to type a reply email address in the narrative along with your question so I can reply to you.

For those that wish to go into the draw for the blog candy, please either email me a picture of your creation and/or leave a comment in the post of the project you did with a link to your blog. This way we can all see what you've created. For those that make a creation for each project, so long as you email or comment in both of my posts, you'll have two entries into my blog candy draw.

Supplies:

* Tart & Tangy, Kia Ora Stamp Sets.

* Real Red Stamp Pad. Real Red & Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers.

* Bashful Blue Textured Cardstock, Whisper White & Real Red Cardstock. Summer Picnic DSP.

* Wide Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon & Scallop Edge Punch.

* Glue Dots & Stampin' Dimensionals.

Well, I'll be back on Monday with my Monday Madness Card. Until then, I hope you all have a great weekend.

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.

Good On Ya!

Heat Embossing is a great way to get a metallic look onto a card, and this is exactly what I've done for today's technique Thursday. Not only is it eye catching, but it's also a quick and easy way to WOW your friends with your amazing creative abilities :)

For the above card, I've taken my embossing buddy and swathed my card front thinly in it's diffused powder. The embossing buddy is cleverly designed to minimise static adherence of minute specs of embossing powder to unwanted surfaces. I've then taken my Encore Silver ink pad and thourally 'inked up' my stampin around Classic Stars Wheel. After stamping my star image, I've tapped some silver embossing powder over the stamped image, tapped off the excess and then heated the remaining powder on the card with my heat tool.

The heat from the tool melts the powder turning it from a 'matt' like finish to that of a metallic shine. Caution should be taken however for heating the powder too much, or too little will cause the powder to go bubbly, bumpy, scorched or all of the above. In addition to this, embossing powders have a life span of about two years. Once they become too old, you'll notice once you've heated the powder, the colour isn't as vibrant as it should be and it may also be splotchy. If this happens, it's time for some new powder.

I hope you like today's card. I have to admit, it's not a favourite of mine, but I wanted to show a card that would clearly show heat embossing in a photo.

Supplies:
* Star Studded SA Wheel, Kia Ora & Small Sayings Stamp Sets.
* Encore Silver & Night of Navy Stamp Pads.
* Metallics (Silver), Night of Navy & Whisper White Cardstock.
* Silver Brads, 1/1/4" Circle Punch, Designer Label Punch and Silver Embossing Powder.

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.

Sale-A-Bration Promotion

For the month of January and February 2009, Stampin' Up! are running a Sale-a-Bration promotion. This is an opportunity for everyone who spends a minimum of $100 on their order (excluding P&H however customer, workshop or demonstrator orders are all included) to receive a FREE stamp set from Stampin' Up's! Sale-A-Bration Catalogue. Spend $200 and you receive two FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp sets and so on.

For those wishing to join Stampin' Up! as an independent demonstrator, Sale-A-Bration is the perfect time as extra FREE stamp sets can be earned. In addition to this, you have until the 30th June 2009 to meet your first quarter's minimums!

For more information or to view the Sale-A-Bration Catalogue, please contact me at jasner5@bigpond.net.au or click on the above picture to take you to the Stampin' Up! Website promotion information.

Last but not least, the card shown in the above picture is a CASE from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue using product I have available. I have used the two step stamping and stamp off processes to obtain the colouring of the flower.

Supplies:
* Botanical Blooms & Fine Lace Stamp Sets.
* Blush Blossom, Rose Red, Old Olive and Whisper White Cardstock.
* Rose Red & Old Olive Stamp Pads and Markers.
* Cherished Memories Rub On's & White Grosgrain Ribbon.

Time Well Spent With Mum:

With Mother's Day fast approaching, I can't believe I've left it this late to get a card made for both my Mum and my mother in law! So, with time definitely not on my side, I decided to made some cards today - which I'll now have to send express post if there to make it to the east coast on time!

The above card was made using Dazzling Diamonds on the actual flowers which doesn't show very well in a photo. I've also experimented and embossed with my new crop-a-dile. It's such an easy technique that gives a great 'feature' effect - I can't wait to show you all now I have figured out how it's done.

Supplies:

* Time Well Spent (Level 3 Hostess) and Occasional Greetings Stamp Sets.

* Groovy Guava, Certainly Celery and Water Colour Cardstock.

* Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip and Craft White Stamp Pads. Cameo Coral & Certainly Celery Markers.

* Crop-a-dile (for embossing) and Dazzling Diamonds (On Flowers). 2-Way Glue Stick to adhere Dazzling Diamonds.

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.

For Mother:

I completed this card last week as part of a card thing on SCS. We had to make a mother's day card using the faux linen technique. The idea of this challenge is to keep the card simple for all level of stampers to reproduce with ease. I love these colours together and, as you can see, can't get enough of my new set 'Occasional Greetings'. I hope you like it too!

Supplies:

* Artfully Asian & Occasional Greeting Stamp Sets.

* Rose Red, Barely Banana, Whisper White & Glossy White Cardstock.

* Basic Black & Certainly Celery Stamp Pads.

* Rose Red Marker, Stampin Pastels, Blender Pen & Brayer.

* Miscellaneous item was sand paper which I picked up from my local hardware store.

Sassfistocated:

Doesn't the fuzziness of this photo add to it's charm! I didn't intend to shake so much taking this picture, but this was the best of about 10 different shot's so sorry girls, I think that's as good as it's going to get. I also used Sassy Stems which is such a lovely set to use, as well as a greeting from one of the new catty set's.

The story behind this is the embossed zigzag cardstock in the background. I'd been eying off this piece of unusual cardstock, which had been sitting in the Tindal Craft Club's paper basket. As this basket's been at my house for several months now...with the cardstock on top teasing me as it were, I gave in and decided to use it in my card today. I have no idea where it came from originally, but really had some fun playing with it. Being red however gave me a few issues...we all know how timid I am about using colour - so this is definitely one out of the comfort zone.

Supplies:

* Sassy Stems & Occasional Greetings Stamp Sets.

* Night of Navy, Glorious Green, Whisper White and Watercolour Papers/Card Stock.

* StazOn Black, Water Colour Wonder Crayons (Bold Brights), Aqua Painter & Real Red Stamp Pad.

* Small Oval Punch.

* Miscellaneous Item was the corrugated cardstock. I have no idea where it was purchased from.