PAPER PLAYERS #303

Here are more details about my card, just in case you're interested.

I hate wasting stuff and always like to re-purpose.  This habit has been compounded over the years by my husband who like me is at the tail end of the baby boomer generation and so we have our parents to thank for our thriftfullness.  (I think I just invented a word.)

So, the other day I was giving my daughter a demonstration on generation stamping and not wanting to waste a good piece of Whisper White I decided to bring the piece of cardstock home and considered myself challenged to make it into a card. 

I had seen a card online using texture paste and this spawned the idea of using the Detailed Floral Thinlits die as a stencil.  (My card isn't CASE'd by the way otherwise I'd be giving credit.)

You can see that the stems of the plant sprig go all the way into the bottom l/h corner of the card and although the texture paste is thick the stamping still shows through, but I think this adds to the overall effect of the card.

Techniques include wrinkle free distress, stamping, texture paste, sponging and stamping and of course you can see the edges of the card front panel are also distressed.  If you want to know more then leave a comment.  I'm more than happy to elaborate.

FOXY FRIENDS

Well my foxy friend arrived last week and I was so excited, yet a little overwhelmed, to play with this set.  There are so many stamping combinations and animals to create with this versatile set.

I knew straight away I wanted to create some old style vintage blocks.  These are definitely not suitable for baby to play with as we all know the first thing they do is put everything in their mouth.  These blocks are finished with Annie Sloan clear wax and so are strictly for decoration only.

I know the Bigz Alphabet Typeset is now retired but it is so perfect for vintage blocks along with the Storytime DSP and the Home for Christmas DSP with that gorgeous vintage deer and Santa.

I decided to add a bit of Annie Sloan dark wax to the edges of the blocks just to give them a pre loved look.  Don't you just love blocks?

I can't wait to create a couple with the other DSP now, just have to wait for more blocks from the supplier.

LOST YOUR MOJO? THEN GIVE IT A NUDGE

Online challenges are so much fun as they really get your creative juices flowing.  I've participated in a couple in the past and lately have been playing along weekly with the Global Design Project. I know there are other challenge sites out there but I haven't really taken that much notice however I came across a couple yesterday and I urge you to go and take a peek.  There are so many wonderful creations not only from the design team but other talented ladies who play along.  Here is my entry for The Paper Players #303.  I'll do a new post and tell you how I created it.

Everyone who submits a project creates a link at the bottom of their picture which takes you straight back to their blog post so you can get a better look.  Hover your mouse over the name and click, it's as simple as that.  Sometimes the link gets underscored and other times the text is in a different colour.  Don't by afraid to leave a comment, it only takes a moment of your time to say something nice.  There are a lot of talented people out there who are just quietly blogging away and would really enjoy hearing from you.  Better still enter your own creation and join in the fun.

I also entered the card I created for Global Design Project #044 on the right into the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.     I then came across The Paper Players #303 is using the fantastic Mint Macaron, Sweet Sugar Plum and Island Indigo combination in their challenge so decided to play along there too.  Click on the links below if you want to check them out.  The Paper Players challenge ends tonight so be quick if you want to join this one otherwise on any of them wait until Monday when the new challenge is announced.

http://www.global-design-project.com/
http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/
http://thepaperplayers.blogspot.com.au/

Really, you have nothing to lose and depending on which challenge you choose to enter you may even win a prize as some don't judge your talent but select a winner randomly.  Not all challenges require you to have a blog as they can all be a bit different but if you need a blog you can easily set one up for free.

If you want to give your MOJO a nudge then I urge you to at least take a look around.

 

GLOBAL DESIGN PROJECT #044

CASE the designer.  This week we CASE the very talented Steffi Helmschrott. 

I wanted to take my inspiration from Steffi's use of metallic.  Instead of gold I am going to use copper which is so on trend in the home design field, which always has a flow on effect to other areas of the design world.  I know most of the products I have used on my card are retired but I really like this thank you stamp from A Whole Lot of Lovely.  I've decided to enter my card in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge as this Blended Bloom flower fits in with the Flora and Fauna theme.

 

I always tend to use pinks and blues for water coloured backgrounds and this time I decided to use brown earthy colours to tone in with the copper embossing powder.  I love the way the pigments used in creating some of the darker ink colours separate when creating a water coloured background.  It's not that easy to photograph but if you look really hard you can see it in the top right hand corner, there is a slight green tinge and I've found when using Always Artichoke there is a rusty brown pigment that appears during this process.  It's interesting just how much we normally gravitate towards our favourite colours and how sometimes going out of our comfort zone makes us feel quite unsure about our choices. 

 

This card is dark and moody with a touch of copper and gold thread.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out and because I had lots of ink left on my silicone mat, I created another which incorporates one of the butterfly dies from the Butterflies Thinlits and of course more copper embossing powder and gold thread.

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL DESIGN PROJECT #043

PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!!!

Time to party over at Global Design Project.   This theme leave so much scope.

 

A while ago I bought this cupcake stand with the intention of decorating it with something from the new Stampin' Up range.  I just knew it had to be flamingoes and pineapples. 

I had so much fun with this project but it did involve a lot of fussy cutting.  There is a lot to be said about matching dies.

The big pineapple die is a random that I have in my stash.  When I saw that pineapples and flamingoes featured in the new catalogue I just knew this die would be the perfect compliment.

 

 

Shame I didn't get around to baking the cupcakes.  I even bought pineapple lollies to crown them.  Oh well, I guess I'll just have to eat the lollies.  Shame.