With Sympathy

 

Just a quick post today. I've seen some beautiful things done with Perfect pearls, and I thought it was time I dusted them off lol.

 

Stamps: Autumn SU!, Simple sentiments PTI

Paper: Naturals DSP, Early Espresso

Ink: Early Espresso

Misc: Perfect pearls, Watercolour brush, Petals a plenty EF, Early Espresso EP, twine, dimensionals



Technique corner - Chalkboard (2 ways)

Trending at the moment is the chalkboard technique. It can be simple & bold or subtle & forgiving.

 

(Fifth Avenue Floral-SU!, Movers and shakers sentiments-PTI, melon mambo & basic black cardstock, versamark, white EP, riding hood red ink, white gel pen, dimensionals, Stampin pastels)

 

This first one was done by simply stamping & embossing on black cardstock. I outlined the edges with white gel pen before embossing the main flower on cardstock, sponged the centre, cut it out and popped it up. Using a paper towel, I swiped some white chalk lightly here and there.

 

(Blooming Roses-MFT, Perfectly Penned-SU!,Pretty in pink & basic black cardstock, whisper white craft ink, stampin pastels) 

 

This second one (also called popping pastels) is more forgiving in the way you don't need to mask. It is a little more time consuming but worth the result. I stamped the main flower first dabbing (not rubbing) the chalk all over, picking up chalk again after a couple of dabs. It is important to stamp them one at a time. You want the chalk to stick to the ink. Although the ink stays wet for a little while, the sooner you apply the chalk the better the result.

I continued with the other flowers before moving onto the leaves. Here is where it's forgiving. I was able to stamp over the flowers and sponge the green chalk over the top. Depending on if you want the leaves infront or behind the flowers you can sponge the flower colour over the part of the leaves you want behind. Clever huh.

I didn't emboss the sentiment on this one. I just stamped in white, and slightly offset and stamped again for the shadow. Again swiping gently with white chalk ink.

 

 

 

 

Bottle gift tag and Card

 

 

It was my friends birthday the other day, and I had already made her this card. I really didn't know what to get her, so I settled on her favourite wine. I was soo close to buying a tag die, when I realized I had the supplies to make one myself. And really it's super easy!

 

 

1. Cut a piece of cardstock 7cm wide x 21cm long. On the long side score at 7cm.

2. With your Largest Apothecary framelits die, lay the edge of the point in the centre of the wide side above the score line.

3. In your die-cutting machine build your sandwich, BUT with the top plate align it with the score line so you're only cutting the top 7cm of the tag.

(Note: If you happen to cut a little below the score line don't worry! You can either matt another piece over the top or trim it off the side.)

4. Using a 3.5cm (1-3/8" circle punch) put the point all the way in, centreing the top of the tag and punch.  

5. For the bottom of the tag, turn the die side ways and align with the edge. Put the edge of the top plate just over the edge of the die from the bottom and run it through.

6. Decorate as desired!

Storage solutions - Markers

HI, so like alot if not all of you I have tons of supplies, and never enough room to put them all. I have tons of markers, and with Stampin Up having new "in colours" every year as well as the colour refresh thats happening again soon I need more room!

Yesterday I went shopping for this purpose, only to come home empty handed. I needed something that would be easily accessable and organised without sorting through them all. I sat at my desk and it dawned on me. I had it all along!

 

 

I have several of the large storage boxes which I use to store my clear mount stamps on top of my desk....the inserts which I didn't use were a perfect solution! I cut the strips into 4 long pieces and put them ontop of a few of the dividers on each insert and stacked them. You could store them vertically or horizontally.

 I only have 8 inserts, but the box could easily hold 11 inserts which could hold 220 markers!!

 

(This is how I plan to store my markers in my desk)

 

SU sells the inserts for AU$8.95 each, however if your smart like me :) and you spend AU$300 or more, you could get a large die box (worth $42.95) which includes 2 inserts OR 5 inserts for free.

 

Otherwise if that's not for you how about this:

 

 

              Ferrero Rocher box, the lids will hold 8        SU DVD case AU$9.95 for 4 will hold

              markers each row, or just store them all.       max 11 markers per case.

 



#1 teacher pop n cuts - clever me edition

 

Don't you just love the pop n cuts dress form and framelits? Soo many possibilities. And here's another one.

 

 

 

Now I didn't draw on her face, I just couldnt get it to look right. But doesn't she almost look real?

 I still have to figure out her shoes though....hmmm.



Who said masculine cards were hard?

I was one of those people...but its really quite the simple process when you think about it.

No glitter or pretties, manly images & basic colours-browns, blue, black and white. I don't think you can really go wrong?!

 

The Open Sea

 





                                                                     By the Tide

                                                                        Need for speed

                                                                  Need for speed



Delicate designs folder background

Get more out of your border folders by repeating across the card, lining up the edges as you go.

You want to start at the right edge and work your way back across the card.

Rolling through with the fold of the folder going through first.

However there is a little trick to them let me show you.

 

 

This is my first run through. I found that as I was moving across, the flat space in front of the design was pushing the previous embossing flat again. See how it is only slightly raised?

Still leaves a pretty impression, but not quite what I was after.

 

 

 

So this is my second attempt and look how beautiful it turned out! So how did I do it?

 

 

I used a diy "shim"out of cardstock which I used to cover the design only, creating more pressure where I wanted it. You will have to play a little bit to see what works with your embossing machine. I omited one of my plates and used 2 tan embossing matts which was the right thickness for me.

If it's too thick don't force it.

 

Mix it up, move your folders into each impression for different looks or use more than one folder.

Happy Embossing :)