Grateful Bunch Shaker Card

The Memories in the Making Project Lift Specialty Card Collection (FREE in Sale-A-Bration) is beautiful - it is a combination of resist cards and metallic printed acetate cards.  I decided to use one of the printed acetate 4"x6" cards in a shaker card.

A Project Life acetate card form the front of the shaker card

The base card is Lost Lagoon and the stamped layer is Pool Party.  There's a very small edge of Blackberry Bliss framing the gold-printed acetate.

I stamped the flowers with Blackberry bliss onto Perfect Plum cardstock and watercoloured them with Lost Lagoon.  The largest flower has a centre of gold Wink of Stella and the others have a sequin centred with a Rhinestone Jewel.

I stamped the leaves from the Grateful Bunch set with Versamark onto the Pool Party layer to create a very subtle background and the greeting from Happy Birthday Everyone is stamped with Archival Black ink.

The two gold sequins are from the Metallics Sequin Assortment and the others are from the Brights Sequin Assortment.

A few sequins adhered to the top of the card with the Fine Tip Glue Pen "blend" the inside and outside of the shaker.

I've included some dimensions below.

So many shiny things!

'Til next time
Stephanie

DIMENSIONS:
Lost Lagoon:                9 1/2" x 6 3/4"
Blackberry Bliss:         6 1/8" x 4 1/8"
Pool Party:                   5 3/4" x 3 3/4"
Printed Acetate card:   Untrimmed 6" x 4"

Number of Years - 40th Birthday card

I wanted to make a special card to celebrate my nephew's 40th birthday (how can that even be possible?!!). so I turned to Number of Years and Going Places.

I cut Sahara Sand cardstock to 12" x 6" and then scored and folded the long side at 4" and 8" to create a triple flap card (perhaps it has a proper name?).

The numbers and stamps are from the Number of Years bundle.

The front of card has the restrained, masculine look to it that I was looking for and it's mostly about the gorgeous Designer Series Paper - Going Places.

No, my nephew isn't an alien!  I distorted the photo since I haven't asked permission to show his image.

As the card open, it gets more interesting.  The photo I found of my nephew was taken on a boat, so the nautical papers in the DSP were a perfect match.  I was tempted to leave the side panels unstamped but eventually added "Hello birthday boy" from the Sale-A-Bration set Hello.

The birthday greeting is from the fabulous Happy Birthday Everyone set

I balanced things out a bit with the compass design from the Going Global stamp set.

The colours are: Sahara Sand, Lost Lagoon and black.

Thanks for looking.
'Til next time.
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Everyday Chic Botanical Side Step card

Bright & cheerful flowers on an elegant background

I think this card really flirts with being too busy but gets away with it!  It's another side step card sample for class.

I used the Whisper White Thick card for the side step card because of its strength.

The flowers and leaves, cut with the Botanical Builder framelits, sit on a background of Everyday Chic Designer Series Paper.  I think any bright colour would work for the flowers and leaves or using pastel colours would work well too.

The birthday greeting is from Wetlands and is one of my favourites because it suits so many of my cards.  I underlined it with one of the stamps in the Stamp a Bag set.

I put a strip of white card underneath the Calypso Coral ribbon to show it at its best.

The little banner uses a combination of the Banner punch and Bitty Banners framelits and is anchored with a Metal Rimmed Pearl.

Modern & bold

These are the dimensions I've been using for my latest batch of side step cards - originally based on the background size I wanted to use with the Bloomin' Heart thinlit for this card.

DIMENSIONS:

Cardstock 14cm x 21cm

4cm in from the long edge cut from 2.5cm to 16.5cm (ie a 14cm cut)

Working along the long side, score between the cut and the closest edge - starting at the beginning of the cut at 2.5cm, then at 5cm, 8cm, 11cm and 16cm.

Layers:

Focal Panel: 1st layer; 9.8cm x 7.8cm    2nd layer; 9.4cm x 7.4cm

Tall Side Panel: 1st layer; 9cm x 3.8cm   2nd layer; 8.8cm x 3.6cm

Middle Side Panel: 1st layer; 4.5cm x 3.8cm

Horizontal Panel: 1st layer; 13.8cm x 2.3cm   2nd layer; 13.6cm x 2.1cm

'Til next time.

Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

A Grateful Bunch of Flowering Fields - Side Step card

 I love to create a special birthday card individually for each person but sometimes a birthday sneaks up on me and I need a card in a hurry!

To be prepared for those occasions, I keep a little stash of cards to suit all occasions that I can dip into when necessary.

This card is destined for the stash!

I somehow ended up with 2 rolls of this Lost Lagoon ribbon - so I'm slowly using it up!

It's actually one of several side-step cards that I've created as a sample for class in a couple of weeks.  I'd be completely lost without my Stampin' Trimmer - especially when it comes to making fun fold cards!

I used the Grateful Bunch bundle from the Occasions Catalogue and the FREE Sale-A-Bration Flowering Fields stamp set.

The inks are Lost Lagoon and Blackberry Bliss and can you spot the gold Wink of Stella?

Some Lost Lagoon ribbon and Basic Rhinestone jewels provide the finishing touches.

I hand cut the largest flower but the others are punched out with the matching Blossom Bunch Punch.  All the flowers and leaves were watercoloured with either Lost Lagoon or Blackberry Bliss ink.

The birthday greeting is from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments stamp set.

Side step cards are so easy to make and wonderfully versatile!

DIMENSIONS:

Cardstock 14cm x 21cm

4cm in from the long edge cut from 2.5cm to 16.5cm (ie a 14cm cut)

Working along the long side, score between the cut and the closest edge - starting at the beginning of the cut at 2.5cm, then at 5cm, 8cm, 11cm and 16cm.

Layers:

Focal Panel: 1st layer; 9.8cm x 7.8cm    2nd layer; 9.4cm x 7.4cm

Tall Side Panel: 1st layer; 9cm x 3.8cm   2nd layer; 8.8cm x 3.6cm

Middle Side Panel: 1st layer; 4.5cm x 3.8cm  2nd layer; 4.3cm x 3.6cm

Horizontal Panel: 1st layer; 13.8cm x 2.3cm   2nd layer; 13.6cm x 2.1cm

Thanks for looking.

'Til next time.

Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Timelessly Textured Birthday Bloom

I promised myself that I would use Timeless Textures more often than I have.  It's one of those sets that I love but when it's time to ink up, I go a bit blank!  Do you have any stamps like that?

Anyway, following the theory that practice makes perfect (or at least acceptable!) - I used it to make a card for a colleague and friend who has courageously moved to a new home in a new country!

Timeless Textures creates a background for the Birthday Bloom

I thought I'd make life a little easier for myself by also using Birthday Blooms - a set that I'm totally in love with!

It's come out a bit busy but overall, I'm not too unhappy with the result.

I stamped the flowers first with Versamark and heat embossed them with black embossing powder.  Then I masked them and stamped the flourish with bleach.

With the flower still masked, I stamped a couple of the denser textures at the bottom of the card and then removed the mask.

I bleached the flowers and leaves and then watercoloured them with Blushing Bride, Elegant Eggplant and Pear Pizzazz inks.

At the end, I stamped the bravo, ink splashes and wine glass stains (that's how I like to think of them anyway!) and finished off with a light sponging around the edges.

I used gold Wink of Stella for the stamens.

'Til next time.
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Going Global- Anniversary Card - Global Design Project 019

Very soon, my husband and I will be celebrating our wedding anniversary - how quickly it seems to come around these days!

My family, including my much-loved husband, really are my world so my thoughts immediately turned to the wonderful new Going Global stamp set.

Click on this image for further inspiration

I had intended to enter this card into the Global Design Project challenge (#GDP019) whose theme was "Love" - however, I was not able to complete my blog in time!

That was unfortunate, but here it is now!  It's a twisted easel card.

I used the Naturals DSP stack on the front panel. 

I found inspiration in the way the globe was heat embossed onto the DSP on this card by Shawn De Oliveria from Shawn Stamps.

This is the card all closed up.  The heart is punched with the Sweetheart punch.

I cut the label with the Project Life Cards & Labels framelits

'Til next time.
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Textured Friends & Flowers

There were a couple of stamp sets in the Occasions Catalogue that I loved at first sight and thought "I MUST get that" but then, for some reason, I haven't used!  I think, once they were in my hand, I was having trouble visualising how I would use them.

So, I decided that today was the day that I had to overcome this mental block, no matter what!

Timeless Textures combined with a flower from Friends and Flowers.  The leaf is from the Botanical Blooms bundle.

While making this card, I had an interesting experience with colours.  The finished card is Cherry Cobbler and Blushing Bride, however .....  

.... it didn't start out that way!

The inside of the card

I stamped the floral images from Friends and Flowers onto Blushing Bride cardstock with Rich Razzleberry ink! I punched out the petals with the Festive Flower Builder punch and then blended over the stamping with some Blushing Bride ink to soften the look a little.

How it looks propped up on display. Greeting from Wetlands stamp set

A bit too much dimension for the postal system!

Having curled the petals slightly and assembled the flower, I then decided to give it some strength (and I didn't mind about the shine) by painting the flower with some Crystal Effects and then went away to have some coffee while it dried.

When I returned - my Rich Razzleberry flower had transformed into Cherry Cobbler!

From now on I should be able to use Friends and Flowers and Timeless Textures as much as they deserve - because they're both beautiful and versatile sets!

However, I have created another little challenge for myself!

I was so concentrated on the creation that I didn't think about the practicalities!

I think this will have to be a hand-delivered card rather than one that goes through the mail system!

I can't go without acknowledging a very talented lady whose beautiful card gave me inspiration.  Her card is here.  Thank you Marika Rahtu.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

By the Tide - an exercise in masking

A quick and easy card using masking

This single-layer card is all about masking!

I used Shimmery White cardstock because it has a good weight for a single layer card and also has a nice smooth surface that inks up well.

I protected the majority of the front of the card with scrap paper (masked it), leaving one strip ready for sponging with Pool Party, Marina Mist and Night of Navy.

With the masking still in place, I started stamping my fish.  Starting at the right of the card, I stamped a fish then covered with a mask that I'd prepared earlier (see below).  Then I stamped the next fish, moved the mask onto that fish and stamped the next fish and so on.
Tip: Remember that the image you mask will appear to be in front of what you stamp over it.

Once all my fish were stamped, I removed the scrap paper covering the card and stamped the greeting (from the exclusive Hostess set: Happy Birthday Everyone).

Once the ink was nice and dry I added some clear Wink of Stella to the fish to make their scales glisten - sadly it doesn't show in the photo though!

'Til next time
Stephanie

How to prepare a mask:
Stamp the image onto some scrap paper.  I like to use a thin paper (like printer paper).
Cut out the image - making sure to cut inside the lines.
Dab or coat the back of the cut out image with 2-way glue and allow it to dry.

FAQ:
Why do I need to cut inside the lines for a mask?
Well, the edge of the paper makes the stamp "skip" ie it doesn't print in the area immediately around the edge of the paper.  Cutting inside the lines allows for this unprinted zone and prevents a "halo" effect.

Why am using 2-way glue and allowing it to dry?
There are certainly other ways to go about it!  However, this is what I have found works best for me.  The 2-way glue is repositionable once it's dry and is only lightly tacky (if it seems too tacky, I stick it to my clothing a couple of times!) so it stays in place while necessary but is easy to remove without causing any damage to the project.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Shaker card - Timeless Love

One of the lovely ladies in my classes said she'd like to make a shaker card, so we'll be making one this semester.

An elegant shaker card

I've never considered myself to be a very "pink person" but something about these flowers whispered "pink" to me!

I wanted the shaker to be a bit subtle and elegant, so I decided to use the Metallics Sequin Assortment .... which led me to using some black cardstock to go with the black sequins.

The colours are Pink Pirouette (probably my least used colour!), Basic Black, Whisper White and Pear Pizzazz (for the leaves).

The flowers and leaves on the exterior are watercoloured, except for the centres of the flowers - that's gold Wink of Stella.  The petals have a coat of clear Wink of Stella that you can't see in the photo - you'll just have to trust me when I say they  have a lovely subtle shimmer!

The You're Fabulous greeting (from the A Whole Lot of Lovely set) was inked up with my markers for stamping.  Then I surrounded it with a soft sponging of Pink Pirouette ink.

The fabulous greeting inside the card is from the Happy Birthday Everyone stamp set which, like A Whole Lot of Lovely, is an exclusive Hostess Set.  So, if you like them, book yourself a party or workshop! (It can even be an online / virtual party!).

This is the inside of the card

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Acrylic Block Stamping - Watercolour backgrounds

In my classes we'll be stamping a watercolour background with an acrylic block.  This is one of the samples I've made for that class.

We'll also be thinking about layering during these classes
Serene Silhouettes stamp set & Botanical Gardens DSP

One of the joys (and sometimes frustrations) of this technique is that it comes out different every time!  I find it useful to have handy a tissue (to mop up excess ink/water) and a paintbrush that I can use to "help" the ink behave well.  I also have a heat tool close by so that when I'm ready, I can quickly dry the piece and stop any further blending of the ink.

It's great fun to try different inks and "loading patterns" and see what happens.  To preserve the integrity of my ink pads, I prefer to add the ink from lightest to darkest.  If I'm using 3 (or more) colours, I use a tissue to wipe away ink from the area where I want to add the next ink.

It's also worth testing different cardstock/papers to see which gives you the effect you want.  I tried out watercolour paper, Whisper White cardstock and Shimmery White cardstock and found the Shimmery White was the one that I kept going back to this time.

It's hard to stop at just one with this technique!  Here are some variations I made:

Serene Silhouettes stamp set, Bohemian Designer Series Paper

Wetlands stamp set, Wildflower Fields DSP (A FREE Sale-A-Bration product)

Guy Greetings stamp set, Bohemian DSP

Guy Greetings stamp set, Perfectly Artistic DSP (Free Sale-A-Bration product - limited time only)

For more information about my classes - click here.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bloomin' Heart Side Step Valentine Card

This side step card is the sample I have made for one of the classes in the 9-week course I'll be teaching in February/March.

Side step card featuring the Blooming' Heart thinlits dies (Occasions Catalogue)

In addition to the side step fold, there is a little bit of paper piecing and a whole lot of embellishing!

I'm so sad that I didn't have any Blushing Bride ribbon to go with the glimmer paper, so I had to make the most of what was in my stash - ah well - I know what my next purchase will be!

I have lots of  retired black glimmer paper left, so I decided to use some of it, otherwise I would have used Basic Black cardstock (which I think I would prefer in fact!).

If you're interested in attending my classes - click here for details.

Click on the images below to purchase any of the items.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Crazy Crafters Blog Hop - Sale-A-Bration products 2016

 

Welcome to the first Crazy Crafters Blog Hop for 2016! Happy New Year!!

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Stephanie Fischer, The Crafty Thinker - or you may have come from the person before me in the list. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you to move along from blog to blog so that you see all of the projects.

This month we are showcasing the Sale-A-Bration products that are available until 31st March. These products are FREE - you can choose one for every $90 you spend - how great is that?!  And there's a great selection of stamp sets and papers.  

Some of them are only available for a limited time so don't delay!

My card today features elements of the Flowering Fields (141303) and Hello (141243) stamp sets.

A single layer card using Flowering Fields to create a border

Each of these stamp sets have a great selection of stamps:  there are 7 rubber stamps in the Flowering Fields set and the Hello set has a whopping 9!

If you like the Hello set - don't delay - it's only available until 15 February.

I used Shimmery White Cardstock (121717) because for a single layer card I like its weight and it's nice and easy to colour smoothly.

I decided that the butterfly from Flowering Fields could have a little rest on the word "Hello" and I added a bit of Wink of Stella so that it shimmers in the light.

A little bit of Wink of Stella makes the butterfly shimmer

Sale-A-Bration is also a REALLY good time to join the team as a demonstrator if you'd like to get your hands on the great Stampin' Up! products at the discounted demonstrator prices or even build a business.  Until 31st March you can build your own Starter Kit with a value of $295 for only $169!! Contact me if you'd like more information.

And if you'd like an excuse to meet up with your friends - host a qualifying party until 31st March and earn an extra $40 to put towards the products you'd like to have. Contact me if you'd like more information.

It doesn't show well, but there's also some Wink of Stella on the flowers

I hope you've enjoyed this card and I welcome your comments. 

Thanks for taking part in our blog hop. Remember that currently you are at my blog - Stephanie Fischer - so check the blog hop line up list to see who is next in the list and click on their name as you don't want to miss out on seeing any of the blogs and the amazing inspiration they contain.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Butterfly Basics meets a Brick Wall

This card features the Butterfly Basics stamp set and the Brick Wall embossing folder.

This is another card that we'll be making during my 9 week semester of classes - it uses a few techniques: masking, sponging and stamping with an embossing folder.

Contact me if you would like more information about the classes I will be running at Learning in the Hills, Baulkham Hills, NSW or call Learning in the Hills direct on (02) 9639 7918  to book your place.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

The Sky is the limit for World Traveler & Traveler!

 Today I was making more samples for my 9 week semester of classes (starting 2 February).  

World Traveler embossing folder with Marina Mist ink - letterpress technique

This card featuring the World Traveler embossing folder with the ship from the Traveler stamp set, is for the class about the Letterpress technique.

The front of the ship is popped up on dimensionals

I liked the combination so much that I decided to pair the World Traveler embossing folder with some other modes of transport!  Since the others were land-based,though, I decided to emphasise the land masses on the globe rather than the sea.

The aircraft is from the Sky is the limit stamp set

The birthday greeting on all of the cards is from the Sky Is The Limit stamp set which can't be purchased because it's one of the wonderful FREE products that are exclusive to Sale-A-Bration - for every $90 of product you buy, you can choose one FREE product from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.

The train is from the Traveler stamp set

The label for the greeting is cut with the Project Life Cards & Labels framelits.

The aircraft is popped up on dimensionals as are the front of the ship and the front of the train.

I like this embossing folder so much that I can forgive its geographical inaccuracy!

Contact me if you would like more information about my classes at Learning in the Hills, Baulkham Hills, NSW or call Learning in the Hills direct on (02) 9639 7918

'til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Underwater masking - From Land to Sea & By The Tide

The bubbles have a shimmer to them.

I'm busy preparing samples for the next semester of my classes at Learning in the Hills (commence Tuesday 2nd February!) and this is one of them.

We'll be making this in class to learn about masking.

For those interested:  it's a 9 week structured course in Baulkham Hills, NSW.  Contact me for more details or call Learning in the Hills to book your place on (02) 9639 7918.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bloomin Heart Bundle - Occasions 2016 Catalogue

I really love this new bundle!  It hit my "must have" list as soon as I saw the Catalogue.

I saw and admired a card that was made by Sheila Terlep and whilst I didn't actively CASE her card, in retrospect I can see that my card seems very much inspired by hers, so I'd like to thank Sheila.  You can see her card at Sheila's Stampin' Corner.

Bloomin heart in cream, black and pink.

So this is my card.  

I used the Timeless Elegance Designer Series paper and sponged one strip with Blushing Bride ink.

The flowers are cut from Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black and Blushing Bride cardstock to which I've added a variety of sequins from the Metallics and Brights Sequin Assortments and some pearls.

I inked up the banner with Blushing Bride and then applied Wild Wasabi with a marker before stamping on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I then stamped the word Friend into the banner before cutting it with the matching die from the Large Numbers Framelits.

'Til next time

Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sky is the limit - Sale-A-Bration

This card combines two stamp sets to create a little scene.  I think the aircraft was being so noisy that everyone left the park bench!

The lower half of the card uses two stamps from the Happy Home set which is in the new Occasions Catalogue.  I omitted the clouds on the stamp with the park bench because they didn't fit with the rest of this particular scene.

The top half used stamps from the Sale-A-Bration set called Sky Is The Limit.  There are 8 stamps in the set including some great greetings and clouds.

This stamp set is only available for a limited time (until 15th February or stock runs out) and can not be purchased.  It can only be obtained FREE with an order of $90 of products.

Colouring process I used:
Coloured the aircraft using the Real Red marker from Many Marvellous Markers
Applied Versamark to the aircraft and smoke trail heart using a Versamarker.
Tipped clear embossing powder over the top half of the card and tapped off excess
Used a small brush to remove embossing powder from areas I didn't want it (mainly around the edge of the plane)
Used the heat tool on the embossing
Sponged light green over the tree top
Sponged light green for the grass (darker at the bottom of the card)
Sponged Soft Sky all over the top of the card - working from the top down and edge in
Sponged Marina Mist to the top of the card and left side - blending it out
Sponged a darker green to the tree - mainly in the middle and towards the bottom
Sponged a darker green to bottom edge of the card
Used a matching darker green market to fill in the leaf shapes in the tree to give a bit more depth
Used a tissue to wipe any ink off the embossed areas
Coloured the park bench with a Crumb Cake marker and the flowers with Real Red.

If you like the Sky Is The Limit stamp set (and it IS gorgeous and very versatile) - remember that it will only be available for a short while so get your qualifying order in as soon as you can!

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Botanical Blooms Bundle

Woohoo - today's the day that everyone can get their favourite products from the new Occasions Catalogue AND get a FREE Sale-A-Bration product with every $90 spend!

If you haven't yet seen all the mouth-droolingly gorgeous new products, click here to see the PDF version of the Occasions Catalogue and here to see the fantastic selection of FREE Sale-A-Bration products that can be earned.

Today I've had tremendous fun with the Botanical Blooms Bundle!

The label and greeting are from the Rose Wonder Bundle

I was inspired by the Global Design Project challenge set by Brian King to use these three colours. 

Just click on the image to join in the challenge or see the other great entries

I'll confess that at first glance I wasn't very inspired by the colour choice! But after a bit of thought I realised that green and pink are perfect for flowers and crumb cake could become a garden wall.  Thanks Brian - it really was a great challenge.

I've really fallen hard for the Botanicals Blooms bundle because they all work perfectly with each other and they're so versatile!  I can see a lot of mixing and matching going on with this set!  The best bit for me, though, is that it's so easy to make a pretty design with them - it almost "builds" itself!

The inside of the card.

I stamped some flowers from the Botanical Blooms set inside the card and the greeting is from a free Sale-A-Bration set called Perfect Pairings (141261 for the clear stamps), which I love for it's bold but elegant sentiments.

I hope you enjoyed this card.

'Til next time

Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog