Tufted Starlight

Tufted Starlight

Yes, I know it has been ages but I'm just going to get on with it.  This is a card I made using a favourite product from the 2018-2019 Stampin' Up!®️ Annual Catalogue, Starlight thinlits (see a couple of posts ago!) and the new Tufted embossing folder.

I began by randomly wiping VersaMark on the "mounded" inside of the folder then added and heated gold embossing powder after rolling the white card through the Big Shot.  I then lightly sponged with Bermuda Bay ink over the raised diamond pattern and along the white edges.  The large star was cut from gold foil and the patterned star from Bermuda Bay card stock.  I heat embossed the greeting from Bring on the Presents (2018 Holiday Catalogue) using Bermuda Bay ink and clear embossing powder and cut the pretty shape with a Petals and More thinlit.  This was sponged as before, a technique I love to enhance a simple element.  Finally I added clear rhinestones coloured with the dark Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blend before attaching all to the Bermuda Bay card base using Dimensionals.  I was amazed I had made a Christmas Card with no glitter but just love the effect from the random gold embossing.

Always one to "play" I went for a different look with the next sample, adding a Real Red border behind the embossed mat and using the same coloured ink and jewels as accents.

For this card I applied the VersaMark to the raised diamond sections on the inside of the folder before heat embossing the gold powder.

I love the surprise element when using ink on embossing folders, a simple technique which gives different effects even when using the same products.  I have made several versions of this card and I hope you will give it a try.

Thank you for visiting.
Lorraine

Here are the product details:

Eastern Scraps

I've generated lots of scraps of card and paper since my last blog (is it REALLY more than a year?  Oh Dear!) so I thought I'd start putting them to good use.  I found some small pieces of Eastern Palace Designer Series Paper - love this suite in the Stampin' Up!® 2017-2018 Annual Catalogue - and really just played around until the background combo jumped out at me.  A bit of trimming then layering the pieces from the bottom edge and this gorgeous card began to evolve. 

As you can see I decided to go with a girly theme but could just as easily have made it more masculine.  I raided my "blue bits" drawer for the Dapper Denim used behind both white sections of the medallion ensemble and found a couple of gold foil pieces for the accents to tie in with the gold on the middle strip.  The top medallion and greeting were stamped in Tranquil Tide, the medallion from the Eastern Beauty stamp set and the greeting from the Beautiful Peacock stamp set (2018 Sale-a-Bration brochure).  The Eastern Medallions thinlits offer many options and are so easy to combine for cutting layering.

Apart from the Whisper White base card and tiny Gold Vinyl sticker the entire card is made from scraps.  I'm planning to make more of these cards using different themes and I hope you will be inspired to get out those odd pieces you can't bear to throw away and turn them into wonderful creations.

If you don't have the Eastern Palace Suite of products and would like to make a similar card (you don't have to use scraps you know) they are available from my online store and I've listed them here for you.  Purchasing $90 worth of the Eastern Palace Suite products during January-March 2018 will qualify you for your FREE Beautiful Peacock stamp).

Thank you for visiting, I hope you'll come back soon.  No more promises from me to be more regular with posts but I hope to be better!

Happy crafting
  Lorraine

Favourite Star

It's been way too long since I last posted a blog and I am so grateful to everyone who has continued to visit in the hope of finding something new.  Well, I'm back and I plan to be a more regular poster in future.

Two of my favourite products in the current Holiday Catalogue are the Star of Light stamp set and Star of Light Thinlits.  Add the new glitter embossing powders and so many options appear.  Today I am sharing just one of the cards I have made using these products.

Mounted on Whisper White card matted with Emerald Envy - one of the new In Colours - the white mat edge has been gently sponged with Emerald Envy and dusted with Dazzling Diamonds for a softly glittering edge.  The greeting was stamped with Emerald Envy and the tiny stars heat embossed with silver.  The large star was heat embossed with Emerald Envy glitter embossing powder and to finish off I looped some silver metallic thread behind the star before adhering it with dimensionals.

I love the simplicity of this two colour card which is enhanced by the beautifully detailed stamping.  I do hope you have been inspired to create your own version and would love to read your comments.

Below is the product information you will need.

Thank you for visiting

Lorraine

Boxes in a Hurry

Boxes in a Hurry

Using the Gift Box Punch Board is so easy, it literally is something anyone can do.  With no cutting apart from sizing the paper or card you are using, it is a dream to use.  I love how easy it is to produce exactly the size and shape of box to suit a gift.  The boxes look lovely without any decoration but we crafters find it difficult not to add something, don't we?

I needed to quickly make up some boxes for a display (the night before) and I thought I would share these simple but gorgeous examples.

 This photo shows 3 different sizes.  The large square white box was stamped on all four sides in Tip Top Taupe using the White Christmas stamp set.  I then dotted the 2-way glue pen over the ink and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds and the glistening snow effect came to life.

 
The tag on the top was made using the Banner Triple Punch, the largest tag in Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper, the middle one in Tip Top Taupe and the top one stamped in Tip Taupe again using the White Christmas stamp set. Gold ribbon attaches the tag.

  

This smaller square box is simply made from a retired 2014 DSP which I love and wrapped with  red ribbon (retired) and gold 1/8" ribbon.  The flower is scrunched white filter paper held together with a brad and edged with Dazzling Diamonds.  I used one of the Tags and Labels Framelits for the tag and edged it with the Real Red Stampin' Write Marker and Dazzling Diamonds.  The greeting in Real Red is from the Lots of Joy stamp set.

For a complete change of pace the small rectangular box is Soft Sky cardstock, decorated with Flowering Flourishes stamp in Soft Sky ink on all four sides.   The tag is 2 sizes of scalloped circle punches with the flower head stamped on the smaller and edged with Soft Sky Stampin' Write Marker.  I tied the Baker's Twine so that the stamped tag hung at the same level as the stamped image underneath.  I just love the understated elegance of colour-on-colour stamping.

With such uncomplicated but delightful packages, there is an almost instant resolution to the last-minute "what am I going to wrap this in?"      

Unfortunately I can't show the products as I normally do (some computer glitch) but on the day of posting (1st October 2015) the Gift Box Punch Board is one of the items in Weekly Deals which you can view at my online store via my website.

Keep on crafting

Lorraine

Frozen Birthday

Some members of one of my craft groups needed a birthday card for little girls who are huge Frozen fans and I was given a brief of blue, white and glitter.  Here is the lovely card we made.

 The base card is white, the mat Soft Sky stamped and sponged randomly with Soft Sky, Pool Party, Mariner Mist (stamped off to soften the colour) and (retired) silver metallic ink.  The balloon has a white base lightly sponged with Soft Sky and Pool Party before heat embossing the silver greeting.  Dazzling Diamonds add glitter to the edge and front of the balloon and Dimensionals give the floating appearance.  Silver and white Glimmer Paper and Rhinestone Jewels add  more glitz.

Three other retired products were used - Snowflake Card Thinlits die, Bigz Alphabet Typeset and Endless Wishes stamp set.  There are lovely snowflakes in the current catalogues which would work just as well - not sure why I didn't use them.  I can feel another version happening!

This card can easily be adapted as a Christmas card, replacing the balloon with a Christmas tree or two or perhaps a die-cut ornament and adding a greeting in place of the number. 

I've added the list of products used for easy reference.

Until next time

 Lorraine

Craft Fair Canberra

After months of producing lots of wonderful items to sell on the stall my upline and I share, we finally saw the fruits of our efforts in all their gorgeous Stampin' Up! glory displayed in our allocated area.  The stall looked really lovely and we were grateful for all the kind comments and many purchases of our goods.  We met so many new people as well as caught up with our many Craft Fair friends from previous years.  One of the sections of the stall was dedicated to Christmas and this photo shows a selection of one of the many hanging decorations we offered.

These decorations were made using the retired Holiday Ornaments Framelits, embossed and/or stamped cardstock and various DSP's.  Dazzling Diamonds added the absolutely essential Christmas glitz and our stall visitors loved them.  I have also made many of these decorations for different occasions - versatility is tops.  Can you tell I just love the framelits?

The snowflakes in my post Snowflakes Galore were also part of the Christmas section of the stall, hanging just above the decorations in the picture above so you can imagine what a stunning display this was.  

It is wonderful that most Stampin' Up! products live on after they retire from the current range, they can be used over and over again and the projects never look tired.  We sometimes forget that many people only see projects after the tools/papers are no longer available so in a selling environment like a stall there is a great opportunity to offer our favourite old projects in modern colours - love it!

I do put together kits for the beautiful ornaments in the photo, contact me through my website if you would love to make one.

Keep on crafting, until next time

Lorraine

Snowflakes Galore

Although we don't have snow for Christmas in Canberra, there is something magical about these gorgeous natural elements, even more so when they are reflecting lights.  I just love this paper version of snowflakes and the added decoration and edging gives the effect of flickering lights.  They look wonderful anywhere - hanging on a tree, in a window or suspended from the ceiling.  I hope you enjoy the photos.

I originally made the snowflakes with 8 segments but with different thicknesses of the paper/cardstock used the 6 segment version evolved. This group looks so pretty on the white Christmas tree.

The photos below show the detail of the central decorations, you can use anything you like here to achieve the look you are after.

The next photo shows the use of double-sided paper with a newsprint pattern, not your usual Christmas theme but the glitter on the centrepiece and edges of the loops add just the right amount of bling for celebration.

The multi-coloured snowflake below looks completely different from the white ones and I love the traditional Christmas colours. 

For a complete change these lovely autumnal tones make a beautiful decorative piece for any time of year.

You are most welcome at one of my snowflake classes, contact me through my website.

If you have been inspired to start making your own snowflakes the products you need are shown below.  Some of the central decorations were made using retired Stampin' Up! products so I have not listed them.

Happy crafting

Lorraine