Chalk and Cheese

A few weeks ago my best friend came over to my place asking if I would help her make some cards for friends of hers who are brother and sister. As my best friend is not the most crafty person I know although I really think she has the potential to be if she could get over her fear of guillotine's and paper cutters!

Anyway it was lovely that she wanted to take the initative to make some cards. So she came over and we started creating. Needless to say it turned more into her telling me what she wanted and me making it for her and explaining how to do the techniques used but we had a great night none the less.

We made 2 cards as stated above for siblings whose birthdays are close together. My best friend had a vision on what she wanted and the colours and look she was going for and therefore the cards were very simple looking (although they did take a bit of work) whereas I would have added a little extra. But it was amazing how different the cards looked next to each other. I really enjoyed making such contrasting cards for a specific look and taste. It was like I had an actual client to work for.

The pink card was made for a girl (obviously) who loves pink, purples and butterflies and she ADORED the card. The other card was made for a boy who is in the process of enrolling to the army and so the colours were sponged onto glossy cardstock to give an army uniform camoflague affect. He also really liked the card.

Happy Stampin'

Dani

Purely Old Bashful Night

A few nights ago I was tooling around with a few SU! things and setting myself some challenges including some different colour combo's. I was talking to my brother whom was trying to come up with some colour combo's to try and he was challenging me to some challenges which I found quiet easy as they were in my comfort zone. So I told him you need to come up with something a little out of the box and I rattled off the following colours: Purely Pomegrante, Old Olive, Bashful Blue and Night of Navy (Hence the title). Needless to say my brother thought this colour combo was the stupidest thing he had ever heard and thought that nobody would be able to put these colours together. So I decided what the hell... I am going to prove him wrong.

I must say I am so happy with the results. The colours are all fav SU! colours of mine but I would never put them together until now. Here is the card I made using these colours...

Paper: Night of Navy, Purely Pomegrante, Whisper White

Ink: Night of Navy, Purely Pomegrante, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Black Stazon

Stamp Sets: Short and Sweet, Time Well Spent

Accessories: Purely Pomegrante double stitched ribbon, dimensionals, Blender Pens, Aqua Painter

Techniques: Water Colouring, Paper Piercing

You caan't tell in this photo but I have used paper peircing on the navy cardstock around each corner. I have also used water colouring to colour the cardstock with bashful blue which can't quiet be seen in this picture.

I am challenging all of you guys to use this colour combo and step outside your comfort zone. Anyone who uses this colour combo, email it to me and I will post all of them on my blog to show the versatility of the colours AND the talent of all my readers.

Goodluck with the challenge!

Dani

ATC Swaps - Bleaching

Here is my next installment of ATC swaps. This month we had to do a swap using the bleaching technique, which is an extremly versatile technique. What you do is you apply bleach your cardstock to actually change the colour of the cardstock you are using to give you a cool new affect. It especially works well on Old Olive Cardstock as it changes it to a beautiful bright yellow colour rather than a faded white colour like alot of the other card stocks do.

TIP WHEN USING THIS TECHNIQUE: Do not apply the bleach using a paint brush as it tends to eat away at the brizzles. The first time I used the technique I didn't realise this and I ended up with no brizzles on my paint brush... Whoops! I find a cotton tip works well and you can throw it out when your finished. That's what I used on my ATC's.

For mine this month I must admit I'm not 100% happy with them and could have put in alot more effort had I actually started them before they were due. I still like them. I think they are sweet looking and the colours are so stunning together but could have done better.

Here is also a picture of another card I did at a card class using bleaching. I really like the colours and how the dripping of the bleach made the rest of the card look

Have a great evening! Happy Stampin'

Dani

CyberCrop/CyberStamp Challenge Night

Once a month me and the Inklings take part in a Cyberstamp Challenge. We get posted challenges by Jayne or other members as is occuring over the next few months. I am getting the opportunity to post challenges in August! So excited!

Anyway we get posted a 3 of challenges which can consist of Layout, colour, technique, inspiration, etc. It is always a great deal of fun because you can have a chat to other demonstrators while your creating and then see what each other comes up with.

On Thursday night I particpated in the challenges. I haven't finished the first one yet. Truth is I haven't started as I'm just not 100% happy with the photos as it is a Scrapbook page layout challenge. I have however completed challenge number 2.

It was in all essence of the word a CHALLENGE! It was a colour and layout challenge in one. It was using colours a little out of my comfort zone (Wild Wasabi, So saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Sahara Sand) but also having to put them into a layout a little out of my comfort zone too. Needless to say the card is VERY different to anything I ever do but I really enjoyed making it. So without any further ado... TA DA!!!



I will post pictures of the other challenges I completed soon.

Have a lovely weekend.

Dani :)

Andrew's 21st Birthday Party

As alot of people may know I have been preparing for my brother's 21st for some time. Well last Saturday we finally had the blessed event. I was so exhausted before the event even started but it was great to see so many people come out to honour my brother. Everyone had alot of fun with the Karaoke I organised along with dancing, lots of drinking and fun. Here are some photo's of my brother's party.


Nana and Andrew


Me, mum and my fake aunties singing


Mum and Andrew


Andrew and his friends


Andrew and more friends

Happy 21st Andrew, I hope you had a great night.

Here is the pictures of the guestbook I made. It's funny I didn't notice until after all the stamps I used was retired but all the papers and accessories were basically new! I must also give a special mention to Kendall who is also a SU! Demonstrator who very nicely lent me her number stamps so I could stamp the 21! Thanks Kendall!

I used the Certainly Celery Palette O Prints Paper in the background of the page. As you can see it is very versatile for Scrapbooking as well as cardmaking and is all yours for $12.95 when you place an order of $35 or more! BARGAIN!

I also used some of the new Designer Series Paper to jazz up the page. It can be purchased for only $11.95 for the bunch. You get 12 double sided 12x12 scrapbook pages. Thats just under $1 a page and there's 2 designs on each page!

My brother and everyone else really loved the book. Please let me know if you like the guestbook. I would love to hear your feedback.

Have a great night!

Dani

Mother's Day Make and Take

I was doing a demonstration the other day which meant I had to do a make and take which could be given as a mother's day card and usually this wouldn't faze me but for some reason I couldn't come up with anything Make and Take worthy. I kept sitting at my craft table and could make anything but a suitable Make and Take. Then after my mental block occurring for 4 days I was waiting for a TV program to start and had 15 minutes before it started so went and sat at the table and it just happened. I made a really simple and stunning make and take and here it is for your viewing pleasure.















Paper: Very Vanilla Textured, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Ballet Blue, Regal Rose, So Saffron
Stamp Sets: Simply Said, Occasional Greetings
Accessories: 1/4"Grosgrain Ribbon, Dimensionals
Technique: Two-Step Stampin'

The ladies who made this card where so beautiful. They had never stamped before and found it the most fun thing. They were laughing and giggling at each other and watching in anticipation to see if the other could line the stamps up better. They had the best reaction to stamping that I have ever seen it was so great. It really made me remember why I love being a demonstrator so much.

Anyways it is rather late (2:15am to be exact) and I have a big day tomorrow with my brother's 21st birthday party finally on. I will post photo's of my creations for his party along with a photo from the party.

Have a great weekend

Dani :)

Mother's Day Cards

As we may have all noticed by now what with all the flyers and commercials... Mother's Day is coming. I have been very busy preparing for my brother's 21st Birthday party which means I haven't had a great deal of time to make Mother's Day Projects. I did however whip up a few different colours in the following design. I have used a few retired products but they can be supplimented with other sets in the current catalogue.





Stamps: Simply Said, French Script (Retired), All year Cheer II (Retired)
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, White Gloss
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Versamark, Regal Rose
Accessories: White Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponges, Mat Pack
Technique: Ghosting

I used a technique called "Ghosting" which I think makes this card absolutly stunning and something beautiful to give to mum on her special day.

Happy Mother's Day to all those wonderful Mother's out there. I hope you all have a lovely day.

Happy Stampin'

Dani

Palette O Prints

During the month of May (1st - 31st) Stampin' Up! have a great special called Palette O Prints. For every $35 spent on products you can purchase a pack of Palette O Prints for just $12.95! Palette O Prints is a pack of beautiful Designer Series Paper (DSP). You get 48 sheets of 6" x 6" (1/4 of a 12" x 12" scrapbooking page) DSP paper in 4 beautiful Stampin' Up Colours.

* Rose Red
* Certainly Celery
* So Saffron
* Almost Amethyst

Each pad holds 12 sheets of each colour 2 sheets of each print. They are double sided and can be used for scrapbooking a 6 x 6 album, cardmaking, origami boxes, and whatever your imagination can think up.

This is a once off promotion and won't be available after 31st May. It is also very special as the So Saffron and Almost Amethyst DSP paper is not available within the catalogue and is only being made available for this promotion.

If you would like to place an order to be able to take advantage of this beautiful offer or would like to have a look at the papers please contact me promptly so you don't miss out.

Happy Stampin'

Dani