Show Stoppers

Wow! I'm always amazed at the enormous amount of talent, amongst the wonderful group of children that I teach. Two students got to work on their card making entries for the Launceston show today and I was impressed with their creativity.

Louise wanted to do a pop-up card using the 'Owl Together Now' set. The lovely 'Walk in the Park' Designer Series Paper was used for the inside. Hasn't she done an awesome job?

Louise did a fantastic job at colouring in the owl and branch with Stampin' Pastels and a blender pen. Neat work!

Here she is hard at work.

Voila! The finished masterpiece!

Louise wanted a night time scene for the card. Here's the cute cover. The moon is watercoloured with Watercolour Wonder Crayons and the flourish corners are cut out using the 'Vintage' cuttlebug die. Top marks, you clever girl!

Here's Jenti hard at work cleaning the stamps. She chose to use the 'Priceless' set with Regal Rose and Rose Red.

Of course the cuttlebug got a work out. Jenti decided her background needed the Swiss Dots embossing folder!

Well, Mrs Eastley didn't have the right coloured ribbon!! Easy fixed. Just get some neutral taffeta ribbon (Very Vanilla used here) and dip a sponge dauber into the Stampin' Pad of the colour you require, (Rose Red) and dab away. Ta dah! Now that's the colour we need!

Jenti's card is still under construction. Can't wait to see the finished result! 100% for creativity, Jenti.

Handmade is Heartmade!

I've had quite a few cards given to me of late - Sympathy, Birthday and Thank-You. I've appreciated every single one, but for some reason, the stamped ones just make my heart skip a beat! They are all so gorgeous. I've also included one that my sister made using the 'tea bag' folding technique - at least I think that's what it's called. Correct me if I'm wrong, Sis. It's very cute. So check out these gorgeous cards and leave some 'comment love'. You don't have to have your own blog to leave comments in any of my posts - just select the profile, 'Anonymous', after you click on 'Comments' attached to the bottom of this post.

Michelle Duffy

I just adore 'Pocket Silhouettes' and 'Urban Garden' Designer Series Paper. I love the torn card stock which Michelle used to back the cute stamp.

Leonie Hemelaar

A little bit of glitter to jazz up the butterfly and some grosgrain ribbon to add a touch of class. This card was much appreciated Leonie.

Natalie Stone

Wow, Nat! This card is so simple but so...ooo gorgeous.

Caroline Bain

Hi Caroline. It's great to see you putting the new, 'Ocean Commotion' stamp set that you received at your 'birthday' workshop, to good use! The colour combo is pretty yummy!

Jeane McQueen

Oh why do such gorgeous stamp sets have to retire? I love this set. Why didn't I buy it when I had the chance? I just love the clear embossing in the background and the 'Word Window' punch combined with the brads.

Tania Gould

I'm gob smacked. All that silver embossing, combined with the choice of colours makes for a very elegant card, not to overlook the border which has been 'paper pierced'. There's so many fun techniques to dabble in with card making and paper craft!

Janette Heazlewood

This is so bright and sunny and extremely clever. Love what you have done, Janette.



Well that's the last of the 'card parade'. Hope you enjoyed browsing. I'm off to prepare for a card making session with some students from school. Gasp! I hear you say, school work on a Saturday? No problem when it involves stamping!! My little darlings are preparing to put lots of craft entries into the Launceston Show. Of course I said I'd help them with their card making entries! How could I not? I'm also submitting entries in this area, as well as Teddy Bear Making, so if you're going to the Show, go along to the Craft Pavillion for a browse!

Until next time,
Bron XX :)

Circle Circus

Oriental Circus

Here's the 'Make 'n' Take' for last night's workshop. I looked at the Haiku Designer Series Paper to get the colour inspiration. However, I decided to substitute 'Old Olive' for 'Kiwi Kiss' so I could use the gorgeous satin ribbon that I had in my stash. One of the stamps matches the design on the paper too! These are colours I wouldn't normally put together but decided to get out of my comfort zone and be a bit more adventurous. Baja Breeze does feature in the next card though. Can't seem to stay away from that 'In Colour' for too long!

The Finer Details:

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Think Happy Thoughts
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard
Paper: Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss (textured)
Accessories: Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Circle Ice Rhinestone Brads, Various sized circle punches, Haiku DSP.

Circle Topiary

This example was inspired by a card I saw on Splitcoaststampers. I used the Polished Stone Technique on White Glossy Card Stock, before stamping the circles.

Project Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Oval All
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Re-inkers - Baja Breeze and NQN
Paper: Glossy White, NQN, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip (textured)
Accessories: Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Circle Punches, Eyelet Border Punch, Baja Breeze DSP, Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Button Bouquet

Until next time .. :)
Bron

Christmas Circus

For my next workshop, Susan, (the lovely hostess) wanted me to demo ideas for using the 'Circle Circus' stamps. It is such a versatile set and I'll be featuring one or two more ideas in my next post. This example highlights the technique of heat embossing and shows that you can turn these lovely circles into cute Christmas decorations. It has a bit of an 'oriental' feel about it too!

Project Recipe:
Stamp Sets: Circle Circus, Baroque Motifs, Sprinkles
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Black
Ink: Versa Mark
Accessories: Gold Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Top Note Die, Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads, Gold thread, Stampin' Dimensionals

Well, I have spent a lot of time today fiddling around with my new 'watermarks' that I purchased from Karen Giron. I'm really pleased with the results. You'll see 4 different designs popping up on my photos from now on. I think I need to do an Adult Ed. Course on how to best use 'Photoshop' - 'Photoshop for Dummies' it should be called and I'd qualify! Time for bed!

Until next time ... Bron :)

Alisa Tilsner's Colour Challenge

Here's the card I came up with for Alisa Tilsner's latest colour challenge. This is my first COLOUR challenge and I was very inspired by the great combination that Alisa has put together - Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip and Sahara Sand. Click on the colour swatch below to link to her site, where you'll see her lovely watercoloured flowers from the 'Bloomin' with Beauty' stamp set.

I looked at my selection of stamp sets and decided that 'Bird on a Branch' would be great for the combination of colours and I hadn't used it since I made all my Convention Swaps for Canberra.
It's a simple layout but took two days of deliberation! Just as well I'm on holidays.

For my next workshop, the hostess has asked me to demonstrate ways of putting different colour combinations together. Stampin' Up! has so many wonderful examples within the pages of its Idea Book and Catalogue. It's also fun to browse different blogs and websites to see what colour challenges are 'out there' for inspiration. So I thought I should 'practice what I preach' and actually give it a go.

Here's a scanned picture of the card where you can see it in more detail but the colours look a little 'washed out'.

Project Recipe:

Stamp Set: Bird on a Branch

Paper: Sahara Sand (textured), Always Artichoke, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Sahara Sand, Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Taffeta Ribbon, White Half Back Pearls from the 'Pretties Kit', Crystal Effects, Stampin' Dimensionals and Oval Die (non SU)

Thanks for stopping by and browsing at my blog. Blogging seems to be a little hobby within my hobby at the moment!!

LOL Bronwyn :)

Hobart Field Training

A quick post to let you know that a Stampin' Up!, Field Training Seminar is coming to Hobart next month and guest registrations have opened.

This means that it is your opportunity to come along to a Stampin' Up! event and to see first hand some wonderful demonstrations by Stampin' Up! staff and local demonstrators.

You'll also participate in Make and Take projects using a new stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalogue (not yet available), which will be yours to keep, see display samples for inspiration, and learn new paper-crafting and stamping techniques.

Tania and I thoroughly enjoyed attending last year.

If you'd like further details please contact me to discuss the possibility of taking YOU to Hobart Regionals.

When: Wednesday 21st October 2009
6.00 - 9.00pm
Where: Wrest Point Casino, Hobart
Cost: $45

com.ment n. explanatory note, remark, v. notice, remark on

The Macquarie Dictionary sums it up!! Sorry to those people out there that have wanted to leave comments but couldn't because they didn't have a 'blog'. It's the early hours of the morning and I've finally worked out how to change the settings. You can now leave a comment under the Select Profile heading, 'Anonymous', but don't forget to leave your name at the end so I know who it's from. I'd love to hear from you.

Smiles :) Bron XX

Spring Mini Springboard

This is the card that I made for Marelle Taylor's August Challenge. The idea was to "use the Spring Mini Catalogue as a springboard for inspiration". Click on the heading as it is linked to Marelle's blog. You can read about the challenge in more detail and view her very cute card she made which inspired me to join in the fun!



I decided to use the layout found on page 14 - 'For You Pillow Box' (Just Beachy stamp set) and the colours were inspired by the Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper featured on page 9. To really highlight the gorgeous new Spring Mini Catalogue, I also used the 'Great Friend' stamp set (page 5), Scallop Oval Punch (page 7), Flower Assortment Designer Brads (page 12) and of course a strip of the lovely DSP as already mentioned. It was not difficult to be inspired as I love everything about the new mini 'catty'.



I used the rock 'n' roll technique when I stamped the butterfly and aren't the flower brads just gorgeous? The Scallop Oval Punch is also in my list of new favourites!

Here's the complete Project Recipe:

Stamp Set: Great Friend
Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze and Choc Chip
Accessories: Parisian Breeze DSP, 1" Double Stitched Choc Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, White Circle Aluminum Metal Edge Tag, Flower Assortment Designer Brad (Choc Chip), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Linen Thread, Crop-A-Dile, Stampin' Dimensionals.
Technique: Rock 'n' Roll

Thanks Marelle for providing a 'challenge' for the Spring Mini. Thanks also to those who have taken time to 'stop by' and browse the posts on my blog! I have an idea brewing for my own little challenge with some 'blog candy' to give away, so keep in touch.

Bronwyn :)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #33

A Kind Word on a Sweet Sunday

Oh my gosh!! I've just entered my first 'Sketch Challenge' - first ever card challenge for that matter!! I am so excited. I have browsed other people's blogs and websites for over a year now and never dreamt I'd be taking part in the fun too. Now that I have a blog, I thought I'd give it a whirl. Although you can upload your designs on Splitcoast and enter from there too, which is pretty cool. The card will be picked randomly from all the entries at 'The Sweetest Thing'. Click on the sketch below to view the details of the challenge.


Project Recipe:
Stamp Set: A Kind Word
Paper: Glossy White, Chocolate Chip, Watercolour paper
Ink: Basic Black, Red Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Pacific Point, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa and Blush Blossom, Mellow Moss Watercolour Wonder Crayons
Accessories: Aqua Painter, Bella Rose DSP, Small flower from Boho Blossoms' Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Choc Chip 1" DS Grosgrain Ribbon, Red Riding Hood Taffeta Ribbon, Small and Mini Roses (Francheville)





The challenge was to make a card with the above layout. As soon as I saw the design, I knew I wanted to use the stamp from, 'A Kind Word' and the gorgeous Bella Rose DSP! I had also just bought a circle cutter ( like a compass with a blade on the end) and was anxious to see if it did the trick! I was pleased with the way it all turned out. I guess, now that I have the bug, and holidays have almost started, there will be a few more fun challenges on the way (of the card making variety of course). I already have another in mind and may even get some friends to work on an idea of my own. So keep an eye out and thanks for browsing.