Monday 28 February 2011

Inkspirations Challenge no. 59


Inkspirations" is a sketch challenge site.
I often look at the site and think one day I will put a card into a challenge.
Well today is the day.
I sat at Sydney Olympic Park Swim Pool at Homebush all weekend as my son, Matt, was swimming at NSW Country Champs.
I always take with me some stamping reading and of course my SU catalogue.
I printed out the sketch design and whilst sitting at Homebush in between Matt's races I came up with this design. I knew I had all the materials at home.
So today is the day that I enter my first "sketch challenge"!

there is a link on the side of my blog to Inkspirations.

Chalkboard Technique



The above 2 cards I made using the "Chalkboard" technique".

It is very similar to the "Poppin Pastels" technique.

Using the Craft "white" inkpad you stamp your image onto black or dark coloured cardstock.

Then with while the white ink is still wet you gently sponge

pastel colours over your image. Be careful not to swipe as you will smudge

the white ink.

I really love the effect it gives.

Monday 21 February 2011

More Poppin Pastels



The first card I have used "Fine Florish" a line art stamp to colour with the pastels.

"Vintage" wheel as the background on the gatefold card.

Inside I have used the "Baroque" wheel and "Well Scripted" stamp set.

The 2nd card I have used the "Medallion" stamp a solid stamp to colour with the pastels.

Also "Sincere Salutations", a little ribbon and a pearl to complete the card.


I think I have chosen these 2 to do in my Technique Class on March 4th.

This class is now full but if you would like to learn this technique,


and we can organise either another class or a

workshop at your home to learn this technique.

March Technique - Poppin Pastels

March Technique class is "Poppin Pastels". This is a really easy and very effective technique.

I am pleased to say that the above card using "Just Believe" is completely my idea!!! Yay.

Finally some creative juices are flowing.

I have recently received the Embosslits "Beautiful Wings" die and have been playing.

Love the little butterflies.


The card above and below were inspired by one similar by Linda Higgins.

Here I have used the "Poppin Pastel" technique with "Upsy Daisy" stamp set.

I have also used the "Perfect Polka Dot" embossing folder and the "Scallop Trim Border" punch and my new Embosslit die "Beautiful Wings".


The cards above and below are my own designs....yay....
Here I have used "Lovely as a Tree" stamp set.
The card above with the 6 trees had input from my nearly 17 year old son, Matt.
The kids often come into my study when I am playing with my stamps and have some imput into what I'm doing.

Most of the time they have some really good ideas and I am more than happy to try them.

Matt suggested "orangey" autumn tones in the trees.
I explained to him that would be "Cajon Craze"!

"Whatever" was the response.
I tried his suggestion and the next time he was passing by he told me that it was good and it had a more "autumnal" feel!!!

I was impressed.
I used a non SU embossing folder to back the image as this cobblestone look folder Matt chose with me one day in a craft store.
You have to admire a nearly 17 year old even showing interest, I know I do.
The old oak tree out of the "Lovely as a Tree" set is another favourite of mine.

The "Poppin Pastel" technique has a very soft muted effect.

Not quite as soft as in the photos, the cards have a little more oomph than the photos suggest.

I swiped the "Crumb Cake" A5 card with the "Crumb Cake" ink pad

to achieve the background effect.

I cut out a "Top Note" die and turned it round and cut it out again to

get the square looking top note.

Hope you liked these cards!

Friday 18 February 2011

Make a Monster

"Make a Monster" is not my usual style of stamp set but I was wanting some more "kid" style of stamp sets as I seem to favour the flowers and flourishes.

Before I had a chance to play with "Make a Monster", my daughter Olivia got her hands on it and made a card for one of her friends. Olivia was very pleased with the result and took it off to her friend Rhianna's pool party along with an itunes voucher and some chocolates.

I am a bit overwhelmed with family activities at the moment and I sit down to do some crafting and there is not a lot of inspiration going on in my head.

Thankfully as a demo we have access to a forum that other demos can post their creations on. So I sought inspiration from a few fellow demos.
The above card was posted by SU office using "Lots of Bots" another great kids stamp set. I just CASEd the layout but used the "Make a Monster" set.
This card above I CASEd the design from Yvonne Pree, I changed the layout a little to suit accessories that I had.

Once again I changed the layout a little but the basic design I CASEd from Teneale Williams.


"Make a Monster" is a great set for kids cards.

It is $41.95 (wood) and $33.95 (clear).

I chose the clear set as the eyes and mouths and antennas are all separate so you can add them to either of the 3 monsters.

Thursday 10 February 2011

One Layer cards

One Layer Cards - this is an idea I have CASEd from Marelle Taylor. It makes card making so simple and easy and is the perfect way to start if you are a beginner at card making. I have listed the stamp sets I have used for the following cards. You will notice that some of them are in my upcoming S-A-S in February, so if you'd like to make them, book in to the S-A-S.


Above: "Cottage Garden" and "Well Scripted"


Above: "Scribble" and "Well Scripted"


Above: "So Swirly" wheel and "Butterfly Prints" and "Well Scripted".


Above: "Spot On" wheel and "Circle Circus" and "Sincere Salutations".


Above: "Classic Stars" wheel and "Perfect Punches".


Party this Way

"Party this Way" is a set of 5 stamps and only costs $21.95 in Clear mount or $26.95 in Wood mount. This card i have CASEd from Evonne Yamazaki fellow SU demo. I have stamped "Circle Circus" over the base card. Stamped 3 balloons from "Party this Way" in varying colours and cut them out, hand drawn a string for each balloon with the Stampin' Write Journaller pen. I then punched a scallop circle template out and sponged some clouds with blue using the scallop circle template as a mask - therefore creating clouds effect. A very simple card that gives the effect of the balloons floating off up in to the sky.

Extreme Surfer




"Extreme Surfer" is a single stamp that you can buy through Stampin Up'! I am trying to build up my stock of kids/teenager stamps. These 2 cards I CASEd from a fellow SU demo - Belinda Neil. The stamp itself is a solid image so I did a lot of sponging to get the ocean effect.

The 2nd "Extreme Surfer" card background effect was achieved by swiping "Pear Pizzazz" ink pad across the "Certainly Celery" cardstock. I did the same thing on the "Not Quite Navy" card with the "Not Quite Navy" ink pad. This technique gives a great background if you don't have a background stamp to suit in your stash.

February Stamp-a-Stack



These are the cards we will be making in the February Stamp-a-Stack on Friday 18th February at 7.30pm to 10.00pm.

I am offering 8 "adult" cards - flowers and stars - with envelopes or :-

8 "kids" cards - balloons and surfer with envelopes.

There is a limit of 8 to a class. Cost is $20 (cash payable at beginning of class).

email me at denisemaccabe@gmail.com if you'd like to come along.


Sunday 6 February 2011

Storage Crate - Blueberry Crisp DSP

This Storage Crate is a KaiserCraft "beyond the page" project. I had all my glues jammed in to a small plastic container, which was very ugly to look at. I found this Storage Crate ages ago and have only just got around to painting and covering it.
I used some Jo Sonya's paints, the beautiful "Blueberry Crisp dsp" and some Kaisercraft wood flourishes to finish the crate off.
I painted the crate first and then sanded it off a bit to give it a bit of "shabby shic" look. I then glued the dsp on to the crate using PVA glue. I then glued the wood flourishes on to the sides of the crate. I finished the project off by giving it a coat of Jo Sonya's clear varnish.


The finished product. A much more appealing way of storing my glues. I might just try a few more of these "beyond the page" projects with Stampin' Ups! gorgeous DSP's.

Lovely as a Tree - Presto Papers

"Lovely as a Tree" is one of my all time favourite stamp sets. It is so versatile, you can use it for Christmas Cards and Male Cards as well as female cards. Once again we sponged the "presto papers" with "Crumb Cake" ink. We then layered "Lovely as a Tree" stamped image on to the card, stamped a birthday greeting from "Sincere Salutations" and a very simple and easy card is complete.

All products used are Stampin' Up!


Just Believe - Presto Papers



I had a "Mini Catalogue" night last Friday night and we played with the new "Presto Papers".

We sponged daubered the presto papers with "Perfect Plum" to bring out the pattern, the dauber still had a little bit of shimmer paint on it so we got a little bit of a shimmer effect as a bonus. Another way we could have added some shimmer was with the new "Smooch Spritz" in the Mini Catalogue. The first card I used some Crystal Effects to give the card some dimention on the flowers and thought maybe some raindrops. I think it actually made the card look like it had a break out of pimples!!!! So I made a second card without the Crystal Effects. Much better I think.

Just Believe

I know I've said it before but "Just Believe" is my favourite stamp set from the new catalogue.
There are so many more ideas I have for this stamp set, I can't wait to try them all out.
This card was made using the "emboss resist" technique. I first stamped the flowers in "Early Espresso", I then stamped "Baroque Motif" swirl in versamark and clear embossed it. I then sponged "Pear Pizzaz" over the stamped images. The background card was stamped in versamark using the flowers from "Vintage Vogue". Both stamped images were layered on to "Early Espresso" card stock. Some 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon - "Early Espresso" was added for texture.

All supplies used are Stampin' Up.

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