All Geared Up To Celebrate

Hello everyone,

My youngest little one has been attending quite a few parties for his daycare and kinder buddies lately so I have been busy creating cards for him to give to his friends at these events. Not to typecast but most 4 year old boys love cars so the cool images from Geared Up Garage were the perfect go-to for these cards.

Now two of the cards I made were whipped up quite hastily before we headed off to the parties but I did manage to have enough time to take a pic of this one.

When creating this card I drew some inspiration from the team at the Global Design Team and their current sketch challenge GDP#186. Here is the sketch that inspired the layout of my card

I really love the detail in all the images in the Geared Up Garage stamp set. In this card I've used the oil can image to add a little extra detail to the DSP background and the oil stain stamp added some texture to the Basic Gray starburst circle.

The little splatters of silver were created using my favourite stamp from the Timeless Textures stamp set. I'm really going to miss this stamp when the set retires at the end of May. 

That's all for this post today but be sure to pop back and check out my blog again throughout the week. I've been very busy behind the scenes creating some great projects to share without in various posts over the next couple of weeks, including an amazing limited release surprise from Stampin' Up!.

Thanks for stopping by.

- Tan xx

Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop - Needlepoint Nook

Hello everyone and welcome to another Artisan Design Team blog hop. This month we've had the opportunity to play with the products from the Needlepoint Nook Suite, particularly the Needle & Thread Stamp Set and the Needlepoint Element Framelits Dies.

When I sat down to play with these products I immediately knew I wanted to create a home decor item and it didn't take too long for me to decide to go with this project.

When creating this I really wanted the Needlepoint Nook Designer Series Paper to look like it was actually an embroidered piece of fabric, particularly as this pattern is photographic imagery of actual hand-stitched embroidery, so I had to experiment a little to work out how to mount the DSP on to the embroidery hoop. Do not fret, no beautiful Designer Series Paper was harmed in these experiments, only once I was successful at mounting a sheet of plain copy paper did I then attempt to mount the
DSP.

Of course I had to include some die-cut stitching in this project so the Stitched Rectangle Framelits were the obvious choice for the centre panel and I used a bit of masking and the Make a Difference Stamp Set to alter the "People like you make the world a better place" sentiment from Needle & Thread.

I absolutely love how the Distinktive images of the stitched flowers look like actual embroidered flowers although I have to admit I did have to practice a little to get an image I was happy with. My tip for using Distinktive Photopolymer stamps is to make sure your ink pad isn't too juicy (a quick dab with some paper towel is an easy way to remove excess ink) and make sure you put a foam mat under your cardstock before stamping (the one that comes with the Stamparatus is perfect).

You can also see in this close up pic that I also included the some of the teeny tiny Needlepoint Nook Mini Buttons. Aren't they the cutest?

Enjoy the rest of the hop, I can guarantee you are going to love all the projects that my fellow Artisans have created. Next up is my beautiful friend, Angela Meiritz-Reid.

Happy stamping

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Needle & Thread, Make a Difference
Card: Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Old Olive, Needlepoint Nook Designer Series Paper

Ink: Night of Navy, Berry Burst, Highland Heather, Old Olive, Balmy Blue, Crushed Curry, Petal Pink
Accessories & Tools: Needlepoint Elements Framelits, Stitched Rectangle Framelits, Needlepoint Nook Mini Buttons, Whisper White Bakers Twine, Old Olive Linen Thread, Whisper White Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon

Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop - Geared Up Garage

Hi and welcome to another Stampin' UP! Artisan Design Team blog hop. Today we are showcasing the products in the Classic Garage suite  from the 2019 Occasions Catalogue, particularly the Geared Up Garage Stamp Set and Garage Gears Thinlits Dies.

I love love love this suite with it's grungy images and bold colours but my favourite product in this suite are the Garage Gears Thinlits Dies, particularly these gear dies. 

For this particular project I experimented a little with embossing powder and foil sheets to create these steampunk style gears. 

To achieve this look I first swiped some Versamark over a piece of Silver Foil Sheet, then I scattered a little Copper Stampin Emboss powder over the Versamark, lightly in some areas and a little heavier in others. After heat setting the copper powder with a Heat Tool, I swiped a little more Versamark over the piece of foil sheet and then scattered some Black Stampin Emboss in the same random manner as the copper. After setting the black powder I repeated the same steps for a third time with Silver Emboss Powder, however this time when heating the embossing powder I heated it for a bit longer until the three different coloured embossing powders began to melt and merge into each other. Because the foil sheet is a smooth none porous surface the melted powders will slowly flow over the surface while being heated. Once I was happy with the look I allowed the embossing to cool and then cut the gears out with the thinlit. 

After creating this first card I decided to create a second one but switched around the colours and orientation and included a fussy cut car from the Classic Garage Designer Series Paper instead of a motor bike.

That's all for me today. Next up in the hop is my talented friend, Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand, I know you are going to love what she is sharing today.

Thanks for hopping along with us today

Happy crafting

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Geared Up Garage
Card: Real Red, Basic Black, Crushed Currey, Silver Foil Sheet, Classic Garage Designer Series Paper, Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Garage Gears Thinlits, Layering Circles Framelits, Whiite Stampin Emboss Powder, Copper Stampin Emboss Powder, Black Stampin Emboss Powder, Silver Stampin Emboss Powder

CASE Yourself | Let's Get Hopping #18

Hello everyone and welcome back to another Let's Get Hopping blog hop.

This month the Let's Get Hopping designers have taken on the challenge to CASE a project they have created in the past. For those of you who aren't aware of what CASE means it stands for Copy And Selectively Edit (or Copy And Share Everything). Essentially CASing a project means taking inspiration such as a colour combo, sketch layout, or idea from one piece of work and adapting it to your project. Often crafters will CASE another crafters work when looking for inspiration but I think we tend to forget to look at our own work.

When looking back over my past projects I was drawn to this project I created last year for a TGIF Sketch Challenge (see the original post here).

Here is the project I created when CASing this card

This is the sketch that I worked from for the original card and as you can see at the time I decided to flip the sketch upside down

However with this project I decided to go with the pointed panel pointing towards the bottom of the card. I also chose to go with a woodgrain patterned DSP, this one from the Floral Romance Speciality Designer Series Paper pack. 

This cute little baby card was made especially for my cousins little baby boy who decided to come into the world on Australia Day so I felt it was only fitting that I include this gorgeous kangaroo and koala from the Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper in the design. 

Thank you for joining me today. Next up is Nina from Nina's Southern Accents. I can't wait to see what project she is sharing with us today.

Happy crafting 

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Well Said,
Card: Balmy Blue, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Shimmery White, Floral Romance Speciality Designer Series Paper, Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper, Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Grapefruit Grove, Versamark,
Accessories & Tools: Well Written Framelits, Lovely Flowers Edgelits, Be Mine Stitched Framelits, Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon, Whisper White Bakers Twine, White Stampin Emboss Powder, Frames Elements

Stampin' UP! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop - Dear Doily

Welcome to another Stampin' UP! Artisan Design Team blog hop. Today we are showcasing the products in the Dear Doily and Well Said bundles from the 2019 Occasions Catalogue.

If you were to see all the projects I have been creating of late, you would know that I am currently drawn to combining Poppy Parade with soft pinks and I just couldn't resist going with this combo with these projects. For these particular projects I teamed the Poppy Parade with Petal Pink, Calypso Coral and a touch of Pear Pizzaz.

For my first project I chose to compliment the intricate details of the die cut doily from the Doily Builder thinlits with the Lace Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Did you notice the panel of wood grain paper under my sentiment? This paper is from the Floral Romance Speciality Designer Series Paper pack. I'm sure I'm not the only person who is stoked that Stampin' Up! have included another light toned wood grain in the 2019 Occasions Catalogue.

In my second project the centre panel features one of the printed vellum patterns from the Floral Romance Speciality Designer Series Paper pack and I created the sentiment using the Well Said Stamp Set and the Well Written Framelits.

Next on the hop is Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Click on the link below to check out Angela's amazing projects and be sure to continue along the hop to see what my fellow Artisan colleagues have created.

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Happy crafting 

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Well Said, Dear Doily
Card: Petal Pink, Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Floral Romance Speciality Designer Series Paper

Ink: Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade, Versamark, Sahara Sand
Accessories & Tools: Doily Builder Thinlits, Well Written Framelits, Needlepoint Elements Framelits, Pretty Label Punch Lace Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Petal Pink /Whisper White Variegated Ribbon, Whisper White Bakers Twine, Whiite Stampin Emboss Powder, Iridescent Sequin Assortment

Incredible Like You | Just Add Ink #444

Hello and welcome.

Well with my youngest child off to kinder this week I was able to have a little "me" time yesterday morning and I decided to spend the time crafting. For the first time in a few weeks I was able to take a break from my other crafting commitments and just have some fun playing with my supplies. As a starting base I chose to play along with this weeks Just Add Ink colour challenge and this is what I came up with.

The parameters for the Just Add Ink challenge were

I am really loving the combination if soft pinks with Poppy Parade at the moment, and for this challenge I also included some Soft Seafoam. 

The background on this card was created with the stripes stamp in the Incredible Like You stamp set. I love that the stripes are all just a little wonky so you don't need to be too perfect when lining them up. The sentiment also came from this same set and of course I've gone with my go-to flowers from my favourite, Jar of Love set.

If you're looking for some colour inspiration this weekend, why not try take up this challenge. For more inspiration head over to the Just Add Ink blog to see what the designers have come up with. 

Happy stamping

- Tan xx

#simplestamping | Lets Get Hopping #17

Hello and welcome to another Lets Get Hopping blog hop. Today the very talented ladies in the Lets Get Hopping team are sharing some #simplestamping projects.

The #simplestamping trend is a challenge focus issued by Stampin' Up! for the year of 2019, where demonstrators are encouraged to go back to basics and showcase projects using the basic stamping supplies most stampers start out with.
For example the monthly challenges so far this year have been;

• January - create a Thank you card using only a card base, ink and one stamp set. 
• February - create a Valentines Day card using only stamps, paper, ink and one punch
• March - create a Birthday card using only stamps, paper, ink and one layer of Designer Series Paper (Patterned Paper)

These are the challenges are also the challenges that have been issued to the Let's Get Hopping team; create a card that meets the brief of one of the #simplestamping challenges.

Given that I am incredibly behind on my birthday cards this year I chose to take on the March challenge and create a Birthday card using stamps, paper, ink and a panel of DSP. I have to admit, this was an extremely tough challenge for me as my creative style leans towards lots of little details and layers. However, I was so happy with the first card I created I decided to make four more using the different colours featured in the Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper Stack. 

So what do you think?

Okay, so I may have broken the rules just slightly and added a bow in Whisper White Bakers Twine and a Candle Embellishment to this cute little cupcake from the Hello Cupcake stamp set (another Sale-A-Bration freebie). However, when I first discovered Stampin' Up! it was the little embellishments and the beautiful ribbons and twines that I couldn't wait to get my hands on and they are the cheapest and easiest way for a beginner stamper to add a touch of something special to their projects.

I hope I've inspired you to have a go at a little simple stamping in your crafting. 

Next up is fellow aussie Teresa Brown. I can't wait to see what she has to share with us today

Watercoloured Butterflies | Butterfly Duet Blog Hop

Hello everyone,

Wow, you know something is a hit when it's close to being sold out after being available for only a few weeks. The Butterfly Duet punch in the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue has been so popular that it has already sold out in some markets. Luckily, her is in Australia and New Zealand it is still available, however stock levels are low so if it is on your wish list then you need to order it now, otherwise you'll be waiting a few months for new stock to arrive. 

To show you just how great this punch and the coordinating stamp set (Butterfly Gala) are myself and the other South Pacific Artisans, Rochelle Blok, Angela Meritz-Reid, Jackie Aitken and Narelle Farrugia, have decided to share some projects in an extra special blog hop. 

The first of my projects features a little watercolouring on a split panel and a scattering of butterflies that have been punched out with the Butterfly Duet punch. My favourite thing about this punch and coordinating stamp set is that you get double butterflies each time you stamp and punch, which is great when you need to save a little time. I also included a panel of black and white gingham from the Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper and some wooden leaves and flowers from the Butterfly Elements (both exclusive Sale-a-bration products).

For my second card I chose to use the emboss resist technique to create the watercoloured background. I masked off the little butterflies on the stamp so that the background only featured the larger butterfly. Because the background was so bright I chose to stamp and emboss the sentiment in white on black cardstock and partially fussy cut around the top to add a little extra detail. A wooden butterfly from the Butterfly Elements and a few adhesive sequins were added as finishing touches.

I'm so glad you have joined me today. Now lets pop over to Jackie's blog to see what see what she has created. I can guarantee you will be blown away with her creativity.

Happy stamping 

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Butterfly Gala, 

Card: Whisper White, Basic Black, Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper, Shimmery White.

Ink: StazOn Black, Grapefruit Grove, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Flirty Flamingo Versamark.

Accessories & Tools: Butterfly Duet Punch, Grapefruit Grove Grosgrain Ribbon, Whisper White Flax Ribbon, Basic Adhesive Backed Sequins, Butterfly Elements, White Stampin' Emboss Powder,  Aqua Painter

Stampin' UP! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop - Forever Lovely

Welcome to my very first post as a member of the 2019 Stampin' UP! Artisan Design Team! I am so honoured to be part of this team of amazingly talented stampers from around the world and am excited for our first blog hop today. 

Today we are showcasing the beautiful products in the All My Love Suite in the 2019 Occasions Catalogue, in particular the Forever Lovely Stamp Set. 

I love the gorgeous floral images and script fonts in this set and while it is perfect for Valentines projects, it is also perfect for weddings, engagements, even a pretty feminine birthday card.

When creating this card I took my colour cues from the All My Love Designer Series Paper and  chose to embellish the card with some flowers die cut with the coordinating Lovely Flower Edgelits and a little Flirty Flamingo ribbon from the All My Love Ribbon Combo Pack.

Now, when I am giving someone a handmade card as an accompaniment to a gift I can't help but coordinate the gift wrapping with the card. My base was the same floral print from the All My Love Designer Series Paper as a belly band wrapped around and Kraft Pillow Box, however, with this project I chose to add some die cut hearts from the Be Mine Stitched Framelits and the sentiment came from the Meant To Be Stamp Set. 

Next on the hop is my lovely friend Angela Meiritz-Reid from New Zealand. Click on the link below to check out Angela's amazing project and be sure to continue along the hop to see what my fellow teammates have created.

Since this is the first hop, I've added the names of all the designers for the Artisan Design Team for 2019.

Angela Meiritz-Reid - Stamping Beauty
Ashley Van Camp - Design with Ink
Aurelie Fabre - Aurelie Fabre
Emma Goddard - Coastal Crafter
Jackie Aitken - Jaxx Crafty Creations
Jennifer Picard - A New Ink on Life
Kaylee van Es - Creative Watermelon
Lauren Alarid  - The Crafty Little Peach
Maike Beimler - Kreativ Format
Manuela Geiswinkler - Melo Makes
Mikaela Titheridge - The Crafty Oink Pen

Narelle Farrugia - Narelle Farrugia
Rochelle Blok - The Stamping Blok
Stesha Bloodhart  - Stampin Hoot
Sylwia Schreck - Stempel einfach
Tanya Rees (You're here)

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Happy crafting 

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Forever Lovely, Meant To Be
Card: Soft Seafoam, Lovely Lipstick, Whisper White,

Ink: Lovely Lipstick, Flirty Flamingo, Soft Seafoam
Accessories & Tools: Lovely Flowers Edgelits, Be Mine Stitched Framelits, All My Love Ribbon Combo, Burlap Ribbon, Whisper White Flax Ribbon

Butterfly Gala

Happy New Year to you all. 

2019 is going to be such an amazing year, especially since it's the year I will be adorning my photos with this very special watermark!! 

I've been a bit quiet here over the past month but I have still be busy working on some super secret projects that I can't wait to share with you so be sure to pop back in the next couple of weeks.

Enough teasing though... I have also been working on some projects that I can share with you and here's one of them.

It's been a while since I've had butterflies in my collection of craft supplies but I just couldn't resist the Butterfly Gala set and coordinating Butterfly Duet punch from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue.

The design for this came about quite accidentally. I was working on another project when I noticed a couple of the little punched out butterflies sitting face down on a piece of white cardstock.  Don't you just love the white on white effect? 

You may also be wondering where the black and white gingham pattern is from. Well it comes from the exclusive Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper that you can only get as a free Sale-a-bration reward.

What is Sale-a-bration? 

Sale-a-bration is the biggest Stampin Up sale event of the year! Customers can earn free, exclusive products with every qualifying order, get bonus hostess reward dollars for qualifying workshops or get extra product in your Starter Kit if you join Stampin Up. 

Click on the image to go to my Stampin' Up! website and view the Sale-a-bration catalogue

If you live in Australia, don't have a demonstrator and want to take advantage of these great offers get in touch via the details in the "CONTACT ME" tab at the top of this page.

Happy crafting everyone

- Tan xx

Supplies used

Stamps: Butterfly Gala, Incredible Like You.

Card: Whisper White, Basic Black, Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper, Vellum.

Ink: StazOn Black, Grapefruit Grove, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lime Twist, Versamark.

Accessories & Tools: Layering Circles Framelits, Butterfly Duet Punch, Grapefruit Grove Grosgrain Ribbon, Butterfly Elements, White Stampin' Emboss Powder,  Aqua Painter