Busy, busy, busy

My goodness, what a busy couple of weeks! Hardly any time for crafting, but some very productive time spent on my degree.

I've got lots of plans for Stampin' Up projects to come, but for now here's my latest card. I was thinking of men's colours and came up with this.

Materials used
Ballet Blue Cardstock stamped with
Watercolour vine Stampin' Around wheel
Choc Chip Ink

Fun & Fast Notes stamp set (hedgehog) stamped with
Choc Chip Ink
Coloured with Stampin' Pastels

Close to Cocoa Cardstock stamped with
Choc Chip Ink
Dotty swirl stamp from the Trendy Trees set

I didn't have any matching ribbon, so I coloured Whisper White grosgrain ribbon, using the Choc Chip ink pad, a very handy tip for you.

Don't forget - if you would like any of these products, they are not available in the shops or on auctions sites. You can find out how to order by clicking the link at the top of the page.

Trendy Trees

Here's is my first card made with my new kit and the two step stamping technique. I used my Stamp-ma-jig to position the trunks on the trees. Certainly Celery ink was used for the green, with Chocolate chip ink for the trunks. The mat is Chocolate Chip cardstock and the background was made with the Stampin' Around Watercolour Vine jumbo wheel with an Old Olive ink cartridge. I did the back as well as the front of the card with the pattern, it looks really nice!

Tip 1: If you find the Chocolate Chip colour to be very strong, try 'stamping off' first onto a scrap piece of paper then onto your card, this gives a lovely faded look which goes nicely with the paler green of Certainly Celery.

Tip 2: The shading on the edges of the trees was done by gently rolling the edges of the stamp onto the Choc Chip pad after it is inked with Cert Celery ink.

Tip 3: The leafy pattern of the trendy tree stamp has been stamped off the edge of the mat to make a frame

Tip 4: The hills were done using the torn edge of a piece of scrap paper as a mask, then smudging Certainly Celery ink over the mask.

I am thinking I might try to do a video to demonstrate the techniques - what do you think?

My kit is here!

Well after what felt like an eternity (but was actually really quick) I have my Stampin Up starter kit. It's absolutely fab!

The catalogue is great but the colours of the paper and inks are even more beautiful in real life. I can't believe how nice the inks are to stamp with and the quality of the stamps is excellent.

I usually am a stamping and colouring girl - but I am already hooked on two step stamping with my stamp-a-ma-jig, the Trendy Trees set is really effective and versatile too. I will get some samples together and post them soon.

Bye for now
Jayne :)