Computer Game Console Card

I am sure that I am not the only one who has troubles coming up with cards for boys at that in between age where they go from loving puppies and tonka trucks to loving motor bikes and V8 Fords. . . my 10 year old #2 son asked me to "whip up a card for EJ [his bestie] for his birthday - anything to do with the xBox will be fine".

Picture me looking at the xBox with blank look and trying to figure out how to make something into a card. Light bulb moment - not always about the xBox ie it needs a console to make it work!

Next picture me tracing said console to get an idea of how big it needs to be and drawing wonky circles where controls need to be and the colours of the buttons. . . enough to make a grown man cry tears of laughter.

Here is the outcome:

Here is a close up on the controls so that you get an idea of my attention to detail lol:

And finally so that you can see how I curved the card stock to make it concave:

Gotta love Punches, Crystal Effects and Dimensionals!

Hope you like it,
Shanni

2013 Catalogue Retiring Products

Stampin' Up! released the annual Retiring Products List overnight with the imminent release of our new cattie and there are heaps of products being farewelled.

To avoid disappointment I would suggest that you Shop On Line at my Stampin' Up! website www.stampingshanni.stampinup.net.  The link above will take you directly to the Retiring Products List. Be quick because stock is only available until sold out and there are a lot of things moving fast!

Some of the stamp sets have been reduced in price by 25%-40% so that you can check your wish list and shop today I will include the list here:

120462  Aviary [C]  $25.46
122682  Beautiful Season [C]  $22.46
123549  Button, Button [W]  $33.71
123809  Christmas Blessings [C]  $23.96
121502  Delightful decorations [W]  $28.46
121166  French Foliage [C]  $20.96
120060  Itty Bitty Bits [C]  $12.71
122902  Kindness Matters [C]  $12.71
122752  Language of Friendship [C]  $16.46
122552  Merry & Type [C]  $26.96
121997  Nature Walk [C]  $26.96
123097  Pretty Postage [C]  $10.71
126790  Quint Essential Flower [W]  $11.96
122562  Snow Much Fun [C]  $23.31
126784  Star Tree [W]  $10.17
121169  Tags til Christmas [C}  $25.77
125822  Topsy Turvy Celebrations [C]  $14.97
123779  You are Loved [C]  $26.97

As well as the above there are some of my favourites on the retiring list including French Foliage, Artistic Etchings, Daring Adventure, Elements of Style, Established Elegance and Word Play just to name a few but there are many more that I am already mourning. . .

As regards Accessories there are heaps of bargains to be had with the retirement of the 2011-2013 In Colours (although some of these are being welcomed back as part of the core colour families), and other established colours such as Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red and River Rock.

There are big discounts to be had on Big Shot Accessories including XL dies, Original dies, Sizzlets and Embosslits.  A few of my favourite Textured Impressions Embossing Folders are also bidding us good-bye.  The Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder has been an all time favourite of mine!

Don't forget as well as Classic Stamp Pads you should also think about getting your hands on the Marvelous Markers in their colour family groups. . .

The best place to get a bargain and avoid disappointment is by Shopping On Line at my website but do not delay, products are selling like hotcakes and there will be no second bite of the cherry ~ once things have sold out they are gone forever.

Happy shopping!
Shanni xx

Party Planning & Themes with My Digital Studio

I love to theme my kids birthday parties. . . there is nothing more satisfying than a table loaded down with party goodies all colour co-ordinated and pretty.  We have done Star wars, Super Heroes, Princess, Pamper parties just to name a few.  So you can imagine how excited I am about the amazing potential of My Digital Studio when it comes to Party Planning and Themes!

Check out the new Wonderland Party Ensemble from My Digital Studio ~ available for down loading this week. . . the colours are good enough to eat, the patterns and designs stunning!

The ensemble comes complete with invitations, banners, food flags, treat toppers, a framable and thank you notes.  But remember that you can make your own creations, edit templates and heaps more alternatives.

It's really easy to find via my Stampin' Up! Website "shop now" option, simply go to My Digital Studio on the left hand margin. Click on Newest Downloads and voila click on 7 May and you will see all the awesome new artwork and ensembles. Yay!

Let me know what you think.
Shanni xx

Artistic Etchings & Artisan Embellishment Kit ~ a Great Combo!

Am loving the Artisan Embellishment Kit and based on the USA retirement list for the current cattie it is likely that I will be losing a few more of my favourite stamps sets come June. . . so I wanted to show case a few cards just in case anyone is how to use say the Artistic Etchings stamp set. . .

Square card - card base is actually Pretty in Pink ~ the Very Vanilla card stock at the back is simply to "frame" the whole thing and tie the colours together. I mounted two different pieces of Tea for Two DSP on Sahara Sand (the floral one at the top stamped with En Francais and the spiral circle one on the bottom half) and mounted that on the base card.  Of course because I adore vintage I daubed the edges with Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake ink.

I wanted to use the Seam Binding Ribbon with the card because it is so luxurious but we don't have a light pink so I dyed a piece of Vanilla ribbon with Pink Pirouette re-inker in a small container and allowed it to dry. . . and because it was a bit worse for wear I ended up scrunching it further and adding some Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon behind it.I secured the centre with an Antique Brad. The little flat button to the left of the ribbon is from the Artisan Embellishment Kit (with a piece of White Bakers Twine in the centre).

Using Crumb Cake ink, I stamped the Eiffel Tower from the Artistic Etchings stamp set and the 2c stamp from the Postage Due stamp set.  I fussy cut the Eiffel Tower and punched out the stamp set with the Postage Stamp Punch. To add another dimension to the card I mounted another piece of the floral designed Tea for Two DSP on Sahara Sand card stock and mounted the stamped images on top of this using dimensionals.  The LOVE ticket from the Artisan Embellishment Kit was a perfect addition along with the flat vanilla rose button and pre-made white and pink rose.  The Crystal Vintage Button was to add some addition "luxe" to the spot.

I lightly painted the fussy cut Eiffel Tower with Champagne Shimmer Paint which is soon to depart as well. . .I love that you can see the detail through the transparent layer of shimmer. I needed to take the photo on a different angel for you to see the layering of the colour.  I wanted to add some additional glamour!  This shot also shows off the layers of lace nicely ~ I used the beautiful floral pearl lace from the Artisan Embellishment Kit and a piece of the Victoria Crochet Trim.

I stamped a small scroll design from the Artistic Etchings set in Crumb Cake ink on Very Vanilla card stock then punched out two Elegant Butterfly shapes mounting them on top of each other.  I daubed the edges with Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake ink so that they would tie in with the theme and used three Pearls on the centre of the punch.

I thought that the butterfly added a touch of whimsy to the whole design!  I also needed to balance the heavy detail of the sentiment without taking up too much space and the butterfly seemed to balance things well.

The sentiment area is very layered.  I cut a Very Vanilla doily using the largest doily from the Delicate Doilies Sizzlet die and Big Shot.  I daubed the edges in Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake.  I then punched out the Pretty in Pink Decorative Label shape and daubed the edges in Crumb Cake ink.  Finally I stamped the word Friends from the Sweet Essentials stamp set in Soft Suede ink on Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with Modern Label punch ~ daubed the edges in Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink ink and mounted it on the other two layers with dimensionals and tucked it all under the lace so that it would look almost like a pocket holding a favour. . .

Hope you are a bit inspired
Shanni xx

Artisan Embellishment Kit Card

What a busy week . . . so much to do in preparation for National Convention in Brisbane in mid May. . . but here is one of the cards that I did with a class this week.

All of the elements come from the Artisan Embellishment kit which is available until the end of June ~ why not check out the other terrific items and shop on line today. . . the kit is just $16.95 and such a bargain for the great things that you get in it.

The base card is Pretty in Pink.  I have mounted a piece of Whisper White card stock on it which I heat embossed with white embossing powder using the En Francais back ground stamp.  I then daubed the corners with Blushing Bride ink to give it a vintage appearance and a romantic quality.

I daubed the edges of a paper doily with Blushing Bride ink to tone it in with the rest of the project.  There is a small piece of pink ribbon along the right hand edge (which marries in with the inside treatment on the card) and dds a touch of luxury.

The stamped feature of the card is made using the Stained Glass Technique that I posted about last week ~ simple but effective. I stamped the Bordering on Romance flowers on Vellum with heat embossed white embossing powder and then coloured in the reverse side using Blushing Bride, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers.  I punched the image out with a 2 1/2" Circle Punch and also punched out a piece of Pretty in Pink in the same size.

The Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon adds another texture to the project and the pre-fabricated rose is from the Artisan Embellishment Kit as well, along with the "love" ticket.  I couldn't resist adding a touch of bling with the Faceted Vintage Clear Button.

The inside of the card is lined with Whisper White card stock and I used a Stampin' Wheel Viola's Lace with Blushing Bride ink to tie in the vintage theme.

I am planning on sending the card to my mum for Mother's Day.
Shanni xx

A Catchy You Tube Clip about My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up!

Hello people!

If you haven't already downloaded My Digital Studio for a FREE 30 day trial you need to do so sooner rather than later. . . WHY? Because I don't want you missing out on all of the fun!!

Download it for FREE today via my Stampin' Up! website ~ it is all so simple, select the Shop Now option or click on the MDS link.  You could be exploring and playing within the next hour!

The My Digital Studio software is awesome, it is intuitive and easy to use regardless of your computer skills.  Everytime I pop onto the system I learn something new and it could not be easier with the terrific tutoring clips from Stampin' Up! that you can find on You Tube.

Click here to see the latest "taster clip to whet your appetite.

I hope that you take up the offer today, don't delay. . . it's time to play!

Shanni x

Simple Swallowtail Cards

Easter really threw a spanner in the works and meant that I haven't blogged for over a month! Wow! Doesn't feel that long. . .

A lot of my customers and team have purchased the Swallowtail stamp from the Making a Difference Seasonal Mini so I wanted to share some ideas with you today using a variety of materials so that you can feel confident using the big stamp as a feature or background on any paper crafting project.

First card is using the image as a background feature.  Very simple Sahara Sand ink on Sahara Sand card stock because it is such a lovely subtle colour.

I have used a piece of Tea for Two DSP along the right hand side ~ I love this vintage style paper. And to marry in the colours - a piece of Primrose Petals Stitched Satin Ribbon and three Flower Trim flowers individually cut and coloured (by pressing the flower onto a Primrose Petal ink pad).  The leaves are punched from the Bird Builder Punch in Old Olive card stock.

On the next card I heat embossed the Swallowtail image on Whisper White card stock using white embossing powder.  I then shaded around the image in Wisteria Wonder using a dauber.

The other butterflies on the card and the sentiment are stamped in Elegant Eggplant and I punched the top one with the Elegant Butterfly punch and adhered it with a glue dot to give dimension.

I love colouring so the next card was really appealing to me.  I also love to stamp directly onto designer series papers for a different effect.  This card is very simple.  I heat embossed the Swallowtail image on a piece of First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper.  The DSP is mounted on a Pumpkin Pie card base.

To add the vibrant colour I coloured with Stampin' Up!'s Watercolour Crayons using Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight.  I blended the colours with an Aqua Painter.

Fourth card was an attempt to bring together the gorgeous images on two different sheets of Tea for Two Designer Series Papers, some texture and a button! The card base is Sahara Sand (becoming a go to colour for me lately). I stamped the image in Sahara Sand as well for subtlety. It is mounted on So Saffron card stock and Bashful Blue is the card base.

I then fussy cut the hexagon shapes and circular shapes from the DSP and stuck them at varying heights on the card. The linen thread adds a bit of tactile appeal and the button is from the Seasonal Making a Difference Mini - I love how these silver buttons are so flat ~ they almost feel like a well worn coin.

The final card is meant to look a bit like an exhibit card from a museum. . . or that was the effect I was going for. . .

Very simple - Basic Black card stock for the base, lined with Whisper White inside for ease of writing.  The Swallowtail image is heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder on Vellum Card Stock.

On the reverse side of the vellum embossed image I have coloured in using Stampin' Write Markers in Marina Mist and Pacific Point.  I used the darker blue where I wanted the darker detail to be.  I then stuck the vellum to a piece of Whisper White card stock in the exact same size using snail adhesive on the coloured in areas so that it wouldn't show.

Final steps - mounted the stamped and coloured image on Pacific Point card stock as the mount and stuck it on the Basic Black base card.  Simple but dramatic!

Hope that you have some fun with your Swallowtail stamp too.
Shanni xx