Blog Candy « Nicole Stalker

Some old, some new and some Blog Candy

Diane Barnes (a fellow Australian Demonstrator) posted a this lovely card to her blog on Friday which I just had to CASE. I also love her Bag in the same post but I didn’t need that just now.

I’m actually running late with a gift for a family member. Nothing out of the ordinary there for me unfortunately. I really need to get my act together.

After seeing Diane’s card I knew this was one of the items I wanted to make. I ended up making a set of 10 cards and matching envelopes using a combination of retired and new items. I then needed a gift box to put them all in.

This is my selection of cards:

I’ve used the Fresh-Cut Notes and envelopes to create these cards along with some polka dot print DSP in the following colours: Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue, Apricot Appeal, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Brilliant Blue. The papers are from the Sampler Pack II (which is a Level 1 Hostess selection in the current IB&C), Retired Prints DSP from last year or the Sampler Pack which was a promotion from last year. The lower edge was punched using the Scallop Edge punch. The buttons used are also another retired item which I have tied some crochet cotton through. Some of the cards have felt flowers from either Flower Fusions or Flower Fusions Too (both current) and those that didn’t have a coordinating felt flower I have punched a 5 petal flower from the retired Spring Bouquet Punch. The sentiment on the cards if from my favourite Level 1 Hostess set called ‘Best Yet’.I have stamped the vine image from the Fresh Cuts stamp set onto the envelopes using a coordinating colour.

Now for the gift box. Unfortunately apart from Basic Black there was no cardstock colour I could think of that would coordinate with all the colours I’ve used. Now I don’t dislike black but these cards look too soft to be placed in a black box……. Don’t you agree?? So what colour did I go for?

Rose Red & Regal Rose. How did I make my decision? That was easy. The Sweet Always DSP has a lovely polka dot print in Regal Rose. Even though it’s a smaller polka dot print to those used on the cards I still thought it fit and well I guess out of the standard colours Regal Rose is one of my favourites and definitely my favourite Pink.

I haven’t done a lot to the box. I wrapped some Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon around the lid and then dyed 2 of the flowers from the Pretties Kit (1 in Rose Red and the other in Regal Rose) and then added a large 1/2 backed pearl to the centre.

Obviously this is the box open with the cards inside. I’m sure it will be warmly received. Notice I’ve put the Regal Rose one on top…lol

Now for the blog candy.

While making these cards I realised I had some brand new packs of the Sampler Packs of DSP offered in May 2008 in the Palette O’ Prints Promotion. These packs contain 48 sheets of 6” x 6” double-sided Prints Designer Series Papers. There are 4 colours in the pack: Certainly Celery, Rose Red, So Saffron and Almost Amethyst. Each colour has 12 sheets, 2 of each print.

If you would like to win a pack then just leave me a comment on this post by 6pm Sunday 5th July and you will be in with a chance. I will use Random.org to pick a winner later that evening.

This offer is open to Australian residents only who are not Stampin’ Up demonstrators. Demonstrators are welcome to leave a comment just add that you are a demonstrator so I don’t include you in the drawing please.

Happy stamping,

The things you find when….. and some blog candy.

While tidying up my craft room a little yesterday I came across this unfinished card wallet.

It really didn’t need a lot to finish it off. A handle and a closure should do it.

Then I realised what DSP pack I had used and had a brainwave. Well 2 actually. Don’t freak out I’m okay……….hahaha

Seeing that it is the East Coast Prep DSP and that’s what I used for this recent card (now shown with it’s coordinating envelope), my brainwave was to use the East Coast Prep DSP and the Ocean Commotion stamp set and create a set of 4 matching cards and envelopes for the Card Wallet. I decided to go with a Birthday theme as the colours are bright and cheery.

So this is obviously the first card so what others are there..

The main 4 colours used in the East Coast Prep DSP are Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi and More Mustard so I decided I would make a base card from each of these. I already had the Tempting Turquoise so next is using Wild Wasabi.

First I stamped the seaweed image using Wild Wasabi down the right hand side of the card. I then scallop edged a piece of More Mustard card and then layered a piece of East Coast Prep DSP on top which I adhered to the card as shown. Using Tempting Turquoise inkpad I stamped the seahorse onto Whisper White card, trimmed and then layered onto a slightly larger piece of Real Red which has then been mounted to the card using stampin’ dimensionals. Finally I inked a stamp from So Many Sayings (Hostess set) using Real Red ink and punched out using the Word Window Punch and adhered to card.

With this card I stamped the main images first and worked from there.

I stamped the Angel Fish, starting from the top right hand side 3 times without reinking in Real Red and then reinked and stamped once onto a scrap piece of Whisper White which I then cut out. Next I stamped the seaweed using Tempting Turquoise randomly doing some as a second stamping before reinking to give a softer shadowy look. The Birthday sentiment is from the Cheer & Wishes stamp set and is stamped in Wild Wasabi. I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to help with alignment.

This was then mounted to a slightly larger piece of More Mustard card.

Using my 2-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds glitter I have added some sparkle to the seaweed which I hope you can see.

I then randomly stamped the shell image using Wild Wasabi ink onto Wild Wasabi Card. This is then mounted to the Real Red base card. The main image was then added and the final touch was to add the cut out Angel Fish using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

So that now leaves the More Mustard base card and here that is.

First off I cut a piece of East Coast Prep DSP and a piece of Whisper White 67mm x 67mm and 2 pieces of Wild Wasabi at 70mm x 70mm. I then adhered the East Coast Prep DSP to one of the Wild Wasabi pieces and tied Real Red striped ribbon around it and adhered to the card as shown.

Using More Mustard ink and the Angel Fish I stamped 4 times as shown reinking each time. Then I stamped the seaweed image twice using Wild Wasabi ink. I decided I wanted to add some sparkle so I used the new Chunky Glitter available in the Summer Mini. To do this I ran my Tombow Multi Adhesive Glue over parts of the seaweed image and then sprinkled on the Celery Chunky Sprinkles. This is then layered onto the second Wild Wasabi Piece and then mounted to the card as shown using Stampin’ Dimensionals. The last step was to add the ‘Make A Wish’ rub-on from the Eastern Elegance pack.

To finish up this set I needed to complete the last details for the card wallet and this is what I did.

I decided to keep it rather plain so I added a handle using some More Mustard 1/4” grosgrain ribbon and added a closure using the Birthday stamp from It’s Your Birthday along with the Scallop Square Punch.

Using the Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi and Real Red Markers I inked the words as shown. This is stamped onto a scrap of Whisper White card and punched out using the 1 1/4” square punch. I then punched out a scallop square from More Mustard card. This image is mounted to the scallop square using Stampin’ Dimensionals. This is then adhered to the top flap of the card wallet but just the top half. I have then added a Velco Dot for a fastener.

So now to tell you about the second brainwave…… I assure you I’m okay.

This is where the Blog Candy comes in.

I have decided to offer this whole set as Blog Candy.

All you need to do is leave me a message on this post from now until Wednesday 28th January to be in the running to receive this Birthday Pack.

Only Australian residents are eligible to enter and no Stampin’ Up Demonstrators either sorry but please feel free to leave a comment if you wish just mention you are a demo or from overseas and therefore not entering. I will be using Random.org to select a winner on Thursday morning.