Vintage Graffiti | Rustic Love

November 18, 2015November 18, 20158 Comments

Ping… My Facebook page beeps and there is one new message. It’s from a lovely and loyal customer of mine who regularly orders one-of-a-kind cards for special occasions. This was one of those times.

The design brief was that she’d like the card to be pink and brown tones with a rustic and vintagey feel and to have the newlyweds initials if I could fit them. Perfect. Just the type of card I like to create.

I started by selecting my colours and you can’t get anymore rustic than our Kraft cardstock combined with some Blushing Bride and splash of gold. The doilies added to the overall feel of the card. My Hardwood background stamp was also a perfect addition to my project. Subtly stamped in Crumb Cake on some Very Vanilla it created the backdrop for my card.

I love layers. And as most of you would know, most, if not all of my cards usually have two, three or even more layers built up onto it’s base and this card was no exception. From the lace layered on top of the burlap, to the two doilies placed over of each other and then the lucky couples initials placed as the final layer as the finishing piece of the card, there are plenty of visual aspects to look at, creating a beautifully rustic feel.

Once again, I just couldn’t stop at decorating the outside of the card. With a special event like a wedding, I had to do some simple stamping on the inside but leave plenty of room for my customer to write. The pearls add that special finishing touch in completing the whole card.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Product List

TGIFC #24 | Everything Eleanor

October 15, 20156 Comments

I am just scraping in to enter the TGIF Sketch Challenge this week by the skin of my teeth but I saw the sketch, loved it and knew that I had to create something.

My colour combination of Pool Party and Watermelon Wonder was inspired by my friend and fellow Stampin’ Up! team mate, Jessica Williams – The Paper Caper and her latest creation, although I substituted her use of Calypso Coral with Watermelon Wonder. I love how these colours go so elegantly together, set off by the Basic Black and Whisper White backdrop. I added some silver and bling to tie it all together.

I am not sure if I can actually create a card without fussy cutting on it. I seem to do it on most things I create and this card is no exception. The label, flower and teeny bird are all fussy cut and popped up onto dimensionals for this card.

My friend Mel – My Paper Oasis made a comment to me today that I do “the most amazing layering” on my cards and give them so much dimension. I’d never really taken much notice, but now that I think about it, I do love my layers and can rarely pull of a CAS (clean and simple) card. A style that I truly love but just can’t recreate. Thank you Mel for your lovely comment. You all inspire me everyday to be the best that I can be at all I do, so thank you.

I am truly blessed that I get to do and share what I love everyday! Thanks for visiting my blog.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Watermelon Wonder A4 Cardstock [138341]	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin’ Pad [138323]	Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391]	Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad [126982]
Pool Party 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon [134568]	Everything Eleanor Wood Stamp Set [131987]	Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246]	Metallic Foil Doilies [138392]	Silver Cording Trim [139620]	Everyday Chic Designer Washi Tape [138385]
Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack [138435]

Sparkle with #GDP002

September 15, 201510 Comments

Wow, oh wow! How time flies when you are having fun! A new week and a new Global Design Project has been announced! This time it’s an awesome Sketch Challenge! My favourite type of challenge!

Here is my project and not a stamp set has been inked…

I made almost all of my card with bits and pieces from the Project Life ‘Moments Like These’ Card Collection and Accessory pack, which you can purchase as bundle with the co-ordinating stamp set and save 15% of the cost by doing so. Isn’t that fab?

One of my favourite things from these packs is the large 4×6″ cards from the ‘Card Collection’ pack. They make perfect card fronts! Cut them down to size and stick them straight on a card base and you have a quick, clean and simple card made, ready made, to pop in your stash for when you need it. Maybe just add a greeting when needed. Otherwise, you can do as I have done here and used it as a base point and an eye-catching layer. This is what I picked first and based my #GDP002 card around!

Doilies. I love doilies. Classic, vintagey, pretty and feminine. But our Stampin’ Up! doily was too large for what I wanted it for, so I cut a slit on one side up into the centre of the doily, gave it a scrunch and a twist and a bit of glue to join it all back together again. Now I had created a smaller doily that suited the size I needed for my project. I love how our items are so adaptable. We are only limited by our imaginations!

Metallic Gold Thread.

Yes, I will add to almost absolutely every project that I can lately (although, the new ‘Gold Cording Trim’ from the Handmade For The Season Holiday Catalogue is coming a very close second). It is a great way to glam up any project. And with 45.7 metres on a roll, there is plenty to go around! I love it combined with the earthiness and texture of our ‘Burlap Ribbon’ and also enhancing the gold glam, the addition of some ‘Gold Sequin Trim’ never goes astray. These elements gave me my basic sketch design.

To finish off my card now that I had my main elements sorted, I just needed to decorate. A sweetheart punchie from a piece of Mint Macaron and a few stickers from the ‘Moments Like These Accessory Pack’ and I think I am done. So easy and I haven’t got my hands all inky and my brain all stressed out. One last look at my card and I feel a need to put a little something in the white space… A few sequins pulled from the trim and sporadically scattered on the card and glued down was the final touch that was needed. Or was it? No, I had to finish it all off by decorating the inside of the card. By adding a strip of the Project Life card that I had trimmed off earlier, some gold thread (of course) and a little heart sticker from the accessory pack, now the inside compliments the outside of the card.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Moments Like These Project Life Bundle [140288]	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]	Gold Foil Sheets [132622]	Tea Lace Paper Doilies [129399]
1-1/4″ Burlap Ribbon [132140]	Gold Sequin Trim [132983]	Gold Metallic Thread [138401]	Mint Macaron A4 Cardstock [138344]

Timeless Love Meets The Global Design Project Challenge #GDP001

September 8, 201511 Comments

I needed to be inspired.

I had a class to prepare for and I wasn’t feeling ‘Christmasy’ which is what I’ve been seeing a lot of lately, so what do I do? I hop online and start searching my favourite challenge blogs. There is a new challenge blog for us crafty kids to participate in that just went live just this week. It is called the Global Design Project and as I love doing most challenges, I thought I’d give their colour challenge of Smoky Slate, Pink Pirouette and So Saffron a try.

I know a few people were challenged by this colour combo but as soon as I saw my ‘Timeless Love’ stamp set on my shelf, I knew it was a winner!

I had stamped my images in Smoky Slate and wanted to hand colour them in using my Blender Pens. Being unsure on how this would go as I’d only ever used my Blender Pens with our Memento Ink, I was a bit hesitant, but it worked beautifully. Such a subtle image but so stunning. I had to use my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line up my stamps on this project, and this is a rare thing for me to do but I wanted it all to fit perfectly on the circle. A little bit of fussy cutting and some stamp colouring with my markers and I was almost done… Or was I?

I wasn’t happy with the blank ‘white’ space on the Pink Pirouette base card. I tried adding a banner behind it… Didn’t work. I tried making the card square… Not to my taste. I thought about stamping the small image all over the base of the card but in my head it was too busy… Dotty Angles and a little bit Metallic Thread and I was in love. It matched my dry embossing using the Softly Falling TIEF on the Smoky Slate, filled up the white space and wasn’t to bold. An addition of one tiny Basic Rhinestone and that was it. My card. And I’m quite pleased. I hope my class ladies tomorrow love it too.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Timeless Love Wood-Mount Stamp Set [138772]	Dotty Angles Photopolymer Stamp Set [133658]	Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock [116203]	Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin’ Pad [126956]
Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate [131291]	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad [131179]	So Saffron A4 Card Stock [108611]	So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad [126957]
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549]	Blender Pens [102845]	Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [139672]	Deco Labels Framelits Die [130102]
Big Shot [113439]	Silver Metallic Thread [138402]	Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246]	Many Marvelous Markers [131264]

Making A Difference With Sprinkles Of Life And CASE-ing The Catty

September 4, 2015August 31, 20154 Comments

As it states in the 2015-2016 Stampin’ Up! Annual Catalogue on page 189:

MAKE A DIFERENCE

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) keeps families together and surrounded by love when their children are receiving medical treatment far from home. Help Stampin’ Up! support more families through RMHC and the Ronald McDonald House Programme.

BUY THE SPRINKLES OF LIFE STAMP SET, AND WE WILL DONATE $3.00 AUD TO RMHC

Stampin’ Up! donates time and money to support Ronald McDonald House Charities. To date we’ve contributed over $1,000,000 to RMHC and their network of local RMHC Chapters.

To find out more, visit www.stampinup.com/giving_au to learn how you can help.

All of us over on the CASE-ing The Catty Crew love and fully support this amazing charity and cause and have decided to feature the really awesome ‘Sprinkles Of Life’ stamp set for this hop!

With only three cards and a tag to CASE from this week from the page where the Sprinkles Of Life stamp set is featured in the catalogue (page 189 – Inside the back cover) I have decided to re-create the Lovely As A Tree card on page 87 of the Annual Catalogue.

I haven’t had much to do with my Aqua Painters since I got them a while back. I’ve always leant towards using my Blender Pens instead but the background of the CASEd card called for, so I thought I’d have a play. Not bad for a firat go but I could do with a little more practise. I can only get better, right?!

With Father’s Day here this Sunday in Australia, I couldn’t help but change the original greeting to ‘Happy Father’s Day’ using the Crazy About You stamp set and Hello You Thinlits Bundle (purchasing these items this way saves you a whopping 15% off RRP on both items, so why wouldn’t you?). I’ve also gone with using 3 out of the 5 2015-2016 In Colors. Using these colours on my card makes colour matching a little bit easier as I know that they go together.

I added two birds, a Papa bird and a baby bird to the picture and I think it makes a super cute Father’s Day card that and Dad would be happy to receive.

Wow, I’ve had so much fun playing with this stamp set. I love it but haven’t used it for a little while. I must be getting distracted by all the new goodies in our just released Holiday Catalogue! It was good to get it out again and have a play. Next on your hopping journey is Miss Monique Fielder over at Stamping With Moni-Q and she has a fabulous CASE for you to see and be inspired by.

Thanks for visiting and remember,
Happy stamping!
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti Artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Handmade For The Season – The Pennsationals First Ever Blog Hop!

August 30, 2015August 31, 20157 Comments

Good evening and welcome everyone to the first ever Stampin’ Up! Pennsationals Team Blog Hop ‘Handmade For The Season’. The Pennsationals Team are the levels 1 – 5 of Tracy Penn, our amazing, talented and just beautiful upline.

For our very first blog hop, we have decided to use some fabulous pre-order products from the gorgeous new Holiday Catalogue, which goes live on the 1st of September!!! Very exciting. So many lovely products in one amazing catalogue. Although, I had no qualms in what I was picking to use for my feature card for this post. The very versatile Sleigh Ride Edgelits. They are just stunning and versatile too.

I also am in love with our new Snowflake Wooden Elements. I had this idea in mind that if I gold embossed these, added some bling and lots of sparkle, I could make them look like a Christmas star. Do you think the idea worked? Adding a little Pool Party ink behind all the embellishments and heat embossing and over the Home For Christmas DSP added an extra element to make this idea work also. A little bit of ‘sky’ surrounding the star.

The next very talented Pennsational to go and visit on this hop is our beloved Jane Wilkinson who is definitely going to WOW you with her fabulous creation.

Don’t forget to check out my blog tomorrow and download a digital copy of the catalogue to drool over.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti Artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Sleigh Ride Edgelits Dies [139670]	Jingle All The Way Wood-Mount Stamp Set [139904]	Holly Jolly Greetings Wood-Mount Stamp Set [139879]	Snowflake Elements [139638]	Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109129]	Heat Tool [129056]	Embossing Buddy [103083]	Versamark Pad [102283]
Home For Christmas Designer Series Paper [139592]	Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad [126982]	Stamping Sponges [101610]	Gold Metallic Thread [138401]	Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments [119246]	Real Red A4 Card Stock [106578]	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577]	Big Shot [113439]

Everyone Loves A Good Hostess With CASE-ing The Catty

August 28, 2015August 26, 20159 Comments

You’re a whole lot of lovely, yes you are!
And so is the stamp set that I am using this week for the CASE-ing The Catty Blog Hop!

This week we are featuring our very special Hostess Sets. These exclusive stamp sets are only available for Hostesses to redeem when they do a minimum of $250aud in Party Sales. They then can use their Stampin’ Rewards to redeem one or more of these gorgeous sets. And my favourite of them all… You guessed it. A Whole Lot Of Lovely! The card featured below is the sample card from the Annual Catalogue and the card I chose to CASE for this week’s hop.

I loved the layout of the card and the pop of Watermelon Wonder but the colours used on the card were just not my style, so I mixed them up a bit. Keeping with the gold theme and the accent of Watermelon wonder, I decided to make the rest in a neutral colour palette. I think it turned out, dare I say it, lovely!

Any type of heat embossing on a card, I think, makes it just a little bit more special. Gold heat embossing makes it truly special. I love the way it just shines. It brings a certain aspect to the creation which no other technique can create.

I had a certain someone in mind when I created this card and decided that the inside needed decorating also. I am trying to do this for most of my cards now, but we all now that time is not our friend and sometimes, I really just don’t get the time. Even though I really love how beautiful it looks and how much more inviting it makes it.

I wonder what Julia has created for us this week? I can’t wait to go over and have a look! You should too. I bet it is fabulous. It always is.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Getting Inky In Class

August 15, 2015August 14, 20151 Comment

Wednesdays are one of my favourite days of the week! Not only is it hump day which means that the weekend isn’t too far away, but it is also Craft & Coffee day! Where my lovely group of ladies, whom quickly became friends, come over for a crafting session for a few hours in the morning. We chat, drink hot drinks, laugh and most importantly (and fun), we create. I usually like to showcase a new technique, feature a fancy fold card or a new stamp set or create a 3D item at these Wednesday sessions although I am slowly but surely running out of fun ideas to use.

Not this week, thanks to my super talented friend and fellow Stampin’ Up! team member Jess over at The Paper Caper. Jess recently featured an inky card over on her blog and I knew that I just had to get myself and my ladies inky also and create our own versions of Jess’ awesome card!!!

Now, I did warn my ladies before the class that they would get inky, and inky they did get. Hands, fingers, and I even managed to drip some Pumpkin Pie on my jeans. And it was lots of fun. Watching them all have a blast creating with water, sponges and re-inkers. It was almost like being in Kindergarten again. Sploshing and splotching on paper to create a beautiful masterpiece.

With this technique, I love how each and every single person’s card came out differently. Even though we all used the same technique and the same colours etc., the inky sponges did whatever they wanted and created some beautiful, artistic patterns.

It’s been a long time since I was in Kindergarten, and this brought back some wonderful memories, so I think I will definitely be getting messy again (maybe not with Blackberry Bliss as my nails are still stained two days later LOL) but am definitely going to try some new, fun things in my creations. Thanks Jess for getting me back to basics!

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Basic Gray A4 Card Stock [121689]	Gorgeous Grunge Wood Stamp Set [130514]	Blackberry Bliss A4 Cardstock [133682]	Project Life 4″ X 3″ Grid Cards [136528]	Endless Thanks Photopolymer Stamp Set [138796]	Larger Than Life Alphabet & Numbers Photopolymer Stamp Set [135382]	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin’ Pad [133642]	Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [133648]
Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [122932]	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Ink Refill [105229]	Pumpkin Pie A4 Card Stock [108601]	Silver Metallic Thread [138402]	Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Pad [126986]	Handheld Stapler [EU, UK, AU] [135850]	Silver Mini Staples [135847]	Everyday Chic Designer Washi Tape [138385]

Artistic Expression With CASE-ing The Catty

August 14, 2015August 14, 20157 Comments

WOW! What a great section that we’ve got to work with over at CASE-ing The Catty this week! Artistic Expression. This category goes for a whopping 24 pages. With so much to choose from, picking what to CASE this week was a bit tricky.

after much page flicking and procrastination, I decided to CASE the cute little box on page 133, but turn it into a super cute card instead. How can you resist the black and white stripes?

At the moment, I actually have just realised that I have run out of Kraft cardstock (terrible, I know) so the base had to be my ever faithful Crumb Cake. Don’t you just love how Crumb Cake automatically matches with everything? All the colour groups. It is just so adaptable. I also didn’t have any stripy paper on hand to suit, and I definitely wanted to use stripes as that is what drew me towards the box in the first place. Then I remembered that I saw a stripy card in my Moments Like These Project Life Card Collection. Winning. It’s a great card with a water colour effect to it which is so on trend at the moment. And it was perfect for my CASE!

I can’t wait to see what the rest of the CASE-ing The Catty crew have been up to with the Artistic Expression part of the catalogue. Now, head on over and checkout the amazing J essica Williams to show you more fabulous artistic ideas.

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685]	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]	Moments Like These Project Life Card Collection [138454]	Tea Lace Paper Doilies [129399]
Metallic Foil Doilies [138392]	Gold Foil Sheets [132622]	Bow Builder Punch [137414]	Decorative Label Punch [120907]
Clothespins [133764]	Endless Birthday Wishes Photopolymer Stamp Set [140273]	Melon Mambo 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon [134566]

Something Different For Little Levi

August 7, 2015August 13, 20152 Comments

When I get asked to create a card for a newborn baby, my go to colours are usually Crumb Cake, Whisper White and a subtle blue or pink maybe with a bit of gold or silver thrown in for good measure. This time, I wanted to make something a little different. Something a little bit fun and funky, just like this new little guys name, Levi!

I was instantly drawn to a denim colour as it seemed to fit. Lost Lagoon was what caught my eye… Now to piece the rest together. My original idea was to use the very versatile Layered Letters Alphabet stamp set and stamp the name in Lost Lagoon and then to create my own background paper by stamping his name over and over in a subtle colour until the whole piece of Whisper White was covered. As soon as I started stamping the Smoky Slate, I knew this idea absolutely wasn’t going to work… Can you see why?

I don’t think little Levi’s Mum and Dad would appreciate a card with vile, evil Levi stamped all over it. But I did get a little giggle from it. So, in the scrap heap this idea went and back to the drawing board.

Here is what I came up with… What do you think? Suitable as a ‘welcome baby’ card? I think so. Fun and funky? Again, I think it fit the criteria. And I am loving how it turned out and all the little extra details such as the think Smoky Slate Baker’s Twine, Everyday Occasions washi tape and our cute little Stampin’ Up! staples.

Eek, have I also mentioned my new favourite product at the moment?! Oh my, if not, it’s the Rotary Alphabet stamp and I’m addicted. Yes, I’m a bit late to hop on the bandwagon as it was in last year’s Annual Catalogue but I have only just discovered it’s awesomeness. I have been using it on almost all my cards lately and can’t see me stopping anytime soon. Perfect for when you need a specific greeting or saying to personalise your creation and you don’t have anything suitable on hand! Fab-u-lous!

Happy stamping,
From your favourite Vintage Graffiti Artist,
Emma xo

Product List

Lost Lagoon A4 Cardstock [133686]	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin’ Pad [133644]	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate [131291]	Smoky Slate Thick Baker’S Twine [138415]	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688]
Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Card Stock A4 Crushed Curry [131288]	Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [129378]	Big Shot [113439]	Alphabet Rotary Stamp [133769]
Handheld Stapler [EU, UK, AU] [135850]	Silver Mini Staples [135847]	Everyday Chic Designer Washi Tape [138385]