Christmas in July Stampin' Up! Tags

This is one of my favourite tags from the Christmas in July Class that was run at Botanix on Saturday. Everyone made 10 Christmas tags (2 each of 5 designs) as well as decorating 2 tins to put them in. This particular tag features the snowflake Stampin' Around Wheel with Whisper White Craft Ink, Heat and Stick Powder, and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. Gold Cardstock from the Metallics pack made the perfect foundation for this mini masterpiece. The glitter brads were created by adhering a mini glue dot to the top of a silver brad and then dipping into glitter. Paper Angels are in the process of mapping out our Christmas Workshop, which will be held on the 6th of October at the Carina Leagues Club. We have some great projects planned and it is going to be a great day. Invitations for this event will be mailed out within the next fortnight.

Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up!

Same Design | Different Stampin' Up! Colours

Once you have created or copied a design that you like, I suggest recreating it in different colour schemes. Inspiration for changing the colour scheme may come from the photographs, the fabulous Stampin' Up! colour wheel or even magazine layouts are a great source of beautiful colour combinations. On the above examples, I used Elegant Eggplant, Real Red and More than Mustard; using the same stamps and design from the previous posting.

Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up!

Matching Cranberry Card and Page

Simple striking colour combinations such as Cranberry Crisp, Cool Caribbean and Marigold Morning are worth repeating, and so I have created a matching card and page. Both of these projects feature Stampin' Up's Hostess Set - Riveting as well as the stamp set Shelly so kindly gave Stampin' Up Consultants at Christmas - Seeing Spots. These projects are made ever so faster using the companion circle punches. The striped section on the card was created using the Background Sampler Set - expect to see heaps more of that stamp set!

Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up!

Using Paper Scraps

Sometimes the best way to incorporate patterned paper into scrapbooking layouts is to use small amounts. This has the added benefit of using up all those scraps that might otherwise hit the bin. Hodgepodge Hardware and Designer Ribbon work to tie the design together.

Grand plans were in place to add several pages this weekend. However, my trestle tables have been borrowed for a party, so my supplies are currently sitting in piles all over my workroom floor - so not very functional at all!

Materials

Natural Vanilla and Cranberry Crisp Cardstock; Recollections Scrapbooking Paper; Chocolate Chip Classic Ink; Wonderful Words 11 Stamp Set;Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware and Prep School Ribbon Originals.

Making a Difference

Recently I was lucky enough to be involved in a project by a local group of women to make small Mother's Day gifts for the residents of a Bayside Nursing Home. Some of the ladies organised a collection of lavender and teal coloured soaps, whilst others gave their time wrapping the bundles up into gifts. As my resources lie in papercraft, it was logical that it was my job to make the tags. Having mentioned the project to one of my lovely Stampin' Up Hostesses, she kindly offered to help me make the tags (thankyou Jennifer). This made the task really enjoyable as we had the chance to get to know each other a bit better as well as achieving a basket full of tags. Needless to say the residents of the Nursing Home loved their little gifts and we are now thinking about what we will do for Father's Day!

Materials

Looks like Spring Stamp and All-Year Cheer 11 Sets; Confetti White card stock; Lavender Lace and Taken with Teal Classic Ink Pads; Aqua Painter; Not Quite Navy Stampin' Write Marker and Spring Bouquet Flower Punch.

Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up!

More Marigold Morning and Going Gray

When you are on a good thing, stick to it! I often find myself going through phases in my scrapbooking, where I repeat a technique or colour scheme that I like, such as the page posted on 22nd of May. Some might think this boring, but I find it literally liberating as I can get more pages done and just get on with the process of enjoying my paper crafting. This colour combination seems to be working really well for me at the moment, as I seem to have lots of photos of my children with garish brighly coloured play equiment - Somehow 'Marigold Morning' seems to coordinate, yet tone it down! The corner rounding and positioning of the page elements has been designed to draw the eyes from top left to bottom right.

Materials

Be Happy, Warm Words and Rough Texture Wheel stamps; Marigold Morning, Going Gray, Whisper White and Basic Black card stock; Marigold Morning, Going Gray Classic Stampin Ink; Black Staz On Ink; Black Ginham Ribbon and Silver Brads.

Images © 1990 - 2007 Stampin' Up!

Capture Everyday Moments

Don't you just love digital cameras! Simply keep snapping until you get that perfect shot. My son Benjamin has been blessed with the most amazing brown eyes and long eyelashes, that he uses to full advantage - very hard to get cross when those eyes are staring back at you!

The most meaningful photos are often those that capture everyday moments and I was thrilled to capture a moment when Benjamin was resting on his sister's shoulder, still keeping watch with one of those beautiful eyes. I like to keep the photo the star of the page and, as such, simple clean layouts are often the best. This is very good news for those of us that are time poor (who isn't nowdays!), yet wish to have a creative outlet and celebrate our special photos. This 8 x 8 layout was created using a 6 x 8 landscape photograph, which has the special design feature of completely filling the upper section of an 8 x 8 page. If you wish to create this effect in a 12 x 12 design, it is worth knowing that photos are easily enlarged to 8 x 12. In fact 8 x 10 photos, simply have 2 inches cropped off!

Materials

Classic Alphabet, Canvas Background, Expressive Flexible Phrases and Genuine Articles sets; Ruby Red card stock; Ruby Red and Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pads; Treehouse Designer Paper; Simply Scrappin' At Home photo corner; Kraft Tag Sheets; On Board Simon Lower Case Chipboard and Prep School Ribbon Originals.

Images © 1990-2007 Stampin' Up!