Thursday 31 December 2015

Occasions 2016 Catalogue Preview - In The Meadow

If you've seen my previous posts (in particular those featuring No Bones About It), you'll know that I love to put little scenes together - so this gorgeous set was a must have for me and I've finally had the opportunity to get inky with it!

This was my first card but I'm sure it won't be my last!
S.U., masculine card, Hand made card
In The Meadow from the 2016 Occasions Catalogue
Products from the new Occasions Catalogue are available for purchase from 5th January (very soon now!).

Remember that Sale-A-Bration also starts on 5th January and for every $90 you spend you can choose a FREE ITEM from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.  If you don't have catalogues or a Demonstrator and you live in Australia contact me to get some.

So how did I make this card?
I started by stamping the deer in black and then masking them.
Next I stamped the mountains with Elegant Eggplant and again (without re-inking the stamp) slightly above and to the left and then a third time in between to create a range of mountains disappearing into the distance.

I coloured the mountains with sponge daubers and Wisteria Wonder ink (for the more distant mountains) and a light coating of Elegant Eggplant .  I used a little more ink in places for shadows and crags.

I used a sponge dauber and Pear Pizzazz ink to create grasslands - getting lighter near the mountains to give an impression of distance.

I added Mossy Meadow and Early Espresso inks to the tree stamp using Stampin' Write Markers  and then stamped the trees (twice).

At this point I removed the mask from the deer and watercoloured them with Delightful Dijon and Soft Suede inks.

I stamped the grass image with Pear Pizzazz in the foreground and lightly stamped this off heading towards the mountains a bit to give a bit of texture to the grasslands.

I then used the same grass stamp with Mossy Meadow to add some shadowy depth to the foreground (especially under the trees) and sponged a little Mossy Meadow to the bottom edge to finish giving depth to the foreground.

I used a sponge dauber and Soft Sky for the sky and then added a little Marina Mist to the top  edge.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set and I placed it in the grasslands with black ink.

The stamped panel was matted onto Mossy Meadow cardstock and then placed onto the Old Olive card.
S.U., masculine card, Hand made card
Close up of the lovely deer
Well, this is my last post for this year - see you in 2016 and I wish everyone a wonderful New Year!
Stephanie
Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Wednesday 30 December 2015

Sale-A-Bration 2016 Preview - Honeycomb Happiness

I can't believe it's Sale-A-Bration time of year again!  And it's a really good one - this year there are lots of great products available FOR FREE with a qualifying purchase (one free product with every $90 you spend).

I've been playing with the little bird from the Honeycomb Happiness stamp set (141291).  I don't have the Honeycomb Embellishments (140566 in the new Occasions Catalogue) that are designed to sit very nicely on the little bird's chest, so I've just been watercolouring.  
SU, saleabration 2016, Confetti Embossing Folder, S.U., Watercolouring technique
Blackberry Bliss and Melon Mambo version on Shimmery White card 
Although I'm still not completely happy with my results - I thought I'd better share before it's no longer a preview!  Only 6 days until the start of Sale-A-Bration and the new Occasions Catalogue! Yay!
SU, saleabration 2016, Confetti Embossing Folder, S.U., Watercolouring technique
Pool Party and Crushed Curry (retired ribbon) on Whisper White
I hand-drew the twig
I've also used some products from the new Occasions Catalogue:
Confetti embossing folder (140592) 

It's My Party Enamel Dots (140554) which I've placed on Candy Dots bases
Shimmery White Cardstock (121717)

Sale-A-Bration is also a REALLY good time to join as a demonstrator if you'd like to get your hands on the great Stampin' Up! products at the discounted demonstrator prices or even build a business.  Until 31st March you can build your own Starter Kit with a value of $295 for only $169!!  That's a massive saving!  If you live in Australia and would like to join contact me or click on the image below.



If you'd like an excuse to meet up with your friends - host a qualifying party until 31st March and earn an extra $40 (with $400 in party sales) to put towards the products you'd like to have. If you live in Australia - contact me to discuss options. 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Sunday 20 December 2015

Crazy Crafters and Pootlers Blog Hop December 2015 - Occasions Catalogue Sneak Peek

Welcome to the Crazy Crafters Blog Hop for December. This is a very exciting Blog Hop - it's international - since we have the opportunity to mix with a wonderful and talented group called the Pootlers who are based in the UK. This month we are providing sneak peeks at the products in the new Occasions Catalogue. We hope you like our choices and find great inspiration from the projects.

You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - Stephanie Fischer, The Crafty Thinker - or you may have come from the person before me in the list. If you get off track at any time, the full lineup below will help you to move along from blog to blog so that you see all of the projects.
SU, 2016 Occasions Catalogue, New Occasions Catalogue, out of the box technique
Birthday Blooms stamp set & Perfectly Artistic DSP available from 5th January 2016
.
We are also combining our hop with a challenge of sorts - we were challenged to use just one: just one ink, one stamp set, one DSP set etc.  It was a great learning experience for me - I hadn't realised just how much I normally rely on using a mix of colours.  BUT there's sooo much to love in the new Occasions Catalogue that this imposed discipline really was a good thing!

My Just One is:
  • The Birthday Blooms stamp set (140658 available 5th January 2016 from the Occasions Catalogue)
  • Pool Party Glitter Ribbon (140561 available 5th January 2016 from the Occasions Catalogue)
  • Deco Labels Collection Framelits
  • Pool Party Ink
  • Perfectly Artistic DSP (141021 available FREE from  5th January to 15th February 2016 with an order of $90 of products)
To this I added a little black ink and some basic rhinestone jewels.
SU, 2016 Occasions Catalogue, New Occasions Catalogue, out of the box technique
Close up of the Wink of Stella glitter on the flowers
The glittery effect on the petals and leaves comes from the new Wink of Stella Glitter Brush in clear (141897 available 5th January 2016 from the Occasions Catalogue).  I LOVE this product because it makes it so easy to apply the glitter to exactly the spot you want it!

I stamped the flower onto Shimmery White cardstock (121717 available 5th January 2016 from the Occasions Catalogue) and watercoloured it using the Pool Party and black inks - I'm so excited about this cardstock and much prefer it to watercolour paper.

I hope you've enjoyed this card and I welcome your comments. 
SU, 2016 Occasions Catalogue, New Occasions Catalogue, out of the box technique
The Pool party glitter ribbon is just gorgeous.  The DSP is edged with Pool Party ink to match.
Thanks for taking part in our blog hop. Remember that currently you are at my blog - Stephanie Fischer - so check the blog hop line up list to see who is next in the list and click on their name as you don't want to miss out on seeing any of the blogs and the amazing inspiration they contain.

'Til next time
Stephanie
                                               
Sam Hammond Donald

Sunday 13 December 2015

Bloomin' Love - Occasions Catalogue Sneak Peek

Time for a sneak peek at one of the many really great items in the new Occasions Catalogue - available 5 January 2016.

This is the Bloomin' Love stamp set and the Bloomin' Heart thinlits dies which are available as a bundle at a saving of 15%.
SU, Large Numbers Framelits, Bloomin' Love Bundle
Bloomin' Love Bundle with the First Sight stamp set
NEW PRODUCTS FEATURED: (available from 5th January 2016)
  • Bloomin' Love Bundle                     140818
  • First Sight stamp set                      140688
  • Wink of Stella Clear Brush              141897
  • Large Numbers Framelits                140622
This is in fact a gift card - I didn't take a picture but inside there is a pop up gift card holder.  It's amazingly sparkly and over-the-top but I think just right for a Christmas gift card present for my lovely niece.

The main card is made from Blushing Bride cardstock to which I've added a layer of Cherry Cobbler.  I stamped an image in black ink from another new stamp set called First Sight and then I mirror stamped it on the other side.  Once the ink was dry I added a little sparkle with the Wink of Stella Clear brush (also in the new Occasions Catalogue).

I used the Bloomin' Heart thinlit die to cut the large heart from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.  I stamped the flowers from the Bloomin' Love stamp set onto Whisper White cardstock with Watermelon Wonder ink and cut them out with the small dies from the Bloomin Heart Thinlits and stuck them onto the larger heart.

I stamped the banner from the Bloomin' Love stamp set in Cherry Cobbler ink onto Blushing Bride cardstock and added a sentiment from Watercolor Wings (currently available in the Annual Catalogue).  Then I cut out the banner with the matching die from the Large Numbers Framelits die set and stuck it onto the heart.

The finishing touches were the sequins from the Brights Sequin Assortment and I placed a small Rhinestone Jewel (both currently available in the Annual Catalogue) in the centre of each.

Stay tuned for more sneak peeks!
Stephanie
uilt for Free Using: My Stampin Blog