Social Stamping - #10 Hearts

Hearts with Wildly Happy

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and to the 10th Social Stamping Blog Hop. I hope you have been enjoying all the projects that have been inspired by this week's theme - 'Hearts'.

I wanted to create something that was a little different from traditional 'Heart' cards and as I was pondering a design for the card I remembered the 'Wildly Happy' stamp set that depicted animals snuggling their young - communicating their love for their cubs, etc - a lovely representation of 'Heart". I so love the imagery and am disappointed this stamp set is retiring as of 2nd June. There is not much time left if you are interested in this set, so be quick. While all the images are cute, I chose the delightful Pandas for my card.

A Heart shape and Heart frame were cut out of the card front panel using the Stitched Be Mine die set. This panel was embossed using the Detailed Hearts dies and retired Impression mats, however,  Stampin' Up!s new Annual Catalogue for 2020-2021 will again be selling Impression Mats to go with their new Cut and Emboss Machine. It's fun to play with dies and use them in different ways to gain interesting effects.

I had been thinking of creating a blended background to sit underneath the heart, but then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of the new Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper (DSP). This patterned paper is so gorgeous and so I selected it to show though the heart shaped hole. A smidgeon of the DSP peaks out to mount the cut and embossed card front. The pandas were stamped in Momento Black ink and coloured with Stampin' Blends. The depiction of a mother's love for her cub warms the heart and comes from the heart, so the pandas where placed on the heart shaped Whisper White card. The sentiment came from Stampin' Up!s Sharing Sunshine Fundraising PDF, which was printed out on Whisper White card-stock. A tiny piece of Pear Pizzazz card-stock was tucked under the Classic Label punched out sentiment. To finish the card front a few retiring Heart Epoxy Droplets were added.

Inside the card the pandas were stamped again in Momento ink to link the card inner with the card front.

I am delighted that you spent some time at my blog. Please contact me if you would like any further information about the card or you are in Australia and would like a new Catalogue posted to you or if I can help you in some way.

The next paper crafter is the lovely and talented Elizabeth Gross at Lillybet's Paper.  To go to her blog you can either click on her name or the "Next" graphic below.  Or if you would prefer to go to the full list of participants click here to be taken to Kelly Kent's blog where you will find individual links that take you to each person's blog.

While COVID-19 cases are significantly declining in Australia, we still need to take care to ensure we and others stay safe and healthy. I do hope you are coping in these challenging  times. It is great to hear of restrictions being lessoned through a staged approach and to know that life will be expanding, at least within our country. Take care and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Hope to see you again next week.

  

List of Products used to create this card:

Stamps & Dies

• Wildly Happy stamp set - #149408 - Retiring on 2 June 2020
• Detailed Hearts dies - #151440
• Stitched Be Mine dies - #151814
• Sharing Sunshine PDF - ordered directly on the Stampin' Up! website and click on the Share Sunshine PDF Download. From there click on 'add to cart'. This is processed separately from other products as 100% of the charge of $12 will be donated to 2 worldwide charities supporting those affected by COVID-19.

Inks

• Momento ink pad - #132708
• Colour Lifter Stampin Blends - #144608
• Grey Granite Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #154886
• Smoky Slate Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #154904
• Basic Black Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #154843
• Stampin' Write Markers 2019-2022 (Pretty Peacock) - #150079
• Wink of Stella Glitter Brush - #141897

Paper

• Shimmery White card-stock - #121717
• Whisper White card-stock - #106549
• Whisper White Thick card-stock - #140490
• Pear Pizzazz card-stock - #131290
• Forever Greenery Designer Series Paper - #152492
• C6 Whisper White envelopes - #106588

Embellishments

• Heart Epoxy Droplets - #148583

Adhesives

• Multipurpose Liquid Glue - #110755
• Mini Glue Dots - #103683
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals - #144108
• Stampin' Dimensionals - #104430

Tools

• Classic Label - #141491
• Take Your Pick Tool - #144107
• Bone Folder - #102300
• Paper Snips - #103579
• Paper Trimmer - #152392
• Stamparatus - #148187
• Grid Paper - #130148
• Silicone Craft Mat - #127857
• Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine - #149653
• Impression Mats - #149660
• Magnetic Cutting Plate - #149656
• Specialty Plate - #154711

Social Stamping - #9 Animals

Animals - No! She's My Fur Family.

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and to the 9th Social Stamping Blog Hop. I hope you have been enjoying seeing all the projects that have been inspired by this week's theme - 'Animals'.

  

When I first saw this weeks theme, my heart smiled. My thoughts immediately turned to my fur family, Gemma. I knew I would create something reminiscent of my dog. Yes, I am a dog tragic! 

The dog depicted in my card doesn't look like my Lhasa Also x, but it is from a current Stampin' Up! stamp set, Happy Tails - though this set is retiring in a couple of days (that is 2nd June 2020). One of Gemma's favourite activities is our regular walks. Most mornings we can be found walking along the Sturt River, Coromandel Valley. It is a lovely walk, whatever the season. Imagine twittering birds, babbling water running over rocks, a range of trees including some that change colours in Autumn plus places to sit, relax and contemplate. So beautiful. I hope my card communicates a sense of Gemma and my love of our walks along the river.

Using Peaceful Place (another retiring stamp set), the scene was coloured using Stampin Write Markers direct to the stamp. To gain a Watercolour effect, both the Shimmery White card-stock and the coloured stamp were lightly spritzed with water then, using a Stamparatus, the stamp was laid on the card-stock. The card-stock was left to dry in place in the positioning tool. Once dry, the stamp was coloured again in stages and re-stamped in the same position on the card-stock. This gives a clear image over the watercolour background. A lovely effect. The same process was used to colour the dog's image; the grass stamp came from Beautiful Moments (a gorgeous continuing stamp set).

To be able to super-impose the dog over the river scene I decided to create a Triple Panel Spanner fancy fold card, with the dog attached to the spanner panel. The scene is in the centre of the second panel and the area for writing the greeting is on the third panel.  Sentiments from both Silhouette Scenes and Beautiful Moments stamp sets were gold embossed on Old Olive Vellum. To finish the card a little Wink of Stella was added to the river to add a little shimmer and 3 tiny gold butterflies (die cut using the Butterfly Beauty dies) were added to the grassy field surrounding the dog.  

I am delighted that you called by. Please contact me if you want any further information about the card or I can help you in some way.

The next paper crafter is the lovely and talented Sandra Collett at Sanzstamps.  To go to her blog you can either click on her name or the "Next" graphic below.  Or if you would prefer to go to the full list of participants click here to be taken to Kelly Kent's blog where you will find individual links that take you to each person's blog.

With COVID-19 cases significantly declining in Australia, we still need to restrict our activities to ensure we and others stay safe and healthy. I do hope you are coping in these strange times. It is great to hear of restrictions being lessoned via a staged approach and to know that life will be expanding, at least within our country. Take care and look after yourself and your loved ones.

I look forward to blog hopping with you again next week.

  

Art With Heart Monthly Creative Showcase - May 2020

Sketch Challenge with Three Interpretations

Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Monthly Art With Heart Creative Showcase. 

This month the Art With Heart Team have amazing projects to share with you that have been inspired by the card sketch below. The sketch was used as a starting point and has been interpreted in many creative ways by the Art With Heart Team. I hope you have been enjoying checking out all the projects in this Creative Showcase.

I had a lot of fun playing with this sketch and have created three cards to share with you. I hope you like them and find something that spikes your interest.

I was wanting to play with the Tropical Oasis Memories and More card pack around the time Rachel Woolard, who tirelessly coordinates the Art With Heart Creative Showcases, posted this Sketch, and so I combined an interpretation of the sketch with a couple of cards from the M&M pack. These card pads can be used in scrapbooking, and are also great for use in card making. As you can see, I altered the lie of the card from the sketch to landscape with the banner close to the lower edge of the card front. The Tropical Oasis Suite is so gorgeous, communicating life, relaxation and fun. The Timeless Tropical stamp & die bundle is continuing into the coming new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue for 2020-2021, however, the Memories and More card pack is retiring and won't be available after 2 June 2020. If you are interested, act quickly to not miss out.

As I was thinking about the card design, I saw a panel of water-coloured Shimmery White card-stock on my desk that I had created previously when I was playing with water-colouring. It seemed just right as the background. 

After adding a banner of Vellum across the lower portion of the card-front, I fussy cut the tropical coconut drink & flowers from one of the M&M cards plus some tropical fruit from another card. To complete the design, I also tucked in some tropical style leaves that had been previously stamped and die cut for another project using the Tropical dies.

The final touch was the addition of a sentiment from the Timeless Tropical stamp set. Not wanting to cover the flowers, fruit and the decorated coconut, the sentiment was tucked near the base.

Fine strips of the water-coloured panel and Lovely Lipstick card-stock were added inside the card together with fussy cut bananas & flower to link the card inner with the card front.

The second card uses the gorgeous and retiring Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper (DSP). This DSP looks like hand painted impressionistic imagery, reminiscent of Monet. I so love this DSP - it makes me happy to create with it. 

Looking at the photo of the card above, it's hard to see the subtle banner, but the Petal Pink Vellum banner adds to the card design when looking at it 'in the real'. It's positioned on the RHS rather than the LHS, as shown on the Sketch. The DSP design depicts a carpet of white daisies, so I have included 3 white (with Petal Pink tinge) small daisies to the card. I used the Medium Daisy punch and punched 3 sets of petals for each flower. A Petal Pink Stampin' Write Marker was used to add a little colour to the petals (by adding a touch of colour to the stamp with the Marker, then stamping it on Whisper White card stock and punching it out). The little Perennial Essence Floral Centres are so cute and add a lovely touch to the daisies. These too are retiring. The good news is that the Daisy Lane stamp set and Medium Daisy Punch are carrying over. Woohoo!

To add a little texture to the leaves, that were die cut using the Poppy Moments dies out of Old Olive Perennial Essence Vellum, they were daubed with a little Whisper White Craft ink. The sentiment is from the Share Sunshine PDF. This PDF is a product give back by Stampin' Up! where ALL proceeds will be going to 2 international charities that are supporting communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. It's such a worthy cause.

The card inner continues the sentiment from the Share Sunshine PDF, and was die cut using the new Tasteful Labels dies (they are in the new Annual Catalogue and will be available from 3 June 2020).  A die cut leaf also was added.

The third card shows another interpretation of the Sketch, with three different sized banners instead of one.

A water-coloured rainbow was painted on Shimmery White card-stock with some of the 'Bright' ink colours. To add some extra character, a fine banner was cut from the So Saffron Perennial Essence Vellum and embossed with the Pinewood Plank 3D embossing folder. A medium width banner was cut from Pacific Point card-stock and embossed using one of the new embossing folders, ie the Greenery Embossing Folder. The card front was embossed with another new embossing folder, Tasteful Texture 3D embossing folder. Stampin' Write Markers in the same colours as those used to water-colour the rainbow banner were used to splatter the embossed texture.

The sentiment also came from the Sharing Sunshine PDF. I love this one. One of the small Stitched Rectangles dies was used to cut out the label.

Flowers, leaves and buds from the gorgeous Forever Blossoms stamp set were stamped in Momento ink on Whisper White card-stock and coloured with Stampin' Blends. Medium Rhinestone Basic Jewels have been added as the flower centres and give a little twinkle to the card.

A tiny strip of the water-coloured paper has been added inside the card with the flower spray from the Forever Blossoms stamp set stamped in Mango Melody ink. (Its a lovely colour.)

Thank you for spending time with me at Valley Inspirations. I appreciate that you have called in to check out my blog. 

I hope you have been managing in these strange times, whether you have been self-isolating, continuing to work or some other form of taking care. It's nice to have restrictions gradually eased, but we still need to maintain social distancing so we don't give the virus any opportunity to get out of control again. Take care and stay well.

The next demonstrator to share her interpretation of the sketch is the fabulous Kathryn Mangelsdorf at Kathryn's Stampin World.  Kathryn is my Up Line in Stampin' Up! and a beautiful person. 

  

I'm blessed to be apart of such a talented team. Knowing each of my colleagues in this blog hop, I am sure that they will have so many different and gorgeous interpretations of the sketch. Don't miss checking out each of their blogs. If you have a broken link or have come to this blog hop midway, you can view all the participants below. Click on their names to be taken to their respective blogs:

Caroline Manwaring

Rebecca Jacovou

Tina Gillespie

Catherine Proctor

Sharon Davern

Vicki Boucher

Christina Barnes

Claire Daly

Kate Morgan

Andrea Sargent  < You are here >

Kathryn Mangelsdorf

Amie McIlroy

Rachel Woollard

Judy May

Michele Taylor

Thanks for visiting. Do come back next month for the Art With Heart Team Creative Showcase is featuring our favourite products from Stampin' Up!s new Annual Catalogue for 2020-2021.

List of Products used to create this card:
Stamps & Dies

• Timeless Tropical stamp & die bundle - #153811
• Timeless Tropical stamp set - #151497
• Forever Blossoms - #151457
• Daisy Lane stamp set - #149325
• Stitched Shapes dies - #145372
• Stitched Rectangle dies - #148551
• Poppy Moments dies - #151594
• Tropical dies - #146831
• Sharing Sunshine PDF - ordered directly on the web at ...

Inks

• Lovely Lipstick ink pad - #
• Momento ink pad - #132708
• Many Marvellous Markers - #147154
• Melon Mambo ink pad - #147051
• Pumpkin Pie ink pad - #147086
• Mango Melody ink pad - #147093
• Granny Apple Green ink pad - #147094
• Pacific Point ink pad - #147098
• Petal Pink ink pad - #147108
• Mango Melody Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #147945
• So Saffron Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #147280
• Old Olive Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #144597
• Wink of Stella Glitter Brush - #141897

Paper

• Lovely Lipstick card-stock - #146993
• Pacific Point card-stock - #116202
• Shimmery White card-stock - #121717
• Whisper White card-stock - #106549
• Whisper White Thick card-stock - #140490
• Old Olive card-stock - #106576
• Vellum card-stock - #106584
• Perennial Essence Vellum card-stock - #149101
• Perennial Essence Designer Series Paper - #149100
• Tropical Oasis Memories & More card pack - #151255
• C6 Whisper White envelopes - #106588

Embellishments

• Rhinestone Basic Jewels - #144220
• Perennial Essence Floral Centres - #149442

Adhesives

• Multipurpose Liquid Glue - #110755
• Mini Glue Dots - #103683
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals - #144108
• Stampin' Dimensionals - #104430

Tools

• Pinewood Plank 3D Embossing folder - #152320
• Greenery Embossing folder - #152716 
• Tasteful Texture 3D embossing folder - #152718
• Take Your Pick Tool - #144107
• Bone Folder - #102300
• Paper Snips - #103579
• Paper Trimmer - #152392
• Stamparatus - #148187
• Grid Paper - #130148
• Silicone Craft Mat - #127857
• Aqua Painter - #103954
• Sponge Daubers - #133773
• Cut & Emboss Machines - Available in new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue 2020-2021

Social Stamping - #7 Family

"Family" Theme using the Country Club Suite

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the 7th Social Stamping Blog Hop. Our theme this week is "Family".

I hope you are enjoying tonight's Blog Hop and the various interpretations of the "Family" theme. As I pondered the theme and how I would interpret it, I thought of my only immediate living family, my brother, and decided to create a card for him to let him know I was thinking of him in these weird times of isolation. My initial thought was to create a card with a bit of tongue in cheek, that is, as my brother is an avid golfer I thought of designing a golfer's card where the golf ball was hit and ended up at the bottom of a pond - I know, I have a twisted sense of humour, well at least when it comes to teasing my brother. (That's what many brothers & sisters do - right.) However, as I designed and put the card together, I came back to my usual approach of 'encouragement'. Here's my card (well one facade):

It's a 'Tee Pee' fancy fold card. I haven't created this fancy fold previously, but found it quite easy given the statement it makes. A story told as one moves around each of the three panels of the card. The panels show:

• A golfer that is swinging to hit the ball
• The golf ball is travelling down the fairway and over a water trap. (Not falling into it as I had first envisaged.)
• The ball lands at the hole with the flag pole in place - a hole in one! Hence, the sentiment "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" and there is an award to recognise the amazing achievement.

Enjoying a great day of golf

Will the golf ball fall in the water?

Hole in One on the 18 Hole

I'm trying to be briefer in writing my blogs, recognising that many people don't want to read through a long screed. As such, I'm not writing out a full description of "how to". Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information. Add a comment below, or send me an email. The products used in creating this card is listed at the end of this blog. 

Just to give you a sense of the size - I cut 3 pieces of 4" x 4" card-stock as the card base. The Country Club Designer Series Paper (DSP) which was used as the mount, was cut at 3 7/8" x 3 7/8" and then cut diagonally from corner to corner. The B&W line picture DSP sheet that was used as the card fronts, with each piece individually cut to ensure the scenes were correctly positioned. The scenes were coloured with Stampin' Blends. I so love colouring with these Blends - I guess it takes me back to childhood and is certainly a "mindful" activity. Here is the card opened out flat giving a look at the coloured panels:

Stampin' Up!s development of coordinating products is brilliant and I really love the range of suites that are offered. I have focussed on the Country Club Suite, including stamps, matching dies, DSP and the ooh so cute wooden Country Club elements. Each facade of the Tee Pee card uses different elements. What great added dimension they bring. Sadly this whole golfers' suite is retiring and will not be available after 2 June 2020. If you or a family member are golfers, don't miss out on this gorgeous suite. For me, this stamp and die bundle is a keeper so I can continue to create cards for my brother to capture his interest.

As I have used the Tee Pee's 3 facades to tell the story, I created internal panels for writing a personal greeting. Matching DSP mounts were used and a stamped golf club.  Covering the internal panels not only added to the overall look/quality of the card, but also covered the two magnets and strengthened the closure.

One of the great things about this fancy fold is that as it has a magnet to hold it in place, it can fold flat and fit into a standard size C6 Stampin' Up! Envelope.

That's it for me in this week's "Family" Social Stamping Blog Hop. I hope my brother likes his card and knows I care. Thank you for calling by - I do appreciate you spending time with me. I'm looking forward to seeing all the amazing "Family" projects created by so many talented people in the Social Stamping Blog Hop. 

The next paper crafter is the lovely and extremely talented Vicki Boucher.  To go to her blog you can either click on her name or the "Next" graphic below.  Or if you would prefer to go to the full list of participants click here to be taken to Kelly Kent's blog where you will find individual links that take you to each persons' blogs.

With COVID-19 cases significantly declining, we still need to restrict our activities to ensure we and others stay safe and stay healthy. I do hope you are still staying sane. It is great to hear of restrictions being lessoned here in Australia via a staged approach and to know that life will be expanding at least within our country. Take care and look after yourself and your loved ones.

I look forward to blog hopping with you again next week.

  

List of Products used to create this card:
Stamps & Dies

• Clubhouse stamp set - #151583
• Golf Club dies - #151580
• Clubhouse Bundle - #153816
• Do the Impossible stamp set - #151660

Inks

• Momento ink pad - #132708
• Night of Navy ink pad - #147110
• Soft Sea Foam Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #148059
• Old Olive Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #144597
• Granny Apple Green Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #147274
• Balmy Blue Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #148544
• Night of Navy Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #144040
• Crumb Cake Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #144601
• Soft Suede Light Stampin Blends - #147273
• Wink of Stella Glitter Brush - #141897

Paper

• Soft Sea Foam card-stock - #147012
• Whisper White card-stock - #106549
• Country Club Designer Series Paper - #151314
• C6 Whisper White envelopes - #106588

Embellishments

• Country Club Elements - #151315
• Clear Stampin Emboss powder - #109130

Adhesives

• Multipurpose Liquid Glue - #110755
• Mini Glue Dots - #103683
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals - #144108

Tools

• Take Your Pick Tool - #144107
• Bone Folder - #102300
• Paper Snips - #103579
• Paper Trimmer - #152392
• Stamparatus - #148187
• Embossing Buddy - #103083
• Heat Tool - #129056
• Grid Paper - #130148
• Silicone Craft Mat - #127857
• Cut & Emboss Machine - Available in new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue 2020-2021
• Magnets (Non Stampin' Up!) - for closure of card