Valley Inspirations with Andrea: July 2024

Wednesday, 31 July 2024

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #14 Bubble Bath

Bubble Bath with Spotlight on Nature

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Art with Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop. We are working though the Stampin' Up! colours in alphabetical order, focussing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is showcasing a pale pink colour called Bubble Bath. Bubble Bath is part of the Subtles Colour Family and is a soft colour that will coordinate with many other colours, such as other Subtles, Berry Burst, Moody Mauve or Blackberry Bliss. It would be wonderful for baby cards, flowers, … and anything needing a pretty pale pink.

Bubble Bath is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Stampin’ Blends Combo; Subtles Designer Series Paper as well as a number of other products.

This card has incorporated Bubble Bath as card-stock, Classic ink, Stampin’ Write Marker and Stampin’ Blends.

I love the Spotlight on Nature stamps and chose them for this week’s project. A couple of the large flowers stamp were stamped in Versamark ink on Basic White card-stock and gold heat embossed with gold Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool. They were lightly water-coloured using Bubble Bath and Lost Lagoon Classic inks and the fine Water Painter. The butterfly was also gold embossed and coloured with Bubble Bath and Moody Mauve inks.

The background panel was fully water-coloured with Bubble Bath, Moody Mauve and Blackberry Bliss inks on Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper. The effect of watercolouring never ceases to amaze me. Looking at the top right-hand corner, it looks a different pink than the Bubble Bath card-stock. The off-white colour of the water-colour paper certainly gives Bubble Bath a different tinge - though still very beautiful. When partially dry some Moody Mauve & Blackberry Bliss inks were splattered over the lighter sections. When fully dry, the panel was stamped and clear embossed using the leaf stamp from the Spotlight on Nature set.

A die from the Countryside Corners dies cut a couple of labels from Thick Basic White card-stock. Where popping a label up on Dimensionals, I love to use Thick card-stock to ensure it doesn’t sag. The card base is Bubble Bath card-stock. After the water-colour panel was cut into pieces and each piece was mounted on to a slightly larger piece of Bubble bath card-stock. This is a version of a Puzzle fun fold - not because of the difficulty of the fold, but because of trying to put all the card front pieces back in order! It is sort of like a jig saw puzzle. A little background stamping was added to the front label (using a stamp from the Spotlight on Nature set) before the arrangement of the floral/butterfly pieces. Here is a photo of the standing card taken from above:

To complete the card, a sentiment from the same stamp set was gold heat embossed on Bubble Bath card-stock and fussy cut. Gold Trim from the pack of Silver & Gold Trim - an Online Exclusive, was tied into a bow and tucked under the sentiment. A number of Iridescent Foil Gems were lightly coloured with a Bubble Bath Stampin’ Blend - Dark and then scattered around.

To decorate the card inner a few remaining leaves, bud & butterfly were added to a Basic White panel. I missed photographing the envelope, but it was stamped with the floral stamp in Bubble Bath ink.

Below is a photo of the card, fully open. As mentioned, two labels were used - one on the front (popped up on Dimensionals) with the floral arrangement and the second one behind the front label on the back side of the stepped panels so the stepped panel on the other side can slip in-between the labels to help hold the card almost closed.

Thank you so much for calling in to check out my Bubble Bath project. I hope you found something of interest.

To continue with the Bubble Bath blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a special lady, Kate Morgan. I am looking forward to checking out Kate’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Cajun Craze as we continue the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you find a broken link or would like to view the full list of participants go to Catherine Proctor’s blog @ What Cathy Made. Cathy is our brilliant Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator. She is a wonderful lady. Check out her delightful creation while you are there.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue, and the coming September — December 2024 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you. Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about this project or Stampin' Up!.

#colourcreationsbloghop #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam #papercrafter #valleyinspirations #spotlightonnature #countrysidecorners

Sunday, 28 July 2024

CASEing the Catty #480 CASE Embossing Project

An Embossing Project meets Mediterranean Blooms

Hello, welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and #480 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from the amazing Rochelle Laird-Smith, as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps you have come straight here. Either way, I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog, I have linked to Rochelle Blok so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use samples shown in the Stampin' Up! Catalogues as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". This week we are CASE-ing projects shown on page 73 that display the Seaside Wishes Bundle from the 2024 - 2025 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue.

The Seaside Wishes Bundle incorporates a Hybrid Embossing Folder, that enables you to emboss and die cut sections in one pass through the Cut ‘n Emboss machine. It is a brilliant development by Stampin’ Up! I have taken inspiration from 2 projects above, that is, the all over background embossing and neutral background colour of the hanging on the left; as well as the middle card shown above has the decorative panel flowing across the card with borders top and bottom - this concept led me to a smaller panel going across the card with bigger top and bottom sections to show the background embossing.

I selected the So Swirly Embossing Folder for the background, and tried a different colouring technique using Basic Beige ink pad and a Stampin’ Mister. Ink was lightly dabbed onto the non-logo side of the folder then water was misted over. A panel of water-colour paper was carefully laid over the misted ink and the paper & folder were passed through the Cut ‘n Emboss Machine. The damp paper was removed and put aside to dry. I loved the effect, however, when I finished creating the card the following day, I inadvertently used the less coloured side for the background. It wasn’t till I was photographing the card for this blog that I realised my error. Ugh. The ink has seeped through the paper in some areas and gives a much more subtle effect.

I had planned a seaside theme for my card, but as I was part of a Mediterranean Blooms class this weekend, fussy cut oranges and lemons from the Mediterranean Blooms Designer Series Paper made their way onto the card. This DSP is gorgeous. The fussy cut pieces were arranged over a Basic White panel spanning the centre of the card. It was mounted on to a larger panel of Old Olive card-stock with the top and bottom sections torn.

A piece of Linen Twine was tied around the card-front ending in a bow. This mounted panel was popped up on Dimensionals onto the embossed panel, which in turn was mounted on to a Basic Beige card-base. A sentiment from the coordinating Citrus Blooms stamp set was stamped in Old Olive ink, trimmed down with the Stampin’ Trimmer and finely mounted onto Old Olive card-stock. The penultimate touch was a sprinkle of gorgeous Brushed Brass Butterflies. A little splattering was added with an Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker.

The card inner was simply stamped with the smaller orange branch image within the Citrus Blooms stamp set in Old Olive ink. A thin strip of Old Olive card-stock was layered on the left inner edge. I had planned to fussy cut one of the partial edge images on the DSP to adhere on an edge but my brain is in hiatus at present.

Similarly, a C6 Basic White envelope was stamped on the front.

Thank you so much for spending time with me. I so appreciate it.

Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this talented Crew. The next blog in the hop is the wonderful Rochelle Blok. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I am sure her project will be a stunner.

Join In The Challenge: We would love you to share a project you have created that has been inspired by the new 2024-2025 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue. To share, all you need to do for to the CASEing The Catty Challenge Group. If you aren't a member, its easy to request to join and then all you need to do is upload a photo of your project to the main section. You can click on the graphic below to be taken to the group on Facebook. We would love to see your creation.

Don't miss any of the Design Team projects. Here is a list with links of participating members of the Crew:

Julia Quinn
Rebecca Scurr
Rochelle Laird-Smith
Andrea Sargent {You are here}
Rochelle Blok
Peta Stephen
Courtenay Heuston
Judy May

#ctc469 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter #valleyinspirations #mediterraneanblooms #citrusblooms

Wednesday, 24 July 2024

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #13 Boho Blue

Boho Blue with Frosted Forest

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a strong light blue called Boho Blue. Boho Blue is one of the 2023-2025 In Colour Family and is a beautiful rich light blue. It is wonderful for sky, water, flowers, … or anything requiring a rich light blue.

Boho Blue is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Stampin’ Blends Combo; In Colour Designer Series Paper as well as Countryside Inn, Thoughtful Journey and Take to the Sky DSPs; In Colour Opaque Sparkle Dots, in Color Jute Trim and a number of other products.

I love Boho Blue and will be sad when it retires next year. I adore the Thoughtful Journey Designer Series Paper and so in designing Boho Blue projects for this blog I decided to select a design from this pack of DSP that featured Boho Blue. I also used Boho Blue Classic Stampin’ ink, card-stock, Stampin’ Write Marker and In Color Opaque Sparkle Dots.

Only wanting to use a strip of DSP together with a smooshed background. I used Boho Blue ink, dabbing touches of ink from the Boho Blue ink pad onto my glass mat, then misting water over the ink with a Stampin’ Mister. I could have used a piece of Window Sheet, but I had a cellophane bag sitting on my workstation that had come from a new set of dies so I used what was at hand, dabbing it into the diluted ink and then onto a Basic White card-front. After adding colour, the card-stock was left to dry and the process was repeated with touches of Fresh Freesia ink. When the panel was almost dry it was embossed with the Painted Textures 3D Embossing Folder. A little splatter of Boho Blue was added with a Stampin’ Write Marker.

A new On-Line Exclusive - the Frosted Forest bundle, incorporates a set of masks with the stamps and dies - this bundle is amazing. The 2 different sized trees were stamped in Lost Lagoon ink and then the masks were used to add colour. Using Mask A, Lost Lagoon and Boho Blue were added with Blending Brushes. You may be surprised at Boho Blue being added in patches but it gave a beautiful depth and shade. Using Mask B, Pretty Peacock and Misty Moonlight were added to give shading. Mask C was to give highlights so I added Sparkling Embossing Paste. It gives a beautiful effect in real life.

There are dies to cut out the trees, however, I didn’t want to put the trees with the dried Embossing Paste through the Cut ‘n Emboss Machine so I fussy cut the trees.There are also detailed dies in tree shapes that were used to cut out smaller trees from … Vellum. Another larger detailed die was cut from Basic White card-stock and it was coloured with Lost Lagoon ink and a Blending Brush. A little deer from the Grove dies was cut from Basic Beige card-stock.

The card front was edged with White Frayed Grosgrain Ribbon down the long sides. A sentiment was white heat embossed onto Boho Blue card-stock using words from the Greetings of the Season stamp set and they were fussy cut out. The final touches were a few Boho Blue Opaque Sparkle Dots and loops of some fine silver thread (that was from my sewing threads).

Both the Basic White card inner and a C6 Basic White envelope were stamped with the large tree stamp in Boho Blue ink. A larger sentiment from the Greetings of the Season stamp set was also stamped inside the card in Boho Blue ink. My apologies, but I missed taking a photo of inside the card, however, I hope you can imagine this simple card inner.

CARD 2

I wasn’t sure about my first card, so decided to try something different for a second card, while generally using similar products.

The same design from the Thoughtful Journey DSP was used behind the large die from the Grove die set that creates the foreground part of a scene.

The large fur tree was coloured in exactly the same way and with the same colours as described in the first card.

As mentioned above, the largest die in the Grove dies was used to cut the card front - one in Basic White card-stock and a second in Boho Blue card-stock. The white panel was embossed with the Snowflake Sky 3D Embossing Folder. Then the 2 die cuts were adhered together with the Boho Blue one slightly off-set to give a sense of shadow. The double layer also strengthens this panel as it is lifted up on Dimensionals. A tiny deer was cut from Basic Beige card-stock, and then lightly blended with a little Crumb Cake ink to add a a touch of shading.

A little splattering was added with a Boho Blue Stampin’ Write Marker. A sentiment from the Hope and Piece Stamp Set was white heat embossed onto Boho Blue card-stock. “Hope and Peace” was only part of the sentiment so it was fussy cut away from the other words and then laid over some White Frayed Grosgrain Ribbon. A few Boho Blue Opaque Sparkle Dots were the final touch.

As with the first card, the Basic White card inner and a Basic White C6 envelope were stamped with the large tree stamp in Boho Blue ink. A sentiment from the Merriest Trees stamp set was stamped inside the card in Boho Blue ink. I also missed taking a photo of inside this card. Sorry.

Thank you so much for calling in to check out my Boho Blue projects. I hope you found something to spark your interest.

To continue with the Boho Blue blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the talented Vicki Boucher. I am looking forward to checking out Vicki’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Bubble Bath as we continue the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series.

Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.

Andrea 💕🐾

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send it to you. Please don't hesitate to make contact with any other queries about these projects or Stampin' Up!.

Sunday, 21 July 2024

CASEing the Catty #479 CASE Mediterranean Blooms

Mediterranean Blooms meets A Different Take

Hello, Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and #479 Challenge with CASEing the Catty.

I am so glad you have dropped by. You may have come from the amazing Rochelle Blok, as you take this week’s Blog Hop or perhaps you have come straight here. Either way, I am delighted you are here. At the end of my blog, I have linked to Julia Quinn so you can continue with the Blog Hop.

At CASEing the Catty we love to use samples shown in the Stampin' Up! Catalogues as inspiration and each week we have a different theme to guide our CASEing. To CASE is to "Copy And Selectively Edit" or some say "Copy And Share Everything". This week we are CASE-ing projects shown in pages 34-35 that display the Mediterranean Blooms Suite from the 2024 - 2025 Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue.

As I looked at these cards I was taken with the oval-ish frame shown in 3 of the cards. Focussing on the frame, I decided to create a card in this shape. I also loved the leaf detail but wondered about featuring it a different way than being part of the frame. The other inspiration taken from these cards was the blue backgrounds. Here is the result of my CASEing the Mediterranean Blooms Suite:

After die cutting a folded piece of Thick Basic White card-stock with the open die for the frame, a second single layer of Basic White card-stock was cut to be used as the card front. This piece was blended with Balmy Blue, Blueberry Bushel and Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin’ inks. The colours were applied with Blending Brushes, starting with Balmy Blue in the centre, then Blueberry Bushel and Misty Moonlight nearer the edges to create an ombre feel. I love the organic effect of splattering water over blended backgrounds so added some spatters.

While I was blending I coloured some scrap pieces of Basic White card-stock with a mix of Pretty in Pink and Calypso Coral inks ensuring there were sections of light and dark. These pieces were also splattered with water. When dry many different sized tiny flowers were die cut.

As you can see, I have still used parts of the Mediterranean Blooms Suite, but not the stamped images and no fruit. I cut 2 of the centre leaf detail die from Basic White card-stock and laid the pieces next to each other at an angle. A couple of other little leaf die cuts were added to finish off the background. Smaller stems of leaves were also die cut. Colour was applied with Blending Brushes and Soft Sea Foam and Lost Lagoon inks.

A friend has recently lost the love of her life and I wanted a sentiment to let her know I was thinking of her and sending much love so I chose a sentiment from the Unbounded Love bundle. The sentiment was stamped in Misty Moonlight ink on Balmy Blue card-stock. One of the coordinating frame dies from the Unbounded Love dies was selected, but it was a little long so it was die cut twice to create a shorter label.

As you can see, White Bakers Twine from the Essentials Bakers Twine Pack was wrapped around the card-front before the sentiment label was added with Dimensionals and flowers and coloured leaves were arranged. A little splattering of Blueberry Bushel was added with a Stampin’ Write Marker.

Pearlised Enamel Effects Basics was added as flower centres and a few Transparent Adhesive-backed Dots were scattered near the sentiment.

Another piece was die cut with the open frame die in Basic White card-stock and a thin slice was taken off the left side so that the card inner piece wouldn’t inhibit the card closing. A couple of remaining coloured stems of leaves and flowers were adhered to provide a little decoration to coordinate with the card front.

As the card would be hand-delivered, a C6 Basic White envelope was decorated simply with the same pieces as the inside of the card.

Thank you so much for spending time here with me. I so appreciate it. Don’t miss any of the inspiration from this talented Crew. The next blog in the hop is the lovely Julia Quinn. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to her blog. I am sure her project will be wonderful.

Art with Heart Wow Tutorials