AWH Heart of Christmas Blog Hop # 1

Christmas with the Modern Christmas suite

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the first Art with Heart Team Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2025. We will be sharing Christmas inspiration each Monday evening until the end of November. I do hope you will check us out as often as you can.

I had another Christmas card in mind for this blog hop but as I was getting ready to create my plan changed to using different products (most were already on my desk) and an idea I have wanted to create for quite a while. Here is what developed.

If you saw my CASEing the Catty project that was shared last night you may recognise the same Modern Christmas Designer Series Paper, although this card uses different designs. While writing up the blog I have decided to remove the gold ribbon that spans across this card. I think it doesn’t work so well with the double line across the middle. What do you think???

The background panel came from a ‘B’ side of the Modern Christmas Speciality Designer Series Paper. The letters were cut with the Party Alphabet dies from the White speciality Snowflake paper. This doesn’t show well in the photos but adds some extra texture in real life. The bauble was cut using the Ornamental Christmas dies and the trees were fussy cut from one of the designs of the Modern Christmas SDSP.

A sentiment from the Traditional Labels stamp set was white heat embossed on Basic Black card-stock. It was then fussy cut leaving behind the word ‘joy’ as the letters and bauble spell ‘JOY’.

The bow was created with … which is available in the LAST CHANCE section @stampinupofficial . Some gold Drewsy … were added to give some extra shimmer.

Trees from the Ornamental Christmas stamps and another sentiment from the Traditional Labels stamp set were stamped to decorate inside the card, A C6 Basic White envelope was also stamped with the trees. 

Thanks so much for calling in on your way around the first Heart of Christmas Blog Hop for 2025.

There is more Christmas creativity, so do continue with this blog hop. Just click on the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Judy May. I always look forward to checking out Judy’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is so much Christmas inspiration.

Also, many of us participate in the Colour Creations InstaHop that goes live every Wednesday night on Instagram, where we showcase one of Stampin’ Up!s colours each week. We would love you to also check in on us for more creative inspiration.

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 in this week’s Hop go to Sharon Davern’s blog @ Rhapsody in Craft. Sharon is our amazing Art With Heart Team Heart of Christmas Coordinator.  Check out her delightful creation while you are there. I wonder if it will be a fancy fold? Sharon is the queen of Fancy Folds.

If you live in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2025-2026 Annual Catalogue and or the new September-December 2025 Mini Catalogue, then let me know and I will be delighted to send them to you.  Please don't hesitate to make contact regarding any queries about this project or Stampin' Up!. 

#heartofchristmas  #heartofchristmas2025 #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #artisandesignteam  #artisandesignteam2025

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #36 Moody Mauve

Moody Mauve with Beautiful Butterflies

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, showcasing on one colour each week.

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a muted mauve colour called Moody Mauve.  Moody Mauve is one of the 2023-2025 In Colour Family and is a red purple that can coordinate with other pinks & purples (eg Bubble Bath, Berry Burst) and greens (eg Old Olive, Mossy Meadow) to name a few.  It would be wonderful for flowers, berries …  and anything needing a muted mauve.

I do like this softer, muted colour, but on reflection, haven’t used it as much as I had thought I would. One of the new bundles in the January - April 2025 Catalogue, that is the gorgeous Beautiful Butterflies bundle was chosen. This bundle includes the Beautiful Butterflies stamps and the Hybrid Embossing Folder and dies. While, as a suite, it coordinates with the Beautiful Bokeh Designer Series Paper, I have kept to a moody theme with Moody Mauve DSP. 

Initially, the large butterfly image was gold embossed a couple of times on Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper using Versamark ink, Wow Gold Emboss powder from the Metallic Emboss Powder Pack, Heat Tool and the Embossing Accessories pack. The embossed butterflies were water-coloured with Moody Mauve, Berry Burst and Bubble Bath Classic inks as you can see below. Once dry, it was die cut with the 2nd largest open die.

This is the 2nd butterfly that was coloured. I had created 2, just in case 1 went haywire. The butterfly on the card was also dry embossed in the Beautiful Butterflies Embossing Folder. The gold veins matched perfectly with the dry embossed image and it added special dimension. I acknowledge, that the dry embossing is hard to see given the abundance of ribbons - you will need to squint at the photographs and use some imagination to see the indentations

A panel of Moody Mauve card-stock was folded in half and the largest butterfly die was laid over the folded section to create a butterfly card with the fold at the top edge of the wings. The top section was scored to fold along the “line” between the top wings and bottom wings. The same die was used to cut another single butterfly. The two pieces together have created a simple easel fun fold in the shape of a butterfly. Some blending in Moody Mauve ink was added to the edge of the single butterfly. Don’t do what I did and add it last - it would be better to add it at this stage, before the bottom wings of the single butterfly were adhered to the top of the folded double butterfly.

Two detailed butterflies were cut from Basic White card-stock and then cut in half down through the body.  The half die cut butterflies were tucked under the water-coloured butterfly that had been popped up on a strip of Dimensionals. Two sets of lower wings were used but only one set of top wings were needed. A splattering of White Craft ink was added with a medium Water Painter.

Some Iridescent Striped Trim, coloured with a Light Moody Mauve Stampin’ Blend, was cut in half lengthwise. It was combined with 2 lengths of Gold Twisted Trim to tie a large bow. The bow was adhered in place with Glue Dots.

The base section of the card was covered with a Moody Mauve piece of Wildly Flowering DSP. A small detailed die cut a Basic White butterfly and the body was popped up on a Mini Dimensional. Two seperate sentiments were white heat embossed on Moody Mauve card-stock and fussy cut. The sentiments were popped up on Dimensionals as well. I noticed when photographing the card that either the small butterfly or either of the sentiments could be used as the stopper to hold the front panel in standing position. Check out the last 3 photos and the next photo to see the card standing using the different “stoppers”.

The final touch - a scattering of some Moody Mauve 2023-2025 In Color Opaque Sparkle Dots, including 1 on each of the butterfly heads.

Given the size and shape of the butterfly it seemed appropriate to add a Basic White card-stock panel to the bottom of the card, with a sentiment from the Delightful Wishes stamp set added in Moody Mauve ink with some fussy cut flowers. A C6 Basic White envelope was gold heat embossed with the largest butterfly stamp.

Thank you for dropping in to check out my Moody Mauve creation.

To continue with the blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a fellow demo and lovely friend Sharon Davern. I am looking forward to checking out Sharon’s creation(s) - I wonder what she has made? I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

This is the second Blog Hop for 2025 as we continue the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series.   Join us again next Wednesday evening to see our Mossy Meadow creations.

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 wonderful Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a special lady. Check out her amazing creation while you are there.

Living 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 or the January-April Mini Catalogue & the Saleabration Brochure 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  #stampinupdemonstrator  #papercrafting   #beautifulbutterflies  #artisandesignteam  #artisandesignteam2025

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #35 Misty Moonlight

Misty Moonlight with Friendly Seagulls Slimline

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 focussing on a muted deep blue colour called Misty Moonlight.  Misty Moonlight is part of the Neutrals Colour Family and is a dark blue that is not as dark as Night of Navy. Sitting within the Neutrals Colour Family recognises that this colour can coordinate with  many colours, whether other blues, neutrals, brights, pinks, purples, yellows or ….  It would be wonderful for sea, sea themes, water, a monochromatic theme, and so much more. 

Life has been quite topsy turvey at present and I’ve had many interruptions so this blog post will be short until I can fill out more details in the days ahead.

Here is my card featuring Misty Moonlight:

Friendly Seagulls is a stamp set that can be earnt during January and February 2025 as a Saleabration item when $100 is spent on current products with Stampin’ Up! or through your SU demonstrator. I love this set of quirky seagulls who adore stealing chips (or is that fries). The “Thinking of you” sentiment is from the Everyday Greetings stamp set - it’s an Online Exclusive stamp set.

As mentioned above, Misty Moonlight reminds me of sea themes so I thought I would use it with the cute seagulls. I started by creating a background panel using window sheet, Misty Moonlight Stampin’ Blends Combo, together with Boho Blue, Blueberry Bushel and touches of Balmy Blue Blends combos. Patches of Blends were scribbled on the window sheet, then 90% Isopropyl Alcohol was first misted and then splattered over the coloured window sheet. It was left to dry. The seagulls, chips, etc were stamped in Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ ink and then coloured with Stampin’ Blends, ie Smoky Slate, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blends combos plus the Colour Blender. This is a stand alone stamp-set, so the images were all fussy cut.

Stylish Shape dies were used to cut the 3 circles from Basic White card-stock - I love the stitched edge. They were each coloured using Blending Brushes and Basic Beige for sand, Balmy Blue for sky and Misty Moonlight for the sea. A die from the Beach Day dies cut an edge on scrap paper and this was used to create the sea skyline. Seagulls were stamped in Smoky Slate ink. The wooden poles were created with scraps of the Country Woods Designer Series Paper. 

“Hey Friend” was white heat embossed using Misty Moonlight card-stock and Wow White Emboss Powder. The sentiment from the Everyday Greetings stamp set was stamped in Misty Moonlight ink on Basic White card-stock. The final touches - a few Misty Moonlight Tinsel Gems Three-pack were scattered around the sentiments and some Misty Moonlight splatters added using a Stampin’ Write Marker.

A Basic White card inner was simply stamped in Smoky Slate ink with a seagull and shells. A slimline envelope was made using a couple of designs from the Country Woods DSP. I ran out of time, so I will need to die cut a rectangle shape in Basic White card-stock and adhere it to the front of the slim-line envelope for writing the recipient’s address.

Thank you for dropping in to check out my Misty Moonlight creation.

To continue with the blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a lovely friend and fellow-demo Rachel Palmieri. I am looking forward to checking out Rachel’s creation(s) - I wonder what she has made? I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

This is the first Blog Hop for 2025 as we continue the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series.   Join us again next Wednesday evening to see our Moody Mauve creations.

I hope you enjoyed a special Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to seeing what 2025 will bring. Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself this year.

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 wonderful Art With Heart Team Colour Creations Coordinator.  She is a special lady. Check out her amazing creation while you are there.

Living in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue or the January-April Mini Catalogue & the Saleabration Brochure 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  #stampinupdemonstrator  #papercrafting   #friendlyseagulls  #everydaygreetings  #beachday

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #34 Melon Mambo

Melon Mambo with Memorable Blooms

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 focussing on a bright strong pink colour called Melon Mambo.  Melon Mambo is part of the Brights Colour Family and is a rich pink that can coordinate with other brights, pinks & purples (eg Bubble Bath, Berry Burst) and greens (eg Granny Apple Green, Lost Lagoon & Pretty Peacock) to names a few.  It would be wonderful for flowers, berries …  and anything needing a bright strong pink.

Melon Mambo 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; Brights Designer Series Paper as well as a number of other products, including the Blooms Impressions DSP (coming Saleabration) and the retiring Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins. 

This project has incorporated Melon Mambo as Classic Stampin' ink, card-stock, Stampin' Write Marker, Blooms Impressions Designer Series Paper and the retiring Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins.

One of the ladies that attends a Craft Group where I am a Guest Demonstrator is having a birthday in January so I created this card with her in mind, knowing she loves pinks.

I started by gold heat embossing images from the Memorable Blooms stamp set onto Basic White card-stock, ie the larger floral stem, a leafy stem and a smaller image of a couple of beautiful blooms. They were water-coloured with Melon Mambo, Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ inks. You may look at the flowers and wonder how the light pink petals could be coloured with Melon Mambo ink. A very diluted amount of colour was initially painted on the flower images and then some darker Melon Mambo ink was dabbed into the centre of the flowers. The leaves were coloured with Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock inks, the darker ink being added to the shaded area of the smaller leaves.

Using the Memorable Blooms Dies, the hexagon die cut a hole in the front of a Basic White panel that was then embossed with the Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder. The card front was fully covered with a piece of Bloom Impressions DSP and another hexagon shaped hole was cut through the DSP and card front to coordinate with the hole in the white panel. The gorgeous detailed die was cut from Gold Foil. After a piece of Window Sheet was adhered over the hole in the card front, the gold die cut was slotted over the space. The white card front panel was popped up on Dimensionals. The larger coloured spray of flowers was positioned to one side.

To continue the theme to the inside of the card another detailed die cut was cut from the Melon Mambo Blooms Impressions DSP and then adhered to the inside of the Window Sheet. The leaves and double flower image were adhered over the die cut image inside the card, partially covering the white back of the outer floral spray. Another piece of Basic White folded card-stock was adhered inside the card so that the flap will open to the right to discover the panel for writing a personal message. The top of the closed section was also covered with the same Melon Mambo DSP and the hexagonal white label that had been cut from the card front was added over the DSP. Also, some of the coloured gold embossed images were adhered over the hexagonal inner panel.

To finish off the card front and first inner layer - a birthday sentiment from the Beautiful Butterflies bundle (another new product from the coming Mini Catalogue) was white heat embossed onto Melon Mambo card-stock using White Wow Embossed Powder and a Heat Tool. A double bow was tied using the White Iridescent Striped Trim and this was tucked under the sentiment strip. A few Melon Mambo Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins were added around the sentiment and also inside the design elements. Some splattering was added here and there using a Melon Mambo Stampin’ Write Marker.

Here is a photo of the card fully open. The opened panel on the right was covered with the same DSP. The detailed leafy die from the Memorable Blooms dies was cut from Gold Foil. As the card is going to be signed by ladies from the Craft Group, a sentiment from the Bright Borders stamp set (another new product) saying “From all of us” was stamped in Melon Mambo ink.

A C6 Basic White envelope was gold embossed with the larger floral image.

Thank you so much for calling in on your way around the Melon Mambo Colour Creations Blog Hop. Melon Mambo is a gorgeous Stampin’ Up! colour so I have had fun creating for this Blog Hop knowing it will also help to celebrate a lovely lady’s birthday.

To continue with the blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Di Furniss. I am looking forward to checking out Di’s creation(s) - I wonder if it will be a fun fold? I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - there is always so much inspiration.

This is the last Blog Hop for 2024 so I do hope to see you next year when we will be featuring Misty Moonlight as we re-commence the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series on Wednesday 8th January 2025. 

I hope your Christmas and New Year brings many blessings to you and your loved ones. Stay well, stay safe and be kind to yourself during this festive season.

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 special lady. Check out her wonderful creation while you are there.

Living in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue or the coming January-April Mini Catalogue & Saleabration Brochure 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  #stampinupdemonstrator  #papercrafting   #memorableblooms  #brightborders  #beautifulbutterflies 

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #33 Lost Lagoon

Lost Lagoon with Frames and Flowers Fun Fold

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 focussing on a beautiful soft blue-green colour called Lost Lagoon.  Lost Lagoon is part of the Subtles Colour Family and as a soft blue-green can coordinate with many colours, including other Subtles, Petal Pink, Calypso Coral, other greens, neutrals, and so much more. It is wonderful for leaves, sea scenes, at Christmastime …  and anything needing a soft muted green.

Lost Lagoon 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 Bright & Beautiful, Serene Love, Otterly Adorable, A Little Latte, Perennial Lavendar, Winter Meadow, Thoughtful Journey Designer Series Papers; Thoughtful Designs, Frames & Flowers, Tartan Foil, Season of Elegance Speciality DSPs; plus Riverside Irregular Pearls, Tinsel Gems Three Pack, Faceted Gems Trio Pack embellishments; Lost Lagoon Soft Cording; the Perpetual Beauty Callander Kit; and a number of Last Chance Products and coming new products. 

This project has incorporated Lost Lagoon as Classic Stampin' ink, card-stock, Stampin' Write Marker and the beautiful Frames & Flowers Speciality DSP.

I had created a card for a special friend for her special birthday using Lost Lagoon but then needed to give it to her before I had a chance to photograph it, so can’t share it as part of this Blog Hop. As such, I needed to create a different card to share with you in this Blog Hop. When thinking about what to do, I decided to try a fancy fold that I had originally seen created by Susan Campfield, a Demonstrator in the USA. I wanted to try it out and have seen this fold a few times since so decided to give it a go here. I have combined this fold with the gorgeous Frames and Flowers Speciality Designer Series Paper. The pack has 3 sheets of different double sided designs, 2 sheets of laser cut wreath, frames and other images and 1 sheet of card front size images. 

Pieces of Lost Lagoon card-stock were cut to size and scored to create the Balcony Fancy Fold design. The back section was covered with 3 pieces of one of the designs of the Frames & Flowers DSP. The front section of the fancy fold was decorated with pieces of Lost Lagoon card-stock that had been dry embossed with the Fern 3D Embossing Folder.

Here is a top view of the fun fold.

One of the round laser cut wreaths was added to the front top & bottom sections with Dimensionals. Die cut pine fronds were cut from Basic White card-stock using dies from the Wintery Tree Top dies. Flowers were also cut from Basic White card-stock using the tiny flowers from the Happy Hibiscus dies. The die cut pine fronds had a little Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin’ ink partially blended over with a Blending Brush. The little flowers were partially coloured with Petal Pink ink.

A little splattering was added with both Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock Stampin’ Write Markers to give a little extra interest to the dry embossed panels. A sentiment from the Reindeer Fun stamp set was white heat embossed on Lost Lagoon card-stock. The coloured die cuts and the sentiment were all arranged around the wreath. They were positioned with either Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Glue Dots.

A bow was tied with the gorgeous Iridescent Striped ribbon that had been cut in half lengthwise. The flowers were decorated with the wonderful Iridescent Faceted Gems. The ribbon and gems  have been my most favourite embellishments this year.

Looking at the back of the card, each of the 3 panels were covered with the same DSP as used in the front background. A Basic White card-stock panel was stamped with a sentiment from the Greetings of the Season stamp set in Lost Lagoon ink. A couple of left over pine die cuts and a flower were used to decorate this panel for writing one’s personal message. As you can see below, a Basic White C6 envelope was decorated with a corner piece from the Frames & Flowers SDSP.

Thank you so much for calling in on your way around the Lost Lagoon Colour Creations Blog Hop. Lost Lagoon is one of my favourite Stampin’ Up! colours so I have really enjoyed creating for this Blog Hop.

To continue with the blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a  special person, the lovely Sharon Davern. I am looking forward to checking out Sharon’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 Melon Mambo as we continue the weekly 2024-2025 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. Following next week’s blog hop we will be taking a short break before commencing again in the new year.

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 in this blog hop 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 amazing creation while you are there.

Living in Australia, don't already have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and would like your own copy of the Stampin' Up 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue, the September-December Mini Catalogue or the coming January-April 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  #stampinupdemonstrator  #papercrafting   #frames&flowers  #greetingsoftheseason  #reindeerfun