AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #46 Smoky Slate

Smoky Slate with Magnolia Mood

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 pale grey called Smoky Slate. Smoky Slate is part of the Neutrals Colour Family and is a wonderful light silvery grey that can coordinate with so so many colours. This colour can be used in many ways - consider a coloured flower with Smoky Slate leaves, or a Smoky Slate stamped image instead of using Black ink - it’s much softer; or it could be used as a neutral background - perhaps trees or mountains in the background.

Smoky Slate 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; Neutrals Designer Series Paper as well as Winter Meadows DSP; Faceted Gems Trio Pack; and the Celebrate Today Magnet Board Kit. 

Smoky Slate ink, card-stock and Stampin’ Write Marker plus the Smoky Slate design within the Winter Meadows Designer Series Paper have been used in the creation of these projects together with a range of non-Smoky Slate bits and pieces.

CARD 1

While so many colours can go with Smoky Slate I do especially love either yellow, pink or pool party with grey - so I chose pink this week, ie Bubble Bath and Berry Burst with a touch of Old Olive to go with the Magnolia Mood On-line Bundle. I adore this bundle.  I decided to have the magnolia flower stamped in Smoky Slate and either leave the flowers uncoloured with coloured background shapes or a coloured Magnolia with Smoky Slate background shapes. I couldn’t make my mind up as to which one so I created both. The two cards that are similar, but different. However, I do adore the coloured Magnolia.

As mentioned, the large magnolia stamp from the Magnolia Mood stamp set was stamped in Smoky Slate Classic Stampin ink. This produces a softer image with less contrast between the outline and the colouring, however, Smoky Slate ink is still strong enough to define the image well. This image was coloured with Stampin’ Blends, ie Bubble Bath, Berry Burst and Old Olive Blends Combos, plus the Colour Lifter to give soft highlights.

Some leaves and a flower were die cut from Basic White card-stock using the Magnolia Mood dies. Some colour was added with a Blending Brush, ie Bubble Bath ink on the flower and Old Olive ink on the leaves. Background shapes were also cut using the Thoughtful Expressions dies. The large label was cut from the Smoky Slate mottled design from the Winter Meadows DSP - this provided a subtle textured background with little effort. The smaller background shapes were die cut from Smoky Slate card-stock, with the small solid shape striped with a Light Smoky Slate Blend and a little Smoky Slate blending added with a Blending Brush.

A Basic White card background was embossed with the Leaf Fall 3D Embossing Folder - currently an On-line Exclusive. A thin strip of Berry Burst Glimmer Speciality Paper - another On-line Exclusive that comes with Old Olive and White Glimmer Speciality Papers, was laid across the centre of the embossed panel and the other elements were arranged.

A sentiment from the stamp set was stamped in Smoky Slate ink on the Winter Meadows DSP and fussy cut out. I had planned on adding the other two rows of the sentiment inside the card - but just remembered now - oops! Some of the beautiful Pastel Adhesive-backed Sequins were added near the sentiment and a little White Bakers Twine bow was tucked under the sentiment. It still needed a little something so some splattering was added with a Smoky Slate Stampin’ Write Marker.

The card inner was simply stamped with a Smoky Slate Magnolia and a strip of the Glimmer Paper adhered over. A C6 Basic White envelope was also stamped with a Smoky Slate Magnolia.

And now a card with a Smoky Slate Magnolia and coloured background shapes.

CARD 2

As mentioned, this card is similar but different. The background panel was embossed with the beautiful Layered Florals 3D Embossing Folder. The featured magnolia is simply stamped in Smoky Slate ink. The detail of this stamp is beautiful in just one colour. Some leaves were die cut from Smoky Slate card-stock. The flower and leaves sit on a Basic White label cut using a  Thoughtful Expressions die. The background shapes also used the Thoughtful Expressions dies, with the large shape cut from the Bubble Bath design from the Bright and Beautiful DSP. The smaller shapes and a thin strip were cut from a different speciality paper, the Soft Shimmer Speciality Paper - this gives a beautiful shimmer. It is retiring soon so don’t miss out.

A sentiment was stamped in Smoky Slate ink and fussy cut out. The final touch was a double Elegant Trim bow and some Bubble Bath sequins from the Subtle Adhesive Backed Sequins. Splattering was added with both a Smoky Slate Marker and the light Berry Burst Blend.

The card inner and Basic White C6 Envelope were decorated in the same way as the first card described above.

Thank you so much for dropping by on your way around the Colour Creations Blog Hop. I know there will be so much Smoky Slate inspiration throughout the Blog Hop.

To continue with the Smoky Slate blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely Christine Blain. I am looking forward to checking out Christine’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s' projects - we use the same colour in so many ways.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Soft Sea Foam as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

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

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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the new January-April 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   #magnoliamood  #thoughtfulexpressions

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #42 Pretty Peacock

Pretty Peacock with Lifetime of Love & Forever Love

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 deep blue-green called Pretty Peacock. Pretty Peacock is part of the Regals Colour Family and is a gorgeous deep green that leans toward blue on the colour wheel. This colour is beautiful for leaves and so much more, working brilliantly with Lost Lagoon - a lighter green.

Pretty Peacock 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; Regals Designer Series Paper and Earthen Elegance, Hello Irresistible, Glorious Gingham, Delightful Floral, Perennial Lavender, Winter Meadow, Bright & Beautiful, Fresh as a Daisy, Delightfully Eclectic, Masterfully Made, Just Kiddin’ Designer Series Paper, plus Forever Love, Speciality DSP, Three Color Glimmer Speciality Paper, Oxidized Speciality DSP , Soft Shimmer Speciality Paper as well as Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems, Adhesive-backed Sequins Trio, Blooming Pearls, Loose Frosted Dots, Tinsel Gems Four-pack, Sweet Thoughts Memories & More Card Pack and Cards & Envelopes, Bright & Beautiful Memories & More Card Pack and Cards & Envelopes, Christmas Everywhere Kit, Painted Wishes Kit, The Best Destination kit. That is a huge list and demonstrates the versatility of this wonderful colour. 

Pretty Peacock card-stock, ink, Stampin’ Blends, Forever Love designer series paper, Pretty Peacock & Gold ribbon and Petal Pink & Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems have been used in the creation of these projects plus a range of non-Pretty Peacock bits and pieces.

I recently saw Mikaela Titheridge, UK SU Demonstrator, Artisan and wonderful person create a beautiful card using the Nature’s Sweetness Suite as one of the Crafty Carrot Co sessions for February. #thecraftycarrotco  It was gorgeous and inspired me to re-create the fold using Pretty Peacock and part of the Forever Love Suite. This suite can be found in the January-April Mini Catalogue.  A Pretty Peacock card base was scored and folded then decorated with 3 different designs from the Forever Love Speciality Designer Series Paper. It is gorgeous DSP with one side of each of the 12x12 sheets including touches of gold.

Roses from the Lifetime of Love stamp set were gold heat embossed onto Very Vanilla card-stock using Versamark ink, gold Emboss Powder and a Heat Tool as well as the Embossing Tool kit. The roses and leaves were coloured with Stampin’ Blends, including Pretty Peacock, Lost Lagoon, Petal Pink and a touch of Moody Mauve combos with my trusty Colour Lifter to add highlights. See a close up of the flowers below.

The largest roundish die from the Thoughtful Expressions dies was used to cut out 2 Pretty Peacock labels. One label was adhered to the top layer of the folded card front.  The leafy single wreath die from the Lifetime of Love dies was cut from Gold Foil together with some leafy sprigs. As you can see once the flowers were die cut and an extra large centre rose was fussy cut. The single fussy cut rose was layered over the 3 roses with a Dimensional. The foil single wreath was adhered to one of the labels and the flowers were arranged over it. The “Love You” sentiment was fussy cut and a strip of Gold Foil layered underneath.

A section of the Pretty Peacock Metallic Ribbon was tied around the card and adhered to the bottom label. The decorated label was adhered directly over the bottom label holding the ribbon in place. A few beautiful Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems give a touch of shimmer around the sentiment.

To open the fun fold, untie the ribbon bow and open the top panel to the left.

Just pull the middle pink layer to the right to fully open the card.

The inner panels are Very Vanilla card-stock stamped with roses stamped in Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ ink. A Very Vanilla C6 Envelope was similarly stamped.

Card 2:

This card was actually started first, but it was one where so many aspects went wrong - one way or the other. I abandoned it part way through when glue from the label stuck to a bit of the DSP on a lower panel and tore when I tried to rectify things - it was the last straw. However, once I had created the card above, I thought I should take a breath and finish the card rather than waste it.

As you can see the card is similar with a few differences. Different DSP designs were used from the same packet of Speciality DSP. As the middle panel highlights Moody Mauve different flowers from the same stamp set were gold heat embossed and Moody Mauve Blends were used to colour the flowers with touches of Petal Pink. Tiny flowers and leafy twigs were die cut from Gold Foil.

A sentiment from the Sweetly Scripted stamp set - this is a sneak peak of a stamp set that will be launched as an on-line exclusive next month. Apart from some Pretty Peacock Foiled Gems some delightful Adhesive-backed Dragonflies were added.

As you can see above, some single coloured roses were added on the mid and lower DSP layers to hide some taring and glue marks. I think this is an example where trying to hide an error became a creative opportunity.

Thank you so much for dropping by on you way around the 42nd Colour Creations Blog Hop for 2023-24.

There is so much Pretty Peacock inspiration so do continue on around the Blog Hop.  To continue with the Pretty Peacock blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a lovely and talented lady, Rachel Woollard. I am looking forward to checking out Rachel’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 Pumpkin Pie as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

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

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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the January-April 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   #lifetimeoflove  #thoughtfulexpressions  #sweetlyscripted. #thecraftycarrotco

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #38 Parakeet Party

Parakeet Party with Detailed Dogwood

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 vibrant yellow green called Parakeet Party. Parakeet Party is part of the 2022-2024 In Colour Family and is a bright green that can coordinate with other brights. This colour is lovely for plants, leaves and vibrant colour schemes. 

Parakeet Party 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; 2022-2024 In Color Designer Series Paper, Delightful Floral DSP as well as In Color Pearls, In Color Metallic Woven Ribbon, Pool Party Crinkle Ribbon and Bakers Twine plus the Love This Memory Notebook Kit. 

Parakeet Party ink, Stampin’ Blends, Stampin’ Write Marker, In Color Pearls & Bakers Twine have been used in the creation of this project plus a range of non-Parakeet Party bits and pieces.

I created a standard card with some Designer Series Paper, Stampin’ Blends colouring and the addition of colour with a Blending Brush. The card incorporates 2 products that can be acquired for free with a qualifying order. Have you checked out the new Sale-a-bration Brochure? There are so many items that you can get for free with qualifying orders. Do check it out. (I would be delighted to help you if you don’t have a demonstrator already and would like a copy of the Sale-a-bration Brochure and the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue.). 

A number of the larger flower/leaf spray from the Detailed Dogwood stamp set was stamped in Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ ink on Basic White card-stock. The bird in the Thoughtful Expressions Stamp set was stamped similarly. As mentioned, the Detailed Dogwood stamp set is a Sale-a-bration set that you can receive for free with a purchase of $180 of Stampin’ Up! products in one order. Some single flowers from the first mentioned stamps were stamped in Daffodil Delight Classic ink.

The dogwood spray was coloured with Stampin’ Blends, ie the leaves with Parakeet Party, the flowers with Daffodil Delight and Colour Lifter. The hummingbird was coloured with Parakeet Party, Daffodil Delight, Azure Afternoon and Crumb Cake combos with the Colour Lifter.

The flowers and bird were all fussy cut. The Detailed Dogwood set is a stamp alone set so required fussy cutting and while the bird did have a coordinating die, I fussy cut it out for consistency sake. Two different small leaf sprays from the Notes of Nature set of dies were cut from Basic White card-stock. One of the scalloped border dies from the Basic Border dies was used to cut a B-side panel of the Softly Stippled Designer Series Paper (another free Sale-a-bration product with a qualifying order). 

A Basic White card front was partially coloured with Pool Party ink and a Blending Brush, plus some splatters were added with a Parakeet Party Stampin’ Write Marker. The DSP die cut edge was popped up on Dimensionals. The flowers and leaves were arranged over the border and adhered in place with either Multipurpose Liquid Glue or Glue Dots. The hummingbird was popped up on double Dimensionals.

A sentiment from the Thoughtful Expressions stamp set was stamped in Parakeet Party ink on Basic White card-stock. The sentiment was fussy cut and then popped up on Mini Dimensionals. The final touch was the addition a double Bakers Twine bow and some In Color Pearls (from the Annual Catalogue).

A Basic White panel for writing a personal message was adhered inside the card. The left over DSP from die cutting the panel on the card front was adhered to the left edge of the inner panel. A left over stamped and coloured flower and die cut leaves were adhered over the DSP edge. A Basic White C6 envelope was stamped with the Detailed Dogwood floral spray in Crumb Cake ink. 

Thank you so much for dropping by on you way around the Parakeet Party Colour Creations Blog Hop. Do continue your way around the blog hop as I am sure there will be wonderful Parakeet Party inspiration. Don’t miss it.

To continue with the Parakeet Party blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of my friend and fellow South Aussie, Tina Gillespie. I am looking forward to checking out Tina’s creation(s). I do love seeing everyone’s projects - I love the various ways the colour can be used.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Petal Pink as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

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

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 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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the new January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue and Sale-a-bration 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 #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #detaileddogwood   #thoughtfulexpressions  #notesofnature

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #36 Old Olive

Old Olive with Thoughtful Expressions & Enduring Beauty

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 green called Old Olive. Old Olive is part of the Regals Colour Family and is a wonderful yellow green that can coordinate with so many colours. This colour is lovely for leaves, trees and anything requiring a muted green.

Old Olive 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; Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1, Regals Designer Series Paper, as well as Just Kiddin’ and Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Papers; Forever Friends and Rustic Christmas Countdown Kits; Loose Daisy Embellishments and Ombre Matt Decorative Dots. 

Old Olive ink, card-stock, Stampin’ Write Marker, Stampin’ Blends Combo and Ombre Matt Decorative Dots have been used in the creation of these projects plus a range of non-Old Olive bits and pieces.

CARD 1:

The first card features one of the delightful new bundles from the January-April 2024 Mini Catalogue that launched earlier this month. There is so much to love in this catalogue. Do check it out. (I would love to help you if you don’t have a demonstrator already). 

Floral images from the gorgeous Thoughtful Expressions stamp set were stamped in Gray Granite Classic Stampin’ ink on Basic White card-stock. These images were coloured with Stampin’ Blends combos, including Old Olive for the leaves, plus Petal Pink, Calypso Coral and Lemon Lolly combos. As I knew I would be fussy cutting some images to add a second layer, I fussy cut all the images for consistency.

The Thoughtful Expressions dies not only contains dies to cut out all the images, but also fine leaves and a loopy flower. These were cut from Basic White card-stock. The dies also includes layering scalloped circle labels - so gorgeous. A mid-size label was also cut from Basic White card-stock.

A Basic White card front was dry embossed with the wonderful Distressed Tile 3D Embossing Folder. (I think the last photo at the bottom of this blog shows the embossing best.) The label was splattered with Old Olive ink from a Stampin’ Write Marker and then popped up with Dimensionals on the embossed background. The coloured and die cut pieces were arranged using both Multipurpose Liquid Glue and some Dimensionals. The two larger flowers had extra flowers layered on top to give extra dimension to these flowers.

A sentiment from the stamp set was white heat embossed on Old Olive card-stock and partially cut with the trimmer and partially fussy cut. The final touches included a double White Bakers Twine bow and a few Old Olive Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (from the Ombre Matte Decorative Dots from the Annual Catalogue).

The card inner for writing a personal message is simply Basic White card-stock decorated with some Blends coloured and fussy cut images and a Gray Granite stamped sentiment. (A stamp from the Notes of Nature stamp set was sitting on my crafting space and seemed to be just right for the card.)  A Basic White C6 envelope was stamped with the Thoughtful Expressions floral image also in Gray Granite ink.

CARD 2:

I recently saw Jacque Williams create a “one layer card” using 2 layers. As you may know, I love creating multi layer cards with dimension, and really struggle to create simple cards; however, Jacque inspired me to challenge myself. This card is in the style of  a “single layer card” but with 2 layers, however, I couldn’t resist some twine and embellishments.

Last week I used the new Enduring Beauty stamps. This week I have used the coordinating stencils without the stamped outline image. Like Jacque, I have added a seperate card front. I believe this gives the card extra body and easily enables certain techniques to add texture.

The coordinating Enduring Beauty stencils were used with some of Stampin’ Up!s wonderful Blending Brushes. The flowers were coloured with Bubble Bath and Berry Burst Classic inks and the leaves with Old Olive ink.

Some light splattering was added with an Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker. The sentiment comes from a Saleabration stamp set - Softly Sophisticated stamps. This set is paired with an embossing folder and can be chosen with an order of at least $180.00. The sentiment was stamped in Gray Granite ink.

To give some added texture / interest, the scoring blade on a Stampin’ Trimmer was used to score a double border a little in from the 4 edges (ie 5mm & 8mm in from each edge). Also each edge of the card front was carefully run along an Old Olive ink pad to give a fine border, instead of mounting the card front onto an Old Olive card-stock layer.

As mentioned, I couldn’t resist tying a double length of white Bakers Twine around the folded centre of the card, tying it in a bow at the front, a little down from the top. The addition of a few Old Olive Ombre Matte Decorative Dots don’t technically fit in with one layer, but they do add a little ‘something’.

A Basic White card inner (not shown) was decorated with a thin stencilled strip, cut from the card front and another sentiment, this time from the Enduring Beauty stamp set. A Basic White C6 Envelope was stamped with the floral outline image in Old Olive ink.

Thank you so much for dropping by on you way around the Colour Creations Blog Hop. While again we are a smaller group, I am sure there will be so much Old Olive inspiration. Don’t miss checking out each blog.

To continue with the Old Olive 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 love seeing everyone’s' projects - there will be so much inspiration.

I do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Orchid Oasis as we continue the weekly 2023-2024 Colour Creations Blog Hop series. 

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

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 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue and or the new January-April 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 these projects or Stampin' Up!. 

#colourcreationsbloghop  #stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #artwithheartteam  #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #enduringbeauty #softlysophisticated  #thoughtfulexpressions