AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #45 Shaded Spruce

Shaded Spruce with Country Flowers

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 series is drawing to a close, with just over a month to go. Where has the year gone!

This week’s Blog Hop is focussing on a deep green called Shaded Spruce. Shaded Spruce is part of the Regals Colour Family and is a wonderful green leaning a little towards the blue side. A friend has said this was one of her favourite colours. This colour is lovely for leaves, trees and is wonderful for Christmas, plus so much more. 

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

Shaded Spruce ink, card-stock and Stampin’ Write Marker have been used in the creation of this project plus a range of non-Shaded Spruce bits and pieces.

You may be saying, do I recognise that stamp set? Well, unless you are a demonstrator and attended Stampin’ Up!s conference, On Stage recently you wouldn’t know that the Country Flowers stamps and dies are part of the coming 2024-2025 Annual Catalogue. As a demonstrator who was attending On Stage I had the opportunity to purchase this bundle in readiness for a crafting session last Thursday evening. It is a fun country-style bundle.

A panel of Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper was water-coloured with Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin’ ink and the wide Water Painter from the Water Painter set. When dry the coloured panel was cut with the larger Deckled Rectangle die and mounted on a slightly larger panel of Basic White card-stock. This in turn was mounted to a Shaded Spruce card-stock base. Another panel of Basic White card-stock was cut with the larger Deckled Rectangle die and sliced in 2, with the top section popped up on Dimensionals.

The leaves stamp from the Country Flowers stamp set was silver heat embossed onto Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper together with the handled pot stamp. The leaves were then water-coloured with Shaded Spruce and Granny Apple Green inks and the pot with Melon Mambo ink and a fine tipped Water Painter. The coordinating dies cut out the coloured images - the pot die even cut out the little section between the handle and the pot - that would be hard to do fussy cutting! The set of Country Flowers dies also included little flowers and leaves. A number were die cut from Fluid 100 paper and lightly water-coloured. All the pieces were arranged onto a Basic White Deckled Circle die cut.

“Sending love” sentiment was stamped in Shaded Spruce ink 3 times. “Love” was fussy cut out and tucked around the focal point. The final touch included a splattering of Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Write Marker and a single bow created using a little silver Elegant Trim that has been tucked under some leaves.   The flowers were decorated with the oh so gorgeous Iridescent Pearls Basic Jewels.  I am so glad these beautiful Gems will be continuing into the coming Annual Catalogue.

The inner Basic White panel for writing a personal message was decorated with Silver heat embossed images using Versamark ink, Silver Emboss Powder, the Embossing Kit, and a Heat Tool. The sentiment was stamped in Shaded Spruce ink. To add a little colour, Shaded Spruce, Melon Mambo and Granny Apple  inks were added to the image using a Blender Pen. A Basic White C6 Envelope was stamped in Shaded Spruce ink.

Thank you so much for dropping by on your way around the Colour Creations Blog Hop.  

To continue with the Shaded Spruce blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of a lovely lady, Diane Furniss. I am looking forward to checking out Di’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 Smoky Slate 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   #countryflowers  

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #44 Real Red

Real Red with Flower Card Fancy 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 a strong red called Real Red. Real Red is part of the Regals Colour Family and is a great red. This colour is wonderful for flowers, hearts and for Christmas to name a few.

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

Real Red ink, card-stock, Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Marker have been used in the creation of this project plus a range of non-Real Red bits and pieces.

I decided to use the Flower Cart bundle as I could see the awnings on the flower cart in red & white stripes, but then as I was putting the card together the red & white awning didn’t make its way onto the card. To show off the little red flower card I chose another fancy fold - a variation of an easel card.

The flowers were stamped in Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin’ ink, the leaves in 2nd generation Old Olive ink and the pots in Real Red ink.  To carry Old Olive through, it was used to stamp the cobbled stones - they must be moss covered. The coordinating dies made cutting out easy.

The cart was die cut from Real Red card-stock and the wheels from Basic Black card-stock.

To keep the card colour scheme as Real Red, Basic White & Basic Black with a touch of other colours for the flowers, a piece of the Rock & Roll Designer Series Paper was selected for a few of the card panels. A very light touch of blending was added to the DSP and behind the flower on the front panel.

A sentiment from the stamp set was Black heat embossed onto the DSP, fussy cut out and popped up on Mini Dimensionals. A little Real Red splattering was added. I tried using Real Red ribbons but they were too “heavy” so I coloured the Sweet Sorbet twine with a Light Real Red Blend. A few gold Adhesive-backed Dragonflies were added as the final touch - they are an online-only product.

Here is the card folded up and below is the card fully opened.

A panel for writing a personal message was decorated with a couple of pots of flowers.

Similarly, a Basic White C6 envelope was decorated with pots and flowers.

Thank you so much for dropping by on your way around the Colour Creations Blog Hop.

To continue with the Real Red 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 do hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Shaded Spruce 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   #flowercart   

Funky Folds Blog Hop #1

ANYTHING GOES WITH A FUNKY FOLD

Welcome to the first Funky Folds Blog Hop.

We are a group of like-minded paper crafters who love to make cards with funky folds. Funky actually means "modern and stylish in an unconventional or striking way"... so we are featuring cards that are not your usual rectangle/square portrait or landscape style. Think 'easel', 'pop-up', 'gatefold', 'z-fold', 'shaped' or 3D cards etc. The list is endless. All Blog Hops have an 'anything goes' theme using any type of 'funky' card fold.

I have created a card with a range of Stampin’ Up! products, starting with the Trusty Tools bundle.  But you say, isn’t this blog featuring funky folds??? Yes, it is. This card has the surprise inside when it is opened — there is an internal pop-up feature. 

A friend had a recent birthday but what was I to create for him? This friend had taken up painting when he retired. His studio is positioned in an open atrium that is surrounded by his home.  The area itself has no roof and there is a bricked floor with plants in pots and hanging baskets scattered around. My friend’s hobby and his studio area were the inspiration for this card. 

To give a woodgrain background a neutral design was selected from the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper and it was embossed with the Timber 3D Embossing Folder. Some Crumb Cake Classic Stampin’ ink was lightly added to allow the timber effect to be softly visible.  A Shaded Spruce design from the same DSP pack was laid beneath a peg board die cut from the Trusty Tools dies. The stamped paint brush and pencils were from the Trusty Tools stamps and coloured with Stampin’ Blends. The die cut foliage came from the Painted Lavender and Notes of Nature sets of dies. The foliage is reminiscent of the plants in the atrium.

The front sentiment comes from the stamp set that is part of the Timeless Greetings kit. Linen Twine and Brushed Brass Butterflies give a special touch.

The pop up scene inside the card used some extra products. To add a basket of smaller brushes and an artist easel the Crafting With You stamp set was brought out. A couple of paintings and a clock adorned the wall above the work bench in the atrium so a part of the Perennial Lavender DSP was cut down and mounted to give an abstract painting feel. When I thought of the clock on the wall, initially I was stumped, but then remembered the clock-face in the Timeless Greetings card kit. Vellum was added to the bench top, with it hanging further down on one end to give a sense of plastic sheeting over the actual bench. The Vellum was also splattered with White Craft ink and Shaded Spruce ink to replicate the plastic sheeting - it may be difficult to see this detail in the photos. The “painting” on the easel was cut down from some of the Meandering Meadows DSP.

Here is a side view. You may see the brickwork ground that was created with an Exposed Brick 3D Embossing Folder and some Crumb Cake ink. The neutral gingham floor rug was cut from another piece of Perennial Lavender DSP.  The sentiment came from the Trusty Tools stamps.

The back of the card was used for writing a personal message. Another painting and some foliage provided linkage to the theme of the card. And yes, the card does fit into a standard A6 Very Vanilla envelope - it’s fat, but it does fit. I was going to hand deliver the card so didn’t need to worry about the card’s thickness to comply with Australia Post processing.

Thank you so much for dropping by on your way around our first Funky Folds Blog Hop.

Up next is our Host and Blog Hop initiator, the wonderful Bronwyn Eastley from Addinktive Designs in eastern Australia. I am so looking forward to seeing Bronwyn’s funky fold and to checking out everyones’ creations in our very first Funky Folds Blog Hop. Just click on the graphic below to be taken to Bronwyn’s blog.

If you love to make cards with creative folds and would like to join in with our monthly Funky Folds Blog Hops, you are welcome to head on over to our community group on Facebook to be part of the fun.

facebook.com/groups/funkyfoldsbloghops

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 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!. 

#stampinup #stampinupaustralia #stampinupsouthpacific #stampinupdemo  #handmadecards #makeacardsendacard #stampinupdemonstrator #papercrafting #papercrafter  #valleyinspirations   #trustytools  #craftingwithyou   #perenniallavender  #meanderingmeadows

AWH Colour Creations Blog Hop #43 Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin Pie with Fun on Wheels

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 strong orange called Pumpkin Pie. Pumpkin Pie is part of the Brights Colour Family and is a solid orange that could be used in sunsets, flowers, fruit & pumpkins or carrots - use of this colour may only be limited by your imagination.

Pumpkin Pie is produced in Stampin' Up!'s card-stock, both A4 & 12"x12"; Classic Stampin' inks (ink pads & re-inkers); Stampin' Write Marker; Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1; Stampin’ Blends Combo; Brights Designer Series Paper plus Flowering Zinnias, Just Kiddin’, Les Shoppes, Stargazing, Masterfully Made, Zoo Crew, Meandering Meadows DSP as well as Love This Memory Notebook Kit & Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins. 

Pumpkin Pie ink, card-stock, Stampin’ Write Marker, Meandering Meadows DSP as well as the Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins have been used in the creation of this project plus a range of non-Pumpkin Pie bits and pieces.

I created a fancy fold that is much simpler than it looks. It was created for a cyclist who rides long distances, whether cycling to work or holidaying in New Zealand. Given the numerous panels, I feel this fold can be used to tell a bit of a story. The Fun on Wheels bundle was featured though combined with a range of other products, from the soon to retire Annual Catalogue or some On-line Exclusives. Did you know that more gorgeous and fun products have just been released as On-line Exclusives? Do check them out. 

I do want to thank Emma Goddard, a UK Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and past Artisan, for inspiration. I watched Emma create this fun fold recently and also vaguely remembered her use a card front layout. When one is struggling to create it is so good to find inspiration in other artists who you admire. Many differences have been made to make the card my own.  This card used Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ ink for the bike and background road network image. Some Basic Black ink was added to the bike’s seat and handles with a Stampin’ Write Marker. A little Pumpkin Pie ink blending was added with a Blending Brush and some Pumpkin Pie splattering with a Stampin’ Write Marker.

The 4 panels of the card were adhered together with a 1cm hinge and the 4 inner panels were covered with cloud designs from the Meandering Meadows DSP. This worked well, as each design of the 6x6 DSP is repeated x 4. The Countryside Corners dies were used to cut holes in the 2 central panels. One of the die cut panels was added with Dimensionals to the card front. A smaller die cut panel of Vellum card-stock was laid over it to soften the cloud layer and enable the bicycle to be the focus. 

The final touches to the card front was a white heat embossed sentiment on Pumpkin Pie card-stock that had been fussy cut into 3 pieces. Some Pumpkin Pie Adhesive-backed Shiny Sequins were added around the sentiment. I couldn’t resist adding some sort of twine or ribbon so after quite a bit of fiddling a tiny piece of folded Black & White Gingham ribbon was tucked under the die cut panel in line with the bar of the bike. 

Here is the folded inside of the card. One sentiment came from the Fun on Wheels stamps and was stamped in Smoky Slate ink. The other sentiment is from the Beautiful Balloons stamp set and was stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink. A die cut bike was cut out of Pumpkin Pie and Basic Black card-stocks. Balloons were stamped using the Beautiful Balloons stamp set.

As you can see, 2 scenes from the Meandering Meadows DSP were cut down to focus on “bike paths” that incorporate some Pumpkin Pie colouring. I adore the cloudy sky background panels and love the orange tinges  - although its probably not a colour combo I would have thought of for clouds.

The panel for writing a personal message was the 6th smaller panel. A slightly smaller panel was stamped on the edge with the road network stamp together with the “Happy Birthday” sentiment. A Smoky Slate smaller bike was stamped on a Basic White C6 Envelope. A row of bikes was also stamped onto the envelope flap. 

I had so much fun creating this card. I hope my friend likes his card too.

Thank you so much for dropping by on you way around the 43rd Colour Creations Blog Hop. There is so much more Pumpkin Pie inspiration to see so do continue with the Blog Hop. I love the way we use the same colour in so many different ways.

To continue with the Pumpkin Pie blog hop just click the "next" graphic below to be taken to the blog of the lovely & talented, 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 hope to see you next week when we will be featuring Real Red as we move closer to the end of this round of 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 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   #funonwheels   #beautifulballoons  #meanderingmeadows  #countrysidecorners