Social Stamping - #12 Travel

Travel and Sailing Home

(Updated Blog post)

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and the Social Stamping Blog Hop for another week. This is our 12th week of blog hopping together and our theme this week is "Travel".

I hope you have been enjoying all the projects that have been inspired by the "Travel" theme. While restrictions are being lifted and some intra-state travel is starting to occur, I haven't sojourned far from home so my thoughts of travel have taken the form of dreams for the future. In pondering the design for this card, I also thought about the mixed messages that are around at present. I acknowledge that bringing us out of shutdown would be a nightmare for Government given so many different requirements, needs and wants. There are many voices wanting this, that and the other. My design is based on the sentiment - 'Set sail in the direction of your dreams', with the hidden text - don't be swayed this way or that, but to be grounded in your beliefs and on this foundation, follow your dreams. Here's my card (well two versions of it):

This first photo is of the final card which was uploaded the day after this blog went live. 

A word of explanation - my past week has been topsy turvy and time to craft seemed forever interrupted and so I came to Saturday with my project unfinished. I worked on completing the card but I wasn't 100%, however, looking at the time, I didn't have any leeway to continue 'till I was happy. I didn't want to let my colleagues down and just not post, so I posted the card now showing below. After finishing writing this blog within the 'go live' timeframe, I then continued to work on my card till I was happier with the end product. I'd be interested to know your thoughts about the two versions.

A brief description of how I created the card. The watercolour background was created using Seaside Spray ink wash on Shimmery White card-stock. This was embossed using the Old World Paper 3D embossing folder (so love this effect). The watercoloured shimmery white piece was mounted on Night of Navy cardstock which was then mounted on the card base with dimensionals. Some Frost White Shimmer Paint was flicked over. It doesn't show up well in these photos.

The compass, sailing boat and anchor from the Sailing Home stamp set were stamped in Night of Navy ink, with the latter two fussy cut, while the compass was punched out with a      1 1/2" circle punch. The centre stripe used a little 1/2" Balmy Blue Scalloped Linen Ribbon, a thin strip of Night of Navy card-stock and a die cut silver foil rope (from the coordinating Smooth Sailing dies). The sailing boat and anchor where tucked under the stripe feature while the compass was popped up on Dimensionals. The compass arrow also was die cut from Silver Foil. A sentiment from the Sailing Home stamp set was stamped, fussy cut into 3 pieces and arranged. To finish off, a few Seaside Spray coloured Basic Rhinestone Jewels were added.

The card inner is very simple with the compass '2nd generation' stamped in the middle and a couple of thin strips of Night of Navy card-stock adhered near the base.

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

I hope you have enjoyed this week's Social Stamping Blog Hop on "Travel". If you started at the beginning with our gorgeous Social Stamping Host, Kelly Kent, then I am the last blog for this week, however, if you started 'hopping' part way through then either click here to be transferred to Kelly Kent at My Papercraft Journey to see her creation or click on the Next graphic below.  Or if you would prefer to go to the full list of participants click here to be taken to Kelly Kent's Host blog post where you will find individual links that take you to each person's blog.

Look after yourself and your family. Take care.

Hope to 'see' you again next week. 😘

  

List of Products used to create this card:

Stamps & Dies

• Sailing Home stamp set - #149457
• Smooth Sailing dies - #149576
• Seaside Notions stamp set - #149278

Inks

• Balmy Blue ink pad - #147105
• Night of Navy ink pad - #147110
• Craft White Stampin' pad & Refill - #147277
• Frost White Shimmer Paint - #147046
• Balmy Blue Dark Stampin Blends - #154891 (Combo Pack)

Paper

• Shimmery White card-stock - #121717
• Whisper White card-stock - #106549
• Whisper White Thick card-stock - #140490
• Night of Navy card-stock - #106577
• Silver Foil - #132178
• C6 Whisper White envelopes - #106588

Embellishments

• Rhinestone Basic Jewels - #144220
• Seaside Spray Scolloped Linen Ribbon - #149707
• Silver Thread - retired

Adhesives

• Multipurpose Liquid Glue - #110755
• Mini Glue Dots - #103683
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals - #144108
• Stampin' Dimensionals - #104430
• Tear & Tape Adhesive - #138995

Tools

• Old World Paper embossing folder - #153200
• Aqua Painter - #151298
• Take Your Pick Tool - #144107
• Bone Folder - #102300
• Paper Snips - #103579
• Paper Trimmer - #152392
• Stamparatus - #148187
• Block C - #118486
• Block D - #118485
• Block E - #118484
• Grid Paper - #130148
• Silicone Craft Mat - #127857
• Simple Shammy - #147042
• Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine - #149653
• Magnetic Cutting Plate - #149656

Art With Heart Colour Creations Blog Hop - #2 Basic Gray

Basic Gray with Tasteful Touches

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and to the 2nd Colour Creations Showcase by members of the Art with Heart Team. Each week we will hero one of Stampin' Up!s colours and over the coming year we will work through all current colours, that is all the colours in the colour families, ie Subtles, Brights, Regals and Neutrals; plus two years of In Colours, ie 2019-2021 & 2020-2022. I hope you have been enjoying all the projects that have been inspired by this week's colour - 'Basic Grey'.

Our projects this week must include Basic Gray but we can use any other current colours in the project. Basic Gray is classified as one of Stampin' Up!s Neutral colour families. This is not a colour I have played with very much, but I have enjoyed working with it this week. As a Neutral colour, it is able to be combined with many other colours. Both my projects have combined Basic Gray with Petal Pink - a delightful combination. In one of the cards I have also used Pool Party and with my second card I have added some gold. 

For my first card I stamped the delightful rose from the Tasteful Touches stamp set in Basic Gray ink. The rose was stamped on Whisper White card-stock at various angles without overlapping and covered the card front. The card front was then fully coloured with Stampin' Blends - Dark & Light Petal Pink for the flowers (with a touch of Light Flirty Flamingo) and the background was coloured with Dark & Light Pool Party (and accidentally a touch of Bermuda Bay). This colour scheme was inspired by retired Speciality Designer Series Paper, ie the Parisians Blossoms SDSP. I wasn't sure of the colour combo once completing the colouring and was going to colour another card front - however, I ran out of time with unplanned happenings taking all spare moments. I will try to make another card and hope to upload it in a couple of days to give something to compare this one with.

The card front was mounted on Petal Pink card-stock and then on Basic Gray card base. An extra rose was stamped in Basic Gray ink on a spare piece of Whisper White card-stock, coloured with Stampin' Blends and then fussy cut. One of the sentiments from the Tasteful Touches stamp set was also stamped in Basic Gray ink and fussy cut. Two of the coordinating Tasteful Labels were die cut from Whisper White card-stock.

The labels, fussy cut rose and sentiment were arranged together with a piece of Metallic Edged ribbon (coloured with a Petal Pink Dark Stampin' Blend) in the centre of the card front. A few Gold Gilded Gems were scattered to finish the card design.

A piece of Whisper White card-stock, stamped with the same Basic Gray roses, was adhered inside the card to tie the whole card together.

My second card was based on a card designed by Emma Goddard and made during an on-line class. As part of my COVID-19 Survival Plan I have participated in a number of Emma Goddard's On-line classes, including her Card and a Cuppa classes every Friday. Emma is such a gem and it has been delightful to get to know her and the lovely ladies that also signed up for Emma's classes. This card is similar but different to Emma's. Emma used the gorgeous Celebrate Sunflower stamp set and different colours, leaves and embellishments, etc, etc. The layout and concept is similar and I have included it in this blog as we both used Basic Gray ink. I love, love, love Petal Pink with Basic Gray - which is the colour combo for my card.

The card front has been partially embossed with one of the new Greenery Embossing folders. The round Swirly Frame was stamped in Basic Gray ink and die cut with the largest circle from the Stitched Shapes dies. The gorgeous rose was also stamped in Basic Gray and coloured with Light and Dark Petal Pink Stampin Blends. A little So Saffron was added to the flower centre. The rose was fussy cut. Leaves were die cut in Vellum, Basic Gray and Gold Foil card-stock using the new Forever Flourishing dies (I love them too). A piece of Gold Metallic Edge Ribbon was coloured with a Dark Petal Pink Blends pen. A sentiment from the Tasteful Touches stamp set was stamped in Basic Gray and fussy cut.

The Swirly Frames label was popped up on Dimensionals. All the other elements were arranged, as you can see.

A piece of Whisper White card-stock was stamped and coloured in a similar way to the rose on the card, to tie the card front and card inner.

Thanks for dropping by to check out my 'Basic Gray' projects for this week's Colour Creations Showcase for 2020-2021. I hope you like the cards. I would love to hear if something caught your attention.

There will be so much more inspiration in the weeks to come, so pease join us over the coming weeks. The Creative Showcase will go live at 8.00pm EST each Wednesday. 

The lovely Catherine Proctor is hosting the Art with Heart Colour Creations Showcase each week. If you haven't finished checking out the team's colour creations, you can visit Catherine's page, at What Cathy Made, where she has links to all the other Showcase participants.

Take care and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Andrea  😘

List of Products used to create these cards:

Stamps & Dies

• Tasteful Touches stamp set - #152562
• Tasteful Labels dies - #152886
• Forever Flourishing dies - #152714

Inks

• Basic Gray ink pad - #149169
• Petal Pink ink pad - #147169
• Colour Lifter Stampin Blends - #144608
• Petal Pink Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #154893
• Pool Party Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #154894
• Flirty Flamingo Light Stampin Blends - #154884
• Bermuda Bay Light Stampin Blends - #154878

Paper

• Whisper White card-stock - #106549
• Whisper White Thick card-stock - #140490
• Basic Gray card-stock - #121689
• Petal Pink card-stock - #147009
• Vellum card-stock - #106584
• Gold Foil - #132622
• C6 Whisper White envelopes - #106588

Embellishments

• Gold Gilded Gems - #152478
• Pearl Basic Jewels - #144219
• Metallic Edged Ribbon - #144146

Adhesives

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

Tools

• Greenery embossing folder - #152716
• Take Your Pick Tool - #144107
• Bone Folder - #102300
• Paper Snips - #103579
• Paper Trimmer - #152392
• Stamparatus - #148187
• Block D - #118485
• Grid Paper - #130148
• Silicone Craft Mat - #127857
• Simple Shammy - #147042
• Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine - #149653
• Magnetic Cutting Plate - #149656

Art with Heart Weekly Colour Blog Hop - #1 Balmy Blue

Balmy Blue and Tasteful Touches

Hello. Welcome to Valley Inspirations with Andrea and to the 1st Colour Creations Showcase by members of the Art with Heart Team. Each week we will hero one of Stampin' Up!s colours as over the coming year we will work through all current colours. I hope you have been enjoying all the projects that have been inspired by this week's colour - 'Balmy Blue'.

Our projects must include the featured colour for that particular week but we are also able to use any other current colours in the project. I so love playing with colour and am looking forward to stretching myself to use all of the 50 Stampin' Up colours. We all have our colour prefer if challenging.

I love the Subtle colour range and so was comfortable using Balmy Blue. I wanted to use it in different design elements and also needed to decide what colours I would use also. This week I'm keeping the card to a monochromatic colour scheme with a touch of gold. I'm also using a number of new products from Stampin' Up!s Annual Catalogue 2020-2021 which was launched today. This catalogue has so many gorgeous products. If you live in Australia and don't have a demonstrator, let me know if you would like the catalogue mailed to your door.

I started with a light Balmy Blue watercolour wash on Shimmery White card-stock. When it had almost dried naturally, it was embossed using the new Old World Paper 3D Embossing Folder. I love the effect of this embossing folder - it looks as if the paper has been crumpled and partially flattened. So much gorgeous texture. This watercoloured textured card-stock is the card front. It was mounted on Night of Navy, Vellum and Balmy Blue card-stock.

The gorgeous flower from the Tasteful Touches stamp set was stamped a couple of times in Night of Navy ink on to Whisper White card-stock. The flowers were coloured with Light and Dark Balmy Blue Stampin' Blends with some of the Colour Lifter to help with blending the highlights. The flowers were fussy cut. 

An inch strip of In Good Taste designer series paper was laid across the card front and lifted on dimensionals. To add some leaves without another colour, one of the new Forever Flourishing leaf sprays was used with Vellum. Some simple veins were added with a Chalk Marker. The vellum leaves and the coloured flowers were arranged over the DSP strip and a new Gold Hoop. These gold hoops are so gorgeous - I will need to control myself not to use one on all my cards. The sentiment also came from the Tasteful Touches stamp-set and was white embossed onto a small strip of the same DSP. The sentiment was fussy cut and set up non Mini Dimensionals to add some subtle dimension. To finish of some Basic Rhinestones were coloured with the Dark Balmy Blue Bends and the White crinkled seam Binding was stamped with one of the texture stamps in Balmy Blue ink.

To carry the theme from the card front to the inside of the card, the Tasteful Touches flower was stamped inside the card and coloured with the Stampin' Blends. Usually, I don't add a sentiment inside the card so that it can be used in a range of circumstances.

Thanks for dropping in to check out my 'Balmy Blue' project for this first Colour Creations Showcase for 2020-2021. There will be so much more inspiration in the weeks to come, so pease join us again over the coming weeks. The Creative Showcase will go live at 8.00pm EST each Wednesday. 

The lovely Catherine Proctor is hosting the Art with Heart Colour Creations Showcase each week. If you haven't finished checking out the team's colour creations, you can visit Catherine's page, at What Cathy Made by clicking here, where she has links to all the other Showcase participants.

I do hope you are coping in these challenging times. It is so good that restrictions are being lessoned through staged approaches across the country, and life is expanding to a new normal, at least within Aus. Take care and look after yourself and your loved ones.

Looking forward to seeing you next week.

Andrea  😘

List of Products used to create this card:

Stamps & Dies

• Tasteful Touches stamp set - #152562
• Forever Flourishing dies - #152714

Inks

• Versamark ink pad - #102283
• Balmy Blue ink pad - #147105
• Night of Navy ink pad - #147110
• Colour Lifter Stampin Blends - #144608
• Balmy Blue Light & Dark Stampin Blends - #154891
• Wink of Stella Glitter Brush - #141897
• White Emboss Powder - #109132
• Stampin' Chalk Marker - #132133

Paper

• Shimmery White card-stock - #121717
• Whisper White card-stock - #106549
• Whisper White Thick card-stock - #140490
• Balmy Blue card-stock - #147007
• Vellum card-stock - #106584
• In Good Taste Designer Series Paper - #152494
• C6 Whisper White envelopes - #106588

Embellishments

• Gold Hoops Embellishments - #152474
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels - #144220
• Mini Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon - #151326
• Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack - #152475 (used the gold metallic trim)

Adhesives

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

Tools

• Old World Paper embossing folder - #153200
• Aqua Painter - #151298
• Take Your Pick Tool - #144107
• Bone Folder - #102300
• Paper Snips - #103579
• Paper Trimmer - #152392
• Stamparatus - #148187
• Block D - #118485
• Grid Paper - #130148
• Silicone Craft Mat - #127857
• Simple Shammy - #147042
• Stampin Cut & Emboss Machine - #149653
• Magnetic Cutting Plate - #149656

Social Stamping - #10 Hearts

Hearts with Wildly Happy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hope to see you again next week.

  

List of Products used to create this card:

Stamps & Dies

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

Inks

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

Paper

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

Embellishments

• Heart Epoxy Droplets - #148583

Adhesives

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

Tools

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

Social Stamping - #9 Animals

Animals - No! She's My Fur Family.

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

  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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