Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to a little blog hop.  This month we are exploring different techniques and I thought I'd show you this Triple Layer Technique as it seems to be very popular at the moment.

You simply take three pieces of cardstock and layer them one on top of the other - so in my case this was three pieces of Whisper White.  I decided on the sizing for the outside larger layer and then took off about 1 cm to create the next two pieces.  

I used a little bit of snail to keep each piece in place whilst I stamped.  If you centre your main image on the centre piece and work outwards it works best - and don't worry that little pieces on the outer edge of the cardstock do not take on the impression - these get covered up with the matting and do not show.  or as in my case they do show but they look like they are part of the design - I hope :)

When you've finished creating the pretty design you then matt the first two smaller pieces with the same colour cardstock as your final card (with the final card being the final mat).  In my case this was Concord Crush.

I've used Daffodil Delight, Tangarine Tango and Concord Crush inks and finished off the card with some ribbon detail.  Vanessa Webb demonstrated at Convention, her Ostrich Feather technique - great way to add extra interest to your ribbon details by adding different coloured and textured pieces.

I made this card for a dear friend of mine for her birthday - Vintage Vogue is one of my all time favourites and I'll be sad to see it retire at the end of the month.

Time to hop along to Di Dunk who is going to show us an embossing technique I believe.

Happy Hopping and I'll see you next week.

Nikki

x

Royal Tour - Welcome to Australia and Vintage Vogue

Hello and welcome to my castle which is located in Melbourne, Australia.  I'm not sure how many aussies have taken part in the Royal Tour before .... but two of my friends are taking part too ... and we have been very excited.

So without further ado here's my project using the beautiful stamp set Vintage Vogue.  It's a gift for my mother-in-law who celebrates her birthday this month.  How often do you reach for a notelet or card to send to someone .... and find you don't have anything to send?

The designer series paper is a set called Elegant Soiree, it coordinates perfectly with Baja Breeze, Crmb Cake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede.   I have made four designs, two of each.  I have planned for these cards to be used for all sorts of occasions.  Whilst this set of cards have all their sentiments in place;  I'll be making more as gifts with hand stamped sentiments that are not attached to the card .... this is so when the card is written an appropriate sentiment can be attached - perfect.  

A lovely thank you card ...

As And a 'just for you' card ... all the cards have matching envelopes too.

We are nearing Christmas, so this little gift idea would be perfect for teachers, friends, colleagues and anyone who you post pressies too as it is light and easy to package.

I am offering a pack of these cards with the self adhesive sentiments as blog candy and a thank you for visiting my castle.  

If you would like to be in the draw please leave a comment and then email me a note of your name and email address to nikki@inkyart.com.au to let me know your name and your email address to be included within the draw.

Thank you for visiting my aussie castle ... it's been a pleasure to meet you .... leave me a comment so that I know you have visited, and come back again soon!

 

Convention Swap 2010

As promised, here is my swap ... I had such a good response to the bookmarks I made for the last blog hop I thought I would make a few as my swap.  Didn't manage to make the 100 I was aiming for ... but that's okay - Olivia helped me to make 30 or so ... for which I am very grateful - thanks Livvy xxx

I've used the Vintage Vogue stamp set and the Very Vintage wheel together with a technique called Masking.  You simply stamp the image twice ... cut one out and use the cut out to cover the other image - then you roller (or stamp) over the top ... remove the little cut image and hey presto .... Masking!  

If you'd like a template so that you can make these too leave me a comment and I will email one to you.  If you left a comment last time check your mailbox because you should have received one last night!

Book a class or workshop and I'll show you how easy it is to make these - new monthly stamping class starts on Friday 2 July at 7.30pm - call or email to book your seat - 0428 254 952.

Thanks again Olivia for your help - hope you enjoyed your extra lollies from the English Lolly Shop in Darling Harbour.

 

ESAD Mother's Day Hop

Oh yes another Hop - I love Blog Hops!

You will have just arrived from Debbie William's blog, but if you haven't and you are starting here ... don't worry ... hops are a circle ... you can hop on and off where you choose.  Now if you'd like to win some blog candy all you need to do is to leave a comment on all the blogs in the hop (16 in total) and then email the organiser Sharlene Torres and let her know that's what you have done - so simple!

Mother's Day for me happens in March (three weeks before Easter) .... being an English chick that's just what happens ... but ... being an Aussie chick too (thank goodness you can't hear me speak - lol), Mum did say that she'd quite like having two Mother's Days so perhaps Mother's Day in May will become more normal for me I think.

Having just achieved a recent promotion, I was able to get the Big Shot for FREE - yes FREE - excited is an understatement. 

I've used the Top Cut die to make a little bag.  I used this last night as a prize for a workshop - the ladies loved it.  It is so simple to make.  

Then I have cut two Top Notes (at the same time) and ran the Very Vintage wheel over them in Soft Suede.  A little Melon Mambo Vintage Vogue flower with a little centre in Soft Suede and a brad, the little bag was almost complete.

I used the Hostess Level 1 set, Best Yet to create a tag, punched with the large oval, scallop oval and wide oval, this is a quick and easy way to add a sentiment.  I've attached it to the Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon handles with a little piece of Linen Thread ... finished off with a little bit of sponging with the Soft Suede ink .. perfect.  Here's a little sketch to show you the dimensions for making the little box inside ...

I love being a demo ... not only do we get a generous discount we also receive great incentives ... and you can became a member of ESAD - it's for all Australian and New Zealand demonstrators of all levels. Click here to join and receive the help and encouragement you need in your business from both new and experienced demonstrators. And if you want to join Team Inky ... click here to find out more.

Right time to hop onto Melissa Barkwith's blog for more inspiration - enjoy your day.

 

Happy Birthday Mum

It's my Mum's birthday today ... Happy Birthday Mum :o) 

Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron and Old Olive remind me of spring time ... it's okay I haven't gone mad ... mum lives in England and spring has sprung for her.

The beautiful Vintage Vogue stamp set is just so beautiful and I have teamed it up with the Very Vintage wheel and the Best Yet Level 1 hostess set sentiment.

I was very pleased with this card .... went a little OTT as I attached another Top Note die cut to the inside of the card and a few more flowers .... but I reckon if you can't go a bit mad on your Mum's card when can you?

Hope you are having a fantastic day Mum - love you.

Love Paul, Nikki, Olivia, Kieran and Max (woof woof) 

xxxxx 

PS - thanks to Christine for coming to my rescue and sending me some die cuts - my die cutting machine ... the Big Shot ... hadn't arrived and I had a vision of this card that just needed to be made for my Mum.  Christine came to the rescue and sent me a 'few' of her die cuts to help me out - thanks x

SAM Challenge # 7 - ME!

The challenge .... to scrapbook five things you like about yourself ... including a photo!  Yep a photo - I don't have very many photos of me at all - I'm always taking the photos!

As always, there is a prize .... two jumbo Stampin' Around wheels of your choice - cool prize donated by Tanja.  You can use Mr Linky to enter your layout or if you don't have a blog email one of the design team and we will help you - you can make a guest appearance on my blog if you like ;o)

You will find all the challenge details HERE at the Stampamemory.

Believe it or not ... this challenge was ... well a challenge.  I can waffle on until the cows come home about everyone I know (and often do), talk to a lamp post if it will answer back even ... but tell you something personal about me ... or show you a photo of me .... ummmm that takes a bit of preparation!

I have three photos of me that I 'kinda' like (constantly on a diet you see - perhaps one day there will be a before and after picture - lol) ... the one here on my blog ... up there on the right ... the one I use as an avatar for the forums I frequent (will scrap that one day) and this one!

I asked my son Kieran if he could list five things that he loved about his mum ... being rather smart he asked why, and when I told him he said it would be cheating if he told me ... great help he was!

I then asked my best friend ... she came up with heaps of ideas (gotta love best friends).  I did ponder scrapbooking my feet ... I like my feet ... I wondered if scrapping my big toe, my little toe ... and so on ... would count ... or get me chucked off the design team!  As this was one of my New Year Resolutions (that I really didn't think I could achieve) - I took several days to come up with this layout ... the stamping was a breeze ... the journalling a little less so!  So here it is .... 

I am in love with the new Vintage Vogue set from the Autumn Mini - especially the clear mount version.  But first ... here's the sparkle ... I've used Crystal Effects and then sprinkled some Dazzling Diamonds over the letters before it dried ... see how much it sparkles.

And the flowers - I've created 'centres' threading the ribbon up through one hole, knotting it and then threading it down through another hole ... or ... I have threaded both ends of the ribbon through the card and tied a simple knot.

I used Real Red and the long stamp from the Vintage Vogue set to create an edge to the page ... and then overlaid that with the Basic Black, Craft White ink and the 'viney' stamp to create another border before I added the photo and the numbered chipboard journalling.

All the numbers are from the On Board Timeless set ... I've used the 'waste' and cut it out with a craft knife.  I sponged Basic Black and Real Red ink onto the chipboard and then stamped the image over the top in Craft White.  These little pieces are attached to Whispter White journalling blocks, again stamped and I have written with a Real Red marker.

So what does the journalling say ... well here goes:

I love being Mum!  My two greatest achievements are Olivia and Kieran - they make me smile every day.

I like being me .. trying to be the very best I can be for myself and for everyone around me - a definite work in progress!

I love to create ... are you surprised?  I've always got a list of 'things I want to do' ... 
 if only I had more time!

I love to make others laugh and I love hearing others laugh.  I can't tell a joke to save my life but I do have a few 'blonde' moments to share.

I am a glass half full kinda girl.  I'll grab any opportunity that comes my way with a smile and encourage others to do the same!

I hope this inspires you to have a go and enter a layout - remember there are prizes!

It has been a challenge to bear my soul in this way but I am really pleased that I did it ... now my kids ... and their kids will have a record of what their mother / grandmother looked like and thought about herself at the ripe old age of 42 - did I just admit to being that old :o)

That's what I love about scrapbooking :o)

 

Mini Creations

I've used the new Pendant Notes in the Autumn Winter Mini to create a little card - it's only 10.8 cm square but it is so cute.  They cost $17.50 and the pack contains 15 of these little cards and 15 matching envelopes - brilliant value. 

You slip the little die cut pieces out to reveal the pattern and then the rest is up to you.  I've used the Melon Mambo cardstock and the Vintage Vogue stamp set to create a really quick and easy card.  The centre of the flower is a little white brad and the centre of the bow is a half pearl from the Pretties Kit.

Talking of bows have you noticed how good this one is .... I don't 'do' bows but anyone can do this one ... leave me a comment and I'll send you the link to a great little video I found!

Back soon with another little Pendant Note creation.

 

ESAD Team Blog Hop

Yes another hop ... isn't this exciting!  See what happens with a new Mini is released :o)  If you are already hopping you will have arrived from Nicole Darendorf's blog.

Now this hop is part of the ESAD team.   If this is the first time you have visited my little piece of cyberspace, welcome.  For those of you new to the art of blog hopping, you might be wondering what  this is all about.  Well some members of ESAD (Extremely Special Aussie and New Zealand Demonstrators) have got together and we have all posted a NEW Autumn/Winter Mini idea you this morning. We have linked our posts together so all you need to do is grab a cuppa, sit back and enjoy the ride .... I think you'll be inspired!

 I've used a 12 x 12 piece of Elegant Eggplant (now available as a single colour pack of cardstock) and the Vintage Vogue Wheel.  Firstly I used a Versamark pad to ink up the wheel and I ran it all over the cardstock, I then inserted a black cartridge and ran over the edges of the cardstock to darken the edge.  The edges have also been sponged with Chocolate Chip Ink.

 The vintage photo has been matted onto Soft Suede and I have used a piece of the new Designer Series Paper, Autumn Traditions to centre the page.  I've sponged the edge of the photo with Choclate Chip to add to the 'vintage-ness' - this isn't the original photo its a copy - I definitely wouldn't do that if I owned the orignal!  When I bought this paper I imagined I would be using the more vibrant pieces ... but I love how the Soft Suede and Always Artichoke colours work so well with vintage scrapbooking.

 The ribbons are the new Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbons in the mini, the ribbons are double sided so you get to choose whether to use the dots or not .... and then I have laid a piece of Elegant Eggplant grosgrain over the top using the Sticky Strip and gathering it up on the left hand side.  I added a little hand torn flower too, scrunched up and then flattened, and the edges have been sponged again with Chocolate Chip. The centre is a eyelet which I set with the Crop-o-Dile - and then I've inserted a little vintage brad to complete the middle of the flower.

I printed the title on the computer but added in some hand journalling too .... printed or written onto Soft Suede and then layered onto some more Soft Suede that I have ran the Vintage Vogue wheel over in black ... once I started wheeling I couldn't stop - this wheel is so beautiful and I cant wait to demo it at my next workshop.

 Everything has been sponged for the aged vintage look - I love this page.

So all that's left for me to tell you is who ESAD are and how can you join?  It's for all Australian and New Zealand demonstrators of all levels. Click here to join and receive the help and encouragement you need in your business from both new and experienced demonstrators.  I've been a member for a couple of months now and I receive the daily digest of information that keeps me up to date with my business in a jiffy - it's worth joining.

There's blog candy as usual, leave a message on each and every blog in this hop and then email Leonie and let her know.  

Hop on your way to Nikki Stalker's blog for another inspiring idea.

Thanks for visiting - I hope you come back again very soon.

 

Celebrating Friendships

I have a new layout posted today over at the Stamp A Memory site .... you can check it out HERE!  Stamp A Memory offers great scrapbooking inspiration for the Stampin' Up! customer as well as challenges every fortnight .... with Stampin' Up! products as prizes!

I've used the new Vintage Vogue set from the Autumn Winter mini - if you'd like a copy and haven't ordered from me before (and don't already have a demonstrator of course :o)), drop me a line and I'll put one in the post for you.

Back tomorrow with the third Art with Heart team blog hop - more Autumn Winter yummies to whet your appetite ... another new set from me ... Cottage Garden.