New at SU! - You've been foiled blog hop

 Hey there crafters, welcome to the August blog hop with the team from New at SU!.  Our theme this month is focused on the new Stampin' Up! Hot Foil System!!!  

This has been an exciting time, as we introduce a brand new tool to use in our crafting.   The pretty foil adds sparkle and finishes off projects so beautifully!

I wanted to play around with the Garden Silhouette die, paired with gold foil.  I had seen so many people playing with this combination and wanted to try it with some ink blending as the background. 

  

Flourish and Frames stamp set included an adorable bee stamp, which although is a part of one of the hot foil bundles, is also a great stand alone stamp!  I made sure that I heat embossed the bee in gold, to match the foiled and inked panel.  In addition to the theme of gold, I added some gold foil cardstock to mat my sentiment... why not a bit more shine!!  If you look closely, both these cards have been created using the same products with one difference....  

Can you spot it?

Since its Hot Foil System's release, I believe Stampin' Up! are going to made a flat die available for purchase, making sure the 'leftover' foil can be used a second time to create a negative image.  I didn't wait for that, and instead used the backside of the large die (which is flat) to run the 'leftover foil' negative through the Cut n Emboss machine whilst it was still hot. 

 I made sure I ran it through VERY SLOWLY! I was thrilled with the results and meant I could create 2 cards using both the positive and negative images.

To add the colour to the white cardstock, I simply and gently used my ink blending brushes with a collection of different colours.  The foil didn't come off when adding the colour (yes, I was scared that it might flake off!) and seems to easily resist to ink, leaving a beautiful panel to use in your card.  

I hope you have enjoyed todays project, I am loving to learn a whole new way of crafting.  I can't wait to show this to my lovely crafting friends during workshops! Be sure to hop along to the rest of the team members.... their ideas in using this amazing new tool,  will also be inspiring.  

Happy Stamping, 

Rach x

Looking back at this week...

This past 2 weeks have flown by and I realise that I haven't updated the blog like I should have.  Hopefully you are all following along on my social media pages to keep up! I realise this is a bit of a photo dump but here is the projects that I have uploaded and featured recently - enjoy. 

A fun fold and a blending ink background technique using Attention Shoppers.  

Some fun cards - one for an upcoming workshop and the other using old Lawn Fawn stamps for boys!

The adventurous sky stamps made for a great fun fold, and the Silly Geese is another workshop card. 

Interactive cards - one for mothers day and another using my favourite Hot Air Balloon bundle!

2 weeks of monochromatic hop cards - Azure Afternoon and Berry Burst.  

A Bridgeton inspired card, with a fun fold pop up surprise inside.  

I've also uploaded some new videos to my YouTube.  Please pop over and subscribe so you get notified when the next one goes live.  

Happy creating, 
Rach xx

Just because...

 It's almost the New Year and of course like many others, I'm attempting to be organised.  My aim is to send out my birthday cards ahead of time and to have them sorted and in envelopes before the end of the previous month.  So today I discovered that with all the cards I created over Christmas, I'd left myself short of birthday cards.  

I created this design, in bulk with the intention of using up some designer series paper.  I have so much already but always find cutting it up very hard to do.  They are all so pretty! So to show it off, I used it as my background and added a simple label and some butterflies to finish.  

Just Jade and Bumblebee papers as well as Flirty Flamingo for the butterflies, make the pattern really pop.  

I now have cards in envelopes, addressed and stamped, all ready to pop in the mailbox today.  Thats all January birthdays done and dusted.  Are you on my birthday list?  If not, send me a message and I'll make sure one comes your way during the year.  

Happy stampin,

Rachael xx

A sweet mini gift box

 I've been playing with the Sweet Peach suite this week.  After making the donut box, I found myself turning to this easy construction once again and grabbing leftover DSP to decorate it.  In total, about 15 minutes from start to finish!  

The label was a quick stamped image and a sentiment cut to size to layer on top.  I love using the sponge daubers to add the touch of colour to the peaches and leaves.  

click on the above images for a larger version and see the details!

 YOU'RE A PEACH DSP is currently on Sale for 15% off ($17.00).  It's a beautifully versatile set of images and colours.  

If you are wanting your own set of Sweet as a Peach or simply like to collect Designer Series papers like a lot of us do, please contact me.  

Happy stamping,

Rachael

Technique Tuesday Blog Hop - ink!

 

This Technique Tuesday focuses on ink.  As a stamper, ink and paper are the staples of our craft.  Ink is a versatile product. I have chosen to use water splatter blotting as a technique.  

I cut out my circles using the Layering Circles dies, each a different size, using Basic White cardstock.  you could also use the watercolour paper if you would like for this technique.

I then used my blending brushes to ink them with Night of Navy and Pumpkin Pie.  I left the dies on the cut circles to give a white halo effect.  

After inking the entire circle, I used my waterpainter to flick water over the inked areas and after 2-3 seconds of sitting on the paper, I blotted it off with a tissue.  This removes some of the ink and leaves a shadowed splatter effect to the area.  You can repeat several times to get more detail like I have.

Thanks for popping by on the Hop.  

Please leave a comment below and don't forget to jump over to the other participants blogs to be inspired. 

Happy Stamping,

Rachael xx

Youtube tutorial

 

A new (and quick) tutorial over on YouTube.  Click the picture below to go check it out.  

I've used the Simply Elegant Suite to create this card.  It would make an ideal 'mass production' card or even a simple workshop card.  

Happy Stamping

Rachael xx

Sunday FB challenge

 

This weeks challenge got me digging into my DSP stash - I'm always up for using some of the sheets up if I can.  

I used last catalogues 'Fine Art Gallery' Designer Series Paper.  I also used Old Olive and Poppy Parade cardstock. 

The ribbon is coloured with Stampin Blend pens to match up the paper.  

You can join in the challenge and post over on Facebook HERE.

A 15 minute card

 I challenged myself to create a fast card the other morning.  You see, I don't get loads of time to create.  I try to make sure it fits in with work and family.  

So the other morning, less than half an hour is all I had.  I pulled out the trusty stamp set "Queen Annes Lace" to use because it always gives a great result for little effort.  Talk about simple stamping!  

I used Versamark ink to do the background.  The designer series paper is the new In Colour collection of 6x6 papers, I chose pale papaya.  A quick ink of the background using my blending brush and then stamped over the top to create the image.    

 

I'm happy with the results for such a little investment of time.  

Happy creating everyone,

Rachael xx

Sunday Challenges

 

Last weeks challenge was to use punches. I've used the new Elegant tag punch on this card, but not as a straight punch out as it is intended.  I used the top section to punch out several foil card pieces and arragned them to the side panel to create a boarder.  Then I use a strip of white card that was the width of the punch to add 2 ends the same as the rounded end of the punch.  This was easy, just add the card from the bottom of the punch, rather than through the slot as normal.

Another sunday challenge has been posted, so that means more creating to do... 

Happy stamping, 

Rachael xxx

Technical difficulties

 Technology is great - until it isn't.  Always the way isn't it? 

So I'm finally back up and blogging.... with new passwords and email accounts. 

I've been plodding along with creating, mainly because I've found myself really time poor this year. Many of my cards have been posted onto my Facebook but here is some stamping spam for you all to enjoy :) 

Can't wait to show you what I've been up to this weekend...

Rachael xx