AWHT October Blog Hop - Designer Series Paper

From 1 - 31 October only! From selected DSPs, buy 3 DSPs and get 1 FREE! 

Tonight the Art with Heart Team girls are sharing some wonderful ideas to inspire you with our Designer Series Papers.  

This month is the start of the new Stampin' Up year and we have a special promotion on our DSP - buy 3 get 1 FREE for the month of October, and there's no limit!  So take this opportunity and go to my shop to browse those beautiful papers and pay less! 

To demonstrate the DSPs I've chosen the one that is the latest holiday catalogue - the Year of Cheer Specialty Designer Series Paper! 

I've used this DSP in my previous fun fold Christmas card, and am so impressed at how attracting it is.  Now I'm using it again to make two cards, one for Christmas and the other New Year.

#1 Season's Greeting

In this card I've used two sheets from the DSP, as well as the Cheers to the Year stamp set, plus the foil snowflakes to complete it. It is relatively easy (that's how I roll) and basically I just layer them all up. 

I try to ink the edge of the snow flakes with Bermuda Bay ink pad but it doesn't stay on very well.  I think most of the ink eventually got to my fingers! 

#2 Cheers to New Year

In this card I've also used two sheets of different design from the DSP, and the same stamp set and foil snowflakes.  I cut the other DSP in arrowed strips to place under the sentiment.  

Well I hope you enjoy my cards which are very easy to make with this DSP to impress the receiver.  Now it’s time to hop on over to our next participant, the very talented and lovely,  Catherine Proctor! 

1. Rachel Woollard
2. Tina Gillespie
3. Claire Daly
4. Sharon Davern
5. Andrea Roberts
6. Kimberly Hern  (YOU ARE HERE)
7. Catherine Proctor
8. Caroline Manwaring
9. Monika O’Neill
10. Rebecca Jacovou
11. Ros Davidson
12. Kate Morgan 
13. Rachel Palmieri

Climbing Orchid - Enjoy Today!

I've finally got time to sit down and play with stamps today.  With my job I have to work on Saturdays too, and therefore, Sunday is the only day when I can really sit down and do some real business- crafting!

And when I finished this card it just made me wonder why it took me 3 weeks to open the bundle.

Yes, it is the beautiful Climbing Orchid Bundle.  It was fairly easy to assemble and the result was amazing.  So strikingly beautiful when the card was finished that nothing else much needs to be added.

To make the card, I choose the most simple colours combination and paper to achieve an oriental look -  the 2017-2019 In Colours, the Designer Series Paper,  and some scraps.  Simple as that.

This time I don't look at any Pinterest for inspiration, as sometimes that can interfere with my imagination.

I match a piece of the Naturally Eclectic DSP with the watercolour + brushing effect to go with the orchids, plus a small piece of the Berry Burst scrap, another Lemon Lime paper and Crumb cake card base.

With the colour combo, I first plan a Lemon Lime Twist + Burst Berry (both from the current In Colours)  + Crumb Cake combo.  Then I add a Crushed Curry ribbon to see if it adds richness to colour and texture.  I think it does visually.  I didn't place it artistically enough though so it looks a bit slouchy on the card.

It's still a lovely card. and I'm pleasantly surprised by the Lemon Lime Twist.  (First impression was BAH!  But then it grew on me, slowly...)

I use the following items to complete my project:

AWH Blog Hop June 2017 - My Favourite New Bundle - Coffee Cafe

With the new annual catalogue that just came out on 1 June, I've been trying really hard not to get distracted by all sorts of stamp sets, dies, punches and bundles.    But there's one bundle I just had to have the moment I saw it, and being a coffee fan it has to be the Coffee Cafe Bundle!  

Therefore, with the Art with Heart Team's June Blog Hop, this is my favourite bundle to show you from the 2017 Stampin' Up! Catalogue.  

I've made two cards out of the same bundle and DSP. 

Card #1

Besides the bundle and Designer Series Paper, I also use Shimmer Ribbon from the latest catalogue.  The Pear Pizzazz and Early Espresso are a superb combination and goes seamlessly with the coffee cafe theme.

I use the die in the bundle to easily make the coffee sleeve texture.  It is very easy to make and not fussy to assemble at all. 

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Card #2 

Same bundle, same DSP, and same style.

To compliment the ice coffee, I also use the latest mini chevron ribbon in Old Olive to make an embellishment, which I got the inspiration from the catalogue.  

Bundles make creating a breeze, because of the perfect coordination. It's a bonus that you get 10% off by bundling the products together too. There are 24 bundles in the new catalogue so ask us about them, or for a catalogue today!

And the next blog you're hopping to is my lovely friend - Judy May!  We stayed in the same hotel room at the Brisbane Onstage 2016, and boy the fun we had.  It was hilarious and full of lovely memories.  Besides she's super talented too. :-)

So click on the button below to hop over to her blog. Be sure to keep going until you get the full set of inspiration from our talented members. 

List of Participants (in no particular order):

1. Rachel Palmieri
2. Caroline Manwaring
3. Kate Morgan
4. Alisha Watson
5. Claire Daly
6. Rachel Woollard
7. Rebecca Jacovou
8. Kimberly Hern (You are here )
9. Judy May
10. Tina Gillespie
11. Catherine Proctor
12. Andrea Roberts
13. Sharon Davern
14. Monika O'Neill
15. Ros Davidson

Thinking of You Two Ways with Hostess Time of Year Stamp Set

 It's funny that sometimes the things that you love the most are actually the simpliest little things that most people actually don't jump into straight away.  Take the Hostess Time of Year stamp set for example, it is probably a very simple stamp set to most, but it's the first one that I've opened.  See below.

 I made two cards straight away, and am extremely happy about them.


Card 1:

I use heat embossing for the Thinking of You sentiment in both cards, and die-cut one with Sweet and Sassy heartshape die set.  Then I ink the Always banner in Peekaboo Peach ink pad.  Once the paper soaks up all the ink the colour just looks amazing.  Then I die-cut it with the Bunch of Banners die set.  

Card 2:

I also used a doily die to cut out a doily and serve it as part of the background.  The paper panel with handwriting is from the loverly 2016-2018 In Colours Designers Paper Stack.  Everything gels perfectly.  

Hope you give it a go with the super versatile stamp set.  You'll be amazed at how beautiful and modern your project can turn out.

I use the following Stampin' Up supplies for making my cards:

Welcome to Your new Home Sweet Home - Happy Notes

Have you ever had this situation where you're trying to to use up your stash of paper scraps but just ending up cutting more new paper?  Yes.

And in the end you somehow accumulated about 5 boxes of scraps stacked up in the corner? Yes.

And at this moment, you're thinking how to use all those boxes of scrap paper?  Yes!

And today, what's showcased here is, that there is no way you can use up those scraps.  Never.  HA!

But I'm just showing you how HAPPY I am after I made yet another card using some of the scraps!   Just one card!

And I am sure you have had the situation whereas you're just like me, in a messy craft room.  But you're left with HAPPINESS.

Yep, that's what it's all about, my friend.  Life isn't about tidiness; It is about being happy.

And I've placed another order for more stuff.  Yep I bet you've just done that too earlier this week.

The Gold Soiree DSP (designer series paper) is featured in this card. The gold accents add a touch of fineness together with the gold sequins.

For this card I use the following Stampin' Up products

Boy's Birthday card with Dinosaur - No Bones about It and Botanical Builder

Last Saturday I had to take Ashley to a classmate's birthday party.  (Peter usually shuns away from these kind of things but I am happy for him to mow the lawn instead)  Usually I am not good with boy's birthday cards - I have only one girl so most all my creations are themed with pink flowers and glitters.  However, ever since I knew that Ashley's class has more boys than girls, I've known that this is coming and bought a few boys stamp sets.

So with the help of this really cool Dinosaur stamp set (called "No Bones about It) I could easily make dozens of boy-style cards without too much effort. And the best thing is, I don't have to spend hours on Amazon trying to find matching papers - they're all in the Stampin' Up shop.  And they match perfectly, which potentially saves me time and money.  

And here is one of the creations (the others have been given away)

Besiede the stamp set, I also use the Botanical Builder to diecut some leaves.  They fill up the space above the dinosaur nicely.

It's a very cute card indeed.

There are tons of Pinterest inspirations of this stamp set and the Botanical Builder die set (I made a card with it. see my previous post).  The patterned paper is called Botanical Gardens Designer Series Paper and it is retiring by end of May.  But both the No Bones about It and Botanical Builder are still current in the 2016/2017 catalogue.  I also use the lates 2016/2018 In color Peekaboo Peach card stock for the card base, which is going on sale starting June 1st, 2016.