Friday Sketchers #7

Another Christening card that I was asked to make by a friend (there were 3 in total so you'll see another one soon!) Do you like the little tag I made for the sentiment? It's a little trick I learnt at Stampin' Up! regionals using circle punches.

I cheated a little with this sketch, I didn't add the little strip up the side, but I was working with a fairly small card (10.5cmx10.5cm), and I couldn't make anything fit, where if I'd used a slightly bigger card I probably could have made it work, so that's a little tip for all of you playing along at home. Speaking of playing along, go check out the Challenge site and make sure you have a go!

---

Stamps: Button Buddies, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Marina Mist, Basic Grey
Cardstock: Nursery Suite DSP, Crumb Cake, Wild Wasabi, Marina Mist, Whisper White
Accessories: Subtles Designer Buttons, Pear Pizzazz Poly Stitched Ribbon

Punches: 1 3/8" Circle Punch

Bigshot: Scallop Square Bigz, Tasteful Trim Bigz XL

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Friday Sketch Challenge #6 (and catching up with #5)

Hi everyone! Time for another Friday Sketch Challenge, This was a really fun & easy sketch to work with so make sure you pop by the Challenge website and play along! This is a little monochrome(ish?) card I was asked by a friend to make for a christening she was attending. I thought the sketch needed the cute teddy bear from "My Favourite Bear", which is one of the very first sets I purchased and haven't been able to part with even though it has been retired for years.

---

Stamps: Calendar Alphabet, My Favourite Bear
Ink: Early Espresso
Cardstock: Subtles Patterns Stack (Certainly Celery), Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Antique Trinkets

Punches: Modern Label

Bigshot: Stripes Textured Impressions, Petal Cone Bigz L

---

I played along with the last challenge for my DT commitments, but I didn't get the chance to post here, as I was attending a family wedding. So I thought I'd post the card here as well.

This is the card I made for Chris (Justin's Brother) & Amy's wedding. I also made their wedding invitations so luckily I had insider knowledge of the colour scheme, stamps used etc and was able to make a card that coordinated with the wedding perfectly ;)

---

Stamps: Elements of Style, Monogram Sweet Alphabet
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Versamark
Cardstock: Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Accessories: Black & Clear EDP, Basic Black Satin Ribbon

Bigshot: Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Beautiful Butterflies in 3D

The other month I held a 3D class as my regular Stampin' Up! class. We also made a Snow Globe card but I'll show you guys that one closer to Christmas.

The other 2 projects we made were a pop up card and a matching gift box using the Fancy Favour Bigz XL die.

 Here is the card we made, inside and out, we used some window sheets to cut a spiral so that the embosslit butterflies seem to fly off the page.

And the matching box, isn't this so cute?? Perfect size for popping some home made yummies or a bit of jewellery inside.

---

Stamps: Perfect Punches
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Love Letter DSP (retired), Crumbcake, Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Window Sheets, Basic Jewels Pearls
Punches: Wide Oval, Butterfly
Bigshot: Fancy Favour Bigz XL, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz, Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Designer Frames Textured Impressions
Tools: Circle Scissor Plus


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Friday Sketch Challenge #2

 I'm a little late for today's challenge, sorry about that girls! I have the kids' party planned for tomorrow and our location has a 90% chance of being rained out, so I've had to ring around and tell everyone who is coming that I've changed the venue, (oh and did I mention I'm pretty sure I've missed some people we should have invited! So if you're reading this and thinking you missed out - sorry! but I'm sure you aren't the only ones lol)
Anyway, onto today's card: I followed the gorgeous sketch over on Friday Sketch Challenge. I was inspired by a card i saw on Tracey's facebook page to use a Textured Impressions folder as a focal panel and I thought this sketch was the perfect card to try it out on. The rest is pretty straight forward, silver embossing for the other focal panel, some rhinestone brads, buttons and ribbon make up the card.

Before I go I thought I'd show you my new personalised stamp that I use for my cards now. I got a friend of mine (Mike Perry of No Dice Comics) to design up a stamp that matches my Zarna Gould Designs website & facebook page theme and then got it manufactured locally. I think Mike did a fantastic job for a very reasonable price, so if you need anything like this done up let me know and i'm happy to give you his details!

PS Never fear SU! gals, I always include appropriate SU! copyright info when packaging my cards & invitations that I sell, I just wanted to leave my options open for the odd times that I need to use another company's stamps so I can credit them the appropriate way as well, and as a result thought it was best not to include this info on the stamp design ;)

---

Stamps: Baroque Motifs
Ink: Versamark, Certainly Celery (for sponging)
Cardstock: Subtles Patterns DSP Stack (Certainly Celery), Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Accessories: Clear Rhinestones, Neutrals Buttons, Whisper White organza, Silver EDP

Big Shot: Manhattan flower Textured Impressions Folder 
Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Friday Sketch Challenge #1

I'm so excited to be sharing with you for Friday Sketch Challenge #1! I'm loving being back on a design team again, I've missed it so much since JSM & The Blend ended.

Our first sketch was designed by Debra and I think she did a fantastic job!

Aliens wearing cowboy hats!
Click to make larger

I took inspiration for my girly monster card from the background DSP, the first time I looked at it I saw little aliens in the pattern so I knew making a monster card was in order and of course the pink meant it had to be a girly monster card!

I have used Melon Mambo and (new in colour!) Lucky Limeade for my monsters. The Limeade one was coloured by mixing a little reinker and shimmer paint together then using my aqua painter to brush it on. She's so sparkly in real life! The Melon monster was made spotty by using scraps of paper to mask the edges and stamping the eye stamp on her body then washing over it with the aquapainter to wash out some of the spots and pull colour to other areas, I used a bit of Melon Mambo ink to fill in the gaps left over and to create a little shadowing on her underside.

---

Stamps: Just Believe, Make a Monster
Ink: Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade, Stazon  Cardstock: Cheerful Treat DSP, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink, Watercolour Paper, Whisper White
Punches: Boho Blossom, Word Window
Bigshot: Scallop Circle
Tools: Circle Scissor Plus, Aquapainter
Accessories: Pink Pirouette Taffeta, Subtles Glimmer Brads

Baby Shower Card

I woke up sunday morning, the day of the baby shower and realised that I had a gift for the mother to be (see my quilt post from Wednesday) but that I hadn't made a card yet! So excuse the photo, & messy desk, I didn't have time to do my usual set up (I didn't even have time to get out my Daylight lamp that I use to make the colours look nice, thank goodness for iPhoto!)
I already had the Marina Mist Ribbon sitting out on my desk from when I'd made the quilt so straight away I decided that would have to go on the card, and after having a quick flick through my inspiration list bookmarks I found this cute card from Amanda Reddicliff and decided I loved how the DSP & Bigshot lettering were the main focal point of the card. I moved the lettering around (not because I put the DSP & ribbon too high on the card or anything like that lol) and added a cute little vintage tag held with the cute little Vintage Trinket safety pin ( both in the Summer mini, less than a month left to order!)

---

Stamps: Medallion, Short & Sweet
Ink: Marina Mist
Cardstock: Subtles Patterns DSP Stack (Bashful Blue), Marina Mist
Bigshot: Timeless Type Jnr Sizzlits
Accessories: Marina Mist 1 1/4" Grosgrain, Vintage Trinkets, Vintage Tags

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Card Buffet #2

This is the other card I designed for the card buffet on Monday morning's craft day, I thought since it was on Valentines day that i would include a Valentines Day card for anyone who had forgotten, but at the same time make it a card that would suit any romantic occasion.
It's an unusual card for me and I love it, but considering my lack of mojo I'm assuming it's one of those "see it one day, forget the next but it sticks in your head just enough to make you think it's a new idea" kind of situations, so if you think I've stolen your design let me know and I'll give you credit lol!

---

Stamps: Love Defined
Ink: Pear Pizazz, Cake Crumb, Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade
Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Cake Crumb, Blushing Bride, Poppy Parade, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop Trim Corner, Mini Library Clip


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Card Buffet

I'm having a craft morning today to celebrate the kids being back at school or preschool for the year this morning and the intention is for everyone to bring along their own project to work on, but if they don't have something in mind I've made up some card packs for a "card buffet" basically the girls can buy the card pack they want and make the project using the instructions included.
This is the first card I designed, I kept it fairly simple so that it could be easily made with just the instructions and while I will be around to answer any questions I won't have to demo the whole card for them. I'm hoping to do a few of these mornings this year, and I'll just add a couple of card designs to the buffet each time so there's a few to pick & choose from like a true buffet.
Because my mojo is still on Christmas vacation it is almost a direct case of this card by Jodie Oliver (but don't go and look because you'll see how much better her version is lol), I've just changed up the colour scheme and ribbon.

---

Stamps: Party This Way
Ink: Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush
Cardstock: Lap of Luxury DSP, Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink, Concord Crush
Accessories: Victoria Lace Crochet Trim


Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Tropical Party Birthday

After Christmas I desperately needed to kick my mojo back into gear so this was my attempt to get back in the groove. I'm happy with the card but as it took me about 4 days to get it to a point where I was happy (and then I smeared the sentiment! argh) I think I'm not quite there yet.
I used the new Tropical Party Stamp set & Island Oasis DSP as well as Well Scripted, all in the Summer Mini and I love how bright & cheery it looks!
I stole the layout from this sketch over at Sketches by Tamara.

---

Stamps: Island Oasis, Well Scripted
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Old Olive
Cardstock: Island Oasis DSP, So Saffron, Shimmer White
Accessories: Mini Glue Dots (millions!) Dimensionals

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Congrats Kirrah & Noel!

I had my sewing machine out (and worked out lol) from this card so I decided to use it and boy, did I use it!

This was a wedding card for a friend of mine from work, and I know it isn't a traditional wedding card, but the bride wore navy so I knew a traditional card wouldn't suit the theme ;p
I used an old Mojo Monday sketch, it's the type I'd normally go running from (too much white space) but I stuck pretty close to the sketch and I think it worked for me...

---

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Ink: Tempting Turquoise
Cardstock: Brights Patterns DSP Stack, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizazz, Whisper White

Punches: Scallop Trim Border, Heart to Heart, Small Heart, 1 1/4" Circle, Modern Label, Word Window

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents, Metal Edge Tags (Just realised they might be retired?), Sewing Machine

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould

Happy Birthday Alarah!

I know this isn't the typical 3yr old's birthday card but I thought it was appropriate since the little girl I made this for is 3 going on 13. She claims that "you're ruining my life!" when she doesn't like what her parents say lol.

I used the new 2-step Owl punch in Concord Crush & Blushing Bride from the new In Colour collection and dressed her in some Love Letter DSP hounds-tooth with diamante buttons. Alarah is a little girl who loves her accessories so I put the little heart behind the Owl's ear to make her look a little like an owl-Alarah.

The sketch is taken from 2 Sketches 4 You and topped it off with a little Black 5/8" Satin.

---

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Woodgrain

Ink: Blushing Bride
Cardstock: Love Letter DSP, Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Concord Crush, Basic Black

Punches: 2-Step Owl, Scallop Trim Border, 1 3/4" Circle, Modern Label, Word Window

Accessories: Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents

Happy Birthday

I saw this card and I just knew I had to CASE it with my SU! products. Of course that meant finding my sewing machine (read: dig it out from a huge pile of boxes), remembering how to thread it and then work out how to adjust the settings from what Justin had used last... Yup, you read that right. Justin has spent more time at my sewing machine over the last few years than I have!

I've used the Brights DSP stack for this card as well as some Pear Pizazz & Blushing Bride from the new In Colour collections. The thread through the flowers is just good old fashioned baking twine from next to the roasts in the meat section at Woolies. $4 per 100m roll so I think I'll be using it on everything I make for the next hundred years! Maybe we could start a Sound of Music thing and get a whole "brown paper packages tied up with string" fad happening...

Anyway back to the card, I made the flowers by using 5 layers of Fancy Flower punched out flowers layered, spritzed with water, scrunched and then dried with the heat tool and topped them off with a brights collection button and afore mentioned string.

---

Stamps: Party this way

Ink: Blushing Bride
Cardstock: Brights Patterns DSP stack, Pear Pizazz, Blushing Bride, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry

Bigshot: Little Leaves Sizzlits

Punches: Fancy Flower Punch

Accessories: Brights Collection Designer Buttons

Other: Sewing machine & thread, Baking Twine

Images © Stampin' Up!, Designs © Zarna Gould