Simply sending off Simple Delights

I looked at my blog yesterday and realised that it is just a mass of lists! What happened to the crafty stuff?!

I have been really busy preparing for CraftFest 2009 but I wanted to post one of the cards that I made using my favourite Simply Sent kit: Simple Delights. Most of the supplies can be found in the kit excepting the wide satin Chocolate Chip that can be found in Theatre Ribbon Originals and the buckle which is from a tin of Antique Brass Hodgepodge. All three items are retiring *pout* but the good news is that you can save 25% off Simple Delights while it is in stock (now $59.96). Farewell Simple Delights - you were simply delightful.

Anyway, must run to finish a few things including a lucky door prize that will be presented at CraftFest.

Embossing's a beach!

I've been doing a bucket load of embossing recently as I've been preparing for various embossing technique classes including Cracked Glass and Faux Metal. Until Stampin' Up! Australia introduces Glassy Glaze, I have to stick with its clear embossing powder (EP) for demonstrating the Cracked Glass technique - which means six to eight layers of embossing to achieve the same thickness as a couple of layers of UTEE.

This really isn't a problem - after all, it is kinda fun applying the powder and watching in wonder when it melts under the roar of my heat tool. After the novelty of the first four embosses though, one's mind starts to wander. *apply VersaMark* What should I have for lunch today? *pour EP over project* Had leftovers yesterday...got leftovers today... *tap tap off excess EP* *return excess to container* *fire up heat tool* When this is done, shall I play drums or guitar on Guitar Hero World Tour? This t-shirt I'm wearing REALLY needs washing! Hmmm...wonder what's on TV? Is this the fifth or the sixth layer? *apply heat to project* Oooooh! Shiny! Gah! Hot! Quick! *point heat tool away while simultaneously pouring EP on project* And so it goes...and goes. ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz...

Until the moment that I get completely complacent (or comatose - not sure which comes first) and forget to point the heat tool away while attempting to cover the project with a new layer of EP. An instantaneous cloud of EP billows over my workspace, transforming it into a sandy paper beach - even my right arm is encrusted with EP like I had been spending the afternoon making EPcastles. *sigh*

So, the moral of the story is ... nope ... there's none to be had. Bring on Glassy Glaze, Stampin' Up! Australia!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Brown
VersaMark

Stamp sets:
For Father

Cardstock:
Naturals Ivory
Not Quite Navy
Old Olive Textured

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Clear Embossing Powder
Gold Embossing Powder
Heat Tool
Hodgepodge Hardware in Antique Brass
Mat Pack
Theatre Ribbon Originals
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements, Neutrals

Embellishmenthoarderism

My name is Lin Mei and I am an embellishmenthoarderholic.

I'd join Embellishmenthoarderholics Anonymous but they are so anonymous that I can't locate them. Nope - not listed in the Yellow Pages, not hiding in the local Rotary Club, not even a single match returned by Google. I tried looking for them in craft forums but, to be honest, it's like looking for an AA meeting in a bar. After hearing about everyone's rave reviews of the happy hour jumbo eyelets and the amazing buzz you get from your fourth shot of Flower Fusion, it's enough to drive anyone to drink and submit that hundredth online order!

And then the waiting begins...all the items in my stash suddenly lose their lustre because something newer and shinier and eminently more desirable is heading my way. But I try to persevere with the next project to take the edge off. But that is when the real problem emerges. What can I use? Do I dare to use two out of the three 4 cm felt flowers that I have in Old Olive - what if I need two for a scrapbook page without which rhythm would be completely impossible? Should I dip into my collection of Rich Regal brads? I only have the 200 (and that is approximately!) in their unopened container - what if they are retired soon? Could I even imagine life without Rose Red round bits of metal? Aaaarrgghh!

Anyway, I came up with an idea to use some of my embellishments - I've altered my 2009 diary so that these embellishments can accompany me wherever I go. Also, most of the embellishments have been attached through brads ... which means that in a craft emergency, I always have the option of looting this diary! Ingenious, no?! Reusing the rub-on could prove tricky, however.

I was really happy that I got to use the boing¹ in the elasticized ribbon from my precious pack of Theatre Ribbon Originals. It holds my diary closed and can be used as a bookmark in a pinch.
Stampin' Supplies
Paper:
Bali Breeze DSP

Accessories:
Circle Rhinestone Brads in Fire, Ice
Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
Flower Fusion
Scallop Edge Punch
Styled Silver Hodgepodge
Theatre Ribbon Originals
White Gel Pen

The second photo was supposed to be an arty shot of the cover but as you can see the focus was not quite at the front of the picture. I'd take another shot but I am waiting for the parcel guy and that requires my full attention...*runs off to check the front door in case the order has arrived*

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1. boing: elasticity. Derived from the imagined sound of pulling something rubbery

Plainly for Jayne

Let's say, purely hypothetically, that you have an upline who has so much talent that it would take years to make a card that could impress her. One could embark on such a mission but the impact of the card would be seriously dulled by the fact that it had come five years too late!

So, I'd suggest using alphabet stamps. The great thing about these is that you can customise your papercraft project to suit its intended recipient. Use an alphabet set to create a card that is just for her by stamping her name so that there is no doubt that it's meant for her and no-one else. In doing so, I reckon that she would forgive you for not coming up with a truly amazing card that may have taken away whatever remaining youth you had, along with your hubby, children, house and, quite possibly, that box of chocolates that you had been keeping for a treat. Alphabet stamps or calamity - you've been warned!

Yesterday was Jayne's birthday and here is a picture of the card that I sent to her a couple of days ago - I'm sure that it would have made it to her by now but, if it hasn't, this may be the only record of its existence. I really hope that she liked it...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Always Artichoke
So Saffron

Stamps:
Big Bold Birthday set
Baroque Motifs set
Defining alphabet
Lovely Letters alphabet

Paper:
Le Jardin DSP
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Apricot Appeal Grosgrain Ribbon
Pretties Kit
Sponge Daubers
Theater Ribbon Originals

Simply delightfully uniform

I wouldn't be surprised if the runaway favourite Simply Sent Kit is Simple Delights. With its elaborate flourishes and rather delightful sentiments, who could resist? I know I didn't and that was way before the kits were briefly available at 20% off. So, even though the promotion is over, I thought I'd post the cards that I had made using one of them. After all, the fun really kicks in after you've made a couple of the predesigned cards and you're looking to do new things with what you've got. *cue MacGyver theme song* *gets Indiana Jones theme instead* Sorry but I can't remember the MacGyver song because it was sooooo long ago and I only recently watched Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! Unfortunately, the latter is now well and truly lodged in my head.

Speaking of predesigned cards, I'll begin with the standard "I didn't design these but rather these are the ones that have instructions in the kit" just for completeness. Each kit has enough supplies to make five of each of the cards to the left.

I reckon that this particular kit cries out for uniformity and order. Those geometric patterns look tremendous when perfectly lined up and spaced out precisely - a bit like a military tattoo. Keep the kit happy and use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig with it at least some of the time. Am I projecting here?

Another tool which really suits this kit is a square punch. The square stamp impressions are peeking out of square windows in this card but one can imagine them just as happy being layered on square cardstock. Am I projecting again?

Additional Stampin' Supplies
Cardstock:
Very Vanilla

Accessories:
1/16" Circle Punch
1 1/4" Square Punch
Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon
Corner Rounder Punch
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
Word Window Punch

Postmarked cyberstamp

The monthly INKlings Cyberstamp came around again and this time I got to set the challenges. Needless to say, it was just another excuse for me to do something silly in the name of trying to be funny *grin*

For the first challenge, I chose a colour scheme. I really hope that Kristina Werner does not mind but I CASEd her color inspiration - for this one Cyberstamp only. Please don't sue me, Kristina!

As some of you may already have read, I love shoes! I use to collect them but, now, most of them sit in storage, waiting for their moment in the sun when they go for a jaunt down the red carpet. (What can I say? I'm a big disappointment to these shoes!) Anyway, after rummaging through the shoe stash that stays with me, I found this pair that screamed out "Wear me to somewhere grand!" - instead, I featured them as inspiration for a colour challenge...

I hope to feature a round-up of the INKlings wonderful creations using this colour scheme if they post them on their respective blogs. In the meanwhile, here is my attempt:

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Almost Amethyst
Chocolate Chip
Encore Silver

Stamps:
Simple Delights set
Priceless set

Paper:
Almost Amethyst
Basic Black
Chocolate Chip
Whisper White
Silver Metallic

Accessories:
Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon
Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon
Mat Pack
Square Ice Rhinestone
Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Silver Embossing Powder

Unfortunately, this card does not exist in this form any longer. After I snapped the first photo of it, the wind swept it up and dumped it on the grass that was left wet by the rain. So, it is a smudged remnant of its former self. Oh well! At least I have one photo - maybe I should scrap it up?

KWERNERDESIGN.COM COLOR inspiration 21

I've been admiring many creations using Kristina Werner's fabulous COLOR inspirations for a while now. I had considered joining in the fun but I was either too late off the mark or I had something else more pressing like workshops or swaps or washing my hair (Hey! It gets itchy if I wait long enough!).

This time I only have a hundred and forty swaps to make for the Sydney regional on Saturday so she'll be apples¹! Actually, choosing to take part in this COLOR inspiration just shows that I wasn't really committed to the swaps in the first place. Anyway, the snazzy colour combination chosen by Kristina:





Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Whisper White

I've had to adopt her suggestion of replacing two of the US SU!'s '08-'09 In Colors with Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive. Thank you, Kristina, for the great inspiration. I suppose I should go back to pretending that I am working hard on those regional swaps...

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Basic Black
VersaMark

Stamps:
Kindness wheel
Sassy Stems set
Short & Sweet set

Cardstock:
Old Olive
Rose Red
Tempting Turquoise
Vellum

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Earth Elements brads
Heat Gun
Theater Ribbon Originals
Whisper White Grograin
White Embossing Powder
White Gel Pen
Watercolor Crayons (in every colour family except for Soft Subtles!)

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1. Aussies don't really use the phrase "she'll be apples" nowadays so we have a giggle about its fuddy-duddiness whenever we see it in the Stampin' Up! G'Day Mate stamp set. OK...so I speak for myself!