A Very 70's Colour Challenge

I recently had a weekend away stampin' with other Stampin' Up! demonstrators and one of the challenges set was to create using the above colour combination which originates from Kristina Werner. It looks like something out the 70's doesn't it? To those who can remember the 70's that is.

Now I was busy with another project which I will detail to you in future posts so I wasn't able to take up the challenge but there were some very impressive responses which I thought I would share with you.

First is this one from Carol Dunstan which uses the new Just Beachy set from the recently released Spring Mini Catalogue:


The 4WD and surf board is great for male cards, I've got another card using this set to share with you later. And then there was this cutie using Animal Crackers:

The message is "reach for the stars!" and here is how the card looked when you open it up:


Probably my favourite of these cards was the following from Belinda Hennessey:

I love the Always stamp set and matching wheel teamed with decorative paper and some impressive sponging. Belinda has also used her white gel pen to outline some of the brown images so they really "pop".

Well done to all the participants and thank you for sharing your work.

Love from Crafty Kim

Introducing Crafty Cow Creations

I've been feeling a bit shabby this end of the week and haven't been up to creating much. So, it's a perfect opportunity to borrow someone else's idea and introduce one of my Stampin' Up! team members to you, the very creative Clare McIllhatton.

Some of us come to paper-craft with no history of craft and without a clue as to how to create a work of art. Not so with Clare who can actually draw (unlike me who stamps for that very reason). Since meeting Clare in January this year, I've noticed she comes at her paper-craft quite differently from conventional stampers. With unique and admirable results.

Back at our team weekend away in August, we were set a colour challenge to make a card using Groovy Guava, Blush Blossom, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi:


Here's my card using True Friend from the SU! Spring Mini Catalogue:


Adequate you might say but a definite "Ho Hum", bordering on "Yawn Yawn". Far too much So Saffron for my comfort.

And here's the card Clare made:


Much more interesting and fun. Clare created her own template for the fish bowl (just drew it up) and, used some sponging with torn paper and blue and green ink pads, to give the rippled water background. The black outline is made with the Stamp Write Journaler and the white accent is from the White Uniball Signo Gel Pen. The stamp set is Fishy Friends and you can't quite see it from the photo, but she has used Crystal Affects over whole cut out image to give it a shine, allowed it to dry and then adhered it to the bowl using Stampin' Dimensionals. If anyone who can't draw would like a copy of the template, please email me .

I'm excited that Clare is going to be demonstrating her talents at the upcoming Get Ready For Christmas Craft Event on 25 October 2008. She is based in South West Sydney so if you're out that way and would like a local demonstrator, please contact her by email . Otherwise, keep an eye on her new blog for great ideas, especially for all things kid-related. She has three cherubs of her own and in another life, taught art to children at school.

Just one more of her creations to finish off:


Who doesn't remember Cookie Monster from Sesame Street? A great use of the Stampin' Up! scallop punch (you need one, trust me). For more details on how to make this card, please email Clare .

Hopefully I'll be back on track with more creations to share soon.

Love from Crafty Kim

Kristina Werner Colour Inspiration #25

For the uninitiated, Kristina Werner is a graphic designer based in the USA who is also passionate about card-making and scrapbooking. She's taken to setting colour challenges to inspire her blog readers in their paper-crafting.

I've only done one of Kristina's Challenges before but I really like these colours so I decided to make a humble start on this latest inspiration. Now, seeing as Stampin' Up! is celebrating its 20th birthday with 20% off selected stamp sets including Short and Sweet, I decided to add another challenge - to use the Short and Sweet set as the only stamps.

Here is the resulting card:


Okay, it's not going to win any awards but given the simplicity of the stamp set, I'm quite content with the result. Given my use of the Print Designer Series Paper in background, there's lots of green happening but the other colours, especially the Whisper White, save the day.

There are no tricky bits to this card and it is easy to make by looking at the card, so I'll just list the project recipe:

Stamps - Short and Sweet
Paper - Certainly Celery Designer Series Paper
Card - So Saffron, Ruby Red, Ballet Blue, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
Ink - So Saffron, Ruby Red, Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery
Ribbon - White and Celery narrow grosgrain
Punches - 1/8, 3/4 and 1 inch circle, Word Window and corner rounder punches

If you also like this Short and Sweet Stamp Set, you don't need to deliberate too much. It's only $24 this month. Great value for 12 stamps including words and images. Please ring me on 0402 347 010 or email me to take up this offer.

Thanks for visiting and please keep coming back. I'm aiming for 100 visits to my blog each day and every visitor is welcome and appreciated.

Love from Crafty Kim