Melbourne Heartfelt Stampin' Event 2012

Regional Events are now called Heartfelt Stampin' Events in Australia. The whole structure of this event has been revamped. There were 4 classes to attend and a Product Playground where one could play with Stampin' Up! products to one's heart's content. There were also 2 demonstration booths to gather around where you can watch demonstrators showcase particular techniques.  Also, instead of swapping cards, we were encouraged to produce only one to pin on Share Boards.

I loved every minute of it especially the Product Playground. I spent way......... too much time there that I kept missing my classes. Fortunately, the classes were repeated and I could jump in on the ones I missed. Next time, I'm going to attend all my classes in the morning and devote the whole afternoon to the Product Playground and catching up with other people who attended. The whole event ran from 10am - 5pm.

For today's post, I'm going to share with you my Share Board contribution. I used the Mixed Bunch set which debuted in the 2012 Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. This set will return in this year's new 2012-2013 Idea Book & Catalogue, so please treat this as a Sneak Peak of what's in store for you.

project recipe
stamps: Mixed Bunch (WM 127516, CM 125537), Sincere Salutations (WM 116416), Season of Joy (WM 113023)
ink: Classic Stampin' Pad - Marina Mist (119668), Lucky Limeade (122935), Calypso Coral (122939); Stampin' Write Markers - Daffodil Delight (119677), Calypso Coral (123002)

card stock: Calypso Coral (124391), Marina Mist (121682) Whisper White (106549)

tools: Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598), Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595), Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (125601), Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (123130, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (119976), Bird Builder Punch (117191), XL Oval Punch (119859)

 

cardessence tips

• stamp two Mixed Bunch flowers in Calypso Coral on Whisper White card stock first;
• then use your Daffodil Delight marker to pick up Calypso Coral ink from the ink pad and start colouring your flower from the centre outwards - you will get a colour graduation from CC to DD in an even blend of colours;
• cut your flowers out, turn it over and colour in the reverse side with your Calypso Coral marker;
• quill one flower with the CC side facing you and use your bone folder to curl alternate petals of the 2nd flower upwards and downwards;
• adhere these 2 flowers together with the stamped sides facing each other;
• use your Bird Builder punch to punch out shaped leaves - you may wish to score leaf veins and sponge them to give them some interest and depth;

I hope that you like my contribution and that you will try the marker technique that I've used. Do remember that it will only work with a lighter colour marker to pick up a darker colour. I haven't had any issues with colour contamination (as yet). Have fun.

Awash with Flowers

As promised, here's my other water coloured card I mentioned a few days ago. This time I used the Awash with Flowers stamp set. This set is a 2-step stamping set with a large number of flower outlines and solid fillers. I always wanted to water colour with this set but never got around to it - I always went with the quicker option of 2-step stamping the solid filler images. However, since I'm in my water colouring phase, I pulled it out and had me some fantastic fun with it. I absolutely love the colours I chose (even if I do say so myself). Anyway, I hope you like it.

Remember to always start water colouring inner to outer, if that makes sense. That way, you pull your ink out to the outer edges of the petals. Think of it this way, petals and edges that are exposed earlier will loose their colour intensity faster. Also, try to keep your shading consistent. I am not a trained artist but I kind of put an imaginary light globe on my images and begin where I imagined the shaded or shadowed parts are. In short, I go with my instincts until I am happy with the effect I want. Hope the explanations help.

project recipe
stamps: Awash with Flowers (WM 121480, CM 120549), Happiest Birthday Wishes (WM 124940, CM 122617)
ink: Classic Stampin' Pad - Real Red (103133), Lucky Limeade (122935), Old Olive (102227), StazOn - Jet Black (101406) 

card stock: Lucky Limeade (124388), Real Red (106578), Watercolor Paper (122959)

tools: Big Shot (113439), Adorning Accents Edgelit Dies (125595), Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folders (125601), Aqua Painter (103954)

the added pizzaz: , Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint (116806)cardessence tips

• when you emboss multiple lines with th AA folder, practice first on other card stock - you cannot run the second or third or fourth emboss through the Big Shot completely as it will flatten out the previous one; there are two ways you can try:

1. feed one corner through partially so not to flatten out previous embossing and reverse to remove from the Big Shot; repeat the same process on the other corner; or
2. don't fully cover your embossing folder with the top acrylic cutting pad ie. move your cutting over the folder so that it only covers the embossing lines you want;

• refer to Another Reason to Smile for tips on water colouring;
• lastly, apply a light wash of the Shimmer Paint;

happy water colouring