I can't wait any longer!

...to show you what I've been making with my goodies from the Spring Mini Catalogue. I've been trying to hold off until August 1st, when it's officially released, but I've decided that it's close enough. I've already shown a couple of sneak peaks, but now I'm just going the whole hog. Let's just pretend July only has 30 days...

I'm loving the new set "Scribble This" (apparently the word "doodle" is too rude for us Aussies to handle). I've used another Colour Combo that I pulled from I-don't-know-where. Almost Amethyst, Rose Red, and Chocolate Chip (with just a dash of Certainly Celery - I can't help myself). I've stamped in Basic Brown ink and used Blender pens and my Inkpad lids to watercolour. The main flower is raised on Dimensionals.

I don't know how clearly you can see the brads (maybe try clicking on the pic to enlarge it), but I really needed some Rose Red in that corner and there are no Rose Red brads. So, I've taken a Certainly Celery brad and attached a little 1/16" Rose Red circle to it using Crystal Effects. It echoes the spots on the ribbon nicely.

A TIP for this spotted ribbon: I find it much easier to tie a nice-looking knot by wrapping the ribbon across the card first and securing it at the back. Then take a small piece of ribbon and tie a knot onto the piece you have secured. You can slide it to the position you want, and you get all the nice spotted side showing, rather than the back "ugly" side.

Faux Linen

This is a technique that I've been playing with lately. It's a tricky one to photograph, but the sandy-coloured cardstock looks like a piece of linen fabric IRL.
All You do is take a piece of glossy white cardstock, and use a sanding block to sand with horizontal strokes, and then with vertical strokes until it is no longer glossy. Next take a sponge and your Creamy Caramel inkpad and sponge some colour over your piece of cardstock. Then, if desired, you can stamp on it and then distress some more with sanding blocks. I've stamped the leaf image from Petal Prints in Chocolate Chip ink.
The cardstock colours I've used here are Buckaroo Blue and Chocolate Chip. I've stamped French Script in Chocolate Chip ink onto the Buckaroo Blue piece and sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip. I find the easiest way to sponge edges is to use the Sponge Daubers. You get an even, soft result with no lines or darker patches. Just hold your piece of cardstock in one hand, and your sponge dauber on the fingertip of the other hand. With the cardstock held above your tabletop, "flick" the dauber across the edges of the cardstock using downward strokes.
Finally, I've finished off the card with the Slit punch, some Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon, and Hodgepodge Hardware. I've stamped the word "celebrate" from Expressive Flexible Phrases and used Crystal Effects to attach to the Hodgepodge frame and also to give it a glossy seal.

Confession Time

I lied! There is one more chicken! You can see it on Michele's Blog
And since I'm being very honest. I'm very embarrassed to say I've been tagged.....several times.....for several weeks now......
And apparently I'm a Rockin'-Girl-Blogger too! Woo hoo!

Now, I know the deal is that I'm supposed to tag others, but I'm going to be a spoil-sport.
But here's 7 things about me:
1. I'm a tosser! As in, I toss things out. I hate being surrounded by stuff that I don't use. So, if it sits there for too long, out it goes to a new home. My husband is a Keeper, as in he keeps stuff...but I guess I better keep him!
2. I write lists....lots and lots of lists. It's the only way I can keep my brain from exploding.
3. I have all my wisdom teeth. It doesn't seem to have made me any wiser though...
4. I'm a music dag. Is it bad that my kids like A-Ha, Men at Work and The Police??
5. I can't whistle or click my fingers. Sad, but true.
6. I studied Psychology at Uni...and I'm still not sure why.
7. If I lived on a farm, I would be vegetarian.

Choosing Colours

A question that I get asked a lot is how I choose colours. To me, the colours are the single most important element that can either make or break a card. If you get the colours wrong, then no matter how lovely your layout or how beautiful your design, it won't pull together. By the same token, if you get the colours right, your card can be quite simple and still be stunning. This is one of the reasons that I love Stampin' Up! It's actually pretty hard to get the colours wrong!
One of the tools I use often is the Colour Coach. There are lots of great colour combinations right there, and it also explains Colour theory, right there on the wheel. The other thing I've been using a lot lately is the In Color Combos Chart. Another thing you can use for inspiration are the things around you...a pretty dress, a card from the Stampin' Up catalogue. I also use the Stampin' Up! patterned paper and the Ribbon Originals packs for inspiration. The other thing I like to do is pick a colour that I haven't used much of lately, and then find some colours to go with it. The Colour Combos site is great to help with this. As you get more confident with using colour, you'll come up with your own colour combinations. That's what I did for 2 of the chicken cards, the latest Sassy stems card and my latest card on the Elite Challenges Blog too. Alisa must have liked it because it became this month's Colour Challenge!
I hope that helps you when you are next playing with colours!

Sassy Stems

Well, since I've run out of chickens, I'm back on to the Sassy stem images that Teneale gave me.
Watercoloured using my crayons again, and I've done a bit of doodling around the edges to frame the image.
That's the new Petals wheel in the background (it's in our new Mini Catalogue), and just a dash of Paisley too I'm loving the sentiment from the "Blooming with Happiness" set...it seems to make it on to most of my cards lately.
The colours here are Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal, Sage Shadow, and Barely Banana.

The Last Chicken....

And you know, I'm actually sad to see the last of these guys. I pulled out some more colours that I don't use often...Bravo Burgundy, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke.
I'm really not sure how I ever survived without "Ribbon Originals". Somehow I've ended up ordering EVERY pack. It's like Pringles...you can't stop at just one!
I used my Paisley stamp on here..have you noticed how restrained I've been with it lately?! I've even managed to use some other background stamps. Here I inked it up in Bravo Burgundy, but when I applied the More Mustard strip of cardstock to the stamp, instaed of pressing hard, I just "walked" my fingers over the cardstock, so it came out a bit patchy. Then I sponged the edges in Bravo burgundy.
By the way, I almost always use my background stamps upside down....I apply the cardstock to the stamp, rather than the other way round. I find it easier that way.

Scribble Wheel

I have one more Chicken card to show you, but I thought I'd give you a sneak peak of something new first...
HOW GORGEOUS IS THIS WHEEL?? Yes, I know I'm shouting. This hit the top of my wishlist as soon as I saw the new Mini Catalogue. I'm such a sucker for anything swirly.
Here I've used the unlikely colour combo of Sahara Sand, Cameo Coral, Taken with Teal and Old Olive. I'm not sure when Cameo Coral made the leap from my "most-disliked" colour list to my "use it a lot" list...must have been while I wasn't looking! I've wheeled straight onto my Old Olive Inkpad, since I don't have an Old Olive cartridge. Then I used my Inkpad lids and blender pen to colour. I prefer the Blender pens over the Aquapainter when I only have small areas to colour, as they give you more control. Also, the Old Olive is not waterproof and the Blender pens are less likely to make it run.
I had to make this a long card, because I couldn't bear to chop out any of the wheel! This wheel is too, too nice to sit on the background of a card.

Getting Clucky again...

Well, I guess you guys like Chickens! And I have certainly learnt not to judge a stamp by my first impressions! I decided to turn these chooks into a baby card. Above is the card with the tag tucked in, and here you can see it pulled out:

I've used the "Spring Showers" double-sided papers on a Sahara Sand cardstock base. Coloured with my Crayons again (Sahara Sand with a dash of Creamy Caramel makes a perfect "egg" colour).

I've had so much fun with these! If anyone ever wants to send me some stamped images, I'd love to have a play with them. I'll put a pic up on my blog of what I create, and I can link to your blog, if you have one.

Just send them to Marelle Taylor, 27 Ryan St Dundas NSW 2117.

And now for something Completely Different...

We have Chickens! Well, I don't actually have this chicken stamp set, but my wonderful newest bestest friend Michele, sent me some stamped chicken images, because she knew how out of my comfort zone I would be with them! And, much as I threatened to send them back to Texas with their heads chopped off, I actually had a go at making a couple of cards with them. I won't say I'm completely sold on them, and I won't be rushing out to buy the set, but they were kinda fun to colour. And they do lend themselves to some different colour combinations. Look, no Certainly Celery!
The colours I've used here are Elegant Eggplant, Really Rust, Always Artichoke and Ruby Red. I've coloured the chook with my Watercolour Wonder Crayons. I love the grey from the neutrals sets to shadow around the edges (I finally bought the neutrals set because of this month's promotion)
So, what do you think of my chicken??

The Art of Faking It!

....Isn't that a great name for a class?? That's what my class is called that I'm running here at home on the 26th July. We'll be exploring lots of "faux" techniques. Here you can see faux eyelets and faux tearing, and we'll make 2 other cards which use 7 more "faux" techniques that you can use on your cards to save you time and money, and make your friends and family say "how did you do that?" As well as faux eyelets and faux tearing, there's faux linen, faux shaving cream, faux bleaching, faux stitching, faux brads, buttons and bows.

I still have some spots available if you'd like to come along .... just email me.

Card recipe:
Cardstock: So Saffron and Whisper White
Ink: Certainly Celery, Whisper White Craft
Stamp Set: Little Pieces, Birthday Best
Other: Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, So Saffron Stampin' Write Markers, Dimensionals, 1/16" circle punch, 1/4" circle punch, Crystal Effects

Ahoy Matey!

I had lots of fun watercolouring this "Matey's Map" that a friend and downline Sarah kindly wheeled for me. I couldn't bear to chop any of it off, so it became a long card! I used my Watercolour Wonder Crayons to watercolour the map (don't forget to take advantage of this month's promotion to get 25% off these, if you haven't already!). The Creamy Caramel piece has been crumpled up and then I ran my Caramel inkpad over it for a distressed look.
I've finally had a chance to play with some NEW STAMPS (Woo Hoo!) so I'll show you some brand new stuff soon!

More Springtime Stems!

LOL, winter must be getting to me...I seem to be doing a lot of "springy" cards lately!
This set really lends itself to sweet and simple cards, and those are right up my alley.
Here I've used Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Bordering Blue and Perfect Plum. The first step of the 2-step stamp was done by stamping off once. The "grass" was done by tearing a piece of Certainly Celery and inking the edge of it.
This was one of those rare cards that didn't want any ribbon on it (mind you, if they made stitched ribbon in Bordering Blue, I suspect that might have made it's way on there )

I'm waaay overdue for a Stamping Day! How many more days of the school holidays?? Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with my kids, but I have new stamps that are calling my name!
So, I've dug out an oldie....Did you know that you can colour on the back of vellum with your Watercolour Crayons? Here I've stamped on the front of the vellum with Basic Black ink. When it's dry, flip it over and use your crayons to colour the back.
And did you know that the Stampin' Up! glue stick is virtually invisible when you use it to adhere vellum? What a bonus that is!
The stamp set I've used here is Birthday Best, and the colours are Ballet Blue and Certainly Celery.
Hope you forgive my pitifully ordinary card...I'll make some new stuff soon, I promise!

Sassy Stems

How is this for dedication? I'm not even at home at the moment...I'm house-sitting for some friends in Canberra. But I was thinking you might miss me if I didn't post anything for 5 WHOLE DAYS, so I have a card to show you!
My lovely talented friend and fellow SU demonstrator Teneale sent me some stamped images of this set Sassy Stems, and I've been having lots of fun with them. You can see lots more creations using this set, plus lots of other inspiring creations on the Elite Challenges blog
Here I've watercoloured with the Watercolour Wonder Crayons, and then I've used Crystal Effects to make the vase shiny and glossy. Hodgepodge Hardware takes a pretty simple card into something a bit more special. I've used some Patterned Paper (this is "Sarah"), which gave me the colour inspiration Brocade Blue, So Saffron and Certainly Celery.
We took the kids to the snow today (Jacob's first time seeing snow ever), and we all had a ball...literally... lots and lots of snowball fights!

Another Colour Challenge

This time my Stampers Anonymous team members challenged me...Only Orange, Summer Sun, Green Galore and Cool Caribbean. Apart from the Cool Caribbean, which is probably one of my most-used colours at the moment (it seems to go with everything!), these colours would have to be among my least-used. If I want orange tones, I'd go for Apricot Appeal or Pumpkin Pie; if I want yellow then it's So Saffron or Barely Banana; and green, well why would you choose Green Galore when there's Certainly Celery?! Thankfully flowers look good in any colours!!

This is Springtime Stems (Hostess Set). I love the way a single bendy stem with no flower on it can be so useful! You can have it bend to the right, or turn it upside down and it bends the other way. I also used it here to make some grass.

Here it makes some cool stripy lines:

Then, I decided to make the card in colours that I would actually choose...and the thing that really surprised me is that I actually prefer the original challenge card! Who woulda thunk it!

A Colour challenge!
Can you tell? These are not in my usual colour comfort zone. Tracey, a fellow Elite Stamper (and talented stamper and friend!), set these colours as a colour challenge: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Blush Blossom and Tempting Turquoise....I'm thinking she took the word "challenge" a little too literally!
This was not a "yes" card for me at all, but everyone on our forum said such nice things when I posted a pic there, that I thought I'd show the rest of the world too.
I've inked Paisley (what else!) in Pumpkin Pie and stamped off once, then used markers in Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise to colour parts of the Paisley stamp. Then I stamped onto blush blossom cardstock. I have to confess that I cheated and used Taken with Teal cardstock, because my turquoise marker came out very teal-looking. I also coloured flowery parts of the Paisley stamp, cut them out and used dimensionals to "pop" them up.

Just Add Water

I've uploaded this card in honour of the July Promotion "Just Add Water"
...have you checked out the SU! site? Mrs Sourpants is gone! Hooray!! This month, if you spend $50, you can get 25% off all Watercolour Wonder Crayons and Pencils! What a bargain. So now's the time to try them out if you haven't already, or to take the opportunity to buy a colour family that you don't have yet...I'll be getting the neutrals!
I'm also running my own promotion, and if you sign up with me during July, I'll give you a set of watercolour crayons in the colour family of your choice for FREE. Contact me if you have any questions about this.
This card is made using the set Fishy Friends, which incidentally I don't own...my darling talented friend Alisa did a watercolouring demonstration in our room at Convention, and left these stamped images behind. These little critters are great to watercolour with, and make great cards for all ages.
I've (well actually Alisa has) stamped on watercolor paper with Black Staz-on, and then I've used my crayons and aquapainter to colour him in. If you look closely, in the background there are faint versamark "bubbles" made using the circles in the Riveting Hostess Set (you can click on the image for a closer look). I've also used Riveting for the sentiment, and was inspired by my other dear talented friend Michele to finally pull it out and use it! I love the nautical "life buoy" touch it gives to this card. Colours are Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean and Orchid Opulence.