Art with Heart by Claire Daly

Watercoloured Fifth Avenue Floral ....

You would have had to have been living under a rock in blog land to not have seen some of these fabulous watercoloured roses by now. As mentioned in my last post I think the technique originated from Patty Bennett and you can view a free tutorial on the technique on her blog here. I was inspired also by these lovely cards I saw on Yvonne's blog.

For this technique you emboss the image in white (I used watercolour paper) and then soak the paper with a sprayer bottle and dab the colour from a reinker into the image using an aquapainter. That's the short version anyway! I kept dabbing it up and adding more colour where I wanted it. These Lillie's from Fifth Avenue Floral have been done using last years Purely Pomegranate reinker. The other colours are Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White. As I was after a more intense effect here, I also put a really thin layer of Crystal Effects over the top of the Lillie's. I have also use Echoes of Kindness for the greeting and Priceless for the swirl.

 

This is a softer version using the large rose from Fifth Avenue Floral. I have used Regal Rose, Rose Red and So Saffron reinkers. I have also used the Sweet Slumber and So Saffron prints DSP and some Regal Rose ribbon and cardstock. A few trinkets from my stash as well.

 

I hope you like my version of these watercoloured flowers. I think the rose is my personal favourite, it reminds me a bit of Peace, one of my favourite roses. Some of my other favourite roses are Chicago Peace, Double Delight, Blue Moon, Shocking Blue (my wedding rose), Elina, Tiffany, Seduction and I am sure there are many more!

Let me know which one is your favourite (and your favourite rose).

Happy stamping,

Claire xx

Mojo Monday 93: Vintage Eastern Influences

It was stamping friends night last night. I hang out for this night each month when some fabulous girlfriends rock up at my house and stamp the night away while we chat, laugh and solve the problems of the world usually with the aid of chocolate. One of our regular group was missing last night (just a little thing of visiting Disneyland and cruising down the Mexican coast. Geez - get a better excuse next time Christine, lol). We missed you Christine!

This is what I worked on last night - a very vintage offering for Mojo Monday 93. I haven't gone all vintagy for a while and I have to say I loved making this card! Excuse the perspective in the picture - the card is definitely rectangle! The flower image is from Stampin' Up! Eastern Influence. I have raised the main flower up in dimensionals over and above the rest of the image but that's a bit hard to see in this image.

Here's the rest of the recipe:

• Stampin' Up! Stamps: Eastern Influences, Fresh Cuts, Friends 24/7
• Cardstock: Kraft, Bravo Burgundy, Chocolate Chip
• Ink: Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy
• Punches: Large Oval, Designer Label
• Other: Watercolour paper, Chocolate Chip stitched ribbon, twine, Pearls (Basic Grey Opaline), Bella Bleu DSP

We also had to have a go at the fabulous watercoloured roses that are appearing on all the blogs at the moment. I was so inspired when I saw these gorgeous cards on Yvonne's blog. Yvonne also supplied a link to the free instructions from the lady who I think developed this technique, Patty Bennett. Thanks Yvonne and Patty - can't wait to make my flowers up into a card today :) 

Have a great Friday everyone!

Claire xx

5th Avenue Floral

Here's a quick few cards I made for some challenges this week using Fifth Avenue Floral and the Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper.

This one was for our team monthly sketch challenge. The rose and the greeting are White embossed and the background is stamped in White craft ink.

 

This one was for Amy Rsavy sketch challenge. Another great sketch site.

 

This last one is for last weeks Mojo Monday sketch - a bit late but I like to have a go anyway!

Hope you are having a happy day,

Claire x

Wish for Peace and a stamped candle with instructions ....

Hello lovelies. Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last card. It was actually pretty simple to make, so I thought I would run through the instructions especially for Judy, and add a couple of other projects using that set in here too.

I started out with a whole heap of pieces of cardstock with an oval shape cut out of them, because I had made 10 of this card for our team Christmas card swap. I used an old oval Fiskars template to cut the oval. I'll include instructions for these two projects at the bottom as well.

So then I used those and the reverse masking tutorial instructions (here on Splitcoast) to make this card. I will post it again here so we don't get confused!

I inked the church image using Old Olive, Choc Chip and Always Artichoke markers while the mask was in place. I then watercoloured the church using Choc Chip ink. While the mask was still in place I sponged Baja Breeze ink around the edges. I  then removed the mask.

Next I inked the tree from Lovely as a Tree, using Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip markers. and stamped that (with the mask removed). I the added Dazzling Diamonds using a 2 way glue pen - both over the tree in the oval and the one stamped in the foreground. I also placed small dots around the edge of the oval. Finally the greeting was silver embossed and the ribbon tied. I'll let you in on a little secret - I originally placed the big rhinestone on the right to cover an ink smudge, but then liked it so much I added 2 more! This whisper white was then placed on a thinmat of kraft and then Baja Breeze. Now for the other two projects:

Choc Chip Card

I stamped the church image in Chocolate Chip right across the front of the Chocolate Chip card. Using the cut out oval, I inked the image using the same markers as above and stamped onto the oval of Very Vanilla. I watercoloured the church again and then put Dazzling Diamonds onto the trees using 2 way glue pen. Once the watercolouring was dry, I sponged the Baja Breeze onto the oval lightly and inked the edges in Chocolate Chip. Adhere this to the card. Next I added the greeting which was cut from the Punches Three hostess set and matted onto a piece of kraft cut out with the designer label punch. A strip of eyelet border punched Baja Breeze and Holiday Treasures DSP is placed down the edge. Finally I have covered the church in Crystal Effects and allowed to dry for a few hours.

Stamped Candle

You will find instructions for this all over the place - I was originally shown by my clever upline Jenni Oliver. I inked the stamp using markers and then stamped onto a piece of plain tissue paper. I then cut roughly around the edges and help in place with some wax or baking paper while heated with a heat gun. Three hints at this stage a.wear an oven mit!, b. easy does it as you don't want your candle to melt and c. make sure you just have one layer of wax or baking paper. Gently peel the tissue paper away and decorate your candle as desired. If you use decorations, make sure you let the recipient know to remove it before they burn the candle!

Have fun making these projects. You will find another stamped candle in my 'Boxes Bags & Off the Page' gallery in the right hand column.

Hope you are having a happy week,

Claire xx

A Wish for Peace .....

Remember me? It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged. Sometimes I just need to step back and enjoy some family time and this was one of those times. A little blogging holiday which sort of just crept up on me!

I made this card last night while I enjoyed the Michael Jackson special and Wimbledon on TV. I'm starting to feel the need to get started started on some Christmas cards and I thought this one was good for a winters night. I have used the reverse masking technique and a combination of Stampin' Up!'s A Wish for Peace, Lovely as a Tree and the sentiment from Snow Swirled. It's difficult to see in the photo, but there is also Dazzling Diamonds on both of the bigger trees and dotted around the edge of the oval shape.

Here's the recipe:

• Stampin' Up! Stamps: A Wish for Peace, Lovely as a Tree, Snow Swirled.
• Ink: Baja Blue, Chocolate Chip, Versamark
• Cardstock: Baja Blue, Kraft and Whisper White
• Accesories: Stampin' Write Markers (Always Artichoke, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip), Silver Embossing Powder, Baja Blue striped grosgrain ribbon, Ice rhinestone brads, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Hope to get some more inspiration up here for you soon! Have a great week,

Claire xx

Elite Challenges Sneak Peeks ....

I've been catching up on some challenges for the Elite Challenges blog this weekend. Do you know about this challenge blog? It's run by the lovely Carol Dunstan, and each month she sets a sketch, stamp set and colour challenge for demonstrators in level 1-5 downline of Angela Sargeant. It's a great place to go for some stamping inspiration from lots of different demonstrators, and of course it's ALL Stampin' Up!.

Here's some sneak peeks of the 3 cards I made for this months challenges. To see the full cards and recipes, pop on over to the Elite Challenges Blog! When you get there, go to the Archives section on the right hand side and click on 'June 2009' for all the latest entries.

This one was for the 'Breezy Pirouette' Colour Challenge:

  

This one was for the Stampin' Up! stamp set challenge featuring Cheep talk:

  

This one was for this months sketch challenge:

  

Hope you are having a great weekend,

Claire xx

Inspired by Nature and Upsy Daisy ....

Hello from very chilly Melbourne. Definitely hot chocolate and stamping weather today!

Here's a few creations to share with you. I've had lots of reasons to send people cards over the last few weeks so have been very busy with card making and tutorial instructions for my customers.

This card uses the lovely Stampin' Up! silhouette set Inspired by Nature.

 

First I inked up the stamp in Pink Pirouette, then wiped the ink of the stem and leaves (just with a tissue) and then sponged Old Olive ink onto the stems and leaves. I also sponged Bravo Burgundy onto the flower as a highlight. I have also added Dazzling Diamonds to the flowers using the 2 Way Glue Pen. The background was made by just stamping the entire stamp pad over the background lots of times. Here's the rest of the recipe:

• Stampin' up! stamps: Inspired by Nature, Basic Phrases
• Cardstock: Old Olive, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette
• Ink: Pink Pirouette, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive
• Punches: Curly Label, Eyelet Border
• Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds, Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon, 2 Way Glue Pen

This card uses the very popular Stampin' Up! set Upsy Daisy.

I have used the Stampin' Write markers direct to rubber to colour the image. The colours I have used are Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive. The image has been stamped off once and Crystal Effects has also been added for some dimension. The greeting underneath is embossed. Here's the full recipe:

• Stampin' Up! stamps: Upsy Daisy, Cheer & Wishes
• Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, Almost Amethyst and Whisper White
• Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Versamark
• Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers, white embossing powder, Kiwi Kiss grosgrain ribbon, Crystal Effects

Finally here's two creations Josh came up with today while he was home with me on a pupil free day. He wanted to sit at the table with me and stamp and try out the different colours on the image. He watched a demonstration and then he went and stamped this all by himself. He loves the glitter, so he had to add some of that too!

Don'tyou love the particularly interesting technique of the reverse opening card on the left, lol. I think his teachers will be impressed with his efforts on Monday. He certainly was as he has made me put them on my card display cabinet in case any of my stamping buddies drop in over the weekend and want to copy them - how cute!

One last thing - could you do me a favour? My fabulous friend Kerry and her family officially became Australian's last night. They have only been in the country (from the UK) a few years and have already been through the Black Saturday bushfires but their house was spared (although it came soooooooo close). Kerry is such a great person (glass is half full :) ) and super fun to scrapbook and make cards with. Could you pop over to her blog and welcome her and her family to Australia? Thanks!

Hope you have a lovely weekend, stay warm!

Claire xx

Pun Fun, a Wish for Peace and my first Making Merry Monday's card ....

These were two of the cards I made Thursday night with my stamping buddies. It must have been a full moon Thursday night as I went a little silly. It's amazing I actually managed to get any stamping done in between the hysterics. Stamping buddy nights are Paul's nights to mind the kids and he watches a movie and goes off to bed all with us creating mayhem in the background. He really is a good husband and I appreciate he is so welcoming to my stamping buddies. Love these girls to BITS!

Anyway enough warm fuzzies - show me the cards right?

This one was for a birthday party Josh went to after school yesterday. I have used Stampin' Up!'s Pun Fun. The background is a stamp from Starring You which I have clear embossed, and there's also some white embossing on there too.

 

Here's the Stampin' Up! supplies I have used:

• Stamps: Pun Fun, Starring You, Calendar Alphabet and Numbers
• Ink:Basic Black, Kiwi Kiss (to colour stars) and Versamark
• Cardstock: Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
• Paper: Pacific Point DSP (prints range)
• Punches: Scallop Border, Large Star, Small Star
• Accessories: White embossing powder, clear embossing powder, embossing buddy

I also made my first Christmas Card of the year. I didn't quite get to post it on a Monday for Anita's Making Merry Monday's challenge, but I'm going to count it anyway OK? Next week I will get it happening on Monday. I loved the Stampin' Up! set A Wish For Peace as soon as I saw it (and it's only $29.95). Again I have used clear embossing. I love the look that gives, subtle sheen and texture and a tone on tone look.

 

Stampin' Up! Supplies used:

• Stamps: A Wish for Peace, Best Yet
• Cardstock: Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla
• Ink: Old Olive,Versamark, Chocolate Chip
• Paper: Holiday Treasures
• Stampin' Up! punches: Tag, 1/2" circle and 1/4" circle (to make reinforcer)
• Other: Chocolate Chip wide grosgrain, twine, paper piercer, mat pack

Long weekend here in Melbourne. I've already done some gardening and now I'm doing some cooking as Paul's Mum is coming over for tea. Love lazy long weekends. I'm getting close to the end of a really good book too, so hope to sneak some couch time (and some stamping time too!).

Hope you are having a good weekend as well,

Claire xx

Touched by this ....

It was sad to wake this morning to the news that Professor Chris O'Brien had passed away from brain cancer. What an inspirational person he was. I remember as a health professional watching him on RPA and thinking what great compassion he had for his patients and how he bought such comfort to them in the face of surgery for head and neck cancer at RPA. Then when he was diagnosed with the same cancer a few years ago it just seemed so cruel.

I followed his story via his media interviews and was so inspired by how he turned his own battle into an opportunity to still make a difference in peoples lives, by raising awareness and funds for a new holistic cancer centre. He really touched me and so many Australians.

You can read all about Professor O'Brien's cancer centre here. May he rest in peace and his legacy be of some comfort for his family in the years ahead.

Sweet Always, Felt Fusion and Build a Brads ....

Hello lovely ones. Time for some Stampin' Up! cards don't you think? I made these ones earlier in the week, but have had a busy week visiting downlines and welcoming some new team members, so am just getting to post them now.

This one is for someone I know who needs a hug.The paper is from the Holiday Treasures DSP, and the bit on the left is the Pink Pirouettes pints DSP. The name Holiday Treasures suggests Christmas, but I think this gorgeous paper suits any card really. You will be seeing lots more of it from me! The flower is a combination of Felt Fusion, Build a Brad and the Very Vanilla die cut from Blooms Again. The stem and leaf are hand-cut from the Holiday Treasures DSP. The greeting is from the Stampin' Up! level 1 hostess set Best Yet.

 

These next two are for friends, using the bright and happy Sweet Always Designer Series Papers. This paper matches Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White Stampin' Up! cardstock perfectly.

In this one I have added some 5/8" Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, and the greeting from Friends 24/7 which is lovely don't you think? The background is from the stamp set Always which matches the Sweet Always DSP as well.

 

In this one I have added the Chocolate Chip felt flower from Felt Fusion Too, and also a build a brad. I punched one of the small patterns out of the paper using the 1/2" circle punch and this fits the Build a Brad perfectly. The word 'friend' is from Stampin' Up!'s Basic Phrases set and is embossed in white.

Off to deliver some orders to my lovely customers that live close by, and then it's stamping night for myself and 'the girls' tonight so a great day ahead. Hope your day is great as well and these cards have put a smile on your face :) I'd like to leave you with this beautiful quote about happiness:

"Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

 (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

Claire xx