Satin, Diamonds & Pearls mmmmmm

Today I created a card that’s more of the sort of card I would have made years ago.  I get swept up a little bit in trends and a bit scattery trying out this and that but today I wanted to go back to my personal style of using rich colours and elegant embellishements.  This is what I came up with:

Always Elegant

The card was simple to make although took me quite a while (I’m a very slow cardmaker!) because I wanted to achieve a mixture of elegance and vintage so I wasn’t just throwing things together as I might usually do.  My cardmaking starts off in different ways, sometimes I’m inspired by a stamp or new product (usually new product!) other times I have a look or feel that I’m trying to achieve (like my retro cherry card), this time I started with colours – I really wanted to use a mix of warm colours… must be the Winter weather.  The colours I’ve used in this card are Very Vanilla (cardstock), So Saffron, More Mustard, Purely Pomegranate and Chocolate Chip.  The diamond (rhinestone brad), pearls and fabric flowers are from Stampin’ Up!’s Pretties Kit (shhhh, I have 3 boxes all for myself so I don’t run out one item I’m desperate to use at any moment).  Actually, the fabric flowers come in plain old white which is just perfect for me… it means I’m not stuck using one particular colour.  Because the flowers can be coloured so easily, I was able to colour them with So Saffron and More Mustard ink to give them a vintage look.  The satin ribbon feels so plush and luxurious is in Purely Pomegranate just like the cardstock and ink for the bird, and that’s my secret really – using ribbons and inks and cardstock that match perfectly so that my cards always look coordinated.  Sigh… if only clothes, shoes, handbags and make-up could be bought the same way that Stampin’ Up! present their products.  Oh… the stamps I’ve used are also by Stampin’ Up!, they are: Always (the bird and foilage), En Francais (the script writing in the background) and Linen Background.

So that’s it, please leave me a comment if you like this card or just a comment on the way that you like to create.  Of course if you have any questions about the products or anything else you’d like to ask then drop me a line at angelasargeant@gmail.com

A little bit of kitschy retro

Gosh, I was doing so well keeping my blog updated and now I have no idea how 10 days has past since I’ve posted!  Aaanyway.  Here’s a card that I made using the fabulous new Tart & Tangy stamp set that’s featured in the new Stampin’ Up!  Spring Mini Catalogue (for US ladies reading this, yes – we’re coming into Spring here in Australia, I don’t have my seasons mixed up, LOL).

Tart & Tangy Cherries

As soon as I saw this stamp set I had visions of braclets with plastic fruit hanging off it – you know, all that cool retro stuff you see in second hand stores?  The other thing I thought of was those cute 1940’s frilly aprons that housewives used to wear, so I was inspired to make a card that reminded me of a 1940’s frily apron.  The card is simple to make but so cheerful.  Here’s the step-by-step instructions: (please feel free to email me on angelasargeant@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like a copy of the Spring Mini Catalogue)

1.    Punch a scallop edge on the front bottom of the folded red card with the corner rounder punch. (you can see a picture on how to do this here)
2.    Punch a tiny hole in each scallop with a 1/16″ hand-held punch.
3.    Adhere a white strip of cardstock to the back of the scallop border so that the card is even on the front and back and can stand on it’s own.
4.    Stamp your sentiment in red or green on the bottom left hand corner of the largest white cardstock.
5.    Stamp the cherries randomly over the rest of the card using black ink, not too many but enough to cover the piece of card as shown.
6.    Colour the cherry directly on the rubber using red & green markers and stamp on a small piece of white cardstock
7.    Punch out the cherries using a 1 ¼” punch (hold the punch upside down so you can see what you’re doing)
8.    Punch out a green circle using a 1 3/8” punch
9.    Punch out a red scallop using a scallop punch
10.  Make one white dot on each scallop using a white gel pen
11.  Adhere the circles and scallop together with SNAIL as shown
12.  Adhere the ribbon to the background card, securing the ribbon to the back of it using sticky tape.
13.  Adhere this background piece to your folded red card.
14.  Mount the scallop piece to the card using Stampin’ Dimensionals
15.  Apply Crystal Effects to the cherries.

All products used for this card are available for purchase through me at angelasargeant@gmail.com.  All products by Stampin’ Up! and all images copyright Stampin’ Up! 1990-2008.

Hope you like! :D

Christmas Card Class

I have a few more spots left for my Christmas Card Class on this Friday 18th.  Come over and join me in making these fun & fresh Christmas cards

Very Merry Christmas cards

Date:  Friday 18th July 2008
Time: 7:30pm

Venue: Lane Cove, Sydney.  Phone 0400 907.219 or 9427.2989 for details.

Cost:  $20 includes all materials needed to make cards plus refreshments.  If you finish your cards early, you can make more cards!

Monthly Technique Class – Twinkling Watercolours

Twinkling Watercolours Technique
Like a bit of shimmer in your colouring?  This Month’s Technique Class is Twinkling Watercolours, a new technique devised by me to make your cards shimmer!

The Twinkling Watercolours Tutorial is delivered direct to your in-box and will show you step by step how to create three fresh & fun cards along with a 6 x 6 Layout – a perfect brag book size.This class uses 100% Stampin’ Up! product however the projects can easily be adapted to be used with products that you may already have at home.If you are too busy to attend a stamping class or live too far away or just want to do your stamping in your own time at your own pace then you are going to love the Technique Class.  Of course those who can attend a hands on class you are catered for.  So here are the three great options

1. Attend a Class: you can attend a hands on class where you will make 3 projects.  The workshop will be held at my house in Lane Cove on the Lower North Shore of Sydney on Friday 8th August at 10.30am.  All supplies to make three cards are provided along with morning tea.  Class cost is $20, bookings essential.  Just email me on angelasargeant@gmail.com or phone 9427.2989 or 0400 907.219 to reserve your place at this class.

2.  Buy the Tutorial: Can’t make the hands on workshop, but would still love to create the projects?  We are offering this workshop in PDF format, complete with over 50 photographs taking you through the cardmaking and scrapbooking process step by step.  Also included is two extra sample cards using the same technique.

All this for only AU$10, a link to the tutorial will be emailed to you upon payment either via Paypal, Credit Card payment by paypal or over the phone, or by Direct Deposit (email for details)



3.  Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators – Teach the Class: Are you already a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator who would love to learn this fabulous new technique? Impress your customers with these publishing-quality projects at your next class while saving time and money by purchasing our Monthly Technique Class in a business format.   This Twinkling Watercolours Technique is sure to please your customers who are looking for something a little different.  Show samples of the cards at your next workshop or class to get more bookings.  Along with the Technique Tutorial you will also receive a full costing breakdown for each project along with details of what you will require to teach a class of ten, plus a checklist of tools and products with required amounts to make your class planning a breeze.

All this for only AU$20, a link to the Tutorial and Costing Breakdown will be emailed to you upon payment either via Paypal, Credit Card payment by paypal or over the phone, or by Direct Deposit (email for details)

Starting your own stamping business

Two and a half years ago I decided I wanted to start my own business teaching cardmaking from home. I looked into different ways that I could start my business but all of them were very costly and and all of them required that I keep stock of a heap of product that I may or may not be able to sell. Interesting though how some things just fall into your lap at the right time… just when I was starting to think it was all too difficult, Stampin’ Up! came to Australia. I will admit though that I had lots of questions and doubts – in the end, I just thought “I really have nothing to lose – in the end if I change my mind I’ll end up with $324 for stamping stuff that I’ll enjoy using anyway”. And the rest as they say, is history.

Today (and until 15th August 2008), you too can start your own stamping business for only $299.

Email me now on angelasargeant@gmail.com for a free information pack plus ideas on how you can run your own business in a way that suits your style.