Sunsets

Last week we had some really nice sunsets so I thought I'd get the camera out and see what I could capture.  I've been practising with my big camera - I had a bit of an epiphany with it the other day but in saying that, I've probably broken every photography rule known to man.  Anyway, here are some of my favourites.

I actually missed the best bit of the sunset getting the camera and changing up the lens, lol!  This is the top of one of the trees in our front yard.

Here's one with the sun setting through the tree.

Now this you may just be able to make out the container ship - the view from our balcony, way out in the distance is of Port Phillip Bay, here is a close up crop (I hope) of the ship

Now, I know it looks teeny tiny in this photo but we are about 30km from the beach so I think my camera's doing a pretty good job.

Well, that's it from me for tonight.  Have a good night/day

Melbourne Regionals Swap & M&T #1

Last weekend we had our Stampin' Up! Regional Event in Melbourne.  I managed to get a few swaps made up for the occasion.  This is what I made, based on something I saw in an upcoming US publication.

The Vanilla layer has been embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and then spritzed with Frost White Shimmer Paint mist that I made up.  I've also used some of the Newsprint DSP, the sentiment is from Perfect Punches and has been embossed using Clear Embossing powder and punched out with the Scalloped Oval punch.  I tried a new technique - ruffled ribbon - which took a while to get the hang of, and used one of the tools from the Distressing Kit to 'dog ear' the top corner.

During Regionals, we get to hear all sort of great business tips and see some great project ideas.  We also get to do Make & Takes.  This year the M&T's were 'beefed' up a bit, which was really, really good but it also meant that I only got 1 out of the 4 finished :)   I decided to do this one first, because it used the Colour Spritzing Tool, which I don't have (yet).

Isn't it pretty?  I was really pleased with the way it turned out but the staff at the Convention Centre may have thought otherwise since I mangaged to get quite a bit of Soft Suede spritz all over their very nice white table cloths.  Ooops.  1 down, 3 to go!

Supplies Used:
Regional Swap
Stamps:  Perfect Punches
Ink:  Basic Black, Versamark
Cardstock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Newsprint DSP
Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Big Shot, Scallop Oval punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Old Olive Satin ribbon, Distressing Kit, Frost White Shimmer Paint (as mist), Sticky Strip, Dimensionals


Make & Take #1
Stamps:  Every Moment
Ink:  Soft Suede, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Black StazOn, Soft Suede marker
Cardstock:  Soft Suede Textured, Naturals Ivory, Water Colour, Old Olive
Accessories:  Aquapainter, Scallop Edge punch, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Daffodil Delight 3/8 Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearl, Clip Assortment

JAI #44 - Colour Challenge

This weeks it's a colour challenge at Just Add Ink and these are the colours we working with

They are such earthy colours and totally remind me of the National Parks and forests that are so close to our house.  This is what I made

I've used a new set - Growing Green.  As soon as I saw the colours, I knew I wanted to use this set.  I've stamped the Maiden Hair Fern (at least that's what I think it is) in Wild Wasabi and clear embossed on watercolour paper.  Then I watercoloured the leaves using Wild Wasabi ink and my aquapainter.  To disguise my dodgy watercolouring, I've given the whole thing a spritz with Frost White Shimmer Paint Mist.  (If you enlarge the photo, you should be able to see the shimmer)

The sentiment, from Occasional Quotes (L3 Hostess) is also stamped on watercolour paper using Chocolate Chip ink.  I punched it out using my new Modern Label punch and added a couple more of those teeny tiny pearls on either side of the sentiment.  The DSP is River Rock from the Neutrals paper pack and the ribbon is retired.

To make the shimmer paint mist, I got a few little spray bottles from Hairhouse Warehouse, dropped in a bit of paint and then filled the bottle with Isocol Rubbing Alcohol.  My mist was quite a light mixture as I wanted a very subtle effect on my Regional swap.  I have now added a bit more paint to make it a little stronger.  Here's a photo to show you what it looks like.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's brilliant creations and I look forward to seeing you creations  using this colour combo!

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up!
Stamps:  Growing Green, Occasional Quotes
Ink:  Wild Wasabi , Versamark, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Watercolour Paper, River Rock DSP
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Aquapainter, Corner Rounder (retired), Basic Pearls, Modern Label punch, Frost White Shimmer paint (as mist - shown above), Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon (retired), Dimensionals

JAI #43 - Just Add Christmas

Boy oh boy, am I cutting it fine with this one.  Silly thing is though, I had it made and photographed last week but just haven't gotten around to uploading.

Anyway, as you've probably guessed from the title, the challenge at Just Add Ink this week is Just Add Christmas.  Time to break out my new Christmas set that I purchased just the week before the current promotion was announced - nice one SU!  grrrr.

If you look really close, you can see that I have clear embossed the Merry Christmas sentiment from Contempo Christmas on the Very Vanilla piece.  The magical hanging ornament has been stamped in Cherry Cobbler and punched out using the new Ornament Punch.  I have also embellished the ornament with a heap (14) of those teeny, tiny little pearls.  I really like the way it turned out and it would be easy to mass produce minus the embossing (cause that took ages) and the pearls (you would use a lot)

Well, that's it from me tonight.  I will be back soon to show you the swap I made for the Melbourne Regionals that I attended last weekend as well as the 1 out of 4 Make & Takes that I got finished there. 

Supplies Used:  All Stampin' Up!
Stamps:  Contempo Christmas
Ink:  Versamark, Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday DSP
Accessories:  Ornament Punch, Embossing Buddy (which I cannot find, NOT COOL), Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Basic Pearls, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder (retired)

JAI #42 - Sketch Challenge

This week at JAI it's a sketch challenge

This is what I came up with

I've been dying to use Friends Never Fade since it was available for pre-order.  I stupidly didn't order it then, so I had to wait a whole month, whilst being tempted by a never ending procession of beautiful creations. I have it now, so it's all good!  The co ordinating Greenhouse Gala DSP is so pretty too!  The stamped image has been embossed with Clear EP so it's nice & shiny.  The only thing I want to change is the Chocolate Chip matting.  I wanted to use the Scallop Trim Border punch - I was hoping I could be clever enough to make corners with it like you can with the plain scallop border punch.  Obviously I'm not that clever so I ordered the Scallop Trim Corner punch yesterday.  The ribbon is retired Chocolate Chip Satin that was available a couple of minis ago.

Short & Sweet from me today.  Be sure to check out all the other fantastic creations the DT girls have come up with.  Look forward to seeing your creations!

Supplies Used: (All Stampin' Up!)

Stamps:  Friends Never Fade

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Cardstock:  Pear Pizzaz, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP

Accessories:  Clear EP, Heat Gun, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon