My wish is for High Hopes

I just love this image from High Hopes Rubber Stamps It is called Oops Ellie. High Hopes Rubber Stamps are now available in Australia at Heavenscent Crafts and I have a wish list about a mile long. Unfortunately I do not yet own any of these wonderful stamps, This image of Ellie was lent to me by a lovely friend named Pam. (Thanks Pam). I spent the day with Pam and her friend Pat teaching them to colour in using Prismacolor pencils. When I coloured in this elephant Blue I had no idea what I was going to do with him. A couple of days later I walked into my local stamp store and found this terrific designer paper by Australian designer Rachel Greig. It is from her Darkroom Door Range of products.
On the same day as buying the paper I was looking at the High Hopes Blog and saw the challenge to create a card using both Brads and Buttons. And Viola my card came to life. I hope you enjoy this card as much as I do. I was really pleased with the final outcome. I hope to feature some High Hopes Images over the next couple of weeks.

Until Next Time
Inking of you All
Michelle

My Guide to making a great card- tutorial

Here is my first tutorial, I call it My Guide to making a great Card. It is the basics on helping co-ordinate the pieces need to make a simple elegant card.
I have decided to show you this years' Christmas card, but you can apply this to any card you make.Step #1 (above): Choose your Stamp and Designer Paper first

Step #2 & #3 (above): Choose co-ordinating plain cardstock.

Stamp and colour your image. I have chosen to stamp my image in Black and colour with co-ordinating pencils. Choose any other inkpad colours now. If not using a neutral colour like black, choose an inkpad shade the same or as close to possible as your cardstock
When mass producing cards like Christmas cards cut and prepare all necessary pieces at the one time. This makes your life so much easier.

Step #4 (above): Now assemble all the pieces to your card.

I have chosen to do a simple card with a folded front for a bit of interest. As I am making lots of Christmas cards I didn't want to do something to fussy with lots and lots of work (that takes hours per card). However at the same time I still wanted a card that looks nice and classy. I think this card captured the look I wanted.

Step #5: add any embellishments now. I accented my card with red Rhinestones and stickles on the 'ribbon'

Last but not least. Take several photos of your creation before you put them in the post. You might also like to stamp a co-ordinating envelope, just remember to leave enough clear space to address it.

Hope you enjoyed my guide to card making.

The pudding stamp I used is from Stamp It (Australia) and the sentiment is from Hero Arts. The Designer Paper is Kaiser Craft

Until Next Time

Inking of you All

Michelle

Gorgeous Cooktown Orchids and great prices for USA readers

Once again I pulled out one of my favourite stamps, This is the Cooktown Orchid stamp. However this time I've teamed it with the small single Orchid. These stamps are made by a wonderful Australia company called Amazing Creations. Their stamps can be found here .

The flowers were first stamped in black brilliance ink and then I have coloured the image in shades of violet with a touch of yellow as a contrasting colour. The whole image is shadowed in a light shade of blue to give a bit more depth . The single orchid was stamped in a plum coloured ink to match the cardstock.

My colouring medium of choice is Prismacolor pencils.

The cards stock I used was SU whisper white and the coloured cardstock is all Bazzill.

To see more cards with this image look here

All stamps from Amazing Creations. Checkout their website for this great deal, tell them Michelle sent you

USA Readers TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXCHANGE RATE AND NO GST
(for example a $20.00AUD stamp is approximately $12.50 USD plus postage and handling. Please note the exchange rate is volatile at the moment and this is for example purposes only - results also vary based on your bank)

Michelle's Hint #3 (for those who like to colour)

Always buy good quality colouring Supplies

I see so many people spend an absolute fortune on stamps only to buy cheap colouring materials like children's textas and pencils. Although great for kids they really are not designed to do great artwork on cards and cheapen your finished product.

It doesn't matter which colouring medium you prefer whether it be watercolour pencils, markers, chalks/ pastels etc. Always chose a good quality brand. They are more than likely going to last you for years and years. There fore in the end, good value for money.

My tombow markers are now 8 years old and still going strong.

Until Next Time

inking of you all

Michelle

Rachel Anne Miller stamp

Here is a stamp sent to me from Deb at Heaven Scent Crafts. It is from Stampavie and is designed by Rachel Anne Miller. She has a whole range just like this adorable image. I have done it in 2 different colour themes and I think each one looks completely different. This first image (top) has been layered using Designer Papers from Euphoria by Basic Grey. I have coloured in both images using Prismacolor Pencils.
This card is embellished with flowers
that have been set with
eyelets, just to be a little different



This bottom card is done in Earthy tones and the designer paper is unknown. It's amazing how much different the card looks by accenting the image in a circle.

Until Next time
Inking of you All
Michelle

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Here is my first Christmas card. I made it for the Flourishes Tuesday Chat Challenge on SCS forum. The challenge was to create a Red, Green, Brown and White Christmas card.
Since I didn't have any Flourishes Chrissy stamps I quickly ordered this one. I can't tell you how happy I am to now get them in Australia. In 2 days no less.
I stamped this image in Black Brilliance and coloured with my Prismacolor Pencils. Then blended with Odourless Mineral Spirits.
I cut all the ovals out using my nestabilities classic ovals, I roughed the edges and then inked around the edge in brown.I added a couple of embellishments, The rhinestone for the nose and the bow around his neck. I layered it altogether with the Christmas papers from K & Company. All in all a very easy card to put together.

Flourishes stamps are some of my favourite stamps to use. In America they are available from Flourishes .Org and in Australia at Heavenscent Crafts

Until Next Time
Inking of you All
Michelle