25 Planner Hacks Part 4. Easy Mixed Media Art. #25PlannerHacks

See how easy it is to customise your cover! You won't believe how fast and simple this tip is. Plus lots more hacks.
Enjoy!
Vicki x

Love Today Planner Kit	144257
Price: $64.00 Love Today Planner Kit Refill 145386 Price: $45.00                                                    SHOP NOW

Art Journals

Here is the current playlist of all my Art Journal Tutorials for those who have requested it! I LOVE making art journals and playing with all kinds of mixed media just as much as I enjoy making cards!

Carry Over Favourites Card Recipe For You. Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator.

Card Recipe using Stylish Stems Framelits. 

Stamps
• Special Reason Stamp Set

Paper
• Daffodil Delight Cardstock
• Pool Party Cardstock 
• Sahara Sand Cardstock 
• Shimmery White Cardstock 
• Whisper White Cardstock 

Ink
• Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad
• Night of Navy Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Sahara Sand Classic Stampin’ Pad

Accessories and Tools
• White Baker’s Twine
• Floral Boutique Designer Washi Tape
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Aqua Painters
• Big Shot
• Stylish Stems Framelits Dies

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

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 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Grab your FREE retired stamp set from me! Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator

Hello, I have BIG NEWS for you today! I am giving away all my Retired Stamps and Framelits as a thank you gift to my online customers. Here is a video of what's available. Once you have placed an order of $50 or more in product (excluding postage and handling) you qualify for free stamps!

All the stamps available are listed on my Facebook page, and many of the sets have coordinating framelits, which are also up for grabs.

This is an exclusive offer from me personally, and is a way for me to thank my loyal customers.
Simply go to my Aussie Stampers Facebook page and write SOLD under the sets you would like me to send you.
A spend of $50 = one stamp set or Framelit set.
A spend of $100 = 2 stamp sets or Framelit sets
A spend of   $150 = 3 stamp sets or framelit sets
and so on.

I will post them to you free of charge, anywhere in Australia. (You will still need to pay postage on your Stampin' Up! order us per usual ).    

Have a wonderful day, and Happy Stamping.

Vicki x💝

The New Catalogue is Here! Have a look at the new goodies!

                                               Hello, and thanks for stopping by today.

Don't you just love a fully coordinated suite of products to help take the guesswork out of making impressive hand made projects? The Wood Textures suite has a coordinating paper stack, perfect for the men in your life! The adorable little crate is the perfect size for treats. Hop on over to my store to purchase yours now!
                           
Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack #144177 $17.50
Wood Words Stamp Set and Wood Crate Framelits Dies Bundle (save 10%)
Wood #145315  $91.75
Clear #145316  $79.00
1/4"  (6.4mm) Copper Trim #144179 $10.00 (4.6 metres)
5/8"  (1.6cm) Burlap Ribbon #141487 $12.25 (4.6 metres)
7.6 x 15.2 cm Gusseted Cellophane Bags #141704 $8.00 (25 bags)

                                                           BUY NOW
                                      Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

                                       

Artisan Watercolour Technique

Hello, and thanks for visiting today. I promised I would show you some of the water colouring techniques I have been studying at the Regional Gallery.

This gorgeous stamp set Touches of Texture is just so easy to work with.

I used Arches Aquarelle paper for this technique, as it has a real tooth and soaks up the colours so thirstily. I generally use the Stampin' Up watercolour paper, but this technique works best with a really heavy paper.

I have a selection of different papers I use, and the results differ greatly, depending on the result you want to achieve.

To achieve this look I stamped in Memento tuxedo black ink, then took my thick brush and did a water wash over the area outside the stamped image in the places where I wanted a background effect.

I then applied the background colours by drawing a line with my Stampin' Write markers, without touching the stamped image, but staying close to the flower. 

I used a number 4 round brush for this, and came in with a number 2 round brush in the finer areas, dragging the colour out towards the edges of the background. 

When I had achieved the desired result I heat set the ink.

To colour the flowers I used the number 2 round brush dipped in water, then picked up colour from the lid of the ink pad. The stripes were made by simply leaving some areas bare. 

   I did the same technique with the centres and the leaves, and used a white Jellyroll marker to make a stippled ring around the middle of the petals, which gives a real 3D effect, as though the petals are curving outwards.

You can see in this close-up how I kept the background colours outside the stamped image.

The colours I used were Crushed Curry, Tempting Turquoise, Garden Green and Melon Mambo.

I stamped the words I Love You. You Are Fabulous, using the Thoughtful Banners Stamp Set onto Melon Mambo Cardstock.

Here you can see the stippled white ring I made with the white Jellyroll pen. 

I was absolutely thrilled with the result, and am looking forward to using this technique with all my large floral stamps.

I mounted the card onto Tempting Turquoise Cardstock, and used the same watercolour paper for the inside layer of the card.

Mission Accomplished!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

Touches of Texture   Wood Mount 141934   Clear Mount 140517

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Best Birds Simply Rendered. Stampin' Up! Demonstrator Sydney.

Hello, and thanks for visiting by blog today.

These two cards received a lot of comment at my stamp class, so I decided to post them for you to show how simply rendered cards are often the best. The rule of threes applies here....3 colours for the card: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight and Basic Black. The birds are cut out using the Birds and Blooms thinlits and the netting and sentiments are from the Best Birds Stamp Set. 

3 small rhinestones  were coloured using Copic Markers (or you could use a black Sharpie) and the cards were trimmed with black washi tape.

Simple and fast!

I have made a video for you to see how simple these cards are to make.

My Youtube Tutorial

Birds and Blooms Thinlits  141477

Best Birds Stamp Set  141525

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Have a wonderfully creative day.

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Soft Watercolours Technique

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog.

Today I have a card for you that is softly watercolored using an easy technique with your Stampin' Write markers and the Best Birds stamp set.

Using the branch stamp, colour directly onto your stamp using old olive for the leaves and soft suede for the branch.
Spritz some water (not too much) onto the stamp and stamp your image onto a piece of whisper white card stock. Have a paper towel handy to blot any excess, and then heat set with your heat tool.

Use the same technique for the bird image, using mint macaron marker for the wings, soft suede for the body, and so saffron for the beak and feet.

When your paper is completely dry, finish the card by adding some copper dots washi tape to a mint macaron card base, just under your art piece, then use glue dots to adhere some fine copper thread above the bird and to the right.

Use copper embossing powder for your greeting, then cut out using the tags framelits,  and add 3 white sequins to complete your card.

                                             Best Birds Stamp Set #141525 Photopolymer
                                                                BUY NOW

Have a wonderful day.  Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Masked Dauber Dotting Technique. Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator.

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog today. I trust you are enjoying the weekend. We have had some rain here in Sydney today, and I have spent the day in my Happy Place, crafting my little cotton socks off!

I have created a project for you with a technique called Dauber Dotting.

Rather than blending from one shade into the next as you normally would do with a sponge dauber, this technique celebrates the dottiness!

Start by creating the inside of a circle mask using the largest stitched framelits circle. I use Express It Transparent Masking Film, but you could use scrap paper and tape it down with some washi tape. Just be sure to rub your washi onto your clothing first to remove some of the tack, or it still may tear the Shimmery White card stock when you try to remove it.

Start with Daffodil Delight. Blend as usual, but add extra strength dots on top by pounding slightly when you finish blending.  Next add the Peekaboo Peach  and blend as usual, then add pounded dots to the top. Melon Mambo is next. Be sure to start blending off the circle as this is a stronger colour. I did less blending here and more pounding. With Wisteria Wonder blend in from the edge and then pound on top.

Remove the mask and allow to dry. You can speed up the process with your heat gun.

Assemble your card onto a Basic Black card base, and add a Shimmery White layer to the inside, so a message can be written to the recipient of your card.

I stamped the smaller flower from Birthday Blooms #140658  onto the inside layer as well as onto the art piece sponged circle. I do love the inside of my cards to look as lovely as the outside!

                                                          Birthday Blooms  Photopolymer #140658  

I adhered a strip of washi tape from the Pop Of Pink suite down the side edge. Next I stamped the sentiment from the Birthday Blooms Stamp set onto Shimmery White card stock and cut out using the oval framelits. I popped this up on dimensionals and the card was done!

                                I hope you give this a try. Have a good weekend.
                                         
                              Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝 
                                                     BUY NOW

Sneak Peek: Color Theory Suite.

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog.

Today I have a SNEAK PEEK for you! This coordinating set is a suite for all seasons.

From June 1st, you will be able to order a whole swag of new stamps, embellishments and crafting goodness! Aren't these cards so pretty?

Watch the video and put these on your wish list. You will be able to purchase these from me from June 1st, and I will have the new catalogue download on my blog for you to browse through. I am also planning a new catalogue Walk Through on my Aussie Stampers Youtube Channel to highlight my favourite things. 

Watch the Video

                                     Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Best Birds Class: Make 6 Cards. Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator.

Hello, and thanks for stopping by my blog.

There is something about the combination of navy and white that is easy on the eye, and yet makes a statement all at the same time.

 For this class I used the Best Birds Stampset #141525 and matching thinlits Birds And Blooms #141477 in as many different ways as I could imagine,  using Night of Navy and Whisper White as the colour scheme. 

The gorgeous Designer Series Paper Floral Boutique #141663 is the perfect accompaniment to this symphony of blue!

                                    Here are the finished 6 cards in The Best Birds class.

                               The White Organza Ribbon #114319 makes a pretty accessory 

teamed with 3 White Perfect Accents #138416

                        Here you can see the rhinestones I coloured with a navy Copic marker.

                       A stitched oval Thinlit is strategically placed inside to write the message on.

                             The tiny die cut bird needed a reverse image to complement him.
                                      The inside of the card reads "on your wedding day."

                       This card uses the open die cut shape, and the bird was saved for later.

Heart die cut with both birds "kissing" for an anniversary card.

Thanks for visiting. I hope to see you in a class soon!

Vicki x 💝

Awaiting the new coffee cup framelits!

                                     
                                         Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog today.
I have been loving all the new products in the catalogue, and can't wait to show you a New Catalogue Walkthrough on Youtube when the catty goes live on June 1st.

I am over the moon that there will be a coffee cup stamp with matching framelits. Yay! I am planning cards for my local cafe to sell, and I had already put together these little cuties using up the rest of my designer series paper, and had a fit of nostalgia over how well-loved this old stamp set was.

I can't show you what's inside the new catty yet, but I hope this whets your appetite for more coffee stamps! And more cups of coffee! Haha.

                                                    Till next time, Vicki x 💝

My June Card Making Class. Register Here.

In June I am focusing on the Happy Celebrations Stamp Set and Embossing folders.

These folders give a lovely Letterpress effect, and I showed an example of this type of card in my Mothers Day Card post.

In the June class we will be making 6 different cards.

  Here is a video preview of my next class in June. 

You can register for this class and any upcoming classes at 

      www.meetup.com/cardmaking-art-papercraft

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Baby Onesie with vellum and distressing

Hello, and welcome to my blog. Here is a project for you that uses vellum as an underlay.

When you slightly offset the layers, you can achieve a look that is right on-trend.

The colour scheme is bermuda bay, mint macaron and so saffron.

The baby onesie has been cut out using the matching framelits, and is adhered using washi tape and the sentiment, so that the sleeves are partly lifting from the page. This is a very subtle kind of layering, especially with the white-on-white colour scheme.

Finish off your card by slightly curling the edges of the layers, then distressing the edge of the card with your fingernail before adhering everything together using Tombow multi adhesive.

Add a bakers twine bow and some small pearls ( 3 is the magic number for these! )  and your card is now complete.

I hope you enjoyed this project.
Vicki x  💝

You're Sublime : 2 Cards. Stampin' Up! Australia.

You're Sublime  #138737 wood Mount    #139309 Clear mount 

Who doesn't love a vintage caravan? This card is fun and carefree, just like the sentiment! 

*Layer some mint macaron Designer Series paper #138432 onto a Whisper White Card base.

*Stamp the image onto a Whisper White piece using Basic Black Archival ink

* Colour using markers and a blender pen in So Saffron, Mint Macaron, Basic Black and Calypso Coral

*Attach to the card front with liquid glue and add 2 torn strips of black wash tape

* Punch out 3 hearts from Calypso Coral Card Stock with the Confetti Hearts Border Punch and attach with snail adhesive. 

* Finish with a bow in black and white bakers twine, adhered with a mini glue dot.

This simple card is another pretty combination of colours, and you can make your own co-ordinating envelopes with the Envelope Punch Board #133774 using envelope paper #141697 or Designer Series Paper #138432

This  card is made using the same technique as the first, with the markers colours of

Mint Macaron, Smokey Slate, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Blushing Bride and WatermelonWonder.

*You can add a touch of Smokey Slate shadow below the wheelbarrow to "ground" your piece so that it doesn't look as though it's floating on the page.

*Stamp the greeting a second time on a scrap of whisper White 

*Use the Duet Banner punch to make the banner, and adhere the banner on top of the stamped greeting.

Duet Banner Punch #141483

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Happy crafting, and thanks for visiting!

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Carry-over Pansy Punch: Give it some Pizzazz!

I really love using punches as a quick pop-up on a card, and wanted to do something extra special with the Pansy Punch, as it is carrying over into the new catalogue. I stamped using the Flower Shop stamp set onto whisper white, once in crushed curry, and once in melon mambo. Using my blender pen I darkened the inner half of the petals, then punched them out with the pansy punch.
I stamped the "thanks" greeting from Thankful Thoughts using emerald envy towards the bottom of a smaller piece of card stock and cut it out using the stitched framelits.

I arranged this on a plain whisper white card base to decide where I wanted to stamp the images from Touches of Texture.

Once I had my layout planned I stamped the bouquet image twice using emerald envy, then the larger splashes in melon mambo, and the finer splashes in crushed curry. I coloured the bouquet image with my blender pen, but going a little outside the lines to give a soft watercolour look.  

Everything was popped up on dimensionals and I stacked 2 dimensionals together for the pink pansy, after curving the petals with my bone folder. Coordinating bling in each of the 3 colours completed my card. I love how it turned out. It is cheerful and pretty, and gives the pansy punch a whole new lease of life. I also decorated the inside of the card with the emerald envy bouquet branch.

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Hostess Sets: Gift of Love Cards. Stampin' Up! Australia.

If you haven't taken a look at the hostess sets on page 198-201 of the catalogue, then you are missing the best buy in stamps! These stamp sets are priced well below retail value and are a great way to spend your Stampin' Rewards.

To make these cards you will need the Hostess stamp set Gift of Love #141796 , $AUD17.00, which can only be purchased with Stampin' Rewards (which you receive after your order totals $250 excluding shipping and handling)

*On a card base of Basic Black add a panel from the Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper #141648.

*Add a layering panel of Whisper White, and stamp your image with Basic Black Ink.

*Stamp Daffodil Delight flowers, then Cucumber Crush for the leaves. 

*Using an aqua painter, pick up some ink from the lid of your pad and flick some Daffodil Delight across the page. 

*Wrap some linen thread around the panel and staple a small edge of doily onto the front. 

*Use versamark ink to stamp the greeting on a small piece of basic black card stock, then emboss with white embossing powder (be sure to use your embossing buddy first). 

*Adhere all the pieces with fast fuse or snail.

The thing I like the most about this next card is the pretty, soft colour.
*On a panel of Watercolour Paper using your aqua painter do a quick wash of Pink Pirouette and So Saffron inks. Set aside to dry.
*Next stamp Basic Grey archival ink onto a seperate piece of watercolour paper,   and using your aqua painter colour the flowers in Pink Pirouette. Add a tiny amount of Rose red in the centres and blend outwards.
*Colour the stems in Old Olive ink. Set aside to dry.
*Come back to the original watercolour washed piece and stamp the greeting in Soft Suede Ink.
*Flick some Soft Suede ink across the page using your aqua painter.  Set aside to dry.
*Cut out the floral image with your paper snips.
*Adhere a strip of Very Vanilla Lace Trim #141672 under the greeting with mini glue dots.
*Pop up the floral image on dimensionals.
*Adhere to a Watercolour paper card base with dimensionals.

These are really pretty projects and I hope you give them a try!
Happy Crafting,
Vicki x  💝

Copic Puppy and Kitten : Pretty Kitty meets Bella And Friends!

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog today!

 Aren't these little guys too cute! Our dog Koby is a Maltese Poodle Cross and I just had to have the Bella and Friends stamp set, as well as the Pretty Kitty set.

I decided these two needed to be best friends, so I tied a balloon to each of their tails and coloured them with my Copic Markers, after stamping in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

I also gave them both rosy cheeks, and made the puppy a boy and the kitty a girl, with their blue and pink collars!

I added some shine to the balloons with a white Gellyroll marker. 

I have an ever-expanding selection of markers and pencils, as well as my Copics (I am an Intermediate Copic Designer), and love watercoloring as well. Over the last two years I have been studying watercolour painting at the Regional Gallery at Hazelhurst and I will be showcasing some of my work here on the blog from time to time.

To finish the card I matted the sentiment onto a crumb cake base using the Stitched Framelits, then adhered everything to a Basic Black Card base.

Of course I love to finish my cards on the inside as well, so I chose the seated version of the kitty and the puppy and simply stamped them on either side of the inside layer in black, and left them uncoloured. I wanted the outside to steal the show.

What do you think? Pretty cute, right?

Here are the supplies you will need, plus whatever you choose to colour your card with.

 Pretty Kitty Wood Mount #141861   Clear Mount #141864

Bella And Friends Wood Mount #141867  Clear Mount #141870

Stitched Shapes #145372

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink #132708

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Have an awesome day. Thanks for shopping with me.

Vicki x  💝

Home Decor Dream Catcher

                           Sometimes an idea brews away until you just HAVE to go with it.
        The first time I saw the Feather  Together Stamp set, I knew I would make a dream catcher.

I had been hoarding the beautiful background paper from Serene Scenery with the beach scene, and always had a home decor piece in mind. Rather than buy a glassed frame, I wanted something more beachy to go with our home decor (we live on the river that runs out to sea at Cronulla Beach and I have a love of seashells and all things nautical).

I picked up a set of 4 primed canvases from Kmart for $5.  The canvas measures 7 3/4" square by 1/2" deep, and I cut the Designer Series Paper to 6" square. I adhered it to the canvas with Tombow Multi adhesive, then flipped it over and pressed firmly from the back to ensure a good grip.

                                Now I could go about the dream catcher construction process!

The Lace Doilies from the Falling In Love suite were the perfect size and I loved the detailed design. I started with some thick twine and wound it through the outside of the doily, then tied it in a knot from the back.
Next I tied some doubled Linen Thread to 3 places on the doily that would provide room for 3 of the feathers to hang from.
I stamped  the feathers on Very Vanilla using Bermuda Bay and Island Indigo ink, then fussy cut them, adding some extra cuts to the sides to mimic a feather shape.
I also flossed the edges of the Linen thread where I had tied the linen thread to the feathers.

                          This photo shows the cuts I made down the sides of the feathers.
I coloured some pearls with my Copic Markers (you could use sharpies for this if you don't have Copics). They look like beads threaded through a woven dream catcher! How cool is that!
I used Foam Adhesive Strips to mount everything...that stuff is super convenient for round shapes like this, and it all came together really quickly.

My Dream Catcher now has pride of place on our fireplace mantel in the Living Room, and I am one happy stamper!

Supplies used:

Serene Scenery DSP #141642

Feather Together Stamp Set #141597

Foam Adhesive Strips #141825

Linen Thread #104199

Pearl Basic Jewels #119246

Lace Doilies #142793

Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue #110755

Bermuda Bay and Island Indigo Inkpads

Very Vanilla Cardstock

Canvas and thick twine from Kmart

BUY NOW

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Using a vellum overlay and how to adhere it to your card.

Hello, and welcome to today's project. Flu season has arrived, and I was down for the count with coughing and sneezing all last week. Luckily for me, Paul took over some of the grocery shopping while I was ill, and kept me well-provided for with lovely cups of tea and sympathy. Gotta love that man!

I love stamping on vellum, and this card using the Get Well Soup stamp uses a couple of neat techniques I wanted to share with you.

Firstly, the background is Designer Series Paper, adhered to a whisper white card base.
 The image is stamped in versamark ink, then white embossing powder is sprinkled over the top (remember to swipe the vellum with your embossing buddy first) and heat set using the heat tool. When doing this make sure to heat the back of the paper quickly as well so it doesn't curl up!
Colour the soup with a so saffron marker, then adhere the vellum with a strip of washi tape.
Adhere a thick bakers twine bow with a glue dot or liquid tomboy multi adhesive.

Another way to  adhere a vellum overlay would be with some glue dots, and then cover the dots with rhinestones, pearls or enamel embellishments.

I hope you found this helpful.
Have a wonderful day,
Vicki x  💝