Tickets anyone?? anyone?? Unfinished Business

Another super quick one (yes, supposed to be working on assignment for "Mathematics in Schools" right now).  So, in the spirit of "unfinished business", here is a card I don't think is quite finished.  While working on it at the e2c retreat, I thought it needed some pieces cut from the "Pattern Pieces" stamp from the Autumn/Winter Mini, to go with the buttons and "Tasteful Trim" Bigz XL die.  But, I didn't have that stamp with me, and so it remains, perhaps not quite complete.  Not unlike a certain maths assignment...

Colours are Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride and Whisper White.  I used the "Button Button" set to stamp some, and the embosslit die to match to make some 3D textured buttons.  The Tasteful trim pieces were run through the Square Lattice embossing folder, and I added some machine stitching and crimping.  When I get to it, I plan to play around with some vellum stamped pieces from the Pattern Pieces background, to make it look something like my floor when I sew (infrequently these days!)

Hope you like!  Finished or not!  Somehow, I suspect my maths lecturer will not appreciate an unfinished assignment, so must get back to it.

 However, you can keep me in the loop with Stampin' Up! by participating in my raffle for Ethan - tickets are on sale now, just $10 for 6 tickets, great prizes are shown down below - click on the pics to see bigger images.  Help me spread the word and get ticket sales going again after the easter break by linking to the post at the top - many thanks!!

 Instructions for entering the raffle are all there listed, and I look forward to sending the next installment of funds raised to Corina!

Cheers to you, with a Sweet and Sour Top Note chaser

Just a quick one, while I take a break from essay writing.   Here is another card I made at the e2c retreat, verrryyyy late one night.  It was inspired by they colourful cocktails being prepared by the neighbouring table.  The layout was inspired by an idea in "Papercrafts" magazine, a US publication that I like for the variety and style of designs, even the ads are interesting!  Catching a glimpse of the trends about to hit here is always good.  They often have design tips tucked away in the challenge articles, and this one was about using die-cut papers with a decorative edge as a design feature on a card - not just as the background for a scrapbook page.  I didn't have any die cut edge papers lying about, but was inspired to create my own custom one using the "Top Note" Big Shot die.  I cut a panel to the approximate size, and chopped off one end using the die to create the shape.  The shape created neatly frames the sentiment, and also shows off the "Sweet and Sour" specialty thermographic paper to its full advantage.

The image was done with "Cheers to You"  a set I took away with me to use, sadly neglected in my collection, although I do love it!  I stamped in Stazon black and coloured with my Watercolor Wonder crayons and a blender pen.  The papers were perfect for Cosmos and Mango Daiquiris, hence the choice of matting and layering.   The final touch was a bit of Pumpkin Pie narrow taffeta ribbon threaded through a Tangerine Tango button.  I added a glossy coat of Crystal Effects to the glasses before calling it a night morning. 

Did you receive my newsletter today about Ethan's Fundraising appeal?  If you'd like to receive my monthly-ish updates, you can click here to add your details to my mailing list.  If you'd like to help me spread the word, drop me an email at michelle.dyson@bigpond.com and I'll forward today's special edition.  Thanks!!

Thanks so much for your support - let's keep at it!

Thank you, thank you THANK YOU!  I have sold almost 400 tickets to date with your kind and generous support.  Corina, Ethan's mum ,has received all the funds cleared to date.  I'm hoping to be able to raise lots more however, my dream would be to cover the cost of the monitoring equipment and a few months worth of the consumables.  I would absolutely welcome any help in promoting the raffle, to help me achieve this goal!

For now, there are still spaces in my class tomorrow night, to make a beautiful origami box full of gift cards for all occasions.  Give me a call if you've been meaning to confirm, or if you'd like to book in.  There are more details in this post below.  The one in the pic is the prototype though. you'll be able to choose from a selection of co-ordinating SU! DSP and cardstock colours and a wide range of stamp sets and embossing folders to embellish with.

Here's another creation from my recent trip away to the Escape 2 Create retreat near Port Lincoln, SA:

This is a sneak peek of my swap cards for Convention 2011 - better start assembling more of them though, there are not that many days to go!!  It uses the "Clearly for you" set from the Autumn Winter Mini catalogue.  There are a wide selection of realistic botanical type images, and I can see heaps of versatility for it.  The base layer is Crumb Cake, stamped with the "Woodgrain" background.  Next, there's a layer of Pear Pizzazz, stamped with matching ink using the gorgeous tile background stamp from the set.  I've roughed up the edges with the distressing tool  from the Cutter Kit.  Peeking out from behind the torn and curled upper right corner is a bit of So Saffron, punched with the Scallop Trim corner punch.  There's also a band of So Saffron across the centre, that I rolled up and then across the table edge to soften and give it a faux ribbon look.  The central image was inked up to become raspberries, using several shades of green and red marker, using the thumping (perhaps better described as dabbing??) technique, before stamping on Very Vanilla.  This is layered on a distressed piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  The finishing touches are some linen thread wrapped around the So Saffron band, a butterfly from the set stamped and fussy-cut out, and a hand-cut sentiment tag tied on with a snippet of Chantilly lace trim.  It might look complex, but it is relatively fast and easy to make en masse, so hopefully if I see you at Convention, I can maybe swap with you?