HLS September Watercolour Challenge

Hi everyone! Woah, September already?? It's a big month for me - Father's Day on the 2nd and my dad's 60th birthday on the 11th. I am also starting to plan my grandson's 1st birthday party which is in November - can you believe he is nearly 1????

Over at Happy Little Stampers we kick off a new month with our Watercolour Challenge.

Anything Goes but you may like to play along with our twist and use a butterfly or two or three...

Here are my cards (yes I made two lol) -

For my first card I placed a stencil on watercolour card, sprinkled turquoise brusho, misted with water, then lifted the stencil. I used my heat gun to speed up the drying process.

I stamped and die cut my butterfly from some left over card that I flipped the stencil over and pressed the ink on to it. 

I rounded off the edges of this card for a bit of interest.

I would like to enter this card over at -

My second card was created in the same manner but I used orange and yellow brushos.

Supplies Used

HLS Butterfly Birthday

HLS Smile!

HLS Perfectly Succulent

MISTI

Brushos

Here is a video tutorial that I created a while back to show you how to use your watercolours with stencils.

I hope to see you over at the challenge blog!

Urban Style for Inkspirational

Hi there everyone! Time again for another fun challenge at Inkspirational! We have a very cool theme for you this fortnight -

Here is my take on 'Urban'

I embossed my London skyline and sentiment and then used the Brusho, Starch, and cling wrap technique to create my background. I haven't done this since the HLS retreat last year so it was good to be playing again. This is such a great way to create amazing backgrounds. 

I love the colours and effects you get! I was a little impatient with this one and took the cling wrap off a bit too early. Still, great results!

Here is my video tutorial I made some time ago which explains the process of this technique. PLUS a couple of other ways to use Brusho Crystal Powders too!

I hope to see you play along at Inkspirational for this challenge. The other girls have come up with awesome makes too so please pop on over to check them out.

Here is a summary of the products I used for this card -

        

         

Thanks for popping in!

Stencils and Sparkle Medium + Video Tutorial

Happy Sunday everyone. I had a 'moment' to spend in my craft room this weekend and made the most of my time by also creating another video tutorial.

Mum and I went to the Craft and Quilt Expo in Brisbane earlier this month. We picked up a few tubs of sparkle medium to share between us (among other things...) and I decided to create a couple of Christmas cards.

I used a stencil from STAMPlorations, the sparkle medium, and a sentiment from Happy Little Stampers 'Mixed Christmas Sentiments'. 

This is a Memory Box stencil, sparkle medium, and another sentiment from the HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments set.

My video tutorial also shows you how to create a one layer card using this technique but adding a slight bit of masking as well.

I would like to enter my cards into the following challenges -

Just Add Ink #333 - Add G (my 'G' is glitter)

Fab n Funky Challenges #322 - Shades of Grey or Lots of Sparkle

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Glitter and Sparkle

Card Mania - Let it Shine

Last but not least - here is my video tutorial

Thanks for popping by!

The Perfect Backgrounds

Hi everyone and happy Friday! Ready for the weekend?

I wanted to share with you the cards that I made from my brusho backgrounds. I created a video tutorial for you to share this fun and easy technique. You will find the link at the end of my post.

Today I received my dies and stencils from STAMPlorations. It felt like they took forever to get here from the US but that was because I was at the mail box everyday waiting.... So! I had to break them out and have a play as I knew they would be perfect to add to my backgrounds.

Here are my cards - no stamping today. Just watercoloured backgrounds and dies :)

I would like to enter this card into

Cut it up - Watercolour (must use a die as well)

STAMPlorations - Anything Goes using their products

I would like to enter this card over at

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple

STAMPlorations - Anything CAS Goes (no option used for me)

I would like to enter this card over at

CCEE Stampers - No stamping, just die cuts

If you would like to try making these backgrounds using Brushos and Stencils please check out my video tutorial -

Don't forget that the current CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers is -

and this technique would be perfect for you to try and then enter.

Thanks for popping by!

HLS July Christmas Challenge

Hi again!

July has got me REALLY excited because the countdown is on. I'm off to the UK to host the first every Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat. It's a massive journey from Australia by the time we will finally land in London but it will be totally worth it. 

The retreat was an idea I had about 18 months ago and there has been a lot of planning involved. The moment I mentioned it to my mum, she wanted to come straight away! I was then telling my bestfriend, Simone, about the trip and encouraged her to think about coming. She said yes! Low and behold when Simone mentioned it to her mum, she wanted to come too! So, it has gone from a trip on my own to an amazing adventure with three amazing women! We can't wait!

Only 18 more sleeps until we leave Australia!!

Ok, on to the real reason I am posting today lol.

Happy Little Stampers started off July with the CASE the Designer (Carol Steedman) and CAS challenges so far. We are now ready to inspire you with our Christmas Challenge.

That's right - use gold on your Christmas creation!

Here is my card -

I created a mask so I could stamp my own Christmas tree. I used the Mix Mash, Bold Birthday Sentiments and Mixed Christmas Sentiments for this card. 

Here is a close up of the glittery goodness once I had coloured in the circles with my WOS gold pen.

This is a one layer card and very easy to create. Perfect for popping in the mail!

Here are the HLS sets that I have used -

         

Here is a video showing you how I created cards similiar to this one :)

As always if you play along in any or all of our challenges at Happy Little Stampers -

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Just Add Ink - Add 'S' - I added Sparkle

One Layer Simplicity - Christmas in July

Thanks for popping in today. There are also new Design Team members over at the challenge blog so don't forget to say hi to them!

Stamping with Gelatos

Hi there everyone.

Yesterday I had a play with my Gelatos and created a video tutorial on how to use them with your stamping.

I love the effects they have and there are so many ways to use them!

I would like to enter this card over at

ABC Challenges - B is for B - you pick

HobbyKlubb - Butterflies

I would like to enter this card over at -

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes (no twist)

Moving Along with the Times - Things with Wings

Please check out my video tutorial on how to stamp with Gelatos :)

Thanks for stopping by :)

Partial Die Cutting: Video Tutorial

Check out my new video tutorial - Partial Die Cutting :)

Happy Little Stampers Februrary CAS Challenge

Hi everyone.

We have a new challenge over at Happy Little Stampers. It's time for our Clean and Simple challenge.

Each month we love bringing you new challenges (4 per month!) and inspire you to use new techniques or products. 

This month we want you to use the Stamping with Embossing Folder technique.

If you haven't tried it before, give it whirl! It's easy and lots of fun.

Here is my card -

I misted some Crushed Grape in by Dylusions onto my embossing folder and pressed it onto Mixed Media papaer. The sentiment is from the HLS Thinking of You set.

Here is a video tutorial that I put together a little while ago

Also, over at the Happy Little Stampers blog, there are others for you to have a look at.

We have a WONDERFUL Guest Designer with us for this challenge - Cornelia is definitely a fan of ours at Happy Little Stampers and she makes extraordinary cards!

Just by playing along you could win a $15 certificate to the shop!

See you over there!

HLS January CAS Challenge

Hello! Have you recovered from New Year's Eve yet? Perhaps you need a quiet day in the craft room? Well, we have great inspiration (as always) over at Happy Little Stampers.

Today is the start of our January CAS challenge.

Here is my card -

This card was REALLY fun to make. I made up a bit of a twist from my usual ink smooshing. Watch my video tutorial to see what it is. I call this 'controlled' ink smooshing lol. Is there such a thing???

I have used HLS Fun Birthday Sentiments and Bold Birthday Sentiments for this card.

    

Happy Little Stampers sponsor all the challenges this year!

Hop on over to the challenge blog for tonnes of inspiration from the team :)

HLS CASE the Designer

Hello! Happy New Year!

It's exciting times at Happy Little Stampers: the New Year has made way for a new challenge. Instead of our monthly sketch challenge, we have decided to go with CASEing one of our designers each month.

This month the designer is.... ME!

To create this card, I used Brushos on Glossy cardstock. I have a video tutorial for this technique below. The pink splatters were created by smearing Distress Ink onto my craft mat, picking it up with a wet brush and flicking it onto the panel.

I used the HLS Thinking of You set for my sentiment. I placed the butterfly right on top of the words thinking he looked right at home :)

The Design Team have all CASED my card over at the blog so if you are stuck for ideas, pop over there and see amazing inspiration from them.

This challenge is sponsored by 




Thanks for popping by!

Mixed Media Canvas - No stamps

Hi there everyone.

I made a quick tutorial on how to create a Mixed Media Canvas. Enjoy!

HLS December Sketch Challenge

Hello! Welcome to December, woo hooo. It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Over at Happy Little Stampers there is a brand new sketch challenge for you.

Here it is

Lot's of scope here to play with this sketch. I decided to make a birthday card for this one ;)

My little hippo from the HLS Birthday Friends set was stamped onto a leftover panel that I had created using Brushos, Starch and Cling Wrap. I love making these backgrounds in advance to be used whenever I need them. You can check out my video tutorial HERE.

I have used the new HLS Enamel Glitter Dots (Pink) to finish off the card. Nice and easy to make :)

We have a wonderful guest designer with us this month - Darnell from djkardkreations. You know her, you love her. Thanks for joining us Darnell!

We have two sponsors for this challenge -

Winner will receive a $15 discount code to the Happy Little Stampers store!

You have the chance to win 5 digis

Pop on over to the challenge blog because there is wonderful examples from the Design Team to get you inspired and motivated :)

Thanks so much for popping by :)