Just Judy Designs

Welcome the Summer Mini Catalogue

Hi Everyone

Today is the release of the new Summer Mini Catalogue. It is full of new stamp sets, designer series paper, punches, rub ons and embellishments to keep you inspired over the summer holidays.

If you would like your own copy of the Summer Mini, please contact me and I will put one in the mail for you. To ensure you receive your products before Christmas, you will need to place your order by 14 December 2009. You can also browse online by clicking on the cover image on the Home page.

Check back here soon for projects using the new goodies form the Summer Mini.

Judy.

More on Christmas

Hi again

I'm on a bit of a roll with Christmas cards at the moment and I had some time yesterday afternoon to come up with this one using the Season of Joy stamp set. This is CASE'd from a card by Wendy Janson whose blog 'Its All About Stamping' is one of my favourites. It uses the traditional red and green Christmas colours, but it has a freshness about it that appeals to me.  I have white embossed the swirl on the Real Red background to give it more definition with Old Olive for the green contrast.

I have lots of gold star brads from way back and I have changed the colour to red using a technique I read about on the Web last week. Holding the brad with tweezers, heat it up and then dip straight into embossing powder of your choice. The powder sticks to the hot metal really well. Apply some more heat to the brad until the powder melts. This is really quick to do, gives good coverage and is not as fiddly as coating the brad with Versamark ink etc.  Anyway here it is and the details are below.

Card Details
Stamps	Season of Joy
Cardstock & Papers	Real Red, Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink	Real Red, Old Olive, Versamark
Accessories	White Taffeta ribbon, Red & White striped ribbon (not SU), Star brad (not SU), Red brad (not SU)
Tools	Scallop Circle punch, 13/8" Circle punch, 1¼" Circle punch, White embossing powder, Dimensionals

Bye for now.

Judy.

 

Christmas Trimmings

Hi Everyone

I'm looking out the window of my study at the blue sky and gorgeous yellow/green leaves of the Gleditsia Sunburst trees that have been refreshed by the rain we had in Melbourne over the weekend. A really good downpour makes such a difference to the garden.  It is times like this that I wish we had bigger rain tanks to caputre it all.

I can't believe that there is only 7 days left for the Spring Mini Catalogue. I think this has been one of the best minis and will be sorry to see it go. I have stocked up on the Ski Slope Designer Series Paper for my own Christmas cards and the card I have for you today uses the Tree Trimmings stamp set which is also from the Spring Mini.

For the background of this card, I have used the So Swirly jumbo roller with Versamark ink and then clear embossed it.I love the watermark look of Versamark and to make it easy, I purchased the standard and jumbo uninked cartridges and then inked them with a Versamark refill. You can use a normal Versamark pad with your rollers but having a pre-inked cartridge is so convenient and gives a consistent result over a larger area.

The rest is pretty straightforward and the Old Olive and Real Real baubles have been popped up on Dimensionals. Here it is and the details are below.

Card Details
Stamps	Tree Trimmings, Snow Swirled (Sentiment), So Swirly Jumbo roller
Cardstock & Papers	Baja Breeze, Real Red, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP
Ink	Baja Breeze, Real Red, Old Olive, Versamark
Accessories	¼” Old Olive grosgrain ribbon
Tools	Scallop Border punch, Scallop Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, Clear embossing powder, Dimensionals

If you would like to make any final purchases from the Spring Mini Catalogue, please Contact Me by 6pm on 30 November 2009.

Enjoy your week.

Judy. 

Snow Swirled Christmas

Hi there

I don't know about you, but the speed at which Christmas is bearing down on us is scary!  Amazing how far away it seemed in September and I have yet to make my Christmas cake - oh well, there are only so many hours in the day. It is also only 2 weeks until the new Summer Mini Catalogue commences. That means that you have until 30 November to order any of the items on your Wish List from the Spring Mini. This has been one of my favourite catalogues.

The card I have for you today is using the lovely Snow Swirled stamp set. This one is hard to beat and looks fabulous white embossed on Real Red, Baja Breeze or Old Olive. This is a simple card layering up these colours with the Holiday Treasures Designer Series paper. Here it is and the details are below.

Card Details
Stamps	Snow Swirled, (So Many Sayings – retired)
Cardstock & Papers	Baja Breeze, Real Red, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink	Baja Breeze, Real Red,Versamark
Accessories	Filagree Brad, White Taffeta ribbon, brads (not SU)
Tools	Word Window Punch, Eyelet Border punch, White Embossing powder, Dimensionals

 Enjoy your week.

Judy.

Faux Silk & Soft Summer

Hello

It has been a busy time with a quick trip to Perth last week to visit my Mum who is in hospital for 6 weeks. It was a nice surprise for her and I also able to catch up with some dear friends who had me to stay at short notice (waving to Karen, Glenn, Ryan, Kate & Grace).

The card I have for you today is for my Mum and uses the Soft Summer stamp set from the Spring Mini Catalogue. I decided to give the Faux Silk technique a try after seeing Sue Madex demonstrate it at the Stampin' Up! Regional training day.  It is really easy and gives a unique finish to the centre panel. Here is a link to a tutorial on SplitCoast if you want to give it a go. Interestingly I only had a newsagency type glue stick available to stick the tissue paper to the cardstock and I've noticed that the colours have changed on the image in the last couple of days. I'll be purchasing a Stampin' Up! acid-free Anywhere Glue Stick for my next try at this technique.  Not having a suitable sentiment to fit the circle, I used my computer to create one and punched it out. Here it is and the details are below.

 

Card Details
Stamps	Soft Summer
Cardstock & Papers	Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Candy Lane DSP, Tissue Paper
Ink	Stazon Timber Brown, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, More Mustard Stampin’ Write Marker
Accessories	Regal Rose grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate brads (not SU)
Tools	Circle punches, Scallop circle punch, Dimensionals, Paper piercer & Mat Pack, Victoria Embossing folder and Cuttlebug

I would also like to show you the gorgeous cards my stamping buddies Claire, Christine  and Leanne gave me for my birthday. It is such a joy to receive a handmade card. I think it is a pleasure to make them and to give them to others but it is nice to be reminded how lovely it is to receive one as well. Thank you all!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Judy.

Criss Cross Christmas

Hi there

It has been a lovely spring day in Melbourne today, what a change from last week. I've been out fertilising and mulching my garden today - lots of aches to show for it, but the garden looks great too.

I spent a very enjoyable day on Saturday with stamping friends at the Stampin' Up! Regional Training day. We got to chat and make some great projects using one of the new stamp sets coming in the Summer Mini Catalogue on 1 December 2009 - can't say any more, but it is really cute! As we have just 6 weeks left of the current Spring Mini Catalogue, I thought I would show you some projects in the next few weeks using the great products in this catalogue.

One of my favourites  from the Spring Mini has been the Ski Slope Designer Series Paper. I love the combination of traditional and contemporary colours.  If you are after something a little bit different or a little bit special for your Christmas cards this year, this one might be for you - it is the Criss Cross Card. The card uses a sheet of A4 card stock and a smallish rectangle of Designer Series Paper, so is still reasonably economical. The instructions can be found here on Splitcoast.  If like me, all of your cutting tools are metric, you will need to convert the measurements provided. I would suggest (from experience) that you leave the cutting of the DSP rectangle until after you have put the body of the card together as it only takes a few millimetres from rounding your measurements to put this out. Just measure the length and width of the assembled card and take 5mm off each measurement and you will get a good result. When you cut the rectangle of DSP into 2 triangles, you automatically get both sides of the DSP cut to the appropriate shape.  Here is the first photo, so you can see what I'm going on about.

 
The card has an insert that pulls out with the tab that I have decorated with the small star burst from the Snow Swirled stamp set made into a brad using 'Build a Brad'. The belly band around the card is really for decorative purposes, as you don't need to take it off to access the card. I've used the gorgeous 1" Baja Breeze double stitched grosgrain, but you could also use card stock of similar width and a narrower ribbon over it. The motif on the belly band is also from Snow Swirled, mounted with Dimensionals onto Baja Breeze and then onto the red scallop circle.  In the centre I have put a small light blue rhinestone brad to finish it. I love how easy it is to coordinate all of the Stampin' Up! products. Here is another photo showing the insert. I've rounded all the corners and sponged around the edges in Baja Breeze ink and stamped the greeting from Snow Swirled. This card would look great with any of the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper for a special occasion card or even for an invitation or birth announcement.

The good news is that this card still fits into a standard C6 envelope.  However with the two brads on it, I would use a small padded bag to post it otherwise you risk your receiver getting a card shredded by Australia Post's sorting equipment which is very disappointing for both parties (this happened with a card I sent to my MIL)! Here are the details.

Card Details
Stamps	Snow Swirled
Cardstock & Papers	Baja Breeze, Real Red, Ski Slope DSP
Ink	Baja Breeze, Real Red
Accessories	1” Baja Breeze Double Stitched Grosgrain, Rhinestone brad, Build a Brad
Tools	Circle punches, Scallop circle punch, Round Tab punch, Corner Rounder punch, Dimensionals, Sticky strip

Enjoy your week.

Judy.

Christmas Treasures

Hello

I have finally surfaced after CraftExpo last weekend.  I've spent the last few weeks preparing for the craft show, designing and making up card and paper kits. It was a great day and I met lots of people who enjoy the quality and diversity of Stampin' Up! products as well as many who were hearing about them for the first time. I'm hoping to get back to a more relaxing mode in the next few weeks. I have some birthday cards to make for relatives and friends, but I thought I 'd show you this Christmas card made with the Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper. The colours are quite traditional, but I've picked out the pink from the DSP to give it a bit of a twist. The base card is Pink Pirouette with the Ruby Red on top. The details are below.

Card Details
Stamps	Season of Joy, Snow Swirled
Cardstock & Papers	Pink Pirouette, Ruby Red, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink	Versamark, Ruby Red, Old Olive
Accessories	Dazzling Diamonds glitter
Tools	Eyelet Border punch, Scallop Oval punch, Wide Oval punch, Regal Rose marker, Dimensionals

The next card I have to show you is for a male birthday, which I always find very challenging. It uses mostly Stampin' Up! products, but the tree stamp isn't. The 'Lovely as a Tree' stamp set is on my WIsh List and I hope Santa remembers to bring it! 

 

Card Details
Stamps	Touch of Nature (Retired), Curly Labels, PSX Tree
Cardstock & Papers	Kraft, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Holiday Treasures DSP
Ink	Versamark, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Accessories	1” Double Stitched Grosgrain, HodgePodge Hardware
Tools	Copper embossing powder (not SU), Curly Label Punch, Dimensionals

Enjoy your week. 

Judy.

Bird in the Park

Hi there

It has been a while since I have posted - life has been busy generally and I have been preparing for Craftfest.  If you haven’t heard about Craft Expo (click on the link for details about times, transport and tickets), it is a craft show that is on from 8 – 11 October at the Royal Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne. Stampin’ Up! will have a stall at the show with three Independent Demonstrators available each day to talk to you about the products and to conduct demonstrations. The Stampin' Up Idea Book & Catalogue will be available for sale, special offers on Stampin’ Up products, paper craft kits to buy and even better, the chance to win a bundle of great Stampin’ Up! products for FREE! I will be at Craftfest on Friday 9 October, so come along, have a chat and check it all out.

On a creative note, I have a card for you made with the lovely ‘Walk in the Park’ Designer Series Paper from the current Spring Mini Catalogue (products available until 30 November 2009). I have used the Mojo Monday Week # 105 sketch – this is one that I’m sure I will use again.  The base card is Cameo Coral, which unfortunately shows as more orange in the photo than it really is. The ‘scallops’ have been cut with the 13/8” circle punch and they fit perfectly across the width of the card. The centre panel has been stamped with the bird from the Friends 24-7 stamp set – this is such a classic image. I have stamped a second bird, cut it out and mounted it for depth. The centre band was created with the crimper (and I actually managed to keep it straight!). It adds texture but the corrugations are still quite soft looking.  A little paper piercing in the corners finish it off.  I debated (with myself!) about adding a sentiment in the bottom right corner and didn’t in the end.  Here it is and the details are below.

Card Details
Stamps	Friends 24-7,
Cardstock & Papers	Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Basic Gray, 'Walk in the Park' Designer Series Paper
Ink	Basic Gray, Baja Breeze
Accessories	White Taffeta ribbon
Tools	13/8" circle punch, crimper, paper piercer, mat pack, dimensionals

Have a great day.

Judy.

Thoughts of Christmas

Hi there

Melbourne is displaying its ususal variable spring weather with heat and cold and lots of wind (mostly in the same day!). I love the bright green of the new spring leaves on the deciduous trees, it is a special colour that lasts for such a short time. I have been busy fertilising and mulching the back garden - it's a back backing but necessary chore in preparation for summer and it is very satisfying to have that portion done. Lots more to do in the coming weeks though. 

Now that we are well into September, it is hard to deny that Christmas is roaring down on us like a freight train. So today, I put together my first Christmas card using the Mojo Monday Week #103 sketch. The stamp set Party Hearty is doing double duty by turning party hats into Christmas trees - how is that for versatility!  I have teamed it with the Ski Slope Designer Series Paper from the Spring Mini Catalogue. This paper is a great combination of traditional  and contemporary colours- something that should suit everybody. The base card is Real Red with a top fold and I have used the Snowflake embossing folder to create the background strips. I chose to ink up 4 of the hats/trees with Kiwi Kiss and then used a Real Red marker for the tops. I like the freshness that Baja Breeze brings to the traditional red and green. Here it is, the details are below.

Card Details
Stamps	Party Hearty
Cardstock & Papers	Real Red, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP
Ink	Kiwi Kiss, Real Red
Accessories	Scrap-ease Rubons, Silver brads (not SU)
Tools	Snowflake embossing folder, Cuttlebug, Stampin' Write Marker

Have a good week.

Judy.

Victorian Candy

Hi Everyone

It is a very dull and cold Sunday afternoon in Melbourne. Artie has been snuggled up in a flannel quilt all afternoon and I think he has chosen the best place to be! On Friday I received a new Cuttlebug embossing folder in the mail, called 'Victoria'. This is a really classic swirling leaf design that will become a favourite. I have combined it with the Candy Lane Designer Series Paper which includes strawberry, vanilla and chocolate - yum, remember Neopolitan icecream?

I have used the Mojo Monday Week #97 sketch from a while ago as a basis for the card and the Great Friend stamp set from the current Spring Mini Catalogue. Here it is and the details are below.

 

Card Details
Stamps	Great Friend
Cardstock & Papers	Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Regal Rose, Candy Lane DSP
Ink	Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Regal Rose, Ruby Red, Pink Pirouette
Accessories	Pretty in Pink Brads
Tools	Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities, ‘Victoria’ embossing folder, Cuttlebug,1/2” circle punch, Photo Corner punch, Small and large Oval punches,  Dimensionals

Enjoy your week.

Judy.