CTC #524 - CASE An Annual Catalogue Technique

Welcome to another week at CASEing the Catty Sunday Blog Hop, where utilise the projects within the current Stampin' Up! catalogue to inspire our own projects each week. We also invite you to join with us in the challenge each week by using this inspiration in your own creations and uploading a photo to our Facebook page.

This week we are taking inspiration from the techniques in the Annual Catalogue, you can either do a word search in the electronic version of the catalogue, or there is a Product Techniques section of the catalogue from pages 104 - 133.

I opted to do a word search and found a technique in the "Fun With Blocks" pages 110 - 111. While I have used my block for stamping, I have never thought to use the side of the blocks to create lines!  Stampin' Up! label this "repeat it". By using multiple colours and directions you can get some really interesting effects. Though I do have some tips for this technique which I will include below.

I have been wanting to do something with my Kintsugi Inspirations Suite, having just bought it as part of the Buy One Get One 50% off promotion. I started with the vase images, knowing I wanted to create the lines to sit behind them.  Having chosen my colours (Lost Lagoon and Petal Pink) I added my block lines to a piece of the Kintsugi Inspirations DSP. The sentiment is from Inspiring Imperfections stamped onto a trimmed label from the Foiled Frames Ephemera Pack.  I added some Flower Accents from the same Suite Collection to add some sparkle. 

I would highly recommend giving this technique a go yourself. Here are some things I learned along the way that might make it easier for you.

• You can block off parts of your lines to create interesting effects. I I added a piece of post-it note to have the lines finish on an angle and love how this turned out.  
• Make sure you are stamping on a soft surface like the Stampin' Pierce Mat, it makes it much easier to get a good image.  
• I found it easier to get even spacing by looking at the edge of the block in comparison to the previously stamped line, rather than trying to look down through the block to line up the existing line. 
• Use different sized blocks for different sized lines, this sounds simple when you read it, but it took me a while to figure out how to get longer and shorter lines! 
• Finally be patient, use scrap paper to try out the technique until you feel proficient.  Where I used Post-It notes to mask off the corners, you could also use other shapes to create frames and other shapes. 

  

I hope you are inspired to join in the challenge this week, just use one of the many techniques in the Annual Catalogue to inspire your creativity, then post a picture of your project to the CTC Facebook page.

  

Time to hop on over and see what Julia has created this week.

Happy Stamping
Monique

CTC #70 - Own Choice SAB

Welcome to another CTC Challenge Blog Hop, I have been off the radar the last couple of weeks, but back again this week for another Own Choice SAB.  These challenges have really made me look at our lovely catalogues in a different way, one of the things that I have really started to notice is all of the inspiration on the front cover of the catalogues, and the SAB Catalogue has quite a few samples.

I chose the card right in the centre of the cover, I think it was the bright colours that attracted me, and I love the Just For You stamp as a sentiment that really takes the focus.

I kept the card almost identical to the one on the catalogue because I liked it so much, however instead of using the orange tones for the butterfly accents I chose the Blackberry Bliss from the Wildflower Fields DSP from that you can earn for FREE during Sale-A-Bration! I love this colour combo, the flowers on the background are also stamped with the Botanicals For You, this is such a great set with the main sentiment and then all the additional stamps that really compliment it so well.

You can join in again this week, just create a project taking inspiration from the SAB catalogue, and then add a link to your project on the CTC Blog, just click on the link above to take you there.

Time to head on over to Julia's blog to check out her SAB inspired creation.

Happy Stamping
Monique

CTC #57 - Season Of Cheer

This week on CTC Blog Hop we are taking inspiration from the Seasons Of Cheer section of the Holiday Catalogue, p 28-34.  There are so many lovely projects in this section, and I chose to take my inspiration from the card on page 32. 

 I don't have the stamps or vellum that the card in the catalogue uses, so I decided to try using the products I do have.  One of the things I love about CTC is that it not only makes you look at all the samples, but gets me thinking about how I can use what I have.  For this card I used the Merry Moments DSP for both the background and the gift, however with the gift I layered this onto two layers of Whisper White cardstock to give it some strength.  I just love the silver cord and it is just perfect for the gift, I cheated a little by just wrapping it around the gift and adding the bow separately to get it to sit nice and straight.  The sentiment is from Wondrous Wreath.

I am the last blog in the hop so you can make your way to the main CTC Blog if you would like to add your own creation in the comments. or hop over to Stasia's blog and keep hopping.

Happy Stamping
Monique

CTC 36 - Love and Sympathy

This week the CASE-ing The Catty team are focusing on the "Love and Sympathy" section of the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue on pages 19-30.  There are some really beautiful samples in this section, I chose the thank you card featured on page 20 as the inspiration for my card.

I kept the layout almost identical to the one in the catalogue, but changed up the colours to give it a more somber feel. I also wanted to have a bit more of a play with the new 2015-17 In-Colours and used Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder and Mint Macaron, adding in Early Espresso as a coordinating neutral.  Instead of a thank you, I decided to change the sentiment to fit with the theme and used a lovely sympathy sentiment from Petite Pairs, the second half of which I stamped on the inside of the card along with one of the other smaller images from Flowering Flourishes 

If you want to play along just take inspiration from the Love and Sympathy section of the catalogue, upload a link to your blog to the main CASE-ing the Catty page and we will add it in for you.

Now you are off to hop on over to see what the talented Alison has created.

Happy Stamping
Monique