Heartfelt Thanks

This is a stamp set I don't use nearly as much as I should. It was one of the sets from my Starter Kit, and it really is nice, and quite versatile as well.

I used a chalking technique I discovered somewhere on the web (probably Splitcoaststampers *g*, everything is there!) where you ink the stamp with Versamark, then apply chalk directly to the stamp to colour the image. I could have stamped with Versamark then dusted the chalk over the top of the image, but in this case I wanted the edges of the image to be well defined, something that you just can't do the "usual" way.

The colours are pretty subtle - can you see that the petals are Cameo Coral near the centre and Ruby Red around the edges? And right in the middle is the little "dot" stamp (the flower centre) in Barely Banana.

The cardstock colours were a bit of an experiment as well ... I had the Very Vanilla cardstock out for something else and decided to use that instead of my usual Whisper White, then the remaining colours just seemed like a good idea. I like the "vintage" look of the Vanilla, Ruby Red and Close to Cocoa.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Heartfelt Thanks stamp set, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Close to Cocoa and Certainly Celery cardstock, Versamark and Close to Cocoa ink, Stampin' Pastels, Certainly Celery Ribbon.

Thoughts on a Craft Show

Well, we made it through the four days at the Craft & Quilt Fair at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre over the weekend. I worked on the stand both Friday and Saturday, and by the end of the two days I was exhausted (however it took me a good couple of hours to come down after I got hom Saturday night!). The show was open for late-night crafters on the Saturday, until 8pm which might have been a little late for most people as the crowds died right back after about 6pm.

Our stand looked great, and we attracted a lot of comments on the gorgeous samples we had on the walls. Note to self ... next time use a stronger tape to attach samples to the craft card that we used for the posters - turns out my use of pieces of rolled up sticky tape wasn't such a good idea, luckily the lovely Mel from the stand next door let me have a roll of double sided tape to get us out of that situation.

Sadly I forgot my camera so I have no photos to share with you ... darn it ...

A big thanks to Naomi, Janine, Christine, Gail, Melissa, Coral and my talented downline Anne-Marie, as well as the girls who worked "behind the scenes" to create the samples, posters, and handouts for the day. Let's hope that it was all worth it!

Catching up on some stamping

... well, actually, that is a bit of a fib. These cards were a couple I made a couple of months ago. Given that I haven't had a chance to make anything nice for my blog the past couple of weeks *sigh* nor have I had much in the way of mojo, I thought I would share these with you instead.

Firstly a super-easy layout which was CASEd from somewhere on Splitcoaststampers ... sadly I can't recall whose card it was, but whoever you are - thank you! What a striking idea this is.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Garden Whimsy, Baroque Motifs and Warm Words stamp sets, Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock, Basic Black and Purely Pomegranate ink, Large and Small Oval Punches.


And secondly, another CASEd layout, again from Splitcoaststampers - I wish I had remembered to note down whose cards these were :-(

The ribbon's colour is quite washed out in this scan, it is much prettier in real life.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Garden Whimsy and Paisley stamp sets, Whisper White, Bordering Blue, Pretty in Pink and Purely Pomegranate cardstock, Purely Pomegranate and Old Olive ink, Pretty in Pink ribbon, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, Stampin' Sponges.




I haven't forgotten my promises - to upload some cards made with my new stamp sets from the upcoming Mini Catalogue (only a couple more days to go till you too can buy from it, oooooh!) and to upload the One Sheet Wonder cards I displayed at the Craft Show over the weekend. Stay tuned ...

One Sheet Wonder

A while back I wrote a post about creating a set of cards using a "One Sheet Wonder" ... you can have a squizz at the mess I made in the process here ... anyway, it has taken a while but I finally finished the cards!

Unfortunately I didn't think to scan them individually before I sent them off to adorn the walls of our stand at the Craft & Quilt Show, but here is a preview. I took this photo last week when I was still working out how best to display them, and this isn't the layout I ended up using.

I used a single stamp set (Bud Basics) and complimentary colours (Rose Red, Regal Rose, Old Olive and Certainly Celery) to create the original stamped sheet, then used other sets (including the Basics Outline wheel, which coordinates with Bud Basics) to help make each card individual. If you were sending cards made with a One Sheet Wonder out to different people, you probably wouldn't need to use extra stamp sets, but these are designed to be seen as a group so I wanted each to stand out in its own way.

I will scan and post larger copies of the cards at a later date, just wanted to share the overall effect with you today!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Bud Basics stamp set, Basic Outline Stampin' Around wheel, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Whisper White cardstock, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive and Basic Black ink, assorted Stampin' Up! punches and other stamp sets ... hmmm, should have noted down what I used before I sent the cards off ... I will amend this once I get them back *G*.

Craft and Quilt Fair in Melbourne this weekend

Just a quick plug for this show, seeing as how I will be working there this Friday and Saturday! The Craft & Quilt fair is on at Jeff's Shed (aka the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, 2 Clarendon Street, Southbank) from Thursday July 24 through to Sunday July 27, and a few of my fellow demonstrators will be running a Stampin' Up! stand in "Papercraft Alley" (I believe it's Stand P06).

For more details on the show visit their website.

So if you're planning on visiting the show feel free to visit - I believe we will have a gorgeous display of handmade cards (as usual *g*) so drop past and say Hi!

Fun with punches

Now, I didn't make this, although I think some of my punches were used in its construction, but I have been given permission to post it and I have to because it's just so darn sweet!

Last week, a few of us got together at a friend's house because ... well, it's school holidays and it's nice for the kids to have someone new to argue with. So while nine kids sat in the lounge with the Wii, the grownups played with their own toys in the kitchen.

Originally we were making punchie owls (like this one here - how clever is that!?), which is a hoot (pun intended - couldn't resist it *g*). Then things started to get a bit silly and this little cutie was the result.

She is made using Stampin' Up!s Round Tab Punch, scallop Punch and Word Window Punch along with an assortment of circle punches. I think the MaryJanes are a particularly nice touch LOL.

So a big HI to Pauline and thanks for letting me post this so everyone can see how clever you are (if they didn't already know).

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

Okay, so it's not really, although it's cold enough outside *g* ... apparently it snowed yesterday in parts of Victoria, and it's not exactly tropical outside today either. Ah well, this is what you get for a Melbourne winter.

And I know Christmas is still more than five months away, but I'm excited because I got a new stamp set - one that I have been eyeing off since I saw it in the US Stampin' Up! mini catalogue last year (actually, I got more than one new stamp set, but I will talk more about the others at a later date).

This set, Season of Joy, will be available to purchase from next month (August) through to November, through Stampin' Up!s mini catalogue promotion.

Anyway, this is my first card from it. In fact, I haven't even had a chance to ink up the other stamps in the set - too much actual paid work to do, and it's also school holidays which means I'm also trying to spend a bit of time with the kids. It was inspired by this one from Splitcoast Stampers ... I liked the simplicity and the effect of smooshing the stamp pad onto white cardstock. You can't tell from the photo, but actually looks kind of like a chalk finish.

And I used my new So Swirly wheel down the right hand side ... this is in the current catalogue, and co-ordinates with the Priceless set, but also with this Season of Joy as well. I love it when sets match together. The wheel was inked up with Versamark because I wanted a really subtle finish, but the effect was a little too subtle - so I dusted over it the Pretty in Pink chalks (matching the Pretty in Pink cardstock and ink).

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Season of Joy stamp set, So Swirly Stampin' Around wheel, Pretty In Pink and Whisper White cardstock, Pretty In Pink, Basic Black and Versamark ink, Stampin' Pastels, Pretty in Pink ribbon.

Stay posted ... I hope to put up more samples from not only this set but the other two I ordered sometime over the next few days. I love new stuff!

Oh, and did I mention that all stamps from the upcoming Mini Catalogue are (drumroll please) DIE CUT! Yup, no messy trimming, just pop the stamps out and stick 'em on. So easy, so quick.

Curly Brackets

Okay, I did mention a while back that I would have to quickly show you how to use the Stampin' Up! Round Tab Punch to create little curly brackets, and finally here it is! With thanks to my daughter who took the photos.

First punch out a Round Tab, and put it aside - you can use it to make a bookmark or something later.









Then (holding the punch upside down so you can see where you're punching), slide the punch over about three millimetres and punch again.








Do this a few times. You will have some little punchies that look kind of like bats (well, they do to me ... perhaps I need to get out more).









Now simply trim the "wings" off and there you are!










Another reason why you need to have this punch. It is, of course, invaluable for labelling your files (I punch tabs out of sticky paper for this), or a tab at the top of a bookmark (note to self: post a bookmark to the blog). And yesterday, some creative friends of mine came up with a couple of new ideas for this punch as well, which I will have to show you another time.

Something a little different

Well, at least the colours on these cards is different ... look, no pink today! I managed to steer away from pink, although the Pale Plum is almost a pinky colour.

Firstly something I wanted to fiddle around with since I saw something similar the other day - almost a "spotlight" technique, but instead of colouring in the focussed image, I simply framed it with black. I like the monochrome effect, although I ended up putting a layer of slightly darker cardstock at the back ... not sure if this helps or not, but the card itself is in danger of falling over, with all those layers!

I wish there was another oval punch inbetween the large and small sizes ... I think that would look pretty nifty in that darker plum colour.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Baroque Motifs stamp set, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Basic Black cardstock, Basic Black ink, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch.


This next card uses a stamp I've been kind of overlooking since I got this stamp set ... it's a sort of squarish design, kind of plain by itself, but when I saw how it had been used to mimic leaves under a flower, I took a second look at it - I like how it looks kind of like a bouquet seen from above, with leaves framing the flowers.

Loving the colours together too.

For the pale background, I inked up my Baroque Border wheel on my Versamark pad, so the design would be extremely subtle. I love the wheel, but find it can be a little overwhelming at times.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Baroque Motifs stamp set, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Old Olive and Whisper White cardstock, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Old Olive and Versamark ink, Baroque Border Wheel, Crop-A-Dile, eyelet

One more card, only this time I had no hand in making this ... my daughter did this for my birthday the other day. No stamping! I can't believe she's my kid *g*.

I bought myself season one of Get Smart (the original TV series) because a) I've always wanted it and b) it was released on my birthday and if that's not a sign I don't know what is. At last, I can show the kids one of my favourite shows, and so far (three episodes in) they are enjoying it nearly as much as me. However, I think I get more laughs out of knowing what is coming next *g*.

Extra, Extra Hostess Benefits

Just a reminder that Stampin' Up!'s Extra Extra Hostess Benefits promotion is still running until July 15! Any order (workshop or individual customer) totalling more than $700 will attract an extra $50 in hostess benefits! So if your workshop brought in between $700 and $799, not only would you get to choose a Level 1 or Level 2 Hostess Set from the Ideas Book and Catalogue, you receive the usual $80 worth of catalogue merchandise plus an additional $50 worth of freebies.

Check out my original post here and contact me today!

Super Starter Kit Savings

Have you ever thought that perhaps you could be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator?

You might like the idea of getting a demonstrator discount on your stamping and scrapping supplies; or perhaps you have a group of friends and family who would like to be your customer base; or you might want to earn some serious money.

Whatever your reasons, now could be be the best time for you to sign up, as from July 1 to August 15 2008, you can join as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and purchase your starter kit for only $299 (normally $324) - that's for items to a value of over $560!

Have a look at the flyer for more information.

Of course you won't be alone ... you also get to be part of a friendly group of demonstrators, access to the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website with all the information therein, group swaps, etc ... there's no down side!

If you think this might be right for you and would like to know more about joining my team, contact me today.

Images © 2008 Stampin' Up!®

Random stampings

I find that the stamp set I reach for most will change in fits and starts ... one day it's Baroque Motifs (and I have to force myself to try other stamp sets), then it's something else. Today it's Bodacious Bouquet, an oldie but goodie. If you're like me and have more than enough flower stamps (but is that ever true?), this one is still a handy one to have, as it's all flowers, all the time *g*.

This card was originally made for a birthday my daughter went to, and I liked it so much it was recreated a couple of times in different combinations. If only you could see how glittery the main flower is; sadly the scan just can't show that.

The frame around the "happy birthday" panel was drawn by hand, which explains why it's a little odd ... I just can't get my brain around the whole "freehand" concept *g* - I keep wanting to reach for a ruler to make sure it's straight.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Bodacious Bouquet and Eat Cake stamp sets, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red and Whisper White cardstock, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red, Certainly Celery and Versamark ink, Rose Red Stampin' Write Marker, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

And here's another variation, in blue this time.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used: Bodacious Bouquet and Eat Cake stamp sets, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue and Whisper White cardstock, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, Certainly Celery and Versamark ink, Ballet Blue Stampin' Write Marker, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter.