Birthday variety

Okay, so it was DH's birthday a few days ago. During a Girl's Nite at Deb's house on Sunday (waves to Deb, thank you for letting us clutter up your workroom!) I put together this card using Big Bold Birthday, which I picked up during the 20% off birthday celebrations last October (gotta love some of the specials Stampin' Up! has come up with in the past few months).

If you look closely you can see the detail of three punched circles in Certainly Celery, stuck onto the Certainly Celery background. I just wanted some texture there. It worked.

And look! There's that leftover 5mm strip from using the Scallop Edge Punch on the So Saffron border. What a surprise!

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Big Bold Birthday
Ink: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Write Markers in Certainly Celery and So Saffron, 1-3/4 inch Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch

Anyway, I liked it, but it's not exactly "blokey", now is it? So I did it again the next night in somewhat more masculine colours, and I'm very happy with the result.

Just to make the point that this actually is a birthday card, I used a little piece of text from Fast & Fun Notes, inking only the words "Happy Birthday" and stamping them at the top right of the card. Just in case the words "Happy Birthday" all over the cupcake base wasn't enough, you know?

I think he liked it. I'm still pinching it back so it can go in my samples folder though *g*.

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Big Bold Birthday, Fun & Fast Notes
Ink: More Mustard, Close to Cocoa
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Write Markers in Not Quite Navy and Summer Sun, 1-3/4 inch Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig

I *have* to get this set!

When our Summer Mini came out I was "meh" about this set, Embrace Life. Had to get my hands on Eastern Blooms, you see (and if you click the link you'll see why).

Since then I have seen some stunning creations using Embrace Life, and after getting my hands on it for a little play the other night I am a convert! I was going to be really good and not spend too much over the next couple of months, honest I was, but this set is just soooo nice!

It is beautiful just stamped (as shown in the leaves along the bottom of the card) but also beautiful watercoloured. There is a small sprig of blossoms which are so nice coloured in, and a long-stemmed single flower (shown in the first card in this post by Liz with additional work by Pauline) ... I think I've talked myself into it!

If by any chance I've talked you into it as well, please contact me to order this set ... remember it's in the Summer Mini, so isn't guaranteed to be available after March 31!

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Embrace Life, Short & Sweet
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip
Other: Blender Pens, Word Window Punch

Something fishy ...

I think this little set (only four stamps) is so sweet ... and a little different from the usual flower stamps that I have in abundance *g*.

This is a card I made at our recent Girls Nite, which was an achievement in itself as I usually have no idea what to make and end up watching what everyone else is doing. I love the seaweed stamp especially. I ended up liking this card so much I used it at a recent workshop (hi Lesley!).

I don't know if you can see it in the photo, but I have stamped the seaweed a few times across the bottom in matching Rose Red ink.

And the green strip of cardstock? Leftovers from making the scalloped edging (you need to see the scallop edge punch in action to see what I mean). I just can't help recycling the smallest pieces of cardstock *g*.

If you like this stamp set (the other two stamps are an angel fish and a shell), please remember to arrange your purchase before the end of March, as this is currently only available in the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue. Contact me for further information.

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Ocean Commotion
Ink: Rose Red, Old Olive
Cardstock: Rose Red, Old Olive, More Mustard, Whisper White
Other: Cutter Kit, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Getting the most of your Chalks

Recently a few girls from Gail's downline met up at Eildon for a stamping weekend (waves to Anne-Marie, Coral and Gina). We had a great time - the location was tranquil, except for the motorbikes down the road, the weather was perfect, even the mossies weren't too friendly.

While we were there, we actually managed to do a little stamping (!!!). Shown to the right is the table during our Sunday morning session - this is a whole bunch tidier than it was the night before!

Aside from making up some little notepads (so easy to cover with a little cardstock and then decorate with punches & stamps!) I whipped up this. I stamped with white craft ink onto Basic Black cardstock, then used my Stampin' Pastels to colour in the flowers. Originally I coloured the entire petal area red, then tried one with blue, then tried Gina's suggestion and coloured just the tips of the petals blue ... bingo! That was the winner.

So I did the same thing with the tiny flowers and the butterfly to fill in the space on the right of the card.

I really, really like this one!

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Live Your Dream
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Other: Stampin' Pastels

Girls' Nite In

Every so often, one of my friends will call for a Girls' Nite, where we stamp, chat, snack, chat and maybe stamp some more. These Nites are a great way of escaping from "real life" and just having some time to be yourself, and can be invaluable halfway through the summer school holidays *g*.

Our most recent Nite, held here at my place, resulted in some great cards from Liz, which she has kindly allowed me to show you.



Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Embrace Life
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Whisper White



Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Live Your Dream
Ink: Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Always Artichoke, River Rock, Whisper White



Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Ocean Commotion, Short & Sweet
Ink: Groovy Guava, Blue Bayou
Cardstock: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Whisper White

There is one more card, but sometimes Blogger doesn't play nicely and won't let me upload the cards the right way up, grrrr. Next time ...

Just a quick one

Today I am sharing a card I whipped up last month to send to a hostess (waves to Lesley, looking forward to Friday!). I was inspired by a card at Splitcoaststampers (this one), playing around with the colours a little. I used markers to colour the smaller flowers, as they are all mounted on the one stamp and trying to ink just the one flower at a time is do-able but a right pain.

Very happy with how this turned out.

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Eastern Blooms
Ink: Rose Red
Cardstock: So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Other: Stampin' Write Markers in Rose Red and Pretty in Pink, Scallop Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Pretty in Pink 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

Back to Basics

... Bud Basics, that is.

I keep forgetting about this stamp set, but it's just so darn nice! It's a perfect example of the "Two Step" stamping system that Stampin' Up! have been known for, where you get some outline stamps and some other stamps which fill in the middle with colour.

Anyway, I was making a thank you card for a customer (hi Melanie!) and came up with this. I hadn't made a buckle card for the longest time (click the link to see a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers), and had forgotten how fun they are!

And this card uses one of the most under-appreciated punches out there - the Word Window punch. It doesn't look like much - just a large-ish rounded slot - but comes in handy for punching out words to add to a card, holes for buckle cards, handles on little bags, slots for spinner cards ... there is a list out there somewhere that has about twenty ways to use this nifty punch. Of course, you could just buy one from me and and find them out for yourself ... *g*.

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Bud Basics
Ink: Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive
Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Old Olive, Whisper White
Other: Word Window Punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Why to love Sale-A-Bration

Why? Because you could get a cute little set like this one absolutely FREE!

I sat down tonight to make a black, white & pink card, simply because I was reading a book which mentioned that colour combination in passing and I couldn't stop visualising it.

The next thing I knew, I had made three little gift cards, because one just wasn't enough (kind of like potato chips) and two looked lonely. After the first one I had to make the next because I couldn't decide which design to do, and because three is a balanced number I had no choice but to make the third.

This is one of the Sale-A-Bration sets which you could earn FREE with an order of $100. Check out my previous blog entry or head direct to the Stampin' Up! website to see the rest of the collection.

And here are some closeups (a tad blurry, sorry 'bout that)

So if you like the look of this stamp set, or any of the other Sale-A-Bration sets, give me a call or drop me an email to discuss how you can get your hands on it!

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Botanical Blooms
Ink: Basic Black, Regal Rose, Rose Red
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Regal Rose
Other: Summer Sun Stampin' Write Marker, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

Eastern Blooms

I have been a little slack with my updates lately ... what do you mean, you've noticed? As I've said before, it's been Christmas, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

I hope that this will help you forgive me - just a little something I whipped up with Eastern Blooms from the Summer Mini Catalogue. This set is just so pretty, and as soon as I saw that branch with the little flowers on it I knew I had to use my markers to colour it in.

And, of course, how could I not use the new Scallop Edge punch? I love this thing! Makes scalloped edges a snap, and then you can dress them up with the stamps in All Scallops (also in the Summer Mini).

Just a note ... you might be used to stamping your image, then lining it up and punching it out, but that just isn't going to work with the Scallop Edge punch. It is kind of hard to get used to doing it the other way around, but worth it as you can see.

Supplies used:

Stamp sets: Eastern Blooms, All Scallops
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Other: Stampin' Write Markers in Chocolate Chip, Pixie Pink and Summer Sun, Scallop Edge Punch, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Sale-A-Brate with me!

Some of you may have heard of this before, others will be new to it, but by the end of February you're all gonna love it!

For two months, from January 1 to February 28, for every $100 you spend (in one transaction, excluding shipping) on Stampin' Up! catalogue merchandise, you get a FREE stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration collection (click the picture to the left to be taken to the catalogue page for a preview).

There are four stamp sets you can earn with this promotion, and they are only available for this limited time. You will not be able to purchase them separately, they must be earned with the $100 spend.

But wait, there's more!

If you host a workshop which brings in over $600, you can earn another free Sale-A-Bration stamp set! A $1200 workshop earns another set!

AND as if that wasn't enough ...

Sign up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator during this period and you can choose any stamp set (excluding hostess sets) in the current catalogue to the value of $79.95 for free!

Who doesn't love free stuff?

Contact me today to place an order, book a workshop, or find out how you could become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator and enjoy great benefits such as 20% discount on supplies, pre-orders, exclusive access to demonstrator-only information and meeting wonderful new friends (and don't forget that free stamp set if you sign up before February 28!).