Emboss Resist

One of the (many) advantages of attending the annual Stampin' Up! convention is being able to watch top demonstrators and SU staff sit down and create cards before your eyes. We were lucky enough to have Pam Morgan from the States entertain us with her presentation (and, yes, she is very entertaining!).

One of the cards Pam demonstrated really caught my eye, and I got the chance to replicate it (in my own way) the other night.

Now, normally I wouldn't combine pink and red as shown here, but having seen Pam's sample I realised that it can work.

Anyone who's seen the original knows that the main panel is much the same (using the emboss resist technique), and the rest is just me making things up, but I was working with what I had on hand at the time, and I had just taken delivery of the new Eyelet Border Punch (isn't it yummy?) so needed to take it for a maiden voyage.

Thank you Gail for letting me borrow your stamp set and wheel, and I can't wait to get my own *g*.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Inspired by Nature, Friendly Words wheel
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirhouette, Versamark
Cardstock: Pink Pirhouette, Whisper White
Other: Eyelet Border Punch, Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Jumbo Stampin' Around Handle

Only a few days left!

If you were planning on taking advantage of the "Buy 3, get the 4th free" scrapbooking promotion, you only have a few more days to place your orders. I've bought one lot and am tossing up whether to lash out on a second order *g*.

And this means that you also only have a few more days to decide if you would like to join the Stampin' Up! family for only $150 with their limited time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. There are many advantages to becoming a demonstrator, and no one will pressure you whether you want to simply buy your own supplies at a discount, shoot for Demonstrator of the Year or anything in between.

Both promotions finish at the end of May, so please contact me as soon as possible to discuss things further!

Inspiration comes from all sorts of places ...

... including your local Spotlight store *g*.

I nicked in the other day to grab a couple of things, and on passing the bedding displays was taken by a doona cover which I noted was Very Vanilla with a Night of Navy and Kiwi Kiss pattern. Well, I'm sure the manufacturer of the cover called them something completely different, but I knew what they really were.

In the end I had to substitute - I don't own Night of Navy or Kiwi Kiss (yet) but Not Quite Navy and Old Olive are a fair substitute ... for now.

This is just such a cute set!

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Cheep Talk
Ink: Not Quity Navy, Old Olive
Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Stampamajig

Trendy Trees

Tonight's entry is part colour challenge, part sketch challenge but not completely fitting in with either. I'm not good at challenges - I can never get my head to fit into the right colours/designs. However, I needed a starting point to get my butt into gear and create something and here it is!

I would have liked to use patterned paper as the orange layer, but I don't have any ... so made my own! That's part of the fun of this whole inks/paper/imagination thing ... I've made a textured layer by stamping the leaves from this tree all over the orange cardstock in matching ink (then sponged the edges).

Trendy Trees is a really cute little set - which, by the way, was part of the Convention package for all those of us lucky enough to get to Canberra earlier this month. The set has two tree trunks, four mix 'n' match tree "tops" and a couple of phrases (one of which was used in the first card in this post), all for under $32.

There's also a matching wheel, which is next on my list of things to buy. That list is too long *sigh*

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Trendy Trees
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Other: 1/4" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Sponges

Trying new colours

Well, the colours themselves aren't new ... you might recognise them as just regular colours from the Stampin' Up! colour families, but using them together in this way was new to me.

The inspiration from this first card came from Splitcoaststampers, but I honestly couldn't tell you which of the many beautiful samples showcasing this set I was thinking of - after a while you've seen so many cards that it's hard to remember where you started *g*.

Anyway, I'm happy with the outcome. The cut out flowers have brads in the centre, and are attached with Stampin' Dimensionals. The sentiment is from Cheep Talk - it just seemed to be the right stamp for the card and fit so well.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Eastern Blooms, Cheep Talk
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Stampamajig, Stampin' Dimensionals, Vintage Brads

The second card was made because I was on a roll and had the stamps, ink and so on already out. That's not to say it was easy ... originally the focal image was something completely different and ended up in the bin (I hate having to throw stuff out, usually I try to reclaim it somehow, but this piece was beyond help *sigh*).

I used the Scallop Edge Punch on the lower edge, then backed the card front with a piece of Old Olive so the card still sits okay (the Edge Punch takes off about 1cm of cardstock). I like the contrast this gives. Next time I might trim the back to suit instead, just to see what it looks like.

I've left the lower left corner blank until I can think of an appropriate phrase for this card. For now it's a good place to put my watermark *g*.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Eastern Blooms
Ink: Real Red, Bashful Blue
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Other: Scallop Edge Punch, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, 1-14" Circle Punch

Cheep Talk

Have you seen this set? It's so darned cute!

Aside from the birdie, flower, heart and branch stamp shown here, the set contains a whole bunch of other little stamps which coordinate to create all sorts of different looks.

There is a slightly larger bird facing the opposite direction, a larger more decorative flower, a pear, a little stalk (which can be used with either the flower or pear), and three phrases which are curved to nest in with the branch.

I had no idea what was going to happen when I sat down last night to create something with all these stamps, but I'm glad I tried - halfway through I thought I was going to have to chuck it in the bin and start again, then I added the Certainly Celery layer and ribbon and voila!

You probably can't see the spots on the Chocolate Chip layer - I don't have any matching Designer Series Paper so made my own using the dotty stamp out of Big Bold Birthday.

(PS Pauline, yes I know it's pink ... sometimes you just have to go with what feels right. I'll try for a different colour combination next time).

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Cheep Talk, Big Bold Birthday
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Other: 1/4" Certainly Celery Grosgrain Ribbon

A rose for mum

Mothers' Day always manages to sneak up too quickly, which is why I still have this card here instead of it being with my mother in country Victoria ... sorry Mum! It'll be in the mail tomorrow, I promise.

On the plus side, it means I am remembering to photograph and share it, so everyone wins.

Here I have used a white crayon to highlight parts of the rose (stamped in Stazon Black on Glossy White cardstock), then sponged coloured inks over the top. The crayon "resists" the dye inks and shows through, and because I've used very soft coloured inks the effect is very subtle indeed.

I love this rose stamp! And the wide grosgrain ribbon really finishes this card, I think.

Can you see the text image stamped in Whisper White craft ink on the Apricot Appeal layer? The card looked very flat so I added that for a little depth. The Whisper White ink catches the light beautifully on pale cardstock.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Fifth Avenue Floral, En Francais, Trendy Trees
Ink: Black Stazon, Apricot Appeal, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Basic Black, Whisper White Craft
Cardstock: Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Pink Pirouette, Glossy White
Other: Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Stampin' Sponges, 5/8" Regal Rose Grosgrain Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals

And while I had Fifth Avenue Floral and the Whisper White craft ink out, I whipped this one up - inspired by this card on Splitcoast I saw a while back. This one was a piece of cake, just stamped in white on black cardstock, then embossed in white (white on white seems to give the finished result that little bit of extra brightness).

This was super-quick, and eventually I will decide what to use the card for and add a phrase to the top right corner where it looks a little bare.

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Ffth Avenue Floral
Ink: Whisper White Craft
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Stampin' Up! news - Catalogue 2009-10

You may have heard the rumours, and yes, it's true. The current Idea Book & Catalogue will be here for a little longer this time around.

Until now, the Catalogue has run for 12 months, which is great, BUT because it has been released in April the stamps and supplies offered have been well behind those on offer in the States where the catalogue year runs from July-June.

This is about to change. From next year, the Catalogue will be released in September, only a few months after the US catalogue, which means that the contents can be more closely aligned and we in Australia can get our hands on new products a whole bunch quicker.

In the meantime, it just gives you a little extra time to get your hands on the goodies currently on offer, as well as new stamps and accessories being released in Mini Catalogues throughout the year.

More autumn colours

I really seem to be on an autumn colour fixation at the moment. Having spent a weekend in Canberra when all the trees were changing colour must have left me feeling a little inspired *g*.

That's the view from our balcony at Rydges Lakeside. How gorgeous is that?

Anyway, perhaps that view inspired this card. Who knows? I just started with the Chocolate Chip ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and the rest just sort of came together.

Lovin' this set!

Images © 1990-2009 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:

Stamp set/s: Upsy Daisy, Trendy Trees
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie
Cardstock: Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Other: Designer Label Punch, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Stampin' Sponges, 5/8" Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon

Stampin' Up! Convention '09 - Recap

As you may know, I have just spent the weekend in our nation's capital, attending the Stampin' Up! Australia Convention 2009. And what a blast it was! I have learned a few new tricks as well as met many people who would otherwise be just a name on an email, and seen some stunning samples (some of which I now have in my posession *g*). I wish that my camera had been playing nicely as there was just so many photo opportunities.

As is traditional, I made some swaps to share with other demonstrators, and I'm happy to say that didn't bring any of my own cards home with me. In return, I received some fabulous cards, pictured here (for some reason the second photo has come out sideways ... curse you Blogger!).

Thanks to (in no particular order) (no, wait, it's alphabetical *g*) Cameron Barth, Ros Bartlett, Kelly Bowen, Lorinda Brooks, Jenny Chilton, Michelle Corbett, Kasey Crabb, Bronwyn Eastley, Tiffany Ellacot, Sally Fernandez, Kate Fieldew, Lyn Fox, Rachael Gill, Bridget Larsen, Julie Leeper, Kathryn Lowe, Amanda Perryman, Carolyn Rakowski, Glyn Savage, Kym Smiley, Nikki Stalker, Naomi Swan, Naomi Swan, Miriam Thomas, Wendy Todd, Anna Wilson, Leah Winch, Karen Woods and Carolyn Young.

There are two cards there without names, so please don't think I forgot you, I just don't know who you are!

Aside from the business portion of Convention, we also had plenty of time to socialise after hours, and had a wonderful time. In a rare occurrence, we managed to get nine members of Gail Force Stampers in one place at the one time, a feat unheard of until now. One of our activities was a "shoebox swap", where we brought along the supplies and had everyone make a project ... here is a picture of my attempts:

There was one project I didn't get to - sorry, Marlene! I still have the supplies and hope to put it together this week! The designers of the above cards were Karen, Jo, Steph, Anne-Marie, Gail and Julie.

I hope to also post pictures of the Make & Takes we did at convention, but this will be later in the week when I actually get around to finishing them *g* - too much talking, not enough time.

All in all, it was a great weekend. Canberra put on its best weather for us, cool and crisp without being freezing. It is a beautiful city. We had some major laughs and a really good time. Roll on Sydney 2010, can't wait to get there!

Picture the Possibilities - National Scrapbooking Month

Are you a scrapper? Followers of this blog will probably have noticed that I'm not (with the occasional exception), however with this month's promotion I'm wondering if I should jump on the bandwagon *g*.

For the month of May, buy three packs of selected Designer Series Paper (see list below) at $16.95 and get a fourth pack FREE.

The paper packs included in this offer are:

Item	Page	Description
112042	132	Urban Garden Designer Series paper
112470	132	Haiku Designer Series paper
113976	132	Pink Flamingo Designer Series paper
112468	132	Sweet Always Designer Series paper
113992	133	Tea Party Designer Series paper
113975	133	Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper
113966	134	Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series paper
112469	134	Holiday Treasures Designer Series paper
112041	134	Bella Rose Designer Series paper
113974	134	Bella Bleu Designer Series paper
113978	135	Urban Oasis Designer Series paper
112461	135	Washington Apple Designer Series paper
112039	135	Windsor Knot Designer Series paper
113980	135	Candy Lane Designer Series paper

Of course, these delicious papers can also be used for cardmaking, and naturally the colours on the papers match the exclusive Stampin' Up! colour families (see your catalogue or check with me to see what colours match each paper).

AND THAT'S NOT ALL!

For the month of May, you could join the Stampin' Up! family for as little as $150!

Have you been thinking about becoming a demonstrator? Put off by the initial outlay for supplies you may not (as a scrapbooker) use? Then how about this:

In celebration of National Scrapbooking Month, join Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator for only $150 with our limited-time Scrapbooking Starter Kit. The Scrapbooking Starter Kit contains the following:

Item Code	Description	Retail Value
112231	Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set*	$77.95
113059	Simply Scrappin' Petal Party	$36.95
108697	Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12")	$21.95
105216	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad	$11.95
103179	Craft & Rubber Scissors	$37.95

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $77.95 value.

Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items. Please see the Scrapbooking Starter Kit Order Form for details.

Your business supplies, including customer order forms, invitations and more are also included in this price.

The total value of just the supplies show in the table above is $186.75, so you have to agree this is a bargain price!

Contact me to find out more about either of these great deals, but do it early so you don't forget!