More remade samples

I have been stamping up a storm recently (you've probably noticed all the posts *g*) in my quest to restock my samples folder.

Here's a card I remade, using this one as a template. As you can see, I pretty much stuck with the formula, and am very happy with the result.

The stronger colours work particularly well here, I think - Riding Hood Red is one of my new favourites lately!

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Trendy Trees
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Soft Suede
Cardstock: So Saffron, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Other: Funky Forsest Stampin' Around Standard Wheel, Stampamajig, Stampin' Around Wheel Guide

Another catalogue CASE

Not too long to go now before the new 2010-11 Ideas Book & Catalogue goes live ... contact me to arrange your copy.

In the meantime, here's a card I made which was inspired by a sample in the new catalogue (which, by the way, is an awesome source of inspiration - which is why they call it an "Ideas Book" as well as a "Catalogue").

The original was much nicer, mostly because I looked at the catalogue, liked the card, waited a few days and then tried to copy it without bothering to look again. You'll see what I mean when you get your copy LOL.

Anway, it was an interesting experiment, and a chance to play with my new crimper (which I resisted buying for the longest time, and yet now can't imagine how I managed to live without it).

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Upsy Daisy
Ink: Soft Suede
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Old Olive
Other: Crimper

Price Reductions on Last Chance List

As the Last Chance List enters its final days, Stampin' Up! have discounted selected products ... check it out here to see what you can pick up at bargain prices!

I have highlighted the newly discounted products in green on the list so you can see quickly which are at the new reduced prices.

To summarise, there are a few stamp sets, the In Color cardstock pack, marker packs, Stampin' Spots, some Designer Series Paper and a selection of punches on the list, at up to 50% off the original price. Take a look and see if anything is on your wishlist before it's all gone!

As promised...

The other day I showed you a hint of Vintage Wallpaper - a new embossing folder for your Big Shot. The folder will be available for purchase from September 1 from the new 2010-11 Ideas Book & Catalogue.

Here is another card using this folder, which shows a little more detail. Not a great deal, mind, as it's largely hidden behind the front panel, but you can probably get the idea.

The Stampin' Up! folders are sized to cover (most of) a card front. I personally prefer to use them for layering, but that's just me. And they're reasonably priced - so much so that I am probably going to get another one of these to experiment with (wait and see!).

The card itself was just the result of a table full of stuff, the stamp set "Always" sitting nearby, and a desire to try making something that wasn't pink out of this set. I won!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Always, Baroque Motifs
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla
Other: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

New Stamp Set ...

So far I haven't really been showing you much new stuff ... I have to admit this is partly because I didn't buy much from our demonstrator-only pre-order (saving my money for next month when the new catalogue is officially released *g*).

However, I do have access to one or two new goodies. As a f'rinstance, this is a stamp from a new set called "Perfect Punches", which all attendees were given (yes, *given*) at the annual Stampin' Up! Convention in May (no one was expecting it; we were all totally blown away by this).

Each stamp in the set of 6 coordinates with a Stampin' Up! punch, and contains a variety of handy phrases such as the "happy birthday" shown here, "Joy at Christmas", "Thanks", "Congratulations" and "my friend".

The card shown here was inspired by a (poorly remembered) sample from the catalogue - I saw it, liked it and tried to replicate it, but then when I saw the original I was astonished that I'd managed to get it so wrong LOL. The sample is much, much nicer, and I will try it again sometime soon.

The more observant of my readers will no doubt already have noticed the other new element on this card ... yup, a new embossing folder to add to my repertoire. This one is called Vintage Wallpaper, and is just lovely. I will show another card featuring a larger sample in a day or two.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Perfect Punches (new set!), Inspired by Nature, Trendy Trees
Ink: Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Other: Wide Oval Punch, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Perfect Polka dots embossing folder, Crimper

CASEing a CASE...

A couple of years ago, I borrowed a card style from a Stampin' Up! mini catalogue ... the other night I revisited the layout with updated colours to see what would happen.

I like it *g*.

The colours here were inspired by a Designer Series Paper set from the upcoming 2010-11 Catalogue (contact me to reserve your copy *g*) - the combination of Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Riding Hood Red is very rich and yet very simple.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Always
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red
Other: Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

New Catalogue Sneak Preview

I got a package today ... a very big package *g*. So do you want to see what was inside?

Really?

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A little more ...

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Okay, so I'm not actually allowed to show you what was inside the three smaller boxes that were inside the really big box :-(

Sorry to get your hopes up LOL

However, I am allowed to distribute these new catalogues. They're only $10 each, or FREE if you host a workshop *g*.

Two of these boxes are actually destined for Paperific, being held next weekend (August 27-29) - you can always buy one from us at the Stampin' Up! stand there, or contact me to purchase a copy early.

And because I'm sorry I can't show you the catalogue, here is something made with a BRAND NEW stamp set!!!

The stamp shown here is from a new Level 2 Hostess Set called "Cute By The Inch" ... it is a set of 9 little square stamps which are actually slightly smaller than 1", designed to fit in a NEW Petal Card XL Double Punch (which unfortunately wasn't part of the pre-order, so I have to wait to get my hands on it *sniff*).

I took inspiration for this quick and simple card from this card - love the colour combination and clean lines.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Cute by the Inch (Level 2 Hostess Set)
Ink: Basic Black
Cardstock: Kraft (soon to be renamed Crumb Cake), Basic Black, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise
Other: 1-1/4" Square Punch, Scallop Square Punch

Top Note Box

I stumbled across this project recently, and finally got a chance to try it out the other night ... wow, it was so easy, and very effective as well.

I also finally got around to trying out the scallop punch flower properly (as opposed to the practice ones I have made). There are lots of tutorials for these flowers all over the net so I won't even attempt to write one - I used the version where you punch the scallops out, scrunch them well to soften the cardstock fibres and peel the cardstock in half to expose the soft, suede-like insides. I really love how it came out, and it seems to suit the vintage-y look of the box just right.

Here you can see a closeup of the detail on the top of the box - I tore a hole in a piece of scrap paper and used that as a reverse mask to stamp En Francais through (the same technique was used here).

Next time, I might run the top part of the box through an embossing folder in the Big Shot, for the texture (looooove texture *g*).

And here's the box open. I didn't put the little dividers in this one - perhaps next time.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Vintage Vogue, En Francais
Ink: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla
Other: Scallop Circle Punch, Top Note Die

Old Tricks, New Cards

In my quest to stock up my sample board, I have been looking at old, retiring samples with a view to remaking them with current product.

This time I'm sharing the new, improved version of this card. With Apricot Appeal leaving us forever *sob*, the sample isn't much use anymore except perhaps as inspiration.

And this is what I came up with. Kind of the same, but different.

If you look carefully you might see the stamping on the Very Vanilla Layer. I used Versamark to stamp En Francais, then sponged Soft Suede ink over the top - the Versamarked areas "resist" the dye Soft Suede ink and the result is super-subtle and gives a hint of texture to the finished product.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Cottage Garden, EN Francais
Ink: Soft Suede, Real Red, Versamark
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Kraft, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Basic Black
Other: Top Note Die, Extra-Large Two Step Bird Punch

Always...

You know, I still love this set, after all this time. It just got kind of "lost" under other stamp sets and hasn't been out for a little while.

But in my quest to recreate samples or think up new ones, I dug it out to give it some love.

This is a (kind of) copy of a card I made last year - which I'm not going to show you, it never quite came out how I had pictured it. The card shown here worked out MUCH better, and was fun to make as well!

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Always
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
Cardstock: Whisper White, Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
Other: 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1-3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Top Note Die

Keeping it Simple

As a demonstrator, I need to make sure that I have samples using current products to show people what they can achieve with Stampin' Up!

However, with the announcement a few months back that many of the "core colours" were being retired in a major colour reconfiguration, combined with the recent Last Chance List of retiring stamps, I have found that a lot (and I mean a LOT) of my samples will no longer showcase products that the customer can buy.

It was a sad day when I went through my samples folder and display board. This is the result (note that the cards on the table didn't all come from the board shown, but also from my big book). And I keep finding samples I had stashed away and forgotten to add to my book.

But the cloud has a silver lining. I have the perfect excuse to stamp up a heap of new cards, and while it will take a while to replace all the old samples, I've made a start.

Here's a card I whipped up the other night - very quick, very simple. I've just stamped the three flower stamp from Eastern Blooms three times in different colours - Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie and So Saffron. There is a style of stamping called "Clean And Simple", and I believe this card fits nicely into that category.

I took inspiration from this card over at SplitcoastStampers.

Images © 1990-2010 Stampin' Up!®

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Eastern Blooms
Ink: Rose Red, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red
Other: Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

A word about punches ...

If you've had a look at the Last Chance List (click here to go to my Last Chance List page, which has a link to the list at my Google Docs site - and which I have been keeping up to date as items run low or run out), you would have seen ALL the punches are on this list.

This might seem a little extreme ... after all, what is papercrafting without a punch or two (or three, or ... well, I have quite a few *g*) (what you see to the left is only a small part of my collection ... I may have to start a Punches Anonymous group *sigh*).

I can assure you that the punches are not being retired forever. They are, however, being reconfigured to the new body style, which some of you may have seen in the three new punches in the current Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.

The new punch style is flatter and more compact, and apparently also allows for more intricate designs, so better for all of us!

The picture to the right shows both the old and new styles side by side. The more observant of you will notice that I have accidentally put the bird punch backwards - the edge with the picture (new innovation, so you can see which punch is which when they're on your shelf) is actually the hinge side.

The new punches have a lock at the bottom, which means you can flatten them, slide the lock across, and store them flat.

And as you can see, the new punch style is so much more compact than the old style.

Two things to remember:

Firstly, some of the punches are being retired FOREVER. These are the Double Rectangle, the Horizontal Slot, the Slit, the Star (the smaller of the two Star punches), and the Trio Flower.

Secondly, a word of warning ... some of the punches will be more expensive in this new style, so if you have your eye on any of the existing punches, you might want to grab yours now! Some are even discounted - Boho Blossoms, the Square Scallop and the Scallop Oval are going out for $23.21 - that's 25% off!

Email me to find out more about punches, the Last Chance List or anything else you would like to know about Stampin' Up!

Heads Up ... Paperific is coming!

Sorry, no pictures today ... I did stamp last night, but haven't had a chance to take a photo of the card I made to share with you ... stay tuned for that one *g*.

I just wanted to take a quick moment to remind you that Paperific is coming up at the end of August - Friday the 27th through to Saturday the 29th to be specific. The event is being held at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, and is open 9am-5pm Friday and Saturday, and 9am-4pm Sunday.

This show is highly recommended for any papercraft lover, as it covers pretty much anything you can think of in that field - not only is there stamping and scrapbooking, but all the accessories you need to get the look you want. And, of course, a few Stampin' Up! demonstrators have banded together to put on a great stand as always.

Entry is $10 for adults, $8 concession, however if you drop me a line I have some passes which will get you $2 off the entry price. I only have a few, so it's first in, best dressed - email me or leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

I hope to see you at the Show!

LAST CHANCE LIST 2010

Hundreds of stamp sets, wheels and accessories are retiring and now is your last chance to purchase them before they disappear! Check the list on my special LAST CHANCE LIST 2010 page, then contact me to place your order. Hurry! Items are only available while stocks last!

You might notice that many of the Last Chance items are discounted, some up to 50% off the original price ... take a look, you could snag a bargain!