Sale-A-Bration Owl Punch

How adorable is this stamp? Designed to match the Two Step Owl Punch, it's quick way to create a focal point for a card.

This stamp is part of the set Punch Bunch, only available during **Sale-A-Bration** (from now until March 31, 2011), and is only available when you spend $100 or more (in one transaction) on catalogue merchandise from Stampin' Up!.

So far, the samples I've seen using this stamp were all in the gorgeous Bright series of colours from Stampin' Up!, so I decided to try something a little different use my personal favourite colour, Cherry Cobbler. Combined with Early Espresso and Very Vanilla, it's a very elegant combination.

Don't forget that there are three other stamp sets you can get for FREE during Sale-A-Bration, if this one doesn't float your boat - check the brochure **here**, then contact me to place your order.

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Punch BunchInk: Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Early EspressoOther: Top Note Die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Two Step Owl Punch

Sale-A-Bration!

Do you like stamping?

Do you like FREE STUFF?

If you answered "Yes" to the above questions, then you'll love this news!

From January 25 through until March 31, for every $100 of product you order from Stampin' Up! (in one transaction) you will receive a FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp set!

Click on the picture above to head on over to my website to read more, or click here to view the stamps and download a PDF version of the brochure.

These sets are not available to purchase separately, and are ONLY available during this period.

Not only are you able to earn FREE products by spending, if you host a workshop bringing in more than $600 in sales (before tax and shipping) and you could earn another FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp set!

And to top it all off, if you join the Stampin' Up! family between now and the end of March, you get to choose a FREE stamp set from the catalogue (valued at up to $79.95) as well as all the great bargains in the Starter Kit.

Contact me for more information today!

Australia Flood Appeal

I, like so many people in Australia and probably around the world, have been watching and reading news reports of the devastating floods taking in much of Queensland over the past week. Some stories have been uplifting, others unbearably tragic.

Stampin' Up! have announced that for the month from January 15 (ie. today) until February 15, they will be donating $2 AUD of the retail value of sales from any stamp set (with a retail value of $30 or more) sold in Australia and New Zealand to the State Emergency Services in Queensland.

As this period will coincide with the upcoming Sale-A-Bration (more on that later), I can see that lots of much-needed funding will be raised.

Christmas Gift Card holders, #3

The third and final of the Christmas gift card holders I made for my nieces and nephew. You can see the first and second here and here.

This time I got a little more creative than I had expected - what was supposed to be a simple slide-out design ended up taking a little longer than I thought. My first few attempts were cast aside as I toyed with different ideas.

In the end, I think I did well. The front and back are cut from the Top Note die, with the front being put back through using the Square Lattice embossing folder (available now in the Summer Mini Catalogue). Again, I spritzed it with shimmer spray, although it turned out to be a little more heavy-handed than I wanted.

Rather than just stick the two die cut pieces together, with a sliding card inside, I decided that they needed to have a little room between the two layers, so I stuck narrow pieces of cardstock at the top, bottom and left hand side to create a gap for the insert. Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of this step, but you can take my word for it that it made the operation of the card holder that little bit easier.

The insert is simply a piece of Daffodil Delight cardstock with a slit cut in the left hand side to accommodate the gift card, with the Round Tab punch attached to the side.

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Season of Joy
Ink: Old Olive
Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Other: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Top Note Die, Round Tab Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder

Christmas Gift Card holders, #2

Here's the second of three gift cards I made just before Christmas (literally just before Christmas ... I think they were put together on December 24th). You can see the first here.

This time I based the holder on one found here, with amendments as suggested at this site.

If you've memorised the contents of your 2010-11 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue (as I have, of course), you will see that I have used *gasp* a retired punch. Next time I will probably use my old faithful standby, self-adhesive magnet sheets, as I found that pulling this open a few times creased the cardstock a little, and I was worried about tearing the whole thing.

Can you see the shimmer spray? Yes, I know, I'm using this a lot, but it's so pretty!

I also added the extra dimension by putting the front (only) of the holder through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing die (a personal favourite of mine).

And here's the inside ... I added the little die cut butterfly because I somehow managed to get a tiny smudge on the pocket.

Supplies used:
Stamp/s: Short & Sweet
Ink: Marina Mist
Cardstock: Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Other: Frost White Shimmer Paint, Curly Label Punch, 1-3/8" x 5/8" Oval Punch, 1-3/4" x 7/8" Oval Punch, Top Note Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Jumbo Eyelets, Cropadile, Daffodil Delight 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

Happy New Year! And a new Special!

Here's hoping that your 2011 is the best year yet!

And in the spirit of "new" things, Stampin' Up! have a new promotion for you ... their Valentine Sweethearts special.

Between now and January 24, 2011, purchase either the Sweetheart Stamp Set (wood or clear mounted) or the Full Heart Punch and receive a FREE pack of the Heart Treat Cups (12 cups to a pack). Or buy both the stamp set and the punch and get TWO free packs of Cups.

Click the picture to the left to find out more at my website.