Melbourne and Stampin' Up 2011 Convention...

Its only 11 more sleeps till I am off to Stampin' Up's 2011 Convention in Melbourne !!!

If you have been on this journey with me for vrey long, you will know what an exciting 5 days I will be spending, with atleast 5 (or is it 500) of my closest SU friends.

I have a to do list that keeps growing and one of them is to make a Name tag.

This year the Crafters Anonymous group have a challenge to make a name tag that identifies you as part of their group.

Well, I am still working on this project... it is definitely a work in progress:

 I started with the pre-requisite Concord crush patterned paper, mounted on Perfect Plum Cardstock.

For my name I used the Big Shot Time less Type Alphabet die to spell it out.

*     *     *     *

While the Big shot was on the table I tried my brand new Embosslit buttons (in whisper white) AND the Beautiful wings die, plus the other Beautiful Butterflies die.

Can't have enough flutterbies on this project.

Before attaching the accessories, I have used a new technique where you emboss the whole project .

 Not enough?

It needed more ... to truly describe my paper and crafting passion.

Artistic Etchings on velum stamped with Black stazon.

Now, the butterfly needed a little Crystal effects for that shiny lacquered look, and so do the buttons ...

Got Rhinestones? ...Check!

I think it needs more rhinestones... and something that says Crafters anonymous.

Top note Briefcase ...

I don't know about you but when I go off to work I'd like to take a Briefcase that holds all the essentials.

This little bag fits the bill perfectly: the chocolate filled brief case!

It holds two Moser Roth 25g chocolate bars (wrapped together) with a piece of taffetta ribbon.

The bag is made with just one Big Shot Top note die.

Don't you just love the Cherry Cobbler and River Rock coloured cardstock together.

 Here it is from the side... The gold wrappers make a nice corner to the Briefcase.

I scored the Top note at about 4.5 cm from the centre on both sides to give a 1.5cm flat edge to the bottom of the bag.

 The fold over clasp is made with the new Decorative label punch (from the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue).
For texture it has been run through the Big shot with the Square lattice embossing folder.
The Label is wrapped over the top and held with sticky strip on the back and just snail on the front for easy opening. (For those emergency chocolate moments).
The "press-dud" is a Rhinestone Jewel.

 The straps are really easy (being made of cardstock). Two x 1cm wide and 20cm long strips (also textured with the Square lattice embossing folder). 
The Cherry Cobbler Top note was "embossed" with the Vintage Wallpaper Pattern.
 And No stamping ... I could have put a tiny tag on the handle saying Enjoy... or Thanks ... or a sweet little heart.

Perhaps next time, this one is already eaten.

This Exclusive project was brought to you by "Stamping Joy" and the Big Shot machine!

Enjoy!!!

French folliage in red

Another quick post today... it is still school holidays and I am loving the freedom of getting up early, not rushing with breakfast and school. We look out on to a view of trees and a few are turning orange with the early Autumn cool days and clear weather. It is a very special time of year.

This stampset "French Folliage" has delightful  leaves that can change with the season and make perfect masculine birthday cards, Father's day or, Thank you cards.

 For variety I have rolled the leaves in Old olive, Pumpkin pie and riding hood red ink with a touch of early espresso. The background patterned paper is the new "Botanical Gazette" and has some butterflies that I have lightly watercoloured and sponged around the edges.

My big shot machine has supplied the textured background using the square lattice embossing folder once again. My motto is if in doubt add an easy tie ribbon and this one makes quite an impact I think.

CASEing that gorgeous little bag that Jenny made.

I so loved the square shopping bag that Jenny Adams sent me I just had to have a go at CASEing it. (That's Copy And Share Everything: CASE).

 My version is in Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Nature walk Designer series paper.

It's a gorgeous little bag (or is it a box?).

Made with an A5 piece of cardstock (21cm x 12cm).

Scored at 3cm, 10cm, 13cm and 20cm, (leaving a 1cm edge to seal the box)

Then turn and score at 3cm from the bottom edge.

If that doesn't make sense, send me an email and I will give you detailed instructions. You can make nearly any shaped box by varying the score lines.

This one is so textured because I ran it through the

Big shot machine

 using the Vintage Wall paper embossing folder.

The Enjoy is from the new "Youre a Gem" stampset in the Autumn Winter mini and the Paris stamp is from the "French Folliage" stampset.

The miniature paper daisy has been sponged with Cherry Cobbler ink and has a rhinestone in the centre and the handles are made with chocolate chip taffetta ribbon.

It looks even better when you fill it with chocolate!

Ten different label ideas with the Decorative label punch.

There's a new Decorative Label punch in my crafting kit ... and it is exactly the right size to frame a range of images and word stamps.

It also fits lots of our other punch shapes inside.

You saw here in my recent post  how to make a smaller label with the same punch.

The Designer label punch fits neatly within the Large decorative label's frame.
The pretty Scallop oval punch is just perfect too, and
the Curly label is a smaller label, so fits nicely inside it. I've layered them above with the large 4.4cm oval punch on top.
The Extra large or 5 cm Wide oval is neatly framed on either side and you can put the Word window punch within its borders too.

I have listed 10 different punch combinations below: 

1. Decorative label
2. Designer label
3. Large oval
4. Scallop oval
5. XL wide oval
6. Round tab
7. Curly label
8. You an even use it as a decorative border punch. (lower Right)
9. You can create a negative octagonal frame that you can use as a mask for sponging. (Top right).
10. After I photographed these I thought of a way to make
 Name place tags for your table.

Something exciting to make with the Decorative label punch

I know how you all love to see the many ways a new product can be used so today I am going to show you the NEW Decorative label punch and how it can be used to create a smaller decorative label.

You will need:

The new Decorative Label punch

and some scraps of cardstock. 

1. Punch out a partial label from your whisper white cardstock.

2. Make a "handle" with a piece of post it note.

Or a scrap of paper with some repositional glue on the end of it.

Like this.

3. Then feed it back into the Decorative label punch holding onto the "handle" until you position it how you want it.

4. Punch it out. 

Then, Punch out a full decorative label in Marina Mist Blue

 5.  Layer the small label on top of the larger label.

It will look like this.

You can turn the label on to the side for a different look.

Very decorative don't you think?

The Decorative Label Punch is NEW in the Stampin' Up Autumn-Winter mini catalogue.

It is perfect for layering with other punch shapes too.

(120907) Decorative Label Punch $33.95

Easter comes ...

Can you just imagine how exciting this would be to find on your pillow on Easter morning?
Isn't this the cutest little basket?

Can you believe it is made with a Big Shot die?

Of course it may not be obvious which one ....

 Here it is from the back ... any idea?

Correct! Its the square scallop die. It looks small but it holds two Ferrero Rocher chocolates and a few small chocolate eggs.

The River rock cardstock is textured with the square lattice embossing folder and so is the Decorative label punch on the front.

 I made a second Basket with the same square scallop die but folded less onto itself, so that the basket is a bit more open.

And I have crimped the handle.

It is held together with just two brads and some dimensionals.

The first one looks better because it has chocolates in it.

Enjoy!!!!

EASTER BASKET RECIPE:

2x Ferrero Rocher chocolates

2x white chocolate Easter Eggs

Scallop Square - BigZ clear die (115950) $42.95

Textured Impressions Embossing folder - Square lattice (119976) $15.95

Big shot (113439) $179.95

Cardstock: River Rock, Cherry Cobbler, whisper white.

Ink: Cherry Cobbler and River Rock

Crimper (101618) $37.95.

Decorative Label Punch XL (120907) $33.95 NEW

Circle punches: 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4"

Brads, Dimensionals.

Clam shell box - crafters anonymous

 Each Monday night the Crafters Anonymous group have an online class. This is the best gift box I have made in such a long time. It was designed by Dee Sturgeon from NZ.
The template can be purchased from their site from the homepage under For sale.

 I just had to show you my version and how the box opens wide to fit a babies rolled singlet inside.
To give the box some interesting texture I have rolled it through my Big shot machine using the elegant lines embossing folder. And edged the inside of the box with the pinking hearts border punch.

It is very easy to make and closes with a piece of tafetta ribbon and a tag.
 The singlet reads: 50% mummy, 50% daddy = 100% Perfect

Here it  is with the gift card I made a while ago to go with it.
A Perfect combination for a baby's shower or birthday.

Elements of style Baja Breeze Thank you

 Such a simple way to say thank you...
A single layer card with sponging for depth.

Just a quick post today, I have shadow stamped the flower swirls with Concord crush and Rich Razzleberry. It gives the design a sense of movement.
I haven't used the bird stamp from this stampset nearly enough. It is a lovely humming bird elegant and decorative.

Enjoy!!!

Autumn mini launch - Strength and Hope

 Last Wednesday night we held a mini launch at Alicia's place and this is one of the cards we made.

It uses just a few of the new products in the Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue.

There are two new punches in the new caty ... the best one in my opinion is the Decorative Label punch that we have used to create a window and a "lock" to keep the card closed.

The Hope and Strength Butterfly is raised on a dimensional, with his wings loose to fold and close when you want to open the card.

We used River Rock,Very Vanilla and Cherry Cobbler as our simple colour palette.

This new Cherry Cobbler is the best deepest red that we have ever had.

The card has also been passed through the Big shot machine with the Square lattice folder to get that gorgeous linen like texture.

It is still available to order in the

 Carry over items list.

Card Recipe:

Stampsets: Strength and Hope $28.95 Clear mount,

 Your'e a Gem $23.95 Clear mount.

Cardstock: River Rock, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, River Rock

Tools:

Decorative label XL punch $33.95

Crimper tool $37.95,

Big shot $179.95

Square Lattice embossing folder $15.95

  paper snips $18.95

Circle punches: 3/4", 1", 1 1/4".

Who won the Sunday challenge at Crafters Anonymous?

Do you remember the Never ending card I made recently?

I entered it in the Sunday Lift the flap Challenge on Crafters anonymous.

And guess who won ???

The best part was that I won a lovely hand made gift  by Jenny Adams using some beautiful Stampin' Up products.

It was so exciting to go to the post office to pick up my parcel and find a beautifully hand-made card, bag and box inside.
The boxes both contained CHOCOLATE!!!

The sewing box features the beautiful Sew Suite patterned paper on the top and around the edges of the box.
The edge is decorated with pom pom ribbon in Melon Mambo.
And the Melon Mambo pink button is so lovely in real life... even the tissue paper is hand-stamped.

I am going to have to CASE these boxes ... now I will just have to go out and buy another block of that Lindt chocolate that fits so perfectly inside.