Lace Ribbon Border card

 I love this "Lace Ribbon Border" punch - Dare I say it is one of my favourites?

This card features it so beautifully.

I first saw this card design at Angela Sargeant's "Elite Stampers" Team Training day.

I couldn't wait to get home and try it.

So simple really, and hardly more than a two layer card, or perhaps less since it has so many holes in it.

Card Recipe:
Cardstock: Early espresso, Melon Mambo, whisper white.
Ink: Melon Mambo
Designer Series paper: Cheerful Treat.
Ribbon: Melon Mambo Scallop dot ribbon.
Tools: Lace Ribbon Border, Eyelet Border punch, Large oval, scalloped oval, Boho Blossom punch.
Stampset: "with love" stamp from Field Flowers.

Stampin' Up! Heartfelt event for customers too.

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to attend a Stampin' Up! event, now is your chance!
You'll enjoy a jam-packed day filled with activities including: Product Playground, Make & Takes, project displays, demonstrations and more!
Join the fun at Sydney Darling Harbour. This is the first SU event where customers are invited to join in for a day of Stamping and demonstrations. You won't want to miss this exciting event!
Saturday, 10 November 2012 at Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour. 
Details about Heartfelt Stampin' events will be made available on our customer website.
http://www.stampinup.com/

Life is beautiful - Card Recipe:

Stampset: Style beautiful  $32.95 (clear) {Set of 5 stamps} p.91

Cardstock: Confetti white, Island Indigo, Pool Party 

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Early Espresso

Tools: Boho blossom punch,

Dotted scallop ribbon border punch

Printed brad, ribbon scraps.

Kindness Matters

Kindness Matters is a beautiful stampset.

Gorgeous small butterflies and words like Thanks and swirly accent shapes too.

This card was one inspired by a project in my monthly Stampin up Impressions magazine, but turned out a bit different. I have used my Big shot embossing folder to make the oval texture on the Crumb cake cardstock.

There is a great technique for using these smaller embossing folders so that the edges of the folder don't mark the front of your card.

My Big shot sandwich includes: (From the top)

Premium crease pad (113476)

embossing folder (with cardstock inside)

Cutting pad

Multipurpose platform  - on tab 1 (bottom)

 The extra large oval punch fits snuggly inside the oval embossed frame.

I've also used the Adorning Accent embossing folder for the scalloped edge.

These smaller embossing folders are excellent value at $16.95 for a set of 3 folders.

Lastly, the three stamped and fussy-cut butterflies are raised on foam dimensionals on top of two cardstock flags in pretty pink and brushed silver, layed over a piece of Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon.

Just a quick reminder ... there is only 2 weeks left until the end of the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue.

If you love any of the edgelit and framelit dies, stamps, papers or punches from this catalogue, this is the time to order those products that you want, in case they are gone forever.

Why not have your own catalogue party (with family or friends) and earn those hostess dollars or a free hostess stampset?

Impressions Corner catcher (bookmark)

A new bookmark!

Yes you know how I love books, and book marks ... this may be my quickest folded bookmark ever.

Where did I get this idea - well, it's simple!

Every month I get this Stampin up magezine in my letterbox with really cool new ideas for cards and scrapbooking and techniques.

On the front cover (I am talking about April 2012) is this amazing bookmark I have CASE'ed

and page 4 has this cool background stamping technique, and page 7 has 2 gorgeous kids card ideas to make with the Dinasaur Roar Stampset!

The bookmark (or Corner Catcher) Recipe:
Stampset: Style Beautiful
Ink: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade , Early Espresso.
Cardstock: Confetti white, Island Indigo, whisper white and Pool Party.
Tools: Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Eyelet border punch.
Boho Blossom punch, printed brad.
Ribbon scraps from wide Striped grosgrain.

Convention 2012 Make and Take projects

During the holidays I have found time to finish and photograph the gorgeous Make and Take projects we made at Convention in Canberra this year.

There are quite a few sneak peeks in here...

I can show you the completed projects but not the individual stampsets

 as these wont officially be released until September 1st. 

 I was very excited about this butterfly punched card with new punch, stampset and patterned paper.

And the matching envelope that we scored and folded with the new diagonal plate that fits our Simply Scored tool.  

I won the matching butterfly stampset as my door prize, can't wait to ink that one up.

 This is the 8" x 8" scrap book page we made using new stampsets and papers. The back ground is splattered with Island Indigo Ink from an aquapainter filled with ink and Isocol (rubbing alcohol).

Then stamped with daffodil delight Island Indigo and Lucky Limeade ink.

 Now take a close look at this one... There is  a new stampset used, new Big shot flower dies... and a brand new facetted button. I've used the flash on my camera to hi light these beautiful colours.

 Did you notice how we have used the Blossom punch as leaves on edge of this one? Lots of distressing (that should be de-stressing) of these paper flowers ... it made good therapy.

 Next,  there is the box with a clear lid and a whole bunch of new goodies used to make it.
You can see that gorgeous butterfly punch, a new stampset or two, flower die and papers, that button again.

 The window sheet lid is a great idea for a gift box, held together with glue dots and sticky strip and topped with that lovely baja breeze flower.

 I can't say any more ... let the pictures do the talking.

Watch this space ... Stampin' Up are offering some Customer Creativity days in November.

Let me know if you want to come with me for a day of stamping, new stampset included, lunch and fun with friends at Darling Harbour.

Feature: Elements of Style stampset

This is just one of my all time favourite stampsets.
I love that you can watercolour the roses, background stamp with the swirly flower, hilight the bird (perhaps with embossing) and it comes with two sentiments: "for you" and "Life is a matter of moments".
At $39.95 Clear, or $49.95 Wood mounted it is reasonably priced for 5 useable stamps.
You will possibly need the Clear Block E (when you choose clear) because the roses are larger than the usual stamp size. But you will use the block for many other sets aswell.

 The roses stamp is a beautiful stamp to watercolour.
I have used my Wonder watercolour crayons for this card.
Black Stazon Ink is the best ink to stamp it in, when you want to watercolour as it doesn't smudge if it gets wet by the brush or aquapainter that you use.
The crayons are very simple to use, just touch your aquapainter brush to the crayon and lift off some colour and paint the flowers.
I usually try to leave some white sections to show through and add a darker colour for depth.

The background swirls are also inked with my watercolour crayons. Using the aquapainter brush I added the paint direct to the rubber and then stamped the swirl onto the cardstock. Its quite a soft wet look that I like.

As it was late at night, and the light wasn't very good, I thought it needed a little bit of shimmer paint.

So I picked up some of that and painted it on some petals... perhaps I over did it,

more white less paint next time I think.

A single layer card  needs a ribbon and a punched label.

I have recently discovered the "Four Frames" stampset and this one has roses that work well with a little watercolouring too.

Card Recipe:

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Old olive, Black stazon.

Cardstock: Whisper white and Confetti white (page.125 of the catalogue, might be retiring at the end August and its great to water colour on).

Ribbon: organza

Stampset: Elements of Style p.94 $39.95

 Four Frames. p.95 $32.95

Watercolour Wonder Crayons (Bold Brights) $37.95 (10 crayons).

Aquapainter brushes 2 for $19.95

Ribbon Share by request...

Back by popular request is the

 "STAMPING JOY "

RIBBON SHARE

Most requested ribbon for a share is the

Scallop Dots ribbon.

The deal goes like this:

We buy 10 rolls of ribbon and 4 people go quarters in each of 10 rolls.

Which is about 2.28 metres of each coloured ribbon.

I supply the discount and everyone is happy!

Normally the rolls are $14.95 per roll.

When you share all 10 colours it will come to

 $33 per share

(instead of $39.25 full retail price).

Colours: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Marina Mist, Basic  Black, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate chip, More mustard , Pretty in Pink, and Tangerine Tango.

Email: nerida_carter@hotmail.com to set aside your place in the share.

Pretty in Pink "Baby Prints"



Its a girl!

So pull out the pretty in pink and the whisper white cardstock.

I can't resist welcoming a new baby into the world with a card and a little gift.

Lots of white and pink ribbon and pretty bows in tafetta and polka dots. 

I've just realised I didn't take a photo of the inside of the clam shell box.

So use your imagination ...

Inside is a printed singlet saying "Milk Junkie: milkaholics anonymous"

Recipe:

Stampset: "Baby Prints" (set of 7 stamps) $38.95 clear mount $48.95 (wood).

Congratulations is from "Curly Cute".

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo.

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink and Whisper White.

Ribbons: White organza, scallop polka dot (melon mambo) and thin tafetta (pretty in pink).

Tools: Polka dot embossing folder, Big shot machine, Ribbon edge punch, scallop edge punch.

CASEing Vanessa's ostrich feather card.

Remember the Convention photos that I showed you, the swap I received from Vanessa Webb, I just had to have a go at my own version of her framelit card with the Blossom punch flower and "faux" Ostrich feathers.

As you can see mine are a shameless CASEof Vanessa's card.

I've used the same Blossom punch, embossed it with the Wallpaper embossing folder, sponged with soft suede ink then, centred it with a Boho Blossom flower and Antique brad.

I used the slightly smaller Framelit Die to cut my window which gave me more room at the top ... which meant a ribbon.

Of course, I couldn't decide which looked better: the pink tafetta or the crumb cake seam binding?

I think perhaps I like this one best. The seam binding ties a beautiful soft double bow and doesn't detract from the pretty in pink flower and Mocha morning specialty paper.

 Here's my second card: with thin taffeta ribbon and some additional stamping of the Creative Elements background stamp.

You be the judge.

I sprayed both flowers with Shimmer mist for extra sparkle and sponged all the edges of the card with Soft Suede Ink.

 My sentiment is "Happiest Birthday" from the Apothecary Art stamp set.

Rasied up on Dimensionals and sponged for a vintage look. 

Here's a close up of my Blossom punch flower. You can just make out the Arctic white shimmer paint on the pink and suede cardstock.

And did I mention the "faux" Ostrich feathers?

They are made from Stampin' Up!'s wide grossgrain ribbon, frayed pieces wound around the brad and voila faux feathers!

Recipe:

Cardstock: Pretty in pink, Crumb cake.

Ink: Soft Suede

Paper: Mocha Morning Specialty

Tools: Big shot, Framelits, Blossom punch, boho blossom flower punch.

Ribbons: seam binding - crumb cake

Thin tafetta - Pretty in Pink

Striped grosgrain: Pretty in pink

 Accessories: Antique brads.

Stampsets: Apothecary Art, Creative Elements.

Male Vintage Artist trading cards

Crafter's anonymous have these regular ATC (artist trading card) swaps that I can't seem to say no to...
This was a challngeing one as I don't have many male stampsets and most vintage style stamps are more female than male...
So my method was to use the vintage stampsets I have that are the least girly.
Starting with a background of wheeled musical notes in black on sahara sand cardstock which I sponged with some "tea stain" ink.
The "Attic boutique" patterned papers have this lovely red and whte paper with boots and trunks and rocking chairs so I cut that into strips. Distressed the edges and rubbed it in black ink.
Cut out some circles of "First Edition" Specialty paper and stamped and distressed some more.

The "Rue de Fleurs" stampset has a trumpet which I stamped, watercoloured in daffodil delight and Poppy Parade ink ...
My cards were still too clean so I got to work with the ink splattering.
I now have a Colour Spritzer tool because you just can't do Vintage without a spritz of ink on your back grounds.
And to finish I stamped a Mr in the centre of the "Established Elegance" Agricole wreath, punched it out and watercoloured for a bit of artistic detail.

And here is the full set of swaps I received in return from the Australian Crafter's anonymous team:

Top Left to Right: Nerida C, Lyn Fox, Annette Sullivan,

Centre: Tania Cordie,

Svala Macfarlane, Anne Bignall, Deena Otway.

Rhinestone twine book mark

Today's project is a book mark with ribbons and bling twine!
This is a quick project cut out with the Big shot and two tags die, sponged and stamped in the 2012-13 in- colours. With a few pieces of Pool Party seam binding and ruffled ribbons for decoration.

 At Convention in May, Teresa Dabrowski showed us how to make these gorgeous bling rhinestone twine dangles... She didn't call them that but it was a real wow when she demoed them on stage!

 Such a fabulous idea to bling up an ordinary book mark and baker's twine.
I have simply patted the twine onto the stick-on rhinestone jewel, turned it over and placed another on the other side. I used the edge of my sharp scissors to lift the rhinestone and place it exactly where I wanted it.

The centre of the butterflies were also glittered with champagne glass glitter stuck on with a bit of two-way glue pen.

Recipe:
Stampset: Creative elements $49.95 (Clear mounted).
Cardstock: Natural's ivory
Ink: Pool party, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobbler.
Ribbons: Pool Party seam binding, Ruffled ribbon.
Accessories: Island Indigo baker's twine, Rhinestone jewels.
Tools: Big shot machine, two tags die,  Itty bitty shapes punch, sponge.
Two way glue-pen and champagne glass glitter.

Fancy Fold and the Framelit die ..

 There are some beautiful card folds out there in the paper crafting world and this one caught my eye.
I needed to make a card for my newest cardmaking friend ... Hi Maggi!
It's her birthday this week and so I made this up the other morning... it is a CASE (copy and share everything) from a variety of cards out there on the internet.

This fancy fold is called a SWING card.
I have made them before with a square that swings as you open the card... to show the message on the back of the swinging part.

 You can see it a little better in the card angle above.
The centre piece is cut out using the Big shot cutting plates overlapping the Framelit die, turning it round and cutting the second edge.
Then, you place some pattterned or stamped paper over the centre piece (to hide the folds) and you have this cute little swinging panel which you can embellish on both sides.

 The Framelit dies come in six pieces that fit neatly inside each other that make framing a sentiment so easy.

I have stamped the Happy Birthday framelit and sponged the edges before layering it over some brushed silver metallic cardstock, (that was left behind by a friend - Hi Sophie) and a layer of Attic Boutique patterned paper in matching Pool party colours.

Here is the card flattened out, to show the two easy scored folds (scored with my Simply Scored Tool).

The texture is an embossing folder run through the Big shot and sponged for definition and I have stamped the Field flowers with pool party ink on the edge for a little extra detail.

Workshop in July...

Are you thinking it has been a while since you last got together with friends to stamp?

Then, give me a call and lets organise one!

 

Now, until end of July, if you host a workshop that reaches $650 in sales, you will receive an additional
$90 of hostess dollars to spend!

That's on top of the already generous hostess benefits..... which in the case of a $650 workshop is a total of $190 to spend! And it just gets better.

Hosting a workshop like this means you also receive at least one half-price item.

So many customers have purchased their Big Shots for 50% off this way. They get the big shot half price (which means it's only $75) and then they also have lots more hostess dollars to spend on dies and other accessories of their choice. It's a fantastic deal!

You already have the Big Shot ?
Then how about the Simply scored tool and diagonal plate to make all those fancy fold cards and custom-sized envelopes in any colour you like. All with your hostess dollars.
 But whatever you choose... this makes July an excellent month to host a workshop!

Send me an email nerida_carter@hotmail.com to book a date...  Workshops are a fabulous way to feed your habit for crafting and I can show you some of the latest stamping techniques and paper crafting ideas out there Plus you get to do it with your friends.

Do you need another incentive to book your workshop?

 How about a FREE stampset 
for the first two workshop hostess's to book in - I have a clear or a wood mount set of the "Reason to Smile" stampset that can be yours for free when you book your workshop in July.