Nature walk and the Botanical gazette

 

The "Nature walk" stampset is another favourite from the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue.

There are 7 stamps in the set featuring the realistic natural designs you would find in a vintage botanical gazette or nature magezine.

At Melbourne Convention, Sophie Zadeh from Stampin up demonstrated this card. I love how the cage hangs from the top of the page and is collaged with the Elements of style roses.

 Tenealle Williams made this gorgeous card on stage at Convention. She has lightly sponged the Bird and cut it out, layering it over a circle and sponged it all to perfection.

 On the display boards in Melbourne were beautiful tags, cards and projects combining the botanical gazette paper and stamp images in trendy colours like Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive.

 Vintage Style stamping is all about torn edges and layering of patterns and papers.
Dont you also love the amazing way that the bevelled window frames the stamped image!

 I love the vintage style of these images that you can change the style of just by stamping in different colours and adding a textured border.

 Vintage Easter cards in Melon Mambo and... 

...another example of  Masking on the above Thank you card.

I will certainly miss this stampset and Designer series paper.

French Foliage - Thank you

It's less than ten days now until the Autumn Winter mini Catalogue ends on 31st of July.

 So, time to celebrate my

absolute-must-have-favourite-stampsets :

"French Foliage"

You can make very simple Thank you cards with this gorgeous set.

The stamping is in Old Olive and Sahara Sand inks on Confetti White cardstock.

The clean edge is made by masking.

The same idea as when you are painting a room you mask the edges and can paint (or stamp in this case) right up to the edge, peal the paper off and reveal a clean sharp edge!

 I've added the mud spatter stamp to give it that winter look and the must-have Paris circle for authenticity.

French Foliage - set of six (6) stamps. Page 20 Autumn Winter mini catalogue.

Clear mounted: $31.95 or Wood mounted: $39.95

Makes wonderful Autumn /Winter scrap book pages, too.

Why did I say that? now I have to go and make a scrap book page to prove it.

Technique Team swap

Our local Stampin' Up team is called the "Inksomniacs" and yes, we stamp day and night !!!
This month we had a team swap that challenged us to use a  technique that we had seen at Convention 2011. Our group of six shared the following cards:

 My card used the mixed embossing technique (using clear embossing powder mixed with Dazzling Diamonds glitter). The stampset is Strength and Hope from the Winter mini catalogue. (Ends 31 July)!

 I have also embossed the Curly Cute Congratulations in gold embossing powder and sponged with Soft suede ink to bring out the vintage wallpaper texture on the top note.

 Denielle B showcased the technique of Bleaching ... using the ever elegant stampset: Elements of style.
Isn't it amazing how the colour lightens and you get yellow roses out of Soft suede cardstock!

 Felicity Hawkins showed us masking - I love how the Eiffel tower floats above the En Francais script and how gorgeous does her matching tag look? She has masked the sentiment on the tag and spritzed it too.

This technique is very "distressing" by Tracy Farmer and she has used the pretty cup cake punch from the Winter mini catalogue ... Love the library clip and the rhinestones.

 Michelle Dyson has used the torn window technique that we saw at Convention. She has used the Decorative label punch through two layers of cardstock to start her tearing and it looks great (a sneak peek of a stampset we got free at Convention and coming out in the next Idea Book and Catalogue).

Ellen Woodbridge ... Christmas already! you can't see it in the photo but the embossed vanilla  layer is spritzed with Early espresso ink and sprayed with shimmer mist... it sparkles!

Button Birthday wishes- two weeks to go

There are only 14 days left before the Autumn Winter mini catalogue ends...

My favourite products in this mini include:
The Decorative label punch, which I have used in so many ways and will be using forever.
The Big shot: "Sweet buttons" Embosslits die, the "In stitches" wheel and of course the Framed Tulips embossing folder.
I have loved the word stamps from "Bring on the Cake" and the gorgeous leaves, mud splatters and script from "French Folliage", And the butterfly from the "Strength and Hope" stampset that we have all enjoyed on several projects.

 Well I couldn't put them all on one card so, here is a sample using the Embosslit Sweet Buttons and the Bring on the Cake set with the decorative label punch.

 The layout for this card came from the Stampin' Up Impressions magazine, which being a demonstrator I receive every month, with great ideas like this one, that you can copy or change to suit the stamps and colours you have in your collection.

 Did you notice the five petal flower punch?
It looks great in these colours and with the button centre... and what card would be complete without a few rhinestone jewels to bling the Birthday wishes sentiment in Rich Razzleberry.

If you wish to order any thing from the Autumn Winter mini catalogue please email me before 30 July so that I can ensure your order is placed before this catalogue closes.

Scallop Cup cake birthday

School holidays are coming to an end so it has been a rush of outings packed into the last week...

For an eight year old that includes at least one cup cake and fortunately we were able to indulge that pleasure, followed by a hot chocolate at Lindt and several hours in Sydney shopping this week. 

 We didnt photograph the actual cup cakes ... but I stamped and punched these last Friday (a week ago) with friends: Sophie and Jill.

When I got home I used my ice cream parlour buttons and ribbon pack to finish it off.

That pink button really suits this bright and girly card, perfectly. 

Recipe:

Stampsets: Build a Cupcake, (winter mini catalogue), teeny tiny sentiments.

Cardstock: Tempting turquoise, Melon Mambo,

whisper white

Ink: Melon Mambo, Tempting turquoise

Build a cup cake punch $33.95

Decorative Label punch

Word window punch

Scallop circle punch

Big shot machine, Square scallop die, polka dot embossing folder.

Ice cream parlour button and ribbon

 (FREE when you spend $100 during July 2011).

Fabulous Folds (2) Growing Green and Easy water colouring technique

Is this another fabulous fold?

So simple, to fold half a piece of A4 cardstock into a zig zag shape and add a square of mounted cardstock on the centre panel to stamp on.

The Pretty in Pink cardstock with Perfect Plum inked flowers and Certainly celery leaves is very soft and subtle for a feminine card.

 For texture there is Big shot Embossing on the back fold of the card using the Elegant lines textured folder.

A Crimper strip on the front fold is edged with the Eyelet border punch, and the three jewelery tag punches are stamped in black stazon ink with the Tiny tags stamp set.

The technique I have used is called Easy water colouring.

Why is that you ask?

You take a piece of glossy white cardstock, stamp it with an outline stamp (using white stazon ink), spritz it with water and put drops of re-inker into the flower segments.

The water runs the ink around in patterns, then you can cut them out or leave as is.

Once its dry the flowers have a mottled water coloured look.

No two flowers are ever the same with this technique. 

Recipe:

Stampsets:

Growing Green (p.78) $29.95 Clear mounted

Tiny Tags (p.93) $28.95 Clear mounted

Jewelry Tag punch (p.146) $20.95

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum,

Gloss white (25 sheets) $9.50

Ink: white Staz-on ink, pretty in pink

Black staz-on ink

Perfect Plum and Certainly celery re-inkers

Crimper, Eyelet border punch, small heart punch.

Big shot, Elegant lines embossing folder, Pearl Jewels.

Fabulous Folds - Nature walk card

These are the kind of rich colours that resonate with me:
Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, combined with vanilla cardstock and River Rock (because like Sahara Sand, River Rock also goes with everything!).

 Fold them into a zig zag fold and you have an interesting and attractive card for any occasion.
This one is so simple to do (Yes you noticed it has a bit of Big shot embossing on there) for texture.

 I have also used the crimper for texture behind the taffeta ribbon and the Eyelet border punch for the edge of the turned back piece.
The Little labels are punched and then stamped with "Youre a Gem" stamps
Love Life, Live Life ...

Musical Thank you!

Today's card is a card we gave to Jessica's Violin Teacher at the end of term.
A very talented teacher, Jessica could play several short tunes in just 9 weeks ... and eventually learnt to hold the bow and finger board correctly!

Card Recipe:

Stampset: Curly Cute: Thank you

Musical notes Wheel

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Marina Mist and white.

Ink: Basic Black (ink cartridge), Cherry Cobbler.

Decorative label punch, wide oval punch,

Big shot machine, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder.

Taffetta ribbon. (grey?)

School holidays ...

School holidays come around very quickly don't they?

Here's my Jessica enjoying a Mini hot chocolate by the Beach on Monday ... the weather has been such a mixture: sunny and warm one moment, overcast and raining, windy then warm again.

 We have been having a lovely few days... Jess makes her own things and I get to cook with her, eat with her and make my own projects.

And here is a Big shot project i made with a good friend last week -

The scallop circle Easel card with cup cake, ribbon and rhinestone cherry ...

 Soft Suede and Melon Mambo are a gorgeous combination: like strawberries and chocolate.

 Perhaps Jess and I have been eating a little too much of the Hazlenut and chocolate fudge icecream together? The elegant lines look like swirls of melting ice cream to me.

The Cupcake punch and cupcake stampset is from the current Winter mini catalogue.

And ,you can still order the XL scallop circle punch from the Summer mini carry over list.

White Wedding !!!

 Do you know a few couples out there about to tie the knot?

Here is one of the cards we made at Teresa's Workshop on the weekend ...

 We played with heat embossing, the big shot machine and the scalloped heart sizzlit die.

The perfect bow ... was successfully completed by everyone.

It took me several goes watching a you tube video, over and over, until I could tie it on my own, but its worth it for that luscious flat bow !

 This white on white card is a very traditional styled card... if you knew the Bride-maids dress colour you could add a bit of sponging or change out the cardstock on the hearts and ribbon bow to pink or red or Blue.
 There's a Stampin' Up colour to suit almost every bride.

 On my hearts I added some stamped words from the Strength and Hope stampset (inked with Shimmer paint on a sponge dauber direct to the rubber). Champagne Shimmer paint is my favourite as you can add a few drops to rubbing alcohol and spray it on the card in a fine mist.

The photo above shows the Framed tulip embossing folder sponged with Platinum shimmer paint... not sure if it works so well on white, but on a darker colour it would work even better.

Enjoy!!!

Join the Stampin' Up Creative Team

I have been talking about it and offering you this opportunity when ever I get the chance ever since I came back from Convention In Melbourne (in May) So, I am hoping that you've heard me and are ready to say Yes!

You see, in my opinion, it is one of the best opportunities to recieve stamping and crafting training and make friends, that I have found.

Stampin'Up will hold a training day in Sept this year,

 our local team get together for training and sharing techniques, swap cards and ideas regularly

 and we also meet online at Stampin' Connection site with other stampers across Australia.

When you get your Starter Kit it is only $289 and contains over $515 worth of  Products

and includes FREE postage to you.

The Kit Includes:

4 stamp sets - of your choice of a similar price to these:
* Fast & Fun Notes (Retires 31st August)

* I {Heart} Hearts

* Flight of the Butterfly

* So Many Thanks (Retires 31st August)

* Clear Block C

* Fast Flowers Wheel (Retires 31st August)

* Standard Wheel Handle

* Un-inked Standard Cartridge
* Assorted A4 Coloured Cardstock (in brights or your choice)
* Whisper White A4 Cardstock
* Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack

* 4 Inkpads (of your choice)

* Versamark Inkpad
* 2 Stampin’ Write Markers (or your colour choice)

* Ink Refill

* Whisper White 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (or your choice of colour)

* Stampin’ Dimensionals

* SNAIL

* Blender Pen (single)

* Stampin’ Sponge (single)

* Stampin’ Scrub

* Stampin’ Mist
And you get all the catalogues, order forms and other materials to get you started.

*  *  *  *
If perhaps you want a different stamp set, just choose something else of equal value.

But one of the best things about the Starter kit is that by purchasing your Starter Kit, you will receive:

* 20% discount on all your future orders

* 30% on your first $300 order

* AND you can keep all the hostess benefits when you buy products for yourself  

* see the NEW Idea Book & Catalogue that will be released  to Stampin’ Up members a whole month before everyone else on the 1st of August!! 

* Order the new colours and stampsets during the pre-order month prior to release

* meet up with other demonstrators locally and enjoy training and sharing ideas

* you get a creative coach and upline to answer all your questions and encourage you in your creativity

----------

If this sounds like something you are interested in,

 just send an email to nerida_carter@hotmail.com

I will send you the forms to purchase your Starter Kit. There is nothing else to do. No ABN needed, no business intentions, you don't ever have to hold a workshop or class unless YOU want to.

My gift to you will be on its way...