December Promotions

By | December 3, 2013
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At Stampin’ Up! we love Valentine’s Day!  And why wouldn’t we?  It’s a chance for us to say “I love you”.  And it doesn’t have to be just about romantic love.  This holiday is a time to share the love with anyone and everyone.  We’re here to help you prepare with the A Whole Lot of Love products.

Date:  Available 1 December 2013 to 27 January 2014 or while supplies last.
The fine print:  These are exclusive products that will not be available after the promotion.  No limits on this promotion

There are three stamp sets available and four kits to choose from.

Best of …

Top Note Christmas Card

By | December 2, 2013
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Hi there

Here we are at the beginning of the last month for 2013!  I must be getting older as the years just seem to be flying by.  It’s hard to believe there are only three more weeks of work till the Christmas break.  We have some family arriving from the US and Europe and I’m looking forward to spending time with them again.

Today’s card is a remake of one I did last year but using this years papers from the Season of Style Paper Stack.  I’ve really enjoyed using these papers for projects and I still have more to share.

To create this card I cut 12  1″ squares and stuck them on a piece of copy paper and ran it through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die, trimmed to the perforation and then ran it through the Big Shot with my favourite Embossing Folder – Square Lattice folder.  I then cut another Top Note from Cherry Cobbler card stock and adhered the two together before adding the sentiment and bow.

Supplies:
Stamp – Embellished Events
Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Naturals White
Ink – Cherry Cobbler
DSP – Season of Style DSP Paper Stack
Other – Top Note Die, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, 1″ Square Punch

I’ll be back soon with more Christmas creations.

Extravaganza Project

By | November 28, 2013
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Hi there

At the beginning of the month we held our Christmas Extravaganza event for the Creative Inkers Team and this is the card I designed and taught (along with my good friend and fellow demo Heather).  We had around 80 ladies and one young gentleman attend – so quite a number.

The technique I used for the card front is emboss resist with a twist – you only emboss part of the front and leave part of it smooth so you can stamp an image.  I even remembered to take a photo of the inside 🙂 – aren’t these little parcels cute.  We used all four stamps in the set on this card.
Supplies:
Stamp – Wishing You
Card Stock – Real Red, Whisper White
Ink – Real Red, Pear Pizzazz
Other – Pear Pizzazz Taffeta Ribbon, Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, Real Red Marker, Rhinestone, Dimensionals, Decorative Label Punch, Glue Dots
I’ll be back with more Christmas card creations soon.

Wishing You … a Happy Birthday

By | November 26, 2013
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Hi there

Today’s card is one I made ages ago which I CASED from Mary Fish.  It’s a real Clean & Simple card and I love it.

I’m really trying to use my DSP and not leave it uncut until the last month and then have heaps of retired paper!  This paper is from the Birthday Basics pack and has some of my favourite colours in it – Raspberry Ripple and Bermuda Bay.  I’ve used my markers to colour in the image – just remember to ‘huff’ on it before you stamp it down to moisten the ink.

I have found this stamp set so versatile – I  think it will be one I’ll hold on to.

Supplies:
Stamp – Wishing You
Card Stock – Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White
DSP – Birthday Basics
Markers – Bermuda Bay, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple
Other – Rhinestone, Dimensionals, Raspberry Ripple Satin Ribbon

Last of the Pop n Cuts (for now)

By | November 20, 2013
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Hi there

I promise this will be the last Pop n Cuts card I show you for awhile.

Friends of ours son turned 5 last week – a big school boy now – and this is the card I made for him.  He’s not really into anything in particular at the moment (not like his older and younger brother) so I thought I’d make him a ‘fun’ card.

I really love these punch art balloons and they go really well with this stamp from the Tag It set.  The new Stampin’ Chalk Marker is great for adding the accent on the balloons.
Supplies:
Stamp – Tag It
Card Stock – Gumball Green, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Summer Starfruit, Raspberry Ripple
DSP – Birthday Basics
Markers – Bermuda Bay, Raspberry Ripple, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green, Basic Gray
Other – Pop n Cuts Die and Label, Deco Label Collections Framelits, Large Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Chalk Talk Framelits, Stampin’ Chalk Marker, Calypso Coral Bakers Twine, Timeless Type Junior Alphabet (retired)

Well I’ll be back soon with some Christmas cards to show you – dear I say it – it’s only 5 weeks till Christmas.  I think I’d better make a start as I have a few gifts that need to be in the overseas post soon!

See you soon.

Pop n Cuts and Envelope Punch Board

By | November 18, 2013
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Hi there

Last week it was my nephews birthday and here’s the card and gift set I made.  No present is complete from me without some form of chocolate!  Inside the box are some mini Toblerone bars 🙂

The card front and box are made using the textured 12 x 12 card stock.  I embossed the front of the card with the Alphabet Press Embossing Folder then lightly sanded it – it leaves the card feeling like suede.

The ‘actual’ gift is a shopping voucher for clothes which he’s going to redeem once exams are over.  The voucher holder is one I saw on Jackie Topa’s blog and uses the Envelope Punch Board to create the front closure.  I decided to use Washi tape to hold the front pocket secure.  It wasn’t until I’d stuck it down that I realised there were numbers on the tape!

Supplies:
Stamp – Sketched Birthday, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Label Something
Card Stock – 12 x 12 Textured Real Red and Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Naturals White
DSP – Summer Smooches (retired)
Ink – Black StazOn, Real Red
Markers – Real Red, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight
Other – Pop n Cuts and Label Die, Deco Labels Collection, Bitty Banners Framelits, Large Oval Punch, Aristan Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Envelope Punch Board, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Epic Day This and That Washi Tape, Dimensionals

Wow – what a lot of products I used 🙂

Pop ‘n Cuts Die

By | November 10, 2013
2 Comments

Hi there

I finally got round to photographing all the projects I’ve made over the last couple of weeks – 13 to be exact.  So now there’s no excuse not to blog!

The first project uses the Pop ‘n Cuts die base and Label insert for the card and just the base for the box.

This was easy to make and gives a cool surprise when the card is opened.

Supplies:
Stamp – Sketched Birthday, Four You, Bring on the Cake
Card Stock – Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla
DSP – Birthday Basics, Raspberry Ripple In Colour DSP Stack (retired)
Ink – Bermuda Bay, Raspberry Ripple
Other – Deco Label s Collection Framelits

Washi Tape Christmas

By | November 3, 2013
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Hi there

With only 7 1/2 weeks till Christmas it’s time to get cracking on creating Christmas cards and projects.  Here’s another card I created recently that uses the Season of Style Washi Tape.

I based my card on one I’d seen on Jerri St John’s blog.  I like to have a mat around some of my images and this framelit doesn’t have one a size up so I created my own by using the same principle as I do for my Decorative Label Punch.

Supplies:
Stamp – Tag It, Gorgeous Grunge, Oh, Goodie!
Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink – Cherry Cobbler
Other – Season of Style Washi Tape, Chalk Talk Framelits, Bitty Banner Framelits, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine

Well I don’t think it will be an early night here – there are too many fireworks going off!

Envelope Punch Board is here

By | October 29, 2013
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Hi there

For those of you in NZ I hope you enjoyed your long weekend.  It was great to have an extra day off work and enjoy the sunshine.  I managed to get out into the garden for a bit and have some crafting time.  I will try and post my creations soon now that I have my camera back (it went on a short trip to China with my brother!).

Here’s a card I made a couple of weeks ago.  I don’t know about you but I often forget to use the previous years In Colours so I thought I’d get them out to create this project.  I’ve used all five colours – Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Garden Green and Midnight Muse and a set that I haven’t used much – Papillon Potpourri.

I also used the new Trimmer Rotary Blades to create the scalloped border edge on the mat – don’t you love new toys?  Now speaking of new toys – Stampin’ Up! have just released another great tool – the Envelope Punch Board.
B1_EnvelopePunch_demo_aug1513_NA
  • It creates totally customisable envelopes in up to 66 different sizes (not to mention a million different colour and pattern options depending on the paper you want to use). Even tried and true envelope sizes will only take you moments to create! 
  • It’s super easy to use; it will go over as a huge wow when you demonstrate it at your events and your customers see it in action. It looks intimidating at first glance, but when they see that all you have to do is measure for the first punch and from there you just turn and score they’ll go crazy (in a good way). 
  • It’s small and lightweight; this makes it easy for you to take it to your events and show it. It’s also a great selling point when you show your customers how it’s super portable and easy to store. It’s small and light enough that they could use it while watching a football match, at a park, at a friend’s for craft night—anywhere. 
  • It even has a clever scoring tool as well as a punch that lets you create rounded corners on your envelopes. 
  • It’s easy to keep it all together; the stylus storage compartment and two punches are designed into the tool so you don’t have a bunch of little pieces to keep track of (even the instructions are printed right on the tool so you won’t lose them!).
  • The price is terrific–especially for a tool that does so much!
  • It will be in next year’s annual catalogue, so it’s here to stay.
I’ve had a play with it over the weekend and it’s so much more than just an envelope board.  I’ve made a box using a 12 x 12 sheet of DSP and a chocolate holder – there are so many other uses for it so watch this space.

Check back soon to see my projects using the new Envelope Punch Board.

Christmas Mosaic Madness

By | October 23, 2013
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Hi there

This will be a quick post as I still have heaps to do before heading to bed.

This card is a CASE from Deena Boos.  I love it how people come up with so many different uses for our stamp sets, punches and framelits – thank you for sharing your creativity with us.  I taught this card at a workshop a couple of months ago and have finally got round to posting it.

Supplies:
Stamp – Mosaic Madness, Embellished Events
Card Stock – Gumball Green, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink – Gumball Green, Real Red, Smoky Slate
Marker – Smoky Slate
Other – Mosaic Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits, Rhinestone, Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder

Don’t forget to contact me regarding our current promotions which you can check out here.

25% of 25 stamp sets and the new Thinlits Card die is here

By | October 22, 2013
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Hi there

This post is all about announcements – back tomorrow with a project 🙂

First announcement – 25% off 25 stamp sets (available from today until Monday 28 October)

Check out my website here for a list of stamp sets and prices or email me for a flyer.  If you’re interested in purchasing any of these stamps please contact me ASAP.

Second announcement – Thinlits Card Dies (available from today)
My last two posts have given you a sneak preview of the new thinlits which come in two styles – Circle and Label.  Not only do you get the card die but heaps of accessory dies – 9 accessories with the Circle and 8 with the Label.

Wishing You meets Circle Thinlits

By | October 21, 2013
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Hi there

Here’s another card made using the Circle Thinlits die.  This time the card is a portrait orientation and you can still get two out of an A4 sheet of card stock.  This one is based on the instructions that come with the die but adapted to be the extended version which allows more writing space.  I am yet to make a card following the instructions!  I’m having too much fun creating variations.

 
The card stock measures 13.8cm x 21cm (5 3/8″ x 8 1/4″).  Feed it through the die as per the extended card  instructions then score at 6cm (2 3/4″) from the edge to create the flap.  The final card will measure the same width as our standard cards but be a bit shorter.  For my main image I stamped it first in Old Olive, added clear embossing powder then cut it out with the scallop circle framelit that is part of this set.  I then restamped the image in Cherry Cobbler on a scrap of Whisper White, added clear embossing powder then ‘fussy’ cut the top and bottom present and adhered them on top of the Old Olive image. 
Supplies:
Stamp – Wishing You
Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
Ink/Markers – Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
DSP – Season of Style Paper Stack
Other – Circle Thinlits Die, Rhinestone, Clear Embossing Powder

Check back tomorrow for full details on the Circle and Label Thinlits, the envelope punch board plus another exciting announcement.

See you then

Color Throwdown Challenge 264

By | October 20, 2013
1 Comment

Hi there

Bear with me as this may be a longer post than normal.

We have had the most glorious weekend here in Auckland – the sun has been shining and it really feels like Summer is around the corner although they are now forecasting rain this coming week!  There is one way to tell it’s getting warmer around our house in that our garden gnome has arrived back – now this garden gnome is not your normal gnome – it’s our neighbours cat!  In the afternoon she can be found lying on the pebbles enjoying the warmth and shelter

 – then she rolls over to say ‘aren’t I cute’!

 Now on with the Color Throwdown challenge.  It’s ages since I entered a card in a challenge and this one was perfect.  The colours are: 
I already had a Night of Navy card base so away I went and this is what I created – a card using the new Circle Thinlits Die.

This new die will be available for sale in NZ starting this Tuesday (22nd October) – more details will be on my blog Tuesday morning.  You may have seen these on some of the US blogs.  There is also a Label version.  I worked out how to alter the style so that I could get two cards from our NZ A4 card stock which is narrower than the US card stock – and I succeeded 🙂  For this one I cut the card stock lengthwise (10.5cm x 29.7cm) then fed it through the die to create an extended base.  I scored my right flap at 10.5cm from the edge.  The finished card ends up the same as our standard card base.
Here’s another one using the same measurements:
As you can see I’m really enjoying this new die.  Check back tomorrow for another card using this die but in a different orientation.

More Wishing You

By | October 19, 2013
1 Comment

Hi there

Hope you’ve had a great day enjoying the beautiful weather.  We’ve just had our first BBQ of the season – yummy marinated pork fillet.  Roll on Summer 🙂

Last Wednesday I had a class with a wonderful group of ladies.  We has so many laughs while making our cards – it was a very enjoyable evening – thank you ladies and I look forward to our next get-together.

Here are the two cards we made using ‘Wishing You’ and Season of Style Paper Stack from the current Holiday Catalogue.

This one also uses the Season of Style Washi Tape – I’m enjoying using Washi Tape (keep an eye out for some more cards coming using Washi Tape).  I forgot to take a photo of the inside! (it had the rest of the sentiment stamped inside).
Supplies:
Stamp – Wishing You
Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White
DSP – Season of Style DSP Paper Stack
Ink – Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive Markers
Other – Season of Style Washi Tape, Wide Oval Punch, Decorative Label Punch (my favourite), Corner Punch, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Dimensionals

Here are two versions of the second card we made – different coloured card bases, inks and using different patterned paper.

 

Do you like the paper bow?  For this I followed the video tutorial from the talented Tanya Bell.

Supplies:
Stamp – Wishing You
Card Stock – Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink – Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
DSP – Season of Style DSP Paper Stack
Other – Rhinestone, 1/2″ Circle Punch, Paper Clip (non SU)

If’ you’d like to get a head start on your Christmas cards contact me to arrange a class with your friends.