Textured Embossing

Introducing the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine!  New to your essential scrapbooking and cardmaking tool kit!

It's embossing made easy! The lightweight Sizzix Texture Boutique Embossing Machine works with the Textured Impressions Embossing Folders to transform ordinary cardstock, paper, metallic foil or vellum into a textured masterpiece.

Priced at $49.95, it's the portable Embosser you can take with you anywhere!

Click here for the flyer

Watch this YouTube clip for all the info!

Occasions Catalogue

It just keeps getting better!

Celebrate the Everyday with the new Occasions Catalogue. Its just bursting with lots of gorgeous new products. Grab a cuppa and have a look!

Click here to view the Catalogue on line (PDF)

Just a reminder...  Products in the Holiday Catalogue are available for only a couple more days (final day to order is February 1).

And don't forget that you will qualify for a Sale-a-Bration freebie for every $90 you spend!

Sale-a-Bration Time

It's Sale-a-Bration 2014, the most wonderful time of the year.  The time where wonderful and FREE sale-a-bration products are available to all customers, demonstrators and new recruits with eligible purchases!

And it's pretty easy really, just follow a few little steps:

1.  Click here to view the catalogue.
2.  Choose any of the exclusive Sale-a-Bration products with each $90 purchase!

Or:

1.  Click here to view the catalogue.
2.  Choose a date between 28 January and 31 March 2014 to hold a Stampin' Up! party
3.  Invite your friends and earn $50 more to spend on hostess rewards with all qualifying parties!

Or:
1.  Speak to me about joining Stampin' Up!
2.  Choose lots of products to the value of $255 for $169, and then receive all demonstrator benefits.

Simple really isn't it!

 

Click here for the Sale-a-Bration 2014 Catalogue

Click here for the list of Stampin' Supplies

Click here for the MDS Flyer for Sale-a-Bration

Shaped Owl Card

So I was admiring all the shaped cards that I have seen lately and really wanted to try my own!

I had purchased the tutorial to make the owl card some time ago but hadn't made it as I was still not feeling very confident about MDS. Over the last few weeks though I have made a real effort to learn, even if by trial and error!! So when I pulled out the instructions I was a bit disappointed to see the instructions used the Silhouette cutter. Anyway, cutting what could be a long boring (lol!!) story short, I just figured out how to use with Cricut and SCAL instead! Now I wish I had written some notes!

So I followed the instructions for using the owl in MDS, imported into SCAL and made my owl card base. I also used this process to cut his cute belly. Or is it a she??

I used punches for his eyes and heart, using my white pen to colour the glint in his eye. I made a scrolled flower using Crystal Effects to hold it together and a little birthday banner to match.

So here's what I used:
Stamps: Postage Collection
Inks: Basic Black
Papers: Whisper White, Stawberry Slush, Basic Black & Soft Suede CS, Subtles Patterned DSP
Accessories: Toothpick & White Signo gel ink Pen, Heart & Circle Punches
Cutters: Cricut, Two Step Owl Punch - Digital Download - Item #122153

Sadly I never got to send this card, so it's happily sitting on my desk waving its little banner at me until he goes off to send his owly birthday wishes! 

To find the tutorial for the card using electronic Cutters, head to Addinktive Designs

Sequin Love

Ssshhh, but don't tell anyone but as I get that little bit older I'm not so interested in trends anymore.  I know what I like, what colours and styles I like and base a lot of my fashion, craft, home choices on that.  So you can imagine my surprise to find sequins were making a comeback!  I love sequins always have (although hate sewing with them!!).  And now I can share my first card of this new trend using sequins.  Sequins that I've had in my sewing box for who knows how long!!

  

I found a gorgeous card on Pinterest from KittieKraft using the cutest little Umbrella die.  So cute that I had to find one myself and buy it.  Oh the fun of online shopping.  I then pinned that card and knew I would make my version as soon as I could!

 

  

 I used scraps of cardstock that I have saved for a rainy day (sorry about that pun) and so used Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight and Pool Party. I used my Scoring Tool to make the background lines of the card background, flipped it over and adhered my little umbrella's using Dimensional's to pop up the umbrella top and glued the handles down. 

I stamped a birthday sentiment and glued some sequins down.  I learned (again) how tricky it can be working with sequins when you have gluey fingers.  They stick to everything!  But the card did come together very quickly which was just the perfect project for when I needed a card in a hurry!!

To make this project I used the following supplies:
Stamps: So Happy For You
Inks: Basic Black
Papers: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight & Pool Party CS
Accessories: Sequins, Scoring Tool, Big Shot & Umbrella die & Dimensionals

And I just had to share this photo of my card using tricky photo-editing.  Well not tricky really, as I just click on buttons without knowing what I'm doing!!!

Summer Holiday

For the next week, I'll be at the coast with my family and friends. I'll be taking a short Facebook/blog break (although I might pop in with things to share if I can).

See you in just over a week with lots of new and fabulous things to share (here's a hint: think Sale-a-Bration, new Occasions Catalogue, new products.....)

xx

Hello Baby

Well, hello.  Baby!  Don't you just love babies, they are the cutest little things.  So it's always with pleasure I made baby cards.  This card is for a sweet baby boy and his mum has been putting the cutest photos of him on Facebook.  So adorable.

So of course I had to make an adorable baby card!  I know, any excuse!  And of course for a baby boy, well I had to make a card in blues, or shades thereof!

 

While looking through Pinterest for inspiration, I noticed a lot of baby cards featured little elephants.  So of course, I wanted to make a card featuring an elephant, but what to do when I didn't have a suitable stamp :(

 So this time around it was MDS to the rescue.  I had seen the gorgeous Baby Steps digital stamp brush set when searching for ideas, and thought well maybe just maybe I could use this.  At only $2.50 for this digital download, I knew there was a chance I could do this!!

I'm no expert at MDS (although trying hard these days to learn) and with trial and error discovered that I could convert to a jpeg file.  I then opened this file into SCAL and converted to a SVG file.  Now I'm hoping that is the method I used.  It was the first time and I didn't take any notes, doh!

I then cut out my elephant with my Cricut and it also cut out his little ear too!  I popped the elephant onto a Window frame cut from Whisper White CS, added a little gem for his eye and used a dimensional for his ear so it sat up.  So cute.  I added a little pink heart cut with my Owl punch.

I put the entire card together as follows: Marina Mist cardbase, a layer of Whisper White and then added Midnight Muse patterned DSP and a piece of Baja Breeze CS embossed with my Stripes folder.  Added some ribbon and a couple of banners.  So cute.  I also stamped Hello Baby onto the card with black ink.

I'm so proud of myself, well the MDS part anyway.  This card was based loosely on several designs I saw on Pinterest but the idea of cutting the elephant through MDS was all mine!

So here's what I used:
Papers: Marina Mist, Whisper White & Baja Breeze CS.  Baja Breeze & Midnight Muse DSP
Inks: Basic Black & Midnight Muse
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments & Banner Blast
Accessories: MDS, Baby Steps Stamp Brush Set, Banner punch & Owl Punch, Midnight Muse Satin Stitched Ribbon and a black pearl for the eye.

The Baby Steps Stamp Brush Set can be found in my online store here.

Banner Blast

I've been just dying to show you these cards using the new Sale-a-Bration products.  Firstly I had to wait until they made their way across in the mail and secondly, photographing these cards has been really tricky!!  I take my photos outside as much as possible as the lighting inside my house is not great (for photos) and I haven't quite figured out yet how to adjust white balances!!

So I've been trying to find the right day for the photos, but the wind (it's been a strong breeze to gusts these last few days) and the timing of the day have conspired against me.  So after three or four attempts, these are the photos that are the best for showing and telling!!  You'll notice the difference in lighting straight away (but we'll pretend it doesn't matter - wink!!).

These cards use the sparkly new Banner Blast stamp set coming soon to you in Sale-a-Bration 2014! (Sale-a-Bration starts on 28 January, so not too long to wait now!!).  Sale-a-Bration also introduces us to the  new Banner punch and oh my, it's so cute!!

I've stamped a whole bunch of banners using Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry and Smoky Slate onto Whisper White CS.  And punched them out, voila!  So quick punching these little babies out!  I've also used up scrap bits of Eastern Elegance Designer Papers which matched perfectly with the colours I had chosen.

Little tip while we're talking about punches ..... If you intend to thread these little banners onto twine, punch the holes into the banners BEFORE punching the banners out.  Much easier to handle then on little banners and fiddly punching!!

I've also die cut lots of little flags using Shimmer cardstock that I had in my stock.  It is a crystal kind of white which contrasts beautifully with the Whisper White background.  I've also stamped a little Happy New Year sentiment in the corners, as it was the perfect timing!

I made eight of these cards in total, so I had to find a good dash of patience to thread each banner and adhere to the card.  I hid the ends behind the first layer which I then adhered to a Whisper White card base.  I love white on white.  So chic!

It's at this point you can now see the variations in lighting on the cards, what a difference it all makes.  I'm planning on doing a photography course in the very near future.  Hoping that will help me out with this!!

 

Although I'm thinking maybe a course on Photoshop might be on the to do list as well.

 

But I think you get the idea!  Moral of the story, just keep on trying and smiling!!

So here's what I used:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments & Banner Blast
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Smokey Slate & Basic Black
Papers: Whisper White CS & Eastern Elegance DSP
Accessories: Banner punch, hole punch and white bakers twine.

Enjoy!

Post It Note

So it's summer here in Australia, and it's funny how you save your spring-cleaning for summer.  It mainly coincides with the fact that we're on a couple weeks of leave which means time to get stuck in to doing chores and tasks you put off and off and off......  Tonight's chore is to sort out my tax drawer (insert a very sad face here).

So to reward myself, I make a card, project or something here and there.  I've even picked up my knitting again.

Today's share is a little post it note holder that I created using the Envelope Punch Board.  I followed a video tutorial over at YouTube and used my favourite colours too!

I've used the very pretty Gingham Garden papers to create both the box and the belly band.  Just love the colours through this range of papers.  Love Love Love.

I've used Daffodil Delight ink to stamp my flowers (four times) which I put together with glue dots and slightly curled up the petals.

I've stamped my leaves in Pear Pizzazz ink and hand cut them out (argh, must get me the matching dies to the Secret Garden set!!).  The one great thing about Stampin' Up!s papers that I adore, you can look up the colours they've used for the papers so you can coordinate your inks and embellishments just perfectly!

And of course, all flowers need a centre.  These large pearls are just perfect!!  I don't use these half as much as I should.  And of course, you can see my post it notes just peeping out of the little box.  So cute!

So here's what I used:
Stamps: Flower Shop & Secret Garden
Inks: Pear Pizzazz & Daffodil Delight
Papers: Gingham Garden DSP & Whisper White CS
Accessories: Flower punch, Envelope Punch Board & Large Pearls

The instructions to make the Post It Note holder: are at We R Memory Keepers and their basic instructions to make the holder:

To make any size custom box using your Envelope Punch Board, here is the basic formula you can follow:

1. Measure the length and width of the item you need the box for, and then find the appropriate card size on the Envelope Punch Board.
2. To calculate your paper size, measure the depth of the item, multiply it by 2, and then add that to the length and width of your paper size on the punch board.  Cut your paper accordingly.
3.  Find your score line measurement on the punch board and add the item’s depth measurement to that.  That’s where you will line up your paper to start punching and scoring.
4. Once you finish punching and scoring, line your paper up again on the original score line measurement found on the punch board.  Score your paper on all four sides.
5. Cut out each corner following the inner score lines that intersect.
5. Fold and crease all eight score lines, punch one corner to round, and then tape your box together.  Embellish as desired.

Source: http://wermemorykeepers.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/gift-ideas-custom-sticky-note-box/

Best of 25 Years - Brides & Babies

Best of 25 years stamp collections.

 

As part of Stampin' Up!s 25-year anniversary celebration, we're bringing back some of our favourite stamp images from the last quarter century and combining them into five sets, which will be released -one set per month- until April 2014. Even better, along with some great classic images, each "Best of" set will also include a never-before-seen image!

This month - it's the Best of Brides and Babies!

January - Best of Brides & Babies

  

Some things to remember:

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $25.95.
• While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month) until October, all of the Best of sets will be available until April 2014.
• All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.
• The stamp images may be sized differently from the original stamp sets. 
  December - Best of Love

  
  November - Best of Sale-a-Bration

October - Best of Birthdays

September - Best of Christmas

 

Yr 2014

So it's another new year!  We have well and truly welcomed 2014 in my household.  Last night we went to one of my very best friends for a fantastic New Years Eve party which included play time in their new (and sparkling blue new) pool.  We left after a very decent 12.15am stay which is pretty good when you consider (a) my little ones had never stayed up that late (b) my husband was working and (c) I was sick with a cold but soldiered on!

So this afternoon we headed back there again to help with the final clean up, another dip in the pool (and boy it was much colder today) and dinner of party yummy leftovers, including my trifle :0

So I don't do New Year Resolutions.  They've just never worked for me.  But I do have one thought for this year.  To do all things with love.  So I had a little play in My Digital Studio (MDS) and designed myself this:

 

I'm very new to MDS but proud of myself for even this basic little graphic.  I purchased the 'When the Clock Strikes Twelve' Ensemble and put it all together.  Wow, I might even get the hang of MDS in 2014.  Maybe that should be my challenge (just not my resolution)!

You can get this Ensemble at my online shop here and you don't forget you can try MDS for free!!