SOME FLOWERS FOR YOU

I'm back!!  After a rather long break from blogging (during which I had a wonderful holiday in New York with my boys), I'm happy to be back, and raring to go for another year of fun with Stampin' Up!  I have been busy in my craft room, preparing some cards for Sale-A-Bration (I'll tell you more about that shortly) ..... in the meantime, though, I have a couple of 'flowery' cards to share.

I was inspired by this sweet card, to make a simple and pretty card using Pink Pirouette and Sage Shadow - two colours I wouldn't have normally thought to combine.  I took most of my supplies to last week's stamping night with friends, thinking I'd use Claire's Pocket Silhouettes stamps to totally CASE Cheri's design.  Well, Claire doesn't have the stamp set I planned to use (that'll teach me to be my usual under-prepared self at our monthly stamp group), so I changed it up a bit, using Upsy Daisy.  Here's what I came up with:



Stamps: Upsy Daisy

Card: Pink Pirouette, Sage Shadow, Whisper White

Ink: Pink Pirouette and Sage Shadow stampin' pads, Pretty in Pink and Sage Shadow markers

Other: Pink Pirouette 5/8" striped grosgrain ribbon, 2-way glue pen, Dazzling Diamonds



The next card I have to show you is somewhat, er, less subtle.  I have a pack of Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper (very bright colours) that has been sitting unloved for a while, so I challenged myself to incorporate it in a card.  I am a huge red fan, so I chose the bold hibiscus patterned paper for the main panel.  The butterfly has been made using Butterfly Prints stamp set, and the new Butterfly Punch - both from the Summer Mini catalogue that is current only until March 31st.  Here's my BRIGHT creation:


Stamps: Butterfly Prints (Summer Mini), Best Yet (hostess set)

Card: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Summer Sun

DSP: Pink Flamingo

Ink: Tempting Turquoise

Other: Scallop Edge Punch, Curly Label Punch, Sponge Dauber, Butterfly Punch (Summer Mini), 3/4" Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon (Summer Mini), Tempting Turquoise 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, yellow rhinestone brad, dimensionals



Two very different cards, but I have enjoyed having some 'creating' time.  I think I was a bit 'burnt out' after making Christmas cards, and while we were away I didn't even miss stamping (sad, but true).  It feels good to be home, and back into the swing of things, so I look forward to bringing you more cards in the coming days.

Now, I mentioned Sale-A-Bration early in my post.  This is an annual event on the Stampin' Up! calendar, and is fantastic for customers, hostesses, and demonstrators alike - we're excited!  It's a promotion that runs from 25th January through to 31st March in Australia, and works in three ways:

1. As a customer, for every $100 worth of product you order, you can choose a free stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue.  There are four gorgeous sets to choose from; they cannot be bought.
2. As a hostess, if your workshop sales are $600 or more, you get to choose a free stamp set from the Sale-A-Bration catalogue, in addition to the usual great hostess benefits (of a free hostess stamp set, and free product to the value of $70 or more!).
3. Anyone who signs up as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator during the Sale-A-Bration period, gets a FREE stamp set of their choice (up to the value of $79.95) from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue.

How great are these rewards?!  You can view the Sale-A-Bration stamp sets here: http://www3.stampinup.com/au/documents/SAB_10_AU-NZ.pdf

If you would like your own copy of the gorgeous Sale-A-Bration catalogue, or would like to order any Stampin' Up! products, please don't hesitate to contact me by email.

I'll leave you with a few photos from our trip to New York - LOVED it!

 The whole family in Brooklyn, with Manhattan in the background.


Central Park (INCREDIBLE!) from the top of the Rockefeller Center.  Amazing views over Manhattan.



 Snow in Central Park; beautiful.