TWITTERPATED POST-IT NOTE HOLDERS

On the weekend I taught a class, focussing on Stampin' Up!'s Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.  As a "thank you" for each of the ladies attending, I made a little Post-It note holder, drawing inspiration from one of the floral sheets of paper in the gorgeous Twitterpated Designer Series Paper collection. 

I found the fabulous, easy-to-create, project on Angie Juda's Chic 'n' Scratch site.  Angie is a very talented US Stampin' Up! demonstrator, who has great ideas; and what a blessing she is to us all, sharing so openly.

Here's the little pile of cute Post-It note holders completed:

Stamps: Butterfly Prints, Clearly For You

Card: Blushing Bride, Whisper White

DSP: Twitterpated Designer Series Paper

Ink: Blushing Bride and Basic Gray stampin' pads

Other: Simply Scored tool, Scallop Squares Duo Bigz die, Butterfly punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Basic Rhinestones

RETURN OF TWO FAVOURITES ... and another go at JAI #31

This week's Just Add Ink challenge is open until midnight tonight.  I couldn't resist making another card using this great colour combo:

I've added some white into the mix, and used a couple of stamp sets that I am pleased to say will be in Stampin' Up!'s new Idea Book & Catalogue being released on 1st September!  These stamps are favourites in my collection, but to date had been available only for a limited time in mini catalogues.  Yippee!  I'll get to play with them, and show them off, some more :)

Stamps: Oval All, Butterfly Prints

Card: Kraft, Real Red (smooth and textured), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Ink: Sahara Sand stampin' pad, Versamark inkpad, Real Red and Chocolate Chip markers

Other: Butterfly Punch, Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, sponge daubers, white embossing powder, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Kraft taffeta ribbon, dimensionals

YAY FOR THE BUTTERFLY PUNCH (and JUMBO BRADS)!

With the 'expiry' of the recent Summer Mini catalogue, from Stampin' Up!, I was most concerned that the Butterfly punch would be no longer available.  This long-awaited, versatile, punch has been available in Australia for only a few short months, and has proven very popular - it co-ordinates not only with the Butterfly Prints stamp set from the Summer Mini, but with the Flight of the Butterfly stamp set from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue (which is current through until the end of August).  I LOVE it.

Great news, people!  Stampin' Up! has several products, from both the Summer Mini catalogue, and the earlier Spring Mini catalogue, that will carry over into our new catalogue coming out in September.  Even though these products don't appear in a current catalogue, they are still available to purchase.  So, if you haven't yet bought the Scallop Oval punch (that mats beautifully behind the Large Oval punch), or the Butterfly Punch, or Jumbo brads, to name a few, don't despair!

I thought I'd share with you today a few cards on which I've used these products, so you can see what a nice touch they add to a card.  Settle in for a little trip down Memory Lane!


First up, the BUTTERFLY PUNCH:












On this next card I've used both the Butterfly Punch and the SCALLOP OVAL PUNCH:



... and another card (using a retired stamp set), showing how well the Large Oval Punch fits inside the Scallop Oval Punch:




Stampin' Up!'s punches co-ordinate so beautifully with the stamp sets, and make it very easy to achieve a beautiful result with your card-making and scrapbooking.

Being a huge fan of brads (split pins) as an embellishment, I've made a number of cards with both the 'giant' 5/8" size, and the smaller 5/16" brads, both of which come in a Neutrals Assortment (Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip and Silver).  Unfortunately, I seem to have given away most of the cards, without photographing them first.  Here are a few photos of cards that have the 5/8" JUMBO BRADS on them:










I love how flat these brads are. The smaller size (5/16") is great to add to flower centres.


So, as well as feeling the excitement of all the gorgeous new products just released in Australia, I'm really happy to be able to share this news about some 'not so new' favourites.

If I can help you with a Stampin' Up! order (no need to hold a workshop, if you'd just like to order direct), please email me.  I am happy to answer any questions I can!

KALEIDOSCOPE BUTTERFLY PRINTS

Isn't that a pretty sounding title?  A little unimaginative, on my part, but, hey, I do struggle with post titles!

I'd like to share with you today a card I made for my niece's birthday.  My lovely friend Leanne, who does not have a blog, but who makes the most beautiful cards, inspired me to make this one.  She 'enabled' me to buy the embossing folder that created that oh-so-pretty background, and I borrowed her idea of adding some butterflies stamped (with the Butterfly Prints stamp set) and punched out.  Thanks Leanne!  My card is much simpler than the one I 'cased', but I think it's a happy card; hope that niece of mine likes it!



Stamps: Butterfly Prints (Summer Mini), On Your Birthday

Card: Whisper White, Pink Passion

Ink: Pink Passion and Tempting Turquoise stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad

DSP: Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (Summer Mini)

Other: Yellow and orange rhinestone brads, Cuttlebug embossing folder (not SU!), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, dimensionals

BUTTERFLY PRINTS, IN RED AND BLACK

Now, you may find this hard to believe, from my cryptic post title, but I've been having a play with my Butterfly Prints stamp set (one of the beautiful new sets in Stampin' Up!'s Summer Mini catalogue).  Guess what colours I've used?

I am a great fan of the colour red (so, sorry if it's a bit overdone!), and it always looks striking with black.  With that in mind, and with wanting to use the yummy Polka Dot grosgrain ribbon, also from the Summer Mini, this is the first card I came up with:



I don't know if you can tell from the photo, but I have stamped in Versamark (clear) ink on the red card.  First I stamped the En Francais background stamp, then I stamped over the top of that with the same butterfly stamp that's used in red and black.  Here's a closer shot of the top portion of the card, just because I like what I did with it:



Bit blurry, sorry - quickly grabbed a photo in between heavy rainfalls this afternoon! I used Basic Black ink to stamp the flowery butterfly directly onto the red card.  I've then secured (with a thin strip of double-sided tape) a punched-out red butterfly over the top, and lifted the wings.

The 'ingredients' used in this card are as follows:

Stamps: Butterfly Prints, En Francais

Card: Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White

Ink: Versamark ink pad, Basic Black and Real Red stampin' pads, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad (sentiment)

Other: Real Red Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Butterfly Punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig



While I had out the stamps, card and ink (and about 2" square of space on my desk, with all the other supplies I have spread around), I made another card using the same colours, with a little injection of my old favourite, kraft.  Here's the second card (son number 1 likes this one better; hubby likes the first one better):



Stamps: Butterfly Prints, Occasional Greetings, Flight of the Butterfly

Card: Real Red, Kraft, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Real Red and Basic Black stampin' pads, Whisper White craft stampin' pad

Other: Real Red brads, Butterfly Punch, dimensionals, mat pack and paper piercer, edge distresser, corner rounder punch.

Which one do you like best?  I have a distinct favourite, that came together easily, but I'm curious to read what you think - leave me a comment!!  :)

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.