SALE-A-BRATION sneak peak

The excitement is mounting ... only 4 days until Sale-A-Bration begins!  This fun event, that I mentioned a couple of posts ago, means you can get FREE STAMPS.  To many of us, there are few better things in life!! (Seriously.)

I'm committed to using more yellow in my cards this year. (Just something I decided - no real reason!)  With that in mind, I made a card using the 'gift' image from Happy Moments, one of the gorgeous stamp sets that is on offer during Sale-A-Bration.  Here it is:



Stamps: Happy Moments (Sale-A-Bration set), On Your Birthday

Card: Whisper White, Kraft, Only Orange

Ink: Versamark ink pad, Only Orange stampin' pad, Only Orange & Summer Sun markers

DSP: Good Morning Sunshine

Other: Kraft taffeta ribbon, Word Window Punch, dimensionals, white embossing powder, vintage brads, mat pack, paper piercer, edge distresser



I'm loving the look of an image white embossed on kraft card, then coloured with markers - you might see a bit more of that from me.

Remember, you can earn a free stamp set for every $100 order placed - and there's no limit!  If you order $200 of Stampin' Up! product, you get TWO free stamp sets, and if you wanted to order $1000 of product (hee hee), you'd get TEN free stamp sets!  Roll on Sale-A-Bration! :)

THESE MADE ME HAPPY TODAY ...

No card to show you, friends - just some beautiful flowers that I bought for myself.  I am SO happy that in our neighbourhood there is a roadside stall, at which I can buy a bunch of flowers for - get this - $2.00!!

Can you believe that a measly $6.00 bought me this much happiness?

AND

 

 

Life is good :) 

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT...

Hello my friends

Yes, you're seeing correctly - two posts in one day!  Amazing what I can get done when I don't go to work!  Ah, this is the life :)

After my bold red cards, I took a completely different tack, and made a card using a few more products from the Summer Mini.  I wanted to use my Big Deal alphabet set, that I bought at half price in Stampin' Up!'s Inventory Clearance Sale (still on, folks, until 24th January - contact me if you need further details!!).  The paper, white crocheted cotton flower, and the turquoise button, are all from the mini catalogue.  Here is the cute (well, I think it is!) card I came up with:


Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet

Card: Pixie Pink, Whisper White, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Tempting Turquoise stampin' pad

Other: Kaleidoscope DSP, Fleurettes, Playground Designer Button, mini glue dots, Scallop Edge Punch, Trio Flower punch, white gel pen

 I hope this cheery card puts a smile on your face.  Thanks for looking!

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.

STAMPIN' UP! INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE

Hi folks

Who doesn't love a sale, right??  If you're anything like me, the mere mention of discounted (HALF PRICE in some cases) stamps is cause for heart palpitations!

Stampin' Up! has announced an Inventory Clearance Sale, running through until 24 January 2010 (or while stocks last).  The items on sale are all current catalogue items, and there are some fantastic bargains to be had.

Click on the following link for all the details - you won't be disappointed!

Download Inventory_Clearance_1209_AUNZ

I'll be around until Christmas to take any orders, if you see anything you *must* have!  Otherwise, contact me after 10th January, and I'll be happy to help.

Back to the Christmas cards .......

Christine :)

 

 

 

The "I WISH" SIMPLY SCRAPPIN' KIT is getting quite a workout ...

Hi friends

I've made another card using Stampin' Up!'s "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' Kit, using Old Olive card (this is one of my favourite greens).  This card was quick and easy to put together, using paper and stickers from the kit, and minimal stamping.  Hope you like it!


Stamps: Tree Trimmings, Occasional Greetings

Card: Old Olive Textured

Ink: Old Olive Stampin' Pad

Other: "I Wish" Simply Scrappin' Kit (paper, stars, bauble and scalloped trim), rhinestone (popped out of clear circle rhinestone brad), sponge dauber, Stamp-a-ma-jig