Party Wishes card

The final card of my 4 from yesterday:

The colours in this "It's My Party" suite are so bright and happy.

Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron, Basic Black, Sahara Sand and Whisper White

Loving the little "Party Punch Pack" of toby punches for the cupcakes, balloon and candle too.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Going Global Card

This card was fun to create. I love the technique of inking the inside of your embossing folder before you run it through the Big Shot - have you tried that before?  Stampin' Up! inks are water-based so you just rise them right off under running water :-)

I mounted the make'n'take piece onto some Basic Black and then Sahara Sand card stock. I also added some Very Vanilla twine.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Bloomin' Hearts Thinlits card

This card is sooooo simple!  All I did was stick some pearls onto the thinlit heart that we had already cut out at the On Stage event, then mount that onto a Crumb Cake card base. Then I added a sentiment from the Expressions Natural Elements - easy peasy again!  I also dabbed on the new Wink of Stella Glitter Brush in clear. It adds a gorgeous subtle shimmer.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Botanical Blooms Card

OMG peeps, I actually finished the 4 cards, watermarked and saved the photos and now I'm blogging them! It's a Christmas miracle! ;-)

The first one is the Botanical Blooms card.  I simply added a stamped sentiment in Cajun Craze ink and then mounted onto Cajun Craze and Old Olive card stock - easy peasy!  I'll do a fancy list of supplies below:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

"On Stage" event make and takes

Hi blog readers - if there's even anyone out there! (I know, I don't blog often enough, sorry!) Today I am finally getting around to doing something with the cute little make'n'take projects we made at the Stampin' Up! On Stage event back in November. I intend to turn these cute little pieces into actual cards - I'll be back this afternoon with the results!
 

Hawaii Grand Vacation Blog Hop

Welcome to our Grand Vacation Hawaii Achievers Blog Hop! You may have landed here from Renee Kohnke.

This is my first ever Blog Hop so I'd love you to leave me a comment to let me know if you are visiting me for the first time :-)

I actually struggled  a bit to come up with something "Hawaii themed".... All I could think of was a fantastically perfect stamp set we had in our catalogue about 5 years ago called "Tropical Party" - it would have been ideal! But we don't have that anymore so I had to think of something else...

A punch art hula dancer was one thought I had but punch art is not really my forte and I didn't want to just copy someone else's clever idea.

Finally it dawned on me - carve my own stamps!! Yes!  I love the Undefined Carving Kit. Its just the perfect thing when you can't find a stamp to suit what you want.

I carved this hibiscus stamp because the hibiscus flower is one of the first thing that pops to my mind when I think of a tropical location like Hawaii.

Earning the Stampin' Up! Hawaii Grand Vacation was a big task for me and I couldn't have done it without the help and support of so many of my customers, friends, team members and family. I realised I'm going to need some thank you cards to thank some of those key people for their help. So here's what I came up with using my new hibiscus stamp:

I used the same stamp for the background as well as the focal point image.  I've sponged the coordinating inks around the edges of the card stock to create some depth and definition.

I hope you liked my card and stamp :-)  Enjoy the rest of the blog hop!

    

Blog Hop List

1. Brian King  

2. Louise Sharp

3. Kylie Bertucci

4. Janet Wakeland 

 5. Shannean Moncrieff

6. BJ Peters

 7. Selene Kempton 

8. Georgia Giguere 

9. Linda Higgins 

10. Simone Bartrum 

11. Dawn Griffith 

 12. Marelle Taylor 

13. Dena Rekow 

14. Connie Stewart 

15. Alisa Tilsner  

16. Tami White 

17. Renee Kohnke 

18. Bec Ross 

19. Ann Craig 

20. Vanessa Webb 

21. Sandi MacIver 

22. Sharon Armstrong 

23. Barb Mullikin 

24. Connie Babbert 

25. Alison Solven 

 26. Betty Button 

27. Lisa Curcio 

28. Krista Frattin 

29. Kim Gavarra 

30. Jacque Williams

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Mother's Day Flower Pot Card

Here's my Mother's Day design for this year - a flower pot card! These cute flower pots were all the rage a few years ago but I never actually made one.  This year I finally got around to figuring it out.  They are actually super easy to make.  I did a web search for "flower pot card tutorials" and after looking at a few, I changed the measurements a bit to suit me and also to have it fit inside the Australian sized C6 envelopes we carry.

I've used the 2013-2015 In Colours which are about to retire.  Baked Brown Sugar is the flower pot base and the other four colours are in the flowers and leaves.  I also created a matching Petite Purse using the big shot die.

The measurements of the flowerpot base is 9 1/2" x 4".  Turn to landscape position and 

score at 1 1/2", then again at 5 1/2".  

Fold the smaller flap forward and the bigger part in the opposite direction to create the flowerpot.  Use the paper trimmer to cut off about 1 cm on the diagonal to create the shape.

The insert is 3" x 4 3/4"and the flowers are attached with dimensionals at the top so they sit nicely on the outside of the flowerpot rather than disappearing into it.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Easter Printers Tray

Happy Easter! 

My kids and I decorated this printers tray for our little Easter display. Enjoy 😊

We used colours from the Subtles range and the stamp sets For Peeps Sake and Happy Easter Bunny.

Easter gifts for teachers

Whilst I was at my team craft retreat, I created some baskets and cards for my boys' teachers. 

Stamps: Happy Easter Bunny, For Peeps Sake

Inks: Staz-On Black, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake

Paper: Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Best Year Ever DSP

Tools/Accessories: Berry Basket Die, Oval Framelits, Aquapinters

Team Retreat

I'm at my annual team retreat, having fun crafting with no cooking or cleaning to worry about! Even blogging from my iPad again!

I've decided to do a few sketch challenges to get the creative mojo happening (it always disappears at the beginning because of all the packing, planning and organising) so I tried this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

Stamps: Flowering Flourishes, And Many More

Inks: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride, Whisper White

Accessories: Vintage Faceted Buttons, Painted Blooms Cotton Twine

Weekly Deals

Here are our latest Weekly Deals. Pop on over to my online shop to take advantage of these bargains or simply contact me to place your order. 

I love that the Envelope Punch board is on special - definitely one of the most popular and most versatile tools we have! Check out the Box Buster at The Crafty Owl for help with making boxes on it too!

Ps. I'm very excited to be posting from my iPad today! 

A sketch challenge

Hi all, well its been a long time since I've blogged but with help from my beautiful friend Louise Sharp, my blog is getting a much needed facelift and I'm inspired to start blogging again!

I thought I'd start with a sketch challenge. I found this one over at http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com.au and had fun creating my card in under 7 minutes!

Here is my simple take on the sketch.

I've used:

Stamps: Starburst Sayings

Inks: Bermuda Bay

Paper: Strawberry Slush, Basic Grey, Whisper White, Confetti Celebrations DSP

Tools: Starburst Framelits and Big Shot Machine