Better go grab a cuppa, it is blog hop time.  What fun!

Today we girls from Claire Daly's  Art With Heart Team are going to share a ton of inspiring projects for you using the gorgeous new goodies in the new Autumn Mini catalogue. 

The Art With Heart team has over 90 demonstrators spread right round Australia and we have a heap of fun on our team forum.  Get in touch with one of us if you'd like to join the crew, we'd love to give a warm welcome to some new faces.

Previous Blog Hop Stop:

You may have come from Kathryn's blog (wasn't it gorgeous!) or perhaps you are setting off from here.  

Ready Set Hop!

There are 14 stops on this blog hop.   Let's get hopping shall we .....

I've used the rich, warm Autumn themed products on pages 24 and 25 for my stop on the hop. 

(The catalogue goes live tomorrow if you are wanting to view it online.)  

This is a card layout I've used over and over with lots of different colour schemes and stamp sets and it really is a handy one.  You just can't go wrong with punches can you.  Don't forget - stamp first THEN punch and it is easy peasy.  I've sponged the edges which hides any white bits from the paper core and adds a nice touch as well. 

Stamp Sets:  Autumn Days (how gorgeous is that long narrow branch stamp I've used in the lower corner there.  I love that one, rather elegant.)   I've also used the little teeny 'Tiny Tags' set.

Colours:  I've taken my ink and cardstock colours from the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Patterned Paper - Elegant Eggplant, the new in colour Soft Suede, Ruby Red, More Mustard and Always Artichoke.  I've used a scrap of Kraft too for the tiny tag. 

Other:  Some squares of Autumn Traditions DSP, 1 1/4" square punch, Kraft taffeta ribbon (yummy!),  Earth Elements brads, and a bunch of sponge wedges.  (Lots of sponging on this card - adds a nice depth I think.  You really see it when you hold a sponged and unsponged version side by side.) 

I've also used the new style punch - the Medium Jewelry Tag Punch.  I think this should really be called the Teeny Tiny tag punch.  It makes very cute little tags and coordinates with the Tiny Tags stamp set.

Here's a very slight variation.   (Can you spot the differences??)

I just finished making 16 of these for a team card swap so have been sponging, sponging, sponging while I wait at the kids' activities - Calisthenics and what not.  Mind you, I must say More Mustard and Soft Suede fingertips are not the most attractive!  :-)  All worth it though.

That's it from me.  Thanks heaps for stopping by here in my patch of blogland. 

Blog Hop Prize Draw:

Remember, if you visit all 14 stops (before 6am April 2nd) and leave a comment on each one, then email Nikki at [email protected] to let her know you've done a lap, you'll be in the running for a great prize.  (Keep an eye out and you'll see a pic of the prize on your way round. Non SU demos eligible for the blog candy.)

Next Blog Hop Stop:

And now you are off to Western Australia to visit the blog of the talented Gayatri Murali.

Waving bye ........ Have fun!

Cheers, Sue

 
  
JJJJJJJJJ More details and a swag of thank yous here.

I thought for my last Summer Mini post I might do a bit of a 'best of'  or collection of favourites.

I really love the Dots and Designs rub ons on page 19.   I CASEd the card from that page as well.

Very quick to put together.  I think that feature rub on is just gorgeous and love the colours.

They coordinate with another favourite of mine - Razzle Dazzle.  The big feature flower stamp is a beauty but that little flower has really grown on me, love it for backgrounds.

If you've added some of these or other Summer Mini goodies to your collection, I hope you have lots of fun with them, and I hope we folk in blogland have helped share some ideas for ways to use them.

If you've had your eye on any last Summer Mini or SaleABration items, phone or email your selections through before 9pm Wednesday.

Ph: 0417 377 057

Email: [email protected]

The end of the Summer Mini means it is almost new catalogue time.  The Autumn Mini goes live on Thursday - how exciting.  I'll be launching it here at my place in April for those who are local and want to check out the new things and have a play.  For details about my April Mini Launch dates -check here. 

Swing by here tomorrow if you'd like to catch our "Art With Heart Blog Hop."  We'll be featuring the gorgeous Autumn Mini products so it should be lots of fun. 

By the way - did you catch our Easter Blog Hop last month??  Remember that GORGEOUS bunch of flowers that Kimmy made.  She has a tutorial DVD and kit for sale over at her blog for those that were after the instructions for the stunning flowers.  Click here:   Paper Enchantment  if you were after those instructions.

Might finish today with the pair of products that has been most popular with my customers - the butterflies.

Happy stamping!   Cheers, Sue

Today's post from me is over at StampAMemory - a fabulous site to visit if you'd like ideas for using Stampin' Up products in your scrapbooking. 

My post is a rather simple one this time - a cover for a family gratitude journal. 

You can find it here:   Gratitude Journal and SAM Challenge Winner #5

Here's a peek.

Keep an eye out at StampAMemory on the 1st and 15th of each month for our fortnightly challenges.  There are great prizes to be won. 

Have a fabulous day,

Cheers, Sue

A couple more little cards today for you using the Scallop Notes (Summer Mini, pg 7.)  I've teamed them up with one of my favourite Patterned Paper Packs - Bella Bleu.

Also:  Some Kraft cardstock trim and some Kraft Taffeta ribbon, plus a 'Butterfly Print and Punch' with a half pearl from the Pretties Kit.  I actually sat down to make something more elaborate and layered but ended up with something a little simpler.  Do you plan your cards first or do they sort of evolve on their own??  I do a bit of a mix - I sometimes start with a plan but it often takes a turn of its own!

Hannah (7) was beside me for a few of my card making sessions this past week.  Here are a few of her creations.

This one was looking rather bright until Hannah decided she'd like to add some sponging to make it look old.  She was quite pleased with the result and proud of her efforts.  And that's what really counts at the end of the day isn't it.   

I think it is the relaxation and creative outlet the hobby provides that is most important.   I'm so glad we share a love of crafts. 

Hope you get some time for craft in your calendar this week.

Cheers, Sue

Diary Date:  I'm at Milleara Market today 9 - 3 for anyone in the area.  

I'm feeling rather bright and cheery today so have a nice colourful card to share, as well as some good news you might have spotted at the top of this blog.  (More details here.) 

I decided to introduce my 'Hello Again' butterfly (Summer Mini, pg 14) to my Bold Brights Stampin' Spots.  Isn't he a cute little butterfly?!

Colours: Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Only Orange and Yo Yo Yellow.

Other Supplies:  Scallop Edge Punch, Small Oval Punch, Bold Brights Markers for the greeting, Rhinestone Brads (Circle Fire), Tempting Turquoise Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon.

I hope you have a bright and cheery weekend.

Happy stamping!   And a big thanks!!

Sue
 
  

Black and silver makes me think of elegant evening wear.   I've put the bright colours away for this card and quite like how it turned out.

I've been CASEing again.  This card is based on this one by Anne-Marie. I'd just been using this stamp from Vintage Labels with the matching scallop circle punch, but I really liked how Anne-Marie embossed it on dark cardstock so thought I'd give that a try. It makes a lovely background, or even a feature in itself.

Not many supplies for this one - just my embossing gear and cardstock and a little 3/4" circle punch.

I've used Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock, plus the stunning silver cardstock from the metallics pack.  (Pg 130.)   I like the layered look. 

The greeting is from the same SaleABration set - Vintage Labels. (SaleABration details here.)  I've embossed it with black on a scrap of silver and popped it up on a Stampin' Dimensional.

Back with something at the other end of the colour spectrum tomorrow!   See you then.

Milleara Market - This Sunday

For those local ladies, I'm setting up my table at Milleara Market this Sunday from 9 until 3pm.  I'll have lots of products and cards on display,  you can ask any Stampin' Up questions you might have and place any last minute Summer Mini/SaleABration orders.  Or just swing by for a chat if you're in the area. 

Milleara Shopping Centre

Cnr Buckley St and Milleara Rd, Avondale Heights

Hope to see you there.

Cheers, Sue

More Summer Mini creations for you today.

Have you spotted the little scallop edge cards and envelopes on page 7 of the Summer Mini?  They come in packs of 30 for $23.95, 10 each of Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze with little Very Vanilla envelopes.  Great for whipping up a quick card or gift tag.   If you have some or if you've been thinking of grabbing some before March ends, here's a swag of ideas for ways to use them.

For these ones I've embossed the beautiful detailed dragonfly from Nature's Nest (Summer Mini, pg 17) using black embossing powder.  The greetings are from the SaleABration set Vintage Labels.  They're lovely classical looking greetings.  Grab that set free with a $100 March order.

I've used white embossing powder for the greeting and my small oval punch.  (Click on the Idea Book and Catalogue in the right column here on my blog to browse our main catalogue online.  You can find embossing gear on page 154 and punches on pages 152/3 if you're hunting for them.)

While I had my embossing things out I thought I'd try some other combinations.

For this pair of cards I've used the birds nest image from Nature's Nest - one in white and one in silver.  The background is done with my favourite background stamp 'En Francais.'  (Find our range of background stamps on page 109.)  A little tip for using the large background stamps.  I find it easiest to ink up the stamp then lay it rubber side up on the table.  Then pop your cardstock on top and press with your fingertips to make sure you get good contact all over with the stamping surface. 

I sponged the edge of the card with Baja Breeze ink for some added oomph.  It is finished with a small grommet (Summer Mini, pg 17.)  You just pop your card onto the spongy bit of the mat pack, or onto a mouse mat and push the grommet through, then use your bone folder to fold down the prongs - very quick and easy.

Hmmm, what other stamps are in Nature's Nest?  Another of my favourites from this set is the feather.  The detailed fine lines come up so well with embossing.

For the card on the left I stamped a feather on some Kraft and embossed "the BEST is yet to be" from Best Yet hostess set (pg 19) in black.  Then my circle punches of course to punch it. 

Remember - if you'd like anything from the Summer Mini, or need to replenish any of your stamping supplies from our main catalogue, I'd love to help you with an order before next Wednesday evening.  Phone or email to let me know what you'd like.  Free SaleABration stamp set (and a big thank you from me J ) with $100 March orders. 

And back to my much loved dragonfly for one last card for today - this time in elegant gold.

Happy stamping!   Cheers, Sue   

Hello hello!  How is your day going today?  I am thoroughly enjoying a few hours of being ALONE in the house!  Jack (3) started 1 day a week of childcare last week.  For his first day I must admit I was having rather mixed emotions and fluffed about rather aimlessly for the day!  But he had a fabulous time and has been looking forward to going back, so I'm enjoying the time to myself a bit more today.  Fitting a bit of card making into the day so I'll have something new to show you here each day for the rest of March.

Today's projects use the SaleABration set Good Neighbour.  I wasn't so keen on this one when I first looked through the four 2010 SaleABration sets but once I started playing with it, it soon became a favourite.  (That happens so often!) 

This card is CASEd from the talented Christine - her blog is living loving creating.  I loved this autumn card she did in this post and pretty much copied the whole design, just changing the stamp sets.   Christine does beautiful 10 x 10cm cards and I love this small square size.  You can get 3 from an A4 sheet which is rather handy.

I've coloured my tree direct to rubber with my Stampin' Write Markers.  (Marker Club details here.  Space left.)

Cardstock:  Kraft, Choc Chip, Kiwi Kiss (sponged with the matching ink.)  

Punches: 1 1/4" Circle Punch and Word Window (pg 152)  

Other:  Hemp twine (pg 151)  Distressing tool from Cutter Kit to rough up those edges! (pg 155)

The Word Window punch is such a handy one for greetings.  I use it all the time with Short And Sweet greeting set.  For this card I've used the 'thank you' greeting from another SaleABration set - Happy Moments.  I love the simple look of the greetings from that set.   Remember, until next Wednesday evening you can get a SaleABration stamp set FREE with any $100 purchase. 

Here's a closer look at the second card I made with Good Neighbours on the weekend.

My circle punches (1 1'4" and 1 3/8") were still out from my dragonfly card and they work well with the images from this set.  I coloured the house in with Ruby Red and Choc Chip markers.  I carefully coloured the doorway and window with the Choc Chip marker too - markers are great if you want to use more than one colour on a stamp.  I've used Very Vanilla cardstock here. 

I stamped one of the trees and then covered it with a tree cut from a post it note and stamped a second one.  It should add it took me about 3 goes to get that right!  Had to stop and think which tree was in the foreground and which was in the background but got there in the end!   I stamped the tree in Kiwi Kiss ink first then added some streaks of Always Artichoke and Choc Chip trunks using markers.

That's it for today.  Back tomorrow with some super quick little cards you can make with Scallop Notes (Summer Mini pg 7), embossing gear and my favourite dragonfly!  Hope to see you then. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

I've always been a bit challenged in the bow department.  Can manage the occasional knot but neat bows have always eluded me.   I was so excited to see Teneale William's funky bow making video (catch it at the bottom of this post) that I had to give it a go straight away.    I was rather chuffed with my first bow.

What do you think??  I thought a Teneale bow needed a card with time and attention to detail and had lots of fun making this one.

My bow uses the 1 1/4" Pink Pirouette Grosgrain ribbon you can find in the Summer Mini on page 15.  (For a few more days, the end of the month and the end of the Summer Mini are fast approaching!)

I've finished it off with a pink button from the Designer Buttons Sherbert pack (Summer Mini, page 7) and a half pearl from the Pretties Kit.  (Main catalogue, pg 149.)

The card has Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette cardstock and features the Bella Rose Designer Series Patterned Paper.  You can find that pack (and others) on page 134 of the main catalogue.

I punched the squares with my 1 3/8" Square Punch and sponged all the edges with either Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip or Riding Hood Red ink.  Sponging really adds something to a project.

I embossed the butterflies from Butterfly Prints (one in white and one in clear) onto one of the pink papers from Bella Rose.  Then used my Butterfly Punch of course.  (Find the butterfly stamps and punch on pg 12 of the Summer Mini.)    Another couple of smaller half pearls to finish them off.

Hmmm and if you look closely there might be a sneak peek hidden on that card too.  More about that on April 1st.

If you've been a bit of a 'bow avoider' like me, I'd highly recommend giving this method a try.

Thanks Teneale!!

Cheers, Sue