Just a quick little card for you today using one of the SaleABration 2012 sets:  Elementary Elegance.  This main image coordinates with the Curly Label punch.  I've stamped it in Rich Razzleberry then used a Concord Crush marker to pick out a few details before stamping.

I've punched the frame out then popped a piece of vellum embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder behind it.  I love this shot (above) with the light shining through.   Crowns and birds and butterflies and swirls - a lovely vintage looking image. 

I trimmed a tiny bit from the front of the card (as I'd winged it and not quite stamped it centrally.)  I popped a piece of Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon round the inside part of the card so it shows through when closed.  (Does that make sense?  Here's a pic that shows it much better.  Stayed up too late watching the tennis and my brain isn't quite in gear today!)

Have a lovely week.   I think I might spend a bit of time checking out camera reviews after my 'aagggghhh splash' moment at the lake on Friday!   Yes, dropped my point and shoot camera out of my pocket so it is nestled away there at the bottom of the lake in the reeds keeping the fish company.  Doh!  

Cheers,  Sue

Hello, time for another blog hop with some of my stamping buddies.  This weekend the theme is 'Summer Mini.'  Hello if you arrived from Kathryn's beautiful project   and waving a big hi if you're starting the hop from here.  There are 7 stops in the hop today (if I've counted right!)

When my team was over for a bit of a stamping afternoon last weekend, I stamped off a couple of the images from Pretty Postage stamp set on page 20 of the mini.  (Thanks Rachel, much appreciated!)  I had fun putting together a project to make use of my Rich Razzleberry postage image.

Project materials: Pillow Box Die, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Curly Label and Postage Stamp Punch, Beau Chateau Fabric backed with cardstock using the adhesive sheets, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Antique Brad, White Bakers Twine, Rich Razzleberry Cardstock and a dab of Crystal Effects.

I thought I'd make a card to match.  It needs a greeting I think but I might wait until I know who I want to post it to.

Materials:  As above plus Vellum, Fun Flowers Die, Deck The Halls Fabric, the Summer Mini Velvet Ribbon, Crumb Cake Cardstock and if you look very closely you'll spot another Summer Mini stamp set hiding there.

Did you spot Fabulous Florets there?  It looked a little loud for my fabric flower so I borrowed an idea from two of my class gals (thanks Anne-Marie and Michelle) and added the vellum layer to soften it.  Tried a bit of fabric fringing too by pulling some threads out til I had the amount of 'fringe' I wanted.  Not sure I'm in love with that Razzleberry sponging on the vellum but alas, there's no 'undo' button in cardmaking!  (Now wouldn't that be handy sometimes!) 

OK time to hop to the next stop for some more Summer Mini Ideas.   Hop, hop, hop on over to the lovely Alisha's blog  for a look at her project. 

Happy Hopping.  Hope you get all inspired to get out some inks and cardstock and have a creative play.

Cheers, Sue

This is a new blog feature I'm doing this year and it is especially for those beginners out there, who are just getting started with stamping or cardmaking.   Or for anyone after really super easy ideas for cards.  Plus a few ideas for if you have JUST a little extra time or supplies and want to add a layer or two. 

Here's our super simple card first with just a strip of the Everyday Enchanted patterned paper (free with $100 purchase), a coordinating cardstock base (this one is Poppy Parade) and a greeting punched with the Modern Label Punch.  The greeting is from Elementary Elegance - one of the SaleABration sets.

 Now if you want to add just a little more layering  .....

I've added some Poppy Parade matting plus an extra layer of Vanilla trimmed with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  I also added some of the free SaleABration ribbon.  It is Calypso Coral but looked good on top of the Poppy Parade.  This ribbon is a sheer one and is very narrow.  (1/8" or 3.2mm wide.) 

If you choose this pack free with a $100 purchase you get 2 rolls of the ribbon - this one and Lucky Limeade, plus a container of 30 gorgeous brads.   Click here for details:   SaleABration Info.

Let's see one more pair of cards today using another of the Everyday Enchantment DSP and Peach Parfait cardstock.   The greeting here is from Short and Sweet - a great set to have in your collection.  And there's one of those brads I was talking about.

Next up, let's add just a little layering ..... 

I've used the Postage Stamp punch, another brad, plus I've added layers of Very Vanilla and Soft Suede.  An easy way to add a little texture is to distress (or rough up) the edges of the cardstock.  You can use a distresser (there's one on the cutting kit) or the edge of an old pair of scissors. 

Tip:  Want to know a secret?  Distressing an edge is a great option if you cut your matting layers and find you've gone a bit crooked when you stick them all together!  Just rough up that edge and you can hide a bit of wonkiness. 

Stop by again during the year for more Super Simple To Just A Little Layered cards.    Hope you like them.

Cheers, Sue

...... kicks off today!   The most exciting special on the Stampin' Up calendar.

* CUSTOMERS: 

Spend $100 and choose one of the 6 SaleABration items for free. 

* HOSTESSES:  

A fabulous time to host a fun card making workshop and earn lots of free goodies. 

* JOIN: 

The kit is on special for $249 plus you get to add another stamp set (any value!)

Click here to check the SaleABration catalogue online and find out all the details.   SaleABration Page

This year the Sale-A-Bration goodies include 4 great stamp sets, PLUS a pack of gorgeous Designer Series Paper, and a ribbon/brad pack.

Get in touch if you'd like to join the fun of SaleABration by placing an order and choosing some free goodies, booking a SaleABration workshop or joining my Think Ink team.

Happy SaleABration,  Cheers  Sue

I'm having the most lovely craft weekend here.  Yesterday my mum, sisters, Hannah and I all gathered for a craft day.  We did a spot of shopping, had lunch then set to work on our projects.  Here's a peek ...

My sister got some lovely bright card, photos of her boys and her laminator and made them a little book they could read about some of their recent adventures.  My other sister gathered up a bunch of card kits she had in her stash and made a stack of cards, Hannah did some scrapbooking of photos off her Ipod then made us all little cards with lots of embellishments and purple glitter glue, I did my first scrapbooking layout of many this year (details below) and mum worked on her gorgeous altered manuscript project.  She's got an old old book and she opens it to a page and uses all different craft techniques to create.  Combined with some lovely quotes and poems it is such a beautiful project.  What a companionable, fun, creative day. 

I'm doing Stacy Julian's 'Twelve' class this year and am all inspired to rev up my scrapbooking again.  I spotted a fun, colourful layout from a lady called Rhonda in the class gallery and decided to give it a try.  Stacy's passion for colour has gotten me in the mood for using some nice bright happy colours.  Grabbed out my Brights Pattern Stack DSP to make this me page.

It did rather challenge me in the maths and measuring department but I was pretty impressed to get it fairly straight and even! 

I used the matching cardstock and my Big Shot Timeless Type (and much loved) Alphabet die to make the letters of my name.  They were getting a bit lost on the coloured background so I punched white squares with my new Postage Stamp punch and that did the trick. 

Then I just added embellishments from my stash that coordinated with the colours.  (You'll spot some of our lovely glimmer brads, flower brads and a few others there if you look closely.)

I'd been jotting ideas for the letters during the week.  Got stuck on a few and had to get the dictionary out for some inspiration.

Once I was done I had some offcuts of the Brights DSP strips so I grabbed out a sheet of my new favourite Shimmery White cardstock to make this quick and simple card.

My Modern Label punch is getting a great workout lately along with Short and Sweet greeting set.  A glimmer brad and some paper piercing finished it off.

This afternoon some of the girls from my team are coming over and we're all looking forward to chatting and creating with some of the SaleABration items.  Should be a lovely afternoon of card making. 

What a fun way to spend some weekend time.  (And we've still managed to squeeze in some golf and cycling time for John so we're all happy here!)

Happy Stamping!  Back soon with some SaleABration cards to share.

Cheers, Sue

Just a quick note to let you know classes are starting up again in February and March.  Dates and details and number of spots left can be found here:  Class Details Page.    Places are filling fast so shoot through an email or give me a buzz if you'd like to grab one of the remaining spots.

I've got a nice stash of cards in my card crate, but am very much lacking in cards for the guys!  My brother in law had a birthday recently so I got out some masculine looking products ......

.... and set to work creating!  In holiday mode so kept it nice and simple.  

You can find a great range of products for the men in your life on pages 18 and 19 of the Summer Mini.  

 Stamp Set: The Open Sea.  Bakers Twine in a few colour combos.  And the Nautical Expedition patterned paper.   I've grabbed out my 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches for a quick and easy card.

Shhhh, really should have sponged the edges of those circles but hey - it is January!

Colours:  I used the colours from the DSP - Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy, Early Espresso and Basic Gray

While I had the supplies out I whipped up two more.  Now if I can get into the habit of that I'll be restocked for guy cards in no time.   Takes not much longer to make 3 as to make 1, especially with simple designs. 

Have a great weekend!   Cheers, Sue 

Wishing you a very happy 2012.   I always love this time of year - putting up the new calendar, fresh blank new pages in the planner, and more time to relax, reflect and plan for the year ahead. 

I'll be doing a little bit of 'blog makeovering' in the coming weeks so you might spot some changes here and there during January.

Thought I'd kick off the year with a nice simple card.  I'm quite taken lately with the reverse masking technique I used on some of my Christmas cards and thought I'd try it with a different stamp set.  If you look closely there you might spot a sneak peek at one of the SaleABration stamp sets.  SaleABration kicks off on January 24th and from then til the end of March you'll get to choose a freebie for every $100 you spend.  Always an exciting time of year on the Stampin' Up calendar.  Stay tuned for more info as the 24th approaches. 

I spritzed the stamped section with isocol/shimmer paint while the torn card masks were still on for a touch of sparkle.  Colours: Concord Crush, Cherry Cobbler and Wisteria Wonder plus some Sahara Sand for the sponging. Love this combo.  I've used Confetti White for my base card.  I love the little flecks of colour in it.

Happy New Year.  I hope 2012 has gotten off to a great start for you.

My two made it all the way to midnight this year, playing cards with my brother, sister and the two of us. 

We can just see the city fireworks from our back balcony and had a good view of some local ones too.  A nice way to see out 2011 and welcome 2012. 

I look forward to sharing some Stampin' Up ideas with you in the coming year. 

Happy Stamping!   

Cheers,  Sue