I've been in a bright, happy mood this week (must be holidays!) so I grabbed out a bunch of colourful ink pads for some creative time. 

I do like this one. 

Tips and Techniques: The printed vellum panel is folded over the edge and adhered at the back.  (Always the challenge with vellum isn't it - how to hide the adhesive.)  I gave the wooden greeting a coating of clear Wink Of Stella for some added sparkle. 

The stamp set is Bloomin' Love - although any small flower would work for this one so have a look through your stamp stash.  I just randomly stamped 2 or 3 of each colour - making sure to spread them out and go off the edges too for a finished look. 

The Brights Family is a great one for colourful rainbow cards.  Here's the colours I used .....

Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie and Rich Razzleberry.

Stay tuned for some more colourful creations - I made a bunch while I had the inks out and sponges snipped.

Tips: Glue dots are handy for sticking the wooden words on.  You could also use Tombow Multipurpose Glue. 

The printed vellum is one of the Saleabration options.  Last chance to grab yourself a freebie today.  Phone, email your order through or use the handy online ordering if you'd like to take advantage of this promotion before it ends tonight. 

If you're ordering online use the March Host Code and I'll send you a little sample pack. 

MENYYPFB

I'll be closing that one off early this evening, then we'll have a new code that will work from now til the end of April

3QMS4A3A    (Use this one if you're ordering after 6pm today.)

Tips for how to use the host code can be found here:   Sue's Monthly Host Code

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Don't miss out on your free Saleabration item.  This promotion ends tomorrow. 

Tips and Techniques: I love the emboss resist card above with the balloons.  Emboss the balloons - stamp with Versamark and use white or clear embossing powder to emboss.  Then wash some colourful ink over the top.  Give the embossed images a little polish to finish. 

In Colours:  Soon To Finish

Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist

If you've got your eye on any of these in colours about to retire, this is a great time to stock up on ink refills, cardstock and other in colour items.  Once the retiring products list comes out those are usually quick to disappear.  Order now to avoid disappointment.

Here's a pic with the ones that will soon be disappearing.  (Thanks Lyssa for the image.) 

For those of you enjoying school holidays just now, I hope they're going well.  We took a break from generally lazing about the place eating Easter eggs to go on a family bike ride on Monday at Williamstown.  Nice way to blow out some cobwebs. 

I've been having fun getting creative too.  Must go take some pics so I can share some of it with you.  See you soon with some colourful creations.

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

One week to go for Saleabration 2016. 

Place your order before March 31st if you've got your eye on one of the freebies in this year's range.

I've popped a reminder below of the selections available. So far the most popular choices with my clan of customers has been the delicate flowers in Flowering Fields and the gorgeous greeting set Botanicals For You.

The printed vellum has also been a favourite for some.  Which is your favourite from this year's collection? 

Not sure how to redeem your freebie? 

You can phone or email your order to me and just let me know which item/s you've chosen.

Or here are some handy hints and screen shots for how to choose your freebie when ordering online.   Saleabration Hints

Wishing you a lovely Easter.  We've had a busy term here at our house so we are all very much looking forward to a few quiet days, then catching up with family for a delicious Easter Sunday roast dinner at my sister's place. 

John, the kids and I are off to see Matilda - The Musical too over the weekend so we're very excited about that.  Hannah has been learning some of the songs at choir at school. 

What are you up to over the weekend?  Got any creative plans or other fun things planned?  Have a safe and happy time.

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Project Life is a great way of memory keeping.  Just print off your photos, jot some journalling on the Project Life cards and slip them into the pocket pages.  Memories recorded quickly and easily. 

One of the freebie options during Saleabration (with a $90 purchase) is the Memories In The Making Project Life Specialty Cards Collection.  The pack has 30 cards and includes some acetate overlays with metallic ink. 

This pack is also a useful one for using in your card making - it has been specially designed to work for both memory keeping albums and also as elements on your cards. 

My kids love grabbing out our albums and looking through fun family times from a few years back, or from more recent moments. 

Doing any memory recording this year?  I always try to remind myself not to make it too complicated - just photos and stories, that's the real heart of memory keeping.  Find a way to get the pics off our phones/cameras and into some sort of album.  I think our future selves will be thankful for any time we can spend on recording our stories.  I always find the process of scrapbooking in some form helps remind me of the things I'm thankful for in my life too.  Very therapeutic.

Happy Memory Keeping!

Cheers, Sue

Everyone loves a pop up card - that nice element of surprise when you open the card always brings a smile to the face.  Now you can make them really easily with the Party Pop Up Thinlits.

And open it up ......

Tips and Techniques: Cut your card insert section, score it down the middle then place the Party Pop Up Thinlit carefully so the tabs line up with the score line. 

You can use the other thinlit as the pop up element too - it also has tabs marking the central line - one on the base and can you see the other tucked between two of the candles?

For my Big Shot sandwich I've put the magnetic plate at the bottom, the precision plate on top, then my cardstock and thinlit (cutting edge down) and finally one acrylic plate on top.  I find the precision plate handy for more intricate dies like this. 

Once you've run it through, time to get out the new Big Shot brush and foam mat.  Roll the brush over your thinlit a few times in different directions and voila - the little bits come out and no more 'ten minutes with the poker' poking bits out.  My new favourite tool I think!

Now fold all your score lines and adhere your insert inside your card, making sure to get the scored line tightly into the centre of your card. 

You can also use the elements on the front of your card.  At class in February we found the Fine Tip Glue super handy for sticking the fine lettering of Happy Birthday onto our card front. 

I loved using these and am hoping we might have some more pop up elements in future catalogues.  At class we were remembering those frog mouth type pop up cards some of us used to make when we were kids, or the spirals with a shape stuck on top.  Got any pop up memories?  I've always loved pop up books too. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Tips and Techniques:  Ink up the stripy Brushstrokes Stamp with your Stampin Write Markers - markers are great for multicoloured stamping.  This card uses the 2015 -2017 In Colour pack of markers.  The ice cream cone is stamped onto card and cut out for some snazzy paper piecing.  And the honeycomb embellishment adds a very cute 3D element.

Saleabration: Last Fortnight

Freebies:  Just 2 weeks left of Saleabration to earn your free products like this Honeycomb Happiness stamp set.  1 free item with every $90 of products. 

Joining Bonus:  Are you mad keen on quality Stampin' Up products?  Join my friendly Think Ink team before Saleabration ends and you will get a whopping $295 of Stampin' Up products of your choice in your kit for just $169.  Free shipping.  Awesome deal.  Tempted? You'll find more info and the joining links here.  Join The Team Info

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Today's balloon card was inspired by this card that caught my eye from Inking Idaho.   I tweaked it a bit and it was one of the cards we did at my February card classes. 

Tips and Techniques: I loved what Becky from Inking Idaho did with the polaroid frame type of piece.  Measurements: I cut my whisper white cardstock to 8cm x 9.5cm then used one of the square framelits to cut the centre square out. 

To do these balloons, I stamped the solid image in Watermelon Wonder ink and then stamped it off once onto scrap paper.  This gives a lighter shade for the base, and I stamped the dotty part over the top at full strength.  For the Soft Sky balloon I didn't stamp off the solid image as it was such a pale ink.  Love the look of the whisper white clouds on the Soft Sky cardstock. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Bundle

[140810]

$64.50

Squares Collection Framelits Die

[130921]

$45.00

Silver Metallic Thread

[138402]

$5.25

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

$12.25

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad

[101731]

$14.00

Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad

[138323]

$11.50

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[126982]

$11.50

Pool Party A4 Card Stock

[124391]

$12.25

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

$15.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$7.00

This panel from the Enjoy The Little Things Kit was a fun one to put together.  Just stamp some texture onto the individual butterflies and add them to the butterfly piece for a little 3D effect.  Layer up the doily, thread, butterflies and wood element.  It comes together so quickly. 

Kits are a nice option if you'd love to do some creating but would like to get all the bits and pieces plus instructions in a handy box.  Add the stamp set and a few ink pads and you're all set.  Dimensionals and fine tip glue are handy too. 

That's the glue that makes me glad I just got my reading glasses - wink! Very handy for putting the lid back on with that fine needle tip to insert.

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

I hadn't even noticed that the Balloon Celebration stamp set had these two cute little dandelions until I saw this gorgeous card.   Emboss resist looks a lovely technique to use with these, but for now I've just whipped up a quick little notecard with two bright colours.

Tips and Techniques:  If you're using a stamp to make a background - it seems to look better when you go off the edges at the borders of your card rather than keeping it all within the panel.  Turn the stamp to mix it up a bit. 

The greeting is cut out with one of the framelits from the Project Life Cards and Labels set.  I find it really handy for some of my larger greetings. 

Just a simple one today.  Some days you just feel like a 'quick to whip up' type of card.  Have you tried out our note cards? You get 20 prescored cards and envelopes in a pack.  They're a great size for a little gift card. 

John and I are celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary today with a nice seafood dinner at home.  (So glad I married someone who is a good cook!  A much appreciated skill.  Hannah is inheriting the gene and has whipped us up a cake for dessert.)

Doesn't seem like that long ago.  Doesn't time fly by.  Counting my blessings today. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Bundle

[140810]

$64.50

Whisper White Note Cards & Envelopes

[131527]

$10.50

Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

[126952]

$11.50

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

[126944]

$11.50

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

$12.25

Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits

[135707]

$43.00

For today's Balloon Celebration card I've just used the outline stamp in a range of colours.  Love the hand drawn effect.   A nice liberal dose of Melon Mambo bright pink for this one. 

Tips and Techniques:  Did you spot the little floating dandelion stamps in the balloon set?  I love these.  There are some beautiful cards floating about online using these for emboss resist technique.  Stay tuned tomorrow for a quick and simple notecard using these two stamps.

Hint: When you're stamping the balloons - I find it helpful to stamp the larger balloon stamps on the left hand side of your paper and the smaller ones on the right.  Then they'll be easier to punch (as one balloon from the punch faces up and one down.)

Bit of a bright background - Hannah loved this one. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Bundle

[140810]

$64.50

Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock

[119980]

$12.25

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

[106549]

$15.00

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad

[101731]

$14.00

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad

[126948]

$11.50

Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

[126952]

$11.50

Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad

[126944]

$11.50

Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad

[126945]

$11.50

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

[126953]

$11.50

Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits

[135707]

$43.00

It's My Party Enamel Dots

[140554]

$7.00