For anyone hoping to catch a card class this month - I've got some spaces free tonight at 7.30pm and some spaces for my Friday day class tomorrow at 10am. 

We'll be making 4 cards featuring some colourful backgrounds and some lovely retiring stamps. 

Class fee is $25 payable at class. 

Classes are held at my place in Avondale Heights, in Melbourne's west. 

Phone, text or email if you're feeling the urge to be creative this week.

More details here:  Sue's Class Page

Cheers, Sue

It is that time of year!  The Stampin' Up Retiring Products List is out today.   This lists ALL of the things from the Annual Catalogue (and also from the Occasions Catalogue) that will not be carrying over to the upcoming new catalogue.  Some of these items have been discounted.  All of the items on the retiring list are available just while stocks last so I'd recommend not waiting if you see something you like. 

You can find the retiring products here in my online store:   Sue's Online Store Retiring Products

(Note: There's a bit of a glitch and the discounted prices are showing up just when you click on the item, not on that cover page.)

Like it all in a list?  Here's the PDF - handy to scan through or to print:   PDF Retiring List

(Note: This PDF gets updated a few times per day so if you'd like to see what has already sold out, download it again and it'll show you the latest updated version with the little xs in the last 'SOLD OUT' column.  A few things have sold out already on day one.) 

There are LOTS of great things on the list so have a careful look through. 

A couple of items I'd like to highlight for my customers - the antique brads, crystal effects, check out the punches that are retiring - some favourites there, the alphabet rotary stamp, some snazzy thinlits.  Actually - what am I talking about?  There's lots of great stuff on the list.  Just read right through! 

There are lots of retiring bundles - just a note about that one.  In some cases the items will still be available individually, just not at the bundled and discounted price.  Check the stamp/framelit/punch section to see if the individual item will be carrying on or not.  (Give a holler if you need to clarify anything.) 

Now of course a big retiring list means that there's a cool new catalogue coming up with lots of new items.  That goes live in June.  I'll be getting catalogues to all my fabulous customers in May.  I'll be in touch to confirm when they're on their way. 

Happy Retiring List browsing.

Cheers, Sue

Lots of florals today.  I do love a nice feminine card.  This was another variation on our class card last month for those that didn't have a particular number birthday or anniversary in mind. 

Tips and Techniques: Lots of dimensionals on this one to pop up each layer.  I do love those little foam hexagons.  We used the flower punches to punch flowers from the leftover scraps pile.  Getting the pad of patterned paper (this one is Love Blossoms) means all your colours and patterns coordinate well.  The Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper made a nice base layer for the flowers and seems to go with anything.  It has such nice sparkle to it too. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Today's card is a variation on this one and was one of our class cards last month.  Quite enjoying these framelits.

Tips and Techniques:  For this one we used a small flower punch and the gorgeous Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper to make a flower accent.  Some washi tape as an accent on the 'Have A Cuppa' Designer Series Paper stack.  I do love that teabag design on the paper. 

I always feel like going to make a cup of tea when I blog about these teapot cards.  Off to boil the kettle. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue 

Tips and Techniques: Today's card features the Bravo stamp set.  Love this big 'congratulations.'  It looks good inked up in multicolour - or just plain like I've done it on this card.  I've been using the set Vintage Leaves a lot this week too.  This set is on special until Tuesday evening as part of the second last of the weekly deals.  Yes - weekly deals are finishing up.  Just this current batch, then next week to go.  

Did you spot the 3 scored lines down the left?  A nice way to add a bit of structure while still keeping it simple.  The metric score board plate is in this current batch of weekly deals too. 

School holidays are over (in Victoria) and back into the regular routine this week.  Having a slight case of Monday-itis here at our house but I'm sure we'll be back in the groove soon enough. 

Have a great week! 

Happy stamping. 

Cheers, Sue

The Stampin' Up Number Of Years stamp set and coordinating Large Numbers Framelits is a great combo for creating milestone birthday and anniversary cards.  Or non milestone ones too like this one ....

Tips and Techniques: The numbers stamp is a watercolourish type image so it has a bit of a distressed look.  (You can see it in the lower corner of the two on my card.)  I love the sizing - just perfect for a feature on a card.  The magnetic plate for the Big Shot makes it easy to line up the framelits to cut them out.  I used glue dots to attach them to the background oval.  Actually they're looking a bit neon on that pic, this one below is a little more true to the actual card. 

This was another variation on our March class card.  Don't forget to check my class page is you'd like to come along to a card class in Melbourne's west.  Class Dates and Details

Now hopefully my sister is not looking at my blog as this card is for her.  Actually - considering that her birthday is in November there is a more than fair chance I'll have buried this card on my desk somewhere before then and will have to make another!  Or perhaps this is the year where I'll morph into an uber organised minimalist.   Ha ha! 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Number Of Years Photopolymer Bundle

[140811]

$85.75

Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack

[140548]

$14.00

Ovals Collection Framelits Die

[129381]

$45.00

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

[140490]

$12.25

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

[126973]

$11.50

Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[126954]

$11.50

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

[131172]

$11.50

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[126975]

$11.50

While I had some of the Saleabration patterned vellum out, I decided to punch a few for this card.  That vellum is no longer available but you could use the silver or gold fancy foil vellum from the annual catalogue. 

Tips and Techniques: I think the challenge with vellum is hiding the adhesive.  I didn't completely succeed with this one.  I used glue dots and you can see them in a few spots.  I've had some success before with spray adhesive but it is rather messy so I tend to go for an easier option usually.  I coated the balloons (and the wooden greeting) with Wink Of Stella clear - to disguise the adhesive a bit, and because I'm currently brushing it on anything and everything! 

Some other finishing touches - silver thread for the balloon strings and a row of 3 scored lines as an added detail.  Love my score board for adding a subtle background detail. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Balloon Bouquet Punch

[140609]

$31.00

Gold Fancy Designer Vellum Foil

[133363]

$19.25

Silver Fancy Foil Designer Vellum

[133364]

$19.25

Expressions Natural Elements

[138395]

$8.75

Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141897]

$14.00

Silver Metallic Thread

[138402]

$5.25

Glue Dots

[103683]

$9.00

Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock

[121685]

$12.25

Some reverse masking for you on today's card featuring the hardwood background stamp. 

Tips and Techniques: I cut an oval window from some cardstock and used this as a mask, stamping the woodgrain image in Blushing Bride.  When you remove the mask you have a nice oval shaped woodgrain image.  A little arrangement of flowers from the Bloomin' Love stamp set and a banner over the top.  I think the pearls give it the finishing touch.  I especially love the teeny pearls from the sheet.   They're adhesive backed so just use a jabber poker paper piercing tool to slide them off the backing sheet.

I've used Whisper White thick cardstock for this card.   Just for you cards are handy to have in the collection - great for any occasion, or for no occasion at all.  Have you got a special someone amongst your family and friends who would love a card in the mail this week? 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Hardwood Wood-Mount Stamp Set

[133032]

$35.00

Large Numbers Framelits Dies

[140622]

$54.00

And Many More Wood-Mount Stamp Set

[134273]

$66.00

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

[131172]

$11.50

Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[126954]

$11.50

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[126975]

$11.50

Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock

[140490]

$12.25

Ovals Collection Framelits Die

[129381]

$45.00

Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments

[119247]

$8.75

Paper-Piercing Tool

[126189]

$7.00

One of my current favourites is the Number Of Years stamp set and coordinating Large Numbers Framelits.  For today's card I used the flowers and banner from that set. 

Tips and Techniques: I took my colouring from the Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack so I used Garden Green, Rose Red and Blushing Bride.  I stamped the leaves off once on scrap paper before stamping which softened up the greenery.  The greeting is from the 'And Many More' stamp set which is on sale until Tuesday in the weekly deals.  Mine is wood mount so I stamped the greeting first then was able to place the banner stamp over the top as that one is photopolymer.  Cut it out with the banner from the Numbers Framelits and voila.  I do like the addition of the silver thread for a little metallic touch. 

Actually - I'd fluffed about with that thread for quite a while getting it arranged nicely.  The greeting panel was supposed to be at the bottom of a different card but after I'd finished making it I realised the thread was going to hang off the bottom of the card.  Oops!  So I made this card and made it a feature instead. 

This was another of our March class cards - some people did a number card, some did a flower and some did this third option.  I'll share the other variations another day so check back if you like a bit of flowery inspiration. 

School holidays are going well here.  Not doing a lot which is just the way we like it.  Some nice relax time, lots of reading, a few walks - oh and a few trips to the orthodontist for Ms H.  A couple of years of metallic additions to the mouth have begun. 

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

Number Of Years Photopolymer Bundle

[140811]

$85.75

Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack

[140548]

$14.00

Love Blossoms Cardstock Pack

[140717]

$12.25

Silver Metallic Thread

[138402]

$5.25

Ovals Collection Framelits Die

[129381]

$45.00

Care for a cuppa?   The Cup and Kettle Framelits and coordinating 'A Nice Cuppa' stamp set are just the products for making a comforting card for someone. 

Tips and Techniques:  This was one of our class cards last month.  We used the 'Have A Cuppa' Designer Series stack and the cards looked quite different depending on which patterned paper people chose.  Grab the designer paper stack and the coordinating cardstock pack and you can't go wrong.  We used a range of circles from the circles framelits too - a handy pack to have.  They layer well with our doilies.  Some washi tape for a little extra oomph. 

The heart shaped steam is rather snazzy.  It looks good cut from the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper too. 

I love this card from Rachel Palmieri where she sponged the tea pot for some added dimension - must try that next time. 

Would you like to catch a card class in April? 

Not many spots left so be quick to grab your chair at the table.  Dates and details here: Classes

All this talk of tea pots has put me in the mood for a nice cup of tea.  Off to boil the kettle.  

Happy Stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Product List

A Nice Cuppa Photopolymer Bundle

[141074]

$69.50

Have A Cuppa Designer Series Paper Stack

[140567]

$14.00

Have A Cuppa Cardstock Pack

[140720]

$12.25

Circles Collection Framelits Die

[130911]

$45.00

It's My Party Designer Washi Tape

[140556]

$14.00