This week on our AWH Colour Creations Showcase we are featuring the colour Gorgeous Grape.

I had some trouble with my project until I realised that the feature panel I'd made didn't match the background I'd made. 

When I separated them into two different cards- yay.  

Tips to make this card at home:  The flower stamp there (and the greeting) is from Queen Anne's Lace stamp set.  I stamped it in Gorgeous Grape ink then stamped it off first on scrap paper.  Then I dabbed some extra ink on some parts with a sponge dauber.  The embossing folder is Scripty and it is shimmery white cardstock.  I've matted it with champagne foil which teams nicely with the Gorgeous Grape.  My favourite Elegant Faceted Gems are the finishing touch. 

This was the background I'd made initially - it didn't quite work with the floral circle but I love it with this panel.  It is a gatefold card and for the background panels I've used the Plush Poinsettia specialty paper and the Wrapped In Texture embossing folder - both from the Aug - Dec mini.  

Oops sorry I think that congrats die has retired but Well Written die set has some beautiful script words to use.  I popped a couple of leaves from Birds and More dies cut from the Plush Poinsettia paper.

 Now if you love Gorgeous Grape then head on over to our lovely Showcase Host - she's got all the links to the other projects from our talented team.   Click here:  Showcase Host Catherine 

Happy creating,

Cheers, Sue

I did lots and lots of scrapbooking in the early 2000s but lately any layouts that I've done have been digital.  This weekend I decided to get the supplies out and do some paper scrapbooking.  Isn't it so lovely to rediscover a past passion.  With lots of time inside these past few months I've been looking for things lately that I enjoy doing and that lift my mood when I'm feeling flat.  How are you going?  Just sending a cyber hug to anyone finding things a bit tough at the moment. 

I grabbed out a partly done album I'd started in 2004 as an alphabet album for my daughter.  This is such a great project to start with as it doesn't require organising all my photos - I can just choose any photo of Hannah that I love and think up something for a title for one of my remaining letters.  Alphabet albums were a format I found really easy to get stuck into when I was scrapbooking regularly.  

Here's one of my 2003 pages for the M page.  It has a hidden letter - you can just see the vellum tabs to pull it out.  It also has one of my first set of stamps - an alphabet.  

For my layout yesterday I used our Playful Alphabet dies for the title.  No more running out of letter stickers - I used to always run out of the Es when I used sheets of alphabet stickers.   Pop one of our adhesive sheets on the back of your cardstock before you cut your letters and voila - you have your own set of letter stickers with a peel off backing. 

The way these letters are arranged on the backing sheet is totally messing with my brain. :-)  Am getting some magnetic sheets to pop my dies on in the latest of my 'organise my stuff' efforts.  (Thanks Christine and Jacqui for the helpful organising tip in our discussion over on my facebook page.)  This set is so good - perfect size for card making and great for scrapbooking titles. 

My layout style these days is very clean and simple - I just like the photo and a title.  Usually I'd have some journaling but this album is more of a spot for some of my favourite photos.  I quite like that I've left it so long to finish that now I can have a great range of ages in the album.  

I've used 'In Good Taste' patterned paper for my layout for the woodgrain background and the concrete looking panel.  If you love some of the papers I've been featuring lately - hang off until October - we've got a 15% off patterned paper special coming up with heaps of our gorgeous papers.  

Stay well.  

Cheers, Sue

Are you keen to buy some great craft supplies for your papercrafting hobby?  Got a big Stampin' Up! wish list?  Looking for scrapbooking or card making supplies?

Here's a great way to save, with some added perks during September.

Get your starter kit before the end of September and for just $169 you will get:

• To choose $235 of products - pick from ANY current items.  What's on your list?  That's a saving of $66. 
• Free shipping on your starter kit
• Sept extra:  Queen Anne's Lace stamp set free (valued at $30)
• Sept extra: So Much Love stamp set free (valued at $35)
• Sept extra: Sheet of sparkly rhinestones free (valued at $8.75)
• Sept extra: Some cardstock pieces to make some cards
• Some extra catalogues if you want to share them with any craft loving friends. 

You'll be able to join in the fun on our friendly team facebook groups where we chat stamping, crafts and heaps more.  We welcome everyone and have a fab mix of happy shoppers who want to stock up with the terrific demo discount (20%) and get an early peek at new catalogues along with people wanting to share a bit of cardmaking fun with others.  You decide what you want to do.  Join now and you can be part of the demo family until the end of January without even placing another order. 

If you've got lots of craft supplies on your list and want to get a stack of value for $169 - make your list of items up to $235 in value then head on over here to join my Think Ink team.  We'd love to welcome you.  Get My Kit Of Goodies

(Note: The form doesn't play well on a tablet, best to use a computer.  Get in touch if I can help with any questions at all.)  

Need some essentials to get started?  Looking for ideas of what to get in your starter kit?   

Here's a couple of videos I put together showing some essential tool kit items plus some great cards you can make with just a few additional supplies. 

Happy creating!  

Cheers, Sue

This patterned paper (In Good Taste DSP) is so gorgeous that you can make a lovely card just by popping it on a coordinating cardstock base and adding a greeting.  Or you can step it up a little with a few extra layers. 

In this video I run through some handy measurements I use all the time when I'm making cards featuring patterned paper.  (This is for cardmaking in Australia with A4 cardstock - you can adapt the idea for other countries with different dimension cardstock.)  

Adding just a narrow border and an extra layer on the greeting makes the paper really pop.  

Have a fab weekend and happy creating.  Chilly one coming up here in Melbourne so I'm parking myself in my craft room for a bit of inky fun.  Jack just got a new Nintendo Switch game so he's busy with that and Hannah is knee deep in studying (with a bit of Netflix thrown in I think!)  John's spending a bit of time on the indoor bike.  We are all happy to see those Vic numbers coming down and are looking forward to seeing family and friends (and my hairdresser!) again soon.  Not long to go now.  

Take care, Sue

Looking for some ideas for cards for the guys in your life.  Here's a quick and easy one using this beautiful woodgrain paper. 

To make this one at home just cut your patterned paper to 10cm x 14.3cm and pop it on to an Early Espresso card base. 

If you'd like to step it up just a little you could add some linen thead.

The simple greeting I've used here is from Happiest Of Birthday stamp set. It fits nicely in one of the stitched rectangles - or would be simple to cut with scissors or your trimmer. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

If you'd like to shop for the supplies to make this card at home you'll find them here:  Supplies For This Card

Here's the link for our Wednesday 23rd September stamp sale.  Find them all here.  A big list of stamps from our annual catalogue are 15% off for one day only while sale stocks last.  Here's a look at just a few of the sets that are in the sale. 

Head to my store to see the sale section and to shop for any that catch your eye.  Stamp Sale 

Happy stamping!  

Here's a look at how I store my stamps.  We've got a couple of DVD shelves in the study and I use the top sections for my stamp sets, punches, envelopes and a few bits and pieces underneath.   I keep most of my stamp sets in alphabetical order, with a separate section for ones from our latest mini catalogue and a section for retired favourites.  I used to try to categorise but I found I had too many that fit in a range of categories so this seemed easier for me to keep track of.  I love how the little images are on the spines so I can scan through and find what I'm looking for.  

Cheers, Sue

This month I'm joining in with our AWH Heart Of Christmas Showcase where the talented girls in the team I belong to are going to share some Christmas inspiration for those of you making cards this year. 

I've been making quite simple cards lately but was in the mood for taking a bit more time and a few more supplies for this one. 

I was TOTALLY inspired by this gorgeous card my friend Andrea made for our colour showcase last week, and decided to get out the sponge rollers and the Christmas Gleaming bundle. 

Tips to make this one at home: I've used a piece of shimmery white cardstock for the background panel and sponged on the colours Night Of Navy, Pacific Point and Balmy Blue.  I started with the lightest one and worked my way up to the darkest one.  The sponge rollers are handy for this.  Once I was done I embossed it with the Winter Snow embossing folder.  I did another panel of cardstock while I had the rollers out in the two lighter blues then used silver embossing powder for the Christmas Gleaming stamp set ornaments.  Once I'd punched them out with the coordinating punches I added a touch of the navy ink with a sponge dauber.  

I've 'hung' my ornaments with some of the Snowflake Splendour ribbon and added a Blue Adhesive Backed Gem to each one.  

Thanks for the inspiration Andrea - I had SUCH a fun time making this card. 

Sometimes it is just what you need - a nice afternoon getting inky and taking care with all the details to create a gorgeous card.  

Need some more festive inspiration - head on over to the fab Judy's blog - click here - she is hosting our showcase and has all the links you need to see a whole bunch of beautiful Christmas creations. 

Drop a hello along the way and say hi - helps keep us all up with blogging energies. :-)  

Happy creating!  

Cheers, Sue

Head over here to shop for supplies to make this card yourself:  Sponged Christmas Card supplies

Just loved these cute gnomes and they're fun to colour.  I've used Stampin' Blends to colour them for this card.  For a little fuzzy addition I've layered the gnomes on two felt circles cut with the Stitched Shapes dies.  The crumb cake card base has been embossed with the Evergreen Forest embossing folder. 

Are you a cute gnomes fan?  Or do you prefer a more classic Christmas style?   I love a big variety of festive cards.  I think this year is going to see lots more Christmas cards sent after this 2020 year where those friends and family seem extra important. 

Happy stamping!  

Take care, Sue

Featured Products: Live in Australia? Click the product photo to shop

Gnome For The Holidays Cling Stamp Set (English) [153322] $33.00

Festive Felt Sheet Combo Pack [153516] $15.75

Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder [153576] $17.50

Stitched Shapes Dies [152323] $50.00

If you're new to all this and looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in Australia I'd be happy to help you build your craft stash.  Get in touch if you have any questions.  

Wednesday evening is when the Art With Heart team I belong to has their Colour Creations showcase.  Each week there's a different colour featured and this week it is Flirty Flamingo. 

I'm excited to be joining in the fun.  The lovely Catherine is hosting us and there's links at the bottom if you'd like to do a lap and see all the Flirty Flamingo inspiration.

Tips to make this one at home:  I've used the Birds and Branches bundle - I just love that floral frame die.  This is a cute little square card in whisper white that I cut to fit the feature panel.  There's a vellum layer under the Flirty Flamingo piece.  I embossed another piece of vellum with the Ornate Floral embossing folder.

I stamped the flowers in Flirty Flamingo ink - some at full strength and some stamped off once for a lighter look. 

And for a finishing touch of sparkle some of these blue adhesive backed gems - did you know these were one of the top 3 popular products from our Aug - Dec Mini? 

I hope to join in more regularly so keep an eye out here each Wednesday evening for our featured colour of the week.  

Now head on over to our lovely Colour Creations host where you'll find the rest of the links for some more Flirty Flamingo creations from my talented team mates.    Catherine - Colour Creations host

Happy creating.  

Take care, Sue

Head on over here to shop for all the products you need for this card:   Flirty Flamingo Bird Card Products

This is a great card design for mix and matching some of your patterned paper and for using up some of the small scraps.  I've used the Essential Tag Punch - one of our newest punches that is terrific for cards.  Just grab out a pack of DSP - I've used In Good Taste patterned paper here - and some coordinating cardstock and you're all set.  For this card I've scored some score lines in the Petal Pink layer for added texture. 

Here's another variation. The greeting is from Itty Bitty Greetings stamp set.  

I'm looking forward to trying this card layout with some other styles of pattered paper.  I'll pop back to share when I do.

If you love a video step by step I've got one here for you for making this card. 

Happy creating.  

Take care, Sue

Product List: Grab what you need to make these cards at home

Essential Tag Punch [153607] $31.00	In Good Taste Designer Series Paper [152494] $37.00	Classic Label Punch [141491] $31.00	Itty Bitty Greetings Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151331] $63.00
Gray Granite A4 Cardstock [147008] $15.25	Petal Pink A4 Cardstock [147009] $15.25	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $14.25	Basic Gray A4 Card Stock [121689] $15.25

Are you new to all this and keen to get started on some cardmaking?  If you're looking for a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in Australia I'd be happy to help.