School holidays here so we've been spending lots of time in our jammies, pottering about outside, reading good books and generally relaxing.  Hannah and I had a bit of a play too with the Festive Flurry stamp set and framelits. Here's my card ....

I took my colour scheme (and that piece of patterned paper) from the Winter Frost Specialty DSP. Island Indigo, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party and Smoky Slate.  Some silver glimmer paper goes well too for a bit of a sparkle.

And I'm completely in love with those gorgeous Frosted Finishes embellishments. 

The greeting is from Special Season - very elegant I thought.  I used the edge of my scissors to add a bit of texture to the edge of the greeting panel.  (Which nicely disguised that it was cut a little wonkily with my scissors!)

Have you got one of the new Magnetic Platforms for the Big Shot?  They make using framelits so easy peasy. No more post it notes.

Hannah had a play too. We quite enjoyed a nice bit of mum and daughter craft time.

Here's Hannah's card.  She loves to raid my scraps box and see what she can put together.

Have a fabulous Spring day and I hope you get some creative time this week. 

Cheers, Sue

Products Featured: 

Something take your fancy?  Click the link to shop in my online store or phone/email through an order as usual. 

Festive Flurry stamp and framelit bundle.   Find it here in wood mount, or here in clear mount.

Frosted Finishes Embellishments - oh so pretty and sparkly.   Find there here.

Winter Frost Designer Series Patterned Paper -Find it here

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Stampin Up Holiday Catalogue Is Here

What -  Christmas cards in January?? 

Just a reminder that Thursday is the last day for the Holiday Catalogue.  There's a list of items carrying over on page 34 and 35 of the new Seasonal Catalogue but there's LOTS that is not there. 

Phone or email your order through before 9pm Thursday if you've got any last bits and pieces you'd like from the Holiday range.  Don't forget your Saleabration freebie if your bits and pieces add to $100. 

Here's a few cards featuring Holiday Catalogue products. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Christmas is well and truly over for another year but I thought I'd share this gift idea anyway as it might be a handy one for some other occasion.  I'd seen lots of  'Gift In A Jar' ideas on Pinterest so when these gorgeous jars popped up on Pack It In  I decided to grab a bunch. 

I filled them with nuts for some and hot chocolate mix for others.  Here's some step by step pics.

Lids on and time to gather up some fabric.  I've used a whole bunch of different Stampin' Up fabrics and coordinating ribbons. (Tip: It helps to secure the fabric with a rubber band, then it is much easier to tie the ribbon around.)





 

Bit of a milestone moment for me as that's the first thing I've actually MADE after pinning it on Pinterest.  I thought they looked quite cute once we were finished.  And I had a spare to try out at home.  Tasted nice too! 

Speaking of cuppas, some of the girls from my Think Ink team came over late last week to share a cuppa and have a play with some of the new products about to be released.  Just got to take some pics then I'll have some sneak peeks to share.

DROP IN DAY: Thursday Jan 24th

If you'd like to come and see some samples in person and have a cuppa and chat stamping or holidays or weather - I'm holding a very casual, DROP IN DAY on Thursday 24th January.  I'll be here between 10 and 5, and between 7 and 9 if any of my local ladies would like to call in, grab their new catalogues, see some samples and perhaps even make a quick and simple tag. 

No charge of course and I'll have a lucky dip on the day for people placing Saleabration orders. 

RSVP if you can make it or if you need more details.

Cheers, Sue

Christmas cards.  Are you a get organised early type of person or a scrambling around mid - late December type person?  I always have good intentions of getting an early start, but in the week before December you can usually find me madly grabbing out the Christmas craft products, getting stuck into the production line and doing a dash to the mailbox.

This year I seem to be running especially late so I was after a nice quick and easy design that I could put together fast without too much brain power.   This fit the bill perfectly .....

Naturals White base, Cherry Cobbler ink and a greeting from Delightful Dozen (pg 141.)

Snow Festival DSP and the Ornament Punch, plus a touch of sparkle with the glimmer paper.

Here's a couple more variations.

Love the red glimmer paper on that last one.  (Quite liking my new camera too I must say!)

Now for the inside of the card.  Ooh better not build any anticipation up there - it isn't gorgeous like some of my stamping friends.  More of a thump thump with a couple of greetings but it did the job.  (Could have used a stampamajig too - don't notice the crooked stamping will you. Wink.)

The greetings here are from More Merry Messages on page 15 of the main catalogue.

And I'd best leave it at that for tonight as I have a date with some wrapping paper and a roll of sticky tape. 

Oops before I go a quick update on this week's Clearance Blitz.   I hear that these items are now out of stock. 

In Colour 2010-2012 Stampin' Write Markers, Mocha Morning specialty DSP, Well Worn DSP, Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Four the Holidays, Patterns 2010-2012 In Colour, Crazy for Cupcakes, Party This Way

If you'd like anything from the last two lists or what's left from this one, get in touch early with your order and payment details and I'll give it my best shot. 

And if all the pre Christmas busy busy gets too much you can always do what my little lad did today.  H and I were packing her things for a sleepover and went looking for J who had disappeared.  Found him curled up on the floor near the couch taking a little nap. 

Happy stamping and wrapping and carol singing! 

Looking at that photo I'd best put vacuuming on that list too.  ;-)  

Keep smiling.

Cheers, Sue

I love this elegant stamp set - Evergreen from the Holiday Catalogue.   This card was CASEd from Stampin' Up.

Early Espresso base and Early Espresso Core'dinations cardstock popped through an embossing folder and sanded.  The tree is stamped in Sahara Sand with Early Espresso ink for the script over the top. Cherry Cobbler for the star and the tulle ribbon to finish. 

I've got some lists from customers for the Clearance Blitz Sale.  I'll be popping the orders I've got here in just after midnight tonight for this second sales period.  Shoot through details if you'd like anything from the clearance sale lists.  (Click here to see the lists.) 

 Happy stamping.  Cheers, Sue

Must be more than about time for a card here I think!  Took this photo on my lovely clean desk - aaah.  (Just can't look at the great big pile on the table still to sort!)

This was one of the cards we did last month at class, along with a coordinating box and purse. 

The feature panel is emboss resist.  Snowflake Soiree is the stamp set and I've sponged Bashful Blue, Marina Mist and a touch of Night Of Navy inks over the embossed images. 

Used my Simply Scored to score at 5.25 and 10.5cm for a z fold card.

The inside panel is shimmery white cardstock and the Northern Flurry folder.  (Just a bit of the embossing folder so that there was still a nice flat space to write on.

I used the Snow Flurry die to cut the silver glimmer paper snowflake for the front and a vintage faceted button to finish.  (Stuck on with a glue dot - they're so handy.)

Want to catch a November class and do some gorgeous festive themed projects.  Find all the details on my class page here, and phone or email to book your seat at the table.  

And I can show you my new improved tidy study (as long as you don't look at the messy mountain that will no doubt still be on our spare table!)  

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue 

Another card today with some of the In Colour Ribbon from the October ribbon special.  This card just needed a little something to finish it off so I was glad I had the coordinating ribbon. 

I've used the new Naturals White as my base.  A gorgeous white with a bit of a fleck through it.  I had a framelit window left from another card so used that as a template for some sponging.   (Tip: I had trouble getting this straight on my first attempt so for this one I first popped the cut out framelit on in the correct position, then positioned the 'window' around it, then removed the framelit shape.  Hope that makes sense.) 

I stamped the image from Serene Silhouettes (pg 75)  over the top in Midnight Muse ink.  I love silhouette stamps.  A vintage faceted designer button added a touch of shine. (pg 176.)

Have I shown you this card?  It was one from our Christmas In July classes a few months ago.  The little bundle of ribbons idea was inspired by Teresa Dabrowski from her presentation at convention.   The card was inspired by one Di Dunk shared with us on our team facebook group.

I've been keeping my little ribbon offcuts since I saw this idea - so easy to just grab a little bundle of them and add them to a bag or card. 

Well, I'd better go.  Off to help celebrate my great uncle's 90th birthday today with a whole swag of the Madex clan.  

Have a terrific weekend,

Cheers, Sue 

Back again with a Christmas version of my "go to" squares card. 

Products:  Snowflake Soiree (Holiday pg 5), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder (Holiday pg 6), Snow Flurry Die (Holiday pg 14), the new Large Pearls (pg 175)

Colours: Cherry Cobbler, Bashful Blue, Midnight Muse, Naturals White cardstock

A touch of silver glimmer paper adds a little sparkle.  This gorgeous sparkly glimmer paper is now available in 3 colours.  You can find the red and silver on pg 160 and the new champagne on page 18 of the holiday catalogue.  Two 12" x 12" squares for $8.95.

I've used the Midnight Muse ribbon on this one.  You can choose a roll of this ribbon (5 colours to pick from) this month with every $60 purchase.

Just one munchkin home for the next couple of nights while Hannah enjoys lots of adventures at Grade 4 camp.  They've been arguing the last few weeks but I bet he'll miss her while she's away.  I'd best get off this computer and go label a few more bits of camp gear! 

Last chance to grab a spot at an October class - there's a few spots tomorrow and Thursday. 

Cheers,  Sue

This is one of those cards that had been floating about in my head for a while.  Was quite pleased that it turned out when I gave it a go - sometimes my cards don't translate well from an idea to an actuality!

I cut the cardstock panels - Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Early Espresso - and stuck them to the base then used Versamark and white embossing powder for the snowflakes.  Stamp Set: Snow Swirled.  Still one of my favourite sets.  The greeting is from that set too - embossed with the yummy Cherry Cobbler embossing powder. (Yummy as in gorgeous, not yummy as in delicious - ha ha.)  I've used the Labels Framelit for the greeting panel. 

Countdown to September 1st .....

Not long now til September 1st.  Just a couple more days to get your order in if there's anything you want from the retired list. 

And a few more days to write and rewrite and rewrite those wish lists if you've been browsing the new catalogues! So many gorgeous things, how do we choose!?

Get in touch if you'd like a copy of the new catalogues that officially come on deck on September 1st - the annual catalogue plus the 40 page holiday catalogue. 

Local?  (In Melbourne's west.)  Book your spot now for one of my new catalogue launches - Wed Sept 19th or Thurs Sept 20th, 7.30pm .  $20 includes a fabulous goodie bag, make and takes, door prizes and lots more fun. 

Cheers,  Sue

I've so been looking forward to this blog hop since Ros let us know the theme would be techniques. I know - great idea isn't it!  I always love learning new things, or being reminded of a technique I've forgotten.   Grab a cuppa and have a browse round the 7 stops in today's hop and get some tips for 7 different stamping or craft techniques. 

Waving a hi if you've arrived here from Ros's blog where she's showing us all about washi tape.  And a hello if you're kicking things off from here. 

My card today features glitter panel technique - one my Christmas In July class regulars know well as I think I include it every year. 

First up you need to stamp your image.  I've used the gorgeous gingerbread man (and star) from Scentsational Season and the colours Cherry Cobbler and Baja Breeze.  I used the labels framelit and my Big Shot to cut out the piece of cardstock.

Grab your Versamark Pad out.   Is yours all beautiful and pristine or has it had a bit of an interesting life like mine!! 

See!   Tap your cardstock on the versamark pad (stamped image side down) - you'll need to move it a few times. 

 


Move and tap, move and tap, until your cardstock is nicely coated with versamark.

Now it is time to get out the heat gun, heat and stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds.

Tip heat and stick powder to liberally cover the cardstock ......

And then tap off the excess ...

... and heat with the heat gun until you see the powder change.  It will look shiny and you'll notice it is quite sticky.   Don't keep at it with the heat gun as this tends to dry it out and it will lose a bit of  tackiness. 

Now time for a dip in the Dazzling Diamonds fine glitter. 

Tap off the excess and I usually give it one more quick blast with the heat gun.  You won't see a change but it seems to help do that last little bit of setting.  (And blows off any excess that is not stuck down.  We have a nice sparkly floor in July!) 

Here's our glitter panel on a card.  (The card layout is based on this Tina Gillespie card that I really liked.) 

Some silver glimmer paper 1" circles to form the scallop trim, some Be Of Good Cheer DSP and shimmery white cardstock for the base and embossed panel. 

I hope you get a chance to get all sparkly trying glitter panel technique.  Holler if you've got any questions.

Now it is time to head along to the lovely Margaret's blog to find out about kissing with an embossing folder - sounds intriguing!  Click here:   Margaret's blog

Have fun and I hope you learn some new techniques while you hop along the stops in today's blog hop.  Now I'd best be off - we have a certain little lad turning 6 this weekend so a cake to decorate and presents to wrap!

Cheers,  Sue