We had such a lot of fun with this beautiful watercolouring on craft ink technique at classes in July/early Aug. It looks lovely and artistic and is very easy to do with just a few bits and pieces. 

(Note: Technique inspiration from the talented Patty Bennett.  Find her card, technique post and video here. )

Technique Instructions:

Stamp your outline image in white craft ink and emboss with white embossing powder. 

Squirt a drop or two of white craft ink onto a lid or palette and use a damp aquapainter to pick up some ink.  Use the craft ink to colour your image.  It soaks in a little so you may want to do a layer or two.  Leave to dry thoroughly, or use a heat gun to speed this up a bit.

Now comes the fun bit.  Choose your colours and pop a drop or two of your classic ink reinker/s onto your lid.  Pick up a little ink with your aquapainter.  I like to do a brush stroke or two onto scrap paper first or a tiny blot on paper towel or I seem to get too much ink on that first dab. 

Colour in your image.  It blends beautifully over your base layer of white.  You'll find you'll naturally get more and less ink in places which looks really effective and effortlessly artistic I think!   Leave to dry or use that heat gun again. 

The colour fades a little once dry.  You end up with a lovely soft looking image. 

This sample uses Melon Mambo and Shaded Spruce.  I've used the exclusive August only Blended Seasons bundle for these projects.  Get yours today before it is gone for good.  Blended Seasons Bundle

Here's some more colour combos inspired by the cards my lovely class regulars made.   This one uses a mix of Smoky Slate and Night Of Navy for the flowers with the leaves left white and Wink Of Stella Glitter Pen for highlights.  So sparkly in real life.  (Inspired by class member Maree M - loved this combo.) 

Love this one too with the flowers left white this time with Daffodil Delights centres and a pale wash of Pear Pizzazz for the leaves.  Those speckles are the sparkles - hard to photograph. 

Class regular Brenda loves purple.  I gave her combo a whirl too - Highland Heather with a touch of Navy for the centres. 

What's your favourite colour combination?  This is a great technique to try on Crumb Cake cardstock with any of your favourite outline style stamps. 

You can see these cards on this week's Monday video here:  

Happy colouring!

Cheers, Sue

 Shopping from home?  Here's the shopping links if you need them. 

Product List

Blended Seasons Clear-Mount Bundle [149894] $113.00	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Ink Refill [101780] $8.00	White Stampin' Emboss Powder [109132] $8.75	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $11.50	Aqua Painters [103954] $20.00
Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685] $14.75	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131160] $6.50	Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [147167] $6.50	Poppy Parade Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [119791] $6.50	Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [119672] $6.50

Isn't this just beautiful paper.  I can't get enough of it.  Just lovely photo realistic designs on one side with beautiful flowers, and some soft patterns on the other side.  Just add a little greeting and let the paper do all the work. 

Framelit is from Stitched Shapes - a very versatile framelit set to have in the collection.

Here's one of the other designs - with a sponged edge to soften the white edges.

Have you seen the cute little copper tins we have?  You get 4 tins in a set (shopping link below.)  They're perfect to pop a gift card in nestled on some tissue paper, or to make a set of 3" x 3" cards and package them up in the tin.  Here I've dressed one up with a wrap of Petal Promenade DSP and a copper sticker on the lid.  Tear and Tape is a good adhesive for this - nice and strong. 

Last couple of days of our DSP Buy 3, Get 1 Free special if you're keen to stock up on some of your favourite papers before July ends. 

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

 Shopping from home?  Here's the links.  The host code this month is QHC24T6B

Product List

Petal Promenade Designer Series Paper [146913] $19.25

Copper Tea Tins [147034] $26.00

Tea Room Copper Vinyl Stickers [146314] $12.25

Tear & Tape Adhesive [138995] $9.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $50.00

Another Hexagon Hive thinlit card today for you.  This time I've used one of the designs from the Retro Fresh DSP (patterned paper) and topped it with a Whisper White layer. 

Some pretty flowers and pearls to finish, popped up on some of our handy Stampin' Dimensionals. 

Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper

Occasions Catalogue: Pg 19

$18.95

12 sheets - double sided.  12" x 12"

Find it here if you're shopping online.

There are some great coordinating products in this range.

Petite Petals Bundle

Occasions catalogue: Page 33

6 flower stamps and a punch

Save 15% when you purchase them together.

Wood bundle: $39.75   Clear bundle: $34.75

Here 'tis (if you can't resist it - wink. They're so cute.)

Label Something Stamp Set

Annual Catalogue

6 stamps that coordinate with punches for quick and easy greetings. 

These ones are very popular with my class ladies. 

Stamp set here along with the list of coordinating punches.

Hexagon Hive Thinlit Tips:  To stick the hexagon layer to the card I like to use snail adhesive on the back of the larger hexagons then a dab of Tombow glue on some of the thinner bits. 

I hope you get some creative time this week.  Got any projects on the go?  I've hunted out a bunch of photos of my siblings and I and am halfway through a little album using the Mini Memories Simply Created Album Kit.  I've got 2 sisters and a brother and it has been fun looking through the photos from when we were kids.  Looking forward to seeing how the album turns out. 

Cheers, Sue

Time to share some samples I think!  I've been having so much fun playing with my box of new catalogue goodies that I've forgotten to blog.  Let's kick off with 3 days of Perfectly Preserved Bundle (Holiday Catalogue page 29.)

Funny story with this bundle of stamps and framelits.  They flashed a pic of them up on the screen at convention and I thought, 'Nah, not for me.'  Then the presenter showed a bunch of gorgeous samples and I went from 'Nah' to 'Gotta have that jar' in a flash.  Quite often the way isn't it - you need to see it in action!

This card is a straight CASE of this one by Mary Fish from Stampin Pretty.  (LOVE her work.)  I quite like starting off with a CASE (or copy) of someone's design to get the brain into gear.  Sometimes I get halfway then start to tweak.   This time I just copied the card and that got me all fired up and ready to come up with my own.  (Come back tomorrow for that one.) 

The stamp set is a set of 14 and there's a coordinating set of framelits to help you cut out the main images easily.  Get the bundle and save 15%.   Page 29 of the Holiday Catalogue.

I'll see you tomorrow for another card featuring Perfectly Preserved plus the Orchard Harvest DSP.

Launch Update

Only 6 spots left Wedneday and 2 spots left Thursday for next week's launch nights.   Get in touch if you'd like to book in.  Details here.

Happy stamping!

Cheers, Sue

Here's another of the 3D flowers we did last month at our flowers class.  They're quite quick and easy to make - even for 3D challenged people like me!

We made good use of the lace ribbon border punch.  That punch along with the triple layer punches retired recently in the US so I am quietly expecting them to be on our Last Chance List of retiring products.  This list will be released on August 1st and products on the list will be available in August while stocks last. 

Colours: Riding Hood Red, Island Indigo, Baja Breeze and the card base is Confetti White. 

The flower above was my first go - I got a little better with my second try with the addition of some sponging and a little more time arranging the petals. 

Colours: Sahara Sand, Blushing Bride, Rich Razzleberry. Card base is Shimmery White.

Thanks to Miriam Spiess - one of my fellow demonstrators - who showed us how to make these flowers from scallop circles at last year's Melbourne stamping day at the Convention Centre. 

If you'd like to come along this year to be inspired by some talented papercrafters and get a sneak peek at lots of yummy holiday themed goodies coming soon in our Holiday Catalogue, registration closes tomorrow for the Heartfelt Stampin' Up event on Saturday August 4th.  More details at the end of this post or phone/email if you've got questions or would like to book in.  I've got 5 guests coming along so far - would love to add a few more. 

We're almost at the end of Christmas in July week at my place so I'll have some sparkly Christmas projects to share with you soon, plus for those of you always on the lookout for projects for the guys in your lives - we've got a masculine themed project blog hop coming Saturday morning so be sure to grab a weekend cuppa and have fun browsing through those posts. 

Cheers, Sue

I was tempted to call this post Fiddly Farty Flowers - we did these little rose type flowers at my June classes.  (Thank you to Lyn who showed me how to make them.)   I'll have some step by step pics in my July newsletter.  Sign up box at the top right there if you're not on my newsletter list and would like to join.

We had a couple of choices for our card ...   either a simple base like this one .....

Products: Confetti White cardstock base, Island Indigo, Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride, Baja Breeze, Leaves Sizzlit, Square Lattice embossing folder, 1" circle punch and one larger circle punch

Or we could add a little stamping, embossing and ribbon to the base like this ......

Products: Naturals Ivory base, Rose Red, Old Olive, Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, leaves are from the bird builder punch, En Francais background stamp, the dotty embossing folder, pleated Blushing Bride ribbon

We had a bit of an 'open pantry' class so the ladies could raid the scraps box and use different colours if they'd like.  I loved this card that Mel put together using colours in the Brights range. The base is Shimmery White and you can just see the sparkle in the picture. 

I'll share our other flowers cards another day.  In July we've got Christmas In July classes happening.  A few spots left on the Tuesday night if you're keen to get an early start on some festive cards.  Details here. 

Today is the last day to get your free Reason To Smile stamp set with an order of $125.  Phone or email your order through before 9pm if you'd like to take up this offer. 

Have a super weekend and happy school holidays to anyone having those.  We're off to a Prep birthday party today so I'd best get gift wrapping! 

Cheers, Sue

Hello, hope you've had a lovely weekend.  Thought I'd share a couple of cards made with the Reason To Smile stamp set.  This set is free this month with an order of $125 or more.  Just a few more days to go on this promotion.

The base is Perfect Plum, and I've watercoloured the panel of watercolour paper with Melon Mambo, Perfect Plum and Real Red.  The Reason To Smile stamp is embossed in black.  I love the detailed images for embossing.

Here's another one - this time I've used Crumb Cake cardstock and some black to highlight.  The crimped piece and the black satin ribbon add a bit of contrast texture.

Phone or email if you'd like to place an order before the end of June to claim your free Reason To Smile stamp set.

CONGRATULATIONS

Newsletter ladies will know we had a hostess share that closed on Friday.  Congratulations to the 3 ladies whose names were drawn out for an item at 50% off - Cecile and Karen got a Simply Scored, and Gail got the Timeless Type alphabet.  Our hostess share ladies all got a Reason to Smile stamp set and $35 of free products.  I hope you have lots of fun with your products ladies.  Thanks for taking part in the hostess share.

Have a super week everyone!  On the count down til school holidays at our place.

Cheers, Sue

My lovely team member Lyn showed us how to make these pretty little flowers at our last team gathering.  I'm a bit of a 3D beginner but thought I'd give them a whirl and really liked them.  (Thanks Lyn.)

They're made from Twitterpated DSP (buy 3 DSP, get one pack free this month) and I've punched circles from the coordinating colours - Blushing Bride, Island Indigo, Baja Breeze and Riding Hood Red.  The leaves are a sizzlit die.  Some teeny pearls tucked in to the centre of each flower to finish.

Have to share a story that made me smile this morning.  The tooth fairy was a day late at our place (forgetful thing that she is!)  Seems that she had a flash of inspiration though and sprinkled something extra last night along with leaving a coin. 

Hannah excitedly told me this morning that it was fairy dust - it did bear a striking resemblance to Dazzling Diamonds. 

She also added that when she woke up and saw it she thought maybe the tooth fairy had heard her wish, so she sprinkled a bit on herself and said, "I wish to be a fairy."  Didn't work apparently. 

But what a sweet story for the scrapbook. 

Have a sparkly day won't you.

Cheers, Sue

It is that time of year again - the annual Think Ink Team Awards where my team celebrates another Stampin' Up year of fun and craft and creating.  Thought I'd share some pics.

I've been enjoying making these cards - saw this idea here  for the lovely background.  I've used Shimmery White cardstock and glued 2 strips punched with the lace ribbon border punch.  Creates a nice embossed look.  Some score lines with the Simply Scored.   Apothecary Art for the floral panel on watercolour paper. Regal Rose, So Saffron and Old Olive for my watercolouring.

Here's some of our 2012 Think Ink Team Awards prizes and certificates. 

(The role of Tina's die box is being played by Sue's die box for the pic - ha ha!)

Congratulations to Kylie, Tina and Rachel for their sales awards, and again to Kylie for her recruiting award, and to Judy - this year's Think Ink rising star award recipient.  Well done ladies!   And congrats to everyone in the crew for another fun year of getting inky.

I CASEd this Constantly Stamping card  to make this one using Bordering On Romance stamp set .....

That test tube used to hold jelly beans.  I washed and kept the tubes after we polished off the jelly beans as they looked so cute.  Actually I bought them especially to repurpose.  Have you ever bought something just for the cute container? 

Have a fabulous weekend. 

Cheers, Sue

Last year at our Melbourne training day, a fellow demonstrator Miriam showed us some gorgeous flowers  and I've been meaning to try them ever since.  Finally got to it last week.  Started off simple with this one ....

Twitterpated DSP, Riding Hood Red and Blushing Bride cardstock, some faux stitching with the mat pack, paper piercer and a marker, a neutrals button plus the scallop trim punch and a scallop circle for the flower.  I broke open my distressing kit too and used one of the files for the shaping.  Just snip in every second scallop and shape a little for this one.  Good beginner flower for me since I'm a tad 3D challenged!

We had a bit of a Think Ink team gathering last Tuesday and one of my team showed me how to make some other beautiful flowers (thanks Lyn!) so I've been having a bit of a flower week.  Stay tuned for a few more 3D flower cards this week, and if you'd like to make some perhaps we'll put 3D flowers on the June class calendar - dates coming soon.  

If you like the look of that Twitterpated DSP - head over here  for the details on our May DSP specials.

I had a lovely Mothers' Day today with my two munchkins.  Wishing all the best to all the lovely mums, aunties, and grandmas out there.

Have a great week everyone!   

Cheers, Sue