Time to start thinking about Christmas gifts and wrapping. We've got a fab range of gift boxes, bags and tins if you're keen to dress up a gift card, or an event/experience voucher. I've put together this video to show you a few of the options in our range and some simple ideas for decorating them. You can find our packaging range here: Gift Bags, Boxes and More
I'm thinking this might be a 'put the tree up early' sort of year - am a bit tempted to get it out this weekend. What about you?
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
The mini treat bag thinlits are great for cutting patterned paper to quickly put together this little bag. It is just the right size to fit a couple of our note cards in. Or some other small treat.
I made this one using the elegant Something Borrowed DSP. This paper is in Sahara Sand and White. I used some more on the little note cards I popped inside the bag.
I've used the crumb cake note cards. Quick and easy to add a panel of patterned paper, some ribbon trim and a butterfly. That's the new white jute ribbon on the left and the beautiful sahara sand lace on the right. The butterfly is in Early Espresso.
My extra, extra long 100th edition of my newsletter went out to inboxes overnight so keep an eye out for that. If you'd like to get my newsletter with card ideas, memory keeping inspiration and all the latest Stampin' Up news - there's a sign up box at the top right here.
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.
We had lots of fun making these easel card 2013 calendars at class this month (along with a couple of other projects I'll share another day.)
My class ladies didn't mind sharing their creations so I grabbed out the camera and took some snaps. (I think I missed a couple - sorry to those ladies.)
First up is Mel's calendar featuring Floral District DSP (patterned paper) and the bird builder punch.
The greeting many of us used is from Word Play (pg 135.)
Next up is Anne-Marie's calendar featuring Comfort Cafe DSP (pg 163) and the elegant butterfly punch (pg 184)
The antique brad finishes the butterfly beautifully doesn't it.
Next up a group shot. These ones were made by Claire, Denise, Maria, Julia and Michelle. I love how different they look depending on choice of paper, colour and finishing touches.
I spy Comfort Cafe, International Bazaar and Floral District DSP there.
Isn't that owl a cutie.
Next up is Ann's featuring World Spectacular DSP (pg 163.)
I love how she cut out some extra balloons from the gorgeous DSP and stuck them on with dimensionals for some added texture.
(Rest of the Wed night ladies - I missed your creations. Oops! Juggling my two jobs last week and my brain didn't quite keep up. Ha ha.)
OK, on to our last night for this class.
These two are from Judy and JoAnne and feature 2 other stamps from the Word Play set. (I think this is a great set for scrapbookers.) DSP Left: Summer Smooches Right: Storytime and Polka Dot Parade
This one is from Julie and features the bright and happy Floral District.
And last up we have Gail's with Comfort Cafe. The rhinestones add that lovely touch of sparkle.
I'll have some step by step pics in my December newsletter. Pop your email address in to the registration box up the top right there if you'd like to get a copy each month direct to your inbox. Keep up to date with the latest specials and class dates, and I try to include some projects and tips too.
A big thank you to Nikki Sadler for organising the bulk purchase of the cute little calendar pads for the team, and to all my class ladies for sharing their creativity here in blogland.
We got the little calendars from Edex. Website here. Do a search for calendar tabs and you'll find them. They come in pads of 25 or 50. Hint: Use a craft knife and cut them apart so the sticky stuff doesn't come off.
Want to see more?
My team member and friend Tina Gillespie made a gorgeous easel calendar with a little pull out drawer at her classes recently in Adelaide. Check out her terrific project (with very handy measurements if you'd like to give it a go) here: Tina's project and see some variations from her talented class ladies here: Tina's class ladies
December Classes: Avondale Heights in Melbourne's west
I've got just two class dates for December. We'll be drawing inspiration from the talented Nikki Sadler to make a gorgeous little Christmas house and some Christmas tags. The lists almost filled up at November classes but there are a couple of seats left on Wed 12th December, or pop your name down on the waiting list for Thurs 13th December. At this busy time of year we may get some cancellations. (Call early if you can't make it please and we might be able to fill your spot with someone else keen to catch a class.) $20 and class starts at 7.30pm.
Happy stamping everyone and hope you get some creating and relaxing time amongst all the hustle and bustle of this time of year.
I'm looking forward to classes over the next couple of weeks. We're adding a technique card to our books - emboss resist technique. And we'll be making a gorgeous snowflake Christmas card and matching gift box. Here's a peek at the box. I've got one other little teeny surprise project too for our October classes.
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.
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.
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.
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?
