Ornament Ice-cream

Here is another use for the ornament punch when you aren't making Christmas themed items with it! A swap from Alison Smith at Regionals.

Stamps: Short & Sweet, Pennant Parade, Heard from the Heart

Card Stock: Early Expresso, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla & Just Add Cake DSP

Ink: Early Expresso & Blushing Bride

Accessories: Big Shot, Polka Dot textured impressions embossing folder, Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon, Vintage Wallpaper textured impressions embossing folder, ornament punch, petite pennants builder punch, Dimensionals.

Flirtatious Birthday

Here's a swap card from Michelle Coates featuring the very bright Flirtatious DSP - love the folding that she did with it.

Stamps: Cut & Curly (retired)
Ink: Melon Mambo
Card stock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Flirtatious Specialty DSP
Accessories: Basic rhinestones, scallop circle punch, bone folder, Melon Mambo polka dot scallop grosgrain ribbon, curly label punch, 1" circle punch, stamping sponges, Crystal Effects

Just Add Cake Happiest Birthday

I am loving the versatility of the hostess rewards in the new Idea Book & Catalogue, if you don't like the hostess stamp sets and DSP you can use the hostess money anywhere in the catalogue - so much choice!  One of the sets I have been using a lot is the Happiest Birthday Wishes set, 11 stamps with various birthday greetings. This is one I CASEd from Beth-Ann as I loved the simplicity and colours on it which were taken from the DSP colours.

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes

Ink: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron

Card Stock: Just Add Cake DSP, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Subtles brads, Dimensionals

Fathers Day Wallet

I am running a bit behind in my blog posts (as you can see) This was a card wallet made from an A5 size piece of card stock and designed to hold a gift card on one side and a greeting card on the other. These were made for Father's Day, but they can be made for any occasion.

Most of the embellishing on this one was via sponging and the hand drawn stitching with a stamp 'n write marker pen. It was held shut via a small piece of velcro.

Stamps: Word Play & Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card Stock: Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip

Accessories: 1" circle punch, corner rounder punch, metallic brad, 

Non SU! velcro

Polar Bears

We went to the zoo today, so much fun, although we didn't get to see polar bears, but this was another great swap card made by Peggy Quarmby using the Zoo Review stamp set. I love the effect of torn paper & shimmer mist spray on the 'icebergs' .

Stamps: Zoo Review & Pettit Pairs

Card Stock: Basic Grey, Bashful Blue & Whisper White

Ink: Basic Grey & Bashful Blue

Accessories: Owl builder punch, frost white shimmer paint, Dimensionals, Tombow.

Non SU! Isocol 

Ariel 6"x6" scrapbook page

Once a year we have a Stampin' Up! demonstrators meeting for our state, a fun filled day of demonstrations, make & takes, ideas and information. One of the highlights are the swaps. I actually got time to make 20 swaps this year - but I think I forgot to photograph mine, so I might have to make another to blog it. This one below was made by the very talented Kylie Leusciatti, such vibrant colours aren't they!

Stamps: Commotion in the Ocean
Ink: Pacific Point
Card Stock: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise & Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Bug Shot, Junior Timeless Type Alphabet, 1 1/4" circle punch, Dimensionals, white gel pen

Build A Blossom

I love the colours on this card, but for some reason when I photograph Concord Crush it always looks very blue? Anyway this was made for a lovely friends birthday using the new Build A Blossom punch and stamp set - I love the builder punches they save so much cutting out time! What you can't see is the tulip boarder dry embossing around the top of the Concord Crush card stock which gives the card more dimension.

Stamps: Build A Blossom

Ink: Old Olive, Concord Crush, Certainly Celery & Wisteria Wonder

Card Stock: Concord Crush DSP (in colour), Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush

Accessories: Victoria lace, subtle brads, antique brad, Build A Blossom punch, Big Shot, Tulip Embossing Folder

ESAD Summer mini blog hop is coming..............

The Summer mini Blog Hop Is Coming............December the 1st...........by 25

ESAD Stampin' UP! Demonstrators featuring all new products from the Summer 

mini catalogue! If you want a summer mini catalogue sent to you on December

1st please contact me or if you want to come along and play with all new 

things from the new catalogue in person we have an RSPCA WA fundraiser on 

December the 2nd - see here for details.

Embossed Wedding Card

This card is the result of getting a phone call from a friend in distress who was in the car, driving to a wedding who had forgotten to make a card! I had less than 10 minutes to create something (after I finished laughing) - amazing what happens when you are on the clock - it isn't fancy but it fits the bill and there is no way I could have done it without my Big Shot - for this months super special on the machine and dies check out the post here! You can't see from the photography as I didn't have long to take the pic, but each of the flower centres' has a basic rhinestone in the centre of it so the card had lots of sparkle!

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Ink: Baja Breeze
Card Stock: Baja Breeze & Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, modern label punch, Dimensionals, organza ribbon, rhinestone brad, basic rhinestones & stamping sponge.

Sneek Peek - Fabulous Florets!

Not long now until the new mini catalogue is released (if you want one sent to you on December 1st - please just contact me so I can add you to the list - they are FREE), alternatively you could join us for an evening of crafty fun whilst raising money for the RSPCA WA ( details here ). The card below is made using one of the gorgeous new stamp sets that will be in the mini called Fabulous Florets by the ever talented Samantha F. in our demonstrator group swap this month.

Stamps: Fabulous Florets

Ink: Bashful Blue, Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake

Card Stock: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake

Accessories: Scallop border punch, Twine, Dimensionals, paper snips.

Magazine Card Holder

There is a really cute mini magazine holder on page 132 of the Ideas Book & Catalogue (IB&C) that I thought would be perfect for use in my downline meeting this month, but I also used them as a hostess gift holder as well. They are sized to fit standard C6 sized envelopes and cards. For our meeting we actually decorated them using the wheels as we did a mini workshop on wheel techniques, but you can decorate them however you like or just use DSP as per the example in the IB&C. We decided that they would make lovely gifts containing a few handmade cards for elderly relatives or those that are challenging to buy for.

The new chocolate chip polka dot scalloped ribbon is definitely one of my favourites from the new catalogue and I continued the polka dot theme on the label with a white gel pen.

Stamps: Baroque motifs, Elements of Style
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Card Stock: Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Polka Dot scalloped grosgrain ribbon, curly label punch, 1" circle punch, white gel pen, Sticky Strip.

Merry & Type Partial Embossing

This is a super cool and simple technique that has been on the web for a while, I honestly can't remember where I first saw it I'm thinking it was probably on Dawn O's blog? You simply take a piece of chipboard (available now as sheets to buy on page 155 #114320 which is awesome as they make great die cut shapes to embellish) and cut a shape you want to show up patterned - in this case a triangle shape. I then sticky taped it to the OUTSIDE of the embossing folder, placed the white card stock inside as per normal and left off the bottom standard pad and ran it through the embossing folder as normal. I tend to get better results with the crease pad as the top layer than the standard cutting pad - but that is my preference for what I have found works with my Big Shot best. 

The embossing folder I used for this card is on sale this month - so if you want to save yourself some money, contact me to place an order now.

Stamps Merry & Type

Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Card Stock: Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White & Regals Pattern Stack DSP

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones, Petals A Plenty textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Decorative label punch.

Faux Mother Of Pearl

Each month we get together at demonstrator meetings and have a chat, participate in swaps and also practice or learn new techniques/templates. I get to go to two demonstrator meetings a month as I attend one that my upline holds and then run one that my downline come to if they chose - so if you want to join my team you won't be left stranded for support or ideas! At my upline meeting this month we made this beautiful card with the faux mother of pearl technique. I have a blue tag to attach across the DSP, but I can't decide what sentiment I want on the card at the moment so will attach it when I give the card. Sadly the beautiful soft pearl effect on the butterfly doesn't show up well with my photography either! 

Stamps: Just Believe

Ink: Sahara Sand, Marina Mist, black Stazon, Old Olive & More Mustard 

Card Stock: Whisper White, Marina Mist,  Sahara Sand, & Neutrals DSP

Accessories: Scallop lace border punch, Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies die, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, basic pearls, Frost White Shimmer Paint, stamping sponges.

Double Brayer Embossing to Make Gingham

Here's a variation on the previous brayered embossing technique from earlier this week here.....you just do the technique twice, but rotate the card stock 90' when you put it into the inked embossing folder - super cute gingham effect isn't it?

Stamps: Easy Events
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder & Black Stazon
Card stock: Basic black, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White
Accessories: Blender pen,  Striped embossing folder, Dimensionals, Big Shot.

Big Shot Mini Memo Hangers

Actually I have no idea what to call these things - I made up some bits and pieces for a fete recently and below was one of them. They are made by adhering DSP (designer series paper - I used some retired patterns but the new patterns would look lovely too!) to chip board or similar (I used the thick white card that acts as a backing sheet on the DSP packs) with either the Anywhere glue stick or my favourite the multipurpose adhesive sheets. I then die cut the shape twice to form the covers and then die cut several layers (~6 at a time) of white copy paper, used my crop-a-dile to hole punch everything and held it all together with a ring clip that I bought from a stationary shop. Such a cool thing for adding to a bag when you need to write a quick note or phone number down! 

If you don't have a Big Shot or are after the Beautiful Butterflies die - they are both on sale this month (along with several other dies) check out the sale here and contact me to place an order.

Brayered Dry Embossing

I recently did a Big Shot techniques class - which could have easily filled about four time slots as there is so much cool stuff you can do with this die cut machine! One of the techniques was brayering the top of an embossing folder and then putting the card stock into the machine - so you get an almost letter press effect. The brayering can be done on either side of the embossing folder so you would get a positive or negative effect. Of course the best part is the brayer and embossing folder clean up super fast with water as the Classic inks are water based so no staining! (this might not be the case with the black ink though as that is water proof - but i haven't used black for this technique yet so can't comment on the staining of it, although that wouldn't effect the performance of the folder or brayer).

Stamps: Word Play

Ink: Baja Breeze & Early Expresso

Card Stock: Whisper White & Early Expresso

Accessories: Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Big Shot, Clear Rhinestone Brads, Organza ribbon, paper piercer.

Harry's Movie Present

My son had a friends 6th birthday to go to on the weekend and I'm always a bit challenged when it comes to thinking of what to buy for children as I know how I feel about lots of plastic stuff and the 2 minute toys (i.e. they play with them for 2 minutes and then they either break or the child loses interest in them) and I wasn't sure what books he likes to read/be read so I took the cheats way out and bought some movie tickets for him. My son helped me die cut the letters for his name, stamped the tag and chose the lollies (treats/candy/sweets) to add to the bag for eating whilst watching the movie(s) and this was the result - fast, effective gift packaging that was unique! (the parrot sticker was also my sons addition to the packaging).

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes

Ink: Real Red
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories: Timeless Type Junior Alphabet, Spiral Punch (retired), Tombow Glue, hemp twine, 1/16" handheld punch.

BIG Big Shot Savings

Ever been tempted to buy a Big Shot or some of the gorgeous dies for it??? This super versatile machine can cut over 50 different materials (list here). This month is a good month to cross it off your wish list (or I'll be happy to gift wrap it for putting under the Christmas tree so someone else can cross it off their list!). All the details can be found here or are listed below - make sure you read all the way to the bottom as there are TWO more offers exclusive to me available!

During November, get 10% off select Big Shot dies. Use these exclusive dies to create fabulous shapes for scrapbooking and card making, dry embossing card stock or making sensational gifts.

Page	Item	Description	Retail Price	10% Off Price
156	117332	Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die	$21.95	$19.75
156	114515	Flower Burst Embosslits Die	$21.95	$19.75
157	114517	Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$14.95	$13.45
157	116824	Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$14.95	$13.45
157	119277	Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$14.95	$13.45
158	113440	Buttons #5 Sizzlits® Die	$9.95	$8.95
159	113466	Pillow Box BigzT Die	$36.95	$33.25
159	114507	Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die	$39.95	$35.95
159	120903	Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die	$39.95	$35.95
160	115953	Mover & Shapers Punch Windows	$54.95	$49.45
160	120893	Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die	$69.95	$62.95
160	121810	Petal Cone Bigz L Die	$59.95	$53.95

Click to the right of my blog menu under categories and select 'Big Shot" and you will see some of the things that I've made with it.

If you don't have a Big Shot machine you can either take advantage of the super special offer below or you could get your Big Shot for half price at just $74.98 plus S&H by simply hosting a $600 workshop. You can get your machine for the 50% off and use your Hostess Dollars you earn to purchase the discounted dies - which based on a $600 workshop would be $100 how cool is that!

Page	Description	Retail Value	10% Off Price	Item
155	Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine	$186.85	$168.16	128944
156	Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslits Die
157	Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Now here's my personal offer #1: For any purchase of a Big Shot machine I will buy you a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder of your choice (see page 157 of the current catalogue RRP$14.95).

If you are not sure how to get the maximum amount of versatility out of the Big Shot why not come along to the Big Shot techniques class next week, where you can learn some tricks of the trade, test the machine out and ask lots of questions.

Personal Offer #2: place any order over $50 with me on the weekend of the 5th & 6th of November 2011 and you will go in the draw to win a $40 voucher to spend on SU! products (to be used before the 31st of March 2012, order total still attracts the 5% postage charges, i.e. I will take $40 off the total amount owing)

Of course if you want a permanent discount on all of your Stampin' Up! products and a host of other great benefits, check out page 169 of the IB&C for details about the Starter Kit or contact me for more details.

So if you want Big Shot savings, to host a workshop, join in a class or just take advantage of any of the special offers listed above why not contact me today.