Downline Training - Punch Selection Tool

Well last months downline training meeting was a lot of fun, after all the business chat and promotion celebrations, we made this handy punch selection tool:

It contained 38 different punch silhouettes with their names, codes and prices so that if you see an image in the catalogue(s) and don't want to cut it out by hand, or wonder if you can layer it you can do this and see that these stamps fit within the punch area:

but this one would cut part of the image off so you can't use this particular punch to punch out that stamp.

but I could move it so that the same size punch punches out each foot singly, but I just can't get both feet in this punch size without trimming some toes!

The girls all decided it was a pretty handy business tool, especially as not everyone has all the punches and it is good to be able to tell customers with confidence if something is the right size or not and also helps my downline know which punches they are likely to get the most use out of when they go to buy them as well. After laminating the card stock, we used the Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in each square and it all loops together on a handy clip that you can open to add more to when we get new punches in the future, or remove them as they retire.

My downline and I get together monthly for product training, business tips, general chat, swaps, making samples with new products, social dinners twice a year and more.....want to join my team click here.

Hostess Best Of Everything

I am loving the simple, but cute stamp set Best of Everything, mind you I'm a bit of a sucker for anything that has matching punches! This was a cute card made ages ago using the Hostess DSP Cheerful Treat. The stitching was done using white Bakers Twine (a carry over item from the Summer mini catalogue) and if you want to earn this lovely designer paper for free (or your choice of other products including, but not limited to exclusive hostess items), I'd be happy to help you run a workshop party with your friends, contact me for details.

Stamps: Best of Everything
Card Stock: Cheerful Treat DSP, Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade & Whisper White
Ink: Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: White Bakers Twine, basic pearls, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Itty Bitty Shapes, Dimensionals.

Pennant Birthday

Well if you are anything like me you are always in need of birthday cards and I am also faced with the dilemma of what to do with all the little scraps of DSP that get cut off other projects - well here's one solution for them.......the layout was CASEd from the Paper Crafters Library.

Lovely and bright isn't it? Using a portion of the sentiment stamps is easy when you use the Stampin' Write marker pens too. It's suitable for any age/gender birthday really.........what is your best way of using up scraps?

Stamps: Rough Type alphabet (retired), Curly Cute
Ink: Basic Black
Card Stock: Brights Patterns DSP, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise & Real Red.
Accessories: Petite Pennants Builder punch, 1/2" circle punch, Dimensionals

Lace Ribbon Border Punch

Have you seen the lace ribbon border punch? There are so many wonderful punches that co-ordinate with stamp sets and the like that I confess to only just having bought the lace ribbon border punch and after having used it - I'm left wondering why I waited so long! It's gorgeous used in a strip and also lovely cut into individual florets.

Stampin' Up! have released a video on how to use the punch (best used with designer series paper, Whisper White or Very Vanilla as it is so detailed it is harder to punch through standard card stock - although it can be done, I'd just recommend standing up to do so and always no matter what punch you are using punch on a firm, stable surface).

Sadly the border stamps mentioned in the video aren't (yet) available in Australia, but if you want to order the punch, just contact me.

Fresh Vintage Blue Shadows

So finally I'll start uploading some of my Sale-a-bration creations, I have quite a backlog of blogging to do at the minute, so I will endeavour over the next week to address this imbalance! I am totally loving the Sale-a-bration stamp set Fresh Vintage and the fact it has matching DSP & brads is super exciting - well actually the most exciting part is that they are all FREE!!!!!!!!!!

I used a couple of simple, but effective, techniques on this card to highlight shadow stamping (using a clear mount block) and stamping' write marker pens direct to rubber to colour the floral image. Which is your favourite Sale-a-bration item?

Stamps: Fresh Vintage & Trendy Trees (sentiment)
Ink: Pool Party, Island Indigo & Lucky Limeade
Card stock: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Whisper White
Accessories: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, Dimensionals, "C" size clear block, White Bakers Twine, Beautiful Wings Embosslit die, Basic Rhinestones, Two Way glue pen, Big Shot.

Hints & Tips for Corner Rounder Punch

Do you have questions about using your 3/16" (0.5 cm) Corner Punch? Do you even know which one it is? Check page 147 of the current Australian/NZ Idea Book & Catalogue and it is number 23 #119871. Is it working the way you wanted it to? Or has it sat on the shelf never to be used? If you're having trouble achieving the results you want, try these tips: 

• Make sure that the corner of the paper you are trying to round is your cut square. Your paper should have straight sides for the punch to work properly. 
• Your paper should fit snugly into both edges of the guides and into the back of the punch. It is critical that you don't try to centre the paper by looking through the bottom of your punch;  instead, align your paper using the guides.
• Set the paper fully into both guides, as well as the back of the punch, almost pressing your paper down into the guides by curling the outside edge of the paper up. Push your paper flush against the guides as far as it will go into the back of the punch. If your paper isn't fully set against both guides, you will not get a good, clean punch. 
• If you don't get a perfect corner, try centring your paper in the guides and punching again; your design should punch correctly. Don't worry; sometimes it takes some practice.
• Cut only one sheet at a time. This punch is designed to cut only one sheet of card stock or Designer Series Paper at a time.

Here's a tag I made using the corner rounder punch recently with the stamp set Friends 24-7,  I find it just adds a nice finish to the project.

Do you have other questions about this punch? Please leave me a comment and I will endeavour to answer it!

Valentines treat

Want a quick little treat for those you care about? Perfect for Valentines Day, birthdays, Easter, Bonbonaires - change the colours/punch and you have a different look to the treat pouch. This template I got from Andrea Walford and we made it as part of a workshop last night along with a matching card.

The side view is this:

It has red M&Ms in the small cello bag - of course you could use any treats (lollies/candy) to fill the bag as appropriate to the occasion. I think the key is to not overfill the cellophane bag or it distorts the treat holder and makes it look appealing. The ribbon is actually 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon, that I folded in half length ways and then just tied a reef knot, before finishing off with a fish tail cut to the ends to make it look pretty! 

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Ink: Cherry Cobbler Stamp 'n write marker

Card Stock: Love Letter DSP, Pretty in Pink 

Accessories: Full Heart punch, scoring blade, Riding Hood Red 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon (retired - free in 2010 promotion), Basic Rhinestone, small cellophane bag, Sticky Strip, Heart to Heart punch

Non SU: M&Ms

#1 June Stampin' Up! Deal of the week!

Throughout the month of June, Stampin' Up! are bringing you a new deal every week! With the Deals of the Week, you'll get up to 50 percent off a selection of products from the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue!

From 1st June - 8th June the deals are 30% off on four fabulous Stampin Up! punches - there is no minimum order, no limits on the number of special items you can order, you can combine them to add to a party total, the only condition is that the order has to be placed by end of business with me on Tuesday the 8th of June & the normal postage & handling fee is still required.

112081         Scallop Square punch         RRP$30.95 now just $20.12
109183         Trio Flower punch              RRP$30.95 now just $20.12
110711         Boho Blossoms punch        RRP$30.95 now just $20.12
114889         Scallop Oval punch            RRP$30.95 now just $20.12


Contact me if you want to take advantage of any or all of these fabulous offers & keep an eye out each week in June for the next awesome deal of the week!