summer mini open home

    I decided on 3 cards for my summer mini launch. I set up 3 double work stations so once a card was made I just had to replenish the CS (already cut & scored) & those that made more than 1 card just moved to the appropriate seat. This works well & free's up space on the table. I'll be back soon to show you some of the sample cards -just need to photograph individually.

Butterfly Prints

Pink Flamingo DSP (on sale for only $12.71)

click on the label on the right to view Stampin' Up!s inventory clearance sale!

What a great idea to use the Butterfly Punch this way (not quite all the way through the CS). I saw this gorgeous card on Jayne's blog here & had to case! I love the new coloured buttons & as you may already know, the Red Polka dot ribbon (I used sticky strip to ruffle & adhere it -super easy!) I made these cards for my summer mini open home & forgot to post my samples, so I'll get onto that now while I have the chance, lol, such a busy & very enjoyable time of the year!

Easel cards

I recieved the gorgeous Butterfly card on the right as a Demo swap for regionals by Vanessa, I was so delighted, I had to case it, I didn't own "Pocket Silhouettes" (now do! lol) so I used  " Ocean Commotion" for 1 & "Hello Again" on the other. Thanks for the inspiration Vanessa & for allowing me to share your clever card. Colours are Elegant Eggplant, Taken with Teal , Old Olive & Whisper White.
If you cut (Elegant Eggplant) CS 20cm x 9.9cm, then score at 10cm & 15cm you will get 3 cards from an A4 sheet.

Yum Yum Balls

Little Homemade gifts for Christmas that look as good as they taste. These delicious Baileys yum yum balls are sure to please. I've used medium cello bags that hold 6 loose balls in a polka dotted cupcake patty & for the cute little chocolate polka dotted foils I used a large cello bag & that fits 12 balls. Stamp set is "Bella's Bloom" which I coloured with Choc Chip, Ruby Red & Old Olive markers.

Love the Polka Red Ribbon in the Summer mini -I'm on my second roll already!

Recipe for Baileys Yum Yum Balls;

• 2 cups crushed plain biscuits
• 1 cup coconut
• 2 tblspn cocoa
• 1 can condensed milk
• 2 tblspn baileys

1. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly.
2. Shape into small balls & roll in White grated chocolate or extra coconut.
3. Chill for at least 30mins before serving.

Frames with a Flourish Christmas cards

These look gorgeous IRL, the Gold embossing and Brushed Gold CS with taken With Teal looks amazing. "Frames with a Flourish" is teamed with "Punches Three" stamps & the possibilities are plenty!  I took these individual photos below for detailing but it dosen't show the sparkle!

it's all about the packaging

This is how I packaged my gift for Stamp INKstincts Christmas Grab. I did some Christmas shopping at Alanna Hill & of course had to keep the bag with the Red Satin Ribbon, all I did was cover up the logo with the Merry Christmas on both sides, the other side I forgot to take a pick of but it had "Tree Trimmings" baubles stamped on that.

Ingredients for card;

"Frames With a Flourish" & "Many Merry Messages" stamp set. (how good do these look teamed together)  Whisper White, Very Vanilla & Real Red CS, Real Red ink, Cnr Rounder Punch, 3/4" Polka Dot Ribbon (New). You will need the SAMJ for this card, sticky strip for the Ribbon & mini glue dot for the bow. I loved this card so much that I have made a dozen for my Christmas cards this year, I find it hard to stick to the 1 design, lol.

Sweet Treat Cup Christmas

My first play with the Sweet treat cups from the Summer Mini & I wanted to make it Christmassy!
Supplies: "Trendy Trees" & "Short & Sweet" stamp sets. Taken with Teal, Brushed Silver & Whisper White CS. Taken With Teal & Encore Silver ink pads. Sweet Treat Cup, Chunky Glitter, White Tafetta Ribbon, Scallop Edge & Corner Rounder punches.

Brisbane Regionals

I had a great day yesterday at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane for Stampin' Up!'s anual regional. My presentation went well. I must admitt I was nervous because I had to wow fellow demonstrators, but I realised during the course of the day (I was on at 2pm) that I was with a great group of ladies who showed alot of support & really I had nothing to be nervous about, all the presenters chosen went well & we all learnt something new & what a great experience, I would definately do it again!!! I managed to get a measly 8 swap cards made (wish I had done more as there were so many gorgeous cards to swap with), I'll show you the ones that I did get soon. I changed completely my original design posted here as the stamp set "Tree Trimmings" is sadly retiring in a couple of days -back then I didn't think about that!
I demonstrated Punch Art using the Full Heart Punch & here are my sample cards;

The Bikini

Box Pleated Dress
9x9cm DSP scored at 1.5cm, 2cm, 3.5cm, 4cm, 5cm, 5.5cm, 7cm & 7.5cm.

My Swap cards

Christmas Decoration

Christmas Tree

Engagement bonboniere with Butterfly Prints

While I was in Sydney last week for a very busy week of party's & stamp events I had. I managed to make 50 of these favours for my nephews engagement, using the new summer mini Stamp set "Butterfly Prints" & Butterfly Punch, (I took my summer mini pre-order so I could have a play!) I also wheeled Baroque Border -such a devine wheel. Colours are Perfect Plum & Pale Plum with just some silver curling ribbon. My niece made the invites & these were the colour scheme, I will take a pic & post her card a bit later as I have been so far behind in my posting! I will hopefully over the next few days catch up before the Summer mini is live.

Chocolate Lindt slider

These make great gifts this Christmas & are so easy but look complicated. We made these in my recent Christmas Gift Giving classes & everyone loved making them So here are the instructions: Cardstock measures 14cm x 12.5cm, Score along 14cm side at 1cm, 6.5cm, 7.5cm & 13cm.

Score the 12.5cm side at 1cm on the bottom only.
Stamp or wheel the entire piece on one side. Cut the base on at all 4 score marks to the 1cm score mark & removing one 1cm square completely then fold each score line. Adhere Sticky strip along one side & along the bottom & assemble the box.
Punch a slot at the top of the box on both sides together & in the centre to thread the ribbon through. Decorate the front of your chocolate slider. Here is another design.

Enjoy!

So Swirly snowflake card

A pretty & simple card great for workshops & for those that are still not sure on a design for Christmas cards or haven't started on them -they would look great in many colour ways.

So Swirly & Many Merry Messages stamp sets, Eyelet Border Punch, Pink Tafetta Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds & Two Way Glue (If you like a bit of bling) are the tools needed for this design, colours are Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant & Pirouette Pink with Whisper White.

It's hard to see in the pic but the smallest snowflake is stamped in Pirouette Pink ink & the centres a dazzled with Diamonds.

Joy Monologue

I really enjoyed decorating this Joy monologue for the Christmas INKstinct swap this month. We had to make something that can brought out year after year. I used retired Christmas SU! DS papers & some of the ribbons are as well, I painted the O & then stamped on that with the snowflakes from "So Swirly" I also used the greeting "May the true spirit of Christmas fill your heart with peace, your home with love" & finished it off with a Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon bow. I just ordered some more of this gorgeous ribbon for my Christmas gift wrapping as it retires at the end of this month & I also ordered some gorgeous new red Polka Dot Ribbon from the Summer mini which goes live on the 1st December.

Fifth Ave Floral gift box

I covered a shoe box of Teya's that I had in my stash of great box's to keep! & one day decorate, well the day came for this shoe box & it was the perfect size for Helen's 50th Fifth Ave Floral invites to be sent in, below is a pic of the invites assembled & the stamped envelopes to match.

Christmas Gift Giving Guide

Make Stampin' Up! your one-stop shop for all the creative & special people in your life!
From the 1 November to 14 December, receive a free Scallop Square punch (a $30.95 value) when you spend $85 on products from the Gift Giving Guide.

Cheers to you card

Need a quick Birthday "Cheer & Wishes" card?

"Cheers to you" stamp set will do it.

Colours are Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black & Whisper White -I just love the styish & elegant look Black & White gives. I watercoloured the cocktail with ink & a blender pen & fished the card off with some Black Gingham ribbon. I should get a set of these done as it would make a lovely gift set.

Punch Art Bikini

Happy Holidays from "Merry Messages" is not a greeting I would use on my Christmas cards, but when I saw a bikini as I cut the Full Heart Punch image I reached straight for it, along with "Lazy Days" Wheel. Tangerine Tango is a colour I haven't really used much as it's very bright for me, but once again I reached straight for it along with the co-ordinating Striped Ribbon it goes very nicely with the bikini in Baja Breeze DSP.. I couldn't resist adding some frills on my bikini (see punch pic on how I did this) & used some silver cord (retired) for ties & bows. I hope you are inspired & have fun Designing your own Bikini line!

Tres Chic Christmas card

I am trying to design my swap cards for regionals & had an idea in mind so yesterday I started off by sponging a piece of Whisper White with Piroutte Pink ink then I Embossed "Tres Chic" in clear on top, I stamped the tree from "Season of Joy" (rock-n-rolled with Riding hood Red) then I stamped a "Tree Trimmings" bauble in Kiwi Kiss & continued to sponge with Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss & Pirouette Pink all over until I achieved the look I wanted. I added a Star brad from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge some Piroutte Pink Striped Ribbon & the Greeting from "Best Yet" mounted onto the Scallop oval, the edge is punched with the Eyelet Border & a Whisper White insert also Eyelet border punched. A bit special & once I started I couldn't stop making these pretty Christmas cards & I can't decide now which is my favourite!
Below I really like the scallop strip dazzled with Diamonds that I fluked making (I was doing faux Ric Rac with the scallop edge punch) it just goes so well with the card design, I also like the Clear Rhinestone on the card in the middle. I'm not fished with it yet but my swap card design is well on the way!

Watering Can tutorial

How cute is this watering can (Teya thought it was a tea pot) I thought it might be fiddly but to cute to resist making one & it was a cinch thanks to the great template & video tutorial here on Splitcoast.

Great Friend 4x4 card

Supplies:
Great Friend stamp set,
Baja Breeze (textured), Not Quite Navy & Whisper White Cardstock, Urban Garden DS paper.
Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy ink, Curly Label Punch, SAMJ.
White Taffeta Ribbon, 2 way Glue pen & Dazzling Diamonds, Paper Snips, Dimensionals & Snail Adhesive.

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Punch out Curly Label in the centre of the DSP that measures 3” x 3” (insert the paper all the way into the punch & centre the sides exposed)
2. As a guide align the punched out DSP on top of the White CS that measures 3 ½” x 3 ½” leaving an even border of White showing & Stamp the greeting using a SAMJ in the centre of the Curly Label, now adhere the White CS with Snail to the Baja Breeze Card front.
3. Tie some White Taffeta R ibbon around the DSP as shown in pic & add 4 Dimensionals to the back & adhere to the White CS.
4. Stamp the butterfly onto a scrap piece of White CS inked up in Baja Breeze & cut it out leaving a border, add some 2 way Glue to the white showings & sprinkle over some Dazzling Diamonds, add an edge of the Dimensional sheet to the back & in the centre of the butterfly & adhere this to the card front in the top right hand corner of the Curly Label.

Fun & Fast notes flip card

Here is a quick & fun card with "Fun & Fast notes -a set I just love for easy Watercolouring.
Colours are Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Old Olive & Confetti White as the card base. The Rhinestone Brad is used for the mechanism to flip the card up to reveal the message.

Fifth ave Floral 50th invites

My wonderful SIL Helen turns 50th next month & this is what I have come up with for her invites -I thought I'd show you the in progress pic here. Helen loves the Rose from "Fifth ave Floral" & wanted red, so I went with Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip & Kiwi Kiss (Urban Oasis DSP) with Vanilla. You're invited is from "Cheer & Wishes" stamp set -I use this set alot!, the leaves are from "Flower Fancy" & 1/2 pearls from the Pretties kit. I just need to stamp the envelopes & off they go! Next I'll be working on the whole Wedding stationary package & I'm thinking "Fifth Ave Floral".

DP Thankyou cards

Windsor Knot DS paper for male 21st Thankyou's that will hold a photo cropped -for my nephew, & Bella Bleu DS paper for Prayer cards. A great way to showcase double sided DS papers.
The Bella Design was ordered un-assembled, the quote is from "Echoes of Kindness" & matching envelopes had a flower stamped & watercoloured, they turned out beautiful.

Stampin Up! a Storm prize winners

Anne Marie was so excited to win the major prize a basket full of SU! Goodies. The 3 other prizes included Simply sent kits along with lots of other goodies. Congratulations ladies & thankyou everyone for your support, we raised over $560 for Motor Neurone Ass of QLD, pretty happy with that for a fun day of Stampin'!

Not the most flattering of photo's but the only one I got of Jane & I in our Stampin' Up! a Storm! shirts that Jane suprised me with & I can't wait to wear again, so yes there will be other days of Stampin' Up a Storm!

Bag & Brag Stampin' Up! a Storm project

Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper were in mind when I designed this project. I made a  similar one years ago at a Rebekka Erickson class I did. The bag was manufactured & bigger than 12" CS so I designed my own template out of an A4 sheet of Confetti White CS to hold the hang n brag which are 3 x A5 held together with ribbon & decorated with Parisian Breeze papers. I also made another to house std cards & C6 envelopes, Lewis our cat is taking a closer look!

Punch Art for Stampin' Up! a Storm

Attendees made the Icecream card, Handbag Gift Card Wallet & Kokeshi card as 1 of 4projectson the day.

Here is another photo of a Gift Card Wallet I made with the gorgeous Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon.




















click here for the video tutorial from Chic n scratch for these GCW's, I resized mine to suit A4 cs that way you get 2 out of 1 A4 sheet & it still fits a std Gift Card.










Here it is open & because I used DS paper I added a piece of Sahara Sand CS so a greeting can be stamped & written.