Playing with Christmas ideas

I spent some time playing around with various ideas and products with a friend over the weekend.  When I do this I tend to venture beyond my stock of Stampin' Up products and on this occasion I decided to see what I could do with some shimmer paper I have had in my cupboard for ages.

These cards are using the same basic technique and layout as in the Holiday Catalogue using the stamp set Joyous Celebrations.  The shimmer paper embossed beautifully and I was delighted with the results.

More to come from this play session as we ran lots of card and paper through the Big Shot using the Snow Flurry die.  I just have to get some cards made now.

October Stamp-A-Stack

Our next Stamp-A-Stack (SAS) will be held on Saturday 13 October from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm.

We will be making 8 cards with a Christmas theme.  We will be using the new stamp set, Joyous Celebrations to create our cards.  I have included an image of possible cards we might make on the day however, you are at liberty to put together any combination of the images in the Joyous Celebration set to create your cards.

Kits will be prepared to make four Riding Hood Red cards and four Old Olive cards and the embossed background image will also be prepared in advance.  After that it is up to you to put together whatever combination of designs you can create on the day.

Come along and join in the fun to see what people come up with.  You never know who will have the next great idea.

Cost for the SAS is $20.00 which includes all materials to make 8 cards with matching envelopes and a light afternoon tea.

A new "Doctor's" Bag

For those of you who have experienced the snoring from my dog Bella during our workshop, I thought you might enjoy this photo of her inside my new "Doctor's" bag.  This bag is designed especially to transport the Big Shot from workshop to workshop.  It is a great bag and a great size as you can see!

Mini Extravaganza - Saturday 23 July

I now have the photos of the two projects my sister, Denise will have for us on our mini Extravaganza afternoon to be held on Saturday 23 July.

The first is a 'Top Note Handbag' with 3 small gift cards inside.  For this project we will use the Big Shot to cut and emboss the Top Note die, construct a small box and put it all together to create a little handbag.  The 3 matching note cards fit inside perfectly.

The second project is this card using the 'Artistic Etchings' stamp set, the Newsprint DS paper and various stamping techniques.

There are only a couple of places left for this afternoon of crafting so if you are interested in joining us please contact me ASAP.  Cost for the session is $30.00 which covers all equipment, the project kits and afternoon tea.

Mini Extravaganza - Saturday 23 July

On Saturday 25 July my sister, Denise will be down from the Central Coast and we will be running an "Afternoon of Craft". We have called this a mini extravaganza.

At this session we will be making 4 projects - 2 cards, a box and a little handbag that holds notecards. Here are the 2 projects I have designed to make on that afternoon.

The first is an acetate box that can hold chocolates or lollies and the other is a card I have made using a design challenge. They are always fun. You are given a sample layout and then, using any cardstock, papers and stamps you can create your own version of the design.

We will be using a variety of stamping techniques on the day as well as the Big Shot to complete our projects.

I will put up a posting to show the projects Denise will be making with us when she sends me the photos.

There are only a couple of places still available for our Extravaganza so you will need to contact me soon if you would like to come.  We will start at 1.30 pm that afternoon so we can get all our projects completed by 5.00 - 5.30pm.

Cost for the session is $30.00 (cash) which includes all materials and refreshments.

Artistic Etchings - a reminder of Paris

I just love using this stamp set because it brings back fond memories of time spent in Paris.  I have CASed this card from an unknown Stampin' Up card maker here in Canberra.  A friend of mine bought a very similar card to this one at a local fete and I couldn't resist using the ideas.

I have used cardstock in Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Cherry Cobbler.  The background is embossed using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and I have used a small piece of DS paper from the Newsprint collection.  Of course the stamp set is Artistic Etchings.

So many elegant designs can be created from this stamp set, definitely one of my favourites.

June Stamp Club

At our next Stamp Club gathering on Saturday 4 June at 2.00 pm we will be looking at a variety of ways to use the Big Shot.  The Big Shot is a tool that can emboss, cut and score cardstock, window sheets, fabric, chipboard and more.

We will be make 3 different projects shown here using different techniques and tools to create various effects to enhance our card making.

The first is a card using embossed vellum.  The vellum is placed in the "Vintage Wallpaper" embossing folder and run through the Big Shot to give a raised and embossed image on the vellum overlay.



The second project is a note card and envelope.   The envelope is cut and scored using the "Scallop Envelope" cutting die.




The third project is another card that has combined the use of the "Top Note" cutting die, the "Perfect Polka Dot" embossing folder and the "Beautiful Wings" embosslits cutting die which cuts and embosses at the same time.


Although this workshop is for my regular Stamp Club girls, if you are interested in finding out more about the Big Shot and it many uses please contact me and we can arrange another time for a repeat of this workshop for those who are interested.

My first "Bonnie Box"

You will be pleased to know that I have returned from Melbourne and my first Stampin' Up Convention full of great new ideas to try and share.

The first of these is, what I have christened, the "Bonnie Box".  A Stampin' Up demonstrator from the US, Bonnie Thurber showed us this as a part of one of her demonstrations.  She showed us many other great creations (including a fascinator fit for a royal wedding) and her presentation had us all laughing so much that it was hard to remember everything she showed us.

This box is made using the Big Shot and the scallop envelope die.  You cut 4 little envelopes and then stick them together using Sticky Strip.  I have made this model in Baja Breeze with some Elegant Soiree Designer Series paper for trim.  It is the perfect size to hold a cupcake or could be used to hold any number of other small gifts.

If you are interested in learning how to use the Big Shot to create cards and boxes just contact me and I will put together a workshop for you.

As I create more of the samples and ideas from Convention I will post them here.  I have over 50 swaps from other demonstrators with so many great ideas I am sure it will take me all year to share them with you.

A "Sense of Time" birthday card

I have made a card for my brother-in-law's (BIL's) birthday. Now this might not sound like such a difficult task but he is my sister, Denise's husband! That means the standard of card making in that household is extremely high.

This card will be studied inside and out (and not by the BIL) so it needed to, shall we say, cut the mustard!!!



I have used the "Sense of Time" stamp set and Cajun Craze as the colour theme with some eyelets, a brad and an embossing folder (not Stampin' Up). The clock face has been heat embossed to give it added texture.

I hope he enjoys the card and that it gets the nod of approval by other discerning eyes in the household.

Stamp Club - Saturday 4 June

At our next Stamp Club gathering on Saturday 4 June we will be looking at using the Big Shot machine.  We will be making the 3 cards shown here.  We will be using embossing folders, cutting dies and "emboss lit" folders which cut and emboss at the same time.

All the folders and cutting dies that will be used on the day can also be used in a Cuttlebug machine.  Cost for the class will be $10.00 (cash).

This class is for continuing Stamp Club members however, if you are not a member but are interested in joining a stamp club please let me know.

I am also happy to offer this class to anyone else who is interested in finding out how the Big Shot works and what you can use it for.  Please contact me and we will work out a suitable time for this class to be repeated.

Strength & Hope

"Strength & Hope" is a lovely stamp set in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.  It comes as a set of 4 stamps - price is $28.95 (C) or $35.95 (W).  Stampin' Up! is donating $2 from every purchase of this stamp set to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  BCRF is dedicated to preventing breast cancer and finding a cure in our lifetime by funding clinical and translational research worldwide.

 

This stamp set is very versatile.  This is the first of many cards I expect to make with this set.

If you are interested in purchasing this set and helping to raise money for a great cause please contact me.

My first attempt at scrapbooking

In January we went to Japan on a ski holiday.  On our way to the northern island of Hokaido we stopped over in Tokyo for a few nights. 

I decided to try my hand at some scrapbooking and I thought some of my photos along with my "Kimino Kids" stamps would work well together.

I have also used some beautiful Japanese rice paper, not Stampin' Up I know, but bought in Tokyo so it only seemed right to use it.

We are hoping the situation in Japan improves over time so that we can visit again to ski and enjoy the culture and food of that country.

Now that I have started scrapbooking I keep thinking of more photos to use to create more pages.  It looks like I have created another monster for myself.

 

Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue

I have recently received some goodies that are now available in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. 

Today was my first opportunity to play with one of the stamps.  It is called "Motorcycle" and I have discovered it stamps beautifully.  It comes as an individual stamp and costs $13.95.

Sometimes it is difficult to come up with ideas for more masculine cards but this works perfectly.  For these cards I have stamped and then embossed the image before using Designer Series paper as a part of the layout.

If you are interested in having a look through the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue I have included a link on the right hand side of this blog or, if you prefer, please give me a call and I will get a copy to you

 

A Trip to Paris

One of my Stamp Club girls is travelling to Paris over Easter.  I made her this card to wish her luck on her trip. 

Of course, none of the group were at all jealous when she was telling us about her holiday.  Well not much anyway.

A new Driver in the Family

My nephew Matt has just turned 17, the age of the driving license!!!!  He passed his test first go and is extremely excited to be allowed out on his own - a worrying time for his mother (my sister Denise).

I have sent him this card with a congratulatory message inside.  The stamp is not from Stampin' Up but is so appropriate for the occasion that I just had to use it.  All other products are from the Stampin' Up range including the Alphabet dies which I am having lots of fun using.

Enjoy the driving Matt and keep safe.

Technique Class - Using Vellum

  

At my next technique class we will be looking at different ways to use vellum as an overlay.  I have included some of the cards I have made recently, one placing the vellum over a stamped image (Baroque Motif flourish) and the others running the vellum through the Big Shot.

This class will be held on Saturday 26 February from 2.00pm -5.00pm and there are still some places available.  Cost is $10.00.

If you would like to book in please call me on 6251 4346 or send me an email and I will put your name down.

New Chocolate Wallet

This is a new Chocolate Wallet I have cased from Marelle Taylor and then my sister Denise.

It is so easy to make. You can make them using just half a sheet of 12x12 DSP and 2 Top Notes.

Just fold up one edge of the DSP about 10cm to form a pocket. Then fold it in half and half again, accordian-style. Put some adhesive to separate the individual pockets (I used SNAIL on the inner fold and Sticky Strip on the 2 outside "open" edges). I might try Sticky Strip on all next time as I didn't feel the SNAIL held very well. Then stick a Top Note to the front and back, tie it closed with a ribbon and decorate as desired. I put the 2 Top Notes through the Big Shot with embossing folders to add some texture.

You can put anything you like into the pockets, gift vouchers, fancy tea bags, I used chocolates which I purchased from Aldi, called "Moser Roth" $2.49 for a pack of 5 chocolates. You only need 4 for the wallet, so you can treat yourself whilst making the wallet!!

Christmas Wreath

This is an advent wreath I made leading up to Christmas.  This idea was published in a Cardmaking Stamping and Papercraft (CSP) magazine and was designed by Marelle Taylor.  It took a while to collect the tools and products I needed to create it but I was happy with the end result. 

The little envelopes were made using the "scallop envelope" die through the Big Shot, one of the small circle punches was used as a backing for the numbers.  Inside the envelopes at the back a "sweet treat cup" was inserted, inside the sweet treat cup, rub ons or stamped images were placed. A Christmas message was stamped on the opening inside flap of the envelope.  Inside the "sweet treat cup" was of course a sweet treat.  The envelopes were tied with 1/8" taffeta ribbon and some 1 1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon was used around the wreath for further decoration.  The envelopes were attached to the wreath using a hot glue gun.