Relaxing break

I am having a lovely break at the beach with my family - thank you for reading my blog! Have a safe and relaxing Holiday and a Merry Christmas! See you in the new year!

Little gifts

I recently needed a thank you gift and the Big Shot made it easy to jazz up some simple chocolates! I decorated the box with the Razzle Dazzle stamp set and Elegant Thank You for the tag, which I made with the large scallop punch from the Summer Mini. Quick, simple, co-ordinated.

Handmade gift idea

I'm sorry it has been so long between posts! At least I can show you what I've been doing in my absence. We had our team Christmas party on Monday night which was lovely! We have a tradition where we all make a present as a Secret Santa, and I forgot to take a photo of the secret Santa gift I made! It is adapted slightly from a Becky Roberts idea.
here is a similar one I made as a prototype:

Summer is here!

My kids are all on school holidays now, hooray!  No more uniforms, lunchboxes and schedules.  It also means less free time for me to create and update my blog - but that is probably a good thing, right?  I'm feeling a bit tapped out creatively speaking, and my mojo is at the beach, without me!

Still, I know I'll be drawn to my stamp desk (when I can find it!) to work on some new projects now that the new Summer Mini is here!

Click here to see the new Summer Mini online - I am trying to mail out hard copies but life is getting in the way.  I'll do my best!  Send me an email if you would like one in your hot little hand!

Speaking of the new Mini - the Launch was fantastic!  I'll post some pictures of the gorgeous projects we made as soon as I dig them out of my camera, promise!

There is also another promotion running this month - December Frenzy!  You can get up to 50% off some great Stampin' Up! products from the 1st to the 29th December.  Don't delay - there could be some great gift ideas in that promotion.  Just sayin'.

Heat Embossing Tutorial - now with pictures!

Heat Embossing Tutorial

Stamps:  Four The Holidays, Delightful Decorations, Season of Joy
Ink:  Versamark, Night of Navy, Real Red
Paper:  Confetti Cream, Confetti White, Real Red, Night of Navy, Ballet Blue (retired)
Other:  Movers and Shapers Die, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Nothing says "Christmas" like some lovely gold or silver embossing, am I right?  In case you are new to stamping, or have been wondering how to do it, here is an illustrated tutorial for your edification and enjoyment!


You will need:
Embossing Buddy (103083 $9.50)
Powder Pal or scrap cardstock  (Powder Pal 102197 $37.95)
Versamark (102283 $13.95)
Embossing powder (Silver 109131 $8.95)
Heat Tool (106586 $49.95) 
Small Paint Brush
Stamps and Paper, naturally!

Step one:
Swipe your cardstock with the Embossing Buddy - this will minimise, if not eliminate stray embossing powder going where you don't want it to.  Your fingers leave small traces of oil etc on the cardstock, which attracts the embossing powder.  So believe me, it DOES make a difference.

The Embossing Buddy IS your friend!

Step two:
Ink up your stamp in Versamark and stamp your image.  Versamark is a clear "sticky" ink which can be used alone to create a gorgeous watermark effect, or for heat embossing as we are about to see, due to its slow drying nature.  Normal Classic dye ink is totally unsuitable here as it will dry almost instantly.

See the watermark impression?

Step three:  
Sprinkle embossing powder of your choice over the Versamark.   Now you see why you need the scrap cardstock or Powder Pal - you tap the excess powder back into the container (this can be messy).  Use the paintbrush for any stray bits of powder that are stuck in the wrong spot.

I tend to keep all my most used embossing poders and glitters into these handy Glad containers, as they are easier on the clean up than the little pots they come in.

Make sure you have no stray specks of powder before you melt it!

Step four:

Melt the powder with a heat gun.  Yes, you CAN use a toaster; but I don't recommend it as people have burned down their kitchens that way!  Do NOT try to use a hairdrier instead - it isn't hot enough and will just blow the powder off.  I've also heard of people trying to use an industrial heat gun - it is too hot and will scorch the paper.  Use a craft heat gun, people, please.  This is not the type of thing you want to mess with.


Keep the heat gun on the powder until you see it change - looks magical!  Don't overheat it, or the image will look flat instead of raised.  You can also scorch the paper if you hold it too close or for too long.  This is something you need to practice, as your heat gun might be slightly hotter than mine, for example.

Again, Glad to the rescure!  I find a tray helps me  not burn my fingers and reflects the heat, speeding up the process.

Step five:
Once you have melted the powder - admire your work.  Impressive, no?


Stampin' Up!  sells all of the products listed above.  Just in case you wondered.  And you can purchase them from me, just drop me an email.


Now go out there and heat emboss with confidence!

Heat Embossing Tutorial

Nothing says "Christmas" like some lovely gold or silver embossing, am I right?  In case you are new to stamping, or have been wondering how to do it, here is an illustrated* tutorial for your edification and enjoyment!

You will need:
Embossing Buddy
Powder Pal or scrap cardstock
Versamark
Embossing powder
Heat Gun
Small Paint Brush
Stamps and Paper, naturally!

Step one:

Swipe your cardstock with the Embossing Buddy - this will minimise, if not eliminate stray embossing powder going where you don't want it to.  Your fingers leave small traces of oil etc on the cardstock, which attracts the embossing powder.  So believe me, it DOES make a difference.




Step two:

Ink up your stamp in Versamark and stamp your image.  Versamark is a clear "sticky" ink which can be used alone to create a gorgeous watermark effect, or for heat embossing as we are about to see, due to its slow drying nature.  Normal Classic dye ink is totally unsuitable here as it will dry almost instantly.



Step three:

Sprinkle embossing powder of your choice over the Versamark.   Now you see why you need the scrap cardstock or Powder Pal - you tap the excess powder back into the container (this can be messy).  Use the paintbrush for any stray bits of powder that are stuck in the wrong spot.


Step four:

Melt the powder with a heat gun.  Yes, you CAN use a toaster; but I don't recommend it as people have burned down their kitchens that way!  Do NOT try to use a hairdrier instead - it isn't hot enough and will just blow the powder off.  I've also heard of people trying to use an industrial heat gun - it is too hot and will scorch the paper.  Use a craft heat gun, people, please.  This is not the type of thing you want to mess with.

Keep the heat gun on the powder until you see it change - looks magical!  Don't overheat it, or the image will look flat instead of raised.  You can also scorch the paper if you hold it too close or for too long.  This is something you need to practice, as your heat gun might be slightly hotter than mine, for example.


Step five:

Once you have melted the powder - admire your work.  Impressive, no?

Stampin' up!  sells all of the products listed above.  Just in case you wondered.

*my computer is too slow to load my pictures as someone (looking at my husband with intense glare) has exceeded our monthly downloads.  I'll have to edit and post the pictures on the 1st December.  Sigh.

More Christmas Cards

Whoops, it took me a little longer than I'd hoped to get back to my blog - what can I say?  the Silly Season has started early this year!  I have been stampin' up a storm though, so I have lots to show you (it has taken ages to upload and edit the photos, I think my puter is starting to get a little difficult in her advanced age).  I'm pretty sure I haven't uploaded these yet, anyway!  None of them have the traditional green and red colour scheme (I must be subconsciously rebelling?).

Stamps:  Delightfully Decorative
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Other:  Ornament Punch, Dimensionals, Linen thread

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise
Paper:  Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Other:  basic rhinestones, ornament punch, linen thread, dimensionals

This was a design I CASEd from Paula Funston, I think I saw it on SCS?
Stamps:  Hello Again, Winter Post, Short & Sweet
Ink:  Bashful Blue, Real Red
Paper:  Real Red, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Other:  Trio of Hearts Punch, Crimper, Dimensionals, stapler, scallop edge punch  

Also - this weeks' class is about making Christmas presents, which I need to do with only a few weeks left of school !  Come along and make some gifts for teachers, neighbours, etc.

Summer Mini Launch!

Clear your calendar and save the date for our Summer Mini Launch, Friday December 3, 2010.  Cost $30.

Virginia Golf Club, Elliott St,  Banyo.

Here is the flyer with added details:

I hope you can make it!

Crazy week - you know what it's like?

I've had a crazy week which isn't that unusual really! I've had gastro, my husband was away for work, I had a class and I had a stall at a friend's Christmas market. Throw in a year 5 band concert, a fencing competition and an under 8's rugby breakup and you'll see why I haven't posted much lately!

Tomorrow I will be child-free so intend to upload and edit, so you will have to be a little patient with me please!

I have to share a funny with you - I was in a flap on Saturday morning, trying to mass-produce some Christmas cards to sell at the market which I was doing at the last minute. My darling husband tried to help by suggesting that I just stamp Santa hats on some birthday cards I already had. Made me laugh, bless his heart! He just doesn't get it!

Quickest, no-fuss party bags on the planet.

Well, ok. Maybe a plain paper bag is quicker. But is it cute? No.
My oldest son turned 8 during the week and he had three mates over yesterday for a low-key party. About half an hour before the boys were to arrive I realised that I hadn't made anything special for party bags! Not to worry, with my trusty Big Shot, a stamp, a punch and some medium cello bags from Stampin' Up! and I had these whipped up in about five minutes!

The blue bag topper was made by folding a Top Note longways, and was stapled to the cello bag once treats were inside. The thank you on old olive card stock was stamped with a stamp from a set which was sold with the curly label punch last year (I think it is retired). It was punched out with the curly label punch, and stuck on with dimensionals. For the final touch, I die cut the first letter of each boy's name in real red cardstock and stuck it on the label with 2-way glue.

I literally used scraps to make these. Bless the Big Shot!

Obviously, eight year old boys don't care about how fancy the treat bag is, or I'd have decorated further. They seemed pretty pleased with them!

Week 3 Christmas Card

Couldn't think up a snappy title this week!

This is a design I CASE'd from Paula Funston, her blog is called precioso designs.
Stamps:  So Swirly Jumbo wheel, Winter Post
Ink:  Pear Pizazz, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White Craft ink
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Pear Pizazz, Cherry Cobbler
Other:  Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Heat Tool, Diamonte Brad, Pear Pizzazz ribbon.

Quick and easy!  We tried the glittery deer with plain Versamark, but it looked better with the white craft ink under the glitter.

Next Christmas Card Stamp-A-Stack is next week.  Stay tuned!

Deceptively Simple

Week 2 of the Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks was very successful today, with my hardworking gang churning through the work to get all ten cards done before we all had to scatter in different directions to collect children from school.

This card proved to be more involved than it looks at first glance:

Stamps:  Sanded Background, Music Notes wheel, Baroque Motifs, Perfect Punches
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Shimmery White
Ink:  Versamark, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Platinum Shimmer Paint
Other:  Adhesive Rhinestones, Stamp-a-Ma-Jig, 11/4 " circle punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Rich Razzleberry grosgrain, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Sponges

The card took a little while because it involved a little more technique than you might expect.  First, there was the background:  we stamped the Crumb Cake (formerly known as Kraft) layer with the Sanded background in Versamark, which created a subtle texture.  Next we rolled the Music Notes wheel across three times, inked up with Crumb Cake ink.  I'm not entirely sure that my music notes are right way up!
Next, we sponged the edges with Crumb cake ink.  Then came the swirl from Baroque Motifs (a classic stamp set, so versatile) in Old Olive ink.  The next step was a little involved - the ghosting technique done with the SAMJ to ensure the image was slightly offset, stamped with Platinum shimmer paint applied directly to the rubber with a dauber.  Then came the Rich Razzleberry flowers, the Rich Razzleberry ribbon and tag, attached with linen thread.  Oh, and see the white part on the tag?  Shimmer White cardstock (YAY!).  It is lovely in real life.  For a final touch, we added bling in the form of diamontes.

I hadn't realised when I made my sample, that the shimmer paint was VERY messy to work with when you make this card in bulk.  Oops, sorry girls!

For a one layer card, this has a lot of texture and interest, built up with the layers of collage and the "ghosting" effect.  It is also a perfect example of how you can make non-Christmas stamps and non-traditional colours (step away from Green and Red sometimes!) really work for you in a Christmas Card.

I'll show you the second card we did, a little later.

Dressing Up Christmas Promotion!

Ho, Ho Ho!  Just as I'm starting to prepare for Christmas, Stampin' Up! brings out this promotion - it's as though they read my blog!  Hahaha.

The promotion runs from 16th October to 30th November.  You can earn FREE ribbon two ways:  either you purchase one of four bundles (details below), or you host a workshop worth $550.

Here are the details:

And can you believe it - the ribbon I used in the Top Note Card in my last post is one of the FREE spools you can earn!  How is that for serendipity?

Here is the lovely brochure:

Who doesn't want to dress up Christmas with all these gorgeous co-ordinating products?  It takes the thinking out, which is a time-saver when you are mass-producing things at Christmas Time.  Do your kids like to give a little present to their classmates?  To the Team?  Coach? Teacher? Dog Wash Lady?

It can add up quickly.  Especially if you have four children in more than one activity!  Ok, maybe that is just me!  

Here is a closer look at the samples, too:

Stamps:  Welcome Christmas*
Paper:  Whisper White Cardstock, Real Red textured cardstock, Christmas Cocoa Speciality DSP*
Ink: Soft Suede, Versamark
Other:  Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Real Red 3/4" Polka Dot grosgrain (reversed), Basic Pearls, Mat Pack, Paper-Piercing Tool
*From the Welcome Christmas Bundle

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations*
Paper:  Whisper White Cardstock, Soft Suede Textured Cardstock
Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive
Other:  Mistletoe Ribbon Originals*, Linen Thread, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Ornament Punch*, 1/16" Circle Punch, 3/4" circle Punch
* From the Delightful Decorations Bundle

Stamps:  Gifted*
Paper:  Very Vanilla Card Stock, Jolly Holliday DSP*
Ink:  Old Olive Stampin' Write  Marker, Real Red Stampin' Write Marker, Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker
Other:  Sleigh Bells Ribbon*, Clips Assortment, Stampin' Dimensionals, Big Shot, Fancy Favor Bigz Die
* From the Gifted Bundle

Twelve weeks of Christmas - card 2

Stamps:  Winter Post; Ink:  Crumb cake, Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red, Early Espresso
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Other:  Big Shot, Top Note Die, Sponge dauber, Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla striped ribbon (retired), Crop -a- Dile

This is the second card we made at the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack last week.

The colour in this photo looks a little strange, sorry about that!  The ribbon is a retired Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla that was in a Mini last Christmas, I think, that I was trying to use up.  There is, fortunately, more lovely ribbon like it in the current catalogue!

There is supposed to be a class this week according to my calendar on the right - but I'm just going to focus on the fortnightly Christmas Stamp-A-Stack this month!

Next Stamp-A-Stack is on next week - 21st I think.  I'm thinking of running a night time one next Friday night too, if anyone is interested?

The Twelve Weeks of Christmas

Christmas always sneaks up on me, despite being the same date every year! The last term at school, 6 weeks of family birthdays, end of year concerts, Christmas parties, etc all conspire against me and before I know it, the festive season is upon me.

So today some lovely ladies and I started making Christmas cards, so that at least that part is under control.

Here is the first card:

Stamps:  Contempo Christmas, Music Notes Wheel
Ink:  Early Espresso, Real Red, Old Olive
Paper:  Old Olive, Whisper White
Other:  Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Sticky Strip, Ornament Punch, sponge

I'm fairly certain I CASEd this design from a clever person on Splitcoast, but I can't remember who.  I'll try to come back to edit with the relevant details so credit can go to the artist who deserves it!

Back with the edit!  I found my inspiration by swheet (her blog is called Inkwood Designs) but I changed the colours, ribbon and glitter.

petite cargo

My gorgeous cousin Anna and her friends have a business venture called petite cargo, which sells fabulous homewares, gifts, etc.  Her business has a pop-up shop for 3 days only, just in time for some Christmas shopping!  Alas, I've been away and forgot to post about this opportunity before I left - the shop has only one day left!

It is on today (last day!), Saturday 2nd October from 9:00am to 3:00pm at Auchenflower, Brisbane.

Please contact Anna on ph:  0400 210 079 for the address (I didn't feel comfortable putting it on the www as it is a private residence), or send me an email and I'll give you the heads up!

Happy Anniversary honey!

My honey and I were married 11 years ago today. Eleven years, 3 houses, 4 children, and 5 job changes.

Here is the card I made him (apologies for the terrible iPhone photo):

It uses a TopNote die embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  Using a brayer, I inked over the debossed side in Pear Pizazz ( I have a few of these Top Notes leftover from making Regionals swaps). The sentiment is from a Hostess set Occasional Quotes, and the butterflies are made with the Embosslit Die. I have been using them on everything lately!


Happy Anniversary to us!

Regionals - the Final Chapter

I promise, no more posts about Regionals after this one!

Here is the final project we did - so cute!  Love the look of the layers with the two boxes.

Stamps:  Every Moment; Ink:  Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red; Paper:  Baja Breeze, Old  Olive, Very Vanilla; Other:  Fancy Favour Die, Big Shot, Spritzer  Tool,  Soft Suede Marker, Aquapainter, Old Olive ribbon, Linen thread.

Regionals Part 3, Revenge of the Stamper!!

Well no, there is no revenge here.  Sorry to mislead you.  I was getting carried away with the whole "Part 3" thing......oops.

Anyhoo, back to the pretty pictures!

This is a sweet 3x3inch gift card (love note).  It was easier to cut out that daisy than you might think, thanks to the most excellent Paper Snips from Stampin' Up!  They are very sharp, right to the tip, which makes them ideal for fiddly jobs like this.  The white gel pen added highlights.  Sorry about the untidyness of the sentiment inside the circle - I neglected to clean my stamp properly.  D'oh!

Stamp:  Every Moment; ink:  white gel pen, Riding Hood Red, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Soft Suede; Paper:  Baja Breeze textured cardstock,  Old Olive, Watercolour paper; Other:  Aquapainter, Paper Snips, 11/2 circle punch, Soft Suede Marker, Basic Pearls, thin ribbon. 

Regionals Part 2

Hope you are happy and well!

Here is the second M&T from Regionals, I hope you like it.

Stamps:  Every Moment; Ink:  Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Paper: Old Olive, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White; Other:  Narrow Whisper White Taffeta, Beautiful Butterflies die, Big Shot, paper Piercer, Scalloped Edge Punch, 13/4 circle punch

It's a 6x6 inch scrapbook page!  I will have to take another picture when I find a photo to put there.

Love these colours together!

Brisbane Regionals

I posted last weekend while at the Brisbane Regional Stampin' up! Training Day, which was heaps of fun.  What did we do there?  We swapped sample cards, chatted, took photos of display boards, chatted, listened to interesting and informative speakers about cool new stamping techniques and business ideas and chatted, and we also did some stamping!

I'm going to post a picture of each Make & Take we made over the next few days.  It is school holidays, and I'm (hopefully) programming my posts to take place while I'm away from the computer....magic!

As part of my registration to the Regional Training, I was given a lovely new stamp set called Every Moment.   We used this stamp set in all of the Make & Takes.

Here is the first one:  

Stamps:  Every Moment; Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Soft Suede, Old Olive; Paper: Soft Suede Textured cardstock, Watercolour paper, Old Olive, Very Vanilla cardstock; Other:  Daffodil Delight Taffeta, Spritzer tool, Aquapainter, basic pearls, scallop edge punch, clips assortment.  

I really love how this turned out, even though I messed it up a little.  I haven't done much watercolouring, but the thing I learned was to be patient and not rush.  That was you can build up layers of colour, and also it helps prevent "bleeding" of colours where you don't want them.

Just so you know, whenever I am creating in front of my fellow demonstrators, whether at Steph Pike's team meetings, or at Regionals, I ALWAYS mess something up!  Without fail.

Final September Class Project

Last, but not least, we made this cute little milk carton with the new die for the Big Shot. It has, naturally, a co-ordinating stamp set called "Got Treats?". They are just gorgeous!

3rd September class project

I am loving Daffodil Delight! It is a soft, warm yellow, deeper than So Saffron, not as overpowering as poor Yo Yo Yellow. My brother is getting married in November, so weddings are on my mind lately.

My swaps for Brisbane Regionals

Stamp:  Afterthoughts (hostess set); Ink:  Marina Mist, Pear Pizazz;   Paper:  Confetti White, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler.  Other:  Big Shot - Top Note Die, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions, Brayer, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Marina Mist satin Ribbon, Pear Pizazz ribbon, basic pearls

I posted this photo from the Brisbane Convention Centre where I was attending Regionals because I'd forgotten to take a picture of my card before I left home!

Regionals is a one-day traning/social event run by Stampin' up! for Demonstrators and guests, there is always swapping to be done with other Demonstrators, some Make & Takes, and fabulous presentations and informative speakers.  It was a lot of fun!  If you want to come with me next year, why not join my team?

I still  have photos to show you of the other two September Class projects, and more from Regionals, so I'll hopefully be  back with more fun stuff to show you tomorrow.   Did I just jinx myself then?  LOL

September Class Card 2

How cute is this little guy?
This card uses the following NEW products:

Owl punch, stamp set Curly Cute, card stock colours Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso and Early Espresso ink.

September Class project #1

Here is the first of the out projects we made in my class this month - it uses the new Newsprint DSP, new flower punch, new antique brad, new Garden Gala DSP, new border punch, new Hostess stamp set, new ribbon and new colour - Marina Mist, which I love now.
What do you think?
Three more projects to show you over the next 3 days!

A quick note

Just a reminder that I've rescheduled my September Class, so it is on this week.  Thursday (tomorrow) from 10:00, Friday evening from 8:00pm.  Please let me know by noon today if you are coming so I know how many supplies I need to prepare.  We will be having fun with NEW stuff, so don't miss out! 

I'll come back with some more stuff to show you later, I have to get the kids off to school now!

More and More Mojo!

I'm so excited to show you the cards I've been making with my NEW stamps!  I can't stop at the moment.  I have even taken the kids to school late because I was in the zone....oops!

I am having a lot of fun coming up with ideas for classes, too, so watch this space!

Hope you like them!

Stamps:  Elements of Style , Occasional Quotes (Hostess);

Paper:  Confetti White, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze

Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze

Other:  Basic Pearls, Early Esspresso ribbon

Stamps:  Curly Cute

Paper:  Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Rose Red, Whisper White

Ink:  Rose Red

Other:  Elegant Lines Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Basic Rhinestones

Stamps:  Heard From the Heart,
Paper:  Wild Wasabi, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, baja Breeze, Crumb Cake
Ink:  Easrly Esspresso (marker)
Other:  Two Step owl Extra Large Punch

So, which one is your favourite?  I can't choose - I love the vintage elegance of Elements of Style, and the gorgeous Elegant Lines embossing folder (now the coordinating DSP and stamps are on my wish list too!) and the owl is so fun to make and is just so cute in real life.

What do you think?

More New Stuff

I'm on fire, baby!  LOL.  I'm really feeling inspired by all the fresh new products, I've recharged my mojo!

Friends Never Fade, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Hodgepodge

Love this colour combination!

Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Fancy Flower Extra Large punch, Wide Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Ocal All, Eyelet Border Punch, Very Vanilla Tafteta, Adhesive half pearls, Newsprint DSP

How gorgeous is this newsprint DSP?  Love it!

What you missed...

If you missed our Launch Day, you missed a great day out!  Here are the projects we made, in no particular order:

This was designed by the lovely Rebecca O'Gorman, and it uses the NEW  Flower punch, and a new stamp, called For You. 

This one was designed by me, and it uses the new Party This Way set.  

Bec's work again, with the new baby Bundle set and Jumbo Wheel, Baby Tees.  It was a little tricky - it is a suspension card, but heaps of fun.  

Mine again, this time using Artistic Etchings in a collage.  I love the Vintage look this stamp set gives!

Steph's work, using the Polka Dot Embossing folder (we inked up the folder, then ran it through the Big Shot to get this cool polka dot DSP effect!) using the new Contempo Christmas set and matching punch.

If it is pink, it must be Linda's!  This card used the divine Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, and the Friends Never Fade stamp set.

Linda called this card the "Underbelly" male card, because of the dark colours.  The greeting was heat embossed using black embossing powder, which some people had never tried before.  They were experts after this!

Finally, Steph's pretty card using Printed Petals and the greeting from Party This Way.  The little label the greeting was stamped on is actually made from the scalloped oval punch.  There is a new punch that looks similar called the Modern Label Punch, but our new orders had not arrived in time to use it at the Launch.

Apologies for the photos - left it too late in the day to take them in good light - but as you can see, there was something for everyone!

We had a fun day, at the scenic Virginia Golf Club, with door prizes, a raffle and a mega-huge sale of our retired stamps and accessories.   We are planning to have another big day in a few months to tie in with the Summer Mini (which will be here in December I think?), so I'll keep you posted about that.

In the meantime, I have scheduled a class this Thursday - but that will depend on whether my order of new products arrives tomorrow!  If not, we'll move it back a week.  The poor Warehouse people who pack our orders are working overtime trying to keep up with the rush of orders since the new Catty started, so it is taking a little longer than usual for my packages to arrive.