Top 'O The Morning to You!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

This is the Lucky printable from My Digital Studio - I used the artwork from this to make the badges (the 4 leaf clover and the words)

I have Irish heritage, as does my husband, although we're  4th generation Australian - I ALWAYS make a point of wearing green on St Paddy's Day, and my kids always do too.   In past years, my SU! stash has come in handy - green ribbons, handout green shamrocks pinned to their shirt, etc.

This year, I made easy stickers they could wear to school in My Digital Studio.

I simply designed little badges in MDS on my computer and printed them out on to sticker paper with my printer at home.  Then I was able to cut them out with circle framelits and my Big Shot.

The work of minutes!

Congratulations, Graduates!

In my "day job" I am an online lecturer and my students are about to finish their course.  I'm really proud of them, as they are all working full time and completing the course part time.  I know that isn't easy.  So I thought I would make them each a handmade card to congratulate them.

Because I was making a lot, I made sure they were simple to construct on an assembly - line basis.  I used washi tape for a simple background, and cut out the sentiments with framelits and the Big Shot.

This one for the girls:

Ingredients: Gingham Garden Washi Tape
Stamps:  Feel Goods
Ink:  Melon Mambo
Paper:  Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Melon mambo button
Chalk Talk Framelits Big Shot, Dimensionals

This one for the boys:

Epic Day Washi Tape
Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White
Other:  Whisper White Embossing Powder, heat gun, Big Shot, Framelits

I hope they like them.

Guest Stars - Thing 1 and Thing 3

I recently had a girly stamping day with a friend and our girls, and it was so fun, I think we'll be doing it again really soon.

My sweet girls, Thing 1 and Thing 3

I brought the new In-Colours with me, as well as some of the new stamps from this year's catalogue:
This one was by Thing 1:

Stamps:  Flower Shop
Paper:  Pistachio Pudding, Strawberry Slush, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry
Other:  Pansy Punch, Basic pearls, basic diamonds

 Another by Thing 1:

Stamps:  Perfect Blend,  Positively Chevron
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White
Ink:  Basic Black, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe
Other:  Aquapainter

Stamps:  Flower Shop
Paper:  Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Baked Brown Sugar, Crisp Cantaloupe
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana, Strawberry Slush, Coastal Cabana Ruffled Stretch Ribbon
Other:  In Colour Boutique Details, Basic Rhinestones

And this one by Thing 3 (took her all afternoon, bless her!):

Stamps:  Flower Shop
Paper:  Whisper White, Strawberry Slush
Ink:  Stampin' Markers, various
Other:  In Colour Boutique Details, Basic Rhinestones, Coastal Cabana Ruffled Stretch Ribbon, Rich Razzleberry Stitched ribbon

I think they did a good job, don't you?

August Promotions, a little late! And this week's Digital Downloads.

Better make a cup of tea, I have lots to show you this month!

This month, Stampin' Up! is letting us indulge our love of pretty paper (isn't that how we all got into paper crafting?) with the "Buy 3 get one free" promotion:

There's also the "Best of 25 Years - Shelli " Stamps you can collect this month:

As usual, you can contact me to order, or go right now to my online store HERE

And, before I go - how about a peek at this week's Digital Downloads?  I love Tuesdays!  Download Day!

Do Your Best Printables - Digital Download	134922
Price: $3.50
Download includes: * 5-page designer template (8-1/2" x 11") * 25-piece SVG stamp brush set * 27 embellishments * 3 punches Features: * Digital exclusive * Add a note in your child's lunchbox to let him/her know how proud you are, remind them of something, or just to let them know you are thinking of them * So fun and versatile Colors: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Certainly Celery, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Crushed Curry, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Strawberry Slush, Whisper White Grilling Good Time - Digital Download 134990 Price: $8.95 Download includes: * Double-sided postcard invitation (5" x 7") * 1-page décor designer template (8-1/2" x 11") * 20-piece SVG stamp brush set * 7 embellishments Features: * Digital exclusive * Just the perfect touch for a casual barbeque or picnic party * Includes templates for a small banner and food flags Colors: Midnight Muse, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate, Summer Starfruit, Whisper White Season Of Style Designer Series Paper - Digital Download 134858 Price: $5.50 This download was added on 8/6/2013 Download includes: * 12 Designer Series Papers Features: * Based on the Season of Style Designer Series Paper traditional product * Coordinates with the This and That Season of Style products Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White Season Of Style Pocket Cards - Digital Download 134934 Price: $8.95 Download includes: * 10-page designer template (8-1/2" x 11") * 24-piece SVG stamp brush set * 46 embellishments Features: * Pocket cards based on the Season of Style Journaling Tags traditional product * Perfect for divided page projects * Coordinates with the This and That Season of Style products Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White Season Of Style Washi Tape - Digital Download 134932 Price: $3.50 Download includes: * 9 embellishments Features: * Coordinates with the This and That Season of Style products Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Old Olive This And That Naughty And Nice Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download 134933 Price: $6.50 Download includes: * 23-piece SVG stamp brush set This And That Season Of Style Embellishments - Digital Download 134935 Price: $6.50 Download includes: * 78 embellishments Features: * Includes the elements from the traditional product, Season of Style This and That Designer Stickers * Coordinates with the other This and That Season of Style products Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White This And That Season Of Style Photobook - Digital Download 134857 Price: $16.50 Download includes: * 46-page photobook planner (8" x 8") * 2-page envelope template (8-1/2" x 11") * 54-piece SVG stamp brush set * 10 Designer Series Papers * 18 embellishments * 2 punches Features: * The This and That Season of Style planner in digital form and in a different size (8" x 8") * Coordinates with the other This and That Season of Style products Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Whisper White Notice the Christmas stuff?  Looks like stuff from the new upcoming Holiday Mini.....that I have seen already, because it is a perk of being a Demo.

Holiday Mini Catalogue Launch

I know - we only just got the new Catalogue - but if you've thumbed through it already you'll notice there are no *gasp* Christmas, Halloween, etc stamps.

That's because they are all in the new Holiday Mini Catalogue!  The new Mini will run from 29th August 2013 to 1st February 2014.  And I love it!

As is our custom, my Stampin' Sistas Bec and Steph and I are holding a New Mini Catalogue Launch on 8th September at the Banyo Bowls Club.  We'd love for you to join us!

As usual, we'll be providing lunch and afternoon tea, so if you'd like to join us, let us know if you have allergies, etc.  

Beginners are welcome!  We'll be making about 8 projects, and all you need to bring is a basic kit (your paper snips, bone folder, and adhesive).

This week's MDS Digital downloads...

Are fabulous!  Check 'em out:

About to Blossom August Kit Item #134860

Gingham Garden DSP Item # 134853

Really Good Greetings Stamp Brush Set Item # 134805

Kind & Cosy Stamp Brush Set Item #134854

Birthday Candles Stamp Brush Set Item #134921

About to Blossom August Wallpaper Item # 134861

To purchase, go to my online store .Handmade By Lou's Online Store

Loving chalk talk

You know how matchy-matchy stamps and framelits make my heart go pitter-pat?  Here is something I made recently with the Chalk Talk stamp set and matching framelits.  I know I've been using them a lot lately!  I also used Mosaic Madness and the matching embossing folder, and DSP.  I know, matchy-matchy.  It's a sickness!

My inner art student

I was feeling inspired on the weekend by some gorgeous cards I'd seen where a simple ink-washed background was the star of the show.

So I pulled out my watercolour paper, my reinkers, my aquapainter, and had fun playing.  The only thing I don't like is having to wait for my "painting" to dry before I make a card!  This is a fun technique and requires no artistic training, I assure you.

Stamps:  Chalk Talk, Paper:  Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Watercolour Paper.  Ink:  Pacific Point, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise reinkers; Other:  Big Shot, framelits, Rich Razzleberry ribbon, Wide Oval Punch, Dimensionals, aquapainter, spritzer

 I'm loving the new, soft grey colour Smoky Slate.  It's the perfect grey. Balances the bright colours above as well as the more subtle colours used below.

Stamps:  Chalk Talk, Paper:  Crisp Cantaloupe, Smoky Slate, Watercolour Paper; Ink:  Smoky Slate, crisp cantaloupe, soft sky, so saffron reinkers; Other:  Big Shot, Framelits, aquapainter, spritzer

To make these, all I did was spritz my watercolour paper with water, add a few drops of reinker, and spread the ink using my aquapainter.  You could use a plain old paintbrush for this too.  This would be fun to try with your children if you were stuck indoors on a rainy day.  You could also try scribbling on the watercolour paper with a Stampin' Marker then spritzing; or if you have the (sadly) now retired watercolour pencils or crayons, you could experiment with them. 

Then I assembled my cards, keeping it simple by just adding the sentiment from Chalk Talk stamped in Smoky Slate and cut out with the Chalk Talk Framelits (LOVE them).

I think using a mini easel to photograph them makes them look like little artworks, don't you?

Here's a card (looks like I CASE'd it without realising!) Shelli showed us at Convention in May:

This is by Shelli Gardner  and you can see it on her blog So Shelli

If you'd like to purchase the products I used to make these cards, contact me, or pop on over to my online store:  Louise Sutton's Online Store

Launch Update Part 4

My lovely friend, and upline Linda Craven designed these pretty cards for our Launch.  Aren't they beautiful?  

Stamps:  Daydream Medallions, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Stamps:  Delicate Doilies, Happy Day

Please let me know if you'd like to order any of these products, or go to my Online Store HERE.