A Special Birthday...

A dear friend recently had a milestone birthday, and it required a pretty special card.

Materials:  Stamps:  Curly Cute, Tea Shoppe;  Paper:  Shimmer White, Pool Party, Melon Mambo; Ink:  Melon Mambo, Pool Party; Other:  Simply Scored, Basic Pearls, Paper Snips, Labels Framelits, Big Shot, Striped Embossing Folder

Anita loves pink, and is famous for her love of tea parties - so of course, you know which stamp set I immediately thought of!  The Melon Mambo and Pool Party colour combination is bright and fun, while still girly.  It is impossible to tell from the photograph, but the white card stock is Shimmer White, which is very pretty in real life.  I jazzed it up with a simple chequered background made with the Simply Scored and little adhesive pearls on the intersecting lines.  Sponging the edges also gave depth and texture.


And here is the inside:

What you missed last week...

To capitalise on the current "Reason to Smile" promotion we used this stamp set (you can still earn it for free!) to make a card, and a matching gift box and tag.  Then, just to show off, we made an envelope for the card with the Simply Scored Scoring tool and the new diagonal plate.  Confused?  I'll explain.

First, here is the card in a colour scheme I picked because it matched what I was wearing (Basic Gray and Island Indigo)!  Yes, I can find inspiration anywhere, LOL!

Materials used:  Stamps:  Reason to Smile, Teeny, Tiny Sentiments;
Paper:  Basic Gray, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Basic Gray DSP Stack (for matching envelope);
Ink:  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Basic Gray;
Other:  Polka Dot Embossing Folder, Label Framelits, Big Shot, Paper Snips, Sponge, Simply Scored

Method:
1. Sponge the edges of your Basic Gray card base with Basic Gray ink, set aside.  Do not drop it into the open ink pad (see the smudge on the top left!).
2. Next, take your Island Indigo strip (I forgot to record measurements, sorry), snip a notch on the bottom with your paper snips, and sponge the edges in Island Indigo ink.
3. Then stamp the daisy image from Reason to Smile randomly in Island Indigo ink.
4. Run this panel through the Big Shot with the polka dot embossing folder and adhere the panel in the centre of your card front.
5.  Stamp your Whisper White piece randomly in Pool Party ink with the solid Daisy image, then over the top with the fine lined Daisy stamp you used earlier in Island Indigo.  Take a minute to admire how gorgeous your stamped images look!  Isn't two-step stamping fun?
6.  Position the Framelits so that the medium one (I think it was the third largest frame?) and the smaller one both fit on the stamped card stock and run through the Big Shot to cut out your main panel and matching tag.
7.  Stamp Congratulations (or whatever you like) in Basic Gray ink on the centre of the larger framlit and attach to your card front with Dimensionals.   You could sponge the edges if you like before adhering but as you can see, I didn't!

And here's the box:

Materials used:  Stamps:  Reason to Smile;
 Paper:  Island Indigo, Whisper White;
Ink:  Island Indigo
Other:  Simply Scored, Framelits, Big Shot, Window Sheet, Bakers Twine

Method:
1.  Take an A4 piece of Island Indigo card stock, and stamp it randomly with the daisy in Island Indigo ink.
2.  Using the Simply Scored, score it at 2, 4, 6, 8 inches on the long side, turn the paper and then score at 2 and 6 inches.
3.  With your paper cutter, cut off the excess 2cm after the 8 inch score line on the long side.  (if this is confusing, I'll draw a diagram, just ask).
4.  Using your bone folder, go over the crease lines and  you'll see your box starting to take shape - I cut off the top edge of the box in my sample, so it is open at the top.
5.  Before you adhere your box, using the smallest Label Framelit, cut a window in one of the side panels.  Adhere a small rectangle of window sheet on the back to form the "window".
6. Adhere flaps with Sticky Strip (it is the best).
7.  punch a small hole on the end of your tag (left over from the above card) and tie Pool Party Baker's Twine through it.
8.  Place some chocolates, or small gift inside the box and impress your friends!

If you'd like to order any of the supplies needed for this project, or need help recreating it, just let me know.

Introducing....The Handmadens!

I am lucky enough to have four talented, lovely women in my team, and it occurred to me that we need a team name - so The Handmadens it is!  Geddit?  Handmade by Lou's Handmadens!

If you've ever thought about joining Stampin' Up!  now is the perfect time.

It is perfect for you if:
you just want the discount to offset your hobby;
you want to make friends and find other like minded crafty people;
you want to make a little money to help you save for a holiday, or a big bill, or pretty handbags;
you have been looking for a small business you can run yourself that fits in with your lifestyle.

For me, there is no downside.  You don't need an ABN, you simply purchase the Starter Kit for only $169 and choose exactly what products you want to get up to a value of $235.  That's it.

You stay in it as long as you like - as long as you make your minimum commisionable sales per quarter of $400.  Believe me, it isn't difficult.  And if you leave you just drop out, no paying back anything.  No commitment!

I am happy to help support you to run your business any way you wish.

If you'd like to learn more, please contact me at louise t sutton@gmail.com.  I also have lots of info on the "Join My Team" Page above.  It is very easy to sign up from my website - you only need a credit card, and away you go!  You can join up right HERE.  Click the "join now" button.

We are having a Team Meeting next Tuesday Night, it would be lovely if you joined us!

June Promotions and Class

Two promotions this month!  The we {heart} our hostesses Promotion, where you can earn an extra $90 hostess dollars if you hold a workshop with a total of $650 or more - WOW!  So much free stuff! 

The other promotion is the Reason to Smile Promotion, which is the name of this sweet stamp set you can either purchase or earn for free with your order over $125.  Free stuff is always a reason to smile!

Finally, my June class will be using this sweet stamp set to make some beautiful projects!
I have a daytime class set for Thursday 14th June at 10:00am - 1:00pm at my place.  If you can't do daytimes, let me know and I'll schedule an evening class for you instead.

And I almost forgot this little beauty:  This item will be in our new catalogue (due to come out in September 2012), but you can order them now!  They are designed to sit on top of the Simply Scored tool and are fabulous for making your own envelopes, etc.  

And I WON one of these at Convention!  Woot!  

My Birthday!

My birthday was on Tuesday, and I feel like I am having a Birthday Festival, LOL!

I had a lovely day - my children made me cards (of course!), went to lunch with a gorgeous girlfriend. When I went to pick up the kids at school a sweet friend of mine jumped out from behind a pillar and presented me with a balloon and a box of handmade cupcakes!

And to keep the festivities rolling, I am in Canberra for the rest of the week at our annual Stampin' Up! Convention. I feel like it is a Festival of Me! Hahaha.

 

I will try to update as and when I can. I love being able to do this. Thanks to my patient husband, helpful mother and gorgeous kids for giving me a "Leave Pass" from being Mum for a few days.

I am loving being with 450+ other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who love this company and stamping. I love that two of my downline, Maree and Michelle, are here with me at their first Convention. I love catching up with fun, creative people from all over Australia, who I only see online usually. I love listening to inspiring speakers and learning something new about my business. I love meeting our Australian Staff and the US Home Office staff - including Shelli Gardner, the founder and CEO. I love getting sneak peeks and new products from the Catalogue that won't be released until September, and seeing creative and beautiful samples.

I love my job!

here are a few pictures of Convention (and Canberra) so far:

Autumn colour! You don't see much of that in Brisbane.

The coveted Convention Bag!

Memento Mall - lots of Stampin' Up! Goodies just for Demonstrators to buy as business items, gifts for hostesses and downlines, or just for our birthday!

Gorgeous displays!

More to come when I have a chance to edit and upload.

 

 

What has Lou Been Up To This Month?

May has been, and will continue to be, utterly crazy for me! In a good way, I think. Here are the highlights:



Mother's Day - being the mother of four children under twelve, this involves handmade cards (the best kind), squishy hugs, a cup of tea and breakfast in bed ....and then it's over for another year. Laundry, cooking, etc still need to get done.

Mother's Day also means I was making cards and gift tags to sell at some local businesses in the lead up to the big day.

Also, our house is currently a construction site. Well, new paint inside and out, and new carpets. The end is in sight! Our painters have been considerate, professional and friendly, but it is still stressful having strangers in your house from 7:00am, everything packed away in the garage, drop sheets, internal doors removed....you get the idea!

The kids still have birthday parties, school excursions, assignments, NAPLAN, etc.

There is still more to come! In the next few weeks I have a couple of workshops, Convention in Canberra, and my birthday!

 

Happy Stamping!

 

Step By Step: Teacup Card

I thought those of you who didn't make it to our Launch of the new Mini might like to learn how to make my personal favourite project.  Let me know if you'd like to order any of the materials so you can make your own.

Sending A Kiss Teacup Card

Stamps
•Tea Shoppe
  (125547; clearmount set of 10; $49.95 Autumn-Winter Mini 2012)
• Petite Pairs
  (125016 woodmount set of 18; $52.95)

Paper
• Blushing Bride A4 (cut in half and folded for card base)
• Basic Gray card stock:
Whisper White cardstock;•  Twitterpated DSP

Ink
•Blushing Bride Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Basic Gray Classic Stampin’ Write MarkerBlushing Bride Classic Stampin’ Write Marker

Stampin’ Up! Accessories
• Adhesive Pearls (119247, $9.50)
• 1" Circle Punch (119868, $20.95)
Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch (119275, $30.95)
• Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (122464, $44.95)
• Paper Snips (103579, $18.95)
• Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430, $7.50)
• SNAIL Adhesive (104332, $12.95)

My Notes

Step 1:  Take your Blushing Bride base card and fold, using a bone folder, to create base card, then set aside.
Step 2.  Stamp the large teacup image in Blushing Bride ink, once on the main piece of Whisper White Cardstock, and on scrap piece.
Step 3:  Cut a piece of Basic Gray cardstock to mat the main Whisper White piece, with a 1/4" border.
Step 4: Adhere main Whisper White panel to Basic Gray matting piece and set aside.
Step 5:  Punch a strip of Twitterpated DSP with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and adfere to the left side of the Basic Gray mat as shown.  Adhere this panel to the front of your Blushing Bride card base, being sure to place it on the left, as shown.
Step 6:  Using the markers, ink up the "Sending a Kiss" sentiment on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, and punch out with the 1" circle punch.  Set aside.
Step 7:  Cut out the second large teacup image with paper snips, and adhere on top of the tea cup on your main image.  Embellish with small adhesive pearls, as desired (HINT:  Tweezers can be helpful when using our Adhesive Jewels)
Step 8: Punch a flower from Twitterpated DSP using the Triple Layer flower punch (the solid flower), and adhere your circle with "sending a Kiss").  Adhere your flower using Dimensionals to the Right side of the main image as shown.
Step 9:  Mat a whisper White piece large with a Basic Gray piece for the inside of your card.  Using the markers as before, ink the "to make it better" stamp and stamp it in the centre of your White panel. 
Step 10:  Using a Post-It Note to cover the 2nd and 3rd teacups, ink up the 3 teacup stamp so only one is inked in Blushing Bride ink.  Remember to remove the Post it note before you stamp, and position the teacup on the lower right corner of the panel.  Then adhere this panel to the inside of your card, as shown.