2009 is coming to a close and I’ve been taking a bit of time to reflect on the year that flew by in the blink of an eye and look forward in anticipation on the year to come. My year ended very differently to how I imagined it would….I am writing this blog entry from my room on a remote mine site in Pannawonica in the north west of WA.  I started my new job (kitchen hand) here on Christmas Day and to be honest, this is the first night I’ve been awake long enough to turn on my laptop and find out what’s happening in the real world.

So why am I here?? That’s a question I’ve asked myself at least 50 times in the last 3 days… but more than anything it was a financial decision.
It’s hard to make a good living in the transport industry (hubby’s a truck driver) and so I decided it was time I found a ‘real’ job that would make a big difference to our situation… so here I am, broken nails, sore feet and all… The best thing about it is that my darling girl Bianca is also working here so I get to see her every day now and I’ve got a desk in my room so I’ve brought a small amount of stampin’ gear with me so I can still stamp in the evenings if I can stay awake long enough

As for my SU business – well that’s taking a back seat for a little while, just till I get myself settled into a new routine. I’ve given up all my classes and workshops but I hope that once I’m in routine, I can fit a workshop in during my week off work.  Of course, my lovely team members will always get my support and help when they need it – I can still be contacted by email and mobile phone – and that goes for my customers too……. I can place orders for you, just email me with the details.

I’d like to thank you all for your friendship and support in 2009 – lord knows I’ve needed it.

I hope you’ve all had a fantastic Christmas and I wish you love, luck, health, wealth and happiness in 2010

With the help of some lovely friends, I’ve managed to restore some of the data I lost and fortunately the most important things were stored in my iPhone such as contacts and photo’s…… so I’m back in business.

Here’s a card I made recently with a new stamp set from Stampin’ Up! – Razzle Dazzle -  it’s in the new Summer Mini Catalogue which is now available until the end of March 2010.

Stamps: Razzle Dazzle (Summer Mini $33.95)  Oval All (retired)

Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy

Ink: Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy

Accessories: Silver Brads, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Dazzling Diamonds, 2 Way Glue Pen, Dimensionals.

Technique: Rock & Roll.  To do this technique choose two complimentary colours to work with, then simply load up your stamp with ink in the lighter of the two colours and roll the edges of the stamp into the darker of the colours to pick up a little bit of contrasting colour on the outer edges of the design – then stamp.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy… the best way to describe the Rock & Roll action is to imagine a marble on your ink pad and when you place your stamp on top, it rolls around on the marble and only gets ink on the parts that can reach the ink pad.

For the background to this card I stamped all over with the small flower from the Razzle Dazzle set using Pretty in Pink ink.  I also stamped the stripey image twice onto the strip of white with Pretty in Pink ink…. so simple and effective.

DID YOU KNOW ????  that the Scallop Oval Punch is still available even though it was in the Spring Mini promotion which is now over…. Stampin’ Up! have made a number of Spring Mini products permanantly available.  Please let me know if you’d like to order any of the following items.

So here I am on the clunky old PC in my office….. I don’t have any of my card photos in this computer so I’ve got nothing to show you today unfortunately – and I’ve completely lost all of the data from my Mac, photo’s, documents, emails……the works.  Luckily I have an iPhone my contacts, music and photo’s are all on there.

Lesson learned from this mistake:  BACK UP – BACK UP – BACK UP …. this wouldn’t have been so much of a drama if I’d made the effort to hook my MacBook up to an external hard drive and BACKED UP regularly…..

So I’ll have to do a quick photo shoot this afternoon, then at least I’ll have a few things to share with you over the next week or so…. the computer doctor who is performing a lobotomy on my dear little Mac says it could take as long as a week but a full recovery to good health is expected – however, the lights will be on with no-one at home for quite some time to follow…..

ahhhhh, ya gotta laugh or else you’d cry !!!

Have a great day everyone

Now there’s obviously some fairly extensive use of non SU product here but I’m hoping you’ll overlook that fact because the card’s just so darned CUTE !!

Stamp Set: Baroque Motifs

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Pale Plum, Only Orange, Old Olive, Basic Black

Ink: Elegant Eggplant & Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: 1 3/8″ Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch, Small Star Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch

Non SU: Embossing Folder & Die Cuts

I’d love to hear from you…..leave me a comment and let me know what you think of my first attempt at a Halloween card.

My colour scheme is Not Quite Navy, Bordering Blue and Very Vanilla with Bella Bleu DSP for contrast.  The ribbon is Pretty In Pink taffeta and I’ve coloured the flower with Pretty In Pink and Regal Rose inks.  I used the En Francais background stamp in Not Quite Navy ink onto the main card.

For this one I stamped the flowers three or four times onto watercolour paper, coloured them with Regal Rose and Rose Red inks and then trimmed out various sections of the flowers.  I layered the pieces onto the main image paper tole style to achieve a 3D effect.

I switched the colour scheme around a little bit here….Bordering Blue for the main card, Not Quite Navy accents and a Pretty in Pink panel to offset the main focus of the flowers.  I used Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon and some Rhinestone Brads to finish the whole piece off.

I’d love to have seen these cards in a magazine but it’s not to be so thank goodness I have this blog to share them with you.  Enjoy

But wait, there’s more

On top or the already fantastic value starter kit, you will also receive a FREE pack of Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper AND a Pretty In Pink classic stampin’ pad.

More reasons to join right now!!

• We still have 1 month left with the current Spring Mini Catalogue – which means that on 1st December we will have our brand new Summer Mini Catalogue, choc-a-block full of awesome new products, available to your customers – just in time to buy those last minute Christmas presents.
• Stampin’ Up! are about to launch a Holiday Extravaganza promotion where you and your customers can get a FREE Scallop Square punch with an $85 purchase of the products offered in the promotion.
• Early in the new year we will be celebrating Sale-A-Bration where you and your customers will receive an exclusive, limited time only, FREE stamp set when purchasing $100 worth of products from either catalogue.
• Earn up to 15 FREE stamp sets during your first 6 full months as a demonstrator by meeting the Stampin’ Start goals.
• You will be joining not only my team but a nationwide network of successful demonstrators who willingly share their knowledge of the business and offer helpful support via our online forum.

If you’d like more information about becoming a Stampin’ Up! Independent Demonstrator, I have an info pack ready to post out to you.  Just email or call me and I’ll get it in the mail.

My presentation was all about Stampin’ Spots and I showed some of the fun things you can do with them.  I showed how to do the actual technique and then displayed the completed card.

For this design I used Gable Green, Orchid Opulence & Lovely Lilac Stampin’ Spots to ink up the Sanded background stamp.  I also used Orchid Opulence, Gable Green, Elegant Eggplant & Glorious Green for the two step stampin’ flower from Heartfelt Thanks.  Best Wishes is from the Sincere Salutations set, inked up with Basic Black stampin’ spot.  I also dyed the ribbon to match the card as we no longer carry Orchid Opulence 1/4′ grosgrain ribbon…… And all only using the Stampin’ Spots…. pretty impressive huh!!

I made this one as an example of the same technique for the Weathered background.   The leaves are from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set.

I demonstrated how to use a selection of Stampin’ Spots to create my own custom coloured “Spectrum” ink pad.  I pre-stamped and clear embossed the Upsy Daisy design onto Glossy White cardstock, then brayered Mellow Moss, So Saffron & Apricot Appeal over the design.  The clear embossed areas resist the ink and leaves the flowers showing white against your coloured background.  For this card, I re-inked my Upsy Daisy stamp with More Mustard and Always Artichoke Markers and over stamped the design, slightly off setting it so that it looks like a shadowed effect.   Other products used:  Mellow Moss, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango cardstock, Haiku Designer Papers, Apricot Appeal 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Edge punch.

Some of you will have seen this card before – I’ve used this one as a make & take in my recent workshops.  I showed how to use the Stampin’ Spots to paint/watercolour with.  Basically, you take a palette (I use a piece of laminated paper) and squish the little ink pad onto it which leaves a splotch of ink for you to pick up with your aquapainter – then colour your design as desired.  The base card is Kiwi Kiss stamped with Versamark Ink. Accents of Rose Red, Regal Rose and Raspberry Tart Designer Paper.

If you’d like me to demonstrate any of the designs you see here, why not consider hosting a workshop of your own.  It’s fun, FREE, and easy to do.  Just call or email me to make your booking

Stamp Set: Snow Swirled

Cardstock: Old Olive, Ruby Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Always Artichoke, Vellum Card.

Ink: Whisper White, Old Olive, Ruby Red

Accessories: Holiday Treasures DSP. Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Border Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch.  White Embossing Powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy

NOTE: Mix a little bit of Dazzling Diamonds with White Embossing Powder before stamping with Whisper White onto Vellum Card and embossing with Heat Tool.

*****

This card was inspired by one I received from a lovely lady and my dear friend Glen.

Stamp Set: Embrace Life, Weathered Background.

Cardstock: Pretty In Pink, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Watercolour Paper.

Ink: Mellow Moss, Basic Black,  Whisper White.

Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Heat Took, Embossing Buddy.  Pretty in Pink & Cameo Coral reinkers.  Always Artichoke & Rose Red Markers.  Dimensionals

NOTE: You can find the tutorial for the technique I used for the flower HERE

*****

This card was made at the very last minute – hence it’s simplicity…..but I just love how it turned out.

Stamp Set:  Lovely as a Tree, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock:  Mellow Moss & Very Vanilla

Ink:  Always Artichoke & Rose Red

Accessories:  Rose Red 1″ Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Eyelet Border Punch.

*****

I was also one of the “*lucky*” ones who was asked to demonstrate a Workshop WOW on stage for the training event…I was incredibly nervous but I think it went ok, going by the response I got from my fellow demo’s – Thanks Ladies   I was particularly pleased to receive words of praise from Sarah Klass -  a demonstrator whom I find truly inspiring …. here’s a few (not so wonderful) pic’s of me in action.

These are my fellow demonstrators who also inspired the crowd and contributed hugely to the success of the Regional Training Day.   This was the first time I’ve had to present to a large group of my peers and I found it utterly nerve wracking – this group of ladies were truly professional and were a joy to watch on stage.

From the left:  Tracey Wilson, Andrea Buckland, ME, Louise Ryan, Ngaire Anderson, Skip Seigman

I decided to start The Stamp’tArt Community so that I could share my love of stamping and papercrafts with anyone and everyone who wants to join in with swaps, challenges and cyberstamps, regardless of the brand of products used…. I LOVE Stampin’ Up! stuff but I have an awesome collection of stamps from prior to joining SU which I’d love to use now and then as well…….so I don’t mind either way what you use for your Stamp’tArt projects…… I just want to create a fun, happy and inspiring community for everyone to enjoy so if you think you might be interested in joining us, please pop in and have a look around.  Everyone is very welcome.

Yesterday I set a sketch challenge over at Stamp’tArt and here’s the card I made of the sketch.  (You’ll have to go to the forum to see the sketch as I’m not posting the pic here)

Ok, so I’m contradicting what I just said before about using non SU stamps for a change….LOL

I had this cupcake stand image hanging around my desk for weeks and hadn’t gotten around to making a card with it but it was perfect for the card sketch challenge.

Stamp Sets: Crazy for Cupcakes, Sweet Little Sentiments (hostess reward)

Cardstock: Watercolour Paper, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Black Stazon, Regal Rose, Choc Chip, Mellow Moss

Accessories: Aquapainters, Sponges, Pink Flamingo DSP, Scallop Oval Punch, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Dimensionals.

I’d love to see you at the Stamp’tArt Community Forum – it’s new but I think we’re going to have heaps of fun and I’d love you to share it with us :

Hugs,

I really didn’t think that the ladies would like the colour combo but they all agreed that it was certainly different and quite striking – and they really enjoyed making the card.  Here’s how it’s done:

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Inks: Going Gray, Basic Gray, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Versamark

Cardstock: Whisper White, Tangering Tango, Basic Black

Accessories: Word Window Punch, Sponges, Brads, Dazzling Diamonds, Brayer, Post-it Note, Heat & Stick Powder, Heat Tool.

Stamp the swirly stamp in Versamark onto the top half of the Whisper White and let it dry for a few minutes before loading up the brayer with Going Gray ink and rolling it across the top half of the card.  You will find that the Versamark resists the ink and shows up the swirly design.

Next, turn the card around and brayer the Kiwi Kiss ink across the bottom half.  Try to leave a lighter patch between the two colours.  Sponge the edges with Basic Gray.  Stamp the Christmas Tree twice with Basic Black ink.  Tear a post-it note to mask off the tree areas and sponge Going Gray ink to the base of the trees – this gives the impression of un-even ground.  Stamp Merry Christmas with Tangerine Tango ink.

Now for the BLING !!  Swipe over the whole piece with an embossing buddy (anti-static) before stamping the tiny flower randomly with Versamark all over the scene.  Sprinkle with Heat & Stick Powder and heat till it melts, follow with the Dazzling Diamonds and another quick blast of the heat tool to set it.

Punch a word window from the black cardstock and cut it in half before sticking the two pieces into place on the card.  Pierce a hole through and pop in a gold brad.  Assemble onto the Tangerine Tango card.

It looks a bit complicated but it really isn’t so don’t be afraid to give it a go