I was lucky enough to receive the gorgeous Bella Toile background stamp as one of my awards at the last Stampin’ Up! Convention and now that the new catalogue has been released today, I can show off a card that I made a few weeks ago with this stamp.

It looks like it would take a long time to colour but it’s quite quick really.  I stamped the background using Chocolate Chip ink then just used a blender pen to drag the colour into to the swirls to shade them in.  More colour was added in various spots to add some depth.  Because the image is quite strong I decided to only add a sentiment and some embellishments.  The ‘congratulations’ sentiment is from the Perfect Punches stamp set.  Sounds like a weird name for a stamp set, but it’s called that because each of the stamps in this set coordinate perfectly with one of Stampin’ Up!’s punches.  By the way! if you’ve received your new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue then you probably have noticed that some of the images of our stamps have an outline around them – that’s to identify which of the Stampin’ Up! punches coordinates perfectly with that image.  Of course there’s lots of images that work beautifully with our punches but the ones that have the outline are the ones that have a specific matching punch.

So, hope you like my card.  I’ve listed below all the products I’ve used but if you have any questions at all about this card or if you would like to purchase any Stampin’ Up! products then please feel free to email me.

Rubber Stamps:
Bella Toile background stamp
Perfect Punches (congratulations image)

Inkpads/Markers:
Chocolate Chip
Rich Razzleberry
Old Olive

Cardstock & Paper:
Whisper White
Gold Brushed
Rich Razzleberry
Old Olive Textured

Accessories:
Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon
Pearls
Linen Thread (to thread through the buttons)
Button Latte (now retired buttons)

Tools:
Paper Piercer (to pierce holes around the scalloped oval)
Scallop Oval Punch
Wide Oval Punch
Blender Pen

Adhesives:
SNAIL Adhesive
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Glue Dots

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One more day until the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue from Stampin’ Up! Australia is released to the public!  So one day before, here’s a card that I made using my favourite stamp set from the new catalogue.

I just realised I don’t have any embellishments on this card!  That would be because I’m waiting for the new embellishments but I don’t think it looks too bad without it.  Here’s how I made this card:

1.  Take a shipping tag (not Stampin’ Up!, just any shipping tag) and lightly stamp En Francais background stamp using River Rock ink then use the Spritzing Tool to add some blotches.  I used Sahara Sand marker in the Spritzing Tool as I don’t have a River Rock marker as yet.  Sponge the edges of the tag using Bravo Burgundy ink then drag the edges of the tag around the inkpad to add more colour.

2.  Stamp the Eiffel Tower onto the tag using Bravo Burgundy ink then wrap some Linen Thread around the tag.  Stamp the crown onto some scrap Very Vanilla cardstock, cut it out and mount onto the tag with dimensionals.

3. Tear a piece of the ledger-style paper from the Newsprint Designer Series Paper and lightly dab the River Rock inkpad over it.  Stamp the paper with the En Francais background stamp and River Rock inkpad then stamp over that with the circle motif in Bravo Burgundy.

4. Using the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and the Big Shot, dry emboss a piece of Crumb Cake* cardstock.  Adhere this embossed cardstock onto a piece of black cardstock then adhere the ledger-style paper your prepared before onto the embossed Crumb Cake cardstock.  Place a length of Linen Thread over the join and adhere to the back with some sticky tape.  Mount this piece onto a folded piece of Bravo Burgundy cardstock.

5.  Adhere the shipping tag to your card then stamp the word ‘AMOUR’ using black ink onto a scrap piece of Naturals Ivory cardstock, cut it out with scissors, rough up the edges with your fingernail then add a little colour around this using the River Rock inkpad.  Adhere to the card as shown in the photo.

Done!  So that’s vintage style using the Artistic Etchings stamp set.  Many people seem to have problems creating vintage style but it’s just all about adding layers of images, texture and adding depth and warmth with ink – in this case, sponging and dabbing but there’s lots of different ways to do this.

Here’s the list of products I’ve used for easy reference:

Rubber Stamps:
Artistic Etchings stamp set
En Francais background stamp

Inkpads/Markers:
Black inkpad
Bravo Burgundy inkpad
River Rock inkpad
Sahara Sand marker

Cardstock & Paper:
Bravo Burgundy cardstock
Basic Black cardstock
Crumb Cake cardstock *(formerly known as Kraft)
Newsprint Designer Series Paper
Shipping Tag (not Stampin’ Up! – just from your local stationery store)

Accessories:
Linen Thread

Tools:
Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder
Big Shot
Sponge Dauber

Adhesives:
SNAIL Adhesive
Stampin’ Dimensionals

If you don’t have your new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue but would like one, please email me.  Of course I can also help you out if you’d like to purchase any Stampin’ Up! products.

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Okay, we’re on the home stretch of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue so Stampin’ Up! Australia have just released some extra discounts for this last week.  If you’d like anything from this list email or phone me now because products are running out fast.  By the way, please ignore the New Zealand pricing… I wanted to get this up on the blog fast so I haven’t done any editing.

*CO=Carryover Flyer
*AW=Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue

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Hi everyone,

Today I want to draw your attention to a special little girl that so many from my Stampin’ Up! team have fallen in love with (even if most of us haven’t met her personally) who needs our help.  Little Miss Lara May Dunn is a gorgeous 2 year old who needs a special chair to help her move around her family home

This is a photo of little Lara in the sort of chair that we are fundraising to buy for her.  The chair that Lara is sitting in is only on loan so that she can test it out.  Anyway, I’ve copy/pasted a letter from Lara’s mum, Madonna Dunn after the photo so you can read all about little Lara.  I’ve put a Paypal button on the right hand side of my blog for easy and safe donation – if you can help out in any way whatsoever, we would all be so very grateful.  In the meantime there will be other fundraising efforts and I will be back to update you all on those soon.

Here’s Lara’s Story:

Lara May Dunn, my fourth child, was born on the 5^th of November 2008.  The first sign that something was not right were Lara’s feet which were twisted and turned.  At 6 weeks she was back in hospital for failing to thrive.  A gamut of testing was started to try to find out what was going on…blood tests, x-rays and even an MRI.  Her head hadn’t grown – Microcephaly was diagnosed.  Nothing could be detected.  There were no answers to be found in the genetic testing.

At 5 months Lara was back in hospital.  This time the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for laser surgery on her floppy voice box.  Another gamut of tests and a diagnosis of severe reflux and Cerebral Palsy.  This time they put a nasal gastric tube in and all her feeds were directed through there.  By October of 2009 the NG tube had been replaced with a “button”, which is a direct line into her tummy for feeds.  She will never eat a meal with our family conventionally or “normally”.

Over the last {almost} two years, Lara has been in and out of hospital with many different complex medical issues.  She is so fragile and yet has a core of steel and is such a fighter!!  She has grown so much!

With her growth has come a need for more specialised equipment.  One of which is a Leckey Hi Low chair.  A specialised seating system that can be adjusted to fit Lara perfectly.  It’s on a wheel base which means she can be more a part of our family.  She is able to be moved to where we are.  She is not limited to where we can take her in and around our house.  She can be exactly where the action is at any given time!

We are trying to fundraise the money to purchase one of these wonderful chairs – how much money??  They are upwards of $6000.  We are trying to get funding for some of it but I am working with other stampers and dear friends to find ways to get the rest.

I don’t want to limit where Lara is able to go in our house. She will never walk or run or play with her siblings in any conventional way and yet she can still be present as they do those things.  Your help in our efforts is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Madonna Dunn

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I love this little flower in the Bella’s Bloom stamp set.  It’s small but still a great size for a main image or can be used as a background or together with other images.  Sometimes I colour this flower in directly on the rubber with my markers but this time I’ve gold embossed it for a simple yet elegant look.

If you’re wondering how I’ve framed it, the frame is a Sizzlet from the Stampin’ Up! exclusive Sizzix die set called “Lots of Tags”.  I cut out the shape on the Big Shot twice, once in Not Quite Navy and once in Very Vanilla.  Because the centre oval is perforated I simply popped out the middle piece by pushing my scissors around the perforation and then stamped and embossed the flower onto the oval.  Quick tip, if you have a slightly jagged edge from the perforation marks they can easily be smoothed over with a sanding block.  After the main image was done I just adhered it to the Navy die cut.

The little embellishments at the bottom are clear crystals from Stampin’ Up!’s Pretties Kit and because they have a hole in the middle so you can thread them through hat pins or ribbon or whatever you like, I just placed a gold brad through the middle of them to continue with the gold theme of embossing and gold cardstock that I’ve used.

Hope this card gives you some inspiration or an idea of how to use a small stamp as your main image and a different way of using little crystal embellishments.

All products used in this card are by Stampin’ Up! and available for purchase through me.

Rubber Stamps:
Bella’s Bloom (retiring 31st August 2010)

Inkpads/Markers:
Versamark

Cardstock & Paper:
Not Quite Navy smooth and textured cardstock
Bella Bleu Designer Series Paper (retiring 31st August 2010)
Gold Brushed cardstock (metallics)

Accessories:
Kraft Taffetta Ribbon  (retiring 31st August 2010)
Clear crystals from Pretties Kit (retiring 31st August 2010
Gold Brads

Tools:
Lots of Tags Sizzlets
Big Shot

Adhesives:
SNAIL Adhesive
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Glue Dot (to adhere the crystals)

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Here it is everyone!  Stampin’ Up! Australia’s Last Chance List (formerly known as the Retirement List) for 2010.

Due to the list being so long I can’t put the whole thing up here but you can Click here to download the Last Chance List HERE!!

Please note that these products are only while stocks last.   All these products will officially retire from 1st September 2010 but there are no guarantees that all products will be available until then.

As a special promotion, specially selected products are up to 50% off!

Email me now to snap up some bargains

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME PRODUCTS ARE BEING RECONFIGURED RATHER THAN COMPLETELY RETIRED.  THESE ARE:

* All punches are being changed to the new slim-lined punch body.  The only punches which are retiring completely are: Double-rectangle, Horizontal Slot, Slit, Star, Trio Flower

* The Colour Coach is being reconfigured to a different style and to encompass the new colours

* Stampin’ Pastels will be changing to be in line with the new colour changes.

* On Board Essentials and Lots of Letters (chipboard) are being reconfigured

* Brads in Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals and Soft Subtles are being reconfigured to reflect the changes in the colour renovation

* Pretties Kit.  Although only being reconfigured, some items from the Pretties Kit are retiring completely

*  Designer buttons will be reconfigured

* Twill tape will be reconfigured

*  All watercolour crayons will be reconfigured to reflect the changes in the colour renovation

* Cardstock in Basic Black, Basic Gray, Mixed Neutrals, Sahara Sand A4, Very Vanilla (12″x12″), Whisper White (12″x12″), Mixed Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Rich Regals and Soft Subtles packs (A4, 12″x12″ smooth and textured) are being reconfigured.  More Mustard, Old Olive, Real Red, Bashful Blue, Bravo Burgundy, Night of Navy, Pretty in Pink, Kraft, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip are being reconfigured.

* ink refills for Bold Brights, Earth Elements, Soft Subtles and Rich Regals are being reconfigured to include new colours

*  All marker packs are being reconfigured to take out old colours and add new ones

*  All Stampin’ Spots are being reconfigured to take out old colours and add new ones

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A clean and fairly minimalist card from me today.  I’ve been sick and feeling so miserable that I haven’t been able to create – so today I mustered up a bit of energy to make this card.

I tried to design a card that would take minimal amount of ‘product’ as a bit of a challenge that was set for me by one of my blog readers.  I figure that most cardmakers would have some sort of circle punch, a couple small images they could stamp and some ribbon (okay, most of us have massive amounts of ribbon!).  The flower in the centre is an eyelet and I’ve set that then inserted a rhinestone brad through it.

Hope you like my card and please feel free to post any comments

All products used in this card are by Stampin’ Up! and available for purchase through me.

Rubber Stamps:
Tiny Tags

Inkpads/Marker:
Baja Breeze inkpad

Cardstock & Paper:
Whisper White
Pink Pirouette Textured card
Baja Breeze Textured card

Tools:
1″ Circle Punch

Accessories:
Hooray Designer Hardware
Large Clear Rhinestone Brad
Pink Pirouette Striped Ribbon

Adhesives:
SNAIL Adhesive
Stampin’ Dimensionals

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Two-Step stamping is one of those cool techniques where a few stamps can help you create a bigger picture or more depth to your images.  The Two-Stamping I’ve used in this card is to create a scene of this sweet little bird sitting on a branch.  I’ve used 4 different stamps all from the same stamp set to create the main image in this card: the bird stamp, branch, flower and sentiment.  What I like about this card is that the sentiment is part of the image and I didn’t have to find another place for the words or make them stand out on their own.

A little tip for multi-coloured stamping: I didn’t have a marker that I could use for the leaves on the stamped branch so I just inked up the leaves end of the branch with a Kiwi Kiss inkpad then used a tissue on the end of my finger to wipe off the green ink off the branch – you could use a cotton bud (QTip) for this – then I simply coloured the branch with a Chocolate Chip marker before stamping the image onto the cardstock.  The bright orange flower is a separate stamp in the set and I stamped that on white then cut it out and after inserting a rhinestone brad through it, I mounted it onto the card with a Stampin’ Dimensional (foam dot) to make it pop.

Well hope you like my card.  And if you’ve ever wanted to buy the the Cheep Talk stamp set that I’ve used in this card then now is the time as it’s 20% off during July 2010.  Just email me for more details.

Rubber Stamps:
Cheep Talk ($38.36 for the set of 11 stamps – from 1st July 2010 to 31st July 2010 – Australia only)

Inkpads/Marker:
Pacific Point
Tangerine Tango
Kiwi Kiss
Chocolate Chip Marker

Cardstock & Paper:
Chocolate Chip
Whisper White
Kiwi Kiss
Good Morning Sunshine (pears and flowers paper)
Washington Apple (background paper)

Accessories:
Latte Buttons
Rhinestone Brad

Adhesives:
SNAIL Adhesive
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Glue Dots (for adhere the buttons)

Want more Two Step Stamping Stamp Sets at a Discount? Here’s Stampin’ Up! Australia’s Special Promotion for the month of July 2010

Loads of Love was $39.95 NOW $31.96 (page 39)

Big Bold Birthday was $53.95 NOW $43.16 (page 42)

A Rose Is a Rose was $66.95 NOW $53.56 (page 78)

Playful Petals was $52.95 NOW $42.36 (page 86)

Cheep Talk was $47.95 NOW $38.36 (page 98)

Wonderful Favourites was $39.95 NOW $31.96

Tiny Tags woodmounted was $38.95 NOW $31.16 (page 14 of Winter Mini)

Tiny Tags clear mounted was $28.95 NOW $23.16 (page 14 of Winter Mini)

Cottage Garden woodmounted was $32.95 NOW $26.36 (page 31 of Winter Mini)

Cottage Garden clear mounted was $24.95 NOW $19.96 (page 31 of Winter Mini)

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We’re in our last week of Stampin’ Up! Australia’s Deal of the Week promotion and this week we have these beautiful accessories on sale:

Email me now if you would like to purchase any of these discounted products.

Promotion begins right now and ends Wednesday 30th June, 2010

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Today is the first day of Week 3 of Deal of the Week and here’s this week’s special promotion

This promotion ends on the evening of Tuesday 22nd June 2010

Email me today if you’d like to grab a bargain.

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