I had a lovely night of cardmaking last night with some of my team members around Australia – that’s the magic of cyberstamping!  A bunch of us jumped onto my team forum and stamped the night away while chatting.  One of my lovely team members, Jayne, hosted the cyberstamp and posted some challenges to get the creative juices flowing.  The first card challenge for the night was to make a birthday card using these colours:

Here’s my card (and bear in mind I was typing and not taking as long as I usually take to make a card, LOL)

The card is fairly straightforward without any fancy techniques but I think this colour combination is just so beautiful that you can keep the card simple.

Style Tip: I think these colours just call out for some ‘natural’ embellishments and textures so that’s why I chose the Linen Thread and simply wrapped it around the card.  The tearing of the side of the cardstock that the main image is stamped on also adds interest and texture that seems to go well with this colour combination.

Technique Tip: Try sponging around the edges of the layers of cardstock like I have – this goes well when you have a card that is highly textured like this one.  The different textures here are the background that was done using an embossing folder on the Big Shot, the linen thread, the lace trim and the tearing.

Another Card Idea: This colour combination can be used for a variety of occasions, this particular card is for a woman but I think these colours (and layout!) would be equally great for a masculine card – just change the stamped image to something more masculine and change the lace to twill.

So what do you think of the colour combination? Are you inspired to give it a go yourself?

And here’s a list of Stampin’ Up! products that I used to create this card:

Rubber Stamps:
Just Believe
Bring on the Cake (birthday sentiment)

Cardstock & Paper:
Crumb Cake
Very Vanilla
Chocolate Chip
Wild Wasabi

Inkpad and Other Colouring Items:
Wild Wasabi
Crumb Cake (for sponging)
Chocolate Chip

Tools:
Big Shot
Square Lattice Embossing Folder
Wide Oval Punch
Sponge Dauber

Accessories:
Linen Thread
Chantilly Crochet Trim
Vintage Brad

Adhesives:
SNAIL
Stampin’ Dimensionals

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So according to what I said on my Facebook page, yesterday I was meant to upload a photo of a card that I made using my sketch.  Of course when you work from home, things that aren’t so urgent seem to fall by the wayside a bit – especially when you’re sitting in the TV room, laptop on lap, looking out the window on a beautiful Winter’s day.

I found it difficult to get up and tackle the internet issues that I always seem to have from my office upstairs yesterday (the photo of the card was on my computer not laptop).  So here I am now (one day late) and with the internet currently working in my office, here’s the card that I made from my sketch.

Ahhhhh!  I just realised that I made a mistake and didn’t place my oval more to the right.  Sigh.  Well I might just have to lift the centrepiece and reposition it to match my sketch a bit better. LOL.

So a pretty straightforward card – the gorgeous bird image was stamped in Early Espresso ink onto some scrap cardstock then coloured in with chalks to give a nice soft feel then cut out and adhered to the oval that I cut out on the Big Shot.  I ran a So Saffron marker around the edge of the oval to give it a bit more emphasis as it seemed to get a little lost on the card with out it but otherwise I didn’t do any other sponging or highlighting on the card, the whole ‘natural and rustic’ look comes straight from the gorgeous paper that I’ve used.  Definitely I’ll be hoarding a few extra packets of this paper so that I have a stash when it retires.

Which reminds me… there was a discussion recently between some stampers who were lamenting the fact that so many cards these days are made using ‘ready made products’ rather than making interesting backgrounds with ink, rubber stamps and other stamping stuff.  I must admit I used to feel this way but these days I figure that whatever it is that you use which makes you cardmaking experience a happy one is just fine.  If you prefer to make your own backgrounds with sprays and ink and rubber stamps then fantastic, I certainly still do that too.  But if you want to make a card that primarily uses patterned paper like I did with this card (except for the stamped bird and sentiment) then I think that’s fine too.  I really enjoyed making this card and love the fact that everything coordinates.  Anyway, seems to be a bit of a hot topic sometimes with stampers, so let me know what you think… anything goes? do you enjoy one way of cardmaking over another? I’d love to know.

If you are on Facebook then please jump over to my Facebook page and click like. For those not on Facebook, here’s the sketch that I uploaded there the other day:

And here’s a list of Stampin’ Up! products that I used to create this card:

Rubber Stamps:
Nature Walk
Clearly For You (for you sentiment)

Cardstock & Paper:
Early Espresso
Naturals Ivory
Botanical Gazette

Inkpad and Other Colouring Items:
Early Espresso
Stampin’ Pastels (chalks – Not Quite Navy, Marina Mist, Old Olive, Early Espresso)
So Saffron Marker

Tools:
Big Shot
Ovals die (for the Big Shot)
Scallop Trim Border Punch
Modern Label Punch

Accessories:
Early Espresso 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon
Victoria Crochet Trim
Linen Thread
Designer Buttons (Neutrals)

Adhesives:
SNAIL
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Glue Dots

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Here we are folks! Last week of ‘Deal of the Week’.  Here’s this week’s deals:

This Week’s Deals:

These discounts are only available until the evening of 31st of May 2011.

Email me now to place your order if you’d like any of these discounted Stampin’ Up! products.

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Today I’m sharing with you a card that my 13 year old daughter, Jade, made for me for Mother’s Day last week.  Jade is a huge fan of Teneale Williams’ work and she CASEd this card by Teneale for me.

I’m so impressed with how well she did!  Seriously… the ribbon she worked out all on her own how to do and because we didn’t have any of the Urban Oasis paper that Teneale used (it’s now retired), Jade recreated the paper using Stampin’ Up!’s Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.

Jade obviously took a lot of time and care to make me this card and I’m so proud of my gorgeous girl.

Here’s a photo of Jade at Christmas with our little furry guy, Ralph, who turns 2 today.  Happy Birthday Ralphie!

Here’s the products that Jade used to make my card. Email me to order any of  these or other Stampin’ Up! products.

Rubber Stamps:
Fifth Avenue Floral

Cardstock & Paper:
Baja Breeze
Very Vanilla
Watercolour Paper
Baja Breeze Patterned Paper Stack

Inkpad:
StazOn Black
Baja Breeze

Tools:
Aquapainter

Accessories:
Vanilla Satin Ribbon
Large Flower Brad
Large Pretties Kit Pearl (now retired)

Adhesives:
SNAIL
Stampin’ Dimensionals
Glue Dots

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We’re on to our third week of Stampin’ Up! Australia’s Deal of the Week Promotion.  Here’s this week’s specials:

If you’d like any of these items at the sale price then email me right away to place your order.

This special offer ends on the evening of 24th of May 2011

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I’m back! Whoa! and what an amazing 4 days that was.  I’m both excited and exhausted at the same time.

Highlights of the trip? Definitely first and biggest highlight was seeing friends and team members and of course Stampin’ Up! staff.  It is absolutely amazing to be able to spend 4 days with friends having fun and also be able to call it a business trip.  So many laughs, so many fun times… here’s a photo of a ‘game show’ that Stampin’ Up! did at Convention – it’s called “Win it in a minute”.  In this photo, the Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators are trying to unravel a roll of ribbon using a Stampin’ Up! marker but without pulling the marker towards them.  I have some great photos of the next segment where demonstrators had to maneuver a cookie from their forehead to their mouths without using their hands… thinking I shouldn’t post those photos? LOL

Here’s a photo of Stampin’ Up!’s CEO Shelli Gardner demonstrating some stamping.  I could listen/watch Shelli for hours, she’s an incredibly talented and entertaining lady.

This is one of my gorgeous team members, Vanessa Webb, who demonstrated using fabric with the Big Shot.  I’ll have to make up some cards and other samples of my own to post here on the blog to share with you all the technique that Ness used.

Now for some seriously exciting news! (well for me anyway)…. During the awards night I was awarded First Place for Demonstrator of the Year.  Talk about shock!!!  I knew I had come in the Top 25 because when I checked in at Convention I received with my Convention bag a Demonstrator of the Year pin, along with pins for sales, recruiting, leadership and Incentive Trip but I couldn’t even imagine coming first.  It’s all still a bit surreal and I had to actually ask Shelli on stage if she was sure, LOL, Shelli just laughed and nodded.  A huge thank you to my amazing team and customers, this award is because of you all.  For First Place Demonstrator of the Year I received a certificate and cash bonus.  I also received this fabulous Michael Kors sports watch trimmed with Swarovski Crystals as a Leadership Award (again, thanks to my team! I have THE most incredible team).  So funny, my friends kept nudging me telling me I had achieved this prize but to tell you the truth I was so stunned I just sat there and watched the big screen to see my name so I could be absolutely sure.

And now for the list of the Top 25 Australian Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators for 2011:

1: Angela Sargeant
2. Kim Gavarra
3: Marelle Taylor
4: Ngaire Anderson
5: Vanessa Webb
6 – Tracey Penn
7 – Simone Bartrum
8 -Jayne Mercer
9 – Debbie Yeoman
10 -Maureen Crameri
11 – Alisa Tilsner
12 – Linda Higgins
13 – Teresa Brown
14 – Jacinta Ryan
15 – Sue Madex
16 – Sarah Klass
17 – Adele Khoo
18 – Charmaine Black
19 – Lisa Jalocha
20 – Shannean Moncrieff
21 – Liz Collett
22 – Jennie Cass
23 – Susan Rowe
24 – Janine Rawlings
25 – Melissa Garland

Rising Star Awards went to:

#1 – Kylie Bertucci

#2 – Michelle Bartholomaeus

#3 – Can’t remember! I’ll have to hunt down the name and be back to update.

Okay well that’s it for now.  But I will be back to post more photos!  I’ve got to show you all a photo of Aaron Scott (Australian GM) and Emma Parkin-Wilson (NZ Country Manager) riding camels on stage!… just a magical moment

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It’s Week 2 of Stampin’ Up!’s Deal of the Week promotion.

Here’s this week’s specials:

This special finishes on the evening of 17th May 2011.  If you really want one of these items at the special discounted price then please email me right away because sale items can become out of stock before the end of the sale date.

Please note this promotion is only for Australian residents.

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I’ve got 135 team pins done (hope that’s enough!)

Got some incentive awards and gifts ready

Got my new red lipstick

Now I’ve just got to find my black nail polish and I’m almost ready!!!

Because I’ll be away at the Australian Stampin’ Up! Convention and because it’s my birthday next week… I’ll be giving a little gift to everyone who places an order with me in May.  If you’ve already ordered then I will mail something to you too.  Please note that gifts will be of the Stampin’ Up! variety not anything pictured here!  I’ll still be on email while I’m away so please feel free to email me as usual.

I promise to take lots of photos this time and post some on my blog when I get back home.

Also, don’t forget to check out my blog tomorrow for the 2nd week of Stampin’ Up!’s Deal of the Week offer.

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May 2011 is Deals of the Week month for Stampin’ Up!  Each week in May, Stampin’ Up! will release a new set of Deals of the Week.  Tune in each week in May to snap up a bargain!

Deals of the Week for the first week of May are:

Tag Alongs Wood-Mount Stamp Set – Usually $31.95, NOW only $19.17

More Monkey Accessories Clear-Mount Stamp Set – Usually $23.95, NOW only $14.37

More Monkey Accessories Wood-Mount Stamp Set – Usually $29.95, NOW only $17.97

Cottage Garden Clear-Mount Stamp Set, Usually $24.95, NOW only $14.97

Cottage Garden Wood-Mount Stamp Set, Usually $32.95, NOW only $19.77

Compliments to the Chef Wood-Mount Stamp Set, Usually $35.95, NOW only $21.57

Need to see photos? Click here to see the Stampin’ Up! Catalogues online.  Or to receive your own copy of the catalogue in the mail just email me.

If you aready have your own catalogue, then:

Tag Alongs is on page 37
More Monkey Accessories is on page 59
Cottage Garden is on page 75
Compliments to the Chef is on page 98

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After posting the card in my last blog post I decided to use the same stamp set to create a card that was a little different.   The last card had a shabby-chic feel with pretty colours so this time I’m posting a card that’s done in Black & White (okay, Black & Vanilla) using the same stamp set.

You can see I’ve used the same bird as in the last card but this time I’ve made it all sparkly and glittery.  I wanted to keep the black/white theme but still wanted the bird to stand out so I stamped it in Versamark then covered the image with Heat & Stick Powder, heated it with a heat gun then covered it with glitter.  After pouring off the excess glitter, I gave it another quick shot with the heat gun just to set the glitter.  If you want a visual on how to do this then click here to see an older blog post with step-by-step photos, it’s using a different stamp but the technique is the same.

I know it’s a bit sad, but I get quite excited when I find stamps that match with my punches or dies that aren’t specifically made to match (is this a cardmakers’ thing? or is it just that working with Stampin’ Up! products I keep looking for matchies?).  Anyway, I was very pleased to find out that I could stamp the flourish frame image from Stampin’ Up!’s Notably Ornate stamp set beautifully inside the Top Note die which I cut out with the Big Shot.  And it doesn’t look like they’re made for each other but I do like the way the “just because” sentiment fits inside one of the die-cuts from the Lots of Tags set of dies.

So there’s my little challenge done.  I love to be able to create quite contrasting cards using the same stamps or products, I always feel like I’m getting good value out of my stamps and tools and it’s a fun little creative challenge.  Maybe you’d like to do the same, create a totally different style of card using some stamps that you usually use in one particular style.

Here’s a list of products I’ve used to make this card. Email me to order any of  these or other Stampin’ Up! products.

Rubber Stamps:
Notably Ornate

Cardstock & Paper:
Basic Black
Very Vanilla
Newsprint Designer Series Paper

Inkpad:
Basic Black

Tools:
Big Shot
Top Note Die
Lots of Tags Dies
Paper Piercer (just around the inside of the tag, the perforations around the Top Note are made by the die itself)

Accessories:
Basic Jewels
Black Satin Ribbon

Adhesives:
SNAIL
Stampin’ Dimensionals

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