Heartfelt Sympathy HSS#184 & DD#100

Aren't these colours for Triple Treat Week at Dynamic Duos so soft and soothing? They would make a lovely birthday or new arrival card, but I have chosen to make another sympathy card. What is sad is that this 100th challenge is the very last challenge for the team at Dynamic Duos. While I haven't entered every week, I frequently use the suggested colour pairs as a reference point.

My other inspiration this week is this sketch for Hand Stamped Sentiments. This is such a sweet sketch, and I decided to use some leaves from the Peaceful Petals stamp set. Shelli's favourite Postage Stamp Punch teamed with a 1" Square Punch are a perfect pair. Eastern Elegance DSP has a lovely Smokey Slate paper for the background. A couple of the DD Design team also used this same paper and as we near the end of the catalogue, these papers will retire,and new exciting ones will replace them. I took the sentiment from Simply Sketched, a hostess stamp set. This stamp set will soon be retired also, as Hostess sets only exist for the life of a catalogue, whether it be a mini catalogue or the annual catalogue. It also has a leafy branch that I could have used instead of Peaceful Petals.

Wishing you a peaceful week
Rachel
Remembering my dear mother, Judith 01.10.1926-30.04.2009

Love You To The Moon FMS #133

I have three of my grandchildren staying this weekend while their parents are involved with a wedding a couple of hours drive from here. We had a fun crafting session this morning with drawing and stickers and after one of the boys had drawn Saturn, it inspired me to make this Love You To The Moon card during the little one's nap. I've seen a number of  cards made with the big circle 'moon' and another layer with circles punched for craters, and then the wee mouse from Life In The Forest, a new favourite of mine, is popping out of one of those craters. I wonder if he's been nibbling away at the moon?

I have been really enjoying water colouring with the Aquapainter, so I did a little of that today too. I coloured with Coastal Cabana, what I guess to be the moon really, to try to make it look more like Earth. The Framelits Circle collection helped cut the 'moons' and a variety of smaller circle punches the craters. I've used sponge daubers to ink around all the edges.

Freshly Made Sketches gave me  the starting point with this sketch provided by Cindy this week. It's well worth checking out the design teams' cards and all the other submissions - they're bound to inspire you!

And here is the little miss who is giving me the biggest run for my money this weekend, her older brothers are easily amused, but Alice only wants to be with Grandma, bless her! She seems to like this photo from earlier today the best, as she helps me type. I have to admit I'm lovingbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb the help. Love them all to the moon and back!

Hope your weekend is fun-filled too

Rachel

Little Mouse Thanks You

I spent another few days away from my craft supplies, just before Easter, but I always take something to play with! Mainly I was trying to finish my swaps for the South Pacific Stampin' Up! Convention  held in Melbourne in May, but I also slipped Life in the Forest and some card and ink pads into my basket. I had lots of ideas running around my head, and it is usually a bit frustrating because I am missing something to finish them off and often have to sketch out the idea, so I recall it when it is time to put those stamped images to use. I have a lot of quirky ideas for this little mouse, here he is, perhaps, sending a thank you for saving his life.
I've simply stamped in black Stazon and water coloured with an Aqua Painter and ink pressed from the stamp pad onto the lid. You need the tiniest bit. The clouds are done by sponging some ink with a Sponge Dauber using a scalloped circle as a moveable mask.
I stamped out the 'Gee, Thanks' from Just Sayin' because you can barely see the 'Thank You' from Itty Bitty Banners on the Basic Grey card.

The On Film Framelits were perfect for this little snapshot of Life In A Forest.
Washi Tape & a paperclip (Essentials Hardware Clips), are the finishing touches.


It's a few days since I published this blog and I have no idea what was wrong with me when I did. I forgot to acknowledge the Paper Players sketch and Washi Tape challenge, which helped me put this card together. Apologies, Nance and everyone else at The Paper Players. :( so sorry.

Hope you like my funny little thank you card and thank you for passing by my blog

Rachel

Weekly Deals 23-29 April

The Deals (23 - 29 April)

Item	Description	Retail Price	Sale Price
130034	Stampin' Write Markers New Colour Kit	$49.95	$37.46
132152	Christmas Ornament Punch	$27.95	$20.96
130938	2013-15 In Color Boutique Details	$15.95	$11.96
126926	Modern Medley Designer Series Paper	$18.95	$14.21
130138	I Am Me Designer Series Paper	$18.95	$14.21
121812	Fun Flowers Bigz L Die	$55.95	$41.96
130861	Afternoon Daydream Digital Kit (digital download)	$10.95	$6.57

If you click on Weekly Deals the link will take you directly to my online store, where you will see the deals and their prices in more detail. Just a click away from ordering, its that easy! Just make sure that you order before the end of Tuesday, next week.

Best Of 25 Years


The 'Best Of....' stamps finish at the end of April. There are 12 sets in this series of clear mount stamps and you can check them out here. Each set contains 5-8 clear mount stamps and retails for $25.95. Best of Flowers and Best of Greetings were my two favourites.

New Catalogue

I'm starting to get a little bit excited about the new catalogue, which you will see at the end of June for ordering 1st July onwards. So far I've seen the front cover (it doesn't give too much away tho') and I have a bit of an idea about some retiring items. My advice is to order any of the older In Colors very soon if you are wanting them. Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green are the retiring colours.

If you want a chance to see the catalogue earlier AND to purchase from it during June (a month before everyone else) maybe you should consider becoming a demonstrator? Its very easy to sign up, your commitment is to purchase $400 worth of products every three months, and if you fail to meet that target, there is no penalty, you just revert to being a customer again. You don't have to send anything back, you don't have to do parties or workshops if you don't want. It's so much fun to meet other demos, to share ideas and support each other.

I hope you're enjoying these Weekly Deals, I wonder if they are likely to become a permanent feature?

Cheers
Rachel

Next Class - Boxed Card Set with Envelope Punch Board

In May, I am offering a class using the Envelope Punch Board, the latest must-have tool in any crafter's life. You will get to make a decorated box to fit 4-6 cards and envelopes, plus stamp 4 notecards & envelopes. There will be a choice of colours and stamp sets meaning you can freely CASE my designs, or let loose and develop your own. The cost of this class is $22, although for those of you who have already purchased an Envelope Punch Board from me (or will before the class, not forgetting there is a 5-10 day delivery time) I will discount this class to $15 in appreciation of your support of my business. The online store notifies me of your orders, so I know who already has one, but there is always mine to use, if you want to try it first.

 These are some of the things I like about the EPB
1. You can make colour co-ordinated envelopes or special, out-of-the-ordinary sizes.
2. It's not just restricted to envelopes - boxes, all sizes and shapes, bows, bon-bons -you name it, it can be done!
3. Comes with its own bone folder.
4. It has a built-in corner punch.
5. It is light and portable.
6. It is reasonably priced at $31.95 in Australia (Item # 133774)
You won't find it in any catalogue yet, but check my online store under 'Tools & Adhesives'.

In this class you will receive all the consumables needed (card, glue, ink, stamps, punches, 4 notecards & envelopes) and instruction sheets for not only the notecard box, but also the bow you can decorate the box with, plus a  bonus bon-bon.

If you'd like to come to this class let me know your preferred day/time.

Friday 9th May        7.00pm-10.00pm
Saturday 10th May  2.00pm-5.00pm
Thursday 15th May 7.00pm-10.00pm
Friday 16th May      7.00pm-10.00pm

 If there isn't a time above that suits, I can discuss some alternatives with you.

Email anytime, rpalmieri5@bigpond.com or phone/txt me 0417500 681 (but I can't pick up school hours Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday)

Rachel

Fine-colored Feathers HSSCC#183

What do you think of this colour combination?

 

I have been playing with watercolor paper and re-inkers, planning for some future classes. It was just co-incidence that I had picked this exact colour range for this panel showing off an assortment of stamps from Fine Feathers. The  four feathers are stamped using Black Stazon, there is one more lovely feather in this set, a peacock feather, but I've tried for masculine with this card, and that last feather was just too pretty! The water color panel is layered onto a strip of Crushed Curry and a Basic Black that was given a zig zag edging with a Finishing Touches Edgelit. A Naturals Designer button threaded with linen thread has been placed to draw attention to the greetings, Happy Birthday from Itty Bitty Banners and Celebrate from Starburst Sayings. Both of these come with Framelits to make cutting out a breeze.

This is the first time I have found this particular challenge, Hand Stamped Sentiments.  Amy White led me to it. There are some great cards there using these colours, pop on over and take a look for yourself...

Hoping for a fun, crafty week (in between my real job)
Rachel

Sailboat for Boys, Tricycle for Girls

Its been quite a while since any of my cards have been selected for mention by any design teams, so it was a lovely Easter surprise when Jaydee at Paper Players picked my Sailing Along card.
You can see all the design team picks here.

I've been working on a version of this card for a baby girl, and used the Tricycle stamp from the same stamp set, Moving Forward.
It called for a different colour scheme, so Calypso Coral and Crisp Cantaloupe teamed with this cute spot from Etcetera Design Series Paper. The Window Frames Framelits were used to cut the image and a mat, the Adorning Accents Edgelits was used again for the spot and its mat, and again, thicker baker's twine from SALE-A-BRATION. Although you can hardly see it in the photo, the same 'congratulations on your new baby' from Friendly Phrases was stamped at the bottom of the card.

So there you are, one for a boy, one for a girl. Just waiting for the new babies to arrive!

Cheerio...
Rachel

Weekly Deals 16-22 April

The Deals (16-22 April)

Item	Description	Retail Price	Sale Price
127885	Champagne Glimmer Paper	$8.95 AUD/ $10.95 NZD	$6.71 AUD/ $8.21 NZD
120995	Silver Glass Stampin' Glitter	$6.95 AUD/ $8.50 NZD	$5.21 AUD/ $6.38 NZD
129717	Timber Standard Stampin' Around Wheel	$10.95 AUD/ $13.25 NZD	$8.21 AUD/ $9.94 NZD
130814	This and That Epic Day Designer Series Paper	$18.95 AUD/ $22.95 NZD	$14.21 AUD/ $17.21 NZD
127554	Naturals Designer Buttons	$8.95 AUD/ $10.95 NZD	$6.71 AUD/ $8.21 NZD
126882	Merry Mini Punch Pack	$29.95 AUD/ $35.95 NZD	$22.46 AUD/ $26.96 NZD
127211	Floral District Photobook Template (digital download)	$19.50 AUD/ $24.95 NZD	$11.70 AUD/ $14.97 NZD

If you click on this link it takes you right into my online store and to the Weekly Deals page where you can see photos of the products.

We have had very exciting news this morning that Becky Higgins (Project Life) and Stampin' Up! have teamed together to produce a range of Project Life exclusive to Stampin' Up! and featuring 'our' colours. It will be included in our next catalogue (1st July) and I have my fingers crossed that we MIGHT even see Becky Higgins at Convention! 

Convention is fully sold out now, but I booked in on the first day it went on sale, I was so excited. This will be my third Convention and its very much like 'Christmas in May'. We get heaps of product demonstrations, sneak peeks at new things AND we invariably get to bring new stamps and embellishments home in our special Convention bag, which we have heard this year is designed to hold our tablets (ipads).

I'm heading to the coast for Easter, so may I wish you all a safe and Happy Easter

Rachel

Patchwork 'Just Because' retrosketches #110

In another lifetime I was a patchworker and I still have enough fabric stockpiled to open a Pop Up Shop. This retro sketch  challenge kind of reminds me of patchwork, so as well as cutting triangles, I paper pierced (stitching) and adhered some pretty buttons with mini glue dots. The Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay were close to hand because of my last card, and the lovely DSP Afternoon Picnic is a perfect fit for those colours too. A Dozen Thoughts is the stamp set 'just because' belongs to, and I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement.

It was an quick and easy card to make, my main difficulty is getting enough light to take the photo.

 Happy stamping
Rachel

Postscript: 4th May 2014, Just found out, my card got a shout out at Retro Sketches, what a happy feeling that gives me!

Sailing Along PP #191

I rely on challenges a great deal for inspiration and usually prefer a sketch to all others. I find that it helps me to deviate from a standard card.  The Paper Players is a favourite challenge of mine, but this colour challenge by Ann had me stumped - until I took a look through the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack. Up until then I couldn't think beyond flowers but this striped paper reminded me of boats and suddenly, I remembered Moving Forward, last year's Ronald McDonald House fundraising stamp, and I knew I would be making a baby card!

After inking up the stamp with Always Artichoke ink, I removed ink from some parts with my blender pen so that I could add Calypso Coral with a Stampin' Write marker. Setting the striped paper straight didn't appeal, so I cut with the curved Adorning Accents Edgelit and then cut a mat to match from Coastal Cabana. I experimented by tilting it this way and that until I was happy with the placement, and then I did a bit more slicing. A length of the chunky bakers twine from SALE-A-BRATION was tied around one end, and knotted before the sailing boat, cut with Deco Labels, was placed on the card. Unfortunately, the 'congratulations on your new baby' is also from a retired stamp set, Friendly Phrases. It is still a favourite of mine with the two different fonts.


 Pop over to my later post to see this version tricycle-for-girls of the card for a baby girl.
Be warned that the current Ronald Mc Donald stamp set, Tag It, will be retiring at the end of June and while there is sure to be another super stamp set to replace it AND raise funds for this good cause, if you are wanting Tag It, you might be best to order it now.

Tag It

I've been for a lovely walk in the Autumn sunshine this afternoon and I'm feeling very fit and healthy!
Thanks for popping in
Rachel

Wonderful Summer Flowers CTS #72 DD#98

I have some crafting time now, after driving my grandsons home to their parents yesterday. On checking out the challenges, I came across a pair that were perfect for my mood, Cas(e) this Sketch and Dynamic Duo.
I've been wanting to ink up Summer Silhouette for a while, and today was that day! Its such a fun set, and with all the different individual stamps included, you can create to your hearts content. Teeny Tiny Sentiments on a Word Window Punch piece and then a Modern Label Punch in Wisteria Wonder are the finishing touch.

So this morning, before anyone but the sun was up, I stamped, sliced and stuck away - and this was the result! I think it looks a bit like looking out a window into a garden.
I'm very happy with it, and now off to enjoy some of that Autumn sunshine.
Hope your day is as happy as mine...

Rachel

En Francais Birthday FMS 131

This morning, when I was tidying up I decided to make a card with some of the background pieces I'd demonstrated at last night's workshop. The girls were making Scalloped Tag Topper cards once they had stamped a background. I'll pop a photo of some samples near the end of this post.

The En Francais stamp makes a lovely background with its flowing script, but it was handy to have Cindy H's sketch at Freshly Made Sketches to give me some fresh inspiration on how to use it a different way. The colours here are Pool Party, Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay, such an awesome trio~!

I don't usually leave such a wide margin around my layers, so that was a bit of a change for me, as was the strip of patterned paper laid over both. I'd had the Pool Party ruffled ribbon out for the class, as one of the ladies had used this colour scheme too.

I also love the Happy Watercolor stamp set, and have used the longer flower (looks like a native orchid to me) on the panel. I stamped the 'splash of paint' stamp from that stamp set three times without reinking. Using the darkest shade, Bermuda Bay, then huffed* on the rubber, stamped, huffed* again and stamped, to get the faintest image at the top.The dotty image is also from Happy Watercolor, it has been stamped in gold ink. Itty Bitty Banners has been getting a lot of use lately too, the framelits to cut the banners make it so quick and easy.

* huffed - technical term to describe breathing heavily through the mouth!!!

The girls were able to make a variety of cards using background stamps like Hardwood, En Francais and World Map before trying a couple of ways to use the Tag Topper Punches.

I've been busy with my grandchildren today and now they are in bed I am quickly catching up with my blog. We are keeping two of the older ones for a few more days, so it will be busy for a while before we return them to their parents. It isn't really helping that the weather has turned cooler and drizzly for a number of days now. We took them to a concert today and it was just as entertaining watching their reactions, as the performers were!

Thanks for popping by,
Rachel

Hexagon Hello, Hello

I love the use of shapes in paper craft and patchwork. Hexagons are always a popular choice, so I looked forward to using Hexagon Hive Thinlet (132965 page 26, Occasions Catalogue). Just Add Ink have challenged with ' Just Add Layers' and this card has ended up having as many layers as an onion!!!
I really like a lot of the other DT samples and challenge entries, so might need to pin some for future inspiration. (Whoops! missed the link up, it closed last night!!!)

I cut the Hexagon Hive Thinlet from Raspberry Ripple, such a lovely, rich red. I did trim a little more away from the lower right, to allow for a punched out porthole for the cheeky 'hi'. Dictionary was stamped in Raspberry Ripple onto Pink Pirouette card too, and because dictionaries have 'lots of words' I decided to stamp 'hello' from Four You multiple times onto a double-ended tag made with the Angled Tag Topper Punch. That was secured with Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine and then I scattered  three Petite Petals flowers, and different-sized stars in Silver Glimmer Paper. I'm lucky enough to have one of the retired whale shaped star punches for the large star, the small ones are a retired  thinlet from Scentsational Season. I have my fingers crossed that we get some Star thinlets or punches in the next catalogue, but no whispers yet. There is another size star in the Circle Card Thinlet set (along with a heart & other handy shapes).

The card base is Smoky Slate, so is the tag and the ink, which comes out one shade darker. Now that's handy, perfectly matched.

Circle Card Thinlet

Just a scattering of rhinestones to glam it up some more, and we're all done.

It has been drizzling steadily where I live, and I have my grandsons coming for a few days (school holidays) so we are looking at indoor activities to keep them amused.

Catch you soon

Rachel

Weekly Deals 9-15 April

You might prefer to pop on over to my online store to see images of the Weekly Deals, but they are all current items in the catalogue. Except for the last item, these are all for embossing or cutting, using a Big Shot, so if you already own one or have been thinking of getting one, this week might be a good time to start collecting Embossing Folders, Framelits or Sizzlits.

The Deals (9-15 April)

Item	Description	Retail Price	Sale Price
129372	Secret Garden Framelits Dies	$42.95 AUD/ $51.95 NZD	$32.21 AUD/ $38.96 NZD
130101	Dress Up Framelits Dies	$42.95 AUD/ $51.95 NZD	$32.21 AUD/ $38.96 NZD
129383	Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$13.95 AUD/ $16.95 NZD	$10.46 AUD/ $12.71 NZD
123113	Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$13.95 AUD/ $16.95 NZD	$10.46 AUD/ $12.71 NZD
115969	Floral Fusion Sizzlits	$9.50 AUD/ $11.50 NZD	$7.13 AUD/ $8.63 NZD
121809	Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder	$13.95 AUD/ $16.95 NZD	$10.46 AUD/ $12.71 NZD
118869	Recipes by Design Digital Kit (digital download)	$10.95 AUD/ $13.95 NZD	$6.57 AUD/ $8.37 NZD

Thought I might share a couple of cards I made for Mother's Day last year using the Floral Fusion Sizzlets.

Floral Fusion Sizzlets

I am on holiday from work at the moment, so you can call or text 0417 500 681 or email rpalmieri5@bigpond.com if you have any questions.

Cheers

Rachel

Three Friendly, Furry Monsters

Once I saw these cute, little furry monsters that a number of people have pinned on Pinterest, I wanted to give it a go. I still had the eyes from a Holiday catalogue from about a year ago, and I had the Simple Stems stamp set too. Yes - believe it or not, it is a flower from that stamp set, but I doubt that I will EVER see it that way!

The Paper Player's challenge, set by LeAnne this week, is to use three: a "Three Spree."
Therefore, three little monsters (with another one inside for good measure). This might just end up being the birthday card for the grandson turning three this year too, unless I think of something better before then! For that reason, I have finished this card inside as well.

Now, I have also based the layout on the sketch at Try Stamping On Tuesday. Not with a photo, as suggested, but I might later, although I rarely do a single photo layout. Only one of the design team did, so I don't feel TOO badly.
I also used a couple of stamps from Just Sayin' and cut them with the matching Word Bubble Framelit Dies. The greeting inside is from the retired stamp set Up, Up and Away. Those sentiments fit the Word Bubbles nicely too. A strip of Perfect Plum was dry embossed with Embossing Folder Alphabet Press, love the texture it gives.





I'm planning to do some more creating today, must away...
Rachel