Weekly Deals 31st December

I'd like to begin by wishing you a very Happy New Year, may it bring you health, happiness and good fortune! I was a little surprised to see the Weekly Deals go live this morning, but I'm sure it is all programmed well in advance.


Here are your Weekly Deals

I think the Amazing Birthday stamp set is a "must have" if you make birthday cards. It's great for guys, for gals for kids! I have used it heaps since I received it back at Convention. Now I must point out, $37.46 is a great deal for a wood mount stamp, reduced from $49.95 for just the next week, BUT the clear mount stamp set is incorrectly priced in the catalogue at $25.95(if you compare Australia's price next to NZ's you'll see what I mean) but for the life of this catalogue, Stampin' Up! are honouring the misprint, so if you prefer clear mount, best you get on and order it before too long.

Amazing Birthday & Just Sayin'

Amazing Birthday & Pictogram Punches

Amazing Birthday & Work Of Art

Don't forget that the Year-End Closeout Sale AND the Holiday Catalogue finish on January 5th also.

Stay safe, 

Rachel

Many Merry Stars

I promise you this will be my very last Christmas-related post this year! I had some very grand plans for table decorations, but I ran out of time unfortunately, and after all, it is probably more important to get the food organised.

I did make some gift card holders using the Gift Card Envelope & Trims Thinlets Dies. The design has been very heavily influenced by this card by Teneale Williams, another Australian demonstrator who is on the Stampin' Up! International Artisan Design Team. I love the detail Teneale uses on her cards, but I am not so good about all of that. Holiday Invitation provided the Be Merry sentiment, cut with the long banner in the Gift Envelope set. The star is from Many Merry Stars stamp set that came out in a supplementary leaflet, and doesn't appear to be carrying over, so if you like this clean star which co-ordinates with the Star Framelits, best you order in the next week. (Photopolymer 138105 $27.95). The Santa and sleigh silhouette comes from Holiday Home, another great photopolymer stamp set, also not carrying over. 5th January is the last day to order these items. Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper has been used on the belly band holding the envelope closed, and that is over on Year End Closeout sale at $15.39, down from $21.95. it is actually more like a card, not paper and would be perfect for making gift boxes. You should be able to click on the picture below to get taken directly to that item in my online shop, all available only till 5th January 2015.

I was rushing to get these made the night before our family gathering, so there are no little buttons or linen thread on mine, but a couple of the mini staples did the job and are totally appropriate for a bunch of boys. I don't often get compliments on my crafty projects from my sons, but apparently this was pretty good. Or maybe it was what was inside?

And, a really big statement from the eldest (which I may happen to agree with too) - "This was the best Christmas ever!"

Hope yours was just as jolly,
Rachel

I have a general card class on Wednesday 14th January at 1pm and another Project Class (page 16 of the Occasions Catalogue) on Tuesday 20th January - check for picture on the CLASS page, or contact me.

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Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals - Available Till 30th December

Today I finally feel like I'm on holiday! Our family celebration was held on Boxing Day, to allow my daughters-in-law time to celebrate with their own mothers. We also have to fit around everyone's work arrangements and my eldest son is back at work today (Saturday). The festive left-overs were divided up last night, and this morning I've laundered the Christmas linen and it's flapping happily in the breeze. 

I'm late AGAIN with the Weekly Deals but they are too good to ignore so I will share them late, rather than never. After all, the shop is open 24/7 and the warehouse staff are back on deck Monday morning waiting to pack your order! The reduced prices show up automatically in the online shop.

Favourites of mine from this bunch are the Chalk Talk Framelits, Oh My Goodies stamp set and the Circles Collection Framelits. Even if you don't own the Chalk Talk stamp set, those shapes are great for adding interest to your cards or journal tags. I've shared several of these cards before, but they illustrate how often I use these Framelits. This card has two of the Chalk Talk Framelits paired with two sizes from the Banners Framelits. There is a glimpse of Chalk Talk stamping too but the greeting is from Perfect Pennants. I blogged about this card here, last February.

This next card was made a while back too using Perfect Pennants for the sentiment on a double banner. The tag behind the banners is another Chalk Talk Framelit and it was a perfect way to ground all those elements together. The Chevron Border Punch, Petite Petals Punch and a Hardwood background stamp also made it onto this card.

Lastly, for the Chalk Talk Framelits,  a change of colour and two more shapes paired with those Banners Framelits again! The sentiment is from the Hip Hip Hooray Card Kit and the Confetti Star Border Punch, currently in the Holiday Catalogue will carry over to the Occasions Catalogue,beginning 6th January. Chalk Talk Framelits are $32.21, till Tuesday.

Circles Collection Framelits are useful for all sorts of things. They complement the Starburst Framelits, and can accommodate many a greeting, as you can see with this rather large 'Happy 60th Birthday'.  This card was shared on my blog back in March when my friend Carol celebrated her 60th. Circle Collection Framelits are $34.46.











Oh My Goodies is a very useful stamp set too, I used it here to make this birthday card. Umpteenth is a favourite number of mine - I didn't know it was used universally!!!! A wood-mount stamp set is only $32.21 this week only.

This week would be a good time to check through your Holiday Catalogue to see if there is anything you're wanting as last orders will be taken 5th January. A number of items are carrying over, so you can always ask me for that information.

Email, text 0417 500 681 or leave a message on this post for any questions you may have.

Have fun creating,

Rachel

The prices below are pre- Weekly Deals, the correct price shows in my online shop, but the icons will take you there.

Circles Collection Framelits Die

$45.95

Squares Collection Framelits Die

$45.95

Chalk Talk Framelits Die

$42.95

Banners Framelits Die

$45.95

Perfect Pennants Wood Stamp Set

$51.95

Perfect Pennants Clear Stamp Set

$41.95

Hip Hip Hooray Card Kit

$34.95

Oh My Goodies Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$42.95

Oh My Goodies Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$30.95

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More Christmas Cards - by Stampin' Up! - And Me!!

It's probably safe to share my bulk Christmas card as most recipients would have received them by now (or aren't likely to read this blog). It is a shame the lighting was a bit  'off' for this picture. 

Blue is my favourite colour although probably Pool Party through to Bermuda Bay would top the list. For this card I picked Sky Blue and the Seasonally Scattered stamp set. This is a great stamp to do this quick little technique with. It is often referred to as 'thumping'.You ink the stamp up in a light colour, and then use darker Stampin' Write Markers to thump more colour on randomly. I grabbed Night of Navy, Island Indigo and Bermuda Bay.

The sentiments in Endless Wishes are fabulous for matching up with either the stamps in that stamp set, or with others just like here with Christmas stamped out in Cherry Cobbler. The combinations are endless, just like the stamp sets name suggests. A scattering of rhinestones finishes them off with a little bit of sparkle. I made twenty of these cards, but I knew it wouldn't be enough, and last night I've had to whip up some more to get in the post. I do hope they get there before Christmas day! 

I should point out that the wood-mount Seasonally Scattered is in Year-End Closeouts for $34.39, not $42.95! Might be worth ordering for next year!!!

In the afternoon I planned to make my Christmas cake. My mother would be telling me that I've left it too late, but better late than never, and I haven't made a 'proper' one for a few years. Two kilos of dried fruit, ginger, glace cherries had been soaking in sherry for 24 hours, before I began creaming the 500grams of butter and 3 cups of sugar. Even with an electric beater, my arm was aching. I called William to help break the eight eggs in, one at a time while I kept beating. Then he took over for a while till his arm was aching and we'd changed to the wooden spoon. I called Aaron to help, as we added all that fruit in and we're smiling because we were wondering if we would be able to keep it all in the bowl! Next time I might have to get a new bucket for the job!!!

Are your holiday preparations going well?

Rachel

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Wondrous Wreath - Again!

I needed some more Christmas cards this week and decided not to stick with my original card, mainly because I have so many lovely stamp sets, they should all get a showing!

Wondrous Wreath has been used before, but it deserved to be inked up again. I've kept it simple, in that I haven't cut it out with the Wonderful Wreath Framelits, but the bow has been stamped and die cut. The Bermuda Bay is a gorgeous accent colour!

The colour inspiration came totally from this challenge at Sunday Stamps.  The strip of Santa & Co DSP (on special in the End Of Year Closeout) seemed to suit  the colour palette, perfectly.

Its easy enough to stamp off the edge of the card front, especially as each stamp has a tab which I used to line up the layers. It doesn't seem to matter too much if you're slightly 'off' with this stamp either. With photopolymer stamps it is super-easy to make sure the sentiment is straight.




Now, I'm still not 100% sure that this is the last of my Christmas cards, I need to have a solid session of card writing tonight before I know for sure! Hope your preparations are going well.

Cheers

Rachel

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Big Bright Birthday CTS#103

I couldn't resist cutting into this new paper to use on today's card for CAS(E) This Sketch. I have used this sketch before, to make bright Christmas cards,  but in reverse if you know what I mean! I think by skewing the top layer, it really adds a whole heap of interest, even if it does challenge my brain!

Originally, the plan was to use a NEW stamp set too and make a birthday card for my friend, also my son's m-i-l, who celebrates her birthday on Christmas Eve poor thing! I began with this particular paper from Birthday Bash SDSP, and it seemed more gender neutral/masculine. Her card will come later and it still might feature another of these gorgeous papers. I adore the colour palette, bright and vibrant!

Big News seemed to match the paper for exuberance and enthusiasm, but its been calmed a tad with Night of Navy ink. An injection of Crushed Curry with that lovely slash of underlined colour, finished off with a circle from Amazing Birthday in Tangerine Tango to finish the statement. "It's Your Birthday! Enjoy the fuss, it's for you."
Perfect!

I have three more days to work before I have five weeks off for Christmas, New Year and the summer break. Who's counting?

Rachel

Amazing Birthday Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$49.95

Amazing Birthday Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$25.95

Big News Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$75.95

Big News Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$55.95

Work Of Art Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$51.95

Work Of Art Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$37.95

Birthday Bash Specialty Designer Series Paper

$21.95

Bermuda Bay A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Tangerine Tango A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Stampin' Trimmer

$49.95

1-1/4" Circle Scallop Punch

$27.95

Circles Collection Framelits Die

$45.95

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Happy Blooming Birthday FMS#166

Today, I took delivery of my BBB (big brown box) full of new things for the new year so, in between my weekly cleaning, catching up on Project Life and writing Christmas cards, I
decided to put together a card for Freshly Made Sketches using a stamp set from this year's Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalogue.

So Very Grateful is no longer available, not every stamp set in the mini catalogues makes it into an annual. It is such a fun stamp to colour with Blendabilities (there are new colours in Blendabilities in the Occasions Catalogue) but you could substitute and use the I Like You Hostess stamp or another open-style flower stamp. Its a shame that the 'happy' from the sentiment has been slightly lost in the floral image. Party Pennants Bigz die makes an interesting shape to stamp on and underlined with one of the Boutique Borders strips is a perfect finishing touch. Simple, understated, modern.

I'm very excited by the new stamps and project kits in the upcoming Occasions Catalogue, and can hardly wait to share some of the loveliness with you!
Bye for now
Rachel

Boutique Borders Photopolymer Stamp Set

$27.95

Flower Patch Photopolymer Stamp Set

$44.95

Party Pennants Bigz L Die

$55.95

Big Shot

$149.95

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Melon Mambo Assortment

$20.95

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Old Olive Assortment

$20.95

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Coastal Cabana Assortment

$20.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$9.95

Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Whisper White A4 Card Stock

$14.95

Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine

$4.95

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