Christmas (Or Not) - CTC89

Page 32 Annual Catalogue

It's so nice to see you here for CASE-ing The Catty Blog Hop. Maybe you have arrived here from my sweet friend Tina Gillespie's blog. She is our guest designer this week. But if you've started here with me, don't forget to check out what the rest of the crew have shared this week, you're bound to be inspired. Although the brief was to CASE Christmas, I wasn't quite ready to make a Christmas card. Soon our Holiday Catalogue will be released and there are going to be so many beautiful new products in there, not that there is a shortage in the Annual Catalogue either, The place card here provided inspiration for a birthday card in shades of Emerald Envy, Mint Macaroon and Copper Embossing Powder,

The Brushwork letters they used for the name are lovely, but I don't own them- yet! You can find them on page 157 if you want to check them out. I looked through my stash for something to fill the centre panel and settled for the recently retired Hostess set, Happy Birthday Everyone. This is a set I will be hanging onto for a while longer, and doesn't it look impressive heat embossed in copper? Unfortunately, the copper metallic thread wasn't thick enough for my liking, but I just so happen to have a spool of copper, very similar to the gold and silver thicker cord Stampin' Up! had in the last Holiday Catalogue. It just might be SU from a long time past. (Not sure where it came from, possibly my mother's craft room).

Because my birthday card is larger than the place card, I've stamped Wondrous Wreath (off the page) four times. The leafiest stamp was first stamped in Mint Macaroon. Next was the more sparse leaf stamp stamped in Emerald Envy, and lastly, a repeat of that stamp, rotated slightly and inked up with Versamark before sprinkling with copper embossing powder. 

This card seemed to be suitable for a masculine card, and I didn't have any copper sequins anyway, so the card is reasonably plain. I do usually hold back a little with embellishments, sometimes a little too much...

Fully inspired now, I cut a piece of Affectionately Yours Specialty DSP, and constructed the card in a similar fashion to the original CASE. I've used a narrower strip of card because I didn't want to cover the lovely DSP. This time it is a current sentiment from Cottage Greetings. This has been stamped in Versamark and heat embossed with copper embossing powder again.

One more, again using the specialty DSP Affectionately Yours, and this is covered in copper flora. Sadly, you only get one 12" X 12" sheet of each of these 'special' specialty papers in a pack, so I'm trying to make them go as far as possible!!! A narrower strip for the sentiment, again from Cottage Greetings. It is a simple sketch, and can be used in so many ways.

Of course, there is no reason why you couldn't use this sketch for your Christmas cards too, and I might, depending on the stamps I decide to use this year. Do you stamp Christmas cards, and if so, do you make a variety of designs, or lots of one design?

LAST CHANCE!

Don't forget, Stampin' Up!® has a Bonus Days promotion happening through this month. For every $90 you spend with Stampin' Up!® in July, you will be emailed a $9 discount code to use in August. That's like a 10% discount! BUT, you need to do it tonight or you'll miss out.

You can shop in my Online Store if you have a shipping address in Australia, and if you use the Hostess Code, 9Z44PC2P you'll receive something extra from me in the post.

Let's head on over to see the lovely Rebecca, the Paper and Stamp Addict.

Cheers, Rachel

You can post your entry here to join the challenge at CASE-ing The Catty

Thoughtful Jars GDP#046

I've been itching to do something with the cute Jar of Love stamp set (page 75) and co-ordinating Everyday Jars Framelits. Such a fun set, that leaves lots of options for the jar contents.
I love a window card, but only recently learnt how to make them. The cut out window piece is included with the dies, and I backed it with the oh-so-pretty DSP Blooms & Bliss.




This sketch at Global Design Project sparked this idea and I've entered their challenge for the very first time.

The design crew there have some amazing cards to share with you.

How gorgeous are the new In Colors? Sweet Sugarplum features here, some stamped off, some full strength, and a bow of Rich Razzleberry. Some accents in Smokey Slate and silver, with a touch of bling in rhinestones and Blushing Bride sequins. The sentiment has been borrowed from Birthday Blossoms. There are a pair of leaves from Thoughtful Branches, you'll be able to order that set next week.

Cheers, Rachel

Punch Bunch Class August 19th

I've designed and made the samples for my August and September classes, mainly because we are taking off for sunny Hawaii in between these two classes. It is always challenging to manage my regular day job, my family commitments and my Stampin' Up!® business, plus time out, but organising in advance seems to be the answer. That is why I text my daughter-in-law to check months ahead, if I'm needed for babysitting!!! A full life is a happy life!

So in August I've planned that we make cards with the Stampin' Up!® punches, so you can find out how easy they are, and how much fun. There is the Fox Builder Punch, the Tree Builder Punch (that's the sweet cupcake) and the Bow Builder Punch. You will find these on page 188 of the Annual catalogue, and in Australia they retail at $31.00 each. The Fox Builder Punch can be bought with a co-ordinating stamp which comes in very handy, and is offered at 10% off if you use the special code to buy as a bundle. Check with me to find out what this is if you're unsure. I'm offering any of my customers who have already ordered this bundle through me, or those who do prior to August 19th, the opportunity to attend the class at half price, $10. Alternatively, order two Builder Punches from page 188 and the class will also be half price.

In case you've made heaps of cute kitties and foxes already, would you want to have a go at the puppy or mouse? I might even have another critter or two to share on the night. There are a couple of other 'extras' on the other two cards also. The Cupcake card has a window filled with 'sprinkles' and the Bow Builder card has a 'pleated skirt'.

If you are ordering from my Online shop, could you please add the HOSTESS CODE 9Z44PC2P You will earn a small gift in the mail from me, plus any orders reaching $90 earn a $9 voucher from Stampin' Up!® to use between 2nd-31st August. It is emailed to you, and you need to keep a record of the code, as head office will not be able to reissue it.

Gotta love a bonus, it's like another 10% discount and you just might want it next month when this sweet bundle is available. Thoughtful Branches is on offer only for the month of August, although demonstrators have been able to order it during July too. We always get to try out the products a month before our customers so we can make up wonderful samples for you. Have you seen it on PINTEREST? just search for Stampin Up Thoughtful Branches and see all the great ideas by other demos pop up. I've just begun to play with it, am loving the versatility of the set. I'll most likely share some cards using Thoughtful Branches over the next few days.

Cheers, Rachel

Flourishing Musically

Flourishing Phrases is a wonderful stamp set with sentiments for both inside and outside of many cards. They cover matching and despatching, with some congratulations and thank you thrown in for good measure.





I have a customer, a music teacher, who often orders a batch of cards from me. She likes a musical theme to them and since Stampin' Up!® don't have any particularly suitable stamps at the moment, I make do with musical DSP and something else.

Last time she loved the cards with butterflies, so I hoped these flourishes would make her happy too. They are all different, and lined inside with Very Vanilla card trimmed with the musical DSP and no sentiment attached. I did make labels using the Rose Wonder stamped frame and die, plus the smaller sentiments, and my customer can attach them as she needs them.

Don't forget, there are only a couple more days of this bonus offer from Stampin' Up!®. If you make a $90 order in July, you will receive an email with a code to use on your August order giving you $9 off between 2nd-31st August. That amounts to a 10% saving, and if you happen to order a bundle, that is another 10% saving. Maybe you are planning to purchase Thoughtful Branches bundle in August. Wouldn't it be nice to get another $9 off? If you'd like to shop in my online store, don't forget to use the Hostess code at checkout and depending on the size of your order, you'll get more free stuff.

HOSTESS CODE: 9Z44PC2P

Cheers, Rachel

Everyday Occasions - CTC88

Welcome back to the CASE-ing The Catty Blog Hop. This week we return to the Everyday Occasions pages 66-91.It is full to the brim with inspiration, and I love to see how everyone interprets designs in different ways, whether by using a different colour scheme, or stamp set.

I turned to page 69 and CASE-d both cards in the picture using different stamps. For the one on the left it was Flower Patch. This was the first photopolymer stamp I bought, and in the beginning, we had some issues with the larger images. They were a bit patchy when they stamped, sometimes a bit bubbly too. The remedies vary, as there are many different reasons for problems. Often the ink pad was too juicy or the stamp needed seasoning before it gave a good image. Something else I always do now is use a pierce mat underneath my card.

The result is a much clearer image, and I'm loving Flower Patch again. I have trouble holding back, and after stamping out a lot of lovely blooms, I used a whole bunch on my banner! I realised quite quickly that the Burlap Ribbon would be totally wasted in behind, so there is one strip, and a loop at the top. I wound some gold metallic thread behind the flowers too. The background looked a little bare, so another image from Flower Patch has been stamped randomly. The colour palette with the addition of this years InColors is so pretty, and you get a darker shade when stamping an image in the same colour on top, like with the Sweet Sugarplum flower and the Mint Macaroon leaf.


The card on the right of this picture provided a seed of inspiration for my second card, but not having this punch, an alternative was needed. I am loving the Sunshine Wishes thinlets but want to use the Sunshine Sayings stamps a little more. 

Layering Love, with large, flamboyant sayings was my choice for this card. I have mirror-imaged the positions of everything, it seemed to fit better that way. The original flower cut in Bermuda Bay DSP wasn't noticeable, so a second flower has been added in gold foil to match the gold foil doiley.

Don't forget, Stampin' Up!® has a Bonus Days promotion happening through this month. For every $90 you spend with Stampin' Up!® in July, you will be emailed a $9 discount code to use in August. That's like a 10% discount! You can shop in my Online Store if you have a shipping address in Australia, and if you use the Hostess Code, 9Z44PC2P you'll receive something extra from me in the post.

Don't forget to travel right around the blog hop, with a cup or glass of something beside you perhaps, if last weeks hop is anything to go by, you'll be hooked for a while! Next is the lovely Rebecca with some more inspiration from the Everyday Ovvasions section of the catalogue

If you'd like to join in the challenge at CASE-ing The Catty, this is the link to post your entry to.

Cheers, Rachel

Sunburst 40th - Artistic Expressions - CTC 87

Thanks for joining me on the CASE-ing The Catty Blog Hop again. This weeks CASE is from the Artistic Expressions section of the catalogue.This covers pages 92 - 157, another HUGE section of the catalogue. This card on page 99 caught my eye, with the stitching, plus the faux stitching on the card base.

I had to get my sewing machine out to take in a skirt, and I'd been putting it off for months, so I was rather pleased that this was going to 'kill two birds with the one stone.' At the moment, I'm up to date with all the 40ths my son and daughter-in-law are going to, but I decided to make it a 40th card in more masculine tones anyway, for when they spring the next one on me.

Island Indigo and Crushed Curry are my picks this time. My feeling was the Island Indigo was more masculine, but of course we needed the 'sunny' yellow. It was speckled with one of the stamps from Timeless Textures, and I stamped with white Craft ink onto black card, just like in the catalogue sample, using Sunburst Sayings. I cut 40 from the Little Numbers Thinlets (retired now, unfortunately) and then stamped in black above the numbers with 'Look who's turning' from Number of Years.
Actually, I did the sewing before I proceeded too far with all the other steps, in case I had to begin again. Luckily it worked out beautifully. There is no doiley on mine, but a few Bermuda Bay sequins made an appearance.





The inside has been layered and decorated very lightly with a stamp from Sunburst Sayings, again, the one that looks a bit like stitched lines.

Cheers, Rachel

Don't forget, Stampin' Up!® has a Bonus Days promotion happening through this month. For every $90 you spend with Stampin' Up!® in July, you will be emailed a $9 discount code to use in August. That's like a 10% discount! You can shop in my Online Store if you have a shipping address in Australia, and if you use the Hostess Code, YM3FDRCM you'll receive something extra from me in the post.

You should head over to see Tricia Raineri next

If you'd like to join in with CASE-ing The Catty, this is the link to post your entry

Sublime Little Caravan WWYS#72

You're Sublime is such a fun and useful stamp set. I've found it perfect for many a reason and stamping this cute birthday card is only one example of the fun to be had with these smaller images.
I know an older hippy chick who has been fitting out a little campervan with crochet rugs and other homely things, for when she and hubby hit the road to join the other 'grey nomads' roaming Australia.

Two pieces of the bright and beautiful DSP are lined up side by side (because one would never be enough!!!) and there are a few stars scattered about to draw the eye.
I was inspired to share after seeing this challenge at What Will You Stamp? so if you love this stamp set too, perhaps you'll want to join in too.

Cheers, Rachel

Everyday Occasions - CTC86

Hello and welcome back to the CASE-ing The Catty Blog Hop. We are lucky enough to have three new members of the Crew start here this week. You may have already seen their posts, as I am following Deb Speijers, and she follows Krissy Buck, who follows Kelly Kent. Welcome ladies, it's great to have you on board. This week we are CASE-ing from pages 66 to 91, a very large chunk called Everyday Occasions. There are many gorgeous stamps through this section, and that means lots of samples to CASE.I've settled on Pop Of Paradise, and I'm sure the rest of the crew will have lots more to inspire you. 

I'm crazy about this Pop Of Paradise stamp set now, after not being all that impressed with it initially at Onstage. It is possibly just the sweet, summery feeling it gives off, who knows. I CASE-d the thank you card on the far left in the picture, almost exactly. I stamped the three pineapples, raising the centre one on a Dimensional, after fussy cutting it. However, I've substituted Painters Palette DSP for the Pop of Pink DSP, and Blushing Bride Glitter paper edges the stamped panel. It's the Blushing Bride Glimmer paper which has given the 'cloudy' look to the photo, I've had several attempts to improve it, but this is as good as it gets!

There is a lot more on this catalogue page to CASE too - just look at those heat embossed leaves on the projects. I was trying to keep this simple so the 'Thinking of You' sentiment has been heat embossed directly, and the leaves just stamped in Tip Top Taupe, Mint Macaroon and Dapper Denim.





Have you tried the copper embossing powder
yet? It is a gorgeous shade, rather like rose gold, and I've used it with Blushing Bride for flowers, and it also looks great with copper pineapples. Again, this card is the result of playing with new products and mixing Emerald Envy and Mint Macaroon together, along with Affectionately Yours Washi tape, and some Timeless Textures splatters.

Hope I've helped get your creative juices going and now you are heading off to Jackie Noble over in New Zealand

If you'd like to join in and CASE the Catty too, this is the link for where to post your entry.

Cheers, Rachel

Bonus Days

Another little suprise from Stampin' Up!®, and it's another one I haven't seen in my 5½ years with the company. Basically, for every $90 (or multiple of $90 = $180,$270 etc) you receive an email with a code entitling you to $9 off any order placed in August 2nd - 31st. They can be used all on the one order too, but it's up to you to make a note of the code they email you, they aren't sending out reminders. I'm a bit excited, because it counts for anything I order too, so I will have to carefully study my wish list.

I'm tossing up between Jars of Love on page 75 or Weather Together on page 55. Both are stamp set and framelit bundles, but Jars Of Love is a larger set and costs just over $90 whereas I'd have to find something else for $20 plus dollars with Weather Together.

If you have made a wish list from the catalogue, perhaps you'd better take another look and find something that will earn you some vouchers, to take off your purchases in August. My customers also have a voucher from me offering you another 5% off any bundle, if you use the Hostess Code. YM3FDRCM. for purchases between July 1st - 31st.

So that means a 10% discount for bundling two items, but make sure you use the correct code for a bundle, they're in a box on their own. Another 10% from your order, so to speak, from Stampin' Up! for each $90 spent in July, and 5% from me on the original bundle purchase price.

Looks like July might be a good month to treat yourself to a little crafting joy!

You can shop online in Australia here.

Cheers, Rachel

Happy Birthday Kitty CTS #179

It is now the second week of the winter holidays  in Melbourne and I am loving having a little extra crafting time, and not having to race out the door when it is only just light. After a weekend away with hubby, I was all fired up last night to join the challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch. If I am stuck for inspiration, a sketch is often enough to get me sorted, and the instant I spied this sketch I knew what I wanted to do.

I had my first play with Foxy Friends last week, and I am smitten, TOTALLY!!! A pink kitty was just asking to perch in this wreath and flowers, just look at that big birthday grin on her face. I have mainly used Foxy Friends, the leaves are all part of that set, and some flowers from Swirly Bird were already stamped and diecut on my table.

I didn't find the Fox Builder Punch a huge amount of help this time around, although it cut the separate head and tail, it doesn't line up as well on this particular body. I'm prepared to forgive it though, as it works so well with many of the other bodies included in the stamp set.

I've stamped the banner for Number of Years after stamping Happy Birthday from Sunshine Sayings. It is so easy to look through the Photopolymer stamp to see whether you have placed it correctly. To finish this card off, I have layered Sweet Sugarplum onto the Blushing Bride base, followed with a piece of Whisper White and some more Playful Palette DSP strips at top and bottom. There is a sweet little twine bow also. Not only does this finish a card off so nicely, it also helps to balance it when you have many layers stacked on the card front.

Happy 4th of July to those in the U.S. and happy crafting everyone!

Cheers, Rachel