Special Orders

Some months ago, a special order was requested. My customer had arranged a surprise weekend away for her husband's birthday, and she wanted to be able to present the gift in a special way. We chatted about what she'd like included. and then she emailed me the important information and a photograph. Then I just needed to format the document to fit the project, and print it out.

This Tri-fold style card seemed to fit the request to make the mystery last as long as possible - hence the peek-a-boo hole with a question mark. I used By The Shore DSP (patterned paper) as a suggestion that the weekend would be at the beach. That's also why I used the swirly hippy-like stamp from Designer Tee, a SALE-A-Bration stamp set. It needed a 'button' closure, and that seemed to suggest water.

Once the card was fully opened, a view of the holiday house garden and pool area was on view, along with the details of when and where. I made an envelope to accommodate this slightly larger (and thicker) than usual project. It was fun to use a strip of the paper and some linen thread to dress up the envelope to match the card it contained.

If you need a special card and you don't craft yourself, feel free to call on me to make one to order.

Cheers, Rachel

Friendly Birds

Trying to share all the fun cards I've made with the SALE-A-Bration stamps before SAB ends for 2017. March 31st is your last day to place an order and score a free item (there are more than stamp sets available). Hey Chick was top of my list when I saw them previewed, and these two in particular take my fancy. Trying different ways to use them, on the pink card I coloured them using the splashes of colour stamps from Beautiful You.

I was happy with the aqua chicken on the right with just two stampings, but the girl on the left - well...she needed more. She's such a bright sticky-beak, she needed intense colour. I used nice bright shades for the mats as well, and liked the askew arrangement here.When in doubt:stamp is from another SAB stamp set, Designer Tee.

This time our chook is much more demure. She has been water coloured in soft sky and a marker used for the comb and the hatching chicks legs. The background is from retired stamp set Ghoulish Grunge and Happy Birthday is another from the SAB set Designer Tee.

My online shop is always open for business and you can choose your SALE-A-Bration freebie once your order reaches $90 before shipping. The Hostess Code until 22nd March is 2RFDUTSY

Cheers, Rachel

Tee-Shirt CTC #119

Another Sunday night at CASE-ing The Catty and we've returned to the Sale-a-bration catalogue. You may have arrived from the blog before me, but you can complete the circuit. This week we are focussing on pages 16-19 and I've gone straight to Designer Tee. 

I used to play with paper dolls when I was a little girl, designing new outfits for them from scrap paper. As a teen I dreamed of being a dress designer, but I probably wasn't talented/motivated enough!!! I did make my own and my boys clothes for many years. The boys loved their rapper pants and t-shirt/board short combos too. So this stamp, along with it's companion in the Occasions Catalogue, Custom Tee (page 30) and the Tee Shirt Builder framelits were certain to make it over to my house. Designer Tee is in SAB as an add-on and must-have. The cute sentiments can be used very happily on their own too. This super-cute stamp set can be added to your $90 order at no additional cost, and it adds lots of variations to the outfits you can make. There's heaps more inspiration on Pinterest. Remember there is only another fortnight before SALE-A-Bration is over for 2017.

For my first card I've CASE-d the background which the Stampin' Up!® artists have watercoloured and added sequins. I cheated a little and stamped Happy Celebrations and Timeless Textures. Although I've CASE-d the SAB Catty, I had to use the Custom Tee stamps to create this 'outfit'. Of course, the Tee-shirt Builder framelits were vital to my crafting. 

 This card has also had the inside finished off to match with a layer of Mint Macaroon under the white. A little stamping in one corner, and a ribbon banner stapled into the opposite corner are the other finishing touches.

The second card is a closer CASE of the sketch of the same card on the far right. It consists of a narrow centre panel with the art work on it and a contrast colour at the side of the panel, plus a pair of banners behind. Loved this specialty paper from the Tasty Treats DSP, with strawberries and cherries on it. There was a strawberry die and tiny leaves in the Cool Treats suite (Frozen Treats Framelits) also, which I was going to put on the Tee-shirt but later decided to lie beside it. Happy Stamper is a sentiment from the Custom Tee stamp set too,

Although I had used the banner from Bunch Of Banners Framelits before, I hadn't noticed that it made a neat little frame for the banner, so instead of cutting one of each colour and using just the narrow centre of two colours, I framed the Flirty Flamingo with the Pear Pizzazz.

You might need some products before the end of March, to qualify for your SALE-A-Bration freebies, so if you're in Australia, you can check into my online shop here. If you also use the Hostess Code 2RFDUTSY at checkout, you'll receive a thank you gift from me. You can also contact me directly (0417 500 681) Between 3pm and 9pm I should be able to pick up, or leave a message, and when I can call you back. Otherwise there is email (rpalmieri5@bigpond.com). I am planning to send my demonstrator order in on Wednesday 22nd March.

Now it's time to head to West Australia and Bunbury, to check out what the amazing Kelly Kent has made this time

Cheers, Rachel

Tasty Trucks Fiesta CTC#117

Another Sunday night at CASE-ing The Catty and we've returned to the Sale-a-bration catalogue. You may have arrived from the amazing Julia Quinn, but if not, you can pop back to see her fabulous trucks. Otherwise, complete the circuit and you'll reach Julia at the end. This week we are focussing on pages 12-15 and I've gone straight to page 12 and the Tasty Trucks. I've had such a lot of use from this stamp in the short time it has been available. This super-cute stamp set can be added to your $90 order at no additional cost, and it has lots of variations of goodies for the truck to sell. Tacos, cupcakes, pancakes, cupcakes and hotdogs are some of the choices. You can see others I've made here and here and heaps more on Pinterest. Remember there is only another month before SALE-A-Bration is over for 2017.

On page 12 of the SAB catty is a sample in So Saffron. I've changed the orientation from portrait to landscape and used a different colour (Flirty Flamingo) and Textured Embossing Folder. I did mount the truck on a circle, toward the right-hand side of the card. I also grabbed the Urban Underground specialty designer series paper to cut my truck in both my cards. I have cupcakes instead of pancakes, and a pretty white sheer and satin ribbon for the feminine touch.

The truck is layered on dimensionals so it stands out slightly from the base, and the canvas awning is yet another layer. I seem to use the Stitched Shape framelits on nearly every card I make at the moment, the stitching does add such a nice finish.

The 'happy birthday' sentiment which fits rather nicely along the panel of the Tasty Truck is from another SAB stamp, Designer Tee. Even if you don't order the Tee-shirt bundle from the Occasions catalogue, it might be useful to add this free set to a $90 order before March 31st also. I've used it a number of times, with or without the tee-shirt. Did you know that I have an online store, available 24/7 if you want to browse these items and replenish your stash?

Often when I CASE a card, my imagination begins to tick over with all sorts of other possibilities. Tacos triggered thoughts of the Birthday Fiesta stamp set. It was fun to add the streamers, cactus and "Fiesta like there's no manana". The truck is still positioned toward the right edge of the card like the original.

Although the same polka dot paper from Urban Underground has been used on the Taco Truck, the colours were bolder and brighter. For fun, I added a layer of Emerald Envy polka dots, and skewed it slightly (so you could actually see some dots!)

If any of the links are broken, you can get back on track here.

We'd love you to share your CASE of these pages in the SAB catty on our FB page. You don't need a blog to join in, just post a pic and comment.

Next crew member on this hop is Elizabeth Gross

Cheers, Rachel