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

Moving Forward with RetroSketches#65

Tomorrow the retiring list is released for Australia and New Zealand, but it is no secret that Moving Forward is to retire. That's because it is a special stamp set for Ronald McDonald House and $3 from each sale goes to the charity - that sounds like such a good idea! Buy stamps sets that are just so cute, AND help out a worthy cause, don't you think?

Moving Forward is an absolute favourite for me, you can use it for a wide range of events, with the tricycle, sailboat and this blimp among the main images. I've used the Ink to rubber technique for this card, check my class schedule for June if you live nearby.
Paired with the birthday greeting from Curly Cute (also retiring) and some Comfort Cafe DSP, it is based on this sketch from RetroSketches. You know, whenever I lack inspiration I go straight to a sketch or colour challenge and find that usually that will get the imagination going. I also entered it for the Make it Masculine challenge at CAS on Sunday

Just a short post today - back tomorrow with the retiring list!
Cheers!
Rachel

Curly Cute

More South Pacific Stampin' Up! Convention

Part Two

This is the 25th Anniversary of Stampin' Up! and they are celebrating BIG TIME!

Stampin' Up! always treat the demonstrators very well, and demo support, situated in Sydney, are always so helpful and friendly, so it is almost like a big family get together. They arrive en mass from the US, Sydney and New Zealand and everyone has a role to fill. They hand out our bags and greet us, they show projects they have made, they man the tills in Momento Mall. At the end of Convention they must be exhausted - I know we all were! Convention is a HIGHLIGHT of our year, and this year was HUGE!

The Show Begins!

Convention opened on Thursday 23rd May with drumming and pyrotechnics.

Then Shelli talked about why she had formed the company with her sister, when they were young wives and mothers. Their needs at the time were similar to many of our own:- social, creative and financial. The first catalogue consisted of 64 pages, probably quite large for a small-scale home business being run from the lounge of the family home.

This year, the new catalogue has 210 fantastic pages, full of inspiration and tips, as well as the goodies available for you to buy. Every year they seem to get better, we were all thrilled to be given an early peek, especially as we'd been teased with a current copy in our Convention back pack.

The first catalogue.

Naturally, not every one of those 25 years has been positive and full of growth and the company has had to make some difficult decisions along the way. We all understand that while change can be difficult to deal with, it is often beneficial, so Stampin' Up! has always tried to be positive when those tricky moments arose.



Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald called in to thank us for sponsoring the Ronald McDonald houses associated with many children's hospitals. Last year was the first time we had the special stamp set for the Ronald McDonald houses in the Australia/New Zealand Catalogue. It was called Moving Forward, a great favourite of mine, but it will retire on 30th June. I have made a number of cards using this stamp set and you will find one here and another tricycle here and a boat here too. I haven't actually used the blimp yet, but I think I could before too long.

At the end of the presentation, all the demonstrators in the auditorium (and Ronald) received a copy of this years stamp set. I think it is okay for me to tell you that it is called Tag It, but I can't show you any images just yet. I can share with you that $3.00 from every sale of this set is donated to the Australian Ronald Mc Donald Houses.  I will try to get some cards made up soon using that stamp set, and I might be able to post a picture then.

I think that might be enough to go on with, thanks for passing to read my blog,
Cheers
Rachel

Moving Forward from $27.95