Orlando Swaps

Conventions in America are HUGE! We know they allowed space for 7000 demonstrators, and there are 42 going from the South Pacific (Australia & New Zealand) to my knowledge. In the hope of meeting some new people I signed up to an organised swap, and mine is 'any occasion'. They are very specific about what is required, so I altered the size to US dimensions lengthwise (5½") but because our card is a smidge narrower, I couldn't do much about that.

My 'dummy' card was a birthday version, and I could have left it at that (I found out later) but utilising A Big Thank You and two of its stamps, it became a friendly hello card. Those stamps were positioned on a block so they could be stamped repititively. When I make multiples, I complete each part of the process before moving to the next. So much easier to die cut a bunch of Stitched Shape large circles, before stamping with the flower from Love What You Do twice.

A whole roll of  Old Olive Sheer Ribbon went onto these cards, but I had accidently ordered it twice so I guess it was meant to be.The Granny Apple Green card was cut, before the gorgeous paper, Tropical Escape 6' X 6" DSP, was added. They are all different, and yet quite similar.

Full cards were needed for the swap, so a new pack of Soft Sea Foam card was put onto my next order. I'm sure I'll have some lovely swaps to bring home too.

A very pleasant evening was spent colouring those flowers with Stampin' Blends in light and dark Flirty Flamingo, and stamping the leaves - so easy.

You can find all the supplies and tools you need to make projects like this in the Stampin' Up! catalogue and my Online Shop. The Classic Label Punch is really handy for quickly punching those smaller sentiments to add to your handmade cards.

The original 'dummy' design next to the sample I took with me. Below, they are all laid out on my table for a group shot!

Love What You Do has such a lovely selection of stamps in it, and I do love this stem of flowers. In a few days I will be making the long flight home with my travel buddy Kathryn. I know it will be wonderful to get back to my family, but hopefully I come with a stack of business inspiration and travel experiences to share.

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I have been hoping that my business has kept ticking along in my absence, and for those who have ordered using the Host Code while I've been away, you will receive a thank you from me in the mail. If your order was over $60, you will receive some rhinestones, over $100, I will put you in the draw for one of these exclusive shopping bags.

Birthday Box

Yesterday was my husband's birthday, and I wasn't there to spend it with him........again!!!

It is a slight problem that Stampin' Up! schedule a catalogue and product release around Remembrance Day in November, every single year. Even last year, when the event was in Melbourne, my home town, I was away all day and too tired to have the family over till the next day. Poor man, and even worse for him this year as I have headed away to Orlando Florida to join 7000 other American and International demonstrators for the 30th Anniversary celebrations. I think I might even have been at Disneyland on his actual birthday!!!

I tried to go all-out with a card to take his breath away and tried out this fun-fold card using a piece of 12" X 12" card. It is strategically scored and sliced. and each of the square panels can be decorated - both sides.

 Many stamp sets were inked up to decorate this card, and funnily enough, I have practically made it under his nose. "You are the best" and the lovely brackets are from A Big Thank You. The signpost is from En Route and the other two panels stamped on this side of the card are Ribbon Of Courage.

This is the main side of the card, and it begins with the Happy Birthday Thinlit (#143700 - $35), a very effective and easy to use decoration, making a big statement. Large Numbers thinlits are no longer available unfortunately, but maybe there will be something to replace them soon?

Picture Perfect Birthday is a stamp set with some very useful sentiments in it, and I really like 'happiest of birthdays to you' and use it a lot. "You make me smile" is from Colorful Seasons and the 'every single day' is part of another sentiment from En Route.

Best Route suite has been a real winner for me and you can check out the full range on page 53 of the Annual Catalogue. I bought the Memories and More card pack to scrapbook my trip to the USA, but I have actually used some in birthday cards, a thank you card (and there are stickers for these included in the pack). There is a small card and two stickers on the belly band of the box I made to hold this card. The Best Route designer series paper is equally good for many types of card also, such bold, contrasting colours.

If you need supplies to keep your creating happening, you will find my online shop open 24/7. If your purchase is $250.00 or more , you will earn Host dollars to spend on your choice of products from current catalogues, including the exclusive Host stamp sets. If your order is less, you can use the Host Code below, and become a part of my online party, where we all share the bonus dollars. You will receive at least a pack of rhinestones for an order over $60, and go into the draw for an exclusive shopping bag for orders of $100.

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Graceful Glass CTC#193

Welcome back to another week of CASE-ing The Catty. The crew is made up of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all parts of Australia and New Zealand.You are at the blog of Rachel Palmieri, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator. I run classes at my home studio in South Morang, Victoria, share Stampin' Up!® products and tools at parties for my customers, coach my lovely team and create cards and the occasional 3D project. This week the design team are focusing on pages 164- 179 of the new Annual catalogue.

Page 167 Bouquet Blooms

I popped over to page 167 and CASEd a Crumb Cake card there, using different stamps and colours, but the basic idea of a circle adorned with flowers. I've used flowers from Beautiful Bouquet and Jar Of Love and really intended to use a sentiment from Beautiful Bouquet also, till my eye alighted on A Big Thank You.

I wanted to use a sentiment referencing flowers, and saying more than Happy Birthday or thank you, so this is perfect. Friends are flowers in the garden of life. Two design points of the catalogue sample which I particularly liked were the design panel set to the upper left of the card, and the leaves stamped on the base. I used a favourite stamp from Rooted In Nature for this.

Something else I decided to include was the trim on the right side of the art piece, and I used a lacy strip from the Bouncing Baby Framelits.

There are definite signs of spring in Melbourne over the last few days. The sun has been shining and warming up a little, the birds are twittering in the trees in the mornings and evenings. I even had doors and windows open on a couple of days to air things out.

My friend Julia is next stop along the hop, check out her gorgeous project

It would be great if you felt inspired to join our challenge this week, and you can link your project on our facebook page.

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August

All Australian Windows

Yesterday I was playing with Pretty Kitty and the Swirly Frames and today I couldn't resist trying for totally Australian windows. Unfortunately, I needed to used retired Bird Banter which I had so-hoped would carry-over, not least because I have bird watchers in my family, but because the budgie and cockatoo are native Australian birds.

Naturally Animal Outing, with its kangaroo. was inked up too, and the sentiment from A Big Thank You, is surrounded by flora, also from Bird Banter.

Do you think I should appeal to the powers that be at Stampin' Up!® to return Bird Banter to the catalogue?

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Bright & Pretty Petals CI#36

Usually, you are immediately drawn to a particular 'family' of colours and for me it is definitely the brights. It's not that I don't like subtles, regals or neutrals, its just that brights are my go-to faves.

I've been so excited by the colour revamp that Stampin' Up! did, it was so timely that I'm not even mourning those that have departed the range. I grabbed Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape and Bermuda Bay for this card and revisited a technique that has been around for ages - stamping background with an acrylic block. Pressed Flowers is the Hostess stamp I've used for this one. Do you know the deal with Hostess stamps? They are earned when you make an order of $250, or host a party where your guests sales total more than $250. You earn 10% at that point which gives you $25 host dollars and the clear mount set of Pressed Flowers is $26.That probably means you'll need to add a $10 item to 'earn' the stamp set for free.

The other card uses another bright, Mango Melody along with a new In Color, Lovely Lipstick. This colour is a delightful cross between Melon Mambo and Real Red and would be in the brights too, I'm sure! Again, this technique uses an acrylic block to 'stamp' colour. One end of the block is pressed onto colour, then the other end is is coloured in another ink pad. Try not to let the ink pad get contaminated with the other ink colour. They can mix on the block though, after spraying with a mist of water or alcohol.

Friends Are Flowers in The Garden of Life is from A Big Thank You as is You Are The Best. Goes to show that A Big Thank You is a good value set.

Now it's time to head over to see what Monique is treating us to this time.

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AWH Colour Creations - Never Enough Blackberry Bliss

Blackberry Bliss has recently returned to the Stampin' Up!® family and this week at Colour Creation, we are celebrating all things Blackberry Bliss. It's a magical colour in that you can stamp once, twice, three times and each time there's plenty of colour and definition. 

At the weekend I held my catalogue launch, and what a fun afternoon it was! When I get together with my stamping friends I just want the afternoon to last forever, but the time came, they went home, I cleared up the displays and then felt the need to stamp! Something in gatherings seems to stimulate my imagination. The Stamparatus had been successfully demonstrated and used by the ladies so I decided to try something a little different. Using a strip stamp from A Big Thank You, and the step method with the Stamparatus, shades of pink created an ombre effect.

At this point I was considering filling between with another four rows with the strip stamp, when inspiration struck and a decision was made to use Words Are Never Enough from Rooted In Nature. Beginning at the top, I stamped off the Blackberry Bliss twice before applying it to the card front. Next step, it was stamped off once, then full strength before finally, I inked and stamped twice. 

Slightly concerned that it was too stark, I stamped a few leaves, tried different combinations, then settled on just two and a piece of twine. Naturally, cards are always nicer with the inside decorated too. It is subtle with two pink sprigs stamped directly and another of the die cut leaves just glued in place.

Art With Heart are an awesome group to be involved with and I value the friendships formed within the group as one of the most positive part of my Stampin' Up!® journey. This includes the wonderful women who come and craft at my home, and some who even invite me to theirs. I'm mentioning this because an opportunity has presented itself in July for you to also be a part of this, and add $352 worth of Stampin' Up! products to your supplies, for an outlay $169.You'll be able to choose a set of 10 stamp pads at no additional cost to you. What a way to stock up on these lovely new colours (see below). No shipping to pay on this initial order, and absolutely no obligation to continue on if you don't feel it's right for you. I'd love to chat to you about this and you can call me between 9 am - 9 pm while its school holidays. Email anytime of course. If you already work with another demonstrator, contact her to find out more.

Now is your opportunity to pop over to the blog of Catherine Proctor, our team leader for this fun activity. You will find links to lots more of the Art With Heart Team.