Sunny Blooms CI#19

This colour challenge should produce some interesting creations I'm sure. I've played a little safe and used Birthday Blooms as the news has broken in the Stampin' Up! world that we are getting Stampin' Blends, an alcohol-based marker. We previously had Blendabilities which were withdrawn due to an issue with the quality. It's great that Stampin' Up!® is a company that values its reputation and likes all products to be top quality. Mine seemed to be alright and while I'm awaiting the delivery of a few new ones, I broke them out to colour this lovely large bloom.

A mix of watercolouring with ink and aqua painter and the Daffodil Delight Blends were used here, especially as the Blends green is Old Olive, quite different from Garden Green. Timeless Textures in Smoky Slate was stamped around the edge.

However this flower is coloured, I always love the result.

There is a nice sentiment, and another couple of stamps just perfect for the inside.

Now, lets go over to see what the very talented Rose Packer has made.

When you shop in my online shop, remember to use the host code, as I love to send you something from the current catalogues as a thank you gift. At the end of October there will be a special draw from all September/October online orders (minimum $50 before shipping) to win a special Christmas stamp set.

URYS3BV2

Eclectic Birthday

Oh So Eclectic is an interesting mix of stamps, and if you invest in the bundle and get dies to co-ordinate, you'll find you've not only saved 10% on the cost of those two items, but you'll have some dies to cut and others to emboss. You can check out the clear mount bundle here and the wood mount version here.

A dear friend of mine turned 70 in August, and I didn't know whether she would want her age plastered on the front of the card. Turns out, it wouldn't have bothered her in the least, because you're only as old as you feel and she feels GREAT!
I was just trying out these pretty flowers in different ways. I really like the way they stamp a little darker around the centre and outside.

When stamping the inside, the flowers have had some line detail added too, and the detail was stamped directly in the centre. Birthday Blooms provided the lovely sentiment, I use it a lot!

My bunch of flowers are sitting in a vellum jar, from Jars of Love. Again, another favourite stamp set which has co-ordinating dies, and they can also be used with the Ronald McDonald fund-raising stamp which you will find inside the back cover of the Annual catalogue.

If you need some supplies, you will find my online shop open 24/7. Only use the host code for orders under $250, as above that amount you will get 10% in host dollars yourself, applied at the end of the ordering process. When you place your orders using the Host Code, I will post you a small gift.

ERBPDTEM

Lovely Friend CTC#143

  

Artistic Expressions is the section that the CASE-ing The Catty crew are looking at this week. You may have arrived here from the amazing Fiona, but whatever you do, go hopping and check what the design team have shared. Artistic Expressions is a large section, with heaps of inspiration, but I went straight to page 157 and used the same stamp set and colours. Hopefully I've tweaked it just enough to make it mine. My class ladies loved this card when we made it several weeks ago, and since there were other colour choices for class, everyone was different. You can see my other cards toward the end of the post.

The lower centre card was my choice to CASE, but I expect that is quite obvious!

 I still don't have the heart-shaped framelits, so I used the two other framelits from Lovely Words Thinlet dies which fit inside the Stitched oval and circle Thinlets. My ladies LOVE glitter, so I had some retired Blushing Bride Glimmer Paper and the SAB selection too. They were excited!

In my opinion, the 'Thanks' on the Flirty Flamingo version would have been nicer in a colour other than black, but you live and learn, don't you?

These versions are in Bermuda Bay and Pool Party, with a change of sentiment on the paler version, it's from Birthday Blooms. The big, bold 'Friend' is one of three larger stamps in Lovely Inside & Out. I snipped 'lovely' out of its shape to use it on this card.

If you CASE something from this section (Artistic Expressions Pages 132-181) we'd love you to share it on our Facebook page.

Don't forget to visit the rest of the crew, next stop is the very talented Julia Quinn

   

MSV9HQST

Daisy A Day

Do you remember that sweet song from the 70s?

I'll give you a daisy a day dear,
I'll give you a daisy a day,
I'll love you until the rivers run still,
And the four winds we know blow a-way,

It was written by Jud Strunk and I think I know the version by Glen Campbell better.

It really is symbolic of pure simple love and devotion. Daisies are like that, aren't they? A simple flower, not too hard to grow and so pretty picked and in a vase.
It is with great relief that I'm able to let you know that if you're hanging out to get this bundle, stock has arrived in Australia!!!! Hip, Hip Hooray!
This is one of the best-priced bundles in the catalogue. A photopolymer stamp set (16 stamps) and matching punch for $54.75 - #145361.That's a 10% discount on buying the two items separately.
Daisy Delight stamp set #143669 $30.00
Daisy Punch                   # 143713 $31.00

I thought I could resist this stamp and punch but I'm glad I gave in and ordered before stock ran out. It's such a pretty little set, and I love using it with it's own DSP or mixing and matching with other catalogue treasures. This DSP is Birthday Memories and there's a leaf from Flourish Thinlets, along with a sentiment from Birthday Blooms.

The Host Code is MSV9HQST and my online shop is open all round the clock.

I'm so pleased that it is back in stock, so you'll be able to make all your pretty daisy creations for spring. I'll share another favourite tomorrow.

Happy crafting

Rachel

Birthday CTC132

Stampin' Up!® page 71

Welcome back to another blog hop with the crew from CASE-ing The Catty. Do keep on hopping along, to see what else the crew are sharing.Our challenge this week is to CASE from the NEW Annual Stampin' Up!® catalogue, birthdays. I chose to focus on page 70-71. I've mixed together a label off the Pool Party gift bag using Milestone Moments, and elements from the Birthday Blooms card on the other page. It's quite easy to CASE a bag and turn it into a card, and the ribbon and banner could have been included on the card without too much trouble.

I've kept my card quite simple with Shimmery White card cut 10" by 5" to make a square card. Milestone Moments is where you will find an endless supply of these words for special birthdays, anniversaries etc. Firstly, I stamped the 'fiftieth' twice with versamark and heat-embossed with gold, before adding the 'happy' and 'birthday' above and below in Berry Burst. The reason for making two tags was in case of a smudge, but both turned out, so one was cut with the stitched circle and the other with the stitched oval. You'll notice that the oval was chosen, and the circle goes into a basket
of bits and pieces, to use at a later date. The doiley has been included at the bottom of the sentiment
label, but its a gold foil one and there's some gold metallic thread twisted behind.

After trying out where the sentiment would sit I placed Birthday Bloom toward the top left , and stamped the image with Versamark before heat-embossing gold. It did look lovely in plain gold, but I decided to water colour using an Aqua painter and Berry Burst ink for the flower, with Crushed Curry in the centre. The leaves have a mix of Old Olive, Tranquil Tide and Lemon-Lime Twist.

Inside is a lovely verse from Everyday Occasions, also stamped in versamark and heat embossed
gold. The envelope was made on the Envelope Punch Board and also received some gold heat embossing. I've just realised I need another 50th this year too, I wonder what I will choose?


Don't forget, blog hops always travel in an endless circle. Next stop on your hop is Rebecca at the Paper And Stamp Addict. She is sure to dazzle with her creation!

Happy crafting

Rachel

Project Life CTC#78

This week at CASE-ing The Catty we are looking at Project Life. I often prefer to scrapbook traditionally but I have to admit that Project Life is a great system for keeping up-to-date with memory keeping. It's a little bit sad that the current generation is the most photographed and yet those photos are rarely printed out. 

In 10 years time, when your iphone has been replaced and the computer updated and technology has done another about-turn, you might not be able to access those photos. It really is time to print those fun, family shots from your phone,so you'll have photos of your son and daughter to show to their children.

It doesn't have to be difficult. Start with a 6" by 8 " album, some page pockets, Project Life cards and a journaling pen. Maybe it is something you can actually do with family? I had my grandson,Logan, write his name to place next to photos of his very first day of school. I told him he could draw a picture or anything he liked, but he wanted to show off his writing.

Recently I attended  Stampin' Up!® Onstage in Sydney and shared a room with fellow team member and friend, Kathryn Mangelsdorf. I thought it would be a fun idea to make us some Project Life cards to use with photos we would take at the Onstage Event and in the days before, when we were sight-seeing around Sydney.

I didn't know whether Kathryn was using Project Life or not, but I do know she travels a great deal. It's another of the things we have in common, besides a love of paper, stamps and ink. As we chatted, I was a little disappointed to hear that she doesn't print her photos, just enjoys them on her computer. I wasn't sure how she'd feel about the small 6" by 8 " album I had made her, with some pages and the stamped cards I'd added to the pages. I stamped with Let's Get Away and Day To Day for two cards. Both those stamp sets are retiring at the end of May, if stock isn't depleted prior to then. Day To Day has a replacement stamp set, but there is nothing similar to Let's Get Away, so if you think you might need it for travel pages, today might be the day to pop into the Online shop to check out retiring stock - there are bargains to be had! The Project Life stamp sets, there are 7 of them, are listed under Project Life in the alphabet. On Kathryn's card with the world and a banner, I left the banner blank. On mine, I used the Alphabet Rotary Stamp, (#133769 $26) also retiring, to stamp 'Sydney'.

I used the heavy card from the 12" by 12" Project Life pages bags for the covers. The paper covering them is from It's My Party Designer Series Paper Stack, in such a lovely pattern and shade of Mint Macaron. Enjoy The Little Things has been stamped onto a Whisper White circle and another piece, die cut with Lots Of Labels Framelits, was stamped lightly with Birthday Blooms and Dear Friend at the bottom. Enjoy the Little Things is not carrying over to the Annual Catalogue, but Birthday Blooms is. The SALE-A-Bration glitter washi adds a touch of glimmer and a wooden butterfly left over from a stamp kit finishes the decoration. There is a closer shot further down the post.

It was drizzling on Thursday morning when we arrived, not the weather we'd been promised, so neither of us had an umbrella. That made for a slightly damp wander down to the Opera House after a beautiful breakfast (and some rather funny photos of two drowned rats!)  After we'd become sufficently wet, the sun came out and it became quite warm and humid. Some of the accessory packs include letter stickers which are handy for a quick title, if you don't want to use your Little Letters Thinlets, which are also on the retiring list.

On Friday night, we were again in the vicinity of the Opera House. It was a hive of activity and we weren't able to get seated anywhere, so we headed down to the end and watched a huge cruise liner as long as the Harbour Bridge, and too  high to go under it, leave port. It took some time, so when we returned we were able to get a seat at the Sydney Cove Oyster Bar, and ate a delicious meal of Barramundi and rocket salad, accompanied by a glass of champagne so we could use the card I'd made with Balloon Celebration and the retired stamp, Making Spirits Bright. The other cards on this page are from PL Moments Like These Card Collection. They are available now and will also carry over into the new Catalogue (refer to pages 162- 167 for Project Life.

 I know that Kathryn was thrilled with her gift and I do hope she jumps onboard with Project Life soon. Photos are so much better printed out, I often sit with my travel albums or share baby photos with my grandchildren. I had intended to make one of these albums for me as well, but I've realised that with two days of Sydney sight-seeing, plus a great Onstage where I celebrated my fifth anniversary with Stampin' Up!® by walking across the stage, there are just too many photos for a 6" by 8" format.

If you are just thinking about starting on Project Life, one of the 6" by 8" albums would be perfect and manageable. Choose an event - a special birthday, family Christmas or other celebration, a year in the life - there are lots of possibilities. Do you need some help? Ask your demonstrator if they use Project Life, or I am happy to try to answer your questions too.

I have to say, two big 12" by 12" albums managed to get 4 years of photos out of a shoebox and into order. Slowly, I am working my way through adding in journalling cards and notes as I remember anything significant.
So what will you do if your computer crashes or you lose your phone? I might be able to help you get started, just ask.

If you live in Australia, and want to place an order you can go to my online store anytime of the day or night. The Hostess Code for this month is ZGGAABEE


If you would like to share your creations with us at CASE-ing The Catty, you can link here

   

 Now head on over to see what Monique is sharing this week (I think it might be a card)

Cheers, Rachel

Have A Cuppa With Me CTC#76

Welcome again to another round of CASE-ing The Catty. Each week the crew take inspiration from a section of a Stampin' Up!® catalogue. Currently we are working our way, section by section, through the Occasions catalogue. This week is Have A Cuppa, pages 34-37. CASE is an acronym which stands for "Copy And Share Everything" and we hope by sharing what we have CASE-d, you'll be inspired too.

It has been a while since I used my Banner Framelits, and looking through those pages for inspiration, I spied the Mother's Day sample on page 36. The pink one was the start of an idea, to use a banner for the sentiment and hearts somewhere, and so the idea began to grow.

There are a couple of cups, a mug, teapot milk jug and cutlery amongst some of the cute bits and bobs in the Cups And Kettles Framelit Dies. Being a tea aficionado, and it must always  be made in a tea pot, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist this set for too long. I'm very sad that it hasn't made it into our new Annual catalogue, and will be unavailable after May 31st.

Isn't it clever the way the sentiment from Balloon Celebration suits this so well? You can change it to coffee, champagne or hot chocolate too!

I cut two of each mug and on one of each colour, die cut the heart, and popped it onto the other colour. Then I couldn't resist adding a couple of Botanical blooms to make it prettier.

Back on page 34 there is a large picture featuring a half dozen different projects made with A Nice Cuppa and the Cups & Kettles Framelit Dies. Banner Framelits came in handy again for the card on the left, and a little flower from Birthday Blooms.

My Farewell Favourites class on May 19th or 20th, both at 7pm includes one of the cards on the Soft Sky background. My regular class voted on a selection of ten cards/stamp sets at the last class and came up with A Nice Cuppa, Six-sided Sampler and Vivid Vases,

The paper I've used is retired, but soft florals was what I wanted and Attic Boutique was perfect. Unfortunately, it's not in the Clearance Rack, but there are other soft florals which would do as well. The stacked teacups can be made in so many combinations with the different dies. This is sweet and simple with some more of the Attic Boutique paper and a paper doiley cut not-quite-in-half. Both of these cards have greetings from Balloon Celebration. A Nice Cuppa is retiring at the end of May, so if you love this stamp and/or the framelits, best you head over to place your order. If your order is less than $250, please use the hostess code and you will receive a small gift from me.
Hostess Code: ZGGAABEE

I hope this has inspired you to get crafty too, You can share your projects with our crew here

Cheers, Rachel

If you're going in reverse, you'll be heading back to the lovely Liz -and let me tell you, her projects are fabulous!

    

Or you may be just starting and want to travel forward so you're off to see The Paper And Stamp Addict, Rebecca now