Beautiful Expanding Butterflies

Today I have been very self-indulgent, as a reward for getting my chores done yesterday. I found a blog hop promoting the Stamparatus, and hopped from site to site watching YouTube videos on how to achieve the different effects, and then couldn't wait to try some out, and this is the one I made today, since Watercolor Wings (#139424 -$45.00), Butterflies Thinlets (#137360 - $45.00) &  Bold Butterfly Framelits (#138135 - $29.00) are all set to retire at the end of May.

Dena Rekow was the creator of the card I saw and here is a link to her Youtube. 

I was surprised as Stampin' Up!® had used the same stamp to promote Stamparatus, but I guess it has been around for a long time.

For the front of the card I used the Fluttering TIEF (also retiring) and Lovely Words Thinlets (#143733 $45.00) which are retiring along with the matching stamp set, Lovely Inside & Out. The other stamp set used for sentiments today is Hello Friend, on page 17 of the current Annual catalogue.

I began by stamping out the butterflies. It is the large one that is inside the card, but as I have the dies for all the butterflies, I decided to set up the smaller ones as well, to be inked and stamped at the same time. Positioning does take a little time, and I did as Dena suggested and stamped the darker rim of wings first. I do think it made positioning of the main part of the wings a lot easier. I used the framelit upside down to place the body, but it still took several tries before it was right.

After you have stamped the butterflies, you take them to the Big Shot to die cut. You also die cut as many 'blanks' as you want to stamp. Making sure that the card is butted into the corner is the most important thing at every step of this process.

I played with some of the newer colours, as well as returning favourites. Feeling thankful I didn't get rid of my InColor pads and card when they finished their two-year stint.

I haven't chosen any particular order for my colours, just randomly bright.

If you need a shopping fix, you can shop in my online store anytime of the night or day. If you include the Host code when you check out, I include a free gift from me, along with a card. Checkout the Clearance Rack for framelit, and pattern paper at very reduced prices. The retiring list is there also.

PMGJPHEN

Paisley & Posies

A quick card for you today using Paisleys and Posies (available in photopolymer) and a sentiment from Cottage Greetings, a retired stamp. I had a scrap of watercolour paper and after die cutting the butterfly, coloured the paisleys with Stampin' Markers to match.

I do hope your day is wonderful and Happy New Year!

6HB9V4BS

Eclectic Blooms CI#21

Colour INKspiration is a group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from the South Pacific, all through Australia and New Zealand. We love to get together for these colour challenges, to inspire each other, and you, to create. We love it when you join in with our challenges to share your work and all you need is a Facebook presence. You can link in here on Facebook.

I thought about this challenge for a while as I could only see the obvious, perfect colours for a flowery card. While I have chosen a favourite flower thinlet, Eclectic Layers, it has been paired with an older technique, which we have the opportunity to explore now that glossy paper has returned to the Stampin' Up!® inventory.

The black layer was cut much smaller than the polished stone layer to show more of the pretty colours, but with my other cards I've kept the two layers even. The black layer was diecut with the flowers but not using the outer edge which cuts them out. For the stems I turned a die upside down and only partially rolled it through the Big Shot. After die-cutting, the black layer was raised on Dimensionals. The Glitter Enamel Dots seemed close enough to the challenge colours to include, for a touch of 'bling'!

This technique is called Polished Stone and to do it - it's very easy! - you need glossy card, rubbing alcohol and reinkers in your chosen colours. I taught this in a class several years ago, and I think it might be a fun one for early 2018, what do you think? I cut the card to 10cm X 14.3cm and coloured in a variety of combinations. Each one turns out differently, even if you try to get the same result.

For these big butterflies the totally pink, peach, yellow piece was perfect, with a sentiment from Butterfly Basics.

Another one using a two-tone polished stone piece for a dragonfly and butterfly combo. This is one-with-the-lot! The pieces have been re-inserted, there is the lovely lacy border, Decorative Ribbon Border Punch and layers - lots of layers, inside and out!

Now it is time for you to head on over to share a project made by Jackie Aitken.

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Any orders in my online shop with the Host code receive a gift from me in the post. Since November is my birthday month, I am adding a handmade birthday card as well, for you to send to someon else. 

Pretty Kitty Pop 'n' Twist Card

 For quite a while now I've been wanting to try a Pop 'n' Twist card. My dear cat-crazy friend was having a birthday, and it seemed a fun way to include lots of kitty images onto one card.

My instructions came from a few sources, but mainly a US demo, France Martin. She made her sample using the Butterfly Basics and a few other butterfly related sets. It might be an idea to watch her video a couple of times before you attempt one. I am planning to hold a Saturday class in May at my home studio in South Morang, Victoria. It will be the one card and an envelope, everything supplied, $20. You'll have a choice of images to use, so don't worry if cats aren't your 'thing'.

After choosing a DSP, I elected to use Mint Macaroon as the main colour. If this is a favourite shade of yours, it's time to check your stock and order, as this is one of the five colours which will drop at the end of May. Blushing Bride and Watermelon Wonder also co-ordinate with Birthday Bouquet DSP. That DSP is no longer available, but I did have some hoarded away!!!

The mechanism of this card isn't as hard as it may seem, and once you've made one, you'll be pumping them out all the time. It's quite amazing seeing the images unfold, and the colouring of these is very relaxing too. As this card featuring Pretty Kitty (page 101, Annual Catalogue) has already left my house, I have partly-made another with Bella & Friends, (also page 101, A.C) which has a cute wee dog. They are two sets which are perfect to mix 'n' match together.

More of the Birthday Bouquet DSP featured inside, and the colouring was done with the new Watercolour pencils from the Occasions Catalogue. I even made a matching Mint Macaroon envelope with the In Colour Envelope Paper, it's only $4.20 AU in the Clearance rack for a pack of 20 12inch square sheets - bargain!

If you do shop in my online store, use the hostess code 2RFDUTSY,and I will send you a thank you.

Let me know if you're interested in a Saturday afternoon class. I have 6th May and 13th May free at present.

Happy crafting

Rachel

South Pacific Stampin' Up!® Convention 2015 - Day One

Thursday was the first day of Convention for me, but Managers had already had an extra day prior. The welcome this year was by Sara Douglas, who is acting as CEO of the company while her mother, Shelli serves a mission. I was thrilled to speak with Sara during the Convention, she is just as gracious as Shelli.

There was a bit of business to hear about first but we didn't have to wait very long before Bonnie Farley arrived on stage and began to introduce the catalogue to us. They're smart enough not to hand them out to us at this stage, it is just as we head out for lunch we held it in our hands. It's a really good way to introduce the catalogue, with a walk through some select pages, looking at completed projects and cards. It makes you want to go off and stamp!

 Before we could stamp though, Carrie Cudney talked us through the new In Colors. They work really well with the existing colour range, adding a lot of life. In the picture, they have sample circles of the existing colours, mixed with the newest In Colors. We were surprised at the two greens, but they're quite different from one another. There is a new Butterfly Framelit, while the one from Occasions Catalogue - Butterfly Basics and matching die, appear in the annual catty, I'm glad about that!

Our first Make and Take was made with a new stamp set, I Think You're Great. We used notecards and envelopes, and it was a quick and easy card to make. I think that this will be a lovely card to make when I have my catalogue launch in June.

After lunch, we had opportunities to play with new products, view the samples we'd seen on the big screen up close and listen to presentations by other demonstrators. My team leader, Sue Madex, was giving an 'In A Nutshell' talk on holding a catalogue launch. I thought she was very brave being onstage in a large theatre like this, but she definitely is an expert on the topic, with a ton of helpful ideas to share. There were others who presented 'In A Nutshell' talks on holding a class, a workshop etc.

On Thursday night, our greater team (Art With Heart - under Claire Daly) went out for dinner at a restaurant called Hanks. There were actually three tables of us, a really good turnout, and the menu was a shared one with dishes being brought out all the time, One of the big pluses of joining Stampin' Up! are all the new friends you make, who share a common interest.

If you think this is something that might interest you, and you live in Australia, you can either join up by clicking on the "join my team" link down the right side of my blog, or you can email (rpalmieri5@bigpond.com) or phone me (0417 500 681) for some more information. Now is a really good time to join, with a new catalogue in pre-order now, and available to the  public from June 2nd. You don't have to do parties or demonstrate unless you'd like to make it your career, every level of participation is welcome at Stampin' Up!

Cheers,
Rachel