Beautiful You Encore

In recent weeks I have been cutting and using DSP (Designer Series Paper/patterned paper) because on June 1st we will have a revamp, when the Stampin' Up!® Annual Catalogue goes live. I'm not 'letting any cats out of the bag' when I say it's fabulous, because it always is full of exciting stamp sets, dies and paper we didn't know we wanted, till we saw them in the Catty!(I have had a little peek too, shhhh). Do you like punches? You won't be disappointed. Do you like framelits? You won't be disappointed either. The retiring list is announced on Tuesday 11 th so you might want to take a look at what we are farewelling. If you must have it, you need to make a quick decision as things sell out fast. Check it in the online store. Remember, there will be new specials loaded Tuesday.

This sophisticated miss, Beautiful You stamp set is backed with black and white plus a pop of pink. I used paper from the Playful Palette paper stack. These are great little 6 inch square stacks with 48 sheets of patterned paper in them, very suitable for card-making and not as expensive as the 12 inch square packs.

There is no recipe for the angled cut. I am a very 'hands-on' crafter, so I usually place it, then turn it all over and trim. I've coloured quite lightly using a Melon Mambo watercolour pencil and the Stitched Shape Framelits have come in very handy here.

Again, this is another of the lasses from Beautiful You. I've used minimal colouring, just the dress and hat and I used a stamp from this set to colour the skirt in this carefree way. Around the bodice and hem, I've added some colour with pencil too, but not much. This DSP has already become unavailable, as it was the bonus one available during SALE-A-Bration, Carried Away.

This pack has some gorgeous paper included, so count yourself lucky if you have some. 

I was away in W.A. for the last 10 days and arrived home too late tonight (due to bad weather delaying the flights into Melbourne) to link into the CASE-ing The Catty Blog Hop, so this is my consolation post for you.

Cheers, Rachel

Colour INKspiration - A New Colour Challenge for Everyone!

I have some exciting news to share; I'm on the Colour INKspiration Crew! It consists of a team of talented Aussie and NZ Stampin' Up!® Demonstrators that create projects based on Pinterest inspired colour swatches.

There's also a Facebook group for Stampin' Up!® enthusiasts who would like to share their paper craft projects using the colour combinations. You don't even have to have a blog to join in.
Here's the deal - Every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm (AEDT), a new colour swatch will be uploaded to the Facebook Colour INKspiration Group and the Colour INKspiration Crew will get the ball rolling by providing inspiration for each challenge with a blog hop. Our first one starts on Wednesday, 11th January.
Members of the group have the option to join the Colour INKspiration 'Challenge' by uploading photos of their projects and can link back to their personal blog if they wish to. Make sure you click on the link below and ask to join Colour INKspiration, add the group to your favourites and share it with your crafty friends so they can join in with the challenges too.
Hope to see you there!

To get this group off the ground we are having a 'pre-challenge challenge'. The colours for the challenge are Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight and Mint Macaroon, but I substituted Crushed Curry for Daffodil Delight. That's allowed, we're not unreasonable people! Sometimes you don't have the colour or perhaps, just like me, prefer the stronger shade. There is some Designer Series Paper in the SAB catalogue called Carried Away, and it just so happens to have Mint Macaroon clouds amongst the selections. The name of this DSP suggests that it complements the Lift Me Up bundle (it does - ha,ha!)and so there are 2 different birds-eye views of fields.some hot air balloons and other bright papers in very useable patterns. I'm sure I'll be using lots of this paper, it's so cute, and I can add it for free to my $90 order during SALE-A-Bration, and so can you! You will find Up & Away Thinlet Dies, the Lift Me Up stamp set or the Lift Me Up Bundle (purchase using the special code for a 10% discount) on page 10 of the Stampin' Up!® Occasions Catalogue.

It seemed natural to pair those clouds with a hot air balloon, and I've kept it very simple really. The point of interest is the slant the DSP has been cut on, and a strip of white card which has gone through the Seaside textured embossing folder. My intention is to use textured embossing folders (and Washi tape!!!) a lot more in 2017. Last years resolution was to use Designer Series Paper and I definitely improved with that one, so hopefully I can this year too. Are you wondering how hard it was to make the multi-coloured hot air balloon? Not very hard at all, as the Up & Away Thinlet Dies include five shapes especially for that purpose. I use tiny dots of tombow on the back of the large balloon outline, allow it to turn clear, when it is less messy but still sticky and place the pieces in order, from top to bottom in my case. Even the basket has its own wee piece, which doubles as a base for the ferris wheel ride  (or a teeny tiny cupcake) in Carousel Birthday on the previous page. It's always handy when you can use the Thinlet Dies with more than one stamp set. 

Even though it mentions in the catalogue to use the Precision Plate with the detailed thinlet, I've not found that neccessary, all the pieces pop out easily. Thought I'd include this close-up so you can see the lovely detail on this hot air balloon. Have you had a look through the 2017 Stampin' Up!® Occasions Catalogue yet? If you haven't, don't already have a demonstrator and you live in Australia, you can message me to send you a copy of that and the SALE-A-Bration catty.

Cheers for a safe and crafty New Year,

Rachel