Birthday Giveaway

This post has been pre-written because today is my birthday and I am out celebrating! Even though I'm busy, the online shop is open for business. Until Wednesday 3rd December, if you place an order online and use the hostess code, MYJAE96T you are in the draw to get stamps sets and other products from me. There is a spot as you finalise your order to enter this code.

However, if your order is more than $300, you have two great options.

1. Continue..... and choose $50 worth of exclusive Hostess stamp sets or catalogue goodies, to be shipped direct to you with your order.
2. Consider becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator while the recruitment deal is so sweet! Strictly until December 2nd. Buy $235 in your starter kit, then put in an order in December.

There's a 25% discount off the Starter Kit!

Stampin' Up are offering a ONE WEEK ONLY joining deal, beginning 25th November through to 2nd December.

• Get the starter kit for 25% off. That equates to $235 worth of products of your choice for $126.75, post free.
• If you make your next order during December, you will have an EXTRA 5% discount paid back into your bank account in January. This means you'll get between 25%-35% discount, (you might need me to explain how that works).
• You will get to see (and order) from the NEW Occasions catalogue on December 6th, a whole month before the customers do.
• I have a small, friendly team and you'd be more than welcome to join us

This is a great offer, and let me assure you, there are no catches. Your financial commitment long-term equates to approximately $35 per week. I have been a Demonstrator for nearly four years now, and Stampin' Up are a great company to work with. Whether you see this as a way  to buy at a discount for your own crafting needs, a part-time job or even a full-time position, everyone is welcome, You can read through the contract here and email if you have any questions or concerns.

Cheers,
Rachel

Cool Kitty's Birthday RS#113

Today I have created a birthday card for a little girl using Cool Kid stamp set, and the soon to retire Bring On The Cake. At the top, pinning the sketch is 'celebrate' from Starburst Sayings. Of course, the Starburst Framelits Dies make it super-easy to cut the image out crisply. The colours I've used are Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding and Crushed Curry, quite a nice mix, I think. I especially like Strawberry Slush with some texture, so a piece of card was popped through the Big Shot with the Arrows Embossing Folder.






A tiny flower punched with an Itty Bitty Shapes Punch makes a flower to adorn kitty's head, and inside the card is another wee flower to finish off the strip with matching daubed spots.


Another great sketch from Retro Sketches, and you should see the gallery over there. Plenty of fabulous cards to inspire you!

Happy stamping,
Rachel

Super Dog Birthday PPA202

I love this Cool Kid stamp set. Its so easy to use, with all the individual stamps to pop onto your composition. I've kept it fairly simple with just a paper plane, because the recipient of this card is a champion paper-plane-maker.It was easy enought to colour the collar and boots with a Stampin' Write Marker in Real Red to add a bit of dash to this Super Dog.

I have to admit, I was inspired by this card by Anne Marie Hile, just because she used red glitter for the cape! I only had silver, so silver it was! I've used one of the red Glimmer Brads, which isn't going to make it into the next catalogue, to fasten a little banner cut from the reverse of the paper across the bottom of the card. I found that it was easy to make a card for the Pals Paper Arts color challenge as these are the colours in the Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack, from the Occasions Catalogue, finishing June 30. Many others have thought along the same lines as me and there is even another appearance from the dog!

Happy Watercolor, which is also in the Occasions Catalogue, has a 'splodge' stamp and I used that to stamp over the 'Happy Birthday, from Bring On The Cake stamp set. That is another stamp set which isn't included in the next catalogue, and its amazing how frantic I get to use these items when I know they are being retired. I seem to view them with fresh eyes! Thank goodness the On Film Framelits made the cut and are in the new catty.

Please excuse the dull photography, it is a cold, wet dreary old Sunday here in Melbourne. Absolutely awful for photography, but perfect for card making! Anyone want to join me?

Rachel

Birthday Cats

Quite a while ago I posted this card on my blog. It was for a friend, who also follows this blog, so I was hoping she wouldn't realise it was for her (and she didn't!!). 

Happy birthday, Genella, hope you were spoilt today.

 Being a cat-lover, this was squarely aimed at that love. I didn't show the inside last time I posted, and it was pretty cute too. The main stamp set Giggle Greetings is quite funny, though some people may not appreciate the humour! Then the black cat is from a new set, Cool Kid. The balloons are in Sketched Birthday and "You're How Old?" is another new set Just Sayin'.

I really enjoy doing these types of cards where you use a combination of different stamp sets, and a fun technique thrown in too. Doesn't sponging the clouds add interest to the background?

And now for a photo of my grand daughter Alice, who turned one on Saturday. She has two brothers, and 5 boy cousins (two of those are also my grandsons) so it is no wonder both her Grans treasure their little rose.

 Alice really LOVED her cake!

Its been a big weekend, with a big gathering for Alice's birthday yesterday, plus we have a holiday from work tomorrow. The weather is the absolute best that Melbourne puts on in Autumn, and I gardened today. Life is wonderful!

Hope you did something nice too

Rachel

Old Cats for Friday Mashup #145

Isn't this sketch just so good? Sara at The Friday Mashup provided the sketch and an extra challenge if you choose to use it, sponging. I love sponging, and used to ALWAYS sponge edges of punched pieces, etc etc.

If it had an edge, it was sponged. Then I began my CAS (clean and simple) phase and I stopped using my sponge daubers.

I've had an idea for using the different cats that Stampin' Up! has on stamps at the moment - Cool Kid, new in the Occasions Catalogue and Giggle Greetings, in the Annual Idea Book and Catalogue. Toss in a couple of balloons from Sketched Birthday, and the Happy Birthday greeting on the inside, as well as another cat from Giggle Greetings. I sponged with sky blue and  a scallop punch-out to get the clouds.
I've then waited for my Big Brown Box (BBB) to arrive this morning with Just Sayin' stamp set and matching dies, to add a cute greeting in a speech bubble.

And just now in a big rush, with 30 minutes till the challenge closes, I've stamped the greeting, die cut, added to card, photographed, watermarked and then placed on my blog!!!! All before breakfast too!!!!


 Thanks Sara and Friday Mashup for an inspiring challenge
Rachel

Dress-Up Party Birthday Card JAI #198

I promised that I would share the birthday card I made for my grandson (about to turn 6). He loves dress-ups, and will be receiving another costume this birthday too. I always hang on to kids stamp sets that are retired by Stampin' Up!, purely because  they can be used over and over, sometimes in ways different from the original idea. And then they bring out a new stamp set, like Cool Kid, and I have to add that in too. Unfortunately, I think I should have inked up my black stamp pad before stamping the original images!

I used the full length of an A4 piece of card, cut at a fraction under 5½ inches and in fact I cut the Bermuda Bay card and Very Vanilla at the one time. This extended piece doesn't fold over. it extends beyond the card front.  Before glueing them together, I sliced an eighth of an inch off each side of the Very Vanilla piece. That seemed to work just fine.
The only stamp available now is Cool Kid, out in Australia on 28th January (the 3 images down the right of the card). Others I used were Kimono Kid, Ahoy Matey (and its wheel) and Googly Ghouls.

 I think I can link this to the Just Add Ink Challenge too.

Hopefully tomorrow I will finish some Card-in-a-Box samples. Come back and see

Thanks for looking

Rachel

January 2014 Newsletter

I hope you have enjoyed time with family and friends over the holiday season and summer break. In Victoria, we have had the usual mix of weather, those temperatures race up and down like you wouldn't believe! Quite cold after Christmas and through the New Year and now that people are returning to work, we are sweltering! Actually  four consecutive days over 40 degrees (more than 100 degrees on the Farenheit scale!) I've had plenty of time for friends, family and some downtime for me too, so a very enjoyable summer. I do really enjoy the lack of structure in my life for a few weeks, but when we return to routine at the end of the month, it is also very welcome. One lovely advantage of being a demonstrator is being able to order new products a month before they go on sale to the public, and being on holiday has given me more time to play too. I made the Strawberry Slush cards using Starburst Sayings stamp and the matching Framelit. The DSP is called Kaleidoscope, the embossing folder is Arrows Textured embossing folder and that is your sneak peek at goodies from the Occasions Catalogue.
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2014 Classes

Basic Class - January & February

I am in the process of planning different classes for the coming six months. I think that I will hold three types of classes:

•  Basic - for those new to stamping and cardmaking or just wanting an hour or so away from the chores (AND no mess to clear up!)

• Build Your Stash - more complicated stamping or construction trying out a different stamp set each time. 
  

1. February- Chalk Talk stamp set & Framelits 
2. March - Cutting & Decorating Circle Framelit Card (see ambulance card below)

• Projects and Techniques - some of the more involved (messier!) techniques and projects with several steps, 

1. February - Water colour and stamp two cards
2. March - Card -in-a-box

I'm still creating the class samples for the project/techniques class and may not be ready to commence very early in February.
I am able to hold classes anytime Thursday or Friday - morning, afternoon & evening and even more times during school holidays, but I'm reluctant to dictate the dates/times classes will occur, as it is difficult to predict when people are able to attend, and how many are interested in each type of class. There are some dates when I am definitely free under the CLASSES tab at the top of my blog. I am happy to conduct classes with a minimum of two people, maximum of six, so if you and a friend want to come, give me a call. I need about one week's notice to make sure I have the projects and materials prepared. If you are interested, email me or phone 0417 500 681. I hold classes at my South Morang home, about 4 km off the Greensborough ring road (Plenty Road exit is easiest, Hume Highway or Edgars Road get you here too, via Cooper Street and a few others!)
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Whole Lot of Love

1 December-27 January

This is a promotion for Valentine's Day, but I can see possibilities for wedding and engagement cards.finishes on the 27th February so you might want to visit here for the online store.

I've had a play with Follow My Heart stamp set and some of the SALE-A-BRATION paper, Banner Blast stamp set and NEW Banner Punch.
I had my little sewing machine out so I've sewn the banners onto the card (not too straight though!!!) and the strips at the bottom were sewn together too. Those random spots in the Sweet Sorbet Design Series Paper remind me of the twinkling lights all over the Eiffel Tower, when it is lit up at night. Gorgeous!
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SALE-A-BRATION
It is almost time for SALE-A-BRATION!

This has to be my favourite time of the Stampin' Up! calendar. It isn't just because customers and demonstrators earn free product while choosing lovely craft supplies, the stamp sets and papers are just so-o-o-o-o good, that I keep on using them even when its over. SALE-A-BRATION products never appear in the annual catalog, so you need to order up between January 28th- 31st March 2014 to qualify for these freebies.

Even better VALUE IN 2014 - this year for each $90 amount you spend, you get to choose one item from the SALE-A-BRATION brochure. There is something for everyone in here: stamp sets, paper, an embossing folder for the Big Shot, card kits and even packaging. If you spend $90-$179 you choose one item, $180-$269 two items and it can be from either the NEW Occasions Catalogue, the Annual Catalogue or a combination of both.

I love it all, but the very first items I put on my order were the Banner Blast stamp set and the Banner Punch. When the order arrived I could hardly wait to get started and began by CASE-ing the SAB brochure (page 5) and had made these two cards in next-to-no-time. They're cute, aren't they?
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Occasions Catalogue


I have copies of this catalog available to distribute and you can place orders for these gorgeous goodies from the 28th January.
Its so handy that this catalog release coincides with SALE-A-BRATION, it makes it so much easier to meet my spending targets (WINK). If you have ordered from me in the last 6 months, I will automatically post/hand deliver you one, but if you aren't a customer yet or haven't ordered recently, and you would like a copy of the Occasions Catalogue and the SALE-A-BRATION brochure, send me a quick email with 'Catalog' in the subject line and your name, address and phone number in the body of the email and I'll add you to my mailing list

There is so much in here that I 'have to have' too. One set I ordered is Cool Kid for the super-hero dog image. I am making a dress-up birthday card for my grandsons birthday and that dog wearing a cape will be the finishing touch. I'll show you the card when its finished.
I love the Starburst Sayings with the matching Framelit dies, the Perfect Pennants stamp set and Framelit dies and Happy Watercolor is such a easy stamp to use.
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Thinlet Card Dies have been available in Australia since late October 2014 and I have used the Circle Card Thinlets die heaps. So many stamp sets really suit the circle including Santa's List and some listed below too. What about the Get Well card below? It uses one of the stamps from the Tag It stamp set and You're My Hero (ambulance, police car, fire engine).
   Label Card Thinlits Die (item 133479):

• Happy Day Stamp Set (item 130294 W item 130297 C)

Circle Card Thinlits Die (item 133480):

• Worth the Wait Stamp (item 131091 W)
• Five-Way Flower Stamp (item 131088 W)

Both card dies pair well with:

• Oh, Hello Stamp Set (item 131931 W item 130733 C)
• Yippee-Skippee! Stamp Set (item 131341 W item 131344 C)
• Really Good Greetings Stamp Set (item 130330 W item 130333 C)
• Regarding Dahlias Stamp Set (item 130324 W item 130327 C)

These dies also work well with our new magnetic platform (item 130658) so you can place the dies exactly where you want them!

I am planning to have a class using the Thinlet card die soon, keep an eye open at the CLASSES tab at the top of my blog. There's many a way to decorate these cards!
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Best Of 25 Years
This months Best of 25 Years stamp set is Best of Brides and Babies. Any of the Best of... stamp sets are available until 30 April 2014 (unless sold out) and there are some good stamps in the collection. If you click on the title, it will take you direct to see which ones have been released already.

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I hope that you haven't been bored with my long-winded newsletter. If I can help you with anything, I'll do my best to answer any questions, just get in touch any way you are comfortable with.
Phone 0417 500 681 email rpalmieri5@bigpond.com
Bye, happy stamping
Rachel