Sixth Anniversary!

Today is the 6th anniversary of my joining Stampin' Up!® and in all that time I've never regretted that decision. I appreciate the structure of the company, which provides support to demonstrators, while they promote a quality product to help others create beautiful craft. I intended to be "just a hobby demonstrator", until some friends asked to have a stamping date, and that eventually developed into a monthly class. Six years later, I still hold classes, in-home parties for hostesses to earn free products and I have a team who I do my best to help achieve what they want from belonging to the Stampin' Up!® family. Best of all, over the six years, many new friendships have developed with other like-minded crafters, including demonstrators, team members and customers.

It's always more fun to stamp with friends, don't you think?

This month I decided instead of just sending a thank you card to my customers, I would cut up some DSP (that's our gorgeous patterned paper) and make some simple, sweet cards for my customers to send to someone else. Those who were at the parties have already picked theirs. One very clever stamp set, hidden right inside the back cover of the Occasions Catalogue was perfect for the sentiments. Suite Sentiments is its name and the paper pack I cut and used this time is Fruit Stand. This will retire at the end of May, so it needs to be ordered now if you too love the fresh fruity images.

With at least half the cards, I let the paper make the statement. These were the boldest papers which really needed no more embellishment than a piece of ribbon and a sentiment. But then came the stripes and spots, and it was lots of fun to dream up some different dies to dress them up. With the apples, I tried for an apple-like leaf from Vintage Leaves. The stripes in red reminded me of an ice cream parlour and Cool Treats were perfect here. This sentiment, although in the Suite Sentiments stamp set, is designed to co-ordinate with Cool Treats. Isn't that cool?

With the orange stripe, I've used an ornate die from Up & Away Thinlet Dies and the sentiment from Suite Sentiments that matches Carousel Birthday. Isn't it great how they've given us the opportunity to add on to our stamp sets? The other has a partial die from Dragonfly Dreams in copper foil, matched with a copper embossed sentiment on vellum. Lastly, the lemon spots is perfect for another Cool Treats. Fancy a lemon gelati, anyone?

I'd like to offer you this opportunity too, as SALE-A-Bration, which runs from January 4th-March 31st 2017 is an extra-special time to join. You choose $235.00 retail of product from the Annual or Occasions catalogue and only pay $169.00. This order not only has free shipping, it also includes two

extra stamp sets (up to a value of $179) at no additional cost. Your second order earns you SALE-A-Bration bonuses until the end of March, a great way to build your stamping stash. If you discover that this isn't for you, or your circumstances change, there are no penalties for dropping and you keep your purchased products.

There is more information at the top of my blog page, plus a link to join my team. Still not sure? Call me, 0417 500 681 or send an email with your queries.

I am Rachel Palmieri, situated on the northern side of Melbourne in South Morang.

Cheers, Rachel

Dragonfly Dreams Part 2

Yesterday when I made the Dragonfly Dreams in basic and stepped up versions, I forgot to take photos of the process. Today I've remedied that and made a Mint Macaroon version, slightly different from the pink version. Believe it or not, the card is the same in all photos but the top left showed up a bit stronger (and truer) than the others.

1. photopolymer stamp (wing) mounted on acrylic block, ready to stamp with Mint Macaroon onto the same colour card.
2. You can see that the colour is a bit darker when stamped. The sentiment was stamped first for placement, in Emerald Envy ink.
3. This is the bottom left photo. I changed stamps to the detailed wing, inked it with Tip Top Taupe and see how easy it is to place in exactly the right place.
4. Basically, this is the finished card. A portion of the inked and diecut dragonfly for the stepped up version is sitting over this card.                                                                                                        

You can see that a bee is also included in this stamp set - imagine how well that will go with some of the lovely floral stamps or patterned papers.

          

Using the Taupe for the detail of the wing is a lovely subtle change from the strong definition with black ink.   

With the stepped up version, again I went for layers. The same back ground stamping was repeated on Mint Macaroon card, layered onto Tip Top Taupe. Two layers of ribbon in those colours was added too, and a beautiful die cut dragonfly on a couple of dimensionals to lift it up. Finally, rhinestones in different sizes are randomly scattered.

This collage of pics shows you how I used the ink to make a multi coloured wing. First the whole wind was covered with the lightest shade, Mint Macaroon and Emerald Envy was smeared at the bottom of the wing. At the top is another green, Pear Pizzazz. You can see how beautifully blended they appear once the second stamp is applied.

I hope some of these posts are inspiring your creativity.
Have a very happy, safe and healthy New Year.

Cheers Rachel

Dragonfly Dreams

Dragonfly Dreams is a new photopolymer stamp set with co-ordinating Detailed Dragonfly Thinlet Dies, which can be purchased seperately or together in a bundle (there's a special code for this) at 10% discount. This card is easy enough for a beginner stamper, so if you're itching to get more handmade cards made this year, this could be the way to start out.

This is a basic, one-layer card, so you don't need to own a Big Shot for Die-cutting but you will need clear acrylic blocks to mount your stamps (the recommended sizes are listed, but I used D, E & H) some ink (Archival Basic Black #140931 or Basic Gray #140932 $12.25, are good to start with), perhaps one pink ink @ $12.25 (you can choose Flirty Flamingo, Blushing Bride or Sweet Sugarplum), some card to stamp on; Whisper White extra thick #140490 $12.25 and a Stampin' Trimmer #129722 $50.00. The stamp set is photopolymer, which is a little cheaper than red rubber, and you can see through it for accurate placement of the peices. This particular stamp has two-step stamping for the dragonfly or bee wings.
If you were to place an order for the ink, card, stamp set, the largest acrylic block and paper trimmer it totals $143.25 Australian and you qualify for an item for free from the SAB catalogue.


Step-it-up

To step-it-up, the stamping is almost the same but onto a more restricted area, which has another layer .5cm larger behind as a mat. This is then raised on Stampin' Dimensionals, little pillows of adhesive which raise elements or layers up from the card, but still allow it to travel safely through the post. I used two strips of washi tape behind the layers, for some added interest, and adhered sequins with a dot of Tombow glue.

ALL of these supplies are available from your Stampin' Up!® demonstrator,or in my online store. If you need any more advice to get started, be sure to ask. I love my crafting time, and I'd love to help someone have the same fun I do.

Cheers, Rachel

Something Blue

 Love this new Detailed  Dragonfly Thinlet Dies, which features on page 26 of the Stampin' Up!® Occasions Catalogue. I was lucky enough to be able to order it at the Stampin' Up!® Onstage at the beginning of November and had it delivered in time to make this card for my friend Christine's birthday on the 9th November. You'll be able to order it soon too, January 4th in fact when the Occasions Catalogue goes live. You might want to check out the Dragonfly Dreams stamp which co-ordinates, and remember - if you order them as a bundle using the special code, you get a 10% discount.

After playing about with re-inkers and water colour paper, I cut some dragonflies from the lovely mix of colours and the pink and peach shades contrast prettily with the blue & white Floral Boutique DSP, which you can find in the big annual catalogue (page 172). I laid the patterned paper over Fancy Frost, a white textured heavy weight 12" by 12" in the Holiday Catalogue. It is on special now in the Year-End Close Out Sale until January 3rd, and I've stocked up already.
I used the stitched circle thinlet to cut a base for a sentiment and the dragonfly, and scattered a few sequins about.
Remember to call if you need help with your crafting, and you can place an order, even in the middle of the night at my online store.

Cheers, Rachel

Fancy Frost CTC105

It's Sunday here, which means it's time for another bloghop at CASE-ing The Catty. You may have arrived here from my buddy and roomie, Kathryn Mangelsdorf or perhaps you are starting out here, either way, bloghops go full-circle so make sure you check out what the crew has shared this week.

We are CASE-ing pages 36-45, Fancy Frost this week and I have to say, the colour palette is my favourite thing here. Well...perhaps it's those sparkly sequins in such sweet colours. I had to have them, but I'm notorious for forgetting to add the bling to my cards, so very proud of today's effort. I was inspired by the bottom image, but ended up moving things around to suit myself!

Flower Patch provided the pretty blossoms, there is a glimpse of the NEW Dragonfly Dream (available January 2017) in copper foil and some other stamps from Birthday Blossoms. A little copper metallic thread and a scattering of those sequins finished of this card.

It is always nice to take the time to finish the inside too and this one has been finished with another couple of stamps from Birthday Blossoms and some washi tape. Love the grouping of blossoms in this stamp set, and the script for the sentiments is certainly pretty too.

I'm keeping it short and sweet this week, as there has been such a lot going on in my life and I desperately need an early night. Don't forget the online extravaganza starting after midnight, with bigger savings on the first and last days. You can go straight to my online store if you'd like me to be your demonstrator and if you use the Hostess code, (SVAGUCMK) I'll send you a surprise in the mail. I do hope you like my card, please leave a comment.

Cheers, Rachel

You're heading to Kelly over in Bunbury, WA

And if you'd like to share your creations with us, this is the link for the whole of November