December Birthdays

My list of birthdays in December is quite extensive, so I took a break from Christmas cards and other preparations to make a couple of those birthday people a handmade card.

This creation was for one of my lovely grandsons, whose birthday is December 18th. Because I know that he treasures these cards, I try very hard to put an effort into making something that will appeal. He still likes dragons so I had to ink up the dragon from Magical Day (retired) and get the dragon to help "put out this tiny fire". I'm really hoping that Mr 9 'gets' this little joke. By the way, he's not 'lighting' the fire, so that is why his breath has been coloured with Chalk marker.

Birthday Banners is a recent addition to my stash, but I've had the banner dies since they came out with a Christmas stamp a few years back. Good to have another stamp set to use them with, and you choose which words you stamp onto the banners. Always good to have options. Wink of Stella has been added to half the flame and parts of the dragon, but they're not showing up in the photo.

My friend Tina Gillespie, a design team member of Just Add Ink, recently used Bubble Over to show a cool inlaid dies technique. I've provided a link back to Tina's blog, Scissors Paper Card for you to check out her card. I was saying to Tina that I don't think this stamp set has had enough love, because it's a fun-type stamp for teens to adult, and can be fizzy pop to designer beer. I put together a bright card for a work colleague, hence the funny sentiment for the inside. Again, a favourite stamp set, now retired but staying firmly on my shelf - Five For All.

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It's a good time to check out the Online Store for discouted items in the Year-End Closeout.

CTC#177 Favourite Retiring Project

 Welcome back to another week of CASE-ing The Catty. The crew is made up of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all parts of Australia and New Zealand.You are at the blog of Rachel Palmieri, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator. I run classes at my home studio in South Morang, Victoria, share Stampin' Up!® products and tools at parties for my customers, coach my lovely team and create cards and the occasional 3D project.

 It astounds me that the best kids set since No Bones About It (also retiring) hasn't made it into the new Annual Catalogue. I have used variations of Magical Day for all my grandchildren's birthdays this year, plus an Easter book mark. To me, it is a "Must Have". Ollie is obsessed with Kings, Queens, knights, castles etc, so his card for his 4th birthday had to be this one.

On the back of this fancy-fold card, I used Picture Perfect Birthday for the bigger sentiment, and Pick A Pennant coming soon in the Annual Catalogue. The crown is the finishing touch!

You can see a recent one here, the bookmarks here, Logan's birthday card here, Alice's card here, and here is Isaac's card, so I guess I've had good use from it.

Next stop along this hop is my lovely friend in Canberra, Monique Fielder.

Please consider sharing your creation of a favourite retiring project at our Facebook page. We love to see what you've made too.

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 If you're placing your order for items from the Occasions Catalogue or the soon-to-be-replaced Annual Catalogue, you may add the host code to your order (if its less than $250) to receive a gift from me.

Myths & Magic CTC#172

Welcome back to another week of CASE-ing The Catty. The crew is made up of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all parts of Australia and New Zealand.You are at the blog of Rachel Palmieri, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator. I run classes at my home studio in South Morang, Victoria, share Stampin' Up!® products and tools at parties for my customers, coach my lovely team and create cards and the occasional 3D project.

Magical Day was my Prize Patrol stamp set at the November Onstage and I'm still nuts about this whole suite. My grandchildren are 10 and under, so it has been perfect for all of their birthdays.

I don't have anyone in mind for this particular card, and it does seem to be heading toward the feminine side with those soft shades of pink/plum. I have popped it in my For Sale page if you think you would like to purchase a handmade card.

I've CASE-d the sample on page 41 using Flying Home. Mainly the card behind the art piece, although mine is the standard 9.5cm by 13.5cm piece of card, not square. I imitated the happy birthday sentiment on the banner and even tried a bow tied in twine, before settling for the adhesive sequins. How could I not add some of the sparkly glimmer paper from the Myths and Magic suite? It is the perfect size for popping through the Big Shot too, at 6" square.

It might be difficult to believe but the Happy Birthday sentiment has come from Lemon Zest. I always like a nice neat sentiment like this one. Lemon Zest stamp set is bundled with a Lemon Builder Punch at the moment, and I wanted to buy it while I could save 10% on the bundle. They are only bundled in the first ever catalogue they appear in, so check out those bundled specials in the Annual catalogue and Occasions Catalogue before they finish at the end of May. We'll probably know what is retiring, and what is carrying over in 2-3 weeks.

Now you are heading to Kathryn Mangelsdorf for some more inspiration

Although we are based in the South Pacific, we welcome anyone to join us in CASE-ing the Catty with Stampin' Up! products. You don't have to be a demonstrator or even have a blog. You pin your CASE to our Facebook wall. Pages 36-43 of the Occasions Catalogue this week.

PMGJPHEN

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!

We have had awesome Autumn weather for this Eater long weekend, but in anticipation of my little ones visits, I got busy and made some book marks using Magical Day. I'm truly hoping that this stamp set from the Occasions catalogue carries over into the Annual Catalogue - and by this time next week I'll know!!!

Luckily there are a number of images in the stamp set, but I did double up on the dragon because
a) I like it so much
b) Logan and Isaac are only 8 weeks apart in age, so they might like the same things. Logan loved his dragon birthday card, click here if you missed it.

The stamp at the bottom was one in a box of stamps (not Stampin' Up!®) my husband discovered in his garage last weekend. They'd be at least 25 years old, but I thought it would be fun to add to the bottom of the book mark giving me a spot to write names. Those tassels are Stampin' Up! but they are from a Christmas kit and now put to good use.

I have another blog with a card using Magical Day going live tonight at 7pm for CASE-ing The Catty, if you want to check out some more magic.

PMGJPHEN

Happy Birthday Logie!

Over the next 3 weeks, two of my grandsons, my only granddaughter and my eldest son all celebrate birthdays. Obviously that involves a lot of card-making, and shopping.

 Logan was 8 on Valentine's Day and I chose the dragon from Magical Day for this card. His parents asked me how I knew he was into dragons, and then answered their own question with, "Oh, you went online at #whatare8yearoldboysinto

Not really guys, I might not be quite THAT switched on......!

Maybe I just need to give credit to Stampin' Up!® for being onto trends. It's quite a useful stamp set for not only children, but teens and older who are into wizards or Harry Potter. Currently Magical Day is available in the Occasions Catalogue until May 31st, but there is no guarantee that it will carryover into the next Annual Catalogue.

I thought the idea of the dragon lighting the candles was amusing, and inlaid 'wish' in the lovely Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper. The candles are borrowed from Picture Perfect Birthday, also in the Occasions catalogue. Logan was thrilled with his card, and that makes my heart sing!!!
#lovemygrandkids

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You can shop anytime in my online shop for Picture Perfect Birthday #145519 $30.00

or Magical Day #145857 $38, clear mount Bundle (stamp set and dies) or any other products. If you spend $90 before shipping, you will be asked to select a free  SALE-A-Bration item, and they're all worth having! Add the Host Code and I will share the host benefits with you also. Spend $250, and you have $25 Host dollars to spend, and 2 SAB products.

Magical Mermaid CI#26

Colour INKspiration has a new colour inspiration for you every fortnight on a Wednesday at 8:00pm. Tonight is that night! The crew is made up of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all parts of Australia and New Zealand.You are at the blog of Rachel Palmieri, Independent Stampin' Up!® demonstrator. I run classes at my home studio in South Morang, Victoria, share Stampin' Up!® products and tools at parties for my customers, coach my lovely team and love to create cards and the occasional 3D project.

Do fishing nets even come in those beautiful blues and greens? I'm sure I won't be the only person who continues along the maritime theme, but I couldn't go past this pair of mermaids for a young lady who lives on the coast. I actually had never inked up the Magical Mermaid till now, but I've pinned heaps to my Pinterest board!

Tranquil Tide seems a bit washed out from the photography which is a shame, as the colour is quite intense. 

I imagine that it is a mum mermaid and her little one swimming in the ocean and I'm sure Alice will too, since she is sure her mum is a queen and she is a princess. The littlest mermaid is from Magical Day, which has unicorns, wizards and knights. I think it is one of the best kids sets we have had in a while, and not totally restricted to kids either (Dungeons & Dragons, Harry Potter?)

What can you make using Emerald Envy, Bermuda Bay, Tranquil Tide and Sahara Sand? Don't forget to share it on our Facebook page.

Now it's time to check out what the always-amazing Rebecca has created

If you are interested you can join my team at any time that's good for you. However, I must point out that NOW is a particularly good time, because you can order $235 worth of any products on your "wish" list, and pay only $169. Shipping is free on this order, and in addition you get to choose 2 extra stamp sets free (up to a value of $174.00) so I'd be picking a couple of those large expensive sentiment sets like Better Together, Happy Celebrations, Flourishing Phrases, Special Celebrations. Call me if you would like my information, or you can read more by clicking on the tab at the top of my blog page 'Join Stampin' Up!'. Lots of answers to the commonly asked questions are there.

6HB9V4BS

8th Bird-day

The Occasions catalogue has gone live today and inside you'll find Bird Banter. One of the things I love about this set is that the budgie and cockatoo are Australian native animals, and its fun to feature something that is truly everyday Aussie.

I made this card for my grandson, and then decided to use Magical Day instead. Reason for that was, it was actually his dad (my son) who was mad for birds, and so far none of his boys have gone down that path. I wrote a post about the Magical Day card, but I've had a few computer issues the last few weeks and managed to totally lose that post, and the only photos left were the ones I shared on my Facebook page. So sad.

Number Of Years & Large Number Framelits always come in handy for these kids birthdays, and it helps me keep on top of what age they are!!! I purposely skewed the card layers, and repeated it on the inside.

I wasn't concerned about being too realistic with the colours, used the Stampin' Blends and was very happy with the range of colours.

Love the bold greeting inside, it comes with Picture Perfect Birthday. I'm making very good use of the full range of sentiments in that particular stamp set.

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