Farewell to Summer Silhouette CTC#80

This week at CASE-ing The Catty we are sharing our favourite retiring stamp sets, and I have two very inky, well-used stamp sets leaving the catalogue this time (but not my shelves!!) Not yet anyway. Summer Silhouette is a wonderful, carefree type of stamp which I ordered immediately it was released. You can use it in so many different ways, with stems, leaves and petals all being individual stamps, and not needing to be perfectly placed is a huge bonus.

Just to freshen things up, and because I'm so besotted with the latest InColors, which you can order too in a few days (1st June 2016) I've used Flirty Flamingo, which might just be my favourite, and Peekaboo Peach, with Mint Macaron leaves. You can see some of the ruched ribbon here too, in Flirty Flamingo. The leaves in this stamp set are so nice, I've used them alone too, and stamped them inside this card. The border stamp is very distinctive too and almost covers the card side-to-side.

The other retiring stamp I used is Petite Pairs, also very inky, but so handy for so many reasons. It has some lovely sentiments, and they each have a buddy for the inside of the card. Both of these stamps are only available until May 31st unless stock runs out sooner. If you feel like putting a last minute order in through my Australian shop, don't forget to check out the retiring stock lists and Clearance. The lists are as up-to-date as you can get, and many items are discounted. You can find my online store here and this month the HOSTESS Code is ZGGAABEE.

By the way, it's not too late to contact me for an invitation to my Catalogue Launch on Saturday June 4th at 2 p.m. A number of my regulars had other commitments, so it won't be too crowded if you'd like to come and bring a friend. I'm located in South Morang, Victoria, so if that's not too far for you, text me your name and address, and I'll give you alll the details. There is no charge and lots of fun to be had!

Next p on this blog is the lovely Helen at H2 Designs

       

Happy crafting

Cheers, Rachel

This Caught My Eye CTC#33

Welcome back to another week of blog-hopping with CASE-ing The Catty. We've been given the freedom this week to pick anything that caught our eye in the catalogue this week with an 'Anything Goes' blog hop. Perhaps you've arrived from The Paper and Stamp Addict, (don't you love Rebecca's work?) or maybe you are starting here with me. Whichever it is, just keep on travelling around until you arrive back at your starting point.
As I turn the pages of a new Stampin' Up!® catalogue, my eyes are now tuned in to look out for designs to CASE. I have done this for a few years, jotting down page numbers in a notebook, and referring back to them when I run out of inspiration. This year I began the list while I was still away on the Gold Coast, attending the 2015 South Pacific Stampin' Up® Convention.

The sketch that really jumped out at me is on Page 46 and uses  Pictogram Punches, which was already on my shelf from last year. I've used this stamp set a lot already, and look forward to another year of fun with it, now that it is definitely in the catalogue again. You might wonder about the pink dot beside the stamps name. When I get my new catalogue, it is time for stocktake in my craft room. I mark the catalogue in some way (this year, pink dots) to show stamps, dies, punches etc that I already own to avoid doubling up.

I decided to make my card for a new baby boy, and chose some paper from the retired paper stack, Winter Frost. I think it is in the now-retired Coastal Cabana but with Silver Fancy Foil Vellum over the top, it looks very close to Pool Party. I used a white doiley (or two!) some retired Pool Party satin ribbon, white Baker's Twine and White Jute Ribbon and layered them all. I fancy that it has a soft fluffy look, much like a baby's blanket.

After stamping "You're A Star" in Bermuda Bay and adding 'Welcome Baby'  from Petite Pairs, underneath in Pool Party it was time to grab some dies to cut. The Mini Treat Bag Thinlets have some great 'extras' included, such as this wide banner, a heart and a star, which co-ordinate with a new stamp set, You're So Sweet. Look out for it on page 57. There is no punch or die for the moon from Pictogram Punches, and I don't like fussy cutting a whole lot, but I resolved the problem with circle dies. I matched them in size as closely as I could, and went back and re-positioned as needed to get a nice smooth curve. I'm very happy with the result!

I love the vase and flowers included in this stamp set, you can see a Mother's Day card here.

Enjoy our Anything Goes Blog Hop, you're heading next to the lovely Julia Quinn, you'll love her work too.

Cheers
Rachel

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Eleanor's Birthday Wishes

Another lovely colour combo, this time at Just Add Ink . I couldn't resist taking part this week and it was time to use some oldies (but goodies) so I've pulled Everything Eleanor and Petite Pairs from my shelf. I kept the design simple with a scroll and three blossoms, all stamped with Momento Black Ink. I coloured the blooms with an Aquapainter and ink squeezed from the ink pad into the lid. I haven't fussed with it too much so the Momento Ink hasn't run, thank goodness! You really should use Stazon when water is involved. The stamens were simply coloured with the Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker.



I knew I had some DSP featuring Crushed Curry, it is the recently retired Eastern Elegance. I cut a cap for the top of the card using the largest Deco Label Framelit, and tied some Bermuda Bay ribbon over the top. I left enough ribbon to tie a bow, but I am the World's worst bow-tyer so I gave up and snipped the ribbon shorter. The middle, larger flower has been fussy cut and raised on a Dimensional. I used a bone folder to curl the petals slightly.



The inside of the card has a layer of Eastern Elegance DSP although I did cover it somewhat with the Whisper White panel. There's another of the large flowers from Everything Eleanor stamped inside, and plenty of room for a handwritten message.





A lovely sunny Saturday in Melbourne, hope it's pleasant where you live ,

Rachel

Everything Eleanor Wood Stamp Set

$63.95

Everything Eleanor Clear Stamp Set

$50.95

Petite Pairs Wood Stamp Set

$49.95

Petite Pairs Clear Stamp Set

$39.95

Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay

$11.95

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad

$9.95

Regals Stampin' Write Markers

$49.95

Bermuda Bay 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

$9.95

Aqua Painters

$19.95

Deco Labels Framelits Die

$42.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$9.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Happy Birthday Mambo Curry! RS#115

I've been too busy to make any cards for a little while, but after work last night I made an effort to put together a card for RetroSketches. It's such a cute sketch, but I found deciding colours a bit tricky today.                                                                      
 I wonder what you think of Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo?

I used Peaceful Petals stamp set for the flower, Happy Watercolor for the splodges and spots and Petite Pairs for the 'happy birthday wishes'. Peaceful Petals and Happy Watercolor are in the Occasions Catalogue and it finishes in Australia at the end of June, so if you need these stamp sets, you'll need to order them soon. Petite Pairs is one of the staple greeting stamp sets: something for every occasion and you can use just one part, or two, of the pair.
I used non-Stampin' Up! rhinestones this time, but when we receive the Blendabilities, we will be able to color rhinestones, pearls etc. to match our projects. I wonder if we will see them at Convention this week?

I leave for the South Pacific Stampin' Up! Convention today, Shelli and Sterling have arrived, Bonnie has been here since Monday, I think. There are demonstrators from all over Australia and New Zealand streaming into town and we are all set to have a ball in beautiful Melbourne. It's the end of Autumn and we have had 10 days in a row over 20° (that's 68°F)and the sun is shining brightly on our city today!

I'm not sure that I will be able to update posts while I am away at Convention, but I have a couple of posts scheduled to be released while I'm away, so feel free to pop back in the next couple of days.
Have a great week

Rachel

Hoping For a Calm Christmas

I'm sure we all hope for a calm, peaceful Christmas but how likely is it? We have been madly putting up the Christmas Tree, a live one, and the biggest we've ever had! I'm lucky because one of my sons goes each year to get trees for himself, his in-laws and us, so that is a big help. However, our lights weren't doing the tree justice, due to its increased height, and we have been out to purchase a larger set (and flashier too, I might add). We have added another bauble to the tree this year too, for our small grand-daughter, Alice, born March this year.

As promised, here are my Christmas Cards for this year. Both styles use Calm Christmas (132736) and the card on the right has World Map (130342) as the background. Petite Pairs (128706), on the left card says Merry Christmas on one stamp, while the other half of this pair says and a Happy, Joyful, Bright New Year. Petite Pairs is one of those "must have" stamp sets with greetings for all occasions. Instead of using my 12" by 12" pack of Winter Frost DSP, I used the Winter Frost Paper Stack (132183) because it contains 48 sheets of card-front-size double-sided paper in four of the designs, making it easier to mass-produce a quantity of cards. The items above are all directly linked to those items in my online store if you want to take a closer look. If you decide to shop there be assured that you are shopping on a secure, reputable site. It is recommended that you shop early, as Stampin' Up gears up for a clearance sale of retired stock, beginning early on Tuesday 10th December. Going by last year, stock will move very fast, some items were sold out within minutes, due to low numbers of stock items, and a heavy demand. This is the link to the online store.

The colours used are Smokey Slate, Bermuda Bay, Midnight Muse, Pool Party(World Map) Sky Blue and Marina Mist. The pale dove was inked with Sky Blue and then thumped with the three Stampin' Write Markers shown in the picture. The Thumping Technique is a BIG favourite of mine, I love the soft mottled effect this technique produces, but I'm equally fond of the bold appearance of the Midnight Muse dove. It shows up the patterned surface of the stamp so clearly. Do you like to craft your own cards, or Christmas decorations? I haven't any classes scheduled for the immediate future, because everyone seems to have a full calendar, but as I am away from my regular job from 20th December until Australia Day, let me know if there is a product you'd like to try out. or a technique you'd like to learn and we can see if it can be arranged as a workshop or party.

Thanks for passing by today,

Rachel

Retired items newly listed under For Sale tab at top of page.

Best of Butterflies

Just a quick message to let you know the next "Best of..." stamp set has been released and it is ...... Butterflies.


Here are the details about this Monthly Promotion:

• All Best of stamp sets will include 3-5 images, including a never-before seen image, and will be priced at $25.95.
• While we are releasing just one Best of stamp set per month (with a new theme each month), all of the Best of sets will be available until April 2014, while stocks last
• All Best of stamp sets are available in Clear-Mount only.
• The stamp images may be sized differently from the original stamp sets.

Sale: 25% off three of our greeting sets! 

Don't put off ordering if you are needing greeting stamps, use my online store here, or email/phone me. (0417500681)

Dates: 2-31 July, 2013

Sale Price	Retail Price	Description	Item
$31.46	$41.95	Sassy Salutations Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132070
$25.46	$33.95	Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126707
$26.21	$34.95	Sweet Essentials Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132085
$20.96	$27.95	Sweet Essentials Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126457
$37.46	$49.95	Petite Pairs Wood-Mount Stamp Set	128706
$29.96	$39.95	Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Stamp Set	122497

Sweet Essentials

Sassy Salutations

Petite Pairs

Owl Baby, Pretty in Pink

A few days ago, I made a card for a baby boy. Today I decided to even the score and make a card for a little girl. It's funny, because this card developed as I worked. I knew I wanted to use the Petite Pairs stamp set, because I wanted to share the great special on three of the "Greeting" stamp sets, but only until the 31st July.

I also decided to use the Basic Label single stamp ($11.95)  that matches the Apothecary Accent Framelits. These single stamps are available till August 31st, only in clear mount.

I stamped "welcome baby" onto this label and cut it on the Big Shot, before stamping the other half , "so glad you're here" and punched it out with a tag punch (retired) and another larger tag (also retired) in Strawberry Slush.

The oval behind the Apothecary Label is Strawberry Slush too, embossed with the Lattice Embossing Folder.  


It was time to use the Owl Builder Punch again, and little miss owl is wearing a dress from Tea For Two DSP (retired) with a Pink Pirouette flower in her hair, punched with one of the Itty Bitty Shapes Punches. She is a lovely pale shade, Crumb Cake, and stands on a branch of Pistachio Pudding punched with the Bird Builder Punch.

I partially embossed a piece of Pink Pirouette with the Mosaic Embossing Folder, and used the Paper Piercing tool around the outside of this layer. The lower tag also features a butterfly stamped in Pink Pirouette and punched with the Itty Bitty Butterfly Punch, then finished with a row of pearls from SU Basic Jewels.

If you need any supplies, give me a call (0417 500 681) email or use my online store. Orders are usually shipped within 48 hours to your address anywhere in Australia.
Cheers,
Rachel

Sale Price	Retail Price	Description	Item
$31.46	$41.95	Sassy Salutations Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132070
$25.46	$33.95	Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126707
$26.21	$34.95	Sweet Essentials Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132085
$20.96	$27.95	Sweet Essentials Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126457
$37.46	$49.95	Petite Pairs Wood-Mount Stamp Set	128706
$29.96	$39.95	Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Stamp Set	122497

Petite Pairs Stamp Set

 

Stampin' Up! News

It's an exciting day today because the New Stampin' Up! Catalogue went live! That means we can order any of the new stamp sets, new colours and new products from today.

Want a copy of the catalogue?

If you don't have a copy of the catalogue, you can click on the icon over to your right and browse online. Then just email or phone me (0417500 681) to receive your own book to have and to hold.

Some highlights from the catalogue

I have been waiting on the Big Shot Magnetic Platform ever since I tried it out at the South Pacific Convention in May. It  holds the metal framelits in place so no more post it notes for me - Yay! And that is just after I showed some of you that trick too!!!
Page 184 item #130658 $69.95

I've already received some of the new stamp sets free at Convention, like Gorgeous Grunge and Hello Lovely, which I've been using over the last month, but Chalk Talk with its matching framelits (and bundled together for a 15% saving- see page 12 for details) was the very first item I added to my order this morning.

Lots of Bundles at a discount

Chalk Talk Bundle - page 12
Chalk Talk stamp set and co-ordinating Chalk Talk Framelits dies (p187)

$74.75 - 132731 Wood-Mount Bundle
$66.95 - 132730 Clear-Mount Bundle Label Love Bundle – page 33
Label Love Stamp Set and co-ordinating Artisan Label Punch (p181)
$61.95 - 132723 Wood-Mount Bundle
$54.25 - 132722 Clear-Mount Bundle
 Backyard Basics Bundle – page 79
Backyard Basics Stamp Set and co-ordinating Backyard Basics Framelits Dies (p187)
$72.95 - 132729 Wood-Mount Bundle
$65.25 - 132728 Clear-Mount Bundle

Wildflower Meadow Bundle – page 83
Wildflower Meadow Background Stamp and coordinating Wildflower Meadow Embossing Folder (p191)
$37.95 - 132735 Wood-Mount Bundle
$32.95 - 132985 Clear-Mount Bundle

Flower Shop Bundle – page 94
Flower Shop Stamp Set and coordinating Pansy Punch (p183)
$60.95 - 132727 Wood-Mount Bundle
$54.25 - 132726 Clear-Mount Bundle

Beautifully Baroque Bundle – page 113
Beautifully Baroque Stamp and coordinating Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder (p191)
$33.95 - 132732 Wood-Mount Bundle

Mosaic Madness Bundle – page 123
Mosaic Madness Stamp Set and coordinating Mosaic Punch (p180)
$65.25 - 132734 Wood-Mount Bundle
$56.75 - 132733 Clear-Mount Bundle

Six-Sided Sampler Bundle – page 125
Buy the Six-Sided Sampler Stamp Set and coordinating Hexagon Punch (p180)
$65.25 - 132725 Wood-Mount Bundle
$56.75 - 132724 Clear-Mount Bundle

There are also some Great-value Colour Kits:
10 inkpads, 20 sheets cardstock in the 10 new colours.
$93.95 – 132281 (price in catalogue is a misprint and won't be honored)
In Color Cardstock and Pad Kit – page 141
$47.95 – 131293 2013-2015 In Colors
$47.95 - 129503 2012-2014 In Colors
Stampin' Write Marker New Color Kit – page 163
10 markers + insert - Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder
$49.95 – 130034
Perfect for Gift-giving:
Tag a Bag Bundle & Tag a Box Bundle – page 158
Boxes and accessories in a bundle $21.95 - 131372

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings at a discount too -2nd to31st July

If that isn't exciting enough, Stampin' Up! are offering a 25% discount on 3 of the favourite greetings.
I know that I will definitely buy Sassy Salutations now, I have Petite Pairs and Sweet Essentials, all three are 'must-have' items.

Sale Price	Retail Price	Description	Item
$31.46	$41.95	Sassy Salutations Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132070
$25.46	$33.95	Sassy Salutations Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126707
$26.21	$34.95	Sweet Essentials Wood-Mount Stamp Set	132085
$20.96	$27.95	Sweet Essentials Clear-Mount Stamp Set	126457
$37.46	$49.95	Petite Pairs Wood-Mount Stamp Set	128706
$29.96	$39.95	Petite Pairs Clear-Mount Stamp Set	122497

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Colours
As well as the New In-colors, Stampin' Up! have re-invigorated the color families. You can buy packs of A4 card and stamp pads for individual colours all the time, but we thought (until today) that the only way to get the Stampin' Write Markers was in this pack of ten.

15th July to 31st October
While this is a great deal - Ten markers for $49.95 - from the 15 July until 31st October you can buy the Markers singly. So the choice is yours - buy them all at a discount, or just fill in some gaps in your collection.

ITEM	PRICE	DESCRIPTION
130034	$49.95 AUD/$59.95 NZD	Stampin' Write Marker New Color Kit Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral, Crushed Curry, Island Indigo, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Smoky Slate, Soft Sky, Wisteria Wonder
131899	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker
131265	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Blushing Bride Stampin' Write Marker
131902	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Calypso Coral Stampin' Write Marker
131901	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker
131905	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker
131266	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker
131904	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker
131898	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Smoky Slate Stampin' Write Marker
131900	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Soft Sky Stampin' Write Marker
131903	$5.95 AUD/$7.25 NZD	Wisteria Wonder Stampin' Write Marker

If you want to place an order you can use my online store here

I hope this has been useful for you

please email or phone (0417500681) for more information, advice or to order.

Thanks 

Rachel