Thoughtful Branches

Thoughtful Branches is a versatile stamp set with matching framelits, which Stampin' Up!®
released for sale during August. What is great is that the stamp set can stand alone if finances can't stretch to purchasing the bundle, and I have found it suitable for birthdays, sympathy cards and even Christmas cards.

This birthday card borrowed a sentiment from Butterfly Basics and a generous splattering of gold Wink of Stella. You can spy the Sweet Sugarplum glitter ribbon which is coming in the Holiday catalogue, 1st September. Loved using the stamp to colour the tree leaves in all different pretty colours.

 For the 'thank you' card I used the Moroccan Designer Series Paper behind, to showcase the glorious colours in that suite. The sentiment is included in the Thoughtful Branches stamp set, along with a lovely 'Thinking of You' and others.




Again, it was just so easy to 'pull' colours from the paper to use on the foliage of this trio of trees. Aren't the colours so rich and luscious, totally like those gorgeous tiles all through that part of the world. The Burlap ribbon adds another earthy touch to this card.

You have about a week to check out this stamp set before the offer ends on August 31st. I do have a sneaky suspicion that Thoughtful Branches might reappear in a future catalogue because it has been so popular, but then again......
Don't forget, if you're making an order through my online shop, it will ask for the HOSTESS Code before you check out. August 21st - Spetember 20th it is P2KYFUU9



Cheers, Rachel

Thanks For Your Care FMS#249

It has been such fun playing with new stamps and papers and even though I've yet to ink up all my new stamps from the annual catalogue, I found it impossible to resist the Thoughtful Branches stamps and framelits, available only for August 1st-31st, 2016. Although I did hear a whisper that if it is really popular, it will appear sometime in the future, and from what I see and hear, it IS really popular, so who knows......?

This sketch from Freshly Made Sketches appealed to me as a way to show off both the gorgeous Moroccan DSP, and the lovely trio of trees from the stamp set. The sentiment from Sunburst Sayings is perfect for the reason I've made this card. I've been having a root canal at the dentist for several weeks, and my last procedure will be this Thursday. Even though I dread going to the dentist, and had been postponing this treatment until the pain in my face was too much to bear, this dentist has done such a great job of alleviating my fears, and it has been relatively painless too. So naturally, I want to tell him that I think he's the best, with a thank you note inside.


It was fun to stick to a blue colour scheme for a change, and Dapper Denim, Marina Mist and Soft Sky do go so nicely together. I have been adding Wink Of Stella gold splatters to all my tree cards though, it adds such a delicious sparkle! A shame it is so difficult to capture with a camera.


Happy crafting,
Rachel

Most Thoughtful Branches

When a new item is being promoted by Stampin' Up!® I try very hard to evaluate how much I will use it. I did my best to resist Thoughtful Branches, after all, I have tree and leaf stamps, don't I? The selling period is quite short, August 2nd-31st and I won't be able to run a class in this period, so I won't be really promoting it. After two weeks I gave in, mainly for this 'bare branches' framelit. The starkness of this outline against the background really tugs at my heartstrings. Love the scrawly font of this 'thank you' too.

Next was the leaf. Such a gorgeous clear image with defined veins on it, I had to stamp it in a variety of shades just to see how they looked. The green is Emerald Envy, one of this year's InColors and it is stamped twice without inking in between. The other is Tip Top Taupe stamped and stamped off, plus Sweet Sugarplum. TTT is last year's InColor, SS is another from this year. 

You're In My Thoughts is part of the Thoughtful Branches stamp set. These cards were both finished off inside with part of a sentiment from Thoughts and Prayers and a pair of overlapping leaves. It is quite simple, but could easily be stepped up if need be, with a piece of matching ruched ribbon, or linen thread. So many possibilities actually.

Lastly, I used a couple of the Sweet Sugarplum leaves with Jar of Love and followed a sketch at Global Design Project, you can check out their blog here if you missed my post last week. If you purchase this bundle through me, or anything at all from my online shop, please add the HOSTESS CODE 9Z44PC2P to your order before checkout, and I will mail you a little something from my stash. This stamp set, framelits or bundle is available today, so if you do pop over to my online store, you will see it there.

Cheers, Rachel

Punch Bunch Class August 19th

I've designed and made the samples for my August and September classes, mainly because we are taking off for sunny Hawaii in between these two classes. It is always challenging to manage my regular day job, my family commitments and my Stampin' Up!® business, plus time out, but organising in advance seems to be the answer. That is why I text my daughter-in-law to check months ahead, if I'm needed for babysitting!!! A full life is a happy life!

So in August I've planned that we make cards with the Stampin' Up!® punches, so you can find out how easy they are, and how much fun. There is the Fox Builder Punch, the Tree Builder Punch (that's the sweet cupcake) and the Bow Builder Punch. You will find these on page 188 of the Annual catalogue, and in Australia they retail at $31.00 each. The Fox Builder Punch can be bought with a co-ordinating stamp which comes in very handy, and is offered at 10% off if you use the special code to buy as a bundle. Check with me to find out what this is if you're unsure. I'm offering any of my customers who have already ordered this bundle through me, or those who do prior to August 19th, the opportunity to attend the class at half price, $10. Alternatively, order two Builder Punches from page 188 and the class will also be half price.

In case you've made heaps of cute kitties and foxes already, would you want to have a go at the puppy or mouse? I might even have another critter or two to share on the night. There are a couple of other 'extras' on the other two cards also. The Cupcake card has a window filled with 'sprinkles' and the Bow Builder card has a 'pleated skirt'.

If you are ordering from my Online shop, could you please add the HOSTESS CODE 9Z44PC2P You will earn a small gift in the mail from me, plus any orders reaching $90 earn a $9 voucher from Stampin' Up!® to use between 2nd-31st August. It is emailed to you, and you need to keep a record of the code, as head office will not be able to reissue it.

Gotta love a bonus, it's like another 10% discount and you just might want it next month when this sweet bundle is available. Thoughtful Branches is on offer only for the month of August, although demonstrators have been able to order it during July too. We always get to try out the products a month before our customers so we can make up wonderful samples for you. Have you seen it on PINTEREST? just search for Stampin Up Thoughtful Branches and see all the great ideas by other demos pop up. I've just begun to play with it, am loving the versatility of the set. I'll most likely share some cards using Thoughtful Branches over the next few days.

Cheers, Rachel

Flourishing Musically

Flourishing Phrases is a wonderful stamp set with sentiments for both inside and outside of many cards. They cover matching and despatching, with some congratulations and thank you thrown in for good measure.





I have a customer, a music teacher, who often orders a batch of cards from me. She likes a musical theme to them and since Stampin' Up!® don't have any particularly suitable stamps at the moment, I make do with musical DSP and something else.

Last time she loved the cards with butterflies, so I hoped these flourishes would make her happy too. They are all different, and lined inside with Very Vanilla card trimmed with the musical DSP and no sentiment attached. I did make labels using the Rose Wonder stamped frame and die, plus the smaller sentiments, and my customer can attach them as she needs them.

Don't forget, there are only a couple more days of this bonus offer from Stampin' Up!®. If you make a $90 order in July, you will receive an email with a code to use on your August order giving you $9 off between 2nd-31st August. That amounts to a 10% saving, and if you happen to order a bundle, that is another 10% saving. Maybe you are planning to purchase Thoughtful Branches bundle in August. Wouldn't it be nice to get another $9 off? If you'd like to shop in my online store, don't forget to use the Hostess code at checkout and depending on the size of your order, you'll get more free stuff.

HOSTESS CODE: 9Z44PC2P

Cheers, Rachel