This month we have a swap for a Technique Book which I’m a part of.  All the participants had to choose a technique different to the other participants and make up an instruction and sample page for each participant. So I had to make 12 instructions & samples for this swap and the technique I chose was Collage Stamping.

I love doing Collage Stamping as you can make it your own and create lovely effects and it gives the look of your very own designer series paper.  Now while I was making my samples the other day one of my daughter’s friends was staying over and she asked why I was putting butterflies on the patterned paper – I then explained what I was doing and that I’d stamped all the images on the cardstock myself.  She then exclaimed “Wow how cool!!”  Now this does boost one’s self esteem to no end!

Here is the sample I made for the swap ….

After deliberating for what seemed like days on what set and style to make I decided on this gorgeous “All a Flutter” stamp as the main focus and then popped in some flower stems, leaves and script.

I really do love the final sample and I do love that butterfly!

I’ve coloured my piece using the Stampin Pastels. I love the soft muted tones you can get with the Pastels and they also blend so well!  Now to ensure that the Pastels dont keep rubbing off I’ve given them a light spray with my hairspray.  This just helps to set and protect your artwork from rubbing off.  You dont need an expensive fixative – just the  cheapest hairspray does the trick.

Now as part of the swap we also had to make one card or project using our technique so I thought I’d use my sample and do one of the challenges from the Cards and Things Challenges Blog run by the lovely Krista Driessen.

Here’s my card …

I love how this turned out and I’ve added another butterfly over the top of one to give it more dimension and make it that extra little bit special.

Recipe:
Stamps: All a Flutter, Organic Grace, En Francais
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Blush Blossom
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Mellow Moss, Versamark
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle Die, Circle Scissor Plus, Stampin’ Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Crimper

Here’s a close up of the layered butterfly …

Starting September I will be starting new Technique Classes so if you’d like to book your spot please email me today.

The previous sets I’ve made were the one’s done for our Sale A Bration Spectacular and ESAD Blog Hop with the Rose is a Rose stamp set which can be found here.  I also made some very quick and easy notecards using the Thoughts and Prayers set which you can see here.

Now just recently I participated in the ESAD Secret Stampin Sister Swap and I thought about what to make and one of my sister’s friends said she loves the Pocket Silhouettes and didnt have that set. So in the last month in the Swap you send 2 cards, a handmade gift and a gift to the value of $30 so I ordered the Pocket Silhouettes set for her.  Then I wanted to make something using Pocket Silhouettes (my set not her new one!) so then my mind drifted off to the Notecards and I thought why not. I also thought I’d give some of our retiring subtle colours a bit of a last ‘hurrah’ so to speak.

This is the box I designed to pop the notecards into.  Its funny where you get inspiration from as the inspiration for this box came from and skin care sampler kit. One of those lightbulb moments! The paper I’ve used on the box is from Bella Rose Designer Series Paper pack.

These are the cards and envelopes that I made to put in the box … there were 6 in total with envelopes.

I love the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set as it has 4 different flower/leaf stamps plus two greetings and all for just $33.95 so it makes a very cost effect purchase and you can use this set for masculine, arty or feminine cards.  As my good friend Libby says … Your creativeness is only limited by your imagination.

Special Offer #1

Now as a special offer to all my lovely friends who read my blog if you purchase the Pocket Silhouettes and the Notecards from me before 31st July I will also give you the template for this gift box.

Special Offer #2

Now if you’re thinking that you spend too much money on stamps and accessories then have you considered joining the Stampin’ Up! family?  Why would you want to do that? Well as a Stampin Up! Demonstrator you get a 20% discount on everything you order.

Wait!! Thats not all! (sorry couldnt resist!)

If you place your first order withing 45 days from the date you joined then you get a bonus 10% discount – so place your first order within 45 days and you get 30% off that first order! Sweet hey?

Wait!  Thats not all!!

If you join now you will receive the new 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogue for free and one month before it is officially released.  You would also then be able to order a month before it is released from the pre-order selection.

Wait … thats not all!

Until 31st July you only pay $259 for your Stampin’ Up! kit – thats 20% off or a saving of $65!!  The kit is regularly $324 so look at all the money you’ll be saving – see and this means you can get more from the new Idea Book & Catalogue!  The kit includes stamps, inks, cardstock, accessories and business tools all valued at over $560 – so its a win/win deal for you!

Also, if you sign up with me before 31st July not only do you get all these goodies and a hugely discounted price but you can also select either a Stamp-a-majig or the gorgeous Pocket Silhouettes stamp set as a free bonus from me – so now you will just under $600 worth of products for just $259!

Email or Ring me today to ask any questions you might have or to arrange your free no obligation information pack.

You can even sign up online via my Demonstrator Website so there’s no pesky paperwork to fill out and post off – wow I’ve just saved you another 60 cents!

Now that this round is over I can share with you the gifts I sent and here is the first lot I sent …

I went with a Raspberry Tart theme for the first month.  At the back is a small diary that cover 16 months that I pick up from The Warehouse each year – they are just $1 and I just pop in some Designer Series Paper so make it their own.

Next we have the organiser.

It is simply an Easel Card with a drawer put on the bottom – very easy to do.

I’ve popped a small calendar on the top of the drawer and then in the drawer I have note paper and a small mechanical pencil.

Then the card I sent …

Again using the Raspberry Tart papers and matching the trees to the pinks and reds of the paper. I quite like the pink trees and I know I have some friends who will just love them too!

Now see the little bird on the card?  I have a RAK for the first person to tell me what set the bird came from – so go grab your catalogues and start searching!

Now dont forget …..

• Deals of the Week finishes tonight so you’ll need to ring me if you want anything
• Special Starter Kit price of $259 is good until 31st July,2010 – you can even sign up online you just need a credit card and an Australian Business Number.

Feel free to ring or email me if you have any questions regarding either of these specials or would just like to sign up for my newsletter.

Today its time for another Utah Divas International Sketch from the lovely Carol.

I struggled with that diagonal panel so I decided to leave it out but I did put the circles on a diagonal.

I’ve used the lovely Spring Song stamp set which I received as a gift from the very lovely Andrea Buckland.

Andrea is a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator in Western Australia and was my Secret Sister in the last round of the ESAD Secret Sister Swap.  She is the lovely lady who has spoilt me over the past three months.

I hope you like this card as much as I did making it. I love that little sparrow!

Recipe
Stamps: Spring Song, Teeny Tiny Sentiments
Paper: Always Artichoke, Autumn Days DSP, Soft Suede, Whisper White
Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Regal Rose, Old Olive.
Accessories: Circle Scissor Plus, 1 1/4″ circle punch, 1 3/8″ circle punch, 1 3/4″ circle punch, Dimensionals, Stamping Sponges, Aqua Painter.

This is such a lovely stamp set and using the softer colours makes it so soft and ‘springy’.  Thank you Andrea for this lovely stamp set.I thought that with the ‘green’ of the card you could still give this to a man and since Father’s Day is coming soon I thought I’d pop a Happy Father’s Day stamp from Teeny Tiny Sentiments on.

I have a demonstration tonight so I best make sure I have everything packed for that!

Now its time to skip over to the next blog of the Utah Divas International Sketch Team being the lovely Maxine Conrad. So leave a comment then pop over to Max’s blog to see what she’s created for this sketch.

This is this weeks sketch …

Now I thought to myself that I hadnt really changed anything on Carol’s lovely sketches for a while so it was time to alter it in some way so I rotated it.  Sorry Carol couldnt help myself once I realised!!

I have to say I loved making this card!  As soon as I saw my lovely friend Lisa making her Convention swap card I knew I had to make one with a grassy theme.  I knew what I wanted to do once I saw the sketch and rotated it – I just had to find a saying to go with it. So after searching the Idea Book & Catalogue I found one that I think fits.

Here is my card ….

I’ve used the wonderful Autumn Days stamp set. Now when I first saw this set I thought  “oooooo I like that” but then thinking about it wondered if I’d use it much but I’m happy to say that yes I do use it a bit. Its an awesome set for those man type cards and also ones for doing landscape stamping too. The Pheasant that comes with it is rather nice too!

The sentiment I used is from the Dreams du Jour stamp set – another I wondered if I’d use much which I have!

The patterned paper comes from the Autumn Traditions Designer Series Paper pack.

This is a very simple card to make and I’d really love to show you just how easy it is so ring me or email me to book your demonstration in! June and July are already filling up so you’ll need to be quick! Or why not sign up and become part of my Stamp A Latte Team and I’ll help you with your launch demonstration and you get to keep the sales and the bookings!

Now its time to skip along to the very lovely Max’s blog to see what she’s made. You can also check out all those on the Sketch Design Team over at the Utah Divas International Blog.

Here are the cards I made for my Convention Swaps …

This is one of my favourite cards and its been a hit with my customers too!

I actually made this card for my ESAD-SU Secret Sister back in March so havent been able to show it until now and the tulips are made using the very lovely Extra Large 2-step Bird punch available in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue.

Recipe
Stamps: Cottage Garden
Paper: Cottage Wall DSP, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Old Olive, Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Perfect Plum, Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Apricot Appeal
Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note die, Little Leaves sizzlits die, Polka Dot Impressions folder, Scalloped Oval Punch, Extra Large 2-step bird punch

This is my second card and its done using Pocket Silhouettes stamp set. This has to be one of the best value stamp sets and can literally be used for anything!

Recipe
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Paper: Not Quite Navy, More Mustard, Whisper White
Inks: Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, Not Quite Navy, Old Olive
Accessories: Stampin Write Markers, Always Artichoke Grosgrain Ribbon

I’ve used the masking & sponging techniques on this card. I cut a rectangle out of a scrap piece of paper to create the ‘window’ then sponged it in Sahara Sand. I then stamped the leafy image in the same Sahara sand ink. It gives a dimensional look dont you think?

Here is my last swap card ….

Dont you just love the Tote-ally Tess set ??  For this card I’ve renamed it Totally Onie as it has all of my favourites on this card – Rich Razzleberry cardstock & ribbon, Cottage Wall DSP, Stamps and of course – coffee!

Recipe
Stamps: Tote-ally Onie Tess , Sip by Sip
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Cottage Wall DSP, Whisper White
Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Jet Black Stazon, Orchid Opulence, Chocolate chip reinker, Going Gray
Accessories: Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, Aqua Painter, Stamp-a-majig, Stampin Dimensionals

I’ve used the Paper Piecing technique for the Tote and used my Ink pads to watercolour with the aqua painter. I must say Tess was rather popular with the swappers.

Now here is a picture of all the swaps I received …

Now I did come home with some swaps of mine so if you would like one of my swaps then send me an email with your address and I’ll pop one in the post to you.

firstly my apologies for being so quiet on my blog this week. With the onset of the colder weather my fibromyalgia pain has flaired up again. I did try shopping at the Body Shop but apparently they dont sell bodies – go figure!  I’ve also been busy getting ready for convention next week (not sure where all the time has gone!) and finishing swaps and such.

Today I was surprised with a lovely card in the mail from my Secret Sister.

How nice is this card??

I just love this Large 2 Step Bird punch if you hadnt already noticed!

I love how my Secret Sister has layered the birds with the different colours and the shading on their stomachs – just divine. The branches are great too!

This punch is just so versatile every house should have one! I’ve seen used to make birds (duh), tulips, roses and the claw or lobster plant.

If you dont have one of these punches and would like to order one please email or ring me. Dont forget I’m offering free shipping on all orders $75 and over until 31st May, 2010.

I’ll be back tomorrow with the Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge.

Well this is what I saw when I opened my Secret Sister Package for March.

How nice hey?? It even had a couple of butterflies in there for the girls and a note in the card to tell me to share the chocolates! Well I shared the eggs with the girls and hubby and I both had a picnic

You might see in the pack there was a little package with ribbons and daubers in it – in my Secret Sister’s note she also said that one can never have too many ribbons and extra daubers never go astray! Well this is so true – as crafters we all know that one can never have too many ribbons and if youre a sponger/shader like me those daubers get a good workout and I really do need to get some more!

Inside the box I also received a little pillow box with a gorgeous distressed flower on top.  How sweet is that little pillow box? and so simply decorated. It also had 3 little eggs inside. After seeing this I just had to order me the pillow box die!

Also inside the box was a little gift box with flowers and tags.

How sweet is this??

I love the little tags and I just love the flowers and the colours – I just love everything thing about this little gift and stamp sets. How did she know I love purple I wonder??

Now finally … the  card

How lovely is this card?? I love this set and the wheel and the colours and everything about this card. I am thinking that I might know my Secret Sister well as she seems to know everything I like!

I must say though that when I first saw the Very Vintage Stampin’ round I didnt realise it had a butterfly on it until I had actually stamped with it!

The stamp sets used in these items are Cottage Garden, Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage Stampin’ Round and Heard from the Heart.

Did you know that the Cottage Garden set is only available in Australia & New Zealand?? thats right its not in any of the catalogues in USA or Canada. How special is that???

Thank you so much to my Secret Sister – hopefully she reads my blog – I feel very blessed to have you as my Secret Sister!

Today I am sharing with you the second March card I received from my ESAD Secret Sister. Every three months on ESAD we run a Secret Stampin Sister program which you send cards and little handmade gifts to each month and then a larger gift in the last month. Its a lovely way to spoil others and you dont know who you are receiving from – only who you send to. Then there is a big reveal at the end of the three months.

How nice is this card??

I love the delicacy and elegance of it!

The set used is Eastern Influences from the Idea Book & Catalogue. They have also done the ‘Faux Silk’ technique. The combination of this technique and the images and colours used makes it so feminine and elegant.

Such a pretty card and I thank my Secret Sister for this – I love love love it.

I thought I’d also take this opportunity to tell you about a new page I’ve added to my blog. If you look at the page menu across the bottom of my banner you will see a new tab – “Kits for Sale“.  This is where I will list any kits I’ve made up and havent used so this gives you the opportunity to get one or two of my kits if you arent local to me to attend my classes.

The kits will come with all the cardstock, papers, ribbons and embellishments you will need to complete the project – you will also receive my instruction sheet. So make sure you check there from time to time to make sure you dont miss out on anything!

I do hope you have a Happy and Safe Easter Holiday and manage to take some quiet time where you can remember and be thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made for us by dying on the cross. Sometimes we get so caught up in the commercialisation of our celebrations we forget what we are really celebrating.

God Bless you this Easter and always!

As part of this group we also have a Secret Stampin Sister program where we are given a partner and we spoil them with cards and hand made gifts for 3 months.  The recipient doesnt know who she is to receive from so its all a little bit exciting to get those little secret treasures in our mailbox.

I received my first card for this round last week and today I’m sharing it with you.

How nice is this card??

I’m not really one for ‘red’ but I just love everything about this card!  I love this little blossom flower from Embrace Life and that ‘for you’ sentiment is also one of my favourites!

The base card is Naturals Ivory which they’ve then stamped the blossom image in Close to Cocoa and coloured the blossoms in what I think is Regal Rose and Ruby Red – wonder how close I am in guessing the colours??

The edging is from the set All Scallops which was in the Summer Mini December 2008. She’s then used the Scallop Border punch to do the edging. She’s also stamped this same stamp onto Ruby Red cardstock in Whisper White Craft Ink. She has used three red brads in the spine of the card to give it that extra ‘wow’ factor.

Thank you so much to my secret sister for this gorgeous card and hopefully you read my blog so you know how much I love this card! It has that old ‘aged’ feel to it and I love it.

I will share future cards and goodies I’m sent and we wont know who my secret sister was until the reveal at the end of May.

A special thanks goes to Lynda for picking up my typo which I’ve now fixed up – a little pressie will be in the mail to you