Another Birthday Card
My youngest daughter celebrated her birthday on Friday. Doesn’t time fly, it seems like only yesterday I brought her home from hospital, and now she is a grown woman with three children of her own!
Of course I had to make her a card and I was inspired by this card on Pinterest by Vicki Burdick at It’s a Stamp Thing. I stamped the greeting from the Build A Birthday Photopolymer stamp set onto Whisper White card using Stazon Jet Black ink before attaching the panel to Flirty Flamingo card and then scored and folded A4 Thick Whisper White card (I am so loving this, just the perfect weight for a card base). 
I cut the large swirl from the Swirly Scribble Thinlits Dies from Pool Party card and attach it to the card front using Tombow Multipurpose Glue. I stamped the image from the Hostess Set Gift of Love Photopolymer stamp set onto Shimmery White card using Stazon Jet Black ink. I used my Aqua Painter, Flirty Flamingo ink and Old Olive ink to colour in the image. (I am so late to the party! It is so easy to water colour using the Shimmery White card. Not much bleeding and the card doesn’t get as wet as normal Whisper White card, so you don’t get that “rubbed” look. 
Anyway, just love it. You can bet I will be using this more often.) Once coloured, I cut out the flower and attached it to the card front using dimensionals. The butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set is stamped onto Whisper White card using Daffodil Delight ink and punched out using the Bitty Butterfly Punch. I attached it to the card front using a Glue Dot in the centre and a 1/4 dimensional under each wing. The Basic Pearls just finish it off. To decorate the inside of the card, I stamped the swirly image from the Swirly Birds photopolymer stamp set and added another butterfly, this time without the dimensionals and the Basic Pearls.
I absolutely adore this card and can’t thank Vicki enough for the inspiration, although I did have to add a couple of extra layers.
Hope you enjoyed this card and find some inspiration for your own card making.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Birthday Card
My grandson Ethan celebrated his 10th birthday yesterday and was not overly impressed that he had to spend the day at his sister’s netball carnival. My husband and I took Ethan and my other grandson and spent some of the day at the carnival and then we took the two boys to lunch to celebrate Ethan’s birthday and belatedly celebrate Noah’s birthday from May.
So when you have new goodies just landed on your desk you definitely need to get them out and play (work) with them. 
I just loved this stamp set when I saw the examples at our Onstage Local event earlier this year and was especially inspired by this one on Pinterest by Julie at the Way We Stamp. Anyway, to begin I embossed Whisper White card using the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder, attached it to Pacific Point card and then scored and folded Tempting Turquoise card. I stamped the image from Marquee Messages onto Whisper White card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then I stamped the same image onto Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point card. I cut out the various sections of the images and attached them to the image stamped on Whisper White card. Then cut out the whole image – yes I know truly a labour of love. 
I stamped the greetings, both from the Marquee Messages stamp set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. This is attached to the card front using dimensionals. To decorate the inside I stamped the greeting which is from the Marquee Messages stamp set using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I stamped the guitar image which is from the Skating By stamp set (retired) onto Crumb Cake card using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then used my Early Expresso Stampin’ Write Marker to add a little extra colour. Ethan loves playing his guitar and I thought he would appreciate both the greeting and the guitar.
Have you had a chance to have a good look through the new catalogue yet? There is just so much to love. I hope I have inspired you to take another look at this fun stamp set. If you haven’t got a copy then you can check out the catalogue by clicking on the photo in the right hand column and if you don’t have a demonstrator then please contact me to get your copy of this fabulous catalogue.
Bye for now,
Kris
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It’s arrived and I’m late
Guess what? The new catalogue launched on 1st June which makes me only a couple of days late letting you know! I held a very successful catalogue launch at my home last weekend with some of my lovely customers. We had an enjoyable afternoon browsing new product, learning a little bit, chatting and shopping. All in all good fun. If you were unable to come to the catalogue launch, I am still holding your copy of the new catalogue and will get them to you as soon as I can. Let me just say, although I think I say it every year, this is the best catalogue ever!
If you haven’t seen the catalogue yet and can’t wait for the hard copy, click on the photo below and you can download the PDF to browse on your computer.
Please contact me if I can be of any help in any way regarding the new catalogue.
To make things just a little more interesting, Stampin’ Up! are running a special promotion for those of you who host a workshop or place an individual order of $450.00. So you would normally receive 10% of your order to spend on free product but during June you can add an extra $50.00 to spend on free product. Woopeee! So if you would like any information regarding this then, contact me and we can discuss how you can qualify for this spending bonus.
Also for the month of June, anybody who joins Stampin’ Up! to become a Demonstrator will add an extra two stamp sets to their kit. So spend just $169.00, select $235.00 worth of Stampin’ Up! product and then select another two free stamp sets. Wow what an extra incentive to sign up, especially if you have been wanting to do this for a while. Of course you will also receive all the business supplies you need to start your business as well. Stampin’ Up! is a great company to work for, they allow you to run you business any way you wish within their guidelines. So you can do as much or as little as you desire. Of course the added benefits of making friends all over the world and attending some fantastic Stampin’ Up! events is just the icing on the cake. Want more information then please contact me so that we can discuss how you can take advantage of this great offer.
Hope you enjoy the gorgeous new catalogue and that you can take advantage of these fantastic offers.
Bye for now,
Kris
Hexagon Card
The Six Sided Sampler stamp set and Hexagon Punch are both retiring at the end of this month (actually a few days now) and I have wanted to make a version of the card on page 105 of the current Annual Catalogue since it was released. I was inspired to create my version after seeing this card on Pinterest.
I stamped the dotted image from Gorgeous Grunge (not retiring) onto Whisper White card using Sahara Sand ink. The stamped panel is attached to Crumb Cake card and then scored and folded Crumb Cake card. 
I stamped three of the images from the Six Sided Sampler stamp set onto Whisper White card using Sahara Sand ink and punched them out using the Hexagon Punch. I stamped two more of the images from the Six Sided Sampler stamp set onto Whisper White card using Real Red ink and punched them out using the same punch. The three hexagons across the centre of the card are attached using dimensionals and the other two are attached flat to the Whisper White card. 
I added strip of Dazzling Details Glimmer Paper across the raised hexagons. The butterfly from the Papillon Potpourri stamp set (not retiring) is stamped onto Whisper White card using Real Red ink and punched out using the Bitty Butterfly punch. The butterfly is attached to the card front using a Glue Dot in the centre and a 1/4 of a dimensional under each wing. Inside I kept the card simple by stamping the butterfly, masking it and stamping the dotted image over the top using the same colours as the card front.
It’s taken me a while to get around to this card but I must say that I love the card. Seems a pity that I waited so long!
Bye for now,
Kris
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Sending A Smile
I needed to make a card to send a card to cheer up a relative who is having some ongoing health issues and since I had out my pre-order, it made sense to use it!
I embossed Whisper White card using the floral folder from the Floral Affection Embossing Folder duo. This is a small folder so I embossed each end of the card separately. 
I attached the embossed card to scored and folded Crumb Cake card. I added a larger oval of Crumb Cake card, created a banner from a piece of the beautiful Affectionately Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper using the Triple Banner Punch and layered it on top. 
I cut a smaller oval from Watermelon Wonder card and embossed it using the other folder from the Floral Affection Embossing Folder duo. The embossed oval is layered over the designer series paper banner and the Crumb Cake oval using dimensionals. I used the Triple Banner Punch once more to create another banner from Whisper White card. I stamped the greeting from the Love and Affection stamp set onto the banner using Watermelon Wonder ink and attached it to the centre of the Watermelon Wonder card.
To decorate the inside of the card, I once again used the floral embossing folder from the Floral Affection Embossing Folder duo on the lower corner of Whisper White card.
This is a really a beautiful product suite and one I am going to love using over and over again.
Bye for now,
Kris
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No images of the new product suite until June.
Mother’s Day card
I didn’t see my Mum on Mother’s Day so couldn’t post this card until today. I used some of the absolutely gorgeous Love and Affection product suite being released on the 1st June. Of course one of the perks of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is getting to pre-order from the new catalogue and therefore having time to get to know the products before they are released. This product suite features a stamp set, Designer Series Paper, Washi Tape and Copper Embossing Powder. There are two sheets in the Designer Series paper which feature copper embossing – so beautiful. If you don’t have a demonstrator and live northside Brisbane, contact me and come along to my Open House on Saturday the 28th May, to see new product and receive a copy of the new catalogue.
Anyway, Mum’s card features a piece of the beautiful Affectionately Yours Specialty Designer Series paper. I attached it to a piece of Night of Navy card and wrapped it with a length of 5/8″ Whisper White Organza Ribbon before attaching to Whisper White card. I stamped the greeting from the Crazy About You stamp set using Night of Navy ink. I attached the stamped panel to scored and folded Night of Navy card. I stamped the large flower onto Watermelon Wonder card using Night of Navy ink and also onto Flirty Flamingo (a new incolour) also using Night of Navy ink. The centres of the flowers are a separate stamp and are also stamped with Night of Navy ink. 
I stamped five leaves onto Cucumber Crush card using Cucumber Crush ink and two leaves onto Mint Macaron card using Mint Macaron ink. All the flowers and leaves were cut out by hand. I attached them to the card front using dimensionals under the Flirty Flamingo flower and the Mint Macaron leaves. Each of the flowers is finished with a Basic Rhinestone in the centre. All the flower and leaf images are part of the the Love and Affection stamp set.
Inside the card I stamped another of the leaf images from the Love and Affection stamp set across the bottom of the card. I stamped the small solid flower from the same stamp set using Watermelon Wonder ink. I stamped the flower twice before re-inking. Simple but leaves plenty of room to write my message.
This card (with a different greeting) will feature in my June Card Class. Keep an eye on my Classes and Workshop page to see what’s coming up.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Unfortunately I can’t link some of the images to my online store until 1st June.
Everything Eleanor
I have updated my class schedule so that you can see what I have coming up and thought I would share this card which is part of my May Class – Saying Goodbye. All the cards we are using in this class feature something that is going to retire at the end of May. I love the Everything Eleanor stamp set but must admit that I haven’t used it much of late. It is a beautiful stamp set but doesn’t come with matching framelits, so if you want to feature the flowers in any sort of 3d way, there is nothing for it but to fussy cut, which I don’t always have time for and certainly makes the ladies in my classes moan!
Anyway this card also features some of the Designer Series Paper from the It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack which is part of the product in the Occasions Catalogue and will be retiring at the end of the month. I cut a rectangle of the Designer Series paper diagonally and attached it to Whisper White card. 
I stamped the greeting from the Sassy Salutations stamp set, also retiring (and this makes me very sad) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink into the space between the two pieces of Designer Series Paper. The panel is attached to scored and folded Melon Mambo card. I stamped the leaves from the Crazy About You stamp set (while the stamp set is not retiring it will no longer be part of the bundle featured in the catalogue) onto Whisper White card using Old Olive ink and cut them out. I attached the leaves onto the left hand side of the card just above the greeting.
I stamped the large flower from Everything Eleanor stamp set onto Whisper White card using Melon Mambo ink and cut it out. I painted the flower with Clear Wink of Stella, attached the flower over the leaf stems and added 3 Basic Pearls to the centre.
The panel of Whisper White card inside has the flower from Everything Eleanor stamped onto the bottom left hand corner using Melon Mambo ink. I masked the flower and then stamped the leaves over the top.
Now while I am very sad to see some of my favourite things being retired, I know that when I start playing (I mean working) with product from the next catalogue I won’t stay sad for long.
So if you need the Everything Eleanor stamp set or the Sassy Salutations stamp set or the It’s My Party Designer Series Paper Stack in your life, then don’t delay because they will only be available while stocks last. In fact here is a link to the Retired List in my online store so you can see what is still available.
Bye for now,
Kris
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Welcome Baby
My nephew and his wife recently celebrated the arrival of a new baby daughter, congratulations to the happy couple. This is the card I made for them. I used a card sketch I found on pinterest from the very talented Robin Messenheimer. Robin is so helpful she even provides dimensions and even though they are in inches not centimeters, I used her dimensions for the layers.
I embossed Whisper White card using the Happy Hearts Embossing folder and attached it to scored and folded Chocolate Chip card. 
I stamped the greeting from the Perfect Pairs stamp set onto a small Whisper White square using Chocolate Chip ink. The other images are from the Something for Baby stamp set and were stamped onto Whisper White card using Pink Pirouette ink and cut out using the matching Baby’s First Framelits Dies. 
Each image is then attached to a square of Whisper White card and then Chocolate Chip card before attaching to another Whisper White/Chocolate Chip panel. This panel is attached to the card front using dimensionals. I added a small basic pearl to the duck image to represent it’s eye.
Inside I inked up the pram from the Something For Baby stamp set using my Chocolate Chip and Pink Pirouette Stampin’ Write Markers. Something for Baby is such a versatile stamp set and I love that it has matching framelits.
You will be happy to know that all of the products used in this card will be carrying over into the next catalogue, except the Perfect Pairs stamp set. However, in the new catalogue the Something For Baby and Baby’s First Framelits Dies will not be a bundle. So if you want to save 15% on the purchase cost of buying the stamp set and the matching framelits, do not delay. The offer only lasts until the 31st May or until stocks run out.
I’d love to know what you think, so leave me a comment. It makes my day when someone takes the time to tell me what they think.
Kris
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Serene Sympathy
In case you missed it at the end of my last long, rambling post, the retired list is out and selling fast. All products on the retired list are while stocks last, so if you want something from the catalogue now is the time to act before the product disappears.
Anyway one of the stamp sets which is retiring and makes me a little sad is Serene Silhouettes. 
For this card, I used post-it notes to create a narrow panel on the left hand side of Whisper White card and used a sponge to add ink to create the focal piece. I started by using Pool Party at the bottom and then added Bermuda Bay and lastly Night of Navy at the top. I love the way you get a beautiful graduated panel and it really is simple to do. I then stamped the image from the Serene Silhouettes stamp set using Night of navy ink. I stamped the greeting from the Teeny Tiny sentiments stamp set onto Whisper White card using Night of Navy ink and punched one end using the Triple Banner Punch.
I added the greeting to a layer of Night of Navy card, also punched using the Triple Banner Punch and added it to the card front. I tied a length of Night of Navy 1/2″ Seam Binding (retiring) through the Very Vintage Button (retiring) and attached it to the greeting banner using Glue Dots. I love the balance of colour and white in this card, don’t you?
Inside I kept the card very simple by stamping the same image from the Serene Silhouettes stamp set onto the lower left hand corner using Night of Navy ink.
If you want this stamp set in your collection then act without delay and place your order today.
Bye for now,
Kris
EDITED TO ADD: Unfortunately this stamp set is already sold out.
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Onstage Live
This is kind of a long post, so maybe you need to grab a coffee before we start.
Last Saturday I attended Onstage Live at the Gold Coast and we were able to view the new product lines that will become available in the 2016/2017 Catalogue. Oh My Goodness, it truly is a beautiful catalogue and there is some fabulous new products coming our way. This is a perk of being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and one of the things I love about these types of events, not only do we get the catalogue but we also get to play with some new product and even bring some home!
Over the last few days I have been trying to digest all the wonderful information as well as ideas for using our new product and it made me think about what a wonderful company Stampin’ Up! is to work with. They truly work very hard to give us the tools and information to make out businesses whatever we want. If you just need the discount on your orders, then that’s fine with Stampin’ Up! but they still want you to have all the tools and information available to use however best suits you.
I have been a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator for 9 years in May and have truly loved every minute. The company has grown globally and has tried very hard to make sure that the markets outside the United States are treated equally. If you didn’t attend a Live Onstage event somewhere in the world, the information we received at the events was released to all demonstrates, wherever they live, at the same time. So this morning at 5am Australian Eastern Standard Time, the catalogue went up on the Demonstrator website. I’m sure there will be lots of demonstrators who are late for work because they can’t tear themselves away from their computers!
Anyway the point I am trying to make is that if you have a love of paper-crafting and would like to create a small business for yourself, or you just want to get a discount on your product, then this is the company for you. The company will give 200% everything you need to operate the way you want. So my business operates very differently from every other demonstrator but that’s ok, because it is my business. If you would like any further information, please contact me so that we can have a chat and talk about the benefits for your situation.
So let’s look at my business, I run a class at the retirement Village every week and the ladies make 3 cards. I run a class at 9am and another class at 11am. We have lots of fun and I have a certain amount of flexibility in that if my husband and I want to go away in our caravan, then I just let the ladies know and take off for a couple of weeks. I also run a card class once a month on a Thursday and a Saturday at my home where we create 5 cards and some sort of “extra” project, usually a box or gift packaging of some kind which carries on the theme of the class. These classes usually focus on a particular stamp set or suite of products. They are also fun and give me the flexibility to work around any other commitments that I may have. I also fit in a Friday night Memory Keeping Class, also at my home, where I provide everything to create one project, usually a 12 x 12 scrap page using Project Life products and then everyone works on their own projects and gets to use my stamps and accessories. These nights are really great fun and usually my daughter and granddaughters (and sometimes my grandson) come along and work on their albums too. Finding the time to craft together and create together is truly something I love and treasure greatly.
Ok…. so now let’s look at what I would like to add to my business schedule. Well…… I would like to run a class which is very much a quick and easy card class. It would be suitable for beginners and seasoned stampers alike. We would be making 3 cards which can be created in an hour or less and the time frame could be flexible. I am thinking that I would run it something like a Saturday afternoon from 1-4pm and you can come anytime between 1 and 3pm and still have time to create your cards and go. I am hoping this fits with peoples busy schedules and offers some flexibility to get in some creating time without eating too much into precious family time.
I suppose this is a rambling kind of post but I would love some feedback from you, my readers, especially those who live close enough to join me and do some fun creating, whether it is my 5 card class or the quick and easy cards or even the Memory Keeping Class, I just want some feedback. Are these the type of classes that you want or is there something else that you would like to be able to attend?
Now before I go I also want to let you all know that the Retiring List is now available for you to check out and see what won’t be making a re-appearance in the 2016/2017 Catalogue. Now is the time to make sure that you have purchased everything that you need before it disappears forever. You can check out the list here in my store. So please take the time to have a look and remember that everything on this list is only available While Stocks Last. So don’t delay making your purchases, because once they are gone, they’re gone.
So apologies for such a long post but please don’t forget to let me know what kind of classes you are interested in and even how often you would like to attend. AND Don’t forget to order the products you want from the retiring list.
Bye for now,
Kris
