Only 2 Days Left to Sale-a-Brate!

This would have to be one of my favourite layouts to use on a card....and it works for almost any stamp set. Pop your image inside a large circle, and pop your sentiment on a banner (I use the hexagon punch to make the 'v' for my banner). Choose a co-ordinating piece of Designer Series Paper, and a piece of ribbon, and you are done. Easy Peasy!

This pretty lemon is from one of the Sale-a-Bration stamp sets, so it is available until the 31st March and then gone forever....that's TOMORROW!

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Tag Topper Bunny Box

Last year the very talented Michelle Last made some very cute Easter Bunny Boxes and I filed them away for future use. Here's my version:

Lots of punches used here! I think most of it is pretty self-explanatory, but here are a few little tips:
* To make the inner part of the ear, punch the ovals, and then re-insert and punch the sides to make a narrower oval.
* The Modern Label Punch makes perfect arms
* Use half an Extra-Large Oval for the basket, and snip to make a flat base

I've used the Sale-a-Bration Best Year Ever Paper and ribbons....there are only a couple of days left to get your hands on these!


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Cheerful Critter Easter Bunny

I think I've said it before, but I love the Cheerful Critters stamp set. It's not an Easter-themed set, but it does have a bunny and a chick in it, so it works well! Here's the bunny, holding up his Easter sign (made using the Crazy About You stamp set).
To make the Easter Egg Holder 'throne', just score a 21 x 6cm piece of cardstock at 1, 6, 7.5 and 12.5cm. To assemble, just fold along the score lines and then adhere the 1cm panel to the back. Before you do this, you will need to punch a hole for your egg to sit in. I used the 1-1/4" Circle for mine, but you can adjust that, depending on the size egg you use.
Maybe I'd better make a couple of these for the nieces and nephew too!


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Curvy Easter Bunny

One of my favourite dies would have to be the Curvy Keepsake Box. You can make so many cute things with it. Here's a little Easter Bunny that I came up with, using some punches:

It's perfect to fill with a few Easter treats. To make this little guy, you just need to use the Owl Punch for the eyes and nose, and a circle punch for the cheeks (with Smoky Slate marker freckles). The ears are made using the Oval Punch. To make the inner ears, punch 2 ovals from Blushing Bride cardstock and then re-insert them into the punch and punch again, taking a sliver off the sides to make them narrower. I think I'll be whipping up a few of these for my nieces and nephew!


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Watercolour Technique Videos

Stampin' Up! have just added some quick watercolouring technique videos to their Youtube channel. Each one is only 1-2 minutes long, and there's no dialogue, so you can either bop along to the music (or watch out in public with the sound switched off!). Check them out:

I think the only thing more relaxing than colouring is watching someone else colour!
And don't forget .....  Sale-a-Bration finishes in just over a week!

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Nana's 90th Birthday

A very special lady in my life turned 90 a couple of weeks ago...my lovely Nana. This card was definitely a labour of love, and she's worth every minute! I made all the flowers using Natural Filter Paper, which I spritzed in some soft pretty colours, and then cut out using the Spiral flower die and flower punches. I made the leaves using the Bird Builder Punch.
Here's a close-up:

The background is Sahara Sand, which I have also sponged to give it a vintage feel. It's definitely not a card to send through the mail.... I was able to give it to her at the family celebratory lunch we had for her.

And here's my beautiful Nana, not looking a day over 80!

Nana hit a hurdle after her big day, and is still in hospital with a liver blockage. We're hoping she'll be able to go back home soon.


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More bang for your Buck!

Now there's even more to choose from during the last 2 weeks of Sale-a-Bration. We are truly spoilt for choice!

Just to make it clear, spend $90 (from any Catalogue) and you can choose any of the above items, OR any of the items in the Sale-a-Bration brochure OR any of the 4 items in the Second Release Flyer. Decisions, Decisions!
Don't forget - Sale-a-Bration ends 31st March.

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Sidestep Birthday Cake

This is the other Fun Fold we are making in this week's classes...a Sidestep card with a tiered cake, complete with candles. And check out the awesome Chalkboard effect that you get with the new Chalkboard Paper and Chalk inks...love it!



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Centre Step Fold

Happy Monday!
This week in my Technique Classes we are doing some fun folds, as well as playing with the new Chalk Inks and Chalkboard Paper. This is a Centre Step Fold. It's one of those techniques that looks tricky and quite impressive, but is actually quite simple when you know how.
I won't say any more, so as not to ruin the surprise for my ladies this week!


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Big Day Stamp-a-Stack

Here's the other set of cards we are making in this week's classes...something a bit more masculine, perfect for any of the men in your life, even those tricky-to-design-for teenagers!
The Big Day Sale-a-Bration set is getting plenty of use in my house...it's such an easy one to design with.
I've used another Sale-a-Bration set -  Best Day Ever for the background stamping, and the Party Pennants Die to cut the shapes.
I often like to use a neutral background, and just some 'pops' of bright colours. Using all brights can be a bit overwhelming. The colours I've used here are Smoky Slate, Night of Navy, Tangelo Twist and Bermuda Bay.


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Crazy About You Stamp-a-Stack

Here are some of the cards we are making in this week's class:

I'm loving all the products I've used on these cards. I've paired the Best Year Ever Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Paper with some of my favourite goodies from the Occasions Catalogue. The Hello You thinlits and co-ordinating stamp set do most of the work, along with the Ornate Tag Topper Punch.

To make the pocket that the tags slide into, take a 6" x 3" piece of DSP and cut it at an angle across the middle. This makes 2 pockets, in the perfect size to fit your tags.


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Easy as 1, 2. 3

Here's a quick and easy card, inspired by page 18 of the Occasions Catalogue. The background piece is the Painted Blooms DSP, so it really is a card you can whip up in just a few minutes, with only a few supplies - 1 stamp set, a pack of markers and some washi tape.
I love having a design like this up my sleeve, for those last-minute occasions that crop up.
Happy weekend!


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Amy's Pick

The Cheerful Critters stamp set was Amy's pick from the Occasions Catalogue. I have to admit that I wasn't that sold on it, but at $25.95 for the set of 8 stamps, I couldn't really argue too hard! And whaddaya know...I love it! It's come in handy too - I've made some Easter treats with the bunny and this chickie (the words from the Crazy About You stamp set can spell out 'Happy Easter', and they fit perfectly inside the little sign).
I'm normally a straight-and-square cardmaker, but I've been enjoying some jaunty angles lately. It's good to step out of your comfort zone every so often.
I've just used a small piece of ribbon and an epoxy sticker for embellishment on this card. It always amazes me how something so small can make such a difference to the overall design.


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Inspired by...

I'm CaSE-ing one of the best today. Mary Fish makes gorgeously stylish cards and I just loved this design of hers.
I've used softer colours on mine - Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, and Sahara Sand - but apart from that, I've used the same design, and most of the same stamps (when something's alreadybgreat, why change it, right?).
Thanks for the inspiration Mary!


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Are you missing out?

Would you like a little dose of crafting inspiration delivered right to your InBox every day for a whole month? And would you like to help a little girl and her family at the same time? (hint: the correct answer to both questions is YES!)

I'm very proud to be part of this lovely and talented group of stampers. I've contributed a fun Easter project, and I hope it's up to scratch! Click HERE to join the fun.


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4 New Sale-a-Bration Items!

Exciting news today! Stampin' Up! has given us 4 NEW Sale-a-Bration items to earn for free during March. It's the same great deal - spend $90, choose an item for free.  The only problem is, which one to choose??
Don't wait too long... Sale-a-Bration ends on March 31st.

Also, a heads-up for you - Blendabilities are not available to order at the moment, until further notice while Stampin' Up! work on manufacturing issues with their supplier. I'll let you know when they are available to order again.


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