The Big 200!

I told you a big number was coming up....well, it's 200! 200 subscribers to my blog, that is! I remember when I first started this blog, and I was talking to myself for quite some time. It's hard to believe that 200 people receive an email update when I post to my blog. I still sometimes feel like I am talking to myself, because not too many of you leave comments (thank you so much to those who do. I read every one of them, and I love hearing what you have to say. it always brightens my day).

I know one thing that gets the comments up....Blog Candy! I'm not going to make it too easy on you though! There's 2 parts to this one. Normally at the end of each post I write a full list of materials that I used to make the card. This time YOU have to write the list :o)
Leave a comment telling me everything I used to make this card:


Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: ??
ink: ??
card: ??
other: ??
You tell me!

This was the first card that I made with Upsy Daisy, and I dislike it so much that it has taken me this long to show it to you! That brings me to the second part of the Blog Candy. It's a Fixer-Upper....any ideas on how I can improve this card? Tell me your improvements and I'll take them on board and make the new improved version.
I will draw a winner from the correct entries, and they will receive the new, improved card, plus the "Fun Flowers" stamp (page 3 of the Spring Mini).
This is open to anyone in Australia, Demos included.
Good luck!

Not inspired...

This is one of those cards that didn't come out at all as I saw it in my head, so I don't like it. Maybe I would like it, if my head version wasn't so much better!

It's very sparkly in real life. I inked up the stamp with markers (after first inking the flowers with my Baja Breeze inkpad) and then used 2-way glue and fine supernova glitter. The colours of this glitter are just gorgeous!
I made the little tag using the scallop square punch, and chopping off most of the scallops!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Inspired by Nature, Friends 24-7
ink: Baja breeze, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa
card: Baja Beeze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper white
other: Scallop Square Punch, Fine Supernova Glitter, sponge dauber, Wide Chocolate Chip Stitched ribbon, 2-way Glue pen, Linen Thread, Vintage brad

A few reminders

Thanks to everyone who came along to our Craft Sale. It was a fantastic day, and very successful for everyone. It was great to come home with a much lighter load, and we'll definitely be doing it again!

Thanks also to those of you who ordered a DSP Sampler book. The places are all filled now, and most have been mailed out. I still have a couple of places left in my Ribbon Share though, so email me if you'd like to join in that!

Don't forget my Catalogue Challenge. You have until the end of May to join in. That gives you all week. There are some great entries already!

You also have one more week to take advantage of Stampin' Up!s May Specials. When you buy 3 packs of paper, you can get a 4th pack FREE, and you can join Stampin' Up! for only $150!

Here's a quick card I made using the Inspired by Nature set. It's a great one to pull out when you need to make a quick card, because it takes up almost the entire card, leaving you with little else to do. I coloured the stamp with markers, and then gave it a spritz with water before stamping on Whisper White cardstock. I made a couple of these for some special people.
Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Inspired by Nature, Best Yet
ink: Regal Rose
card: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White
other: Regal Rose marker, Certainly Celery marker, Apricot Appeal marker, Old Olive marker, Pretty in Pink marker, Scallop border punch, Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain ribbon

fun with techniques

Next we have a couple of technique cards. These are both using 'Upsy Daisy' which is a great set for different techniques. I've seen some gorgeous brayered backgrounds done with this set...

During my Presentation, I showed these 2 cards looking nice but ordinary, and then showed a 'Stepped Up' version, where I've added accessories like brads, buttons and ribbon. Here are my 2 Stepped Up ones (you'll just have to imagine them dressed down!):

To give this 3D effect, I've first stamped in Whisper White Craft ink, and then once it has dried, I've stamped over the top in Not Quite Navy. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to position it just slightly to the right. The sentiment is from 'Best Yet' Hostess set, which is my favourite Level 1 Hostess Set. I've added some of the gorgeous Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon to step it up a notch, and then a 'bouquet' button.

TIP: I love adding co-ordinating thread to my button, but since I don't own thread in all 48+ Stampin' Up! colours (actually I don't own any!) instead I use a tiny thin strip of cardstock (in this case Not Quite Navy) and thread it through the holes of my button.

To get this effect, I've inked up the whole stamp in So Saffron, then (don't stamp it yet!) I've used a More Mustard inkpad to ink up just the lower 2/3 of my stamp and then (you still can't stamp it!) I've used Tangerine Tango to ink up the lower 1/3 of the stamp. Now (hope you haven't stamped it yet!) use a sponge dauber to blend the areas where the colours meet, to soften them. NOW you can stamp it (make sure you go 'ooooooohhhhhh!' afterwards!).

I blinged this one up, using a line of Sticky Strip with glitter applied to it, and a Rhinestone brad.

Isn't it amazing how different a stamp set can look when you use different techniques and colours on it?

Materials for card 1 (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet
ink: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy
card: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White
other: Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Bouquet button, Kiwi Kiss satin Ribbon

Materials for card 2 (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Upsy Daisy, Best Yet
ink: So Saffron, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango
card: So Saffron, More Mustard, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla
other: Haiku DSP, Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Curly Label Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, sponge daubers, sticky strip, Fine Supernova glitter, Rhinestone square Fire brad

Upsy Daisy

I have so much to show you using sets from the new catalogue that I hardly know where to start! I made lots of samples for my Launch Party last Sunday, and hopefully I'll have lots of time to play over Easter, so there will be even more to show you.

I thought I'd start with a simple one, using the set "Upsy daisy" which is one of my favourites already.

Here I stamped the daisies in Kiwi Kiss and then I stamped a shadow image in Sahara Sand. Sahara Sand has been dusted off now that River Rock is gone! "Upsy Daisy" comes with 3 greetings: You're on my Mind, Birthday Celebrations and Thankyou for your Friendship. They all would work equally well on this card. The scallop edge has been punched on a strip of Kraft cardstock, and the ribbon is Kraft taffeta. The Double-sided paper is from "Good Morning Sunshine", which has some bright Retro patterns, but also some more subtle ones too!

This card is a CASE of the layout on page 8 of the US Catalogue.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Upsy Daisy
ink: Sahara Sand, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip
card: Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Chocolate Chip
other: Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Scallop Edge punch, Dimensionals