Christmas Cardinals

Does it look like I've spent hours watercolouring these little cardinals? Well, I didn't even touch an aquapainter....they are just stamped, plain and simple. The stamp is shaded, to give a watercolour effect, so all the hard work is done for you.
I can see myself using this little guy throughout the year as well, and I'll definitely be using the branch for all sorts of things...blossoms, leaves, ornaments would all look cute on a branch.
It's a bit hard to tell in the pic, but my little bird is set behind the embossed area, not on top of it, to create a 'shadow box' effect. If you're going for this look, cut your circle framelit out first, and then emboss your cardstock. Otherwise you will squash your embossing flat!
I've used gold buttons and ribbon to embellish these cards

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Embellished Ornaments

I can't believe it's time for my last Christmas Stamp-a-Stack of the year. Usually I run another one in November, but we've got so much family stuff going on that I can't fit it in! I swear, the Silly Season starts earlier every year.
I always try and do a purple Christmas design. Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive is a great Christmas combination, if you're looking to step away from the traditional red and green.
I've used the Embellished Ornament stamp set on these cards. The ornaments are gorgeous, but my favourite part of this set is the holly sprig and the sentiments.
I love how just a dash of silver sparkle on the holly berries and ornament collars steps these cards up.

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Watercolour Words Stamp-a-Stack

The Watercolour Words stamp set is the set I most often recommend for beginner stampers. It covers all occasions, you can use it to make cards for people of any age or gender, and it is very user-friendly to stamp. The flowing script and watercolour effect look good even when not stamped perfectly straight or even... Let's face it, that suits all stampers, not just beginners!
For these cards I used 2 shades of grey (Smoky Slate and Basic Grey) and just a splash of one strong colour - Calypso Coral, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Wisteria Wonder (and a wee bit of Mint Macaron for the leaves).
I've stamped on the Project Life grid cards (at $6.25 for 50 cards, these are such a bargain).
This set of cards would be a really simple set to replicate. I think I'll be making a few extra sets to give as gifts for teachers, friends and family.

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Lighthearted Leaves Stamp-a-Stack

It's only been a few weeks, but it feels like forever since I held my last class. I had some time off due to Amy's Highschool Graduation, school holidays and then studying for and sitting for her HSC exams. She's still in the middle of it all (4 exams down, 3 to go!) but they are a little more spread out now, so I'm able to fit some classes around them! I'm so grateful at times like these that I have such a flexible job.
I have to confess that I'm a little bit in love with the Lighthearted Leaves stamp set. It wasn't on my initial wishlist (now that I've used it, I can't fathom why!). This month, I decided to challenge myself to use a colour that I haven't used for a while. I chose Tempting Turquoise. I've paired it with Soft Sky, Hello Honey, and a dash of gold. I love how fresh and summery it looks.
The Hello You thinlits are bold enough to make a statement, yet thin enough not to block too much of the design. They look pretty special in gold foil!


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Lovely as a Christmas Tree

Lovely as a Tree is our longest-running stamp set...8 years and still going strong. It's been in every Australian Annual Catalogue since 2007! I think I pull it out every Christmas (and plenty of times throughout the year too).
I've used a very earthy, natural colour scheme here - Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow and Cherry Cobbler. I've also used Whisper White ink to sponge some of the layers, and to stamp some Gorgeous Grunge 'snow'.
I love the Shadow Box look, where the image is set behind the mat, rather than on top of it.

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Layered Letters for Christmas

I always enjoy the challenge of making Christmas cards using non-Christmas stamp sets. For these cards I used an alphabet stamp set to spell out some Christmassy words. This alphabet comes with 'layers', which really anchors the letters.
I've used one of my favourite colour combinations - Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party and Lost Lagoon.
A touch of silver ribbon and some star dangles add a bit of bling. To make the star dangles, just use a glue dot to adhere a Silver Glimmer star to the end of a piece of white Baker's Twine. Press another star onto the back to make it double-sided. Do the same on the other end. I attach my 'dangles' by laying them across the Silver ribbon as I am tying the knot. I think they look really cute, are very cost-effective and they don't add a lot of weight or bulk for mailing either.

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Extra Stampin' Rewards Promotion and a Hostess Club

We have a great special this month that my Workshop Hostesses are very excited about - an extra 3% Stampin' Rewards. That 3% really adds up as your total gets higher!

I'm mostly doing Christmas Card and Gift workshops in the next month or two. It's a great way to get some Christmas cards or Teacher Gifts made. Christmas Tag workshops are also really popular. For a small fee you and your guests can make a bunch of tags to make your gifts really pretty this year.

If you don't have time to book a workshop, you can still take advantage of this Special. Just join my October Hostess Club. It's only a one-month commitment, and you can spend as little as $100 to join in (I will need 5 people in order for the club to go ahead). With your $100 order, you will qualify for 15% in freebies ($15). If you order more, you get more (eg spend $150 you get $22.50, spend $200 you get $30, etc)

Here's How: All you have to do is email me your order of $100 or more* by Friday 23rd October with "Hostess Club" in the subject line. Once I get 5 orders, I will combine them and all 5 of you share in the Hostess goodies! This means that for whatever amount over $100* you spend, you get to choose 15% in freebies! (from the regular section or Hostess section of any catalogue).
The orders will be sent to me (the usual shipping and handling charge of 5% applies), and I can either deliver it to you if you live nearby or mail it if you are further away (I will cover the cost of mailing it to you).
Email me now to join in the fun! PLEASE NOTE: In order to be eligible for the 15% in freebies, orders must be emailed, they cannot be placed in the online store.
* before 5% shipping and handling fee

So, to summarise, here's what to do:
1. In an email with the subject line "Hostess Club"...
2. Choose $100 (or more) worth of products from any current Catalogue
3. Choose an extra 15% in FREE products (from the regular section or Hostess section of any catalogue)
4. You will only pay for the $100+ order plus 5% shipping and handling
5. Let me know your payment method (bank transfer, cash or credit card) and whether you will be picking up the order from me or if you will need it posted.
I will contact you on Friday 23rd October (or sooner if the spots fill up more quickly) and confirm that the Share is going ahead.

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Sleigh Ride Stamp-a-Stack

So this is the colour combination I ended up using for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack Class - Night of Navy, Island Indigo and Whisper White. We made 5 cards, and made use of the negative and positive cut-outs of the Sleigh Ride Edgelits, so there was no wastage! The Fine Tip Glue is awesome for sticking down the intricate parts of the dies....and for adding some sparkle.


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Non-traditional Christmas Colours

I like trying some different colour combinations for Christmas, but I'm really not sure about this one... Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Tip Top Taupe and Whisper White. I cut out all the pieces using the Sleigh Ride Edgelits and then when I put them together, I just went 'blah'. Do you ever do that?
But the hard work was done, and so I completed the card...and then went on to make another one in a colour combination that I preferred!
I'll show you that one next time...


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Starry Night Sky

The inspiration for this card came from a card in the Holiday Catalogue on page 12. Rather than painting a watercolour wash, I've used the Watercolour Wash background stamp. I inked up my stamp in Pool Party, Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy. I then lightly spritzed the stamp before stamping on Whisper White cardstock. The Sleigh Ride Edgelits make the perfect little village for my starry sky. The 'stars' are made using the Fine Tip Glue Pen and some silver glitter.

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Delicate Ornaments

As you can probably tell from the cards I post on here, soft blue, white and silver is one of my favourite Christmas colour combinations. Here the blue I've used is Pool Party.
I made this card for a swap I participated in. Swapping is a great way to get lots of inspiration from other talented stampers, and this swap was certainly no exception. The cards I received were mush admired at my Launch Party!
I've added some bling with rhinestones, and some sparkle with the silver glimmer paper and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. The best way to add sparkly glittery details is using the new Fine Tip Glue Pen. It allows you to put the glitter exactly where you want it.
I love the Boughs and Berries Embossing Folder. It frames my ornaments beautifully.

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A Christmas Window

This is the second make-and-take that the ladies made at my Launch Party on the weekend.
I've created a Christmassy scene using the Hearth and Home framelits. I've used the Merry Moments DSP Stack (this 6"x6" stack has just 2 different sheets in it, so it is perfect for mass-production!) to make a 'wallpaper' look background - complete with 'dado' rail!
To create my scene outside the window, I've sponged a Night of Navy sky (first masking a moon) and I also sponged Mossy Meadow hills. I didn't want a snowy scene, since that's not Christmas here in Australia, so I also sponged the snowy areas on the trees.
I'm looking forward o making lots of other 'through the window' scenes with these framelits!



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Dove of Peace

My Holiday Catalogue Open House yesterday was such a fun afternoon. Even though they are a lot of work, I really love hosting these events. I always provide a couple of make-and-takes for everyone to participate in. There's nothing like playing with some new products and getting your fingers inky.
This is one of the cards everyone made....very simple, and very 'me' in my trademark blue!
I customised my Dove stamp, by separating it from the verse that it comes with. I've mounted the verse on a spare wood block that I had on hand.
The gorgeous Dove has been stamped in Lost Lagoon and some areas coloured with a Pool Party marker. I've also 'coloured' some areas using the Fine Tip Glue Pen (I think almost everyone who came along yesterday ordered one of these babies!) and then sprinkled in Dazzling Diamonds glitter. It's hard to see in the photo, but it's gorgeous and sparkly in real life!
The new Curvy Corner Trio Punch and Silver Trim adds just the right decorative touch.


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Zoo Babies Stamp-a-Stack

Last month I asked some of my class ladies if they had a Stamp-a-Stack request. A couple of them asked for baby/little kids cards. So, I dusted off my Zoo Babies stamp set, pulled out some soft colours and this is what I came up with.
The little animals are just so cute. I arranged some in a conversational cluster and others in a precariously-balanced tower.
The colours I've used are Blushing Bride, Soft Sky, Mint Macaron, Wisteria Wonder and So Saffron.


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Endless Birthday Stamp-a-Stack

I've borrowed the layout for this set of cards from a cute card I saw by Dawn Olchefske. I've changed the colour scheme and used Bohemian Designer Series Paper.
The Endless Birthday Wishes set is a great mix-and-match set. You can rearrange the greetings to say any birthday message you like!

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