Bows for Boys

Who says Bows are just for girls? The Bow Builder Punch makes a great bow tie for a masculine card. I've made a tuxedo for my card. This would make a great card for an 18th or 21st, or for a James Bond fan!
The centre panel has been made using the Banners Framelits, and the buttons are Rhinestones.
Very simple, but stylish! (Well, I think so!)


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Bows for Baby

This week I thought I would show you some cards I have made using the Bow Builder Punch. It's such a cute little punch, and makes perfect paper bows, every time.
I've used 3 bows on this card to make a quick and cute baby card. It's a great way to make use of scrap Designer Series Paper.

TIP: Glue Dots work well to put these bows together, but I've got an even easier method - brads. Just pierce a small hole through the centre of the bow, and thread the pieces onto a brad! I've added a little flower to the centre too.


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Hawaii Grand Vacation Blog Hop

Welcome to our Grand Vacation Achievers Blog Hop. If you have arrived here from Dawn Griffith's blog and are visiting me for the first time, Welcome! ...and I hope it won't be your last visit.

This tour has a Hawaiian theme, and will take you to blogs from around the world, so grab a cuppa (or maybe a Pina Colada!) and get ready to get Hawaiian with us!

Without further ado, here's my 'aloha' card:

At first the lack of Hawaiian-themed stamps stumped me, but once I started to think outside the box, I realised I could do some creative re-spelling with my thinlits:

I used "hello" and "happy" to spell "aloha" (the extra 'a' I needed was also from the 'happy' thinlit). I made my letters all shiny with Crystal Effects.

I also decided to make a pretty punch-art Hibiscus:

I used the Blossom Punch to punch a flower from Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock and snipped down each petal to separate them a bit more, and then overlapped two of the petals to make a 5-petal flower. I stamped the 'Build a Bouquet' flower centre in Calypso Coral, and sponged in Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry. To make the stamen, I placed some Sticky Strip onto a narrow piece of Crushed Curry cardstock, and rolled it into a tube. I snipped some Hello Honey quilted ribbon into shreds and glued them on to the stamen with Multipurpose Glue. I punched a small hole in the flower centre and secured the stamen at the back. I curled the petals with my Bone Folder.

To make my background, I stamped some of the 'Build a Bouquet' elements all over a piece of Shimmery White cardstock in Versamark ink, and clear embossed them. After it was heat-set, I stamped over the top using the same images, this time in Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry. I then 'filled in the gaps' by sponging all over in Crisp Cantaloupe....Voila, a 'tropical' background!

I hope you liked my creation. Your next stop is Dena Rekow's blog. Enjoy!

   

Blog Hop List

1. Brian King  

2. Louise Sharp

3. Kylie Bertucci

4. Janet Wakeland 

 5. Shannean Moncrieff

6. BJ Peters

 7. Selene Kempton 

8. Georgia Giguere 

9. Linda Higgins 

10. Simone Bartrum 

11. Dawn Griffith 

 12. Marelle Taylor 

13. Dena Rekow 

14. Connie Stewart 

15. Alisa Tilsner  

16. Tami White 

17. Renee Kohnke 

18. Bec Ross 

19. Ann Craig 

20. Vanessa Webb 

21. Sandi MacIver 

22. Sharon Armstrong 

23. Barb Mullikin 

24. Connie Babbert 

25. Alison Solven 

 26. Betty Button 

27. Lisa Curcio 

28. Krista Frattin 

29. Kim Gavarra 

30. Jacque Williams

Thanks for stopping by!


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Sheltering Tree Stamp-a-Stack

Sheltering Tree would have to be my most-used stamp set in the Occasions Catalogue. It's such a versatile set.
We're making this set of cards in this week's Stamp-a-stack classes. The colours I've used are Pear Pizzazz, Island Indigo, Hello Honey and Blushing Bride. I've also used the Stacked With Love Designer Series Paper Stack.
To make the 'leaves' on the Hello Honey card, I've punched flowers from the Itty Bitty Accent punch, and snipped them into quarters to make leaves.
Thanks for visiting!


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Painted Petals Stamp-a-Stack

I'm back to classes this week, but for one week only - next week I'm off to Stampin' Up! Convention on the Gold Coast. Then a week after that, my hubby and I are off on an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii for the Stampin' Up! Grand Vacation (it's a tough life, I tell ya! ;)

I wanted to squeeze in a Stamp-a-Stack Class before all that jet-setting and excitement....and I wanted to showcase the Retiring In Colors. On this set of cards, I've used all 5 colours. I'm going to miss these gelato tones, especially Coastal Cabana (you all know I'm a blue-green girl!).
I think these pretty colours work really well with the Painted Petals stamp set. I hope my class ladies this week like them!
These colours will definitely be on the Retirement List (released tomorrow) and then will be available only while stocks last. Make sure you stock up on any that you need right away.


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Bye Bye In Colors

The Retirement List will be released on April 21...that's this Tuesday! We never know what stamps, tools and accessories Stampin' Up! will be retiring each year, but one thing we do know is that one batch of In Colors will be disappearing. This year, we say goodbye to Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush.

Which one will you miss most? For me, it's Coastal Cabana, for sure *sniff!*

I'd recommend stocking up on your favourites now, before the list is released. These always sell out quickly, particularly the ink refills and cardstock. You can click on the picture above to go directly to my store, or click on any of the individual products below. You are also welcome to email me your order any time.


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Decorative Masks and Sponge Daubers

Here's a 35 second video showcasing 2 of the bargain products in our catalogue.
I sell lots of the masks and daubers to beginner crafters. For $4.95 you get 2 masks and $8.95 gets you a pack of daubers. Then all you need is some cardstock and an inkpad and you're ready to go. Check it out:

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Bonus Bundles - Only One Day Left!

Just a reminder that these Bonus Bundles finish TOMORROW!
















What's better than finding coordinating products? That's right - getting coordinating products at a discount! Stampin' Up! are offering five bonus bundles at 15% off, only available 1 April-17 April. You will love these hand-selected products, and it's undeniable that they simply belong together. Plus, they're perfect for making creativity easy and fun, but hurry - these amazing bundles won't be around forever. They are discounted only until April 17.

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Stamping with Embossing Folders

If you have a spare 2 minutes, you might like to check out the latest Technique video from Stampin' Up!

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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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