Jumping with Joy!

Guess what! As of thursday I am now one of many talented Stampin Up demonstrators :)

Why did I join I hear you ask?

Initally as a customer I was drawn into the range of co-ordinating stamping and scrapbooking products, the generously sized inkpads, and the ability to buy a set of stamps for the price it would normally cost to buy one.

As time passed I began going to classes and soon realized it was a wonderful opportunity to meet other crafters who had tips to share and friendships to offer.

Finally having learnt so many techniques and having a wealth of product knowledge, I decided it was time to share what I have learnt with others and to receive a discount on that looong list of products I still want!

So have I sparked your interest? Have a browse of our catalogues here. Any questions or want to place a order? Just flick me an email....I don't bite honest!

Easy Easel Cupcake

(simple birthday thanks, label classics-SU)

Another idea for the Cupcake is to make a glitter frosting by inking with versamark, and cover with heat and stick powder then tap off excess. Heat until you see the texture change and then cover with dazzling diamonds and heat again briefly (from the underside is best so you don't accidently scorch the glitter) to make it stick.

The easel is simply made by scoring a 12x28cm along the landscape side at 7cm and 14cm. Valley fold at 14cm, then fold the 7cm score inside to the 14cm fold, and bring back out. The bottom of the easel card front measuring 14x28cm is then adhered only to the flap that was folded in. You can use buttons, brads or ribbon on the inside of the card as I have done here to keep it open.

SU's patterned paper is double sided and here you can see I used two sides of the one sheet of Raspberry Tart DSP. The white and pink side would make elegant invitation cards.

I'll be M.I.A for a week while the new computer is getting fixed...grrr. More ideas using this stamp are on standby, and I will have some fantastic news to share with you by then!

Have a great week!

Thanks Tui you! Cupcake

(Simple birthday thanks, Sweet little sentiments-SU!)

When I first saw this stamp, I wasn't sure how much I'd use it. But once I realized I could omit the "thankyou" message inside, it has become a great versatile birthday cupcake (stay tuned for other great ways to use it!).

Anyway my first idea was to just glitter the frosting, and at the time I was going to make dozens of them for my swaps but somehow after making the first one I looked like the milky way!
I wanted the look of frosting, but wanted to steer away from using soo much glitter. It needed something, but I was stuck until I saw what Tui did here. Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!

So I outlined the frosting and filled it in with crystal effects. then placed the beads while it was still wet. After it had dried I decided the cherry needed bling, and again using the crystal effects filled it in and sprinkled on the glitter.

Be sure to check out Tui's blog, you won't be disappointed!

(The card base and frosting is Pixie pink. Pink Passion stampin pad, Parisian breeze DSP background and Raspberry Tart DSP which has been crimped)

CAS Valentines Matey!

Sometimes you don't have the right sentiment or images to stamp for special occasions. Don't feel limited by your supplies-improvise!

So here I combined SU's Ahoy Matey with A Happy Heart. I partially inked one sentiment from each set and combined them to say something different. And you can even hand write part of the sentiment yourself as I did with "You arrr a treasure".

The cards are stamped in Staz on black on Sahara Sand which has been distressed, adhered on Sahara Sand and coloured with markers and a bit of Crystal effects on the hearts.

Great CAS cards to make at the last minute!

Tri-fold template

Finally! Here it is. You can click on the picture to get a larger look. Of course you can make your card taller and your cuts wider to suit your embellishments and stamped images.

6x6 tri-fold valentines card

These cards have been around for a while, and when I made mine I wasn't happy with it because it didn't seem stable enough and I wanted a proper card front that I could decorate.

So here's how i made it. I will upload a template with the dimensions as directed.

1: Cut 2 pieces of cardstock measuring 15cm X 30cm (6"x12").

2: Score card front at 15cm (6'') along the landscape (long) side and fold, set aside.

3:Turn the second piece around to portrait (short) side. Using a pencil lightly mark at 5cm (2")and 10cm (4") on either end. Line up first marks with a ruler top to bottom and cut from 5cm (2") to 25cm (10"). Repeat with second marks.

4: Turn back around to landscape side and score at 5cm (2"), down to beginning of first cut
and beginning of second cut down to bottom edge. Score again top to bottom at 10cm (4")and 20cm (8"). Finally score from the end of the first cut to the end of the second cut.

5: Now begin folding. Fold the first top and bottom crease towards you creating a valley fold. Along the second crease fold back the top and bottom portion back, creating a mountain fold. The crease inbetween will need to be a valley fold. The third crease top and bottom valley fold, and middle mountain fold. Finally the last centre crease a valley fold.

6: Glue the back part of the first panel of the tri-fold to the inside edge of the card front. Fold closed the tri-fold, and glue the back panel. Line up the edge of the panel with the back of the card front and close the back of the card to adhere. Decorate as desired.

Aloha 2010 Calendar

(Do the Hula, Calendar, Canvas - Stampin Up)

I've used this design to make lots of masculine card with this set, and I love it so much I could easily admire my work every day of the year!

I made it so that the months easily tear off by using SU preforating tool which leaves a broken line cut above the top of the calendar months which are then stapled together and is hidden under the scored and folded SU kraft cardstock. And yes I hand wrote the days and dates; best to have another calendar on hand to copy correct day placements, particuarly when your watching the season return of Grey's Anatomy!

The background was stamped on Very Vanilla with the Canvas background stamp. The flowers were rock n rolled, and the leaves were darkened on the ends by tapping the inkpad on both sides. I have inked my stamps using distress ink and spritzed with water before stamping for a more blended/watercolour look, but you could easily do this with your regular SU inkpad.
The main image is stamped in staz-on and watercoloured using markers and an aqua painter. The flowers on the hula girl and on the tips if the flower have kindy glitz, and using a crop-a-dile I added the SU jumbo eyelet to the top.

The sun is easy to create by using a negative circle, and sponge inside. Mask off the trees and moving around a post it note as you sponge along the edge.