Retired List Update

Having some trouble with trying to download onto Blogger the ever growing status list of retired products, but I am printing them daily, so if there is anything on the list that you have been considering I suggest you contact me ASAP to check availability to avoid disappointment.

Stampin' UP! Retired List Promotion

A quick post to let those interested know that the 2008-2009 Idea Book & Catalogue Retired List of stamps and accessories is now out - and products are disappearing from the list as we speak (or read)!

I'll be trying my best to keep this list up to date for you, but my best advice is to give me a call if there's anything you can't live without before you order so I can check product availablity.

So far, this is what's already sold out...

107565 Flip Flops UNAVAILABLE
109020 Wild Wasabi classic ink refill UNAVAILABLE
109015 Soft Sky classic ink refill UNAVAILABLE
109016 River Rock classic ink refill UNAVAILABLE
109017 Purely Pomegranate classic ink refill UNAVAILABLE
109019 Groovy Guava classic ink refill UNAVAILABLE
100381 Earth Elements eyelets UNAVAILABLE
100378 Soft Subtles eyelets UNAVAILABLE
108748 Best Friend Numbers UNAVAILABLE
107212 Matey's Map UNAVAILABLE
105320 Basic eyelets UNAVAILABLE
103195 Gifts Galore UNAVAILABLE
107561 Garden Annuals UNAVAILABLE
109610 Confetti Simply Scrappin' UNAVAILABLE
104279 Leaf Prints UNAVAILABLE

And once it's gone...it's gone!

Embrace the Faux

I recently hosted a workshop where I showcased the Ginger Blossom designer series paper and the coordinating stamp set 'Embrace Life'.

As the ladies who attended are all seasoned stampers, I felt I should show them a technique they may not have been familiar with yet - Faux Silk.

With the addition of regular gift wrapping tissue paper, you're able to add a little texture and dimension to what might otherwise be a simply stamped image.

Instead of stamping onto white cardstock, I stamped and coloured my image on the tissue paper cut to slightly larger than my white base, wadded it into a tight ball to achieve the creases, unravelled it and then adhered it onto the white card using glue stick. The more creases you can retain, the more texture the finished piece will have.

Rather than trimming the tissue piece to size, I folded it and adhered it to the back of the white card just to keep the tissue from lifting and keeping the edges clean and neat.

It's supposed to resemble crushed silk - what do you think? I'm not so sure, but I'm pretty happy with the end result anyway.

Tx

Stamps: Embrace Life (Summer08-09 mini), Linen (coral b/ground)

Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, River Rock

Cardstock / DSP: Cameo Coral, Ruby Red, Ginger Blossom DSP, white tissue paper

Accessories: blender pen, foam dimensionals, Anywhere Gluestick, sponge daubers

More cake, anyone?

Another birthday party - another cupcake.

I actually stamped, crimped and glittered this cake at the same time as Tuesday's card, and just held the pieces in the stamp box until I was ready to construct the card. I knew I wanted to do a completely different layout, and change the colour combination, and needed a couple of days to get my head into a different space.

This was for Isabella's 6th birthday, and I didn't want to over crowd the cake with candles, so just went with one for impact. When I decorated the envelope though, I made sure I stamped 6 little cupcakes to represent her age.

I was annoyed that the little pink sprinkles were flying off every time I touched the card, so I covered them with dimensional adhesive this time - those little suckers aren't going anywhere now!

A bit of tone on tone stamping on the top of the card, some funky glittery paper on the bottom, a little punch out window for the sentiment and we were good to go.

Tx

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Card / paper: Orchid Opulence, Regal Rose Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, DCWV Glitter Stack
Ink: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Orchid Opulence, Tempting Turquoise & Yoyo Yellow markers (candle)
Accessories: Regal Rose wide grosgrain, Light Pink Chunky Sprinkles, Crystal Effects, Word Window punch & Marvy Uchida Giga & Mega scallop circle punches, foam dimensionals

Still Celebrating

Christmas festivities have finally died down, but we still have good reason to celebrate.

The daughter of very dear friends of ours celebrates her birthday on January 1. Lucky thing will always get a holiday for her party!

I only just recently bought this set during a Stampin' Up! birthday promotion, and until I saw Sam's card, where she crimped the cupcake, I wasn't that inspired.

I've used the same basic layout and ribbon idea, but blinged up the frosting with some chunky glitter. Both the white panel, the cupcake & frosting are built up on dimensionals, so the card is a bit 'front' heavy - but without it, I don't think it would pack as much punch.

I've another card to share using the same set that I'll share tomorrow.

Tx

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday

Cardstock / paper: Regal Rose, Whisper White, Loves Me DSP (retired)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, So Saffron & Regal Rose markers (for the candles)

Accessories: Light Pink Chunky Sprinkles, Flirty ribbon (retired)

Still pretending

A couple more samples of the faux silk technique presented in the last post.

This card uses exactly the same layout, but I've selected a different design from the same pack of designer paper and changed the colour scheme accordingly. Substituted a different image from the same stamp set, and changed the background stamp as well - totally different feel to the card.

Stamps: Embrace Life, Sanded (b/ground)

Ink: Jet Black Stazon, River Rock

Cardstock / DSP: River Rock, Groovy Guava textured 12x12, Whisper White, white tissue paper

Accessories: foam dimensionals, Anywhere Gluestick, blender pen, sponge dauber

And for something completely different...this image flower was masked and stamped multiple times, and coloured with markers. I don't know why, but this stamp set always says "bold brights colour range" which would probably be my least favourite colour family to use. I really struggle to pull these colours together so generally over look them and consequently I also struggle to use this stamp set. Gotta push those boundaries, I guess.

Tx

Stamps: Tiem Well Spent, Polka Dot (b/ground). Basic Phrases

Ink: Jet Black Stazon, Orchid Opulence CIP, markers - Orchid Opulence, Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Only Orange, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, Gable Green & Green Galore

Cardstock: Orchid Opulence, Yoyo Yellow, Only Orange, Whisper White, white tissue paper

Accessories: Anywhere Gluestcik, foam dimensionals

O Christmas Tree

Preparations are in full swing for the upcoming Craft Thyme Xmas Gift & Craft Fair at the Cannington Exhibition Centre (for local Perth readers) this Saturday, 6th December '08.

Chantell, Jasmine, Sarah & myself will be there demonstrating various techniques, co-ordinating make & take sessions and there will be lots of gorgeous cards and other goodies for sale. So drop by to say hello if you have the chance. We'd love to see you. This is our first attempt at a craft fair, so any constuctive feedback is appreciated.

This is one of the cards I will have for sale. It's one I used for a workshop a couple of weeks ago using the recently finished Spring '08 mini catalogue. Fingers crossed that this stamp set will make it into the new annual catalogue (April '09) as it has become one of my most used sets, despite taking a while to grow on me.

The trees have been heat embossed, cut out and raised on foam dimensionals before adhering to the card over luxurious satin ribbon. Quite easy for mass production but still a classy looking card. TIP: Reinforce the light weight designer paper with some scrap cardstock before wrapping the ribbon to prevent the edges pulling up.

Tx

Stamp sets: Season Of Joy, En Francias b/ground

Ink: Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate, VersaMark

Cardstock / DSP: Purely Pomegranate, River Rock, Always Artichoke, Holiday Harmony Designer Series Paper

Accessories: clear and gold embossing powders, Purely Pomegranate satin ribbon, sponge daubers, foam dimensionals

Petal PINK

This is the final completed card in my current PINK series.

I often forget that I don't have to stamp everything on white cardstock. Sometimes stamping your main image on a coloured background has it's own magic.

I found this card on ....Splitcoast Stampers (big surprise). Because of the overall size of the completed flower, I haven't tried to contain it within the frame. I find it kind of appealing to have it fall off the edge of the page, kind of like taking a close-up photo of an interesting detail in a subject.

I deviated from the original by changing the colour scheme and the sentiment and ended up with something that fit within the PINK parameters. Job Done!

Tx

Stamps: So Many Sayings, Pick A Petal
Ink: Whisper White craft, Rose Red
Cardstock: Kraft, Rose Red, Regal Rose
Accessories: Kraft Taffeta ribbon, corner rounder punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, foam dimensionals