Here’s my next batch of cards before they go off to the shops. This design mixes vintage imagery and contemporary design but somehow it works, d’ya think?

The ornate – not sure what to call it - scroll (?) in the middle seems to pull the design together. And I added a bit of bling in the centre with Stampin’ Up’s new self adhesive jewels and voila!  

There’s a straight shot bottom so you don’t crick your neck. Ooooohhh, how I love this stamp set!

Tomorrow I’ll share one more idea using Artistic Etchings before revealing favourite number 2.

Adele
xxx

Today I’m kicking off my ’10 favourite things from the new catalogue’ series with the beautiful stamp set…..

Artistic Etchings

 $33.95 (wood) Item no. 121478
$26.95 (clear) Item no. 120573

Did it make your list? 

A month before the catalogue was released, demonstrators were able to buy selected products. This particular set was available during the preorder and it immediately caught my eye. But I have to say, it breaks all the rules for what I typically look for in a stamp set.

I like to choose stamp sets that are versatile, that I can use with different techniques, that I can use in surprising ways to perhaps depict things other than what you initially see, that represent value for money and that have general appeal because I want to be able to use it in classes and workshops throughout the year.

And then there are times when all those rules are thrown out the window and I buy a stamp set because I simply absolutely totally LOVE IT!! And Artistic Etchings fell into that category. I love the fine detail … I love everything French … I love the metal-work, etchy images … and so I bought it.

And the most suprising thing of all – having played with it non-stop for weeks – is that this stamp set actually does tick all my boxes afterall. It’s super versatile and worth every penny in my book. I’ll share more photos over the coming days of what I’ve been making with it, but here’s today’s card, made using Artistic Etchings, the Newsprint designer series paper and the Vintage Wallpaper and Polka Dot embossing folders. Does it look familiar? It was inspired by one of the cards on the cover of our new catalogue!

Adele
xxx

Here’s one of the sets of cards we’ve been making at my Christmas stamp-a-stacks. I’ve had four classes already and I was ready for a break from Christmas cards – and then I got the new ‘Contempo Christmas’ set from the new catalogue. Boy, is that going to get a workout!

These particular cards were inspired by my friend and fellow demonstrator, Leonie Hegarty. I loved how she combined Lovely as a Tree with the En Francais background stamp in these cards so this is my take on it. And here’s a close up.

 To get the ‘patchy’ background I sponged Versamark onto the stamp, deliberately missing areas. I was really happy with the way the vintage-look label turned out. The shape was cut out of Confetti Cream with the Big Shot and the Lots of Tags die. I stamped the Christmas sentiment from the set Teeny Tiny Sentiments in Soft Suede and then stamped some very light images of the trees by stamping off on my grid paper first (it’s a bit hard to tell in the photo – probably clearer in the top photo). Then I scrunched up the label, unravelled it and then sponged the edges using my dauber.

If you saw my post yesterday you’ll know I’m about to do a series of my top 10 things from the new catalogue. I’d love to read more of your comments about what’s at the top of your wishlists. 

Have a great weekend!

Adele
xxx

There’s so much to love in the new catalogue, isn’t there!

It was launched to the wider world yesterday but as a demonstrator I got to see a copy a month ago. So you’d think I would have had my wishlist well and truly worked out by yesterday, wouldn’t you. Well, truth be told I was on version 4 and still crunching the numbers and doing mental gymnastics about what I should order first.

So, what made the final cut? How did I narrow my list from a squillion things down to 10? (Okay, so it wasn’t quite 10. But the real number wouldn’t make such a catchy blog post heading so let’s stick with my top 10.)

Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to be sharing my thoughts on my 10 favourite things from the new catalogue, why I chose them and what I’m going to make with them.

And I’d love this series to be really interactive. I’d love to know how long your wishlist is and what you’ve put at the top, and why it’s up there. So make sure you leave me a little note in the comments section.

Keep checking back here and let’s see if we have the same favourite things or if there any surprises.

See ya!

Adele

Ta da!!!!  Oh happy day!!! Here it is – the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue!!!

And if you think the cover’s gorgeous, just wait until you see inside!! Hang on…. wait no more, you can go straight there by clicking on the cover above.

There’s so much buzz about this new catalogue – new colours, gorgeous stamp sets, fab new embossing folders and dies, ribbons, buttons, ….. ahhhhh happy sigh…..

Now, if like me, you like to paw at your very own real life copy, just click the button below and it’ll be in the post to you today! It’s just $12.95 with FREE POST to anywhere in Australia (hurry! free post offer ends 30 Sept). AND it comes with a special little something tucked inside so you can buy more of the things you love!

 

And as if that wasn’t enough excitement for one day, how about this! Stampin’ Up! have announced that if you become a demonstrator during the month of September, you’ll receive a complete set of the new in colors!!!  Hooley dooley!!!  That’s FIVE Classic Stampin’ Pads, FIVE Stampin’ Write Markers, and an assortment of card stock completely FREE and sent out with your demonstrator Starter Kit.So if you’ve looked through the new catalogue and you want need ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING – then get in touch and let’s get you signed up and on your way to owning everything LOL!

The “last chance list” is here so it’s time to grab a cuppa and your catalogue and make absolutely sure you don’t miss out on anything that you’ve been eyeing off for a while, because once it’s gone it ain’t coming back!

Click here to see the list!

There’s 8 long pages of stamps and accessories that we’ll be waving goodbye to, many of them discounted, and although these products don’t officially retire until 1 September, it’s first in first served because they’re only around while stocks last so don’t hang on to your order too long!

Click here to email your order to me and I’ll rush it through for you.

If you’ve been umming and ahhhing about joining Stampin’ Up, you really won’t want to procrastinate much longer or you’ll miss out on saving yourself 20% off the starter kit! (all the more to spend when the new catalogue comes out on 1 September – he he he).

Email me today and we can get the ball rolling. It’s as simple as:

ABN - tick (can be done over the phone)
starter kit selected – tick
sign up online - tick (too easy!)

and you could be Australia’s next Stampin’ Up demonstrator!

So drop me an email. There’s really no harm in asking what’s involved, and absolutely HEAPS to gain!!

There’s no better time of year to get your Christmas cards done and so it’s time to kick off my Stampin’ Up Christmas classes.

I’ve been busy designing five sets of cards for these classes. When you book into the class I’ll email you photos of all five ranges. I’ll then ask you to choose the one that you’ll make 20 of during the class, so that I can prepare your kit in advance.

The class is really relaxed and a lot of fun and was by far the most popular last year! We’ll stop halfway through for homemade soup and during the session I’ll also demonstrate how to create some easy and inexpensive Christmas presents for kinder/school teachers, neighbours etc.

This year I’m offering three different dates:

Sunday 25 July, 12-3pm (this Sunday!)

Sunday 15 August, 12-3pm

Saturday 28 August, 12-3pm

Cost: $30 (for 20 cards + homemade soup)

Where: Doncaster, VIC

Book your spot by email or phone and I’ll send you the card options to choose from.

If you have a group of four or five other friends who’d like to do the class, contact me and we can book a private date just for your group!

This little range of cards started with the butterfly one and I liked it so much I kept mixing and matching to see what else I could come up with. I needed another range to go into the local shops and I like to keep them all looking ‘related’ (it’s the obsessive-compulsive in me LOL!).

I’ve used stamps from ‘Organic Grace’ (flower), ‘Natures Nest’ (shell, feather, nest), ‘Pendant Park’ (bench), ‘Lovely as a Tree’ (acorn and leaf) and my favourite butterfly of all time ‘All a Flutter’. The wheel image is Very Vintage (inked in Sahara Sand) and I stamped the black images in Stazon. The middle circles are Stampin’ Up’s brilliant watercolour paper on dimensions, which have also been wheeled over and then daubed with Soft Suede.

Which one do you like best? The butterfly and park bench are my favourites. There’s something about adding a little character (person or animal) that gives it ‘life’.

If you don’t already have the butterfly stamp, you absolutely need to get it! It’s so gorgeous!! The next catalogue is going to contain a lot more vintage style images (yay!) and this little butterfly will mix so well with them. It’s only $12.95 so you really can’t go wrong.

To order, just email or ring me and I’ll take care of it for you.

At the Sydney convention, Shelli Gardner (co-founder of Stampin’ Up) did a wonderful presentation that she called ‘Vintage Shelli”. For an hour or more, we were mesmerised as Shelli showed us what ‘vintage’ means to her as she demonstrated some beautiful projects. It was probably the highlight of the whole convention for me! I love vintage styling and without giving too much away, I think it could be a style we’ll see more of in the new catalogue… 

So my next class is unashamedly inspired by the projects that Shelli demonstrated, with a touch of my own ideas thrown in! At this class you can expect lots of distressing, ripping, spritzing, layering and plenty of fun!! Stress relief – papercraft style!

We’ll make a couple of cards and a gorgeous gift box and I’ll have lots of vintage-style projects on display for you to have a look at.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never stamped before (or you’re a seasoned cardmaker), I absolutely guarantee you’ll have a lot of fun!  

IMPORTANT: I limit my classes to eight ladies so that everyone has enough space to create and plenty personal attention. I already have five lovely ladies booked in so if you’d like to join us, please book your place today because this class is advertised elsewhere and could book out.

Date:      Sunday 27 June, 1pm (til 3.30pm-ish)
Where:  Doncaster (eastern suburbs of Melbourne – address given when you book)
Cost:      $20 (if you place an order for $100+ Stampin Up products, get your class for half price)

If the date doesn’t suit and you’re able to get some friends together, contact me to book another date and I can run a private class for your group. You can have it at my place in Doncaster or I can come to you. Too easy!