Embossing Workshop last week

Thanks everyone who came to the emobssing workshop on Wednesday night. I hope the rest of you get well soon. Our first card used gloss paper and we embossed a white tree onto the gloss paper then using a sponge and 'going gray' ink, rubbed over the image, the image doesn't take the ink, only the paper. This technique is called embossing resist. We created the scalloped edge on the black circle using a corner rounder click here to see a tutorial. I love this card if I do say so myself!! My darling husband who pretends to take an interest in my cards actually said this card was the best I've ever made! and he was serious and not just saying that so he could get back to whatever he was doing before I asked for his opinion LOL!!! Well I don't know if it is the best I've ever made, but thanks hon!

Here is a close up of the tree. We finished the tree with red dots from 'real red' stamp and write marker then covered each dot with crystal effects so now the tree looks like it has blossoms or fruit.


Here is the second card we made. We used the "Manhattan Flower" embossing folder and using a brayer you need to put ink directly onto the embossing folder, put the card in the folder and then run it through your die/embossing machine. We then hand cut around the flower. Try this technique using 2 different inks blending together!! Nice and simple yet very effective.

Mother's Day Special Workshop - Sat. 1st May

I have a special Mother's Day workshop I will be holding at my house (please email me if you need my address) at 9:30-12:00noon on Saturday 1st May. Cost is $15 for everything you see which includes 'Roses' chocolates. It all packs up into a cute little box, ready to give to mum or mother-in-law, or god-mothers or step-mothers, or anyone you like!!

I used last year's Designer Series Paper on this box as I was just trying out the design to see if I liked it - Well I love it, so your boxes will be a different colour using current DSP. I hope you can join me, don't forget to RSVP.

The Day after a Workshop.....

As we usually finish quite late on a Wednesday night, I don't get everything packed away until the next day or 5 LOL. My kids love it, they see everything out so they want to do what mummy does. So this time I let them!!! Since we were in a controlled environment ie I was under control, dinner was done early, nothing urgent pressing.....we all stamped together and it was really nice :)

Autumn-Winter Mini Launch

For those of you who missed our launch workshop on Wednesday, here is a look at some of the exciting new products available in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. We used the new In-Colour 'Rich Razzleberry' (if you say it in an American accent it sounds so much better!!) and the new DSP 'Cottage Wall' which co-ordinates beautifully, as well as the matching polka dot grosgrain ribbon (the colour is not the best in these photos). The 'Extra-Large 2 step Bird' punch is awesome and so versatile and I love the new punch style too. The embossing folders are high quality (as you would expect) and leave a lovely crisp texture to the card. We had fun learning all about the clear-mount rubber stamps: I love love love them!! The clear blocks are way better than I expected and combined with the quality of Stampin' Up's rubber image.....I'm sold!!

These card designs are cased from my Upline Stephanie Pike, click here to see more of Steph's work.

I put white paper on the inside with matching stamped flowers as the RR cardstock is quite dark to write on.

We also made these gorgeous Pillow Boxes, the image is cut out and embossed and perforated along fold lines using the "Bigz Dies" designed for the Sizzix Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine. I was a bit 'iffy' about this purchase; but now I totally love it, I have made heaps of these. I remember hand cutting this pattern when I first joined Stampin' Up! I think I made one then decided it took way too long to fold a curved edge neatly!!!! But now I don't have to worry - yeeeha!! I'm all about the quick and easy LOL (The colour Rich Razzleberry is more true in this photo too)

Here are a couple of other designs of the Pillow Box:

I hope you've got a little inspiration to go and make your own now. Call or email me if you would like to place an order of any of the products used above. Bec

Colour Renovation!!!!

So I am not the only one doing reno's!! Stampin' Up! are updating their colour scheme too - but not until the 1st September, so you have a while to stock up on your favourite colours that will be retiring. I am loving the new look, the colour families are smaller, they are bringing back some of your favourite In-Colours from previous years and making them permanents and In-Colours will now last for 2 years. Check out the NEW colour palette below. If you would like to see the colours that we are saying sad farewell to, click here. Keep your eyes out for the 3 fabulous new in-colours in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue (Melon Mambo, Soft Suede and Rich Razzleberry) as these will be integrated into the new permanent colour palette come September.

Click here for a larger view of the new colour palette.

March Easter Workshop

As promised, for those of you who missed the workshop this month, I have uploaded the photos of what we did. Firstly we made a very cleaver "Bag-a-lope" which converts an ordinary envelope into a gift bag, and in this case an easter egg treat bag. If you go hereyou will see a tutorial on how tomake it. Then we made these cute little easter egg baskets. Of the 3 I have here, 2 I have covered in Designer Series Paper and the purple one (lavender lace) I stamped straight onto the cardstock with Elegant Eggplant ink. Click here to find a tutorial on how to make these lovely little bags. You could make one for your child's school teacher or the like....

Lovey-Dovey Valentines Cards

I did make these before Valentines Day, but I just didn't get them up here for you to see!! The card with the chocolate rose I made for my brother to give to his girlfriend I used the stamp set like-o-meter 117723 from the Spring Mini. The other card I made with the I{Heart} Hearts 117715 stamp set, also from the Spring Mini. I must admit, I love this stamp set and the fact that it co-ordinates with 2 of the punches makes card making a breeze. I will post more cards from this set soon. But remember to hurry if you would like any of these stamp sets as they will go at the end of this month when the Spring Mini catalogue finishes.