The gorgeous Beautiful Wings Embosslits^(TM) die is one of my TOP 5 favourite things in the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue. We had a little play with it at stamp club last week, and I couldn't help but add some shimmer paint to one of the butterflies. Hmm, I'm thinking that the shimmer paint is also in my Top 5 – stay tuned for more on that in future posts.

Happy stamping,

It's hard to miss the fact that the vintage look is absolutely huge in papercrafting right now, so our topic at Stamp Club this month was creating within this Vintage style. Ageing, distessing (de-stressing to us!), crumpling, spritzing, sponging, sanding. You name it, we did it!

It was an interesting experience for some who were stepping out of their comfort zones (yes you know who you are!), but lots of fun too.

FAUX LAYERS

Distress the corners of the focus layer by curling and rolling the Very Vanilla card between your fingers. After a little while the fibres within the card break down and the layers are easily separated with a scrape of a fingernail.

On our card, the Vanilla piece was to be layered on to Chocolate Chip cardstock, but we wanted to add a hint of Sahara Sand between the two layers. So here's the tip…. simply adhere a piece of Sahara Sand cardstock to the corner only (as a false layer), keeping the adhesive clear of the rolled corners on top. This 'faux layer' is then distressed a little too.

This is a handy technique when you really don't want to add bulk and weight to the card. The touch of Sahara Sand in the corner also helped to balance out where it appeared on other parts of the card too.

Artistic Etchings stamp set; Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand cardstock and ink, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, sponge, spritzer tool, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Speaking of aging (!), today is my 3rd anniversary of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. I still remember how excited I was when I got my Starter Kit – full of stamps and inks and cardstock that I had chosen! Actually, I'm lucky I get to feel that way whenever a big brown box turns up with new Stampin' Up! goodies in it. Big warm fuzzy hugs to the special friends, team members and customers who've travelled this journey with me and continue to offer their support and friendship. Mwah!

I'll be back later this week with another couple of cards we made at the Stamp Clubs. They were quick, lighthearted projects in the 'Clean & Simple' style (the perfect vintage antidote for those who weren't used to it!) using the new 2-step owl punch and the stunning butterfly Embosslit.

Happy stamping,

One of the great things about attending our Stampin' Up! official functions (like the annual Convention, and regional training days) is getting NEW stamps! At our last Convention in May I was lucky enough to get about 8 new sets for free, and one of them was Compliments to the Chef (you can find it on p98 of the Idea Book & Catalogue). What a fun set for someone who likes to entertain, or even for a budding Masterchef!

Inspired by Alison Okhamitsu (menu)

CASEd from Corinne Sommerville's gorgeous creation.

Contact me if you'd like to order this set, or have a play with it at your own workshop. For more information about workshops, click here.

If you'd like to find out a little more about joining as a demonstrator so you can attend Stampin' Up! events too, click here. Don't forget we have our fabulous promotion during September… join us and you'll get yourself a complete set of "In Colour" products for free (valued at $85), including markers, large ink pads and coordinating cardstock. 

Happy stamping,

It's Father's Day today here in Australia, so today's tips are about one of our blokey stamp sets: Totally Tools. There are 5 stamps in this set, each with a different tool and witty sentiment.

Sometimes I like to use my image stamps separately from the words, and although there are a few techniques that enable you to do that quite easily (such as masking), sometimes I like to split-mount my stamps. GASP! Yes, I cut them! It's ok, they don't feel a thing.  

Split mounting simply means that you cut the image and the words apart, so you end up with 2 pieces of rubber stamp not one. The pieces are adhered to different parts of the wood block, so can be used separately.

And yes, I know it would seem like it won't work being stuck on the curvy edge of the block (I thought it wouldn't work too and it was kind of an experiment!),  but it does actually work and the words come out crystal clear. Where possible, I would normally adhere the word to the flat end of the block, but this particular set had very long sentiments.

So now we have 10 stamps for the price of 5!

How to make the tools:

1. Stamp tools with jet black Stazon ink.

2. Colour the images as desired. I used the Basic Gray and Real Red Stampin' Write Markers. Then apply Crystal Effects, our clear craft lacquer which you can find on p144 of the NEW Idea Book and Catalogue (it's only $11.95 for a bottle, and is acid free).

3. Leave your images overnight and then cut them out. Use as handy embellishments on your cards, scrap pages or OTP (off the page) projects.

Crystal Effects looks great on the buttons Sizzlits die-cuts (p152 IB&C), on vase and glass images, as dew drops on leaves and flowers and plenty of other uses too!

Happy stamping,

P.S. Non Stamping Related: A big thank you to so many of you – customers, team members and demonstrator friends – who've contacted me over the past 24 hours about the floods we've had here in our little town. We've very grateful that our house is on high ground so we are ok, but it was a surreal experience seeing our main street totally flooded and heartbreaking knowing that so many people here in our own community have lost everything. 

Woo Hoo! It's here! CLICK HERE to download the brand new 2010 – 2011 Idea Book & Catalogue from Stampin' Up!

CLICK HERE to download the supplies list.

Contact me to arrange for your very own copy of the IBC to be sent to you. There's nothing quite like snuggling up on the couch with a hot cuppa as you flick through the pages.

I'm taking bookings NOW for all Christmas Workshops. Dates are filling fast, so contact me to secure your chosen date.

And if you've been thinking about joining Stampin' Up! – "will I? won't I?" then oh my goodness you are going to be very excited about the Free Gift you'll get when joining us during September…. NEW 'IN COLOR' PRODUCTS (markers, ink and cardstock) to the value of $84.90. Seriously, wow. Click on the orange "Join Today" circle on the right sidebar for more info.

Happy stamping,