I host two Stamp Club groups each month at my place for stamping and step-it-up techniques. These girls are the highlight of my stamping month! They have become wonderful friends, and I love trying to find new and interesting techniques for them. It helps to keep me on my toes!

I had a request recently from one of the experienced stampers to do "Faux Postage"! I'd seen a few samples but had never tried it myself, so it was fun on lots of levels.

The Faux Postage technique recreates the look of postage stamps as the focal image on your card.

There's a great tutorial over at SplitcoastStampers, but the template is designed for US Letter sized paper. I adjusted the measurements a little and made a few simple changes so the numbers now reflect the price of the local stamps here in Australia – 60cents.

You can download the Aussie version HERE.

Just print  the template on A4 cardstock (I used Stampin' Up!'s Whisper White cardstock… perfect for stamping on) and cut around the edges with pinking shears or decorative scissors that most of us have lying around the house.

Here's another version that we did at stamp club.

The trick is to find an image that will fit neatly in the small space – about the size of a postage stamp! In the example above we used the Level 1 stamp set Silhouette Sentiments.

The stamps from the Level 2 hostess set from the current Summer mini – It's The Thought – are also PERFECT for this technique!

I cut the images and sentiments apart so I can use them together or separately, and even cut the words apart so I could position them on my block just the way I wanted. Too easy!

And before I go… just a quick hello to the lovely Level 1 girls in my team of Stampin' Up! demonstrators who joined me on Sunday for a stamping/social day. It was absolutely wonderful to have so many of you in my home and share some inky fun with you. xx

Happy stamping,

Today I'm sharing some truly gorgeous cards that feature 'Bliss' – the very popular Sale-a-bration stamp set that is now available.

These were from the SUDSOL swaps that I received earlier this month. Many thanks again to their creators for letting me share their projects here!

Above: Sharlene Torres.

The stamp sets Bliss and Occassional Greetings (the "for you" sentiment)  were paired together for Sharlene's card. You can't beat black, white and a touch of red for a real WOW colour combo!

Above: Bron Heslop.

The sentiment is layered using the Modern Label punch and Lots of Tags Sizzlits die, all Stampin' Up! products. I LOVE how different Stampin' Up! dies and punches layer so beautifully. Such a great way to add co-ordinating colours on your stamped projects.

Above & below: Jane Norrish

The beautiful Chantilly Lace Crochet Trim is the perfect touch on this Soft Suede and Baja Breeze card. 

Thanks again to the talented NZ/Aus SUDSOL girls for swapping with me!

I'll be back later this week to share the Faux Postage technique and a FREE downloadable file!

Happy stamping,

Yay, it's great to be back! But what a busy few weeks it's been – phew!  The big kids are now settled into school and little miss 4 is at Kinder. We're getting into our comfortable routine for 2011, and I have to say it's kind of nice after the eventful summer holidays.

I'm happy to report that 'Project Craft Room' is almost complete, and after having withdrawal symptoms from not stamping in a little while I did manage to sneak in a couple of quick projects, which I'm sharing today. They use the yummy new Sale-a-bration stamps that are FREE with a qualifying order. Gotta love free stamps 🙂

I CASEd this layout from the Sale-a-bration catalogue, swapping the stamp set and colours.

This was a quick and simple card that was inspired by the scrapbook page on p7 of the SAB catalogue! Can you see the resemblance? I love how we never have to worry about not having any ideas. Just pick up the Idea Book or a mini catalogue and you'll see inspiration galore.

I'm really excited to be blogging again, and have already planned my posts for the next couple of weeks – so come back soon!

Before I go, I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Kathryn Mangelsdorf, a guest designer on UStamp with Dawn, who kindly invited me to join this round as her guest.  Thanks Kathryn!

Happy stamping,

Tags: Bliss