May Calendar Challenge

Hi all,


Here is my calendar page for Susan's Monthly Calendar Challenge. The theme for May was "Say it with Flowers". My birthday, my daughter's birthday, my Aunty's birthday and my dog's birthdays are all in May too, so I decided to create a flower garden (the pic is not the best, but the best I could get!):




I love punches, but I usually only use them for punching out sentiments and accents. I have hardly done any punch art, but I could not resist trying this cute punch fence (I originally saw it here) using the new Jewellery Tag punch. I have been using this punch a lot on cards, I just love it.


I had to include my favourite flowers too - tulips. (I am looking at a beautiful vase of them as I type - yellow and red stripy ones, so pretty!). The tulips are done with the 2-step Bird punch, using the bird's wing. They are so simple and pretty. I first saw them here.


Make sure you pop over to Susan's blog to join in and view the entries, as well as check out her gorgeous work!

(I haven't done a supplies list for this one as there were so many! Once again my calendar template is from Cat at Splitcoaststampers, details here).

Genelle.

Some exciting news...

Hi all,

Well what a week it's been... we have had family visiting for my daughter's 1st birthday, and the Stampin' Up! annual Convention was on in Sydney. I couldn't go of course but I was popping in and out of the Demonstrator groups I am part of, to try to keep up with all the news! I can't wait to go along to Convention next year (thank goodness it's on a different weekend).

Some really exciting news is that the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit is now 20% off!! It is always great value, with over $560 worth of products and business materials for $324.... but now you can get it for only $259!
This offer runs until 31st July. Contact me if you would like to join my team of fabulous Stampin' Up! demonstrators. You can sign up simply to receive a discount on your own purchases, or you can occasionally sell to family and friends, or you can run your own workshops and classes and build your own business! It's up to you.

You can see the products included in the Starter Kit (which you can customise to suit your needs by swapping stamp sets, cardstock and ink colours etc) at the very back of the catalogue, or by visiting my Demonstrator Website (click here).

I am off now to post some swaps I made for some fellow Demonstrators - I will be sure to pop some pictures here of the lovely creations I receive in return.

Hope you have a great week,
Genelle.

Inkspirations Sketch #22 - Wish

Hi all,

This week the very talented Renee is hosting Makeesha's Inkspirations Challenge while Keesh's computer is being repaired. Pop over here to join in and to view the other entries!


Here is the sketch:

And here is my creation:

I have been using this colour combo a lot lately, and will miss Brocade Blue when it retires later this year. (I have stocked up already in preparation!)

The flower has been embossed, cut out and popped up on dimensionals, along with the sentiment. I have coloured the flower with my inkpad and blender pen.


Supplies:
Stamps: Embrace Life, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Brocade Blue, Basic Black
Ink: Brocade Blue, Basic Black, VersaMark
Accessories: Black embossing powder, black ribbon (non-SU), blender pen, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, dimensionals.

Thanks Renee, and Keesh for a fabulous sketch!
Genelle.

Mother's Day

Hi again!

Earlier this week, some of the ladies from my soccer team (and some of their friends) came over for a Mother's Day class. We made a Mother's Day card and a coordinating Pillow Box - perfect for a small gift.

Everyone's creations turned out beautifully, and as usual we had some amazing colour and layout variations. For once I remembered to take a few pictures, so here are some of the lovely projects:

First off, this is Kate's gorgeous card:

And Sandra's beautiful creation:

This pretty card was made by Alex:

And here is Ally's lovely card:


Last but not least, here is Mel's beautiful card and Pillow Box:

I find it amazing that all of these cards use the same dimensions and materials, just different colours and embossing folders.

Thanks girls for a wonderful day! I'll see some of you at training tonight :)
Genelle.

Inkspirations Inspiration Challenge #21 - Mother's Day

Hi all,

This week Keesh has a beautiful, floral, feminine Inspiration image:

And.... (look away if you're reading this, Mum!!)

... I made this Mother's Day card:

This week the Inkspirations Challenge is being hosted by the extremely talented Kirsty Brown - check out the other entries and see the Design Team's creations here.

The watercolour rose technique has been around for quite a while, but I first saw it here. (I do mine a bit differently though).

Pop back to my blog to see the other cards from my Mother's Day class if you'd like!

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!)

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, watercolour paper

Ink: Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, VersaMark

Accessories: Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, So Saffron brads, white embossing powder, aquapainter, large oval punch, scallop oval punch, Perfect Polkadots embossing folder, Big Shot, dimensionals.

Autumn/Winter Launch Photos

Hi everyone,

I've finally made some time to photograph some of the creations from my mini catalogue launch last weekend. I had a lot of fun - some of my friends had never stamped before, and some have been stamping for a lot longer than me, and I think everyone enjoyed themselves!

The picture above is of the table gift - Kraft pillow boxes with chocolate hearts inside. Each guest's initial was stamped on the curly label in either Soft Suede, Melon Mambo or Rich Razzleberry (our new In Colours). The leaves are from the new Extra Large 2-Step Bird punch.

Below are some projects using the Big Shot and the Cottage Wall colour scheme:

Another quick card using the Movers & Shapers die:

Different ways to use the Fancy Favour die (and some more new colour combos):

We did two Make & Take projects on the day. For the first one, the ladies used one of the In Colours with the 'A Little Treat' stamp set and punches to make this cute balloon:

I thought Rich Razzleberry would be the most popular new colour, but Melon Mambo won the day! So many different sentiments fit inside the 1 3/8" circle punch, too.

The second card we made was a monochromatic card using the Extra Large 2-Step Bird punch (colours were Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip or Riding Hood Red):

The ladies were so creative with these ones, and we had varying colour schemes, beautiful tulips, stamped backgrounds and different layouts. I wish I'd had my camera there.

I got the idea for using coordinating DSP on the bird's wing from Fiona Platzer's blog.

Thanks to all who attended, and congratulations again to those of you who won prizes! I hope you had a great afternoon,

Genelle.

Inkspirations Sketch Challenge #21 - Birthday Cheers

Hi all,

I have been very busy these past two weeks, stamping and creating - mostly for my Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue launch last weekend. I will try to get my creations photographed and posted here tomorrow.


I had a chance today to join in Keesh's Inkspirations Challenge - this week it is a Sketch Challenge:

Here is the card I created:

I was inspired by some of the Design Team's creations which featured the sentiment on the curly label. I used my brand new Movers & Shapers die, with the Curly Label magnetic piece, to cut a card from Pumpkin Pie cardstock. I used the offcut label as a mat for my punched Curly Label piece. Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE how Stampin' Up's products coordinate so perfectly?! (lol).

I have used the Sweet Always DSP on my Regal Rose card base. The cocktail image has been coloured with coordinating markers and I added some Pink supernova glitter and Crystal Effects on the glass and cherry. I used a metal edge tag for my circle and have finished the card with Chocolate Chip and Regal Rose ribbon and some pumpkin rhinestone brads.

Supplies:

Stamps: Cheers to You, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Sweet Always DSP

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red

Accessories: Wide double-stitched Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Regal Rose 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Circle Fire brads, Big Shot, Movers & Shapers Curly Label die, metal edge tag, 1 3/4" circle punch, curly label punch, Tombow mono adhesive, Fine Supernova glitter, paper piercer, mat pack, dimensionals.

This card is already in its recipient's letterbox and hopefully being opened as I post this!
Make sure you pop over to check out the other entries, and pop back here later this week if you'd like to see what I've been up to!
Genelle.