Look what I got!

Here is a pic of the card and goodies I received recently from the Secret Santa exchange I participated in. I love Secret Santa, and it is always nice to make something very special for a recipient who has no idea it's you! (at least to start with, the clues usually start to appear after a while) We've all been getting trickier and trickier though, with parcels going on scenic routes to disguise their origins, putting the team leader's return address on many of the parcels, lifting card ideas from red-herring blogs and more. Lots of fun!! I received a bunch of Riding Hood Red Designer Series paper, a pack of the utterly delectable Dots and Designs Rub-ons from the Summer Mini, and some totally yummy ribbon - the red polka dot grosgrain and a half pack of Valet Ribbon Originals. My card gave me the idea for the birthday cards I made this week too, so cute!! Thanks so much Secret Santa, it's just perfect, and I can't wait to have a play, with the rubons in particular! Now to see if MY recipient, who has opened her parcel can pick me out....

Mini Gift Box - step by step

Yeah, I know, it was supposed to be LAST week. I always forget just how hard it is to get anything done when school hols are on and both kids are home. Especially when the weather dictates that they are in the pool while I sit poolside with a book! Anyway, better late than never, here is my step-by-step photo tutorial on how to make a cute little box, out of just half a sheet of A4 cardstock. This is a box we made at the recent Stampin' Up! Regional training, using the Hello Again set. I have made it several times since, because it is easy, fast and economical. I hope you like my instructions and photos - click on each image if you would like to get a clearer view. Standard A4 sheet, no trimming, just cut in half as if you were making two A5 folded cards, and then into A6 rectangles, four from one sheet.

I have drawn pencil lines on one of the pieces to indicate where to score - 1" in from each side and each end. Do this for 2 pieces if making one box, or all 4 if you are making two.

On the left hand side is the box base. Cut in to the horizontal score lines from each short end. For the other half of the box, which will become the lid, cut two corner pieces away completely, up to the score lines. On the other side, cut just to the score line from the short end, as for the base. Take a circle punch and take a half chomp half way along the longer edge.

Decorate now, it's easier when flat! I have used Versamark and the Winter Post stamp set here, and a band of the same snowflake stamped in Baja Breeze over the top. It's also a great size for using your Stampin' Around wheels - then it is an easy matter of using the co-ordinating stamp set to decorate the tag or accent for the box.

Apply Sticky Strip super strength double sided tape to the corners as shown. Then remove the red liner plastic and assemble the lid and base.

After making the lid and base, add another piece of Sticky Strip along the back edge. A bit lower than where I have placed it would be better...

Line up the lid flap with the back of the box base and stick into place. Done!!

Now you can decorate it as you please. I have added a simple tag stamped with the snowflake again, and overstamped with a silver embossed reindeer. I added some Dazzling Diamonds, using my 2 way glue pen. I mounted the 1 3/4" circle onto a 2" scallop circle punched from Brushed Silver metallic cardstock. Then I tied a piece of white taffeta around, and looped a piece of the sadly retired silver cord around it to complete the box. It's a great size for a little treat, and quick to make!

Hoot Hoot Hooray! Birthday cards with Owl Together Now

Here are a couple of cards I made for two little boy birthdays recently. I started with the same layout and colours, but finished them separately, and changed around the final details just a little, for variety (or, more precisely, because I thought of something a little different AFTER I finished the first one!)

They use the set "Owl Together Now" and boy is it a cute one! Owls have been a bit of a trend for quite a while now, and not just in the stamping and scrapbooking world either - a visit to your local homewares store will be proof of that! Maybe it has something to do with the on-going Harry Potter phenomenon, who knows!

OK, on to the cards...

The card bases are Kiwi Kiss, stamped with the little hearts image from the Owl Together Now set, using Versamark ink, just for a little texture,

Next, there is a large mat of Not Quite Navy, sponged around the edges with NQN ink.

Next, we have a thin mat of distressed Summer Sun cardstock, under the image band of Whisper White.

I stamped the branch and owls with Stazon, my preferred ink for watercolouring, using my indispensible Stamp-a-ma-jig. Do you own one yet? I sense a tutorial about it's merits coming soon...

I used blender pen and marker to colour the owls in shades of Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Summer Sun, a smidge of Pumpkin Pie and Not Quite Navy.

The sentiment "Hoot Hoot Hooray" stamp was inked up line by line using my trusty markers.

Here's where the cards diverge...

One card uses the Curly Label Punch and co-ordinating Cute n Curly Stamp set. I inked up the border with Not Quite Navy ink, omitting the 'thankyou' before stamping on Whisper White. I cut around the edge of the frame, as this allows me to punch a mat using the Curly label punch. I popped it up on dimensionals for depth. There is a tie of Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain ribbon at the right to finish , and three Vintage metallic brads.

The other card uses the Scallop circle punch layered onto 1 3/8 and 1 1/4" circles, and to embellish I have used two of the gorgeous "Build a brad" pieces. What is a Build a brad??? It consists of a brad base, available in Antique Brass and Pewter finishes, and a clear epoxy disc that self-adheres to the top. What makes them so great is that you can customise the middle layer any way you like. Here I have simply punched out 1/2" circles from Good Morning Sunshine paper scraps, but you can stamp a co-ordinating image and punch that out instead. Or, make a large glitter brad by filling the centre with Crystal Effects dimensional adhesive mixed with Supernova coloured glitter! A wee scrap of Kiwi Kiss striped grosgrain, left over from trimming the first card I suspect, finishes it off. Ta da! Variations on a theme!

All About Sale-a-Bration

Sale-a-bration is undoubtedly the BEST time of the year to host a workshop, and also to join up as a demonstrator in my StampInkPaper team.

Here's why:

* For each $100 spent on Stampin' Up! products, you and your guests can choose one of FOUR different, limited edition FREE stamp sets! There is no limit, order $400 worth and collect ALL of them!

* When your Workshop sales reach $600, as the hostess you can choose an extra FREE Sale-a-bration set. Reach $1200 in sales, and you can choose TWO extra sets. All this is on top of the already generous Hostess Benefits, which start at just $300 in Workshop Sales (check out pages 16-23 of the Idea Book and Catalogue to view the exclusive Hostess Sets and Hostess Awards table)

* Join my team as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator during Sale-a-bration, and you can select an additional stamp set of your choice valued at up to $79.95 FREE, with your Starter Kit purchase. The Starter Kit is already discounted by around 40% on retail prices, so this deal packs in even more value. You also get an ongoing discount on your Stampin' Up! products, as well as the opportunity to grow your own, flexible, income producing business. Just call me on (02) 9484 9447 to be sent a free, no-obligation information pack, or to chat about what I can offer you.

I'm taking bookings now for Sale-a-bration Workshops, which can be held at your home (within 1 hr travelling time of Cherrybrook) or mine (with a minimum of 5 guests). SAB runs from January 25th to 31st March, 2010, so get your new diaries out and give me a call to arrange a date to suit. Then tell your friends, because everyone LOVES free stamps!

So, what IS a Workshop exactly??

When you book a Workshop with me, I provide you with a free Idea Book and Catalogue valued at $12.95, and a package with everything you need to host a successful workshop, including invitations and guest checklist. On the chosen day, I come to your home, and show you and a group of your friends the range of Stampin' Up! products. Everyone gets hands-on experience with our products by making two different projects, such as cards or a scrapbook page. There is the opportunity to place orders from the catalogue, and the Hostess can select free merchandise and Hostess Stamp sets according to the Sales total reached. There are no high-pressure sales tactics, the products simply sell themselves. It is a great chance to get together with some friends and have some creative fun. Stampin' Up! Workshops are FREE OF CHARGE, and I supply ALL materials and tools required. No elaborate preparations are required on the part of the Hostess, a dining table and light refreshments are all that is needed, everyone will be far to busy creating to notice if you got round to the dusting!

While you are waiting for your Workshop date, make sure to browse the special Inventory Clearance Sale offer - everyone should be clamouring to add at least one alphabet set to their collection for just $38.98 (+p/h) That's HALF PRICE! There is a wide variety of discounted sets and accessories to choose from, click HERE to view the flyer, and if you'd like to be emailed a PDF with scanned images of the stamp sets, just email me. The Inventory Sale runs until January 24th 2010, while stocks last (hurry for best selection!)

Ooooh! getting close!

My little blog counter is getting ready to tick over to 10,000! How exciting! Who will be the 10,000th visitor I wonder? Leave me a comment if you're the one and I'll send you a gift :) I'll be a watchin!

Best Wishes and More (it's Christmas after all!)

Here is a card I made back at the team weekend in August. It was made for a colour challenge, and I wanted to use a set that I don't own myself. I have never been quite sure of the success of the final result, but enough people have picked it out of my samples box to comment on, so I guess it must be OK!

The colour challenge was: Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Certainly Celery and Whisper White. The set is called "Best Wishes and More" and can be found on page 53 of the Idea Book and Catalogue. I used all the images in the set other than the Snowflake, so you get a fair idea of what you could do with it. The sentiments are great too. I stamped the leaf in Sahara Sand onto a Sahara Sand background, and I laid a sponged piece of Old Olive over the centre. I think if I was making it again I would make a thin mat with a second piece of cardstock behind the Old Olive, in Whisper White, but hey, that's what you get in hindsight!! The flower, heart and birdie are stamped on Whisper White and mounted on nested circles using Stampin' Dimensionals.

At the left I have used a round Flower Designer Brad, and a scrap of Old Olive striped grosgrain. These brads are much larger, heavier and more substantial than I expected, so you can easily get away with using just one of them on a card. The sentiment is stamped in Old Olive , and I added an Eyelet Border punch base. What do you think?????? All products from Stampin' Up!, all available to order through me. Got a question about a Stampin' Up! product? Just send me a note and I'd be happy to help you out!

Get THIS list and check it twice - BARGAINS GALORE!

Do you like to do your Christmas Shopping AFTER Christmas at the Clearance Sales? Or, have you got some gift money to spend?

Read on, because I have a great deal to show you! And, if you order ASAP there is still the chance to receive your goodies in time for Christmas (although it cannot be guaranteed from now on)

So, what's on offer? A great selection of Stamp sets and accessories, at clearance prices in the first ever Stampin' Up! Inventory Clearance Sale.

Until 24 January, 2010 you will get amazing discounts on selected, high-quality Stampin’ Up! products with no minimum purchase, and no limits to how many you can purchase!

To view the complete list of sale items- please click on the link below CLEARANCE SALE FLYER

Products are available at these prices while stocks last during the promotional period, although they are all products that are featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue and will be available at normal catalogue prices until September 2010.

You may have read my excited noises about the transition to die-cut stamps, and that stamp sets will be produced in die-cut form when existing stocks of square cut stamps are exhausted. That's why all the stamp sets on offer are in square cut form. Never fear, the small amount of extra work is more than made up with the great savings. Some stand-out examples include 3 different alphabet sets, all 50% off! Grab 'em while they last at a teeny weeny $38.95 (+p/h) Jumbo Outline Alphabet is shown in the image above.

There's also chunky glitter, hodgepodge, die cut blooms, and ribbon, to name but a small selection. No cutting required there, just plain old great bargains!

Don't delay, some items are so well priced they can't last for long, and I'd hate for you to miss out. Click on the link to go to the flyer above, and get back to me ASAP with your list! Call me on (02) 9484 9447 or email me - your order can be delivered anywhere within Australia for just $5.95 or 5%, whichever is higher.

Christmas Classics part III

Here's the second card I whipped up using the Christmas Classics stamp set, this time using the Star stamp. I entertained the idea of using the other image from the set, the Christmas tree, but I thought it would look a little too strange dangling from the 'sky' - a bit of lateral thinking and design modification required, but I think I will give it a go to make the trifecta. The card is made in the exact same way as the previous bauble design, but using the star instead.

I really love how the detailed cross hatching on the stamps looks so authentically 3D when embossed. It's also the kind of stamp that looks great stamped in one colour, without needing to be coloured, or, you can stamp in Stazon ink and sponge colour over it, using a dauber. See, there's some more versatility with this set!

Christmas Classics part II

As promised, here is another card I made this week using the Christmas Classics stamp set. I made this (and the companion card coming later) together, quite quickly. Again, it is a simple layout that is ideally suited to mass production.

The base of the card is Kraft cardstock, and I have stamped the Holly stamp all over the front and the back using Sahara Sand ink (which looks like I imagine "Kraft" ink would look - I wonder why Stampin' Up! didn't call it that??).

Then we have a Very Vanilla panel that I have sponged with Sahara Sand ink around the edges, to blend it into the base card. I stamped the bauble 4 times across the width, at varying heights for visual interest. The strings I was thinking to stamp using the string stamp from Tree Trimmings, but I had a lazy moment and just hand-drew them with the Sahara Sand marker instead.

I then stamped the bauble again, this time in Gold Encore ink, onto Kraft cardstock, before embossing with gold embossing powder. Two of these were cut out, and mounted on top of the base stamped versions using Stampin' Dimensionals. Before mounting, I punched a hole through the loops of the baubles, and threaded some (sadly retired) gold cord through them. I anchored them onto a strip of Kraft Taffeta ribbon.

To finish, I added a sentiment in embossed gold from the Many Merry Messages stamp set. Non traditional colours, modern styled stamps, easy Christmas card! I hope you like it!

Time is running out for FREE punches

Contact me today to place your order for the Christmas Extravaganza promotion, it ends on December 14th (that's this coming MONDAY)

Choose either of the two great punches shown above, each valued at $30.95 when you purchase $85 worth of products from the special flyer.

Click HERE to visit the PDF of the flyer, or visit my post where the items are listed by type HERE

My favourite combinations of must-haves are these:

*curly label punch bundle
*spiral punch
total: $86.90 , including free punch!

*Simply Sent Cardmaking kit (great gift!!)
*choice of Stampin' Write marker - Real Red, Glorious Green or Brilliant Blue
total: $89.70, including free punch!

Or, choose both of these combinations, and select one of each punch! That's $238.50 worth of products for just $176.60. (postage and handling charges are not included in totals) There is no limit to the number of punches you can receive!

Other great basics on the list include the Cutter Kit and Whisper White cardstock, so check it out today and give me a call on (02) 9484 9447 to place your order, which can be delivered anywhere in Australia for $5.95 or 5% of the order total (whichever is greater).

Christmas Classics for quick cards

I love this set, everytime I sit down with it I can make something that looks different. This card is one I designed as a Workshop Make and Take project. The base is Garden Green, and I have stamped the Holly all over in Versamark ink. The patterned paper is from the Holiday Treasures DSP pack, and I have used the Eyelet Border punch to edge it, before sponging the edges with Riding Hood Red ink. The main image is inked up using markers in Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red and a combination of Apricot Appeal and Summer Sun for the bell. I stamped an extra bell and punched it out with the 1/2" circle punch and mounted on Stampin dimensionals. I also added a little dab of 2 way glue pen and sprinkled some Dazzling Diamonds glitter onto the second bell layer. I have matted with Riding Hood Red and a peek of Summer Sun to finish. Quick, easy and great for bulk production. More coming with this stamp set, stay tuned!

Upsy Daisy with a citrus and kiwi twist

Lots of people have said they are tired of this stamp set, because they have used it so much! But I think that is the mark of a GREAT stamp set to own! Not least because you are never, ever going to be stuck for ways to use it, there must be about a million google results for it! I like it because it is

* versatile - can be combined with pretty much any sentiment for any occasion

* simple bold image means it is a quick stamp to use

* suitable for lots of different techniques - shadowing, marker to rubber, crayon to rubber, bleaching and more!

This is a card I made for a friend of my uncle, who is visiting from PNG. She wove two fabulous traditional "Bilum" bags for my kids, after they commented on the one she had brought with her. I hope you like it Veronica!

The base of the card is Tangerine Tango, toned down a little by adding a layer of Kiwi Kiss Designer Series paper over the lower half. Over the join is a piece of Kiwi Kiss Striped grosgrain, and I have threaded it through a little treat from the Summer Mini - Designer Hardware Jumbo Grommets. These come in a mixed pack of neutral colours, including silver, white, vanilla and black, and add a great finishing touch.

The Upsy Daisy stamp was inked up using Markers direct to the rubber. I blended lots of different colours together, including Tangerine tango and Kiwi Kiss using a blender pen. I misted the surface of the stamp very lightly with a water spray before stamping onto a piece of Watercolor paper. A distressed Kiwi Kiss mat and a greeting from Sincere Salutations complete the card. It was a lot of fun, and could be adapted to lots of other colour schemes.

Hope you like it!

Summer Mini Make n Takes with Hello Again and Retro Remix

At the recent Stampin' Up! Regional Training day, we received the Summer Mini set "Hello Again" and the "Retro Remix" wheel as part of our registration. We used these stamps to create a number of projects in our Make n Takes for the day, and you can see the cute projects above.

At the left we have a card made from More Mustard cardstock, with a simple white stamped panel. This is set off by some stamping peeking from underneath the the panel, an extended mat of Old Olive, and a tie of the gorgeous Valet Ribbon Originals satin chocolate polka dot ribbon.

At right, we have a Certainly Celery trifold card, with a double window mat cut from Baja Breeze. Peeking out from the base is a row of Scallop edge Rose Red. Over the window are 4 1" punches, each stamped with a different coloured heart from the Hello Again set. It is finished off with a tie of Tangerine Tango striped grosgrain attached to a Hardware Clip.

At the front, behind a bit of sundapple shadow sorry! is a cute little box. This is the box that inspired the Pale Plum butterfly box a couple of posts down. It was so easy that I have no idea why I've never made one before! I have been asked to do a step-by-step tutorial on this little box, so hopefully I'll get to that this week. This particular box is made from Old Olive textured cardstock, and wheeled across with the Retro Remix wheel. It's wrapped with the fabulously retro orange ricrac from the Pigtails Ribbon Originals pack. A whisper white stamped panel finishes it off. It's a handy size for a few choccies, or a special gift (like that Pandora bracelet loaded up with gold charms perhaps?)

This set did not really jump out at me from the Mini catalogue when I first saw it, but it's on my list now that I've had a play and seen it's versatility in action.

And, if you're a ribbon addict like me, check out the Christmas Extravaganza brochure, as the Ribbon Originals packs are all on there. Yummy!

the BEST Stampin Studio is finished!

It has taken quite a while to sort everything out, but here is my new Stampin Studio! Ta Da!! I moved all my stuff (well, most of it - there is still a fair chunk of other craft-type stuff left behind) from a small upstairs bedroom to the downstairs study. Andrew's computer gear and big workdesk units were somehow dissassembled and man+woman handled UP the stairs, where they fitted perfectly. Thank goodness for that, because I have no idea how we would have got them back out and down again if they didn't quite fit!!

The top photo shows my Ikea Expedit unit, which also survived the move downstairs intact. It houses my paper shelves, office/filing type stuff, sample card boxes, magazines and catalogues and some Trofast tubs with other bulky bits and bobs. This is pretty much the same as it was before (if you remember the original pics I posted a while back) but now I'm downstairs, my office stuff and craft stuff are together. The extra space was created in this shelf unit by...

My new BEST scrapbooking furniture!!! Woohoo!! I've been drooling over the ads in the mags and in various dream stamping studio blog posts for the last couple of years, and I finally have some of my own! I have started with the desk and a Double Mini unit. The desk is lovely and wide, and you have everything at your fingertips in the two side storage sections. The Double Mini fits a huge amount of storage into a compact space, and it is on castors, so you can move it around with ease. I decided to get just the drawers, in 1" and 2" sizes, rather than paper shelves, because I thought it would be more flexible. As it has turned out, 12x12 paper does fit inside the drawers in a neat yet snug fashion, so I have more options to move things around. My labelling machine went into overdrive as I found good homes for all sorts of bits and pieces that cluttered up my previous space, so it is nice and easy to find things.

My new, larger punch rack is up now too, and holds all except my small punches, which now fit neatly in a desk-side drawer. It's a great creating space, so I hope it gives you a little inspiration!

Time to prod your loved ones in the right direction!

It's starting to look a LOT like Christmas... A bit scary, because I am hugely underprepared this year, or at least I feel like I have barely started organising and planning. And, the family Christmas gathering is at my house this year EEEEK!!

So, it is most definitely time to start giving a little nudge to your hubbies and families in the direction you'd like them to head for your Christmas gifts. That is unless of course you would like to receive a 'vegetable scrubbing brush' from your nearest and dearest. Yes, that has happened, you may even read about it on a blog perhaps?? Or, perhaps you'll get a hedge trimmer. Or a boxed set of your partner's favourite TV series. Or, nothing at all because they had no idea what to get you (DOH!) and then ran out of time to try and find something...

All you need to do is to write out your Stampin' Up! wishlist, hand it to them with my details jotted on the back, and tell them that if they ring me, it will all be taken care of in one easy step. Complete with bonus handmade card, and giftwrapping too if you're local. What could be easier for them, and more satisfying for you? Everybody happy, and that's the way it should be! It's Christmas!

Phone me on (02) 9484 9447 or email me at michelle.dyson@bigpond.com Gifts can be delivered ANYWHERE in Australia (the handmade card will be forwarded separately from the delivery if you are outside my personal delivery area)

Ho Ho Ho! Just call me Santa ;)