Online Technique Class

I took part in my first online technique class yesterday. I've recently joined Crafters Anonymous and they hold regular classes there.  We did the shadow technique, you stamp your image in Whisper White ink and then with the help of a Stamp a majig restamp slightly off set with a darker colour.  This gives a shadow effect.  I found it quite hectic trying to create a card and follow the chat on the screen, plus add a bit to the chat too.  I ended up with the card below, it's quite basic but not bad for my first on line experience. Thank you to all the ladies over at Crafters Anonymous for making me feel so welcome.

The colours I used were Bravo Burgundy and Pear Pizazz with a little bit of Whisper White.  Ooohhhhhh!!!  did you notice that gorgeous bit at the bottom of the card?  That's a bit of a sneak peak of one of the new punches in the 2011-2012 Stampin' Up!Idea Book and Catalogue.  Isn't is fabulous, I love it! I'm sure that will be very popular.

Bye for now.

August Stamp a Stack Cards

I shouldn't be doing this I should be tidying up and getting ready for the ladies who are coming over tonight to make these cards.  Oh well, it will get done, eventually.  Hope you like the cards.  Five Christmas cards and five others, using patterned paper.  I'm always looking for ways to use up some of the Designer Series Paper that I have.  It seems to accumulate, and I really do have to make myself use it. These are all retired long ago, so I need to get rid of them so that I can make room for some of the lovely new papers in the new Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue - Starts on 1st September.  Contact me if you would like a copy of the catalogue.  There are some really gorgeous new things in there!!

This card is my favourite from the non Christmas ones. I really like the flower, it was made using the Big Shot and the Originals "Blossom Party" die.  The colours are Real Red and Pumpkin Pie. I have a spare pack due to a cancellation tonight so I might just make another of these cards and make it into a birthday card.

I'm not sure which of the Christmas cards is my favourite, but this one is nice (well they all are, aren't they?) I am a Green & Blue sort of girl. Not sure if you can tell from the photo but the JOY is cut out and  mounted up, on dimensionals.

I hope you are keeping warm whereever you are, it's been freezing here today.

Thanks for looking.

Embossing - Technique Class Cards

Last week the Technique of the Month class was embossing, we did heat embossing using a heat gun, plus dry embossing using embossing folders and the Big Shot.  I think everyone enjoyed the class and was impressed with the end results.  I always think that embossing is impressive. Dry embossing always adds class to a card, and heat embossing is just so magical.  I love watching as the powder turns to a glossy coating. Here are the two cards we made.  The girls at my Stamp Club made the brown card too.   I hope you like them.

Last night I finished designing the cards for the next Stamp a Stack.  So now I am thinking about what we will do at the NEW 'Idea Book & Catalogue' Launch Nights. 
It's so exciting!  I am expecting my pre order and copy of the catalogue to arrive early next week.  I have had a look at the catalogue on line, but it's never to same as holding that book in your hands and flicking through the pages.  I have to say I am very excited about all the gorgeous new things in there.  I really can't wait til 1st September when we can start ordering all of it.
If you would like to come along to the Launch Night email me or give me a call.  I am planning to hold it over two nights so if one date doesn't suit you, hopefully the other one will.  It will be on Monday 5th September and Tuesday 6th September at 7pm.  Everyone who comes along will receive a copy of the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue. Contact me if you would like more details.  If you can't make it to the launch but you would like a copy of the catalogue they sell for $12.95 + postage.  I will be selling them as a launch special from now until the end of September for Just $10.00 each. Contact me now to order your copy.
Hopefully by next weekend I can come back here and share a couple of things made with items from my pre-order, including the five new In Colours.
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Janice

2010-2011 SU Catalogue Retirement List

How exciting! today Stampin' Up! has announced what products will be retiring at the end of this month.  There are six pages of items, so lots of things going. 

So, you know what that means!!!  Lots of new things coming!!  Before we get too excited thinking about the new catalogue, we need to think about what we need to get before it's gone.  The items on the list are only available until stock lasts, so get your order in Soon or you could miss out. Go here to see the list, it will be updated daily Mon. to Fri. if things run out or are getting low in stock.

Call or email me if you have any queries or would like to place an order.

Janice

INKlings Christmas in July Blog Hop

Welcome to The INKlings’ Team’s Christmas in July blog hop. You may have arrived here from Clare's 'Crafty Cow' blog, or just be visiting my blog, whichever way, once you’ve checked out my creations you can continue the hop through the link at the end of this post to the next team member.

How quick is this year going! Have you started to think about your Christmas cards and projects yet? The INKlings team has and we thought that this month was the perfect time to host a Christmas in July blog hop. You'll find lots of great ideas provided by 15 team members’ fantastic blogs.

Here are five of the cards from my July Stamp a Stack.  We are making five Christmas cards each month now until the end of the year.  These cards were so simple to make. I used three main colours Old Olive, Pacific Point and Melon Mambo.  I cut different sized triangles out of DSP in each of these colours and you can see the results. I think they are simple but effective.  Hope you like them.

I purchased a template to make this star box from "My time made easy".  This is the first time I have attempted to make it.  It's not perfect, but I think it's ok.  The colours are Real Red, Garden Green and Whisper White.  The star in the middle is the SU XL Star punch in Garden Green and I used a dauber to add Frost White shimmer paint.

The other little bag is a Bagalope. This is made from a regular (you can use any size you want) envelope. My envelope was a shimmery green one and I have decorated it by heat embossing the So Swirly wheel in gold.

To make the bagalope:

Seal up the envelope.

Trim off one end (side of the envelope) to make the opening at the top of the bag. You can use decorative scissors or a border punch if you like.

Score each side and the bottom at approx. 1.5cms from edge (adjust this measurement if using a larger envelope).  Make sure these folds are nice and crisp use your bone folder for that.

Open the folds while you decorate the bag.

Once decorated, pop out the sides and form a bag by pushing the centre folds on each side in and the scored fold out.  

Bring the bottom corner squares into a point and stick with Sticky Strip to the bottom of the bag.

I used the Word Window punch and small circle punch and threaded Real Red satin ribbon through to close the bag.  You could add a piece of card stock attached at the back and folded over as a flap. 

Finally, I have made this cute Christmas Cracker gift box.  I cased this idea from Delyn Cram a fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I used a card stock that I have only recently discovered (& I've been a demonstrator for several years!). It's Naturals Ivory see page 122 in the IB&C. I also used Marina Mist card stock and satin ribbon and Soft Suede Patterned Paper from the DSP Neutrals Paper Stack. 

I stamped the DSP using VersaMark ink and gold embossing powder with the Jumbo wheel Sassy Sparkles. Then repeated that on each end of the cracker.

That's it for me.  I hope you liked what you saw and that you will pop back from time to time and see what else I have been up to.

Want to win some Blog Candy?   Simply leave a comment on each blog and then email clare@crafty-cow.com with 'INKlings blog hop' as the subject and let her know you’ve done so, then you’ll be in the running for a fantastic prize of 15 handmade items plus other goodies. Sorry Blog Candy prize not available to SU! demonstrators but you're more than welcome to leave us a comment! 

Next stop on the INKlings’ Team Blog Hop is the lovely Christie. Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to win some great Blog Candy.

If for any reason you find a missing link on the blog hop head back here to find links to all the members taking part.

1. clare http://www.crafty-cow.com
2. Janice http://www.janicespencer.blogspot.com
3. christie http://www.christiescreativecorner.blogspot.com 
4. Kari - http://www.karigail.wordpress.com
5. Joanna - http://www.joannawassens.com
6. Michelle - http://stampinground.wordpress.com
7. Alana - http://www.alanagalagher.blogspot.com
8. Carol - http://www.inkantations-and-inkarnations.blogspot.com
9. Cath - http://cathdeanpapercraft.blogspot.com/
10. Amy - http://amyandersonsblog.blogspot.com/
11. Vanessa - http://stampness.blogspot.com
12. Michelle D - http://stampinkpaper.blogspot.com
13. Ryn - http://rynscraps.blogspot.com
14. Fiona B - http://fionajanestamping.blogspot.com
15. Liz Halbisch - http://lizhalbisch.blogspot.com

Bye for now,

Janice

July Stamp a Stack Cards

Here are five of the cards we made on Tuesday.  The other five will be posted on Monday for the Christmas in July bloghop.  So don't forget to come back and have a look then.

I really like the effect of the square punch with two opposite corners rounded.  It even makes pretty good leaves if you fold it and run it through the crimper on an angle, as seen on the pink and green card (top right).

Thanks for looking.  Don't forget to pop back on Monday and see some great Christmas ideas from myself and fifteen or so other Stampin' Up! demonstrators. I can't wait to see what everyone else has done.

Bye for now,

Janice

Gift with Purchase

During the month of July Stampin' Up! are giving everyone who spends $100 or more on Stampin' Up! products a free gift.  If your order qualifies, you will receive a 13.7 meter roll of gorgeous white grosgrain ribbon with Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Old Olive and Tempting Turquoise flowers printed on it. Plus a pack of 48 matching flower shaped buttons in the turquoise, daffodil and melon colours.  These accessories have a real feel of Spring about them.  Just what we need on a day like today!

There's just one more month left to order things from the Autumn Winter Mini Catalogue too.  In August, we will be finding out what is being retired from the main Ideas Book and Catalogue, plus Stampin' Up! demonstrators will get a sneak peak at a few of the things coming in the NEW Catalogue.  I don't know about you, but I'm a bit excited!

If you are here in Esperance I hope you are keeping warm and dry.  Have a great weekend and don't hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any queries or would like to place an order.

Oh, I just remembered something else that is happening this month!!  I am taking part in a Blog Hop.  It will be a 'Christmas in July' theme and a dozen or so of my fellow INKlings will also be involved.  It starts on 25th July, so I had better get my thinking cap on and start to plan what I will do for that. It will be great to see what everyone else does too and to get lots of ideas and inspiration for Christmas cards, gifts and boxes.

I'll try to get back soon with some photos of the Easel and Twisted Easel cards we made at Stamp Club and we are making next week at the Technique Class.

Bye for now.