SAB Botanicals Are Just For You CTC#66

This week at CASE-ing The Catty we are sharing another SALE-A-Bration pick, whether it be a stamp set, one of the papers or even Project Life - they're all available for you to pick when you make an order of $90. If you happen to be mad for everything in the Occasions catalogue, you can pick an item for every $90 you order ($180 = 2 items, $270 = 3 items, $360 = 4 etc). If you get as high as that, maybe you should have a chat to me about joining up as a demonstrator, Stampin' Up!® welcomes and supports all types of demonstrators from the hobby demo buying crafting supplies at a discount, through to those making it a full time business. During SALE-A-Bration you get to choose $60 extra, choose $295 of any products from the Annual Catalogue and/or the Occasions Catalogue and pay only $169. Of course, if you prefer to be a customer, you can purchase your supplies through my online shop, or by contacting me, you just need to have a delivery address in Australia.

I was rather impressed with this sample from the catalogue, it is so simple but sweet. If you also like this delightful "Hello" you'll need to put your $90 in pronto, as this SAB freebie won't be available after February 15th!

Unfortunately, I have trouble keeping my creations simple, and I did add three colours and quite a bunch of flowers!!!

Using Watercolor paper and Versamark, the big statement stamp from Botanicals For You was stamped and heat embossed in white. With watercolor paper, there is no need to swipe your embossing buddy over first, the paper has a different composition to regular card. For the watercolor wash, you use an Aqua Painter and squeeze the ink pad with the lid closed, causing some ink to be deposited in the lid. Then you can splosh around to your hearts desire, leaving the colour bold with little water added, or more subdued by using more water. I decided on three shades for my watercolouring, and took up a larger part of the card front.

Instead of the very subtle white butterflies, I went with nearly-as-subtle pastel flowers.The flowers are from Botanical Builder Framelit Dies, and there are so many styles of flowers, stamens and leaves to choose. There are three here in colours to match the inks used, and a ferny leaf the same shade as the card base.

The Botanicals For You fits in so nicely with Botanical Blooms, you'll need them both! Another quick CASE, this one from page 5 of the SAB catalogue. The flowers are like the illustration, but I wanted to see what I could come up with for the boys. These balloons from Balloon Celebration, and stars from Pictogram Punches and Something To Say are great alternatives, and I'm sure there are many more.

If you like doing bloghops in reverse, you'll be clicking on the 'previous' button and heading to visit Helen Heil, but if you've already been there you need to click on 'Next' and head on over to Kathryn Mangelsdorf.

    

Starting this year we are doing a monthly challenge. If you have been inspired by any of the projects in the catalogue or on the blog hop, feel free to share with the linky tool on this post. A winner will be chosen and announced on the first post of the following month.

Cheers, Rachel

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Amazing Birthday With Flowers

Because I've headed off on holidays, I've scheduled some posts to help inspire you to create. Amazing Birthday is a favourite stamp set of mine, you can use it in so many different ways, and I used it last year for a number of male birthdays. You can see two here and there is another one here. It's also super cute in feminine shades like these: - Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry and Rose Red.








The addition of a bloom from Petite Petals to secure the banner echoes the use of small flowers from Something to Say. The panel with stamping has also been debossed with the Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Large Polka Dot. It's a technique I like using, stamping into the depression. There are a couple of different ways to have all the words in different colours. One is the  'ink to rubber' technique, but this time I stamped out four times in four colours, chose the Rich Razzleberry as the  base, and cut the corresponding 'happy' from the others and
adhered to the appropriate spot on the tag.

Now...... I have no idea what the Weekly Deals are while I am away, but remember there are extra savings, and limited quantities all through August, so I am reminding you to pop over to the shop and check them out. Even though I'm away, the shop continues to run 24/7 and if you purchase while I'm away, you will still receive your products in the usual 5-14 day delivery timeline. The hostess code for this month is 36JSEMF6 
(I've had a quick sneak peek as they've gone online this morning, and they're really good deals for lovers of glimmer and gleam in gold and silver!)

Cheers
Rachel

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Big News Baby CTC#37

This week the CASE-ing The Catty Crew are CASE-ing the section of the catalogue titled For Baby, pages 31-38. You may be starting here with me, or perhaps you have come from Bronwyn at AddINKtive Designs .
If you've started here, you can continue to blog hop your way right around for plenty of CASE-ing The Catty inspiration by clicking on the link at the end of my blog. If you happen to get lost along the way, you can get back on track at Case-ing The Catty.


On page 37 are six small cards, and the middle top one inspired my card. I haven't bought the featured stamp set yet, but do have Baby's First Framelits, so put the onesie die through the Big Shot, decorated it with a star from Something To Say and pulled my paper piercing tools out.
I used the Squares Collection Framelits and paper pierced them too. Because I made a regular sized card, I had a large white space which suited this huge sentiment from Big News.




I'm really happy with the way this turned out, and just think of the different ways you can use this sketch, perhaps with flowers or a feature stamp.  May I add, the thicker Whisper White card is wonderful for cards, just what we've been wanting for so long. You really must try it soon, if you haven't already.
Next you're hopping along to Alison's blog, enjoy!
Rachel  

Hostess Code this month is 6J7FYB24
                                                            

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A Fruity Thanks FMS#192

Over the last few days I've been playing with the InColors and discovered that I really like last year's Blackberry Bliss matched with  this year's Watermelon Wonder. It's part of the way to a fruit salad!!! Tip Top Taupe looks quite tasty with these too!

There are many more combinations I've discovered by stamping out samples of all ten colours, so hopefully this will lead to more creating soon.

Using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, I layered some Blackberry Bliss from the Designer Series Paper Stack (12" X 12") before I stamped in the two colours, with the small flower stamp from hostess stamp set A Whole Lot Of Lovely, to make my own designer series paper for the background. You can see that I've carried this through to the inside of the card too. This was the first time inking these stamps, so I gave each of them a try out before settling on the flamboyant 'thank you' to feature on this card.

After some fiddling about with various punches and framelits, the 2 inch circle punch seems to fit both the sentiment and the second size in the Deco Label Framelits and I lopped off the left side of both, so this feature didn't overwhelm the card. I could have inked the flowers and words on this stamp with Stampin' Write Markers, and in fact, that would be very effective, but instead I added punched flowers from Something To Say, as I often do.

Since we have just passed the Winter solstice in Australia, the light is very poor for photography, but hopefully these pictures aren't too dull and you feel inspired to go and stamp something.

Cheers
Rachel

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Tap, Tap Tap - It's Your Birthday!

When tidying my shelves, I'm reminded of stamps I loved a year ago, but neglect in the rush to use new ones. Repeating part of the formula from yesterday, there is a carryover stamp paired with a new one. If you count the inside, there's a long-retired stamp there too - 'wishing you' from Wacky Wishes combines so beautifully with the latest release Birthday Blossoms. Colour Me! came up with an inspiring colour scheme and I thought the sketch By Jen T at Freshly Made Sketches gave me lots of space to work with. However, keeping in mind that FMS like clean cards, I haven't cluttered it up too much.

Tap, Tap. Tap is the carryover stamp set, and I've used the typewriter and some of the letters on the Coastal Cabana background. Endless Birthday Wishes have some small typed-style words and two of them were added to the sheet of paper in the typewriter. Birthday wasn't one of the sentiments included in Tap, Tap, Tap.

The tiny flower from Something To Say seems to blend with the other blossoms quite well and adds a bit more pizzazz, along with the rhinestones. Having mentioned the inside, I s'pose I should share it! Sorry, I'm having camera issues with the flash not firing at the same time as the shutter releases. Hope its not serious as I head to Europe shortly.

Thanks for dropping by

Cheers

Rachel

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South Pacific Stampin' Up!® Convention - More Swaps

Still here on the Gold Coast, enjoying all the fun of a Stampin' Up!® Convention. Last night a large group from Claire Daly's Art With Heart team went out for dinner. So much fun to catch up with demonstrators from the wider team. They came from as far as Perth, taking a whole day to travel to the Gold Coast via Melbourne and they came from around the Gold Coast/Brisbane area too. Well, I guess the fact that we have a team member from the States at the moment makes Karen our most distant member, but she actually has been living in Melbourne.

I made two other card fronts to swap with other demonstrators, and sadly, after the retired list came out last Tuesday 21st, it seems that both my swaps have retired product on them.

This first one uses mainly Polka Dot Pieces, which is retiring, and I believe clear mount has already sold out. I used the small flowers from Something To Say, punched out with Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack and it has all been grounded on the Starburst Framelit circle which was punched out of my design crew swap card.

Starburst Framelits are retiring too. The circle was stamped with Hardwood. The sentiments in From The Herd have a really nice font, the 'happy birthday' came from that set.The Bird Builder Punch remains in the catalogue, so perhaps there will be another stamp released to co-ordinate with it.

For my other swap, the only item used which remains current is Gorgeous Grunge. I tried for a less feminine card, using some DSP, although those are soft colours. The stamp set is #Hello and incudes a lovely big @, as well as some of those hashtag slogans like #friendsarethebest. I paired it with Hello, which is decorated with the teeny heart from the Owl Builder Punch. On Film Framelits are also retiring, but I will keep them for my own use. The round 'hello' was stapled into position.

Now is a good time to pop over and do some online shopping, you might even score a bargain. Many of the products were sold out within hours though, so I hope you're not disappointed! The product links below will take you directly to the item you click on.

I had no time to make more swaps with current products so I hope the recipients aren't too disappointed.
Cheers
Rachel                                                                                                                                                                    

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Love You Always - Colour Me ..!

This crochet blanket is so pretty, I almost feel like pulling some yarn out to see if I can still crochet!

I think I'm feeling a little sentimental tonight, as things like this remind me of my childhood, my dear mother and all things warm and fuzzy. Tucked up in my spare room tonight are three small people, who have run me ragged all day and are now blissfully sleeping, before it all begins again in the morning! I've had most of this card completed earlier, and just needed a little bit of crafting before I too, get off to bed.

I really want to go back and re-stamp the tag as it has a two part greeting. The first part says 'big ways, small ways' and then the 'love you always' follows on so smoothly.

The stamp set is Something To Say, it really does have some lovely sentiments included and I haven't used it half enough yet.
Hope your weekend is a happy one
Cheers
Rachel



Thank you to Jenny at Colour Me..! for picking my card out this week.

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Happy Mother's Day PP240

These three colours are my all-time favourites of the retiring In Colors, and I've stocked up (hope you have too!).
I nearly ran out of time to complete my card for the Paper Players colour challenge, thanks Joanne for these lovely colours, but after I'd done my exercise this afternoon, instead of lying down for a very tempting 'Nana nap', I've gone and put the various pieces together.

I've used Pictogram Punches a lot lately, because it is the stamp we're using at my class this month, and I like to show examples of its versatility. This means that there's likely to be a spare or two from the stamp set already stamped when I come to put a card together. Saves a bit of time, especially when they're the right colours!

I really enjoy punching out those cute little flowers, stars and hearts - and did you know that Something To Say has another 3 of those images in it as well? The vase has to be cut by hand, but it's easy enough, and even the three stems don't present too much of a challenge. The polaroid frame was already cut from  Coaster Board from when I was designing my Convention Swaps, but I chose to use the film frame instead on those. On Film Framelits have a couple of these handy shapes.

Speaking of handy shapes, I'm finding the tiny shapes in the Perpetual Birthday Calendar come in handy too. When I get more organised, I think that stamp set will prove to be very useful for making journalling cards for Project Life.

Cheers
Rachel

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Just Ducky, Darling!

Something For Baby is a cute stamp set, made doubly cute by having matching framelits. They give such a nice crisp edge to the cut out images.
I made this as a birthday card for a one year old, the age when they are right 'into' rubber duckies and stacking toys.  Such a sweet time, dear little one-year-olds are such fun, aren't they?

Primary colours feature here, and the composition is very simple. I love to add some candy dots here and there, and a clean sentiment comes from Something To Say.

I made good use of the Designer Series Paper Stack (Brights) to line the inside of this card and to make a co-ordinating envelope with the Envelope Punch Board. I really should try to make an envelope more often, they're are really easy with the 'recipe' actually printed on the Envelope Punch Board for a multitude of sizes. This card will be taped to the gift bag, so it doesn't matter about the patterned paper, but you could use an adhesive label if the pattern is too distracting.

CAS on Sunday have challenged for a 'clean and simple children's card'. I think this one qualifies in that category! Thanks for reading my blog.

Rachel

Something For Baby Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$51.95

Something For Baby Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$37.95

Something For Baby Wood-Mount Bundle

$80.50

Something For Baby Clear-Mount Bundle

$68.75

Something To Say Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$51.95

Something To Say Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$37.95

Brights Candy Dots

$9.95

Brights Backgrounds Designer Series Paper Stack

$37.95

Envelope Punch Board

$31.95

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Big News - It's Your Birthday!

Spring is really here and it makes my heart sing! I've had a delightful afternoon making cards with some lovely ladies, using Flower Patch stamp set. I think they were thrilled with their beautiful cards. One of my friends wanted to use Big News for her greeting, which has helped me choose the direction I will go with this fun card.
I already had planned to use  Boutique Borders and colour them, and the 'it's your birthday' in Big News, with its spindly font, just seems to go together with those borders. It almost seems to be hand-drawn, don't you think?




I can't locate my Summer Starfruit marker, so a sponge dauber dipped into the inkpad, has helped out, and I don't mind the look of it, outside the lines and all. The rest of the semi-circles were coloured using Stampin' Write Markers in the different hues. I've realised that it is quite hard to pick up the Blackberry Bliss, but its there on two of the striped half-circles at the top and the bottom (and of course the tiny flower from Something To Say).The 'woo-hoo' banners are from Big News, and have been easily hand-cut and attached with a narrow strip of Dimensional edging, to the hand-drawn flag poles.

It reminds me a little of licorice allsorts, yum, haven't had them for ages!

The inside is decorated but not coloured. 'Enjoy the Fuss' is another stamp from the Big News set. Its a great set, and big value too.

ColourQ set this great challenge, and I loved it!
Click on the link to see some of the other great cards that have been made using this interesting combination of colours!

Thanks for checking out my blog, leave a comment if you like...

Rachel

Big News Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$75.95

Big News Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$55.95

Boutique Borders Photopolymer Stamp Set

$27.95

Something To Say Wood-Mount Stamp Set

$51.95

Something To Say Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$37.95

2014-2016 In Color Stampin' Write Markers

$25.95

Subtles Stampin' Write Markers

$49.95

Calypso Coral A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Basic Black A4 Card Stock

$11.95

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

$14.95

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

$9.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.