Stampin' Up! Deals of the Week - May

Just here to announce the following promotion for May 2011:

Dates: 1-31 May 2011

Promotion Details:

During the month of May, Stampin' Up! will offer several discounted products as 'Deals of the Week.' No limits* and no minimum purchase required.

Below is a schedule of when the weekly deals will be announced on the demonstrator and customer websites:

• Weekly Deals # 1: Sunday, 1 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)
• Weekly Deals # 2: Wednesday, 11 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)
• Weekly Deals # 3: Wednesday, 18 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)
• Weekly Deals # 4: Wednesday, 25 May 2011; 12:01 AM (AET)

This Week's Deals:

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 08:56:51

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price		Sale Price
121578	37	Tag Alongs Wood-Mount Set	$31.95		$19.17
120468	59	More Monkey Accessories Clear-Mount Set	$23.95		$14.37
121550	59	More Monkey Accessories Wood-Mount Set	$29.95		$17.97
120003	75	Cottage Garden Clear-Mount Set	$24.95		$14.97
119163	75	Cottage Garden Wood-Mount Set	$32.95		$19.77
121494	98	Compliments to the Chef Wood-Mount Set	$35.95		$21.57

If you're having trouble displaying the above table correctly, please click HERE to visit the relevant SU! web page - all details are given there.

I'll be back later with ideas for using these stamp sets. If you're interested to purchase any of these at the special prices, please email me or leave a comment or phone/SMS 0402 347 010.

Thanks for your interest.

Love from Crafty Kim

Well Wishes for a Brave Friend

I made this card recently for a friend who faced major surgery and its associated pain / lack of mobility all while juggling her work, other health issues and care of two young kids. Not for the "faint of heart". In my estimation, she's done really well and will soon be back to a new normal.

For her card, I fancied making use of my new-ish Owl Punch. The possibilities for this punch are seemingly endless and for inspiration, I went straight to the queen of owl-punching, Kerry Bunting. What Kerry hasn't done with the owl punch probably isn't worth doing (but then again, I may have to retract that claim if she comes up with more great ideas).

I particularly like the little doctor's noteboard with its mini-clip. Another reference to the doctor's notepad is the border punch on the left. It's a bit hard to see but I've used my BigShot and an embossing folder to create a textured, cream-coloured background.

Thanks again to Kerry for her bounty of ideas and to you for stopping by.

Love from Crafty Kim

Kids' Easter Craft

My son, Ashley (9 years big), and I made Easter goodie bags for some special little people this year. I decided to keep the chocolate to a minimum because most children I know end up with more chocolate than they can consume. So I filled the bags with Easter novelties from the "$2 shops" (how did we ever exist without these places?) and Peter Rabbit books by Beatrix Potter (a personal favourite - in fact, having a child now, I've got a renewed love for picture books). I also googled to find Easter colouring-in pages to print from my PC.

Being craft designed for kids to do, we used stickers and die-cuts but I couldn't resist some stamping to personalise each bag:

I stamped the above two bags but Ashley wasn't to be outdone, as shown below:

The bags and their contents went over very well. Thanks for visiting today and I hope you and your families had a great Easter break. Back to the real world of work and school tomorrow.

Love from Crafty Kim

Flowers on the Fence

I'm back here briefly to show you a card I'd been wanting to make for a long time. It was heavily inspired by Karen Thomas of Luv to Stamp fame (one of my favourite card artists). When I first saw Karen's card, it brought back memories from my childhood - of neighbours' 5 foot timber fences covered with flowering vines. These days fences tend to be taller and the tops not so much in the line of a child's vision. I've pretty much CASE'd Karen's card, save a few changes due to not having the same supplies/tools.
I've used a woodgrain timber embossing folder and Tag Punch to imitate the fence. I sponged white ink over the embossed card to accentuate the texture. The butterflies, leaves and flower petals are cut from dies; in the case of the flowers, I've used multiple layers of tissue paper, all scrunched up, similar to this card. A greeting from Teeny Tiny Sentiments (so handy, if you only buy one sentiment stamp set, this is THE ONE) and the Word Window and Modern Label punches along with some Always Artichoke ribbon finishes it.

Thanks for popping by...

Love from Crafty Kim

Cupcake Card

It's been a busy two weeks but I did promise to show you a card made using products from the new Stampin' Up! Autumn Mini catalogue. This card was designed by Jayne Mercer and I made it at our team training.

It uses the new stamp set, Create a Cupcake, and the co-ordinating punch, Build a Cupcake (both of these are shown on page 12). There are lots of extension ideas for this punch. It can be used to make clouds, ice creams and hot air balloon baskets among many other items. Click HERE to see what Clare Mcilhatton (Crafty Cow) has created with this punch.

The above card also uses a new BigShot border die called Tasteful Trim. I love the big scallops and the rick-rack borders.

On the subject of catalogues, you might be interested to know that there are some carry-over products from the Summer Mini which finished on the 31 March. Click HERE for more details.

If I'm not back here before Easter Sunday, wishing you all an enjoyable extended Easter break, choc-full of crafting.

Love from Crafty Kim

Birds & Swirls Sympathy

Happy Saturday. I'm at my desk ready to "commit a neatness" but so far all I've done is procrastinate. Outside, the day is glorious; I love the shoulder seasons of autumn and spring. It's now school holidays in NSW and I'll be busy juggling work and kid-wrangling although with my husband currently at home full-time (he's looking for a job after his former role became redundant), it's a little easier. But I thought I would post a card while I had a chance.

The photo doesn't really do the card full justice. The colours are white and warm grey (Sahara Sand in SU! speak) and it was a dull rainy day when I took the photo. Plus I was in my usual rush. Never mind, you get the idea.

The Birds and Swirls folder is one of my original purchases going back to when I first got my embossing/die-cutting machine. I still love it. I didn't emboss the whole of the card front, instead left a blank area and scored lines with my scoring tool to neaten it up. I also used my brayer to lightly apply ink to the raised areas. White pearls were perfect to give this card some elegance.

I sent this card to friends who recently lost their adored mother. It's always too soon to lose the one you love and while we come to accept their passing, the gap they leave remains forever.

Love from Crafty Kim

A wee rabbit

Here's a card I made for a Scottish friend of mine who adores her pet rabbits. Her little bunnies are very well cared for, with all that a rabbit could wish for.

On the card I've used a great set called Forest Friends. The rabbit is good for Easter and the deer useful for Christmas. Can't go past the owl and the tree either. All for $24.95 - that's my kind of stamp set.

The paper I've used here is retired but I often take colour cues from decorative paper - after all, the paper designers know about these things :) In this case, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Crumb Cake (Kraft is old-speak). I've had the corduroy buttons for a long time - enjoyed finally using them. I love corduroy - a true child of the 70's!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you're squeezing in some crafting.

Love from Crafty Kim

Butterfly Thanks

Did you go and have a look at the new Stampin' Up! goodies? I know I promised a card using products from the new Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue but that's work-in-progress :)

While you're waiting, I want to share this card I made for Ryn Gibbs, one of my SU! team members. I've seen a few variations on this butterfly theme but this one was inspired by the lovely Linda Higgins. Thank you Linda for prompting me to use one of my favourite colours, Rich Razzleberry, teamed here with Elegant Eggplant.

Again, I've used the Elements of Style stamp set and then die-cut a butterfly before water-colouring (so easy to do with this stamp set, lots of clues on where to shade heavily or lightly). The butterfly was placed on a large scallop circle (using a punch which I hope will continue to be available after it first appeared in the Summer Mini catalogue). Some subtle bling in the form of rhinestones and the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Sentiments (how did I survive before I got this set?) finishes it off nicely.

And, if you can't wait for my creativity to be displayed (and who can blame you for being impatient, we all know I'm not the speediest card-maker), please go on a blog tour showcasing creations using new SU! items. Click HERE to start the The Inklings blog hop or click on the icon above. Try to leave some comment love if you have time, I'm sure the girls will appreciate it.

Thanks for looking.

Love from Crafty Kim