Back on the Stampin' Up! wagon

Some of you will remember that I joined Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator in 2006 as a way to finance my paper-craft hobby (more likely, my addiction). It proved to be great fun and for nearly 4 years, it was my part-time job. In 2009 other employment opportunities presented and I found myself overwhelmed with work and family responsibilities.

By 2010, I had reluctantly taken a step back from running Stampin' Up! workshops, classes and events. However, I remain very involved in paper-craft as a hobbyist and thanks to my loyal friends who have supported me with their Stampin' Up! orders, I have been able to continue as an active demonstrator. While the discounted product is useful, it really isn't about the money. It's about my love of Stampin' Up! products, the Stampin' Up! friends I've made and the Stampin' Up! resources available to me.

And so to 2011 where life continues to be busy but I recently found myself in a position to run a Stampin' Up! demonstration for a paper craft friend. Nothing like jumping in the deep-end, with a party of 12 including some ladies completely new to the craft. The hostess was terrific, truly made my job easier and the guests lovely. Soon I was back on the Stampin' Up! wagon and the result was a very enjoyable session.

Above is one of the make-and-take cards from the gathering. I had in mind the upcoming Mother's Day when I planned it but it would suit most occasions. I chose a monochromatic colour scheme because I wanted to show those new to the craft that you can start on a small scale and still make a pretty card. This card uses a very popular set called Elements of Style. It really is so versatile, especially if you like to colour-in. I'd have to say it isn't my usual style of stamps but I really love it. I've also used the Square Lattice embossing folder which is in the current Summer Mini catalogue (ending today, 31 March 2011). Again, there is so much you can do with the embossing folder and your BigShot.

Thanks to those who have contacted me asking about my Stampin' Up! involvement and my future intentions. I plan to remain as a demonstrator. In amongst general paper-crafting, I will be updating this blog with Stampin' Up! creations and special offers. And I will gratefully process any orders you might consider placing with me. Of course, I understand if you already have a preferred Stampin' Up! supplier and welcome your friendship regardless :)

Before I go, I want to thank my fellow Inklings stampers, Jayne Mercer, Carolyn Gibbs and Malyn Mawby for their loan of handy items for my workshop. I really appreciate their help.

Thanks for reading and please visit again soon as the new Stampin' Up! Autumn-Winter mini catalogue goes live tomorrow (Friday 1 April). I love autumn, especially the colours of autumn and the "festival of the falling leaves".

Love from Crafty Kim

Party Party - You're Invited

I'm thinking those of you with young children are in serious need of "me time" by now. After the end-of-year activities, the VERY early start on Christmas Day, the fatigue-induced whining at the end of Christmas and now the long stretch of school holidays, you deserve a respite, however brief.

I've got the perfect diversion. Come along to the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue Launch Party. It's an afternoon of crafty fun. Nothing long-winded, the kids and their father will barely notice you've gone. Here are the details:

Date: Sunday 17 January 2010
Time: Open house from 2 - 5pm
Place: Cherrybrook (address available when you RSVP)
Cost: $5 for make-n-takes, snacks and a glass of bubbly (refundable if you place an order)
RSVP: Please email me.

And remember, I'll also be detailing the...(drum-roll please):

***2010 Sale-A-Bration Promotion***

which gives you an opportunity to earn FREE STAMP SETS.

Hope to see you there.

Love from Crafty Kim

New Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue

It's the 1 December and the new Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue is online now.

Hope you enjoy looking at the new goodies. I'll be posting cards and other projects using these in coming weeks.

I will also be hosting a Summer Mini and Sale-A-Bration party early in the New Year so look out for your invitation soon.

Love from Crafty Kim

Bushfire Victim Fundraiser Closing Soon

Pretty heart-breaking picture isn't it? While the media focus has shifted away from the recent Victoria Bush Fires, the nightmare is far from over for those affected. I'm not here to burden you further but if you haven't had an opportunity to support the widespread fundraising for bush fire victims yet, I just wanted to remind you that the Stampin' Up! Bush Fire Relief Promotion ends on Tuesday 31 March 2009.

One of the sets featured in this promotion is Live Your Dream. I got a surprise when this set was not included in the new upcoming annual catalogue. It's such a lovely set. Here's some cards made using it and the matching paper, Afternoon Tea.


Notice the card on the left is a match card style. You know the packets of lighting matches? You fold the bottom of the card up and staple it. Then tuck the front card panel behind the folded flap. Here's a close-up to show you what I mean:


I also made some small cards and a folder to contain them using Whisper White Love Notes:




For another idea using this set, hop over to Alana Galagher's Blog where she has used envelopes to create this:

(Creation and photo courtesy of Alana Galagher)

Thank you Alana for allowing me to share your creations with my blog readers.

Live Your Dream is now $44.76 but only available until the 31 March 2009. Please phone me on 0402 347 010 or email me to take up the offer and support the Victoria Bush Fire victims.

Love from Crafty Kim

One Lay-Out, Three Birthday Cards

(Eastern Blooms from Summer Mini Catalogue ends 31 March 2009)

A couple of weeks ago, I made birthday cards for my brother and sister-in-law. No matter that their birthdays had passed some time ago....I started with the floral card shown above. This is a variation on a basic theme that I made with Bud Basics last year:

(Bud Basics, now at 25% off, great value for $25.46)

On the Eastern Blooms card, I have used a trio of pink-red colours: Rose Red, Regal Rose and Pretty in Pink. I've scalloped the edge with the SU! Scallop Edge Punch and placed a piece of Rose Red card underneath the scallops. I've stamped an extra flower on a separate piece of Whisper White card stock, cut it out and placed Chunky Glitter with Tombow Glue in the flower centre. The "happy birthday" greeting is from Occasional Greetings and the wide grosgrain ribbon colour is Certainly Celery. To create the leaves, I've used the 5-Petal Flower Punch and scissors with Certainly Celery card stock. I then scored and folded the leaves to give them extra dimension, here's a close up:


For the Bud Basics card, I've used the soon-to-be-deleted colours of Purely Pomegranate and Groovy Guava teamed with one of the most useful colours in the range, Chocolate Chip. You'll notice that some of flower centres have "bling" on them? Leave me a comment suggesting how I did this and I'll put the names from all the correct comments in a dish and draw out one person to receive a packet of SU! 12 x 12 inch paper (valued at $11.95). Comments close at 6pm Friday 6 March 2009 (Eastern Standard Time in Australia). Please, entries from Australian residents only and, entries from other Stampin' Up! demonstrators are not eligible to win a prize.

I didn't think my brother would appreciate a floral card so I decided to adapt the same basic lay-out for a male and use stars instead:

(In The Stars from Summer Mini Catalogue ends 31 March 2009)

In the Stars stamp set has been stamped in Soft Sky and Blue Bayou ink (also retiring soon) and Blue Bayou ribbon added. There is a brad from the discounted Pewter HodgePodge Hardware (now only $39.71 such great value). The feature star has been stamped on a separate piece of Whisper White card stock, punched out with the co-ordinating Large Star Punch and popped up with a Dimensional.

Now it's time for me to update the availability list for the retiring items so better get on it.

Love from Crafty Kim

Valentine Pull Treat

Here's a cute variation on the Ribbon Pull-Treat design (click here for a tutorial on how to make it, it's very easy).

The colours of Purely Pomegranate and Chocolate Chip are rich. I've used the So Swirly Jumbo Stamp Wheel in the background. The hearts are from the Polka Dot Punches Sale-A-Bration set and the "Love You" greeting from Short and Sweet greeting set. When you pull on the Chocolate Chip stitched ribbon (from the current Summer Mini catalogue), here's what you get:


I'm rather partial to Lindt chocolate myself but I "toughed it out" with Cadbury Furry Friends. But you can customise these pull sleeves to any size of flat treat that you want.

Thanks to Jayne Mercer for bringing this project along to our stamping gathering on Valentine's afternoon/evening. Putting all the other benefits aside, I'd be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator for the company alone; so nice to hang out with people who share the passion.

Love from Crafty Kim

Love is in the air....

For the romantics out there. There's a great set in the current Summer Mini Catalogue called A Happy Heart. I've used it to make the Valentine's Day card above.

The heart stamp was stamped in Versamark onto white card stock (which had previously been rubbed with my Embossing Buddy) and embossed with white embossing power. I prefer this approach over stamping in white pigment ink and embossing with clear embossing powder as it gives me a sharper image. Then I hand cut the heart out, leaving a small border around it. I got my trusty sponge daubers out and using Pretty in Pink and Bravo Burgundy ink pads, I coloured the heart in varying tones:


From there it was an easy run, stamp the background in Bravo Burgundy ink onto the same coloured card stock. Use the new Scallop Edge Punch to make the scalloped edge, do some more daubing of edges and tie a ribbon. Done. I think Bravo Burgundy and Pretty in Pink go well together.

I'm hoping you had a more romantic Valentine's Day than I did. My Valentine's treat was an African Drumming Party for 30-odd children aged between 1 and 9 years old. It was raining of course, so it was inside a community hall. However, I was lucky enough to go stamping with my friends on Saturday night. I'll come back later to show you what I made then.

Love Crafty Kim

Going On Safari

Hello All,

Well the day is almost here. Tomorrow my travel companion, Leanne, and I leave for Africa.

I hope to check my email on the road and pop in here to upload a post or two (fingers crossed). So, please come back to check my progress.

Remember during January, you have the opportunity to earn free stamp sets via the Sale-A-Bration Promotion.

Love you later, from the wilds of Africa,

Crafty Kim

Making Scalloped Squares or Rectangles with your Scallop Edge Punch

(Photograph and card design courtesy of Beate Johns)

Happy New Year everyone, hope your Christmas celebrations were Very Merry. Just popping in quickly in response to requests for a tutorial on how to make scalloped squares and rectangles using the new SU! Scalloped Edge Punch:


The beautiful card above is made using the new Eastern Blooms stamp set and the Scalloped Edge Punch, both of which are featured in the new SU! Summer Mini Catalogue. To learn how to make a scalloped square like the one below, just click on the picture below:


If you have any questions, please get in contact with me by email ktonnet@bigpond.net.au or phone 0402 347 010. Otherwise, have a think about investing in this new punch. It is very handy, much quicker than using a corner rounder punch to make a scalloped border and you don't need a separate punch or die-cutting system to make large scalloped squares or rectangles.

Hope this is helpful.

Love Crafty Kim

Stampin' Up! Summer Mini is here...

The new Stampin' Up! catalogue has arrived and contains beautiful things to tempt us.

Enjoy browsing through it online and if you would like your own "hard copy", please email me with your postal address and I'll pop one in the post to you.

I'll be posting pictures of cards and other items made using my new goodies soon. In the mean time, have a think about hosting a Stampin' Up! gathering in January or February 2009 when you have the benefit of both this new catalogue and the Sell-A-Bration promotion (more details of this soon).

Thanks for reading and please come back and visit again.

Love from Crafty Kim