Wednesday 30 January 2019

Soft and Pretty card with Stampin'Up Occasions catalogue products





Good morning from my craft studio!  This morning I put this little card together and thought you might enjoy seeing it..... Ive used some of my new favourite soft and pretty elements on this card and i love how it came together.

I started with the printed Vellum in the Floral Romance DSP... its so beautiful - its simply begging to be used!  I cut the rectangular shape with the new Stitched Rectangles framelits.  I also used some of the framelits from the Be Mine framelits.  Its the one with the stitched hearts, although together I chose to use some of the other gorgeous elements instead. As I was putting this together I cam across a couple of stray Doily elements from an earlier project... and decided to add those too!  Sometimes I really have no idea how a project will turn out until its done!  Of course the beautiful Variegated Petal Pink and White ribbon finished it all off... and I managed to sneak a bit of Grapefruit Grove foil in there too (the flourish under the Petal Pink strip)



But I need to run.... I have stamp club with some of my ladies today and after this little creation my desk needs a good tidy up!  In the meantime remember that ALL of the items I create with are available in my ONLINE STORE, and you can go shopping anytime!  Items are shipped directly to you, anywhere in Australia!

This month's host code is  YABTQKZU....use it on orders between $50 and $250 to receive a small gift in the post from me.

Have a great day wherever you are!

Linda D

Monday 28 January 2019

Stampin'Up scrapbook layout - my most pinned photo EVER! How Pinterest can work for you too!



I've been checking out my pins on Pinterest and trying to work out what works well and what doesn't.  I've been using Pinterest for several years and one of the things I have noticed is that its not always possible to know what pins will "take off" and what won't. But one thing is certain, if you have a blog post or pin that does really well on Pinterest, then it makes sense to study that and try to understand why.  Right now I have around 24,000 followers on Pinterest and the number continues to grow each and every day!

The photo you see above is one of my most pinned photos EVER.... by that I mean that it has been pinned literally THOUSANDS of times over a number of years.  Why?  I think the combination of colours that are pleasing to the eye (complimentary blues and greens) and shapes that work together well makes for a striking combination.  I actually created this layout for a class many years ago.... it was a lot of punching, but came together so well!

Here is my tip for today.... Pinterest is fabulous for those of us in highly visual markets (like mine).  But if you want to get your pictures and posts seen, then getting them onto Pinterest is a must!  Pinterest is by far my number one traffic generator for my blog.  It drives traffic like nothing else!  Here's a couple of quick tips to help you:

1. Pin regularly... not just your own content but other relevant content too.  You'll set yourself up as a regular contributor and somewhat of an expert in your field.  I make sure to regularly pin each and every blog post I create (so each post also contains an attractive, relevant photo)... remember Pinterest is a visual search engine!  Set up boards that showcase your products, and feel free to set up boards that show what you are personally interested in.  You are not only about your business.  Having different types of boards helps people connect with who you are.

2. Carefully curate what you pin.... by that I mean pin relevant and high quality material.  It can be a range of topics and subjects... its ok to show people that you have many interests.  People will find you because something about your range of interests will resonate with them too.  We attract people to us that are like us in many ways.  And thats your target audience.   Put some thought into who your target audience actually is... and pin accordingly.

3. Use keywords in your subject titles.  When I post I am looking to use words that my target audience will possibly be searching for. It makes me easier to find.

4. Join group boards!  Group boards in your area of interest are a fantastic source of traffic.  Instead of pinning to the wider audience and just hoping that the right people will find you, group boards allow you to pin directly to where the right people are already hanging out.

This is just a few of many tips that work well on Pinterest, and they are a great place to start.

Finally, like my pin above, remember that Pinterest pins have longevity!  Im still getting repins and engagement from this pin from years ago (I think 2014??) so you want your pins to be able to stand the test of time!  But this makes Pinterest very powerful as opposed to other platforms..... Instagram or Facebook photographs tend to just get pushed down in the feed and lost over time.  But Pinterest pins keep getting attention - every time someone repins the pin it becomes relevant in the Pinterest feed again. Which is why my hexagon scrap layout keeps popping up over and over again!

I hope you've enjoyed my little chat about Pinterest today and how powerful it can be!  Its a fabulous marketing tool, and you can use it to drive traffic to your blog and increase your reach to your customers.

If you would like to check out my Pinterest page and maybe even follow it please click HERE.

Happy pinning!

Linda D

Sunday 27 January 2019

Bloom by Bloom stamp set in softer colours with the Swipe Stamping Technique


I've really been enjoying using this gorgeous stamp set!  Its called Bloom by Bloom and you'll find it in our latest Occasions catalogue which is available right now!  Most of the cards I have created with it so far have been made using strong and bold colours, but this time I went for something a little softer.  I used Pear Pizzazz for the leaves, and the flower colours are Lovely Lipstick and Flirty Flamingo.

I used a fairly simple technique to create the card... its the Swipe Stamping technique, and I will be showcasing this technique at my first technique class for the year on the 15th February.  PLEASE NOTE THAT MY EVENING CLASSES HAVE MOVED TO WEDNESDAY EVENINGS THIS YEAR.  So that means that both the day and evening classes will be on the same date unless announced otherwise.

As per last year I will hold the following schedule:

First Wednesday of the month = Stamp a Stacks
Second Wednesday of the month = Technique classes
Third Wednesday of the month = Hunter Valley all day cardmaking class
Fourth Wednesday of the month will be either Stamp Clubs (every second month) or a product focused class (on alternate months)

Of course I am still available for private classes or workshops by appointment.  After all these years, I still love running private workshops in people's homes.  I am more than happy to come to you with all my crafty bits and pieces and run a private workshop in your home or even mine if you prefer.  It can be a great way to see our gorgeous products in action, to set aside some creative time just for you, and to spend time with friends in a relaxed and creative environment.  Something really special happens when people get together to craft.... its hard to define it exactly. But I can assure you its a real thing!  Please contact me if you would like to book your own... Im happy to travel anywhere in the Sydney Metro, Central Coast or Hunter areas.  I just love sharing my love of craft with everyone I can!

For more class info click HERE, or to order your own products to play with click the SHOP NOW button.





Tuesday 22 January 2019

Beautifully Detailed Laser Cut DSP makes a statement!



Today I wanted to share a card that I created with some of our brand new Occasions Catalogue products.  So many beautiful things!  I used the Beautifully Detailed Laser cut dip for the swirly background... it comes in Petal Pink on one side, and white on the other. That way you can add your own colour if you choose.  But here I did use the Petal Pink side as I think it is lovely with a Crumb Cake base, as in this example.  The little wooden butterfly is actually a free Sale-A-Bration item.  That means it is a possible gift-with-purchase on orders over $90 aud.  But there are lots of SAB items to pick from.... so of course the hardest part is deciding which one!  This pack of wooden Butterfly elements is super cute.  They are easy to attach with glue dots.

I added a bow tied from our new Old Olive Linen thread to the centre of the butterfly, and finished it off with an adhesive backed sequin.  The words "Love you" was cut from Copper Foil with our new Well Written frame dies.  Doesnt the copper look great with the Petal Pink?? I love this look!

Did you notice there isn't even any stamping on this card??  It was actually super quick to put together, but I love the result.

You can see the full list of products I used below.  If there are any items that you wish to purchase, just click on the ones you want to be taken to the online store.  Ordering online is easy... you just need a credit card to place the order, and then items are delivered directly to your door!

I hope you like my little card today..... I'll be back soon with more inspiration for you.  Or if you cant wait that long, pop over to my Business Facebook Page.  I post there several times a time and there are always lots of ideas for you to check out!


Product List
Glue Dots
[103683]
$8.00

Saturday 19 January 2019

Video Tutorial: Getting best Results from our DistINKtive stamps


Today I have my first event of the year.. and its the Occasions catalogue launch!  Thanks to everyone who has booked in... all seats are filled and I am excited to get started on the new year, and for everyone to see the gorgeous things we have in our new catalogues. Of course, its Sale-a-Bration as well, so that makes it doubly rewarding!

The card you see above on the right is one of the launch projects today... I love all the little details in the Needlepoint Nook suite, and this card shows some of them off beautifully.  The stamp set in the suite is called "Needle and Thread"... and it is what is known as a DistINKtive stamp set.  DistINKtive sets give a huge amount of detail... but its important to know how to get the best from them.  When used correctly they are soooo effective!  Of course I will be explaining that today to my in-person audience... but for those of you at home, who are unable to be here, I've made this little video so that you can see some of the tips to make these stamps work for you.

Here is the video... I hope you enjoy it!


Thursday 17 January 2019

Welcome to the Scrapbooking Global Blog Hop for January 2019



Hello and Welcome to the Scrapbooking Global Blog Hop!  Its a new year and so this is a perfect time to jump in see what all of our talented scrappers have come up with this month!

This month's hop uses a sketch theme... here it is:


I actually love sketch themes... I am always amazed at how everyone in the hop interprets the sketch differently.  We all start with the same sketch, but the variety in projects is incredible!

Here is my layout:



Of course it really helps that this month we have BRAND NEW PRODUCTS to play with!  I started with one colour... Petal Pink....as this was the colour featured in my daughter's formal dress (that she is wearing in my photo today).  And lucky for me, its a colour that features quite prominently in our latest Occasions catalogue.  I used Whisper White 12"x12" cardstock as my base, and then added LOTS of different elements... mostly in Petal pink!  The printed vellum piece is Petal Pink, and of course I used Petal Pink cardstock as well. The gorgeous variegated ribbon is Petal Pink and white.... so a perfect match.  I also added some Butterfly elements from our current Sale-A-Bration catalogue.... how cute are those!




There is just a little stamping on this page... I used the "oil spot" stamp from the Geared Up Garage set in my background.  And I stamped the date and "Yr 10 Formal" with the Labeller Alphabet (one of my faves for scrapping!)... also with Petal Pink ink.   The flourishes at the corners of the design are from the Beautifully Detailed laser cut paper..... which is Petal Pink on one side, and white on the other (so you can make it any colour!).... its so easy to use!  And last - but most certainly not least - I used a little of the Grapefruit Grove foil paper (another SAB item) for the title "Friends" and also as an accent to the right of the picture.



I love how Stampin'Up makes it easy to co-ordinate colours and products!  It was one of the first and main reasons I switched to SU..... the whole co-ordination aspect make everything just work!

I was really happy with how this turned out!  I've included a product list below.  If you would like to purchase any of these items, just click on the one you want!  Items are delivered directly to your door, anywhere in Australia!

Thanks for visiting my blog today... the next blog to visit on our hop is that of Lisa Henderson (Canada)... Im sure you will LOVE what she has created this month!  Click her name which appears below mine in the list below.

Linda D

Product List

Tuesday 15 January 2019

Calling local crafters! Stamp Club spots open for 2019!



Calling all local crafters anywhere near the Central Coast (NSW)! I have stamp club spots available for 2019! Both day and evening spots available.... stamp clubs run every second month.... there is no charge to attend, however you commit to spend a minimum of $50 on product each time (whether you actually attend or not). Each member has their turn to be the hostess over the course of the year.  Clubs in 2019 will run on Wednesdays.
This pic above shows just a few of the projects we made in stamp club last year! For more info please message me...

If you are interested in Stamp Club but not completely decided, I have one or two spots available in the January daytime club where you could come along for just that one (no commitment) to see what its like and how it works.  The date is the 30th January, at 11.15am.  Contact me for more info.  

Please note that club spots are LIMITED..... and once we have a full class, there won't be a new club for a while.   So message me today and dont miss out! 

Stay cool today everyone! 

Linda D

Friday 11 January 2019

Video Tutorial: Colouring the Butterfly Gala Butterflies


Today I made a little video to give you some quick tips on how to easily use the Butterflies from our beautiful Butterfly Gala bundle. Whether you are new to stamping, or are an experienced crafter, you will love using this awesome new set!  You'll find it in our new Occasions Catalogue (2019) and its available as a bundle with the matching punch (for a 10% saving!).

My card today features a few of my new favourite products from our latest product offering, and so I have made a product list below should you wish to order any of these for yourself (just click on the item you want to order it).  In particular I am loving the new Floral Romance Specialty DSP that features the gorgeous printed Vellum you see here on my card.  And I have cut the stitched layers with the new Stitched Rectangle framelits.... there are SO MANY framelits in this pack so its super useful!

The video is below and i hope you will find it useful.

Have an awesome day!

Linda D





Product List

Thursday 10 January 2019

Butterfly Gala from Stampin'Up for soft and pretty cards



Today I was inspired by another demonstrator, Lori Heiling, who had created a beautiful card with the new Cake punch from our 2019 Occasions catalogue.  Basically she had punched multiple times, in the same colour as the background, and then adhered them to the background piece.  The result is stunning... it almost looks like textured embossing.  You can see Lori's original card HERE.

Of course this could work with any punch or shape, and so today I tried it with the Butterfly Duet punch  that is part of the Butterfly Gala bundle... also in the Occasions catalogue. And you can see the result in my pictures today... doesn't this background look amazing???



Although there is a little time involved in glueing all the butterflies in place, it is a relatively easy card to make, and I LOVE the effect!

I've included a product list below should you wish to make a card like this for yourself!  To purchase, simply click on the item that you want.

Happy Stamping!

Linda D


Product List