Cheers to a New year with the Year of Cheer DSP!

Today is New Years Eve here in Australia.  In fact in only a few hours we will be doing the countdown to 2018, and its time for both farewells and for welcoming in a new page of our stories.

Every year I feel both sad to be saying goodbye to the year that was, and excited about what the new year will bring.  It is a privilege to share my business and creative ideas here with you, and I've loved sharing it with you in 2017.  But I just know that 2018 is going to be an exciting year ahead..... and if you'll have me, I'd like to share that journey with you again!

Todays card is one I made a month or so ago... I used the gorgeous Year of Cheer Speciality DSP (about to retire) and the sentiment is from the Year of Cheer stamp set.  I have found so many uses for this set! Im sad to say goodbye to it this week, but I've loved using it whilst I can.  For those of you who bought it, you are going to find it has so many uses for years to come!

I brayered over the embossed DSP with Perfect Plum and Elegant Eggplant ink.  The embossed design on this paper resists the ink, so that you get to see the lovely design through the colour.  It looks like fireworks dont you think?  Here's a close up of all the embossed designs in the DSP pack:

I've included a full product list below should you wish to purchase any of these items.... just click the ones you would like to be taken directly to the Online Store.

In the meantime, I wish you a very happy new year, and that 2018 brings lots of creative time and inspiration your way!

Happy Stamping!

Linda D x

Product List

Year Of Cheer Specialty Designer Series Paper [144640] $22.75	Cheers To The Year Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144925] $44.00	Cheers To The Year Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144928] $31.00	Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $7.00
Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $12.25	1-3/4" Circle Punch [119850] $31.00	1-1/2" Circle Punch [138299] $28.00	Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad [126969] $11.50
Elegant Eggplant A4 Card Stock [108614] $14.00	Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad [126963] $11.50	Sponge Brayers [141714] $14.00

Occasions catalogue Sneak Peek - the Magical Day stamp set and Myths and Magic Suite

Yesterday was a big day... it was my husband's birthday and we went to Sydney to watch a Gold Class movie last night as a treat.  So we got home rather late and then slept in this morning..... much easier to do when the kids are away!  However as often happens I got up before my sleeping husband.... and that's always a great time to make a project in my craft room! 

I used that little bit of free time this morning to make this card.  I really am loving playing with the Magical Day stamp set... it features lots of cute magical creatures in line drawn images... perfect for colouring.  Today I chose to make this window card with the Mermaid image.... the mermaid is coloured in Rich Razzleberry and Pink Pirouette Stampin Blends, and her hair is coloured with Daffodil  Delight light and dark pens.  I used the Ivory skin tone for her skin.  And I have to say, if you are thinking of purchasing this stamp set you are ABSOLUTELY going to want to get it as a bundle!  The matching framelits make these a dream to cut out... and I know this because originally I had the stamps but not the framelits (I won the stamp set at the Stampin'Up Onstage training day).  After the first couple of cards I made with the unicorn were hand cut, I can tell you that I am now LOVING the framelits!!! (If you want to see a unicorn card I made click HERE )

The window was cut out with the Layering Circle Framelits, and I used a piece of our Fabulous Foil acetate to mimic a watery background in the window.  I also cut a couple of pieces of the new Myths and Magic speciality DSP to create some waves in front of the window.  And my favourite thing about this card?  The sparkly Washi Tape... also from the Myths and Magic suite!  I love this tape.... especially the silver stars!  Its so sparkly and glittery... whats not to love???  Here's a closeup so you can see the washi tape better:

So I have to say that this was a super fun card to make!  These gorgeous items are coming your way in the new Occasions Catalogue due out next week on the 3rd January.... so dont miss them! You'll find them on pages 36 and 37 and there is also matching glimmer paper too to round out the suite.  And dont forget that with every $90 you spend you will qualify for a free product from our fantastic Sale-A-Bration catalogue too!  

Enjoy the card, and I'll be back with more soon... including a couple of videos coming your way.  Stay tuned!

Linda x

SAB Sneak Peeks...... Amazing You stamp set with the Celebrate you Framelits

Today I am featuring 2 Sale-A-Bration (SAB) stamp sets on the one card..... and I have to say that I really like how this card turned out.  I received these items as part of a special demonstrator pre-order (one of the perks of being a demonstrator is being able to order products from our new catalogues early!) and have been really looking forward to using them.  For some reason lately I've been using a lot of Sahara Sand in my projects..... just going through a Sahara Sand "stage" I suppose.  But I've used it as my background colour again today..... and added Fresh Fig, black and white (and a little silver glimmer paper too of course!)

The striped DSP is from the new "Petal Passion" paper pack in the new Occasions catalogue.  I think this paper is super useful, and have already used my pack a bunch.... don't worry I'll be doing LOTs more with this!  I also had some help from the Stampin' Blends to colour in the flower... I used Pink Pirouette Light and Dark blends markers.

The Celebrate You framelits are a special item in the SAB catalogue.  Most items in this catalogue are available for free when you place a $90 order (from January 3 to March 31) but this is the first time that Stampin'Up have offered a framelit set as a free SAB item.  There are actually 2 "higher ticket" items in this year's brochure.... and this framelit set is one of them.... they will be available with a $180 order.

Im so excited for the new catalogues to start next week!  Have you got your catalogues yet?? If not, request one from me by clicking HERE

Today's Sneak Peek with the Bird Banter stamp set

Today I am doubling up on the Sneak Peeks because I am featuring a stamp set from the new Occasions catalogue AND some fun DSP from the Sale-a-Bration catalogue.

The stamp set is called "Bird Banter", and those that know me well how that its going to be one of my favourites from the new catalogue.  The reason is simple... I love birds!  In fact I love them so much that I share my house with one (a small grey cockatiel named Cookie, who I have had for nearly 20 years).  But this makes me a little fussy when it comes to stamping with bird images because I dont love every bird set if I dont feel that the images do these beautiful creatures justice.

The Bird Banter set is just fun though.  They are line drawing images of parrots and this toucan, and they are on the cutesy side.  I enjoyed colouring this little toucan with the Stampin'Blends which were perfect to get lots of colour on his beak.  And I really love that sentiment to go with him!

The paper in the background (with the hearts) is from the fun and bright DSP pack called "Bubbles and Fizz" and this is another FREE item that you can choose for every $90 you spend (From January 3rd to March 31 2018)

I've also added a strip of the new glimmer paper from our Occasions catalogue... its from the Myths and Magic Suite, and comes in turquoise, green and white glimmer.

All these lovely things will be coming your way on the 3rd January 2018.... so stay tuned for even more sneak peeks!

Linda D

PS... If you live in Australia and would like these free catalogues mailed to you, click HERE to let me know and I'll pop them in the post for you!

Another SAB sneak peek.... the lovely Heartfelt Blooms stamp set

This is the very first Sale-a-Bration set shown in our awesome Sale-A-Bration (SAB) catalogue for 2018.  To be totally honest with you, this set wasn't the first one I wanted though.  I had a bunch of others I gravitated to first.  But then I began to see some great samples made with this set and all of a sudden I realised that I needed this one in my collection as well.  Im pretty sure Im not the only one who has experienced that phenomenon!

The main focus of this stamp set is the detail in the main flower stamp.  I love how it stamps.... just with one inking you get different depths and shadows and I think that makes it a pretty awesome stamp.  But I also love the fonts of the sentiments included in this set.... one of them shown here of course.

How does SAB work? Well.... there are 3 ways to really benefit from SAB as a customer:

1. For every $90 you spend, you get to choose something out of the exclusive SAB catalogue.  This year's offering is awesome!

2. If you host a workshop anytime during SAB (3rd January - 31st March) then you will get an additional $40 worth of hostess benefits for holding a qualifying party.  You can even use those rewards towards the Demonstrator Starter Kit if you wish

3.  If you decided to join (or rejoin!) Stampin'Up during SAB you will get to choose 2 ADDITIONAL FREE STAMP SETS on top of your kit... thats' up to $174 worth of extra product... not to mention the great deal you already get when you purchase the kit!  For only $169 you can choose WHATEVER YOU LIKE in your demonstrator kit up to $235 in value (and then the 2 extra stamp sets are added on to that!)  For those that know, the deal at this time of year has been something of a lesser value (eg ONE extra stamp set!) but this year because its the 30th Anniversary of Stampin'Up being in business they are doing 2 FREE SETS!  

My advice?  If you are thinking of joining.... join EARLY  during SAB.  As a demonstrator you get all the same perks that customers get but even more!  So you'll be able to take advantage of the great deals during SAB whether as a customer, OR as a demonstrator.  PLUS you'll get a discount on all your orders.... and lots of extra Demonstrator-only perks!   And if you join early, you'll get to register for Onstage (our Demonstrator only Training day held 6 monthly)... but registration opens on 16th January, so you'll need to join before then!

If you would like more information on any of these options, please CONTACT ME....  or you can click the Shop Now button or the Join my Team button on the tabs above.  Or if you need a catalogue or an information pack on joining please let me know.

Dont let SAB pass you by without checking out how you can benefit whether as a customer or a demonstrator.  Its a fabulous time to get some great specials and benefits!

I'll be back with another SAB sneak peek soon!

Linda x

Another SAB Sneak Peek: Lots of Lavender to create a soft and pretty card

Hello crafters!  I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas with those you love.  Today in Australia we have what is known as "Boxing Day", which is always the day after Christmas.  It is also a public holiday and a day for watching various sporting events on TV, and eating copious amounts of leftover food.

This is also a fantastic time of year to do what you love... which in my case is to escape to my craft room and create all kinds of fun things.  I have been playing with different SAB sets that are due for release on the 3rd January 2018... and I thought you might like to see another one today.

The free set I am playing with today is called "Lots of Lavender", and its not hard to see why.  I've kept my colours muted for this card - Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke and Perfect Plum, and the main line image is stamped in Early Espresso.  I've also added a new Embossed background from a Folder from the new Occasions catalogue. Its duo set called "Petal Pair".... its the perfect background for this card!

If you are in Australia and you would like your own hard copy of the new catalogues mailed to you for free, please click HERE to email me and request a copy.

Linda D x

Today's Sneak Peek from the Occasions catalogue - the Painted with Love Bundle

This is one of my new favourites from the upcoming Occasions (2018) catalogue.   It's called the Painted with Love suite of products which includes the stamps, framelits and this divine DSP!  Yep, thats Designer Series Paper in the background of this card.  I know it looks like I threw some paint around on a canvas.  But its this gorgeous paper which means you dont have to get messy to get the painted look.  And the strip you can see going across the card with the small hearts on it... thats actually the reverse side of this same sheet of paper.  The paper sheets in this particular pack are so thick - they would be great for boxes and other 3d items too.

Here's a close up of the main card elements:

I embossed the main heart in Gold... i love the "distressed" look to this heart.

All these items will be available from the 3rd January onwards.  And dont forget it's going to be Sale-a-Bration too, which means that every $90 you spend gets you a free SAB item!  If you live in Australia and would like a free catalogue mailed to you, contact me by clicking HERE.

So as its Christmas Eve... I'd like to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!  I hope you spend it with those you love xxx

Linda D x

Sneak Peek at SAB 2018: Epic Celebrations stamp set for Teenager cards

Today I wanted to show you another project made with SAB products from the soon-to-be-released SAB 2018 offering.  This set is called "Epic Celebrations" and it includes a number of cute stamp images... these Converse sneakers that I have used on this card, as well as headphones, and a guitar.  There's also a couple of great sentiments, such as the one I've used here.

In case you dont know, SAB means FREE with a $90 order... so basically these are "gifts with purchase" products..... except that you get to choose the gift from a special SAB catalogue.  And its a fantastic catalogue this year with loads of great products to choose from!  If you dont have a Stampin'Up demonstrator, and would like a free catalogue to be sent to you, please click HERE and I'll send you one... but you have to be in Australia!

For this card I stamped my background shoes in Night of Navy ink on the Island Indigo cardstock, as I wanted them to stamd out with the darker colour. Then I used a white gel pen (Uniball broad tip pen) to colour in the rubber edges and shoelaces.  The dotty image is also from this same set.

For the sentiment I stamped the "You're Awesome" in Night of Navy ink on Whisper white cardstock and then cut the oval with are fantastic Stitched Shapes framelits.  The strips of paper behind the sentiment are also created with new products... I've used the "Bubbles and Fizz" DSP (which is another free SAB product!) plus the "Myths and Magic" 6"x6" glimmer paper (not an SAB item but its new in the Occasions catalogue - also soon to be released!)

When can you order from the Occasions and SAB catalogues? Well it all kicks off on the 3rd January 2018.  You are going to love all these fabulous new products we have coming your way!  Don't forget to contact me if you are in Australia and need a free catalogue!

Linda D x

Sneak Peek: Sweet Stuff with the Picture Perfect DSP

I love this time of year as things start to wind down and I can finally start to play with my great big box of new catalogue stuff!  Woohoo!

I went for this very simple card today... it uses a new DSP pack called "Picture Perfect".  One side of the paper has these photo realistic designs, and it has a predominantly birthday theme.  The other side of the DSP has more graphic designs... almost cartoonish at times.  I love its bright happy colours.

When I saw those realistic looking doughnuts, I decided they would perfectly match the "Sweet" Sentiment in the Cupcake Cutouts framelits.  This card is the result.  I cut the sentiment twice, once in Berry Burst Cardstock and once in Lemon Lime Twist. The I adhered them together slightly offset so that you can see the Lemon Lime twist peeking out from underneath.  I also used a framelit border from the Flourish Thinlits set in Dazzling diamonds glimmer paper to add a little pizzazz to the finished card.  This a quick and fun card to make!

This paper will be released on the 3rd January 2018... keep checking back for more sneak peeks as it gets closer to C-DAY (Catalogue release day!)

Linda D

Last Diorama of the year with the Night in Bethlehem Bundle

Yesterday I had a lovely comment on my Youtube Channel and a previous Diorama Card tutorial I had created there.  Apart from thanking me for the card, she also said she would like to see a Night in Bethlehem version of the Diorama card.  And that reminded me that I had never blogged this card, even though I created it a couple of months ago (it was my demonstration card for the Penrith Craft Show in early November!) Sometimes diorama cards are difficult to photograph, but this one didn't turn out too bad.

So here it is.  The card was so well received at the show, and everyone seemed to love it.  If you are interested in making a Diorama card for yourself I have made 2 tutorials for it in the past... and I'll pop up both those videos below.  I've also included below a product list for this card so that you can purchase the products and recreate it if you wish.  To purchase you can click the SHOP NOW button above, OR you can just click the pictures of the items you would like to be taken to the store purchase page.  Items are delivered straight to you, wherever in Australia you might be.

My number one tip is Dont be overwhelmed by diorama cards!  They are surprisingly easy to create, and the wow factor is well worth it!  This card uses surprisingly few products considering the end result. Of course you'll need your big shot too.

And finally, its worth knowing that the Night in Bethlehem stamps and framelits are NOT retiring!  However they will no longer be available as a bundle (with a 10% saving) so I would definitely grab them at the cheaper price while you can.

If you havent seen them before, i hope you enjoy the videos!

2017 Christmas Diorama card

2014 Christmas Diorama card



Product List

Night In Bethlehem Wood-Mount Bundle [146043] $95.25	Night In Bethlehem Clear-Mount Bundle [146044] $83.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $12.25	Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock [121695] $14.00
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75	Merry Little Christmas Designer Series Paper [144621] $19.25	Silver Glimmer Paper [135314] $8.75	Lots Of Labels Framelits Dies [138281] $45.00

Video Tutorial: Adding Texture to Foil Sheets with your Big Shot

Today's video is actually based on a very simple idea.  I really love adding texture to my projects and I loved how I got lots of different textures with just this one Framelit flower on this card.  By using Champagne foil the different textures give it quite a vintage look, like beaten metal or even pewter.

I've used the Quilt Builder framelit dies (again!) to show you how you can easily get this effect, but you could use whatever dies you have available.

I've included a product list below should you wish to purchase any of these items for yourself.  Dont forget that this particular Christmas Quilt bundle is going to be discontinued shortly, so if you love it, make sure you order one for yourself before its gone.  You can contact me to have it ordered for you, or you can visit the ONLINE STORE.

Here's the video.. i hope you enjoy it:

Product List

Christmas Quilt Photopolymer Bundle [146026] $80.00	Quilt Builder Framelits Dies [144673] $52.00	Champagne Foil Sheets [144748] $7.00	Big Shot [143263] $159.00
Silicone Craft Sheet [127853] $10.00	Basic Black A4 Card Stock [121688] $14.00	Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock [121695] $14.00	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $12.25
Vintage Crochet Trim [144611] $10.00	Classic Label Punch [141491] $31.00	Quilt Top Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [144687] $15.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $8.75
Teeny Tiny Sentiments [130042] $64.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $12.25