Quick Tip Video: Creating Subtle Backgrounds (and introducing the Painted Harvest Stamp Set!)

Today's quick tip video shows you how to create simple but subtle backgrounds for your cards..... this is give you a gorgeous look and will mean that your background doesn't compete with the main feature of your card... in this case these gorgeous flowers from the Painted Harvest stamp set.

Aren't they beautiful?  It's available from tomorrow, 1st September 2017.  Already I've seen so many wonderful things done with these lovely stamps.... and they look completely different depending on what colours you use. For example, if you use yellow tones, your flower will look like a sunflower.   Here I've used Marina Mist as my base colour, and then stamped Night of Navy over the top. But you'll see how it works when you watch the video.

I think you will find that this background technique is something you will come back to many times... I know I do!

Now time to let you know something really fun.... tomorrow right here I am part of a blog hop with some of the girls in my team.  There are some super talented girls in our group and I cant wait to be part of this hop with them!  We'll be going live at 9am tomorrow and showcasing some of our favourite products from the new Holiday catalogue... so make sure you check in here tomorrow to see what they have come up with!

In the meantime, enjoy this video today!

Linda D

Video Tutorial: 9 Top Tips for White Gel Pen Colouring

Today's Monday tutorial features a very simple technique, but one of my favourites...  today we are doing some White Gel Pen colouring!   But beware... white gel pen colouring should come with a warning.... its addictive!  There is something very satisfying about colouring this way, and the results can be quite stunning!

In this video I've included a bunch of tips to help you get the best results.  I'd love to hear what you think of White Gel Pen colouring too!  Enjoy the video!

This Winter Wonder Snowflake from Stampin'Up is just beautiful!

A few more "sneaky peeks" from the new Holiday catalogue being released on September 1st, 2017!  Today Im excited to show you one of my new favourite items... the Champagne Foil paper!  Its beautiful... and in my opinion it sits somewhere between Copper and Silver.  Not only will you be able to use this lovely foil paper, there is a whole pack of DSP called "Year of Cheer" that features this foil too! Here's a look at a card made with THAT:

This was actually a card we made with StampinUp when we were all in Thailand last month! Its so simple, but its beautiful!


Also on my card today you can see I've used the Winter Wonder (Snowflake) Embossing Folder.  And yes, I do realise snowflakes aren't everyone's cup of tea here in a land where Christmas means Summer!   BUT.... they are so pretty, and I love them anyway.... so I'll find a way to sneak them into my crafting :-)

The last item that is new is a little bit hidden... you can see it poking out beneath my sentiment... its the Vintage Crochet Trim and even though this one is part of the Halloween collection, I think Im going to find lots of uses for it anyway.  Its certainly too lovely to just be used for Halloween!

I hope you enjoy this little card today and that you are loving the sneak peeks of all these awesome new products. My Holiday Catalogue mailout happened this past week, so I am looking forward to hearing that everyone is receiving them and loving them as much as I do.  (If you're not on my mailing list, its not too late!  Click HERE to request a free catalogue.... they can be sent anywhere in Australia!

Happy Stamping!

Linda x

Musical Season from Stampin'Up Australia for your Music Loving friends!

Here's a set I loved as soon as I saw it, but I have to admit... it was a bit of a selfish purchase. As a demonstrator I am lucky to be able to purchase my products early (a month before customers can order them)... and this allows me time to play and experiment with them so that I have lots to show you by the time they are actually available. This was a selfish purchase because I didn't stop to think about whether it would be a marketable set... whether it would be popular with customers. I bought it because I liked it, pure and simple.

I've now made several cards with it, and the truth is, every card I make with this set, I love it more and more!  Im not sure you can even make a bad card with this bundle!  And as for usefulness, I've realised that its not just great for Christmas, but its good all year round for music lovers!  So you will probably see me using it a lot in the coming months, and if you love it too, then it will be available to purchase from the 1st September.  To order yours after that date, just click the SHOP NOW button on this page!

I've used a watercolour wash in the background of this card (in Pool Party ink, and a little Island Indigo) and then stamps that lovely swirly stamp across the front.  I stamped and cut the lyre and added that with Dimensionals over the top, and then cut the treble clef from Silver Foil paper with my Big Shot.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.   A very simple card, but I think you'll agree it's quite striking.

Keep checking back and I'll be adding even more projects from our upcoming Holiday catalogue. If you are in Australia and would like one sent to you for free, please click HERE to email me and let me know.  Or if you are in driving distance of the Central Coast and would like to come along to my new Catalogue launch on the 9th September, click HERE for more details.

Happy Stamping!

Linda x

Video Tutorial: Creating Coffee Treat Pockets for awesome gifts!

Today's video tutorial shows you how to create these awesome Coffee Treat Pockets.  I used the Coffee Break Suite of products, and co-ordinated them with the Mini Treat Bag framelits to create the pockets. I love them because they are quick and there are so many ways to decorate them!

Im adding a second photo with my hand in it so you can see how big they are...

There's a product list below so you can click on any items that you wish to purchase, and have them sent directly to your door, anywhere in Australia.

Check out the video and let me know what you think:

Product List

Coffee Café Photopolymer Bundle [145331] $78.25	Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies [137547] $66.00	Coffee Break Designer Series Paper [144155] $19.25	Crumb Cake A4 Card Stock [121685] $14.00
Card Stock A4 Soft Sky [131292] $14.00	White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584] $11.50	Gold 1/8" Ribbon [134583] $8.75	2" X 8" (5.1 X 20.3 Cm) Cellophane Bags [141703] $5.25
1-1/4" Circle Punch [119861] $28.00	Stampin' Trimmer [129722] $50.00	Paper Snips Scissors [103579] $17.00	Big Shot [143263] $159.00

Clean and Simple Colouring with the Hello Colour Stamp set

I really love to colour in!  I find it therapeutic to do and very calming.  And luckily there are a number of stamp sets we have available from StampinUp Australia that are designed with this purpose in mind.... and today I have used the large stamp image from the "Hello Colour" stamp set.  This is a great set if you love colouring too.   Here it is:

But instead of giving it the full colour treatment, today I went with one of my favourite looks... colouring with White Gel pen.  The secret to getting this technique to work well is to use medium coloured cardstock as your base... by medium colour I mean not too dark, and not too light.  You want your stamp image in a darker colour so that it stands out well, and you want the white pen to show up well against the background cardstock too.

On this card I used Night of Navy ink for my stamped image.  The white gel pen is a broad tip pen from Uniball. I got mine at my local craft supplies store, but you can also get them from Officeworks,  Kikki K and some newsagents.  Just make sure it is a broad tip... the fine tip won't give you the result you want.

The sentiment is from the "Hello Friend" stamp set

Here's a close up for you.

I've included a product list below should you wish to purchase any of these items for yourself.... products are sent directly to your door, anywhere in Australia!


Product List

Hello Color Wood-Mount Stamp Set [143943] $43.00	Hello Color Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143946] $31.00	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [126970] $11.50	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate [131291] $14.00
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577] $14.00	Whisper White A4 Thick Cardstock [140490] $12.25	Hello Friend Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144055] $50.00	Silver Glimmer Paper [135314] $8.75
1-1/4" Circle Punch [119861] $28.00	1-3/8" Circle Punch [119860] $28.00

Video Tutorial: Getting the Best results with Background Stamps

Today I've made a quick tip video to show you how to get the best results when using Background Stamps.  Background stamps have long been one of my favourite items in the Stampin'Up! catalogue and I use them on a regular basis.  But there are a few tricks to getting the best out of them, and if you watch the video below you will hopefully be able to use these in your stamping too.

Today's card was actually the card that I sent out to my Online Customers for July to say thank you for their orders.  Here is a bunch of them prior to being sent out:

Don't they look good all together like that???

The background was created with the "Marbled" background stamp.  I've included a product list at the bottom of this page.  In the meantime, here is the video for you to check out:

Enjoy! (And if you haven't subscribed to my Youtube channel make sure you hit the "SUBSCRIBE" button over there!)



Product List

Marbled Wood-Mount Stamp Set [143755] $35.00	Marbled Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144772] $26.00	Pool Party A4 Card Stock [124391] $14.00	Island Indigo A4 Card Stock [124390] $14.00
Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75	Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Pad [126986] $11.50	Silver Foil Sheets [132178] $7.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $50.00
Badges & Banners Wood-Mount Stamp Set [141605] $47.00	Best Badge Punch [140633] $31.00	Duet Banner Punch [141483] $31.00	Touches Of Nature Elements [144216] $10.50
Silver 3/8" Metallic-Edge Ribbon [144213] $12.25

Love Quilting? The Quilted Christmas Suite is for you..... (another Sneak Peek!)

Today I am showing off another new suite from the upcoming 2017 Holiday Catalogue.... and for the sewing/quilting people out there.. this one is for you!   This fabulous new suite is called "Quilted Christmas" and there are stamps, framelits, DSP and accessories to match.  I love that all the pieces co-ordinate and fit together, and there are so many options.

Today I've used the DSP in the background of my card, and then used the framelits and stamps to create the centre piece. The centre flower is stamped and then the pieces cut so that they fit into the silver glimmer frame. I love how easy it is to piece them together.   (This card is to say thank you to a friend for her recent kindness to me and yes, she is a quilter.  I used the "Thank You" from the Daisy Delight stamp set)

The Quilted Christmas bundle will be available from September 1st, 2017.   I'll be showing off lots more that you can do with it, but in the meantime enjoy this sneak peek!

Linda x

Video Tutorial: Square Cut out Christmas card with the Carols of Christmas Bundle

On the weekend I made this cute Christmas card.  I love how the flower cut outs in the background frame the sentiment.  The pieces are all from the Carols of Christmas bundle.... and I have been having SOOOOO much fun with this awesome set!

If you are thinking of getting this bundle for yourself don't forget my little special this month... for the month of August (2017) I am offering a pack of mini dimensionals to anyone ordering this bundle via my Online Store.  Click HERE to go to the Online Store.   Just make sure you use this Hostess Code when prompted:

BEQEDBWP

I decided that a video tutorial would be a good idea to show how I created some of the elements on this card... in particular the flower cut out background, and the sentiment "Peace".... which I have used from the stamp that says "Peace on Earth".  The video has some good tips on how to achieve this.

Enjoy!!!