Swallowtail Butterfly

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It's no secret that I've quite the obsession with butterflies. Sadly, I haven't seen many varieties in real life, but more than make up for it in papercraft goodies - stamps, punches, dies - & now my biggest butterfly of all - Swallowtail!

Swallowtail is a background sized stamp, so it needs very little embellishment to look amazing. This was the first card I made, for my dear friend Sam. It's very sparkly IRL, as it's sprayed with champagne mist shimmer spray, but quite hard to see in the pic.

Next up, I made this one for my wonderful Mum & Dad in law.

Swallowtail was stamped in midnight muse & then I added some simple shading with my summer starfruit marker. I really love this quote - from John Lennon I believe - included in our Pursuit of Happiness set.
I sent this card with a package of cards for my MIL, Shirley. She hasn't been hooked on stamping (yet!), but she does love to give handmade cards to her friends.

I was concerned they'd be damaged in the mail, so I made this box with the heavy recycled backing of our DSP pack, using my Simply Scored, scoring tool & a fab tutorial by Tanya Bell - thanks Tanya. Doesn't Swallowtail look amazing? You can see how big the stamp is, as the box holds standard cards & envelopes. It's really strong too, due to the thick cardboard backing. I had to sneak in another butterfly on the box closure - from Papillon Potpourri.

PS: Check out Jackie Topa's fab video for a different size box in the same style.
That's all from me for now, but you'll definitely see lots more of Swallowtail, as it's included in our new Annual Catalogue, coming in just 18 days.
Until next time, thanks very much for stopping by. Hope you liked my projects. Leave a comment if you'd like any more info or just to say hi.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies - All by Stampin' Up! unless specified
Swallowtail 1
Stamps: Swallowtail, Pretty Petites (SAB)
Card/Paper: elegant eggplant, wisteria wonder, whisper white card
Ink: elegant eggplant ink pad, champagne mist shimmer paint
Accessories: white taffeta ribbon, white bakers twine
Tools: Big Shot, square lattice embossing folder
Swallowtail 2
Stamps: Swallowtail, Pursuit of Happiness
Card/Paper: midnight muse,summer starfruit, whisper white card
Ink: midnight muse ink pad, summer starfruit marker
Accessories: summer starfruit stitched satin ribbon
Swallowtail Box
Stamps: Swallowtail, Papillon Potpourri
Card/Paper: midnight muse,whisper white card, DSP cardboard backing
Ink: midnight muse ink pad
Tools: Simply Scored, Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits

Razzleberry Secret Garden

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What's even better than playing with a pretty new floral stamp set? Easy - not having to hand-cut the flowers of course! Please say hello to Secret Garden! Today I'm sharing my the results of my first play-date back in Feb with this very pretty set & matching framelit dies, plus must-have honeycomb embossing folder. This one was my favourite card of the day.

 

This card blossomed into a new colour scheme for my March class, but it had an accident in the class, so I don't have a sample to show you just now. I think I have a spare kit to re-make, so will try to track it down.

Here's a variation of the first card. Love that hexagon DSP from the Sale-a-bration pack. I would NEVER have been patient enough to hand-cut those leaves!

Continuing the razzleberry theme - I stamped & cut a ton of flowers, so  of course I had to use them.
For this last one, I tried some quick colouring with a pink pirouette marker, to see if I could create some shading with simple lines. It's pretty rustic, but I thought it turned out OK. I really liked the layout too.

That's all from me for today, but you'll definitely see Secret Garden again. Thanks for stopping by. If you'd like more info on anything, just leave a comment.
Until next time, inky wishes.
Di

Supplies
Stamps: Secret Garden, Just For You (from Pop Up Posies kit), Bloomin' Marvelous (SAB)
Card/Paper: lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, whisper white, pink pirouette card, Sycamore Street DSP (SAB)
Ink: rich razzleberry, lucky limeade ink pad, pink pirouette marker
Accessories: basic pearls
Tools: Big Shot, Secret Garden Framelits, Honeycomb embossing folder

Bloomin' window frame card

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Today's card was a bit tricky to photograph, but I'm sure you'll get the idea...& hope you like it.

I was playing with my Window Frame framelits back in February (I know!) & thought it would be fun to make a card with a transparent window.  I cut a window in a square card front & a smaller window in the cut-out piece, to attach to the inside of the card after adding a square piece of transparent window sheet. Then I cut 2 more windows with baja breeze card, pierced the largest piece with the matching piercing template & layered them together. Finally, some stamping for the front & inside, using the pretty 'Bloomin' Marvelous' Sale-a-bration set. You can see the transparent frame better in this shot. Don't look too close though - I went a bit crazy with the snail on this version. FYI, it's much neater with small drops of tombow liquid adhesive

I really liked how it turned out, so I decided to make it in one of my March classes. You could try this idea with any sets of nested shapes. If you'd like any other info about the card, just leave me a comment.
Thanks very much for visiting. Until next time...
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous (SAB only)
Card/Paper: calypso coral, baja breeze, whisper white card, transparent window sheet, Patterns DSP - in colour 11-13
Ink: calypso coral, baja breeze, lucky limeade ink pad
Accessories: basic rhinestones
Tools: Big Shot, Window Frame Framelits, Festive paper piercing pack, piercing mat, Bitty Butterfly punch

Sweet threads cross stitch memories

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Seeing the Sweet Threads Simply Sent kit in the Seasonal Catalogue brought back happy memories of many past cross-stitch creations. I had cross-stitched for many years until Cara was born (12 years ago - gulp!) & then discovered scrapping & cardmaking. Happily, I remembered how to cross-stitch & the cupcake was quick & easy to do. The sample cards were really simple, so I added some little extras, keeping with the stitched theme. This is what I came up with.

I pierced a border around the cross-stitch & added some faux stitching & pearls. I embossed a line with the Needlepoint border embossing folder & dragged some white craft ink over the top. Then, added some limeade bakers twine & a button.

Then, I thought I'd try to make a box with the card base. As the card base back is white, I added a tag back based on the Two Tags die to finish it off. This box could be used to hold a note pad or a gift set of tags.

 

In case you're wondering what the originals look like, here's the page from the catty. Click on the pic to see the bundle in my online store too. The kit & bundle is only available until the end of June.

Hope you liked what I've done with the kit. If you have any questions, just leave me a comment.

Until next time, inky wishes

Di

Supplies

Kit: Sweet Threads Simply Sent Kit

Card: pretty in pink card, rose red card

Stamps: Create a Cupcake

Ink: Primrose Petals ink pad, pretty in pink marker, whisper white craft ink pad

Accessories: primrose petals satin ribbon, lucky limeade bakers twine, designer buttons - subtles, basic pearls,

Tools: essentials piercing pack, piercing mat

Oh Whale - I love you!

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Some of you know I really love whales (both real & collectible), so I was very happy to see the whale goodies in the current Seasonal Catalogue. Today, I have a couple of fun whale cards to share with you. First up is a card I made for our big girl in Feb, to celebrate her making it to the regional schools swimming comp.

 

I liked the idea of using the wave DSP to make a little pool for the whales. Cara is of course the polka dot star whale! The whales are cut from the clearlit die, the pool is cut with 2 oval framelits. The clouds are made with the Cloudy Day embossing folder - piercing without actually having to pierce!

Whale Baby

I couldn't resist making a cute baby card too, even though I don't have any friends or family expecting any babies at the mo. I took the marina mist/melon mambo colour combo from the whale DSP - so cute!

Sadly, we'll be saying goodbye to all of the whale goodies, DSP & ribbon at the end of June when the Seasonal catalogue ends, so if you'll like to adopt them, don't wait until they migrate. If you'd like any other info about the cards, just let me know.
Until next time, inky wishes,
Di

Supplies
Whale Trio
Stamps: Oh Whale (Seasonal), Itty Bitty Banners
Card/Paper: midnight muse, whisper white, bashful blue card, Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP
(Seasonal)
Ink: marina mist ink pad
Accessories: basic pearls, basic rhinestone, striped organdy ribbon - melon mambo
Tools: Big Shot, Happy Whale clearlit, Ovals Framelits, Itty Bitty Banners framelits, Cloudy Day embossing folder, petite curly label punch, Occasions piercing pack
Baby Whale
Stamps: Oh Whale (Seasonal), Itty Bitty Banners
Card/Paper: marina mist, melon mambo, bashful blue, whisper white card, Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP
(Seasonal)
Ink: melon mambo, marina mist ink pads
Accessories: basic pearls, striped organdy ribbon - melon mambo
Tools: Big Shot, Happy Whale clearlit, Ovals Framelits, Itty Bitty Banners framelits, Cloudy Day embossing folder, Occasions piercing pack

Masculine birthday - Pursuit of Happiness

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I always think masculine cards are the most challenging to make, but this card was an exception. It came together really quickly & the recipient (& his card making partner) seemed to like it. Double yay!

I really like using the torn frame technique for masculine cards, as it gives lots of texture & is great for making a large sentiment into a focal point. The great quote stamp (from Pursuit of Happiness) was perfect for the recipient too. Some messy collage stamping with the Clockworks stamp set on bravo burgundy Patterns DSP & some twine finished it off. Done in 15 mins max (shhhhhh!).
Looking now, most of what's on this card is retiring (except for the Clockworks stamp set). Just when I was getting the hand of bravo burgundy too. You can see some more torn frame cards here.

Thanks heaps to anyone who's still following me despite my blogging break. If you'd like to see some more, leave me some comment love to say hi. Back soonish!
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:
Stamps: Pursuit of Happiness (retiring), Clockworks
Card/Paper: crumb cake card, bravo burgundy card (retiring), Regals Patterns DSP - bravo burgundy (retiring)
Ink: bravo burgundy ink pad (retiring)
Accessories: hemp twine (retired)

Retirement list is here - my retiring picks

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 June means it's time to say goodbye to lots of current products to make way for even more awesome new ones in July, when our new Annual Catalogue is released.

• See what's retiring in my online store
• Download the list of retiring stamps
• Download the list of retiring accessories  (everything else - paper, dies, punches, ribbons, brads etc)

Our Colour Refresh of our colour collections means stock of all retiring colours is selling out super quickly. This includes all items in these 10 colours: Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy, River Rock.
If you haven't purchased supplies of your favourites yet (hello celery & baja for me), please don't delay.

Back to the retiring products list in general, it includes so many products I love, but I've listed some twist-my-arm fave picks. Share what you'll miss the most by leaving me a comment.

Stamp Sets
1. Easy Events -fab & flexible multi-occasion set with fun images to colour, plus sentiments.
2. Up, Up & Away - flexible hot air balloon set - great for lots of occasions & people
3. Best of Everything - love these whimsical birds
4. Aviary

Sentiment stamps
1. Made for You - my absolute fave current sentiment set - a snip at $16.95!
2. Curly Cute - beautiful & useful sentiment set
3. Friendly Phrases


Christmas
ALL our Christmas stamp sets are listed as retiring, as Christmas products will now be included in our Holiday Catalogue - due for release on 1 September. 
1. More Merry Messages - fab sentiments
2. Snow Swirled - my fave Christmas set of all time
3. Delightful Decorations - ornament set with co-ordinating punch

A limited number of 2012 Holiday catalogue sets will remain available. See the Holiday Catalogue carryover list here.

Top Tools
You know how much I love my Big Shot & punches, so this section is where I've really struggled to narrow down my faves, as some of my most used dies are retiring.

Big Shot Dies
1.Scallop envelope big - for boxes & treats
2. Two Tags bigz - 2 tags to rule them all!
3. Fancy Favor bigz xl - for party bags, gifts, treats
4. Scallop square bigz clear - shaped cards &  mats
5. Scallop squares duo bigz - perfect for mats or mini-cards
6. Petite pocket bigz xl - gift cards, boxes, mini-album
7 Petal cone bigz l - such a wow box

Textured Impressions Embossing folders
1. Manhattan Flower
2. Elegant Lines 
Punches
1. Ornament Punch - a Christmas must!
2. Build a Blossom punch
3. Jewellery tag punch

Other tools
Craft & Rubber Scissors - rarely used for rubber these days but still my most comfortable scissors.

Accessories
Shimmer Paint - I still can't believe this one. You must stock up on champagne mist & frost white - I will be!
Designer Printed Brads - in-colour 2011-13 - perfect for flower centres
Scallop dots ribbon - all colours

Paper
1. Floral District DSP
2. Comfort Cafe DSP
3. Birds of a Feather DSP
4. Designer paper stacks in each colour collection
5. Razzleberry Splash Simply Scrappin' Kit - fantastic for making LOTS of cards quickly.

Phew!....& that's just some of them. Please contact me if I can help you with any questions or info. Until next time, inky wishes from me.
Di

Summer Silhouettes tri-shutter birthday

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I'd never willingly share a friend's age (especially when they're still younger than me), so I won't tell you who I made this card for....but I'm smiling & waving to "she who knows who she is"...& saying nothing more about it other than...here's the tri-shutter card! ;0)

I used my favourite Floral District DSP on this card (love, love, love the prints & the paper includes most of my fave colours). The centre panels are stamped with the very pretty floral images from the Summer Silhouettes 2 step stamping set. Each of the stamped parts are separate, which makes it very easy to stamp multiple colour images. This card front is 21cm x 10cm so it fits a regular DL envelope. Here's what it looks like closed

  

& here's a flatter view of the card, so you can see each panel.

 Long term visitors to colour me happy may remember I went through quite a love affair with tri-shutter cards. They're very easy to do once you know how, but are such a wow card, especially for extra special occasions. You can see my past tr-shutter cards here.
Here's a final pic showing how it looks when standing open.

Well I hope you like my return to the tri-shutter. I don't think it will be too long until I'm tempted to make another. Thanks for visiting & I hope you liked my card.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies
Stamps: Summer Silhouettes (flowers), Curly Cute (HB), Memorable Moments (40) On Your Birthday (retired)
Card.Paper: baja breeze, whisper white, rose red, rich razzleberry card, floral Distric DSP
Ink: lucky limeade, rich razzleberry, rose red, tangerine tango ink pad
Accessories: rich razzleberry stitched ribbon, baja breeze seam binding
Tools: scallop circle punch, circle punches

Lalaloopsy birthday

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As the Mum of a brand new highschooler, I realise how quickly you get out of touch with the 'in' things for younger kids. One craze I'd totally missed was Lalaloopsy dollsTM until I saw the ones my friend's daughter B had. So, when it came to making a birthday card for her, I thought it would be fun to make a her a Lalaloopsy card. There were lots of characters to choose from, but the one I chose was Bea Spells-a-lotTM. I googled for ideas, but couldn't find anything suitable, so I went to work on my own version. It took me a couple of hours, but this is what I came up with:

The card front is about 20 x 10cm from memory. Most pieces are made with punches & a little hand-cutting. I hope I can remember everything I used, as this was definitely a one off. Here's another view, so that you can hopefully see the popped layers better. Bea is completely raised off the page.

 

Here's the inside of the card - simple, with some repeated elements from the front.

 

Punches used to make Bea ... from memory!
Head - 1 3/4 inch circle
Eyes - owl (largest eye circle) lashes - hand cut
Cheeks - 1/2 inch circle
Hair - word window
Headband - oval, owl - heart, 1/4 inch circle
T-shirt & apple - cupcake
Skirt - hand cut & scored a small concertina, buttons - owl (medium eye circle), underskirt - cupcake
Arms - hand cut
Spotty legs - hand cut
Socks - cupcake base
Boots - stocking punch (retired) - cut down to make narrower.

She took a bit of time to work out & make, but I was really happy how she turned out. I hope you like her too. Please leave me a comment if you'd like any more info, or just to say hi. Thanks for visiting.
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (retired)
Card/Paper: Pink pirouette, whisper white, retired DSP
Ink: melon mambo ink pad, black journalling marker, white gel pen (laces)
Accessories: basic rhinestones, wild wasabi stitched ribbon
Tools: Punches as noted above plus - 1 1/4 inch scallop circle, 1 inch circle, boho blossoms, itty bitty pack, scallop border punch

Sycamore Street SAB Birthday

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I have something brand new to share with you today - a birthday card I made for a lovely friend, using some new Sale-a-bration freebies & a little sneak peek from our upcoming Seasonal Catalogue.

I've used 3 free sale-a-bration goodies - Sycamore Street DSP, Pretty Petites stamp set &  co-ordinating Petite Curly Label punch. I love the funky colour combination in these papers. I've also used a die from a new framelits set....coming 1 Feb. The card base is made with the Scallop square bigz die. You already know that one's a fave of mine. If you'd like to know anything else, just leave me a comment.

How you can Sale-a-brate too...
Sale-a-bration runs from22 January until 22 March. There are an amazing 19 different free Sale-a-bration items you can choose from this year - the biggest ever. 13 items are exclusive to Sale-a-bration & 6 are from our Annual Catalogue. How do you get your hands on these goodies? You can...

Every $100 you spend (excl s&h) earns you 1 SAB freebie of your choice.

You can see a simple list of all the available items here, OR the printed catalogue version here.

Contact me if you'd like a paper copy of the SAB catalogue....& a new Seasonal Catalogue too.

Do you have the stamping friend or two? Host an in-home or virtual catalogue party, or simply combine orders with a friend & you'll receive even more benefits. Total orders (excl s&h) over $300 will earn you hostess benefits, plus SAB freebies based on each $100 spent.

A $300 order will give you:

• $50 in regular hostess benefits to spend on any Annual or Seasonal Catalogue products
• Up to 3 SAB freebies (one for each $100 order per customer).
• PLUS a free pack of silver glimmer paper.

A $600 order will give you:

• $100 in regular hostess benefits to spend on any Annual or Seasonal Catalogue products
• 1 half price item of your choice.
• Up to 6 SAB freebies (one for each $100 order per customer).
•  A free pack of silver glimmer paper.
• PLUS a special SAB product bundle containing 3 SAB items (Sycamore Street DSP, Sycamore Street ribbon & button pack & Madison Avenue stamp set).

Got a large wishlist....I know, who doesn't? Then SAB is a fantastic time for you to join Stampin Up!
You'll get to choose 25% more in your Starter Kit - that's $294 of goodies of your choice for just $169 & that's just the start of the benefits.


Thanks very much for visiting & contact me if you'd like more info on SAB or anything else. Until next time...
Inky wishes, Di

Supplies:
Stamps: Pretty Petites
Card: tangerine tango, pool party, crumb cake patterns DSP, Sycamore Street DSP (SAB)
Ink: island indigo ink pad
Tools: Petite Curly Label punch (SAB), Big Shot, Scallop Square Bigz die, woodgrain embossing folder, Hearts a Flutter Framelits dies (new Seasonal Catalogue - coming Feb)