Back to Basics class

Well I had to postpone my Back to Basics class due to act of germ, yep I had a bad head cold. I phoned everyone who was coming and asked if they still wanted to come while I was possibly contagious needless to say i spent the evening tidying up and went to bed early. I was prepared however so I thought I would post up some photos I have taken of the cards we will be doing in the class on Thursday. You will have to excuse the quality of the photos, my daughter knocked the digital SLR over while it was on the tripod and now it is in for repairs. These photos were taken with a loaner and they are a bit mediocre.

The last two are pretty much direct copies from the Idea Book and Catalogue. This one though is all my own work. It uses several techniques, back ground stamping, water colouring with markers and a brush, the scallop edge with holes punched out with the crop-a-dile in each scallop, glitter used with the sticky cuts to add a bit of bling. The stamp sets used were Pun Fun (the same in all the cards) and the background stamp Polka Dot. The colours are Kiwi Kiss, Pumpkin Pie and Rose Red. And the accessories used were the sticky cuts Sweet, Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads and the fine Supernova glitter.

This one is a straight copy from the Idea Book and Catalogue. The only thing I changed was instead of stitching, it is a bit hard to take a sewing machine to class for everyone to use, I have used the paper piercer to pierce some holes in the corners of the piece of the card with the hippo on it. Anyway the details of what is used is available from the Stampin' Up! website.

This card uses a few different techniques too, heat embossing, punching and water colouring.






OK again this is pretty much copied straight from the Idea Book and Catalogue. I did use the paper clip from the Library Clips rather than just a regular paper clip. Instead of Kiwi Kiss Designer series pattern paper, which I don't have yet, I ran a piece of Kiwi Kiss card stock through the paper crimper to give it some texture and interest. I was really pleased with the result.

This card uses a couple of different techniques. Colouring a stamp different colours using markers. Cutting out shapes and layering to add depth and different colours.

All of the techniques in these cards are fairly basic stamping techniques, hence the name of the class "Back to Basics". It is too late for anyone to get the kit that goes with the class but if any one would like to come along and pay $10 for materials used I am happy to take some extras, seeing as I had to postpone the class.

Anyway in the mean time have some fun and happy stamping!

Mel

These are some cards I made to show off the new In-Colours at my catalogue launch. They only used four of the six In-Colours, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss. They worked so well that I ended up making a heap for convention swaps.

I couldn't use the Flower Brads for the convention swaps so I used the Three Flower punch to punch out flowers out of the In-Colour card stock and put a contrasting flower under a silver brad in place of the flower brad.

They worked really well and everyone seemed to prefer them to my other swap card.

Convention Swaps

The swaps were happening fast and furious from the first moment I got to convention on the Friday morning. My guest Tanya and I were kept very busy handing them out and receiving some absolutely gorgeous cards in return. One of my swaps was much more popular than the other. I am not surprised I was not very happy with it and I am afraid it was a bit poor against what other people had done.

Anyway here are some of the swaps I received.

This would have to be one of my favorites. It is so simple and yet very bright and colorful. I love this set, Fifth Avenue Floral (IBC page 82, $45.95) and I am going to have to get it out and do a lot more with it.








This one is not really my style but I always think that even if you don't like something there is always something you can take away from it. In this case I like the combination of colours and think that the black larger flower makes a great back ground for the small flower. The larger flower was punched using the Five Petal Flower punch (IBC page 153, $30.95) and it is one of my favourite accessories.


I love this one. Again it is very simple but very effective. Plenty of colour which I love but could be done with a number of different stamp sets.










Again this is a simple card. They have to be for swaps as you have to make so many of them. I think this person went above and beyond the call of duty. How many of these gorgeous flowers did she have to cut out and add glitter to?










This is great. Perfect for a little boy. Especially my son. I am going to give him this when I am finished with it. I love how she made the patterned paper to cut the planets out of. I think this is an inspired card and so different to what everyone else did!





Well I am planning on posting up photos of some more of my own work next. It might have to wait until tomorrow.

Momento Mall at Convention '09

At Stampin' Up! Conventions they have items for sale in "Memento Mall". They are exclusive Stampin' Up! merchandise, most of which is not available at any other time. Here are some of the the items I spent my money on at MM. The first one is a sampler of all the Designer Series Papers (DSP) It is a great little idea. I don't have to buy all the papers to be able to show them to my customers. There is a small square of each sheet in each pack of DSP available in Australia. There is a small index card between each range that has the name and relevant details of each set of paper, including the co-ordinating colours and stamp sets.









One of the other items I got was this cute little umbrella. It has a pattern from the Fifth Avenue Stamp set (IBC page 82, $53.95) which I love. It is a great size, perfect fit for the pouches either side of the convention bag.
I also got a spare convention bag, they were selling off the extras, some pens, a pencil case patterned like the Raspberry tart DSP and a gorgeous short sleeved cardigan that has one of the images from the thoughts and prayers set (IBC page 48, $45.95) on it. I am wearing the cardy today and I love it.

Finally photos

Well after some work figuring how to use the digital SLR here are some photos.

This first one is one of the Make and Take projects that we did at convention. I didn't actually get to finish this one on the day but I was so enthusiastic after everything we learned at convention I came home on the Friday night and finished everything.

This one is very simple but is so cute. It is simply a piece of Tangerine Tango Designer Series Paper (DSP) cut to size to fit inside one of the medium sized cellophane bags. You put it into the bag and use the word window punch to cut a slot through all three layers. Then you make the little love note cards. Each one has a different tree from the Trendy Trees set (IBC Page 99, $31.95 plus P&H) set stamped on it with one of the greetings from the same set. They are on Baja Breeze texture card stock cards.

This is such a simple thing to do but makes such an effective little gift. I am going to use things like this as hostess gifts from now on.


Now this is a card I made for my Mum to give her partner for his 60th birthday this week. I used the set that I won at convention, That's Funny (IBC page 55, $41.95). I needed to make it fairly masculine so I used a piece of the DSP Urban Oasis (IBC page 135, $16.95 for 12 sheets). These papers are on special this month, May '09, buy three packs and get a forth for free. I used the colours from the paper for the rest of the card, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Kraft, Basic Black and Basic Gray. A bit of Kiwi Kiss ribbon and one of the Kiwi Kiss buttons from the Button Bouquet (IBC page 151, $15.50) finished it off. I did think of "Stepping it up" as we were shown at convention a few times but Mum didn't think any "bling" would suit him. So I left it fairly plain. I am pretty pleased with the results.

Well given the hour I think I need to do some tidying up and head to bed but I will be putting more photos up shortly.

Working hard

Well you might have noticed that I have put in some work on my Blog. As you can see there is now current Stampin' Up! promotions and information included on the site. Tonight I am about start work on putting up some photos of my own work and some links to useful sites.

I would also like to advertise that I am selling off some of my used stamp sets and some of the spare retired hostess and Sale-a-bration sets. I have them listed up on ebay (http://shop.ebay.com.au/merchant/nixy_brown_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZ). I have many more than I have currently listed so if there is anything in particular that you are looking for please get in touch with me and I will let you know if I have it.

Anyway on with the work and you will be able to see some examples of my own work soon.

Mel

The day after SU Convention 09

Well this is my first Blog. It is Sunday morning after convention. Oh Boy do I feel tired. I got home last night and collapsed into bed. But I had a great time at convention and can't wait for convention in Sydney next year. I am so glad it is in Sydney, only two hours up the road and very achievable for a Canberra local like me.

I was so impressed by Convention. The quality of the presentations, classes and information provided. It has got me all fired up to get moving and become more than "just" a hobby demo. So my goals for this month are to get organised for the two workshops I have coming up this month and next. To get organised for the classes I have been thinking about running for the past 6 months and to get moving on promoting my business.

Right now I need to go and spend some time with my family and, hopefully, getting some housework done but once the kids are in bed tonight I am going to be getting stuck into organisation mode!

Mel