now that's art

My friend from church has decided to go into the business of making cakes. She's just starting up and was trying to design a flyer. She had seen me playing with Digital Studio and gave me a call to see if the software might work for making a flyer. She came by this afternoon and with barely any help from me (because I had to run off and pick up the kids etc etc) this is what she created. I just left her alone in my house to create to her hearts content. Pretty neat eh? My digital studio has so many uses. Boy, her cakes look amazing! (Make sure to click on the image to see it in larger size) Now, that's really art!

Presto!

Here's one of the products available with the release of the summer mini on May 1st. It is called Presto paper. It's white paper with a design embedded in the paper. It kind of works like emboss resist except that you don't have to emboss anything. You just add the colour via brayer, aqua painter etc and presto: the pattern appears more defined. I added soft suede ink direct to paper (basically I rubbed the ink pad all over the paper and it gave a really cool vintage look. I added some pictures and some punched out stamped images and voila, a complete 12X12 scrapbook page. (ignore the paper towel pieces: I tried to cover up any identifying names in my journalling just for safety)

Yes, I'm still stamping!

I haven't blogged in a few days but it's not because I haven't been stamping! I was busy getting ready for the stamp a stack last weekend and also went away for a quick overnight getaway with hubby. That was much needed! Anyway, I have no idea how to format my post and pictures so I can't put captions under the pictures describing things. You'll just have to figure it out from my explanation here:

The fifth Ave. Floral card using the green galore and tempting turquoise was a card I received from my friend Susan. Thanks Susan! I love receiving cards. The bashful blue card with the stitched felt embellishment was a quick thing I put together for a past workshop. I wanted to show how the dry embossing on the big shot worked but I think everyone liked the stitched felt embellishment more. The sweet pea dsp stack and the stitched felt embellishements are now completely sold out due to their popularity.

The cheep talk card and animal stories card were 2 out of the 5 cards at the recent stamp a stack. I love how using the markers on the cheep talk birds really makes them extra cute! I am also very proud of myself for having bought the tall tales dsp to co-ordinate with the animal stories set. It came in very handy for this stamp a stack.

Today I've been stamping getting ready for club and the new catalogue release. I'll post those pictures Sunday or Monday. I can't wait to show them to you becaue I have done so many things new to me. I've got my finished cards lined up in front of me and I"m so HAPPY! I love them. Come on out to my free workshop on Sunday and check them out for yourself.

my new wall

Finally I put up my new decor element. I think it looks super. Much better than a blank wall.

missed a whole bunch of retiring colours!

I just reread my post about the retiring colours and realized that I missed a whole row when copying from my list. I've updated that post now to include the additional colours that will be retiring.
Sorry folks.

workshop samples

I did a workshop yesterday in Ancaster. I had no idea where Ancaster was but now I know. It's a long drive. :-) Fortunately, I met some lovely people and was able to share my love of stamping. Here is a bookmark that I made using the 5 petal flower punch and the one of a kind stamp set. Sadly I left the five petal flower punch at home in Markham. As such, the sample I did at the workshop looked very pathetic with a circle punch and I pasted the embellishment on the wrong end of the clip!!! Yes, demonstrators make mistakes too. Anyway, I feel the need to post what it was really supposed to look like in case anyone from the workshop yesterday happens to check my blog. Grin.

Our make and take used the fifth avenue floral set. During the hustle and bustle of the make and take segment, my sample fell into the ink pad so just ignore the funny purple lines ontop of the sentiment.

I will miss pale plum. I will definitely be finding a new friend for perfect plum once the new colour groups come out. I'm just so used to matching perfect plum and pale plum together.

Fond Farewell (retiring colours) UPDATED

As a part of Stampin' Up's Colour Renovation, it is necessary to say farewell to the following colours. If you have favourites, make sure to stock up on paper and get your ink refills now!
Pink Passion
Pixie Pink
Pale Plum
Orchid Opulence
Lovely Lilac
Lavender Lace
Almost Amethyst
Bordering Blue
Brocade Blue
Ballet Blue
Brilliant Blue
Taken with Teal
Barely Banana
Yo Yo Yello
Summer Sun
Apricot Appeal
Only Orange
Really Rust
Ruby Red
Cameo Coral
Blush Blossom
Creamy Caramel
Close to Cocoa
Going Gray
glorious green
handsome hunter
sage shadow
mellow moss
green galore
gable green

another digital scrapbook page

Here's a quick page I did with a picture of my hubby at his new job posing with olympic bobsleder Shelley Ann Brown. It was a breeze to do this page but what I thought was great was using that funny flourish image. I have no idea what that stamp set is called (sorry) I always skip by that page in the catalogue with the sports things but I was glad it was included on my digital studio since it seems perfect for this page. I also like how my journalling looks neat and tidy rather than my usual messy handwriting.

me cheep

I love to paper craft. Often what happens is that little scraps remain on my desk of things tried and discarded. I refuse to throw them away because I know it has potential to turn into something. The square with the scalloped corners was something that had been sitting on my desk for a while. Then there was a leftover branch from that 2 step bird punch. While I was talking to hubby on the phone, it all came together for me quickly and I stamped and glued it all down. I used those precut notecards that Stampin' Up sells so I didn't have to cut the card base and it seems just the right size. (although with the corners sticking out I"m worried it won't fit in the envelope)

disaster!

Have you ever had the experience where you watch a technique video and you think that this is going to be the coolest technique ever,...then you try the technique and it doesn't turn out like the video at all??!! Yes! I had that experience today. Here is the disaster. I tried to salvage it by heat embossing iridescent ice all over it which my daughter thought was incredibly cool but still leaves me stumped about what I'm going to do with it. I've been staring at it all afternoon trying to think of what to do. I refuse to throw it out. Stay tuned. I'm determined to do something with it.

In the meantime, here is a picture of a quick card I made using the hello again stamp set. It's always tricky for me to do more playful, contemporay looking cards. I never know how to put the bright colours together. I heat embossed the flowers using white embossing powder.

Cornerstone Easter Fun Fair

Every year the church I attend has an Easter event. It's been a journey volunteering without kids, and now I still volunteer but also get to watch my own kids enjoy the annual event. It's grown to be such a big event and this year we welcomed about 400 families. Such a great way to share and experience the resurrection joy of Jesus Christ. I volunteered at the arts and craft booth where kids came and made their own bunny ears (of course). Here are some pics!

preparing for a workshop

I'm preparing for a workshop next weekend. Of course I want to use Fifth Ave. Floral since people can buy it at a discount. Must promote a deal! I love how the crimper addds some extra texture.

come on baby!

My friend Susan is due to have a baby any day now. Her due date was Wednesday. I really liked this card but was very angry that somehow I smeared a touch of chocolate chip ink on the white cardstock. Aarrrgh! Ah well, as I heard someone say...if I wanted perfect, I should've gone to hallmark.

I"m loving the coloured epoxy brads and you know that Susan is a good friend because I spent the time cutting out each animal. I rarely cut out my stamped images even though cutting them out really makes them pop. It's just that it takes so much extra time. Makes me really love the punches that co-ordinate with stamp sets.

pale plum party

I'm using pale plum as much as I can until I can't get it anymore. After June 30th, pale plum is retiring. I figured what better way to use it than with a set that is on sale 20% off this month: fifth ave. floral. This is supposed to be one of the cards in this month's stamp a stack. Once in a while I like making square cards. Just nice to do something different once in a while. The measurement is 5.25 X 5.25.

Hey, I got to use my new French Filigree too. I love my new background stamp!

Exciting announcement from Stampin' Up

Well, it's a good thing that I am late with my monthly newsletter. Stampin' Up announced today a COLOR RENOVATION. What does this mean? It means that they have revamped their standard colour arrangements. I have to say, I am excited! When I heard that they were making an announcement, I got kind of nervous. Stampin' Up has been expanding their product line which is great for customers as there is really something for everyone. The problem for me as a demonstrator is that I have to LEARN all this new stuff! Sometimes I am a little slow to learn new things. Grin. I actually feared that they were going to bring out some kind of new fancy sewing machine. When I found out today that it is a colour renovation, I was much relieved and excited. We were due for some revamping. I mean, come on, how many of you use blush blossom on a daily basis? I would definitely rather have rich razzleberry and pink pirouette as a regular offering. (I admit I did some happy dancing when I saw that baja breeze, wild wasabi, rich razzleberry and pink pirouette are now in the standard offering) Okay, enough rambling. Here's the juicy details:
Colour renovation for SU!
4 colour groups of 10 colours each Brights, Subtles, Regals and Neutrals 10 colours each for a total of 40
Brights:- 1. daffodil delight
2. melon mambo,
3. old olive
4. rich razzleberry,
5. regal rose
6. real red
7. tangerine tango
8. pumpkin pie,
9. tempting turquoise
10. pacific point
Subtles:- 1. pink pirouette
2. pretty in pink
3. rose red
4. so saffron
5. wild wasabi
6. baja breeze
7. bashful blue
8. marina mist
9. perfect plum
10. Certain Celery
Regals:- 1. always artichoke
2. bravo burgundy
3. cajun craze
4. cherry cobbler
5. Riding Hood Red
6. Elegant Eggplant
7. Not Quite Navy
8. Night of Navy
9. More Mustard
10. Garden Green
neutrals:- 1. river rock
2. sahara sand
3. soft suede
4. very vanilla
5. whisper white
6. basic black
7. basic grey
8. chocolate chip
9. Early expresso,
10. Crumb Cake (renamed Kraft)
In colours: 5 new colours 2 years life span instead of one. (Each year 5 colours will be introduced and then retired after 2 years so we will have a total of 10 In-Colours at once except this year.)New In ColoursBlushing Bride, Concord crush, Peach Parfait ? and ? sorry didn't catch the last two!!!
For those of you who don't see your favourites. It means that they are retiring after this catalogue year. June 30th. Start stocking up on paper, ink and refills. I will miss pale plum and mellow moss but having my favourite in colours as regular colours is worth it to me. I'll keep you posted as I learn more.

Gen on Daytime TV

I definitely felt more comfortable with this TV segment because I knew what to expect. If this video looked fun to you, it's because it was fun! I love doing workshops because it's a bunch of ladies having fun together. If you haven't ever hosted a workshop, or haven't hosted one in a while, it's time to give me a call! I've changed up my workshop style to include more demos so if you want to see new projects and techniques, make sure to book a workshop date with me!

If you missed my first TV segment, you can see it HERE

wedding invites

A friend from church called me up and said she had a friend getting married and they didn't know what to do in terms of invitations. All the bride knew was that she wanted something in an ivory colour. That's all I needed to know to get my mind whirring...Here's three simple ideas I tried last night. I figured the key was to keep it really simple since it would be the friends of the bride that would probably be commissioned to make all 60 invitations if the bride decided to go with the handmade route. Of course the great thing about hand stamped is that you can use the same stamps to dress up the envelopes, the placecards, the bonbonniere gifts etc.

draw winner

Just realized I forgot to announce the winner of my most recent draw: Jan S. is the winner of the Picture This stamp set from the occasions mini.

Jan says she made 9 thank you cards for friends who helped her out in various ways while she was recouperating from a pinched nerve.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the draw...I hope it inspires you to keep making cards and giving them to people. From experience, people love to receive handmade cards and gifts. It really adds extra love and care.

Here's a card picture I got from Brenda S. I love the creative way she used the pick a petal set and the tearing for the grass.

Finally! French Filigree Fun

Finally had a chance to play with my french filigree stamp. All I could see when I looked at the stamp was gold embossing so that's the first thing I did. I did heat embossing with gold on very vanilla paper. Then I put some vellum onto it and attached them together with a very vanilla bow. It took me a while to figure out what cardstock to use. I kept thinking a rich colour like bravo burgundy or night of navy but it didn't look quite right. I finally settled with soft suede. Finished the card off with the great friend stamp set and a gold brad. You can't see the vellum that well in the picture but it softens up the harshness of the gold embossing.

Make sure to talk to me if you're not familiar with the heat embossing technique. It's a great technique to add elegance and texture at the same time!