Autumn-Winter Mini Launches tomorrow & my first blog hop

I think I can say I speak for all demonstrators in NZ & Australia when I say we're so excited about the launch of our new Autumn-Winter mini catalogue tomorrow. It's bigger than previous ones (32 pages) and it's sensational!

 For those that blog hop I'm sure you're aware of what the new products are but in no particular order we're getting:

• new in-colours
• the BIG SHOT!
• choice of wood mounted or unmounted RUBBER stamps
• new style of punches (which clip together to save space)
• new hostess sets
• and obviously new stamps, designer papers & ribbons

So do check back tomorrow as well as being able to see the link to the online catalogue  I'm taking part in a BLOG HOP with other fabulous demos from ESAD so you'll see the new products being used.

The blog hop starts at 8am Sydney time - so do join me at 10am kiwi time 1st April.

As we count down till 10am April 1 let me share with you this sensational calendar that Vicki Were in Christchurch very kindly sent to me for donating some products for her Camp Quality Project

Thanks Vicki totally unnecessary but totally appreciated!

Introducing Faye

Who is my sister &  is really the family's creative one - she's an animal communicator (her website) & has recently been on national radio (the interview link)  - I haven't heard the whole interview yet but what I have is certainly interesting to skeptical me - but something that I'll have going in the background next time I'm in the craft room for a decent time (that's where my PC is) - at the moment the dining table has been taken over as I am making a lovely mess whilst getting ready for my Autumn Mini launch party on Thursday night (only 2 sleeps to go).

This also means that you only have 2 days left to order from the Summer Mini catalogue (tomorrow is the LAST day) - in the past some items have ended up in the new Idea Book & Catalogue - this year as we're catching upto the States it's very hard to guess how much or maybe how little will transfer across.

So I'll leave with this cute wee note card I created after my team's extravaganza from my kits - I just love the ruched ribbon. The wee notecard has used the Animal Stories stamp set (Summer Mini), Tall Tales DSP (Summer Mini) and Whimsical Words (SAB stamp set) - all maybe never to be available come April 1st.

So contact me ASAP if you would like to place an order as time is running out fast karen@karenstampz.co.nz

Happy Birthday Neville & more reflection

It's Judy's hubby's 70th birthday party today so I made the reflection card again & inked up a stamp set that I hadn't used before (as that's my team's cyber challenge for this month).

I bought Uncharted Territory from our last spring mini as I'm aware that I don't really have much masculine stuff - so this will be perfect for Neville as he's really into his model boats (making them & racing them). The stamp set has a really cool saying with it as well :  Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time - Leo F. Buscaglia I'm sure after 70 years on this planet Neville will have charted a few things by now but I do sincerely wish him more to come.

Stamp set: Uncharted Territory
Ink: Bordering Blue, Going Grey, Basic Black, Night of Navy
Paper: Bordering Blue, Basic Black, Whisper White

PS I hope he likes the cloud in the sky ;-)  don't you hate that when your card falls into  wet ink or an ink pad

A reflective card

This is the very cool card my upline Jacque Pedersen taught us at team training in the weekend - it's based on a Michele Zindorf card but Jacque's way is all sponged, no brayering. I'm really rapt as this was my first go at this technique & even if I say so myself this looks amazing.

Not surprisingly my downline now want me to teach them this too at our next training plus I'll be running this as a class in May.

So join my team & learn for free OR make sure you sign up for my monthly newsletter (right hand column) so you're the first to know when the classes are scheduled as numbers are always limited.

Razzleberry Medallion

Isn't this just scrumptious! This is one of the new in-colours that is being released on April 1st for us down under. Looking at the blog posts that are happening this will be the favourite new in-colour - it's just gorgeous & has a bit more pink in it in real life. Medallion is one of our new stamps about to be released too & looks gorgeous on a scrapbook page as it's so distinctive & dare I say it big.

If you'd like to see this & so much more make sure you sign up (a) for my monthly newsletter (sign up online form is on the right hand column) &/or (b) come along to an Autumn Mini Launch Party at my place - no charge - the first night is totally booked up so I've scheduled a second night on Tuesday 6th April 6.30-9pm - contact me at karen@karenstampz.co.nz if you'd like to reserve a spot.

I made this card for a demo swap today (I love swaps so I now have lots of cool projects to share at my Launch Parties) & my lovely team picked me as the "most demonstrable" of the projects.

Stamp set: Medallion
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Confetti White
Punches: 1-1/4" & 1-3/8" circle, 1/16" hand-held punch
Other: Clear rhinestone brads, dimensionals

Hope to see some of you soon

RAK from Delys

Ohh gosh did I feel very honoured to receive a shiny whisper white stamped envelope in the post with Delys Cram's details on the back - even better it had this stunning card in it which I adore which she has showcased off the Circle Scissors beautifully plus used my favourite Summer Mini stamp set For Everything - it's so Delys as it has beautiful red sponging too which I think is a real favourite for her - I'm very lucky to have meet such kind people being a demo - RAKs from other demos & team mates in the most cases are very good for my waistline - they're normally calorie free & I burn some off doing the HAPPY DANCE - so thanks Delys a lovely surprise.

Remember only 12 days left to order this set which in my mind is phenomenal value at $56.95 for 11 stamps - the flourish is stunning in my opinion.

Once again many thanks Delys, a very lovely surprise in my letter box a few weeks ago & definitely worth sharing!

A sneak peek in green

Firstly Happy St Patrick's Day - as my Irish grandfather was a Patrick I certainly can say this - so thought I'd make a quick card in green to celebrate the day.

This is a sneak peek at one of the new products you'll be able to purchase come April 1st when the new Autumn mini catalogue is launched.

I'm sure you'll be excited as I am about this & what it goes into. It's a SU! exclusive a Manhattan Flowers Textured Impressions Embossing Folder & yes it matches the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set. The impressions are so much deeper than what I've seen before & the folder is a bit bigger than what is currently available at 11.4 x 14.6 cm.

If you'd like to see this & a few other new revolutionary products - do book in for my Autumn Mini catalogue launch party ASAP the first session on Thursday April 1 is just about full so I'm opening my home up again on Tuesday April 6 - both sessions are 6.30-9pm with 3 free make n' takes plus there will be nibbles etc. Contact me to find out more.

Stamp set: Thank You Kindly
Ink: Old Olive
Paper: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Other: Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, stamp-a-ma-jig, dimensionals, Manhattan Flower embossing folder, Big Shot

March 31st is looming fast

Warning March 31 is the last day to order from the Summer Mini and earn FREE Sale-a-Bration stamps but saying that it means come April 1st & it's no April's Fool joke we're getting our first autumn mini catalogue to tide us over until September. I'm having 2 launch parties as this mini is the bestest - for a start it's 35 pages long & there are so many new products coming I can hardly contain myself.

So if you're free on Thursday 1st April 6.30-9pm or Tuesday 6th April 6.30-9pm book in for a FREE night of stamping, we'll be doing 2-3 make n' takes. Nibbles provided & all orders over $50 received at the launch parties will receive a free gift from me as well - contact me to reserve your place as numbers are limited. UPDATE: Thursday 1st April - totally booked up as at 19/3/10 so don't be tardy reserving a space for the 6th!

My place:  Harvest Drive, Henderson - off Sturges Road

Yet another easel card

This was the first card Janine & myself created  when we were working out our Extravaganza project for yesterday's event - still using the delicious Kaleidoscope DSP & butterflies but much brighter colours.

I loved it - still do & gave it to Sally Williams from my team for her birthday in February but couldn't blog it till now as Extravaganza projects are top secret!

Butterflies & Easels

Today's the day of the annual Creative Inkers Sale-a-Bration Extravaganza. An extravaganza is an event where a group of demos teach different projects & the attendees sit back & have fun, create, eat & even win prizes - we must be doing something right as we sold out last week!

The Butterfly Prints stamp set & easel cards are my favourites at the moment, so I managed to persuade the demo working with me at this event - Janine Pearce that we couldn't make a punch art card which was her idea as I don't do punch art (sorry for those that love punch art & attending). She graciously allowed me to chose as our project an easel card using butterflies! Though we are doing punching out of butterfly shapes when I think about it.

Patrice from our team had recently made an easel card with a photo frame - so we added that in to create a bit more pizazz.

 The only other comment I have to make is we chose to use Kaleidoscope DSP as Rachael refused to use it on her backpack & both Janine & myself love Kaleidoscope DSP which will retire in 18 days time on March 31st.

Stamp sets: Butterfly Prints, Polka Dot (background), Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Sahara Sand, Summer Sun, Pixie Pink
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, Whisper White, Vellum, Kaleidoscope DSP
Punches: 1-3/8" square, scallop border, hand-held 1/16"
Other: Filigree designer brads, mini glue dots, silver brads, magnetic strip (non-SU!)

The Pocket Silhouettes stamped piece is supposed to represent a photo.

Easter swap time Part 3

The last of the Easter swaps my team shared amongst ourselves as promised.

From Sally Williams - a really beautiful treat pouch - just perfect for holding the egg. Click on Sally's name to see all the colours she made.

Plus she's stamped on the cellophane bag with white Stazon.

Both Debbie & Clare created stunning cards using A Good Egg - I love this chicken!

From Debbie Lamb:

From Clare Stirling:

Do contact any of us if you'd like to learn how to create them for yourselves - got to admit we certainly made our eggs look prettier.

Sweet treat all right!

Looks at the cutest gift holder imaginable - Rachael AKA Knightstamper picked me up this cool dangly thing for my phone whilst in Hawaii recently & then she's given it to me in the best packaging ever!!

She's used the Sweet Treat Cups & it's matching stamp set Something Sweet now isn't that pretty! Thanks Rachael I will put it on my phone one day I promise! I've been busy prepping for my team's Extravaganza event on Saturday in case you wonder where I've been plus my mum has been a bit poorly the last few weeks; touch wood she'll be out of hospital soon.

 So I'll try & share some RAKs & ideas from my team in the interim.

Easter swap time Part 2

I can't believe it's Friday & I haven't shared all the great swaps I received or were shared with me last weekend when the WOW paperKRafters got together. This is Part 2 (part 1 was my gable box with eggs, eggs & more eggs) - logon tomorrow night to see part 3 you won't be disappointed!

In no particular order from Janine Pearce another use for sweet treat cups - isn't this just gorgeous with the wee mini eggs & the frilled DSP .

From the newest member of the team Robyn File who has made these eggs real pretty! Almost too pretty to eat!

Better share a card or you'll think all the swaps involved chocolate (though a lot did!) from Lesley Stewart not one but two cards and wait for it an EGG!!

I must admit blogging this chocolate has made me hungry so better go eat some swaps & I'll be back with the rest of the swaps tomorrow night.

Another gable box

On my last post I shared the gable box I swapped with my team the WOW paperKRafters on Sunday - at the training afternoon - in reality goss, laughter, swaps, crafting, eating & drinking. This one was a little rushed as my mum was back in hospital & I wanted to visit her - she's going home tomorrow :-)  If you'd like to join us next month or would like to know more do read my FAQs about becoming a demonstrator. We do have a load of FUN!

I thought no point just giving them a swap I'd better demonstrate how to make one for themselves - this was thrown together with the card stock & the stamp sets on my craft desk and I really love it!

Stamp sets: Baroque Motifs, Retro Remix wheel (summer mini)
Ink: So Saffron, More Mustard - these two are "dynamic duos according to the SU! Colour Coach wheel
Paper: So Saffron, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Punches: Wide oval, large oval, scallop oval
Other: So Saffron striped grosgrain ribbon, dimensionals

I love the grungy look I achieved by dragging the paper in the ink pad. In reality I was running out of time to grab a sponge or a dauber!