Elegant in Black & White - just emboss

My 2nd B+W card which this time I've embossed it so it looks really shiny & also it has been stamped on Shimmery White card stock as it was for a special occasion.

Unfortunately I can't seem to photo the shimmer in the paper but it really does make the card sparkle & it's a heavier weight card too.

Recipe:
Stamp sets: Everything Eleanor(124162 W, 124164C), Itty Bitty Banners (126255 W, 126257 C)
Ink: VersaMark (1022830
Paper: Shimmery White (121717)
Other: Black embossing powder (109133), embossing buddy (103083), heat tool (129056), 3/16" corner rounder (119871), dimensionals (104430)

I cased the invite I was sent for a wedding party as my congratulations card to some friends that got married last year but have only got around to celebrating with us now.

I've got a 50th birthday coming up this weekend too - so thinking this may make a good 50th card too as well.

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime.

Elegant in Black & White - just ink

Hi all & hope you had a lovely weekend - I've  whipped up a couple of black & white cards recently - they look very effective with minimal fuss & preparation.

The first one used Elements of Style & black ink & a wee bit of glitter to make it sparkle.

The flourish that comes with this set looks lovely inside the card too.

Recipe:
Stamp set: Elements of Style (121504 W, 120045 C)
Ink: StazOn Black (101406)
Paper: Whisper White (106549), Basic Black (121688)
Punches: 1" circle (119868), 1-1/4" scallop circle (127811)
Other: 2-way glue pen (100425), Dazzling Diamonds glitter (102023), dimensionals (104430)

I'll be back tomorrow with an embossed version, using a different set on shimmery white card stock - hope to see you then.

Happy stampin' Karen

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime.

Still loving the Swallowtail stamp

It's BIG, but it's a beauty & so versatile which makes it really good for doing a lot of techniques with. This one was KReated at my upline Jacque's place the other night & has been painted white & then coloured in.

This looks so pretty in real life - I LOVE IT!

Recipe:
Stamp sets: Swallowtail (129213 W, 129216 C), En Francais (112358 W)
Ink: VersaMark (102283), Baja Breeze (126960), Primrose Petals (126858), Raspberry Ripple (126859), Crumb Cake (126975)
Paper: Primrose Petals core'dination (129322), Naturals White (129588), Crumb Cake (121685)
Other: White embossing powder (109132), embossing buddy (103083), Dazzling Diamonds glitter (102023), 2-way glue pen (100425), Primrose Petals satin stitched ribbon (126844), Aquapainter (103954), Large pearl (125577), Heat Tool (129056), Sanding block (129367), sponge (101610). distress tool (127562)


Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime.

In-colour poppies

Happy ANZAC day to my down under readers - it's a gloomy day in Auckland today but I managed to sneak in a wee bit of time in my craft room. I wanted to make a poppy card to commemorate our  fallen soldiers & colouring in with my blender pen is always therapeutic. I had a wee oopsie with some ink so added in the butterfly to cover it up but it looks pretty.

Recipe:
Stamp set: Pleasant Poppies 126480 (W) 129499 (C)
Ink: Stazon Black (101406), Gumball Green (126861), Summer Starfruit (126991), Primrose Petals (126858), Raspberry Ripple (126859)
Paper: Gumball Green (127543), Print Poetry DSP Paper Stack (129312), Very Vanilla (106550), Vellum card stock (106854)
Punches: Elegant Butterfly (127526), Bitty Butterfly (129406)
Other: Basic jewel (119246), dimesionals (104430), Glue dots (103683)

Well  I hope your day was reflective & relaxing too.

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime.

Extra hostess dollars & the starter kit just got bigger

Join Offer

Ever wish you had more money to spend on Stampin’ Up! products? Consider it done. Join Stampin’ Up! before 30 May and get an extra $75 for your Starter Kit. Joining is quick & easy & online just grab your catalogue & write up your wish-list for $360 of products & you'll only pay $189 - PHENOMENAL - do check out my Join My Team page & if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me or if you're happy just click on Join The Fun on the right hand side of my blog. We'd love to have you join the WOW paperKRafters (my team), it's a great time to join with a new catalogue launch just 3 months away.

Hostess Offer

Ever wish you had more money to spend on Stampin’ Up! products? Consider it done. Between 15 April and 30 May just host a $500 or higher party and earn an additional $75 in FREE products! That’s on top of the hostess dollars and benefits you already get! Take a look at our already-awesome hostess benefits that you’ll get to ADD more hostess dollars to:

So if you'e like to book in a party date at your place or mine contact me ASAP.

More chalkboard & an easy photo album

Many thanks to Heather Stewart who swapped with me recently for this fabulous idea how to make a mini photo album using our clear cellophane envelopes which you probably hadn't seen tucked away on page 160 of the main catalogue & priced at $10.95 for 50 - this would be an easy way to whip up 5 albums easily. She'd hidden the join on the cover with a thick ribbon but I think a thinner ribbon would help with the opening fully of the album. If you want to see Heather's original album check out this blog post.

We created this wee album at my recent chalkboard class with the ever so fabulous & versatile Swallowtail stamp. I loved the glimmer brads on this project they certainly added the finishing touch to add some subtle sparkle.

I tried to emulate Heather's pewter embossing powder centre but I didn't like it on the black card stock - it didn't pop to me but it is a cool idea.

If you would like to have a go this is what you need to re-create this project:

Item	Item No.	Price (+5% shipping)
Swallowtail stamp (p. 18 Seasonal Mini 2013)	129213 W 129216 C	$37.95 $29.95
Loving thoughts stamp set (p. 137 AC)	127514 W 125845 C	$62.95 $49.95
White embossing powder (p. 159 AC)	109132	$9.95
Versamark ink pad (p. 159 AC)	102283	$15.75
Glimmer Brads Basics or Brights (p. 174 AC)	121003 Basic 121006 Bright	$10.95 (40 brads)
Natural Cotton ribbon 7/8" (p. 35 Seasonal Mini 2013)	127844	$16.95
Clear envelopes (p. 160 AC)	102619	$10.95 (50)

Cutting directions:

Coloured card stock 2 pieces

• 9- 1/4 " x 4-3/4" scored at one end at 1" & 2"
• 6- 1/4 " x 4-3/4"

Basic Black

• 5-1/2" x 4-1/2"

Click HERE to order Stampin' Up! Products Online, Anytime.

New wood mount boxes are coming

We're starting to get a few teases about what is coming July 1st in our new annual catalogue. The latest tease : new wood-mount stamp set packaging! These new cases are similar to our clear-mount boxes and fit perfectly on the shelf right next to them. They also have the images and stamp set name on the spine to make your search for the right set even easier. Check out the video of what I guess are some sneak peeks of stamp sets we are getting July 1st too ;)



Starting 1 July all wood-mount sets will come in this new packaging. And empty cases will be available with the launch of the new catalogue. That means you can transfer all your old sets to these new boxes! There will even be a template for you to create your own label for your old stamp sets (available 1 July). A pack of four half-size cases (9.5 x 14 cm) will sell for $8.95 AUD/$10.50 NZD and a pack of four full-size cases (19.1 x 14 cm) will be $11.95 AUD/$14.50 NZD.

As you can see in the video they're great for storing more than wood stamp sets. Roll on July 1st or for me June 1st when I see what is in the new catalogue & can start pre-oredering.

Special Mail for me

Hi everyone hope your week is going well - I thought I'd just share the special cards that were made for my birthday which I've had recently. I'll blog them in the order I received them.

From Debbie Lamb :

From Judy Beetson:

From Sally Williams:

Thank you ladies I think they're all beautiful & I really appreciated them. Personally I still love & squeal when I receive a home-made card which I guess is one of the reasons I love what I do - hopefully inspiring others to share the love.

April's technique was Chalkboard

Have you noticed all the chalkboards popping up everywhere including TV ads & there seems to be a lot in the stampin' world or should I say was, I'm always a few months behind the trends.

This was one of the projects everyone made in my classes over the weekend & I just love the words & the font in the Feels Good stamp set - aren't they fab.

Item	Item No.	Price (+5% shipping)
Feel Goods stamp set	129681 W 129684 C	$54.95 $43.95
Hearts a Flutter Framelit dies	130159	$51.95
Small Heart punch	117193	$11.95
Bakers twine - Whisper White	124262	$6.25
Dimensionals	104430	$8.50
Whisper White Craft Ink	101731	$15.75

Cardstock Colours:

Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black (p. 152-156 AC) - combo taken from colour coach for Basic Black

Silver glimmer paper p.160 AC #124005 $10.95

White embossing powder #109132

Chalkboard Technique: 

• Rub the Embossing Buddy® vigorously across Basic Black (or dark coloured) card stock.
•  Stamp image/s with VersaMark®.
•  Pour white embossing powder onto the inked image, making sure that the image is coated. 
• Shake off excess powder and funnel it back into its container. Use a small paintbrush to remove any specks of visible embossing powder.
•  Heat the embossed image with the heat tool until the powder changes to a shiny liquid and rises. Allow embossed image to cool.
•  Rub Whipser White craft ink on the dark cardstock, to create an erased board look.
•  Outline the card stock with a white pencil (or gel pen). Can use a ruler or doodle.

My card was a case of this fabulous swap of Ann Will's I received (her version is Pool Party & Rich Razzleberry).

Hands up who hates masculine

Happy weekend all & wow its a grey gloomy day today in Auckland - glad I'm going to be stuck inside playing with other demos in my team the Creative Inkers playing with mds & making a card plus we're swapping & the theme is masculine. So I'm really looking forward to seeing what everyone has managed to come up with.

This is my swap which was inspired by this fabulous card of Deb Fearn's which I embellished a bit & added some colour to make it more nautical I hope. One of my lightbulbs has blown in my light tent & I am struggling to take photos of cards at the moment but hope I've done it justice.

The top stamped piece is KReated by using 2 large post it notes; tearing & making a mask with them; sponging & then over stamping, remove the mask & WOWtastic.

Stamp Sets:
The Open Sea (125802 W, 123032 C)
Sassy Salutations (126705 W, 126707 C)

Ink:
Cherry Cobbler (126966)
Baja Breeze (126960)
Not Quite Navy (126971)

Paper:
Whisper White (106549)
Baja Breeze (116207)
Not Quite Navy (108606)

Other:
Extra large tag punch (119866)
Pewter embossing powder (124114)
Cherry Cobbler bakers twine (123125)

I also tried making the card with a Cherry Cobbler mat & with Bashful Blue/Midnight Muse combo. I actually really like the Cherry Cobbler mat version but was too far down the road with my prep for the 20 I am swapping today to change.

Colour Refresh

Beginning on 4 April 2013, all retiring/discontinued colour products (i.e. ink, paper, ribbon, accessories, etc.) will be available only while supplies last. So if there is a discontinued colour you want contact me ASAP or purchase directly from my online shop. This is especially important if you want to get any re-inkers as they seem to go fast.

Retiring Colours:

• Regal Rose
• Pretty in Pink
• Bashful Blue
• Certainly Celery
• Baja Breeze
• Riding Hood Red
• Bravo Burgundy
• Not Quite Navy
• More Mustard
• River Rock

If you want to print out a flyer to keep as a handy reference click HERE
Also announced today watercolour crayons & watercolour pencils are retiring from today too.

Due to unforeseen problems with our supplier for Watercolor Wonder Crayons and Watercolor Pencils, SU! have decided to discontinue these two products.

The following items are only available while supplies last. Get ‘em before they’re gone!
101879: Watercolor Pencils
119802: Subtles Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons
119803: Regals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons
119804: Brights Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons
119805: Neutrals Collection Watercolor Wonder Crayons

Petite Curly Label punch available to purchase now

Ohh you don't have to wait for the new catalogue to purchase the petite curly label punch you can purchase it now for $22.95 (Item : 129405 ). After June 30th it will be in our new catalogue for purchase too.