Heidi's Aperture Card

I think I'm a clean and simple stamper so when the Creative Inkers team were off to Holdens Bay in Rotorua for the annual stamp camp/retreat last weekend and the challenge for the swap cards was to create a workshop card. I thought I knew the perfect card for a workshop Heidi's Aperture card.

I love my dies more than anyone else but punches actually remind me of my early workshops with Stampin' Up! Back in those days I don't think we had any die cutting machines or that they'd even be invented so this was a bit of a trip down nostalgia lane for me.

I've used the field of poppies stamp from Painted Poppies twice to cover the width of the card. Then "coloured" in the flowers with the splatter stamp in the set and Poppy Parade ink. From one side of the card insert the 2" circle punch as far as it will go. Punch out the flowers and attach to an already punched out 2-¼" Poppy Parade circle. Now all you have to do is take the 2-¼" circle punch over the same hole to make it big enough to pop in the framed image.

Recipe (all products Stampin' Up!)
Stamp sets: Painted Poppies, Peaceful Moments
Ink: Memento Black, Poppy Parade
Paper: Thick Whisper White, Poppy Parade
Punches: 2" circle, 2-¼" circle

I loved how quick and easy this card was with a wee bit of wow, so I whipped up a few birthday cards too using Daffodil Delight ink and it's matching ¼" ruched ribbon that has just been released with the new mini catalogue. I also liked that when you open the card to write your message it's already decorated on the inside.

Thank you Heidi I love your aperture card. And if anyone would love to host a workshop I'd love to share this card with you and your friends.

Happy stampin'
✿ Karen ✿

Have you ever considered joining Stampin' Up!

If you've ever considered joining Stampin' Up! joining in Sale-a-bration (SAB) is the best time.

In a nutshell YOU get to choose $285 of products for $189, so we've already saved $100, as its SAB you also get to choose any stamp set in the current catalogues (this is where you chose the dearest stamp set on your wish list) and wait there's more we also receive a pack of mixed designer papers and I'm no expert any more but it looks like I have every DSP found in the new mini catalogue and what was the piece of resistance to me was that really cute mini trimmer, it's so cute it fits in my crafting bag. While you're active you also receive a discount on all your sales (personal or workshop orders).

At this stage there seems to be no plans to introduce the mini trimmer into the next Annual catalogue but if you really want one I'd say join the family now and I have to say that this is possibly the best offer to join Stampin' Up! that I have ever seen. If you'd like to know more about joining Stampin' Up! contact me I'd really love to chat to you about how fab this offer really is.

Did you know that Stampin' Up have also replaced their paper trimmer (new number to order is 152392) and this new beauty is one of the few trimmers on the market that has both imperial & metric measurements. The ruler extends to 17 inches or 43 cm. It comes with a cutting & scoring blade. The new blade lasts longer, cuts smoother & the cuts look really straight. Replacement blades are easily available from your demonstrator. The price is $53 which for a trimmer of this quality is phenomenal and as its SAB you're half way to $110 to earn a free Sale-a-bration reward.

✿ Karen ✿

Happy V-day

Well it's Valentine's day down under so I thought I'd share the wee card I whipped up for my Pete today. I've been playing with my Pigment Sprinkles from Stampin' Up! lately. The papers in the Peaceful Poppies DSP remind me of watercolours so I was trying to recreate the watercoloured look.

I must admit I was wearing a pair of white trousers so was getting a bit worried that maybe this was a silly idea as they certainly pack a lot of colour in a few sprinkles. I used Gorgeous Grape, Mango Melody & Melon Mambo for my flower & Granny Apple Green & Bermuda Bay for my leaves. I coloured the Rhinestones with a RV66 Copic marker as it's supposed to be close to Rich Razzleberry.

There's not a lot of stamping on the card apart from the word love, its all the magic of watercolour, dies & fab designer series paper.

Recipe (all products Stampin' Up! apart from the Copic marker)
Stamp set: Balloon Builders
Ink: Memento Black, Poppy Parade, Pigment Sprinkles, RV66 (Copic)
Paper: Whisper White, watercolour, Peaceful Poppies DSP
Dies: Poppy Moments
Other: Dimensionals, Rhinestones, old SU! heart punch with 3 hearts on it (long time retired)

Just a quick explanation how I created the watercolour wash for the flower & leaves.

• I always do a quick clean water wash on my watercolour paper first with either a watercolour brush or a big paintbrush.
• Add a few Pigment Sprinkles to a laminated A4 piece of white paper or a craft mat or the back of a big perspex block.
• Add a few drops of water to the pigment sprinkles - you can then mix on the sheet or I personally like to add to the wet watercolour paper & see what magic happens.

I'd like to enter my card into the Challenge at AAA cards (clean & simple), the challenge was up to 1/3rd with the option of a heart twist, so perfect for Valentine's day.

Well I hope everyone has a very nice day & feels loved & maybe just a wee bit of chocolate passes your lips;)

Happy KRaftin'

✿ Karen ✿

2020 and a new beginning as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator

Wow I'm really excited to announce that I have signed up as Stampin' Up! demo again, it has been sometime since I blogged but I have been playing away in my craft room getting my fingers inky since I've been gone.

I have to say that the latest mini catalogue is maybe the best I've ever seen and it really excited me, so I thought what have I got to lose by rejoining and the welcome back from the Creative Inkers team was fab so it felt so right & I'm really looking forward to joining them all at Stamp Camp in Rotorua in a few weeks time.

It's an absolutely fabulous time to join in Sale-a-bration as you get to chose $285 worth of products for $189 PLUS they also send you all the business supplies you need to get started  PLUS your choice of one more stamp set of any value from the current annual or mini catalogue PLUS the most cutest mini trimmer imaginable (it is even cuter in real life & will be perfect for taking away for a day crafting etc) PLUS a 6" by 6" designer series paper sampler pack which is 48 sheets big & I'm no expert but I think it's one of all the DSPs in the new mini catalogue :)

This is the picture of all the extra free goodies I received on top of an already discounted starter kit.

If you'd like to know more about joining me as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator don't hesitate to contact me, I'd love to have a chat.
✿ Karen ✿