Stampin with Joanna

Fun Filled Two Backgrounds

Here are two more cards I made today (3 cards in one day - it's almost a record for me!) using the same central image and just changing the backgrounds. Colour scheme for both is pretty in pink, mellow moss and whisper white.

The middle flower in both is punched out and mounted on dimensionals for extra punch - Thanks to Jayne Mercer for this great idea.

I also used faux stitching on both - done with my white gel pen and the paper piercing template from Stampin' Up! that is available in the new Idea Book and Catalogue on its own - Yippee! (in a 3 mat kit as opposed to part of the whole tool kit).

The word window punch is also used on both - but in different ways! The card on the left has the punched piece cut in half and mounted to the top left and bottom right of the central image.

The card on the right uses the punched piece to hold the greeting at the bottom (which says "beautiful" but you can't read it in my terrible photo taken at dusk with almost no natural light - sorry!) Also used an eyelet and linen thread to finish this card off.

I wanted to try out my new 'french script' background - this is in the card on the right. I think it is a really soft background and finishes this card off nicely.

In the card on the left I used my old favourite 'Itty bitty backgrounds' speckle with mellow moss ink - it is hard to see in this terrible photo but trust me it is there!

Which card do you like the best? Let me know by leaving a comment (I really would like to know if anyone actually visits my blog! - thanks in advance!)

Labels: faux stitching, french script, Fun filled, itty bitty backgrounds, word window punch

Birthday Card for Lewis

I have finally had some time to create. I made this birthday card for one of my son's friends from school. I wanted something bright and cheerful! I think real red and night of navy look great together, don't you?

I used the 'Seeing spots' set (its in the new catalogue in case you want it!), the 'Very punny' sellabration fish, the happy birthday from 'little hellos' and letters from the 'classic alphabet' - I love this alphabet for personalising cards like this and it has both upper and lower case letters in the same set so is even more versatile!

I used 2 different sized circle punches (these are the in the new catalogue too) and some grosgrain ribbon to finish off.

Hope you like it. Thanks for looking.

Labels: birthday, boy, classic alphabet, night of navy, real red, seeing spots, very punny

Silly Me!

This is me with my brand new Stampin' Up! 2007-2008 Idea Book and Catalogue!

I am just a bit silly this week as I recieved my advance copy of the new Idea book and catalogue and it is beautiful! Full of new stamp sets, wonderful patterned papers, chipboard for scrapbookers, new punches and new colours , Oh and heaps of great new ideas! If you would like to see more then please feel free to come to my New Catalogue Launch Party on Friday 13th April at McGraths Hill. Email me if you are interested. Bookings essential.

If you are unable to attend but live within 1 hours drive of McGraths Hill, Sydney then perhaps you would like to host your own workshop to recieve a free copy of the Idea Book and Catalogue, gain some great hostess benefits, view a demonstration of Stampin' Up! products plus you and your guests get to make a card to take home - all for FREE! Contact me if you are interested.

If you would like to order your own copy then the New Catalogue price has not increased, still $12.95, although it is a lot heavier than the old one so if you would like one posted to you then the price will be increasing. ($6.70 for within NSW or $9.00 for interstate). If you contact me before the end of April though I will only be charging $3.00 postage to send out the new catalogue. Payment by direct deposit to my bank account only.

Easter boxes and Pouches

Here is an little box and a pouch that you can make and decorate for Easter, or any occasion! If you would like to make 3 each of these boxes and pouches (in differing designs) then you can if you come to my house next Tuesday 27th March or Tuesday 3rd April. (7.30pm, cost only $15 per person!). Email me to book your place.

Stampin' Up! New Zealand

In case you were not aware Stampin' Up! is starting up in New Zealand on 2 April.

So if any New Zealanders out there would like to earn themselves a free stamp set as well as the excellent starter kit then email me here.

If you let me refer you to Stampin' Up! and get your sign up forms into Stampin' Up! Australia before 9 April then you will get a extra stamp set to the value of $79.95 free!

I am a Kiwi myself so if you would like any helpful information on what it is like to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator feel free to email me with any questions and I'd be happy to fill you in. If New Zealand is anything like Australia then Stampin' Up! is about to explode over there and it would be fantastic to be in on the ground floor. (if you know what I mean!)

Another Birthday Girl Card

This is a card I created for some of my dedicated customers for a personalised stamp-a-stack(SAS). I took inspiration from a card created by my upline Jayne Mercer (thanks Jayne!). I stepped up my ususally simple SAS card so they could learn some new techniques (embossing, paper piercing to create faux stitching and making scalloped edges). They loved it, although it did take a little longer than normal to finish off both cards that evening!

I used pretty in pink, lovely lilac (Not a colour I have used before, but will be from now on!) and whisper white of course. Balloon and greeting are embossed using silver embossing powder. Silver thread finishes off the visual triangle of silver items on the card! Stamps sets used are 'Lively Little Ones' (can you believe they are retiring this set - if you want one you need to order it before 31 March) and 'All Year Cheer I'. Scalloped edge is created using the Stampin' Up! slit punch. This is such a versatile punch it is my favourite at the moment. Faux stitching is done using the paper piercing template from the Stampin' Up! tool kit, then joining the holes with the Uniball white gel pen. I love how I don't have to get the sewing machine out any more! Image is coloured with wonder watercolour crayons and Stampin' Up! classic inks using an aquapainter.

Hope you like it.

Family Reunion

I have been visiting my family in Melbourne, hence the break in blog posts! We haven't all been together for 3 years so it is quite an occasion when we all manage to be in the same room! We are scattered across the globe (UK, Australia and New Zealand) so it is expensive too. Here we all are - Aren't we a happy bunch!

Other swap cards

The other cards in the swap are here. Thanks to Di Manchino, Sally Izzo, Fiona Poirer and Cheryl Andrews for these fantastic cards. I love them all!

Lively Little Ones swap card

I can finally share this card with you. It is a card I made for a swap within the Elite Stampers group of demonstrators (the downline of Angela Sargeant with now over 100 members!). It is using the 'Lively Little Ones' set that is retiring this month, boo hoo! I love this set for fun kids cards and use it a lot. If you haven't already checked out the list of retiring products you can do it here (in page number order this time - so you can go through your catalogue and check them all out!).

Retiring items will not be available after 31 March so email me with your order in soon if you would like anything.

Details of card: Used Pumpkin pie, night of navy, confetti white and whisper white card. Pumpkin pie ink on 'canvas' background stamp and 'simple sayings II' greeting. Basic black ink for little boy, balloon and hat. Colouring done with inks and aqua painter. Antique brass hodgepodge buckle and brads to finish off. Thanks for looking!

Embossing Class

These are the three cards you can make if you attend my embossing class on Tuesday 13th March.

They use embossing in different ways so you can learn all about this technique and practice your watercolouring too!

Email me if you are interested.

Heat and Stick Powder and Glitter! My first attempt!

I have being meaning to try using 'Heat and Stick powder' and 'Dazzling diamonds glitter' for a while now and finally managed it this week. Here is my first attempt! I used it with my 'Delight in Life' set, that I didn't think I would like - but now absolutely love! The glitter is ultrafine and really adds a lovely sparkly effect. I will definitely be using it more in the future to add some bling to my cards! Card colours are pretty in pink, sage shadow and confetti cream. With antique brass hodgepodge and white organdy ribbon to finish off. Using the ribbon and paper clip this way was and idea I saw on Jayne Mercer's blog (thanks for the inspiration Jayne). Thanks for looking.

My baby niece!

This is the reason for my trip to Melbourne - my new niece! Isn't she beautiful - of course I am completely biased! She is only 13 days old in this photo and is treating her parents very well. What a good little girl!

Amazing Grass Tree!

I just had to share this. This is me in front of the biggest grass tree I have ever seen! It is in Melbourne's Botanical Gardens. For those of you who don't know these plants grown about 1cm a year (I could be mistaken - but anyway - they grow very slowly!) so imagine how old this tree is! I was blown away by this - hence the photo!

Stampin' Up! Retirement List

Today Stampin' Up! announced their first ever Retirement List in Australia!

What is a retirement list I hear you say - well, because there is a new catalogue coming out in April (with 200 new product lines) - there is also a whole lot of products that are being retired, that will not be available in the new catalogue.

Stampin' Up! released the list today so if you would like anything on the list you have one final month to purchase it before it will never be available again! Everything on the list will only be available while stocks last - so you better get in quick.

Here is a link to THE LIST!

Please email me if you would like to order anything on the list before 1 April 2007.