Retiring Products Blog Hop

Hi Everyone,


Today is the ESAD Retiring Products Blog Hop.... A journey of 25 Stampin' Up! Demo's and what they've done with some of this year's retiring products. If you are just starting here there's links to follow round the blog hop, otherwise if you are already on the journey, you will have come from Keryn's blog.




What is ESAD?
 
ESAD stands for "Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators" and it is an on-line group just for Australian and New Zealand Stampin Up demonstrators.
 
We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends, and wonderful blog visitors, but we share our love for what we do with each other as demonstrators.  We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know-how, and cyberstamps, and we are always there to help and support each other when it is needed.
 
So if you are a Stampin' Up! demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.




Now get ready for it, I've used the "Always" Stamp Set and the co-ordinating "Always in Bloom" Wheel for my gift pack of cards. And the big surprise for me is using 2 colours I don't normally - Soft Suede and Sahara Sand!! I challenged myself to do use these 2 colours which are out of my bright and cheery colour comfort zone! I like the way they've turned out though :)

Coloured my heart with my Old Olive & Chocolate Chip Markers

Extra details added by using my paper piercing tool and mat pack

Added background detail by stamping Soft Suede leaves randomly onto the Soft Suede Card

This clean and simple layout really shows off my 'homemade paper'. 

Combining the Soft Suede stamping and inking my stamp with my markers

All the vanilla card with the Old Olive "Always in Bloom" pattern (ie all the vanilla card with the green ink) has been done on less than 1 A4 sheet of card - handy way to get just the right colour 'scrapbooking paper' for your next creation. A great tip is to have the ink cartridge in your wheel handle - it provides a continuous supply of ink onto your wheel!


Materials Used:
Card stock: Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand
Stamps: Always, Always in Bloom Wheel, On your Birthday
Punches: Scallop Border, 1 1/4" circle, 1 3/8" Circle, Scallop Oval, Large Oval
Ribbon: Very Vanilla Grosgrain, Soft Suede Polka Dot (retired)
Dimensionals
Paper Piercing Tool
Mat Pack - template for aligning your dots!




The next stop on your journey is Sharlene Meyer.... Have fun hopping round!!!




Thanks for looking,

Stampin' Royalty Challenge #56

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday I had a fantabulous day stamping and catching up with some friends, Lee-Anne, Andrea, Courtney and Chris. Whilst we were supposed to be making a super early start on our Christmas cards, it didn't really happen for me.

Instead, I played with the Stampin' Royalty Challenge #56 and this is one of the cards I came up with.... Oh, and I think this is FIRST time I've ever entered a Stampin' Royalty Challenge!! YAY ME!! ;)

Stamp Sets Used: Always & Lvl 3 Hostess 'Playful Pieces'; Beads and Ribbon from my stash

I turned the sketch sideways to make this one.... Couple more cards coming soon, I just have to finish them off (I didn't take any embellishments & bling yesterday as I was trying to travel light!).. So hopefully (and kid willing) I'll be back later this arvo.


Thanks for looking,

"Always" First Ink

Hi Everyone,

So last night I inked up my new "Always" Stamp set... Its a very pretty set and one I've been umming and ahhing about for ages!!! So my Mum bought it for my b'day and this is the first chance I've had to play with it...

This is a quick card I made using the bird from the set and simply stamping onto some designer series paper...

And can you notice anything different about my photo.... I've made blurry edges to attempt to make it a little more 'artistic'... I had a play around on my photo editing program and worked it out with the help of Tania Gould's Photoshop Tutorial (I use a free download of "Gimp" which is kind of like Photoshop).

Materials Used

Stamp Set: Bird: Always, Sentiment: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Scallop Oval Punch

Large Oval Punch

Well, I'm sure loads more cards will be on the way with this set, its just a matter of when... Why is there never enough hours in the day to stamp and also play farmville.... LOL!!


Thanks for looking,