Friday inspiration ...

Hello friends. Hope you are having a lovely Friday. I have had a lovely day. I had some school Mum's here for lunch today (yummy Thai Sweet Potato Soup) and we had a fun afternoon of chatting and laughing. It was really lovely.

I did get to create last night. I had lots of fun playing and this is what I came up with. This set is Garden Whimsy and I used my markers to colour the stamp.

The background cardstock is our new Basic Gray cardstock, and this is the textured one. Did you notice that you can buy the neutral cardstock in mixed packs now? It's available as a mixed pack of Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray. Basic Black, Going Grey and Sahara Sand. You get 4 of each (24 sheets) in the 12x12 smooth and textured, and 36 sheets (6 of each) in the A4.

This next one was a challenge to use the bold colours in Kristina Werners (see my blog side bar) latest colour challenge. It certainly was a challenge for me as I don't normally use such bold colours. The colours that had to be used were Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Purely Pumpkin, So Saffron. I never would have come up with those colours but I do like the effect! The centre stamp is from the It's All Good set which is a set of 4 for just $24.95! There's that yummy scallop punch again.

You will notice I have used the yummy wide grosgrain ribbons on both cards. These are available in 8 colours now. I have 4 spots left in a current ribbon swap where you can get 2+ metres of each colour. Read more on my swap page here.

Thanks for popping by to see what I have been up to. Have a great weekend,

Claire xx

Clarifyng!

OK, I'm new at this and still ironing out the wrinkles - sorry! Just to clarify a couple of things:

The instruction kit isn't for my customers to buy, you'll be getting that sent out free with your order. That's what I was referring to in the customer newsletter just before convention when I said I had something extra coming up for my customers! Ditto my downlines, but you already know that :)  It's just that I had customers of other demonstrators and other demonstrators themselves asking if they could buy just my tutorials, so I wanted to come up with something worthy of the request!

Hope that makes sense. Now back to creating. Just cleared my desk ..... always a good sign!

Be back soon :)

Claire

Ten Ideas with Patterned Papers ....

I have been asked for many months now if I would be offering project kits for my customers and blog visitors who are not able to attend classes in person. When the gorgeous new Designer Series Papers came out with the new 2008/2009 Idea Book and Catalogue, I knew I had found my niche!

Each month I will be offering a '10 Ways with Patterned Paper' project instruction kit for just $10, where I will create a range of original projects featuring 12 double sided 12x12 patterned papers. I will use Stampin' Up! papers in my examples, but the instructions could easily be transferred to any papers you already have on hand. As the kit does not contain any actual Stampin' Up! products, I am able to offer these instruction kits worldwide to any country where PayPal is available! The cost of the instruction kit is just $10 (Australian) and PayPal will automatically convert the currency to yours. Other Stampin' Up! demonstrators are welcome to purchase these instruction kits and use them for their personal use or in their own in-person workshops. The only limitation is they can not be electronically transferred to downlines or anyone else (although you get discounts on next months kit for referring downlines), and the instructions can't be made available for sale or download by you.

This months instruction kit features the very delightful 'Brocade Backgrounds' Designer Series Paper. Here's a peek at just a couple of the projects.

In the instruction kit you will find instructions and pictures for completing the following 10 projects:

• 12x12 scrapbook page
• 6x6 scrapbook page
• Candle
• Gift Box
• Gift Pouch
• 5 layered cards

I have used Stampin' Up! accessories to embellish my cards and projects, but again you could easily interchange other Stampin' Up! products current in your country, or other supplies you have on hand.

A months worth of step by step creating for just $10 Australian. It's easy to purchase securely through PayPal (and you don't have to be a PayPal member). I can also accept payment by direct deposit, credit card or mailed cheque. If you are paying by PayPal, here's the link:

Of course I will still be posting my normal free tutorials to customers and newsletter subscribers and also lots of samples here. I just wanted to add that little bit extra for those who had been asking. I hope you enjoy this months kit,

Claire xx

The instructions for emerging colour...

Wow, thanks for the comments and all the emails about the box. As promised to those who emailed me, here are the brief instructions.

Firstly I should have explained this is not the Origami Box, but a box made from two squares of A4 cardstock (7" and 5") that fits the Love Note size note cards and envelopes inside. As I mentioned in the last post Beate originally created this card.

As for emerging colour technique, it's done like this:

• Stamp a variety of small stamps onto white cardstock (here I used various colours).
• Cover this with a large solid stamp (or with large solid sections), stamped in Versamark and then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.
• Brayer a darker colour over the top and around the image (in this case the Purely Pomegranate).
• Overstamp if desired in a darker colour.
• Leave a minute or so to dry and then wipe the ink off the embossed area using a paper towel.
• Mount onto card and add greeting!

Too dark to take photos now, but pop back later today as I have something great for you I have been working on this weekend.

Happy Monday,

Claire xx

Having a great week ...

I'm feeling really grateful today. Grateful to have the opportunity to share what I love with you all, and contribute to the family income in a way that is so spiritually rewarding for me. Over the last few days I have had customers and downlines pop in, received emails from other customers and last night I did a really fun and creative workshop with a group in Vermont South. After all of these things I am left with a smile on my face and a feeling of being cared for (thanks to everyone who has asked me how I am feeling after last weeks bout on Bronchitis - nearly 100% again thanks!) and like I am doing something valuable to other people as well. To be able to do this and also be here for my boys is important to me and I couldn't do it without the wonderful customers who support me, and those who like my blog and tell others to visit here. Thanks so much. I really appreciate every one of you.

I'm not sure why I feel so emotional about this today. I think maybe it was because one of my school Mum friends is having a tough time and needed a shoulder this morning. Women are such a great support to each other. So what did we decide to do - we're all getting together for a Mums lunch at my house next Friday to laugh and chat and solve the problems of the world. Can't wait.

OK enough waffle - get on with the creations I hear you say! You have the fabulous Beate Johns from Splitcoast stampers to thanks for todays creations. When I saw a card Beate made with this Stampin' Up! set Fabulous Flowers, I HAD to have that stamp set. I loved everything about the card she had made and how well this set worked for the technique 'Emerging Colour'. Here's my version of Beates card.

Then I got to thinking how cool the flower would look on top of a box, so I made this:

and that made me think how cool it would be to have some little matching cards that fit inside the box, so I made them too :) You'll have to excuse the light on this pic though. It was getting dark by now!

Here's a roundup of what I used  in this project:

Stampin' Up! Stamps: Fabulous Flowers  (catalogue page 79), Baroque Motifs (catalogue page 98), A Little Birthday Cheer (catalogue page 114)

Cardstock: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava

Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Wild Wasabi, Versamark

Accessories: Circle Rhinestone Brads

Would you like the template for the box and the step by step instructions how to make it in a tutorial? I'll email it out to customers next week. If you are not already a customer, why not buy yourself this gorgeous Fabulous Flowers stamp set for just $43.95 and become one? That way you will get all the added benefits off the extra emails I send just for customers. Remember you get 10% off your very first individual customer order with me as well.Just email me to order and you can have this set delivered to your door by Australia Post, usually in 7-10 days. I accept credit card or direct deposit.

Have a great day today,

Claire