Kindness Matters

Kindness Matters ...
Those two words got me as soon as I saw this stamp set in the new catalogue. They are one of my mantra's that I try and live my life by. Ask my children... as soon as they hear "kindness" come out of my mouth, they say "I know Mum" and roll their eyes!

This is the card I came up with to give customers this month who placed an order with me. I've used 'Pool Party' for the card base and stamped the swirl image (from 'Creative Elements') in 'Island Indigo'. I embossed one of the dinky new frames on 'Lucky Limeade' card stock and tore around it. I've then sponged 'Island Indigo' ink onto it. (Can you tell that I am LOVING the new In Colours LOL).
I've taken the butterfly trio from the 'Kindness Matters' set and off stamped it to give me a lighter shade of the 'Lucky Limeade' ink. Add the beautiful sentiment and you're done.
Simple, striking and a little act of kindness to thank my customers and to let them know how much I appreciate each and every one of them. Thank you ladies!

Adding Some Spice To Your Gift Giving

As a child I was told it is better to give than receive and as a child I can remember having trouble with this concept!
Thankfully I have grown up and now appreciate the true nature of the sentiment. With Canada's Thanksgiving holiday coming up, I wanted to incorporate the idea of gift giving into a class. Usually in a class, I focus on the cards. This time I have made the class all about gifts.

First up, I created a gorgeous 4 x 4 x 4" chipboard cube ready to be filled with goodies that you can give away or keep. I decorated it with the scrumptious new 'Spice Cake' DSP and fabric from the upcoming Holiday Mini.
'Pool Party', 'More Mustard' and 'Soft Suede' card stock combined ... just gorgeous.

To add an extra something to whatever you might want to add to your cube, I've made a gift tag from card stock and the 'Spice Cake' fabric that will set off any gift it is attached to. Here I have attached mine to a bag of goodies for the purposes of photographing it (Of course, some of those goodies may have been consumed in the photographic process!).

As I was creating this class I thought I should add a little something extra, just in case one wants to keep the cube and needs something to attach their tag to. Using the new 'Petite Pocket' die I made a candy bag, Autumnal style...
Now, I'd just like to point out here that it took me quite some time to colour coordinate the candy to the colours in the DSP! I was determined to find something to put in the pocket that matched, and I got there in the end, but what a mission!
I've made a pocket style gift holder and lined it with 'Spice Cake' DSP. I've used felt and new In Colour brads and ribbon to embellish it. You can give this as a gift as it is or you could attach your gift tag to it to "spice" it up (sorry couldn't help the play on words!).

To finish up this ensemble, I had to include a card, because even a card on it's own is a gift in itself ...
You can change the sentiment on the card and it would be suitable for so many occasions.

So there you have it, gifts galore and gifts to give or keep.

Dates: Wednesday 21st September / Thursday 22nd September, 7 - 9.30pm
Cost: $18

Email to register!

Nautical Niceness MDS Style

This is the card I received from team member Louise. Louise didn't have a nautical stamp set so she decided to make her card using Stampin' Up!'s 'My Digital Studio'. It's a digital craft room on your computer (Imagine how much stuff you could store in THAT craft room!!!)
Now, as if the card isn't cute enough on it's own, here's the inside...
How cool is that?! I've said it once and I'll say it again, I belong to such a creative and talented team! And before anyone emails me to ask, yes the knot is real and it moves. Awesome!

Some More Nautical Niceness

I promised in an earlier post that I would share the cards I received from the other ASI team members for our July challenge.
Above is the card Carol (Our "Boss" ;) created. What I especially love is the use of the Nautical Expedition DSP... thats where the image of the globe comes from. That was definitely thinking outside the box!

Next up is the card our Mistress of Bling (Also known as Linda) created. Linda loves anything that sparkles and shines. Nearly always you will find some form of bling on her projects. Only Linda, the master that she is, can add bling to a masculine card and make it work...
See what I mean?!
I'll save the other cards for another day... can't have you seeing everything in one go!

Christmas Club Card for September

I have just got back from a fabulous weekend at my upline Carol's house. As always it was such a fun, filled with laughter, awesome weekend... thanks girls!!!!! (Oh and thank you Brian!).
While at Carol's I got to play (and play I did) with lots of the new products that are coming out in September that I don't have. Every time Carol showed me something new I oohed and aahed. My wish list just got a whole lot longer LOL.

I took photos of the things we made but today I'm sharing my next upcoming card class. It's the September Inky Moose Christmas Club Card.
I saw this snowman in the new catalogue and couldn't resist... doesn't he make you just want to go out in some snow and play? Well, ok, maybe not go out in some snow and play, but he sure is a handsome fella.
If you'd like to make this card, just sign up for one of my classes. You can make 5 - 10 cards depending on how many you would like (they will all be the same). When you register, let me know how many cards you will be wanting to make.

Dates: Wednesday 7th September / Thursday 8th September, 7 - 9.30pm

Cost: $2 per card.

Email me to register!

Sailing Away

I almost forgot to share with you the card I made for our ASI team swap last month!
The theme was red, white and blue. Nautical ideas instantly sprung to mind for me and here's what I came up with.
I've used strips of the handsome 'Nautical Expedition' DSP and the al la carte stamp in the soon-to-be-finished Summer Mini. The medallion in the top right corner is made using the new Embosslits in the main catty. I inked it up and ran it through my Big Shot. I then stamped the compass image from the 'Open Sea' stamp set and punched out the centre piece...
Add some faux stitching (Yes I know... but I love it!) and there you have it.

I'll post photos later of the amazing swaps I got in return from other team members. I am so lucky to be part of such a creative group of awesome ladies...
Love you girls!

Baby Bliss

Over the weekend I had a baby shower to attend. I have actually never been to one before so I was probably as excited as the expectant mother about it! In New Zealand when I had my children, people just didn't have showers. You waited until the baby was born to give gifts. I would watch American movies with baby showers in them, and they seemed so foreign. But now that I'm in North America I got to experience one first hand (Thanks Shelley!).
This is the card I came up with. I just love it. The whole darn thing is just darling. The cute wee buttons for the drawer handles, the tiny Onsie hanging on the wall... just too, too cute!

The Cutest Critters In The Catalogue

I'm talking about the cutest darn set in the whole catalogue! It is called 'Furry Folk' and I just love it.
I needed an excuse to buy it, so I thought if I came up with a class using it, then that would be the best excuse I could have.
I have used only a few images from the set (I had to control myself) but you could use any number of the critters that you liked.

First up is an update on a card I did when I first started out. This was a special request for a lovely lady so I hope she likes it. I've used the yummy new In Colours 'Pool Party' and 'Lucky Limeade' and teamed them with 'Pink Pirouette' and 'Early Espresso'. The cuteness factor of these critters is tripled with these fresh and funky colours.

Second up, is a Post-It Note Holder. More cuteness I am afraid!
Who wouldn't love to have a Post-It note pad like this to use?!

Lastly is another card. Simpler than the first card but no less cute ...
This card has a cut-out to give you a hint of what's inside. The inside is super duper cute but I'm not going to show you it... you'll have to come and see it for yourself. I know... what a tease!

Want to add some critter cuteness to your day? You know what to do!

Dates: Wednesday 24th August / Thursday 25th August, 7 - 9.30 pm.
Cost: $18.