Coming Up for Air after the Women's Lifestyle Expo

I had such a great time at the expo meeting lots of new and experienced stampers and introducing them to Stampin' Up!®. Make and Takes were completed by a lot of ladies and one male and it is always the most fantastic feeling to watch their eyes light up when they find their new hobby.

It was great meeting all the new ladies and some of my friends and existing customer base who popped in to say Hi.

Thank you so much to Sharlene M, my upline, who did a fantastic job planning for this event and designing the Make and Take, which was definitely a hit with the people that made them.

Here is a photo of our booth which I think we where all quite right to feel very proud of.

Scallop Circle Punch Showcase - Punch Art 2

Punch Art II

Here's some more punch art ideas that continue on from yesterday's post.

All projects shown use current Stampin' Up!® product, except for the DSP used for the ornament which has since retired.

The scallop circle punch is available by contacting me for $37.50 including shipping. Other product used in the examples is also available through me. Contact me for pricing.

Hostess Appreciation Night & Women's Lifestyle Expo

Every year on the Anniversary of my very first workshop as a Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator I invite my hostesses from the previous year around to my place for a Thank You workshop. Door Prizes and Make and Takes for all.

Last night was a great night and I really enjoyed catching up with my Hostesses. In this business it is so easy to run workshops for your hostesses and then lose touch with them over the year.

In the photo below you can see the scallop edge boxes made with carousel notes that I filled with Roses Chocolates as a Thank You to my hostesses and the projects that we made.

To be invited to the event next year make sure you contact me to book a workshop date with me over the next year.

This 'Choo Choo' decorated tissue pack cover was a bribe for Lachlan for keeping out of the way of my guests last night. He loves crafting and it is a strain for him to stay in his bed when there's cardmaking going on.

Thank you Lynette for making the tutorial for this available on your blog.

Wellington Women's Lifestyle Expo

I'm all packed and Sharlene, Judith and I will be heading off shortly to set up our stand at this year's Wellington Women's Lifestyle Expo. The Expo is running from 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Come along and check out: -

- Our product range using it to make your own card.

- Cards for sale

- Sample cards and scrapbook layouts using Stampin' Up!® product.

- The business opportunity as part of a well established local team.

- Our Super Stampin' Special.

I will be on the booth from 1:30 onwards on Saturday and from 9:30am to 1:30pm on Sunday and I'd love to catch up with you. Other members of the friendly Wellington INKspirables team will be there at other times to answer your questions.

Scallop Circle Punch Showcase - Punch Art 1

Technique Six - Punch Art Part 1

I've come across a number of clever ways to use the scallop circle punch to create other punch art, animals, characters etc. These are a few that I've chosen to make myself. Part 2 of this comes tomorrow.

All but the patterned paper on the owl box are Stampin' Up!® product.

The scallop circle punch is available by contacting me for $37.50 including shipping. Other product used in the examples is also available through me. Contact me for pricing.

Scallop Circle Punch Showcase - Frames

Technique Five - Frames

Using a circle punch to punch a shape first and then punching round in with a Scallop Circle punch makes a great frame. I've shown two projects below, the first where the frame is punched from Brushed Silver card and had been stuck over vellum to make a faux circle tag and the second where the scallop circle frame frames an image on the inside of the card. N.B. both these projects use only Stampin' Up!® product however due to the age of the projects some of the stamp sets and papers are now retired.

The scallop circle punch is available by contacting me for $37.50 including shipping.

Scallop Circle Punch Showcase - Double Scallop

Technique Four - Double Scallop

Punch two scallop circles each from a different colour and layer them on top of each other so that the scallops on the bottom one show through the gaps on the top one.

Scallop Circle Punch Showcase - Layered Punches

Technique Three - Layered Punches

One of the techniques I use most often is using the Scallop Circle punch behind an image punched out with a smaller circle punch and perhaps layered with another circle punch. The punches that work best inside a scallop circle punch are the 1 1/4" and/or 1 3/8" circle punches.

See some examples below: -

All product used in these examples is Stampin' Up!®

The scallop circle punch is available by contacting me for $37.50 including shipping. Other product used in the examples is also available through me. Contact me for pricing.

Elissa Gilbert's Double Pouch Card Holder

I couldn't resist this 3D Demonstratable project challenge on Splitcoast Stampers. It's the perfect project to whip up for a last minute present. Super Quick.

The instructions are here on Elissa's blog.

Scallop Circle Punch Showcase - Sunflowers

Technique Two - Sunflowers

I have only recently found this technique. Punch out a scallop circle, in the card above I used patterned paper. Snip into the centre at the join of each scallop. Don't go in too far you need it to stay together. Use a 1" circle punch for a flower centre and part of a five petal flower punch for the leaves.

I found this technique and a fantastic tutorial on the blog of Mary.

Showcasing the Scallop Circle Punch

For the last two Idea Book and Catalogues I have been keeping records of the best selling products for my customer base. One that wins hands down as having been sold at almost every event and every workshop is the Scallop Circle Punch. I don't think any of my customers will be surprised as I use it at every workshop.



So for all my customers who now own this punch I am going to post a series of technique for the next week to help you get the most use you can out of your scallop circle punch.

Some of them will be repeats of projects that have already been posted on my blog put together all in one place.

Technique One: - Bite

The picture above shows the bite taken out of the corner of a popsicle card. It also works well for showing a sneak peek of an image on the inside of the card. The popsicle shown here also uses another popular scallop circle technique that of layering the scallop behind one or more smaller circle punches.

The tart and tangy strawberry stamp is a great stamp to use along with the cherry, lemon and apple in that set for Kiwi Christmas cards.

DCM - Anniversary Waltz

It's was my turn to set the dare over at the Daring Cardmakers blog this week. As I'm right into planning and preparation for my 2nd Anniversary, Hostess Appreciation event next week, Anniversary was the theme that came to mind.

I want you to make a card celebrating any type of Anniversary.

I give this card electronically to all the lovely crafters that I've met over the last year, both as hostesses and customers. I hope you enjoy the card and I also hope, those that are joining me will have a great time at my hostess appreciation event next Thursday (27th). Those who have received their invitations still have until 25th to RSVP.

All supplies Stampin' Up!® unless noted: -

Stamp Set - Fun and Fast Notes

Card - Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red Cardstock

Ink - Pretty in Pink, Real Red & Ruby Red Stampin' Write Markers

Accessories - Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Snail, Mini Glue Dots, Paper Cutter, Paper Snips, Aqua Painter, Acetate (Non SU).

Shadowy Train

This was one of those cards that just needed to be made, I have no one lined up yet to give it to. It's not the usual brightly coloured train card you'd give to a small boy although my nine year old loves it.

All supplies Stampin' Up!® -

Stamp Set - Choo Choo, Right on Track Stampin' Around Wheel

Card - Bordering Blue, Basic Black & Whisper White

Ink - Basic Black and Basic Grey Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories - Paper Cutter, Snail Adhesive, Stamp A Ma Jig, Stampin' Sponge

Match Box

I came across Kelly's instructions for making matchboxes while surfing yesterday.



Here's mine: -

All supplies Stampin' Up!®:-

Stamp Set - Best Yet

Paper - Good Morning Sunshine DSP, Whisper White & Kiwi Kiss Cardstock

Ink - Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin' Pad

Punches - Large Star, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circles, Slit

Accessories - Paper Cutter, Adhesive, Bone Folder

Carousel Note Boxes

I've finally got started on some boxes I'm making for an event in about a week and a half's time.

They are very simple to make following Barb Mullikin's fabulous tutorial.

These are another great use for the carousel notes and showcase the Stampin' Up!® range of Designer Series Papers perfectly. For the two boxes in the picture I've used Ski Slope from the Spring Mini Catalogue and Bella Rose from the current Idea Book and Catalogue.

All supplies Stampin' Up!®

Stamp Set - Oval All

Paper - Carousel Notes, Whisper White, Bella Rose and Ski Slope DSP

Ink - Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss Classic Stampin' Pads

Punches - Scallop Oval & Wide Oval

Accessories - Paper Cutter, Paper Snips, Sticky Strip, Tombow Multi, Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, White Taffeta Ribbon.

DCM: - Lacy Days of Summer

It's Kathy's turn to set the dare this week and she wants us to interprete the word 'Lace' and use it anyway we like on our card. I've used this definition: - to lace things together.

All supplies except the eyelets and DCM stranded cotton Stampin' Up!®: -

Stamp Set - Sincere Salutations

Paper - Bella Rose DSP, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss & Whisper White DSP

Ink - Riding Hood Red Classic Ink Pad

Punches - Scallop Oval and Wide Oval

Accessories - Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Stampin' Sponge, Crop A Dile, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Spring Mini Share Update

The first round of the Embellishment share is full and will be ordered when all payments have been received.

The second round is open now so join in to get a taste of the fantastic embellishments on offer in the Spring Mini Catalogue.

There are still 4 places left in the Paper Share. Sign up now.

2009 SPRING MINI DESIGNER SERIES PAPER SHARE

The spring mini contains three new paper packs.

- Walk in the Park - $19.95

- Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper - $27.95

- Ski Slope - $19.95

Receive 18 6"x6" sheets, that's 6 from each of the paper packs for $8.90. Add an extra dollar if you'd like me to post it to you.

There will be eight places in the share. Email me to book your place or click on the Buy Now button below.

2009 SPRING MINI EMBELLISHMENT SHARE

This share includes: -
- 18 Corduroy Buttons 2 each in 3 sizes and 3 colours - Baja Breeze, Basic Grey and Kiwi Kiss

- 28 Jumbo Brads - 20 5/16" Neutral brads in Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Whisper White and Silver and 8 5/8" Neutral brads in the same colours

- 8 Flower Assortment Brads, 2 each in Pumpkin Pie, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron & Chocolate Chip

- Approx 2.2 metres of 3.2cm wide Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

The cost of this share is $37.50 with a bonus of free shipping if your's needs to be posted.

There will be four places in the share. Email me to book your place or click on the Buy Now button below.

Share Type

Designer Series Paper $8.90Embellishments $37.50

Orders will be placed for the shares once they are full.

Card Upgrade

This is the card that I had as a Make and Take at the Petone Cardmakers Guild Meeting last Wednesday. It needed to be something that could be done with sugar paste and so was on the simple side.

When I demonstrated the card to the ladies I used Scatter Sunshine Jumbo Stampin' Around wheel instead of Polka Dots so that is what I used for this card too.

I took one of the left over Make and Take kits and added Regal Rose Patterns Designer Series Paper and a small filigree brad, swapped the cardstock strips for Old Olive Wide Grosgrain Ribbon and changed and Regal Rose Ink Pad for an Old Olive one and this is the result.

The only pieces not used from the original kit was the two card strips.