Blog Hop - Sneak Peek

 

Thank you for joining us for this month's Crazy Crafters Blog Hop.  If you've been following the hop, you should have arrived here from the very talented Angela Lorenz. 

We are all very excited about all the lovely new products in the brand new Annual Catalogue and this Hop is all about giving you a sneak peek of what's in store for us all from 2nd June when the 2015-2016 Catalogue comes into effect.  We hope that you will love the new products as much as we do and that you enjoy our previews and ideas.  If you've already got your copy of the new catalogue you'll understand just why we're so excited! 

I found it really difficult to settle on an item to showcase because I love so many of them!  In the end I decided to make two cards using the Sprinkles of Life stamp set which is just so versatile.  With same set (and without trying very hard!) it can make cupcakes (with our without candles or sprinkles), clouds, rain, ice cream in a cone, a basket of flowers, a basket of apples, a tree (with or without leaves, flowers, fruit) - you get the picture!  There is also a matching punch, just to make it even easier to create the tops of the cupcakes, tree, rain drops etc.

Cupcakes by The Cakery & Co

This first card is a box full of cupcakes for my friend Emma, the Cupcake Queen, who bakes the most beautiful cakes and cupcakes and for whom I'm happy to taste test anytime!  She's super-busy at the moment making beautiful daffodil cupcakes for a Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser.

Bohemian DSP & Blackberry Bliss Cardstock

Sprinkles of Life & I Think You're Great stamp sets

Sprinkles of Life Magic Card showing the magic!

The second card is a "magic card".  There are lots of tutorials for magic cards and the only thing I've done a little differently is to place the magic bit onto the front of a normal card (made by folding a piece of A5 cardstock in half) because I like cards that open.  I used three of the new 2015-2017 In Colours: Tip Top Taupe, Delightful Dijon and Watermelon Wonder.

Sprinkles of Life & Bohemian Borders stamp sets

Stampin' Up! are donating $3 to Ronald McDonald House with every Sprinkles of Life stamp set sold.

Just want to send a warm "hello" to our fellow Crazy Crafter, Em Robinson, who sadly was unable to join in the hop this month but who is avidly following it.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit!  Please click on the "next" button below to hop on to see the great ideas of the next Crazy Crafter - the amazing Angela Westland. 

Sneak Peek - New In-Colours 2015-2017

I realised when I was playing with the new colours yesterday that I was having a little trouble coming to grips with them.  So I decided to put them into context for myself by making some quick little colour boards as a quick and easy reference. 

I'm finding them so handy, I think I'll eventually make little colour boards for orange, blue and purple as well.

New In-Colour Tip Top Taupe

New In-Colours Cucumber Crush & Mint Macaron

New In-Colour Watermelon Wonder

New In-Colour Delightful Dijon

I'll put up some more card photos over the weekend.

See you then!

Sneak Peek 2015-2016 Catalogue - Cupcakes, Birthdays & Flowers

 A little Sneak Peek of a some new products coming in the new catalogue.

My 2015-16 Catalogue with easy-locate tabs (thanks to a clever friend!)

If you'd like to order your own copy of this catalogue for $7.95 inc postage, click the Paypal link below (Australian residents only).    It will be mailed directly to you from Stampin' Up! around 25th May.  The exciting new products are available for purchase from 2nd June.

Bohemian DSP - lots of bright, bold colours and patterns (and some more subdued patterns as well).

The embellishment comes in the new In-colours (I added a rhinestone because ... why not?!). Delightful Dijon is one of the new colours.

Sprinkles of Life cupcake, Bohemian DSP,

In-colour Blossom Accent

The photo doesn't do the glitter justice!

The cupcake is built using a really versatile stamp set called Sprinkles of Life. It can be rainclouds, ice creams, baskets of fruit ... and also has a lovely tree image.

Stampin' Up! make a donation to Ronald McDonald House with every sale of this stamp set. There is also a matching punch, which I haven't used yet.....

Build a Birthday, Boho Chic Embossing Folder

 OK, I've got a couple more very quick cards for you!

This one uses the Build a Birthday stamp set - another really versatile set with lots of options.  I've added some twisted up Lace Trim and embossed the card with the Boho Chic embossing folder.  These are some of the new In-colours: Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder and Mint Macaron.

You've Got This stamp set

This last one uses the You've Got This stamp set, which has the gorgeous flower, the useful grungey background and some supportive sentiments.  This time, I chose to use the birthday sentiment from the Build a Birthday set.  I used the same In-colours while I had them open.  And I do love a bit of bling - so I added a rhinestone to the blossom embellishment again.

Stay tuned for some more sneak peeks over the next few weeks and remember to order your copy of the catalogue - you're going to LOVE it!

Splitcoaststampers Creative Crew

  I'm so excited to have been chosen to be part of the Splitcoaststampers Creative Crew for the next few months!  I really feel honoured to be amongst such awesome creative talent!  The May Gallery is now open for your viewing pleasure and inspiration.

Keep watching my Blog for great challenges and links to the Creative Crew Gallery where you're sure to find lots of inspiration - that's our goal. 

I do encourage you to play along with at least some of the challenges - they can be so helpful:

Are you feeling stuck or in a creative rut?
Would you like to feed your creative talent?
Can't decide where to start (haven't we all felt the tyranny of the blank page from time to time?!)
Just feel like a change?
Need a kickstart?
Mojo gone AWOL?

Playing along with a challenge can help all this and more.

This card is not part of a challenge - it's just here to brighten up this post!!  (Hope you like it though!)

Bokeh technique, In-Colours and Four Feathers

These are the Creative Crew Challenges for May, if you'd like to join in:

CCREW0515DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM- DSP/Color Focus
Last Call!, a.k.a. Going But Not Forgotten – can even be construed as ‘fading away’ – Last Call! Which In Color(s) are you going to be oh-so-sad to see retire? If we've already hear about other retirements from SU while you're creating, please feel free to include those here if you like!

CCREW0515CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Catalog Focus -
Focus New beginnings – fresh starts, Spring begins, birds nesting, new baby animals. Are you harboring “new to you” items from any of the cattys that you haven’t used yet? ***gaassssssp*** Bring those treasures out to play, creative peeps! Time could possibly be running out for some of those items and we might not even know it yet!

CCREW0515SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Scrapbook & More Focus
Scrapbook / 3D / other than a card / giftable: going away, moving, some kind of “going/motion”, The ‘going away’ could even be construed as ‘retiring’ if you like ... just apply it to a scrap page, Project Life page, giftable, or other 3-D.

CCREW0515HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday Focus
Bring It!! For what has seemed to be the ‘eternity’ Winter, we’ve been literally pacing past the wintery window panes looking & hoping & calling out for Spring! Now that it’s finally here, what are you absolutely excited about that’s coming up soon, or sure to be coming?. What are you anticipating so eagerly that needs to be shown & shared to our demo family so they can share excitement along with you? This can be any type of paper crafting project, or a card .... you’re the dreamer here!

 

Step card for new baby

My niece is expecting the birth of her third child - a much-anticipated event for the entire family!  No rushing to make a card at the last minute this time - I'm ready!  I've used gender neutral colours to welcome the arrival of my new great niece or nephew and now all I have to do is wait!

I entered this card into the Splitcoaststampers May Holiday Focus challenge (CCREW0515HF) because I was really struggling with the brief for this challenge: Now that Spring is finally here (in the Northern Hemisphere), what are you absolutely excited about that's coming up soon or sure to be coming?

Well, this baby is sure to be coming and it's definitely exciting!  I was struggling with the reference to Spring (or Autumn here in Australia) until it dawned on me that our lives also have seasons (I'm definitely in Autumn!  My colours may be changing but at least noting has actually fallen off yet!).  The colours in this card are Spring-like as well as gender neutral!

Why not have some fun and play along.  Visit the gallery for some great inspiration.  We'd love to see your creations - share them with us by uploading your image to the Creative Crew gallery      Remember to include the code CCREW0515HF in your Key Words.
 

These are the Creative Crew Challenges for May, if you'd like to join in:

CCREW0515DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM- DSP/Color Focus
Last Call!, a.k.a. Going But Not Forgotten – can even be construed as ‘fading away’ – Last Call! Which In Color(s) are you going to be oh-so-sad to see retire? If we've already hear about other retirements from SU while you're creating, please feel free to include those here if you like!

CCREW0515CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Catalog Focus -
Focus New beginnings – fresh starts, Spring begins, birds nesting, new baby animals. Are you harboring “new to you” items from any of the cattys that you haven’t used yet? ***gaassssssp*** Bring those treasures out to play, creative peeps! Time could possibly be running out for some of those items and we might not even know it yet!

CCREW0515SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Scrapbook & More Focus
Scrapbook / 3D / other than a card / giftable: going away, moving, some kind of “going/motion”, The ‘going away’ could even be construed as ‘retiring’ if you like ... just apply it to a scrap page, Project Life page, giftable, or other 3-D.

CCREW0515HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday Focus
Bring It!! For what has seemed to be the ‘eternity’ Winter, we’ve been literally pacing past the wintery window panes looking & hoping & calling out for Spring! Now that it’s finally here, what are you absolutely excited about that’s coming up soon, or sure to be coming?. What are you anticipating so eagerly that needs to be shown & shared to our demo family so they can share excitement along with you? This can be any type of paper crafting project, or a card .... you’re the dreamer here! 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Retirement "card"

Packing memories into a retirement "card"

 One of my team members at the office is retiring soon, so I decided to make her something more special than a normal retirement card. This little suitcase or briefcase (it could be either really) contains a collection of photos taken during her time with the company.

Also inside the case, there is a decorated card, individualised with a portrait photo, for each team member on which they will write their farewell messages. The very first thing she will see when she opens the case is a stamped card wishing her a happy retirement from all of us.

Each person has their own individualised card
on which to write their farewell message

The case is really a pizza-type box that I sized to suit the photos I wanted to include. The decorations are based on the image in the Traveller stamp set and some ideas gleaned from a variety of samples that I have seen. There are a few things I would change next time but overall I'm happy.

 I have entered this case into the Splitcoaststampers May Scrapbook & More Focus challenge (CCREW0515SF) the topic of which is going away, moving, some kind of "going/motion" and could be construed as retirement.


If you'd like to have some fun and play along, visit the gallery for some great inspiration.  We'd love to see your creations - share them with us by uploading your image to the Creative Crew gallery
Remember to include the code 0515SF in your Key Words.  

So many goodies are retiring from the annual catalogue at the moment! 

These are the Creative Crew Challenges for May, if you'd like to join in:

CCREW0515DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM- DSP/Color Focus
Last Call!, a.k.a. Going But Not Forgotten – can even be construed as ‘fading away’ – Last Call! Which In Color(s) are you going to be oh-so-sad to see retire? If we've already hear about other retirements from SU while you're creating, please feel free to include those here if you like!

CCREW0515CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Catalog Focus -
Focus New beginnings – fresh starts, Spring begins, birds nesting, new baby animals. Are you harboring “new to you” items from any of the cattys that you haven’t used yet? ***gaassssssp*** Bring those treasures out to play, creative peeps! Time could possibly be running out for some of those items and we might not even know it yet!

CCREW0515SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Scrapbook & More Focus
Scrapbook / 3D / other than a card / giftable: going away, moving, some kind of “going/motion”, The ‘going away’ could even be construed as ‘retiring’ if you like ... just apply it to a scrap page, Project Life page, giftable, or other 3-D.

CCREW0515HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday Focus
Bring It!! For what has seemed to be the ‘eternity’ Winter, we’ve been literally pacing past the wintery window panes looking & hoping & calling out for Spring! Now that it’s finally here, what are you absolutely excited about that’s coming up soon, or sure to be coming?. What are you anticipating so eagerly that needs to be shown & shared to our demo family so they can share excitement along with you? This can be any type of paper crafting project, or a card .... you’re the dreamer here!     

        Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Crazy about you (or not?)

I made this card for the Splitcoaststampers May Catalog Focus Challenge CCREW0515CF.  The challenge is to use any catalogue products that we've harbouring but haven't used yet.

Crazy About You was one of those stamp sets that I just had to have - but mainly for the sentiments - and then (the horror of it) didn't use! I think I didn't fully appreciate the the flower images and failed to see the possibilities. Well, better late than never! I stamped the flowers in So Saffron with a touch of Crisp Cantaloupe and cut a variety of sizes and layers.  The centre flower has four individually cut layers.

I teamed the retiring Crisp Cantaloupe colour with So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz highlighted with Very Vanilla cardstock and seam binding. 

I've also used the leaf spray from the Flower Frenzy Bigz die (the edges sponged with Pear Pizzazz) and the Fancy Fans embossing folder - both retiring.

The centrepiece was cut with the Ovals Framelets and the Very Vanilla oval was popped up with dimensionals.

Pearl Basic Jewels finish it all off.

Why not have some fun and play along.  Visit the gallery for some great inspiration.  We'd love to see your creations - share them with us by uploading your image to the Creative Crew gallery      Remember to include the code CCREW0515CF in your Key Words.

These are the Creative Crew Challenges for May, if you'd like to join in:

CCREW0515DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM- DSP/Color Focus
Last Call!, a.k.a. Going But Not Forgotten – can even be construed as ‘fading away’ – Last Call! Which In Color(s) are you going to be oh-so-sad to see retire? If we've already hear about other retirements from SU while you're creating, please feel free to include those here if you like!

CCREW0515CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Catalog Focus -
Focus New beginnings – fresh starts, Spring begins, birds nesting, new baby animals. Are you harboring “new to you” items from any of the cattys that you haven’t used yet? ***gaassssssp*** Bring those treasures out to play, creative peeps! Time could possibly be running out for some of those items and we might not even know it yet!

CCREW0515SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Scrapbook & More Focus
Scrapbook / 3D / other than a card / giftable: going away, moving, some kind of “going/motion”, The ‘going away’ could even be construed as ‘retiring’ if you like ... just apply it to a scrap page, Project Life page, giftable, or other 3-D.

CCREW0515HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday Focus
Bring It!! For what has seemed to be the ‘eternity’ Winter, we’ve been literally pacing past the wintery window panes looking & hoping & calling out for Spring! Now that it’s finally here, what are you absolutely excited about that’s coming up soon, or sure to be coming?. What are you anticipating so eagerly that needs to be shown & shared to our demo family so they can share excitement along with you? This can be any type of paper crafting project, or a card .... you’re the dreamer here!  

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Goodbye Coastal Cabana

 Bidding a fond farewell to one of my favourite colours and a framelet set that I love!

Card closed

Partially Open

How I love Coastal Cabana!  I'm going to miss it so much!!  I'm also going to miss the I Love Lace background stamp and the Labels Collection framelets.  However, I know I'll get over it when I see the new products!  Many thanks to Dawn Griffith for the great tutorial on this triple flap fold. 

This card is my entry for the May Splitcoaststampers Colour Focus challenge (CCREW0515DF).  Why not have some fun and play along.  Visit the gallery for some great inspiration.  We'd love to see your creations - share them with us by uploading your image to the Creative Crew gallery       Remember to include the code CCREW0515DF in your Key Words.

Fully Open

 These are the Creative Crew Challenges for May, if you'd like to join in:

CCREW0515DF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM- DSP/Color Focus
Last Call!, a.k.a. Going But Not Forgotten – can even be construed as ‘fading away’ – Last Call! Which In Color(s) are you going to be oh-so-sad to see retire? If we've already hear about other retirements from SU while you're creating, please feel free to include those here if you like!

CCREW0515CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Catalog Focus -
Focus New beginnings – fresh starts, Spring begins, birds nesting, new baby animals. Are you harboring “new to you” items from any of the cattys that you haven’t used yet? ***gaassssssp*** Bring those treasures out to play, creative peeps! Time could possibly be running out for some of those items and we might not even know it yet!

CCREW0515SF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM – Scrapbook & More Focus
Scrapbook / 3D / other than a card / giftable: going away, moving, some kind of “going/motion”, The ‘going away’ could even be construed as ‘retiring’ if you like ... just apply it to a scrap page, Project Life page, giftable, or other 3-D.

CCREW0515HF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM - Holiday Focus
Bring It!! For what has seemed to be the ‘eternity’ Winter, we’ve been literally pacing past the wintery window panes looking & hoping & calling out for Spring! Now that it’s finally here, what are you absolutely excited about that’s coming up soon, or sure to be coming?. What are you anticipating so eagerly that needs to be shown & shared to our demo family so they can share excitement along with you? This can be any type of paper crafting project, or a card .... you’re the dreamer here!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog