2 Retiring Favourites: Woodgrain and Wreaths

I have made a video tutorial for you on YouTube for this faux woodgrain door card.

The effect is doubled by using the woodgrain background stamp, then running the card stock through the woodgrain embossing folder.

The woodgrain stamp will still be offered in the new catalogue, but the woodgrain embossing folder is retiring, along with the wreath stamp sets and framelits dies.

They are still available while stocks last, so if you want to make this project, hop on over to my store and grab the embossing folder, stamp set and framelits now.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Happy crafting!

Vicki x 💝

Wonderful Wreath Framelits 135851

Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder 127821   

Circle of Spring Stamp Set 138964

Wondrous Wreath Stamp Set 135047

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 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

For the Traveller : Masculine Colour Scheme

I hope your day is going swimmingly. Are you like me and love to find interesting new colour schemes for your projects?

Here is another idea for a masculine colour scheme. The simple twine bow works on this card, although I usually have a rule about "no bling" on a man's card ( yes, we do love our rhinestones and bows!) . The twine is a nod to the colour of the card base and the soft basic grey tones down the calypso coral. It's all about balance and restraint, and I love this card.

Happy {paper💝}crafting !
Vicki x

The Retirement List is out! Grab a coffee and browse the specials in my store.

A new annual catalogue is due to be released soon, and Stamping' Up! has released a list of the retiring products.
You can save up to a whopping 50% off some items, and it's a great way to grab a bargain, but even more importantly, this is the time of year to make sure you have enough ink refills in the In Colours that will be retiring. Same goes for card stock, markers, and ink pads as these colours won't be available for much longer.

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Of course there are lots of other retiring favourites, so if you have had your eye on something for a while, now is the time to grab it before you miss out.

I am busy adding several things to my list, including mini staples for my hand-held stapler, Stazon ink refills, the In colour refills, and the banners framelits, as I am making a banner for my wedding in September. Have fun shopping, and enjoy your day.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

My Favourite Things : Banner Triple Punch.

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog today!

I have some favourite go-to goodies that I keep near my desk when I am crafting, and one of my well-used tools is the Triple Banner Punch.

This nifty little tool  lets me make different-sized banners that I can add to a card front, or I can layer them up to make sweet little gift tags, belly bands or even bookmarks!

You can lock the punch so it closes flat, and you can then stack your punches in towers, which is my preferred method of displaying them on my shelves.

You can make banners in 3 different widths: 

1"  (2.5cm)

1 1/2"  (3.8cm)

2"  (5.1cm)

Banner Triple Punch                          BUY NOW	138292
Price: $38.00 Have a marvellously creative day, and Happy Stamping,
Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Another Masculine Colour Scheme

Designing for the men in your life? I am always looking for card ideas for the gorgeous men in my family. Butterflies and blooms are all very well, but sometimes you just need a bit of a blokey card.

This card has been coloured using stampin' write markers and a blending pen. The colours work well with a masculine theme and the design is simple so as not to overwhelm the image.

Colouring by hand is such a therapeutic exercise, and is a great stress-reliever. I pop my markers into a bag when I'm travelling so I have something to keep me busy.
Have a creative day!
Vicki x 💝

For the Beetles Fans!

Who remembers collecting bugs as a child? My favourites were slaters that roll into a ball when touched. I remember having a little army of these guys living in dirt and leaves in a jar on my bedside table! Beetles & Bugs Photopolymer Stamp Set #14290
Price: $29.50
This is a Two-Step Stampin’ set. Combine individual stamps to create the final image you want in the colors you want. Quantity: 32 photopolymer stamps Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): a, b

Hop on over to my store: www.AussieStampers.stampinup.net to find these little cuties.

Aren't they perfect for that sweet little boy or girl who loves collecting crawlies in their bug catcher?

Vicki x 💝

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You Are My Sunshine Card.

Hello my friends, I hope you are enjoying my blog posts. I have some more colour combos for you today. Sunshiny colours for a sunshiny day!

It's beautiful weather here in Sydney, and although we don't really have seasons to speak of, as the weather is pretty fine all your round, it's nice to see the sun after some cloudy days.

I love a versatile stamp set, and this one has so many different ways to combine the thinlits and stamps , and makes designing your card super-easy as the words take pride of place.

Hop on over to my store   www.AussieStampers.stampinup.net    to purchase this lovely set.

Have a marvellous day,

Vicki  x 💝 

Happy Birthday Using the Fry Box Die. Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator

Will you have fries with that?

This versatile gift box uses the Fry Box Framelits, and is perfect paired with a cello bag of lollies. It's so good to be able to make something that is quick and easy, yet has a wow factor of cuteness! Here are the supplies you will need to make this project.

Stamps
• Amazing Birthday Stamp Set

Paper
• Pistachio Pudding Cardstock
• Whisper White Cardstock
• All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink
• Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Pistachio Pudding Classic Stampin’ Pad

Stampin’ Up! Accessories
• Gusseted Cellophane Bags
• Pistachio Pudding Thick Baker’s Twine
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• 1-1/4" Circle Punch
• Big Shot
• Fry Box Bigz L Die 

Everything is available from my store: www.AussieStampers.stampinup.net
Happy Stamping!
Vicki x 💝

Pop of Paradise : Flamingos at my Wedding!

A little birdie told me there will be flamingos (yes, real live ones!) at our wedding in September.
(Paul and I are tying the knot after 5 years of happy times together).

I will have to pop a flamingo card or two into my luggage just for fun, as I want to have some thank you cards on hand for our wedding vendors, and for the hotel staff.

The pop of paradise suite is such a fun combination, and Flirty Flamingo ink is obviously the perfect choice for this cheeky bird.

The images on the stamp set are perfect for our wedding, too, and I love the sentiment "a very special day" as our wedding day will indeed be special!

Have a creative ind inspiring day.

Vicki x 💝

                                                             BUY NOW
                                                  Pop of Paradise #141581

Dragonfly Card : Dragonfly Thinlits Bundle.

Dragonflies are buzzing around my garden pond at the moment, and I still have 2 waterlilies in bloom even though the weather is much cooler at night here on the river.

Here is a card made using the Dragonflies stamp set, cut out using the matching thinlits.

The vellum has been stamped and heat set using gold embossing powder to give a gossamer effect, just like you might see on a dragonfly's wings! 

Vicki x 💝

Stamps
• Dragonfly Dreams Stamp Set*

Paper
• Tip Top Taupe Cardstock
• Vellum Cardstock
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Succulent Garden Designer Series Paper Stack*
• Delicate White Doilies

Ink
• Calypso Coral Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• Tip Top Taupe Classic Stampin’ Pad
•  VersaMark Pad™

Accessories and Tools
• Gold Stampin' Emboss®Powder
• 3/8" (1 cm) Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack**
• Metallics Sequin Assortment
• Stampin’ Dimensionals®
• Big Shot™
• Banners Framelits™Dies
• Large Numbers Framelits Dies
• Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits™ Dies*

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Masculine Cards for the Beach Lover.

High Tide Photopolymer Stamp Set Item number 143006 Price: $45.00 

I love living by the sea! Paul and I are so lucky to be living right on the Hacking River here in beautiful Sutherland Shire. I wanted to make some cards for Paul and couldn't go past these gorgeous designs. They are certainly manly, and how about this cute little box of biscuits in the shape of a sail boat!
Stampin' Up! certainly provide us with so many inspiring products, and the colour coordination makes putting your projects together so easy. I am going to get cracking making my own versions of these for my sons as well.
Below I have added a photo of the view from my home studio where we make cards and paper crafts.
Inspiring, right?
Have a wonderfully creative day, and thank you for visiting my blog.
Vicki x 💝

Sending out Thank You cards!

The So Very Much stamp set makes a beautifully easy way to thank a friend for their kindness. I can never have too much kindness in my life, and I rate it as one of the finest virtues anyone can possess.

A large stamp like this makes a great background too, and you can create a repeated pattern without having to do too much lining up with your Stamp-A-Majig. If you have a steady hand try stamping randomly, but aiming for a little distance between the words so you don't overlap.

Now, I would just like to say say, "Thank you" to you for visiting my blog, and comments are always appreciated!

Enjoy your day, and may it be marvellously creative in every way.
Vicki x 💝

Swan Lake Stamp Set. Romantic in every way!

I absolutely LOVE the ballet "Swan Lake" and have been lucky enough to see it performed by the Australian Ballet Company. Romance, tragedy, intrigue, it has the lot!

Here is a project using this stamp set. The card recipe is below.
Vicki x 💝

Stamps
• Swan Lake Stamp Set*

Paper
• Pool Party Cardstock
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Subtles Collection Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink
• Basic Gray Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Pink Pirouette Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad®

Accessories and Tools
• Whisper White Baker’s Twine
• Stampin’ Dimensionalsreg;
• Aqua Painters®

*From the 2017 occasions catalog, available January 4-March 31, 2017

Here are some more cards made with this set: Adorable, yes?
Have a wonderful day,
Vicki x

Swan Lake stamp set : rubber #142974 $AUD49.00 wood blocks included 

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Stamped Gift Wrap - Off the Page.

Why not consider making the packaging the main event with a hand-stamped design like this.
A soft colour combination works perfectly with the Balloon Celebration stamp set and the thick bakers' twine mimics a 3D bow around the bunch of balloons. Genius!

As well as blogging and catching up with my social media friends I am in the midst of cleaning my craft room today. It is a rainy Saturday here in Sydney, and perfect crafting weather. Happy weekend to you all.

Vicki x 💝

Balloon Celebration Stamp Set Photopolymer #140675 $AUD45.00

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Baby Card using the Moon Baby Stamp Set. Stampin' Up! Australia

I just had to have this beautiful stamp set (#143085 in Clear mount)
suitable for a boy or girl, depending on how you colour it! You can use pencils, stamp in' Write markers, or leave it as an outline. You could also use this stamp set to make thank you cards for your baby shower.
It's very cute, don't you think?
Happy stamping!
Vicki x

Stamps
• Moon Baby Stamp Set*

Paper
• Basic Gray Cardstock
• Crumb Cake Cardstock
• Soft Sky Cardstock
• Whisper White Cardstock

Ink
• Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad®
• Soft Sky Classic Stampin’ Pad
• So Saffron Classic Stampin’ Pad
• White Craft Stampin’ Pad

Accessories and Tools
• White Stampin’ Emboss® Powder
• Linen Thread
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Stampin’ Dimensionals®
• Aqua Painters®
• Urban Underground Designer Washi Tape* 

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Party Themes

I was looking for a great party theme and thought this would be so versatile.
This suite would work for a boy or girl, and any age, even adults! The colours are bright and fresh, or you could customise your look to whatever colours you like.

The Festive Birthday Suite has a bundle and save option, with stamp set and Dies, for AU$73.75
Item #142268

                                                                Buy Now

Foxy Friends and Fairies! Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator.

I love this stamp set. It's perfect for a little princess. I paired it with the designer series paper "a little foxy" and decided to try 2 different colour ways using the toadstool paper. 

 This second card is so pretty in real life. The monotone basic grey and smokey slate work so well with the silver satin ribbon. I embossed the message using white embossing powder and it looks elegant and very sweet.

Watch the video tutorial for both these cards here.

Get Well Soup . A Cure for the Winter Sniffles.

Winter has well and truly arrived in Sydney this week, with snow falls on the Blue Mountains and chilly winds. Here is a get well card that will put a smile on your face. This single image rubber stamp can be used in a multitude of ways. This card is simple and quick to make using limited supplies.

Stamp the Get Well Soup stamp in basic Black ink and colour the bowl with a little Wisteria Wonder ink and an Aqua Painter. Cut out using the Oval Framelits, and pop up on dimensionals onto some co-ordinating Designer Series Paper. Tie a double length of Whisper White Bakers Twine around your paper and adhere to a Whisper White Card Base.

Gift Cards are Always in Style! Stampin' Up! Australian Demonstrator

I do love giving gifts (and receiving them too!) but it's not always easy deciding on the perfect gift for that someone special.

When you can't decide what to give someone, gift cards are a good alternative. 

This stamp set has so many appropriate and funny sayings to cover every occasion.

17 photopolymer stamps #137159  $43.00AUD

Purchase yours today at www.AussieStampers.stampinup.net

Watercolour Masterclass. Fairy Celebration. Stampin' Up! Australia

I have made a video tutorial for you showing how to achieve these soft and subtle effects using ink and a water brush and fine paintbrush. I love painting and colouring and find it so therapeutic at the end of a busy day to sit quietly and create little art pieces like this card.
I hope you enjoy the video! A full list of supplies is listed below.
Vicki x

The Fairy Celebration Stamp set # 141551 wood mount or #141554 clear mount 

is ideal for colouring, either with pencils,  markers, copics or watercolours! 

Here are the supplies I used to create my card:

Archival Gray Ink

Ink pads:

Rose Red (toadstool and lips)

Sweet Sugarplum (poppies)

Pink Pirouette (skin and poppies)

Crushed Curry and So Saffron (dress)

Wild Wasabi (grasses and stem of flowers)

Soft Sky (wings and sky)

You will also need Stampin' Up! Watercolour paper, The Clear Wink of Stella Brush, an Aqua Painter, a glass of water, paper towel folded in quarters, a round number 6 brush and Tombow Multi Adhesive.