Happy Mothers Day Card with Letterpress Effect

                                                    Hello, and welcome to my blog.
Today I have another Mothers Day card, and I love this one so much it is going to my own mum, who lives in Lake Macquarie.
She always displays my cards on a shelf she reserves for special things, and some of them are still on display from years ago, and I couldn't be happier!

I wanted a lovely sentiment for inside the card, and "sending love" is from the Designer Tin of Cards set. The "Happy" debossed word is from Happy Celebrations, and has the matching embossing folders, which actually DE-boss the words to look just like a letterpress card.
If you have ever seen a letterpress machine they are in the tens of thousands of dollars to buy, and you would need a massive work space as they are HUGE machines, but you can get a very similar look with your trusty Big Shot. How cool is that?

The colours I chose matched the Festive Birthday Designer Series Paper : Marina Mist, Crushed Curry and Melon Mambo, and I used some co-ordinating bling to finish off the card.

The words Mothers Day are from the Crazy About You stamp set.

                           Celebrations Duo Textured embossing Folders # 142760 $16.00
                                      Happy Celebrations Stamp Set #143012 $61.00

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I hope you give this stamp set a try. To be honest, I almost overlooked it in the catalogue but I am so glad I splashed out and added it to my order. I see lots of Happy Celebrations cards in my future!

Have a great day,

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Mothers Day Paper Bouquet!

Wouldn't you just love an everlasting bouquet for Mothers Day? This bouquet looks stunning in real life, and is available on the Clearance Rack over in my store 

 Build A Bouquet Project Kit 137952

Price: Was $35.95, now on the Clearance Rack for $14.38
Each kit makes 25 flowers. 

Kit includes:
■ Cotton-paper flowers
■ Die-cut cardstock elements
■ Cotton ribbon
■ Linen thread
■ Gift tag
■ Floral tape
■ Floral stem wires
■ Faceted buttons for flower centers

Stamps, ink, and adhesives sold separately.

Coordinates with Crisp Cantaloupe, Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Pool Party, Strawberry Slush.

BUY NOWwww.aussiestampers.stampinup.net

I hope someone gives YOU flowers for Mothers Day.

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Little Fishy! Seaside Shore with matching Designer Series Paper

Hello, and thanks for stopping by my blog today. 

Some stamp sets are so easy to use, and when they are teamed with matching paper like this you can't go wrong. 

Both the Mint Macaron and the DSP are retiring, and I am sad to see the mint macaron paper go, as it is one of my go-to colours lately.

I have teamed these cards with Calypso Coral and Mint Macaron Cardstock. 

I stamped in Dapper Denim on Very Vanilla and mounted them onto a Very Vanilla Card base. 

I used the 2" and the 2 1/2" Circle Punches to pop up with dimensionals, and stamped the fish on some scrap and fussy cut them, then added some clear Wink Of Stella to add sparkle. 

Very quick and easy cards!

Seaside Shore Stamp Set:  Clear mount 141625 $33.00 Wood Mount 141622 $47.00

By The Shore Designer Series Paper 141640 $19.25

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Enjoy the rest of your week. 

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Wedding Card with a difference

So often we associate a wedding card with over-the-top bling and glitz, but sometimes the best ideas are right outside the box like this card.
It's subtle colours work with the understated elegance of the design.

Paul and I are getting married in September, and I am always interested in finding new ideas for our wedding decor. My colours are from the Falling in Love suite of DSP, so soft pink, grey, silver and baby blue will be some of the colours I am using to decorate our table and our suite in the hotel.

I have found some lovely ideas on Pinterest for photo signage and floral centrepieces, and am counting down the days till my sweetheart and I are husband and wife.

Life is good!
Have a great day,
Vicki x 💝

May Class : 4 Cards PLUS as many tags as you can make!

                                                         MAY CARD CLASS

In my next class we will be making one each of these cards, PLUS we will be playing with the Triple Banner Punch and I will show you how easy it is to make endless tags. If fact, you can take home as many tags as you can make in the class!

                                                       DATE: Wednesday May 3rd
                                                        TIME: 10am till 12.30pm
                                                WHERE: Sutherland Shire, Sydney

                                                        Book for my next class here.

Remarkable Mothers' Day Simply Stunning Watercolour

Hello, and thanks for stopping by my blog today.

This Mothers Day Card was made using a very simple but effective technique with a stamp set that I have used on several art pieces I made at Hazelhurst Gallery last year. I am so glad it is continuing in the new catalogue, as there are endless colouring techniques you can use with a large outline flower like this.

I made a card base using Arches Aquarelle Watercolour paper (you could use Stamping' Up!s watercolour paper for similar results, but I wanted to mount my finished piece on a watercolour card base, and needed A4 sized paper for this).

I did use Emerald Envy card stock for the layered piece, and the sweet little enamel accents are from Stampin' Up! too.

 I stamped the image in Versamark ink, then heat embossed using white embossing powder.

I liberally spritzed the paper with water using a Stampin' Spritzer.

Next I took an Aquapainter and used Emerald Envy Ink  (I had squeezed it into the lid of my inkpad by pressing the top and bottom of the pad while still closed).

I did a very quick, loose wash then partly dried the ink with my heat tool, then came back in with more ink and layered it while the ink was still a little wet.

The secret is to stay loose! Don't overthink it. You will see here how less is more, and gives a better result.

I adhered the layers with Tear' n Tape, which is perfect for adhering thick watercolour
paper.

Remarkable You Stamp Set 

Wood Mount #139891   Clear Mount #139894

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I hope you give this a try. Have a wonderfully creative day!
                                                                    Vicki x 💝

Paisleys and Posies: One Sheet Wonder!

One sheet wonders are my favourite way to use Designer Series Paper.

I managed to make 4 full sized cards PLUS 4 bookmarks with just ONE sheet of DSP.

I love a stamp set that comes with its own framelits, as I am not too keen on fussy cutting. 

How about you? Some people love to fussy cut, but I prefer a short cut if possible, and framelits give me just that!

I played around with the placement of the die cut pieces, and even made one card with just a stitched framelit as the only decoration, and that worked too.

Paisleys Stamp Set 142196

Paisley Framelits Dies 141849

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies 

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Thanks for visiting my blog today. I hope you try a one-sheet wonder of your own!

 Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Nailed It Masculine Tool Belt for the Handyman.

Are you lucky like me and have a handyman in your life? A guy who can fix things, build things, and figure out how things work?

Paul loves to tinker in the workshop on weekends, and usually has a project or two on the go, and let's face it ladies, no weekend is complete without a trip to Bunnings Hardware store! 

Am I right?! The sausage sambos are also a big draw, and I occasionally go with him if there is something I need for the home.

We are renovating our house, and when 

I say WE, I mean we have an awesome builder who project manages for us. We are getting certain projects completed in stages as money permits, and we are still a ways from finishing, but I enjoy taking time to consider different options, and I love colour and design, so that is a fun part of the process for me.

Anyhoo.....I thought you would enjoy seeing what you can do with this stamp set and framelits bundle.

Have an awesome day, and thanks for visiting my blog.

Vicki x 💝

BUY NOW Nailed It Wood-Mount Bundle	144734
Price: $85.75
Bundle and save! Buy these two coordinating products and save 10%.                                                                              Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

How to Decorate a Gift Box

I love having small gift boxes on hand and I come home from Stamp Camp with so many lovely goodies each year with thoughtful gifts from my stamping friends.
I get some great design ideas from boxes I have seen and these little boxes are just lovely.

Scale is important when decorating small gift boxes, so look out for small-scaled greetings and punches, or small floral die cuts and  thin bakers twine, as a large bow may overwhelm the box itself!

Washi tape makes a great closure for your box, as it will not tear the card stock when you remove it to open your gift.

Have a creative, marvellous day!
Vicki x 💝

Make A Cool Treats Card in Sherbet Colours! Stamping' Up!

I am happily spending Easter Monday stamping away, making cards and tags, and eating chocolate!
I hope you are enjoying the holiday break.

 If you haven't tried the Cool Treats Bundle yet, it is really cute, and so easy to design a card around these images.
A few simple embellishments are all that is needed: some Bakers Twine, and some torn Washi Tape, then glue on a few sequins. Voila! Easy as! I have listed all the details (including the sizes) below, and they are currently available as a bundle in my Stamping' Up! Store.
                                                        (which means you save 10%!)

Cool Treats Photopolymer Bundle	145181
Price: $82.75
Bundle and save! Buy these two coordinating products and save 10%. Cool Treats Photopolymer Stamp Set You're pretty cool, but this stamp set is just a little bit cooler. Try not to eat these delicious-looking stamps, even though you may be tempted. This is a Two-Step Stampin’ set. Combine individual stamps to build the final image you want in the colors you want. * Quantity: 36 photopolymer stamps * Suggested clear blocks (sold separately): a, b, c, d Frozen Treats Framelits Dies Create die-cut paper treats in seconds with Framelits dies and the Big Shot. * 17 dies * Largest image: 1-7/16" x 1-7/8" (3.7 x 4.8 cm) * Use with Big Shot                                                              BUY NOW                                  Thanks so much for shopping with me!  Vicki  x 💝

Simple Hearts Card: colours with black

HELLO everyone! I hope you are enjoying my blog posts. I love to start my mornings with some creativity, and card design is the best way for me to kick start my day.
I often go to sleep dreaming of cards I am planning to make for my classes!

Black is right on trend for sentiments, and this card shows how to balance a black greeting with bright colours. When you are using fine thinlits like these, make sure to layer some waxed paper between the die and the card stock. It makes extracting the card so much easier.
Have a wonderful day,
Vicki x 💝

Happy Easter!

                               Wishing all of my friends and customers a very happy Easter.
I love chocolate, and am looking forward to my Lindt gold bunny on Sunday. Have a wonderful long weekend.
                                                                   Vicki x 💝

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

Shop and Save up to 50%!

                                               Browse the Retiring List HERE

Stampin' Up! has released the list of products retiring at the end of May. Grab your favourites before they're gone!

                                    Thanks so much for shopping with me!  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 💝