Some Fave Swaps from South Pacific Convention 2013

There were so many amazing swaps this year at Brisbane for the Stampin' Up! South Pacific Convention - it was wonderful to see the effort that people went to. . .

Here are a few of my favourites.

Emboss resist is always stunning but the simplicity of this tag is just lovely!





The Open Sea is such a gorgeous set and I love this combination of colours - Old Olive, Midnight Muse and Cherry Cobbler!

This card is colourful but at the same time quite simple in its design - the Secret Garden stamp set and Framelit Dies have been used to advantage here ~ and it is nice to see that this demonstrator loves her Crystal Effects as much as me!

In some instances I have lost the Demonstrator details off the rear of the cards so apologies if I am posting your card without your details.

Cute huh?
Shanni

Da Bag

Stampin' Up! 25th Anniversary "Be the Difference" Convention bag was the best bag I think that we have ever received at a convention.

Not only was it filled with beautiful stamp sets (to be released in the new Catalogue come 2 July 2013), make and take kits and some other little treasures. . . but it is completely practical for day to day use.

 

Because close to 700 people received the same bag I make a bag tag each year for the Paper Belles to put on their bag to make them easier to identify.  This year I chose a combination of materials - bottle caps, stamped images with crystal effects, Daffodil Delight seam binding ribbon and putty stamped and painted with acrylic paints. I also cut tags with the Apothecary Accents Framelite Dies and included everyone's first initial.



 

Kim also organised Bag Tags for those attending Leadership Day from the INKcredibles Team - lovely DSP and shimmer mist (made with Shimmer Paint and rubbing alcohol).



 

So all in all very fancy bags. . . not too bad at all!

 

Later

Shanni x

 

Convention in Bris-Vegas was Awesome!

I had the best week away. . . I missed my kids and hubby but it is so much fun to be with creative, inspiring, energetic people.

Brisbane Convention ROCKED!

Stampin' Up! did it again! They surpassed themselves with the 25th Anniversary "Be the Difference" Convention. We had the best time, got the best give aways and partied and celebrated our way through four days.

I had a wonderful time. There were about 40 of our Paper Belles Team in attendance, which was so inspiring to see. I love it when we all get together because we all speak "craftese" the language of paper crafting!

Leadership Day was a new event this year. Managers and above were treated to special classes and addresses, a fantastic meal and a wonderful surprise gift.  Very exciting.

This year I was lucky enough to take out third place in Recruiting and third place in Leadership for Australian Demonstrators ~ this was amazing given the number of high achievers in the company and the incentives for working with the programs that the company offer. In recognition of these achievements I was lucky enough to be able to select a number of prizes from the Performance Bonus Momento Mall. More on that later!

One of the highlights of the Awards Ceremony was the announcement of the Grand Vacation Achievers - being amongst some of the BIG names in Australian and New Zealand stamping circles was very inspiring. The week following Convention I received this awesome certificate in the post.

The standard of swaps was really high this year. I didn't take as many swaps as I historically do which is ironic given that there were so many beautiful ones to receive this year. But here are the designs that I came up with:

First one features Stipple Blossoms stamp set and Twitterpated DSP.

My second swap was made using the Lovely as a Tree stamp set. This card was quite involved by the time I had embossed, distressed and daubed every surface. And of course I stamped using Stampin' Write Markers direct to stamp - a very time consuming exercise.

So a wonderful time had by all and you will be pleased to know that I have done a Smash Book for the event which I will share aspects of in future posts.

If you are interested in joining us next year in Melbourne, please email me today. I would love you to consider joining my team. For more information you can also visit the link to my Stampin' Up! website on the right hand margin.

Chat soon
Shanni xx

Computer Game Console Card

I am sure that I am not the only one who has troubles coming up with cards for boys at that in between age where they go from loving puppies and tonka trucks to loving motor bikes and V8 Fords. . . my 10 year old #2 son asked me to "whip up a card for EJ [his bestie] for his birthday - anything to do with the xBox will be fine".

Picture me looking at the xBox with blank look and trying to figure out how to make something into a card. Light bulb moment - not always about the xBox ie it needs a console to make it work!

Next picture me tracing said console to get an idea of how big it needs to be and drawing wonky circles where controls need to be and the colours of the buttons. . . enough to make a grown man cry tears of laughter.

Here is the outcome:

Here is a close up on the controls so that you get an idea of my attention to detail lol:

And finally so that you can see how I curved the card stock to make it concave:

Gotta love Punches, Crystal Effects and Dimensionals!

Hope you like it,
Shanni

2013 Catalogue Retiring Products

Stampin' Up! released the annual Retiring Products List overnight with the imminent release of our new cattie and there are heaps of products being farewelled.

To avoid disappointment I would suggest that you Shop On Line at my Stampin' Up! website www.stampingshanni.stampinup.net.  The link above will take you directly to the Retiring Products List. Be quick because stock is only available until sold out and there are a lot of things moving fast!

Some of the stamp sets have been reduced in price by 25%-40% so that you can check your wish list and shop today I will include the list here:

120462  Aviary [C]  $25.46
122682  Beautiful Season [C]  $22.46
123549  Button, Button [W]  $33.71
123809  Christmas Blessings [C]  $23.96
121502  Delightful decorations [W]  $28.46
121166  French Foliage [C]  $20.96
120060  Itty Bitty Bits [C]  $12.71
122902  Kindness Matters [C]  $12.71
122752  Language of Friendship [C]  $16.46
122552  Merry & Type [C]  $26.96
121997  Nature Walk [C]  $26.96
123097  Pretty Postage [C]  $10.71
126790  Quint Essential Flower [W]  $11.96
122562  Snow Much Fun [C]  $23.31
126784  Star Tree [W]  $10.17
121169  Tags til Christmas [C}  $25.77
125822  Topsy Turvy Celebrations [C]  $14.97
123779  You are Loved [C]  $26.97

As well as the above there are some of my favourites on the retiring list including French Foliage, Artistic Etchings, Daring Adventure, Elements of Style, Established Elegance and Word Play just to name a few but there are many more that I am already mourning. . .

As regards Accessories there are heaps of bargains to be had with the retirement of the 2011-2013 In Colours (although some of these are being welcomed back as part of the core colour families), and other established colours such as Baja Breeze, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy, Riding Hood Red and River Rock.

There are big discounts to be had on Big Shot Accessories including XL dies, Original dies, Sizzlets and Embosslits.  A few of my favourite Textured Impressions Embossing Folders are also bidding us good-bye.  The Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder has been an all time favourite of mine!

Don't forget as well as Classic Stamp Pads you should also think about getting your hands on the Marvelous Markers in their colour family groups. . .

The best place to get a bargain and avoid disappointment is by Shopping On Line at my website but do not delay, products are selling like hotcakes and there will be no second bite of the cherry ~ once things have sold out they are gone forever.

Happy shopping!
Shanni xx

Party Planning & Themes with My Digital Studio

I love to theme my kids birthday parties. . . there is nothing more satisfying than a table loaded down with party goodies all colour co-ordinated and pretty.  We have done Star wars, Super Heroes, Princess, Pamper parties just to name a few.  So you can imagine how excited I am about the amazing potential of My Digital Studio when it comes to Party Planning and Themes!

Check out the new Wonderland Party Ensemble from My Digital Studio ~ available for down loading this week. . . the colours are good enough to eat, the patterns and designs stunning!

The ensemble comes complete with invitations, banners, food flags, treat toppers, a framable and thank you notes.  But remember that you can make your own creations, edit templates and heaps more alternatives.

It's really easy to find via my Stampin' Up! Website "shop now" option, simply go to My Digital Studio on the left hand margin. Click on Newest Downloads and voila click on 7 May and you will see all the awesome new artwork and ensembles. Yay!

Let me know what you think.
Shanni xx

Artistic Etchings & Artisan Embellishment Kit ~ a Great Combo!

Am loving the Artisan Embellishment Kit and based on the USA retirement list for the current cattie it is likely that I will be losing a few more of my favourite stamps sets come June. . . so I wanted to show case a few cards just in case anyone is how to use say the Artistic Etchings stamp set. . .

Square card - card base is actually Pretty in Pink ~ the Very Vanilla card stock at the back is simply to "frame" the whole thing and tie the colours together. I mounted two different pieces of Tea for Two DSP on Sahara Sand (the floral one at the top stamped with En Francais and the spiral circle one on the bottom half) and mounted that on the base card.  Of course because I adore vintage I daubed the edges with Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake ink.

I wanted to use the Seam Binding Ribbon with the card because it is so luxurious but we don't have a light pink so I dyed a piece of Vanilla ribbon with Pink Pirouette re-inker in a small container and allowed it to dry. . . and because it was a bit worse for wear I ended up scrunching it further and adding some Rose Red Seam Binding Ribbon behind it.I secured the centre with an Antique Brad. The little flat button to the left of the ribbon is from the Artisan Embellishment Kit (with a piece of White Bakers Twine in the centre).

Using Crumb Cake ink, I stamped the Eiffel Tower from the Artistic Etchings stamp set and the 2c stamp from the Postage Due stamp set.  I fussy cut the Eiffel Tower and punched out the stamp set with the Postage Stamp Punch. To add another dimension to the card I mounted another piece of the floral designed Tea for Two DSP on Sahara Sand card stock and mounted the stamped images on top of this using dimensionals.  The LOVE ticket from the Artisan Embellishment Kit was a perfect addition along with the flat vanilla rose button and pre-made white and pink rose.  The Crystal Vintage Button was to add some addition "luxe" to the spot.

I lightly painted the fussy cut Eiffel Tower with Champagne Shimmer Paint which is soon to depart as well. . .I love that you can see the detail through the transparent layer of shimmer. I needed to take the photo on a different angel for you to see the layering of the colour.  I wanted to add some additional glamour!  This shot also shows off the layers of lace nicely ~ I used the beautiful floral pearl lace from the Artisan Embellishment Kit and a piece of the Victoria Crochet Trim.

I stamped a small scroll design from the Artistic Etchings set in Crumb Cake ink on Very Vanilla card stock then punched out two Elegant Butterfly shapes mounting them on top of each other.  I daubed the edges with Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake ink so that they would tie in with the theme and used three Pearls on the centre of the punch.

I thought that the butterfly added a touch of whimsy to the whole design!  I also needed to balance the heavy detail of the sentiment without taking up too much space and the butterfly seemed to balance things well.

The sentiment area is very layered.  I cut a Very Vanilla doily using the largest doily from the Delicate Doilies Sizzlet die and Big Shot.  I daubed the edges in Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake.  I then punched out the Pretty in Pink Decorative Label shape and daubed the edges in Crumb Cake ink.  Finally I stamped the word Friends from the Sweet Essentials stamp set in Soft Suede ink on Very Vanilla card stock and punched it out with Modern Label punch ~ daubed the edges in Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink ink and mounted it on the other two layers with dimensionals and tucked it all under the lace so that it would look almost like a pocket holding a favour. . .

Hope you are a bit inspired
Shanni xx