Thoughts and Prayers

Created by Donna Calley. Images copyright Stampin' Up 1989-2009

This Thoughts and Prayers stamp set is so stunning and simple. I have used just three colours Baja Breeze, Whisper White and Basic Black (2/4" grosgrain ribbon aswell as card).

To finish it off I used the eyelet punch to add detail at the bottom and the wide oval punch for the tag.

Enjoy your Sunday

God bless

Donna

Tip: Damp-proof your card stock no.2

Hi Ladies, I have just remembered a great tip from the authors of ' Living Off The Smell of an Oily Rag'.
They suggest placing sticks of chalk behind the books on a bookcase to absorb the moisture. When the chalk is looking a bit moist put it in the airing cupboard to dry out then start again. Try this in your card stock storage space.

Keep Your Card Stock in Tip Top Condition

Tip: At this time of the year when the air is damp, keep your card stock in a damp-free area. Preferably in a room that has a fire or heater on frequently.
Remember that even the winter sun will bleach your card stock, so find a dark aswell as damp free area.

Add Style To Your Daily Planning

If your Dairy Planner is starting to look a bit tired? Give it a zing by adding some Designer Series Paper (I used Raspberry Tart and a strip of Old Olive card stock), some ribbon (Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain ribbon) and some bling with a hat pin from the gorgeous SU! Pretties Kit.

For a little something different turn a piece of card stock into faux lace (I used Rose Red).

1. Add detail to the strip of card stock with the eyelet hole punch.

2.Do the same on the other edge of the card ensuring that the image lines up on both sides.
3. Put the punch strip through the SU! crimper.

4. Attach your faux lace to your project.

Fifth Avenue Floral

Created by Donna Calley. Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1989-2009

Technique tip: Keep the backing paper to each of your dye-cut stamps when you mount them. These can be used to place over one stamped image before you stamp another image slightly over the top (in the image above I stamped the top flower first, then covered it. I then stamped the next flower to the side).

If you do not hve your papers still Post-It Notes are excellent replacements. Get your inks out and try it today!

Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral

Card Stock: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Basic Black.

Ink: Bashful Blue, Basic Black.

Accessories: Aqua Painters, Old olive and Yoyo Yellow Stampin' Writes.

Ladybird

Image copyright Stampin' Up! 1989-2009

I got this card design from splitcoaststampers.com. If you haven't had a chance to look at this website yet, you really should. When you click on the Stampin' Up! galleries and look for your stamp set it will show you so many different designs you can do.

Stamp Set: Pick a petal, Tres Chic background stamp

Card stock: Sage Shadow, Ruby Red, Basic Black, Whisper White.

Inks:Versamark, Ruby Red, Basic Black

Accessories: very Vanilla 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Basic Black Stampin' Write

Urban Garden

Created by Toni Alexander. images copyright Stampin' Up! 1989-2009
My Stamp club chose to make a tote bag and card set this week. When I saw how gorgeous this Urban Garden paper looked with the Reaal Red and the Baja Blue I just had to get Toni to come back the next day so I could photograph her cards.

These cards are so easy and take very little time to create.It is just a matter of cutting Designer Series Paper, in this case Urban Garden and then layering it with Card stock. The only stamping is the greeting using the Sincere Salutations stamp set. Add a little ribbon and you are done.

See previous posting for special on ribbon.
Order Sincere Salutations before Wednesday 20th May get 5% off the normal price.

Ribbon Heaven - Special Offer!

I absolutely adore ribbons on greetings cards. They just add that little bit of class. And I tell you what, Stampin' Up! ribbons are outstanding in colour, quality, choice and most of all price. However, if you are like me you will want a little piece of each of them.


So......I thought I would give all my wonderful customers the opportunity to get Ribbon Heaven in their craft box!

I'm taking sign-ups for ribbon shares. This means that for $10.60 you can order 9.70 metres of ribbon from me in the colour family of your choice (excludes in-colours). You will recieve 2 metres of 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon in four colours and 1.95 metres of 5/8" Grosgrain ribbon in one colour. (See page 151 in the SU! Ideas Book and Catalogue, you can do this on-line or borrow a catalogue from me). When I have enough people for each colour family I will purchase the ribbons and share them out.

Rich Regals: Bravo Burgundy, Elegant Eggplant, Night of Navy, Always Artichoke (all in the 1/4" grosgrain) and Brocade Blue (5/8" grosgrain)

Bold Brights: Whisper White, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black (1/4" grosgrain) and Real Red (5/8" grosgrain)

Earth Elements: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie (1/4" Grosgrain) and Chocolate Chip (5/8" grosgrain)

Soft Subtles: Mellow Moss, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink (1/4" grosgrain) and Certainly Celery (5/8" grosgrain)

To order your share of ribbon, contact me on 09 238 2100 or e-mail donnacalley@xtra.co.nz

Enjoy your day.

Donna

Flight of the Butterfly

Created by Donna Calley. Images copyright Stampin' Up 1998-2009

There is something about butterflies that makes me think of summer, even when it is pouring down with rain outside!

Stamp set: Garden Whimsy, Sincere Salutations

Card Stock: Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White.

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, So Saffron

Accessories: Elegant Eggplant 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Scalloped Edged Punch

Have a great day

Donna

Fifth Avenue Slide

Created by Donna Calley. Images copyright Stampin" Up! 1998-2009

This stamp set is just a stunner. I simply stamped the image in Stazon ink, then using the aqua pens I added a little touch of Bashful Blue ink where I thought the shadow would be, including under the flower.

This slider card is the third card that we will be making in Monday nights class. Please ring or e-mail to book.

And if you can't make it this Monday night, how about getting six of your friends together and booking a workshop that you could host at your house. You could then win yourself some awesome hostess benefits, aswell as having a great laugh with your friends.

Look forward to hearing from you

Donna

09 238 2100

Simply Simple

Created by Donna Calley. Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1998-2009

I have been promising my Wow! class ladies a simple card. They didn't think that I could do it, but......

And, not only is it simple, it is stunning and easy to make (don't laugh ladies, I promise that it is easy!!)

I am so pleased with this card with the crisp Whisper White card stock, the three rows of punched out circles and the butterfly (which I plan to emboss when we make it on Monday with my Wow! card class).

Stamp set: Garden Whimsy

Card stock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink.

Ink: Real Red.

Accessories: Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Real Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, SU! snips, 3/4",

circle punch.

Refer to next posting for special on ribbon.

Keep creating,

Donna

Tea For Two

This is one of the cards that the ladies at my card class will be making on Monday night.

The flower in the middle is done by the Tea Bag Fold technique. And the card was one of the Make and Take cards that the wonderfully talented Michelle Habib demonstrated to the Franklin part of her team at the end of March. It was originally stamped with an image from the now retired Mostly Flowers stamp set (so if you are an owner of that one definately give this technique a go).

I have had the pieces of this one scattered about my office for several weeks and finally finished it tonight. I turned on the computer had a look at Michelle's blog and she put her new version on a couple of days ago. Great minds think alike! Michelle used the Boho Backgrounds stamp set. Check out her blog on http://o2bstampin.blogspot.com/

Phone or e-mail to book your place in Monday's class.

Stamp Sets: Baroque Motif, Happy Everything

Inks: Basic Black

Accessories: Large Square Punch, Pretties Kit, Glue Dots

Revamped Baroque Motif

Created by Donna Calley. Images copyright Stampin' Up! 1989-2009

This is a revamp of the first card swap I did with the New Plymouth Team when I first joined Stampn' Up! last August. I think that the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper looks Fab!

Tip: Use an aqua pen to dampen the Designer Series Paper and the background Cameo Coral card stock. Screw the card up and then carefully flatten out to give your card extra texture.

Note: The aqua pens have gone down in price in this years catalogue. Contact me for more details.

Stamp Set: Baroque Motif

Card Stock: Very vanilla, Choc Chip and Cameo Coral

Ink: Old Olive and Ruby Red

Accessories: Bella Rose DSP, Dimensionals, Aqua Pen, Choc ChipTaffeta Ribbon

The Best Job in the World Just Got Easier!

I think most of you ladies who have met me personally will know that I think that being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator is the worlds best job. You can gain a fabulous income, based on the hours that suit you because it is your own business. You get to meet wonderful people, and I am honoured for the new friendships I have made through Stampin' Up! not just with my wonderful team, but also with my great customers. And as being a part of my team you will learn new paper crafting techniques, get business training and general support.

If you have been thinking about becoming a demonstrator, but already have quite a lot of Stampin' Up! product, or prefer the scrapbooking side of Stampin'Up! then now is a great time to become a demonstrator. Stampin Up! have released a special promotion for the month of May only with a scrapbooking starter kit for only $175. Our regular starter kit costs $379.

The kit includes:
Any Stamp Set $91.95 or less Recommended: Schoolbook Serif Alphabet
Simply Scrappin’ Recommended: Petal Party
Stampin’ Pad Recommended: Pumpkin Pie
Textured Card Stock (12 x 12) Recommended: Earth Elements

You will also receive Craft and Rubber Scissors and all the business supplies included in the normal Starter Kit.

If you would like to advantage of this awesome opportunity and also to be a part of my team then phone me today. 09 238 2100

Ink Free Fingers

Created by Donna Calley. Images Copyright Stampin' Up! 1989-2009

I designed this card in a major rush the other evening before a workshop when I couldn't find the stamp set I needed for the card that I had already prepared. I was so glad for the Bella Rose Designer Series Paper it really finished it off. I used StazOn Ink for the stamped image and coloured it in using Blender Pens with Poppin' Pastels. (Aqua pens and Stampin Spots would also work really well). StazOn ink is not water based so it doesn't smudge easily when using blender pens or aqua pens.

Tip: When using StazOn ink it is recommended that you replace the inner cap, which can lead to lovely black inky fingers. Use a couple of Stampin' Dimensionals between the lid and the inner cap to permanently stick them together. You now have only to handle the outer lid that is lovely and clean.

Stamp Set: Playful Petals

Card Stock: Riding Hood Red, watercolour paper

Ink: StazOn Ink

Accessories: Blender Pens, Poppin' Pastels, Bella Rose Designer Series Paper

Designer Series Paper for free!

Stampin' Up has come out with an amazing offer for the month of May. Buy 3 packs of Designer Series Papers and get the fourth for FREE!
If you have seen this years papers you will realise what a treat that is. The DS papers come in packs of twelve 12x12 sheets. They have designs on both sides and are stunning. My current favourites are Raspberry Tart and Bella Rose, however I have just received all of the swatches thanks to the wonderful Sharlene Torres and now I can't decide.

Bella Rose DSP. Copyright Stampin' Up! 1998-2009

Bella Bleu DSP. Copyright Stampin' Up! 1998-2009

Raspberry Tart DSP. Copyright Stampin' Up! 1998-2009

Aren't they just stunning! DSP can quickly add a little class to a card. Keep your eye out for other cards on my blog this month using DSP.
Note: The Bella Rose is the DSP that I have used in the last and the next card on my blog.
Try it out yourself. Click on the catalogue image in the side bar to see the rest of the range.
To place an order get in touch with me on donnacalley@xtra.co.nz.