Stampin' Up! Cookie Stamps - A foolproof tutorial!

The fabulous Cookie Stamps in the Annual Catalogue and the Holiday Mini are lots of fun to use, and with a few little tips and tricks, anyone can create a perfect batch, first time!

Firstly - the recipe:
It's important to have a recipe that won't puff up too much during baking, as this spoils the imprint.
The cookie set comes with two recipes, and with a little tweaking I'm sure they are great.  However, who needs to be mucking around with conversion from sticks of butter to grams at this frazzled time of year?
Luckily, the recipe I tried first was a real winner, and here it is (with a few modifications from the recipe I found at Lovely Living)

Sugar Cookie Recipe - Australian Metric Measurements

250g of soft butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups  plain flour
1/2 teaspoon  baking powder
1/2 teaspoon  baking soda

 Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.

Add vanilla extract

Add eggs one at a time, mix well after each egg is added.

Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl

Add sifted flour mix to the butter/sugar mix about half a cup at a time 

Continue mixing until the mixture forms a dough

Turn out of bowl and knead until smooth.

 Bag the ball of dough and refrigerate  - the fresh soft dough is too sticky and soft to work with

(amount of time varies with how rushed you are...  30 min at least, you can speed the process up a bit by flattening the ball and popping in the freezer a few minutes... )  Now is a good time to preheat the oven to 200degC, a little less for a Fan Forced oven.

 Pinch off balls of dough about the size of a 50c piece, place on tray covered with baking paper

Prepare a saucer of about half icing mixture and half cornflour

With the handle attached, grind the chosen stamp into the saucer, then flick the rim of the stamp to remove excess.  A bit messy, but saves lots of frustration!

Holding the stamp directly above the ball, centred as well as you can, smoosh it down firmly until the edges of the dough appear at the sides of the stamp

Use a finger to help separate the stamp and flattened cookie if needed.

Re-dust, repeat! 

The cookies do spread a little during baking, so be sure to allow some room.

Bake at 200degC for about 5 minutes, or slightly longer - you are aiming for golden on the edges without too much browning.

Cool on tray a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool

Package up in gorgeous little bags like those in the Holiday Mini, and watch tummies rumble as you hand out these delicious gifts.


In a real hurry?? (like your daughter tells you she needs a plate to take for party day at 9pm the night before...)

Here's the quickest way to whip up a batch:  ALDI Christmas Gingerbread Cookie Mix (a whopping $1.99 if I recall correctly)

I got some of this to try for quick gingerbread men, but thought it was worth a try given the short time frame.  I decided to be scientific in my approach and just leave the recipe completely unchanged - all that needed to be added was an egg and a tablespoon of water, mix, then knead into a dough, ball up, and repeat as above with the cornflour/icing mixture.  Perfecto!  Good to know!

I hope that helps solve some of the kitchen dramas I've heard about, these stamps are so much fun they are worth a second try.  Let me know if you've got any other suggestions we can add to this tutorial.  Happy baking!

Clearance Rack Blitz - be fast for this!

Never before have we had a "Clearance Rack Sale" in Australia!
This sale is where products that have been retired are available again at heavily reduced prices, strictly while stocks last.

I will be placing an order today, to maximise the chances of getting the products I want, so have a quick look through and get back to me ASAP with your must-haves!  (Consider it a Christmas present for yourself maybe??!)

Here's the link to the PDF

I'm off to toss a few items into my cart, and to send out a newsletter to my lovely ladies!

Stampin' Crop Day - the final one for 2012

Just a quick post to let you know the last Stampin' Crop Day will be held THIS SATURDAY 15th December
Time:  10am-5pm
Where:  My place @ Cherrybrook
Cost: $15 for the day including bottomless tea/coffee, grazing lunch, use of my stamps, tools and casual instruction.
What to bring:  A plate of Christmas goodies if you feel so inclined (optional!), your basic stampin tools such as trimmer, any projects you've got in progress

RSVP:  Essential!  Please call or text me at 0403 175 790 so I can prepare enough spaces and treats!

The rush of pics is the set of 5 cards we made in the last Card Class, simple and fast!  Don't you wish you came now??  LOL :D 
Also, the final pic is to remind me to tell you about my find at Aldi.  The gingerbread man mix they have there (I think it's a whopping $1.99) makes PERFECT Stampin Cookies, as per pack instructions.  I think there was one egg and a tablespoon of water, then mix into a dough.  The patterns came out sharply, and stayed after baking,  not to mention they tasted pretty yummo too!  Super fast and easy - and we can all do with some of that this time of year...

In search of Soft Summer - sort of!

 

I had this stamp set, it was a double mounted, 2 step stampin' set from a mini a year or two back.  I have since sold it, as it retired.  However, I recently found a stamp that belongs with this set that had been mistakenly put with another set.  I have been through my eBay listings, but can't find it, so I thought I would put the call out to my blog readers in case it was you I sold the set to!  My sincere apologies, I usually count the stamps - although it is possible your Soft Summer set has a stamp that doesn't belong inside the case!!

I'd love to return the little lost stamp, so please get in touch if you are the new owner :)

 

Christmas Ornament Class - Tuesday 6th November

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The stunning ornament from the front cover of the current "Holiday Catalogue" is not difficult to make, when you are shown how!  Come along to my class next Tuesday 6th November and make one to take home.  These make a great 'more than a card' gift, and I'll show you how you can make it into a gift or bottle tag that can then go onto your lucky recipient's tree!

Class:  Tuesday 6th November, 7.30 -9.30pm

Cost:  $15 includes tuition and materials, and use of my tools and equiment to complete at least one large ornament.

Bring: yourself!

Ideally, eat dinner before you arrive, but I hope to find time to bake some Christmas themed yummies as well.

Places are limited, so please call me 0403 175 790 to book a spot.  For attendees of the class, I will have a special offer on the purchase of the Holiday Keepsakes bundle so you can go forth and make many gorgeous ornaments, wreaths, place markers, cards and more!

Christmas Quickies Card Class - tomorrow night

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We'll be making 20 cards with envelopes, using the Whisper White Notecards pack, half a pack of Letters to Santa Quick Accents adhesive diecuts, sections of Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper, and ribbon and cardstock for embellishment.  The cards are designed to complete quickly, for a clean and uncluttered look - just the ticket for the crafty but time-poor!

Class:  Thursday 1st November, 7.30pm - 10pm

Cost:  $30 includes tuition, all materials and adhesives

Bring: Your favourite trimmer if you have one 

(less frustrating than figuring out someone else's, but not essential - there are several here)

Ideally, eat dinner before you arrive, but there is sure to be snacky food on hand when the munchies strike!)

There are two places left available in the class, so call me 0403 175 790 to book if you are interested!  

 

Stampin' Crop Days and a Christmas Quickies Class

There are three new events in the StampInkPaper calendar!
After almost two months without a formal Stampin' Crop due to pesky and time-consuming uni/teaching stuff, we're all set to go again for October and November.  I've also scheduled the first of my Christmas classes for the year. 

Details for Stampin' Crops are as usual -
Bring your own basic tools and projects to work on - anything you've got on the go.
Bring a plate to share if you like!  (optional of course)
Any time from 10am-5pm
Cost is $15 which includes use of my stamps, Bigshot, extensive selection of dies, punches, bottomless tea and coffee and casual instruction.

Final details such as design sneak peeks and cost are yet to come, but save the date for Thursday 1st November, 7.30 - 10pm.  We'll be making a big batch of cards using the Letters to Santa DSP and matching Quick Accents adhesive diecuts from the last catalogue, with Whisper White notecards and envelopes as a base.  Cost for the class will include tuition and all materials including adhesives.

Also, I'm planning a class showing you how to make the fabulous ornament from the front cover of the Holiday Mini - it works beautifully as that "more than a card, but not an all-out gift" occasion.  They can be used as a bottle tag, and then go onto the tree!   Please reply below if this sounds like something you'd like to do.

Finally, check out the looooongggg list of stamp sets for sale below, and also my stamped sugar cookies at the top!  This was my very first attempt at baking with the new Cookie Stamps - it was so easy, and so much fun!  There are a few tricks I can share about making them, so if you would like a copy of the recipe I used and a cheat sheet for great results, sign up to my newsletter on my DBWS and put "mmmm  cookie... nom nom" in the comments box!  Yes, Cookie Monster is my all-time favourite Sesame Street Character :)  The card below the edible cookies was made by my talented team member, Clare McIlhatton - so cute!

Stamp sets for Sale - new list!

UPDATED JUNE 2nd 2015
Major, major space making exercise in my craft room means that I have three medium sized Stampin' Up! Brown Boxes chock-a-block full of retired stamp sets for sale.  All stamps are in great condition, most have photocopied and/or laminated index sheets included, lots have a Dymo label on the box for fast identification.  Some of the wood blocks will have stains, and there might be minor Stazon staining of rubber.  This has no effect on stamping, in fact the more staining on the wood, I reckon the better the stamp set 'cos it got lots of use!!  All prices are half or less than the original catalogue price, all are wood mounted in clam shell cases.  Some have my name stamp or inked initials on the end of the block.  Don't recognise the name?  Just google "Stampin set name " to find pictures of the set and ideas how you could use it.

Here goes:


Stamp Sets $10 each
Oh, Goodie

Stamp Sets $15 each
Cute Cues
Madison Ave
Topsy Turvy Celebration
Be Merry (single)
Sweet & Sassy
Friendship Blooms
Groovy Lines (background)
Fresh Vintage
Eastern Blooms
Petal Parade
Packed for Birthday
Boho Backgrounds
Yummy - Set of 3
Razzle Dazzle -117709 Set of 5

Stamp Sets $18 each
Good Friend
Betsy's Blossoms
Million & One
Forever with You


Stamp Sets $20 each
Morning Meadow
Perfectly You
Embrace Life
Carte Postale


Stamp Sets $22 each
Oh, Hello
Calendar (background)

Stamp Sets $25 each
Loving Thoughts
Asian Artistry (new, unmounted)
Greetings Eight - 115792 - Set of 8 New and Unmounted


Stamp Sets $30 each
Bring on the Cake

I'll keep this list as updated as possible, if you'd like to purchase any of these, just send me an email to michelle.dyson@bigpond.com
I can post to anywhere in Australia, and will happily combine postage in satchels - quite a few sets will go into the 3kg size.  Happy shopping!

New Catalogues are here! Want one FREE?

I'm late posting this, my apologies.

Links to the new Annual Catalogue and Holiday Catalogues are now starring in the right hand side bar!

 

I haven't had as much time as I'd like to create with the new goodies in my stash, but I have a little break from uni coming up soon.  It will be nice to sit and stamp for a while without feeling like I should be working on a lesson plan or assignment!

These are cards I made after Convention, where we got a sneak peek at some of the upcoming products with our Convention stamp sets prizes.  The two pics at the top are from a set called Blooming with Kindness, and I've used In Colors Pool Party and Wisteria Wonder, along with the "Rock n Roll" stamping technique.

The third photo uses the Daydream Medallion set, and I have used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the images concentrically.  Lots of fun!  

Want to look at a catalogue?  If you're local enough, drop by to pick up your catalogues.  The cost is just $5 for both, fully redeemable against any order of $30 or more,  Too far away?  Check out the online catties and contact me with your order of $30 or more, and I'll add a free copy of the Annual catalogue to be delivered to your door with your order.

 

Any of these beautiful bundles of Stampin' Goodness could be yours!

Here are a couple of pics of the most awesomely generous donation made by Stampin' Up! for my son's school fair tomorrow, at Northholm Grammar School, Arcadia.

The massive box that arrived was packed with an eclectic yet wonderful assortment of goodies, and the challenge was to bundle them up and package them in the most appealing way to raise lots of funds for the school.  There were new colour kits for the crayons and pastels, so I sorted those out into full packs in great colour combos.  The pastels were a little trickier until I remembered some retired colour pastel refills I'd received in a past donation box - a ha!!  By adding these to the new colours, I was able to make up four almost full boxes.  Ribbons!!  Rolls and rolls!  I chopped these up into lengths and packaged them in the crayon tin boxes, they looked quite yummy when I was done with them, all tied up with Baker's twine.  There's DSP, specialty papers, Simply Sent kits, Simply Scrappin kits, accessories like buttons and chipboard and lots lots more.  These will be on the Silent Auction stall tomorrow, with one box on display in my stall tent.  Come along and place your bid for a great cause and enjoy a fun family day out.

Tastes of Spring!

(images and text from Glenorie/Galston Community News, August 2012)


I'd love to see you out at the Spring Fair, last year's event was so much fun!  There are ride wristbands for $30 each giving the kids unlimited rides ALL DAY on almost all the attractions, including Gladiator Duel, shown at the top.  Last year's mini jeeps and giant slide were a huge hit for my kids.  There was delicious food, cakes, coffee, chocolate fountain, fairy floss and lots more.

The fair is the major fundraiser for Northholm Grammar School, and this year the funds raised are earmarked for an outdoor barbeque area.  One of the nice things the school does is involve the dads in running a monthly bbq lunch, instead of the usual canteen.  The kids just love it, all the way from Yr 3 -12, and it's a nice break for the usual canteen mums.  This facility will benefit all the kids AND the dads too!

Stampin' Up! have donated a MASSIVE box of wonderful (retired) products, that I have packed into multiple bundles of goodness each valued at well over $300.  There will be one on my stall and four more around the event for different fundraisers. I'll also have my red bushfire brigade hat money box to collect a gold coin donation for Dural Bush Fire Brigade  - take a card from the donation box, pop your coin in the hat.  You get a bargain card, the Brigade gets much needed funds for the volunteers to put towards their great work for the community.

So, come on out for a Saturday drive.  Northholm is at Arcadia, and can be reached from Old Northern Road through either Middle Dural (take the Wylds Rd turnoff towards Arcadia) or Galston Village (past Swane's Nursery on Galston Rd, and past Fagan Park on Arcadia Rd).  If you're on the north side of Sydney, you can drive the scenic Galston Gorge route from Hornsby.  It's also the very FIRST day of the new Annual Catalogue, and the gorgeous Holiday Catalogue (no longer a mini!), so you'll be able to get your copy and even place an order!

Sold Out Items Update + BARGAIN stamp pads!

 Sold Out Accessories

Stampin' Scrub Replacement Pads
Peach Parfait ink refill
Dotto refill
Concord Crush ink refill
More Mustard Marker
3/16" Gold Brads
Pear Pizzazz ink refill
Poppy Parade ink refill
Stack & Store Containers
Circle cutter replacement blades
Christmas Greetings stamp
Confetti White CS A4
Blushing Bride ink refill
Blushing Bride CS
5-petal flower punch
Color Caddy Extender Kit
Stampin' Around Wheel Storage - Standard size
Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Dies
Concord Crush CS A4
Well Worn Designer Series Paper
Mini Library Clips
Baja Breeze Stampin Write Marker


Sold Out Stamps

Just Surfing
D is for Dog
Curvy Verses
Short & Sweet
Calendar Alphabet & Numbers

Any inkpads you're keen on?

All of the current style of felt-based dye inkpad are currently on the retiring list, as they are being reconfigured to a new firm foam pad.  However, the felt pads are great, and I have been using mine extensively (as you can imagine!) for 5 straight years.  So, you can make your Stampin' Budget stretch a bit further by purchasine some colours in the outgoing style!   Grab some now from just $7.17 each (+ p/h) - that's 40% off.  If they're not on the 40% list, then they'll be 25% off at $8.96.
New reinkers for all colours are fine to use on old-type pads, so there's no compatibility problems if you decide to buy a reinker later on. 

Back to lesson prep!

Still plenty to choose from, but some items are gone gone gone - don't delay!

Stampin' Scrub Replacement Pads
Peach Parfait ink refill
Dotto refill
Concord Crush ink refill
More Mustard Marker
3/16" Gold Brads
Pear Pizzazz ink refill
Poppy Parade ink refill
Stack & Store Containers
Circle cutter replacement blades
Christmas Greetings stamp
Confetti White CS A4
Blushing Bride ink refill
Blushing Bride CS
5-petal flower punch
Color Caddy Extender Kit
Stampin' Around Wheel Storage - Standard size

Super dooper bargains - Selected fabric packs - Candy Cane Christmas and Deck the Halls are just $4.99 each - save 75%!  Make a quilt, make pencil cases, make a twirly skirt for a little girl in your life!  Lots of fun projects out there - just like the stamp sets you can even google with the fabric name to get ideas galore - here are just a couple of ideas I found in a super quick look today.  Shh, supposed to be working right now, but given I was up until midnight making beautiful lesson plans, I think 5 minutes is warranted!!

List of Sold Out Items - updated Tuesday 7th August

UPDATE 7th August 2012 

I will endeavour to update this list every day or two, as soon as I hear about items being sold out:

so far:

Stampin' Scrub Replacement Pads
Peach Parfait ink refill
Dotto refill
Concord Crush ink refill
More Mustard Marker
3/16" Gold Brads
Pear Pizzazz ink refill
Poppy Parade ink refill
Stack & Store Containers
Circle cutter replacement blades
Christmas Greetings stamp
Confetti White CS A4
Highlights from the list:  Medallion background stamp, as used here:

 

Autumn Days, with the lovely pheasant here is also on the chopping block, can you rescue a set for your collection?  

Dasher - individual background stamp, an absolute staple in my stamp collection that I will never part with!  And he's reduced to an eensy weensy $11.21!  Here he is here, used beautifully by another demo, Ann Schach:

Hello Blossoms and Something for Christmas are two other single stamps that deserve a spot in your cupboard, and would also make great gifts for beginner stampers - so versatile with a couple of markers and a pack of note cards.

My apologies about the link from the image in the newsletter, it takes you to my contact page rather than to the lists themselves.  However, I have added pictorial links in the side bar of this blog for quick reference!

Retiring list - selling out as we speak. BE QUICK!

In the interest of speed and efficiency, I'm going to be brief!
Here is a link to the retiring list of stamps -

STAMPS RETIRING LIST

Things to note in particular - some must-have, all time favourites are on the chopping block:
Baroque Motifs
Loads of Love
Short and Sweet
Season of Joy
Medallion background (sniff :`( )
Wonderfully worn background
Dasher (double, two boxes of kleenex sniff)
Something for Christmas  - only been with us one year, made some fantastic easy Christmas cards with this last year.

+ lots, lots more - and selected stamps are on sale as well, in either wood or clear mount or both - you'll be able to see this in the list, with availability as well.

I will be placing orders regularly, but it would be a good idea to give me a back up item or two in case something you want is gone by the time the order is placed.  Some items from the accessories list are gone already, and I suspect some stamps will not be far behind.

Call me, email me, text me - thrust your overflowing wish list into my letterbox or nail it to my door.
Please don't leave it too late (or be at the mercy of eBay scalpers everywhere...)  If you're a bargain hunter, there are some gems to add to your trophy collection too!


Here is the Retiring list for accessories:

RETIRING ACCESSORIES

Of special note - In Color products - some are already gone (Peach Parfait refill, Concord Crush refill, Dotto Refill)
Again, there are some fabulous bargains, including selected fabric packs at a WHOPPING 75% off, just $4.99!  DSPs - all are retiring apart from First Edition Specialty, some are 40% off!  Ribbons - quite a few bargains!

Going for good are:

Circle Scissors
Glass mats for these
Crop-a-dile
Confetti White and Cream cardstock (three boxes of kleenex here, and it's on SALE too!)
Selected punches including doily flower and triple flower

In addition, we are switching to a new type of foam pad in the inkpads - the current felt style is being replaced.  As a result, most (if not all) are being sold off at 25% discount, just $8.96.

SO, check out the list, zoom through, pay attention to the discounted products in case they can tempt you, and get back to me as above with your 'must haves'.

Not long now! Last order going in this Sunday evening

There's only a few days left to order from the Autumn/Winter Mini (official close date is Next Tuesday 31st July).
I'm back at uni on Monday until late, so in case I forget to put the order in, I'm playing it safe and placing my final order on Sunday night.  (Although of course if you ring me with a last minute $650 order to catch the end of the extra benefits promo, I won't be turning you away!)

Some items we are pretty sure will reappear, but others will be gone for good.  I know I need to get more of the luscious pleated satin ribbon, because of the retiring colours we know it won't be back :(

Let me know, and check your stocks of colours about to leave us - reinkers and markers especially
Have a wonderful weekend, I am planning on squeezing in a bit of relaxing before it all begins again for my FINAL semester at uni on Monday!

Housekeeping and Customer Lists

Further to yesterday's post on the newsletter, and on clearing our my own inbox this morning of clutter I regrettably don't have the time to read, I have had a major clear out of my customer database.  Now that I have been a demo almost 5 years, there are a lot of people who may no longer be interested or who have another preferred demo.  There have been merged customer lists, and a change from Constant Contact to my Demonstrator website emails, times and hobbies change and that's OK!  There were also quite a few 'opt-outs' which means the Demonstrator Website does not send on newsletters to those email addresses.  For a while there, it was quite easy to accidentally unsubscribe, so if you would still like to receive my emails, it's easy to re-subscribe again, by clicking this link.  I guess if you don't want the monthly-ish email, you won't miss it, but if you do, you're most welcome to re-sign.  Thanks for visiting, it was nice 'knowing' you, one day maybe we'll meet again...

Do you receive my newsletter?

I've just sent out a newsletter, which is something I do pretty much every month, with the odd extra when there is an announcement or promotion to let you know about.


If you already think you're on my mailing list, but don't seem to have received one this evening, you might like to check your 'junk' email box, and add my email address to your contacts to ensure you see it in a timely way!  With just 10 days left on the mini, I'd hate for you to find it next time you get around to decluttering your inbox!


If you don't currently subscribe but would like to, try clicking this link to sign up.


Here's the latest newsletter if you'd like a peek first:
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Hi everyone,

I hope this newsletter finds you all well, and with enough time to squeeze in a little creativity.  I've been really busy at my current school practicum position, but making a little "me" time for putting a different kind of ink to paper has been important for maintaining my sanity!

Time has been slipping away this year, and I wanted to send out a reminder that the current Autumn/Winter Mini catalogue ends in just 10 days, 31st July 2012.  Please take the time to have a browse through again (either your hard copy or online) to make sure you don't miss out on anything you're keen on.  Retired mini items are notoriously difficult to locate second hand.

We're also running out of time for a couple of very important purchases:

In Colors from 2010-12 are retiring come 31st August, and if stocks are low, supply cannot be guaranteed until that date.

Retiring colours are:

Poppy Parade

Concord Crush

Peach Parfait

Blushing Bride

Pear Pizzazz

If you have the inkpad, a refill at just $5.95 will keep it juicy for many years to come.  In Colors are also available as a 5 pack of markers for $27.95.  Cardstock is available in textured 12x12, smooth 12x12, and A4 in single colours and assortment packs.

Individual Markers

It's not official, but I also want to give everyone the heads up that most individual markers will NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE for purchase after the current catalogue.  Colour family packs and the Big Box will be available, but only the "Getting Started" colours will be available to buy individually (assuming we follow the US catalogue just released).

Please check your markers, both thin and thick tips, for worn or fluffy nibs and dryness.  To decide, take your least favourite and squiggle some lines with each tip on a scrap of Whisper White cardstock, then test your other colours to see how they measure up.  Your favourites might be showing some wear, and if they aren't on the Getting Started list it's time to buy a replacement to keep in reserve.   If you've been collecting colour families over time, save the Getting Started colours for now, and concentrate on the ones that won't be available much longer as singles.

How can I order??

If you'd like to place an order, you can contact me by phone (02) 9484 9447, or email at michelle.dyson@bigpond.com with your list.  Every order of $60 or more placed after this email and before 12 noon July 31st will receive a free copy of the 2012-13 Annual Catalogue when it becomes available.

Tips for the month:

Taming of the Scraps:  I've started using a glass bowl on my stamping desk to catch and keep all the little ribbon snips and extra punches from a cardmaking session.  When I need a quick card, I can pull out a piece and create a card using it as the inspiration base.  And it has the effect of keeping my desk and floor looking neater!

Negatives can be positive!:  When you make a die cut shape, take a look at the negative shape before tossing to the scraps bin.  Could it be trimmed to make it into a window layer for a card front?  Or could you use it as a mask/template to add dimension to a single layer card by sponging ink around the opening.

take care, stay warm!

Michelle

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Of course it looks a little prettier and more interesting when you get the real deal, with clickable images and links to the latest promotion and product info:

In other excellent news, the Dandelion anti-bullying project has reached the funding target, thanks so much for your support!  The incentives for donating are now a certaintly, so if you're keen to get some lovely goodies and support this great cause, you can visit the Kickstarter project via the link in the post below.  Over funding of the project just means it will be able to be extened into more formats and be even more widely available to the kids who need it so much.  Thanks!

Triple Treat flower and Dandelion Project needs your support!

Here are two cards that I made having chosen a colour combination inspired by the delicious "Cheerful Treat" Hostess Designer Series Paper.  I used the Triple Treat flower stamp, from the a la carte collection (see it on page 14 of the catalogue, #125040 just $16.95!).  As the name suggests, this stamp can be used with (or without!) three different punches for quick easy cards - 5 petal flower, Fancy Flower and 1/2" circle punch.  It also suits the "Rock and Roll" technique for adding a darker colour around the outside of the stamp for a two-tone effect, or you can use markers to colour different sections of the stamp.    There's some sewing, some distressing and some yum Concord Crush poly twill ribbon.  Concord will be leaving us come September 1, and it is a quite unique dark purple/blue, which looks stunning with Wisteria Wonder, Melon Mambo, Lucky Limeade and lots more - make sure to stock up (and get a reinker for your pad!) before it's gone...  act now!

Speaking of 'act now', here's a totally non-stamping related plug for a cause about which I am most passionate - bullying.  More precisely, it's a support and anti-bullying digital book being planned.  It's a unique idea, with obvious appeal to children, presented in an accessible digital format.
The "Dandelion - Bullying is for People with no Imagination" project is currently listed on "Kickstarter", with 10 days to go to reach the funding target.  There is a short video with information by the creator, access it via the widget below and lots of options to help - every dollar counts!  I'm sure as a community of very imaginative people we can get them over the line and feel proud to have contributed a little to a big cause.



Please help if you can, and spread the word so we can help make this project come to life!

Not a card, but a very PINK cake!

After the circus themed wedding cake, I was under instruction from my little girl to make a "9 inch cake with 5" top layer mud cake with pink icing and flowers" for her birthday back in April.  Well, I wasn't planning on making a multi-tiered masterpiece, but the other bits were fairly easy to achieve! Under the Buttercream 'dirty icing'/crumb coat there is a rich, dense chocolate mud cake.

 Next we have a pink fondant layer, very pink!  Probably a hang-over from the circus cake that was very brightly coloured, I dolloped in a generous blob of paste colour, then realised that it was probably a bit toooo much!  Never mind, when you are 7, 'Pinkie Pie Pink' is about as good as it gets! There are a few lumps and bumps in this, but I was without my cake smoother tools so I was still fairly pleased with how it turned out.  I used a magic plastic mat set to roll the fondant, so it wasn't super thick. 

 Decoration is fun when you have a cricut cake machine!  I intended to use this with paper, but had no idea that cutting icing would be as fun and easy as it is, so it is yet to see anything non-edible!  Very green icing this time, rolled onto the cutting mat, ready to go into the machine.

 Here are the first two layers of the design, they are cut separately and then added together.

 Here is the finished cake, with some (wonky) swirls around the sides.  It is much harder to position things vertically than on the top surface!

The birthday girls, with some of Grandma's macarons for more yummy treats.  Next cake will probably be for Master 10 turning 11 - I wonder what the request will be??!!