Owl punch, Pennants and Calypso Coral

This was a bit of fun, I hadn't played with the Owl Builder punch since late last year (maybe the 60 Santa Owls I did for the kid's classmates turned me away for a while??).  I also wanted to use "Calypso Coral", an In Color for 2012-13.  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it for the first time, as I was not a fan of "Cameo Coral" that retired with the Colour Renovation project.  Combined with "Pool Party" and "Daffodil Delight" it makes a bright yet sophisticated combination that is very on-trend at the moment.  This colour combination was inspired by the "Attic Boutique" Designer Series Paper in the Autumn/Winter Mini.  At first glance you'd never think this paper would work for a fun card, but the patterns are remarkably versatile. Here I have simply hand-cut small triangles and strung them along a piece of "Calypso Coral" bakers twine with Stampin' Dimensionals to make them appear to float in front of the card.
Mr Owl is punched from scraps of Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze and Soft Suede and glued together with 2-way glue pen (ideal for fiddly little bits like eyeballs!)
The top layer is Whisper White, and the backing layers are a piece of retired specialty cardstock "Parisian Breeze" and a scrap of fabric that was a good match for Daffodil Delight. The sentiment is from "Curly Cute", a versatile font that fills a card nicely, stamped in Soft Suede.   So quick, so easy, I went on to make a few more. (But not 60!)

Here's a list of some of the items I used here:
118074 Owl Builder Punch - $33.95
100425 2-Way glue pen - $6.50
125573 Calypso Coral bakers twine  - $4.95  (Autumn Winter Mini - one month to go!)
121500 Curly Cute (wood) - $34.95
125407 Attic Boutique Designer Series paper pack (12 sheets 12x12, double sided) - $18.95 (A/W Mini!)

Off to finish prepping for a workshop PARTY! tomorrow, looking forward to it!

Twitterpated with Pretty Postage

 

I don't know if it was my childhood collection of another kind of stamp entirely, but when I first saw the Pretty Postage stamp set and matching punch, I just knew it would be coming to live with me!

And, the Designer Series Paper "Twitterpated" is such a great selection of patterns in pleasing combinations, that it became an instant favourite.  It is a little unusual, as patterned paper packs go, as it could be used for both masculine and feminine cards, depending on which side of the paper you choose.

Together, they make a quite versatile pair!  I made this pair of cards above for Mother's day, and as you can see, they started out the same, and then I changed them around to give a slightly different look.

The base layer is Blushing Bride, followed by a layer of Baja Breeze that has been edged with the scallop trim punch.  Then I have punched out a series of squares with the postage punch.  After inking the edges with sponge, and popping them up on Stampin' Dimensionals they were all done.  The image squares were made with the Pretty Postage stamp set from the Summer Mini, inked up with markers in matching colours.  Both cards have Cherry Cobbler seam binding ribbon (oh so delish!), but one has been made into a 'raspberry' by gathering it onto a thread and pulling to tighten, and the other has a ruffled band instead.  One got a matching cute pink Twitterpated button, and the other got some Island Indigo and Cherry Cobbler bakers twine in the middle.  Ta da!  All done :)

Here's a list of some of the products used:
Twitterpated Designer Series Paper 125406 $18.95 12 sheets 12x12 heavy weight double sided paper
Twitterpated Designer Buttons 125579 $12.95 for snap container of 48 buttons
Postage Stamp Punch  122344 $30.95
Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding 120992 $12.95
Scallop trim punch 118402 $30.95

If you would like to order anything I have used here, please contact me, I can have your order delivered anywhere in Australia!

What a total BLAST! Stampin' Up Convention 2012

As I have very nearly finished the FINAL assignment for this semester, I am going to post a quick peek at some of the awesomeness that was Stampin' Up! Convention, 2012.
It was certainly a fun event - and a good way to wind down after a most hectic semester at uni!  Term 2 is crunch time at schools, apparently, with so much happening.  Even as 'just a student teacher' it's been full on trying to juggle lesson plans, assessments and the rest, and throw in a couple of subjects worth of uni assignments and it becomes faintly ridiculous!  Still!  Just one semester to go, and I'll be a fully qualified (over-qualified?) high-school science teacher!

Stampin' Up! Convention 2012 - Canberra Convention centre, theme "I am" - 500 excited demos enjoying 3 days + of stamping, inspiring presentations, socialising, and lots and lots of freebies!  I even won "Prize Patrol" this year for the very first time, but I can't show you yet!!  (Sneak Peeks on the way when I get a chance to create with my prize!)

Yes, that's the awesome SU founder and CEO Shelli Gardner, with me (right) and the equally awesome Clare "Crafty Cow" McIlhatton, my very first downline team member back in January 2008 (left).  Clare was  selected as a winner in the Stampin' Up! Convention commercial competition with her super dooper punch art stop-motion animation - go Clare!  Shelli had us in stitches (of empathy) this year, with her series of project glitches while stamping on stage, she was utterly mortified, but we were so impressed with how she managed to get back on track and wow us anyway.  It gives every demonstrator the feeling that it's OK to have a "Shelli Stuffed It" moment from time to time!

Just one small part of many inspiring displays, using the Edgelits and Framelits dies.

The current and upcoming In Color collections (yummy!)

One of many inspiring swap boards - arranged in colour groups by SU! staff!

The all-singing, all dancing SU! Sydney office staff!  Talented Cate Lynch is a knockout singer, and the "I am" theme song was fab (and stuck in my head!).

I am SO going to make some of these!!!  Amazing 3D apple made with the "Simply Scored" tool by Brian Pilling, from the US Head Office.  A very talented bloke, Brian also gave some brilliant leadership presentations, and you can also see him do some great youtube video tutorials here!
Oh, and he danced too! (blue shirt below)

Better stop there, I took so many photos I could be here all day!  Hope that gives you a taste of what it is like to attend a Stampin' Up! Convention - maybe you'd like to join me next year as a guest or member of my team?  I've updated the "Become a Demonstrator" page on this blog, visit here to find out all the details about the really great changes that have been made over the last few months.
 I'm also thinking of hosting an "Opportunity Night" in Cherrybrook, to go through the benefits and fun that come with being a demo on my team - please leave a comment here if that sounds interesting to you.  (or even if it doesn't,why not leave me some comment love anyway??! ;)  )

It's time to PARTY!!

Yep, we've taken the work out of workshops, to reflect more accurately how much FUN you and your guests will have at your very own Stampin' Up! PARTY!  To prove it, between June 1st and July 31st there is a whopping $90 EXTRA in hostess dollars with a workshop that reaches $650 in sales.  That's very achievable with a group of 6+ interested friends, so why not think who might like to join you for an enjoyable night out?

Just so the amazing-ness of this promotion is clear, here is a summary table:

Yes, that's $190 to spend  on whatever you choose, + any item for half price - great deal if your wish list includes the marker box or the BigShot!
Click on the banner image above to visit the flyer for all the details, and contact me to book your date!  I've been working hard all semester at uni, and in June and July it's most definitely the right time to PARTY!  Looking forward to showing you lots of techniques and tips I've learned from Convention, such a blast, photos to come soon!