It's the INKlings "Christmas in July" Blog Hop!!

Welcome to The INKlings’ Team’s Christmas in July blog hop. You may have arrived here from Carol Dunstan's blog or just be visiting my blog, whichever way once you’ve checked out my creations you can continue the hop through the link at the end of this post to the next team member.

The year is flying by, and it's time to start thinking about your Christmas cards and projects! The INKlings team has been busy getting some inspiring projects together to get you off to a flying start, so we're hosting a Christmas in July blog hop. You'll find lots of great ideas as you hop through the chain of 17 different team members’ fantastic blogs.  Why not add my blog to your "follow" list, or subscribe to my newsletter for info about my upcoming Christmas Stamp-a-stack classes.

Want to win some Blog Candy? Simply leave a comment on each blog and then email Christie Wallace and let her know you’ve done so and you’ll be in the running for a fantastic prize of handmade cards plus other goodies from each of the 17 participants.

(Sorry Blog Candy prize not available to SU! demonstrators but you're more than welcome to leave us a comment! )

My projects use the new Stampin' Up! exclusive design cutting die for the BigShot, the Pennant Die. At first glance at the catalogue line-art, you'd be thinking "what on earth would I need that for??" Pretty much my first reaction too, until I saw a few different projects using various components of the die. Once I had it in my hot little hands, I immediately saw the potential for making the small and large Christmas trees below.

They are both made in the same way, by cutting folded cardstock placed onto the die base and run through the BigShot machine.  I made several of each size in both Riding Hood Red cardstock and Designer Series Prints paper and Kiwi Kiss cardstock and Designer Series Prints paper.  I stamped the several of the snowflake images from the "Snow Swirled" set in matching ink all over the plain cardstock, and sponged the edges.  I alternated the colours, and stitched the layers together at the 'spine' with a piercing tool, needle and thread.  The bases are made from a Scallop circle cut from the Bigz Bigshot die (small tree), and from a circle cut using the Circle Scissor (large tree).  The small tree has been sprinkled with Supernova glitter using a 2way glue pen, and 1/2" circle punchies were glittered up to make some baubles for the large tree.  The stars were made from the small and large star punches, folded and glued together.

Now, as you can see from the die line-art, there are also some large scalloped circles - so I applied the same principle to make a paper bauble.

The circles are pre-scored, so all you need to do is to fold in the centre and join them in alternating colours using Sticky Strip tape.  You can make them as full as you like, mine has 8 folded circles.  To decorate, I threaded some Pretties Kit beads, punched and Felt Fusion flowers onto some fine nylon thread, passing it through the centre hole of the bauble. A tie of Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon and a loop of Riding Hood Red taffeta is the finishing touch.

And, there's more!  I also found a great tutorial by Arielle Gordon using this die to make a cute little box!  I've made one here in matching colours to the trees, and I think it would make a nice table place favour.  This one uses four small pennants, and makes a box about 3 inches square.  I plan to have a go at making a larger box with the large pennant.  It is constructed using Sticky Strip, and decorated with some of the spare scallop circles in Designer Series Paper folded over the corners, and a scallop circle with a monogram stamp in the centre from the Schoolbook Serif alphabet.  A tie of gingham ribbon, some tissue paper and some choccies complete the box.

Well that’s three things you can make with the Pennant Die, and we haven't even touched on actual PENNANTS yet!  Next stop on the INKlings’ Team Blog Hop is Jayne Mercer. Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to win some great Blog Candy
In case you should get lost along the way, here is the full list of participants and their blog links.


1. Christie
2. Dani H
3. Carol 
4. Michelle D
5. Jayne
6. Kylie S
7. Kari
8. Dani F
9. Beth
10. Nicky A
11. Clare
12. Amy
13. Fiona
14 . Michelle Frost-Stevenson
15. Fiona Poirier 
16. Divya Rao 
17 Rachel Jackson 
 
Thanks very much for visiting, come back soon for some more Christmas themed projects!

Pretty Pink Pony Party

There's been a bit of a rush of birthdays in Lillian's kindergarten class, and the other weekend she attended two parties on the same day!  Luckily, through arrangement by the mums involved, there was a neat half hour between them to allow for the shuttling between process.  This card is the one I made for Isabella, who likes pink and horses (according to Lillian! )

The card base is Pink Passion, stamped with Polka Dot background with Pink Passion ink.  I sponged the edges too.  I do this with most cards if I have time, since it adds depth and interest quickly and easily.

The colour scheme for the rest of the card was inspired by a piece of Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper (from the Summer Mini, now retired)  There's a piece of Gable Green behind the DSP panel, and the circle behind the stamped image is textured Apricot Appeal, again sponged with matching ink.

The circles were cut on the Circle Scissor, at 2 3/4" for the inner and 3" for the outer.  I used my Dotto to stop the watercolour paper circle from wandering about while I stamped the pony in Stazon Black ink using the Stamp a ma jig to position it carefully.

To colour, I used Watercolor Wonder Crayons from the Bold Brights set, and applied them around the inside edges of the image, and along the internal lines in light strokes.  Using a Blender Pen in a small circular motion, I blended and drew the colour in to complete the image.  For the really detailed areas, here is a little trick for you:
Scribble a small patch of crayon on the inside of the lid, and use the Blender Pen to pick up just a smidge.  Then you can use the fine detailed point on your Blender Pen to get carefully into the nooks and crannies of the mane and tail for example.

The greeting was stamped in Stazon Black onto a scrap of watercolour paper, and trimmed to a banner shape before fixing at one end with a Flower Designer Brad and shaping with a Stampin' Dimensional for a bit of lift.

July Promotion - Two Step Stampin!

Yay!!  Cheap stamps!!

This month, until 31st July, we have a selection of Two Step Stampin stamp sets available at 20% off their normal prices (or sign with me as a demonstrator to get them at least 40% off, and save 20% on the Starter Kit as the same time!)

So, what is Two Step Stampin?

As you know, our stamps come in sets, and some sets have a little circular "2" symbol marked against them in the catalogue and on the label that indicates that they are great for this technique.  Most often, they are sets that have stamps that can be used in layers, such as a flower background, outline and centre, to create a sense of depth and realism impossible with a single stamp impression.  Others are "building" type sets, where you can create a scene or phrase by stamping multiple images.  Whatever your preference, they are a lot of fun and an easy way to get that 'wow' effect!  Versatile too, since you can use them with and without the double stamping method.

Here is the selection - you will note in the descriptions (XXX) that some of these sets are scheduled to retire at the end of our current catalogue, and are available while stocks last.  Please don't delay if any of these retiring sets have been on your wishlist for a while, I'd hate to see you disappointed if they sell out before the official Retirement List is announced in August.

116386  p39   Loads of Love was $39.95 now $31.96
116342  p42   Big Bold Birthday was $53.95 now $43.16  XXX
115860  p78   A Rose is a Rose was $66.95 now $53.56  XXX
116332  p86   Playful Petals was $52.95 now $42.36  XXX
115770  p98   Cheep Talk was $47.95 now $38.36
115946  p115 Wonderful Favourites was $39.95 now $31.96
119187  mini  Tiny Tags was $38.95 now $31.16 *
119163  mini  Cottage Garden was $32.95 now $26.36 *

* Tiny Tags and Cottage Garden sets are in the Autumn Winter Mini, and are both available in Clear Mount stamps as an option, please refer to the mini for pricing details.

For me, I am definitely getting the Cheep Talk set, I have coveted it for a while!  And, if you haven't got the already great priced Wonderful Favourites set, it's a Wonderful Opportunity!

And, in the spirit of "would you like fries with that?", I'm going to make the suggestion that you also purchase the amazing "Stamp a ma jig" stamp positioning tool, if you haven't already been converted to it's essential-ness!  This can be found on page 155, item 101049 for $22.95 and will give you perfect placement and save you many times its price in frustration and wonky alignment, for titles, sentiments, two-step stampin and more.  As a SPECIAL OFFER, exclusive to me, purchase any three of the sets listed above to get the Stamp-a-ma-jig  HALF PRICE! ($12.05 inc p/h)  Or, purchase any four or more of the sets listed above and get your Stamp-a-ma-jig FREE!

These offers are only available until 31st July, so please give me a call or email to arrange your order.  Limit of one free/discounted Stamp-a-ma-jig per customer, thank you :)