Just for fun - another Top Note card

If you've seen a few of my previous posts you probably know by now I can't craft without the Top Note die - matter of fact, I keep it alongside the family passports in case there is an emergency and we need to leave in a hurry - just kidding!

But I DO love those curvy sides, its shape is just so pretty, and that's all there is to it really...you can dress it up nice and feminine, you can pare it down for masculine cards,  make it cute for baby cards etc - they all benefit from a little Top Note.

Anyway, as usual I had cut out a patterned top note shape that just was not providing any inspiration, so I flipped it over, added the left-over 'brackets' from yesterday's card, rummaged through some bags of punched shapes and voila, a card emerged.

What I used:

Card:  Tangerine Tango, recycled white card, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, So Saffron, Greenhouse Gala DSP (retired).

Ink:  Versamark Watermark inkpad

Stamps: Heard from the Heart

Tools and other fun stuff:  Top Note die, Bird punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, Floral Fusion Sizzlets die, Black embossing powder, heat tool, glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals.

It all started with playing with some glitter...

That's how this card started out - with me playing with some glitter!  First I made the Boho Blossoms flowers, punched them out of Whisper White, sponged them with Baja Breeze, added a wee Baja Breeze center and glittered that...  I had intended to make a monochromatic card but made the mistake of flipping over the retired Greenhouse Gala DSP and decided to go'lots-of-chromatics' instead!

What I used:

Card:  Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Greenhouse Gala DSP (retired)

Ink:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip

Stamp Set:  Sincere Salutations

Tools and other fun stuff:  Framed Tulips EF, Top Note Bigz die, 1 3/4" circle punch, Boho Blossoms punch, glitter glue, Peach Parfait polystitched ribbon, stampin' sponges.

"Blossom Party" Needle-book and "Circles" Bag.

As you all know, Stampin' Up! products are not just for papercrafts!

 A while ago I had cut some felt flowers out with the Blossom Party die with the intention of making some sewing accessories, and today finally got the chance to actually make a needle-book.

Another project I made a couple of months ago was this bag - same jeans fabric as the needle-book - and there is still a little more denim left for other crafty projects LOL!

To decorate it I used some leftover polar fleece circles we cut one evening at Keryn's Krew team meeting, most of the circles were used to make some lovely brooches, but there were a few spare ones and it seemed such a pity to have to put them in the bin - so this is what I used them for.

AND it's extremely useful to keep all my knitting in too!

What I used:

Fabric:  all recycled or from my stash..

Stampin' Up! products:  Blossom Party die, Circles #2 die, Old Olive 1/8" tafetta ribbon for the tie.

Any occasion Nature Walk

This is a set I fell in love with the moment I saw it but have not used it nearly enough so yesterday I sat down and had a play using different colours - the were quite straightforward to make except for the cutting out of the golden bees....  Finished size of each mini card is 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".

And it's also not very often I used Whisper White as a base card so that was another challenge for the day.

What I used:

Card:  White, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede

Ink:  Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Regal Rose, Old Olive, Versamark Watermark ink.

Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk

Tools and other fun stuff:  Gold embossing powder, heat tool

Clean and Simple Owls

Have been playing around with background stencils a bit lately and thought of making one of clouds.... the original idea was to punch a bird and place it on the sky background but then I remembered these cute wee owls from Fox and Friends and here is the result.  Very easy to do, you just have to be good at guessing where your template goes though otherwise you'll end up with a crooked background!

[I'm usually quite pedantic about having birds feet firmly 'on the branch' - obviously these are the hovering kind LOL!)

No greeting yet, will add a suitable greeting when required...or may just leave it plain.

What I used:

Card:  White, Old Olive

Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip

Stamp Sets:  Fox and Friends

Tools and other fun stuff:  Top Note, Stamping sponges, Bird punch, Scalloped Circle punch.

Mini Christmas card plus NO shipping charges for Wellington crafters!

These Christmas images are really darling to watercolour, this little penguin is from the same set at the snowman featured on this card.  So easy to do, just stamp, colour in and you're done!  A little glitter for that added festive cheer and you don't even need a greeting on this one.

IGNORE THAT $9.95+ SHIPPING CHARGE THIS WEEKEND...!

If you live in Wellington I am offering to pay for your shipping charges on your Stampin' Up! order placed between today and Sunday evening (18th Sept).  Why you may well ask?  Well, lots of reasons:  it's a beautiful day today, the All Blacks are playing their second game and it's National Day in Chile on Sunday18th September - people there usually get a bonus in their pay packet on this day, so you get free shipping as your bonus :)

PLUS if you live in North Wellington I'll even drop it off at your house, other areas of Wellington you are most welcome to come and collect your order when it arrives.  Just email your order though to me at frances.poff@hotmail.com and I'll put it through  for you.

Anyway, back to my card - it is 3"x3" and turned out rather cute I think!

What I used:

Card:  Black, White, Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze

Ink:  Black,  Riding Hood Red, Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze

Stamp Set:  Big Bold Birthday (retired), Punch Pals.

Tools and other fun stuff:  Scalloped Border punch, Vintage Wallpaper EF, glitter.

Celebrate with Cupcakes!

This stamp set makes the most beautiful cards and the fact that it has a matching punch makes it all so much easier!  Just stamp your images, position in the punch, press and viola - you're ready for another creation.

And I still love Chocolate Chip layered with any pink - Regal Rose in this case - such a classic combination.

What I used:

Card:  Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler

Stamp Sets:  Create a Cupcake.

Tools and other fun stuff:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Create a Cupcake punch, Scallop Border punch, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Nature Walk birthday

Have been having quite a crafty weekend making cards, using up bits and pieces and I came across the gold embossed images from Nature Walk which I did way back in April for my Aunt and Uncle's Golden Wedding anniversary.

I thought I'd use the extra embossed image I had made that day (just in case I mucked one up, always have a spare!) and found a base card in Ruby Red (retired) which I thought would be just right as a base.  Of course I could have used a current colour but the idea was to use up old stock...

I sponged the edges of the Very Vanilla embossed card with Old Olive, scalloped a 1" piece of Old Olive and embossed that with Square Lattice EF - thought about adding ribbons and bows but in the end opted for a simpler version.

Anyway, it was the perfect opportunity to use the fancy oval die from Lots of Tags - the main reason I'd bought that set of dies but which I had never used till today...

I also used a little Ruby Red pastel to shade the gold embossed images and around the edges of the tulip frame.

What I used:

Card:  Ruby Red (retired), Very Vanilla, Old Olive.

Ink:  Soft Suede, Old Olive, Versamark watermark pad.

Stamp Sets:  Nature Walk, Sincere Salutations.

Tools and other fun stuff:  Framed Tulips EF, Square Lattice EF, Lots of Tags dies, Scalloped Border punch, Dimensionals, pastels, gold embossing powder.

My first ever 21st birthday card!

My daughter has just turned 21 and I had lots of fun making her card - and she loved it too!

I got the "Artistic Etchings" set specially for this occasion, firstly because of the keys, and secondly because we hope to go visit Paris one day!

And I guess I'd better share the card her 4 year-old brother made for her too - she had requested a card with purple and butterflies, so between both cards we managed to get all requests covered....

What I used:

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla

Ink:  Soft Suede, Rich Razzleberry

Stamp Sets:  Artistic Etchings

Tools and other fun stuff:  Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Top Note die, Stampin' Sponges, Stampin' Dimensionals.

And what little brother used:

Card:  Non SU - one day he'll be allowed to use it!

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie

Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Prints, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Happy Fathers' Day!

It's Fathers' Day here in NZ and Australia (and quite likely a few other places as well) - so I made this card for my husband as he is a wonderful father!

I used an 'oldie but a goodie' which is this origami shirt - I can finally make one without referring to instructions - I was rather origami-challenged there for a while, especially when it came to the collar.  Anyway, the tutorial I used when I was learning to make it can be found here, pop over and pay the creator a visit if you like.

What I used:

Card:  Pacific Point, Old Olive, White, retired DSP

Ink:Old Olive, Pacific Point

Stamp Sets:  Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Autumn Days

Tools and other fun stuff:  Square Lattice embossing folder, Word Window punch.

Creative Elements - from the new Catalogue

September is when the new Stampin' Up! catalogue rolls out, it is simply STUNNING this year!  (But then again I would say that, wouldn't I?!).

The easiest way to get hold of your very own FREE copy (if you live in Wellington) is by hosting a card-making workshop for you and your friends - let me know if you'd like to book one so we can arrange a date - look forward to hearing from you!

Speaking of the new catalogue - did you know that quite a few items have been reduced in price this year?  Negative inflation is what I like to call it - fantastic for all us craft lovers.

The biggest price reduction is the Big Shot - last catty's price was $220, this year it is advertised for $179.95.  Embossing folders have been reduced, as have many of the dies.

Hope you like the following card - Kelly showed us this card which she had made at convention in May and we all got to make our own copy - thanks Kelly!

What I used:

Card:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Not Quite Navy, Cherry Cobbler.

Ink:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler

Stamp Sets:  Creative Elements

Tools and other fun stuff:  Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Champagne Shimmer Paint, Colour Spritzer, Owl Punch,

Join Stampin' Up! for only $189!

Stampin' Up! has come up with an amazing couple of deals for all you lovely people who have been thinking about becoming a Demonstrator but wished it was a little more affordable to do so!


During the month of September you can join Stampin' Up! with a couple of offers they have laid 'on the table' for you:


$189 Mini Starter Kit


Over $340 worth of fantastic Stampin' Up! products:

• Easy Events Clear-Mount Stamp Set*
• Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Stamp Set*
• Basic Black Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Real Red Classic Stampin’ Pad
• A4 Smooth Card Stock Assortment
• Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
• Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
• Notes Cards (20)
• Clear-Mount Block C
• Blender Pen (1)
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies

*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue


$271.20 Full Starter Kit 


Or, if you want the full Starter Kit, you can get it 20 percent off during September only! That’s over $725 worth of premium Stampin’ Up! products and business supplies for just $271.20!


There is a picture of the Full Starter kit inside the back cover of your catalogue - just between you and me, us SU Demos think this full kit is the best ever!  


Please get in touch with me if you'd like more information about becoming a demonstrator - you can also find lots of useful information on the Stampin' Up! website.


To view the current catalogue please follow this link.


If you'd like to join up as a demonstrator, please get in touch with me as soon as possible so we can get you 'joined up'.