Art with Heart Blog Hop - Women in Our Lives

Welcome to the Art With Heart Team Blog Hop! Who are the Art with Heart team? The team is lead by Claire Daly and there are over 90 demonstrators across Australia ... if you want to become part of this great team just email me for more details. We have a great team forum, Business Building Club and heaps of support from like minded demonstrators.

This Blog Hop is monthly event happening on the last day of every month. You may have just come from Tina Gillespie blog, but if you are starting here, don’t worry … you can make the complete journey just by following the links at the end of each post. There are 14 stops along the way and we hope you will visit each one to see the wonderful creations we have to show you! If you leave a comment on each and every blog and then email Nikki at nikki@inkyart.com.au, your name will be put into the hat to win some beautiful blog candy. There is a deadline of 6.00 am AEST on 3 May 2010 to leave your comments and only non Stampin' Up! demostrators are eligible to win the candy - although we'd love all visitors to leave some comments.

So for this tour we decided upon the theme of Women in Our Lives, with Mother's Day early in May this theme is obviously suited towards this special day but with not everyone being a mother, some may have mother's, mother in laws that have passed etc. My card is made for a special friend using one of the stamp sets from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, Vintage Vogue and also includes the Big Shot Dies. At the end of each post there will be a link to take you to the next stop on the tour. So grab a cuppa, and set off on what we are hoping will be an inspirational journey!

Stamp Set: Vintage Vogue
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink
Card: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Top Note Bigz Dies, Ovals Originals Dies, Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty in Pink Brad

Now you’re off to enjoy the beautiful creations of Alisha Watson.

If you get lost along the way here are all the blop hop links:

Ros Davidson

Nikki Sadler

Tanja Westwood

Kristine Thompson

Sue Madex

Gayatri Murali

Christine Blain

Di Dunk

Judy May

Tina Gillespie

Kathryn Mangelsdorf

Alisha Watson

Nicole Rouillon

Kathryn Lowe

Free Passes to UStamp with Dawn and Friends

You have only until 12 midnight on Friday (just over 24 hours) to win the TWO FREE PASSES to UStamp with Dawn and Friends "Hey Big Shot!! Worldwide...that's how we roll!!", you have two chances by leaving a message on my blog or subscribe to my newsletter.



The next round of UStamp will commence 7 May and will run through to 4 June. Being a member you will enjoy 29 days of creative fun with 24/7 access including new projects shared everyday (Several "Double Designer Days" - 2 projects on 1 day), all projects include a step by step tutorial including lot of photos, prizes and more prizes, live chats, a cool Big Shot Member Badge for their blog/website, friendships around the world and a Swap (optional... but really fun).

Click here for further information or to register it's only $24.96 (US$)

Fox and Friends and the Big Shot!

This is another card from my weekend's Stamp A Stack which featured the new products, oh I am loving this Textured Impression Embossing Folder. I think I will have to purchase the Manhattan Flower one shortly.

Stamp Set: Fox and Friends, Short and Sweet
Ink: Pacific Point
Card: Whisper White, Pacific Point
Accessories: Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scalloped Circle, Punch, Small Oval Punch, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Medallion

I created the first card for the stamp-a-stack that I hosted at my home yesterday. Saturday afternoon's cards we created used the stamp sets from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue. This stamp set was a reward from Stampin' Up! for my sales during the Sale-A-Bration months earlier in the year...another benefit of being an independent demonstrator.

Card 1
Stamp Set: Medallion, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Soft SuedeCard: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Kraft
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch

Card 2
Stamp Set: Medallion, Sincere Salutations
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Card: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Kraft
Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle Punch

Guest Designer on UStamp with Dawn and Friends

Wow, I am excited today I can announce that I will be a Guest Designer on UStamp with Dawn and Friends...I have known for a few weeks now and have had to keep it a secret until now, which was very difficult. Dawn Rapsas is the Number One Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in the United States of America and she invited me personally which was such an honour for little me!

The next round of UStamp with Dawn & Friends!! will be amazing. "Hey Big Shot!! Worldwide...that's how we roll!!" will commence 7 May and will run through to 4 June. Every member will enjoy 29 days of creative fun with 24/7 access.

Here is what you can expect:

• New projects shared everyday!! Several "Double Designer Days" - 2 projects on 1 day...DOUBLE the fun
• All projects include a step by step tutorial, including LOTS of Photos
• EVERY Tutorial is available in English, Spanish, German and French
• All measurements are available in inches and cm
• Prizes, Prizes and MORE Prizes!!
• Live Chats
• Every member gets a cool Big Shot Member Badge for their blog/website
• Friendships around the world...happens every event
• Way Cool SWAP (Optional... but really fun)

Click here for further information or to register it's only $24.96 (US$)



Dawn is so generous that we get TWO FREE PASSES TO GIVE AWAY, and all you have to do to win one is to leave a message on my blog (please include your email address) and you could be a lucky winner. If you are a follower of my blog or are registered to receive my newsletter you have the chance of winning the second pass. Entries close on midnight 30 April 2010.

But if you miss out on the free passes, it is only $24.96US$ which is such a small amount for all the fun and inspiration you will receive.

Cottage Garden

I have been busy taking out all my groceries and crockery out of my kitchen cupboards as I am having some new cupboards and a rangehood installed on Tuesday, so the house is full of boxes, you don't know how much that pantry holds until you have to move it.

Well, now to stamping, I started my swaps today for Convention as it's only 4 weeks before I head off for a week's holiday in Sydney, as I am using designer series paper, I will need to create a few versions with colour combinations I think, that's if I get time, I have made about 30 so far but some are still in stages of construction, sorry no sneak peaks.

Today's card uses one of the stamp sets and matching designer series papers from the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue, I am loving this mini. I was inspirated to create this card by a couple of the Art with Heart Team, Sue Madex and Claire Daly as they had used this design recently, I have added my own twist to this design of four squares of designer series paper.

Stamp Set: Cottage Garden
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Card: Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum, Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Certainly Celery Brad, Paper-Piercing Tool, Mat Pack

Colour Renovation

Stampin' Up! are excited to bring to you a new world of colour in Stampin' Up!'s Colour Renovation. For over two years, they have done extensive research including investigating colour trends in the fashion, home décor, and crafting industries, and have conducted focus groups involving demonstrators, customers, and Stampin' Up! experts. They found that it was time to update the colours so that you have a fresh, on-trend colour palette to work with! Stampin' Up! have learned from the successful In Color programme that you love getting new colours.

The new colour palette is organised into four collections: Subtles, Brights, Regals, and Neutrals. You will see 25 of our current colours remaining, and ten past In Colors returning as core colours, and the addition of five new core colours. Check the colour charts below to see what the new collections look like, and what colours will be retiring.

New In Color Programme
One part of the Colour Renovation that I am sure you're going to love is the new In Color programme! Each year Stampin' Up! will introduce five new In Colors, and they will remain for two years. This means that the 2010-2011 In Colors which will be introduced in September, but will not be retired until the 2012-2013 colours are introduced. This year there will be only be five In Colors, but after that, we will always have ten (the previous year's plus the new).

These changes only take place on 1 September when the new Idea Book and Catalogue is released but you may want to stock up on ink pads, reinkers and cardstock as they will be in popular demand.

UStamp with Dawn and Friends - Cottage Garden and Two Step Bird Punch

I finished my first UStamp with Dawn and Friends project which was designed by Dawn Rapsas. Dawn had designed a banner but I just used it as inspiration for a card.

My card uses one of the new punch designs Extra-Large Two-Step Bird for $30.95. Going forward, Stampin' Up! has adopted a new body style for there punches!

A few features of the new punch style:

• Low-profile, rectangular punch body allows for easier stacking and storing
• Punches lock shut for easier storage and transport
• Dual labels on top and end allow for easy identification and selection when stored
• Available in three sizes: small, medium, and extra-large
• New punches allow for larger punched images and more intricate designs while providing greater ease of use
• Extra-large punch images also allow for two-step designs like the Extra-Large Two-Step Bird punch in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue
• Corner punches allow you to punch a corner design along the inside edges of a page, not just corners
• Larger, whole-hand handle design provides better leverage for easier use
• Available in an exclusive Stampin' Up! color

Stamp Set: Cottage Garden
Ink: Rose Red
Card: Whisper White, Rose Red, Basic Black, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Extra-Large Two-Step Bird Punch

Carryover Products

While the catalogues may be gone, some of the fantastic products featured in the Spring 2009 and Summer 2009-2010 mini catalogues are still available for purchase, which includes two of my favourites the Scallop Oval and Butterfly Punches.

To make sure you have every opportunity to buy these products until they carry over into the next Idea Book & Catalogue please email me at kmangelsdorf@adam.com.au to place an order.

Clean & Simple #84

Happy Easter to all my stamping friends, I hope you are enjoying this four day break. I had my family visit for a barbeque lunch and it was great to spend the afternoon catching up on there happenings.

This evening there was nothing of interest on the television so I thought I would complete a card for an overseas cyber friend that I was reminded of today, so this one will be in the post on Tuesday. I was lacking a little inspiration so I went to one of my favourite sites, Clean and Simple.

Stamp Set: Petal Pizzazz, Warmest Regards
Ink: Really Rust, Baja Breeze
Card: Whisper White, Really Rust, Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Blue Button