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NOTES OF KINDNESS

I took out one of my Stampin’ Up! ® Kits yesterday to make some cards.

The great thing about one of these All-Inclusive Kits is that it supplies everything needed to make, in this case, 20 cards (5 each of 4 designs).

Notes of Kindness Kit by Stampin'Up!
Aussie Stampers : NEW Notes of Kindness Card Kit. Stampin' Up!

So, I made one each of each design. I felt like a beginner stamper again – ink, stamps and paper and designs that were easy to follow.

It reminded me of how my paper crafting experiences have introduced me to new techniques and ideas – and how my crafting supplies have grown.

As a paper-crafter, I have evolved. From easier projects with step by step instructions, I began to change up designs and add my own touches. Because I had a wider range of skills, tools and supplies; I was crafting more often and my projects became a bit more involved. I was no longer a beginning (occasional) stamper but became a casual (more often, with more supplies).

Over time, and with more experience, most of the projects I create are now more complex – I am now an avid paper-crafter.

After making the first set of four cards, I decided it was time to step it up … and then step it up again …beginner, casual and avid projects.

Let me know what you think of these projects.

Thanks from popping by … happy stamping.

mmm … Michele

These are the products I used for these projects.

If you live in Australia, you can order any of the products through me.

Product List
Heat Tool
[129056]
$50.00
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BEAUTIFULLY BRAIDED

Slowly working my way through the new products from the January to June 2020 Mini Catalogue has been a ‘labour of love’ … I love the diversity of the images and styles and possibilities.

Today is all about the Beautifully Braided photopolymer stamp set and coordinating Braided Border Punch.

The main leaf image in this stamp set is simply stunning.

I wanted the card to include a single stamped image with water colouring … my favourite type of colouring, messy. This is the first time I have used the Fluid 100 Water Colour Paper … thumbs up.

Soft Sea Foam and Petal Pink are perfect … and the small piece of coordinating ribbon just finishes the card off.

As you can see, I have also stamped the same image onto one of the mini pizza boxes from the Annual Catalogue.

The punch was used to cut a length of braid to wrap around three sides of the box. Before I attached it, I used some Frost White Shimmer Paint with a drop of Soft Sea Foam reinker and painted this across the braid, giving it lovely shimmer.

Finally, I used another piece of the Petal Pink Metallic Edge Ribbon to tie and attach a bow.

mmm … very happy!

Tomorrow, I’ll be playing with music.

Thanks for dropping by … happy stamping.

mmm … Michele

Product List
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#simplestamping WE WERE ALL BEGINNERS ONCE

20TH JANUARY, 2019

I can remember going to my first cardmaking class … it was a class held by a local Stampin’ Up! ® demonstrator. Although I had experience with scrapbooking and a variety of textile crafts, this was something all together new.

Can you remember your first experiences?

I had no idea what a bone folder was … or a Big Shot … or Tombow … or dimensionals … and DSP was totally foreign to me.

That all seems so long ago and now that I’ve fully embraced everything Stampin’ Up!, it is important for me to remember that there are lots of you who have yet to get your fingers inky …

… and there are those of who have dabbled in stamping, cardmaking, memory keeping and paper crafts from time to time – and you might even have some of your own tools and products …

… and then, there are those of you who craft regularly, have lots of tools and products [and probably a wish list] and look forward to getting back into your crafting space to make something again.

This year, I plan to incorporate projects in my classes [face to face, in the post and online] to meet each of your stages of creativity.

Here are some samples to help you see what I mean:

I have chosen to use some of the new products available in the 2019 Occasions Catalogue and Sale-a-bration Brochure – Beauty Abounds Stamp Set and Butterfly Beauty Thinlits Dies.

CARD ONE … paper, ink and stamps are the key elements for a beginner stamper. If you join a class, you will also have opportunities to use some of other tools that more experienced crafters use. In this case. I used the Thinlits Dies and the Big Shot to cut out some layered butterflies.

A Whisper White card, stamped with a textured stamp and the sentiment from the chosen set using Soft Sea Foam to create a subtle background. A beginner stamper will be shown how to stamp and stamp off. The butterflies are adhered using Tombow multipurpose glue. #simplestamping

CARD TWO – adding some more elements, using the same layout concept. This time, I’ve added some of the Gingham Gala 6″x6″ DSP [designer series paper] and some Gingham Gala adhesive-backed sequins to lift the card and give a crafter with some experience in techniques something to work with. the sentiment is stamped onto a separate piece of card stock and run through the Big Shot using the new Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies.

CARD THREE – for an avid crafter, something that a beginner might not be comfortable trying on their first few encounters. This card still uses the products already mentioned, although the DSP colours are different [Daffodil Delight in Card 2 and Highland Heather for this card].

As you can see, the same textured stamp from card one has been used to stamp onto the DSP. A bow has been added, using the coordinating organdy Ribbon Combo Pack that is free from the Sale-a-bration Brochure with any $90 order [see Brochure or ask me for details]. The base butterfly piece was cut out in Highland Heather and the top Whisper White layer was daubed around the edges. A Pearlised Doily was coloured using a Stampin’ Blend and the sentiment stamped and cut using a banner die from the Lakeside Framelits. Add a few sequins and some Wink of Stella for a glittery finish.

Three cards using the same basic layout concept but with three very different results.

I hope you can join me and make projects that suit your level of experience while giving you opportunities to try techniques and tools and ideas you haven’t tried before.