Retired Stock, but I love it

Today I was cleaning out my craft area trying to make room for the new goodies from the latest Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue, and came across all sorts of things that had sort of been pushed to the back of the cupboard. Didnt realise I had so much Not Quite Navy Cardstock and Baja Breeze, and more than one packet of Twitterpad I thought "Blow it, I am going to play!" I decided to make a Z Fold card, havent made one of them for ages. Dont know why I dont make more of them they are so quick and easy and they look lovely too. I used the Not Quite Navy for my card base and for the inside and also the outside flap. I layered it with the DSP and Baja Breeze. Then for the front panel I used Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Whisper White. For the inside panel I made it the same size as the one on the front so that when it was closed the top panel would sit over the bottom one. My intention was to use my new Flower Shop Stamp set to decorate the front when I glanced across my desk and what did I see but a "Pretties Kit" tin. Now these have been retired for at least a couple of years, and I think I have used one or two pearls and thats about it :(
This tin has been sitting there for quite some time, and I was going to put it in a garage sale that I have been contemplating having. I grabbed three of the flowers in different sizes and coloured them with Baja Breeze Ink Refill and water. Old olive and the Bird Builder punch took care of the leaves and basic Rhinestone in the centre of the flower. Sentiment stamped with Well Scripted stamp set in Not Quite Navy. I think this is a really pretty card, and I am so glad that I got to have a play. Now its back to cleaning the craft cupboard to get ready for the delivery I am expecting this week.....much excitement, cant wait. Till then, happy stamping.

Flower Treat Holder

The weather here in not so sunny Queensland is keeping many of us indoors, so today I thought that I would make some flower treat holders. I first saw some that Kris had made, following a tutorial at Stamp Academy . They have the most amazing tutorials there and the projects are so easy with step by step instructions both by video and PDF. I loosely based mine on those, instead of using Hearts a Flutter and the coordinating framelets, I used Fun Flowers Bigz L die and using the large and the smaller flower, I ran the DSP through the Big Shot. Some of the DSP is current and some is not. I was using up what I had on my work bench...so much better to use it up than have to put it away! I also used some non SU Jumbo type brads in the shape of a flower and some others that I either tied a bow on or threaded ribbon through the eyelets of them. I basically followed the instructions supplied. I filled the cello bags with M & M's and Smarties. I know the grandies will love these. Till next time...

Brisbane Regionals

Yesterday, I attended the Regionals in Brisbane, and oh what a day! I learnt so much, and had so much fun at the same time! We did some make and takes and were taught some techniques by Stampin' Up!'s finest. I travelled down with Kris and with her newest downline Jenny. We didnt get lost, and that was not due to my knowledge of the inner city but to the excellent navigational skill of Kris and Jenny! It was lovely to see other demonstrators that I knew and to be able to catch up with them.  The card to the left is a sample of what I made as swaps for Regionals, along with some others that I will swhare with you. I also made some of my Twisted end Boxes, from a tutorial I produced some months ago. Imagine my surprise, when looking at some stamping sites to see that SU has bought out a die for the Big Shot called the Lolly Wrapper just recently. If you are interested in obtaining the Tutorial for that give me a call or send an email and I will send it off to yoi. They are so cute and would be good for all sorts of goodies no matter what time of the year! The ones that I made for Regioanls I did in a Christmas theme and they just look like Christmas Bon Bons!