Colourful Impressions Swaps - April 2011

I am very fortunate to be involved in a large stamping group in my area called Colourful Impressions.  This group led by the wonderful Kristina Koch meets on a bi-monthly basis and features guest speakers, make and takes, demonstrations and an opportunity to get together with other demos and share.  One of the really fun parts of participating is there is always an organized swap.  This time around we had to make 15 cards, so here's a look at mine.

Just a few days before the meeting I received my new Paisley Petals designer series paper (DSP) from the Spring Blossoms promotion and I was dying to try it out.  Initially I came up with a design that incorporated four blocks of DSP and a stamp sentiment from the Friends Never Fade Stamp Set (IB&C 118750 w).  Here is a picture of my first card design:

DSP distressed with Cherry Cobbler ink around edges and layerd on
 Bravo Burgundy.  Pear Pizazz layered on Bravo Burgundy
and image stamped in Marina Mist

 

While I was happy with this card it just wasn't doing it for me so I went back to the drawing board and came up with my final card.  The changes I made, that I think made a dramatic difference were using the Framed Tulip textured impressions embossing folder (Occasions Mini Catalogue 121809) on my Bravo Burgundy base, and layering this with a piece of Whisper White cardstock texturized using the Square Lattice Embossing folder. I reduced the size of the DSP pieces and used 2 instead of 4 pieces.  I also  changed was the Pear Pizazz layer to River Rock as it went better with the DSP.  The final touch was adding the flag like layer from the Petal Cone Die (121810 Mini Occasions Catalogue) in River Rock to go below the sentiment.  Here's a closeup look at the finished card.   

Tomorrow I'll share the swap cards I received in return. They are simply awesome.   Thanks for coming to visit.  Let me know which one you like the best.............. I 'd love to hear from you.

Occasions Mini Catalogue and Spring Blossoms Promotion Ending........

Just a reminder there are only two more days remaining before the Occasions Mini Catalogue (January  4 to April 30, 2011) and the Spring Blossoms Promotion are finished.  So if you've been waiting to order, don't miss out.  You only have until  midnight on the 30th to order from this catalogue otherwise the products will no longer be available.  Click here to go to my on line shop. 

Easter Cards for Friends and Family

Hope everyone had a very Happy Easter and you were able to share it with friends and family this year.  My wonderful sister and her husband came to stay with us and we were fortunate to get the rest of the family together on Easter Sunday to feast on Turkey and Ham and all kinds of other goodies.  It was a full house with 16 coming for dinner. 

When I think back Easter for me has always been a happy time of year and an event I equate with the coming of Spring.  I love the colours of Spring - the daffodils with their cheery yellow flowers, the beautiful purple crocuses, crisp white snowdrops and fresh green grass. I also love all the soft pastel pinks and blues that showed up at this time of year.  I guess that's really a hold back to growing up in an era when it was so special to join in the Easter parade, be in an Easter egg hunt, and to get dressed up for Church on Easter Sunday.  As a little girl I could have cared less about Easter candy and chocolate bunnies.... that was for the boys.  In fact I later in life found out from my brothers that I tortured them by putting my fancy chocolate Easter egg on display in my room and not eating it, while theirs of course, were eaten in minutes. 

No Easter for me was all about getting dressed up.  I'd pray my mom would make or buy me a new Easter dress, along with some white socks, pretty little white gloves and maybe some new Mary Jane shoes. I remember on a couple of occasions we wore hats or hair bands with flowers on them.  I just loved getting my hair done up in ringlets and wearing my new finery to church on Easter Sunday.  Listening to the hymns and hearing the story of Jesus and his sacrifice for all man kind left me in awe.  It was a very special time and still is, although now-a-days I'm more about getting together with family, eating a big meal and sharing stories, than buying new Easter clothes. 

So those fond memories played a big part for me when I was trying to come up with  a design for my cards to make for my friends and family for Easter.  I kept coming back to to the importance of colour, and the little girl in me, wanting to do something soft and kind of sweet. So, it wasn't a stretch when I chose the Easter Blossoms stamp set and the Tulip Impressions Embossing folder from the Occasions Mini catalogue to make my cards.  Here's some closeups of the 15 cards I made.  Hope you like them.

Wild Wasabi and Whisper White

Perfect Plum and Whisper White

 

Bashful Blue and Whisper White

Pirouette Pink and Whisper White Layers

Daffodil Delight, Basic Black and Whisper White layers

All the insides of the cards looked like this.

A couple of matching eggs adorned the envelopes

Summer Mini Catalogue & Sneak Peak Card and Bookmark Tutorial



Click here to visit Sharon's fabulous blog and check out this tutorial

Only two more weeks and the Stampin' Up Summer Mini Catalogue (available May 1 to August 31, 2011) will be released!  Whoo Hoo! For all my loyal customers your copy will arrive by May 1st, and I know you're going to love it!  If you're not on my current mailing list and would like to receive free catties, just drop me a note on my Stampin' Up! Web Blog, and I'd be happy to add you to my mailing list.  Any customer who places an order of $20.00 or more either at a workshop, class or on my on-line store is eligible to receive free catalogues and mailings throughout the year.  Catalogues can also be viewed and PDF copies downloaded from my site by clicking on the Product icon.   
One of the great things I love about being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is that we get to preview catalogues and pre-order stamps and accessories from them before they are released.  This allows us to make wonderful samples to share with you before your catties arrive.  My Summer Mini Catalogue was waiting for me when I returned home last week and I've been pouring over, trying to decide what I'm ordering. I like and want it all to tell the truth, but what's new.. lol!

So until my order arrives, I've been looking at "sneak peaks" from some of my fellow demonstrator's and I'd like to share them with you.  Yes, that's another advantage of being a SU Demonstrator, I get to visit other demonstrators on the Stampin' Connection a special web blog set up by Stampin' Up! for demonstrators to discuss things like the new catties and products and showcase their creations.  

The first sneak peak I'd like to share with you is this card and bookmark designed by Sharon Field, a published designer and creative coach. Sharon has posted a wonderful Super Saturday Tutorial on her blog "Creating By You".  Sharon has designed many wonderful projects so I know you're going to enjoy visiting her blog.   The stamps featured on this card and bookmark set are from the "Touch of Kindness" stamp set featured on page 25 of the Summer Mini.

I hope you enjoy this sneak peak and drop by Sharon's site to view the tutorial.  Don't forget to leave her a comment or two on her wonderful creations, I know she'll enjoy it.

Home Sweet Home......... I'm Back!

After a two day journey that almost (yikes) ended in a car accident within minutes of our home, I can honestly say, "Wow it's good to be back home again (except for the weather)!"  Coming from 100+ sunshine to liquid rain, hail and who knows what else, is a real jolt to the system, but now that I'm here I can feel my creative juices getting stirred up once more.  It feels like such a long time since I've had space and all my wonderful Stampin' Up! stamps and accessories to play with, so I know I'm going to have just so much fun creating, setting up classes and seeing my customers and friends again. I can't wait!  When I walked into my craft room it was like heaven!  So stay tuned, once the unpacking is done and all the catch-up taken care of there will be time for stamping, creating and having fun and let me tell you I'm going to make the most of it. 

If you live in the Fraser Valley area and are interested in attending one of my upcoming classes or hostessing a workshop in your home or mine, feel free to give me a call or drop me a line. I'm always looking for new stampers and friends and I'd love to hear from you.

Spring Blossom Promotion

Spring is Blossoming with Sneak Peek products from the upcoming 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue, and you can get these brand-new products in one of two ways:

• Spend $25* on any Stampin' Up! products and become eligible to purchase both the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, or
• Host a $460* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE (*Net sales before tax and shipping).

If you’d like to earn these products FREE, I am home now and would be thrilled to help you start planning a Spring workshop now. Just imagine getting your hands on these exciting, new products in April--three months before the debut of the new Idea Book & Catalogue! Let’s book a date for your workshop. Just call me at 778-880-1296 or email me at pennyhanuszak@telus.net, and we’ll get working on it.

Four Frames Stamp Set

Wood Mount: item 123440  $25.95

Clear Mount: item 123442   $19.95

 Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper

 Item 122367  $12.50

All New Clearance Rack - Shop Now While Supplies Last!!!

Have you checked the clearance rack lately.........................if not you better hurry!!!  It's been updated, and there are some awesome deals on stamp pads, markers, designer papers and much more!.  To check out these fantastic sale items click here.  Happy shopping!