Do you want Free Stamp Sets?

I cannot believe how quickly time gets away.  I am trying to update my blog once a week and this week has nearly finished and I am just squeezing it in.

Sale-A-Bration has to be one of the best times to be a Stampin' Up! customer or demonstrator.  I love giving away free things and from now until 31 March 2011, for every $100 spent, you can have a stamp set for free!  Become a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator during the Sale-A-Bration period and you will also receive a free stamp set.  Host your own Workshop and with sales of $600 or more, you receive a free stamp set and your guests can also receive one for their order of $100. 

So if you have an order or have been putting off hosting that workshop, NOW is the time to get it organised.  Give me a call to book in your workshop or place your order.

Here is a card that I have made recently for the Stamping Spectacular - Papercraft Expo, which incidentally is on in less than 2 weeks (12 Feb).  I wasn't so sure about it myself but I think it has grown on me.   What do you think?

I think I am going to try out a technique I haven't used before this week.  I will keep you posted with how I go.

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
And lovin' it
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net

QLD Flood Victim Relief

We have all seen the devastation of the floods in Queensland, there is tragedy everywhere.  I can't begin to imagine what our fellow Aussies are going through and are still to go through.  Stampin' Up! demonstrators have a long history of making a difference in the lives of others--especially when disaster strikes and the need is greatest. Nearly two years ago, we watched another tragedy unfold in Australia. Our hearts were touched as demonstrators, customers and friends joined together in support of the Bushfire Appeal. We've done it before and we can certainly do it again!


To help the victims of the floods that have devastated over three quarters of Queensland, join with us in supporting the Australia Flood Appeal. Stampin' Up! will donate $2 AUD of the retail value of sales from any stamp set (with a retail value of $30 or more) sold in Australia and New Zealand from 15 January through 15 February to the State Emergency Services in Queensland.

If you would like to place an order and help the flood victims, please give me a call.  Every little bit helps!


Valentines Day
Is just around the corner and my friend Kim, from Kariong Florist (http://www.kariongflorist.com.au/) asked me to make some cards for her customers.  Here is what I came up with.  I think my card style has certainly changed and are a lot more simpler these days, less is more. 

This card uses Cherry Cobbler (have I mentioned that I love this colour) card stock, Very Vanilla embossed using the Big Shot and Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, some Basic Black 5/8" Satin Ribbon and two hearts punched out in Cherry Cobbler.  The sentiment is punched out using the Modern Label Extra Large Punch and the Word Window punch.  "Love you" is from the Short & Sweet stamp set, stamped in basic black onto the word window punch.   Simple but nice. 

This second card uses Cherry Cobbler (love this colour), very vanilla, stamped using the Baroque Motifs stamp set (in Cherry Cobbler), a heart punched in Cherry Cobbler using the Heart Punch and "love you" from the Short & Sweet stamp set, stamped in Cherry Cobbler onto the Modern Label punch in Very Vanilla, finished with some 5/8" Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon.  Which do you like best????

Do you want to make these?  You can pick your choice of one of the above cards for your next workshop.  Better hurry though, February is only just around the corner.  Although, in saying that, you could make this any card you wanted, birthday, anniversary, wedding, engagement.  That's what I love about cardmaking, you can turn anything into exactly what you need!!

Anyway, that's all for this week.  Another goal met (albeit a day late) but I am sticking to my plan.  It's a bit more challenging finding the time now that I am back at work.

Don't forget our Stamping Spectacular - Papercraft Expo coming up on Saturday 12 February.  Everyone that attends on the day receives an entry into the lucky door prize, to win a BIG SHOT!  Surely you can't miss it!!!

Have a good week!

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
...And lovin' it!
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net

Stamping Spectacular - Papercraft Expo - 12 February 2011

Well, here I am into the second week of my goal to update my blog weekly.  Success again.  We are so busy at home at the moment with painting the house (more like preparation for painting) that I don't know where I found the time really to make anything.  However, due to the ups and downs on ladders and the muscles not normally being used, my legs couldn't bring themselves to get on a ladder today so I created.

I have been preparing for our Stamping Spectacular - Papercraft Expo, which myself and 5 other Stampin' Up! Demonstrators will be hosting on Saturday 12 February 2010.  We will be giving away a Big Shot as the Lucky Door Prize on the day.  Everyone will be given an entry on arrival but there are ways that my existing customers can earn extra tickets in the draw.  You can:-

1.  Bring a friend, new to Stampin' Up!
2.  Place an order on the day (orders on the day include free shipping)
3.  Book a Workshop on the day

In addition, as this is during the Sale-A-Bration period, orders will qualify for a free stamp set for every $100 ordered.

We will be showcasing Card Making, Scrapbooking, Handmade Invitations, Off the Page projects and featuring demonstrations on various techniques.  We will also have a make and take for everyone to do on the day.

I can't wait, I think it is going to be a lot of fun and I hope that you can make it

Saturday 12 February 2011
9am - 3pm
Central Coast Youth Club
18 Washing Avenue, Niagara Park

On a creative note, I am in the process of making some small cards for Kariong Florist, http://kariongflorist.com.au/, here is a couple of them.  I have stamped the image onto watercolour paper, then using my aquapainter and Stampin' Pads, watercoloured the images.  At our recent Regional training, we were given little hints on watercolouring, which have come in really handy.  You can't see it in the photo, but I have punched the word window punch in the front of the elegant eggplant cardstock and the sentiment is in the middle of the card, looks pretty cool!!

I've also included a sneak peek at one of the invitations I have made for showcasing at the Stamping Spectacular Papercraft Expo.

These really do look much better in real life.  Come along and check them out!!!

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
And lovin it!!
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net

Happy New Year

I can't believe that Christmas is over and we are once again at the beginning of another year.  This year I did not make any resolutions however, I am going to make sure our house is decluttered (and remains decluttered) and that I am more organised (with 3 young children, you can't afford to be anything less really).  I am normally quite organised but will be more so this year (I hope anyway). 

One thing that I learned from the Bootcamp I did last year was to plan and break things down into small goals that are achievable.

So my first plan is to update my blog each week with my first update planned for today (yippee, first goal met).

Stampin' Up! Promotion - Treats for your Sweets Promotion
If you buy a Full Heart Punch or Sweetheart Stamp Set between now and 24 January 2011, you will receive a packet of sweet treat cups for free.  Purchase both the stamp set and punch and receive two packets of sweet treat cups for free. 

121576 Sweetheart Set $38.95 (Wood mount)
120780 Sweetheart Set $29.95 (Clear mount)
119883 Full Heart Punch $33.95
120435 Heart Treat Cups (12) free with purchase
 
Let me know if you would like to place an order for these items.
 
A reminder too that Sale-A-Bration starts on 25 January 2011.  This is a great way to earn free stamp sets for both hostesses and your guests.  Give me a call to arrange your workshop today.  More details on this later.
 
I have had a bit of a dabble lately in papercrafting and am pleased that I have finally created a scrapbook page.  In my last few weeks of decluttering, I have put aside all the photos and items that I want to scrap with, when I find the time.  So today I made some time and here is my creation.
 
 

 
This page didn't take that long, which is not normal for me as a scrapbooker.  I have used baja breeze card stock, mounted the photos onto soft suede (the biggest mounted on both soft seude and very vanilla).  I have stamped the baja breeze 12 x 12 with versamark and chalked the Baroque Motif stamp in Night of Navy.  The "2010" was printed on my printer at home directly onto old olive card stock and punched out using the circle punch.  The journalling was also printed directly onto very vanilla and mounted onto soft suede.  I have scallop punched opposite edges of the very vanilla and soft suede journalling.  I have also attached the badge (Matthew's Citizenship Award Badge) to a Modern Label Extra Large punched out on very vanilla.  The journalling also contains some other Baroque Motifs stamps stamped with Versamark, which is obviously too hard to see in the photo.

I actually started to copy a design and as I wanted to include more photos and different embellishments, mine ended up nothing like the original one.  I must admit, once I got going, it just all seemed to come together quite effortlessly.

A Date for your Diary
I don't want to include too much in this post (who knows, might do another tomorrow - would that be next week's done as well???)  

We are holding a Stamping Spectacular - Papercraft Expo on Saturday 12 February 2011.  The expo will be at the Central Coast Youth Club, 18 Washington Avenue, Niagara Park from 9.00am - 3.00pm. 

Entry is free, loads of displays, demonstrations and a make and take table plus specials available on the day.  It will be too good to miss!!

I will forward more details later but put the date in your diary now!!!  Tell all your crafty friends, everyone is invited!!

Until next week!

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net

Launch Projects 2 & 3

Here is the second project we will be making at the launch tomorrow night

You can't really see this in the photo but the ornament is a 3D ornament.  I have stamped and punched the ornament 3 times, folded each in half and stuck them together to give a 3D effect.  Looks better in real life.  I haven't done it here but these ornaments would look fantastic using heat and stick powder and dazzling diamonds as well.  Must try that one too.  The other thing you could do with this card is to punch out the ornament in the base card, and have the 3D ornament on the inside of your card.  Now I'm going to try that too. 

And the third project is this card

It is hard to see in the photo but the perfect plum is sprayed with the new smooch spritz and the tree is stamped using old olive ink refill and shimmer paint.  I love both effects, especially the ink and shimmer paint.  I can't help it, I love anything that glitters!!!!!  The white background also uses the new Big Shot lattice embossing folder, lovin that too!  I can see this being used for a lot of male cards in the future.

Not able to make the launch but would like to make the projects?  Let me know and I can send you out a kit to make the projects.  Cost is $17.00.

I'm also really excited to share with you the Stampin' Up! December Frenzy.  Some items listed are half price!  So check it out and give me a call to place your order. (Double click on the picture below to enlarge it).

Did you know that you can see the current Stampin' Up! promotions just by going to my website, just click on the link below.

http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/lisabowcock/promotions


This Saturday will be the last of my classes for the year.  We will be using the brayering technique and the Big Shot.  There are still some places left so please let me know asap if you would like to come along.  $15 for 6 cards and coordinating envelopes.

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
...And lovin' it
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net/

Launch Project Number 1

Take a look at one of the projects that we will be making at the upcoming 2010 Summer Mini Catalogue launch on Thursday 2 December 2010.  This project uses a cute little bag template (which I purchased from a very talented lady by the name of Becky Roberts, (http://www.beckyroberts.stampinup.net/), and the new Island Oasis Designer Series Paper from the Stampin' Up! Summer Mini Catalogue.  Cute huh?

I will also have some retired stamp sets at reduced prices for sale on the night as well as provide you with more details on the HUGE December Frenzy sale, which starts on 1 December 2010 (some items I might add are up to 50% off).  I will post more details about this later.

Remember, there are only a couple of days left on the ribbon promotion so if you are interested in any of the bundles available, please give me a call.

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
...And lovin it!!
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net

Big Shot Butterflies

It is so hard sometimes to come up with cards for workshops, I often think, will they like them, will they think they are good enough?  What colours will they find most appealing?  Do they have the "wow" factor.  I am so lucky to be connected to Stampin' Up! and have access to hundreds of other demonstrators that are all so talented and that inspire me all the time.  So here is a card that I CASEd (Copy And Share Everything) from a talented demonstrator (I should be putting their name here but now can't find where I got the idea from, sorry!!!!).

This card uses everything Stampin' Up! - Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla and Old Olive card stock, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Modern Label Punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslitss Die, Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive either markers or stamp pad. 

Cut out the top note on very vanilla and old olive.  Cut around the very vanilla top note at the perforations.  Using a sponge dauber, sponge around the edges of this top note in elegant eggplant.  Stamp your images from the Pocket Sillhoutes stamp set in whatever colour combination you choose, I have used old olive and elegant eggplant and to create both light and dark images, I haven't reinked the stamp in between stamping.

Mount your very vanilla top note onto the old olive top note.  Using your beautiful wings embosslits die, cut out the butterflies (this die both cuts and embosses the butterflies).  I have used elegant eggplant for mine but you could use old olive or both colours.  Place your butterflies onto the top note wherever you like.  Before sticking your top note onto the elegant eggplant card, place your old olive 5/8" satin ribbon along the bottom of the card, then stick your top note on.  Stamp out the "best wishes" from the Short & Sweet stamp set onto old olive card stock and punch out using your Modern Label Extra Large Punch.  Attach dimensionals to the label and place on card.

I have used both snail adhesive and sticky dots to attach the butterflies as I wanted to give a 3D effect to the bigger butterflies. Using the sticky dots on these allows you to raise the wings to give that effect.

Hope you like it.

Regards
Lisa

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
And lovin' it!!
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net

Delightful Dasher

I have recently bought this stamp because I have seen so many nice cards made with it.  Here is one of the cards that we made at a Workshop today.  We used Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Card Stock, we also used some of the Stampin' Up! Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper.  We used the Spritzer and our Choc Chip marker for spritzing on the large piece of white and used our Chocolate Chip and Bravo Burgundy markers for Dasher.  Add some Real Red Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and one of the new Clear Brads.  I struggled for ages for the right card for this workshop and I was really pleased with the end result.  Lucky for me, so was everyone at the Workshop!

Lisa Bowcock
Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator
...And lovin' it!!!
http://lisabowcock.stampinup.net