Friday, 15 May 2020

Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop - Host Sets




Welcome to the Stampin' Up! Artisan Design Team Blog Hop for May. You might have just joined, or you might have found your way here from Helene in the Netherlands. Either way, you'll see that our focus this month is on the about-to-retire Host Sets and on ideas for Host Gifts.

It won't take you long to see that I'm only showing you Host Gifts. The deadline for the submissions for this hop fell while New Zealand was still in Level 4 lockdown, which meant that non-essential packages were not being delivered - and sadly, that included Stampin' Up! products.

However, I've tried to make up for that by showing you two host gift ideas. You'll see them here: a set of matching cards with a presentation box and a set of treat boxes.

In addition to thanking your hostess, the gift is also a nice way to show off other Stampin' Up! products.


I've based the whole project on one of my favourite stamp sets, Very Versailles and a favourite colour-way - the 2019-21 In Colours. The host gift is such a nice way to show off the In Colours to customers as well.

In the close-up, you can see the design more clearly: the script stamp in Crumb Cake, the foliage stamp in two generations, and the copper embossed foliage and lace strip. The card front is embossed using the Subtle folder. There's a narrow mat of Crumb Cake between the base and the white front. Each card is finished with a strip of co-ordinating DSP and coordinating scallop-edged ribbon. The champagne rhinestones work well with the copper foil and embossing.


The five cards fit perfectly into an acetate card box. I've picked up the same motifs and materials for the front panel of the box, as you can see in the close-up below.


I made up these little gifts using our Clear Tiny Treat Boxes. They are very quick and easy to make. By having little treats like this, it's a nice way to show people that Stampin' Up! is about more than cards. In order to make the Purple Posy box to match the others, I used the Purple Posy Stampin' Write marker to directly colour the stamp.


Even though I haven't shown you one of our beautiful Host Sets, you can see them for yourself near the end of every catalogue along with details of other Host rewards. The Host Sets are exclusive: only hosts can get them and they are only available for the life of the catalogue. The ones you've seen on this hop will be going on 2 June so if you want them, organise a party with your demonstrator as soon as you can. The other way to earn them is to place an individual qualifying order - if your order is large enough to attract Stampin' Rewards, these can be used to buy the Host Sets.

Next up on the hop, you'll see what the amazing Lauren Alarid, aka The Crafty Little Peach, has to offer.




If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or by clicking on any of the products below.

If you get lost along the way, here's a list of blog participants and links.

Product List

Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Rooted in Nature for CI77


Welcome to a new challenge at Colour Inkspiration. Isn't this a lovely combination to get your ideas flowing?


If you haven't played with us before, we are a group of Stampin' Up Demonstrators from the South Pacific. Challenges are shown and entered via our Facebook Group page. If you don't belong, and would like to, click here.

Each challenge, Top Picks and a winner are chosen by the crew and the winner offered a chance to Guest Design with us for a future challenge.

If you don't have an exact challenge colour, feel free to replace it with whatever you have that's closest. Black, White, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and metallics are free colours, as are flesh toned Stampin' Blends.

All the greens got me thinking nature so that lead me to Rooted in Nature, one of my all-time favourite sets.

I started by copper embossing two skeleton leaves onto vellum as the basis for my cluster. I also stamped a background: splats in Seaside Spray and Copper embossing from Artisan Textures and a couple of leaves from the set.  Did you know that both Artisan Textures and copper embossing powder will retire at the end of the month (or while stocks last) so if you want some, don't delay in ordering them.


Then I had a great time stamping and colouring everything else. The three-leaf image is stamped on vanilla in Old Olive and coloured with Soft Sea Foam and Old Olive blends. The small skeleton leaves are stamped in Garden Green and coloured with Soft Sea Foam and Old Olive blends. The tiny leaf sprays I coloured by directly colouring the rubber with Stampin' Write markers - Old Olive and Seaside Spray. I love this technique!


Then I had more fun laying out and layering the arrangement. The greeting is copper embossed onto Very Vanilla. A couple of Champagne Rhinestones complete the deal.

We'd love to have you join in and show us what you've made with these soft, natural colours. You can see what the rest of the Crew have done and link up your entry by visiting Colour Inkspiration. If you're asking to join the group, don't forget to answer the simple question you'll be asked before joining.

If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below.

Product List

Sunday, 10 May 2020

Share Sunshine Digital Download Quarantini style

As part of Stampin' Up!'s Making a Difference programme, they're offering a product giveback opportunity to support organisations that are helping COVID-19 frontline responders and communities vulnerable to the pandemic.

The Share Sunshine PDF Download is a digital stamp set that’s packed with both light-hearted and heartfelt sentiments and imagery relevant to the unique COVID-19 and social distancing situation we’re currently experiencing. 



You can use the download in your card making projects. Simply print the imagery on cardstock and cut it out using our Paper Trimmer, punches, or dies. 

The charities receiving the donations are The World Health Organisation's COVID-Solidarity Response Fund and United Way. They are the sole beneficiary of the $12US purchase price. Neither Stampin' Up! or any demonstrator receives a share.

I bought and downloaded the set a few nights ago and here are the results of my first play around with them. One card is for a beginner or casual stamper - or for someone, like me, who enjoys a clean and simple look. The second is more for the avid crafter as it requires more equipment - and patience - to make. 😀

I used the  'Quarantini' set of greetings. The one on the left is CAS and the other a bit more complex.


This card had a simple treatment. I fussy cut the martini glass and coloured the olives. I like the Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut the card front but if you don't have any, just cut a plain rectangle. I've added in a mat of silver glimmer paper, then popped up the sentiment on dimensionals. On the inside, I added in the sentiment about catching up once we're allowed to.



The martini glass brought to mind the recently retired Sip, Sip, Hooray. I stamped some glasses in Smoky Slate and Olives in .... Old Olive as a background. To make the central image and sentiment stand out more, I added in a layer of vellum and a frame cut using Stitched Rectangles. 

The tiny mat of Blushing Bride picks up the colour in the sentiment and in the centres of the coloured olives.


This is just a taste of what this digital stamp set has to offer. If you're interested in purchasing a set, you can do so by visiting here.

If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or by clicking on any of the products below.


Product List

Note: Quarantini is part of the Share Sunshine Digital Download (see above)
          Sip, Sip, Hooray is a retired set.