Sprinkles of Life - Happy Birthday

A couple of months ago, my daughter turned 17.  When the Sprinkles of Life stamp set was released I knew that I wanted to make something for Jess with it, so her birthday was the perfect opportunity.  I love this set as it is so versatile and it is also our "Make A Difference" set - $3 from every set is donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  While I was doing research (read time-wasting) on the internet, I came across an idea for a fantastic slider card.

When you pull on the ribbon,  panels slide out from both sides of the card...

It was really easy to make as I followed this video made by Darlene DeVries

Here are a couple of close-ups of the panels and the front of the card...

I was able to "bling up" the card a little by adding some Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder on the top layer of the ice-cream. I also added a card layer to the base which is different to the sample, so I had somewhere to write on, other than the back of the card or either of the slider panels.

Supplies I used to make this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

As always contact me for any further info

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen :)

A Little Off Topic

Hi everyone,
I have been a little slow in posting a new blog entry, but I have a good excuse (or at least I think so) as I have been on a trip to China. I went with a group of Mums from my son's school - Mazenod College - and we spent time working in the Little Flower Baby Home and at various kindergartens and with some Foster Families associated with the Oblate Priests. It was an amazing trip and we were also lucky enough to visit some tourist spots - The Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tian An Men Square and some markets.

Tian An Men Square

A local market

The Great Wall of China

The Little Flower Baby Home

Cuddles with Ling Ling

It was an amazing trip and a definite eye-opener. The kids are so happy with the little that they have - it makes you stop and think about how materialistic we are. It was heart wrenching in the baby home to think that some of these babies will never find a family to love them and support them through the surgeries and medical care that they need, but we tried to focus on the good we could do while there and think about how we can further support them from home. I hope to be able to run some fund-raising classes over the next few months so I can send some money back to help out. Stay tuned for further info.....

Meanwhile,

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

Father's Day Blog Hop

Today as part of the Art With Heart Stampin' Up! Team we are presenting some fabulous Father's Day ideas to inspire you. We also have our brand new 2015 Holiday Catalogue available from 1 September, with some amazing Christmas inspiration for you. Be sure to request a catalogue today!

You may have come here from Kathryn Ruddick's blog, or you might be starting fresh with me - just make sure you visit all the fantastic blogs on this "hop" to see all the amazing ideas.



My card uses the Layered Letters Alphabet stamp set, which I think is so versatile and because it comes in photopolymer, it is super easy to line up and see where you are stamping. That's especially good when you have words with more than one of the same letter (like DAD) as you can add each letter individually and see where it's going. I have also used a new technique (well to me anyway) with the embossing folders that lets you emboss only around the edges - how great does it look!!

I have used the Crazy About You stamp set to create a greeting for the inside of my card, and some washi tape from the Cherry On Top set. I hope my Dad likes his card!!


















The next blog on the hop is Tina Gillespie, so be sure to hop over and check it out. You can find a full list of all the blogs at the bottom of this post, just in case you get lost.


Products used making this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen :)

1. Tina Gillespie
2. Genna Gifford
3. Kate Morgan 
4. Jenny Van Dijk
5. Claire Daly
6. Judy May
7. Kathryn Mangelsdorf
8. Rachel Woollard
9. Ros Davidson
10. Kathryn Ruddick
11. Kayleen McLean

Bohemian Hexagons

While at the Stampin' Up! Convention in May this year, we all received a free pack of the Bohemian Designer Series Paper (DSP). The colours in it are some of my favourite colours, but the patterns were a little "out there" for me, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. After spending a little (or actually a lot) of time on Pinterest getting ideas from other people, here is what I came up with....

I have used different patterns of DSP in each of the cards and background colours of Delightful Dijon, Island Indigo, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla and Blackberry Bliss.

The greeting is from the stamp set called Honeycomb Hello.

I hope you like these cards, and as always if you want any more details, a catalogue or to join a class, just contact me.

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen :)

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Christmas In July Blog Hop

Today some of the Art With Heart Stampin' Up! Team are presenting fabulous Christmas projects to inspire you. This year we already have new christmas sets to play with in the 2015 Stampin' Up! Annual catalogue, and some old favourites too. We also have a brand new 2015 Holiday catalogue coming soon. If you would like a copy of any of our catalogues, to attend a Stampin' Up! class or join a large fabulous group of crafty women by becoming part of the team (hobby demonstrators welcome), be sure to contact me.

You may have come to my page from the talented Tina Gillespie, or you might be starting here, but make sure you follow the loop and check out all the fantastic blogs.

I decided to have a go at a "Changing Window" card, and after much searching on the WWW, found a template which could be printed on Cardstock and cut out. It was reasonably easy, but you have to be careful not to slide the panel too far or it gets stuck, and is really hard to get it back to the start.


I was really happy when Stampin' Up! decided to put some Christmas stamp sets back into the Annual Catalogue and we no longer have to wait for the Occasions Catalogue later in the year. I was even happier when I realised that the Festival Of Trees stamp set and punch were returning. I think they look great in these bright colours and the Cherry On Top Washi Tape goes really well with this particular stamp.

This is the first "window" of the card

"Changing" sentiments...

This is the second "window".

I wanted to make a bright Christmas card, although now would be the time to make a more traditional "snowy" card, as the weather outside is "frightful" as the song says. I have trouble making snowy Christmas cards as we live in such a warm climate, it just doesn't seem right. I love the look of them, and perhaps this year I might be more inspired as we are going to take the kids overseas for a White Christmas - I am so excited!!!!

Hope you like my card - next on the Blog Hop is the lovely Claire Daly.

As always if you get lost there is a complete list of the participants at the bottom of my post.

Merry Christmas in July

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

Products used in the making of this card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

List of participants in this Blog Hop:

1. Ros Davidson
2. Rachel Woollard
3. Tina Gillespie
4. Kayleen McLean
5. Claire Daly
6. Kathryn Ruddick
7. Judy May
8. Kathryn Mangelsdorf
9. Kate Morgan 

I had a birthday

In June, I celebrated my birthday (I won't say which one) and a lovely friend gave me a parcel of Stampin' Up! goodies, including the Garden In Bloom stamp set. Of course, I had to try it out as soon as possible and I made these two cards which I love....

In the first one I have used versamark and gold embossed the butterflies. It's a two step stamp so the inside of the butterflies is stamped in Pink Pirouette and the smaller butterflies are Night of Navy.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

In the second card I have used Blackberry Bliss and Always Artichoke. I used the stem for the flowers to make a frame around the greeting - it makes a lovely border.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

As always, please contact me if you would like any further details on these cards or to come to one of my classes, or to have your own party with a group of friends.

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

New Annual Catalogue - Another Blog Hop...

Today I bring you another AWHT Blog Hop with some of the awesome ladies in the Art With Heart Stampin' Up! Team. Today our focus is on the New Annual Catalogue!

I would also like to highlight the joining special for the month of June. Our group is one of the largest teams in Melbourne and offer support, fun and friendship to anyone who would like to join us; from Hobby Demonstrators to Business Demonstrators and anyone in between. And for the month of June, there is a bonus special - you get to choose any two stamp sets of your choice for FREE along with your starter kit ($169). What are you waiting for - contact me today to find out more.

I enjoyed the last Blog Hop I did so much, that I decided to go in another one. I hope you enjoy looking at all our creations and get lots of inspiration to get working on your own projects.

You have arrived at my blog from the super talented Kate Morgan- doesn't she make beautiful projects. Our blog runs in a circle, so you can join in at any time and just keep going until you get back to where you started.

My card showcases the bright new Washi Tape from the Cherry On Top Collection, which includes Designer Washi Tape and a Designer Series Paper Stack. I got the idea for this card on Pinterest several months ago and have made cards in this style using several of our Washi Tape combo's.  The Vintage Faceted button has a circle of the Cucumber Crush cardstock behind it and a bow in Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine to give it a pop of colour.

I have also run a strip of the Washi Tape inside the card and stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the Sprinkles of Life several times along the top to create a bit of colour inside the card.

You can now head over to the next Blog, which belongs to Genna Gifford. If you get lost along the way there is a full list of the Blogs at the bottom of this post.




SUPPLIES USED IN THE MAKING OF THIS CARD...

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

List of participants in this Blog Hop:

If you find a broken link or have come to this blog hop from a different entry point, you can view the participants below:

1. Kathryn Ruddick
2. Jenny Van Dijk
3. Kathryn Mangelsdorf
4. Nikki Sadler
5. Ros Davidson
6. Kate Morgan
7. Kayleen McLean
8. Genna Gifford
9. Tina Gillespie
10. Judy May

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen xx

Thanks!!

This week my daughter competed in an Aerobics Competition with her school, and her team asked me to make some Thank You cards to give to the coaches. I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought they looked really pretty. I have used a different background DSP and ribbon on each card, just for a bit of variety...

I have used some retired DSP as my order of new goodies hasn't arrived yet, but you could easily change the paper for a different look. I love these Butterfly Thinlits and they are so versatile. Below are the supplies I have used to make these cards.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

The coaches loved them, when the girls presented them with the cards and a gift at their Breakfast on Tuesday. Hope you like them too!

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

The New Catalogue has arrived!!

Welcome to a cold and chilly day in Melbourne - hope it's better wherever you are - however it's perfect weather here to make yourself a cuppa and settle down to browse the new Stampin' Up! Annual Catalogue.  You can access the catalogue on-line by clicking on the link below the catalogue or the picture of the catalogue to the right of the page. There's plenty of great new product to see and I had to read the catty several times before I could take it all in. As always, let me know if you wish to place an order, have any questions or want to host a party so you can get lots of new goodies for FREE!!

http://su-media.s3.amazonaws.com/media/catalogs/2015-2016%20Annual/20150601_AnnualCatalog_en-AU.pdf

Blog Hop : Farewell favourites

Today I am taking part in my first AWHT  blog hop with some of the awesome ladies in the Art With Heart Stampin' Up! Team - I am super excited!! - it's also my first blog hop ever!!

Today our focus is on our Favourite Retiring Product...

Both the 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue and the 2015 Occasions Catalogue finish on the 2nd June, so there's not long left to place an order for anything you really want before they are gone forever - contact me to place your order.

You have come to my blog from the lovely Kathryn Manglesdorf. Blogs are full circles so you can start hopping right here and keep going until you get back here.

Unfortunately, there are lots of awesome products retiring - Designer Series Paper, cardstock, In Colour inks, stamps and accessories. I always get very sad at this time of year, but then I think about all the fantastic NEW PRODUCTS that will soon be available and I am somewhat mollified.

     

 
      My first card uses the Four Feathers  stamp set and matching Framelits (although I haven't used the framelits on this card). I masked the centre panel and embossed the feathers before using sponge daubers to create the blue panel. I find this set great for male cards and will be very sorry to see it go.

      My second card uses the Painted Petals stamp set from the Jan-June 2015 Occasions Catalogue. I'm not sure I will miss this set as much as the others as I never really warmed to it. I just don't seem to be happy with the finished product, although I have seem some gorgeous samples done by others.

This card uses all the colours in the Subtles Colour Collection which go really well together. I am going to send this card to a close friend who has been a great listening post for me over the last year - hope she likes it.










It's now time to hop on over to the lovely Kathryn Ruddick - click on the image to be taken to her blog

If you get lost along the way, here is a list of everyone participating:

1. Judy May

2. Tina Gillespie

3. Genna Gifford

4. Ros Davidson

5. Claire Daly

6. Nikki Sadler

7. Kathryn Mangelsdorf

8. Kayleen McLean  - that's me and where you are now!

9. Kathryn Ruddick

10. Jenny Van Dijk

11. Kate Morgan

12. Rachel Woollard

13. Barbara Lindsey

Convention 2015 Wrap-Up

Now that I have been home from the Stampin Up! 2015 Convention for more than a week, I can process what I saw, learnt and felt about it all. It is a very exciting time, especially as this year it was the Global release of the 2015-2016 Annual Catalogue. The release was video-taped and streamed later in the day to the whole world!
Part of the excitement is receiving new stamp sets and we weren't disappointed this year. We all got the set "I Think You're Great" and were given the opportunity to make projects with this new set and some other new products.

Here are my finished projects:

This first card is made on Watercolour Paper using the gorgeously scrumptious colour Watermelon Wonder. The banner is Mint Macaron and the leaves on the flower are Cucumber Crush. It was quite a simple card to make, but very effective. The water-colouring should probably be a bit richer in colour, but I didn't want to make it too wet as I had to transport it back to my room and didn't want to make my bag all wet.

On this second card we used markers direct to the stamp and didn't cover the whole stamp. The colours used were Cucumber Crush and Mint Macaron. We also used a piece of the DSP from the Everyday Chic Designer Series Paper to make an accent down the side of the card. Of course, no card is complete without a little bling, so some Rhinestones were added after the sentiment was mounted on dimensionals.

For this third card, we used a technique called "Kissing", which is very effective and one I will be teaching in an upcoming class, so contact me if you would like to know more....

The envelope at the back is made from the gorgeous new In Colour Collection Paper Stack - I can't wait to get my hands on this!





These first 3 cards all use the same stamp set, which shows you how versatile it is. I love it when you can make a whole range of cards from one set, as it makes them great value for money.

This fourth card uses a new Paper Piercing Set called "Updated Essentials" and includes some words - happy, hello and for you and co-ordinates with the flower medallion stamp and punch. We got to try it out in the Product Playground, and I made this card with my sample when I got home.







Of course, there were lots of other exciting things happening at Convention and it was great to catch up with lots of Demonstrators from other States that I have met in previous years, as well as meet and make lots of new friends. Everyone is extremely friendly and welcoming and if you would like to join my team and take part in lots of events like this, then just give me a call.

Thanks for stopping by
Happy Stampin'

Kayleen

I'm a very naughty girl :)

I can't believe it has been almost a year since I have posted on my blog. To be honest, I got a bit disheartened as no-one seemed to be looking at it, so I kind of gave up.

Well I have just come back from the Gold Coast where Stampin' Up held their 2015 Convention, and I am inspired to get my blog back on track.
This years Convention coincided with the global release of the 2015-2016 Annual Catalogue and it was a very exciting time. We were the first Demonstrators in the world to get our hands on the AC, and there was much excitement, I can tell you. If you have ever been in a room with 600 screaming women, that should give you some indication. They also released the 2015-2017 In Colours, which have the delectable names of Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush, Delightful Dijon, Mint Macaron and Tip Top Taupe.

The catalogue will go live on June 2, 2015 and you will find it hard to not want EVERYTHING in it. I have been lucky enough to be able to pre-order some of the new products, so stay tuned for some sneak peek samples.

We also received one of the new stamp sets called "I Think You're Great" and made some awesome samples while at Convention. Stay tuned for pics to follow....

Thanks for stopping by

Happy Stampin'

Kayleen