Retirement List Blog Hop -ESAD 2017

Hello Lovelies! Thank you so much for stopping by and checking out what I have been up to this week. My post today is a part of a blog hop that I am doing with some of the talented ladies from ESAD.

Our blog hop theme today is the Retirement List, on the first of June we welcome a brand new Annual Catalogue jam packed with an awesome array of products. Approximately half are carried over from the current Annual or Occasions Catalogues and half is exciting new things, this however means that we need to say goodbye to some products. Today's blog hop is featuring some of those that will be departing come 31st May, most are still available to be purchased (a lot at discounted prices) but once stock runs out, that will be goodbye forever. Don't delay snapping up your favourites.

For my project it was an easy pick. To say I love the Special Reason stamp set with it's coordinating framelit dies is an understatement, I can't see me parting with this set for a loooong time. I love its versatility, the framelit dies can be used to either have a peekaboo effect (see HERE for an example, and make sure you scroll down to see the flowers with a watercolour effect too, it's one of my favourite creations I have made) or run the flower through again with the outside border framelit and you get a beautiful intricate flower and there is two sizes of flowers and leaves. You can see other examples of cards I have made with this set HERE and HERE .

Ok, my project today is a Mother's Day card using this awesome set, with a simple Z fold. Mother's Day is coming up on the 14th of May here in Australia so I thought I had better design a card for my card class and get them prepared. Actually, truth be told, I need to thank one of my card class ladies for prompting me and asking "Are we going to do a Mother's Day card, next class?" I wonder when I would've remembered?! How special will it be for those Mothers to receive a card handmade by their loved one? Extra Special!

I think I have started a colour crush on Sahara Sand, I have been working with it quite a bit lately. It's a beautiful neutral and teams in this project with Blushing Bride and Very Vanilla beautifully. You can see a list of all the supplies I used for this card at the bottom of this post.

Here is a side view of the card.

It's time for you to hop on over to the next person on our blog hop today. You can do that by clicking on the green arrow below and if you at all get lost, there is a list of participants below that you can click on their name and you'll be taken to their blog post. Thank you once again for visiting me!

Cheers Megan xx

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Lou Kitzelman

2. Kelly Kent

3. Rachael Lewsley

4. Courtenay Heuston

5. Narelle Fasulo

6. Kirrkie Terri

7. Nicole Wilson

8. Carly Middleton

9. Libby Dyson

10. Rebecca Jacovou

11. Rosalie Desmond

12. Megan Lenske

13. Leonie Schroder

14. Kristel Rimmer

15. Tanya Bell

16. Richelle Fletcher

17. Pauline Bennetts

18. Mandy Depiazzi

19. Ellen Woodbridge

20. Monique Fielder

21. Maree McIntosh

22. Cathy Pinchbeck

Product List (click on any item to be taken to my online shop)

Special Reason Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[142902]

Touches Of Texture Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[143251]

Birthday Bright Photopolymer Stamp Set

[142835]

Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141614]

Stylish Stems Framelits Dies

[142750]

Falling Petals Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

[142761]

Big Shot

[143263]

Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad

[126976]

Versamark Pad

[102283]

Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109129]

Gold Glimmer Paper

[133719]

Falling In Love Designer Series Paper

[142788]

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

[106550]

Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock

[121695]

Card Stock A4 Blushing Bride

[131287]

3/8" Metallic Ribbon Combo Pack

[143601]

Sponge Daubers

[133773]

Stampin' Trimmer

[129722]

ESAD Blog Hop - Last Chance SAB 2017

Yeah! For another ESAD blog hop, so much fun. I love the challenge and seeing what everyone else comes up with. There is so much inspiration to be found on this hop so make sure you follow the links and see everyone's fantastic creations!

This blog hop is focused on the fact that we only have ONE month left of Sale-a-Bration. That means, only a few weeks remaining to earn some fantastic freebies, whenever you spend $90 and it means only a short time left to join Stampin' Up! As a part of sale-a-bration not only do you get the usual $235 of product for $169 (and you pick whatever you like for your products, there is no set kit) you also get to pick two additional stamp sets (that is up to an extra $179 of product), plus throw in the free shipping. Now that is awesome value. Especially when you consider that you are not locked in at all and that there are no penalties if you choose to leave.

Now I have you up to speed on what you don't want to miss out on lets move on to my project for you today. I always try to create an interactive fun card for my kiddies birthdays and even though they are well into their teens, they are still very much appreciated. When I saw a fellow demonstrators Poppin' Box Card I knew I had found the one! Now for my apology, I can not for the life of me find that original tutorial that I followed, so very slack of me not to be able to give credit where credit is due. I tend to lose myself in the creative process and not take any notes of colours, where I was inspired from or costings (as some of my special SU! friends can attest to!). I just create, that is why I joined SU!, as it is a form of relaxation for me. I completely lose myself in the creation process and no notes are taken. My goal is to get better at this without losing the spontaneity. Please comment below if you have any tips or suggestions for me!  OK the card, I'm talking too much. OMG! Stop Press! I have found the link for the very creative Gemma Clarke, her tutorial was super easy to follow click HERE.

Here it is in it's little tray box, all closed up. I'm so in love with the colour combo of Night of Navy & Watermelon Wonder.

Then you pull the tray from the sleeve & out pops a box! The pop action is simply a rubber band inside, who thinks these things up?! Crazy creative!

I had so much fun decorating all four sides of the box!

Colouring is so portable. I stamp my images up in my craft room and then attach to a clipboard and take wherever I want to colour. In front of the TV, out on the deck, in the car waiting to pick kids up (how many hours downtime do we have there alone!).

Thank you for stopping by today! Just click the arrow below to move along to the next person in the blog line up.

Cheers Megan

Blog Hop Participants

1. Lou Kitzelman

2. Megan Lenske

3. Tanya DeRoy

4. Leonie Schroder

5. Nerida Carter

6. Bec Ross

7. Andrea Buckland

8. Nicole Wilson

9. Kim Oliver

10. Kelly Kent

11. Courtenay Heuston

12. Rachael Lewsley

13. Violette De La Croix

14. Monique Fielder

15. Libby Dyson

16. Narelle Fasulo

17. Cheryl Algie

18. Maree McIntosh

19. Barbara Williams

  Product List

Birthday Bright Photopolymer Stamp Set

[142835]

Tasty Trucks Photopolymer Stamp Set

[143300]

Thoughtful Banners Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141614]

Duet Banner Punch

[141483]

Carried Away Designer Series Paper

[143608]

Watermelon Wonder A4 Cardstock

[138341]

Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock

[106577]

Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad

[138323]

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad

[101731]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Many Marvelous Markers

[131264]

Big Shot

[143263]

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

[145372]

Simply Scored

[122334]

Affectionately Yours Designer Washi Tape

[141635]

1" Circle Punch

[119868]

Kraft Rope Trim

[141996]

ESAD 2016 Holiday Catalogue Favourite Products Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my blog. It is all quite exciting as this is my first blog hop so, fingers & toes crossed I get all the hyperlinking and everything else formatted correctly! I won't be able to call it a hop if you can't move onto the next demonstrators blog!

Hands down my favourite Holiday Catalogue product is the Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set & coordinating Cookie Cutter Builder Punch. Being a new demonstrator with a wish list a mile long I decided that I was only going to get one Christmas set this year and boy have I made it work hard!

In this  months card classes one of the projects my crafters have been making are some simple but fun and cute tags using the Cookie Cutter bundle. They are so quick and easy to make! The tag is punched with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch and decorated along the bottom with strips of the Candy Cane Lane Designer Washi Tape, done in a flash!

With your little characters you can keep them simple or go to town decorating/colouring them, I have lots and lots to make so I've kept it simple. I love the Santa stamped on Crumb Cake Cardstock in Cherry Cobbler with just a bit of clear or gold Wink of Stella to highlight. Really simple but so effective. Finish of your tags with some ribbons threaded through the top and voila!

I've also made numerous cards with the set, way too many to show you in just one post and not just Christmas cards. I love that the Teddy Bear can be used throughout the year, not just at Christmas time, more bang for your buck! Here is a card that could be used for a new baby or child's birthday (just change the sentiment up).

I've used one of the four Seasonal Decorative Masks to make my own designer paper. In this example I have sponged Craft Stampin' Ink through the mask onto Crumb Cake cardstock. Love, love, love this look! The Calypso Coral circle is embossed with the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder and the sentiment is from the Thoughtful Banners Stamp Set and punched out with the coordinating Duet Banner Punch.

All my Christmas cards this year are made with the Cookie Cutter Bundle and with five cute characters, you can't get bored. We also have plans to make Christmas banners and bonbons/crackers decorated with these cute little guys too. So if you haven't already got this set, you seriously need to reconsider!

Thank you so much for visiting me! I would love it if you followed my blog, I'm only starting out but hope to post more and more regularly. Over to the right and towards the top of my page you can subscribe by entering your email.

Now it's time for you to hop over to Carly's blog to see what awesome things she has to show you!

BLOG HOP PARTICIPANTS:
1. Lou Kitzelman

2. Kelly Kent
3. Chloe Evans
4. Jackie Noble
5. Josie Dean
6. Libby Dyson
7. Rebekah Crisp
8. Rebecca Jacovou
9. Andrea Buckland
10. Leonie Schroder
11. Delys Cram
12. Rose Desmond
13. Cathy Pinchbeck
14. Peta Stephen
15. Monique Fielder
16. Narelle Fasulo
17. Nerida Carter
18. Courtenay Heuston
19. Megan Lenske - that's me!
20. Carly Middleton
21. Nicole Wilson  

22. Renee Lynch
23. Nicole Osborne Ashton
24. Amity Knight
25. Rachael Lewsley
26. Cheryl O'Bree

27. Tanya DeRoy