Even though Winter has definitely arrived with it's chilly mornings and unexpected showers, there are a few stunning autumn leaves still around in Melbourne, and with our Autumn / Mini Catalogue still current, I was very happy to have a play with the lovely Leaves #2 Die and our Big Shot die cutter.

It was also a good opportunity to pull out some photos from our trip to Canada (two years ago!!) and create a layout inspired by the gorgeous colours in the "Autumn Traditions" Designer Series Paper, also in the mini catalogue.  Must have something to do with that stunning maple leaf die!

The Big Shot doesn't add speckles or veins to the leaves, that's something I had to do after I cut them out. It's a very simple and effective technique for adding texture to your images, using the Stampin' Up! Colour Spritzer Tool and a stylis.

There are more photos of the complete layout in my scrapbook album - including two of the amazing animals we took photos of when we were in the Rockies. 

This weeks great new deal contains lots of bling and some favourite ribbons! Check out the awesome reduced prices on my specials page.

June marks the start of the Ski Season in Victoria, and the weather has been noticably colder the last few weeks - perfect weather for digging out last year's ski trip photos to do some scrapbooking!

For this page I have used Night of Navy card, stamped with various snowflakes in Whisper White Craft Ink, Almost Amethyst Card for the matt layer for the photo, and a left over scrap of Almost Amethyst Ribbon from last year's collection.  I have used the Big Shot to create my title letters in Lovely Lilac card, and have hand journalled with the Night of Navy Stampin' Write Marker.

This is such a simple layout, and the limited colours really contribute to it's effectiveness.  The same design could be used for many other colour combinations and themes.  I think I will try a few more like this over the coming weeks.  Have you done any winter theme layouts recently? Why don't you email me a couple of pics and I will select one or two to post on here as guest artists.

Don't forget, this week's deal of the week - a choice of 5 heavily reduced stamp sets, ends tomorrow night. Let me know if you want to take advantage of these awesome prices! 

New Week, New Deal

Wow! This week's deal of the week involves five stamp sets which are almost 1/2 price!!  Yes, that's right, nearly 50% off the regular price - you can't go wrong with that kind of bargain. Here they are :

For all the details, please visit the promotions page on my website by clicking here.

Don't forget, these new deals only last until next Tuesday night, so email me right away if you'd like to place an order. [email protected]

Today I have a really simple card for you, and then a stepped up version of the same card. 

It's lovely to go back to basics and spend 5 minutes whipping up a last minute card for a friend - and just because you've only spent 5 minutes on it, doesn't mean it can't be a sweet & pretty card.

I have used paper from "Bella Bleu" Designer Series Paper (DSP) and the stamp from "Bloomin' with Beauty" stamp set.

The paper is quite ornate, so even though you may be used to adding extra layers, and putting more pieces on, it is actually really lovely in it's simplicity and doesn't need more.

Having said that, if you do have 10 more minutes, or you just want the excuse to spend more time stamping, then it's really easy to step this card up, by adding a decorative panel across the middle.

I have used the scallop edge punch, two-step bird punch and Night of Navy markers on another piece of the "Bella Bleu" DSP to create this extra panel with it's sweet little tweeties.

So there you have it!  One very simple five minute card, or spend 10 minutes to add a little more detail to get a quirky, all occasion card that anyone would love to receive.

Don't forget, this week's deal of the week ends today, there are 5 different packs of DSP heavily discounted, just ready and waiting for your scissors and punches to make some delightful cards.

Details are here. 

Wow, busy week, I don't know where the days are flying too!! I meant to post this a couple of days after our blog hop last Saturday, as I have used the very same Simply Scrappin' Kit from Stampin' Up! and I wanted to show you another project while the bright "Sunny Day" colours were fresh in your minds.

Glad I was busy now - as I think today was Melbourne's coldest and rainiest day so far this year, and I couldn't think of a better way to pass the time, than be thinking about paper projects. This is one I made for the two Biggest Morning Tea events I attended recently - I needed a container for coins,  and I thought this decorated jar was just perfect considering I have been promoting the delicious "Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit".

The word window punch was the perfect size for the coin slot, and I have matched the paper with some pumpkin pie striped ribbon.

I have wrapped a band of reversed paper around the centre and attached a punched bird for a bit of interest. Don't you love those bright cheery colours?  Here's a close up of that fabulous two step punched bird.

Love it! And by the number of sample cards at the Stampin' Up! Convention 3 weeks ago using the same punch, I am not the only one who thinks this punch is an essential crafting item.

If you'd like to see more samples using this punch, or even make a card with it yourself, please don't hesitate to ask me about our free home workshops, which are a very fun afternoon or evening for you and your creative friends.

email : [email protected]  

This week's new deal, starting today is around 30% off five of the delicious packs of Double Sided Designer Series Papers.

These 12"x12" printed papers are ideal for scrapbooking and cardmaking and are designed to coordinate with Stampin' Up! stamps in some of our favourite SU! colours.

Packs include 12 sheets (2 each of 6 designs) and Sweet Slumber is textured card stock quality for something a little extra special!  If you'd like to order any of these paper packs at their reduced price, please email me before 12noon next Tuesday 15th June.

For more details, please see the promotion page on my SU! website by clicking here.

Well, it's blog hop time again, and this month we are celebrating - anything!! The Art with Heart Team bloggers have come up with lots of projects that mean "Celebrate!" to them. I am sure you'll find lots of colour, fun and inspiration as you hop from blog to blog. 

You may have just come from Tanja Westwood's blog, or you may be starting here.  There is a link at the bottom of this message to take you onto the next person.

We are all Stampin' Up! demonstrators from all over Australia - there's a huge team, nearly a hundred, but you won't meet us all today (we don't all have blogs) but we do all have an awesome team, with lots of team support, inspiration, great friendships, fantastic on-line network, and the best stamping products you can buy!  If you'd like to know more about joining the team, contact me at [email protected] as we have a great special on the starter kit at the moment.

Well, onto celebrating - those who follow my blog will be aware that I have been having fun lately with the ultra bright, gelati delicious "Sunny Day" Simply Scrappin' Kit - it's too gorgeous!! So when I started thinking about celebrating, my thoughts turned once again to this super bundle of card stock, double sided printed paper and die cut adhesive shapes.  I decided these colours are very suitable for an amazing kids party.

Picture if you will, teeny-tiny hands, with a bundle of teeny-tiny envelopes, arriving at kindy or grade 1, eyes shining brightly with excitement as she hands them out to her chosen friends.

The day of the party arrives, and each child enters the house and is given their very own party hat, with their very own initial on it - all personalised and special.

(Of course I made this one with my very own "K" for Kathryn, but that didn't mean I had to model it for you!). 
The surprises haven't finished there, as you give your little one her birthday card, completely colour coordinated to go with the rest of her party.

Wow, the imagination runs wild with all the other items you could make to go with this theme, from bag toppers to thank you cards, place cards, surprises inside the layers of Pass the Parcel, Pin the Icing on the Cup-Cake!! 

What fun!  But hey, I better not keep you too much longer - there's other blogs to look at. 

Why don't you hop off and see what clever Ros Davidson has created this month?  Click here.
 
 

Who can resist Stampin' Up!s fun, easy to use punches, especially when they are on sale for more than 30% off their retail price.  That's right!!  These four punches - scallop square, scallop oval, trio of flowers and boho blossoms are reduced to $20.12 each for one week only.

What can you do with these punches?  Well, here's some samples - my favourite being the Punched Santa which uses the scallop square punch for his hat, and the small flower from boho blossoms for his beard and pom pom.

Scallop square cards :

Scallop Square Love Note set :

Punches normally $30.95, sale ends 11.50pm Tuesday 8th June. Email me today [email protected]

DATE : NEXT ART WITH HEART BLOG HOP THIS SATURDAY 6.00AM RIGHT HERE ON MY BLOG
  

Hey everyone, just a quick note to announce a fresh new promotion that Stampin' Up! are running right through June - a deal a week.  Every Wednesday there will be a new product offer just for oneweek, starting today with four of our favourite punches, reduced by 30%.

Check out all the details for this week's promotion at my SU! webpage :  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/kathrynlowe/promotions

Each offer only lasts for one week, and there'll be a new one each Wednesday, so don't forget to check back. And if you're keen on one of the bargains, be sure to contact me before that week is up.