Well, a couple of days ago I shared a whole stack of cards I made - very simple but colourful cards using the Botanical Blooms Stamp Set and matching Botanical Builder Framelits and I said I would share some other projects that I have made.

This one is really special to me because a gorgeous lady I met through a women in business network group and happens to go to the same gym as me, asked if I could do some little thank you / note cards that she could hand out to clients of her business "Everlasting Flowers".

When I saw her business card and brochure I nearly died of shock because the colours and designs almost perfectly match a really cute stamp set and Designer Series Paper pack we had a few years ago called Cottage Garden - and I just happened to have nearly a full pack of the paper still in my stash!

I couldn't wait to get started with these divine colours and have a play with some of our new products!

I had a day on our casual kiosk at Chirnside Park Shopping Centre, so I deliberately packed these colours of card, ink pads and paper - don't you just love how the Stampin' Up! range all co-ordinate so you just can't go wrong?

I chopped and cut all day and had a lovely old time trying different combinations!

All that's left to do now is check which greetings she'd like on them - all "Thank You's" or a range of "For You" and I plan to stamp them with Old Olive or Rich Razzleberry.

Great way to use up some old paper out of my collection and a lot of fun playing with this colour combination.

Do you have a favourite Designer Series Paper Pack that you keep going back to? Or maybe one of the new ones in the brand new catalogue?

Square Tea Light Holder or Lantern

I said I was going to show you more projects I have made recently with the Botanical Blooms Builder Framelits, but I have scheduled that post for another day, because in the meantime, THIS happened!!

I posted this photo on a demonstrator only group on Facebook and in less than 24 hours had 500 reactions!! And plenty of really lovely comments too! Including requests for the instructions.

So, since it has been so well liked, I thought I had better share it with my other stamping friends too, not just demonstrators!

Start with an A4 sheet of Crumb Cake Card stock. Cut it in half lengthways. You'll have two pieces, each measuring 10.5cm x 29.8cm.

Score at 11cm and 22cms, then cut off the end at the 22.5cm mark.

Cut a 13 x 13cm square also of Crumb Cake, score all four sides at the 1cm mark. Snip out the corners.

Line up the largest thinlet from Detailed Floral Thinlets within each square of the side wall pieces and cut it using the Big Shot. You will need to cut it twice in each piece.

Apply Stampin' Up! Tear 'n' Tape as shown in the picture and join the two side wall pieces together.

Decorate by stamping and sponging with Cajun Craze and Soft Suede Ink Pads. I used the border stamp from the co-ordinating Floral Phrases Stamp Set and the spatter stamp from Swirly Bird Stamp Set and lots of sponging with my Stampin' Up! sponge daubers.

When you have done enough "antiquing" its time to attach layers of vellum on the inside of each panel. I used the Stampin' Up! Card Stock Vellum - love this gorgeous, smooth, thick vellum. The start attaching the base by wrapping the long side wall panel around the base starting in one corner and working each side.

Insert a battery operated tea light and enjoy the gorgeous warm glow.

How much do you love that antiqued look and the beautiful cut-out design?

The Detailed Floral Thinlets are $49.00 AUS or can be purchased in a bundle with the lovely co-ordinating stamp set, Floral Phrases which is available in Stampin' Up!s quality red rubber in woodmount or clearmount, to adhere to your clear blocks.

There is in fact, a whole beautiful product suite on pages 76 & 77 of our catalogue. See it here.

I just love the Botanical Blooms Stamp Set and Botanical Builder Framelits by Stampin' Up!

When I first saw them at the product release in Melbourne last November, I was a bit "Ho Humm" not inspired but then one person did one project with them and I HAD to have them. Since then, the framelits have probably been my most used cutting tool ever!

I have made dozens of cards with them - mostly already given away but several also sold at our little regular kiosk at our local shopping centre, along with several gift boxes.

Here's just a small sample of the cards I have made. Please keep in mind, some of the patterned papers on these cards were from the Stampin' Up! Sale-a-bration paper or from the Occasions Catalogue.

There are so many variations you can do!

Which one is your favourite?

I have a few more of these to show you - very similar design but in completely different colour schemes. I totally love them. If you would like to make sure you see them when I post about them, please click on the words "subscribe to this blog's feed" at the top left of this page so it comes to you as an email.

See you again soon!

Kathryn Ruddick

Butterfly Sunset Cards

Have you tried sponging on your cards and wondered how to get it all blended smoothly without the blotches that just seem to come naturally with the sponge daubers?

I am running a class tomorrow afternoon to address exactly that!

I DO love a gorgeous rainbow of colours softly blended into each other.
I would love to show you how it's done, so book into this fun, relaxing class where you will get to make all three of the pictured cards. You will be able to practise lots of sponging while you are here, but also have three lovely finished cards to take away, to keep as samples, or to post to some lucky person!
I have allowed a very generous three hours for this class, so even if you are an absolute beginner, we should have plenty of time left over to make one or two extra cards each (which ever was your favourite) to donate to the https://www.facebook.com/CombatCardsVictoriaAustralia/ collection to send to our soldiers posted overseas for them to write in to send to their families.
For the class :
You will need to bring 5 (five) Stampin' Up! sponge daubers to the class, either new, or if you are an experienced stamper and have been around me long enough and have pre-inked ones, you will need Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Soft Sky and Lost Lagoon.
If you don't have any sponge daubers, a packet of 5 from Stampin' Up! is $9.00. 

Class cost - $25 includes all materials and refreshments - add on $9.00 if you need me to order sponge daubers for you.

R.S.V.P. HERE