2011-2012 Catalogue Launch

It is Catalogue Launch night / day and I have two classes scheduled, one on 17th September, Saturday evening and another scheduled for 18th September, Sunday afternoon.  The theme is Master Chef, just for a little fun and I will have a display of new products including stamp sets, glass glitter, ribbon and DSP.  The display will feature cards made with new stamp sets including Button Buddies, Delicate Doilies and Zoo Review.

The display of new stamps, ribbon, glitter, DSP and cards using these.

A close up of the lower tier of the display I put together for the sessions - just love the ribbon and storage container for the acrylic blocks.

My invitation tempted with a piece of cake and a mystery cook up to complete make and takes, all with a pinch of salt.  It was all very cryptic and lots of fun, thanks to the inspiration and help from a fellow demonstrator and my wonderful husband who helped cut slits into all of the gift bags.  All of those that came received the new catalogue, a gift bag containing chocolates and a stamp and each attendee took home 3 cards highlighting stamps from the new release.

The gift bags that each attendee received.

Two techniques were demonstrated, salted background and puff paint.  

Salted background is a technique I have been eager to try for years and what an excuse.  To create this effective background I chose a stamp set and colours for a background to compliment this stamp set, e.g. for the Zebra and Lion I wanted a dry look so yellows, oranges and a shot of green were chosen, and for the Penguin and Polar Bear blues were a must.  

Materials :- 

glossy card stock, re-inkers for the chosen colours, aqua pen, mister or spray of some sort, coarse salt and salt in a grinder - straight from your kitchen, versamark and embossing powder (I used black), heat gun and rag/tissue 

Method:-

Step 1 dot re-inkers on plate or ink pad lid

Step 2 spray glossy card liberally with water

Step 3 pick up ink with aqua pen and scribble this over your card

Step 4 continue this with other inks of your choice and respray with mister as necessary

Step 5 sprinkle coarse salt over project and then dust with salt from grinder.

Step 6 allow project to dry - either air dry or dry with heat gun.

Step 7 using a rag or tissue or alike polish salt crystals from your card.

Step 8 coat surface of stamp with versamark and stamp onto card

Step 9 sprinkle embossing powder over versamarked image and tap off excess

Step 10 heat set your embossing powder.

Puff Paint is a raised puffy finish that is tonnes of fun and something the kids love to do too. To use this fun effect, I chose outline stamp sets and my favourite for this is "crazy for cupcakes"

Materials:- 

card stock, self raising flour and salt - again straight from your kitchen, stamp set, ink pad, tooth pick, plastic plate, reinkers, water, heat gun, chosen colouring medium, markers, blender pens and ink etc

Method:-

Step 1 Choose image to be stamped and stamp on card stock

Step 2 mix equal parts of self raising flour and salt 

Step 3 add half teaspoon to plate and colour with one drop of re-inker.

Step 4 add enough water to give a thick custard consistency, mixing with toothpick

Step 5 using toothpick thickly colour the area of the stamped image with paste

Step 6 heat paste with heat gun until it puffs up  and is cooked - but don't over cook as it will go brown,  just like over cooking a cake.

Step 7 set aside to cool

Step 8 colour rest of image with chosen medium - markers, blender pens and ink etc.

TIPS

You can use glue to add glitter to your project or even paint thinly with crystal effects to get a glossy effect.  Looks great; thanks Helen.  The Puff paint is brittle so handle with care (you can see the top of my red cupcake on the LHS has broken off.  You can reapply mix and recook/heat with heat gun if you like)

Attendees then chose a piece of this cake.  Each slice of cake contained chocolates, punch outs from the "create a cupcake" punch and a little something extra - maybe ribbon, a glitter brad or tag punch outs. With these pieces attendees were asked to create a card.

Attendees got to choose a piece of this cake

And this is just a small sample of what guests made during the launch.

I had a great time demonstrating the techniques.  It was a fun catalogue launch and I am sure those that came enjoyed their master chief experience.  A very big thank you to my wonderful husband for his help in preparing samples and gift bags and for cooking lots of yummies for us girls to eat and a big thank you to those who came to the launch, especially the ladies that travelled from the sunshine coast.

2011 SU Retirement List

It is that time of year again when we get our retired stock list and a box of tissues comes out.  Heartfelt thanks was one of my favourites that went last year and this year - Bugs & Kisses, Garden Whimsy and Fresh Cuts were among some of my favourite sets that were retired.  So to celebrate the departure of some favourite products, I had an open day with a display of retired stamp sets and cards, boxes, etc. made with these sets.  Thanks to my wonderful husband who cooked and looked after our little boy, I was able to have an afternoon with those that dropped in to take a look and place an order. The lucky door prize was won by Sherenne, one of my wonderful friends who inspirers and supports my business.  

Now to plan the catalogue launch - how exciting!