Vanessa Webb – Independent Stampin’Up! Demonstrator

When the Label Classics stampset was retired from Stampin’ Up’s! last catalogue, I was very pleased with this set that was to take it’s place. I love using frames on my creations as they give you an instant focal point on a card, page or in this case – a box!

To make this box I used the same technique we learned at Convention to create our gift box. The box pattern is from our demonstrator website template library. The technique uses Stampin’ Dimensionals within the frame to create a 3D/shadow effect behind it that looks really awesome. To create the frame, punch out a square from the Ballet Blue card stock using the 1 and3/8″ Square Punch. Stamp the square frame in real red onto Creamy Caramel cardstock, punch out the centre with the same square punch and then cut around the outer rim. I have adhered it to the box using Snail Adhesive (by far the simplest, cleanest adhesive I’ve ever used!) I have stamped my greeting “thankyou” on some Confetti White cardstock before adhering the dimensionals around it so they are hidden from the framed section. Lastly I stuck the greeting to the inside of the box.

It doesn’t show up too well in to photo, but I’ve used one of the other frames from this very versatile stamp set to create a background on the box using Versa Mark (a watermark inkpad).

Lately I have been discovering the wonders of the Crop-a-Dile (one of my new toys from the new catalogue). This little baby makes holes, has a hole depth gauge, sets eyelets silently, sets jumbo eyelets, punches through leather, metal, chipboard and dry embosses! (If I have missed any features please feel free to add a comment for this post with any additional uses you’ve discovered for the Crop-a-dile!)

You can see a sample of dry embossing in the bottom photograph. When the eyelet tool is set to A2, you can create little embossed circles that add a nice detail to your project, like I have done on the box handle here:

Heres a rundown of the other stamps and accessories I have used:

Occasional Greetings stampset

Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Black Brads

Basic Black Classic stamp pad

Versa Mark

I wasn’t going to get this stampset…….really, I wasn’t! I have to say it was those swirls that got me. They are just soooooo gorgeous. They look great as a single image as well as super imposed in different colours and mediums eg. embossing. I’ll post a couple of cards later that I made using this layering technique and the Colour Spritzer Tool from Stampin’ Up!

I wanted to post a scrap book page using “Baroque Motifs” as its been a while since I posted a layout. I think this set lends itself well to layouts as the swirls make a great background feature as well as the flowers being great for accents and embellishments.

I have layered the flowers by cutting the second one slightly smaller and placing one on top of the other with a Stampin’ Dimensional. BTW they showed us this nifty little trick at Convention to getting the backing off these little suckers………press into the backing firmly with your thumbnail so the edges come up, they will then lift off easily!

The other stamp sets I’ve used on this page are:

Life Definitions

Frames with a Flourish (love the way the Life Definitions fit inside these!)

Defining Alphabet

Big Deal Alphabet

Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Basic Black

Card stock: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky (a lovely “duck egg blue” colour), Blush Blossom, Confetti White.

Accessories: Rhinestone Brads from Stampin’ Up!’s Pretties Kit, Sherbet Ribbon Originals, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Snail Adhesive.

To purchase these or any other Stampin’ Up! products please contact me at sandvwebb@bigpond.com, orders shipped anywhere within Australia.

Looking for a fun and flexible job?

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting paid to play with stamps, having your hobby pay for itself and sharing your creativity with others while earning an income, just give me a holler and I’ll send you off an information pack about how you can join Stampin’ Up! and my Inky Fingers team.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

All images copyright Stampin’ Up! 1998-2008, artwork by Vanessa Webb
Don’t you just love simple things that look great? Here is a quick thank you card I created recently. This set is now one of my favourites since receiving it from Stampin’ Up! at the Sydney regional training day last year. I love the images and the way you can layer them either directly on top of each other or slightly out of alignment. On this card I have layered the images by twisting the flower slightly before stamping into the outline image.

Stampset : Simply Said

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Pale Plum and Ballet Blue

Card stock: Ballet Blue, Pale Plum, Creamy Caramel, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Twill Tape, Crafters Tool Kit, Cutter Kit, Mini Glue Dots

The thing about stamps is that you don’t have to be an artist to create something beautiful, the stamps do all the work for you!

Please feel free to leave a comment on why you enjoy using stamps in your card making and scrapbooking, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Day 1

Just arrived at Convention!

Arriving at the registration desk we were presented with our convention bag which contained two free stamp sets, our make-n-take ingredients and any badges for the awards we had won. I was excited to find out that I had received the Demonstrator of the Year pin for being one of the top 25 Demonstrators in Australia!

I think I must have swapped my entire collection of swaps on the first day……….. and look what I got in return!! Meeting other demonstrators, swapping ideas and getting inspiration from them was one of the hi-lights of Convention for me.

Here are some of the things we got to make using our free stamp sets and some of the new products from this year’s catalogue. The little box below uses some of the Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon…….. very yummy!

This was our convention bag this year. I’m thinking it will make a great beach bag……..love the huge window pocket in the front for my Stampin’ Up! catalogue.

Another hi-light was catching up with fellow demonstrators like Ann from the ACT whom I met at Convention 2007 and have kept in touch with throughout the year. Look out for her website…..she is one talented lady!

This year the theme for Convention was “Dream Big”. Shelli Gardner CEO of Stampin’ Up! inspired and motivated us to dream big dreams about our roles as Demonstrators and about how we can make a difference in the lives of those around us by sharing our creativity and offering that opportunity to others.

One of the coolest techniques we learned was how to colour a black and white photo with Stampin’ Pastels.

Shelli’s card samples from her demo on the last day……..I just love her style!

Day 2

Convention 2008 ended with the Awards Night and Banquet on Saturday. This was a time to recognise the efforts of all demonstrators in Australia for the part we played in making Stampin’ Up!’s second year so successful. It was great to cheer for my fellow demonstrators and team members who had won awards for their achievements in recruiting and sales (I had very sore hands by the end of the night and not much voice left). The biggest surprise for me was to find out that I was placed 8th in the top 25 Demonstrators of the Year in Australia and I was thrilled when they announced my friend Linda had been placed 6th ! You can see us receiving our roses from Shelli above. I literally had to keep pinching myself………… it was all very surreal!

I was one of 23 demonstrators in Australia who earned Stampin Up!’s 2008 Incentive Trip.

Simon (my hubby and Supporting Demonstrator) and I are looking forward to sharing 5 days at the Angsana Spa and Resort in Palm Cove with the other Incentive Trip winners this year (pictured with Shelli above), courtesy of Stampin’ Up!

I think I speak for all of us when I say how amazed I am that we are rewarded so generously for doing something that we love doing so much. This is truly the best “job” I could ask for and I’m thankful every day for this opportunity.

I am also so very grateful for the encouragement, support and friendship that I have received from my Inky Fingers team and also to Angela Sargeant and the Elite Stampers team of which we are a part. You guys ROCK !

All images copyright Stampin’ Up! 1998-2008