Let’s get hopping

Today marks the launch of the fantastic new Autum/Winter Mini Catalogue. and this Blog Hop so you can see all the fantastic ways that some absolutely fabulous Stampin’ Up! demonstrators has used the gorgeous new products in this Mini.  You may have come to me from the fabulous Kelly Nelson’s blog (aren’t those robots just adorable) or you may be starting here, either way you are in for a treat as you continue on through all 26 fantastic blogs participating today.   In fact we had so many demonstrators wanting to showcase all the fabulous things in this mini, we are having another blog hop on the 7^th April, but more about that later.

This is a long post so you might need to top up your cuppa.

Now this Blog Hop has been organised by ESAD-SU  a fantastic group of Extra Special Australian (and New Zealand) Demonstrators.  I love being a part of this amazing group which has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to me.  We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know-how and the regular cyberstamps.

So if you are a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator from Australia or New Zealand then please feel free to join our group.

Now before I share my project with you I also want you to know that as my customers, if you make it around to all the Blogs involved in today’s Blog Hop, and if you make a comment on each one, you are then in the running for some Extra Special Blog Candy.  The  participating demonstrators have donated candy for this blog hop and if you are the lucky winner you’ll be getting all sorts of parcels filled with fantastic Stampin’ Up! product.  Now if you do get to all and comment on all the blogs send an email to Sharlene Torres at  stampwithsharlene@hotmail.com with your name and email address and then everyone who has also visited and commented on all of the blogs will go in the drawer for the ‘extra special’ blog candy.

Ok, so on with the show.

Today I am sharing with you the things that I have made for my five gorgeous grandchildren for Easter and now you will understand why I haven’t been blogging for the last week or so.

I am so excited to share that we now have the fantastic Big Shot Die Cutting Machine available for you to purchase.  This is an absolutely fabulous Die Cutter.  Not only that but we have some exclusive dies available for you to purchase.  Today I have used one of those dies – The Fancy Favour Box – to create these cute little easter baskets for my grandchildren.

I have used Pretty in Pink for the girls and Bashful Blue for the boys.  Before assembling them I rolled each one with the Spot On Jumbo Wheel using Versamark ink.  The handles are 1 ¼” strips of matching cardstock, punched down both sides using the Eyelet Edge Punch for the girls and the Scallop Edge Punch for the boys.  The handles are attached using silver brads and for the girls I have also added a Pink Pirouette flower punched out using the Trio Flower Punch.  The cute little bunnies on the front were inspired by one that I saw on Connie Babbert’s blog .

Punches used –

1 3/8” Circle for face (Pink Pirouette/Close to Cocoa)

1” Circle for cheeks (Whisper White) with ¾” Circle layered on top (Pink Pirouette/Close to Cocoa)

½” Circle for nose (Pretty in Pink)

Scallop Oval for Ears (Whisper White) layered with Large Oval (Pink Pirouette and Close to Cocoa).

½” Circle for Eyes (Whisper White) layered with ¼” circle punched using the Crop-A-Dile (Basic Black).

The bows are made using Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue Tafetta Ribbon.  Inside is a little bag of mini chocolate easter eggs.

Of course I had to make each of them a matching card.

 The colours are again Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa and Whisper White card.  The Whisper White card has been run through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (love it).  I have again used the Scallop Edge Punch on the Close to Cocoa card and the Eyelet Edge punch on the Pink Pirouette card.  The bunnies were inspired by one I saw posted by Kim Score .  

I thought the bunny was absolutely adorable and had reproduce him/her on these cards.  Punches used –

 1 ¾” Circle Punch for body

1 ¼” Circle Punch for head

Butterfly punch for legs (cut in half)

Small Oval for ears.

 All pieces were punched  in either Bashful Blue or Pretty in Pink and each piece was sponged with the matching ink.  The tail is made using the Boho Blossoms Punch.  The three pieces are used and I have sponged them either with Pretty in Pink or Bashful Blue ink.  I layered them and then pierced a hole, inserted matching brads, then I scrunched them up to give them some dimension.

 Ribbon is again either Bashful Blue or Pretty in Pink Tafetta and I have added a bow to the girls cards.

Now along with their box of choccies and their cards, the boys are getting the construction sets shown in the first  picture in this post  and the girls are getting these gorgous little rag bags.

These are made using the Stampin’ Up! exclusive Top Note Die.  I cut all the material on my Big Shot, cutting four layers at a time but I am sure I could have cut at least six layers at once.  Then I stitched them altogether following a tutorial I purchased from Lynn Pratt .  I love the way they turned out and I am sure the girls will be delighted with them.  They have a pocket each end on the outside and a large pocket on the inside. 

Now I am the last blog on this hop but if you haven’t done the full loop just go back to the beginning with the lovely Andrea Buckland .  She has some fabulous cards to show you using the gorgeous stampset Autum Days. 

Now don’t forget to leave a comment on all the blogs you visit in this hop to be in the running for some fabulous blog candy.

If you live in my area and would like to see these products and more, then email me and reserve a place at the Open House which Shirley, Sarah and I are hosting on the 9^th April.  

Bye for now, Kris.