A little bit of patchwork...

Hi Again,


I'm back with another JAI entry and I've made my first ever patchwork card with my Big Shot and the Top note die.

What do you think? This card was remarkably easy to make.. In fact taking the photo outside was probably harder than making the card as it kept blowing over!! But the clarity of the photo is so much better than taking it inside! I've kept the card clean and simple as I really wanted the patchwork to be the focus point of the card.


I've got another couple to finish off and I'll post the pics later in the week.


Materials Used
Big Shot & Top Note Die
1 1/4" square punch
Word Window Punch
Small circle punch
Hemp Twine
Paper - Urban Garden Designer Series Paper
Sentiment: Sweet Little Sentiments Hostess Set




Thanks for looking,

JAI Challenge #23 - First Entry

Hi Everyone,


I've been quiet here for a couple of days, I think, no make that I know I've been exhausted and everyone in our house is fighting off a cold - yuck!


Anyway, I've had a go at this week's Just Add Ink Challenge #23, which was to "Just Add Patterned Paper"

I've made this page and used an 11x14" silver frame from a local 'el cheapo' shop. I will have to get busy with the camera now and take some new pics of my girls.. I couldn't find one that suited the frame to my liking...


Materials Used
Petal Party Scrappin' Kit
On Board 'So Tweet' (covered with old olive paper for the branch and coloured the bird with my pink passion stampin' spot and the black marker)
Wing from 2-step bird punch for the bird's wing and the leaves




Thanks for looking,

Secret Sister April Gifts

Hi All,


Just some quick pics today of the cards and gifts I sent to Chantell Randall during April for the ESAD Secret Sister Swap....

Don't fall off your seat - I've done somepaper piercing in the top left corner for this card... As well as some colouring - I think I started to colour with my aqua painter then added detail with my stampin' write markers and white gel pen.

Brayering... Chantell was interested in seeing some cards with brayering.. mmm think some more practice is needed but loved the challenge

My first paper bead necklace...

It was boxed inside the baja breeze box in the background of the top pic.

The long skinny kraft package had a block of choccie inside - yum!!!

Please contact me if you'd like to know any of the materials used.
Thanks for looking,

ESAD Secret Sister from March

Hi Everyone,

During March to May, I took part in the ESAD Secret Sister Swap. Now regular readers will remember some of the photos of gifts I have received and now finally I can start showing you what I sent to Chantell Randall who was my secret sister for the past 3 months.

It's been great fun sending and receiving happy mail! Anyway, I can now show you the cards and gifts I sent way back in March.

Photos of the April and May cards and gifts will be added soon...

If you would like any details of the products used for these gifts, please contact me or leave a comment below.


 Thanks for looking,

ps:  ESAD stands for Extremely Special Australasian Demonstrators and its a fab group for Stampin' Up demos to help each other out and learn lots of new things! I love it!!

Christmas in July Class

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to make a special mention of my upcoming:

Christmas in July Stamp 'n' Stack

To be held on Friday 9th July @ 7.30pm in Canning Vale.



The cost will be $20 and we will be making 10 cards in total. It will be 5 cards of 2 different designs.

To reserve your place, please email me and/ or join my facebook group. Don't forget, if you join my facebook group you will receive an invitation to each of my classes each month plus special offers and previews of Stampin' Up promotions.

Now, this workshop is going to be the first of several Christmas workshops and if you attend them all, you will receive a free gift from me!

Please note: The exact address details will be privately emailed to anyone attending with the confirmation of your place.




Thanks for looking,

Emily's Birthday Invites & Card

Hi Everyone,


Yesterday was my youngest daughter Emily's 2nd b'day and I thought I'd show you the invites that were sent out for her party.

Materials Used:
Stamp Set: Pony Party & On Your Birthday
Cardstock: Whisper White, Green Galore, Pink Passion
Stampin' Write Markers: Orchid Opulence, Pink Passion, Green Galore & Yoyo Yellow
Ink: Black Staz-on & Pink Passion
Big Shot & Top Note die


And this is the card I made for her... I picked the colours from the Just Add Ink Challenge last week, but then but I missed the deadline as I was dead on my feet last night after having a party and then the clean up so I needed an early night and forgot to post the pic... Silly me! Fancy washing dishes instead of stamping and blogging!

The JAI Challenge was to use these colours:

I created the background by punching a couple of scallop circles and temporarily adhereing them to my Whisper White card with my SNAIL adhesive. I also tore wavy line on a piece of scrap paper, this created a mask so I could create a more defined edge between the sky and the grass. I then sponged Tempting Turquoise ink over the top third of the card. After removing all the scallop circles and rubbing away any left over adhesive with my adhesive remover (just $3.95), I flipped the scrap paper 'hill' over to cover the sky and sponged the remaining white card with my Kiwi Kiss ink.

The Pony has been coloured with my Aqua Painter and the mane, tail and wings have been covered in Dazzling Diamonds.

Materials Used:
Card/ Inks: Colours as above
Aqua Painter
Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon
Dimensionals
Large Oval and Scallop Oval Punch
Scallop Circle Punch
Glue Pen
Dazzling Diamonds 

If you would like to create birthday cards or invites, please contact me and I will be happy to assist any way I can. I can even design and produce them for you if you'd prefer!


Thanks for looking,

Coming soon...

Coming soon is the ESAD Christmas in July Blog Hop...

Stay tuned for a sneak peek in the coming weeks and then it all happens on 24th July... There will be 25 blogs to hop to and check out some fab Christmas ideas. How exciting!

Thanks for looking,

Deals of the Week - Week 4

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the fourth and final deal of the week.

This week its all about the DISCOUNTED bling!! And this is what's been discounted:

From page 149, we have the lovely:

• Square Ice Rhinestone brads (Product #109113)
• Square Fire Rhinestone brads (Product # 109112)
• Circle Ice Rhinestone brads (Product # 109111)

All normally $19.95, this week they can be yours to own for just $11.97


Joining the sparkly bling, we also have the more sedate bling from the ribbon collection on page 150:

• Bashful Blue 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon (Product # 111848)

Normally $19.95, Now $10.97

 
And last but not least, another member of the ribbon collection, this time from page 151

• Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon (Product # 109050)

Normally $14.95, now $8.97

 

 

Absolutely fabulous darling, now what to do? Just how much bling can a lady have? Never enough I say! So email or call me before 9pm on Tuesday 29th June to order. 

 

Thanks for looking,

Lots of Bots

Hi All,

Another new stamp set, this time its "Lots of Bots"... Ahhh there is nothing quite like playing with a new stamp set for the first time... Fellow Stampin' Up demos will agree, many others will simply think I'm nuts!!

Anyway, this is my first ever "Lots of Bots" card for one of my husband's mate's b'days...

Materials Used
Stamp Set:  Lots of Bots & On your Birthday
Cardstock: Brocade Blue, Real Red, Whisper White, White Glossy
Stampin' Write Markers - Bashful Blue, Bordering Blue, Real Red, Not Quite Navy, Brocade Blue
Versamark
Staz-on Ink
Dimensionals
Red Gingham Ribbon


If you'd like any other details, just leave a comment or email me.


Thanks for looking,

"Always" First Ink

Hi Everyone,

So last night I inked up my new "Always" Stamp set... Its a very pretty set and one I've been umming and ahhing about for ages!!! So my Mum bought it for my b'day and this is the first chance I've had to play with it...

This is a quick card I made using the bird from the set and simply stamping onto some designer series paper...

And can you notice anything different about my photo.... I've made blurry edges to attempt to make it a little more 'artistic'... I had a play around on my photo editing program and worked it out with the help of Tania Gould's Photoshop Tutorial (I use a free download of "Gimp" which is kind of like Photoshop).

Materials Used

Stamp Set: Bird: Always, Sentiment: Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

Scallop Oval Punch

Large Oval Punch

Well, I'm sure loads more cards will be on the way with this set, its just a matter of when... Why is there never enough hours in the day to stamp and also play farmville.... LOL!!


Thanks for looking,

Clean and simply birthday

Hi All,

Here's another card using the Birthday Block stamp, but this is for the boys or men...

Please excuse the photography.. Its been very wet here in Perth and I've been unable to take any photos outside in the daylight.

I've kept this card really clean and simple and only added a little colouring with my markers directly onto the stamped image - I've coloured 4 words and the candle to match the cardstock.

 

Materials Used:

Stamp Set: Birthday Block

Cardstock: Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise and Garden Green

Stampin' Write Markers: Garden Green & Tempting Turquoise

Tempting Turquoise Ribbon

Basic Black Ink pad

Well off for some birthday present shopping today and then to play with another stamp set tonight, mmm which to choose? You'll have to come back and see tomorrow.

Thanks for looking,

New stamp - Birthday Block

Hi Everyone,

I've started playing with some of the new stamps I received for my birthday last month... I've started with the Bithday Block. Its a super cute little stamp and its only $13.95 in the Autumn Mini Catty..

So here's my first couple of cards...

These cards are folded with what some papercrafters call a 'gateway' fold, although I wasn't actually following any tutorials or sketches when I started. A 'gateway' fold means there are 2 score lines and the card has 2 panels that open like a gate. Then I've added the layers of coloured card and pink flamingo paper and and extra panel with the 'birthday block' stamped in cameo coral.

And the gateway cards are a great way to use up some little bits and pieces from your scrapbox - Yay! I'm slowly getting through it! (emphasis on 'slowly' lol).


Materials Used:
Stamp Set: Birthday Block $13.95
Cardstock: Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise
Pink Flamingo Paper (from last week's deal of the week)
Tempting Turquoise Ribbon
Scallop Edge Punch
Ink: Cameo Coral



Thanks for looking,

Deals of the Week - Week 3

Hi everyone,

Time for the Week 3 Deal and its a beauty!!!!

Until 9pm next Tuesday night you can order these discounted stamp sets:

A Happy Heart stamp set

(Product # 114263, Page 34)

Normally $41.95 -> Now $20.98

Greetings Eight stamp set

(Product # 115792, Page 57)

Normally $49.95 -> Now $24.98

Bella's Bloom stamp set

(Product # 116330, Page 78)

Normally $24.95 ->Now $14.97

Enjoy Every Moment stamp set

(Product # 113009, Page 97)

Normally $53.95 -> Now $26.98

All Scallops stamp set

(Product # 114283, Page 105)

Normally $55.95 -> Now $27.98

Click here to browse the 2009 -10 Idea Book and Catalogue online

There's no limit and no minimum spend... However, I'm offering free shipping for orders over $50 anywhere in Australia as part of my celebration of blogging for 3years which includes any of the stamps on this week's deal! See this post for my reminiscing...





Thanks for looking,

ESAD Wk 18 3D Challenge

Hi Everyone,


This week I've participated in the ESAD 3D challenge to make this cute little handbag... We were provided with the template (originally designed by Makeesha Byl, a recently retired SU demo) and could make it with any papers we wanted and then embellish.

This is the first time I've made a 'handbag' from papers but it was good fun and I'll have to try some other tutorials I've been eyeing off now... The bags are perfect for a pack of choccies or some notecards so just quietly can you guess what some of my friends will be receiving for presents over the next month or so.


And just a quick reminder, the Week 2 deal of the week ends tonight at 9pm, its for the Designer Series Papers, so click here for more info or email me.


Thanks for looking,

3 years ago....

Hi Everyone,

Its 3 years ago today that I started my blog... Wow hey! I sometimes find it hard to believe that so much time has passed and so many things have happened.

When I joined Stampin' Up! in February, 2007, I never thought that I would have my own blog. In fact I'm pretty sure I didn't even know what a blog was! (Trivia: did you know that blog is the shortened form of 'web log'* and the term only started being used in the late 1990's). Well, it took me a few months but I joined the blogging world and love adding to my blog and the inspiration I've gained from checking out everyone else's blogs too.

Anyway, since I started stamping and demonstrating with Stampin' Up, I have met some great people including other demonstrators all around Australia and New Zealand. Ok, so there's 3 special people I'd like to thank and they are...

1. Lee-Anne as it was her beautiful work that inspired me to join SU and she still inspires me with her cards even though she's retired from SU :(
2. Andrea, who's always ready to show me something new
3. Courtney, a former SU demo,  who is always popping onto my pages with encouraging comments.

Without my blog, I would be lacking many online friends too and so a big thank you goes out to the members of my facebook page and frequent readers of my blog.

So to celebrate my 3 years of blogging, here's a slideshow of my work right from my very first post... Apologies for the double ups, sideways pics and any profile pics, being a blogger has been a big learning curve for me and I'm still learning... Like I've had to read about how to make a slideshow for today's post, so fingers crossed this works!! If nothing else, it should give you a laugh!




And my big thank you present is FREE shipping for any customer orders over $50 placed over the next week. So, yes that does include the Deals of the Week 3 (when they are announed tomorrow), but it is limited to people in Australia only.

If you are interested in becoming a SU Demo, don't forget the discounted Starter kit is still available!! Please contact me if you are interested.


Thanks for looking,

*Definition sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

Finally a JAI challenge....

Hi Everyone,


This is my first JAI challenge for close to a month I think... Despite my intentions of completing the challenge each week, it hasn't happened...


The challenge was to use this sketch:

This is my card for Just Add Ink's 21st challenge, and it perfectly suited a 2nd b'day party we went to yesterday.

Materials Used

Pony Party Stamp Set
Card: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink
Melon Mambo Polka-dot ribbon
Stampin' Write Markers - Pretty in Pink, Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Certainly Celery
Black Staz-on Ink
Big Shot & Scallop Circle Die


You can see I've simplified the sketch a bit, it looked a little too overwhelming with all the layers you could do with this challenge.
I loved this sketch, so hopefully I will have a chance to finish another card or scrapbook page before the challenge closes.




Thanks for looking,

Stamp 'n' Stack June Projects

Hi Everyone,

These are the 3 cards we made for the June Stamp 'n' Stack (SAS) last night. It was all about the kids! And thanks to the ladies that came, it was a night full of chattering, laughs and giggles!

I cased myself here... I originally posted this card here but thought it was perfect for a boys or girls card.

For this card we used the "Pony Party" Stamp set from the Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue. I chose this stamp set as a reward from Stampin' Up! from my Sale-a-bration sales earlier this year... I've also used my new Top Note die and Big Shot (sooooo LOVING my Big Shot at the mo!)

And the last card used a retired stamp set "Pocket Fun" but I thought it would be great for boys! What boy wouldn't love a frog in his pocket! Thankfully this is a lot more easy care than a real frog!

If you are interested in making any of these cards, simply arrange a time, invite a few friends and voila, you will have a handful of kids' cards at the ready!

Thanks for looking,

Deals of the Week - Week 2

Hi Everyone,

It's time for a new deal of the week, are you ready?

Ok, for the next week you can purchase

DISCOUNTED SCRAPBOOKING PAPER

These are the 5 packs on sale:

Item # 112470 Haiku Designer Series paper

normally $16.95 now $10.17

Item # 113976 Pink Flamingo Designer Series paper

normally $16.95 now $11.02

Item # 113992 Tea Party Designer Series paper

normally $16.95 now $10.17

Item # 113975 Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper

normally $16.95  now $11.02

Item # 114037 Sweet Slumber Specialty Designer Series paper

normally $22.95  now $14.92

All these can be found on pages 132-133 of the

2009-10 Idea Book and Catalogue.

There's no minimum spend, no maximum quantities so contact me today to place your order and let's get those scrapbooks happening. Of course, lots of my papers go on my cards too so its win-win really!

Thanks for looking,

Edited 11/6/10 - Pictures of the papers added for your convenience