Blog Award

I don't know how deserved this award is considering my lack of blogging of late, but a big thank you to Tegan for nominating me!

THE RULES:
1. Post the award logo on your blog.
2. Add the link to the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs and add their links as well.
4. Let those people know that they received the award.

Ok, here goes!

Kirrily

Marelle

Sharon

Ruth

Sue

Leah

Kim
Liam
Nicole
Jesse

Baroque Christmas

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Here's another Christmas card for you, only 23 days to go!!! I've used the Baroque Motifs stamp set (pg. 98) for this one. Many non-Christmas sets can be used to make Christmas cards with the right colour combination and sentiment. I've used In Colors for this card, I just love how well the In Colors go together. The base card is Purely Pomegranate and the layers are Wild Wasabi and River Rock. On the base card, I've stamped the large swirly image in Purely Pomegranate ink in the corners. The River Rock piece has been stamped with the large swirly image in Wild Wasabi and then the small flower image has been stamped in Purely Pomegranate. The greeting is from Occasional Greetings (pg. 121), a must have set, and is stamped in Purely Pomegranate. The Wild Wasabi layer has been paper pierced and the edges distressed. The River Rock edges have also been distressed.

I hope you like it! Thanks to Marelle (I think) for the original design.

One of my best

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

This is the card I have sent to my Godmother! It's so much better than the first one! I got my inspiration for this card from the colours and this card. I've inked the little bird in River Rock ink and then again in Groovy Guava using the rock'n'roll technique and then stamped it onto Whisper White cardstock. I stamped the branches in River Rock ink down the side and then mounted it onto River Rock cardstock and then textured Groovy Guava using Stampin' Dimensionals. The base card is River Rock with the flower image stamped randomly in River Rock ink. I've stamped the same flower again in Groovy Guava and punched it out with the 1 1/4 inch circle punch. I stamped the 'a' image in River Rock and then one of the smaller flowers inside it in Groovy Guava, and again punched it out with the circle punch. I stamped the heart image in Groovy Guava and then punched out a circle. I used the double-stitched Groovy Guava ribbon, which I cut a slit for in the spine of the card.

I think this card has done the 'Always' (Spring Mini) set some justice! If you like this set, get in quick because the Spring mini finishes on November 30th! Email me to place an order.

Sam

Not one of my best

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

This card really did not turn out how I had imagined it in my head! I really don't like it! I was making it for my Godmother's birthday but I've since made a new one! The stamp set is 'Always' from the Spring Mini. Now, this set is a gorgeous set, just not in this card! I will be posting another card with these colours and the 'Always' set next, which does it some justice! The cardstock is Whisper White, River Rock and Groovy Guava textured. I've stamped the heart in Whisper White craft ink and then embossed with white embossing powder (of course I used the embossing buddy first). I used a brad from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge (Spring Mini), and then mounted this onto River Rock and then onto the Whisper White base card. The base card is stamped with the branch image in River Rock ink and the edges have Groovy Guava ink. The ribbon is Groovy Guava double-stitched.

If you have any suggestions for improving this card, please leave a comment!

Sam

Finally, a Christmas Card!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

This card is a CASE from the very talented Marelle Taylor. It uses the 'Season of Joy' stamp set (Spring Mini) and 'Polka Dot' background stamp (pg. 108). The colours are Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi and Whisper White. The ribbon is Purely Pomegranate double-stitched. The 'Season of Joy' set is definately one of my favourites! If you love it as much as I do, you better get in fast because the Spring Mini finishes on November 30th.

How are you going with your Christmas cards and Christmas shopping? I can help you with both! If you would like to make a stack of Christmas cards, then email me to book in for one of Kirrily's stamp-a-stack classes this Thursday (20th November) at Old Toongabbie. If you need help with your Christmas shopping, I can provide beautiful Gift Vouchers for those crafty friends and family! Don't forget to mention this to those that are buying gifts for you too!

Sam

Makayla's Creation

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Makayla (my almost 3 year old) made this card for her Aunty Ange's birthday. The base card is Lovely Lilac and the feature piece is Pale Plum. The birthday cake is from 'Fun and Fast Notes' (pg. 41) and has been stamped in Jet Black Stazon Ink before being watercoloured with a blender pen and Stampin' Pastels. The sentiment is from 'Short and Sweet' (pg. 118), as is the small heart which has been stamped in Versamark onto the Pale Plum piece. The sentiment was punched out using the word window punch.

There's also a dolphin and a heart drawn on the back, as requested by Makayla (she knows her Aunty Ange loves dolphins)!

I have been working on my Christmas cards lately, so I will endeavour to post some soon.

Card Rescue

A few weeks ago, a colleague of mine was leaving and someone brought in a "card" for everyone to sign. That's it in the picture above. It was just coloured cardboard folded in half (and not cut straight)! I couldn't cope with that, so I took it home for a card rescue and this is what I came up with.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

The card front is a little bigger than A4. The base card was almost a perfect match for Purely Pomegranate, so I used that with Regal Rose. I used the So Swirly wheel and the Priceless stamp set. The silver cord is retired stock. On the inside, I randomly stamped the butterfly image in Versamark ink and I stamped the words "We will miss you" (using Big Deal Alphabet) in Purely Pomegranate onto Confetti White cardstock and then cut them out and glued them in.

Now, doesn't that look much better!?

My Album

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I made this album at a team meeting last month from scratch! I'm really quite impressed with myself! I've used Outlaw Designer Series paper to cover it and the Natural Beauty stamp set to embellish it. I stamped the images in Stazon ink onto vellum and them coloured the back side with Watercolour crayons in the colours to match the DSP. The ribbon is Chocolate Chip taffeta and I've used some Hodgepodge Hardware too!

These albums would make great Christmas or birthday gifts for family or friends (or even just for you)!

If you would like to make your own album, please email me and we'll arrange a time for me to come round and teach you (and some friends if you like)!

Hello Baby!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I recently caught up with a former colleague that had a gorgeous baby boy named William a few months ago. This is the card that I made to welcome him and congratulate his mum and dad! The main image is stamped using the Wash Day Wheel (which unfortunately is retired) and basic black ink, I've then watercoloured with a blender pen and Stampin' Pastels. The round image is from a retired hostess set called Riveting. I've stamped it in Basic Black ink and Certainly Celery ink and then mounted it onto a Certainly Celery circle. I used the corner rounder punch to create the scalloped edges (there is a tool coming in the Summer mini that does this much easier and quicker).

Here's a close up of the watercolouring. I've cut out the bunny image and mounted it using Stampin' dimensionals to give it some depth.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I hope you like it!

September Birthdays

I made cards for two birthdays in September, my mum's and my nephew's 21st.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

This first card was for my mum. I've used Perfect Plum cardstock for the base card and stamped it with the stem image from the Always stamp set (Spring mini catalogue) in Perfect Plum ink. I've inked the heart image in Pale Plum and Perfect Plum ink using the "rock and roll" technique and stamped onto Whisper White cardstock, I mounted this onto Pale Plum cardstock using Stampin' Dimensionals and them adhered that onto the base card. Finally, I stamped the greeting from So Many Sayings (pg. 19) in Perfect Plum onto Whisper White cardstock and punched out with the word window punch (pg. 142).

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

The second card was the one for my nephew (I still can't believe his 21, and married with a son!) I've used Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip cardstock as well as Outlaw Designer Series Paper. I've used my Crop-A-Dile to add a Jumbo eyelet (pg. 145), which I've then tied wide Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon through (using two knots). I also distressed the edges on the DSP and the Chocolate Chip cardstock with my fingernail. The greeting is again from the So Many Sayings stamp set (a real must have, so handy), stamped in Chocolate Chip ink and punched out with the word window punch.

I hope you like them!

Back from Holidays

Hi Everyone!

I just got back this week from a 2 week holiday! It was great! We went on a driving holiday down the east coast, along the Great Ocean Road to Adelaide, back to Geelong, onto Canberra and then home to Sydney! Victoria is so gorgeous! And it was soooooooo good to get away!!! Here are some pics!

Sunset at Lakes Entrance

Wild Koala at lunch spot -- very cool!

Makayla and Mummy on a jetty off the Great Ocean Road (it was a bit windy)

Beauchamp Falls (we camped just near these gorgeous falls)

The Otway Fly

Daddy and Makayla

The (not quite) 12 Apostles

The London Bridge

A giant lobster

Potty time! (Does anyone happen to know if it is illegal to leave wee and poo in roadside bushes? My husband is convinced this is the case. My comment was that the animals better watch out or they'll cop a fine!)

In Adelaide, we stayed with some friends. This is Jesse and Makayla -- too cute!

I'll be back some time soon with some more stamping creations! Still catching up on washing and housework etc at the moment.

Regional Training Day

Well, way back at this post I said that I would put up some show and tell about the Stampin' Up!® regional training day, so here goes!

This is me and Ruth Bishop

This is our table busy with the Make-and-takes!

This is me, Ruth and Kirrily concentrating on our Make-and-takes!

This is some of the group of demonstrators and guests (with the "stage" on the right)

Here's some of the projects that were on display!

A Bit Late

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I know Father's Day has been and gone but I thought I'd post two cards I made this year. I think most of us struggle with masculine cards so maybe these will be helpful. I tend to stay with Earth Elements colours for masculine cards.

The first card is the one I gave to my husband from my daughter and myself. I've inked up the Father's Day stamp from Occasional Greetings (pg. 121) using Old Olive, Not Quite Navy and Close to Cocoa stampin' spots. I "huffed" on the stamp and then stamped onto Whisper White cardstock. I've then mounted it onto Not Quite Navy and Really Rust cardstock. The base card is Really Rust stamped with the background stamp from the hostess set Oh So Lovely (pg. 17) -- I'm loving this stamp!

I've used a template from Kristina Werner for the curved edge. Kristina is an awesome American papercrafter. Card sizes are different in the States, so the base card is slightly smaller than A6. I've used Not Quite Navy cardstock for the larger curved edge and Close to Cocoa for the smaller curved edge. Again, I've stamped the Close to Cocoa with the background stamp in VersaMark. I popped the greeting up on dimensionals in the middle of the card. My husband quite liked the card, he said he liked that it wasn't too fancy! And I knew he'd like the curved edge because he actually watched Kristina's video tutorial with me and said it was a nice card!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I made this second card for one of my colleagues who has two young sons. I've used the trusty Earth Elements colours again. I've stamped the greeting in Really Rust onto Whisper White cardstock and rounded the corners with the corner rounder punch (pg. 142). I've mounted it onto Close to Cocoa cardstock. The base card is Really Rust stamped with the background image from the Oh So Lovely set. I've then layered Not Quite Navy and Chocolate Chip cardstock. Then I've popped the sentiment up on dimensionals.

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

For the inside of the card, I've stamped two boy images from All in the Family (pg. 61) onto Whisper White cardstock using black Stazon ink. I've coloured them in with a Blender pen and Stampin' Pastels. I punched them out with the small oval punch (pg. 142) and inked around the edges with Really Rust before adhering it to the inside of the card.

I hope all the dads out there had a great Father's day! Happy stamping!

Cute Little Note Cards

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

I made a bunch of these little note cards recently
and I think they're really quite cute. I've used images from the Fun and Fast Notes set (pg.41) and it really does make card making fun and fast. I've stamped the images in Stazon ink on Whisper White cardstock then used my blender pens and Stampin' Pastels to do the watercolouring. I did a little bit of colour at the bottom to create some ground and around the birds to make them pop.
The base card is Bashful Blue and I've used the spot stamp from the Enjoy Every Moment set (pg. 11 Spring mini catalogue) stamped with Versamark to create the background.

I hope these little cards have brightened your day! I'm off to the Stampin' Up!® Regional Training day tomorrow so I'll put up some show and tell later!

Faux Tearing Demo

Images© 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

We had free demonstrations at the Stampin' Up! stand at the Stitches and Craft Show at different times during the day and Faux Tearing was one of them. It uses the Paisley background stamp (pg. 108) and One of a Kind stamp set (from the Spring Mini). Accessories include sponge daubers, Boho Blossoms punch (from the Spring Mini), and Soft Sky double stitched ribbon. The colours are from the 2008 In Color range, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky.

The Show was lots of fun and working on the Make and Take table I enjoyed introducing people to the fun of stamping! Hello to anyone visiting from the Show!

If anyone would like instructions for faux tearing or would like to book a workshop for me to demonstrate it for you, please email me.

Stitches and Craft Show

Sorry for the lack of blogging and creations, it's been a horrendous week! Just a quick reminder that the Stitches and Craft Show starts Wednesday at 10am at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney. It will be awesome! There's a Stampin' Up stand (number 460) with demos and a free make-and-take, check it out!

Sam

Little Black Bird

Images© 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Don't you just love this bird?! He's from the Always stamp set in the new Spring Mini catalogue (email me for your FREE copy). I've CASEd this card from Elisabeth, the only change I made was to use Purely Pomegranate double-stitched ribbon instead of Basic Black grosgrain (because I don't have it).

The base card is Basic Black cardstock and is A6 size. I've stamped the bird image in Basic Black ink on Whisper White cardstock with the berry image in Purely Pomegranate ink, I've then rounded the corners and mounted it on Purely Pomegranate cardstock onto the base card. I've stamped three other images from the Always set onto Whisper White cardstock and punched out with the 1 1/4 inch circle punch. I've used a pewter brad from the Hodgepodge Hardware in the middle of the flower image and popped the circles up on Stampin' Dimensionals on the Purely Pomegranate cardstock. I've cut a slit in the fold of the base card to slip the Purely Pomegranate double stitched ribbon through.

I hope you like this card as much as I did when I saw it! Happy stamping!

Project: Organise

Here's a project I've been working on for a few weeks now, it was a lot harder than I anticipated I have to say! I got the idea from Kirrily's tutorial and I suggest you go there for clear, concise instructions. The only extra tip I would add is not to use newspaper to sit the pieces on to dry, it tends to stick, some kind of hard plastic surface would probably be better. The actual organiser itself is by Kaiser and comes in seperate pieces for you to decorate and put together. (I got mine at the craft show in Sydney a couple of months ago but I have seen them in Spotlight and other craft stores too.

Before this organiser all my regularly used tools just kind of sat on a shelf in my cupboard, meaning I had to keep going back to find the things I needed (very frustrating!), so hopefully this will help a lot! I've used the Loves Me paper from the 2007 Summer mini but you could use any designer series paper. Please do check out Kirrily's, she has a much tidier finish than mine! Unfortunately, mine has ended up a bit rough looking (especially with the newspaper print on some of the pieces!)

The ribbon section is great for ribbon not on rolls, I've got some Taffeta ribbon and Double-Stitched ribbon in mine. The bigger holes are great for pens, pencils, markers, scissors, aguapainter and blender pens. The other sections are perfect for all the other tools and bits and pieces! I hope this inspires you! Show me pics of your own if you do make one!

Truly Honoured

I recently received this award from Leah and Kirrily, a big thank you to them! I really am truly honoured to receive this and I hope my blog continues to be enjoyed! I pass this award onto . . . (drum roll please) . . . Elisabeth! She has some absolutely stunning creations on her blog, check them out!

Party Time

Just wanted to post a cute photo of Makayla with her friend Josiah at Paige's party. Aren't they gorgeous? It was a beautiful day and everyone loved the jumping castle (even some of the adults had a turn)!

Makayla's Creation

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

My daughter is going to a birthday party today, and this is the card I helped her make. The stamp set is Birthday Whimsy (a SAB set) and I have it for sale. The colours are Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence and Lovely Lilac. We've stamped the images on Whisper White cardstock and then cut them out and popped them up on dimensionals on the Orchid Opulence cardstock.

Makayla is very much looking forward to going to "Paige's house" for the party (she's been asking to go all week) and I know she is going to love the jumping castle! Lets just pray the weather stays fine!

Spring Mini Catalogue

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

The Spring Mini is here! I've been poring over my personal copy for weeks now, drooling over the beautiful new stamp sets and accessories! Now it's your turn. I've got my customer copies and I will be sending them out to those on my mailing list for FREE! If you would like your very own FREE copy to drool over, please contact me.

I've recently had a team meeting and this is the card we made. It's a CASE of a card in the mini. The base card is in Old Olive, the designer series paper is from the mini and is called Holiday Harmony, the ribbon is Purely Pomegranate double stitched and the brads are silver. The original card in the mini uses a chipboard star, on this card we've used the large star punch on some of the Holiday Harmony paper to create a similar effect. I've decided it's probably time to start making Christmas cards, only 5 months till Christmas from today!!! I hope this one inspires you!

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Return of the Stamping Cupboard

Images © 1990-2008 Stampin' Up!®

Well, I have my cupboard set up again (not the rest of the room though)! And as soon as I got everything organised and back in the cupboard I made this card for my hubby's birthday! I got the inspiration from my upline Kirrily, and I'm very happy with how it turned out (even hubby was impressed). It was a very quick one too, it only took about 5-10 minutes (still made with lots of love though!), it just came together all on its own.

I've used the Polka Dots and Petals stamp set (pg. 47) and the So Many Sayings hostess set. I've stamped some of the Polka Dots and Petals images randomly on Whisper White cardstock, then mounted that on Not Quite Navy cardstock. I attached some Chocolate Chip Taffeta ribbon (pg. 146) and some Hodgepodge (pg. 144) to the Not Quite Navy piece and then mounted that onto the Close to Cocoa cardstock. Finally, I stamped the sentiment onto Whisper White cardstock and punched out with my oval punch (pg. 142) and inked around the edges with my ink pad. The ink colours are Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy and Close to Cocoa.

I hope you like it!