Can you believe it's the last day of October??? Another month has gone by so fast - maybe it has something to do with being so busy!! Whatever the reason, the weather is definitely warmer, the lovely green grass is starting to dry out and the garden is just full on blooms and petals (on the ground from all the windy days......).


Today I finished my second baby boy card. This one uses a very different technique for me. Collage! I actually like it and am curious about what else I can do with this technique.


I went back to the Stampin' Up! Nursery Necessities stamp set, with punches, ribbons and buttons. I used the Stampin' Up! colours of Soft Sky, Certainly Celery and Wild Wasabi. They actually look really nice together and just perfect for a boys card!


Anyway, I hope you like it. It's back to studying for me. Luckily all the tax returns are done!

ps. this is just a short post for me. Our internet connection always plays up when its windy. It keeps dropping out - but I plan on having my website updated for November. As always stay tuned :)

Nursery Necessities

With Spring weather here - you wouldn't expect to catch a cold ... but here I am today sitting at the computer with a constant supply of tissues by my side. This little bug has visited all of my family - so miserable children, runny noses and lots of tissues and Vicks balm is in order! On top of all that, I've had to do 5 tax returns (I must get them done by 31 Oct, I must get them done by 31 Oct, I must ......) as well as my uni assignment! It's the land of the crazy times!


But in all this chaos - two friends have had baby boys over the last few days. Is there something in the water??? So I dug out the Nursery Bundles Kit that I got a few months ago and had a play. While surfing the web - I saw a really lovely card, so I made my version. I can't remember where - but when I do, I'll upload the link. I have one more to make - hopefully by tonight if not tomorrow - so they can be sent off before the weekend officially starts.

I'll upload the details on the Gallery page!

I've also had sneak peeks of the offers from Stampin' Up! for November and from their Summer Mini Catalogue for December. You'll be back wanting more. I am trying to prioritise everything I want in a list.... lucky I have my Christmas wish list in order! I feel like Stampin' tonight!
Speaking of Christmas.... contact me if you would like a Stamp with Me gift voucher. Perfect presents for your friends and family (or even yourself) to use for getting your Stampin' Up! goodies!

Perhaps you should drop a hint in your partner's ear...................

My study is almost done!

I have been saving this piccy - just in case! And today's the day to use it! Remember the sneak peek on 23 October and then the unveiling of the card on 24 October??? Well, I also enclosed the gift voucher and card in a matching envelope. I then used lovely green and silver organza ribbon to wrap the envelope and made a matching tag using the Scallop Circle and Circle punches from Stampin' Up! as well as decorating it with flowers.

What do you think of my roses in the background?? At the moment our side fence is absolutely full of beautiful yellow and white miniature roses (I think it's called the Banksia rose). It took a bit of a beating yesterday in the wind and dust storm. There are petals all over the place. But the roses still look beautiful :)


Now back to the reason why I was saving this one for another day! I'm supposed to be writing a university assignment. Actually, I am - it's just not finished yet but only 300 words or so to go!! Woohoo!! The end is almost in sight! I've spent the last 2 days on study leave working pretty hard if I do say so myself. I hardly emailed and surfed the web at all! Amazing really!

Blog Surfer


Are you a blog surfer like me??


Giving myself a 5 minute study break, every hour - I surfed really quickly through the web. I didn't read anything - I just looked at pictures. I noticed a common theme was occurring with Christmas cards! Maybe it was just me, but it seemed like every second (or maybe third) card used the Dashing Designer Series Paper (DSP) from Stampin' Up! with the Stampin' Up! Big Bold Birthday set! Might have something to do with the fact that this set is available for October at 20% off!


Not having the paper or the stamp set. I decided to make my own version and dug out my Holiday Wishes set that I bought from Stampin' Up! last year (and yes :) it's in the current Ideas Book & Catalogue) and made my own version. I also used scrap pieces of the Wintergreen DSP. Using Ruby Red and Gold ink it was really quick. Luckily really, as I'm supposed to be studying............ 1200 words to go! Woohoo!

Lately, I have tried to take all my Christmas pictures propped on our beautiful real Christmas Tree outside. Today it was just too windy and too dusty to venture out with the camera! Would be a real shame to get dust on the lens! So back to the boring kitchen backdrop!

Make sure you check out my Countdown to Christmas page. I've updated it with my latest offering for your Christmas preparations featuring the Festive Favourites stamp set from Stampin' Up! You might remember this set was our focus for the Stamp Camp held last week. We made a beautiful card pouch with 4 designer matching cards. You can still contact me about how you too can make all this or head to my Kits to Go page!

I've also made a Christmas themed card of the one I made yesterday. Be sure to check that out too in my Countdown to Christmas!

Best Wishes sort of day


What a busy day it was and what a way to start the weekend! Big Boy Luke started his first ever cricket season! Baby Matthew and I just had to go and watch. Big Boy Luke looked so proud in his Milo cricket gear. In fact he even wore the tshirt to a birthday party later that day.... He's already counting down sleeps to the next session!


Speaking of birthdays, it's really birthday week for my friends. Three girls in three days. Lots of reasons to get my kit out and make cards. In fact, when I was "surfing the web" - I saw a card I really liked by Jayne Mercer. Check her website out - very talented stuff. But anyway, I made the card with my take. I'm really pleased how it turned out and have plans for some others..............


It was such a lovely warm spring day - that we spent as much time as we could outside (even Baby Matthew in the shade!). Summer is surely on the way! Gave me the thought, that I need to spring clean my Gallery page. Here's hoping anyway, but I'll put the 'recipe' for this card in the Gallery page!

Here it is!

Okay, all is revealed! This card is using the most simplest of layering techniques but I hope I have added interest with the colours and stamps that I used.

White Layer: This uses the really pretty flower stamp from the Stampin' Up! Close as a Memory set. I have coloured it in using Stampin' Write Markers in the colours of Stampin' Up! Classic colours of Yoyo Yellow, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive. Let the colours of the flowers blend in together - it promises to be beautiful!


Black Layer: For this I used the Encore!® metallic ink pad in silver which I then rolled with the Stampin' Around Wheel and handle using the Watercolour Joy wheel.

The green layer: Also uses the Stampin' Write Marker in Old Olive and the Stampin' Up! sprinkles stamp on the Wild Wasabi green cardstock.

Put all the pieces together and you have a simple design but a beautifully presented card! I don't normally use green and blacks as strong feature colours on my cards, but I thought green would go with the Thai Massage Treatment Voucher I gave which was also a strong shade of green (fairly close to Wild Wasabi actually). Beautifully presented, I was really happy with it!

Oh, and before I forget - the sentiment of Best Wishes came from the Short & Sweet Set which is one of the sets currently on offer with Stampin' Up!'s 20th birthday celebrations. This stamp set and others (see Home page) are 20% off for the month of October. Contact me to get yours before time runs out!

A Sneak Peek!


I forgot to mention yesterday, that Baby Matthew was 11 months old. Boy has that time flown by. Baby Matthew and I went through a lot together during my difficult pregnancy but when I look at him now – it sure makes it all worthwhile. He’s sitting next to me in his high chair talking to me and the dog. Don’t you just love baby talk?
Today’s card is just a sneak peek of a card I am giving to a friend tomorrow. You get to see a snippet really.... can’t ruin my surprise for her!! I get such lovely feedback about my cards and my website – so it’s really encouraging!

I had a mix & match theme happening, with 3 different Stampin' Up! stamp sets in use, with green and black as the feature colours and a smattering of colours with the inks. You'll just have to wait until tomorrow for the whole story!!

You'll be pleased to know I am making progress on my uni assignment albeit very slowly. Keep being distracted ................. like tidying up the craft table. Can't see the table for the chaos!

Snappy Day :)


Real snappy post today and a real snappy card too (but oh so easy!). I wanted to make a birthday card and use flowers..... not having any on hand - I decided to make my own! I used the Stampin' Up! small oval punch to make the petals, overlaying and sticking them together one oval at a time. Using a button and silver cord with some glue dots, I managed to stick them all securely down!


I wanted to make a floral background feature on the card - so guess what Stampin' Up! set I used??? Season of Joy - that's right you heard it here first! A Christmas set!!
I used Stampin' Up! Classic Ink in Real Red to make the flowers, only loading with ink after every second stamp - effectively causing lighter and darker red flowers. I used glitter to highlight their centres, and voila! Flowers.


I used really simple layering and colours with the 'wish big' stamp from the Short & Sweet set from Stampin' Up! This set is so great - and it's one of the lovely sets you can buy through Stampin' Up!'s birthday promotion at 20% discount. Contact me for more information on how you too can get special priced birthday sets!

I know I need to upload/update my gallery page with all the colours/inks/stamps etc I used - but it will have to wait. My uni assignment awaits...........

Paper Christmas Decorations



It's that time of the year again where I MUST write my final assignment for my uni subject. I have set the challenge of a minimum of 500 words a day. It might sound easy but when you are a procrastinator like me - it's next to impossible. Surely I need to clean the house, do the washing again???


So in honour of my limited time today - I made some quick paper Christmas decorations. I know Christmas is a still whole 10 weeks away - but I just couldn't help myself from looking at my stash of Christmas papers and using them.


The ball ornament uses paper, glue & cord. The star ornament uses paper, staples & sticky adhesive strip. I think everyone has to have those bits and pieces lying around - if not, dig up some old wrapping paper. You can do it. Instructions are super easy - but I will have to post them another time. But if you simply must have them now - email me!


I am also planning (as much as I can while I'm supposed to be studying) for the Stamp with Me Christmas Extravaganza to be held on Saturday 7 November 2008. Ideas are coming thick and fast but I must do my assignment first :(

Countdown to Christmas - 10 weeks to go!


Can you believe yet another weekend has flown by?

I'm really sorry I didn't get a chance to update my blog (both here and at http://ustampwithme.blogspot.com/ ). Somehow the weekend got away and probably had to do with the fact that I worked all weekend (paid work for an employer that is:) and when I got home baby Matthew was so clingy that I barely got a moment to myself..... although it is nice to be missed by the boys!


So I also need to apologise for the delay in updating my Countdown to Christmas page (I made the promise to update my countdown each Sunday in the lead up to Christmas). Here is the sneak peek... it will all be updated properly by tonight!


The aim of this countdown challenge was to use something else other than stamps - such as the Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! or their really clever and versatile punches. Of course you can never really run too far away from stamps ... but it's nice to take a different perspective.
For the birdy card, I used the circle punch and the Boho blossom punch from Stampin' Up! and inked the edges. A scrap of orange and a black pen finished the bird. I made my own background by stamping snowflakes in the background highlighted with glitter and using silver cord to "sew" a star in the top corner.

The pouch also uses the same colour theme but the 'wrap' is highlighted with the use of two circle punches and the scallop circle (don't you love the shades of green?) and then overlaid on the Certainly Celery Grosgrain ribbon from Stampin' Up! I love that ribbon. Email me if you would like to get the template for the pouch.


For the project recipe and details on this project - head to the Countdown to Christmas page. See you there!

Happiness is ................. a Cupcake!


How cute is this? I needed a girly moment! When Big Boy Luke made me his Mother's Day Card, inside he had written (with his teacher's help) ... I love my mum because she makes cupcakes. Isn't that beautiful. Well today, I just had to make myself a cupcake. A non-fattening one for a change!


I am trying desperately to remember where I got my idea - but I think I got it from this blog while I was surfing the web thinking about cupcakes ........ http://linseyrickett.blogspot.com/
I used the Sprinkles and Warm Words set/s from Stampin' Up, the wonderful white gel pen to "sew" the edges, some buttons to jazz the "icing" and Stampin' Up! markers for the lines of the "cupcake paper". You can do so much with such a simple idea!!? My challenge is to you .......... what can you bake with your cupcakes! Email me your pictures and we'll have a "bake off"!!

This card is off to visit Australia Post tomorrow - as it gets delivered to my friend's daughter for her birthday. Of course, we share a fondness of cupcakes which helps!

Simply Sent Play Day!

Okay okay. You got me. If you are following my blog at http://www.stampwithme.com.au/ you would have noticed I had mucked up all my dates this week. Basicly, I can't tell what day is what! My days were wrong as were the months – and I note – no one was brave enough to tell me! Maybe I'm trying to rush myself through the year when I really thought I wanted time to slow down!

Topsy Turvy sort of day today. I had to pick up my boys from 'school' today at 1pm (normally about 5pm). While it is absolutely lovely to spend the day with Big Boy Luke and Baby Matthew, everything else has to just wait a while (like my uni assignment I keep putting off!). Today Big Boy Luke had a friend over and Baby Matthew didn't want to sleep – so I ended up playing stop & start at my craft table all day. Took 6 hours to make 2 cards!

I just had to play again with my Simply Sent™ Sending Happy Thoughts card kit. I like to try and use the stamp sets from Stampin' Up! as much as I can before moving on to the next set!

The card on the right was inspired by the examples given by Stampin' Up! To see what I mean - pick up your copy of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue and turn to page 13 for the cards made with the kit and then further on to page 15. You will see a picture of a card made with a different set (a hostess set - contact me if you would like to know how to get those!) I took the principles of the card on page 15 and applied it to this.

If you know me - you know I love flowers! It was so much fun to pick colours for the blooms and use it on the green cardstock. Can you see the little buttons I used as centres? I have had them laying around for ages and never had the heart to use them! You can't really tell in the photo, but I used some dazzling diamonds and glue (also came in the Simply Sent™ Sending Happy Thoughts card kit) to highlight the buttons! Stampin' Up! give you such a great range in colours it was really hard to choose what colours - but I went back to the colours I have always used since I was a little girl for drawing and colouring my flowers!

The card on the left is made from the Stampin' Up! design in the kit. What do you think of the red ribbon? It's a funky design - but a note of advice - it is really hard to use for tying into knots and bows as it is so thick. The cards where only a small piece of the ribbon is used is easier. For the floral card - I used sticky strip on the back of the ribbon. So easy!


Anyway, it's late. I should think about going to bed. I've got lots to do tomorrow to make up for finishing early today.....

Sending Happy Thoughts!


I've been playing with my Simply Sent™ Sending Happy Thoughts card kit I got from Stampin' Up! last week. I tried sticking to the suggested designs but just had to break free and do my own thing. Of course you can see the inspiration came from their suggested layouts (after all, they provide the cardstock pieces cut to size, the inkspots and brads) but I had to play by myself!


What do you think?


The colours that came in this pack included Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive from Stampin' Up! These are colours that I wouldn't normally use but it was fun playing with them. I had to add my own touch with ribbons and sponging on edges but overall I'm reasonably happy with the results. I think I'm going to try a different colour palette next time, maybe pinks and blues. I have to use girly colours with flowers after all!


ps....I didn't get to play 'Make it Monday'. Something to do with being on afternoon shift this week, cleaning the house in the mornings, looking after Baby Matthew when I get home from work (he is getting better with his sleeps thank goodness!).


I will promise to do better :)

Close as a Memory


Ever had to make a difficult or sad card? Today I made a Sympathy card for the passing of a friend's husband. I used the Close as a Memory set from Stampin' Up! This was a set that I had on standby and always wondered when I would use it. It's the perfect set for expressing the sentiments that we find so hard to put in words.

I used a very simple colour scheme for this card. The cardstock used the tones of greens, blues and lavender. Very minimal in stamping and embellishment but simple in design and clean in finish.

I paper-pricked some of the lavender card in the corner and inked the edges, but didn't really want to do too much.

Stampin' Up! colours used are: Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky and Lavender Lace with only the ink of Stampin' Up! Lovely Lilac used.
My thoughts are with our friend's family at this time.

On a cheerier note - it's Monday today. Make it Monday in fact. My mind is starting to think about what to make! Stay tuned!

Countdown to Christmas - 11 weeks to go!

Arrived back home today. Absolutely exhausted! Worth the effort though to celebrate my 6 year old nephew's birthday. Big boy Luke was so excited and didn't want to come home. Baby Matthew travelled really well - despite lack of sleeps! As for me, I think I am the world champion bag carrier! A pack-horse in disguise. Really!


I've just posted the next piece in my Countdown to Christmas.

This week we featured the Season of Joy set from the Spring Mini Catalogue of Stampin' Up! It's really cute. I wish I could have prepared more for the Countdown but time was surely at a premium this week.... something to do with travelling to Melbourne!!


Haven't decided on next week's theme yet :) Stay posted for that one!

ps And yes - I have posted this picture before. You need to go to my website and the Countdown to Christmas page for more info. Sneaky???

Last day of Celebrating World Card Making Week

Thought I would pay my Blog a very quick visit to remind you all that today is your last chance to get your Simply Sent™ card kits today.

I am in Melbourne visiting my family and most especially so that Big Boy Luke can go to his cousin Brendan's 6th birthday party. Isn't it amazing how fast kids grow! Was only yesterday they were only babies...........

You can still contact me by email: carolyn@stampwithme.com.au or mobile phone 0417 165 345 if you want to get in quick!

Anyway... just wanted to say hi! See you all soon!

Last day of Celebrating World Card Making Week

Melbourne here we come!


Missed yesterday. Sometimes life keeps you very busy! I had a special day with Big Boy Luke yesterday while the two of us ran errands. He is so growing up and I can see how ready he is getting for big school next year. Amazing to think we're heading towards the last term of preschool next week.


I received my Simply Sent™ Card Kit in the mail today. Aren't they lovely! Have you got yours? These kits are 20% off this week to celebrate World Card Making Day. This offer is on until 11th October 2008 - contact me if you want your own lovely kit. Don't miss out!


They come in this beautifully presented box and when you open it up - it is full of goodies. Packed full! I love it :) The kit contains everything you need to make at least a dozen cards. This will be the perfect kit to take down to Melbourne when I head that way tomorrow with my two boys (my wonderful husband has to stay behind and work). I hope to show all my friends and family!

I'm not sure how many posts I'll be able to do this week - so I'll just have to save it all up for when I get back from Melbourne. I'm very excited as is Big Boy Luke!
Melbourne here we come!

Labour Day Holiday

It was a public holiday today. A day spent at home with my two boys: Big Boy Luke and Baby Matthew. You can never have enough of those days! :)

Other than Luke climbing the walls from boredom (rained on and off today) - I did take some time out to make some cards I am sending friends interested in Stampin' Up!. These will be part of the Christmas Countdown too - so consider this one a sneak peek!!

I used the Season of Joy set from the 2008 Stampin' Up! Spring Mini Catalogue. This set of 8 stamps can be used in so many ways and styles - even for projects that are unrelated to Christmas. Imagine that!

As you can see I background stamped directly on the card. I then used 2 colour ways. The first card uses Green Galore and Yoyo Yellow. The second card used the more muted colours of Certainly Celery and So Saffron. It's amazing how even the slightest colour variation makes a difference to the card!

You will have to wait for the Countdown to Christmas update for the rest of the cards & paper projects you can use with this Season of Joy set. As I promised.... I will be using each stamp in the Christmas set. Just wait and see :)

12 Weeks to Christmas


Are you counting down to Christmas? If you are - you know already that Christmas is less than 12 weeks away. Not that the shops would let you forget anyway!


Here at Stamp with Me - we are going to help you get through the preparations as painlessly as we can! We can't be the Christmas elves that magically clean your house, do your shopping, gift wrap your presents while you are asleep - but we can give you ideas, projects and inspiration to make your handcrafting of cards, gifts and other items! ................. Can you imagine life if there were Christmas elves?? Although sometimes I would settle for the Laundry fairy! My wonderful husband thinks we have one. His dirty washing is left on the floor and hey presto! It comes back clean, folded and put into the wardrobe to wear again :)

Stamp with Me will feature the Countdown to Christmas page. Every Sunday a featured stamp set from Stampin' Up! will be posted. Keep checking to see what's happening!

This week we feature the Peaceful Wishes set from Stampin' Up! It's so beautiful and coordinates perfectly with traditional Christmas colours!

You might also remember that this set was also featured in one of my Stamp-a-Stacks. Click here for more information on using this set in a Stamp-a Stack!

Now I just have to think to the next week of my countdown!! :)

October Rain!

Isn't it lovely to have rain? Even though we have been enjoying the lovely warm Spring weather - having a lot of rain fall this morning and even now as I write this - is just fantastic. Heading to another summer drought is certainly not particularly pleasant. Great weather for getting things done though!

First I took the boys out to the local shops to get a few things. Big boy Luke had cabin fever - so he was happy with the opportunity to run around the park, enjoy a chocolate milkshake and look for magpies. He didn't like all the political candidates hanging around the entrance to the shops - and boy there were a lot of them! Can't say I blame him :)

Anyway, after all our chores and errands - I found the time to finish the set of gift cards that I made last night using the Fun & Fast Notes set from Stampin' Up!. This stamp set makes it easy. I cut each card to size, stamped the image with black StazOn® and coloured the images with markers. I even made envelopes to match and a little box to hold them in. I will be prepared for the next present I have to give!


There are 10 cards in all. Contact me if you would like to get your own Fun & Fast Notes set or the template to make the little gift box. It's such a versatile little set!

Sometimes I get so excited by the Spring Mini Catalogue from Stampin' Up! that you forget about some of the more "routine" stamps in their main catalogue - the Idea Book & Catalogue. If you have your own copy - pick it up and have a flick through again. You'll be pleasantly surprised by what stamp sets are available and what you can do with them!

There are several ways to get your own copy of the Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue if you want one - email me for more information: carolyn@stampwithme.com.au - or - You can look at the online version at http://www.stampinup.com/ :)

What a lovely Spring day!


What a lovely warm day today! Baby Matthew and I had a great time this morning sitting on the front porch watching the world go by. There was a strong breeze which made all the leaves and branches dance and blow white blossom petals everywhere. Mattew was fascinated.

Today I sat down and decided to give myself a Christmas mission. For every Christmas stamp set I have from Stampin' Up! (and between you and I there are a few), I would use every stamp on at least one card. A simple challenge perhaps - but with some of the stamps - not as easy as you think!

Today I focused on the Peaceful Wishes set. I have one more to do (five in total) and I will be uploading them tomorrow. If I time this right - I might just get all my cards made in time for Christmas!

Tomorrow is World Card Making Day! Will you be making cards? I am! I have a birthday card to make for a friend! That's just one of my goals for tomorrow.

To celebrate World Card Making Day, Stampin' Up! are offering 20% off the price of their Simply Sent™ card kits.

Click here for more information or click here for the flyer. These kits have everything you need to make a stack of cards, including exclusive stamps, inks, papers and more. Absolutely perfect for beginners who need to start their kit.

Email me carolyn@stampwithme.com.au if you would like to order your own Simply Sent™ card kits.

This offer only runs for one week of 4 - 11 October 2008. Don't miss out!


This set pictured is the Simply Sent™ Friendly Notes set. Absolutely adorable :)

Happy Birthday Stampin' Up!


Big day today - cleaning up my desk in time for a 5-day long weekend. Happy about that! Baby Matthew is so much better and I even played a game of netball tonight. It all means that I haven't been able to sit and relax and make things - so it's a great opportunity to announce some of the special offers Stampin' Up! have for October!


The big news is we're celebrating Stampin' Up!'s 20th birthday this month. And we're the ones who get to celebrate!


It's 20 years young after all :) During the whole month of October you can get 20% off selected Stampin' Up! Birthday sets when you spend $20 or more on regular catalogue merchandise. And the best part is, you can take advantage of this offer again and again - every time you place an order of $20 or more on regular catalogue merchandise. Happy Birthdays to us!

Click here to see the selected sets on offer.

Contact me to get your own Birthday sets from Stampin' Up!

October is here


Welcome to another exciting month with Stamp with Me!

It's been an unexpected day today! Baby Matthew has yet another ear infection :( and is back on anti-biotics again. So in-between his sleep times - I did a massive clean of the house (you know the sort: dusting, vacuuming, bathrooms and all that fun stuff), cleaned & archived my September files for http://www.stampwithme.com.au/ and finished a card I started yesterday.

I am really pleased with the effects of this card. Stampin' Up! make it so easy! I cut out the window using the square punch and used the Bloomin' with Beauty stamp inside the card to line up with the window. I coloured and lacquered the flower with Stampin' Up! crystal effects and used acetate to cover the window.

The front of the card needed minimal embellishment. Paper piercing, ribbon and a diamante buckle just about do it. A little bit more patience involved then most cards but still nice and easy!
The photo shows (just ever so slightly) the effect of the stamped image inside the card with the card photographed open. Quite a classy card I thought and one I would do again.

I have uploaded all my Gallery Archive files and BLOG Archive files in their respective pages. Feel free to have a look if you need a moment of inspiration. All files are PDF format to make downloading easier!

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