I love flowers

If you're a blog surfer like me, you would have noticed that handmade flower embellishments are all the thing at the moment! And of course I just had to have a go!!

I pulled out my Big Shot and one of the Sizzix flower layers dies, some coloured felt, buttons and thread. Here's my first go:

I used shades of lilac, white, blue and green (although mental note: don't use green felt as a background - quite loud!!). Light blue buttons and a brooch backing, means I can use these to dress up something. No brooch backing and I have a flower for a scrap layout or card. Cool!!

I have more colour combo's and different textures in mind. Back to the Big Shot!!

Take a break ...

... from scrapbooking and try something else. Don't worry, it's not my motto, just needed to focus on getting ahead for birthdays of families and friends. And yes, I'm behind but only by a few days (thank goodness). I shall try to redeem myself next month (not so many birthdays in February !!!).

Anyway, I made a little gift card purse for my sister. As she lives interstate, it was easier to get a gift voucher for her from her favourite stores, rather than me try to figure out what she has, needs, wants etc....

The gift card came with its own birthday card and envelope, but nope, into the scrap basket for those and time for me to make something! So I made this little gift card purse. I saw a good friend of mine make several last weekend and thought to myself, I can do it too! Here's a picture before I explain any further!! I would only make a mess of it otherwise!!

Hmmm, the colours are a bit dull but I used a light green textured cardstock for the base and covered it with lilac patterned paper. A few folds here and there and the purse is made. I did neaten the corners with the corner punch and fastener by using circle punches and a silver brad. I then added rhinestones and Kindy Glitz to highlight the flowers (only on the front side).

The gift purse opens up to reveal the inside containing the gift card. Here's what I mean:

Hooray, the colours are a bit brighter and more true to what I made. I used some more patterned paper and folded it into a gift card holder, using sticky strip to hold it together (you just can't beat its sticking power) and a circle punch for the notch. I don't have any dimensions for you, it was just fold and see how I go. I folded the cardstock first and then added the patterned paper. Simple really, trust me :0)

Anyway, I hope this present made it safely to my sister before she views this post, otherwise SURPRISE!!

Here are the next two....

Following the beachy theme, I also created two more really quick scrap pages. Without photos, they're not quite complete but you will see what I'm trying to achieve. My plan is to matt photos with some coordinating blue and brown cardstocks!!

Once again I've used the matching papers and the stamped images (I've fallen in love with them!). This time they have a strip of printed vellum and lots of room for photos. Mental note ... ask my husband to get the computer down from the roof storage!!

To add a bit of interest, I've added some photo corners cut with Stampin' Up! punch!

I'm not sure if you can tell, but I've used my crop-a-dile to set a copper coloured eyelet in the centre of the large frangipanis. I've also used So Saffron & Baja Breeze ink to colour the flowers. A bit of glitter and Stampin' Dimensionals, and they're done!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: SU Natural Beauty (retired) & frangipanis (from my collection)
Papers: Vanilla & Brown cardstock, patterned papers and vellum
Inks: SU Basic Brown, So Saffron and Baja Breeze
Other: Eyelets, Kindy Glitz & SU Photo Corners Punch

Finally .... some more scrappin' pictures to show!

I've finally finished a few Scrap pages that made over the weekend with a friend of mine. I haven't put the photos in (minor computer glitch - my Fiji photos are on the computer stored safely in the roof!!). These ideas came from some pages my friend was demonstrating, but we both added our own touches to make them a little bit different and unique!

This first pages represents the sea with the sandy coloured paper and the ocean blue paper. I've used printed vellum at the top and added some stamped images matted with matching cardstock. Only the shells and dream stamped images are Stampin' Up! products - the rest is from my private stash (and yes, it's very big!!).


The second page has a mini-scrap book attached to it with room for more photos (when I get them!!). This time I've ribbon on the book and distressed the edges of the stamped squares and the book. Of course, all Stampin' Up! stamps as well as the ribbon!

If you're curious to know what Stampin' Up! products and sets I've used, here they are:

Stamps: Life's a Breeze, Crab & Company (retired) & Natural Beauty (retired)
Ribbon: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain

Stampin' Up! Sale-a-Bration 2010 is here!

The famous annual Stampin' Up! Sale-A-Bration is here.

Sale-a-bration details:

• Spend $100* and earn one free Sale-A-Bration set of your choice.
• Host a workshop of at least $600* and earn one free Sale-A-Bration set in addition to the generous hostess benefits.
• Join Stampin' Up! during Sale-A-Bration and choose a free stamp set** from the Idea book & Catalogue (valued up to $79.95)
  

Click here to see Sale-A-Bration catalogue!

Sale-A-Bration runs from 25 January to 31 March 2010!

Contact me now to make your order!

Let's help Stampin' Up! donate to the Haiti Disaster Relief Fund

Help make a difference in the lives of those who continue to suffer from the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January.

From now until 28 February, 2010, Stampin' Up!® will set aside $2 from the sale of every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set and donate it to the Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

The Red Cross is already well established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

Contact me for more information or to order your set now!

It's been a while .....

... between posts. So far my resolutions for the new year, haven't stayed very strong!!

Anyway, it's always a challenge combining family life with work, school holidays, a few bugs and the computer, but we aim to try - if not please.

I've finally finished one of the projects I've been working on frantically to have finished for our trip to Melbourne over the weekend. The good news is, I finished them - the bad news is, I forgot to pack them. Doh!!

Meet my pocket friends - Bella, Isla and Lily. Named in honour of my three nieces, the recipients!!

They are cute, if I do say so myself!!

And a close up!

I hope you like my newest felties! I hope my nieces like them too!

SU Inventory Clearance Update

Sale details:

• Inventory Clearance Sale products are only available at their discounted price during the promotion period.
• There is no minimum purchase required to receive the discount.
• There is no limit to the number of Inventory Clearance Sale items you can purchase.
• All items are products featured in the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalogue.
• All stamp sets included in the Inventory Clearance Sale are square cut.
• Inventory Clearance Sale items are only available at the sale price while supplies last.

Inventory Clearance Sold Out* Products:

Item No. 116376 - Jumbo Outline Alphabet Stamp Set (as listed on page 121)
Item No. 116442 - Just Riding Stamp Set (as listed on page 68)
Item No. 116440 - Wild West Alphabet Stamp Set (as listed on page 122)

Click here to see the full Inventory Clearance Stock List!

This offer is available until 24 January 2010!

Contact me now to make your order!

Happy New Year 2010!

A Happy New Year to each and everyone of you!

Can you believe it's already 2010? Christmas went by so fast and we're now already basking in the summer sun of January and school holiday fun! Well, it was fun for me! My holidays end today and I'm back at work tomorrow. Over the next few weeks, my husband and I will be juggling days off and work, to look after our sons during the school holidays! Funny isn't it? Both my husband and I get 6 weeks each of recreation leave from work, but it still isn't enough to cover a year of school holidays, especially if we want some family time!!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you the last of the Christmas cards I received while I was in Melbourne. Thanks to a postal strike, some of the cards were a little late, but made it none-the-less!

A card from friend and SU Demonstrator - Selena:

From my friend Yvonne:

From my friend Michelle:

A card from friend and SU Demonstrator - Chris:

And here's a few last minute cards from me:

Stamps: Botanical Blooms & Many Merry Messages
Ink: Basic Brown, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa and Ruby Red
Papers: Whisper White, Ruby Red and Old Olive
Other: Dazzling Diamonds & Blender Pens

Anyway, that's it for Christmas 2009. So over the next weeks I look forward to some summer fun!