With Sympathy

Making sympathy cards is always a difficult task.  Either because you're dealing with a difficult and sad situation or you're trying to compose an appropriate card.

I wanted to make a card for a friend to express my sympathy for the passing of her mother.  Wondering what to do, I decided to check some of the resources out there in web world, to see what I could do with one of my Stampin' Up! stamp sets - Close as a Memory.

There's so many resources out there and one of the bigger ones, is Splitcoast Stampers.  I looked up the SU stamp set and found a simple but very elegant card by Nellie.  Click here to see for yourself.

I have 'cased' the card almost exactly, just changing colours and ribbon type.  This card would also be perfect for wedding cards, anniversary cards and any other cards, where you need a simple and non-fussy design!

 
I have used the following supplies:

Stamps: Close as a Memory
Papers: Bashful Blue & Whisper White CS
Inks: Vintage Violet (retired)
Other: Taffeta ribbon & Big Shot* with Elegant Bouquet embossing folder

* Big Shot will be available from 1 April 2010 when the SU Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue is released!

Last week of Sale-A-Bration

Yep, the last week of Sale-A-Bration is here!  

Don't miss out on your chance to earn free and exclusive stamp sets from Stampin' Up!.

For more information - click here or email me!!  You've got until 31 March 2010!!

Scrapbooking Nature

Another scrapbooking project I finished over the weekend is this one.  I actually finished the layout a few weeks ago, but didn't know what photos to use with it.  While tidying up over the weekend, I found my pictures I had taken during a Digital Camera/Photography course.  All of these photos were favourites of mine, take with the macro function on the camera.  It's amazing the detail you can capture, once you know how!!

There are only two colours of cardstock used in these layouts - Very Vanilla and Taken with Teal.  Cool huh!

I used to be the biggest Chocolate Chip - aholic fan, but now I have been converted to Close to Cocoa.  I've used Close to Cocoa ink for both the stamping and the sponging. 

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Embrace Life, Artfully Asian & the dragonfly stamp (a freebie I got from a magazine years ago)
Papers: Very Vanilla & Taken with Teal CS
Inks: Close to Cocoa
Other: Twinkling H2Os (emerald), rhinestones & Stampin' Dimensionals

And yes, if you're wondering, this layout is what inspired my February calendar page and the layout design was generously given to me by my friend Trudy :o)

An Easter Scrap Layout

Last Friday night (at our monthly scrap night), I started my Easter 2009 scrap layout.  I struggled and struggled for a while, but finally over the weekend I was able to pull it together and finish my two page layout.  Well, almost finished ... I still need to do my title.  Must pull out my Cricut, dust it off and give it a whirl! 

Disregarding my Dutch tablecloth in the background, you can see my totally handmade layout.  Both pages have clouds sponged with Bashful Blue using a scallop circle as a template.  I made my fence with Close to Cocoa CS and used my Weathered stamp & Close to Cocoa ink to give the fence posts 'texture'.

I wanted to combine my Easter layout with the feeling of Spring colour and Easter images.  Quite funny actually, seeing as Easter falls in Autumn here in Australia!!

I'm not sure if you can see my butterflies punched from Almost Amethyst DSP and highlighted with glitter.  The detail of the punch is amazing!!  So here's a closer look:

  Now I'll try and remember what I used (there's a fair bit!!):

Stamps: Chocolate Bunny, A Good Egg & Eggcroutements
Inks: Close to Cocoa, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pixie Pink & Lavender Lace
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Almost Amethyst, Old Olive & Close to Cocoa CS and Tea Party DSP
Punches: SU Scallop Edge, Butterfly & 1" circle & Detailed Butterfly (non-SU)
Other: Rhinestones, Pearls, Ribbon, Glitter, Paper Flowers, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sponge, White Signo Gel ink pen, Big Shot* & SU Little Leaves Die*

*Big Shot and Stampin' Up! Exclusive Dies will be available in the Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue from Stampin' Up!.  Both will be available from 1 April 2010

Easter Cards & Tags

Now that I'm on top of my Easter boxes and baskets, I can now get back in the mode of Easter card making.  I promise ... they're almost done and I will move on to something else!!

This card was completely cased from one of my favourite blogs - Inking Idaho.  I visit it most days and love the projects I find there!!  Of course, I had to make the card mine, so I have made a few little changes!!

You might be able to see that embossed the background, and I stamped the pink egg with the flower stamp from the A Good Egg set and coloured in the centres with the white gel pen.  I so LOVE that pen, it's the best one on the market.  Thanks SU!!  I used:


Stamps: A Good Egg & Chocolate Bunny
Inks: Close to Cocoa and Pink Pirouette
Papers: Old Olive (textured), Pink Passion, Close to Cocoa and Pretty in Pink CS and Tea Party DSP
Other: White gel pen, scallop edge punch, oval punches, sponge daubers, ribbons and pom poms.

This tag was inspired by another blog find - click here to find the Stamptastic Blog.  I just wanted to use up some of my scraps from my Easter projects and make some tags.  As my nephews and nieces live in a different state to us, I send them gifts for Easter (like books), so it's great to be able to attach their own little tag!!

Here's what I used for this one (using scraps of course)!!

Stamps: A Good Egg
Inks: Chocolate Chip
Papers: Very Vanilla, Green Galore & Whisper White CS and Tea Party DSP
Other: Scallop Circle, 5 petal flower and Boho Blossom punches, white brad & grosgrain ribbon

Super Easy and a good way to use scraps.  I like it!!

Easter Coaster Basket Part 2

As promised, I have taken a couple of photos to show the 'other' sides of my Easter Basket made with drink coasters!!  Apologies in advance for the photos, but I hope to start using some of the photography tips I see out there in blog world!!

This side is rather plain, now that I look at it closely - so I might bling it up over the weekend!!

My big boy Luke happily punched my butterfly and we put it on the pink side (his words .... it matches mum).  A great Easter project for kids and I am so happy I did it!!


Here's what we used:

Stamps: Bunny Hugs (retired), Eggcoutrements and Easter Eggs (non-SU from my stash I bought years ago)
Papers: Green Galore & Whisper White CS and Kaleidoscope DSP
Inks: Basic Brown, Pixie Pink, Cool Caribbean, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive
Other: Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, SU white grosgrain ribbon, yellow ribbon (non-SU) & pom poms

I hope you enjoy!!

Easter 'Coaster' Basket

Easter projects are in full swing here in my household. So far, we've been working on boxes and baskets for Easter!! Soon, I'll get back into the many cards I need to make and put in the mail!!

This basket was inspired by a project tutorial I purchased. Click here more info. Using coasters I borrowed from the local club, I painted one side of them (they were printed on both sides), I then decorated with the Kaleidoscope designer series papers (still available in the Spring Mini) and made my decorations (with Luke's help).

Until I photograph and fill the basket properly .... this is how it looks so far:

This side of the basket features the 'designer label' shaped stamp in the current Eggcroutements stamp set (also available in the Spring Mini), some grass and assorted stamped Easter Eggs.

This side uses an oldie but goodie set - Bunny Hugs (now retired but oh so cute). We gave the bunny a yellow pom pom tail and a few more stamped Easter Eggs hidden in the grass. Yep, we're having fun with our projects!!

You also might have noticed the sides of each coaster are 'threaded' with ribbons. Aren't they cute!! And thank heavens for my crop-a-dile which made the holes. It's gotta be one of the best tools a stamping girl could ever have!!

Anyway, I'll be back tomorrow with the rest of the box! See you soon!

Easter Projects for Kids

Luke and I have been having a great time making Easter boxes and baskets. Today he asked if I would take photos of his latest creations and share them here on my blog.

We used the instructions for the boxes that I got late last year at the Stampin' Up! regional training here in Canberra. Luke decorated the outside with Easter Egg stamps that he worked so hard on, colouring and cutting each one out!! I wish I had taken a photo of his artistic work.

The inside is filled with paper confetti and candy Easter Eggs. Perfect gifts for his friends and teachers at school (if they last that long!!).

.Just email me if you want the instructions/cutting templates for the boxes. They are super easy and I love the flip top lid!!

Easter Carton

If you're a blog hopper like me :) you might have noticed a lot of projects using the Milk Carton template, especially around Christmas. My Big Boy Luke loved the ones we made for Christmas and when he saw me cutting one in yellow, he wanted it for himself! And who was I but to oblige!!

Not having the Stampin' Up! Big Shot die available in the US (and hopefully one day soon here), I used the template I purchased from the Becky Roberts blog. I then used the extra-large circle punch (available in the Spring Mini) and used acetate to create a "window". Looking at my photo, I can see I didn't centre the circle very well. Oh well, I have more to make. This one was just practice!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: A Good Egg
Inks: So Saffron & Close to Cocoa
Papers: So Saffron, Whisper White & Taken with Teal CS, scrap of Kaleidoscope DSP
Other: Scallop Circle & 1 3/4" circle punch, White Signo gel ink pen, Kiwi Kiss/Vanilla satin ribbon and acetate. Use your crop-a-dile tool for hole punching and a pin for piercing!

As you can see, I have then taken a small sized cello bag, filled it with Easter Eggs and made a little boy happy. The carton was going to be So Saffron with pink coloured tags, but I changed it for Luke using Taken with Teal. I also used my Aquash brush to colour in the chick!

Enjoy the Easter Eggcoutrements Class at home!

Looking for an Easter project with the cute Eggcoutrements stamp set from Stampin' Up!?

This project is perfect for kids and adults alike. Make it a family event in your home!

In this HOME CLASS you'll create these super cute bunny baskets to hold a few special Easter Treats, and their 8 matching monochromatic Easter Cards.* All eight of the cards are a perfect size to give on their own or with treats!

Cost $25

To reserve your At Home Kit with all the templates, instructions and papers, please call me or email me before 31 March 2010.

Click here for more information.

* This class uses Designer Series Papers available in Australia, not as pictured.

Preparing for Easter

Luke (my almost 7 year old) loves art & craft. We have set up a trestle table in our rumpus/toy/tv/study room (very versatile room!) so we can sit together and make stuff.

Easter is a big event in my house and I'm preparing some projects that Luke can make with some of his friends. Maybe a bit of stamping, colouring in or using punches. Something nice and easy. So I made this little card for a practice run and Luke loves it. Kids might need a bit of help with the tying of ribbons, but otherwise very easy. I originally saw the punch bunny on this blog and converted it to my card:

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Occasional Greetings & A Good Egg
Inks: So Saffron, Pink Pirouette & Close to Cocoa
Papers: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pink Pirouette and So Saffron CS
Other: Ribbon, Crochet thread, Circle punches (various sizes), eyelet, crop-a-dile, sponge daubers, black marker pen and Signo white gel pen.

For instructions visit the link to the Chic' n Scratch website or contact me!

March 2010

Don't you just love public holidays on a Monday??? Today, is Canberra Day and there is nothing nicer than a sleep-in on a Monday morning after a busy weekend. The only alarm clock we had was Matthew waking and waiting to be picked up out of his cot.

But then I realised how behind I am on my blogging!! I haven't even shown you my March calendar month!! So here it is, at least it's still the month of March and only 8 days late!!

This calendar page was inspired by a scrap layout I had just finished. These small pages are perfect for using up scraps!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Embrace Life, Artfully Asian (retired) & Live your Dream (retired)
Inks: Close to Cocoa
Papers: Very Vanilla & Taken with Teal
Other: Dragonfly stamp (a freebie I received with a magazine a few years ago), rhinestones, Twinkling H2Os and sponge daubers.

SU Haitian Relief Results

Once again, Stampin′ Up! demonstrators have shown what Stampin′ Up! is all about by making a difference in the lives of others. Worldwide, demonstrators sold 13,587 of the stamp sets that were set aside for Haitian relief. From each of those sales, Stampin′ Up! will donate $2 to the Red Cross’ Haiti Relief and Development Fund. That’s over $27,000 (US) donated to people who desperately need your help. Congratulations!

Thank you all for your efforts!