SU Regional Swaps

Saturday (yesterday) was the Stampin' Up! Regionals for SU demonstrators located here in Canberra.  My WH graciously gave me another 'day off' from 'home duties' - so Jessica and I headed to the National Convention Centre here in Canberra.  It was a bit strange at first, there was a big disaster medical convention on (boring) so luckily I worked out that we had to go upstairs and that's where the fun begins!!

It's always a great opportunity to catch up with stamping friends, both old and new.  See some wonderful demonstrations of both new and old products as well as time for stamping.  Yep, stamping at the Convention Centre.  Much more interesting then medical disasters (LOL!!).

Another fantastic experience is 'swapping' with other SU girls.  It's such a great way to see how others use products and stamps, and always unique, individual and different to your own!!  I decided to do something different this year.  I did some baking and then some decorating.  I have very black stained hands to show!!

OK, that's one vanilla butter biscuit, iced and stamped with one of the Artistic Etchings stamps (my favourite set).  I then did some more:

And of course, you can't give biscuits away just like that.  So I made some tags and put individual bikkies in cello bags.  I had a whole bunch of them:

My biscuit recipe is my own, but here is the 'other stuff ' I used:

Stamps: Artistic Etchings
Papers: Baja Breeze CS
Inks: Poppy Parade, Early Espresso & Buckaroo Blue
Other: Cello bags and crochet thread

So I hope you enjoyed my 'take' on swaps!

Halloween Fun

It's not quite Halloween yet and it's not really celebrated here in Australia, but to my seven year old, Halloween is something he likes to enjoy.  My own mother will not be impressed but I'm unable to turn down my seven year old son when it comes to having fun!  He's got a costume ready (a non-spooky Skeleton suit) and we chose some lollies for 'trick or treating'.  No parties in this house this year, but we did make a few little goodies to jazz up Halloween.


Introducing our little friends:

Chuppa the Spider, Boo the Ghost and Owl the Bat!!

Do you like my little Owl @ Bat?  Very cute and so simple!!

He's attached to some wrapped lollies and very cute, but refused to stand up for the photo!!  I saw this project on the blog of the Gulfcoast Stamper and we decided to make some too!

Here's what I used:

Spider: Chenille Sticks, hole punch, black marker and lollipops
Ghost: Facial Tissue, thin black ribbon, hole punch, black marker and lollipops
Bat: Owl and Circle Punches, scraps of paper, glue dots and wrapped lollies

Best go back to creating many more, not many nights left to go until we get some a-knocking-at-the-door!!

Some Scrap Pages

My 2010 New Years resolution was to create a double scrap layout each month.  But like all new year resolutions they kind of started well and then landed in a heap.  I did try and I do hope to try again next year (2011 is not that far away you know!!).  So at our Scrap n Chat nights, I'm gonna spend more time scrapping and less time chatting (LOL!!).  Maybe that could be my next resolution, less chatting!!!  My sons will be amazed!

Last Friday night, I made a double layout using the reinkers and mini-misters as well as stamps and punches.  A sneak peak was revealed with my Sympathy Card post the other day.  Here are my pages I've now added to my album:

I will try to explain in a few words what we did!!  Firstly, we punched butterflies from scrap cardstock and using temporary adhesive, we scattered them over the our 12" x 12" cardstock pieces.  We sprayed a mix of water and reinkers over our pages and also over the butterflies.  We also did this to another piece of cardstock (about half a page this time).  I used 6 drops of Buckaroo Blue (retired) with the mini-mister filled with water.  While it was drying, we created the photo mats.  When dry, remove the butterflies.

With Basic Grey ink, we then stamped a flourish image over the cardstock, kind of being selective where we stamped and then sponged the edges with the same colour ink.  We did the same with the spare piece of cardstock, although we used Basic Black and then punched some butterflies from it.  Interestingly the Basic Black ink colour didn't fare as well as the Basic Grey and 'ran' creating a gorgeous purple colour.  The butterfly wings were jazzed up with glitter and randomly adhered to the page.

With a little bit of journalling, some titles and gold brads, the pages were finished.  I also added gold hinge thingies (not sure what they're called) to a few of the corners for interest.

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Heard from the Heart & Flourish (non-su)
Inks: Buckaroo Blue (retired), Basic Grey & Basic Black
Papers: Very Vanilla & Basic Black textured cardstock
Other: Butterfly Punch, Dazzling Diamond Glitter, gold brads and hinges, Buckaroo Blue re-inker and mini-misters.

I think I'm inspired to do another layout!!

Sympathy Cards

Sympathy cards are one of the more difficult cards we sometimes have to make.  Not because of the design element but because we are acknowledging the loss of a loved one, a friend or a person we know.  I had to make a card for two of my friends whose mother recently passed away.  I remember their mum well and my thoughts are with them all.

This card uses up some of my scraps from a Scrap & Chat project over the weekend.  We used reinkers, stamps and punches to make a lovely scrap layout which I'll show another time.

 

This piece became the focal layer of my card.  I have added some ribbon, a sentiment and contrasting card stock to form an elegant sympathy card.

Here's what I used:


Stamps: Close as a Memory (retired) & flourish (non-su)
Inks: Basic Black & Buckaroo Blue (retired), Buckaroo Blue reinker
Papers: Very Vanilla, Basic Black & Whisper White CS
Other: Taffeta ribbon, pearls, sponges and adhesives

Reinkers are fabulous pieces of kit to have.  Not only do they replenish your ink pads, you can mix a few drops with waters and mist them over your pieces of cardstock like we did.  The effects are amazing and each piece is unique!

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 4

Week 4 of our 12 Weeks of Christmas @ Stamp with Me!

Each week, I will showcase a Christmas themed project in the lead up to Christmas to make your gift-giving easier and with that special handmade touch. At the end of each week, you will be able to download each project's supplies and instructions (available in PDF format). 

This week, we have feature Christmas Stockings for your Christmas cards.  And best of all you can use lots of scraps of papers and cardstock pieces.  You may need to dust off your sewing machine though!

Contact me if you would like a copy of the PDF instructions

 If you have any queries on the projects, please contact me. All products unless specified otherwise are all Stampin' Up! and I am able to assist with all your Stampin' Up! needs.

More Christmas Bundle Projects!

As promised, I am back with a few more projects designed by Stampin' Up! featuring the Dressing up Christmas bundle projects!

'Tis the Season Gift Bag:

Supplies for this gift bag are:


Stamps: Gifted*
Papers: Very Vanilla CS & Jolly Holly DSP
Ink: Old Olive, Real Red & Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers
Other: Sleigh Bells Ribbon, Clips Assortment, Stampin' Dimensionals, Big Shot & Fancy Favour Bigz Die

* From the Gifted Bundle

Contempo Christmas Card:

Supplies for this card:

 Stamps: Contempo*
Papers: Soft Suede & Whisper White CS & Jolly Holly DSP
Ink: Soft Suede
Other: Stampin' Dimensionals, Ribbon, Ornament Punch* & Hemp Twine

* From the Delightful Decorations Bundle

For more information about this Dressing Up Christmas offer, just click here. 

Christmas Bundle Projects

Just popping in to say hello and give you some more details about the gorgeous Christmas cards featured in the Stampin' Up! Dressing Up Christmas Offer!  They are so cute, that I'll be making them when the postman delivers my order!

The Merry Christmas Card:

Supplies for this card are:

Stamps: Delightful Decorations*
Papers: Whisper White CS & Soft Suede Textured CS
Inks: Daffodil Delight & Old Olive
Accessories: Mistletoe Ribbon Originals*, Linen Thread, Rhinestone Brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Ornament Punch, 1/16" & 3/4" Circle Punches

* Mistletoe Ribbons available through the Dressing Up Christmas Bundle promotion

The Season's Greeting Card:

Supplies for this card are:

Stamps: Welcome Christmas*
Papers: Whisper White CS & Real Red Textured CS, Christmas Cocoa Specialty DSP*
Inks: Soft Suede Classic ink & VersaMark
Accessories: Clear Stampin' Embossing Powder, Riding Hood Red 1 1/4: Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Pearl Basic Jewels, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mat Pack & Paper Piercing Tool


* From the Welcome Christmas Bundle


For more information about this Dressing Up Christmas offer, just click here.  I'll be back tomorrow with more projects by the Stampin' Up! designers featuring these gorgeous Christmas bundles!

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 3

Week 3 of our 12 Weeks of Christmas @ Stamp with Me!

Each week, I will showcase a Christmas themed project in the lead up to Christmas to make your gift-giving easier and with that special handmade touch. At the end of each week, you will be able to download each project's supplies and instructions (available in PDF format). 


This week, we have mini calendars which make perfect handmade gifts.  And best of all you can up-cycle (trendy version of recycle) some of the coasters and magnets you've got lying around the house.

Contact me if you would like a copy of the PDF instructions

 If you have any queries on the projects, please contact me. All products unless specified otherwise are all Stampin' Up! and I am able to assist with all your Stampin' Up! needs.

Some weekend projects

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to escape the bitter cold weather of a spring Saturday in Canberra and join my good friend for a day trip to her paper-craft retreat.  And what I loved about this one, was mums with bubs were welcome!  So all I had to bring was myself, scissors and a bone folder and of course, Jessica with all her bits and bobs!

So not only did I catch up with a good friend, relax and enjoy the scones and other yummy food, I made a few projects as well:

Project 1: Gold & Pearls Christmas Cards:

Although I have to admit, I have tampered with the design and had a little bit of tweaking!!  These cards featured gold and blue embossing, as well as rub-ons!

We also had fun using Embossing Folders with this project:

For this project, we got to choose our main colour.  I just fell in love with this shade of blue!

See you soon with more projects .... I've got lots!

Dress Up Christmas!

During the Christmas season, you can earn exclusive Stampin' Up! ribbon in two different ways:

• Purchase a gift-giving bundle and receive one FREE spool of ribbon.
• Host a $550 workshop and receive a FREE spool of ribbon. 
• Click here for more information and the flyer!

Choose from these bundles:

Description	Wood-Mount Item	Wood-Mount Price	Clear-Mount Item	Clear-Mount Price
Gifted Bundle Gifted Set and Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper	124041	$66.90	124042	$56.90
Welcome Christmas Bundle Welcome Christmas Set and Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper	124045	$69.90	124046	$59.90
Season of Joy Bundle Season of Joy Set and So Swirly Stampin' Around Wheel	124043	$67.90	---	---
Delightful Decorations Bundle Delightful Decorations Set and Ornament Punch	124044	$72.90	---	---

*Bundles and ribbons available while supplies last

Choose from these ribbons:

Description	Item	Retail Value
Mistletoe Ribbon Originals	116792	$21.95
Sleigh Bells Ribbon	116795	$15.95
Riding Hood Red 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon	113099	$19.95
Real Red 3/4" Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon	115608	$19.95

From the Vault....

Despite my best intentions, I don't always have the time I would like to make a card as each special occasion comes by.  Sometimes, life has you at the last minute looking for a card!  Well that seems to be me and my life lately.  Some days, I don't get much done (I know it sometimes would appear otherwise) and some days I get nothing done at all.  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change being a Stay at Home Mum with a 4 month old baby and an almost 3 cheeky monkey and my big boy at school, for anything.  I just wish we had 48 hours in a day, not a big ask, that's all!


Anyway, what I was trying to say was, sometimes I have to pull out a card or two, from my vault (or stash if you prefer).  Each of these cards have also been made with love, just without a specific person in mind to send it to.  That's what make these cards so handy to have.  They can suit most occasions and for most people!  And the now retired, 'A rose is a Rose' stamp set is perfect for just that!

 

 

And this set of cards is using my favourite DSP's from last year - Bella Rose (I stocked up on them as I love them so much).

One thought though, I have to build up my stash again!!

Birthdays for Boys

This week my nephew (Brendan) celebrated his 8th birthday.   And it seems to me (maybe I'm wrong) that eight can be a difficult age to make birthday cards.  Too old for cute cards, too young for the teenage cards (and I do have my eyes on a few Stampin' Up! stamp sets suitable for the older ones - such as Extreme Elements and Beware Pirates).  Soooooooooooo I had to think up something a little bit different from my usual slap dash birthday cards!!

Although my Wish Big for the new 2010-2011 Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue is HUGE, I have only been able to buy a few sets of stamps, but very well selected if I do say so myself!!  And this includes the 'Party This Way' set that I have used on this card.  Actually worked out better than I expected.  The card is bright (perfect for boys) and doesn't break my husband's rule of  'no fancy stuff' on cards for males!!  I used my Concord Crush marker to colour in the chipboard number eight to match the birthday greeting just underneath it!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Party This Way
Papers: Old Olive, Whisper White, Pacific Point & Real Red
Inks: Pacific Point & Concord Crush
Other: Assorted circle punches, Word Window Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals and Chipboard numbers

Now I had better put the card in the mail!!

12 Weeks of Christmas - Week 2

Week 2 of our 12 Weeks of Christmas @ Stamp with Me!

Each week, I will showcase a Christmas themed project in the lead up to Christmas to make your gift-giving easier and with that special handmade touch. At the end of each week, you will be able to download each project's supplies and instructions (available in PDF format). 



This week, we have featured Embossed & Elegant cards.  Use your Big Shot and Embossing Folders to make these cards, quickly and easily!

Contact me if you would like a copy of the PDF instructions

 If you have any queries on the projects, please contact me. All products unless specified otherwise are all Stampin' Up! and I am able to assist with all your Stampin' Up! needs.

Just Add Ink Challenge 38

Just popping in to say hi!  It's been a super busy weekend and we're not even finished yet!  But  I had to quickly pop in and share this one.

The other day we visited the local Cherry Seed Cupcake Shop and I came home with one of my favourites.  Vanilla!  So yummy and divine!  I had seen these darling little cupcake stands and decided to make one for my yummy cupcake.  It had to be done quickly too before it got eaten by someone other than me!!

Isn't it the cutest thing ever???  I made a little butterfly cake pick and then put my yummy cupcake on it .....

Hmmm, I think the cupcake was a bit heavy .... it's got a bit of a lean happening.  So I tried my little crystal teddy bear ....

Much better don't you think!  Imagine these at a little girls party.  Imagine all little cupcakes on darling stands!!  Has got me thinking for when I need to plan Jessica's first party next year!  To make these little cupcake stands, click here to visit the Bird Crafts website and download their template.  You may need to reinforce the stand with cardstock.  Just paper was a bit flimsy, but then perhaps I should have used a smaller cake!

And then I saw that this week's Just Add Ink challenge is to recognise the Cancer Council's National Pink Ribbon Day on October 25!:   So JUST ADD BLING ... and PINK!   And that's what I did!  I added some bling (aka jewels/rhinestones) to my already pink/red cupcake stand!  Cool!

Here's what I used:

Papers: Whisper White CS & Bella Rose DSP (retired)
Other: Butterfly Punch, Jewels and toothpick!

Maybe you can pretty up your cupcakes too, although I do recommend making smaller ones!!

12 Weeks of Christmas

Welcome to 12 Weeks of Christmas @ Stamp with Me!

Each week, I will showcase a Christmas themed project in the lead up to Christmas to make your gift-giving easier and with that special handmade touch. At the end of each week, you will be able to download each project's supplies and instructions (available in PDF format).

If you have any queries on the projects, please contact me. All products unless specified otherwise are all Stampin' Up! and I am able to assist with all your Stampin' Up! needs.

Contact me if you would like a copy of the PDF instructions

Crafting with Kids

Even though the weather here in Canberra is absolutely glorious at the moment and you just want your kids to go out and enjoy the sun, I had also promised my big boy Luke and a friend, Niamh that we would do some holiday crafting!  So off to the Craft Shop we go to choose paint!

If you're ever looking for craft activities for the kids, painting 3D items and decorating them are just perfect.  Add some glitter, rhinestones or stickers and the kids can create to their hearts content!  Luke &  Niamh painted up my little boxes that I had lying around (for another project, oh well!) and had a great time painting everything else as well, including my table.  Oops!

No guessing, whose is whose!!

And of course, we had to try some card making.  Niamh had never made cards before, so it was a great chance to have a play for her!  We found some scrap papers in my stash and the kids used my wonderful Stampin' Up! punches (they're great for kids too) and made their cards.  A bit of ribbon or rhinestones and voila!  Cards are complete!

And finally one more project, that was just for Niamh. We dug out my Fusion Flowers (gorgeous felt flowers from SU that are now retired) and made hair clips.  They are so cute!

So if your kids are bored, pull out your crafting supplies (OK, maybe just the ones you're happy to part with) and see what you can do with the kids!  Other than buying paint, I didn't spend any more money.  We just used up what I had!!

It's October already!

Are you like me and wondering where time has gone or why it's going so fast?  I know I often wonder and I do know why, it's just that we're so busy.  Too busy to slow down and enjoy the moments.  Although I do try!

We're back from a week in Melbourne, where we spent time with my family and friends.  I come back home to Canberra, and it's October and there is Christmas food and decorations in the shops.  Hmm, do I start panicking now???  OK, not yet but soon!  I haven't started my Christmas cards yet :(

Instead I'll show you my calendar page for October.  A mix this one, it uses retired stamps but new in-colours!  I've also used Crystal Effects on the little stars which I have popped up with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Crystal Effects really brings out the colour and gives a nice glossy finish!

Stamps: In the Stars (retired)
Inks: Melon Mambo, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride & Yoyo Yellow (retired)
Papers: Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz & Whisper White CS
Other: Ribbon, Rhinestones and Crystal Effects, Star Punch

I didn't do any craft while in Melbourne but I'll be back real soon with more projects.  I'm behind on my birthday card list too!