Need Inspiration??

It's been a rather ho-hum week for me. My mum went back to Holland this week (and we really miss her), disappointing results from my medical testing and just general fatigue and tiredness. The kind of week where you struggle to find inspiration, your mojo and even the will power to just sit down and create.

If you're having one of those days, why not pop on over to my Stampin' Up! website. It's full of projects and ideas to help you get over that hump and create again!

So while I'm looking for my mojo, let me inspire you with one of the gorgeous cards from my Stampin' Up! website featuring the *new* Stampin' Around Builder Wheel Spindle and Spacers!

Wondering how to make it? Here's what you need:

Kind Friend card

Stamps
• Bees & Blossoms Stampin’ Around Builder Wheel
• Thoughtful Friend Stampin’ Around Builder Wheel

Paper
• Early Espresso Card Stock
• Whisper White Card Stock
• Cherry Cobbler Textured Card Stock
• Daffodil Delight Textured Card Stock

Ink
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin’ Pad
• Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin’ Pad

Accessories
• Daffodil Delight 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon
• Linen Thread
• Clips Assortment
• Pearl Basic Jewels
• Stampin’ Dimensionals
• Big Shot
• Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die
• Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Stamping Sponges

Large Scallop Circle Punch now available!

Hooray, Happy News!

We're happy to announce the 2-3/8"Scallop Circle Punch (item 118874) is available to order. Stampin' Up! would like to thank you for your patience as we work to provide you with high-quality products.

Blissful Art

Hooray, I finally got a moment to finish off one of my projects I started during the school holidays! Seeing as school has been back for 2 weeks, it's about time I got one of them finished!

I had 3 little canvas boards just screaming for attention. I actually had four but one was snaffled by Luke quick smart. So I pulled out some of my paints and started painting. Painting is so relaxing, I love it! Especially when all you're doing is painting backgrounds, no real thought needed, perfect!!

I then played with my new SAB set - Bliss which is just perfect for vintage themed art!! I stamped over the canvas background with Concord Crush and then used some Soft Suede & Very Vanilla cardstock for the rest. Add some pearls, lace (from the Summer mini) and a couple of embellishments (non-SU) and my piece of art is done. Now I just have to wait for my WH to put some hooks up on the wall!

Looking for more info on Stampin' Up!

Shelli Gardner the co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up! shares this gorgeous video full of inspiring projects, colours, products and ideas. Not all products are available in Australia but they will be soon (fingers crossed).

Gorgeous!! If you have any questions about Stampin' Up! products, just contact me and I would love to help!

Choo Choo!

A few days ago now (not that I posted it on time!!) was my nephew - Michael's second birthday. He's a real cutie and loves train (like all little boys), so I had to make him a train card!!

It was a great card to use up some of my scraps as well as using my Big Shot & Scallop Square die to make the card!! I thought about putting a number 2 on the card but it didn't work, so I just left the cute little train as it is!

Here's what I used:

Papers: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Grey, Very Vanilla & Basic Black CS
Inks: Baja Breeze
Other: Circle Punches, Trio Blossom Punch and Square Punch
Big Shot: Scallop Square Die

To see the card that inspired me, head on over to the blog of Lynn Pratt. She does amazing work!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!! I saw something on Facebook today that I just had to share (thanks Kerri):

"Tell someone special that you love them, and are glad they are in your life. Not because it's Valentines Day, but because it's a reminder of what you should do every day! Thank you all of my friends for choosing to have me in your lives ♥"

So with that lovely thought in my mind, I wanted to show a cute card that would be perfect for Valentine's Day, a special anniversary or just any day really, to tell someone you love them!

Isn't it cute? I saw a very similar card the other week and just had to make my own version. I can't even tell you where I saw the card, but it stayed in my mind as one of those 'have to make cards'.

To make this card, I used:

Stamps: Easter Blossoms & Season of Joy

Papers: Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake CS and Love Letters DSP

Inks: Cherry Cobbler & Chocolate Chip

Other: Distressing tool & Owl punch (for hearts!)

Sneak Peek - JAI55

Just wanted to pop in and say hello!! I've been doing some other crafting at the moment (crochet and sewing) but wanted to show the Valentine's Card I have made for my husband!! For my regular readers, you'll remember that my WH only likes cards that are not girly, no ribbon, no embellishments. Just plain and simple!!

This week we had our team - Avid Inkers Social Meeting and we gave ourselves a colour challenge this time. Chocolate Cherry Crumb Cake! Now doesn't that sound like the most divine ~~dessert~~ colour combination ever!! Yummo!

So, I was thinking these colours would make a perfect card for my husband. Nothing outlandish there!! So I did!

The colour combo:

My creation:

Very simple but so cute (well I think so anyway). Although now that I see the photo staring right at me, maybe I could have done something more!! I will confess (however) that I added one more colour to the mix - a touch of soft suede for the sponging of my hearts!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: French Script
Papers: Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler & Crumb Cake
Inks: Soft Suede
Other: Mat Pack, Full Heart Punch, Sponge Daubers & Stampin' Dimensionals

So this is why I'm submitting this card to the Just Add Ink Challenge - 55, Just Add Love. I made this card with love for my husband.♥ ♥ ♥

But sshhh..... it's a sneak peek to you and not my WH. He has to wait a few more days!

Something Different

A different sort of card today!! Friends of our went to Paris and ever since have been madly in love with all things French. So of course, the Vintage Vogue stamp set was the perfect match up for my friend!

So how to combine Vintage Vogue with French for a birthday you might wonder!! So this is what I came up with:

Maybe French, maybe not, but at least the Eiffel Tower is!! I stamped the Eiffel Tower onto a piece of Very Vanilla CS where I had masked a 'sun' with a circle punched from a post-it note. I then sponged with Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery all over for the background. Sponged edges with Soft Suede and all done!

I ruffled up some black satin ribbon and used Sticky Strip (love that stuff) to hold it down. I used Champagne Shimmer paint to stamp a light background on the black (you can JUST see it in the background), some DSP and done!

It's not really my style of card but I know my friend will love it, so that's all that matters!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Vintage Vogue & Tiny Tags
Inks: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede & Certainly Celery
Papers: Basic Black, Soft Suede & Very Vanilla CS and Love Letter DSP
Other: Tag punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, black satin ribbon & sponge daubers

Flowers!

I love flowers, all flowers, especially roses and tulips. My garden just doesn't have enough flowers in it (something to do with a new garden being landscaped!). So I try to play with flowers instead!! I saw a card a while back and I have CASE'd it of course with my own twist!!. I loved it.

Isn't it pretty! I used the French Script stamp as background and then stamped the Growing Green leaves and flowers all over, using my sponge daubers to colour in. I added a bit of glitter to the blue flowers, but otherwise easy colouring in! Some ribbon and butterflies and the card is complete. I love it. I think I might try some other colour combinations now!!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Growing Green, Teeny Tiny Sentiments & French Script
Inks: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Baja Breeze & Daffodil Delight
Paper: Very Vanilla CS
Other: Very Vanilla CS, sponge daubers, Dazzling Diamonds glitter & Word Window punch
Big Shot: Beautiful Wings Embosslit

To see the card that inspired me, head on over to the Flowerbug's Inkspot. It's worth having a look!

My Crafty Prayer ...

Dear Lord,
I'm going to need some notice
Before my days are done.
You see, I'm a craftaholic -
A fact not known to some.
My craft room it is bulging,
All corners, crannies and nooks,
There's loads of boxes under the bed,
I hope no one ever looks!
I tell myself when shopping,
"No more crafty bits today",
But the craft shops are like magnets,
Drawing me their way.
I'm totally at their mercy,
Just "need" a dozen of each,
Then I hurry home to hide them
Before the family starts to preach.
So Lord I'll need a little time,
To dispose of all this stuff..
And Lord, can we just keep all this
Between the two of us?
Amen

Inspiration Challenge - JAI53

Well, this has to be a first for me. Participating in two challenges and actually completing two challenges in the very same week.............

.... the short break was me picking myself up off the floor. Amazing really when I consider how busy life is and school STILL hasn't returned yet in ACT for 2011!

But when I saw this Inspiration Challenge from Just add Ink - I just had to play. The inspiration is beautiful!

See what I mean? Gorgeous! Anyway, I decided to stick with the colours of this beautiful flower for my own project - blue, yellow, green and brown. So I just had to use some of my favourite stamps (and why not!!), Vintage Vogue and Growing Green. I stamped my background with Baja Breeze ink on Baja Breeze CS but it looked rather bland. Remembering some techniques I had seen around the place, I decided to run it through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I cracked it open just for this. Glad I did, it's a lovely texture for cards!

I stamped my flowers and leaves, used sponge daubers for colouring. I added some champagne shimmer paint to the flowers (love that stuff) so it's all nice and sparkly! Added some white dashed lines and tied it off with crochet thread (one of my favourite embellishments!!). I'm really really happy with it!

So this card is off to the lovely Katia over at Plushka's Craft as a thank you for the lovely bundle of fabrics she sent me after winning her Flood Appeal Raffle. How lucky am I!

See what I mean - this is what came in the mail with a few handmade buttons too!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Growing Green, Vintage Vogue & Tiny Tags
Papers: Very Vanilla, Baja Breeze & Soft Suede CS
Inks: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight & Certainly Celery
Other: Sponge Daubers, Champagne Shimmer Paint, crochet thread, Tiny Tag Punch
Big Shot: Square Lattice Embossing Folder

I hope you enjoy and have a lovely day. Stay safe if you live in North Queensland!