Cherish Layout

Ta dah!! Here is the finished layout.  Sadly I just couldn't get the lighting to work for me today.  But these pictures will give you an idea of how sweet the finished page looks.


Of course, yesterday's layout is still the feature of this 12" x 12" page.  I have just added a few more details to lift the page up!

 
I have used a 12" x 12" piece of textured Soft Suede CS (love the textured look) as my base.  I have then used a piece of Very Vanilla CS which I have punched with the Eyelet border punch.  I have given it some very light sponging with Soft Suede ink and pleated the edges to put under my original layout.  I have added a strip of the speciality Mocha DSP which matched perfectly!!


I have adhered some punched flowers onto the left bottom corner and highlighted with pearls.  I've also added pearls to the top right hand corner.  To finish off, I recycled the Cherish piece with the library clip from another project that was starting to look a bit sorry for itself.  Much better as my 'journal' bit on this layout!!

All I can say is, this page looks much better in real life!!

Making flowers

I've been working on a little project for the last few weeks.  The project was two-fold, it involved a scrap layout for me (shock horror) and a new technique for my Stampin' Up! team called the Avid Inkers.  Here's your first peek:


 I've been making 3D flowers.  The perfect embellishment!  But I couldn't share until after last night's meeting!  For the girls that couldn't attend last night, I'm sorry if it ruins the surprise but you'll get personal instruction from me!!


The flower has quite a bit of bulk but in real life it's so pretty.  It was the perfect flower to add to my layout!!



I have the most beautiful photos of Jess' Christening last year, which just had to be shown.  I wanted to keep the layout classic and simple, but with a hint of feminine touch!


As I really struggle with scrapbooking, I decided to do my layout in chunks.  I have used an 8" x 8" square of Soft Suede cardstock as my base and took it from there.  I've die cut the doily from Very Vanilla and the border from Early Espresso.  I've just realised I haven't got a photo of the finished 12" x 12" page.  I'll be back tomorrow to share that one!!

But I have to say, I'm really really happy with this layout.  Just saying :)

Some thankyous!!

In the world of Stampin' Up!, its the time of the year where customers stock up on retiring products and taking advantage of some real sale items!!  I've stocked up on some cute fabrics, they were such a good buy, I just couldn't help myself!!
So to thank my lovely customers and friends for their orders, I have been making up some thank you cards using the "Workshop Words Too' free stamp set I received at convention!


I've been playing with some colour combinations too.  This card uses Soft Suede and Very Vanilla Cardstock, embellished with Very Vanilla Seam Binding.  Can you see the two new ink colours I have used ......


I've also combined Crumb Cake and Baja Breeze Seam Binding.  Again another sneak peek of new ink colours!!

I love this modern label punch.  I've subtly sponged all the edges with Crumb Cake.   So now to put them in their envelopes and send them to my most loveliest customers!

Making gifts (Part 2)

And for my next project, I decided that I couldn't stop at just decorating binder clips, I had to decorate something else!!  So what else was lying around my desk................................ Note pads!!  So with more scraps of Designer Series Papers, I set to work!


You can't see it in this photo, but I used a piece of Old Olive Cardstock as the backing.  I then attached a piece of Designer Series Paper, just long enough to cover the entire front, the fold at the back and a little bit more to attach to the Old Olive CS.



I have then used Very Vanilla Seam Binding.  I love that stuff!!  To use as a tie over the entire notepad to keep it closed when not in use.  Of course, bows need decoration too, so I stamped a little friends tag and punched out.  I then tied to the bow with White Bakers Twine.  But what I really love is the flower.


I have punched three of the Blossom flowers and used paper snips, to cut up the petals closer to the centres.  I have used my bone scorer to curl up the flower and give a bit of dimension.  I layered my flower with Dimensional's and added a coordinating button and a Cheery Cobbler bakers twine bow.  I love the finished look.  Something you can make easily and quickly.

Hmmmm.  What else can I make!!

Making gifts (Part 1)

I'm not going to say it, no I'm not.  But did you know there are 125 days remaining for a very special occasion, and a very festive one at that?  No?  Either did I, until my kids used the Sleeps to Christmas app on my phone.  Arrgghhh, I said it!!  So I thought I might show a few of the simple gifts you can make for Christmas (or any other occasion really). 


Decorating binder clips is a great project to use up scraps of your favourite Designer Series Papers that you just can't bring yourself to throw out! 


I made these binder clips as little gifts for my guests at last month's Christmas stamp camp.  They were so cute, especially when I stood them up and put name tags in each of them (sadly I didn't take any photos of the day).


I used my Tombow glue (the large flat end) to cover the clips in glue to attach my papers to.  I then took the extra step and coated them all with a layer or two of Mod Podge to seal the paper.  Once dried, I then tied little strips of ribbon to each one.


There's a lot of tutorials around on how to make these if you like to google.  All are easy to follow.  So go on, have a look around your desk or stationery desk.  I'm sure you'll find lots of clips that are looking dull and need a bit of decorating :)  Even your kids can do this one!!


Bright Blossoms

Looking for inspiration with the Bright Blossoms stamp set?  Then look no further!!  Today while home with a little girl who is unwell, required some brightness.  Bright colours to match the sunny day outside!

So how's this for inspiring brightness?

Isn't it just goregous?  I love it, love it.  I love the colours, the simplicity and the brightness!  And the best thing is, this is part of the Stampin' Up! Creative Projects gallery you can look at any time, just click on this link!

TO make this card 'Friend to Friend Card' yourself, look for these supplies in your stash:

Stamps: Bright Blossoms & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Papers: Daffodil Delight, Real Red & Whisper White Card Stock

Inks: Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Real Red & Rich Razzleberry Classic Stampin’ Pads

Accessories: Linen Thread, Pearl Basic Jewels, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch

One for the boys

This one is for the boys, well the younger boys maybe, well maybe the dinosaur lovers then!!



I don't know why making cards for boys and men is so hard.  Is it because we have to limit our embellishments, limit the prettiness, limit the fussiness?  Well, whatever it is, it's always a challenge to think of something new and something that's just not girly!!

So I always try to have some stamps handy, just for the boys and/ or the men too!!  So when I needed to make a card for my friend's son who was turning six and had invited my boys to his party, well I knew just what to do!!


I pulled out the Dinoroar stamp set.  This card is perfect for boys.  I can even see some scrap layouts on my to do list!!


I decide to make this one like an inchies card.  I stamped and coloured with my Copic markers, punched out as much of the image as I could and then layered onto Old Olive cardstock.  Of course the pterodactyl (well I think that's what the winged dinosaur is called) just couldn't be limited to a square!  So I cut him out individually and popped him up with some Stampin' Dimensionals and he lookes like he's flying over the others.  I've just realised, even the T-Rex looks cute!!

I used up some scrap DSP, stamped my sentiment onto a scrap of Whisper White which I sponged the edges with, using Crumb Cake and attached with mini brads.  Kind of cool huh!

Here's what I used:

Stamps: Dinoroar
Inks: Staz On (Jet Black), Early Espresso & Crumb Cake
Papers: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Old Olive & Whisper White CS, scrap DSP
Other: Mini brads, square punches, dimensional's and sponge daubers

And I must go read my son Matthew's dinosaur booked he borrowed from the preschool library yesterday.  I might finally learn the names of the more difficult dinosaur names!!

Invitation to my Catalogue Launch

Introducing the new Annual Catalogue!


Join me on Friday 31st August 2012 to get your very own copies of the new Annual Catalogue AND the Holiday Mini Catalogue.



Join me at my launch, have a glass of champagne and play with some of the new products.

On: Friday 31st August 2012
Time: 7.30pm
Where: Dunlop (A.C.T)

Please RSVP as spaces are limited. 

To RSVP for the launch, please contact me before 27st August 2012.

Can't make the launch, contact me for information to obtain your own copy of the Catalogue - you only pay the price of postage.
(please note, catalogues are for: Australian residents only).

Stamped Cookies?

Stamped Cookies..... Does it have you thinking?  Does it have you wondering?  ..... well guess what, I'm going to give you a sneak peek of a new product coming in the soon to be released Annual Catalogue.

It involves making biscuits and stamping.  How cool is that!  Here's a sneak peek first!


OK, lets rewind!!  The other week, we held our annual Avid Inkers Christmas in July stamping extravaganza.  There was lots of stamping, folding, scoring and cutting.  All the girls (and two boys) made a beautifully decorated box.


We used the Medallion stamp for both the box and the rosette.  Love rosettes now that I've got the hang of them.  We vintage-d the gorgeous boxes and all the kits had a piece of crochet trim.  So lovely that trim, I want some more!!  Anyway, we didn't say what the trim was for..... just yet


But the boxes were all empty .....  And we asked everyone to make a tag using the cute as ornament punch.


And then all our guests received a beautiful handmade biscuit.  They smelled so yummy and looked gorgeous.  But then everyone had a closer look:



All of the cookies had a snowflake on them.  Hmmmmm.  How did that snowflake get there!



Well, Stampin' Up! now have the products in the new Catalogue so you can stamp on biscuits.  And yes, you read that correct.  I can't wait to show you (AFTER 1 September).

Are you excited?  I am!!  And gosh, what a sneak peek surprise we had at our Christmas Extravaganza.  Thanks Tania for your gorgeous baking xx

The circus is over

Whenever I think of the end of circus time, I think of that sad song 'Send in the Clowns'.  Don't know why.  I can even remember one of the girls of Young Talent Time singing it (you know, the original Young Talent Time not the more recent version!!).  So it's with a bit of sadness that we are saying goodbye to 'Under the Big Top'.  This has been a fantastic stamp set for making cards and scrap layouts relating to kids.

Today's project, is a card I made a while ago now for a sweet little girl:


I love this card!  The way the card is folded reminds me of a door (or tent door) into a circus!  The colours are bright and the little ballerina is fastened in such a way to the card to hold the card closed!

 
 I love the little mouse.  She reminds me of the ABC kids show, Angelina the Ballerina.  A show my little girl Jess is starting to discover!!

Here's a little link to Barbara Streisand singing 'Send in the Clowns'

Time for some sneak peeks!

Well, the retirement list is out and products are starting to sell out.  Be sure to head on over to the retirement list and have a look, once these are gone they're gone forever!!  But saying good bye to old products means saying hello to NEW ones!!  Today I want to share a card I made at our Stampin' Up! convention a few months ago.  Using lots of new products and with your super-keen SU eyes, you will be able to spot them too:


This card features new stamps, new papers, new punches, new dies, new embellishments and new colours!!  Don't you just love the anticipation!!

And if you love butterflies, well let me just say ..... you're going to love what's new in the world of Stampin' Up! and butterflies.  I can't wait to get my own :0)


Going, going, GONE!

August is your chance to say goodbye to hundreds of stamp sets and accessories retiring from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue. These products are only available while supplies last, so be sure to get your favourites before they're gone.

All retiring products are only available while supplies last, so you won't want to miss your chance — contact me today to place your order!

Check out these lists for ALL the retiring products. These will be updated daily!

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