ESAD Autumn Winter 2011 Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the ESAD Autumn/Winter 2011 Blog hop. You may have arrived here from the lovely Pauline Bennetts Blog. Did she do an amazing job with our new product? Or perhaps you've just arrived at my blog all by yourself. Don't stress, just click on the link below to Sharlene Torres blog and on each blog you'll be given a link to the next and eventually you'll be lead right back here.

What is ESAD?

ESAD stands for Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators and it's an online group just for Australian and New Zealand Demonstrators for Stampin' Up!®

We so love what we do and not only do we love to share it with our customers, friends and wonderful blog visitors but we share our love of what we do with each other as Demonstrators. We run swaps, challenges, tutorials, product know how and cyberstamps and we are always there to help support each other when it's needed.

So if you are a Stampin' Up!® Demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand please feel free to click here to join our wonderful group.

Right now that's the formalities over. Onto the interesting stuff.... so what have I made to show you today?

Firstly we have this cute little book box. How often do we collect buttons and have no cool place for them. I've made this little book to store my buttons in. I've decorated the front with images from the Sew Suite stamp set. If you are a sewer, you just HAVE to have this set. It's super cool.

Now to the buttons. I did include some of the Sweet Stitches Designer buttons on the front, however two of the ones on the front of the box were made by me. Yes, faux buttons. If you'd like to know how to make them, please click here to find out how.... don't forget to come back and do the rest of the blog hop though!



I made mine using the Sweet Stitches DSP. Isn't it just adorable? You can make these buttons using punches or in my case I used my Big Shot and the Buttons #5 Sizzlet Die.



The picture above shows how I held them while I was waiting for the Crystal Effects to dry. Below is a photo of a selection of them.



You'll notice in the photo above that some are shinier than others. This is partly due to camera angle and also partly due to whether I added just one or two layers of Crystal Effects

Card: Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Rose Red, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise
DSP: Sweet StitchesTools: Big Shot, Buttons #5 Sizzlet Dies, Cyrstal Effects, Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder
Ribbon: Twill
Stamp Set: Sew Suite

Okay so you thought that was enough... well no.... this mini is full of great items and I just have to show you a card I made.

This card is made using the Create A Cupcake stamp set and it's co-ordinating punch. Yes, we have the most adorable punch to make 'cutting' these out easier. I chose to use the punch to cut DSP for the cake patties and cardstock for the cake and cherries. I stamped the sprinkles on with Versamark and embossed them, so they are shiny. Kind of hard to show in the photo. I also used Crystal Effects on the cherries, so that they are all shiny! So cute! I've also used one of my own matching designer buttons on this card as well.

Card: Regal Rose, Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue
Ink: Rose Red, VersamarkDSP: Sweet Stitches
Punches: Build A Cupcake, Decorative Label
Tools: Heat Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Cyrstal Effects
Ribbon: Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched Poly Ribbon
Stamp Set: Create A Cupcake

Okay so now I have finished with my creations and it's time to say goodbye! It's been lovely having you here and please feel free to leave comments on what you like and didn't (is that possible?)

Now it is time to go on over to Sharlenes blog and check out her fantastic creations.

Till next time, happy stamping...

How did you celebrate the Royal wedding?

In our house, we thought we'd make a big deal of it.... not because we are Monarchists, but because I have two daughters and doesn't every little girl love stories of Princes and becoming a Princess.

The first photo is a snippet from our table decorations.

Then a plate of handmade chocolates and chocolate logs. Miss 3 assisted in making the chocolate which is why the cherubs and bells aren't coloured very well with the white chocolate.



Then my sweet sister knocked up a batch of scones for our high tea.



We did cook up a BBQ (well we are Aussies, after all) and served it on the Royal Albert Old Country Roses fine china. The kids were impressed.... the hubby was scared!

Then we settled in to make crowns and watch the ceremony.



Here is my 10 week old niece... all crowned up.

And then "Princesses Gone Bad". I do love this photo. We tried to get a number of nice, normal happy snaps but couldn't get everyone to look at the camera.... but miraculously when we said "silly" photo, we all poked our tongues out and looked at the camera. Go figure!



Well I hope you had a great night celebrating the Royal Nuptials, as we did.

Okay don't forget to come back at 10am today as we have an ESAD blog hop on this morning, featuring our new Autumn Winter mini catalogue

Till next time, happy stamping...

2nd attempt at Stamping 411 sketch

Okay now I am really on a roll... I have made this since my last post of about an hour ago. Yep! It was quick and easy. To see my previous attempt of the the Stamping 411 sketch please go to THIS post.

Again it's relatively 'clean'. I love this new stamp as it suits my favourite method of inking.




Card: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pink Pirouette, Certainly Celery
Stampin' Write Markers: Rose Red, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Marina MistRibbon: Tango Tangerine Pompom Trim
Tools: Big Shot, Butterfly embosslit
Stamp Set: Hello Blossoms

Till next time, happy stamping...

Back so soon!

Who would have thought that I would be back so soon? I didn't think I'd be posting today, but I feel I have neglected you enough. The hubby and kids left this morning and I have spent a couple of hours cleaning.... you know... do the yucky work first and then play, play, play till they arrive home on Monday.

I checked in over at Stamping 411 (love that site) and knew that today wouldn't pass without me making a card for this sketch.



Here is my attempt. I decided to try a new technique out that I saw on Susan Timmermans site. It's using Epsom Salts, boiling water and a paint brush. I'll let you go over to Susans site to find out more details. Needless to say I saw this technique this morning and thought I'd paint up a few pieces of scrap cardstock. The first piece that was dry was Pacific Point.... not my favourite colour at all.... but I decided that I would go with it.

This card is very 'clean' for me, as I don't generally leave a lot of white space. I am quite happy with the result and it really is quite stunning IRL.

Card: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Basic Black
Ink: Pacific Point, Basic Black, Not Quite Navy
Punches: Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle
Ribbon: 1/4" Basic Black Grosgrain, Black Satin
Embellishments: Rhinestones, Rhinestone brads
Stamp Set: Just Believe

Till next time, happy stamping...

A challenge completed finally!

I know that I have been MIA a bit lately, but for those who don't live in Australia, I will explain. It's school holidays! Do I need to say anymore? We have been busy seeing family down at the beach and entertaining interstate guests when we got home. The saddest part about all this, was that I was having so much fun that I was too preoccupied to craft and blog. Would you like to know the best part? Hubby is taking the kids away camping tomorrow and I get to catch up - yippee!

Okay so the title talks about me finishing a challenge. Well I've been a very quiet member of Late Night Stampers for over 12 months. I have always had good intentions of getting some of their challenges done, but it never seems to happen. Today I am rewriting the books and have officially completed Challenge 117 - Anything BABY Yay!

I have been hanging to try out this embedded embossing/quilting technique and am very happy with the result. I did have intend to have it oriented in landscape, but I kind of decided to make it look like a babies cot bed. Do you think it worked? Quilt at the bottom, ruffle where it folds over and cutesy baby sheets at the top!



And here is the inside. I just embossed to the edge of the patchwork which was quite easy to line up.



Card: Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo, Rose Red
Ink: Pink Pirouette, Rose Red
DSP: Patterns Pack II (retired hostess set)
Ribbon: Melon Mambo Pom Pom
Tools: Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder
Stamp Sets: Short and Sweet, Occasional Quotes, Family Favourites

Don't forget to leave a comment on THIS post to WIN a free entry into the Summer session of Inkspirations 4U.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Summer Edition of Inkspirations - FREE passes

Are you ready for another round of Inkspirations 4U? We have the Summer Edition commencing on the 10th May 2011. We have more Guest Designers, challenges and tutorials than before! Each session is better than the last!

You can get in early and purchase your class ticket for USD$20 before 20th April 2011. Click here for more information.

You can also win a FREE pass from me. Here is how to apply to join;

Option 1

Become a follower of my blog, and
Leave a comment

Option 2

Spend AU$50 with me

You need to adhere to either of those options before 30th April 2011.

I know you are thinking that you'll miss out on the early bird special if you wait for this chance to win a FREE pass, however if you have already joined we will refund your class ticket fee!

Till next time, happy stamping...

Split Negative Technique

Now I wish I could say that I made this, however that's not the case. This card was made for me by my Secret Sister from the Stampin_Up_In_Oz Yahoo group.



It was a bit of a bugger trying to photograph this as Australia Post wasn't particularly kind and I have had to try and 'straighten' it! This split negative technique is a bit funky on the eye as well!

So I guess you'll realise that I haven't been posting anything as I've been making it for my Secret Sisters or the next round of Inkspirations 4U.

Come back in a few days to find out how you can win a FREE pass to the next class session of Inkspirations 4U.

Till next time, happy stamping...

A little brag book!

I am have been holding off posting, as the formatting is driving me crazy. I think I've worked out how to fix it, but it's still frustrating.

Here is a cute little scrapbook book we made over at Inkspirations 4U.



It ended up being about 2 1/2" square, so just the right size for a brag book, if you ask me!



I made this for my sister to put pictures of her new born in. The colours haven't shown up very well in this picture, unfortunately.

Card: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery
Ink: Certainly Celery
DSP: Always (retired)
Embellishments: Linen Thread, Button (thanks SS)
Stamp Set: Short and Sweet

Till next time, happy stamping...