No stamping today

Are you surprised? I've attempt to scrapbook again. It's actually hard not to join in when you are given such a wonderful layout. Even for me this was easy to follow and create.

Again Mariangeli Marina created a great layout for Inkspiration 4U Fall session.


This here is my attempt. I was pretty happy with this one. I've had these photo's printed for ages, hoping that one day I'd get enthused enough to scrapbook them.

Card: Elegant Eggplant, Rose Red
DSP: Sweet and Sour (retired)
Punch: Corner Punch
Embellishments: Tulle from tutu... Miss 3 is going to be annoyed that I've cut up here dress ups..lol

Till next time, happy stamping...

Moi... Scrapbooking????

I apologise for so little activity over the last week. I have been working six days a week and whilst I have been creating, I haven't had time to blog.

In an effort to attempt all challenges over at Inkspiration 4U Fall session, I decided to try the scrapping challenges. This gorgeous layout was set out by Mariangeli Miranda.


And here is my feeble attempt. Do those buttons look familar? I made them in THIS post.



I am attempting to use up old supplies before I buy some more.

Card: Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo
Ink: Island Indigo
DSP: Sweet Stitches (retired)
Punch: Cute and Curly
Big Shot: Buttons No 5
Ribbon: Melon Mambo pompom trim (retired)
Stamp sets: Wonderful Favourites (retired), Sense of Time (retired)

There is still time to join Inkspirations 4U Fall session and it's so worth it with so many wonderful projects and challenges - and you can win FREE stuff.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Don't fall off your chair!

Yes I am back quickly after six weeks hiatus. I wish I could say that I'd been holidaying on some tropical island... however I have been at home, trying to be Mum and Dad, as my husband has been away at work for the last six weeks. I haven't had much time to create... however our new catty is out next month and I just had to play with my pre-order. And I couldn't go past this weeks Stamping 411 sketch challenge.


So this is my contribution. Talk about mixing the old with the new. Old DSP, New In-colors and stamp set.


When I was nearly finished making this card, the butterflies looked a little dull. So I decided to give them some bling. If I could add Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds to every card and item, I would. LOL!

Card: Island Indigo, Pool Party, Basic Black
Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Island Indigo, Basic Black
DSP: Greenhouse Gala
Punches: 1 3/4" Circle, Scallop Circle
Big Shot: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder
Stamp Set: Precious Butterflies (hostess set)

Till next time, happy stamping...

The Final Gifts For My Secret Sisters

Well, I have certainly dragged this out, haven't I? Especially since the Secret Sister Programs finished at the end of April....lol!

For the final reveal, I went back to making some similar items for both sisters again.... I know that they are both unique, but I wanted to make them so much.... and it just made sense to double up on items. So basically all the members of their family received their own little test tube of M&M's. Genevra and Theresa also received a nugget tin, filled with six hand stamped tea light candles and a nicely decorated bar of smelly soap.

Then I started to make gift packets according to each sister. Above you can see Genevras gifts. She received an embossing folder, wrapped in DSP. I made a cute litte cover to house some 6" x 6" DSP that Genevra liked. I also decorated an Stampin' Store container and filled it with buttons and filled a cello bag with some of the new Pompom ribbon. Below are Theresa's gift. I wrapped a stamp set in some DSP for her.

Now I am sure that you'll agree that I must have used half the stock in my craft room to make these items, so I will not be putting all the ingredients up today.

Now just so that you know, I have enrolled in another round of Secret Sister which starts this month, so I may go quiet again for a few days at a time as I create.

Till next time, happy stamping...

1st card for April Secret Sisters

Hi, how are you all today? Have you been enjoying seeing what I created for my Secret Sisters? This is the second last instalment of these posts.

I thought I was going to be late in sending them their final parcels, so I made these cute little boxes and sent them a Lindt Easter bunny to tide them over!


The boxes were identically made, aside from the colours for both sisters. However their cards were quite different. Genevra likes 'flowery' images, so I thought I'd try out a little watercolouring. Theresa, on the other hand, wanted to see some cards made with the Cute By The Inch Hostess set... In order to bring these cute little stamps alive, I decided to multi colour them... and you all know how much I love to do that!


Genevras gift ingredients

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Pink Pirouette, Bashful Blue, Whisper White
Ink: Stazon Black, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy, Garden Green, Certainly Celery
Punch: Scallop Trim Border
Stamp Sets: Eat Chocolate, Vintage Vogue, Happiness Shared

Theresa gift ingredients

Card: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Tempting Torquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Tempting Torquoise
DSP: Sweet and Sour
Punch: Scallop Square
Tools: Mat Pack
Stamp Sets: Eat Chocolate, Cute By The Inch

Till next time, happy stamping...

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...

Look what else I received!

As I have previously stated I am participating in Secret Sister with the Stampin_Up_In_Oz Yahoo group. This is my second card and gift for the month of February.

Inside the little box is samples of the new In-Color ribbons, which I don't have, so I was super excited to receive these. In the wallet folder is three different types of hot chocolate. Now that is definitely the way to my heart! Again I hadn't tried any of those, so my horizons are being expanded without even leaving home.

Card: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Pacific Point
Ink: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy
DSP: Blueberry Crisp
Punches: Word Window, Small Oval, Large Oval
Ribbon: 5/8" Pacific Point Striped Grosgrain, 5/8" Very Vanilla Grosgrain
Embellishments: Regals Brads, Metallic Eyelets
Stamp Set: Just Believe

Till next time, happy stamping...

A Holly Krautkremer Design

Today I have a lovely set made from a Holly Krautkremer tutorial! Holly is another Design Team member at Inkspirations 4U. Really you should head on over their and join in all the fun! We have daily challenges and projects! It's so good to see how everyone interprets these and the positive interactive comments are inspiring!


Now I shall not be putting the details of ingredients up here since it is in the class notes. I am sure you understand!

On another note, we can be glad that the Brisbane River didn't reach the expected peak! Unfortunately this didn't stop the millions of dollars worth of damage and the unfortunate loss of life. My heart goes out to those who are dealing with grief at this time. At a time like this when words can't help, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers!

Stampin' Up!® is such a wonderful company and as such have released today that they will be donating $2 from every stamp set (over $30 value), sold between 15th January 2011 to 15th February 2011, will be going to the Queensland State Emergency Services! I can't think of a better excuse to buy myself some more rubber, knowing that it will be helping someone else.

I can say that I have had some really positive responses to the Help Aussie Demos In Need group (see post above) and hope that if you are a demo you will also join us!

I'll be back soon with more Inkspirations 4U photo's!

Till next time, happy stamping...

Too busy creating to blog....

Isn't it annoying when I don't get online and keep you up to date.... but honestly I have been so busy... creating, and who can deny anyone creating time? Anyway in case you don't know Inkspirations 4U Valentines and Birthday Extravaganza is open and running! We've got a fortnight of classes, already commenced...but you can join now and still get access to all tutorials. Click on the header below for more information!


Okay so here is the first project that I tackled... and it was really easy to tackle! The tutorial was so easy to follow. This gorgeous little album folds out in a variety of funky ways and can hold nine photo's in it! This tutorial was made by Madeline Morcelo herself, the founder of Inkspirations 4U!



As this is a tutorial from an online class, I am not going to give you the ingredients... but join the classes and you'll have all the information at your fingertips.

On a side note, I'd like to let all my readers in QLD know that I am thinking of them. I have had contact from some of my friends and one family has lost their home and anothers livestock and farm is currently under water. They have all got their lives, for which we are extremely grateful, and praying for the safe return of the 90 missing people. If there is anything I can help anyone with please contact me.

Till next time, happy stamping...

A sad time..

Well for most of us the end of 2010 and start of 2011 has been a great experience... however for some of my friends they have lost their Grandad and others have had their homes inundated with water from the Queensland floods. I am thinking of them all madly wondering what I can do to help from so far away. Of course, there is nothing like a card to just quietly let someone know that you are thinking of them.... I've got a little time up my sleeve for my wet friends, as they haven't had mail delivered for a little while and will need to let the waters recede before the postie can get through!

This card I made for my friends who lost their Grandad. I decided to use the watercolouring technique as it is this weeks challenge over at Stampin_Up_In_Oz. I used my Classic Ink pads and Blender pens here.


Card: Pear Pizzazz, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie
DSP: Greenhouse Gala
Tools: Blender Pens
Stamp Sets: Growing Green, Curly Cute

Don't forget to get on over to the Inkspirations 4U site and register for the classes starting next week. The early bird special has been extended until today, which is really great for us Australians as our dollar means that it will be even cheaper than normal. You have to get in TODAY (2nd January 2011) to qualify for the early bird special.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Christmas gifts!

You know how there are some people that you just don't know what to buy for and they have everything i.e. Old Aunt Enid. I found the perfect gift. Choccies are soooooo nice! But to jazz it up a bit I used Becky Roberts tutorial from her 2010 12 days of Christmas.


Okay so there were a few people that I was a bit stumped with...lol! Actually it was more for my brothers and sisters who insisted we didn't spend money on them.... but I wanted to give them something small.

As this is Becky's tutorial I am not going to write the ingredients down.

This post is short and sweet as I am away at the moment and using someone elses computer.

Till next time, happy stamping...

A notebook for the teachers!

Well here we have a note book that I made for Miss 8's teachers this year too! This was the final instalment of their gifts. I didn't drip feed them to the teachers as I have done here to you....lol!

These started out using the Jolly Holiday DSP as I was in the Christmas mood.... but somehow they became non-Christmassy. I seem to have a habit of using non-Christmas DSP for Christmas projects and vice versa. I guess it just goes to show how versatile they are.

When the new Idea Book and Catalogue came out the very first set I just had to have was 'Just Believe' It is soooooooo beautiful! As I am sure you can see by this one stamp used here. Of course there are more in the set... but this is a fine example of how wonderful this set is.


Again I am back to my normal self, colouring my stamps with markers....lol! Also you may be wondering about the scallop oval that is around the Wide Oval punch. That was made by punching out a 1 1/4" circle and then punching a scallop circle around it. I needed two of these to go around each wide oval. I then cut through one side of the scallop circle and then snipped from the inside circle all the way around the inside of the circle. Did that make sense? I then gently stretched out the scallops and adhered them around the wide oval. If this doesn't make sense, please leave a comment and I'll do up a post to show you how with pictures.

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
DSP: Jolly Holiday
Punches: Scallop Trim Corner, Scallop Trim Border, Wide Oval, 1 1/4" Circle, Scallop Circle,
Ribbon: Old Olive 1/4" grosgrain
Stamp Sets: Just Believe, Occasional Quotes (hostess)

Till next time, happy stamping...

A cake for my sister!

Well here is something I made for my sister's baby shower last weekend. Yep she knows she's having a girl!

I got the templates for this card from my good friend Peta Schirmer.

It was all hand drawn and cut out and definitely only a project that I would do for someone I love! It was supposed to have three tiers but she didn't have too many people coming to her baby shower, so I was able to delete a tier. Phew!!!

Before you get excited about these colours and papers, please let me tell you that they are super old. I used Purely Pomegranate which hasn't been available since March 2009 and Berry Bliss DSP, which co-ordinates with it. Again something that I pulled out in the moving process and decided that I needed to use up.

Card: Purely Pomegranate (retired), Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirrouette, Cake Crumb,Whisper White
Ink: Purely Pomegranate (retired), Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Cake Crumb, Daffodil Delight
DSP: Berry Bliss (retired)
Punches: Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch
Stamp sets: Baby Tees roller, Wedding Sweet

Till next time, happy stamping...

It started as a CASE...

and grew!

Well hello and sorry for taking a few days to get back online... but I have honestly been having too much fun in my craft room!

This card started with the little tree which is on page 15 of the Idea Book and Catalogue. It is done using the kissing technique. It was a little difficult as I found that the 'present' stamped better than the squat 'obelisk' shape after kissing, so trying to line them up was near impossible as I couldn't use my trusty Stamp-A-Ma-Jig.

I didn't want to make a tag, so thought I'd build on this and create a card. Isn't this Cherry Cobbler just perfect for Christmas?

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Brocade Blue (retired), Whisper White, Old Olive
Ink:Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Soft Suede, More Mustard
DSP: Jolly Holiday
Punches:Scallop Trim Border, Designer Label, Modern Label
Ribbon: 1 1/4" Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain (retired)
Embellishments: Bold Brights Brads(retired)
Stamp Sets: Playful Pieces (hostess set), Snow Swirled

Till next time, happy stamping...

A bag of goodies!

I hope you are enjoying the school holidays, depending on where you are in the world. Today I'd like to show you this cute gift bag I made for Louisa. Louisa was my Secret Sister for Round 2 with the online group Stampin_Up_In_Oz. It was made using the Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper. I really think I should have stocked up big on this. It is absolutely gorgeous, but like all papers we have an ever changing group of them and I am sure that Elegant Soiree will quickly fill the void left by Parisian Breeze.

I think the bag was a Makeesha Byl design which was made available to the demonstrators on ESAD. It was so easy to make, although I changed it a little and used the Circle Scissors Plus and Scallop Circle Big Shot die to create the flap of the handbag!

The bag was able to hold the two pillow boxes and the card. I know I would have loved the receive this gift.

Card: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Whisper White
Ink: Baja Breeze
DSP: Parisian Breeze Specialty (retired)
Ribbon: Baja Breeze 1' double stitched grosgrain, Chocolate Chip 5/8' grosgrain
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestones, Flower Fusion(retired)
Tools: Circle Scissors Plus, Big Shot, Pillow Box die, Scallop Circle Die

Till next time, happy stamping....

Great friend gift

A good thing about the Stampin_Up_In_Oz group is that you don't have to use current product all the time. Since Louisa likes butterflies, I couldn't help but dust off one of my favourite sets, Great Friend.

I made Louisa a chocolate slider box and co-ordinating card. I think the Urban Garden DSP was my favourite out of last years catalogue. Although I will miss it, there are some beautiful new ones this year.

Below is a close up of my butterfly. I stamped the image on the main peice of cardstock in Apricot Appeal (now retired) and then ink up the stamp again and then went around the edge with a Regal Rose marker pen to give it a bit of oomph! I stamped this on a scrap peice of cardstock, then carefully cut it out. I know it seems a bit fiddly, but it's so worth it! I then adhered my top butterfly slightly skewiff, so that it gave the impression of movement, and put dimensionals under the wings.


I was really pleased with how this turned out. And I was even more pleased when Great Friend made a return to the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalogue.

Card: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze
Ink: Apricot Appeal (retired), Kiwi Kiss (retired), Not Quite Navy, Regal Rose
DSP: Urban Garden
Ribbon: Baja Breeze 1" double stitched grosgrain
Punch: Scallop Edge, Scallop Oval, Large Oval, Small Oval
Stamp Set: Great Friend

Till next time, happy stamping...

Good bye to Orchid Opulence...

Oh dear, it really is time to say good-bye to some favourites. I am a bit of a girly girl - probably 'cause I had two daughters, but I really enjoyed working with Orchid Opulence. I didn't buy a huge stack of cardstock to replace my rapidly diminishing supply, as I want to concentrate on some of the fantastic new colours that are coming in.

The medallion centrepeice of this card is made by punching the Scallop Edge Border punch halfway along four sides of a square. It gives a fantastic effect! And I love the Simply Said stamp set. It almost seems made for this colour...

Card: Orchid Opulence (retiring), Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence (retiring)
DSP: Cottage Wall
Punch: Scallop Edge Border
Stamp Set: Simply Said

Till next time, happy stamping...

ESAD Christmas in July Blog Hop

I hope you’re ready for the ESAD Christmas in July Blog Hop!

What is ESAD?

ESAD stands for Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators and it is 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 for 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 and support each other when its needed.

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

My blog may be the first stop in the blog or you could have come from the lovely Vicki's blog! Remember that a blog hop is a bit like a circle, it really has no beginning or end. You can keep going round and round.

The photo above shows the two projects I am going to be sharing with you today.

Firstly we have this cute little box, with the recessed window in the lid. I love how the Designer Series Paper that I have used, Candy Lane, is not a Christmas designed one - but it fits perfectly.

And here is the inside. You could fill it with whatever you wanted. It fits four pots of chunky glitter in it perfectly. I think some Rocky Road or White Christmas would go perfectly in there as well.

This photo is the inside of the card. It actually has a pocket which you put a satchet of cocoa or tea etc in it. It is very cute!

Here is a photo with the top folded down! I just love the Holiday Lineup stamp set. I makes the cutest cards.

And here is the front of the card. Now I wish I could say that I designed this pocket card..... but alas I didn't. This is actually a Madeline Morcelo design for the upcoming Inkspirations 4U class, which starts on 2nd August 2010. Now I am a guest designer for this and if you'd like the opportunity to win a FREE pass, check out this post!

Anyway I hope that I have inspired you today and that you've enjoyed your stop here at my blog.

Your next stop is to the fantastic Sharlene's blog.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Featuring my friend Helen!

Today's installment comes from my friend Helen. She doesn't belong to any of the online groups that I do, but she is the person who persuaded me to join Stampin' Up!®. Thanks Helen! I honestly would have met so many wonderful people if Helen hadn't given me the push!

My husband said that this was the favourite crafty thing I received for my birthday - I think it was because of the chocolate!

If you want to know more about this creation of Helen's please email me and I'll forward it onto her.

Till next time, happy stamping...

Having a rolling good time!

Well today is the last day of Convention! I wish that I had access to a 'puter while I was away to keep you updated...... but you'll just have to wait.... or check out the blogs of other demo's who do have access....LOL! Today we have more classes and another general session and tonight.... well tonight's the night, as Rod Stewart would say! The big annual Rewards and Recognition Banquet! Well won't it be nice to see 500 people all dolled up and having a great time!

Anyway that's about enough of convention. This is the third lots of cards I made to swap. I really don't like the colours but thought I'd use up some Haiku DSP that I had. I used rollers to make these quick cards. I find that rollers are fantastic if you are in a rush, as they make the best background stamps and fill space just nicely. I made two slightly different cards, for a bit of variation.

I'd just like to say a special Thank you to my friends Julie and Kylie for all the help they gave me in making my swaps. You rock!


Card: Tango Tangerine, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Tango Tangerine, Old Olive
DSP: Haiku
Punches: Boho Blossoms, Scallop Edge Border
Embellishments: Earth Elements
Stamps: Daisy Dash Wheel, Kindness Wheel

Till next time, happy stamping...