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Tidings of Joy

12 November, 2011 7 Comments

Good Morning!!

Well here we are at another Saturday and since I had to be up and dressed when the dudes came to mow the grass I seem to be rather organised for today’s Christmas Stamp A Stack!  Ready to go and over 2 1/2 hours before we start!!

Being its Saturday its also time for another Utah Divas Sketch Challenge!

Here is today’s sketch …

DSC #162

Utah Divas Sketch #162

“Cool” sketch hey?? Doesnt it immediately make you think Christmas and Snowmen or Penguins??  That was too obvious so I had to go a little different but still stuck with the Christmas theme ;)   Although I might still make a Christmas Penguin or Snowman card during the week if I have time. I have a busy week coming up with preps for Dad’s 80th Birthday and then my neices’ wedding on Sunday. Then because I wont have enough to do I’m starting Monday Project Classes on the Monday – Tuesday I sleep!!

Enough of my ramblings …. Here’s my card …

Pastel Joy

I have had this stamp since August when we could pre-order from the new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalogue – I love nativity sets and this is the first one we’ve had in  a while so just about squealed when it was available in the pre-order. I just hadnt had the time to use it before now and I’ve also used some of the new Watercolour Paper and its so easy to use and with such little effort.  This is one of the cards the girls will be making today at the Christmas Stamp A Stack – I sure hope they like it!

One of the advantages of being a Demonstrator is being able to see the upcoming catalogues and ordering them before they are available to the Australian market – like now with the Summer Mini Catalogue starting 1st December I already have the catalogue and some of the gorgeous new items available. So if you’d like to also be able to see whats coming up please contact me today about joining my gorgeous Stamp A Latte Team!

Now dont forget to check out what the other designing Divas have created and you will find the links to their blogs on the Utah Divas International Blog. Dont forget to leave them a little comment love too ;)

Now if youre a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator located you can join the Utah Divas International group on Facebook.

Dont forget we still have the ‘Sale to Die for’ happening – selected Big Shot dies and embossing folders are on sale at 10% off and there’s also a Big Shot bundle including the machine at 10% off as well – these would make awesome Christmas presents and I’ll even wrap them for you!!  Contact me today to place your order!

 

 

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Big Shot, Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Christmas, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Occasions, promotions, specials, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, stamp-a-stack, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques, Textured Impressions Folders, Tidings of Joy, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Happiest Birthday

5 November, 2011 8 Comments

Happy Sketchy Saturday!!

Well here we are with another Utah Divas Sketch Challenge and I’ve been good and not twisted or turned or done anything to the Sketch this week!!

Mind you, I did hit a bit of a hurdle as the stamp I wanted to use for this card was missing from the set I wanted to use but being its from Stampin Up! I wont have a problem getting it replaced :)

Here is this week’s Sketch …

Diva Sketch Challenge 162

Looks a bit like a porthole doesnt it??

I was in Canberra last weekend for Stampin’ Up! Regional training and one of the make and takes was quite similar and since I hadnt actually made the card up I decided to use the pack for today’s card – was rather nice of Stampin’ Up! to do that for me wasnt it??

Anywho here is my card …

I did change a couple of the colours from the Stampin’ Up! make n take and changed the Stamp Set as well as they’d used Big Top which I’m still a little unsure about!  I also thought putting the greeting in the circle rather than an image changed it around a tad and we dont always think to make the greeting the main focus on a card.

This image shows how the card opens – its a bit like opening a Birthday Present isnt it?? I love how this card turned out and I love the effect of the Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon under the Pretty in Pink Cardstock.

The Scalloped Circle you see used here is from the Perfect Pennants die which happens to be on sale this month as part of the “Sale to Die for” promotion so grab it today and save!

I hope you like my card and please make sure you pop over to the Utah Divas International Blog so you can go visit the other ladies on the Design Team and see what they came up with!

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Big Shot, birthday, Birthday Club, Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Circle, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Friends n Family, Gifts, Happiest Birthday Wishes, Occasions, Perfect Pennants Die, promotions, specials, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Creative Elements

9 October, 2011 4 Comments

My apologies for getting my Sketch card up so late – I do hope all the Divas forgive me.

Yesterday I woke with a touch of the flu so yesterday was a bit of a struggle to get everything done and October is a very busy month so really dont have time to be ill but then do we ever have time to be sick?? I had my monthly Stamp A Stack yesterday so couldnt go back to bed even though I really wanted to but did end up crashed in my recliner not long after the ladies left and this is why one eats dinner at 9pm!

Anyhoo … Here is this week’s Sketch

Easy enough hey?

I love the simplicity of this Sketch and here is what I (eventually) came up with as my brain wasnt working so well …

Subtle Elements

Recipe:
Stamps: Creative Elements
Paper: Purfect Plum, Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride
Inks: Versamark, Basic Black, Purfect Plum, Bashful Blue
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Stampin Sponges, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Stampin Dimensionals

Well I must have been unwell … did you notice I didnt rotate it or adjust it in any way!!

I do hope you like my card and make sure you stop by the Utah Divas International Blog and see what the other Divas created!

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Birthday Club, Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creative Elements, Creativity, promotions, scrapbooking, specials, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Divas Sketch #155

25 September, 2011 8 Comments

Hey … well what a change in the weather .. we had a hot 32°C yesterday and today its just 20°C forecast – talk about crazy weather!!

We are at Saturday again so that means another Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge and here is today’s sketch – which is brought to us by the lovely Tammy …

Easy enough right???

Well I really struggled with this one and even rotating it didnt help! Then I remembered a card I’d seen online last week and do you think I could remember where?? nup!!

So here’s my take on this week’s sketch ….

I really needed something simple today as I woke with a horrid headache – which I might add is still hanging on even after going back to bed this morning … I thought I’d been going so well as I hadnt had one for a couple of weeks.

I do like the simplicity of this card and it has just one stamp and highlights the new In Colour ruffled ribbon – isnt it gorgeous?? Oh and the new In Colour Printed Designer Brads – these are delish and you will need a pack once you see them up close :)

I also designed this card so it would fit in our gorgeous square envelopes (14cmx14cm) and make for a larger card for someone special!

I do hope you like my card and dont forget to stop by the Utah Divas International Blog to check what the other designing Divas have created!

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, Birthday Club, Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Friends n Family, Occasions, Petite Pairs, promotions, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ESAD “New Catalogue” Blog Hop

10 September, 2011 25 Comments

How long has it been since I’ve done one of these??

The girls at ESAD are so excited for today’s Blog Hop as we are featuring our new Idea Book & Catalogue and not only is it a wonderful catalogue full of lots of new products and stamp sets but its a great Idea book as well with over 300 samples and ideas and now you will have 20 or so more demonstrators giving you yet more ideas through this Blog Hop.  Its an awesome purchase at just $12.95!  Now if you dont have your new Idea Book & Catalogue yet then please make sure you contact your Demonstrator today or feel free to contact me to organise your copy.

Now I know youre wondering …. What is ESAD?

ESAD stands for “Extra Special Australasian Demonstrators” and it is an on-line group just for Australian and New Zealand Stampin’ Up!® Demonstrators.

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 it is needed. So if you are a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator located in Australia or New Zealand, then please fee free to contact me to join our wonderful group on Facebook.

Now my first project today is a Scrapbook Layout … and yes you read that right!!  I know I dont do many of them but I’m hoping to do more in the future as I want to make some more pages to put in the Album I made for Mum & Dad’s 50th Wedding Anniversary for Dad to reminisce over.

Vintage Beau Chateau - Mum, Aged 2 1/2

This photo of Mum has been one of my favourites for many years and she gave it to me quite a while back. It was taken in 1935 and I’ve kept the original and had copies made for this project.

Here is a close up of the tag up the top. I wanted to show you the detail and the ribbons and antique brad – they are just divine together!

You can also see the background paper which is simply a sheet of Very Vanilla with the leafy motif stamp from Creative Elements stamped randomly in Pink Pirouette and then to give it a vintage feel I’ve just sponged in Soft Suede.

The two tags on the layout were made using pieces from the On Board Merry Medley Chipboard pack.  How neatly does the decorative label punch fit in the top one?  I simply used the tags as a template and traced around them in pencil onto the Beau Chateau DSP cut it out and stuck it on the chipboard and then just sanded around the edges to get off all the bits that went over the edge – mind you by the end of this procedure I could have done with a mini Dust Buster to clean up my desk!

I am sorry for the darkness of these photo’s as I find it really hard to get a good photo with the rainy day we had yesterday … I will try and get a better photo later today when its sunny. If anyone has tips on how to take a good photo of a scrapbook layout please feel free to contact me … as long as it doesnt involve spending a gazillion dollars on a new camera!

My Second Project for today is one I’ve been wanting to do for some time and now that I finally have that Milk Carton Die its become so much easier!!  Thanks to Stampin’ Up! for the birthday bonus they now give to Demonstrators as I managed to get this die at an extra 15% off!

BirdHouse

 

How sweet is this little Birdhouse??  Its just way too cute – well it must be as it got a ‘High Squeal Factor’ rating from Caitie!

I love this little Milk Carton Die and I am sure you are going to see many many more projects made using this!

Hey did you notice in the New Idea Book & Catalogue that we’ve had a price reduction on the Big Shot and many of its Dies & Folders??  Now thats also something to squeal about!

The Stamp set I used to decorate the box is called Best of Everything and it is seriously one very cute stamp set! I’ve been making samples this week for my Launch and I’m lovin everything I make with it – that little bird is just way too cute!!

Here’s a side view of the Birdhouse which shows the flowers growing all around it!

Did you notice the colours I’ve used?? They are all the new In Colours!! The Birdhouse itself is done in Pool Party, the flowers are in Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder and Island Indigo, the Tree on the front is in Lucky Limeade. Its all held together with a couple of strips of Sticky Strip and the little Library Clip at the top so the recipient can check the contents on the little birdhouse without have to rip it apart.

I was going to share a couple of the cards I’ve made this week but dont want to spoil the surprise for my Launch next Saturday however I might throw through a couple of spoilers during the week … so stay tuned!

Now you should have arrived here from the Blog of Debbie Lamb however if you didnt thats OK you can just keep going until you get to Debbie’s blog.

As a special thank you for all our beautiful visitors we have Blog Candy!!  We will have two prizes – one for a New Zealand visitor and one for an Australian visitor.  What you need to do to be eligible to win is to visit and comment on every blog in the hop – yes all 23 of them. Then you need to email Sharlene and advise her that you’ve completed the Blog Hop and give her your name, email and location.

Now the next blog you need to hop over to is none other than the very talented Tanya Bell … Tanya is such a lovely lady and uber-creative and I was blessed to sit with her at the Awards Night Dinner at Convention in May.

Now if you happen to get lost along the way or one of the links doesnt work here’s a list of all 23 Participants …

I hope you enjoy viewing all the gorgeous creations and if you have any questions or would like to book a workshop with me please feel free to contact me!

 

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Best of Everything, Big Shot, Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Circle, Classes, Creative Elements, Creativity, Decorative Lable, Demo Friends, Demonstrations, ESAD-SU, Field Flowers, Friends n Family, Milk Carton Die, Off the Page, promotions, Punches, scrapbooking, specials, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sketchy Saturday is back!

3 September, 2011 7 Comments

After a long couple of months I’m back doing the Utah Divas Sketch Challenge!

Firstly, I’d like to thank the lovely Carol for putting up with me for so long and welcome the new girls doing the sketches and we have the lovely Ruthie Burkey coordinating us all and keeping us all in line – no easy task I must say!!

Here is this week’s sketch ….

DSC152

Diva Sketch Challenge #152

Now I wouldnt be me if I didnt change it in some way now would it??  I’ve given the sketch a flip and come up with this ….

See Ruthie … I made two cards!!

I couldnt decide which colour combination I liked the best so whats a girl to do??  She makes one of each of course!! I also wanted to make them as Father’s Day Cards being its Father’s Day here tomorrow so now I have two cards – one for Dad and one for Hubby :)

I do have another design in my but that might have to wait for another day ;)

Here’s a close up of the Autumn card …

Not sure if you can see it but the Cajun Craze layer has been run through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder and it gives it texture and a bit more depth.

I’m sure you’ve heard that we’ve just had our new Idea Book & Catalogue released here in Australia and I’m very happy to report that not only is it full of all sorts of gorgeous new stamps, papers and accessories but the price of the Big Shot and some of the dies and folders have actually come down in price!  You can even earn a Big Shot for half price by hosting a Workshop so if you’d like a Big Shot at half price why not contact me today to book your Workshop in.

Now dont forget to pop over to the Utah Divas International Blog for links to what the other Designing Diva’s have created for this sketch.

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Big Shot, Blogging, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, French Foliage, Friends n Family, God's Blessings, Occasions, promotions, specials, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, stamp-a-stack, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques, Textured Impressions Folders, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sweet & Simple

5 June, 2011 8 Comments

Firstly I am uber happy to report that my Sydney Swans last night were victorious overe the Brisbane Lions :)   by a wee margin of 65 points!! Way to go Swannies :)   I mentioned that game in yesterday’s post and I had a few comments saying they hope I enjoy the game and yup I did :)

Now onto today’s share … this is a very queasy card that will be done tomorrow at Sue’s workshop. Its a case of a card sample in the Idea Book & Catalogue (p69) and since the card in the catalogue was a small gift card I upscaled it to a regular sized card for the workshop.

When choosing the colours I remembered the pretty colour challenge #158 from Stamping 411 …

How pretty are these colours together … very ‘springy’ dont you think?

So here’s my card …

Recipe
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Inks: Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Peach Parfait, So Saffron, Real Red
Accessories: Stampin Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Jewels – Pearls, Stampin Write Markers – Certainly Celery, Real Red, Peach Parfait, So Saffron

I do hope you like this card and now I’d best be off to make up the kits for tomorrows Workshop!

Have a wonderful Sunday

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, Birthday Club, cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Get Well, Gifts, Itty Bitty Shapes, Occasions, Pocket Silhouettes, promotions, Punches, RAKs, specials, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, stamp-a-stack, Stampin' Up!®, stamping Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Strength & Hope Sketch

4 June, 2011 10 Comments

Here we are again at another Saturday and another Utah Divas Sketch Challenge but this one is a little special. I decided this week I’d use the Strength & Hope set and remind you about the wonderful Strength & Hope Campaign and how you can help.

Years ago it was always a shock to hear of someone who had Breast Cancer and sadly these days there arent many people who dont know someone who has either had the disease and survived or someone who has lost their battle against this horrible disease.  Many doctors/scientists are tirelessly working  to find a cure and here is how you can help.

Just by purchasing this gorgeous Strength & Hope Stamp Set you are helping raise funds to go to research for a cure – with every Stamp Set sold in every Stampin’ Up! marketStampin’ Up! will donate $2.00 to the National Breast Cancer Research Foundation – that means not only here in Australia but also in New Zealand, Canada, USA, Germany and the UK. Thats alot of demonstrators all selling these sets to help raise these much needed funds so if you’d like to help please contact me to purchase your stamp set today and help. Now for all the sets I sell I will also donate a further $2 per set to the McGrath Foundation here in Australia.

Now onto this week’s sketch …

Now … I know this will surprise some of you (especially Carol) I’ve flipped it and exchanged the long rectangle for a box but do hope you like what I’ve come up with …

You would not believe how hard it was to get a decent photo of this card and I’m still not entirely happy with this picture. The card is a very soft femine card and I’m afraid the camera just cant do it justice.

You can view the full details and all the links to the other Designing Divas at the Utah Divas International Blog here and the next Diva you need to skip along to is the lovely Ruthie … oh when you visit her blog be sure to wish her a happy birthday too!

Well I best go cook dinner so I can sit & watch the Swans game

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Circle, Creativity, Friends n Family, Gifts, Occasions, RAKs, Stamp Sets, stamping, Strength & Hope, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Growing Green

29 May, 2011 7 Comments

I had all good intentions to get this card done and the posted before lunch today however when hubby asks “Did you want to go to Officeworks?” well you dont ask why you just ‘do’!

Here is this week’s Utah Divas Sketch ..

I’ve known what stamp set I’ve wanted to use for this sketch all week but just wasnt sure on what colours to use.  Now I just didnt know what colours to use and thought I could use the Sweet n Sour DSP but think I’ve over used it with the Diva sketches and needed a change and I then thought “Oh I’ll use the Colour Coach”!

The Colour Coach has to be one of the most underrated tools in our Idea Book & Catalogue and I should share it more at my workshops.

It has a swatch for every colour we have in the Catalogue and its all held together by a metal post so when the new In Colours come out in September you can just add them in.

There are cards up the front that tell you how colours work and how you should choose the right colours to go together.

Now on the back of the swatches there is something special …

I dare say this is ‘why’ it was given the name of  ‘Colour Coach’!  Just look at all the choices you get!

There’s a Creative Combination and a Getting Started Combination as well as a Dynamic Duo – now there is one of these combinations on the back over every colour swatch.

How good is that? You’ll never be stuck for a colour combination again! Now did you know this is not only available to Demonstrators? its available to purchase from the Idea Book & Catalogue for just AU$28.95.

The colour I wanted to use was Pretty in Pink for the flower so I pulled out that card in my Colour Coach and went with the Creative Combination of Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Bashful Blue.

I even went as far as to use the Dynamic Duo colour of Melon Mambo for my sentiment.

Here is my card …

I just love how this card turned out and really wondering why I havent used this Stamp Set before now? needless to say you will see quite a few more cards using this set in the future.

I do hope you like what I’ve done with this sketch and the colour combination and if you’d like to order a Colour Coach or the Growing Green stamp set then please feel free to drop me a line or give me a call.

Now dont forget what the other Designing Diva’s have created with this sketch and there are links on the Utah Divas Blog and the next blog to visit is the lovely Ruthie B and just keep following the links till you get back to here – dont forget to leave a comment for each of the Divas cos we all just lurv comments :)

 

 

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, Birthday Club, cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Friends n Family, Get Well, Gifts, Growing Green, Large Oval, Occasional Greetings, Occasions, RAKs, Scalloped Oval, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, stamp-a-stack, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Sympathy, Techniques, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

You asked for it ….

25 May, 2011 14 Comments

Wow 3 posts in 24 hours … amazing!!

Well last week one of my Demonstrator friends, Nicole Derendorf, shared her hideous card she’d made – now I dont see it as hideous but then we are all our own worst critics are we not?  She also challenged other Demonstrators to share their creations they saw as only fit for the recycling bin – maybe I should blame her for the Christmas Card I made a couple of days later??

After sharing on Facebook that I’d made the ugliest Christmas card ever it seems everyone wants to see it – what’s with that??

Anywho I decided last night that I’d share it and let you decide for yourself as the reaction here in the Stamp A Latte house was mixed …

Its a new style of card I’ve made over the last week and I just loved the first one (which I’ll share tomorrow) so thought a Christmas Card in the same layout would be nice but now …. not so sure … maybe its just the images that dont sit right with me. Personally I think its way too busy but hubby thinks its nice? What do you think??

This is the card opened so you can see there is still room to write a message and if you wanted more space to write you just add another block of whisper white on the chocolate chip section.

Maybe I just need less snowflakes or maybe some ribbon & dazzling diamonds might be the go.

What would you do to fix it?

 

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Blogging, cardmaking, Challenges, Christmas, Creativity, Demo Friends, Demonstrations, Occasions, Snow Swirled, specials, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Sketch – Diva Style

22 May, 2011 4 Comments

Well yes I know today is Sunday but I really wanted to do this week’s Sketch from Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge.

I have been on the go since Convention finished last weekend and went for a quick trip over to see my family in Cobden, Victoria and pop in to see my mum in the nursing home – a rather emotional time.

Then Tuesday it was driving back to Avalon to catch my flight home but not before having a nice relaxing lunch with the lovely Mel Sharp – thanks Mel for coming and keeping me company at Avalon – just as well it was Tuesday and not Wednesday ey??

Wednesday I just relaxed and tried to catch up on some sleep then it was back into creating cards and making up kits for a Workshop on Friday night and today I’ve been busy creating & cutting up kits for tomorrow’s Workshop – see told you I’ve been busy!

Soooo … without further ado here is this week’s Sketch ….

Here is my card and one of the cards the ladies will be making tomorrow …

Recipe:
Stamps: Elements of Style, Bring on the Cake
Inks: Jet Black Stazon, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum
Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Stampin Pastels, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Very Vanilla 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon

I do hope the ladies enjoy making this card tomorrow and hope you like it too!

Dont forget if you hold a workshop between now and 30th June and your Total Sales come to $450 or more you will receive a bonus $70 to spend – so instead of receiving a Level 1 Hostess set and $40 to spend you will get a free Level 1 Hostess set and $110 to spend in any of the current Stampin’ Up! Catalogues.

Contact me today to book in your workshop or to arrange your own Catalogue Party.

 

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, Birthday Club, cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Get Well, promotions, Punches, RAKs, Scallop Trim Border, specials, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, stamp-a-stack, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Sympathy, this n that!, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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