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Nature Walk

9 May, 2011 7 Comments

What a busy week its been and its only going to get busier!

What do you think of the new blog look? Like it? I do … I have been looking for that right theme forever – well it seems like it anyways. Then when I was browsing the Studio Press site by Brian Gardner the other night I came across this Pretty Young Thing them and it was ‘oh yeah’ and I just edited the graphics and took the hearts off and inserted the coffee cups!!

This Wednesday I fly down to Melbourne for the 2011 Stampin’ Up! Convention – its for 3 days of total Stampin’ Up! awesomeness and I cant wait!  This year I have the pleasure of sharing it with my gorgeous friend and downline Libby Dyson and being Thursday is Libby’s birthday it will be extra special!

So as you can imagine its only going to be busier this upcoming week. Convention finishes on Saturday night with the Awards dinner and then Sunday I’m hiring a car and driving over to see my mum, dad and sister in Cobden – just a little 3 hour drive!  Now I think I might have to stop in Geelong for a cuppa! I fly home again the following Tuesday – lets hope the family survives that long and the house isnt a total warzone when I get back!

Here’s a card I made a little while ago for a swap on ESAD – sadly my swap cards still seem to be travelling as they never arrived – obviously the Postie decided they liked them enough to keep them himself.

I really enjoyed making this card. I just love collage stamping and putting all the elements together and then sitting back and looking at the end product.

There seems to be lots of stamps on this card however its just the Nature Walk Stamp Set (Autumn/Winter Mini Catalogue), Teeny Tiny Sentiments and the En Francais background stamp. I’ve also added a piece of the Botanical Gazette Designer Series Paper and how cute are those little Library Clips??

I hope you like this card as much as I enjoyed making it … now I must duck up to the shops to grab some socks and a couple of scarves as it appears as hundreds of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators from Australia and New Zealand descend on Melbourne so is a cold front! Talk about timing!!

Dont forget the great ‘Deals of the Week’ happening this week – just click the image in the sidebar or here to view them and dont forget they change each Wednesday so be sure to check back.

Now since I’ll be away you’ll need to email me your orders and from now until 20th May I am offering free postage on all orders so email or text me today with your order!

 

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Blogging, cardmaking, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, En Francais, ESAD-SU, Friends n Family, general, Get Well, Nature Walk, Occasions, promotions, Punches, RAKs, specials, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, swaps, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Because I Care

27 September, 2010 6 Comments

Its the first day of School Holidays here in Sydney, NSW and I sooo enjoyed my sleep in today. Although I do find if I sleep in then I feel tired and lethargic for the day … maybe I need to sleep in again tomorrow to be sure??  One has to research these things just so we can educate others ;)

With a new catalogue comes new stamps and I love remaking favourite styles of cards using new stamps and one of my favourite cards is the Easel Card.  They are a “Squeasy” card … now I’ve educated you on the new ‘Onie’ style of cards being the “Queasy” cards but now here is a new term for you – “Squeasy” which of course means Super Quick and Easy!

I love the Hydrangea in the Because I Care Hostess Stamp Set and couldn’t wait to use it. I had to team it up with En Francais for this elegant card …

crushvintageeasel

Recipe
Stamps: Because I Care, En Francais
Paper:   Concord Crush, Very Vanilla
Inks:     Crumb Cake, Concord Crush, Jet Black Stazon, Old Olive
Accessories:  Stampin Dimensionals, Stampin Sponges, Big Shot, Lots of Tags Sizzlits Pack

I love Hydrangeas and they always remind me of my mum and the numerous plants we had around the house when growing up.

Here are a couple of views of the card ….

Easel card Side View

Easel Card Side On

Close Up of Stand

These cards are great for any occasion and as you can see you can post them flat and the stopper is there so they can be stood up to display. I’ve just popped a heap of dimensionals under the Concord Crush frame to make it higher and therefore be used as the stopper.

Feel free to contact me for more information on how to make this card or one similar.

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Because I Care, Big Shot, birthday, cardmaking, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, En Francais, Get Well, Gifts, Occasions, RAKs, Stamp Club, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Sympathy, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Time

5 September, 2010 3 Comments

Time is one thing we all seem to crave yet can never get enough of!

I was so glad to see the Sense of Time stamp set included in the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue. Its a great set to use for cards for those males in our lives.  I’ve even seen some great feminine cards too and when I do find some ‘time’ I might make a couple.

This card today is one we will be making at tomorrow’s Stamp A Stack.

tagtime

Recipe:
Stamps: Sense of Time, En Francais
Paper: Chocolate chip, Ridinghood Red, Very Vanilla
Inks: Chocolate chip, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Basic Gray
Accessories: Stampin Sponges, Corner Rounder, 1 3/8″ circle punch, 1/2″ circle punch, Crop-a-dile, Jumbo Eyelets, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Hemp Twine.

Would you believe that when I started making this card the layers and card base were totally different colours??  I so need some of the new colours to play with and cant wait to get them! Hopefully my orders will arrive early this week.

2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue Party

If you are local to me you might be interested in my New Catalogue Launch.

I’m actually holding it over 2 days – this way those who work can still come as can those who are free during the day. They are are 17th and 18th September – both starting at 10am and going through till 1.30pm – as the Saturday (18th) is my birthday there will also be some birthday cake to share ;)   There’s be door prizes and lots of fun and laughter – not to mention chocolate and coffee!  There’ll be bonuses for you too if you place an order or book your own demonstration on the day.  Places are limited so please be sure to reserve your spot!

Well I’d better go get the kits sorted for tomorrow’s Stamp A Stack so the girls have something to create :)

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, cardmaking, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, En Francais, Friends n Family, Occasions, Sense of Time, specials, Stamp Sets, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Grab your passport & your briefcase ….

1 September, 2010 30 Comments

cos the ESAD 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue Blog Hop is here!

I do hope you have got yourself a cuppa and a biscuit – maybe even a chocolate one as there are 25 lovel blogs as part of this New Catalogue tour!

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. Now if you’re not a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and would like to be please email me for a ‘no obligaton’ information pack.

Now as I’m the first in the blog hop you just keep going until you get back to me – easy :)   Also, if you happen to come across a link that doesnt have their posts up then scroll down to the bottom of the last blog post you were on and there will be a list of all the blogs involved.

We have blog Candy!

This blog hop we are offering blog candy for those who take the time and effort to visit every blog and leave a comment on all the blogs. All you have to do to be entered into the draw is to visit each blog and leave a comment on each one. Once you’ve done this email me and let me know you’ve fulfilled the requirment and  advised your name, email and location and I will enter you into the draw! How easy is that??

Now onto my project ….

One of the great new sets in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue is called Artistic Etchings and I was lucky enough to be able to pre-order this set – one of the benefits of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is being able to pre-order stamps before the catalogues are released to the general public.

Now I wanted to make something more than just a few cards and I’ve mentioned before that I love using the Stampin’ Up! notecards.  So I designed a ‘bag’ that would fit the notecards inside.

briefcasecards

So using the notecard size  I went about designing the little briefcase and I just love how it turned out. I deliberated for quite some time on how to get the briefcase to get the texture of a real bag and decided that it would be easier to just use my stamp pad to create the lines/scratches on it. Then I just stamped some of the images from Artistic Etchings on the case to mimic those luggage bags with stickers and labels on them.

The three little cards fit in the briefcase perfectly and it uses a velcro dot to close the bag.  Here are the cards …

Now as I was making the briefcase and cards I thought of making a concertina passport photo book. I then remembered that my neice and her hubby are currently living in the UK and have made a couple of trips over to Europe and in particular France so I messaged Cath and asked if I could use some of their photo’s to which she was happy to do so.

briefcasepasport

So I set to work on the Passport.  Again I made it the size of the notecards so it would fit in the briefcase – and this way I wouldnt have to make another bag!  I downloaded and printed the photo’s I wanted to use and then set about to create the concertina part. I placed the photo’s without sticking them down so I knew where to put my stamps.Once I’d stamped and sponged the pages I popped the photo’s in and tagged them and I was done.

briefcasepassportopen

The Paris label on the front was printed on cardstock using word and I then attached the frame from the Styled Silver Hodgepodge (which I’m glad is in the new Catalogue) and popped it on the front.  It might look involved but it really was quite easy once I’d worked out where to put what photo.

I do hope you like what I’ve made as I really did enjoy making these two little projects. It’s Cath’s birthday later this month so I’m going to send the briefcase and the passport over to her – I do hope she likes it!

Now its time to head off on your journey to the next Blog that’s part of the hop being the lovely Keryn Campbell from New Zealand (see I knew you’d need a passport!!)

Here’s a list of all the ladies participating in the blog hop just in case one of the links in the posts dont work …

Enjoy your journey around the blogs today and dont forget to leave those comments to qualify for the Blog Candy!
(Sorry Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators can not win the blog candy)

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: Blogging, cardmaking, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, ESAD-SU, Friends n Family, Off the Page, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques, vacation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Birthday Medallion

12 August, 2010 5 Comments

Today is my hubby’s birthday so I thought I’d break out the Medallion stamp and create something ‘manly’ for him.

I was given the Medallion stamp some time ago and just havent had the chance to play with it.  So I’m sure the girls will be glad to see me using it …….. finally!

distressedkraftmedallion51

I had an image in my mind of what I wanted the card to turn out like and it didnt really turn out as planned but Neil likes it and thats all that matters :)   Where would I be without sponging and tearing??  I am still not sure about this card so I may need to play with the design a little more when I have more time.  Why does it seem we are continually rushing here, there and everywhere?? I think I might need to plan us a little holiday sometime soon ;)

Well hubby had his favourite meal for dinner – Roast Beef and we made him a chocolate birthday cake so all in all a good day – now I’m off to spend some time with the Birthday Boy!

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, cardmaking, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Friends n Family, Occasions, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Butterfly Collage

16 July, 2010 11 Comments

As you are aware I run an online group for all Australian and New Zealand Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators called ESAD (Extra Special Australian Demonstrators). We regularly run swaps for the members as these are great ways to get new or different ideas to your own.

This month we have a swap for a Technique Book which I’m a part of.  All the participants had to choose a technique different to the other participants and make up an instruction and sample page for each participant. So I had to make 12 instructions & samples for this swap and the technique I chose was Collage Stamping.

I love doing Collage Stamping as you can make it your own and create lovely effects and it gives the look of your very own designer series paper.  Now while I was making my samples the other day one of my daughter’s friends was staying over and she asked why I was putting butterflies on the patterned paper – I then explained what I was doing and that I’d stamped all the images on the cardstock myself.  She then exclaimed “Wow how cool!!”  Now this does boost one’s self esteem to no end!

Here is the sample I made for the swap ….

After deliberating for what seemed like days on what set and style to make I decided on this gorgeous “All a Flutter” stamp as the main focus and then popped in some flower stems, leaves and script.

I really do love the final sample and I do love that butterfly!

I’ve coloured my piece using the Stampin Pastels. I love the soft muted tones you can get with the Pastels and they also blend so well!  Now to ensure that the Pastels dont keep rubbing off I’ve given them a light spray with my hairspray.  This just helps to set and protect your artwork from rubbing off.  You dont need an expensive fixative – just the  cheapest hairspray does the trick.

Now as part of the swap we also had to make one card or project using our technique so I thought I’d use my sample and do one of the challenges from the Cards and Things Challenges Blog run by the lovely Krista Driessen.

Here’s my card …

collagecard-ctsc40

I love how this turned out and I’ve added another butterfly over the top of one to give it more dimension and make it that extra little bit special.

Recipe:
Stamps: All a Flutter, Organic Grace, En Francais
Paper: Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Blush Blossom
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Mellow Moss, Versamark
Accessories: Big Shot, Scallop Circle Die, Circle Scissor Plus, Stampin’ Pastels, Sponge Daubers, Crimper

Here’s a close up of the layered butterfly …

Starting September I will be starting new Technique Classes so if you’d like to book your spot please email me today.

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, ESAD-SU, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, swaps, Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mellow Bird .. and a special offer

29 June, 2010 8 Comments

Well its another very (very) chilly day here in Sydney.  I really do not like winter although spending the day in bed is rather nice but it doesnt get things done.

It was nice to receive a phone call this morning from the lovely Lisa to advise me that it actually just got to 10C!!  She is such a sweetie and so thoughtful!

Today’s card is one that I cased however now I cant find where it was that I cased it from – I’ve changed computers so if you do recognise this as your design please let me know so I can give credit where it is due.

How nice is this card?

Recipe:
Stamps: En Francais, Baroque Motifs
Paper: Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Basic Gray
Inks: Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Extra Large 2 step bird punch, Polka Dot Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, sponge daubers, Mellow Moss Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin Dimensionals.

Now when I made this card I wanted the dots from the  Textured Impressions Folder to stand out so I just used my sponge dauber with the sahara sand and gently rubbed over the top just to make them ‘pop’ a little – it doesnt need much just a light touch.

Although it looks involved it is surprisingly simple. Its been a very popular card in my Stamp A Stack classes too.  Its also another good card to show that everyone really needs to have that Extra Large 2 step bird punch in their supply.

Now for my special offer ….

As its the end of the financial year here in Australia and I’m just shy of a sales target I am offering free postage on all orders received today and tomorrow!  So until the end of June (tomorrow) any orders placed will be processed with free shipping.

Dont forget about the Deal of the Week as it also finishes tomorrow. Selected rhinestone brads and ribbons on sale ….

Item Page Description Regular Price Sale Price
109113 149 Square Ice Rhinestone brads $19.95 $11.97
109111 149 Circle Ice Rhinestone brads $19.95 $11.97
109112 149 Square Fire Rhinestone brads $19.95 $11.97
111848 150 Bashful Blue 1″ double-stitched grosgrain ribbon $19.95 $10.97
109050 151 Certainly Celery 5/8″ grosgrain ribbon $14.95 $8.97

So contact me now with your order – you can email, ring or send that courier pigeon – but make sure he has some Red Bull first so he gets here in time!

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: cardmaking, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, promotions, specials, Stamp Club, stamp-a-stack, Stampin' Up!®, stamping Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Painted Easel

6 March, 2010 14 Comments

Hello!!  Well I knew it had been a while since I’d posted but I had thought it was days rather than weeks! I am so sorry – we’ve had so much happening and I havent been 100% but now with super-charged meds I should be on the road to recovery – well lets hope so cos they cost $70!

Its Saturday so time for another Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge and another lovely sketch from the lovely Carol. I looked and looked at this sketch until I worked out what to do – I know its not a hard sketch but I wanted to do something a little different and this is what I came up with …

It suddenly dawned on me that I could do an Easel Card and I’d done one of these for Christmas but not for a general card and since I am now creating classes for Mother’s Day gifts I thought why not turn this into a Mother’s Day card!

It also happens to be my Mum’s birthday on 1st April so I can easily make this card into a lovely birthday card just by changing the sentiment!  Mum has always loved hydrangeas and has always had at least one plant of them in her garden if not a row of them! I am sure she’s had them at every house she’s lived in.

I love these Easel cards as they are so so so easy to make and when someone receives one they just ooo and aaah over them!

Now so you can see how they stand here is an image of the side view of the card when standing.

These cards flatten out for easy posting too – you might just have to include instructions on how to stand them up and show them off!

Now we are continuing with the Sketch round so now hop over to Lori’s blog to see what wonderful creation she has made this week.

Now my lovely husband has to go in for cataract surgery on Monday so I will be out at the hospital with him all day but will try to be back posting regularly again for you – I actually have some projects I havent posted yet so thats a good thing. If you dont mind please say a prayer for him (and me) on Monday.

Thanks for stoppin by

Filed Under: birthday, cardmaking, Challenges, Classes, Creativity, Demonstrations, Get Well, Occasions, Stampin' Up!®, stamping, Sympathy, Utah Divas International Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

A bit of this and a bit of that

27 January, 2009 7 Comments

Well today I am headache free (touch wood) which is a great feeling after a three day headache :( although poor Emily still has a fever, headaches and upset tummy. Took her to the doctor today who confirmed what I thought and said it was a virus and to keep doing what I’m doing so obviously I wont be child free tomorrow being the first day back at school.

Now onto the cards!

caramelcollageIn my previous stamping life I loved using Collage stamps and have missed those cards made using them and have drooled over the collage stamps that have been released by Stampin’ Up! in USA and other markets. I figured that’s OK as all the stamps in each set coordinate and go so well together I figured I’d make my own collage cards with various sets.

So I started with the En Françias background stamp and just grabbed a set and used a couple of the different stamps to make the collage.

This first one is done using the Touch of Nature set. I stamped the En Francais stamp onto the creamy caramel card in versamark then grabbed the butterfly and stamped randomly on the edges in creamy caramel and the leafy branch in more mustard. After I was happy with how it looked I sponged some pastels over the versarmark image to make it pop and sponged creamy caramel and close to cocoa around the edges of the card.

I’ve then used my stampin write markers to colour the bird stamp directly to the rubber then stamped on very vanilla then stamped the sentiment under the bird. I coloured the branch image with the markers again and stamped onto very vanilla and cut out and layered over the matted bird image.

eggplantcollage

This one was done again starting with the En Francais background stamp in versamark on Almost Amethyst cardstock. I have then used various stamps from the Carte Postale set in varying shades of purple randomly on the card.

The sentiment is from the Define your Life stamp set. The birds were stamped in Elegant Eggplant onto Almost Amethyst then cut out and layered on top.

Sponging the chalks over the versamark and inks around the edges gives these cards a lovely vintage look.

These cards may look involved but they really are very easy. If you find that if you’ve stamped too many images on the card its all good as each piece of cardstock comes with two sides ;) so just turn it over and start again and this time you’ll know how much is enough.

I hope you like these cards and if you’d like to learn about making these collage cards then contact me to find out about my technique classes starting soon.

Have a great day and keep stampin ;)

singlelattesig

Filed Under: cardmaking, Classes, Friends n Family, Gifts, scrapbooking, Stampin' Up!®, stamping Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Back to Basics

30 June, 2008 7 Comments

Well not really … but I have been playing with the lovely Brocade Basics stamp set. Now I blame my lovely friend Nikki Stalker for my addiction to this set!

kindredspirits

This layout was totally cased from the 2008 Idea Book and Catalogue and as requested the lovely ladies at Thirlmere will be making this layout this week along with a few cards.

This is a 6×6 layout and so quick and easy to make yet very elegant at the same time. I am so in love with Old Olive so will be very happy to share that passion with the girls.

Recipe:

Stamps: So Many Sayings, Brocade Basics
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Always Artichoke
Paper: Old Olive Cardstock, Always Artichoke Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Close to Cocoa Designer Prints Paper, Brocade Background Designer Series Papers
Accessories: Snail Adhesive, Stampin Dimensionals, Stamp-a-majig, Paper Snips.

RegalPomegranateAfter my play day with Nikki back in May I created another card using Brocade Basics and the ‘Rock n Roll’ technique.

All the ladies at yesterday’s demonstration just loved this card so I hope you do too – they were a bit sad when I told them it wasnt the make and take but did get excited when I showed them what we would be making – so it all worked out in the end!

Gotta keep those customers happy!

The hostess was rather happy too with all the freebies she got – and who doesnt love free stamps??

Dont forget to check back tomorrow to see the card the girls made yesterday!

Leonie

Filed Under: cardmaking, Friends n Family, Stampin' Up!®, stamping Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

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