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!

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 …

•  Keryn Campbell
•  Michelle Halling
•  Richelle Fletcher
•  Sharlene Meyer
•  Carole Stedman
•  Monique Fielder
•  Juliette Chapman
•  Debbie Lamb
•  Leonie Schroder <–> You are here!!
•  Tanya Bell
•  Kelly Nelson
•  Kari Hughes
•  Christie Kunkel
•  Ann Gerlach
•  Sharlene Torres
•  Mel Sharp
•  Dani Fender 
•  Nicole VanSteelandt Derendorf
•  Elizabeth Dyson
•  Andrea Buckland
•  Michelle Grech
•  Narelle Hodges
•  Sally Williams 

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!

I’ve been enjoying being back on the Utah Divas Sketch Team again and as I need some new cards for classes and workshops why not do a different sketch so I headed straight for the Mojo Monday Blog.

I loved their current sketch and all these ideas started popping into my head. Here is this week’s sketch

I find that if I’m stuck thinking of ideas for a card using a particular set and I go and check out some sketches the ideas start to flow. I bought the Easter Blossoms set as I love the blossom branch and the little girl stamp but once I had it I was stumped for ideas. Once I looked at this sketch I knew exactly what I wanted to do

Here’s my card ….

Recipe
Stamps: Fabulous Phrases, Easter Blossoms
Ink: Early Espresso, Baja Breeze
Paper: Soft Suede, Elegant Soiree DSP, Whisper white
Accessories: Big Shot, Ovals die, Crochet Trim Victoria, Very Vanilla Taffeta 1/8″, Stampin Dimensionals, Daubers.

This card is one of those queasy cards (quick and easy) and really so simple to do!

Its even quicker now that I’ve rearranged some of my desk I now have my Big Shot machine sitting right here with me and my new storage unit for the dies it makes it all so painless to use and pack away when I’m done I’ll share the storage units tomorrow.

Well its been a crazy week and we’ve arrived at another Saturday and that means another Utah Diva Sketch Challenge.

Here is this week’s sketch …

As soon as I saw this sketch I knew what I wanted to do and that was a gatefold card – I just had to decide on what stamp set and colours to use.

Now I need to warn Carol to sit down …. this week I didnt rotate the sketch or anything!!

I fell in love with this set as soon as I saw it and whats even better is you can earn it for free during Saleabration!

I just love that butterfly!

I really love any colour combination with brown and the bashful blue and soft suede go so well together.  This card didnt turn out how I had visioned it in my head but I had a couple of hurdles today so I hope you like what I’ve created.

I love making gatefold cards as they are a little different from a regular card in the opening and so easy  to make. Also, when someone receives one of these cards they just get the loveliest smile on their face.

This last picture shows the card open and as you can see the three little flowers in the top left of the card.  The adhesive pearls go so well on this card and just lift it to such an elegant card.

I do hope you like what I’ve made and now its time to click over to the next Sketchy Diva being Ruthie B!

Here’s a list of all the Sketchy Diva’s …

• Adriana
• Alisa
• Barbara
• Becky
• elizabeth
• Leonie (you are here!)
• Ruthie
• Tammy
• Carol.

Enjoy visiting all the Diva’s blogs and checking out their creations and please feel free to play along with the Sketch Challenge please feel free to do so and pop a link in a comment here so I can share it with the other Diva’s.

Dont forget any stamp set you purchase for $30 or more Stampin’ Up! will donate $2 to the Queensland State Emergency Services to help with the relief appeal for the Queensland Floods.

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 …

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 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.

Happy Friday!

I am on a group where we were given a challenge to do a technique that we havent tried before – to me that in itself is a challenge! So after thinking for a while I thought I’d try the Inked Embossing Technique – now I dont know if there is a correct term for this or not but thats what I’m calling it!

You simply ink up one side of a Textured Impressions Folder – you can swipe the ink pad all over till its covered or you can use your brayer to apply the ink. You then pop your cardstock in and run it through the Big Shot and awesome wowness

Here’s my card …

How nice did this turn out??

I inked up the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder with Elegant Eggplant classic ink and then ran it through with a piece of Perfect Plum cardstock. I just love it!

I’ve then finished off the card by adding some ribbon and the sentiment and gorgeous daisy from the Every Moment stamp set – new in the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue. I just love this stamp set and have made a couple of cards with it over the past couple of days and will share them with you in time.

Makes a very ‘queasy’ card (quick and easy – a new Onie-ism)

You can see how this card was made by coming along to my 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue launch on 17th or 18th September – just let me know which date you wish to attend – the day is free and there will be door prizes, make n takes as well as lots of laughter and special purchasing & booking incentives on the day.

Cant make it on the day?? No worries -  you’ll still receive the booking and ordering incentives which are …

• contact me to arrange your demonstration and you will receive a bonus free Classic Ink Pad
• If you place an order with me from the new catalogue I will also give you free postage on your order – so the more you spend the more you save!

Remember you must contact me before 18th September to arrange your demonstration or place your order to take advantage of these extra specials from me.

Also, if you join my Stampin’ Up! team before the end of September you will not only receive the bonus In Colour pack from Stampin’ Up! but you will also receive a bonus gift to the value of $35 from the new 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalogue from me and my thank you to you.  There really is no better time to join that now!

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!

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!

Welcome to another Diva Sketchy Saturday!

I know its later in the day but it IS still Saturday!  Here is this week’s sketch from the lovely Carol for the Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge.  Easy enough right??

Well I was half way through my card when I thought that if I rotated the sketch it would make a great landscape card – and then I looked at the sketch again and yes its meant to be a landscape card!

Here is the card I made …

The cocoa on the blue was actually inspired by one of the coffee cups I have and think it turned out well.

I love this litte floral design stamp from Vintage Vogue – its so versatile and makes awesome background paper.

The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Messages and fits perfectly in the small oval punch or even the word window. I’ve added a small flower from the Trio Flower Punch for that extra little bit.

Now when I was making this one I thought that a flower in the place of the ‘friend’ layer would look nice so I made another.

Now with the second card I changed the ink to Creamy Caramel to stamp onto the blue and sponging around the edges.

The Happy Mothers Day Sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Messages.

I have been busy this past week making swaps for Convention and doing all those behind the scenes things for convention – making sure I have decent clothes and shoes to wear and all the other bits and pieces.  As a Convention Special I am offering free postage on all mail or telephone orders between now and 31st May. So if there is something you wish to order now is the time and the more you purchase the more you save!

Now its time to send you skipping off to the next Sketchy Diva being the lovely Ruthie!

I’ve had a very busy couple of days with two demonstrations in two days and now my body is telling me to slow down now or else!

I thoroughly enjoyed these two demonstrations and was glad that I could use the same make n takes for both and here is what the girls made ….

I am sorry about the darkness of the background of the photo but if i lightened it the projects became rather ‘bright’.  I love making and giving these Crimped Envelope cards! They are so easy and just that little extra special to give.

You might recognise the little pillow box.

My pillow box was inspired by the lovely one I received from my Secret Sister the other week.  I’ve just added ribbon and a little tag.  These flowers are super easy to make too!  The ladies loved making these and were surprised at just how easy they were. They also loved the Tiny Tags stamp set and how well it matched the new Medium Jewelery Tag punch.

Here is the Crimped Envelope Card.

How special is this? would make an awesome Mother’s Day card dont you think?

I’ve used the Vintage Vogue set to decorate my envelope and then added the flowers after crimping. The sentiment is from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments set and stamped onto whisper white which I’ve cut out using my gorgeous Big Shot and the Lots of Tags sizzlits dies.

If you would like to learn how to make these two projects then contact me today to book your demonstration in.

The ladies really enjoyed using the Big Shot for their projects and were very impressed with how easy it is to use and I’d love to show you how easy it is to use and all the wonderful things you can make with it.

Now I have a couple of Big Shot Bundles for you to purchase – just click on the “Latte Specials” tab for more information and pricing.

Yes its Saturday and time for another Utah Divas International Sketch Challenge! So here’s the sketch and Carol has given us an extra challenge and that is to use the Pretties Kit … I do so love my Pretties Kit and I was worried there wouldnt be enough ‘left’ to use on the card!

Now you may also ask … why is it a sneaky sketch?

Wellllllllllllll … I’ve snuck in a sneak peek for the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue which starts on 1st April.

I just looooove this set!

I have loved just about everything I’ve seen created with it in USA as they’ve had it for a few months now and when I saw it was in the upcoming Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue I just about had a heart infarction!  I was so so happy – even it was the only set in the mini then I would have been happy!

I am very happy to say that there are many more gorgeous stamps in the new Mini plus some awesome new products so get on the phone or shoot me an email to book your demonstration in during April and be one of the first to see and feel the gorgeous new stuff!

The set I’ve used is the Vintage Vogue stamp set and I’ve also used the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel on the background.  The colours I’ve used are Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, So Saffron and Creamy Caramel. I opted to put in the Pretties flowers in place of the vertical strip – hope Carol doesnt mind too much.

I do hope you like this card as I enjoyed making it so very much.

Now you can do the ‘Diva Skip’ and skip onto Lorie’s lovely blog and if you want to check the others out you can start at the Utah Divas International Blog.

Have a great ‘rest of the weekend’!