Live Your Dream

This was the stamp set we received at the SU! Field Training night. I have seen it stamped up a lot in Groovy Guava, which is easy to see why. I have also played around with Sahara Sand and Pomegranate. The flowers look great in Pomegranate too.

Like my little Handbag?

We did this one at a recent SU! Field Training Day.

I added a little fringe, by unravelling some Mellow Moss Grosgrain ribbon, and making crossover handles. It was fun to play with!

            What a year of cardmaking! I started making Christmas cards in October, for my demos each week, and managed to make over 50 cards this year. This set was on my wish list forever, and as it was not one that had been requested, I left it till last to purchase. I am glad I did, 'cause everyone has seen all my other cards, and I was left with nothing new to give to my special friends and family.

I have been exhausted for new ideas too, until I sat down with this set. I am really enjoying cards again!

These cards are done with watercolour pencils, and finished off with a little Dazzling Diamonds and Two way glue pen. It's so much easier than heat embossing.

Card of the Week

Hi, Christmas is only 24 days away, and I am now able to mail all the lovely cards I have been busy making and demonstrating. Being a SU! lady has it's advantages, as I have never made so many cards before. I have packed my Season of Joy and Spring mini sets away, and will start designing cards from the new Summer Mini now.

Ruth and I are having a "Catalogue Release" Workshop next weekend, so keep watching for more!

Card of the Week

This weeks card was made a few weeks ago, for Anna's new baby, Xavier.

I don't have any baby stamps,but I do have "Wild About You."

This was a simple card to make, with Bashful Blue and White. I couldn't deny my cuttlebug any longer, and had to use it on the background. Forgive me all you who thought I only use SU! on everything!

I am so hoping SU! introduce the Sizzix in Australia next year, so we can get with the program and emboss too.

Thanks for looking.

Card of the Week

Hi! I've been MIA again with school Holidays. I did get time to play and prepare, as well as have guests for five nights. My cous, Vonnie, Pete and the three little princesses, came to stay. My family all live in Sydney, and Vonnie recently moved to Townsville, about  4 hours drive for home. It's great to finally have family closer.

My head is filled with plans for Christmas projects. I am working on this OSW (one sheet wonder) pack, that makes about eight cards so far, and some gift tags. Next is a Sheetload of cards, using one sheet of DSP. I am up to 16 cards on that project. Not long before I put the instructions in print, and release it on an unsuspecting world. Hee hee hee!

Stamp set used Peaceful Wishes, the colours, Old Olive, Confetti cream and Ruby Red.

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

Add some sparkle this Christmas! SU! has a great range of embossing powders and tools. You can add glamour to your projects by embossing in gold, silver, black, white and clear. You can add sparkle with Dazzling Diamonds and Heat and Stick powder, or by using the two way  glue pen.

Another handy tip is to use Encore Gold or Silver ink pads with clear emboss, for an instant effect. Embossing can be fun, and once you have tried it , you will be using it all the time.

Another way to add shine to a project is with Crystal Effects, a clear craft Lacquer. Apply it to your stamped images to get a glassy effect, so add it to your baubles, windows and Champagne Flutes, frogs and crocodiles, as well as the frosting on those cakes. Too cute!

Sunday Night Scrappin'

I love Scrappin'. This photo was lovingly restored and copied by my cousin Kim. It is of my Great Grand parents, on my mothers side, Herbert and Agnes Pike. This was a family picnic sometime after they were married.(no sign of the kids!) I intend to do a little journalling when I get the history right. 

I wanted to honor their memory with a youthful page, so there is lots of flowers and buds to represent newness. Thanks to RebelInker.blogspot.com  For the design on the Five Petal Punch Flower. The Buds are all mine!

they are made from the same punch, in smaller quantities.

Card of the Week

Bodacious again! This time I have used Cameo Coral as my base card, and added Pretty in pink with W /White flowers.

Next layer is three flowers stamped and cut in G/Guava, Regal Rose and Rose Red.  The leaves are in Old Olive. That's six colours plus white. I'm sure there is a rule about using too many colours- it was fun anyway. Almost forgot, I also added Only Orange  to the G/Guava flower , using the Rock'n'Roll technique. The base card is Watercolor Vine in W/White. Thanks for looking.

Saturday Card Making

We are really on fire now! our lovely and talented ladies took on a wallet card this month. Everyone left a winner.We had some great wallets in four different colours. Thanks to Dannie Graves, for sharing her version with the world. I added a few changes to make it an Aussie version. The Faux Suede look was achieved using Cling Wrap, and the measurements are converted to cms. I was pleased to make a card that used up a whole piece of card stock, with no waste.

Card of the Week

How's this for a bright and cheery card! My newest stamp set is "Bodacious Bouquet," and I must have stamped this flower in nearly every colour in my collection today. Hehehe! I settled on makinga card in this colour combo, as there was a scrap of this DSP from the Summer Picnic range, just sitting in my "scraps to keep"  box. The rest of the flowers will find a home over the next week. 

I will try to do something amazing  and new with them.

Card of the Week

My favourite set from the new spring Mini Catalogue would have to be Enjoy Every Moment. I could see so much potential with cards and scrapping. I wanted to design a card for our workshop that was fresh and fun, and captured the essence of Spring. 

Card of the Week

The next set I chose was Bloomin' With Beauty. I had seen this single poppy on SCS a few times, and really liked it. I also purchased the Gingham ribbon in Pretty in Pink, and was really impressed with how beautiful it was.

Card of the Week

Saturday marked the release of the new Spring Mini Catalogue

Ruth and I held a workshop to celebrate release of the spring catalogue.We chose three sets of stamps each, and worked on them for a few weeks before. We were really excited to show off the new stamps.

True Friend was one of the sets I chose to work with. It was really hard to get away from the earthy colours, as this set is so suits them so much.

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

How did I do that Back ground????

Well it's so easy, even a four year old can do it. Johnny and I had fun with the Brayer and ink pads, when we made the background papers for our last scrappin' entry.As you can see it's all in the wrist action, and the way you smile, as you Brayer away! 

John had it down pat, by the second page. You just keep going over the page with the inked up Brayer till you get the desired effect. It looks a little patchy now, but with patience it comes out as a lovely mottled "water coloured" look. After it dried , I stamped the group of trees from Lovely as a tree, along the green band to create a "Tree line" border. You can see the finished pages in my previous posts. Thanks John for the help! 

Sunday Night Scrappin'

This is page two of  my latest pages titled "Tranquil Tropics."

I still don't got the hang of posting yet. This  is the local swimming hole known as "Josephine Falls."It has a fantastic natural rock water slide, into a deep rock pool. Beyond that is fast flowing rapids, that wind on for a few more kms. The water is icy cold all year round, and makes a refreshing dip in our hot tropical summers.

May is the beginning of our Dry (or cold season) , so taking a dip in the rock pool at this time of year was extreme cold for us. I plunged into the water and and swam about 500m to the other side, climbed up, and fell straight back down on my butt. 

It must have been the funniest of sights, as I lay there giggling too hard to get up again. I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughter, and not the pain. I think the cold numbed the pain.

My concerned family could only stare and wonder if I was hurt or not. Eventually my brother summoned up enough courage to brave the cold, and swam over to see if I was okay.

I stood up before he got to the other side and pronounced if his little sister was going to brave the rock slide , he would too. We both had a little chuckle about a time when we would not have hesitated to enjoy such fun, and went the distance several times that afternoon. What priceless memories!

Sunday Night Scrappin'

Aah! Lovely as a Tree. Here is one of those long awaited Scrapbook pages that I promised. Back in May , my family came to visit, and we did the tourist trek to our favourite water holes around our area. These pics are of "The Boulders', at Babinda, NQLD and "Josephine Falls"a little further south. My brother Bruce and his wife Sally, really enjoyed the long walking tracks through the rainforest canopy.

They took aprox 100 pics of trees, leaves, waterfalls , rocks and bugs. They were awsome shots, and I hope to continue with scrapping a few more pages of them.

Card of the Week

Guess who got a new stamp set!  This is from the Spring Mini Catalogue. The first card is made with Fall Flowers DP, Taken with Teal and Old Olive card stock. If you had suggested these colours to me I would have cringed, but I think they came together pretty good.

 The second card, with Happy Birthday, is for Dannie Graves, who is in the Marines serving in Afghanistan. His sister ( Dannie's Designs) has put out a request to everyone who can, to send a card for his birthday. Visit her blog if you have a moment.

Sunday Night Scrappin'

Enjoy the little things! 

I am so grateful that God has blessed me with this little boy. I was 42 when John was born, and thought I was past the child bearing years.

  Now, with him, my Quiver is full. I have four wonderful young men, who are a never ending source of insipation and love. They range from 17 to 4 yrs, and each one brings his own kind of joy into my life.

As an older mum, I am able to enjoy the" little things," so much more than when I had three little men to raise.

His name means "God's gracious gift,"

and he truly is. 

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

Colour Swatches are a great way of making a quick reference to matching up with your projects as you go. I don't often start out with a combination of colours, more often I start with a stamp or photo, and then work up to the colour combo I want to use. When I am scrapping, I look at the colours within , and work with my swatches to decide which one looks the best. 

Another useful tool for choosing colours that compliment one another is the Color Coach, by Stampin Up! One of my ladies recently purchased it, and to my amazement, it was fantastic in providing co-ordinating and complimenting colours. I no longer have to use precious brain power to decide which colours look good together. I can save the brain power for designing other things.

July Workshop

July workshop

Look at all these lovely cards and boxes!!

firstly , thanks to Jen Balcer for the 2-5-7-10 box template and tutorial.

The girls at this Saturdays Techniques workshop made these. We slogged it out for three hours,first making the box out of DP, and then using the off cuts to make the cards and embellishments, down to the last scrap. 

It is really satisfying to see all the cardstock get used up, and make such lovely projects.

RAK from Jess

Today I received this lovely box of flowers from Jess. 

Jess and Paul are getting married in September, and asked me to help them design their wedding stationery. I was thrilled to be asked to help out with such a special occasion, and really enjoyed planning the layouts with them.

When I arrived home today from my " real job" (lol)  these beautiful flowers were waiting for me.

I was even more excited to see that the roses are a variation in Burgundy,  of my favourite rose, Candy Stripe.  I have used a Candy Stripe rose from my garden in my blog Header.

They are really Beautiful, and much appreciated, thanks Jess and Paul.

Card of the Week

This weeks card is made with Lovely as a Tree.

The background is Brayered using Brocade Blue and Sage Shadow. I have tried this technique a few times, and find the more often I try it , the better I get. I also tried the same scene , with the "moon and clouds," daubbed on with Versamark before Brayering.

This really is a fun way to create a unique background on glossy cardstock. I have also used Sahara Sand, Black and night of Navy to frame the main picture. I think I will also add a little ribbon to finish this one off. Thanks for looking.

Card of the Week

Hello again! 

This has been a very busy week, with school Holidays, six bookings and a lot of creativity required.

I have used French script (retired) as the background, using Groovy Guava ink on GG cardstock. The scalloped edge is done with the Corner Rounder with it's guard taken off.

The Berries are from Level 1 Hostesss set,Oh, so Lovely.

I have stamped the image once on the Whisper White card, then using my Stamp-a majig, lined up the second image to the centre, then punched out the G.Guava image. i have used blending pens to colour the leaves and berries, and used a white gel pen to highlight the detail on the berries.

The image was repeated on another piece of G. Guava card and layered to match the main berries.A touch of ribbon, and all is done!

Sunday Night Scrappin'

Here he is again! Teddy is now six months old, and only improving on purrfect!It has ben so long since I scrapped , that I decided to choose an easy project. I have used two sheets of 12x12 from Spring Showers to compliment Teddy's coat. I have used Versamark on the Big Deal Alphabet, to outline my letters for cutting.

The rosettes are done with the scallop Circle punch, as well as 1 1/4" & 1/2" circle punches.

To finish, the wonderful Crop-a-dile to set the eyelets.

Card of the Week

SU! has just had a promotion called eScape! The main theme behind it was to post a card or "love-note," to some one. I am great at making cards, but not so good at parting with them. This was a good challenge and encouragement to me to SEND, send , send!

The first card was to my sister, Bronwyn. She was up north for a week in May, and each time we are together, just makes being apart a little harder, so here is my card, filled with mushy sister stuff, to say I love you Sis.

The stamp's are hostess level 2, Spring Solitude set, and the colours are Brocade Blue, black and Pink Passion.

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

here's a good tip for using your stamps on patterned papers.

Use versamark on your stamps to give a faint image, or outline to cut around

This one works really well with alphabets and numbers, when you want to use a contrasting colour or patterned paper. You can see an example on my Sunday Night scrappin' page.

 For a bit of Razzle Dazzle try adding Dazzling Diamonds to the patterned papers, and heat embossing it . Really Glitzy!

Card of the Week

I'm Back! I have been MIA for the past few weeks , with family activities. 

I have also been busy putting together my first newsletter for my ladies, and sending it out by emails and snail mail.

This card was inspired by one I saw on  

split coast stampers I love the elegance of using black and white, with a splash of Bravo Burgundy.

The stamps are Baroque motifs, and the bird is from the Hostess set, Spring Solitude. 

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

I have been experimenting with Aluminum cans, and my punches.

Not only does it sharpen your punches, but it makes great embellishments for your projects too. try making Tags, with the Tag Punch,or use a circle punch to make lucky coins or embossed embellishments. You can also stamp with Stayzon, with Symbols of Solitude for an Asian look. Try stamping with any matching circle sets to make a special addition to any project.

Card of the Week

This is one of my new stamp sets. I have been doing so many floral cards lately I thought it was time to break loose and try something  different.  So here is  "Wild about You."  The elephant and lion are layered,  to give a 3-D effect using  Stampin' Dimensionals. You can also view some more cards made with this set on my slide show. Thanks for looking in!

June hostess Specials

More good news from SU! 

earn an extra $50-00 hostess dollars from June 1 to July 15 2008.

Host a demo between these dates with a product sales of $700-00 or more , and receive a bonus $50-00! Contact me for more information.

Teddy Update

                                              Here is a recent photo of Teddy.He is definitely one of the family now.

He has the sweetest personality, and is the most placid cat. He plays and purrs all the time ,and keeps our four year old amused for hours.

Last week I cooked a batch of Blueberry muffins, and left them on the bench to cool. When I retuned a little later to check on them, he had eaten  the tops off the muffins.

Now, when we are preparing any food, the kids ask "where's the muffin man?" if I leave the room.

Garfield, the famous British Shorthair comic strip cat, is always featured for his love of food.  Now I know why, as our little Shorthair, loves to eat any food, and anytime.He is still adorable.

eScape2008, June Specials, Stampin'Up!

Put down the phone, turn off the computer, and break free from the 'e'!

Take advantage of the 25% discount on select products when you purchase the eScape bundle, and create a special message from the heart.

eScape in June! Contact me today for details about this exciting event.

Card of the Week

After a hectic few weeks, it's time to catch up on Birthday cards. This one was first card for the day, made for Ruth, as her birthday was two weeks ago. 

I have used the blossoms from "Natural Beauty", and "So Swirly" Jumbo Wheel.

The technique used is Shadowing, by first rolling out the image in Versa-mark, then following the pattern closely with Whisper White.

The card stock is Soft Sky, and Whisper White. The Blossom is stamped on with Basic Black, and then colored with Ruby Red and Mellow Moss, using Blending Pens.

To finish, Silver organdy, and a pink Rhinestone.

I was really excited with the soft flowing swirls and how feminine the card looks.

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

Most of my tips are something I've learned as the week unfolds. As I've only been a serious stamper for ten months, I am excited by the little things that improve a card , or make the process easier. 

This weeks tip is masking. This week I made a card using  SU! "Wild About You." I used the Penguin in a repeat pattern on white card, and stamped the penguins in basic Black. I started with stamping out several images onto a post-it note, making sure each penguin had a small amount of the sticky strip on the reverse. Then, starting with the focal point ( or blue penguin), I masked over the first one,and stamped the next one behind, so that only half the penguin was visible. I continued repeating the masking and stamping until I had enough penguins.

It's important that you continue moving the masking penguins about, otherwise you could end up with a foot in another penguins mouth, like me.LOL

Card of the Week

I was asked  by Pat to show her a few ways she could use her new Stipple Rose stamp.

Here is one way I have found effective. I have stamped the image three times and coloured each image with blending pens. I have used Old Olive, Groovy Guava and Ruby Red on a Basic black outline.

I have then cut out two of the images, layering in  a "Paper Tolle" fashion, giving the roses and leaves a dimensional look. The more layers you use, the more effective this technique will look.

The background is "French Flair" second stamped,  in Groovy Guava.

I left off a sentiment, as I am giving the card to Pat as a part of her Hostess thankyou cards, at her demo tonight.

It's Out! Workshop

On Saturday , Ruth and I hosted a workshop for the release of the 2008 catalogue. We aimed to highlight some of the new stamps and colours that were released, as well as have some fun stamping. These were the three cards that I had prepared, using a variety of new and continued stamps. We were pleased how well the day went, and a good time was had by all.

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

this weeks discovery is The SU!  Adhesive Remover. I recently purchased one, as I am always finding a little Snail trail of adhesive where I don't want it. I used it last week while I was preparing for a workshop of 31 Stampers, and as I only had two days to design and piece together the projects, it was crucial to get the glue in the right place. It retails for $3.75 and saves lots of time and torn projects.

Card of the Week

Happy Birthday Lindsay!

My favourite brother-in-law celebrated another birthday on May 1. I made this card before his birthday, and only just got back from my break to post it.

 I enjoyed making this card for Lindsay, and I wanted to make something that remind me of him. So here it is ; a strong, established , well cared for tree. the earthy colours are Lindsay too, being a man of the land; Old Olive, Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip.

Sunday Night Scrappin'

"And God saw every thing He had made, and, behold, it was very good" Genesis 1:31b

This is Josephine Falls, which is about half an hour south of my home. At the base of these falls is a wonderful natural rock water slide into a calm, cold, waterhole.

 I don't have a page ready for publishing yet, I just wanted to share this piece of paradise that will be included in the next page I do.

I have been busy preparing my home for 12 visitors, and have put my stamps down for three weeks, and counting. It was hard to put it all aside to do housework and gardening, but rewarding when it was all finished. 

My family came up from Sydney, for a visit, and we have just done a full week of all the best spots in  the Tropical North in one week. Every thing ran smoothly, and everyone was comfortable and well fed.  The boys really enjoyed having six of their cousins up here, the highlight for them being Paintballing.

We took some awesome pictures,having visited the rainforests, rivers and beaches, of which I will now need to sort through for scrapping.

Card of the Week

This weeks card was designed by playing around with my Mat Pack and paper piercing tool. I wanted to see how far I could go with piercing. This all over effect came out looking like lattice, so I was quite pleased with the finished background. I started by rolling out the Forever Flowers Stampin' Around wheel in Mellow Moss, and filled in the flowers with Groovy Guava, and the leaves with Sage  Shadow.

I have used Very Vanilla and Groovy Guava card stock. The ribbon is Wild Wasabi double stitched Grossgrain, and the flower (Carte Postale set)  has a  small circle rhinestone, from the "Fire" selection.

Tuesday's Terrific Tips

One aspect of a good card or page is getting it straight. I have trouble lining up letters and verses, and sometimes it takes me two or three attempts before I get it reasonably straight.

One way of ensuring you get it right first time , every time is by using a Stamp-a- Ma-jig . This handy little tool  ensures precise stamp alignment every time. It retails at $22.95 and comes with re-usable imaging sheets for easy placement. It works with all your stamp block sizes too.

Sunday Night Scrapping

Here is a beautiful little Princess!

I have just spent the weekend with my cousin and her family, in Townsville.

Vonnie has been blessed with three little Princesses, and I had a wonderful time with them.

I have been having a lot of fun with my Stampin' Around wheels, creating borders and cards. This is a 12 x 12 page , bordered with Forever Flowers. I have used a blending pen to pick up some extra colour in the flowers.

I got to use my new Scalloped edge circle punch and used a swap card from Kim Gavarra, to add the  Perfect Princess  embellishments on. 

Colours used  were Mellow Moss, Regal Rose, Rose Red, and Pink Passion,Sahara Sand, on Whisper White 12 x 12.

card of the Week

This card was made for a demo last week for my good friend Jenny. What a turnout! Eighteen keen stampers, and more food than an Indian wedding Banquet! Thanks Jenny.

I have used  Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Sahara Sand and Basic Black card. The flowers are from the Carte Postale Set, and is stamped in Basic Black. The sentiment is from Artfully Asian, and I have used my Mat Pack and Pricking tool to add a Faux stitching row to the top and bottom of the outline.

Stampin'Up! News

Pallette o'Prints!

Spend $35-00 on any Stampin'Up! products, and get a 6X6 pad of  double -sided  Prints Designer Series Paper.

This one time offer gives you 48 double-sided sheets in 

>Certainly celery

>Rose Red

>So Saffron

>Almost Amethyst

Each pad holds twelve sheets of each color-two sheets of each pattern in each colour - that can be used for cards,crafts,or scrapbooking!

This offer is valid from May 01- May 31 2008

Contact me today to pre-order your Palette o' Prints!

Catalogue Write -Ins

Designer Series double-sided 12x12 Papers

Spring Flowers item no. 106685   $11.95

Spring Showers item no. 106686   $11.95

Good News!

These items have been added to the 2008-09 catalogue for purchase at a reduced price from the retired catalogue.